1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, Radio News. 2 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Daybreak Asia podcast time det Prisoner. In 3 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:16,119 Speaker 2: the States, we had a rally in tech stocks. That 4 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 2: was after Amazon signed a seven year deal with open 5 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 2: ai for computing power. OpenAI will pay Amazon Web Services 6 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 2: thirty eight billion dollars for access to hundreds of thousands 7 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 2: of those in Nvidia GPUs. And in a moment we'll 8 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 2: talk US tech with Brad Bernstein of UBS Wealth Management. 9 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 2: But we begin in Hong Kong this morning, where the 10 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 2: Global Financial Leader's Investment Summit is underway, and that's where 11 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 2: we caught up with Goldmunt Sachs CEO David Solomon. He 12 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 2: spoke with Bloomberg zivon Men and David Englace. The first 13 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:52,240 Speaker 2: question had to do with Solomon's reaction to the US 14 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 2: China trade truce reached last week. 15 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 3: I think at the moment, you know, a de escalation 16 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 3: is a good thing, but there's obviously a lot of 17 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 3: work to do to really arrive at a real stable 18 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 3: deal that can endure, you know, over a period of time. 19 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 3: I'm encouraged by the prospect of a potential visit from 20 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 3: the US President that was telegraphed in the fall, But 21 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 3: for the moment, you know, I did not think the 22 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 3: escalation on either side was constructive, and so you know, 23 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 3: I much prefer a de escalation. I think both both 24 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 3: sides really had a purpose in that meeting to talk constructively, 25 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 3: to have a more de escalated environment, and that allows 26 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 3: now for constructive conversations as they move forward. 27 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 1: One year truth though, is there pros and cons to that? 28 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 4: That was? 29 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: I did a bit one year truth though? Between the 30 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:40,319 Speaker 1: two Is that a good or bad thing? I mean, 31 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: what did to do in terms of business sentiment? When 32 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 1: there was a twelve month time frame? 33 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 3: Now it's better then, it's better than an escalation at 34 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 3: unreasonable levels, which is kind of where we were. 35 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 4: You know over the most recent time. 36 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 3: Trade negotiations are complicated and there are a lot of 37 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 3: issues on the table. They need thoughtful responses and responses 38 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 3: that can be dur that both. 39 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 4: Sides embrace and get to the right place. 40 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 3: Yes, there's some uncertainty because it's a one year you know, 41 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:08,519 Speaker 3: it's a one year delay. 42 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 4: At all of this, but it's also a realistic period of. 43 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 3: Time to try to get the right kind of deal 44 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 3: done so both economies can move forward in a constructive way. 45 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 3: And look, these are the two most important economies in 46 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 3: the world. I think it's very important that you know, 47 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 3: we arrive in a better place where we can both 48 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 3: participate constructively with each other in the global growth of 49 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 3: the world. 50 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 5: I mean speaking of let me borrow your phrase, participate. 51 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 5: There's been a resurgence in equity capital market raising here. 52 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 2: In Hong Kong. 53 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 5: A lot of the Chinese companies, tech or otherwise are 54 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 5: raising capital for the future. I want to get your 55 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 5: sense as someone who sits in New York, you travel 56 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 5: the course all around the world. Is there a lot 57 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 5: of appetite now from US based investors to participate by 58 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 5: giving that capital to Chinese companies right now in order 59 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 5: to do there's you know, I realize their ambition. 60 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 3: Sure, there's there's there's there's more appetite for it than 61 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 3: there was twelve months ago. Remember actually last November, sitting 62 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 3: in a dinner in the United States with a group 63 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 3: of US investors, and this topic came up, and there 64 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 3: were a couple of investors that basically said, we all 65 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 3: should be looking to China. 66 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:17,399 Speaker 4: And the reason, the reason that had evolved that way. 67 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 3: Is if you look last fall, the prices had gotten 68 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 3: so cheap, the capital flows had moved so in the 69 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,520 Speaker 3: other direction that you just knew that things would come 70 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 3: more into balance and there'd be a recycling. 71 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 4: And we've seen that recycling. You've seen a big move. 72 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 3: And prices year over year, you've seen more foreign capital 73 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 3: come in and start to participate. That's a fundamentally different 74 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 3: question about the big capital allocators really fundamentally shifting their 75 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 3: allocations up to be higher again. So fearg direct investment 76 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 3: in China has come down, and I think one of 77 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 3: the big questions is until we understand kind of the 78 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 3: trade and the geopolitical landscape, it's harder to see significant 79 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 3: shifts back to higher levels of foreign direct investment and. 80 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 4: More capital allocation. 81 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 3: But for the moment, those flows are making for a 82 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 3: better IPO market here and more opportunities here. 83 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 4: How do you look at that? 84 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 1: I mean, the whole competition has kind of changed into 85 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: the dynamics, right. You have so many of these Chinese 86 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 1: banks now that are doing some of these deals with 87 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 1: Chinese companies when it comes to going public. 88 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 6: How does Goldman sas compete? 89 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:22,359 Speaker 3: Well, you know, Goldmen sex competes just fine, Thank you 90 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:24,919 Speaker 3: very much. When it comes to taking public companies public 91 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,479 Speaker 3: on a global stage. Golden Sex is a leading position. 92 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 3: We've had a leading position for fifty years. And there's 93 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 3: always competition in the business, and you know, we'll continue 94 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,040 Speaker 3: to compete, so we welcome competition. But we have a 95 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:39,359 Speaker 3: pretty active footprint out here, as you well know, they 96 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 3: have a pretty active footprint around the world. And look, 97 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 3: one of the big advantages. I just had breakfast this 98 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 3: morning with a company here that it's actually a Chinese company, 99 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 3: but the you know, the CEO, the founder was here 100 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 3: and why does he value Golden Sex. He values Golden 101 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 3: Sex because we have access to people, information, capital markets 102 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 3: all over the world, you know, not just in a 103 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:01,600 Speaker 3: narrow portion of the world. 104 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,359 Speaker 4: And so it's a competitive business. It always will be. 105 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,720 Speaker 4: But I'm comfortable that we have the resources in the 106 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 4: position to compete. 107 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 5: Effectively, right And you know, you know I've been rereading 108 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 5: up of course, and I understand your history. You guys 109 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 5: have been doing business in China very long time. 110 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 6: You guys took the. 111 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 5: Big banks public back twenty plus years ago. So I 112 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 5: mean you're headed there, in my understanding after here, you're 113 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 5: going to China of course to speak with regulators, what 114 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:28,279 Speaker 5: have you. What's your long term vision for difranchise in 115 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 5: Greater China? What do you want what do you want 116 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:32,479 Speaker 5: your franchise to become longer? 117 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 3: I think you have to look at Goldman Sachs and 118 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:38,719 Speaker 3: just think strategically that as a global firm, that when 119 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 3: you think about our businesses, what are our two big 120 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 3: businesses global banking and markets, the investment banking and trading 121 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 3: business and asset and wealth management. And so if you 122 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 3: think about how we think strategically about the firm, what 123 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 3: advantages does the firm have Besides the fact that we 124 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 3: have at scale businesses, we're very good at those activities. 125 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 3: We're leaders of those activities, and we have a right 126 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 3: to compete and win, you know, in those activities. Another 127 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 3: big advantage for the firm is we're truly global, and 128 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,919 Speaker 3: in fact we're more global and have a capacity to 129 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 3: communicate and interact globally for our clients in a way 130 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 3: that not many firms can. And so if you think 131 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 3: about where GDP is in the world, where big economies 132 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 3: are in the world, you know, China is always going 133 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 3: to fit that bill. And barring a much more significant 134 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:28,479 Speaker 3: shift in geopolitics and the relationship between the US and China. 135 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 3: They're definitely issues. They are definitely things that need to 136 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 3: be sorted. But China's going to continue to be one 137 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:36,160 Speaker 3: of the most important economies in the world. The US 138 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:38,359 Speaker 3: is going to continue to be the most important economy 139 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 3: in the world, and we're linked. And so as a 140 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 3: big global firm that does what we do, we have 141 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 3: to be long term committed to serving our clients that 142 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:51,359 Speaker 3: need access to advice, capital and resources, you know, in 143 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 3: China and around the world. And of course we've got 144 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 3: to do that in whatever environment, the regulatory structure or 145 00:06:57,839 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 3: the geopolitics play up. 146 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 4: But we're long term committed. We've been long term committed. 147 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 3: And will remain long term committed unless there was something 148 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 3: that significantly changed that. 149 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:09,280 Speaker 1: I'm glad you mentioned that because we've seen governments being 150 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: I guess more involved in some of these business deals. 151 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 1: I take a look at Intel, for example, I look 152 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: at Nippon Steel, even C. K. Hutch, which almost as 153 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: was a sole advisor to what's the advice now to 154 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: clients now in terms of that intervention risk, Well, you just. 155 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 3: Mentioned three different deals and they're completely different, right, I 156 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 3: mean they're just completely different. Governments are always going to 157 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 3: apply in and weigh in on different transactions. 158 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 4: There are regulatory approvals in the United States, Aciphius. 159 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 3: There, I mean, there are all sorts of issues where 160 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 3: government's weigh in. 161 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 4: That is a very different thing, very different thing that. 162 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 3: A government taking an investment, you know, in a specific company. 163 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 3: Sure it wouldn't surprise you. I'm not a big fan 164 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 3: of that as a general practice. That doesn't mean there 165 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 3: aren't exceptions, because I believe that the markets should allow 166 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 3: capital formation and competition, you know, around companies, and you 167 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 3: know this administration is is in one or two situations 168 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 3: they're taking actions like that. You know, as I said, 169 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 3: I'm not black and white and dogmatic. There can be 170 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 3: exceptional circumstances, but I don't think as a general practice 171 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 3: having governments take stakes and companies is the direction of travel. 172 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 4: We want our free market system to go right. 173 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 5: You mentioned how would you describe the current environment for 174 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 5: deals going into next year? Because I remember just sitting 175 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 5: here this time last year and we were going into 176 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 5: twenty twenty five with it was a US election. We 177 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 5: weren't sure what were the guardrails were going to be 178 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 5: looking at next year. As speaking with Davanne, I can't 179 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 5: seem to think about think of a major risk apart 180 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 5: from a gainst Fraut evaluation. 181 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 6: We can talk about that later. 182 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 5: But what's your sense of the environment right now and 183 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 5: what risks we have to consider what's not obvious. 184 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 3: Well in the you know, in the US, the US 185 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:49,599 Speaker 3: is a huge part of the global M and A 186 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:53,679 Speaker 3: market either for target or acquire right. You know, I 187 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 3: would say it's it's extremely constructive and we see it. 188 00:08:56,679 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 4: You know, in our advisory business. 189 00:08:58,040 --> 00:08:59,679 Speaker 3: You could take a look at our you know, M 190 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 3: and A revenues last quarter, what's your reflection of deals closing. 191 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 4: But if you also go through our earnings. 192 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 3: Call, you know, we made a comment about the level 193 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:08,959 Speaker 3: of our m and A backlaw at a very high 194 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 3: level of our MNA backlog, and that's just an indication 195 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 3: to the fact that there's a lot of activity inside 196 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 3: the firm. I say this is really rooted from the 197 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:19,440 Speaker 3: fact that we went through a period for four years 198 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 3: during the Biden administration where if you wanted to do 199 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 3: something strategically, you wanted to do something significant from an 200 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 3: M and A perspective, whatever the question was, the answer 201 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 3: was No, we're now an environment where whatever the. 202 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 4: Question is, the answer is maybe. 203 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,719 Speaker 3: And I think CEOs are unleashed in believing that they 204 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 3: have a chance of doing strategic things to advance their position, 205 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,680 Speaker 3: to advance their scale, to advance you know, how they 206 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 3: sit competitively. And so we see a tremendous backlog of 207 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 3: significant consolidating situations, what i'll call large cap M and A. 208 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 3: Large cap M and A in the United States is 209 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 3: up very very meaningfully deals over ten billion dollars, very. 210 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 4: Very meaningfully year of a year. 211 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 3: And so I think we're in a pretty constructive environment. 212 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 3: And my expectation is twenty six and twenty seven will 213 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 3: be quite constructive in terms of large cap M and A, 214 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:06,720 Speaker 3: particularly in the United States. 215 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 1: Obviously, we've been talking about AI. That's a big thing 216 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: in terms of how does it work for Golden assass 217 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: in terms of operational efficiencies, How does the onslought of 218 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 1: AI really going to impact how you hire or even 219 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 1: just headcount in this part of the world. 220 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,680 Speaker 3: Now, Dad, well, it's you know, it's interesting to me 221 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:25,959 Speaker 3: that you go right to headcount and and I actually 222 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,959 Speaker 3: think that you know that that that's a different. 223 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 4: Lens than the lens that we would look at. 224 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 3: And I don't know if you saw, but when we 225 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:36,559 Speaker 3: reported earnings two weeks ago, we put out a memo 226 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:40,320 Speaker 3: that we called Goldman Sachs one Goldman SAX three point 227 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 3: zero where we highlighted the approach that we were taking 228 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 3: to integrating AI and we talked about a handful of 229 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 3: things that were goals, including you know, operating efficiency, automation, 230 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 3: better sales management, and then we identified six processes that 231 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:58,680 Speaker 3: we were going to look at from a very fresh 232 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 3: perspective to see if we can and automate them and 233 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 3: build better efficiency so that we would have more capacity 234 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 3: to invest in areas in the business where we see 235 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:10,679 Speaker 3: growth opportunities. And so, you know, I think for a 236 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 3: FIRMI Goldman Sachs, there are two avenues here. One, we 237 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 3: have very smart people and we can put these tools 238 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 3: in their hands and that makes them more productive. And 239 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,559 Speaker 3: by the way, that's no different than forty years ago 240 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,320 Speaker 3: when I was starting and somebody gave me a desktop 241 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 3: computer and load US one two three software and I 242 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 3: have the ability to do a spreadsheet and a fraction 243 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 3: of the time that it took me before that tool 244 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 3: was put into my hand. That just continues. That's been 245 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 3: going on for forty years. It doesn't mean we have 246 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 3: less smart people inside Goldman Sacks. You look at Goldman 247 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 3: Sachs productivity per person. It's much higher today than it 248 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 3: was twenty five years ago, and my guess. 249 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 4: Is twenty five years from now it will be much 250 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 4: higher than it is today. 251 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 3: But our goal is to figure out ways that we 252 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 3: can invest in growth because we see lots of growth 253 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 3: in our franchise. By using AI technology to reimagine processes, 254 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 3: we can create operating efficiencies and it gives us more 255 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 3: of a scaled opportunity to reinvest in growth in the business. 256 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:10,199 Speaker 4: And look, of course, over the. 257 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:13,439 Speaker 3: Way, they are going to be shifts in jobs and 258 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 3: job functions, as there always have been. I think one 259 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 3: of the things you've got to wrestle with today is 260 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 3: the pace of this is quicker, and so since the 261 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 3: pace is quicker, there's a chance that it might be 262 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 3: a little bit more disruptive in the short term. But 263 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 3: at the end of the day, technology changes jobs changes 264 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:32,960 Speaker 3: the way people work. This has been going on for 265 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 3: a long long time. It is continuing. I don't think 266 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:36,960 Speaker 3: it's different this time. 267 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 2: That was David Solomon Goldman Sachs CEO, speaking to Bloomberg 268 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 2: Savon Men and David Nglace at the Global Financial Leader's 269 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 2: Investments Summitt in Hong Kong. We're bringing it to you 270 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 2: here on the Daybreak Asia podcast. Welcome back to the 271 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 2: Daybreak Asia Podcast. I'm Doug Chrisner. T billion dollar deal 272 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 2: between Amazon and open Ai was the catalyst for a 273 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 2: rally in US tech stocks. For a closer look now, 274 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 2: I'm joined by Brad Bernstein. He is Managing director at 275 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 2: UBS Private Wealth Management. Brad is on the line from Philadelphia. 276 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for making time to chat with me 277 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 2: about this. What did you make of this rally that 278 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:21,559 Speaker 2: we had in tech shares today? I know the Amazon 279 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 2: story was a big factor, the company signing a seven 280 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,080 Speaker 2: year deal with open Ai. Talk to me about the 281 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 2: way you view this AI trade right now? 282 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 7: Well, very simply, the tech earning season so far has 283 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 7: just completely reinforced our view that the momentum behind AI 284 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 7: continues to build, not slow down as we saw today. 285 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 7: The top companies continue to report rising capital spending supported 286 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 7: largely by cash flows rather than debt, which is really important, 287 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 7: and progress is accelerating towards monetizing these investments. Bottom line, 288 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 7: We're just we maintain our conviction AI related stocks should 289 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 7: drive equity markets from here, and you know, if you're 290 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 7: not allocated to technology and AI, it's time to get 291 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:06,679 Speaker 7: some exposure. 292 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 2: I'm going to push back a little bit because Alphabet 293 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 2: today sold twenty five billion in bonds in the US 294 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 2: and in Europe, and last week we heard from Meta 295 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:18,559 Speaker 2: it sold thirty billion dollars of bonds. Is it concerning 296 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 2: to you that some of these giants are beginning to 297 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 2: tap into the corporate credit market a bit? 298 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 7: Not really, because I think they if you look at 299 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 7: the cash on hand, they have the choice. You know, 300 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 7: if you look at app some of the some of 301 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 7: the big names, they have the most cash of any 302 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 7: companies in the world. And I think they're just taking 303 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 7: advantage of bond markets right now with very tight corporate 304 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 7: credit spreads. 305 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 2: What about the concentration I mean in Nvidia is so 306 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 2: much a part of this story. Open ai as well, 307 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 2: and I was looking at data talking about the fact 308 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 2: that open ai is committed to spending one point four 309 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 2: trillion on infrastructure to build out these AI models. That's 310 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 2: an unprecedented binge. Does it even prompt a little bit 311 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 2: of concern on your hard about an investment bubble. 312 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 7: You certainly have to worry about that, but I think 313 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 7: these you know, when you look at the companies that 314 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 7: are spending the money and you look at their earnings 315 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 7: and how fast they're growing, I think it's a different environment. 316 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 6: I've been in the business twenty six years. 317 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 7: I recall ninety nine and two thousand during the tech 318 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 7: boom I started my career during that period. Evaluations are 319 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 7: very different today, Earnings are very different today, cash levels 320 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 7: are very different today. So we actually still think we're 321 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 7: in the early innings in this space. 322 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 2: So would you be adding to positions like in nvideo, 323 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 2: like Alphabet, like Meta or even Microsoft. 324 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 6: You know, we're still very positive on the AI stories. 325 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 7: I can't speak specifically on any one company, but as 326 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 7: a group, we would want to be invested in beneficiaries 327 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 7: of AI spending, whether it's the tech large cap tech, 328 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 7: whether it's infrastructure, whether it's energy. So you want to 329 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 7: be thinking about beneficiaries of AI because that is the 330 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 7: expensive area of the market, but that's also where all 331 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 7: the growth is. 332 00:15:57,120 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 2: I'm wondering about the extent to which this move that 333 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 2: we seen higher in many of these megacap tech stocks 334 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 2: is tied to the notion that the FED is going 335 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 2: to be a lot more accommodative going forward. Now, today's 336 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 2: FED speak was a little mixed, Lisa Cook, the FED Governor, 337 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 2: saying today the risk of further weakness in the labor 338 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 2: market is greater than the risk that inflation will pick up. 339 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 2: Stephen Meyron, we know his position. He thinks that policy 340 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 2: remains too restrictive, although Austin Goulesby today was saying he's 341 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 2: more concerned about inflation than jobs. How do you understand 342 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 2: the inflation story right now and the degree to which 343 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 2: FED policy is driving a lot of the price action 344 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 2: in the equity market. 345 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 7: So we see five catalysts into the end of the 346 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 7: year and in the next year that make us constructible markets. 347 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 7: The FED is number one. So keep in mind the 348 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 7: FED just started a new rate cutting cycle in September 349 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 7: with markets within one percent of an all time high. 350 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 7: This has happened thirteen prior time since nineteen eighty where 351 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 7: where the S and p's in the ear an all 352 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 7: time high within one percent and the Fed starts a 353 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 7: rate cutting cycle. The previous thirteen times the market has 354 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:09,120 Speaker 7: been positive one year later, all thirteen out of thirteen 355 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 7: with an average rate of return around fifteen percent. 356 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:13,360 Speaker 6: So we have a very positive setup. 357 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 7: We have two voting members speaking this week, we do 358 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 7: get an ADP number. You know, we believe despite the 359 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:25,720 Speaker 7: fact that we got a dubbish cut last week from 360 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 7: Jerome Pale and company, we still believe we're going to 361 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:32,239 Speaker 7: get cuts at the next three FED meetings. So we 362 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:35,719 Speaker 7: see a cut in December, a cut in January, and 363 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:37,719 Speaker 7: a cut in March. 364 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 6: Why because of weakening labor. 365 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 7: We're in a really unique time, doug where the economy 366 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 7: when you look at the economy, you know, Atlanta Fed, 367 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 7: the Atlanta Fed today increase their GDP estimate for the 368 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:54,920 Speaker 7: third quarter from three point nine to four percent because 369 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 7: of the ism number this morning, so they're seeing the 370 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:01,720 Speaker 7: Atlanta Fed not ubs. The Atlanta Fed is seeing four 371 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 7: percent GDP. But yet at the same time, unemployment is weakening, 372 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:08,399 Speaker 7: most likely due to immigration policy and probably because of 373 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:09,920 Speaker 7: the uncertainty are around tariffs. 374 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 6: So we have a. 375 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 7: Unique time in our markets where we have a solid 376 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 7: economy which is benefiting corporate America, but weakening employment because 377 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:25,439 Speaker 7: of the uncertainties around immigration and trade. So economy, that's 378 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 7: the second catalyst. Third catalyst would be the earnings, which 379 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:33,359 Speaker 7: have just been unbelievable. Eighty percent that have reported. We've 380 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 7: seen two thirds of the S and P five hundred report. 381 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 7: We're going to see another twenty five percent or so 382 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:41,639 Speaker 7: this week. Eighty percent of companies have beaten. Earnings growth 383 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:44,880 Speaker 7: is up around so far twelve point seven percent. Estimates 384 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 7: were around nine percent growth. Five of the Magnificent seven 385 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:52,120 Speaker 7: reported this past week delivering a mixed but broadly constructive read. 386 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 7: So earnings. Earnings are really been unbelievable, I think, supported 387 00:18:56,600 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 7: by the economy. And then we've had dscale. This is 388 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 7: number four from trade uncertainty with China in the US. 389 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:07,920 Speaker 7: Granted it's only a one year deal, it's not permanent deal, 390 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 7: but it certainly de escalates and takes a lot of 391 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 7: the short term angst out of the markets that created 392 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 7: a lot of volatility in the last few weeks. And 393 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 7: then our fifth catalyst is the seven and a half 394 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 7: trillion in cash. So every time the Fed cuts, and 395 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 7: like I said, we see three more cuts between now 396 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:27,120 Speaker 7: and March three of the next meetings, money market rates 397 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:30,400 Speaker 7: will come down and it makes stocks and bonds far 398 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 7: more attractive, but it's another catalyst for money going into markets. 399 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 2: Brad, you mentioned the Atlanta Fed GDP now forecast being 400 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 2: at four percent right now. Do you have a sense 401 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,679 Speaker 2: of how much of that is tied to the AI 402 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:46,880 Speaker 2: story and this massive investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure. 403 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 7: It's a great question. I think it's certainly is Certainly 404 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 7: it's helping. I don't know what percentage it is, but 405 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 7: it's certainly having a big impact. 406 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 2: Ed Yard Danny, you mentioned your career going back to 407 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:01,879 Speaker 2: around the two thousands, and I remember ed at that 408 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 2: point with a lot of calls on the equity market 409 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 2: back in the day. He is now the founder of 410 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:09,959 Speaker 2: Yar Denny Research. He was saying today there are simply 411 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:12,439 Speaker 2: too many bulls in the market, and all it takes 412 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:16,280 Speaker 2: is one unexpected event that could knock stocks down from 413 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 2: their highs, given the fact that we're seeing really really 414 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,040 Speaker 2: poor market breadth right now. Does he have a point? 415 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 7: I think he always has them. I think that's that's 416 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 7: true in any environment. I think markets could always have 417 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 7: pullbacks based on unexpected news, whether it's trade related, geopolitical, 418 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 7: or something that we can't foresee, like the countless experiences 419 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:41,959 Speaker 7: we've had in the last ten twenty years with for example, 420 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 7: COVID and any of the other things that were unpredictable. 421 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 7: You know, markets are an incredible, incredible investment. Stocks have 422 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,119 Speaker 7: averaged eleven twelve percent going back to nineteen fifty, but 423 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 7: they go up eight out of ten years, they go 424 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 7: down two out of ten, and we average about a 425 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,880 Speaker 7: twelve or thirteen percent annual pullback because of the volatility 426 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 7: in the markets. 427 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:03,199 Speaker 6: You have to understand that. 428 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 7: And as long as you're okay with that, and your 429 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 7: investments are more than for your money that's invested in 430 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:10,919 Speaker 7: the markets is at least for three to five years, 431 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:11,960 Speaker 7: it's a great place to be. 432 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 2: So, Brad, I guess what I was more specifically wondering 433 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 2: is whether or not you're concerned about market breadth and 434 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:20,959 Speaker 2: the fact that it seems to be so narrow today. 435 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 2: Is that a concern to you at all? 436 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,959 Speaker 6: It certainly is more narrow than we would like to see. 437 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 7: And I think if you look back at the last 438 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:32,240 Speaker 7: couple of months, the SMP has crushed the equal Weight 439 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 7: Index by one of the biggest discrepancies in many, many years, 440 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 7: and it is concerning, and I do think that is 441 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 7: something to absolutely watch. But I just think the overwhelming 442 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:47,880 Speaker 7: positive catalysts going in to twenty six will overweigh any 443 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 7: of those uncertainties and those short term risks. 444 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:52,720 Speaker 2: Brad will leave it there. It's always a pleasure. Thanks 445 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:56,119 Speaker 2: very much. Brad Bernstein there, Managing director at UBS Private 446 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 2: Wealth Management, joining us from Philadelphia here on the Daybreak. 447 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 2: As you, thanks for listening to today's episode of the 448 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 2: Bloomberg Daybreak Asia Edition podcast. Each weekday, we look at 449 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 2: the story shaping markets, finance, and geopolitics in the Asia Pacific. 450 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 2: You can find us on Apple, Spotify, the Bloomberg Podcast 451 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:19,920 Speaker 2: YouTube channel, or anywhere else you listen. Join us again 452 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 2: tomorrow for insight on the market moves from Hong Kong 453 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 2: to Singapore and Australia. I'm Doug Chrisner, and this is 454 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 2: Bloomberg