1 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news. 2 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 2: This is the Bloomberg Daybreak Asia podcast. I'm Brian Curtis 3 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 2: along with Doug Krisner join us each day for the 4 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 2: stories making news and moving markets in the Asia Pacific. 5 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:23,280 Speaker 2: You can subscribe to the show anywhere you get your 6 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 2: podcasts and always on Bloomberg Radio, the Bloomberg Terminal, and 7 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 2: the Bloomberg Business app. 8 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 3: All right, let's get to that. Closing arguments in Donald 9 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 3: Trump's hush money trial today round very long and late. 10 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 3: Joining us live as Hadrianna Loan Crown, who is a 11 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 3: national politics reporter. Thank you, Hadriana, really appreciate it you 12 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 3: were in court today. Now we're going to go through 13 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 3: what happened. But that was a long day. What an 14 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 3: adjourney to eight Eastern. 15 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 4: Yes, it was definitely a long day. We started at 16 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 4: around nine five, wrapped up at around eight pm. It 17 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 4: was a six hour long summation from the prosecution. It 18 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 4: was a bid over two and a half three hour 19 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,040 Speaker 4: to two two and a half hours, i would say, 20 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 4: for the defense, which is what we began our morning with. 21 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 4: So it was a long day for sure. 22 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,479 Speaker 3: So let's go through it. Defense first, and the theme 23 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 3: would be that both Stormy Daniels and Michael co under 24 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 3: liars correct. 25 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 4: Right, So essentially Todd Blantz has been arguing that Trump 26 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:30,480 Speaker 4: committed no crimes in that Stormy Daniels, you know, the 27 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 4: adult film actress kind of part of the centerpiece of 28 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,039 Speaker 4: this of this big puzzle here, was trying to extort 29 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:42,040 Speaker 4: money from Trump. In twenty sixteen, Blanch even produced a 30 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 4: top ten list of reasonable doubts for jurors. Is, as 31 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 4: you know, all we need is one juror to have 32 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 4: some form of reasonable doubt to prevent a conviction here, 33 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 4: and so part of that list included a claim that 34 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 4: prosecutors failed to produce evidence that Trump used some unlawful 35 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 4: means to influence the election, that Trump himself never reviewed 36 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 4: checks he signed for Michael Cohen because he was too 37 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 4: busy running the country, kind of portraying this as something 38 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 4: that his associates had done without him being aware, because 39 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:18,679 Speaker 4: he was in the capacity of president and therefore was 40 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 4: not paying attention to this issue. So that was really 41 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 4: what Blant was trying to argue here. 42 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, Now, the prosecution its job then was to go 43 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 3: back and try to back up what Cohen and Daniels 44 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 3: had testified, right. 45 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 4: And so we knew all along, I mean, having Michael 46 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 4: Cohen be the star witness could be potentially risky for 47 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 4: the prosecution just given of course his own criminal history. 48 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 4: So a big part of you know, the direct and 49 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 4: the you know, the questioning of Cohen as well as 50 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 4: now here in the wrap up for the prosecution has 51 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 4: been to try to get around Cohen's credibility problems, really 52 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 4: pointing to evidence instances of corroboration with other witnesses that 53 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 4: were called to testify, such as David Pecker, who was 54 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 4: who you know, ran a natural inquirer, which, as we 55 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 4: all know from earlier in the trial, had agreed to 56 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 4: be the kind of eyes and ears of of the 57 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 4: campaign and catch and kill really you know, buying stories 58 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 4: that were negative about Trump and then not publishing them, 59 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,079 Speaker 4: publishing hit pieces on Trump's opponents, and then also publishing 60 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 4: positive pieces on Trump. So a big part of the 61 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 4: prosecution was to again, uh, try to get other you know, 62 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 4: try to prove that there wasn't as much of a 63 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 4: credibility issue with Cohen, that there were other witnesses to 64 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 4: corroborate it, as well as to lay out it's you know, 65 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 4: their own evidence with phone wrecords, et cetera, showing that 66 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 4: Trump did in fact know that all of this was 67 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 4: taking place, even using his own tweets where he, you know, 68 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 4: said very plainly this was a reimbursement to Michael Cohen. 69 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 3: Now, just go through the ground rules here. The prosecution 70 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 3: had to raise the bar to election fraud to make 71 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 3: this a felony. Is there any way that the jury 72 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 3: and we understand they come back tomorrow, I'll ask you 73 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 3: about that that the jury or the judge can come 74 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 3: back and say no felony, but convict of a misdemeanor. 75 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 4: That's I mean, that's something that is something that I 76 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 4: think we'll learn more about tomorrow because the judge has 77 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 4: to kind of instruct the jury. He's going to spend 78 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 4: about an hour or so tomorrow morning. They're coming back 79 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,280 Speaker 4: at ten. Usually it's nine thirty, but we get a 80 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 4: half hour of sleeping in so the judge will really 81 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 4: walk the jury through exactly what is needed, what can 82 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 4: be concluded at the end of the deliberation. So we'll 83 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 4: definitely get more details about that tomorrow. 84 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 3: Okay, And as you say, they come back at ten Eastern, 85 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 3: not knowing there is no way to predict what juries 86 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 3: will do and this needs to be unanimous to get 87 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 3: a felony. Have you heard any feeling you were in 88 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 3: the courtroom, any gut and I know you're a reporter, 89 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 3: but any gut on on who was stronger here or 90 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:10,600 Speaker 3: what we're going to look for. 91 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 4: Well, you know, it's interesting. There are a couple of 92 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 4: things to point out here. One is, obviously the prosecution 93 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,360 Speaker 4: is kind of the last taste in the jurors you 94 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 4: know minds, and so earlier on today we had Blanche 95 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 4: kind of repeatedly say, you know, here's an instance of 96 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 4: Cohen lying in the past. Here's another instance, really trying 97 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 4: to prove that they should not rely on Cohen to 98 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 4: make their decision. And at the end of that, you know, 99 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,600 Speaker 4: one might say, you know, that was pretty strong. Okay, 100 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 4: I'm seeing this. He's a liar. Why should I trust him? 101 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 1: Right? 102 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 4: But then you go on to the prosecution. Obviously it 103 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 4: was six hours, there was a lot more, you know, 104 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 4: kind of painstakingly walking through so many different pieces of evidence. 105 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 4: A lot of the evidence, as I just said, was 106 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 4: Trump himself showing that he had knowledge of what was 107 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 4: going on. Again, a tweet saying it was a reimbursement 108 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 4: you know of documents with Alan Weisselberg, the CFO, his 109 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 4: handwriting and all of these different pieces. So after that, 110 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 4: I mean, I think that anyone who was kind of 111 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 4: worried about Cohen now realizes, well, it's not just Cohen 112 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,479 Speaker 4: as maybe they had thought before. They're reminded of every 113 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:26,160 Speaker 4: single witness before that, because there were you know, a 114 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 4: dozen or so witnesses, and so because the prosecution spent 115 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 4: a lot of time detailed detailing that, I think that 116 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 4: does suggest or you know, maybe poke holes a bit 117 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 4: at the defense's argument, which really focused around Cohen Cohen Cohen. 118 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 4: So I think that that could have been, you know, 119 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 4: a choice that maybe ends up backfiring on them. And 120 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 4: then of course something to consider in our attempt to 121 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 4: you know, figure out in advance what could happen is 122 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 4: how long the jury takes to deliberate. And what I'm 123 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 4: hearing from sources who I'm speaking with is that generally 124 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 4: the longer the deliberations, the more likely it is that 125 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 4: they you know, maybe a hung juries or something else 126 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 4: that would you know, rule in I guess you could 127 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 4: say the favor of Trump or not in the favor 128 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 4: of the prosecution, So that's something we'll keep an eye 129 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 4: out for as well. 130 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 3: Yeah yeah, and the as you say, the instructions tomorrow. 131 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 3: Great job, Hedriana, Thank you. We really appreciate your time. 132 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 3: That is a Adriana loenkra on that National politics reporter 133 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 3: if she was in the court room at today, and 134 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 3: a lot for the jury to consider. In San Francisco, 135 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 3: I'm a boxer. 136 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 2: Joining us now with Sarah Malick Cio of Vene for 137 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 2: her take on markets. Sarah, I think we can talk 138 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 2: about a lot of different asset classes. I know you're 139 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 2: quite gifted in that regard, but let's start off first 140 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 2: with I think the perception is that stocks have been 141 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 2: rallying like crazy, and it's not totally the case. I mean, 142 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 2: we have seen the S and P five hundred bound 143 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 2: from a bit of a sell off in April, and 144 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 2: I was just having to look at some of the 145 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 2: key names. If you look at companies like Microsoft and Amazon, 146 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 2: they're basically flat over the past three months. Meta is 147 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 2: actually down a little over the last three months, and 148 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 2: you have Apple, which has made a comeback. So it's 149 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 2: a little bit of mix and match there in the market. 150 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 2: So what do you like at the moment? 151 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 5: Well, I think definitely, the market rally has been fairly narrow. 152 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 5: First of all, it's been wrapped up by the strength 153 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 5: of Nvidia and their earnings last week. And Apple was 154 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 5: another company you brought up. And Apple actually, you know, 155 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,319 Speaker 5: the while a quarter was not incredibly impressive because the 156 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 5: stock was so under owned. That's why Apple rallied. 157 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 1: You know. 158 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 5: What I make of the market though, is that there's 159 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 5: two drivers from here, and that's earnings and the economy. 160 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 5: First quarter earnings were very strong. Eighty percent of companies 161 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 5: beat earnings estimates and that's a big driver for the markets. 162 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 5: And then the economy has remained fairly strong. Manufacturing data 163 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 5: has been you know, somewhat on the stronger side. Perils 164 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 5: data remains fairly strong. And all of that means our 165 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 5: economy is still growing while inflation has stopped reaccelerating like 166 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,719 Speaker 5: we saw earlier this year. So all that together is 167 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 5: why the market continues to have a strong performance. 168 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, the environment feels pretty good. It seems like I mean, 169 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 2: if you go back and look at the two year yield, 170 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:19,719 Speaker 2: the last time it was close to five percent, like 171 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 2: this because investors you get nervous about rising market interest rates. 172 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 2: The SEB five hundred was a thousand points lower, so 173 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 2: we've gained a thousand points. That yield on the two 174 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:35,079 Speaker 2: year basically sideways the level that the two years at 175 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 2: is essentially I guess telling you you might only get one, 176 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 2: maybe two cuts from the FED over the next two years, 177 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 2: and yet the markets have hung in there. And I 178 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 2: think it's interesting that you mentioned in Nvidia, but a 179 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 2: lot of the companies that might be riding on the 180 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:55,719 Speaker 2: back of Nvidia companies that I mentioned, like Amazon and 181 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 2: Microsoft and Google. While Google's done pretty well, some of 182 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 2: the others didn't really do much over the past month. 183 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 2: So it does leave you with a lot of choices 184 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:06,679 Speaker 2: here in if you're trying to play AI, where to 185 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 2: go to maybe get some games. 186 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 5: Well, there's very limited winners in the AI space at 187 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:16,319 Speaker 5: this point that win no matter what. And those two 188 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 5: companies are first of all, in Vidia because it basically 189 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 5: supplies to anyone trying to grow in the AAI space, 190 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 5: and secondive Microsoft, which has had a very strong lead 191 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:27,959 Speaker 5: and head start in artificial intelligence by spending tens of 192 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:30,600 Speaker 5: billion in that area. So those are the two key players. 193 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 5: That's one reason why Nvidia continues to perform well. Second, 194 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,319 Speaker 5: for those concerned about Nvidia and the rally that it's had, 195 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 5: if you look at Nvidia's EE ratio versus the semic 196 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:42,079 Speaker 5: inductor space for twenty twenty five in video is actually 197 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 5: still trading at a discount, So the argument that Invidia 198 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 5: is expensive really doesn't hold true. As for the markets 199 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,679 Speaker 5: going higher from here, you know, continued consumer spending has 200 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 5: been what's driven the markets higher, and inflation has stopped 201 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 5: reaccelerating like it did earlier this year. So when we 202 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,319 Speaker 5: talk about less FED rate cuts than expected, and why 203 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:04,839 Speaker 5: are the markets okay with that, it's because the FED 204 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 5: is cutting less for the right reasons, and those reasons 205 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:10,559 Speaker 5: are that the economy remains strong. So the Fed is said, Okay, 206 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:12,199 Speaker 5: we don't need to cut as much because we're not 207 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:13,960 Speaker 5: imminently going into a recession. 208 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 2: You know, at some point the bond vigilantes may come back. 209 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 2: We saw a little bit of weak auction sales today. 210 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 2: It kind of brings to mind what happens when investors 211 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 2: finally get worried about debt and deficits. Are we there yet? 212 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 5: You know, I don't think we're there yet, but it 213 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 5: is definitely a concern when we look at the level 214 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:38,079 Speaker 5: of US debt and interest rates that are going to 215 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 5: stay higher for longer. I think that is a long 216 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 5: term structural issue for the US, except it's not something 217 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 5: as we can see with the markets up you know, 218 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 5: quite nicely year to date, that the markets are that 219 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 5: concerned about, you know, switching over to fixed income as 220 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 5: an asset class. I think, you know, what you can 221 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 5: lock in now is yield in certain areas that we 222 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 5: haven't seen in many years than often times decades. So 223 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 5: fundamentally strong acet classes like municipal bonds, high yield municipal 224 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 5: bonds are offering very attractive yeals at this point. 225 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 2: Are you seeing any attractive options in Asia at the moment? 226 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 2: I mean, obviously this is Bloomberg daybreak Asia. We tend 227 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 2: to focus on Asia once we get past the initial 228 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 2: Wall Street wrap up. What do you like out here? 229 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 5: Yeah? Sure, So two things we think about with Asia 230 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 5: and markets outside of the US, and that's currency and 231 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:26,319 Speaker 5: what's going on with inflation. You know, with currency, I 232 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 5: think that could be a positive outside of the US 233 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:31,559 Speaker 5: because as the FED finally gets the rate cuts or 234 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 5: the economy starts to slow, that should make the dollar 235 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 5: a little bit weaker here and that's more positive for 236 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 5: international investments for Asia. I think Japan still has a 237 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:43,079 Speaker 5: lot of legs, strong corporate governments and strong earnings or 238 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 5: drivers there. And we have three themes in Japan reopening, reflation, 239 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:51,199 Speaker 5: and restoring post the pandemic. We like sectors like defense, 240 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 5: artificial intelligence because of the demographics issues in Japan, exporters 241 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 5: as the end may weaken from here. And also we 242 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:03,319 Speaker 5: like companies outside of Japan in areas for example, that 243 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:05,839 Speaker 5: are exposed to China, which is kind of lagged, and 244 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:07,959 Speaker 5: as that perhaps comes back with some spending, I think 245 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 5: that could be positive for China exposed companies. 246 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 2: Bloomberg did a survey of a dozen economists looking at China, 247 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,319 Speaker 2: looking at the property market and the efforts that we've 248 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:21,719 Speaker 2: seen here of late in terms of pushing some of 249 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 2: the big cities to lower some of their buying restrictions 250 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 2: for housing. It seems to be working a little bit. 251 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 2: According to this survey, seven out of twelve respondents see 252 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 2: a jump across the board in China and they're seeing 253 00:13:35,679 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 2: growth improve. The economists see growth in twenty twenty four, 254 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:41,959 Speaker 2: edging up to four point nine percent. How much of 255 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 2: a concern for you is the property sector and whether 256 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 2: or not it's ongoing in terms of stress. 257 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 5: Yeah, two areas of concern for us in China. One 258 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 5: is the property sector. Two is trade issues with other 259 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 5: countries doing less trade with China, including US. China has 260 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 5: bounced off the bottom as folio managers from a global 261 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:03,719 Speaker 5: basis have come back in to buy in China. We 262 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,320 Speaker 5: have seen a pickup in some of the electronic spaces 263 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 5: and luxury apparel spaces. But I think those two structural 264 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:12,080 Speaker 5: issues of trade and property are still ones that China 265 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:14,199 Speaker 5: may need to overcome. So you know, the question of 266 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:17,199 Speaker 5: do you want to chase China from here after you 267 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 5: know some of the bounce off the bottom that we've seen. 268 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 5: I would like to see more progress with the property 269 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 5: sector and understand where the trade issues might bottom. 270 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 2: I've been looking very carefully at ways of playing you know, 271 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 2: derivative plays on AI and you know, some of them, 272 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 2: like the independent power producers and utilities, they've already seen 273 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 2: a big balance. A piece are kind of high. So 274 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 2: let me put it to you, what's your number one 275 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 2: pick in the AI sphere. 276 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 5: I think you know, you can look outside of in video. 277 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 5: You can look at areas that may benefit as AI 278 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 5: becomes more highly used. So one is infrastructure, which has 279 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 5: multiple tail on. Number one is we need to build 280 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 5: more manufacturing. This is US infrastructure in the United States 281 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 5: and even global infrastructure. You know, in order to meet 282 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 5: the needs of artificial intelligence. Infrastructure will benefit. Second trend 283 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 5: for infrastructure renewable energy. As we upgrade our grids, will 284 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 5: need more renewable energy and more infrastructure. And then we 285 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 5: look across sectors like healthcare and financial services that use 286 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 5: a ton of data, which is also very promising targets. 287 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 2: All right, Sarah, thanks so much for joining us. Sarah Malex, 288 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 2: cio of newbe Charlie Ripley, Senior investment strategist at Alian's 289 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 2: Investment Management for our Closer look at markets, Charlie. In 290 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 2: some ways, the auctions grabbed the most attention today. The 291 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 2: US Treasury sold seventy billion dollars of five year notes 292 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,880 Speaker 2: at four point five to five three percent. That was 293 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 2: above the pre auction level of four point five to 294 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 2: four percent. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it 295 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 2: did send ripples through the market and yields did pop 296 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 2: on that up eight basis points. Are the bond vigilantes 297 00:15:57,640 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 2: getting ready to do their thing? 298 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 1: Hi, Brian, thanks for having me on. 299 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 4: Yeah. 300 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 1: You know, when you look at today's auction set, you know, 301 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: there is a different set of investors that invest in 302 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 1: you know, the three year and the five year and 303 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 1: the seven year space. And you know, I think today's 304 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: tailing auctions, you know, probably did feed into some of 305 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: that negative pricing that we saw on the bond market, 306 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: but I don't think it's going to be particularly reflective 307 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: of what we what we might see and you know, 308 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: maybe the longer end of the curve, you know, I 309 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 1: think those are a different set of investors, you know, 310 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: particularly insurance investors that are looking for longer duration. So 311 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 1: it'll be interesting to see how that plays out next month, 312 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: but you know, it's likely not you know, a precursor 313 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: to to what we'll see at auctions next month. 314 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 2: There was a Wall Street Journal story just a short 315 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 2: while ago that broke, and I just want to mention 316 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 2: it briefly and then ask you a question about M 317 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 2: and a murk. According to the Wall Street Journal, is 318 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 2: nearing one point three billion dollar deal for an eye 319 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 2: drug company called I Biotech. We did actually have a 320 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:08,200 Speaker 2: flurry of deals getting some coverage today in the marketplace. Obviously, 321 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,919 Speaker 2: the big one was Hess Investors approving the Chevron fifty 322 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 2: three billion dollar takeover, but another one involving energy trends 323 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 2: for acquiring assets from WTG and also T Mobile acquiring 324 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 2: some of US Cellular's wireless operations. And it bigs the 325 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 2: question about whether this pickup in M and A that 326 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 2: we're seeing, is it sending a broad message or is 327 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:32,160 Speaker 2: it too early to say. 328 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: You know, I think it's too early to say. You know, typically, 329 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:38,920 Speaker 1: you know, in a higher rate environment, it's harder to 330 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 1: see some of these larger M and A deals get 331 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: through with interest rates at these levels. So you know, 332 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 1: I think, you know, because we've been at you know, 333 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: high interest rate levels for some time, maybe there's a 334 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:53,400 Speaker 1: little bit less patience to get some of these deals done. 335 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 1: But you know, I think the real catalyst is going 336 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 1: to be, you know, a lower interest rate environment that 337 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:00,920 Speaker 1: really drives you know, additional M and A activity. 338 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 2: And do you see a lower interest rate environment coming. 339 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: That's a great question. And I think, you know, when 340 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: you look at the set of probabilities and you know, 341 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 1: a data dependent FED and and you know everything that's 342 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 1: happening on the inflation front. You know, I think the 343 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: path of probabilities is a little bit wider than expected, 344 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: and you know, I think people are a little bit 345 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:25,920 Speaker 1: less convicted about the directions of rates in this environment. 346 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 1: You know, you did mention we have seen, you know, 347 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 1: some mixed data sets on the economic front, and even 348 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,160 Speaker 1: when you look at the FED speak from policy makers, 349 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 1: you know, Neil cash Car's comments today, you know, alluded to, 350 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 1: you know, the potential for rate hikes should they need 351 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 1: to move in that direction. So, you know, against this 352 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 1: backdrop where you know, we have a very data dependent 353 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: FED and a very reactionary function from them, you know, 354 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 1: I think it's going to be you know, difficult to 355 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,640 Speaker 1: have a high conviction of of of anything in any 356 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 1: direction if they're basing policy specifically on inflation data. 357 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 4: Yeah. 358 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 2: Is it dangerous to a certain extent that the FED 359 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:09,200 Speaker 2: is data dependent in that it's sort of disallowing itself 360 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:11,160 Speaker 2: from getting out in front of something. And I talk 361 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:15,439 Speaker 2: about that because you have a lag in the lag defect, 362 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 2: I mean, we're we're not seeing the strong impact on 363 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 2: the economy that we expected from higher interest rates, and 364 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 2: we're also seeing a kind of slow lag in inflation 365 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 2: coming down to where we think it should be. So 366 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 2: should the should the Fed make a call and act 367 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 2: on it, or do you think it's right to be 368 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 2: data dependent? 369 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 1: You know, I think they they've committed to the data 370 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 1: dependent you know, transparency view. You know, you look at 371 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 1: you know, December of last year. You know, they'll let 372 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,440 Speaker 1: the proverbial genie out of the out of the out 373 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:51,239 Speaker 1: of the bottle when they decided to forecast three rate 374 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:53,679 Speaker 1: cuts for the year. And you know, perhaps maybe they 375 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 1: did get a little bit ahead of themselves and in 376 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 1: terms of being a little bit preemptive there, but you know, 377 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 1: I think the reality is, you know, that the data 378 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:03,880 Speaker 1: is moving slower than what they had made it expected 379 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 1: back then, and they have to adjust to that today. 380 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 1: And I think that's why we're seeing, you know, market 381 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 1: pricing from market participants on rate cuts continue to go 382 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:16,640 Speaker 1: lower and lower, or get pushed out further and further. 383 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're just reminded sometimes of the differences in the 384 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 2: way central banks look at interest rates. For instance, in Europe, 385 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 2: they don't mess around with owner's equivalent rent and so 386 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:36,680 Speaker 2: our data pumped through their system, inflation would be running 387 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 2: around two percent, it would be acceptable. But since we 388 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:43,920 Speaker 2: do have this owner's equivalent rent and you know, sort 389 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 2: of a lagged input into the numbers from that, we're 390 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 2: stuck in this position. Do you do you worry that 391 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 2: that inflation is going to stay high too long? Or 392 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 2: do you think that, hey, it's really not all that 393 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:00,080 Speaker 2: bad at these levels. And the reason we and the 394 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:01,719 Speaker 2: way we know that is look at the markets. 395 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:05,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think that's a great question. You know, obviously, 396 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:07,680 Speaker 1: in the first half of this year so far, we've 397 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 1: seen you know, the impact on service inflation, particularly rents, 398 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:15,119 Speaker 1: and how that's been a legging factor. But you know, 399 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 1: when we think about how the FED, you know, should 400 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 1: should position through that, you know, it really makes sense 401 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:27,120 Speaker 1: for them to be data dependent. But on the one hand, 402 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 1: you know, they have to understand that there is a 403 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:31,919 Speaker 1: leg and effect to the policy here. 404 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 2: I suppose what most people are doing here is is 405 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:38,399 Speaker 2: kind of enjoying the best of both worlds. You know, 406 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:40,399 Speaker 2: they've got a lot of cash and they've plowed that 407 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,680 Speaker 2: into short term treasuries and then you know they're playing 408 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 2: in the equity markets with x number of dollars kind 409 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:50,879 Speaker 2: of addressing the AI frenzy and X number and just 410 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 2: sort of good old fashioned industrials and materials and that 411 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 2: sort of thing. Is that the smart way to play this? 412 00:21:57,240 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 2: Or do you have a better way? 413 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 1: Yeah? You know, I think if you look at you know, 414 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:06,719 Speaker 1: bond yields, historically, they've been fairly low for the last decade, 415 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:09,320 Speaker 1: and you know, you go back to the two thousand 416 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:12,479 Speaker 1: to twenty ten era, you know, ten year rates averaged 417 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 1: a little bit higher than or you know, about two 418 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 1: percent higher than where they were at in the decade 419 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 1: following you know, the Great Financial Crisis, And I think, 420 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:23,399 Speaker 1: you know, an investment strategy that looks at you know, 421 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:26,680 Speaker 1: long duration to hedge against. You know, some types of 422 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:29,680 Speaker 1: systematic risk can be problematic, and we've seen that, you know, 423 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:33,280 Speaker 1: throughout this hiking cycle as rates have risen, and so 424 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:36,120 Speaker 1: you know, I think it does behoove investors to look 425 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: for other types of strategies, you know, to mitigate those risks, 426 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: whether it's investing in cash or other derivative based ETFs 427 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 1: that might you know, benefit of portfolio structure overall. 428 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:50,880 Speaker 2: So are you leaning toward opportunity here or caution? 429 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 1: You know, I think we lean towards a little bit 430 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 1: more caution. I mean, there's a lot of uncertainty around 431 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:01,639 Speaker 1: the path of inflation. You know, we look at the 432 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 1: data set, we look at you know, the hawks and 433 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 1: the doves that comprise the f MC. I think, you know, 434 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 1: they really want to cut rates at some point this year, 435 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 1: but the inflation data isn't isn't allowing them to do so. 436 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:17,879 Speaker 2: And all right, Charlie, we got to go. Thanks so 437 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:21,440 Speaker 2: much for joining us. That's Charlie Ripley, senior investment strategist 438 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:23,640 Speaker 2: at Alion's Investment Management. 439 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 4: This is the. 440 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 2: Bloomberg Daybreak Asia podcast, bringing you the stories making news 441 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 2: and moving markets in the Asia Pacific. Visit the Bloomberg 442 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 2: Podcast channel on YouTube to get more episodes of this 443 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 2: and other shows from Bloomberg. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, 444 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:45,680 Speaker 2: or anywhere else you listen and always on Bloomberg Radio, 445 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:48,400 Speaker 2: the Bloomberg Terminal, and the Bloomberg Business app.