Bloomberg Daybreak: Asia Edition

A gauge of the dollar and longer-dated Treasuries steadied in Asia after they declined Tuesday following President Donald Trump's push to oust Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The gap between five and 30-year yields is at its steepest since 2021. While political meddling in monetary policy after Trump's move drew much of the market's focus, traders face key risks this week with Nvidia's earnings and Friday's inflation report. Even with tariff and geopolitical headlines flaring, investors remain anchored to a bullish market script: a likely September rate cut, resilient economic growth, and corporate earnings strong enough to keep equity sentiment afloat. We look at the state of play with Robert Schein, Chief Investment Officer at Blanke Schein Wealth Management. Meantime, Asian equities struggled for direction at the open Wednesday as investors await Nvidia's earnings for guidance on where the markets head next after a strong rally since April. Shares edged up in Australia while gauges in Japan and South Korea were flat. We get more on the markets from Kerry Craig, Global Market Strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management. He speaks with Bloomberg's Paul Allen and Avril Hong on The Asia Trade. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The dollar dropped and gold gained after President Donald Trump removed Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, raising concerns about the independence of the central bank. A gauge of the dollar retreated 0.3% as Cook will be removed from the position effective immediately, according to a letter Trump posted on his Truth Social account. The yen appreciated. Treasuries flipped after initially gaining on the news, sending yields on the benchmark 10-year higher by one basis point to 4.28%. Gold rose 0.5%. Asian stocks fell along with equity-index futures for US and Europe as Trump also threatened to place export curbs on chips. We get reaction from Peter McGuire, CEO at Trading.com Australia. Meantime, stocks were already under pressure after initial optimism about the Fed lowering interest rates vanished and US stocks retreated Monday. Stocks rallied on Friday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell opened the door for a possible interest-rate cut. The sense of euphoria eased as doubts over the pace of those reductions lingered on Wall Street as traders braced for a not-so-friendly price reading later this week. We examine the path ahead for monetary policy and the markets with Mary Ann Bartels, Chief Investment Strategist at Sanctuary Wealth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian equities gained at the open, tracking Wall Street's rally, after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell opened the door to resuming interest rate cuts. Shares in Japan and South Korea advanced with MSCI's gauge for the region gaining 0.2%. Australian stocks hit a fresh record. Treasuries opened lower, giving up some of the gains on Friday after Powell's speech. Traders see an 84% chance of a Fed rate cut next month after Powell signaled at Jackson Hole the central bank may ease before inflation fully returns to target amid a softening jobs market. Still, officials remain split on the outlook, warning of lingering price risks from US trade tariffs ahead of this week's key inflation data. We get reaction from Matt Orton, Head of Advisory Solutions and Market Strategy at Raymond James Investment Management. Plus - Chinese stocks will be in focus with questions mounting over how much further the market can rally with concerns of trade tariffs and a deep-rooted property crisis weighing on the economy. While the market's steady advance may suggest less risk of a sudden correction, some analysts are warning that a bubble is in the making. The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index rose 2.7% Friday and futures indicated a stronger open for shares in Hong Kong and mainland China. We examine the week's market outlook with Qian Wang, Chief Asia Pacific Economist at The Vanguard Group. She speaks with Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Avril Hong on The Asia Trade. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Tom Busby take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian equities traded within a narrow range after US stocks and bonds fell as traders pared back wagers on imminent Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts. Shares in Japan and Australia declined while South Korea advanced. Treasuries were little changed after falling across the curve in the US session, sending yields higher. The yen steadied after Japan's July core inflation came in at 3.1%, against an estimate for 3%. We look at the global inflation picture with Ian Samson, Multi Asset Portfolio Manager at Fidelity International. Meantime, stronger US economic data and a more hawkish tone from Fed officials have led money markets to price a 70% chance of a September rate cut, down from 90% a week ago. While data showed an increase in jobless claims — adding to signs of a slowing labor market — the solid factory purchasing managers index made traders trim their rate cut bets. A gauge of manufacturing grew at the fastest pace since 2022. Attention now turns to the central bank's annual Jackson Hole symposium, where Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to speak Friday at 10 a.m. New York time. We hear from Austan Goolsbee, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He speaks with Bloomberg's Michael McKee and Michael Shepard from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian markets looked set for a cautious open Thursday, as US stocks pulled back and bond prices climbed ahead of a key Fed gathering in Jackson Hole. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 slipped, while Treasuries rallied on tempered inflation concerns. Meanwhile, Chinese shares listed in the US bucked the trend with gains. All eyes now turn to Fed Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming remarks for clues on the September rate path. For more on the markets, we check in with Tim Pagliara, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer at CapWealth. Plus - Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing CEO Bonnie Chan is upbeat that the return of international investors will help sustain momentum amid a boom in listings and trading. Hong Kong's stock market has boomed this year, with its benchmark index surging and share sales posting a strong recovery as Chinese firms flock to raise capital. That in turn has boosted trading volumes, one of the main drivers of earnings for the exchange. We bring you part of Chan's conversation with Bloomberg's Yvonne Man. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian markets stumbled midweek as a selloff in heavyweight U.S. tech stocks spilled across global equities. Most major indexes in the region dipped, with Taiwan Semiconductor and SoftBank among the hardest hit. The MSCI Asia Pacific index fell 0.5%, and Nasdaq futures slid after their second-worst loss since April's tariff shock. Treasuries held steady, the dollar climbed for a third straight day, and oil edged higher following a volatile prior session. We examine the broader market landscape with Ritesh Ganeriwal, Head of Investment & Advisory at Syfe. Meanwhile, attention is turning to Jackson Hole, where Fed Chair Jerome Powell will speak Friday. Traders are nearly certain a September rate cut is coming, but Powell's tone could shape the longer-term policy outlook. With July CPI showing tame goods inflation but sticky services prices, investors are looking for guidance on how aggressively the Fed may ease into 2026. We look at the prospective path of rate policy with Gene Goldman, Chief Investment Officer at Cetera Financial Group. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump called Vladimir Putin and urged the Russian leader to begin making plans for a summit with Volodymyr Zelenskiy, after meeting the Ukrainian president and European leaders at the White House on Monday. The proposal — which Trump pitched as a one-on-one summit between Ukraine and Russia's leaders that would be followed by a trilateral gathering involving all three — represented the latest turn in the US president's push to broker an end to a conflict that has lasted over three years. We get the latest from Michelle Jamrisko, Bloomberg News White House Editor in Washington. Oil markets were in focus following Trump and Zelenskiy's meeting in Washington, as traders weighed the potential implications for regional stability and energy flows. Crude oil held steady after Monday's gain. Meantime, Asian stocks may struggle for direction at the open after the S&P 500 closed little changed. We get market perspective from Mark Matthews, Head of Asia Research at Julius Baer. He speaks with Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Avril Hong on The Asia Trade. Plus - a big week is coming up as the Federal Reserve's annual Economic Policy Symposium kicks off Thursday in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The event in the Grand Teton mountains has been used by Fed chairs as a venue for making crucial policy announcements. Jerome Powell is expected on Friday to unveil the Fed's new policy framework — the strategy it'll use to achieve its inflation and employment goals. He may also drop some hints about the Fed's thinking ahead of its September policy meeting. We look at the potential impact of Powell's remarks later this week with Michele Martin, President at Prosperity, the wealth management arm of EisnerAmper. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Japan, a stronger yen is set to emerge from this week’s gathering of central bankers in Jackson Hole after verbal intervention last week from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent gave the currency traction amid what is widely expected to be a dovish period for the US dollar. Governor Ueda has so far balked at preparing markets for another BOJ hike, wary of political blowback at home. But with the US Treasury Secretary now cast as the external foil, there’s still a month to prime investors for a live September meeting. For more, we speak to Bloomberg's Paul Dobson, Executive Editor for Asia Markets. Plus - Investors will be looking to Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s remarks at Jackson Hole for confirmation that US rate cuts are coming sooner rather than later. A September move is nearly fully priced, and looser US financial conditions have been a key driver of gains for risk assets across the globe. The suspense ahead of this week’s gathering will likely keep investors cautious. We heard from Skyler Weinand, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Regan Capital. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump called his meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin “extremely productive” but indicated that a deal to end the war had still not been finalized, adding that he would speak to NATO allies and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. “There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump said Friday in Anchorage, Alaska as he stood alongside Putin for a joint event. Putin spoke first at the event, casting the conversations as useful and said they were held “in a constructive atmosphere.” He talked of unspecified agreements with Trump, and suggested that Ukraine was only one of multiple issues discussed, pointing to the potential for increased trade and business cooperation as well as work in the Arctic and in space exploration. The event followed the longest ever face-to-face meeting between the two leaders. On this special edition of Bloomberg Balance of Power, we hear instant reaction to and analysis of the summit and the press conference. Host Joe Mathieu speaks with: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Tom Busby take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian shares edged higher at the open, led by Japanese equities after the country's gross domestic product beat estimates. MSCI's gauge of Asian shares rose 0.2% as the Topix Index in Japan gained 0.8%. The country's economy expanded faster than expected last quarter, avoiding a recession. Stateside, bonds held their losses after higher inflation data caused traders to pare Federal Reserve interest-rates cuts, sending two-year Treasury yields higher by six basis points to 3.73%. A gauge of the dollar was little changed after gaining 0.4% in the prior session. Risk sentiment had been buoyed in previous days by expectations of monetary easing in the US, with traders fully pricing in a quarter-point reduction. But with US wholesale inflation accelerating in July by the most in three years, traders trimmed the odds of a September rate cut to about 90% from near certainty. We get reaction from Mark Luschini, Chief Investment Strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott. Plus - traders in Asia will also focus on China's monthly data, which will help gauge the health of the economy as it battles a US trade war and the longest deflation streak since at least the 1990s. Worries of a deepening downturn are mounting, with expectations retail sales growth and industrial production slowed in July from the month prior, according to Bloomberg surveys. We check on the state of consumption in the Asia-Pacific with Matthew Driver, Executive Vice President of Services, APAC at Mastercard. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump administration is in talks with Intel Corp. to have the US government potentially take a stake in the beleaguered chipmaker, according to people familiar with the plan, in the latest sign of the White House’s willingness to blur the lines between state and industry. The deal would help shore up Intel’s planned factory hub in Ohio, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private. The company had once promised to turn that site into the world’s largest chipmaking facility, though it’s been repeatedly delayed. The size of the potential stake isn’t clear. The plans stem from a meeting this week between President Donald Trump and Intel Chief Executive Officer Lip-Bu Tan, the people said. While the details are still being sorted, the idea is for the US government to pay for the stake, one of the people said. Another cautioned that the plans remain fluid. Shares of Intel climbed as much as 8.9% on Thursday. For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Businessweek Daily hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec speak with: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian stocks were poised for a mainly positive open Thursday as investors continued to ramp up bets that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next month. Meantime, Bloomberg Economics says China's July activity data due Friday will likely show signs growth softened heading into the second half, echoing early indications in business surveys and tracking its full-year outlook. We get more on the state of China's economy from Helen Zhu, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at NF Trinity. Plus - stocks have soared to record levels and volatility has slumped to multi-year lows as traders now fully expect a quarter-point move by the Fed after an inflation print earlier this week was seen as benign. External pressure is also coming from President Donald Trump's administration with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent making his most explicit demand yet for the central bank to execute a cycle of cuts. We discuss what the Fed's path ahead may look like with Ross Mayfield, Investment Strategist at Baird Private Wealth Management. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stocks climbed to a record after an in-line US inflation reading bolstered speculation the Federal Reserve will have room to cut rates in September. US inflation data bolstered expectations that the Fed can move toward rate cuts without reigniting price pressures. While underlying inflation accelerated to the strongest since the start of the year, the modest gain in goods prices eased fears that trade-related costs may feed into broader price pressures. We get reaction from Charles Lieberman, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Advisors Capital Management. Plus - Bitcoin continues to flirt with an all-time high as demand from institutional investors and corporate treasury buyers lifts the wider market for digital assets. A recent executive order from US President Donald Trump clears the way for digital assets to be added to the mix of investments available in workplace retirement plans - and for ordinary investors dissatisfied with the returns from target-date funds or the traditional 60/40 portfolio to push their savings into riskier assets. We talk all things crypto with Peter Chung, Head of Research at quant trading firm Presto in Hong Kong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump extended a pause of sky-high tariffs on Chinese goods for another 90 days into early November, stabilizing trade ties between the world's two largest economies. Trump signed an order extending the truce through November 10th, deferring a tariff hike set for Tuesday. The de-escalation first took effect when the US and China agreed to reduce tit-for-tat tariff hikes and ease export restrictions on rare earth magnets and certain technologies. China said it too would extend its own suspension for a further 90 days. Meanwhile, Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices have agreed to pay 15% of their revenues from Chinese AI chip sales to the US government in an unusual, legally questionable deal that reflects the Trump administration's willingness to soften export controls in exchange for financial payouts. We discuss the day's developments with Derek Wallbank, Senior US Economy and Government Editor for Bloomberg News. Plus - Wall Street refrained from making big bets ahead of a key inflation report, with stocks losing steam after climbing to the brink of all-time highs. With the earnings season almost done, investors are turning to economic data for clues on whether the Federal Reserve will be able cut rates in September. Data due Tuesday is forecast to show US consumers saw a slight pickup in inflation as retailers gradually raised prices on a variety of items subject to higher import duties. We break down the potential market implications with Joy Yang, Head of Product Management at MarketVector Indexes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian stocks were set for a cautious open ahead of key economic data and a looming deadline on the potential extension of US tariffs on Chinese exports. US stock futures were steady while the dollar was in a tight range against major peers in early Asian trading. Traders are looking ahead to critical economic data from the US which could shape interest-rate expectations. One key data point will be the US inflation print, which will provide more insight into the Federal Reserve's rates outlook, with fears the economy is teetering on the edge of stagflation. For more, we speak with Eric Sterner, Chief Investment Officer at Apollon Wealth Management. Plus - Australia's central bank is poised to deliver its third interest-rate cut this year as inflationary pressures ebb, while Governor Michele Bullock is expected to stick with her cautious stance on the monetary policy outlook. Traders and most economists polled by Bloomberg anticipate the Reserve Bank of Australia will lower its cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.6% on Tuesday, bringing its cumulative easing in the current cycle to 75 basis points. For a closer look, we hear from Swati Pandey, Bloomberg Economy and Government Reporter in Sydney. She speaks with Bloomberg's Avril Hong and Paul Allen on The Asia Trade. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Guest Host Amy Morris take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller is emerging as a top candidate to serve as the central bank's chair among President Trump's advisers as they look for a replacement for Jerome Powell. Earlier Thursday, Trump said he had chosen Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Stephen Miran to serve as a Fed governor. Trump said that Miran, who will need to be confirmed by the Senate, would only serve the remainder of Adriana Kugler's term, which expires in January. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot index declined on the news, with Waller and Miran both having voiced support for lowering interest rates. We got reaction from Ivy Ng, Chief Investment Officer for the Asia-Pacific at DWS. She speaks with Bloomberg's Haidi Stroud-Watts and Paul Allen on The Asia Trade. Plus - trade tensions between the US and India are rising, while President Trump has signaled new sanctions on Russia could land as early as Friday. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also added that China levies "could be on the table" over the buying of Russian oil. Meantime, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday about strengthening trade ties amid rising US tariffs. For more on the growing impact of Washington's reciprocal tariffs, we hear from Inu Manak, Trade Policy Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After months of negotiations, US reciprocal tariffs are set to go into effect at 12:01am Eastern time. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods over its ongoing purchases of Russian energy, escalating a fight with a key Asian partner on the eve of his broad-based duties taking effect. Meantime, Switzerland's president Karin Keller-Sutter left Washington without announcing any success in lowering the 39% tariff on her country - the highest American tariff rate of any developed nation. For more, we heard from William Reinsch, Senior Adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He speaks with Bloomberg's Haidi Stroud-Watts and Haslinda Amin on The Asia Trade. Plus - President Trump said he would impose a 100% tariff on semiconductor imports, though would exempt companies moving production back to the United States. The announcement came as Apple CEO Tim Cook joined the President at the White House to announce a fresh $100 billion investment plan in US manufacturing. We get reaction from Emily Benson, Head of Strategy at Minerva Technology Futures. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.