Sound Economies with Mel & Peter

Western luxury fashion houses struggle as Chinese consumers are not buying as they used to – some now prefer to love local, causing a dip in profits. We explore changing behaviours in this episode alongside other topics: fresh capital flight out of Indonesia’s stock market, the timing of Anthropic’s Wall Street IPO, and the upcoming US midterm election.

Timestamp:

(00:00) - Episode rundown

(00:21) - Intro

(00:49) - Quick updates

(02:37) - Shifts in China's appetite for luxury goods

(11:13) - MSCI warns Indonesia of a "standalone status" downgrade

(17:24) - Anthropic IPO in November

(21:01) - The split on the US' upcoming midterm election

(26:43) - Our global outlook

(29:03) - Lundgreen's Invest - High-Tech Defence Fund secures quadruple exit

Two key themes are driving inflation higher for longer, which we expect to persist into early 2027. In this video podcast, we also share our expectations on the converging global middle class, the future of tech stocks, and our global outlook coming into the next year.

Timestamp:

(00:00) - Intro

(00:29) - Quick updates

(01:26) - Episode rundown

(01:46) - Twin headlines for inflation

(12:56) - Lundgreen's Invest - High-Tech Defence Fund secures quadruple exit

(13:23) - Shifting megatrends

(27:29) - 2027 global outlook

(28:00) - Poll: How soon do you think oil prices will normalize?

We dive into two exciting IPO stories from the Philippines and Australia, where we take some lessons from the GCash and Firmus Grid listings. Getting the timing right is one big issue, but another point of sensitivity is price. This episode also looks at upcoming EU import quotas on China-made hybrid cars and JPMorgan turning bullish on alternative investments in Europe.

Timestamp:

(00:00) - Episode rundown

(00:22) - Intro

(00:50) - Quick updates

(02:05) - Philippine mobile wallet GCash raising USD 1.5 billion in listing debut

(07:46) - Learnings from the cancelled IPO of Firmus Grid, an Australian data centre developer

(13:27) - EU limits China-made car imports

(18:46) - JP Morgan upbeat on EU, UK alternative investments

(21:09) - Our global outlook

(24:19) - Lundgreen's Invest - High-Tech Defence Fund secures quadruple exit

Several global pension funds are reducing their exposures to US tech stocks amid fears of a looming correction, which we discuss in this episode. We also talk about the shutdown of over 600 banks in China, and suggestions from the IMF and World Bank on government deficits.

Timestamp:

(00:00) - Episode rundown

(00:21) - Intro

(00:49) - Quick updates

(02:31) - China shuts down over 600 banks in 2025

(07:28) - Health public finance advice from IMF and World Bank

(18:08) - Global pension funds wind down US tech stock holdings

(23:14) - Our global outlook

(25:58) - Lundgreen's Invest - High-Tech Defence Fund secures quadruple exit

(26:28) - Lundgreen's Capital - Next big step: IPO in 2 years

Japan plans to set up a state-backed fund to invest in drone manufacturers and defence startups, but we are not sold on the idea. This episode also looks at the Philippines bracing for a Godzilla El Niño, China’s new stimulus for even cheaper consumer loans, and Turkey’s possible MSCI downgrade as local stocks bleed.

Timestamp:

(00:00) - Episode rundown

(00:19) - Intro

(00:48) - Quick updates

(02:55) - Philippines braces for a "Godzilla" El Niño

(11:01) - Japan looks to set up state investment fund to develop its defence industry

(19:28) - Chinese government attempts to stimulate more household spending

(23:40) - MSCI: Turkey may lose emerging market status

(27:13) - Our global outlook

(30:19) - Lundgreen's Invest - High-Tech Defence Fund secures quadruple exit

(30:49) - Lundgreen's Capital - Next big step: IPO in 2 years

A severe El Niño is set to compound challenges faced by Developing Asia, but countries well into the AI supply chain may feel less burdened. As our podcast marks its second year, we also assess potential gains from a Philippines-EU free trade deal, OECD’s warning over rising bond yields, and the stormy autumn descending upon Germany and France.

Timestamp:

(00:00) - Episode rundown

(00:25) - Intro

(00:54) - Quick updates

(02:50) - ADB warns of extreme drought dampening Asia growth prospects

(08:39) - Philippines and EU one step closer to a free trade agreement

(14:01) - OECD on rising bond yields, public debt

(17:17) - Political shakeups in Germany and France

(27:01) - Our global outlook

(29:20) - Lundgreen's Invest - High-Tech Defence Fund secures quadruple exit

(29:50) - Lundgreen's Capital - Next big step: IPO in 2 years

Preparatory talks are underway ahead of President Xi Jinping’s meeting with US President Donald Trump in the White House. We expect the tariff war and rare earths exports on the agenda, but we think that the US will seek China’s support in the Russia-Ukraine war. This episode, we also look at the success of New Zealand’s sovereign fund, Indonesia’s newest finance chief, and forecasts that the Hormuz strait will remain shut until December.

Timestamp:

(00:00) - Episode rundown

(00:26) - Intro

(00:54) - Quick updates

(01:33) - New Zealand's wealth fund raises the bar high

(05:40) - Indonesia seats its new finance minister

(09:55) - Expectations on President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping's meeting next week

(18:59) - Hormuz strait expected to stay closed until yearend

(23:17) - Our global outlook

(25:56) - Lundgreen's Invest - High-Tech Defence Fund secures quadruple exit

(26:26) - Lundgreen's Capital - Next big step: IPO in 2 years

Oil prices remain elevated as the US-Iran conflict enters its sixth month, and Brazil is emerging a winner as it gains market share in global oil exports. In our 100th podcast episode, we also look at Thailand’s attempt to boost IPOs, election results in Saxony-Anhalt in Germany, and strong US jobs data ahead of the Fed’s rate-setting meeting.

Timestamp:

(00:00) - Episode rundown

(00:18) - Intro

(00:47) - Quick updates

(03:16) - Thailand lowers IPO capital requirements

(09:14) - Chilly outlook following Saxony's provincial election

(18:16) - Strong jobs data in the US and the Fed's rate hike prospects

(20:00) - Brazil gaining market share in global oil exports

(26:28) - Our global outlook

(29:02) - Lundgreen's Invest - High-Tech Defence Fund secures quadruple exit

(29:32) - Lundgreen's Capital - Next big step: IPO in 2 years

Speculative purchases have driven Florida’s home valuations down, a similar problem which China now seeks to get out of. We explain if this housing crisis should worry investors. In this episode, we also look at factors sustaining a global bond selloff and our expectations regarding Germany’s local election this weekend.

Timestamp:

(00:00) - Episode rundown

(00:18) - Intro

(00:46) - Quick updates

(04:40) - Global bonds selloff persists

(10:15) - Shifts in housing markets in China and US

(23:55) - Germany's upcoming local election and its version of a tax reform

(31:16) - Our global outlook

(32:40) - Lundgreen's Invest - High-Tech Defence Fund secures quadruple exit

(33:10) - Lundgreen's Capital - Next big step: IPO in 2 years

This episode comes straight from our studio as we anticipate new Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s first-ever speech in Jackson Hole. From a disconnect between the actions of the US Treasury and the Fed to the potential of deploying humanoid robots across American factories, market players are seeing dangerous games unfold. This episode also gives kudos to Germany’s growth uptick, as well as growth pains hounding G20 economies.

Timestamp:

(00:00) - Episode rundown

(00:20) - Intro

(00:47) - Quick updates

(03:06) - IMF identifies two main obstacles stunting G20 growth

(08:52) - German economy picks up the pace

(13:23) - Trials, errors, and potential of humanoid robots

(20:06) - Anticipating the Fed chair's speech for this year's Jackson Hole event

(27:57) - Our global outlook

(30:15) - Lundgreen's Invest - High-Tech Defence Fund secures quadruple exit

(30:45) - Lundgreen's Capital - Next big step: IPO in 2 years