1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Bloomberg Markets Podcast. I'm Paul Sweeney, alongside 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: my co host Matt Miller. Every business day we bring 3 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: you interviews from CEOs, market pros, and Bloomberg experts, along 4 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: with essential market moving news. Find the Bloomberg Markets podcasted 5 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,600 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts, and at 6 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: Bloomberg dot com Slash podcast. Lots of moving pieces in Ukraine. 7 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: Let's get the latest. We're so fortunate of Agricuntrill on 8 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: the ground, I believe in Poland. She's a TV producer 9 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,479 Speaker 1: for Bloomberg News. Tell us where you are, generally speaking, 10 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 1: what you can disclose and kind of what you're seeing 11 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: on the ground here. Hi, Yes, So I'm at the 12 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: station in Cemisal, which is a town in southeast Poland 13 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: that has received a huge amount of refugees in the 14 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 1: last several weeks. Um, I'm at the station here where 15 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: a lot of refugees they're getting trained directly from Ukraine here, 16 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: and also a lot of pedestrians that got went over. 17 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: They came over the border on foot are then taken 18 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:05,119 Speaker 1: in busses from the border itself to this town. When 19 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 1: you talk about not only the humanitarian aspect of this, 20 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: but the economic aspect as well, Aggie, how we're both 21 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: sides of this feeling the economic sanctions that have been 22 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 1: put in place. Given as Paul said, I mean we're 23 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 1: now entering week four, Yes, so we're clearly seeing from 24 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 1: the European size that there is some sanction fatigue, potentially 25 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: from countries that are worried about the impact to their 26 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:36,479 Speaker 1: own economies of the sanctions on Russia. The sanctions seem 27 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,960 Speaker 1: to have significant effect on the Russian economy, but Biden, 28 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: who is coming to Europe in order to push for 29 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: a harder hitting sanctions against Russia, is going to have 30 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: to come up against a European Union that is quite 31 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: split on how much they can double down on the 32 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: sanctions in case it also hits parts of the European 33 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: economy significantly, especially when we're looking at places like Germany, 34 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: which is still so heavily dependent on Russian gas. Aggie. 35 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 1: You're literally on the ground there, um as you see 36 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: the refugees come in. How is Europe planning on dealing 37 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 1: with what I've seen three to four million refugees and 38 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 1: I guess that number is going to continue to grow. 39 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: Is there a plan who's leading kind of the the 40 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 1: way to house these refugees for what might be a 41 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: fairly long stay. I think you're pointing at a key thing. 42 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 1: There is the question of how long this day will be. 43 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: Because in the short term the work has been quite 44 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: efficient to manage to get people into places away from 45 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: the border. For the most part, people are able to 46 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 1: find accommodation, sort of ad hoc accommodation in other places, 47 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 1: but that's putting a lot of pressure on cities. A 48 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 1: huge amount of the refugees who arrived in Poland, for instance, 49 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: are staying in Poland. The U N a c I. 50 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 1: Sas is around all the refugees that came in to 51 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:00,239 Speaker 1: Poland are probably going to stay there, and that means 52 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 1: that there's going to be a lot of pressure on Poland, 53 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:05,799 Speaker 1: a country that's already reeling from the coronavirus like many countries, 54 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,519 Speaker 1: and trying to find the funding in order to secure 55 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: housing and access to the labor market. And also because 56 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:17,119 Speaker 1: so many of these refugees are minors, many are unaccompanied miners, 57 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 1: it's also a question of how to get them into 58 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: the education system. And so in the short term it 59 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 1: seems to have worked but it is a question is 60 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: that what this means in the long term and how 61 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 1: that's going to look going forward. And you think about Ague, 62 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: this is a not only a story about Poland, but 63 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: the rest of Eastern Europe that responds any sort of 64 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: additional help they can get from more of the Western 65 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: European countries, how is the rest of Eastern Europe responding 66 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: acting and the likes a huge amount of Eastern Europe 67 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: it feels the pressure that Russia is putting on Ukraine 68 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: also themselves, and so first and foremost there has been 69 00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 1: a lot of solidarity on the ground to help the refugee, 70 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: but they are expecting more support, especially fiscal support from 71 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: the European Union, and that is something that a lot 72 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: of these countries have been pushing for. And so going forward, 73 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: this is going to be a concern as to how 74 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: the resource allocation works um for for instance, unlocking the 75 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: Coronavirus Recovery Fund in order to support these countries that 76 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 1: are dealing with these influxes of refugees. So, from your 77 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: position on the on the ground there in Poland, is 78 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 1: there a consensus as to how this might play out? Aggie? 79 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 1: It's quite difficult to say, But the thing I hear, 80 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: especially from a lot of the people coming over the border, 81 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: is that they are really hopeful for this to be 82 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,799 Speaker 1: a temporary issue. Pretty Much everyone I speak to here 83 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,239 Speaker 1: has an intention to return to Ukraine at some point, 84 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: and they do not want to settle completely in another country. 85 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 1: They want to be able to return to their families. Also, 86 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: because it is notable that so many of the people 87 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: who left women and children, and they've often been split 88 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 1: up from the men in their family who have remained 89 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:07,840 Speaker 1: in Ukraine. So there is a concern for a lot 90 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: of them that they hope that this is short lived. 91 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: But as the war goes into its second month, there 92 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:14,919 Speaker 1: are a lot of people now looking at what those 93 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: next steps will all. Right, control, We appreciate getting your 94 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 1: thoughts in perspective. A contral she's a TV producer for 95 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 1: Bloomberg News. She has been she's based in Berlin, She's 96 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:31,160 Speaker 1: but she's been on that southeastern border of Poland and Ukraine, 97 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: and she's getting us first hand reporting about the refugee 98 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,280 Speaker 1: situation and um as a continuous day by day and 99 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 1: as she mentioned, going into the second month here, and 100 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: I'm not sure anybody on either side thought that it 101 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: would continue on here into its second month, but we 102 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 1: will certainly continue our reporting, and we really thank Aggie 103 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: for taking time out to share some of her first 104 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: hand views of what's happening on the ground in that 105 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:04,839 Speaker 1: border of Poland and Ukraine. We've got a federal Reserve 106 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:08,720 Speaker 1: which has pivoted noticeably to a more hawkish view. We're 107 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 1: talking about potentially seven eight rate hikes over the next year, uh, 108 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: perhaps fifty basis point rate hikes. What are assets to 109 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 1: do here? What are risk assets to do in that 110 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 1: type of environment? Let's check them with Randy Swimmer, co 111 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:22,839 Speaker 1: head of Senior Lending and a senior managing director Churchill 112 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,919 Speaker 1: Asset Management. Randy, it's been a while since these financial 113 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: markets have had to deal with a significantly um an 114 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: environment that has significant rate increases in the offing. How 115 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: do you think about that? Yeah, And in fact, it's 116 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: the kind of thing that expectations for the kind of 117 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: moves that have happened and that actually embarked on last 118 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:49,159 Speaker 1: week have been growing. And now that in fact that 119 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 1: has been behind us. And in fact, if anything, UH 120 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 1: FED j R. Powell has uh doubled down a little 121 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:00,720 Speaker 1: bit and said, hey, don't worry if things, if inflation 122 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 1: doesn't get tamed, we're prepared to go even at fifty 123 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 1: basis points. Uh per hike I think has given investors 124 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: some kind of path to uh you know, less volatility 125 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: in the sense that they know where this is headed. Now, 126 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: what's into into the conversation has been ge do these 127 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: federate hike because they potentially lead to a slowdown, and 128 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: we're starting to see more observers coming out and starting 129 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: to worry about that. UM Now, I still think that 130 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: the signs, the economic signs that are around us, you know, 131 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 1: with housing starts and commercial and manufacturing production still being 132 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: up solidly, expectations for this year for GDP still you know, 133 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: in that kind of high to the low threes range 134 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: in a positive way, still is sending I think a 135 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: very good growth message overall to UH two investors. So 136 00:07:58,000 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: I don't think there's a chance of a recession and 137 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 1: time soon, but it is at least giving certainly credit 138 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: investors something to look at. But I do think that 139 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: overall people are feeling now that if that's on a 140 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: path removed some uncertainty regarding the direction certainly great and 141 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 1: how many are going to be happening over the next 142 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 1: year too, and then we'll see how this unfolds, you know, Randy, 143 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 1: it's interesting I've heard a lot of commentary that Powell 144 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 1: has been speaking a lot and talking about those big 145 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,679 Speaker 1: moves and the potential from maybe fifty basis points are 146 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:36,679 Speaker 1: moving faster than to make sure that the equity markets 147 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: are doing a lot of his job for him when 148 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 1: it comes to some of those fight UH tightening financial conditions. 149 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: How are you thinking about the messaging from this Federal Reserve? Well, 150 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: and in fact, they've done a very good job I 151 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 1: think of removing a lot of a doubt once the 152 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:58,960 Speaker 1: pivot began in November when transitory was taken out of 153 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:03,440 Speaker 1: the out of their their playbook, and it became obvious 154 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: that this was a pretty serious issue that was not 155 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 1: going away in terms of inflation. Ever since November, you know, 156 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:12,319 Speaker 1: four months ago, we now have seen a pretty consistent, 157 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: solid messaging coming out from the Fed. And I do 158 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: think if you look at public equities as an example, 159 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 1: have pretty much fully recovered values um, you know, certainly 160 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: over the last thirty days as we saw following the 161 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: Ukraine UH invasion February twenty four, so I think that 162 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: generally markets have factored in both the worst case scenario 163 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: at least we hope um for the Ukraine war, and 164 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 1: then also to some extent where the ultimate endgame is 165 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 1: for the FED, which they've advertised pretty much is going 166 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 1: to end up at a kind of two to three 167 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: uh FED funds rate, which would then match expected inflation. 168 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: And I think we're seeing, um, you know, some stability 169 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: in all markets. We still have not a new issue 170 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 1: UH deal flow would turn to the high yield market 171 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: or the leverage loan market in the great extent, but 172 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 1: at least things have calmed down certainly over the last 173 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 1: several days. Yeah, Randy, that that's where I wanted to go. 174 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:16,319 Speaker 1: I want, I want to take advantage of your experience 175 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 1: in the leverage loan business, you know, with rising interest rates, 176 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 1: how do you think you know, theo's private equity folks, 177 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: which are such big consumers of of leverage debt leverage loans, 178 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: how do you envision the M and A market over 179 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: the next say, twelve months, we can see a pullback 180 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 1: and activity. Do you think, Well, we came off a 181 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 1: huge not just the Churchill but also just you know, 182 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: with private equity deployment, private credit deployment. It was in 183 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: many ways probably an environment that would be hard to 184 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: replicate for this year. We still think activity UH and 185 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: the M and A pipeline is going to be solid 186 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,199 Speaker 1: for this year. Certainly the economy. We believe people will 187 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 1: continue to be constructive for credit. It doesn't have to 188 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,559 Speaker 1: be toward growth in order for credit to be two 189 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:03,679 Speaker 1: to work UM. And I think private equity, which has 190 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 1: raised so much money over the last you know, three 191 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:10,319 Speaker 1: or four or five, seven years, UM, that dry powder 192 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: which is going to be deployed, is going to be 193 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 1: deployed UM in partnership with direct lenders such as Churchill 194 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:21,080 Speaker 1: that have worked with these private equity firms over many 195 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 1: different texts of markets and through volatility when the public 196 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 1: markets were either sidelinders set down, direct lenders such as 197 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: ourselves had plenty of dry powder to help the dry 198 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 1: powder of our private equi clients be deployed. So if 199 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 1: you go back upstream and look at where the M 200 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 1: and A market is, we're seeing evidence of another solid 201 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: year with a number of EM and A bankers who 202 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 1: are working on books to be launched over the next 203 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 1: thirty days. Reports we get from them is it's going 204 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 1: to be a very busy second quarter. And as long 205 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: as the the p that we've just been talking about 206 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:03,440 Speaker 1: geopolitical and interest rates and inflation, which we think is 207 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 1: going to get under control in most of the conomists 208 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 1: believe it will as continue to go up. As long 209 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: as those things continue on the path, we think the 210 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 1: two is going to be poised for a little solid year. 211 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 1: From her and then Nani, alright, good stuff, Randy, really 212 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: appreciate you taking the time. Randy Schrimmer, co head of 213 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: Senior Lending and Senior Managing Director Churchill Asset Management. One 214 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,840 Speaker 1: of the I guess the fallouts of the war in 215 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: Ukraine is it's really highlighting the energy dependence that much 216 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:38,440 Speaker 1: of Europe, particularly Germany, has on Russia. And of course 217 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: that raises a question I think here on these shores 218 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: is how is the US position in terms of its 219 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:47,440 Speaker 1: energy independence. Checking with Marian Brown, she's a president of 220 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 1: Southern California Gas Company, h Miriam, give us a sense 221 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: of you know, I guess a lot of people are 222 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: now probably thinking a little bit more about energy independence 223 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: given what we're seeing in terms of the uncertain these 224 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 1: and disruptions in Europe. How do you think about that? Yeah, 225 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: thanks so much for the questions. So, when we think 226 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:11,439 Speaker 1: about energy independence, especially these days, we think about meeting 227 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 1: the twin goals of energy security and the clean energy transition, 228 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 1: and how best to meet that And obviously, I think, 229 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: and you're hearing it from a lot of your viewers, 230 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 1: as it's about investing in diverse domestic resources and that 231 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: those resources need to increasingly be renewable over time. And 232 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 1: I think the important thing there is that gas, like 233 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: um like electricity, can be renewable. How do you make 234 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 1: it reliable? Now? I mean, we've talked a lot about 235 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:46,960 Speaker 1: the importance of the shift to renewables, but when some 236 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 1: of those fail or we've done it in such a 237 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:51,959 Speaker 1: way where it's so fast that it isn't reliable, how 238 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 1: do you make sure that that transition is smooth and 239 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: also reliable as well? Yeah, you complement renewable electricity, which 240 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 1: can be intermittent, to your point, with renewable gases, which 241 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: is what gives you that renewable and that reliability and 242 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:10,640 Speaker 1: that resiliency. And that's why you're seeing this tremendous momentum 243 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: globally and also nationally on hydrogen. You know it is 244 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 1: an energy dense gas, but it's not a greenhouse gas, 245 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 1: and it makes renewables from sun and wind available seven 246 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 1: three sixty five days a year. What role does how 247 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 1: you're GM play. We think it's an important, growing part, 248 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: important part of the mix that's going to help us 249 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:38,119 Speaker 1: to meet those twin goals around energy independence, energy security, 250 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 1: and clean energy faster UM. We see UM from our 251 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 1: end that the costs are coming down really significantly, and 252 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 1: what it does is it adds to energy diversity. And 253 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 1: any time you create a jump in the access to energy, 254 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 1: you're going to have a positive impact on energy prices. 255 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: And that's why you know our company has actually leaned 256 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: in on hydrogen and we announced the Big Project UM 257 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 1: a few weeks ago Angeles Link on it. Can you 258 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 1: talk to us about the specific challenges that California faces 259 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 1: In full disclosure, I'm from the Central Valley and in 260 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: the summer we joke we're politely asked to unplug our 261 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: appliances because it's a hundred and five degrees and there's 262 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: no energy and no one can afford an eight hundred 263 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 1: dollar electric bill when you're running the a C. So 264 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 1: can you talk to us about the specific challenges that 265 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 1: you're seen in California and particularly your southern California. Yeah. Absolutely, 266 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 1: California is a bit of an island on energy and 267 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 1: so UM we deal with a tense dynamic on supply 268 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 1: and demand. And to your point, I think that there 269 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: is an increased focus about needing to bring more supply 270 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: um to customers and also managed demand with energy efficiency, 271 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 1: and California does have a good story to tell on 272 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 1: on energy efficiency per capita. But I think you're seeing 273 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: a lot of focus in the state on bringing increased supplies. Miriam. 274 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 1: About nuclear energy, how does that fit into the equation 275 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: I'm hearing from certain folks within that space that you know, 276 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 1: there's a lot of advances being made where you don't 277 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 1: you don't need to build these huge nuclear facilities that 278 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 1: pose a significant risk. Maybe you can do it on 279 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 1: a much smaller, more nimble scale. How do you think 280 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: about nuclear? Yeah, nuclear, that's a complicated issue here in California, 281 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 1: But I think it's a complicated issue federally because we 282 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: have a waste management issue. So I think it's whether 283 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 1: it's a solution today maybe not, but can is it 284 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 1: going to be a part of the solution eventually maybe, 285 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 1: And so I think that we're in a place to 286 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: accomplish the goals that we have. We need all technologies 287 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 1: on the table, and I would include that one. How 288 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 1: are you thinking about the impacts from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 289 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: We've talked a lot about the gas market in Europe. 290 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 1: Your taking look at European gas prices already up thirty 291 00:16:57,120 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 1: or four percent on the day is Putin had been 292 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 1: looking to seek payment in rubles. Europe though, feels distant 293 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 1: right from the US and from your southern California. But 294 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: what do you see as the impacts if any UM 295 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: already here on this market. I think the lesson of 296 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: the last several weeks really is urgency. There was already 297 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: a trend and you heard about it at SERO Week 298 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: two weeks ago, on the drive for energy security and 299 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:28,119 Speaker 1: clean energy transition. And I think that the experience from 300 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 1: from what's going on in Europe and Ukraine UM really 301 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 1: has put in urgency because I think, you know, this 302 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 1: won't be the last cold winter, and it won't be 303 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: the last hot summer that we just had, and it 304 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: won't be the last geo political event that we have 305 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: history may not repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme. 306 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: So we need to learn from this and UM accelerate 307 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: our investments UM towards towards energy security and the clean 308 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:57,400 Speaker 1: energy transition. And Mariam just quickly here climate change. Boy, 309 00:17:57,640 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 1: you just see coming out of the great state of California. 310 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:02,120 Speaker 1: If it's not wildfire, it's a mud slide, it's an earthquake. 311 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: How does climate change factor into how you kind of 312 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:10,679 Speaker 1: think about your forecasting going forward? Climate policy is UM 313 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 1: really needs to be a factor in investment decisions and 314 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: managing climate risk is definitely part of our investment decisions. 315 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 1: And part of that is future proofing our existing infrastructure 316 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 1: and we've got a significant amount of it were the 317 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: largest gas utility in the country UM. And another part 318 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:30,879 Speaker 1: of it is new infrastructure, so UM the announcement of 319 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 1: the UM large green hydrogen project that we announced Angeles Link, 320 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:39,360 Speaker 1: that's part of it. And it's also as we modernize 321 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 1: our infrastructure UM that we look to make it resilient 322 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:47,440 Speaker 1: to be able to adapt to changing climate and externalities. 323 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 1: All Right, Marian Brown, thank you so much for joining us. 324 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 1: Marian Brown, President of Southern California Gas Company. Let's switch 325 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 1: ears a little bit and talk about recession hedges. We've 326 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:04,320 Speaker 1: been hearing a lot more. I think over the last 327 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 1: couple of weeks, if people talking about recession as a 328 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 1: result of this feder reserve action, then that might be 329 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 1: a risk. And a lot of folks are saying, where 330 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:14,920 Speaker 1: do I go for some hedges? Is there any place 331 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 1: in the commodity complex that I can go for some 332 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 1: hedges on recession. Let's bringing Mike mcglogan's senior Commodity Strategies 333 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 1: for Bloomberg Intelligence. Mike, if if I'm looking for a 334 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: recession hedge, is there anything in your world of commodities 335 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:30,560 Speaker 1: that I should be looking at? Yes, But I think 336 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: the first target should be gold because I think gold 337 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:35,920 Speaker 1: right now is almost entirely dependent on if the stock 338 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:39,760 Speaker 1: market goes down and if the Fed job owning works 339 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 1: and if yields them bond y'll start declining from these levels. 340 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:45,920 Speaker 1: To me, that that would be the impetus for gold 341 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: to just break out because it's so ready. It's really 342 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:50,919 Speaker 1: technically looks strong, fundamentally looks strong, but it has a 343 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:54,159 Speaker 1: major headman right now. It's tightening, stock markets going up, 344 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 1: you know, higher rates, higher yields, if the stock market 345 00:19:57,600 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: finally rolls over, gold should be the best place to be, 346 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:03,119 Speaker 1: in place that, you know, to really for a recession. 347 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:04,679 Speaker 1: I think gol would be the best heage. Because we 348 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:08,000 Speaker 1: get a normal recession, almost all commodity should collapse. And 349 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 1: that's the problem. Crude oil right now is almost on 350 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:12,880 Speaker 1: the screen. It is almost triple that the US cost 351 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: of production, which is part of that boom that we 352 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 1: think we're going to have in commodity production in North America. 353 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 1: Talked to us more about that. I mean taking a 354 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 1: look at crude at a hundred and fifteen dollars of barrel, 355 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:25,120 Speaker 1: and it was two weeks ago when we were looking 356 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 1: at one thirty five on some of the futures over 357 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:29,920 Speaker 1: on that big Sunday night movement. I remember that we 358 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:31,199 Speaker 1: saw and then there was a little bit of a 359 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 1: relief as we briefly did below a hundred. But wow, 360 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 1: I mean looking again back at one, what is that 361 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 1: telling you? Yeah, it's tell me that we're more likely 362 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 1: to have demand destruction now, because that's if history is 363 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 1: a guy in the significance of this rally is it's 364 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 1: the first one that's ever happened in crude oil futures 365 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: with North America net energy, crudeil, liquid fuel exporter massive exporters. 366 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:57,200 Speaker 1: The most similar recent example was two thousand and eight 367 00:20:57,200 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: crudel got to the all time high and then collap 368 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:03,479 Speaker 1: stated percent. The most recent example before that was from 369 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 1: forty and then back to twenty that high put and 370 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 1: then took fourteen years to take out. To me, we're 371 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 1: at similar risk now because this demand destruction significant and 372 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:15,119 Speaker 1: virtually all that supply that people are saying is going 373 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: to leave the market from Russia is going to China 374 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:20,719 Speaker 1: in virtually and China's demand has actually been declining. So 375 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: to me, that's the key thing. And then one thing 376 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:24,400 Speaker 1: I'll leave you with. If you look on the forward 377 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 1: curve one year from now, crude oil's training around ninety 378 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 1: dollars a barrel. That's been a significant resistance and the 379 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 1: curve for about fourteen years, and the high and the 380 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:37,800 Speaker 1: forward curve is still around one forty. So market price 381 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:40,360 Speaker 1: for the short term pain right now, and longer term 382 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 1: supply comes back on and and the demand and goes backwards. 383 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 1: To talk to me though about the differences in demand destruction, 384 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,119 Speaker 1: because I hear that if it's from a demand shock 385 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 1: then that number is lower. But if it's a supply 386 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:54,919 Speaker 1: shock to where we are now, demand destruction may not 387 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,119 Speaker 1: be until we get up to one fifty barrel. Is 388 00:21:57,119 --> 00:21:59,680 Speaker 1: there a difference in how you look at demand destruction 389 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 1: based on what the shock is and where that shock 390 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 1: is coming from. Yeah, well there's a fogg of a 391 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 1: war here. So this is the most significant event of 392 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:09,400 Speaker 1: our lifetimes. And I've been around from the six decades. 393 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: This is this compared to the Gulf War. This is 394 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 1: nothing what Russia is doing and the destruction. I think 395 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:19,159 Speaker 1: the key thing to remember is the psychological impact of 396 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: everybody in the world reading this on the tape. It's 397 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 1: not going to increase consumer spending. It's going to do 398 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:25,919 Speaker 1: the opposite, and then there's a price factor. But the 399 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:28,520 Speaker 1: key thing to remember is short term. We just got 400 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 1: the most stretched above you know, five year or four 401 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 1: year mean and crudel. Ever, yet the market didn't make 402 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 1: a new high. And why is that? Because it's a 403 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 1: different world now, so it's really hard to quantify it 404 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:42,120 Speaker 1: exactly here. But I have to use my tools and say, sure, 405 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 1: from these levels, who can make a new high? But 406 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:45,919 Speaker 1: if you look at the history of lessons, maybe we 407 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 1: get the one fifty. The enduring result is we go 408 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 1: back to fifteen stay there for ten years, which is 409 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:53,679 Speaker 1: where we have been. Fifty has been basically the average 410 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,720 Speaker 1: since the collapse in two thousand fourteen, and still it's 411 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 1: well above the US cost of production. But here's a 412 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 1: big difference. It's that dichotomy in North America really doing 413 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 1: well as a net commodity exporter and Europe and the 414 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,639 Speaker 1: rest of the world getting heart hurt really bad with 415 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:12,160 Speaker 1: recession and being net commodity importers. Mike, here's the dumb 416 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:17,480 Speaker 1: question of the day. Can the world exist without Russian oil? 417 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 1: And most notably can Europe exist without Russian oil? Well, 418 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:23,680 Speaker 1: that's the cool significant thing about this, Paul. We look 419 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 1: back this from from the future, we're going to see 420 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 1: they're fighting the twenties century war with fossil fuels, and 421 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:31,680 Speaker 1: the world's focusing on the twenty one century war economic 422 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 1: and moving forward. And wait, so let's look at this. 423 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:38,000 Speaker 1: Peak energy consumption or liquid fuel consumption US occurred about 424 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:39,679 Speaker 1: four or five years ago and it's been in decline. 425 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:42,200 Speaker 1: And that's even before e v S. It's just embracing 426 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 1: advancing technology. So once we get past this horrible period 427 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:47,960 Speaker 1: of destruction the markets. The world's gonna say, Okay, there's 428 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 1: a better way we're gonna sell this. This process of renewables, 429 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 1: and it's already started before, so I own an EV 430 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 1: for a reason. But that's also going to ramp up 431 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:59,440 Speaker 1: when the most significant key tool retiions of the entire 432 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 1: we've ever scene is that the whole manufacturing process in 433 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 1: automobiles switching to e vs. That's gonna just six Sorry, 434 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:08,200 Speaker 1: but in the meantime we're probably gonna have to recession. 435 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:11,119 Speaker 1: And yes, Russia we can do without their energy. The 436 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 1: problem is a fertilizer. That's what's gonna really hurt yields, 437 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:18,719 Speaker 1: and that's going to be a really boom for the Cornbill. Alright, 438 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:21,879 Speaker 1: Mike mcglogan giving us the lowdown on commodities, as he 439 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:25,359 Speaker 1: always does. Mike mclogan's senior Commodity Strategies for Bloomberg Intelligence. 440 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 1: He is based in Miami Beach of Florida, which is 441 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 1: a scam in and of itself, and I will get 442 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:33,480 Speaker 1: to the bottom of it at some point. Thanks for 443 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 1: listening to the Bloomberg Markets podcast. You can subscribe and 444 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:41,160 Speaker 1: listen to interviews with Apple podcasts, or whatever podcast platform 445 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:44,480 Speaker 1: you prefer. I'm Matt Miller. I'm on Twitter at Matt 446 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:48,880 Speaker 1: Miller three. On bal Sweeney, I'm on Twitter at pt Sweeney. 447 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:51,600 Speaker 1: Before the podcast, you can always catch us worldwide at 448 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:52,639 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio