Asia Centric by Bloomberg Intelligence

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 ...

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, partic...

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 ...

Investing in alternative assets such as infrastructure and private equity was once the preserve of large institutions and the uber rich with access to private bankers. But technological advances and product innovation have opened these markets to wealthy retail investors, creating one of the fastest-growing segments in wealth management. Many experts, including BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, refer to this trend as the "democratization" ...

In early 2021, smartphone and electronics maker Xiaomi was blacklisted by Washington, restricting its access to US technology and investors. Although this decision was later reversed, it motivated CEO and founder Lei Jun to enter China's ultra-competitive electric vehicle market, pledging to invest $10 billion over a decade. The bold move has paid off: in China, buyers are waiting up to 10 months to purchase Xiaomi's SU7, and the c...

Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia benefited from US President Donald Trump's first administration, as Chinese companies re-routed shipments to these regions to avoid US tariffs. In his current term, President Trump's reciprocal tariffs aim to eliminate this arbitrage, but the significant tariff rate differentials between countries are creating an even greater incentive for Chinese companies to use tra...

Hong Kong is starting to look up. The Hang Seng Index has rebounded from last year’s lows and tourists are flocking to major musical and sporting events in the city's new stadium. Even expats – many of whom left for Singapore, London and elsewhere during the pandemic – appear to be returning.

But structural challenges remain. The commercial property market is beset by record-high vacancy rates while retailers are ...

The world's top economic and financial authorities descend on Washington this week for the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings. The focus this year is overwhelmingly on trade, as US President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs hang over the event. And nowhere are levies more painful than in China, where the highest rates threaten economic growth.

Arthur Kroeber, founding partner of research consultancy Gavekal Dragonomics and author of&n...

It's been a wild few weeks in trade and markets. After unleashing reciprocal tariffs on the world, US President Donald Trump then walked them back, pausing the additional levies for every nation except China. Some exemptions were also carved out, including for iPhones. Negotiations have since ramped up with countries including Vietnam, which hope to scale down or remove the threat of tariffs altogether.

Asia is perhaps the hardest ...

Global supply chains have reconfigured since the 2018-19 trade war, leading to a surge in renewable-energy demand in countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia as Nike and Samsung set up operations. This trend, coupled with population growth and the proliferation of AI-driven data centers, is projected to triple the demand for power in the next five years, according to Gavin Adda, CEO of Peak Energy.

The subsidiary of Stonep...

A duct-taped banana, a glass-encased tiger shark, a three-meter balloon dog – all selling for millions of dollars. For centuries, people have invested in art and their creators, with modern investors adding these “alternative assets” to portfolios.

But global art auction turnover fell by about a third to $9.9 billion last year, according to Artmarket. It's also an increasingly tricky industry to navigate, with man...

After underperforming for years, Chinese stocks are on a tear, rising more than 16% so far this year and outpacing many regional and global markets. The advance is led by growing optimism that technological breakthroughs like DeepSeek and a sustained pivot to consumption by Chinese officials will help boost demand. 

But there are questions about the sustainability of the rally. Have fundamentals for China really improved? ...

Looming US auto tariffs are forcing tough decisions for the world’s biggest automakers, with firms already reeling from high borrowing costs and slower sales. Tesla’s been rocked by a political backlash and plunging sales, while Chinese EV manufacturers gain global market share and make big strides in autonomous driving.

The levies – which could raise costs for companies and customers – present an existentia...

Investors are pricing in several interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve this year as growth slows and risks of a recession rise, but Gao Bin says they may be getting ahead of themselves. The CEO of Kaifeng Investment Management says the cuts will likely come -- but not until 2026. He's also taking a counter-narrative view on China, believing that consumer and tech companies will drive growth in 2025.

Gao's macro hedge fund net...

The world’s multi-billionaires, from Elon Musk to Sergey Brin, are increasingly using family offices to manage their wealth – and it’s big business. With more than 8,000 family offices globally managing an estimated $3.1 trillion in assets, it’s set to rival the hedge fund industry in size.

Major financial hubs -- from London to Dubai, Hong Kong to Singapore -- are actively competing to capture a slice of th...

The US economy appears indestructible. Since the Great Financial Crisis in 2008-09 and throughout the following downturns including the pandemic, consumption quickly bounced back, the labor market tightened and equity markets outperformed peers. This strength had investors coining the term “US exceptionalism” as it increasingly seemed that the greenback and other assets were the best game in town.

But risks are building...

The aviation industry has suffered numerous setbacks recently, from tragic accidents to production delays and quality issues at manufacturer Boeing. There are also looming challenges including slower economic growth globally that may curb spending and demand. But one corner of the industry has been thriving since the pandemic – aircraft leasing.

Tim Bacchus, a veteran analyst with more than 30 years of experience in the aviat...

China, the world's second-largest economy, is facing a demographics crisis. Its population fell in 2024 for the third straight year and is projected to halve by the end of the century, while marriages – tightly linked to childbirth in the country – plunged to a record low. The trend of declining birthrates and an aging population, which threatens the labor market and growth, comes even after the government lifted its on...

After many months of threats, the US has imposed 10% tariffs on all Chinese goods coming into the country and China retaliated immediately, launching an investigation into Google and putting its own levies on a range of American goods including LNG. Thus begins a new era of protectionism.

The tariffs and any additional moves are set to slow economic growth in China, which is already struggling to boost consumer spending, reboot its...