1 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Bloomberg Penl podcast. I'm Paul swing you. 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: Along with my co host Lisa Brahma wits. Each day 3 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: we bring you the most noteworthy and useful interviews for 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: you and your money, whether at the grocery store or 5 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: the trading floor. Find a Bloomberg Penl podcast on Apple 6 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:17,959 Speaker 1: podcast or wherever you listen to podcasts, as well as 7 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:22,279 Speaker 1: at Bloomberg dot com. Well, Chinese markets are open for 8 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 1: trading once against Shanghai, which hadn't traded since the holidays 9 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 1: began in January, UH tumbled seven point seven percent, the 10 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:33,959 Speaker 1: most since two thousand and fifteen, as the economy virtually 11 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 1: is shut down because of the coronavirus. To give us 12 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: a sense of kind of how to navigate UH those waters, 13 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:42,160 Speaker 1: we welcome Brendan A. Hearn, chief investment officer for Crane 14 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: Scharity's based in New York City. Brandan, thanks so much 15 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: for joining us. What do you tell clients here as 16 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: it relates to China to Asia in terms of allocating 17 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: capital there? We saw again a virus, a violent turned 18 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: down in the Asian markets today, certainly for long term investors, 19 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 1: we believe obviously the coronavirus is having a very tragic 20 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: toll from our human on claiming lives. Um. It's going 21 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: to have a economic impact. UM. That could be in 22 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: the know over the next quarter or so. But but 23 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: we believe it is an opportunity UM that for long 24 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: term investors, there is an opportunity today. I think they 25 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: need to be a little careful and where they allocate 26 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 1: those investments. But again I think it is an opportunity 27 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 1: for those long run investors. All right, So it's an 28 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: opportunity for long run investors. Is this a bed on 29 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: central bank stimulus by the PBOC? No, I mean, I 30 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: mean certainly the you know, like as we saw during 31 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: the trade war, Uh, China policymakers are going to do 32 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: whatever they can to support the economy. Increasingly, China's economy 33 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: is a um, a consumer driven economy. So I think, 34 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: as we saw last year around the trade war, we're 35 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: going to see a lot of stimulus to help that 36 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: that side of the economy during this this kind of 37 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: economic shutdown due to the coronavirus so Brendan, we had 38 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,639 Speaker 1: some news today on that front. Chinese officials are hoping 39 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: that the US will agree to some flexibility on pledges 40 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 1: in their Phase one trade deal. Does that suggest to 41 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: you that the virus may be worse than maybe currently 42 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 1: being discussed by the government. I think you know, certainly, UM, 43 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 1: the the virus, I mean, I mean people are scared. 44 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: I mean from talking to brokers and and even colleagues 45 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: in both China and Hong Kong, people are are very scared, 46 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 1: UM and and so there there there is going to 47 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: be an impact. You're just going to limit you know, 48 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 1: say you know, we saw it, you know leading up 49 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: to the Chinese New Year around tourism. You know that 50 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 1: big big sites or even movie theaters, you know, if 51 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: it's Disneyland in Shanghai, you know, people don't want to 52 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: congregate in big groups. And and that that is going 53 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: to have a downstream effects because of the China's role 54 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: in in in the global supply chain. Brendan I asked 55 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,640 Speaker 1: this question of Damian Sasaur earlier. There is suspicion that 56 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: the UH, the the government of China basically encouraged national 57 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 1: investors UH, particularly those that are beholden to their wishes 58 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: UM to go in and buy stocks to perhaps save 59 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 1: some of the declines that we saw on the initial 60 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 1: day of trading. After reopening, uh, in the wake of 61 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 1: a closure due to the coronavirus? Is that true? How 62 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: much state sponsored encouraged buying was there? It's difficult to know, 63 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: you know, you know, the the Chinese regulator takes almost 64 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: a paternalistic role in the mainland market due to the 65 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:41,119 Speaker 1: high participation rate from individual investors. UM. I do think 66 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: there was activity uh from the quote unquote national team. 67 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: These are you know, big social security pension plans. The 68 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: end reality is when the last time we saw the 69 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: national field basically come come into the market was in 70 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:02,119 Speaker 1: the summer of when when everything everyone was selling, they 71 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: bought and that ended up being a very profitable trade. 72 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: And I think, you know, I don't know. I don't 73 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: think it's gonna happen tomorrow or in a week, but 74 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: in the it could be in the next month or 75 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: the next quarter. I think those purchases done today and 76 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: we'll probably see it again tomorrow. I think there's a 77 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 1: very profitable trade. This is you know, bylow cell high 78 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: so Brendan what you know, what do you think the 79 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:30,279 Speaker 1: impact the coronavirus will be on GDP for China this 80 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 1: year and maybe even into next How does this how 81 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: do you think this will play out. So Hobey providence 82 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:40,159 Speaker 1: plays a very minor role. Uh but but China is 83 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: is taking a very very serious approach. So so it 84 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 1: is going to affect it. You know, the cell side 85 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:50,280 Speaker 1: analysts are going to start dialing down expectations. It's it's 86 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 1: even hard for them because we don't know when the 87 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: coronavirus will take it, when things will start to peter out. 88 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:58,679 Speaker 1: You know. You know, the markets tended to come back 89 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 1: during stars uh once once the number of people infected stopped. Um, 90 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: And we're not there yet, so so it's hard to know. 91 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: You know, I think things stay in a lockdown mode 92 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: until we see the virus contain and as that becomes 93 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: stays become potentially weeks, the feasibility of that being months. 94 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: It's going to have an economic impact, without question, Brendan, 95 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 1: Does it worry you at all that we're seeing the 96 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: U N lose value versus the dollar now exceeding seven 97 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:32,280 Speaker 1: u N per dollar? No? Not not. I mean, you know, 98 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: the U one you know, post trade deal came down 99 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: from six twenty down into the six eighties. So um, 100 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,359 Speaker 1: you know, I think you know, certainly to me, I 101 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: personally believe uh interest rate differentials as well as economic 102 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: conditions determined effects rates. Um. You know, certainly Chinese bond market, 103 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:54,720 Speaker 1: what a rally yet that had overnight, I mean mass 104 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: effensive as much as equities were down huge rally in 105 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: the onshore bond market. And then then combine that with 106 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: we're gonna have a weakening in the short run in 107 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: China's common That explains the weaker you on. Thank you 108 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 1: so much being with us Brendan and her and chief 109 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:21,480 Speaker 1: investment officer of Crane Shares in New York. Well, there 110 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 1: is increasing focus on Amazon dot Com as the dominant 111 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:28,720 Speaker 1: commerce site, and there's a question about their crackdown or 112 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,839 Speaker 1: lack thereof on counterfeit items. Joining us now, as Ronnie 113 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: I said Home, managing partner at sat Home Law Group 114 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,840 Speaker 1: in our Interactive Broker Studios, Ronnie, let's just talk first 115 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 1: about why you decided to look at this in particular, 116 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,679 Speaker 1: how big of a problem is it for counterfeit goods 117 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 1: to be sold on the Amazon dot com platform. First 118 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 1: of all, thank you for having me here. I'm looking 119 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 1: at it because it's an endemic issue on Amazon dot 120 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 1: Com and it's sometimes it's quite subtle because the the 121 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 1: dollar amount that you're paying for this counterfeit merchandise is 122 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 1: similar by maybe five to what you would pay for 123 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 1: the genuine merchandise. Other times it's not so subtle, but 124 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 1: either way, most people are being duped. So is this 125 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: all products on online market places or is it primarily 126 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: luxury the high price luxury items. What kind of products 127 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 1: are typically susceptible to counterfeiting? Well, I'm very sorry to 128 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: have to announce this on the radio, but it's all 129 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: products at all price points, from toothpaste to rames items. 130 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: What's Amazon dot COM's role in policing this, because ultimately, 131 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 1: is it their responsibility? Is it the perpetrators responsibility On 132 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 1: the other side, I think that's a great, great question. 133 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 1: If you buy something that ends up being counterfeit from Sacks, 134 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: Fifth Avenue or CBS, you can go back into that 135 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: store and return it and have a conversation with someone 136 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 1: who may be able to assess the product um when 137 00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:00,120 Speaker 1: you return it and give you a refund. Here, no 138 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: one is really there to help you, and some sellers 139 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: do not allow you to return items. But in fairness, 140 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: Amazon dot Com is not trying to be a curator 141 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: of retail items. They're trying to be or they aspire. 142 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 1: The sense that I get is they aspire to be 143 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 1: UH an online marketplace for many different retailers and sort 144 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 1: of a common h a common area. So does that 145 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: change their role? Kind of? Does it make it not 146 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 1: a good analogy necessarily to say sex with having no 147 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 1: I don't think it really changes my position because if 148 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:35,439 Speaker 1: you're in a mall, we have them all right, we 149 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: have them all on Hudson Yards, we have them on 150 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 1: Manhattan Mall's great and New Jersey too. There are malls everywhere. 151 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: But by analogy, when you want to rent space to 152 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: sell your merchandise, there's some kind of vetting process. Provide 153 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 1: me with your p n L. Let me see if 154 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:57,199 Speaker 1: you're incorporated. Someone is caring about who that merchant is. 155 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:01,079 Speaker 1: Online it's very anonymous. I have no idea who you are. 156 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: Sometimes I can't tell where things are being shipped from 157 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 1: where they're being manufactured. And Amazon is extremely convenient. You 158 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 1: just sit or stand, press a button, and voila. Your 159 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 1: item is here within a day, sometimes even less. Okay, 160 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: so I'm a consumer. I realized that the package that 161 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: was just delivered to me is a counterfeit. What are 162 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 1: my legal rights. Amazon doesn't have a program that allows 163 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 1: you to return merchandise, but sometimes those refunds don't come 164 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 1: for a very long time. Sometimes people get lazy. I mean, 165 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 1: if you're buying lipstick for twelve dollars, you may not, 166 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: you know, make an attempt to return it. You'll say, oh, 167 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: it's not worth it. And that happens all the time. 168 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 1: So Amazon, though, they will if you say it's a 169 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: counterfeit and they agree with you, they will refund your money, right. 170 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: I mean, it's not like Amazon's out there to to 171 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 1: screw their users, are they. I mean, I can't speak 172 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: for Jeff Bezos. However, I can tell you that their 173 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 1: algorithm that uses Amazon's Choice does lead consumers to buy 174 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: counterfeit goods. Try it at home today, type in I 175 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:14,079 Speaker 1: don't know, uh luxury iPhone case and see what pops up. 176 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: There's a sort of a bigger question underlying a lot 177 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 1: of what you're saying, which is what is the role 178 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 1: of Amazon dot Com and are they absconding it in 179 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 1: terms of being responsible stewards of the modern marketplace? And 180 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:30,439 Speaker 1: this has been an issue with respect to how they 181 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: do their own product placement versus others their algorithm that way, 182 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: it's been an issue in terms of how they have 183 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: pushed some competitors out of the market. How does this 184 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 1: piece fit into that larger debate. I think it's all 185 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 1: part and parcel, uh the same. Amazon is trying to 186 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,439 Speaker 1: maximize its profits. No one can blame them for that. 187 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:55,319 Speaker 1: That's the purpose of a for profit company. However, there 188 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 1: are many ways you can do so, and one way 189 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:01,839 Speaker 1: is educating the consumer. There is consumer loyalty. People may 190 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:05,840 Speaker 1: think it's disappeared, but it's there. Amazon is a great, 191 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: you know, example of that. I want to go shopping. 192 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,079 Speaker 1: I think of Amazon consumer loyalty. Get more of it. 193 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 1: Educate your consumers. Tell them this is the usual m 194 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: s r P of your item. So if you're paying, 195 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: we'll just go back to you know, cosmetics. If you 196 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 1: know that that Armani lipstick is supposed to be thirty 197 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:26,320 Speaker 1: eight dollars, don't buy it for twenty dollars here it 198 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:28,760 Speaker 1: may not be real. If you want to buy it, 199 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 1: then you may, but you should at least know what 200 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 1: you're getting into when you're purchasing the product. Also tell 201 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:38,719 Speaker 1: us has this color been discontinued? Perhaps that's why it's 202 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 1: on sale. I don't know if it would get to twenty. 203 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:46,199 Speaker 1: It might actually go up to However, educate consumers. Not 204 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: everybody knows how much every single item is supposed to cost. 205 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:52,560 Speaker 1: Ronnie has set Home, Thanks so much for joining us. 206 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: We really appreciate your thoughts there. Ronnie is a managing 207 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,840 Speaker 1: partner set Home Law Group, joining us here in our 208 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Interactive Broker studio giving us something. It's about buying onlines, 209 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 1: not just Amazon dot Com buying a line in general. 210 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:16,679 Speaker 1: Time to check in with Bloomberg Opinion. We're joined by 211 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: opinion columnist Noah Feldman was a professor of law at 212 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 1: Harvard University and also a Bloomberg Opinion columnists based in Boston. 213 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: No thanks so much for joining us. You know, it 214 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:29,719 Speaker 1: looks like again, as Lisa was suggesting earlier, that this thing, 215 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,600 Speaker 1: this impeaching trial, is pretty much done and dusted. Here, 216 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: let's take the step back and take a thirty thousand 217 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 1: foot view. What do you think are some of the 218 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: bigger picture takeaways from this whole process. There's a kind 219 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: of glass half full, glass half empty, set of ways 220 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: of looking at it. You know, the glass half full 221 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 1: side is that the president engaged in conduct that's certainly 222 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 1: the majority of Democrats in the House of Representatives thought 223 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 1: rose to the the level of impeachment, and they did what 224 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 1: they were supposed to do. They exercised their constitutional already, 225 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:03,720 Speaker 1: they impeached him. So that's the good news. The system 226 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: worked in that in that way. The glass have full side, though, 227 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: is a little bit outweighed at the moment by the 228 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: glass half empty perception, which is that many Republicans in 229 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 1: the Senate seemed to be taking the view that even 230 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 1: if Trump did these things, it nevertheless doesn't count as 231 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 1: impeachable under the Constitution. And you know, it's hard to 232 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: say if they really believe that or if they're just 233 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 1: saying that to cover up their desire to, you know, 234 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 1: not to do anything politically bad to Trump. But either way, 235 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 1: it's not a great thing for them to be saying, 236 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:33,599 Speaker 1: because it implies that this kind of conduct, you know, 237 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 1: cheating in an election, is just okay under our constitutional system, 238 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 1: and that's not going to bode well for the future. 239 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 1: Professor Veldman, given your work at Harvard when you are 240 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 1: clerking for a Supreme Court Justice David's suitor, and beyond 241 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:50,679 Speaker 1: how much of a precedent, does this said for future 242 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:53,839 Speaker 1: proceedings in terms of what is or in this case 243 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: is not a truly impeachable offense. There's two kinds of president. 244 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 1: When you talk about impeachment. There's not a court that 245 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: can be bound by an earlier decision. So when we 246 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: talk about president, we're talking about two things. One, we're 247 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 1: talking about the kinds of legal arguments that will be 248 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 1: made in any future impeachment proceeding. And for sure, if 249 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 1: Trump is cleared, whoever's defending a president in future impeachment 250 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 1: proceedings will say, look, the Trump impeachment stands for the 251 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 1: idea that you can't impeach someone unless there's some kind 252 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: of an actual statutory crime. And then other people who 253 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 1: will be able to say, well, says you, but that's 254 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: not really what happened. The other kind of president is 255 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 1: will any future House of Representatives even bother to impeach 256 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: a president who's done something that really breaks the constitutional 257 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: system but doesn't count as a statutory crime. That's the 258 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 1: kind of real world political calculus type of precedent. And 259 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 1: there it's you know, it's too soon to say, but 260 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 1: I certainly think that any future House of representatives is 261 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: going to be very, very very cautious about entering into 262 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 1: an impeachment under those conditions unless they're prepared to lose, 263 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 1: which I suppose the Democrats were in this case. So 264 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 1: were you surprised at all of that at the Republicans 265 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 1: stood so uniformally behind the president or it was this 266 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: like many people were concerned, kind of preordained. I'm sorry 267 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: to say that I'm not surprised by it. Um that said, 268 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 1: I am surprised to see senators saying that this conduct 269 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: just doesn't rise to the the level of impeachment. That seems 270 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: to me to be one of the more doubtful things 271 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: that they're saying. I actually expected them to say, well, 272 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: on the evidence, you know, maybe we just can't prove this, 273 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 1: and anyway, the president denies that. I expected a more 274 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: fact based defense. Even even again, even if it was hypocritical, 275 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: that just sounded more plausible to me than saying, well, 276 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: it doesn't rise the level of impeachment. And it also, 277 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 1: you know, the saying that it doesn't rise to the 278 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 1: level of impeachment has a much worse effect in the 279 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: long run, because it implies that they think this kind 280 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: of conduct is fine. Can you de grade Justice roberts 281 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: performance in this I think he did excellently. Um. You know, 282 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 1: his predecessor, Chief Justice Rank Whist, who actually, interestingly Roberts 283 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 1: also was a law clerk for many years ago, famously 284 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:05,200 Speaker 1: said after the Continent impeachment trial, I did nothing in particular, 285 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: and I did it very well. And I think that's 286 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: what Roberts was aiming for. And I would give him 287 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: an a for doing nothing in particular and doing it 288 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 1: very well. So very well. Um. So the Constitution as 289 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: it relates to impeachment, has that been kind of neutered 290 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 1: it to some extent? I would say yes, you know, 291 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 1: I mean I think if the vote goes the way 292 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 1: we expected to, that really weakens the idea that the 293 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 1: impeachment is there to help protect us against the president 294 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: who does things to cheat in an election that don't 295 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: necessarily count a statutory crimes. And I would expect that 296 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: future presidents are likely to be willing to take that risk. 297 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 1: I mean, I hope it's not that way. I hope 298 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: future presidents say, well, you know, look, I mean Donald 299 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: Trump got impeached and that goes on his historical record, 300 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 1: and it looked bad and a lot of that, to 301 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 1: be blunt, is going to depend on what happens in 302 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: the next election. If Trump is re elected, people I 303 00:16:57,800 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 1: think will feel very few qualms in the future about 304 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 1: and what he did. If he's not re elected, there 305 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: might be some second thoughts. Professor Feldman, thank you so 306 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,719 Speaker 1: much for being with us. Noah Feldman, Professor of Law 307 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:11,920 Speaker 1: at Harvard University, also a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Uh tons 308 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:15,200 Speaker 1: of experience both in the legal and beyond worlds, having 309 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 1: clerked for Justice suitor joining us from Boston, Massachusetts. Well 310 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:33,160 Speaker 1: coming into if you can rewind all the way back 311 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 1: to January nine, it was going to be the year 312 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: of the Big Unicorn I p O lift Uber we 313 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 1: work it didn't quite turn out that successfully for public 314 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 1: equity investors. To get a sense of kind of what 315 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 1: we should be learning from some of those lessons, we 316 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: welcome Vincent w R. He has a global macro strategist 317 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: for I N T l F C Stone based in 318 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 1: San Francisco, but joining us here on a Bloomberg and 319 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:58,640 Speaker 1: Director Brooker Studio. So Vincent, thanks so much for joining 320 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:01,360 Speaker 1: us again. As we think back, put our rear view mirror, 321 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: take look at the rear view mirror. We see uber, 322 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:06,159 Speaker 1: we see lift, we see smile direct. A lot of 323 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:09,399 Speaker 1: these companies raised a lot of money at a certain valuation. 324 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: They come to the public markets, they don't get that valuation. 325 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 1: What are some of the takeaways that that that you've 326 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: seen in your work? Well, I mean it's almost a 327 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 1: mirror opposite of what happened in two thousand when you 328 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: know you had these exuberant public markets. Today it seems 329 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 1: to me that the the exuberances on the private markets 330 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 1: and the public markets are bringing some form of discipline. 331 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:36,640 Speaker 1: I mean, I was reading about Gasper trying to ip 332 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 1: you and a lot of these companies cannot get the 333 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:43,119 Speaker 1: valuations that they got in in private markets. And the 334 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 1: effect that this has had is that, um, there's no exit. Um. 335 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 1: So now you you have this backlog of unicorns that 336 00:18:52,119 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: are burning gachet of the high rates, and the big exit, 337 00:18:56,359 --> 00:19:01,399 Speaker 1: whether it's you know, a big stuff bank cash infusion 338 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:03,360 Speaker 1: or a big I p O is is no longer 339 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: going going to happen. So you have this idea that 340 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 1: actually the bust of these unicorns, the myth of the unicorns, 341 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:16,440 Speaker 1: is going to be reflationary. Can you explain the connection there, 342 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:18,920 Speaker 1: especially on a day what I should just know, we 343 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,360 Speaker 1: just gotta headline on the w t I prices fell 344 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: below fifty barrel UH for the first time in more 345 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: than a year, so we have that kind of pressure 346 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: as well, right, Um, So I think first we need 347 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 1: to understand how it was deflationary in the first place. 348 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:39,479 Speaker 1: I mean, following the away crisis you had, this UH 349 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 1: two thousand was a genuinely deflationary shock yelks flattened rates 350 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:48,199 Speaker 1: when negative or the world. And what it did is 351 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:51,680 Speaker 1: that it directed a flood of money into venture capital 352 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: and private equity, which certainly became seen as a silver 353 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 1: bullet that would allow endowment institutions to achieve the return targets. 354 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 1: And it was a very small asset class with not 355 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 1: that many great ideas, but the money got invested with 356 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: the mandate to achieve growth at any cost, kind of 357 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:10,879 Speaker 1: the Amazon model. Right. Amazon never turned the profit in 358 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: the first nine years of its existence. So the way 359 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:15,879 Speaker 1: most of these many of these companies did that was 360 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:19,159 Speaker 1: by by sending your dollar for ninety cents um and 361 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:22,679 Speaker 1: a lot of the consumer oriented unicorns were built on 362 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 1: that model. Let me achieve scale and then I'll worry 363 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 1: about profits later. So effectively, all these companies were subsidizing customers. 364 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 1: That's the example, of course, is we work lift uber 365 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 1: and UM. The more they grew, the more money they lost. 366 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:40,920 Speaker 1: UM and as long as the money kept going in 367 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 1: the loop would keep going. But without this constant in 368 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 1: flats of money, I mean, you will have to raise prices. 369 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:48,879 Speaker 1: I don't know if you've taken an uber lately, but 370 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: you'll notice that the prices have gone up significantly from 371 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: last year. And you've seen certainly a lot of a 372 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 1: lot of these unicorns come back and say, well it 373 00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:00,159 Speaker 1: will be profitable at will be profitable, while how A 374 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:03,880 Speaker 1: You're going to achieve that by raising prices. So the 375 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: reflation trade, which is one of the trades we certainly 376 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:09,399 Speaker 1: heard about when people strategies are talking about opportunities and 377 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 1: emerging markets, reflation trade small caps, we're obviously we're not 378 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:15,240 Speaker 1: saying Lisa mentioned you know you've got oil uh w 379 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 1: t I dip below fifty dollars or barrel just a 380 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:19,440 Speaker 1: few minutes ago. First time in a year, we've got 381 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 1: an inverted yield curve. What do you think are the 382 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,720 Speaker 1: conditions that need to develop for that reflation trade to 383 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: really start to develop. What I think it was trying 384 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:32,400 Speaker 1: to happen between you know, November December, you had a 385 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 1: good strength and copper prices you so value do well 386 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:37,479 Speaker 1: emerging markets. It was all the trade, he hoped. I 387 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:39,880 Speaker 1: think we had this perfect setup for it, and then 388 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 1: of course the coronavirus has thrown a big wrench into it. 389 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 1: But again, obviously I'm not a I can't really talking 390 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:49,720 Speaker 1: too intently about the coronavirus. But maybe let's let's step 391 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 1: back a little bit and think of what it means. 392 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 1: I mean, either if it's really I think if if 393 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: it turns off, we'll go back to where we were before, 394 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:01,000 Speaker 1: where you know, kind of global synchronized, we cover trade peace. 395 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 1: And if it's bad, I mean, you end up basically, 396 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:06,720 Speaker 1: you know, shutting down the factory of the world. I mean, 397 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:10,679 Speaker 1: to me down the line, that will be an inflationary event. Uh. 398 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:13,280 Speaker 1: And and the last part I would say that people 399 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:16,119 Speaker 1: probably should think about is how is that going to 400 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,879 Speaker 1: change a policy response in China. In part of the 401 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: issue with the reflasion trade was a lack of Chinese stimulus. 402 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:24,800 Speaker 1: Well maybe that is in a weird way that that 403 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 1: would be the trigger for that. You know, there there's 404 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 1: a question is it going to be reflationary in a 405 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 1: positive sense where you end up with more growth that 406 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:36,119 Speaker 1: defend has been trying for and failing to get. Or 407 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:39,400 Speaker 1: is it going to be stagflationary with prices being raised 408 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:42,359 Speaker 1: at the time when higher bond prices might mean a 409 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: collapse in the stock market, etcetera, etcetera. Play out your 410 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 1: worst case scenario. So which is it could be more likely? Well, 411 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:51,359 Speaker 1: I think I think at the beginning of the market 412 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:54,879 Speaker 1: would obviously welcome some inflation, especially in the regions like 413 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 1: Europe in Japan, But eventually my thesis was a lot 414 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 1: of the things that we treated we mistook, and uh, 415 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 1: there is no productivity improvement in the uniquorn segment of 416 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: the world. So that would be more actually inflation story 417 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:16,160 Speaker 1: stack flation ry than it would be a positive shock 418 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: over the long term. One of the interesting things just 419 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 1: coming out of Davos was the I don't know, listen, 420 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:24,640 Speaker 1: who was the person that the boom bust cycle is over? 421 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 1: Bob Princes, Yeah, Bridge Water, I know you brought up 422 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 1: many times. It's interesting do you think that has values? 423 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:33,160 Speaker 1: Has the FED taken that dynamic out of the marketplace. 424 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:36,960 Speaker 1: Do you think again, as long as you don't have 425 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:41,399 Speaker 1: inflation and the bab Princes comment makes sense, right. I 426 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 1: mean if the FED is, if central banks are freed 427 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: from their price stability mandate, they can pursue other mandates 428 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: like you know, rising asset prices or the ripple market 429 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:53,880 Speaker 1: that suddenly their hands become free to do anything, any 430 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:57,280 Speaker 1: anything that they want. If you get inflasion back, which 431 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,119 Speaker 1: is my case, then know the boom bust cycle. It's 432 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 1: not over, it's just been postponed. Vincent Louire, thank you 433 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:06,240 Speaker 1: so much for being with us, global macro strategist of 434 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:09,480 Speaker 1: I N T L F C Stone based in San Francisco, 435 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:11,879 Speaker 1: but joining us here in our interactive broker studios. We 436 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 1: really appreciate you being with us. Thanks for listening to 437 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:16,919 Speaker 1: the Bloomberg P and L podcast. You can subscribe and 438 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: listen to interviews at Apple Podcasts or whatever podcast platform 439 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:23,200 Speaker 1: you prefer. I'm Paul Sweeney, I'm on Twitter at pt Sweeney. 440 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 1: I'm Lisa abram Woyds. I'm on Twitter at Lisa abramo 441 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:29,080 Speaker 1: wits one. Before the podcast, you can always catch us worldwide. 442 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 1: I'm Bloomberg Radio,