• Trump's Plan To Make US Shipbuilding Great Again
    Jul 16 2025

    The decline in US shipbuilding and China's global dominance has Washington worried. Last year, the US built just seven commercial vessels, compared to more than 1,000 for China. This has also become a national security issue, with US shipyards struggling to meet the demands of the navy, facing production delays of up to 36 months. In response, President Donald Trump has proposed levying fees on Chinese built ships entering US ports.

    These measures likely won't be enough to revive the industry, so what else can the government do? What role can defense allies South Korea and Japan play? And how will these levies impact shipping companies and global trade? Adam Farrar, senior geo-economics analyst at Bloomberg Economics and Kenneth Loh, shipping and logistics analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, join John Lee and Katia Dmitrieva on the Asia Centric podcast.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • Credit Hedge Fund on How Low Spreads Can Go
    Jul 9 2025

    Credit spreads, or the difference between yields on corporate debt and government notes, have tightened worldwide. This would usually indicate investors are more confident in the prospects for the private sector but contradicts what's an increasingly risky economic and investment outlook amid erratic US trade policies.

    Meanwhile, liquidity remains a constraint and defaults – while low – are on the rise in the US. How does that change the game for a hedge fund that sometimes needs to take on-the-day bets? What surprising regions or industries hold gain for credit investors, and why is Mongolia one of them? And how much longer can the current “goldilocks” period for credit last? Monica Hsiao, co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of Triada Capital in Hong Kong, discusses investing in today's world of risk and the lessons learned from China's high-yield debacle. She joins John Lee and Katia Dmitrieva on the Asia Centric podcast.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • Investing in the Future of Humanoid Robots
    Jul 2 2025

    Once the preserve of science fiction, humanoid robotics is now in the realm of reality. From Elon Musk's Optimus to Boston Dynamics, companies are pouring money and time into developing these robots for business and commercial use.

    We take an in-depth look into this emerging industry with Sean Darby, equity strategist at Mizuho Securities, who compares it to the rise of EVs – what started small quickly gathered steam among consumers. It's shaping up to be a compelling trade for investors, with a basket of humanoid-related stocks in Asia up almost 60% this year, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.

    Darby joins John Lee and Katia Dmitrieva in Hong Kong to discuss what exactly is a humanoid robot, what can it actually do given the current technology, and what challenges lie ahead? And will they simply help us with household chores – or take all our jobs?

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • Soaring Stocks Backed by Consumer, Tech Strength
    Jun 25 2025

    Stock markets have been surprisingly resilient this year. Despite global trade chaos, war in the Middle East, Russia's extended invasion of Ukraine and domestic political strife, major equity markets around the world have rallied near record levels.

    Investors are finding a lot to like from India to South Korea, where domestic growth stories, technology and AI investment, and diversified supply chains leave plenty of room for growth, says Jessica Tea, JPMorgan emerging markets and APAC equities investment specialist. She joins John Lee and Katia Dmitrieva from Singapore to discuss consumption strength across Asia — highlighted by the popularity of Labubu dolls — investing in the backend of EVs and finding returns amid uncertainty.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • How to Invest in the New Geopolitical Era
    Jun 18 2025

    The huge political and economic shifts taking place amid US President Donald Trump's global trade war, turmoil in the Middle East and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict is putting geopolitical risk front and center of investment decisions. JPMorgan, for instance, has just launched a Center for Geopolitics, as companies become more reluctant to simply rely on business models and financial experience.

    Marko Papic, chief strategist at BCA Research, an independent research group founded in 1949, joins John Lee and Katia Dmitrieva to give his take on the consequences of such significant global changes and how investors can best navigate these turbulent and uncertain times.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • South Korea Enters a Post-Election Bull Market
    Jun 11 2025

    South Korea's June presidential election ended six months of political uncertainty and policy paralysis in the country. Investors are optimistic that President Lee Jae-myung, with the support of the legislative assembly, can boost the economy with fiscal stimulus and corporate governance reform. The Kospi Index has surged more than 20% this year, surprising many global investors who have until now been hesitant to allocate capital in the country.

    President Lee faces many challenges, however, including the threat of US tariffs, increasing competition from Chinese exports and a sluggish economy. And what does a return to democratic party policies mean for the chaebols, the scions of Korean industry? Peter Kim, investment strategist and managing director for KB Securities, discusses the outlook for Asia's fourth-largest economy with John Lee and Katia Dmitrieva on the Asia Centric podcast.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • De-Dollarization – What It Means for the Region
    Jun 4 2025

    The economic impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs has led to a rethink over the US dollar. After the “Liberation Day” tariffs were announced on April 2, global investors sold both US equities and the dollar, a rare event that raises concerns about the credibility of US Treasuries and the dollar itself. Moody’s downgrade of the US credit rating and the sharp appreciation of certain currencies, particularly the Taiwan dollar, against the greenback have further intensified the situation.

    Are we entering a period of de-dollarization? What are the implications for the regions' central banks, corporations and financial institutions – many of which are major holders of US Treasuries? And which Asian currencies could outperform following this paradigm shift? Stephen Chiu, chief Asia FX and rates strategist for Bloomberg Intelligence discusses these issues with John Lee on the Asia Centric podcast.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
  • US-China Trade Truce Spurs Rush to Beat Tariffs
    May 28 2025

    A big shift in regional trade is underway following US President Donald Trump's announcement – and temporary pause – of the so called "Liberation Day" tariffs. Exports from Southeast Asia are surging, as companies around the world frontload and reroute shipments of parts and final goods such as toys and smartphones.

    Which countries are benefiting the most from this demand and the intensifying strategy of "China+1", how long will these high export levels be maintained, and what are the risks for consumers and companies? Katia Dmitrieva speaks with Robert Subbaraman, head of global macro research at Nomura, about the latest on the trade front.

    Read our story here: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-21/china-us-trade-soars-as-exporters-race-to-hit-trade-truce-window?utm_source=website&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=copy

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    26 mins