China’s property crisis, its stock market swings and falling prices have dealt a body blow to Chinese consumers' confidence, and shock waves from their retrenchment are shaking up some of the world’s biggest luxury brands. Is China's new retail frugality here to stay? Or will its once-freewheeling consumer spending roar back with a vengeance? Bloomberg Intelligence's senior consumer analysts Catherine Lim and Deborah Aitken join co-hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett with their insights on how China's new consumer austerity is reshaping expectations for global retailers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A chill has overcome the once-red hot electric-vehicle market. Demand is slowing, competition is growing, cash-strapped consumers are skeptical, and the EV market outlook is uncertain. Tesla has become the poster child for the industry’s ordeals, with slowing sales, a tumbling stock price, and China’s economic woes all converging into a grim picture. But other EV makers are also struggling, and the road ahead could be rough. What will it take to bring back the thrill to EVs? How is BYD -- China’s EV juggernaut – rewriting the rules for Tesla and other rivals? Or could Toyota's hybrid vehicles be the answer? Steve Man, global director of industrials and automotive research at Bloomberg Intelligence weighs in on the road ahead for EVs, which he says are here to stay despite the risks and challenges.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world’s stock markets have made a routine of breaking records, with the Nikkei 225, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq all spending 2024’s first quarter soaring into uncharted territory. Exuberance is abundant, but so are the risks. Are the world’s equity markets rising too far too fast? Is it time to revisit safe-haven assets? And is the classic 60/40 asset allocation model still relevant today? From Paris, Jean-Charles Bertrand, Global Multi-Asset Chief Investment Officer at HSBC Asset Management joins co-hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett with his insights on the investment road ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rush to board the AI bandwagon has powered America’s Magnificent Seven stocks to a level of investor excitement not seen since the 1990s dot-com bubble. Is artificial intelligence for real? How does the Magnificent Seven rank in terms of AI monetization? Can Asia tech stocks keep pace with their American counterparts? Mandeep Singh, Global Head of Technology Research at Bloomberg Intelligence and Robert Lea, Senior Asia Technology Analyst join co-hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett for an insightful glimpse at what the future holds for AI, and how investors might profit from its progress.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sea change is afoot in South Korea, where a new corporate governance code promises to overhaul the country’s business dynamics. Some believe that could help its stocks shake off the so-called “Korea Discount” as it tears a page from Japan’s playbook in a bid to mimic the Nikkei 225’s rejuvenation.  Investors have taken notice and have channelled more than $8 billion into Korean stocks during January and February 2024 as they seek to cash in.  Can South Korea’s new boldness shake up its rigid corporate culture and reinvigorate its equity markets? Are companies even ready for American style shareholder activism?  Activist investor Changhwan Lee, Founder & CEO of Align Partners, discusses his proxy fight over SM Entertainment and Korea’s changing investment landscape with co-hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China's challenges are snowballing. From its slumping stock market to its property crisis, to a generation lying flat, the outlook is daunting, and easy fixes are unlikely. The world's second largest economy also faces structural problems, including a shrinking population, high household debt and low consumer confidence. How will China's tough choices shape the road ahead, and what are the implications for the rest of the global economy? Hao Hong, Chief Economist at Grow Investment Group joins co-hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett on Asia Centric from Bloomberg Intelligence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Evergrande has become the mother of all casualties in China’s real estate crisis, crumbling under the weight of its own debt, and leaving homebuyers and investors reeling. The latest twist in the Evergrande saga came this week when a Hong Kong judge ordered the property giant liquidated. The ruling comes more than two years after the developer first defaulted on a bond payment. Can Evergrande’s bondholders ever be made whole? What will it take to restore confidence in China’s property market? And why might the worst not yet be over? Bloomberg Intelligence senior analysts Kristy Hung and Daniel Fan join hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett to assess the ruling's impact and what lies ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Red Sea attacks are impacting global trade, particularly container ships. Delays and high costs threaten supply chains and inflation. Shipping stocks surprisingly outperform. Importance of cybersecurity for small businesses.

Taiwan’s hotly contested presidential election was cast as a stark choice between two different destinies, but for the island’s voters, relations with mainland China are just part of the picture. Economic growth, jobs, and a path to prosperity are big issues for Taiwan’s more than 23 million people, especially its young adults, who’ve come of age facing the risk of conflict, a changing identity, and an uncertain future. How likely is Taiwan to find itself at the center of a wider conflict? How much damage would an invasion inflict? How would the US respond? Can such a scenario be prevented? And what will the next four years look like? Jennifer Welch, Chief Geo-Economics Analyst at Bloomberg Economics and Maeva Cousin, Senior Global Economist for Bloomberg Economics join co-hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett for a look at the precarious road ahead for Taiwan and the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asia’s investors are staring at a potential watershed year in 2024, which promises turning points, stumbling blocks, opportunities, and more than a few surprises. Falling rates appear likely, but when, how fast and how far the U.S. central bank will cut has investors guessing, with implications for Asian currencies, bonds and equities. Can China recapture the animal spirits that once made it the darling of western investors? Or will Japan and Southeast Asia continue to steal the spotlight? And what could go wrong? Bloomberg Intelligence’s Senior Asia Equity Strategist Marvin Chen, Chief Asia FX and Rates Strategist Stephen Chiu, and Senior Asia Credit Strategist Timothy Tan join Asia Centric’s co-costs John Lee and Tom Corbett for a look at what 2024 might bring.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.