Bloomberg Daybreak: Asia Edition Stocks Rise, South Korea Exports, China Economic Outlook
Jan 2, 2026
Paul Dobson, Bloomberg's Executive Editor for Asia Markets, reveals a positive start for US equities and South Korea's export resilience, driven by semiconductor demand. Stephanie Leung, Chief Investment Officer at StashAway, discusses China's ambitious AI advancements and the contrast between US and Chinese tech goals. They dive into the implications of China's growing innovation capabilities, the cautious outlook on industrial profits, and the mixed signals from the property market, providing a comprehensive view of the Asia-Pacific economic landscape.
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Asia Rally Needs Fresh Positive News
- Asia's equities gained as investors widened bets beyond the U.S., helped by a weaker dollar and AI-driven momentum in China.
- Valuations are stretched, so further positive news is needed to sustain the rally.
Korea Exports Signal Regional Tech Strength
- Strong South Korean exports, led by semiconductors, signal resilience across tech-heavy Asian economies.
- Asian supply chains have rerouted trade flows, reducing expected tariff damage so far.
PMI Lift, But Consumer Demand Is The Question
- China's manufacturing PMI ticked above 50, lifting sentiment but skepticism remains about the upside.
- Policy focus stays on tech and industry rather than a big consumer-led stimulus push.