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 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: with essential market moving news. Find the Bloomberg Markets Podcast 5 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,439 Speaker 1: on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts, and 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:22,080 Speaker 1: at Bloomberg dot com slash podcast. I want to get 7 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 1: right to because we've got a lot of eco talk here. 8 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: Seth Carpenter, chief economists for Morgan Stanley joins is. He's 9 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: got his PhD from Princeton, so he is familiar with 10 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: Hoagi Haven, which the best cheesteak cogi on the planet. 11 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 1: He's got his undergraduate from William and Mary, which is 12 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: a you know, good, you know, a nice foe to 13 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 1: my University of Richmond Spiders, so I'm very familiar with women. Mary. Hey, Seth, 14 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: thanks so much for joining us here. Let's start with 15 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: the FED yesterday. What's your takeaway? Uh? Yeah, quite a 16 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: quite a meeting, long conference. Uh. Inflation, inflation, Inflation came 17 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: Inflation came up so many times. Bells clearly concerned about it, 18 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: if anything, incrementally more so than in December. He said, 19 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 1: if he had the chance to revise his forecast for 20 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:05,679 Speaker 1: inflation this year, he would revise it up, so I 21 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:08,320 Speaker 1: think that's important. So was incrementally, I would say, more 22 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: hawkish than December. I think the initial reaction in markets 23 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: was that it was a ton more hawkish than before, 24 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: and I guess I'll take a little bit of the 25 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: under there. But clearly he's focused on inflation. Clearly they're 26 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 1: ready to go. Clearly they have a lot of strategizing 27 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 1: to do. So March rate hike looks really solid. I 28 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 1: think there's an open question still about the timing of 29 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 1: when they run off the balance sheet. So going into 30 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: the meeting, the market I think was extremely howk as 31 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: we were talking about four rate hikes priced into the 32 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: market at the time, all Chairman Powell had to do 33 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: was come off just relatively dubbish compared to what the 34 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 1: market was expecting, and you would have seen a risk rally, 35 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: essentially a relief rally. We saw the exact opposite. Now 36 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: you have a bond markets pricing in five full rate 37 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: hikes in two. Is the market right when it comes 38 00:01:56,040 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: to the Fed? I'm not quite sure that the straight 39 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: read yesterday was the right one. I think there was 40 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: a lot of confirmation bias going on. You're right, the 41 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: market came in feeling kind of hawkish, and then when 42 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: questions came up about you know, are you are they 43 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: going to hike at every meeting? Are they going to 44 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 1: do fifty basis point hike in March? I think the 45 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 1: market took Powell's answer, which I think he meant to be, 46 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: to not give it a steer, not give any direction. 47 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:23,399 Speaker 1: I think markets took bit as well. He didn't push back, 48 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: So it must be, you know, more likely than it 49 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: was before. Um, you know, it remains to be seen 50 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 1: a little bit. Exactly exactly, seth We had a just 51 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: a whole slow of ECO data and I'm looking at 52 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:38,239 Speaker 1: my e CEO GO screen here on the Bloomberg terminal 53 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: gives you all the the ego data here. What's the 54 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: big one for you? Was that the g d P 55 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 1: the six point nine percent print that got your tention? 56 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: Or what are you really focusing on from this morning's data? 57 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: A little bit less? So the g d D print itself. 58 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 1: I mean, it was an upside surprise. We knew the data, 59 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: we knew that it was going to be strong at 60 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: some point It's a little hard to say this with 61 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 1: a straight face, but the difference between six or something 62 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: percent versus six point nine percent, uh isn't isn't first 63 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: order huge. There was an upboard surprise in inventories, for example. 64 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: I think the components of GDP are more important than 65 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: the individual Uh. You know, the headline number for GDP 66 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: at inventories number, it's pretty pretty interesting. It might give 67 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:20,800 Speaker 1: you a little bit of relief that some of the 68 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 1: backlogs and supply chain disruptions and that sort of thing 69 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: are half the peak and starting to ease. Uh. And 70 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: so for me, it really is the components. Uh. The 71 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 1: rest of it, the durable good sort is going down. 72 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 1: I think was big. A lot of that was in transportation. 73 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: So but nevertheless, uh, you know, the momentum in the 74 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: first quarter, uh is interesting for me. But the first 75 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: quarter looks like we're going to have a bit of 76 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: a soft patch. Talk to us a little bit about 77 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: the inflation picture here, because yes, we're seeing perhaps some 78 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: signs of those supply chain pressures easing a little bit. 79 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: But Chamith how was quite clear that that's going to 80 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: stick around. Those issues are going to stick around, at 81 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: least for the remainder of this year. And I'm also 82 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 1: of looking at oil prices here, we're we're looking at 83 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: just shive. Well, we were before this recent dip here 84 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: Brent now at about eighty nine dollars a barrel, but 85 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: we were nearing barrel Goldman, for example, upgrading their forecast 86 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: to a hundred by year end. How much of the 87 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: oil picture should we be focusing on in terms of 88 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: driving the direction of the economy. So I don't think 89 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:23,279 Speaker 1: the oil picture is going to be driving the direction 90 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 1: of the economy. But there's clearly you know, strong demand 91 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 1: in the US, strong global demand, and we really have 92 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 1: a lot of questions about supply. There's a reluctance to 93 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 1: do much in the way of investment in oil given 94 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: the you know picture down the road of of the 95 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 1: push towards screening of of of the economy, and so 96 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:43,479 Speaker 1: you know, we are U facing really high oil prices. 97 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: I think I think that matters for the US that 98 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: I don't think it's the first order driver that's going 99 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: to be going on for the US in terms of 100 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: you know, real outcomes. I'm I'm more interested in how 101 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: is the consumer doing. Are we going to see that 102 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: shift in consumer spending from goods towards services that we 103 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:00,799 Speaker 1: and I think a lot of others have been expecting. 104 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:02,919 Speaker 1: I'm not sure oil is going to be driving that shift. 105 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: I think it's going to be once people have over 106 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: consumed in terms of goods, that that shift will be inevitable. 107 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: Well you read my mind when it comes to the consumer, 108 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: because I was thinking gas prices as well. When we're 109 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: talking about the consumer, though, we know that fiscal impact 110 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: is going to be fading, we know savings are being depleted. 111 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 1: Here do you continue to see that really strong consumer 112 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 1: um for maybe not this year, maybe not next year, 113 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: but continuing and say what's in the next five years 114 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: as that being a driver of the economy. I do? 115 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 1: I do. I think it's hard to imagine the US 116 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 1: economy where the consumer is not the driver. The U 117 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,279 Speaker 1: S economy is. I think for the foreseeable future are 118 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 1: going to be a reflection of the U. S. Consumer. 119 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: I think the fiscal uh fading this year is an 120 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: interesting point. We know that the child tax credit, for example, 121 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: ended and it didn't get extended because build back Better 122 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,600 Speaker 1: didn't get passed. I think there in lies one serious 123 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 1: short term headwind for the consumer but if over the 124 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: horizons that you're talking thinking about a couple of years, 125 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: I think it really is going to come down to 126 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,599 Speaker 1: what's going on with job creation, what's going on with 127 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:08,599 Speaker 1: with wages, because that's going to be the core of 128 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:11,719 Speaker 1: what's driving consumer spending. And and yeah, I think I 129 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:13,799 Speaker 1: think is going to be king of the US economy 130 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:17,279 Speaker 1: for the foreseeable future. Alright, so thanks so much for 131 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:20,040 Speaker 1: joining us. Really appreciate getting some of your time here 132 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: to talk through again what we heard from the FED 133 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 1: yesterday and then obviously the EGO data that was reported 134 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,799 Speaker 1: this morning by the U. S. Government. Seth Carpenter, chief 135 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: economists for Morgan Stanley, the message is clear. Interest rates 136 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: are going up. That means the discount rate you use 137 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:45,480 Speaker 1: in your discount of cash flow goes higher. So for 138 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 1: some of those tech companies where they get a lot 139 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: of value with their terminal value, that's the thing. Let's 140 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 1: bring in somebody who thinks about tech investing and find 141 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: out how much of a thing that is. Lisa Chi, 142 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,479 Speaker 1: partner at Robo Global. Lisa, how are you guys thinking 143 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: about investing here in as we go into a what 144 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: is clearly a rising interest rate environment? How do you 145 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 1: guys think about that. I think that this UM in 146 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 1: the last several months, there's obviously a lot of focus 147 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: around some of the high growth companies and the impact. 148 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: We tend to really look at these companies in a 149 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: very longer term in terms of their transformative powers, and 150 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: the company that we're talking to are really not really 151 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: that focused and and focusing and managing their business around 152 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: interest rate. I think that is uh, definitely something that 153 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 1: we investors look at, But longer term, we do believe 154 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: that there is a lot of transformative impacts happening with 155 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: technologies and like our official intelligence and metaverse UM that's 156 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: really driving kind of the future of digital experience in 157 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: digital technology. So we tend to kind of look at 158 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: companies in a longer term and very somatic way. So 159 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: we're finding that our investors under stan uh some of 160 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: the technologies and the longer term secular trends are really 161 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: driving the growth here. So if you do look at 162 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 1: it that way, I think the current dynamics of all 163 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 1: the focus and the panic around interest rate seems very 164 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: short term. It kind of sounds like you're saying that 165 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: perhaps you could see continued growth in some of these 166 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: big tech names that we've seen in the last say decade. 167 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: What's your thought on that is that are we are 168 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 1: we done with that kind of big boom in those 169 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 1: big tech companies or is there still more to come. 170 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 1: I think there's a lot more to come. I think 171 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 1: we're really seeing this next generation of Internet technology that's 172 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: really developing. You're seeing the ecosystem of companies that's been 173 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: driven by the tech giants. And you saw that a 174 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:49,600 Speaker 1: few nights ago when Microsoft CEO made a lot of 175 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 1: comments about increasing their R and D investments around metaverse 176 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:55,599 Speaker 1: technologies and and the gaming and also they're in the 177 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 1: price technology. So that tells you if you look at 178 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:01,719 Speaker 1: uh these company needs in the past, when they were 179 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 1: worried about the economy and interest rates, they did pull 180 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: back on their spending with different Here seems to me 181 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,960 Speaker 1: that many of these companies really feel great about the 182 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 1: next generation of technology being developed, you know, fueled by 183 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: the cloud deployment and also probably accelerate by the pandemic 184 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: with all of this staying at home and working from home, 185 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 1: so much of our experience, that digital experience has really 186 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:29,080 Speaker 1: pushed some of the Internet technology to sort of the 187 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:32,439 Speaker 1: next generation and That's why I think these companies and 188 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:36,319 Speaker 1: the CEOs feel really comfortable about the visibility over the 189 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 1: next couple of years, and they're investing and they're moving forward, 190 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 1: and that that gives you some comfort as to the 191 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: technology investing in the growth rate. I don't really think 192 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:49,320 Speaker 1: it's gonna slow down anytime soon. I think right now 193 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 1: you are seeing lots of emotional trading and impact that's 194 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 1: happening right now. But longer term, I don't think artificial 195 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: intelligence is going away. I don't think digital experience is 196 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 1: going to go away, and I think it's probably just 197 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,079 Speaker 1: gonna advance over time, right at least. You know, one 198 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 1: of the big M and A trades that got my 199 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 1: attention over the last couple of weeks was Microsoft's nearly 200 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 1: sixty nine billion dollar act of acquisition of Activision, the 201 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:17,079 Speaker 1: gaming company. What did you guys think about that deal? Yeah, well, 202 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 1: it was strategically it makes sense. We were surprised, um 203 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 1: like many other investors, that they had this. They made 204 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 1: this acquisition because it is Microsoft's largest acquisition to date 205 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 1: and it is a company that has a very strong assets, 206 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: but also give you some glimpse as to what they're 207 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: thinking about while they commented that healthcare was an area 208 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,199 Speaker 1: they really interested in, you could see that healthcare getting 209 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,320 Speaker 1: penetrating into that sector. It's gonna be it's gonna be difficult, 210 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: it's going to take a longer time. The gaming industry 211 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: is booming, it's being accelerated by the pandemic, and all 212 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,319 Speaker 1: of us with our smartphones are going to be using 213 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:56,560 Speaker 1: more of the mobile game and that's where the money 214 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:59,560 Speaker 1: is at this point. So you could see that Microsoft 215 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:03,080 Speaker 1: strategy g whether it's it's a metaverse strategy or the 216 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:07,200 Speaker 1: gaming strategy there really want to own the consumer, not 217 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: just in the inner price level but also at home, 218 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: so they really want to build at their subscription revenue. 219 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:14,680 Speaker 1: So that's really about their mobile side of the business 220 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: and obviously their power for that multiplayer experience for the 221 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 1: metaverse strategy. But you're stung to see a lot of 222 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,679 Speaker 1: tech joints like Microsoft really trying to build their sub 223 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:29,439 Speaker 1: subscription revenue. So over time, these are the big implications 224 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:31,839 Speaker 1: is that our lives is going to be really all 225 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: of our lives canna be generated based on our subscription 226 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: revenues right at home and also at work, and that's 227 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: gonna blur all right, Lisa, thank you so much for 228 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 1: joining us. Really appreciate getting your thoughts here on the text. 229 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:50,200 Speaker 1: Basically say she's a partner at Robot Global. All right, 230 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 1: we've spent a lot of time here talking about some 231 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 1: really big picture economic issues. Supply chain woes. We heard 232 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:01,320 Speaker 1: that from one Flowers today that impacted them um rising 233 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:03,200 Speaker 1: interest rates. I was certainly in the topic to Joy 234 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 1: yesterday afternoon with the Federal Reserve. But let's drill down 235 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,439 Speaker 1: a little bit and look at the small business owner 236 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 1: and how is a small business owner dealing with the 237 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 1: economic disruption we've seen from this pandemic and the resulting 238 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 1: head winds. Derek Ellington is the perfect person that chat 239 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 1: with about that. Derek Ellington is ahead of small business 240 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: for Wells Fargo. Derek, I'd love to get your thoughts 241 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 1: on kind of what are the top you know, one 242 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 1: to three challenges for small businesses in America today. Thank you, Paul. 243 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:36,199 Speaker 1: I really appreciate the opportunity to be on the show 244 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 1: with you today, and again a great question around the 245 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:43,439 Speaker 1: outlook for small businesses and some of the challenges that 246 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 1: still persist. I'd say starting with supply chain issues. Uh, 247 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 1: they continue to persist materials and other costs continue to rise. 248 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:59,440 Speaker 1: Hiring also remains a challenge. But I'll say this, one 249 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 1: common theme we've continue to see throughout this entire pandemic 250 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 1: is how resilient small businesses are. If you look at 251 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: the past twelve months in particular, we've seen our small 252 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 1: businesses continue to pivot and adjust their business models to 253 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 1: better accommodate the needs of their clients, leverage technology and 254 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 1: other resources to adapt to the changing environment. And we've 255 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:30,439 Speaker 1: also seen a record number of new business starts, particularly 256 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:34,439 Speaker 1: many folks during this great resignation making the decision to 257 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 1: start their own businesses. So when we think about the 258 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 1: outlook for small businesses in two it's bright, and it's 259 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 1: building off of that strong fourth quarter GDP growth. We 260 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:52,319 Speaker 1: all solve fuel by accelerated consumer consumption. Touch us a 261 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: little bit about how perhaps government aid or lack thereof, 262 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: is impacting small businesses. My dad, for example, a small 263 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 1: business owner, and in the depths of the pandemic that 264 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: the small business loans was a big part of what 265 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 1: kept him afloat. Talks us a little bit about how 266 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,600 Speaker 1: small businesses are navigating this environment when perhaps some of 267 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:17,680 Speaker 1: that government help is receding. That's a great question, pretty 268 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: and I'd say that the the government funding was critical 269 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: in supporting our small businesses. That was one thing that 270 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 1: as a country we saw one thinking about that when 271 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 1: you look at the whole U S economy, uh of 272 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: all businesses are small businesses in America, so that stimulus 273 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 1: funding being targeted on helping small businesses was critical. We 274 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: stall businesses take that support and use it to capitalize 275 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: their businesses while they were closed, to also invest in 276 00:14:55,440 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: their businesses and keep employees on staff while things got 277 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: back to better footing in the economy. And as a 278 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: result of that, we saved a tremendous amount of jobs 279 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: in our economy by making those decisions to provide that support, 280 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: and it also limited the amount of additional borrowing that 281 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: many small businesses had to take on during the pandemic 282 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 1: in order to to to survive and get to the 283 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 1: other side of the challenges. So we've seen that funding 284 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 1: a critical element of survival and support during these challenges. Derek, 285 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: what are you hearing from your small business customers about 286 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 1: the labor market challenges? It just seems like every small 287 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: business has a help wanted sign out and it's not 288 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: even small businesses. I was down Durham, North Carolina over 289 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 1: the weekend going to a cracker barrel and I walk 290 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: into the cracker bartle on Sunday morning, prime time, and 291 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 1: they said it's gonna be an our weight And I 292 00:15:57,600 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 1: look around, there's like half the tables full, and it's 293 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 1: because only had three servers and usually have twenty. Yes, 294 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 1: there was an inch of snow like two days before 295 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 1: which shut down the entire city. But talk to us 296 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 1: about the labor market and how small businesses are dealing 297 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: with it. Great question again, Paul, and there are a 298 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 1: couple of barbells around. Uh. The challenges small businesses are 299 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: facing around labor one is the cost of just wages 300 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: in general have gone up significantly in the current labor environment. 301 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 1: We've seen a lot of individuals who were retirement eligible 302 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: make a decision to retire. We've seen other folks make 303 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 1: decisions that they want to go in a different line 304 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 1: of work, and that's put a lot of pressure on 305 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 1: labor capacity and availability. But for the top workers along 306 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: every aspect of the spectrum, particularly those skilled laborers, the 307 00:16:56,120 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 1: cost of employing those individuals and the copy titian for 308 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: that talent has gone way up. And also again the 309 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 1: other barbell again is that there are fewer workers available 310 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 1: in general because of the wave of retirements as well 311 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 1: as those that again have pivoted to other industries as 312 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 1: as they've had time to reflect on their long term 313 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:25,159 Speaker 1: career aspirations. And again that's made it very tough for 314 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:28,919 Speaker 1: our small businesses to compete for that talent, particularly at 315 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 1: the lower end of the wage spectrum. Yeah, very interesting dynamic. 316 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:35,640 Speaker 1: It's interesting to see how again a lot of these 317 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 1: businesses react. Deric Ellington, thanks so much for joining us. 318 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:45,200 Speaker 1: Deeric Ellington is the head of Small Business for Wells Fargo. Well, 319 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:48,160 Speaker 1: I'll tell you one thing that a good global pandemic 320 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 1: will do, will get you to focus even more on healthcare, 321 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:55,920 Speaker 1: healthcare trends, healthcare costs. Um. I think we've all kind 322 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 1: of gotten become a little bit of an expert on 323 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,360 Speaker 1: those types of things, and let's get some color. Let's 324 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: get a thirty foot view on all things healthcare with 325 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 1: Ash Shahata, Partner Advisory Industry Leader Health Plans at KPMG. 326 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 1: Ash thanks so much for joining us. I know you 327 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:12,479 Speaker 1: guys do a lot of survey work thinking about kind 328 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 1: of what are the trends in healthcare here as we 329 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 1: maybe back away a little bit from COVID, what are 330 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:20,640 Speaker 1: some of the bigger trends that you guys are looking 331 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:24,640 Speaker 1: out for. Well, thanks, Paul. You know, the trends are 332 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: pretty amazing going into the year, and there's just so 333 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,360 Speaker 1: much excitement and energy, as you know, in the healthcare 334 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 1: and life sciences sector. One of the big heepny percent 335 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: of healthcare and life sciences surveys basically said about half 336 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:38,639 Speaker 1: of the healthcare and life sciences investors they're saying they 337 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 1: want to do more deals than last year, and last 338 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 1: year was already kind of a landmark year, and we're expecting, 339 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 1: you know, somewhere in the neighborhood of ten percent more deals. 340 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: The other I think he data point is for intent 341 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 1: life sciences investors, and thirty percent of healthcare investors say 342 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 1: that they actually, you know, are are really really kind 343 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:01,360 Speaker 1: of focusing on that ten percent growth numbers. So it's 344 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:03,639 Speaker 1: it seems to me that you know, they're ready to go, 345 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 1: and I we know we have some headwinds, but there's 346 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 1: a lot of enthusiasm in the market right now. How 347 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 1: much of that enthusiasm is coming from the COVID nineteen 348 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,919 Speaker 1: pandemic as opposed to just kind of the momentum in 349 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: the biotech space pre pandemic. Great, great question. Great. I 350 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:24,640 Speaker 1: mean I think the you know, obviously the pandemic put 351 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: put some accelerators on on some things and also put 352 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,719 Speaker 1: some pauses a little bit on the healthcare side. So 353 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:32,679 Speaker 1: I think most of this has really been kind of 354 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 1: the sustainability of the industry. We are seeing kind of 355 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: very strong demographic growth. We're seeing you know, investments in 356 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 1: technology across the board, post acute care, biotech. So I 357 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 1: think it really is about looking for those good valuations, 358 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: looking at those good opportunities. I mean, just the point 359 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 1: on valuation growth, biopharmas expecting sixt valuation growth, med device sevent, 360 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 1: farmer services sevent, even healthcare I t on other se 361 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 1: So it is very very positive, and I think when 362 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 1: you look at those growth numbers, you really are looking 363 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 1: beyond the pandemics. Alright, So Ash, give us your thoughts 364 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:17,440 Speaker 1: on inflation here. We're seeing inflation all throughout the US economy, 365 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: and we've certainly seen it in drug prices. You know, 366 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 1: since I don't know the beginning of time, um, how 367 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 1: are your clients in the healthcare space thinking about inflation 368 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:29,359 Speaker 1: and the impacts on their business. You know, obviously the 369 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 1: inflationary trends are our top of mind. Clearly, it will 370 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: you know, potentially be a headwind, but I think we 371 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 1: have options. You know. The nice thing about this sector, uh, 372 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 1: it usually is a very strong safe haven inflationary times. 373 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:46,679 Speaker 1: Once we get past the kind of pandemic concerns, the 374 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 1: expectations that more more UH opportunities will flow into this sector. 375 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:53,879 Speaker 1: But I do think optionality is really important. You know, 376 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 1: if inflation does start to move up the needle a 377 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 1: little bit on the affordability, there will be options to 378 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:03,000 Speaker 1: sell uh, potential investments and sponsors and strategic So I 379 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,400 Speaker 1: think we're going to see that across med device and 380 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 1: and even health systems and distributors. I think the other 381 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: one I would just say is, uh, you know, it 382 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 1: might also accelerate deal activity in the first half of 383 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: the year. Uh, So that actually might be something we 384 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:18,879 Speaker 1: want to look at. But in normal circumstances, this is 385 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 1: a sector that can handle inflation. And I think when 386 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:24,159 Speaker 1: we started to see the data, uh, you know, people 387 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 1: were actually factoring that into their growth strategies even ahead 388 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:30,000 Speaker 1: of this, you know, recent announcement we're seeing from the FED. 389 00:21:31,119 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 1: Let's just talk about the kind of scrutiny or perhaps 390 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 1: the medical regulations that you're going to see around the 391 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:39,159 Speaker 1: world now that you have seen see the FDA the 392 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 1: c d C kind of diverge from some of the 393 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 1: other medical authorities around the world. How much of that 394 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 1: is a risk to the sector broadly? You know, I 395 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:51,119 Speaker 1: think you kind of look at both sides of this. Uh. 396 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,439 Speaker 1: You know, obviously the risks are are clearly there, and 397 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:57,160 Speaker 1: I think understanding this industry is one that many investors 398 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 1: and also corporates have have done well. But I also 399 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 1: look at it as an opportunity. I think the fact 400 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 1: that we have seen so much collaboration public private partnerships. 401 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: The one thing that this pandemic has taught us is 402 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 1: that the partnership between government and private industry can be tremendous, 403 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 1: and not only that, but they can be life saving. 404 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:17,359 Speaker 1: So I think there is a kind of an upside 405 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 1: sentiment here that, you know, in a regulatory environment where 406 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:24,040 Speaker 1: healthcare and life sciences is so strategic to our growth 407 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 1: and our survivability as a nation, I think we're going 408 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:30,360 Speaker 1: to see that across the globe. So I think you're 409 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 1: going to see positives out of this, uh, you know, 410 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:35,679 Speaker 1: even more so than than negative downside. It seems like 411 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:38,160 Speaker 1: for a while there we had an every time every 412 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: Monday morning we came into the office, we had a 413 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 1: big M and A trade in the healthcare space. How 414 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:47,119 Speaker 1: what's your survey data showing you about kind of the 415 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 1: outlook of the next year two as released to M 416 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 1: and A. Yeah, I think the M and A side 417 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 1: of it is is still going to be pretty healthy. Um. 418 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: So just to give you a kind of the you know, 419 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:58,680 Speaker 1: we do kind of expect, you know, in that ten 420 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 1: percent growth number I talked to about, a lot of 421 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:03,320 Speaker 1: that will be kind of you know, factored in around 422 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 1: the growth segment. But I do think you're going to 423 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 1: see more and more of it as we start to see, 424 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:10,919 Speaker 1: at least on the healthcare side, a little bit of 425 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 1: the resumption of the inpatient cases. I think we're looking 426 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 1: for a little bit at on certainty, the ease. Uh. 427 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 1: And I think as we start to get you know, 428 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:20,919 Speaker 1: past the next several months and and this next wave 429 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 1: of of you know, the pandemic, you're gonna see M 430 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: and a kind of resume. I think the other issue, 431 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 1: I think we're gonna start to see for M and A, 432 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:30,960 Speaker 1: there are going to be opportunities to do strategic M 433 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,640 Speaker 1: and A not only for growth, but also to look 434 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 1: at areas around leveraging resources, staff, I, T and technology. 435 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 1: So I think those areas are still ahead of us 436 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: and we're expecting that to drive further growth for two. 437 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:45,199 Speaker 1: All right, Ash, thank you so much for joining us. 438 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 1: Really appreciate it as always as Shahada, Partner Advisory Industry 439 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 1: leader for Health Plans at KPMG, talking all things healthcare. 440 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to the Bloomberg Markets podcast. You can 441 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:03,200 Speaker 1: subscribe and listen interviews with Apple Podcasts or whatever podcast 442 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 1: platform you prefer. I'm Matt Miller. I'm on Twitter at 443 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:10,480 Speaker 1: Matt Miller three. Put on fall Sweeney. I'm on Twitter 444 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:13,359 Speaker 1: at pt Sweeney. Before the podcast. You can always catch 445 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: us worldwide at Bloomberg Radio