Asia Centric by Bloomberg Intelligence

So-called weight-loss drugs are generating waves of hope and hype. Names such as Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro fall breathlessly from the lips of social media influencers, bringing promise and possibility to the one billion people the World Health Organization says suffer from obesity.

Investors are already buying in, sending the market caps of Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly soaring into the ranks of the world’s most valuable companies.

Are these obesity drugs a fat-fighting panacea? Could they make junk food cravings a thing of the past? What’s their sales potential in Asia? Can makers of salty snacks lean in to a potential shift in eating habits?

Bloomberg Intelligence healthcare analysts Michael Shah and Leslie Yang join hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett to discuss whether these so-called "wonder drugs" can live up to their hype.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chinese shopping apps are shaking up online retail, with fast-fashion leader Shein and viral sensation discounter Temu setting the pace.

Both are powering China’s exports by letting overseas consumers buy everything from clothing to digital gadgets directly from manufacturers, and at bargain prices few brick-and-mortar retailers can beat. Their flashy websites, aggressive marketing, and social media know-how help drive their breakneck growth.

Could Shein be the future of fast-fashion retail? Is Temu a potential “Amazon killer” with its vast array of offerings, millions of downloads, and super-cheap prices? Bloomberg Intelligence’s retail experts Catherine Lim and Tatiana Lisitsina join co-hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett for a closer look at the forces that are reshaping the way the world shops. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US-led sanctions on Chinese tech firms were meant to put a barrier between China and the cutting-edge of smartphone know-how. Little wonder, then, that Huawei drew a collective gasp when it revealed its new smartphone -- the Mate 60 Pro -- is powered by a homegrown, China-made processor.

Almost overnight, the world woke up to the reality that China’s tech savvy was more advanced than many believed, giving global tensions a new sense of urgency.

Where does the U.S.-China relationship go from here? And how might it shape fortunes at Apple, which has an outsized investment stake in China?

Dan Hutcheson, Vice Chair of TechInsights joins co-hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett for a wide-ranging discussion of how recent events are reshaping the relationship between China, the U.S., and the high-stakes quest for tech supremacy.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hong Kong’s niche as a social and economic crossroads has framed its legend for decades. Now, a new generation of eager, young professionals from mainland China is rushing to Hong Kong to pursue similar dreams, filling the gap left behind by the city’s dwindling ranks of western expats. Their presence signals a seismic shift toward the city’s “mainlandization” and heralds the emergence of a compelling new chapter in Hong Kong’s history.

What’s driving this watershed change? What will it mean for Hong Kong’s economy? Its job market? Its business prospects? Mark Tibbatts of PageGroup, and Francis Chan and Peter Lau of Bloomberg Intelligence join hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett for a glimpse into Hong Kong’s future, and what it means for the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The drumbeat of headlines about China resembles a litany of gloom and pessimism. A crisis in its property sector, high youth unemployment, faltering economic growth and soaring local government debt have raised questions about the future of the once-unstoppable Chinese juggernaut.

Are China’s days as an economic powerhouse a thing of the past? Louis Kuijs, Asia-Pacific chief economist at S&P Global Ratings and a veteran China observer shines a light on what he believes lies ahead as he shares insights with hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Garden was once considered a leader among China's property developers. Now, a missed bond payment has turned it into the latest poster child for all that's wrong with the country's housing market. 

Developers saddled with too much debt, not enough cash, faltering sales, nervous buyers and anxious creditors all add up to a renewed crisis of confidence. The ripple effect could reverberate beyond China's borders, bearing strong echoes of the crisis that engulfed its rival, Evergrande, in 2021.

Can China's property crisis get much worse? Who's most at risk? What will it take to turn it around? Bloomberg Intelligence senior analysts Kristy Hung and Daniel Fan join hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett for a compelling look at how Country Garden stumbled, and what it means for China's housing market and its broader economy.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asia's ETF industry continues to shake up the investment landscape, attracting $65 billion in inflows so far in 2023 to an impressive $1.3 trillion in assets under management. Asia's retail investors are giddy about artificial intelligence, but other themes such as K-Pop and the Metaverse give Asia's ETFs an entertaining twist with a dash of FOMO. Rebecca Sin, senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence joins hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett to discuss all things ETFs, including her take about the new opportunities they create for investors.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asia’s currency markets are struggling to make sense of a global economy in transition. Rising US interest rates stir risks of recession while falling rates in China reflect growing urgency to give its recovery greater traction. Meanwhile, investors are treading cautiously, ever-wary of pitfalls ranging from China’s beleaguered property sector to South Korea’s household debt.

Where does this leave the currency outlook for Southeast Asia and emerging markets? Where are the opportunities? Do the risks outweigh the rewards? Alvin Tan, head of Asian currency strategy at RBC Capital Markets, and Rena Kwok, Asia financials credit analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence join hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett for a closer look at how prevailing trends are impacting Asia's major currencies.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Russia-Ukraine War is forcing governments to rethink their conceptions of conflict, the role of technology and military spending. Will AI and technology reshape the global balance of power? Can the US and China make the hard choices to keep global business prosperous?

Kevin Brand, Bloomberg Intelligence aerospace and defence analyst and 30-year US Navy veteran, joins hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett for a discussion on the future of war.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan is back on money managers' radar screens, with Warren Buffett leading a wave of resurgent investor interest in its growth prospects.

But some say investing in Japan carries risks. Years of zero interest rates and an aging population are just a few of the barriers standing between the world's third largest economy, and a new era of growth and prosperity, powered by new ideas and structural reform.

Can Japan deliver on investors' expectations? Or is the rest of the world expecting too much too soon? Bloomberg's senior Japan economist and Bank of Japan veteran Taro Kimura joins hosts John Lee and Tom Corbett for a look at Japan's appeal, and whether it can deliver for investors.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.