It’s time to look ahead and make bold predictions for Asia in 2026. After a standout year, Asian equities are on track to beat the S&P 500 by the widest margin in eight years. Can the rally continue, and which markets will lead? Are investors overlooking US funding stress, potential QE, and the risks behind multi-decade tight credit spreads? And what’s next for Asian currencies and gold?

Asia Centric convenes Bloomberg Intelligence strategists for a forward-looking discussion. Host John Lee is joined by Senior Equity Strategist Marvin Chen, Chief Asia FX Strategist Stephen Chiu and Senior Credit Strategist Timothy Tan as they unpack AI-driven growth, shifting currency dynamics, structural liquidity risks, and the potential repatriation of trillions in global capital back to Asia.

It&rsquo;s time to look ahead and make bold predictions for Asia in 2026. After a standout year, Asian equities are on track to beat the S&amp;P 500 by the widest margin in eight years. Can the rally continue, and which markets will lead? Are investors overlooking US funding stress, potential QE, and the risks behind multi-decade tight credit spreads? And what&rsquo;s next for Asian currencies and gold?
Asia Centric convenes Bloomberg Intelligence strategists for a forward-looking discussion. Host John Lee is joined by Senior Equity Strategist Marvin Chen, Chief Asia FX Strategist Stephen Chiu and Senior Credit Strategist Timothy Tan as they unpack AI-driven growth, shifting currency dynamics, structural liquidity risks, and the potential repatriation of trillions in global capital back to Asia.

Some of the world's largest and fastest-growing markets, economies and companies are in Asia. Every Thursday, John Lee from Bloomberg Intelligence and Katia Dmitrieva from Bloomberg News speak with experts and newsmakers about the big ideas and trends moving money across the region.

Some of the world's largest and fastest-growing markets, economies and companies are in Asia. Every Thursday, John Lee from Bloomberg Intelligence and Katia Dmitrieva from Bloomberg News speak with experts and newsmakers about the big ideas and trends moving money across the region.

Asia Centric by Bloomberg Intelligence

2026 Lookahead for Stocks, Bonds and Currencies

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Geopolitical risk is often seen as a market threat, yet the rivalry between Washington and Beijing is driving a wave of investment opportunities. The US push for re-industrialization is boosting demand for Asian exports in sectors such as shipbuilding, power generation and semiconductors while China’s investment in "new productive forces" accelerates its high-end manufacturing upgrade.

Timothy Moe, chief Asia-Pacific equity strategist at Goldman Sachs, joins John Lee on the Asia Centric podcast. Moe explains why technology will remain a dominant theme in 2026 and why the firm is overweight Asia ex-Japan, forecasting the region will outperform the US and Europe. He also details why South Korea remains his top pick, citing 35% projected earnings growth and reasonable valuations, and outlines the rationale for his recent upgrade of India.

This will also be our last episode for 2025 and we will re-commence on January 8 with a new line up of exciting speakers.

Geopolitical risk is often seen as a market threat, yet the rivalry between Washington and Beijing is driving a wave of investment opportunities. The US push for re-industrialization is boosting demand for Asian exports in sectors such as shipbuilding, power generation and semiconductors while China&rsquo;s investment in "new productive forces" accelerates its high-end manufacturing upgrade.
Timothy Moe, chief Asia-Pacific equity strategist at Goldman Sachs, joins John Lee on the Asia Centric podcast. Moe explains why technology will remain a dominant theme in 2026 and why the firm is overweight Asia ex-Japan, forecasting the region will outperform the US and Europe. He also details why South Korea remains his top pick, citing 35% projected earnings growth and reasonable valuations, and outlines the rationale for his recent upgrade of India.
This will also be our last episode for 2025 and we will re-commence on January 8 with a new line up of exciting speakers.

Goldman Tips Asia To Outpace The US Again In 2026

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d63ab573-eba0-4a5a-983e-b3b600826322/transcript

SoftBank is doubling down on artificial intelligence with a $30 billion commitment to OpenAI and ambitious plans for Stargate – even as risks mount. After a 200% surge earlier this year, shares tumbled 40% in November when Google’s Gemini 3.0 gained traction, threatening ChatGPT’s dominant position in the AI race. Credit stress is rising, with CDS widening to nearly 300 basis points as funding concerns build. Investors and creditors are increasingly uneasy as OpenAI now accounts for about 20% of SoftBank’s net assets, turning what was once seen as a bold growth play into a potential source of concentrated risk.

Bloomberg Intelligence equity analyst Kirk Boodry and credit analyst Sharon Chen join John Lee on the Asia Centric podcast. Together they unpack SoftBank’s AI ambitions, its reliance on margin loans and the implications of circular financing. They also weigh up Masayoshi Son’s track record – spectacular wins such as Alibaba and painful failures like WeWork – against his latest AI gamble.

SoftBank is doubling down on artificial intelligence with a $30 billion commitment to OpenAI and ambitious plans for Stargate &ndash; even as risks mount. After a 200% surge earlier this year, shares tumbled 40% in November when Google&rsquo;s Gemini 3.0 gained traction, threatening ChatGPT&rsquo;s dominant position in the AI race. Credit stress is rising, with CDS widening to nearly 300 basis points as funding concerns build. Investors and creditors are increasingly uneasy as OpenAI now accounts for about 20% of SoftBank&rsquo;s net assets, turning what was once seen as a bold growth play into a potential source of concentrated risk.
Bloomberg Intelligence equity analyst Kirk Boodry and credit analyst Sharon Chen join John Lee on the Asia Centric podcast. Together they unpack SoftBank&rsquo;s AI ambitions, its reliance on margin loans and the implications of circular financing. They also weigh up Masayoshi Son&rsquo;s track record &ndash; spectacular wins such as Alibaba and painful failures like WeWork &ndash; against his latest AI gamble.

SoftBank's AI Gamble – Bold Vision or Risky Bet? 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/91ff0b6b-3d66-48d3-afac-b3af00a99540/transcript

Regulators around the world, from the US to Singapore and Australia, are trying to revive initial public offerings. The London Stock Exchange raised less than $2 billion since the beginning of 2024, its worst drought since 1998, while the number of publicly listed companies in the US has halved from 8,000 in 1996. Regulatory burdens, litigation risks and abundant private capital have pushed companies to remain private.

Paul Atkins, chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, has vowed to "make IPOs great again". But what can regulators do to entice companies to list? And why is Hong Kong bucking this trend – the city is on track to raise more than $40 billion this year and has a pipeline of more than 300 mainland Chinese firms seeking listing. Larry Tabb, Bloomberg Intelligence head of market structure research, and Sharnie Wong, BI senior analyst – diversified financials, joins John Lee on the Asia Centric podcast.

Regulators around the world, from the US to Singapore and Australia, are trying to revive initial public offerings. The London Stock Exchange raised less than $2 billion since the beginning of 2024, its worst drought since 1998, while the number of publicly listed companies in the US has halved from 8,000 in 1996. Regulatory burdens, litigation risks and abundant private capital have pushed companies to remain private.
Paul Atkins, chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, has vowed to "make IPOs great again". But what can regulators do to entice companies to list? And why is Hong Kong bucking this trend &ndash; the city is on track to raise more than $40 billion this year and has a pipeline of more than 300 mainland Chinese firms seeking listing. Larry Tabb, Bloomberg Intelligence head of market structure research, and Sharnie Wong, BI senior analyst &ndash; diversified financials, joins John Lee on the Asia Centric podcast.

Hong Kong Defies Global IPO Slump

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7377b88c-9700-4d8b-ab6d-b3a10089deac/transcript

2026 Lookahead for Stocks, Bonds and Currencies

Asia Centric by Bloomberg Intelligence

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