1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news. 2 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Daybreak Asia Podcast. I'm Doug Krisner. The 3 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 2: US equity market was in retreat in the last session. 4 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 2: We had the Dow, the S and P, and the 5 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 2: Nasdaq each down roughly three tenths of one percent. Strategist 6 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 2: at Bank of America noted the S and P is 7 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 2: trading at statistically expensive levels. Even Fetchhair J. Powell said 8 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 2: this week that equity prices are fairly highly valued. Meantime, 9 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 2: in New York, US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant reportedly met 10 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 2: with South Korean President Lee j Jung. The Chosun Daily reports. 11 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 2: Lee explained to Besant that South Korea and Japan are 12 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 2: very different in terms of economic scale, foreign exchange markets, 13 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 2: and infrastructure, and Lee went on to express hope that 14 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 2: trade negotiations would take those aspects into account. In a moment, 15 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 2: we'll bring you our exclusive conversation with South Korean Prime 16 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 2: Minister Kim Minsook, but we begin here in the States, 17 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 2: and our guest, Rebecca Wallser of Walls or Wealth Management. 18 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 2: She joins us here in the studio. Always great to 19 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 2: see you, Thanks so much for stopping by. So you're 20 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,479 Speaker 2: here for client meetings, you're going to do some media 21 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 2: appearance as well. And I'm curious about what you're hearing 22 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 2: from clients right now. What are they saying about the 23 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 2: way in which this market's been behaving. Are they nervous? 24 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 3: You know, I think a lot of people are a 25 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 3: little past the nerves when all of the prognostications in 26 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 3: April that came out, when we had you know, obviously 27 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 3: Proclamation Day in the beginning of April, of what the 28 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 3: tariff's structure was going to look like, and really I 29 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 3: think the financial media kind of overkilled the message of Oh, 30 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 3: this is going to be absolutely horrific. The economy is 31 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 3: going to explode. Everything's going to go awful. It's going 32 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 3: to be massive inflation, you're going to lose jobs, you're 33 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 3: not going to get manufacturing to come back, You're going 34 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 3: to have all these problems. And so a lot of people, 35 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 3: Doug actually unfortunately not not our clients, because we weren't 36 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 3: saying that message, but a lot of people out there 37 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 3: actually went ahead and really took that advice to heart 38 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 3: and so and missed out, yes, missed out on some 39 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:06,919 Speaker 3: of these big tech you know wins, these big IPO wins, 40 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 3: these things that we've been talking about all year that 41 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 3: are just phenomenal. They can participate because they listen to 42 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 3: the financial media. So I actually think my theory is 43 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 3: that I think there's some backlash against financial media. Some 44 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 3: people are If you look at the ratings numbers and 45 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 3: you see kind of what they've done over since April, 46 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 3: you'll see kind of a drifting down. I think that 47 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 3: they're upset and maybe going to podcasts and alternative media 48 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 3: and things like that. 49 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 4: Not that Bloomberg's going to go anywhere. 50 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 2: But Okay, so let's say that we've added about fifteen 51 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 2: trillion dollars from that April low. Is that a fair 52 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:37,920 Speaker 2: estimate something around that? If you look at the broader 53 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 2: market and and a multiple on the S and P 54 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 2: right now of about twenty five times, Yeah, seems to 55 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 2: be a little expensive. Do you think people generally have 56 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 2: become a little complacent? 57 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 3: I mean, I don't know if we're at the nineteen 58 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 3: ninety six irrational and zuber and stage that Alan Greenspan 59 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 3: talked about, and if you think about that, that's the 60 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 3: year that he said that that preceded the actual bubble crashing. 61 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 4: You know, by about four years. 62 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 3: So I don't know if the people are irrationally exuberant 63 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 3: or if really truly everyone is beginning to understand that 64 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 3: this is the end of normal. 65 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 4: Ways of life as we've. 66 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 3: Known them, that this technology is so far outpacing what 67 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:23,359 Speaker 3: we can otherwise accomplish just with human capacity, like the 68 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 3: exponential GDP DOUG is. 69 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 4: Going to be phenomenal. 70 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 3: The problem is that how do you continue to make 71 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 3: the human actually contribute to positively to GDP Because if 72 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 3: you outsource all human beings and we're positively contributing. 73 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 4: We don't have to. 74 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 3: Well, that's all fine and good, but then how do 75 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 3: we work out the economics of what you're earning, what 76 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 3: you're making. 77 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 4: Do we not have money anymore? Are we really going 78 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 4: to utopia? 79 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 3: So I don't think there's a rational exuberance, but I 80 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 3: do think there's pre exuberance before we actually monetize. We're 81 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 3: in the process of monetizing. 82 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 2: So tell me where you're finding opportunity then. 83 00:03:57,960 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 3: I mean, I think there's lots of opportunities. You know, 84 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 3: we've had some great recent IPOs, we've had some great 85 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 3: developments on consumer lending on the blockchain, for example, Figure technologies. 86 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 3: It's basically able to do a home equity loan. They're 87 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 3: claiming on the blockchain within ten days, cutting the normal 88 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 3: forty two day cycle which is conventional. 89 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 4: So there's a lot. 90 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 3: Of things that are beginning to actually monetize. In other words, 91 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 3: we're actually going to use the blockchain. We're not just 92 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,159 Speaker 3: doing AI chat GPT in our daily lives and trying 93 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:27,719 Speaker 3: to find a faster router or a better way to 94 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 3: write a paragraph. We're actually seeing monetization. That's just the beginning. 95 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 3: It's the tip of the iceberg, and it's going to 96 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 3: begin in mass and I think what we'll really start 97 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 3: to see is stable coin coming to four bear, especially 98 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 3: since the Genius Act passed, which as you know, is 99 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 3: a one to one reserve ratio of reserves. In other words, 100 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 3: if I issue twenty billion of stable coin, I have 101 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 3: to have twenty billion of liquid reserves and either US 102 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 3: dollars or US short term treasury short treasury bills. So 103 00:04:56,480 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 3: this is basically the ability to have third parties enter 104 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 3: into a currency operation that is backed by the full 105 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 3: faith and credit of US dollar US Treasury, but operated 106 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 3: and regulated somehow. 107 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 4: You'll see an entity coming. 108 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:13,720 Speaker 3: We have another act that's potentially going to go through Congress, 109 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 3: which will be a regulatory framework for stable coin. So 110 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 3: you're looking at the very early stages, Doug, of the 111 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 3: very beginning of a new currency system that would in 112 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 3: fact replace the use of the US dollar completely. 113 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 2: Whether we're talking about AI technologies, data centers, or whether 114 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:33,840 Speaker 2: we're talking about something that's related to the blockchain, we're 115 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 2: talking about a lot of power demand for electricity. Is 116 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 2: that something that you're playing right now. I know when 117 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 2: you and I have spoken about this in the past, 118 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 2: you've indicated that you're interested in taking some positions in 119 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 2: power companies, maybe utilities, even as that. 120 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 3: Still absolutely absolutely specifically nuclear power. I think nuclear power 121 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:56,840 Speaker 3: is really our only real, true scientific, mathematical probability of 122 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 3: success to have enough power. Additional coal out nowhere near 123 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 3: the capacity that we need, gas, natural everything else beyond 124 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 3: actual coal fired electricity is subpart. Right, So if electricity 125 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 3: is already, if coal fired electricity is already, we know 126 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,279 Speaker 3: not enough power for what the AI checks that everyone's 127 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 3: writing on these pe ratios for all these tech companies, 128 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 3: the AI checks that are being written off of the 129 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 3: multiples they expect AI to come. We have to have 130 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 3: the power grid and we don't have it. Electricity coal 131 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 3: fired is not going to be enough mathematically not enough, 132 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 3: Gasoline oil not enough. We have got to have some 133 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 3: kind of nuclear presence, and so I would bet on 134 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 3: nuclear stocks where their companies are actually looking at building 135 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 3: nuclear power generators, power plants. There's one Osclow that's basically 136 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 3: projected to have an actual nuclear power plant operational between 137 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 3: twenty twenty seven and twenty twenty eight. It's based in Idaho. 138 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 2: So if these hyperscalers are ramping up at a very 139 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 2: aggressive rate, is there the risk that they don't have 140 00:06:58,640 --> 00:06:59,559 Speaker 2: the power they need? 141 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:01,280 Speaker 4: There's not the risk. 142 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 3: There is the absolute mathematical certainty that if we get 143 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 3: too much operational AI before the power has caught up, 144 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 3: we are sitting ducks. 145 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 4: We will have to ration power. There's not enough. 146 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 2: Well, that sounds inflationary too, which then takes me to 147 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 2: the It takes me to the FED. We heard from 148 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 2: Powell this week he said that the near term risk 149 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 2: to inflation are tilted to the upside. So there's the 150 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 2: tariff story. We're talking about the power story now, which 151 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 2: your outlook for inflation. 152 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 3: I mean, unfortunately, as you know I've mentioned to you 153 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 3: multiple times, Doug, we really have entered the very beginning 154 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 3: stages of a debt spiral, like I know, and no 155 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 3: one's talking about it, but the fact that our interest 156 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 3: has gone from the fourth largest expense to the second 157 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 3: largest expense as fast as it has in the last 158 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 3: few years. 159 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 4: We hit the second largest expense. 160 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 3: It surpassed Medicare Medicaid last year in May of twenty 161 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 3: twenty four. 162 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 4: Total debt service total. 163 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 3: Amount paid on the federal budget for that year, we've 164 00:07:58,320 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 3: surpassed it. 165 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 4: So now it's only second to our but mammoth. 166 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 3: Social Security just under a trillialler, and we expect it 167 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 3: to be closer to one point two trillion next year. 168 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 3: And that's with them calculating the refinancing of so much 169 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 3: of it with lower interest rates because they are they 170 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 3: have to, like, we can't afford the interest that we 171 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 3: are now being charged on an ongoing basis. 172 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 4: It's unsustainable. 173 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,239 Speaker 3: And unfortunately, because we keep borrowing and we're charging interests 174 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 3: on top of interest, that interest grows every single year. 175 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 3: And the only chance that we have that our GDP 176 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 3: actually outpaces our actual interest growth is AI is a 177 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 3: Fourth Industrial Revolution is the new frontier of productivity that 178 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 3: is just unmatched at the human level. 179 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 2: Are you focused squarely on opportunities in the States or 180 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 2: are you looking offshore? 181 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 3: I mean, I think that there's a lot of robotics 182 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 3: that you have to look outside of the United States. 183 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:55,559 Speaker 3: You have to look at German manufacturing, you have to 184 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 3: look at Japanese manufacturing, you have to look at outside 185 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,079 Speaker 3: opportunities in this world. The United States is soorled and 186 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 3: going to be a forethought and a four leader, But 187 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 3: I don't think we're going to be in this race alone, 188 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 3: and I don't think we'll finish number one in every category. 189 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 2: So we started the conversation by talking about how far 190 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 2: the equity market is run from the April lows and 191 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 2: how expensive things are right now. Are you holding on 192 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 2: the cash or or when cash comes in, are you 193 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 2: deploying it immediately? Are you fully invested or is there 194 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 2: a little dry powder that Rebecca Wallser is keeping on 195 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 2: the sidelines. 196 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:29,559 Speaker 3: I mean, I do think that everyone should have a 197 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:31,839 Speaker 3: little dry powder all times, just because there could be 198 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 3: something we want to capitalize on that it's not a huge, 199 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 3: obviously position or big part of the portfolio, but for 200 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 3: the most part, we're pretty fully deployed. We have, you know, 201 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:41,319 Speaker 3: the dry powder that we normally have, which would we 202 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 3: would say at least a ten percent position in general. 203 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 3: And I would say that, you know, you're just looking 204 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 3: for opportunities. I do think there will be. What investors 205 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,840 Speaker 3: need to understand, Doug, is that monetization of new technology 206 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 3: is always bumpy. It is always historically bumpy. It is 207 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 3: not a from point A straight to point B line 208 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 3: up to the right. It's not how it goes. It's bumpy. 209 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:07,320 Speaker 3: And so as long as people are prepared for pullbacks, 210 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 3: you know, like we had like at one point this 211 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 3: year more than one time, we had people not. 212 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:13,200 Speaker 4: Really happy with Nvidia. 213 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,319 Speaker 3: I mean, you know that these things happen, and it's cyclical, 214 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 3: especially as we monetize, as we go from prognosticating value 215 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 3: to actual realize value, it gets bumpy. 216 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 2: So you talked about a debt spiral being one of 217 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 2: the risks out there that you're focused on. I'm curious 218 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:30,599 Speaker 2: about other risks that you see on the horizon. 219 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 3: Well, of course, there's the biggest risk of all, and 220 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 3: that is that we are globally dedollarizing, which you and 221 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 3: I have talked about and we've talked about China's intent 222 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:44,200 Speaker 3: and written papers one hundred year plans in place written 223 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 3: that they want to be the number one military and 224 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 3: economic superpower in the world, bar none, and that includes 225 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 3: taking down the United States of America. So clearly, I 226 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 3: think that China and what they've orchestrated economically with their 227 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 3: Built and Road initiative, what they've orchestrated with really being 228 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 3: taking over from the Bank of International Settlements the BIS. 229 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 3: They took over the project Mbridge, which was a central 230 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 3: bank cryptocurrency project about you know, central branks transacting on 231 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 3: the blockchain and you know, and their domestic currencies, central 232 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 3: bank digital currencies. I mean, they are just so advanced 233 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 3: from a perspective of being on the blockchain and being 234 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 3: the new center of kind of financial hub. I mean, 235 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 3: if you go to Dubai, you'd think they would be 236 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 3: the investment capital of the world. I've been there, and 237 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 3: it's insanity for us to be so arrogant that we 238 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:36,959 Speaker 3: just think the United States is going to be on 239 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 3: the top because of the US dollars. 240 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 2: Even so, the Chinese economy seems to still be struggling. 241 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 2: They have a problem with confidence the real estate market 242 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 2: is still not doing well. A year ago, the government 243 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 2: made a major pivot in applying a lot of stimulus 244 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 2: to different segments of the economy, that includes fiscal monetary 245 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 2: They targeted the housing market as well, and things still 246 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 2: have been somewhat like cluster. That doesn't concern you at all. 247 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 2: The fact that the animal spirits in China right now 248 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 2: don't seem to be rising to the occasion. 249 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, don't get me wrong. I don't want to China 250 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 3: to succeed. I just see them as a sincere threat. 251 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 3: But you know, of course they absolutely have some economic problems, 252 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,680 Speaker 3: just like I would say to you, like Japan with 253 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 3: their debt to GDP which is over two hundred percent, 254 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 3: that's economically unheard of, not viable, can't work, and yet 255 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:28,319 Speaker 3: it continues to work. So I feel like we are 256 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 3: globally very quickly approaching the end of fiat debt at 257 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 3: central bank fiat debt. We are going to go to 258 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 3: tokenization of hard assets, real reserves, and obviously to currency 259 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 3: on the blockchain, and it's going to be a complete 260 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 3: shift of currency. 261 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 2: Well, we'll see where we go from here. Any comments 262 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 2: on gold, I know we pulled back a little bit today, 263 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:52,199 Speaker 2: but we're very close to record highs. What do you 264 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 2: think is happening here? Is this all about central banks 265 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 2: and then the retail crowd that came in at the 266 00:12:57,800 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 2: last part of the rally that we had. 267 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm I think absolutely it's central bank related. You 268 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 3: have Basso three that went into effect, which basically moved 269 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:06,200 Speaker 3: Goal from a Tier three asset to a Tier one 270 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 3: asset and really made the central banks want to step 271 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 3: up and own it for all of the things that 272 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 3: that meant as far as reserves at their central bank. 273 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 3: But also Doug again, we are closing to closing in 274 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 3: to the end of the people's belief in fiat currency, 275 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 3: the fiat debt system, the fiat money multiplying system. I'm 276 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 3: on a fractional reserve system. I to give you one hundred, 277 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:31,080 Speaker 3: you lend out ninety. Now we have fake money because 278 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:32,960 Speaker 3: there's not really one hundred and ninety. There was one 279 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 3: hundred and it became one hundred and ninety. So the 280 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 3: money multiplier, fractional reserve, all of these things. When we 281 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 3: moved to the blockchain, and it's all publicly notable, traceable, seeable, 282 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 3: that's why you got like the staple Cooin Act that 283 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:46,839 Speaker 3: requires the Genius Act, that requires these stable coins to 284 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 3: have a one to one reserve relationship so people can 285 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 3: trust it and it'll be on the blockchain'll be transparent. 286 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 3: So we are getting close to the end of fiat 287 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 3: currency and the government can issue whatever they want. 288 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 2: All right, We'll leave it there. It's always a pleasure. Rebecca, 289 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 2: Thank you so very much. Rebecca wi As president of 290 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 2: walls Er Wealth Management, joining us here on the Daybreak 291 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 2: Asia podcast. Welcome back to the Daybreak Asia Podcast. I'm 292 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 2: deg Krisner. The US and South Korea are still trying 293 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 2: to finalize a trade deal, and these negotiations have included 294 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 2: discussions around investment projects in the US. However, South Korea's 295 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 2: Prime minister says those projects will remain in limbo now 296 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 2: until visa issues are resolved. Prime Minister Kim Minsook spoke 297 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 2: exclusively to Bloomberg sherry On in Seoul. Here's part of 298 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 2: that conversation. 299 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 4: I Bonhof Salmon. 300 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 5: Dis negotiation wasn't initiated by us. We didn't start from 301 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 5: a position of advantage, nor did we raise the issues. 302 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 5: Isn't that the case for the entire world since the 303 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 5: whole world is negotiating under the new conditions presented by 304 00:14:56,200 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 5: the United States. Rather than insisting on specific conditions, the 305 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 5: correct answer would be that certain things are simply difficult 306 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 5: to achieve. Therefore, anything that exceeds the limits of what 307 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 5: the Republic of Korea can bear in terms of national interests, acceptability, capacity, 308 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 5: or public understanding will be quite difficult to undertake. 309 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: Are the issues that need to be resolved around the 310 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 1: three hundred and fifty billion dollar investment fund into the US. 311 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 5: That's generally the case since the framework for the large 312 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 5: amount is already said. The fact that the amount is 313 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 5: fixed means it started with the expectation that, depending on 314 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 5: how that amount is structured, it could potentially be mutually beneficial. However, 315 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 5: the structure itself, how the funds are raised, or how 316 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 5: the profits are distributed, these things need to be within 317 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 5: the bounds of what's considered normal, and when explaining to 318 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 5: our Korean citizens, it needs to be at a level 319 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 5: where they can understand and accept it. Above all, it 320 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 5: must be within the capacity of our Korean economy to handle. 321 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 1: President E talked about the need for a currency swap 322 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: agreement in order to avoid any shocks to the Korean 323 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: economy when delivering these funds. 324 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 6: What has Washington said so far? 325 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 5: I haven't heard the exact details yet on how they've 326 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 5: responded so far, However, as the President has already stated 327 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 5: that amount currently represents seventy to eighty percent of Korea's 328 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 5: total foreign exchange reserves. Without measures like swaps or similar mechanisms, 329 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 5: the impact on the Korean economy will be too severe. Also, 330 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 5: as a nation that experienced a foreign exchange crisis, public 331 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 5: vigilance on this matter is high. I believe these factors 332 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 5: must be taken into consideration. 333 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 1: When it comes to the tariffs themselves, we still have 334 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 1: to see the US actually louring car tariffs on South 335 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 1: Korea to the agree fifteen percent. 336 00:16:58,320 --> 00:16:59,160 Speaker 6: And even if. 337 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: The terriffs we're ignored the terriff advantage that South Korean 338 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:06,679 Speaker 1: carmakers have over Japan, for example, twenty a half percent 339 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 1: before the Trump trade deal, that's going to disappear. How 340 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:14,200 Speaker 1: painful is that for South Korean firms right now? 341 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:20,680 Speaker 5: Done? First, the FTA structure between US and the US 342 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:24,880 Speaker 5: is changing, and that will create a burden. Naturally, if 343 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 5: tariffs drop from twenty five to fifteen percent, that will 344 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:32,160 Speaker 5: be better, But it's still harder than before, and especially 345 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 5: at this point, there's the difficulty of having to bear 346 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:40,880 Speaker 5: to twenty five percent until this negotiation concludes. So, in short, 347 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 5: there are difficulties. Yundimotor and others are facing particular challenges. However, 348 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 5: as far as we understand, Yndimot currently plans to navigate 349 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 5: this situation without changing its pricing policy for now, I 350 00:17:56,680 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 5: personally view this as a relatively wise approach. The government 351 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 5: is reviewing various policy options to see what can be 352 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 5: done to alleviate the burden on the automotive sector caused 353 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:10,400 Speaker 5: by the ongoing negotiations. 354 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 1: More problematic also for Korean companies has been the visa issue, 355 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:18,919 Speaker 1: especially with the plant in Georgia. 356 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:19,640 Speaker 6: What sort of. 357 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 1: Resolution can we expect on that front. 358 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 5: Before discussing what kind of solution there is? Realistically, without 359 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 5: a solution, it's difficult to invest in the United States 360 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 5: and carry out the various joint projects currently planned between 361 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:40,640 Speaker 5: South Korea and the US. We absolutely must find a solution. 362 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 5: Several projects are underway between South Korea and the US. 363 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 5: Without resolving the visa issue, meaningful progress remains virtually impossible. 364 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:54,439 Speaker 5: The detention incident dealt a severe blow not only to 365 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 5: the general Korean public, but especially to the workers who 366 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:02,120 Speaker 5: are actually detained and the absence of firm assurances regarding 367 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:06,880 Speaker 5: their safety, both they and their families are understandably reluctant 368 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 5: to enter the US again. While this matter remains unresolved. 369 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 1: Our investment projects right now halted until some resolution is 370 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:18,920 Speaker 1: acquired on the resa issue. 371 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 5: Although the projects have not been entirely halted or formally 372 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 5: placed on hold, it will be very difficult for a 373 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 5: large number of workers to enter or re enter the 374 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:31,680 Speaker 5: US until this problem is resolved. 375 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: South Korean firms are also seeing challenges, for example, in China, 376 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:41,160 Speaker 1: especially when it comes to US CHIP restrictions for Beijing 377 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 1: Korean firms operating in China. How can South Korea manage 378 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:53,639 Speaker 1: the growing tech rivalry between China and the United States. 379 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 5: Well, that's a problem the whole world is grappling with. 380 00:19:56,960 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 5: It's a natural concern, especially for countries like Korea that 381 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 5: share significant economic ties with both the United States and China. Naturally, 382 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 5: we strive to maintain relations with all neighboring countries. However, 383 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 5: we understand that the overall plate we stand on has 384 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:16,680 Speaker 5: tilted slightly compared to the. 385 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 6: Past, in what way. 386 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 5: The terrain itself has tilted towards strengthening our relationship with 387 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 5: the United States. I can answer it in that way, 388 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 5: what does. 389 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 6: That mean for China Korea relations? 390 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:35,360 Speaker 5: Then, Kugos, I think China understands this too. If Korea, 391 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:40,360 Speaker 5: standing on this larger terrain, demonstrates appropriate efforts to maintain 392 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 5: its relationship with China understanding the change terrain, then even 393 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 5: on that terrain, Korea can still strive to maintain its 394 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 5: relationship with China. 395 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: But the US has had so many demands for South Korea, including, 396 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:59,880 Speaker 1: for example, raising defense spending five percent. 397 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 6: Of GDP as more NATO, for example. 398 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 4: Kat Christen. 399 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 5: With respect to defense spending, I do not believe it 400 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:13,679 Speaker 5: must necessarily be considered in connection with our relations with 401 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 5: other countries. Rather, it is an area that can be 402 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 5: expanded as part of strengthening our independent national defense by 403 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 5: how much recently we've mentioned three point five percent and 404 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:29,119 Speaker 5: we did so because we judge that this is a 405 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:31,159 Speaker 5: level we are capable of sustaining. 406 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,400 Speaker 1: Are we expecting any contact between North Korean leader Kim 407 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: zongun and President Trunk during the upcoming EPIK summit. 408 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:44,479 Speaker 5: Tounta both of them are currently evaluating the relationship between 409 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 5: the two parties positively. Since unforeseen events can always occur, 410 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 5: I believe we should keep that possibility open. But so far, 411 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:57,479 Speaker 5: North Korea and Chairman Kim Jong un are showing no 412 00:21:57,600 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 5: signs of changing their stance. 413 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:03,399 Speaker 6: President E. 414 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:10,400 Speaker 1: Created a positive foundation for South Korea Japan ties during 415 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:11,680 Speaker 1: his last visit to Tokyo. 416 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 6: We might see a leadership change in Japan. 417 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:20,360 Speaker 1: Could this have an impact on Korea Japan relations as well? 418 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:21,160 Speaker 4: We didn't go to town. 419 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:24,159 Speaker 5: We hope that won't be the case. We believe it 420 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:29,119 Speaker 5: is undesirable for relations between nations to be significantly impacted 421 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:33,320 Speaker 5: or altered by changes in leadership. While we also face 422 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:38,159 Speaker 5: various challenges, we have prioritized diplomatic continuity and are working 423 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 5: to further improve relations with Japan. Regardless of who becomes 424 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,719 Speaker 5: Japan's new prime minister, we expect and hope that they 425 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 5: will consider various factors to ensure that the current newly 426 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 5: formed friendly hemisphere is not adversely affected. 427 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 2: That is South Korea Prime Minister Kim mins speaking to 428 00:22:56,000 --> 00:23:01,480 Speaker 2: Bloomberg's Sharing on in Seoul. Thanks for listening to today's 429 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:05,960 Speaker 2: episode of The Bloomberg Daybreak Asia Edition podcast. Each weekday, 430 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 2: we look at the story shaping markets, finance, and geopolitics 431 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 2: in the Asia Pacific. You can find us on Apple, Spotify, 432 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,879 Speaker 2: the Bloomberg Podcast YouTube channel, or anywhere else you listen. 433 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:20,200 Speaker 2: Join us again tomorrow for insight on the market moves 434 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 2: from Hong Kong to Singapore and Australia. I'm Doug Prisoner 435 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:26,359 Speaker 2: and this is Bloomberg