Asia Centric by Bloomberg Intelligence

Huawei's new smartphone powered by a China-made processor reveals China's tech advancement. The US-China relationship and its impact on Apple's investment stake in China are discussed. The importance of semiconductors for Huawei and China's progress in closing the technology gap are explored. The release of Apple's iPhone 15 and its features are highlighted. Leading Asian chip companies and challenges they face are discussed. The shift in Apple's production and its geopolitical impact are analyzed.

Hong Kong’s niche as a social and economic crossroads has framed its legend for decades. Now, a new generation of eager, young professionals from mainland China is rushing to Hong Kong to pursue similar dreams, filling the gap left behind by the city’s dwindling ranks of western expats. Their presence signals a seismic shift toward the city’s “mainlandization” and heralds the emergence of a compelling new chapter in Hong Kong’s history. What’s driving this watershed change? What will it mean for Hong Kong’s economy? Its job market? Its business prospects? Mark Tibbatts of PageGroup, and Francis Chan and Peter Lau of Bloomberg Intelligence join hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett for a glimpse into Hong Kong’s future, and what it means for the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China's economic challenges including a property crisis, high debt, and youth unemployment are discussed. The podcast explores China's role in the global economy, its roadmap to steer out of economic turmoil, and its reluctance to provide direct household stimulus. The decision to withhold youth unemployment figures raises questions about transparency. The speakers assess optimism about China's economy and introduce Bloomberg New Economy Catalysts.

Country Garden was once considered a leader among China's property developers. Now, a missed bond payment has turned it into the latest poster child for all that's wrong with the country's housing market.  Developers saddled with too much debt, not enough cash, faltering sales, nervous buyers and anxious creditors all add up to a renewed crisis of confidence. The ripple effect could reverberate beyond China's borders, bearing strong echoes of the crisis that engulfed its rival, Evergrande, in 2021. Can China's property crisis get much worse? Who's most at risk? What will it take to turn it around? Bloomberg Intelligence senior analysts Kristy Hung and Daniel Fan join hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett for a compelling look at how Country Garden stumbled, and what it means for China's housing market and its broader economy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asia's ETF industry continues to shake up the investment landscape, attracting $65 billion in inflows so far in 2023 to an impressive $1.3 trillion in assets under management. Asia's retail investors are giddy about artificial intelligence, but other themes such as K-Pop and the Metaverse give Asia's ETFs an entertaining twist with a dash of FOMO. Rebecca Sin, senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence joins hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett to discuss all things ETFs, including her take about the new opportunities they create for investors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asia’s currency markets are struggling to make sense of a global economy in transition. Rising US interest rates stir risks of recession while falling rates in China reflect growing urgency to give its recovery greater traction. Meanwhile, investors are treading cautiously, ever-wary of pitfalls ranging from China’s beleaguered property sector to South Korea’s household debt. Where does this leave the currency outlook for Southeast Asia and emerging markets? Where are the opportunities? Do the risks outweigh the rewards? Alvin Tan, head of Asian currency strategy at RBC Capital Markets, and Rena Kwok, Asia financials credit analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence join hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett for a closer look at how prevailing trends are impacting Asia's major currencies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Russia-Ukraine War is forcing governments to rethink their conceptions of conflict, the role of technology and military spending. Will AI and technology reshape the global balance of power? Can the US and China make the hard choices to keep global business prosperous? Kevin Brand, Bloomberg Intelligence aerospace and defence analyst and 30-year US Navy veteran, joins hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett for a discussion on the future of war.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan is back on money managers' radar screens, with Warren Buffett leading a wave of resurgent investor interest in its growth prospects. But some say investing in Japan carries risks. Years of zero interest rates and an aging population are just a few of the barriers standing between the world's third largest economy, and a new era of growth and prosperity, powered by new ideas and structural reform. Can Japan deliver on investors' expectations? Or is the rest of the world expecting too much too soon? Bloomberg's senior Japan economist and Bank of Japan veteran Taro Kimura joins hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett for a look at Japan's appeal, and whether it can deliver for investors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has shaken up the tech world with eye popping potential to change the way we work, live and do business. Some estimate AI's business opportunity as high as the billions, even trillions of dollars. But can the AI genie deliver on the hype? What are the potential environmental risks? And could China mount a challenge for supremacy? Join hosts John Lee, Tom Corbett and Bloomberg Intelligence senior technology analyst Woo Jin Ho for an engaging tour of AI's remarkable potential, and an unvarnished assessment of its drawbacks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China has become a global automotive powerhouse, with groundbreaking fleets of electric vehicles rewriting the rules of the road. Its automakers have developed their own EV models with remarkable speed, catapulting brands such as BYD and Nio to unprecedented prominence, and raising the stakes for Tesla. Its progress holds promise, but speed bumps lie ahead. How will China reshape the world’s driving experience? And will Americans ever drive Chinese cars? Steve Man, director of industry research and senior automotive analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, joins hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett for a look at what’s next for China’s automotive juggernaut.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.