Bloomberg Daybreak: Asia Edition

Asian stocks advanced at Thursday's open, tracking gains in US peers after more evidence of a slowing job market boosted the case for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates next week. We speak to Mark Cranfield, Bloomberg MLIV Strategist. In the states, data on Wednesday showed US companies shed payrolls in November by the most since early 2023, reinforcing concerns about a more pronounced labor market weakening. Swaps pricing indicated rising expectations for a December cut Wednesday, with traders assigning more than a 90% chance to a 25-basis-point reduction. Separately, US services activity expanded at a slightly faster pace, while a measure of prices paid dropped to a seven-month low. We speak to Adam Turnquist, Chief Technical Strategist at LPL Financial.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian stocks traded within tight ranges early Wednesday, mirroring similar moves on Wall Street amid a lack of fresh catalysts, while a rebound in cryptocurrencies lost steam. In South Korea, Today's outperformer is the South Korean equity market. Today, the Bank of Korea reported a revised GDP growth of 1.3% quarter on quarter. It's the fastest pace of growth in nearly four years. We heard from Frederic Neumann, HSBC Chief Asia Economist and Co-Head of Global Research. He spoke to Bloomberg's Paul Allen and Avril Hong on the Asia Trade. In the States - There was a cautious rebound in the US equity market. A portion of today's risk-taking was tied to a rebound in crypto currencies. We spoke to Chris Zaccarelli, Chief Investment Officer at Northlight Asset Management.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian stocks staged a rebound on Tuesday following a selloff that saw cryptocurrencies lead declines in global risk assets. Japanese government bonds were in focus ahead of an auction of 10-year debt. For more on the outlook on emerging market opportunities in Asia, we spoke to Joy Yang, Head of Product Management and Marketing at MarketVector Indexes. Plus - Almost $1 billion of leveraged crypto positions were liquidated during another sharp drop in prices on Monday that brought fresh momentum to a wide-ranging selloff. For more on what this for the broader market, we spoke to Tim Pagliara, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Investment Officer at CapWealth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian stocks swung between gains and losses following modest US gains on Friday, with investors turning focus to a slew of economic data ahead of an expected Federal Reserve interest-rate cut this month. And over the weekend, China's factory activity improved but remained in contraction in November, extending its streak of declines to a record as the country's economic slowdown deepens. The official manufacturing purchasing managers' index was 49.2, remaining below the 50 mark that separates growth and contraction for an eighth month. The median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg was 49.4. For more on the week ahead, we heard from Illiana Jain, Economist at Westpac International. She spoke to Bloomberg's Avril Hong and Shery Ahn on the Asia Trade. Plus - FII Priority Asia Summit is taking place in Tokyo and it brings together key leaders and policy makers from Saudi Arabia and Japan. The summit's focus will be on robotics, AI trade, and global supply chains. And we had the chance to hear from Rishi Kapoor, Vice Chair & CIO Investcorp. He spoke to Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Avril Hong.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to earnings from Crowdstrike, Snowflake, and Salesforce. In the UK – a look ahead to the seventh Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit. In Asia – a look ahead to whether Asia's Labubu toy has hit its peak. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tokyo's inflation held steady in November, keeping the Bank of Japan on track for an interest rate hike in coming months. Consumer prices excluding fresh food in the capital advanced 2.8% this month from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Friday, as gains in electricity costs accelerated while those for processed food slowed. That was a tad stronger than the median economist forecast of 2.7% and matched the result for the previous month. And - China's real estate sector suffered another blow after China Vanke Co. proposed delaying repayment on a local bond, sending some of its notes plunging to record lows and fueling concerns about Beijing's willingness to support even the largest distressed developers. For more on what is moving the markets in Asia, we spoke to Paul Dobson, Bloomberg's Executive Editor for Asia Markets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hong Kong's worst residential fire in more than half a century has killed at least 44 people and left hundreds missing, as rescue workers race to extinguish the blaze and Chinese President Xi Jinping urges all-out efforts to reduce casualties. Rescue efforts continued overnight after a fire that began around 3 p.m. Wednesday turned an eight-tower housing block in northern Hong Kong into an inferno, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Officials said the blaze began on a section of the bamboo scaffolding encasing the complex, which is still widely used in the city. Bloomberg's Minmin Low is on site. Investors continue to keep an eye on the increasing probability of a December interest rate cut. What does that mean for Asian Markets? We heard from Hartmut Issel, UBS Wealth Management Head of APAC Equities and Credit. He spoke to Bloomberg's Avril Hong and Shery Ahn on the Asia Trade. Plus - Wall Street extended its rally on Wednesday. Tech stocks led the climb in US equities as rising expectations for interest-rate cuts helped carry traders' newfound optimism into the Thanksgiving break. Also, the latest Fed survey showed little change in US economic activity during recent weeks. The so-called Beige Book also found employment declined slightly -- and prices rose moderately. We spoke to Patrick Kennedy, Founding Partner at All Source Investment Management.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian stocks extended their gains into a third day, tracking advances on Wall Street as weak US consumer data lifted bets on a Federal Reserve interest-rate cut next month. MSCI's regional stock gauge rose 1.2%. Almost all of the 11 industry groups in the index advanced, with as many as three stocks gaining for every one that fell. That came after US benchmarks posted their third day of gains. Chinese equities opened steady as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. shares fell as much as 2.8% in Hong Kong trading after its earnings. For more outlook on the markets, we spoke to William Bratton, Head of Cash Equity Research for the Asia Pacific at BNP Paribas. Plus - US consumer confidence slid in November by the most in seven months on growing anxiety about the labor market and the economy. The Conference Board's gauge decreased 6.8 points to 88.7, data out Tuesday showed. The figure was weaker than all estimates in a Bloomberg survey of economists. A gauge of expectations for the next six months declined to the lowest level since April, while a measure of present conditions slumped to a more than one-year low. And in regards to individual stock movers, Alphabet Inc. came off session highs that had driven the search giant closer to a $4 trillion valuation, after The Information reported that Meta Platforms Inc. is in talks to use Google's AI chips. Shares of Nvidia Corp., Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and Oracle Corp. remained lower. We get perspective from Jim Worden, CIO, The Wealth Consulting Group.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday held their first talks since agreeing to a tariff truce last month, discussing trade, Taiwan and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Trump said the telephone call was "very good" and that the leaders spoke about purchases of soybeans and other farm products as well as curbing shipments of illegal fentanyl. The US president said he agreed to visit Beijing in April, and that he had invited Xi for a state visit next year. "Our relationship with China is extremely strong!" Trump posted on social media. "There has been significant progress on both sides in keeping our agreements current and accurate. Now we can set our sights on the big picture." But the US president's readout of the call sidestepped one issue — the self-governing island of Taiwan — that was a central focus for Xi. The Chinese leader told Trump that the return of Taiwan to China is a key part of the post-World War II international order, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement. Xi also said the two countries should keep the positive momentum generated during their meeting last month in South Korea and expand cooperation, the statement said. There is a lot to be said about artificial intelligence. Nvidia reported earnings last week that beat analyst expectations. Also, the White House says President Trump is weighing whether to allow Nvidia Corp. to sell advanced artificial intelligence chips to China and will be the one to make a final decision on the matter. For more on the AI trade, we speak to Ritesh Ganeriwal, Syfe's Head of Investment and Advisory. Plus: Investors are boosting bets on the Federal Reserve cutting rates next month. For more, we spoke to Rob Haworth, Senior Investment Strategy Director, U.S. Bank Asset Management Group.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US officials are having early discussions on whether to let Nvidia sell its H200 artificial intelligence chips to China, according to people familiar with the matter. Helen Zhu, Managing Partner and CIO at NF Trinity, recaps last week in the AI trade, and the current the appetite for risk assets. Plus, markets are looking ahead to more shutdown-delayed data and the Fed's Beige Book survey. Grace Glockner, Director of National Accounts & Investment Team Member at Scharf Investments, discusses the AI trade, the recent consumer sentiment data, and how "Steady Eddie" companies are shaping her outlook for the New Year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager takes a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to earnings from Dell, Kohl’s Abercrombie & Finch, and retail ahead of the holiday season. In the UK – a look ahead to the UK's highly anticipated autumn budget. In Asia – a look ahead to China PMI data. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan's inflation ticked up in October, and the BOJ may be on track for a rate hike. Masa Takeda, Portfolio Manager at the Hennessy Japan Fund, discusses how Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's economic package could address inflation. Plus, the S&P closed lower with morning gains from Nvidia earnings evaporating. Adam Coons, Chief Investment Officer at Winthrop Capital Management, talks today's trading.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nvidia Corp. delivered a surprisingly strong revenue forecast and pushed back on the idea that the AI industry is in a bubble, easing concerns that had spread across the tech sector. The world's most valuable company expects sales of about $65 billion in the January quarter — roughly $3 billion more than analysts predicted. Nvidia also said that a half-trillion-dollar revenue bonanza due in coming quarters may be even bigger than anticipated. The outlook signals that demand remains robust for Nvidia's artificial intelligence accelerators, the pricey and powerful chips used to develop AI models. Nvidia had faced growing fears in recent weeks that the runaway spending on such equipment wasn't sustainable. And we heard from CEO Jensen Huang. He spoke to Bloomberg's Ed Ludlow. Plus - Many Federal Reserve officials said it would likely be appropriate to keep interest rates steady for the remainder of 2025, according to minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee's October 28-29 meeting. The record of the meeting, released Wednesday in Washington, also showed "several" policymakers were against lowering the Fed's benchmark rate at that gathering."Many participants suggested that, under their economic outlooks, it would likely be appropriate to keep the target range unchanged for the rest of the year," the minutes said. Still, "several participants" said another cut "could well be appropriate in December if the economy evolved about as they expected" before the next meeting. For his perspective, we spoke to Clayton Triick, Head of Portfolio Management: Public Strategies, Angel Oak Capital Advisors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nvidia, the world's most valuable company, is set to deliver a quarterly report Wednesday that could assure Wall Street that the AI computing boom continues apace — or fuel fears that the tech industry is in a bubble. Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang said late last month that he has orders that will deliver $500 billion of revenue over the next few quarters and that spending on new equipment is increasingly paying off for customers. Still, the bubble fears have contributed to a recent stock selloff, with investors fretting that capital spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure will create a glut. For a preview, we speak to Jed Ellerbroek, Portfolio Manager at Argent Capital Management. Plus - the New Economy Forum in Singapore has begun. Bloomberg had the chance to catch up with top business names. That includes Bob Diamond, Atlas Mechant Capital founding partner and CEO and former Barclays CEO. He spoke to Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Avril Hong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US equities retreated ahead of Nvidia earnings. Matt Sallee, Executive Vice President, Head of Investments at Tortoise Capital shares what he's expecting across the AI trade. Bitcoin drops sharply from its October high. Kelvin Tay, Regional CIO for UBS Global Wealth Management, discusses what's driving the price action of markets in the Asia Pacifc. Plus, 'Baby Shark' creator Pinkfong's IPO in South Korea. Shares jumped as much as 62% on their trading debut as investors snapped up the studio behind YouTube’s most-viewed jingle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crucial data will arrive for investors this week. Nvidia will report earnings, with the chipmaker seen as a bellwether for the AI trade. US weekly jobless claims data and September payrolls are set to release on Thursday. Chris Maxey, Managing Director and Chief Market Strategist at Wealthspire Advisors, discusses how these reports will impact the markets.Plus, Japan's 3Q GDP saw its the first decline in six quarters. Trinh Nguyen, Natixis Emerging Markets Asia Economist, provides a cautious outlook for emerging markets in 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to earnings from Nvidia, Walmart, and Target. In the UK – a look ahead to the European Business Summit. In Asia – a look ahead to Japan’s upcoming GDP report. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian stocks fell after uncertainty over Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts and stretched valuations in technology shares dragged Wall Street lower. Gauges in Japan, South Korea and Australia all opened weaker, even as an index of the region was poised for its third gain in four weeks. We then take you to the Citi China Conference in Shanghai, where Citi CEO Jane Fraser spoke to Bloomberg's Stephen Engle. They discussed Citi's growing presence in China, the current state of the US economy, and her views on how to deploy AI in the financial sector. In the states, investors are bracing for a flurry of economic data now that the government shut-down is over. Stocks fell, led by a decline in tech stocks was met by concern that the Federal Reserve's plans for a December rate cut maybe in doubt. For a closer look, we spoke to Mike Green, Chief Strategist and Portfolio Manager for Simplify Asset Management.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global shares held a three-day gain that took them to within touching distance of a record high as the US House passed a bill to end the longest-ever government shutdown. Asian shares and the MSCI All Country World Index fluctuated between small gains and losses as investors stayed cautious with limited economic data clouding the outlook for Federal Reserve policy. Yifan Hu, Chief Investment Officer and Head of APAC Macroeconomics at UBS Wealth Management spoke to Bloomberg's Annabelle Droulers and Yvonne Man and she gave her outlook on the Chinese economy.Plus - The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed for a fourth straight day in anticipation ahead of the end of the record breaking US government shutdown. For more on the markets, we spoke to Mike Dickson, Head of Research & Quantitative Strategies at Horizon Investments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China's Singles Day shopping festival is off to a record start. E-commerce giant JD.com says orders jumped nearly 60%, with shoppers up 40% from last year — defying concerns that deflation is weighing on consumer demand. In the U.S., there's growing optimism the government shutdown will end soon. UBS Managing Director and Financial Advisor Xi Qiao tells Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Avril Hong what that could mean for Asia. Plus, the Dow Jones closed at a record high as investors piled into stocks beyond the AI giants. Merck was among the day's top gainers. We get perspective from Dean Smith, Chief Strategist and Marketing Officer at FolioBeyond.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian stocks advanced for a second consecutive day as progress toward ending the record-long US government shutdown lifted sentiment, sparking a cross-asset rally from commodities to cryptocurrencies.President Donald Trump said he "at some point" would reduce the tariff rate on Indian goods, saying the US was getting "pretty close" to a trade deal with New Delhi."Right now they don't love me, but they'll love us again," Trump said. "We're getting a fair deal." Trump later predicted the nations were "pretty close to doing a deal that's good for everybody." The comments were the latest signal of a possible thaw in the trade dispute that has soured the relationship between the US and India. We heard from Kurt Campbell, Chairman and Co-Founder of The Asia Group. He spoke to Bloomberg's Paul Allen at the UBS Australasia Summit.In the states - Wall Street traders piled into riskier corners of the market, with stocks climbing alongside Bitcoin as the US Senate advanced a plan to end the longest-ever government shutdown, which would remove a significant economic headwind. Bonds lost steam. The risk-on bid lifted the S&P 500 by 1.5%. Technology megacaps, which had been hit the hardest in recent sessions, saw their biggest advance since May. We spoke to Chuck Cumello, President & Chief Executive Officer of Essex Financial. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The record-breaking US government shutdown is nearing an end after a group of moderate Senate Democrats agreed to support a deal to reopen the government and fund some departments and agencies for the next year, people familiar with the talks said. Under the agreement, Congress would pass full-year funding for the departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs and Congress itself, while funding other agencies through Jan. 30. The bill would provide pay for furloughed government workers, resume withheld federal payments to states and localities and recall agency employees who were laid off during the shutdown. US stock-index futures jumped in early Asian trading. For more on the early market action in Asia, we turn to Paul Dobson, Bloomberg's Executive Editor for Asia Markets.Plus - the US Government shutdown has delayed the release of two monthly jobs reports and may also impact the release of a key inflation snapshot, creating a data fog for the Federal Reserve. The absence of official reports on inflation and the job market will prolong the debate about whether another rate cut is needed at the Fed's December meeting, with some economists predicting that October's figures would have supported a rate cut. Fed officials will have to rely on retroactive surveys and private-sector reports to inform their decisions, with several appearances by Fed officials in the coming week, including John Williams, Raphael Bostic, Stephen Miran, and Alberto Musalem, being closely watched by investors. We speak to Chris Carey, Portfolio Manager, Carnegie Investment Counsel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to earnings from Walt Disney and Paramount-Skydance. In the UK – a look ahead to Portugal’s Web Summit. In Asia – a look ahead to China Singles’ day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian equities fell after Wall Street shares declined, weighed down by concerns over stretched artificial intelligence valuations and signs of a cooling labor market. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slipped 0.6%, led by declines in Japan, putting the gauge on track for its first drop in three weeks. US equity benchmarks dropped for the second time in three sessions with AI-related stocks such as Nvidia Corp. tumbling, while a closely watched volatility gauge spiked. We heard from Pruksa Iamthongthong, Aberdeen Investments Head of Equities Asia Pacific. She spoke to Bloomberg's Yvonne Man and David Ingles.Plus - Tesla Inc. shareholders approved a $1 trillion compensation package for Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, the largest payout ever awarded to a corporate leader. The pay agreement clears a path for Musk, the world's richest person, to become the first-ever trillionaire and expand his stake in Tesla to 25% or more over the next decade. To achieve the full payout, he'll have to deliver on targets to significantly expand Tesla's market value, revive its flagging car business and get the fledgling robotaxi and Optimus robotics efforts off the ground.And in the US, volatility lashed Wall Street, with strong evidence of a cooling labor market pushing high-valuation tech stocks and crypto to big losses while bonds rallied on bets the Federal Reserve will cut rates. We spoke to Clark Geranen, Chief Investment Officer, CalBay Investments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian stocks rose at the open, following Wall Street's lead, where buyers stepped in after a brief retreat in technology shares and signs of a resilient US labor market boosted investor sentiment. Also in the states, the US Supreme Court appeared skeptical of President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs, as key justices suggested he had overstepped his authority with his signature economic policy. We speak to Mark Cranfield, Bloomberg MLIV Strategist.Plus - While Wall Street didn't see a buying stampede, equities were able to bounce following a slide that underscored worries over how stretched the market has become and how sensitive it is to unfavorable news. Chipmakers, which bore the brunt of the recent selling, jumped on Wednesday. For more on the markets, we speak to Robert Schein, Chief Investment Officer, Blanke Schein Wealth Management. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the US, risky assets slid, with tech stocks and cryptocurrencies bearing the brunt of the selling, after long-simmering concerns about lofty valuations were fanned anew by a chorus of Wall Street executives who warned investors to brace for a pullback. In South Korea, the equity benchmark slumped as valuation concerns hammered recent winners such as chip stocks, defense and shipbuilders. For more on the latest market action, we heard from Anna Wu, VanEck Cross-Asset Investment Specialist. She spoke to Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Avril Hong. Plus - we go to Singapore, where we speak to Sandeep Malhotra, Mastercard Executive Vice President for Core Payments in Asia Pacific. He talks about how technology, partnerships, and regulation are redefining how money moves across the region. From real-time payments to cross-border interoperability and the role of AI in fraud prevention, Malhotra shares how Mastercard is modernizing its core network while supporting financial inclusion. We also explore how consumer behavior and digital infrastructure in Asia are influencing global payment trends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO David Solomon discusses US-China Trade Relations and M&A Activity. Solomon spoke to Bloomberg's Yvonne Man and David Ingles on the sidelines of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit.Plus - The start of what's known as the best month of the year for stocks saw tech rallying as Amazon.com Inc.'s $38 billion deal with OpenAI added fuel to the artificial-intelligence trade. We speak to Brad Bernstein, Managing Director at UBS Private Wealth Management. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China will effectively suspend implementation of additional export controls on rare earth metals and terminate investigations targeting US companies in the semiconductor supply chain, the White House announced. The White House issued a fact sheet on Saturday outlining some details of the trade pact agreed to earlier this week by President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping that aimed to ease tensions between the world's largest economies. Also, there were some PMI releases across Asia. That would include South Korea and Taiwan. For more on the US-China trade fallout and the latest eco data, we turn to Paul Dobson, Bloomberg's Executive Editor for Asia Markets.Plus - More than half of S&P 500 companies have reported quarterly results and Uber Technologies and McDonald's earnings will likely underscore deteriorating consumer sentiment in the US. Meantime, last week Big Tech was in the spotlight for 5 key players. For more on what to look out for in the week ahead, we speak to Carol Schleif, Chief Investment Officer at BMO Private Wealth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week In the US – a look at how earnings are impacting global markets In the UK – we preview the Bank of England rate decision In Asia – looking ahead to the RBA Decision and Chinese economic data See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump emerged from his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping beaming, labeling the conversation "truly great. "But the one-year truce struck on Thursday in South Korea is likely to only stabilize relations between the world's two largest economies rather than resolve fundamental differences, with both sides buying time to further reduce dependence on each other in strategic areas. And it made clear just how much stronger China has become since Trump's first term in office. Trump's move to cut the fentanyl tariff and extend the existing truce on reciprocal tariffs will leave many products facing a levy around 47%, low enough for China's massive manufacturing base to remain competitive with regional rivals. Just as significantly, the US agreed to suspend a rule expanding restrictions on blacklisted Chinese firms, showing that Xi's sweeping rare earth curbs could potentially put a cap on new US export controls — something China has sought for years. We heard from Max Baucus, former US Ambassador to China. He spoke to Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Avril Hong.Plus - in the US, after the bell, Amazon reported third quarter results that beat analyst estimates driven by its cloud business growth. Apple meantime, reported revenue in Greater China fell well short of analysts' estimates in the latest quarter. We speak to Ross Mayfield, Investment Strategist for Baird Private Wealth Management. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the late hours in the US, Alphabet Inc. reported solid sales. Meta Platforms Inc. sees total expenses to significantly rise in 2026. Microsoft Corp.'s expansion in its Azure unit failed to inspire traders. For more on the latest earnings, we turn to Daniel Newman, CEO of the Futurum Group.Plus - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's blunt warning that investors need to rein in expectations for a December interest-rate cut underscored a growing tug-of-war among US policymakers who are opposed in their outlooks for jobs and inflation. While Powell made it clear that the primary concern for some is a cooling job market, others inside the Fed are warning persistent inflation will limit room for more easing. And a freeze on the release of official economic data during the ongoing government shutdown is only hardening the divide.Powell's comments came after the Federal Open Market Committee voted 10-2 to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by a quarter percentage point, to 3.75%-4%. It was the second straight rate cut, but for the first time in six years, there were dissents in both directions — with one official advocating a larger reduction and another preferring to stay on hold. For more, we turn to Sean Clark, Chief Investment Officer at Clark Capital. **Disclaimer, at the time of this recording, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have not met yet. They are set to meet later on Thursday in South Korea (local time). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian markets opened higher, lifted by Wall Street optimism that artificial intelligence will keep powering tech profits — and growing bets the Fed could cut rates. Stocks gained in Japan and South Korea, while Hong Kong remained closed for a holiday. The yen strengthened after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged Japan's new government to give the Bank of Japan more room to fight inflation — a contrast to his message for the Fed at home. For more, we'll hear from Bloomberg MLIV Strategist Mark Cranfield.In the U.S., a rally in big tech pushed stocks to record highs as investors bet AI will keep driving earnings. Five major tech firms report later this week — key tests for whether spending on AI infrastructure keeps paying off. We spoke to Scott Ladner, Chief Investment Officer at Horizon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wall Street's hopes the US and China are nearing a trade deal lifted riskier assets, with stocks hitting all-time highs amid a rally in crypto. As demand for safety waned, gold fell alongside short-term bonds. The S&P 500 climbed 1.2% as Chinese and US trade negotiators have lined up an array of diplomatic wins for Donald Trump and Xi Jinping to unveil at a summit this week. With further Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts on the way, the profit outlook is looking increasingly brighter. For more perspective, we spoke to George Efstathopoulos, Multi Asset Portfolio Manager at Fidelity International.Plus - Earnings reports this week from five of the so-called "Magnificent Seven" companies will center around artificial-intelligence investment plans as the battle to scale capabilities intensifies. Also, investors look to the Federal Reserve meeting this week for clues on the path of rate cuts. We speak to Ahmed Riesgo, Chief Investment Officer at Insigneo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Top trade negotiators for the US and China said they came to terms on a range of contentious points, setting the table for leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping to finalize a deal and ease trade tensions that have rattled global markets. After two days of talks in Malaysia wrapped up Sunday, a Chinese official said the two sides reached a preliminary consensus on topics including export controls, fentanyl and shipping levies. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Trump’s threat of 100% tariffs on Chinese goods “is effectively off the table” and he expected the Asian nation to make “substantial” soybean purchases as well as offer a deferral on sweeping rare earth controls. Bessent spoke in separate interviews on NBC, CBS and ABC. The US wouldn’t change its export controls directed at China, he added. For more, we heard from Bloomberg’s China Correspondent Minmin Low. The Bank of Japan is widely expected to stand pat at this week’s policy meeting, but chances of a near-term rate hike are rising given the currency’s weakness, which risks pushing up domestic inflation further. For a preview, we heard from Takahide Kiuchi, Nomura Research Institute Executive Economist and Former BOJ Board Member. He spoke to Bloomberg’s Shery Ahn and Avril Hong. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung says Seoul and Washington remain stuck on “all” the major details of a $350 billion investment pledge. His comments come days before an expected meeting with President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Gyeongju. Lee sat down with Bloomberg’s Shery Ahn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to the next Fed meeting and earnings from U.S tech giants. In the UK – a look ahead to European defense earnings. In Asia – a look at top interviews from the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting in South Korea. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump is aiming for a quick win in a pivotal Thursday meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, even if the outcome falls short of the sweeping deal he's teased on issues at the heart of the rivalry between the world's two largest economies. Ahead of the sit-down, the US president said he wants to extend a pause on higher tariffs on Chinese goods in exchange for Xi resuming American soybean purchases, cracking down on fentanyl and backing off restrictions on rare-earth exports — all while maintaining some trade barriers he sees as essential. China vowed to enhance technological self-reliance and grow the domestic market in the next five years, as it looks to both insulate the economy from foreign pressures and build a sustainable engine for growth. The country will aim to "greatly increase" the capacity for self-reliance and strength in science and technology, according to a communique released Thursday after a four-day conclave of the Communist Party's Central Committee. It will also seek to maintain manufacturing's share in the economy at a "reasonable" level as part of efforts to build a modern industrial system. For more, we heard from Peiqian Liu, Economist at Fidelity International Asia. She spoke to Bloomberg's Annabelle Droulers and Avril Hong on the Asia Trade. Plus - Asian stocks opened higher Friday as a planned meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping eased nerves around trade tensions. The dollar was little changed ahead of US inflation data, with investors expecting the Federal Reserve to announce a rate cut next week despite inflation being above the Fed's goal. For more on the market action, we heard from Mark Cranfield, Bloomberg's MLIV Strategist. He spoke to Bloomberg's Annabelle Droulers and Avril Hong on the Asia Trade. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Next week, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit will be underway. President Trump is expected to meet with South Korea President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping for separate bilateral talks that may shape trade relations for years to come. In the states, senior South Korean officials visited Washington today to resume trade negotiations to bridge their differences over Seoul's $350 billion investment pledge under a bilateral trade deal struck in July. For more on what's ahead at the APEC Summit, we heard from Kang Kyung-hwa, South Korean Ambassador to the United States. She spoke to Bloomberg's Joe Mathieu and Julie Fine on Balance of Power. And - South Korea and the US are focusing on the structure of a $350 billion investment pledge by Seoul, rather than a currency swap, according to Finance Minister Koo Yun Cheol. Officials in Washington including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent now see the potential for a shock to Seoul's foreign-exchange market from an "upfront" deployment of funds, Koo told Bloomberg TV in an interview on Wednesday that also touched on weakness in the Korean won stemming from the unfinished deal, car tariffs and AI technology. He spoke exclusively with Bloomberg's Shery Ahn about the progress of talks, on the sidelines of the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting in Incheon, South Korea. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan's Sanae Takaichi has become the country's first female prime minister, vowing to strengthen the nation's economy and defense capabilities and enhance relations with the US. Takaichi faces challenges including quelling discontent over the cost of living, dealing with a looming visit by US President Donald Trump, and reviving the fortunes of a ruling party that has lost its dominance. Takaichi has formed a cabinet and plans to deliver results, including implementing a trade deal with the US and alleviating the impact of inflation, and will meet with President Trump at an early date to elevate Japan-US relations. We get perspective from Rintaro Nishimura, Senior Associate in The Asia Group's Japan Practice. He spoke to Bloomberg's Avril Hong and Annabelle Droulers. Plus - Sanae Takaichi has just been confirmed as Japan's first female prime minister. But more important than her gender might be her taste for head-banging — in music and politics. That is according to Bloomberg Opinion Columnist Gearoid Reidy. He spoke about his piece to Bloomberg's Avril Hong and Annabelle Droulers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party sealed a new coalition deal that sets up Sanae Takaichi to become the country's first female prime minister. LDP President Takaichi and Hirofumi Yoshimura, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, also known as Ishin, signed the coalition agreement on Monday evening. Combined, the LDP and Ishin hold 231 seats in the lower house of parliament. While that is two seats shy of a majority, divisions between opposition parties mean Takaichi is almost certain to win a parliamentary vote on Tuesday to decide the prime minister. We get perspective from Sheila Smith, Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow for Asia Pacific Studies. She spoke to Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Avril Hong. Plus - Wall Street traders drove stocks higher amid solid signals from Corporate America and hopes that tensions between the world's two largest economies are cooling. Bond yields edged lower. With the earnings season well underway, about 85% of the companies in the S&P 500 reporting results so far have beaten profit estimates. That's helped fuel a rebound in equities, with the benchmark notching its best two-day gain since June. Sentiment was also buoyed by expectations the trade war will de-escalate as the US and China return to the negotiating table. We heard from Carol Schleif, Chief Market Strategist at BMO Private Wealth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian stocks opened higher on Monday following two consecutive weeks of declines as easing trade tensions between the world's largest economies bolstered sentiment. Shares in Japan and South Korea rose, while Australia dipped, after the region's equities fell on Friday amid concerns on US regional banks. Also, one of China's most important meetings begins on Monday. Chinese President Xi Jingping and other ruling Communist Party Elites will gather in Beijing to map out goals for the next five years. For more, we heard from heard from Fabien Yip, IG International Market Analyst. Yip spoke to Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Annabelle Droulers. Plus - Lawmakers in the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin) are set to meet this afternoon to decide whether to form an alliance with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that would likely lead to Sanae Takaichi becoming the country's first female prime minister. A gathering of Ishin lawmakers from both houses of parliament that begins at 2 p.m. in Tokyo may be followed by a meeting between Takaichi and Ishin leaders in the evening to confirm the alliance before a vote in parliament tomorrow to elect a prime minister, national broadcaster NHK reported. For more perspective, we heard from Nicholas Smith, CLSA Japan Strategist. He spoke to Bloomberg's Annabelle Droulers and Shery Ahn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to earnings from Tesla and Netflix. In the UK – a look ahead to European bank earnings. In Asia – a look ahead to a meeting between President Donald Trump and Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan's Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato voiced serious concern over China's latest export controls on rare earths, stressing the importance of coordinated action from Group of Seven nations. "Japan is deeply concerned about these measures," Kato told reporters in Washington on Wednesday, referring to China's latest trade measures. "I called for G-7 nations to unite and respond," Kato said. Kato spoke following a G-7 meeting held on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings. Also in Japan, ruling party leader Sanae Takaichi's chances of becoming prime minister strengthened after progress on policy talks with the Japan Innovation Party, with Monday emerging as a deadline for deciding whether the parties form a new coalition. The Liberal Democratic Party and the Osaka-based JIP, also known as Ishin, confirmed they are on the same page on major policy items. But one major sticking point remains in place: reforms on political funding rules. For more perspective, we speak to Shuntaro Takeuchi, Portfolio Manager at Matthews Asia. Plus - Stocks slid, extending a weeklong stretch of volatility on Wall Street, as bad loans at two regional banks stirred concern about credit quality in the economy and further underscored the fragility of the $28 trillion bull market. Following an earlier advance driven by another solid outlook for artificial-intelligence demand, the S&P 500 turned lower as a pair of regional lenders disclosed problems with loans involving allegations of fraud, adding to concern that more cracks are emerging in borrowers' creditworthiness. We turn to Jeff Palma, Head of Multi Asset at Cohen & Steers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.