Bloomberg Daybreak: Asia Edition

Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific Asian stocks extended their slide into a second day as a retreat from tech deepened, fueled by investor anxiety over frothy valuations and the massive scale of artificial intelligence spending. For more the tech selloff, we spoke to Lianting Tu, Bloomberg's Managing Editor for Asia Equities. Plus - Rotation out of tech was the main theme during the US session and software firms saw another wave of selling, with hundreds of billions of dollars wiped off the value of stocks, bonds and loans of companies across Silicon Valley. We heard from Hartmut Issel, UBS Wealth Management Head of APAC Equities and Credit. He spoke to Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Avril Hong on the Asia Trade. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific. President Donald Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh to head the Federal Reserve has led investors in short-term interest rates to hedge against deeper policy easing this year than the broader market currently anticipates. Since Trump's Friday announcement, flows in options linked to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate — which closely tracks the central bank's path — have reflected bets on a more dovish tilt once Warsh takes his post in time for the Fed's June meeting. He must first be confirmed by the Senate. For more perspective, we spoke to William Lee, Chief Economist at Global Economic Advisors. Plus -  Most Asian stocks dropped after a tech selloff dragged down US benchmarks and saw a rotation into more economically sensitive industries. Japanese and Australian equities both opened lower. The US declines were fueled by concern advances in artificial intelligence will decimate software companies and hurt profitability across the tech industry. For more on the market action, we heard from Christian Nolting, Global Chief Investment Officer at Deutsche Bank. He spoke to Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Avril Hong on the Asia Trade. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific. Elon Musk is combining SpaceX and xAI in a deal that values the enlarged entity at $1.25 trillion, as the world's richest man looks to fuel his increasingly costly ambitions in artificial intelligence and space exploration. The acquisition of xAI was announced in a statement on SpaceX's website signed by Musk and confirming a Bloomberg News report earlier Monday. The deal gives SpaceX a valuation of $1 trillion, and xAI a value of $250 billion, people familiar with the matter said. The combined company's valuation was announced to employees in a memo on Monday, some of the people said earlier.  Asian stocks climbed after their steepest two-day drop since April as markets found footing following sharp swings in gold and silver that sent ripples across assets. The precious metals rose in early trading. For more on what is moving the markets, we spoke to Paul Dobson, Bloomberg's Executive Editor for Asia Markets. President Donald Trump said he would roll back punitive tariffs on India in return for an agreement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would stop buying Russian oil, easing months of tension between the two countries. Following a phone call with Modi, Trump said on social media that he would cut a US levy on Indian goods to 18% from 25%. The US President is also removing an extra punitive 25% duty applied in response to India's purchases of crude from Russia, according to officials familiar with the matter. We got reaction from Basant Sanghera, Managing Principal at the Asia Group. He spoke to Bloomberg's Paul Allen and Shery Ahn. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific. Stocks trimmed their losses at the open and precious metals recovered from a weak start, underscoring the fragile sentiment in markets after a choppy end to the week on Wall Street. The precious metals suffered a slide on Friday as the dollar strengthened following Warsh's nomination as the next Fed chief. For more on what is moving the markets, we spoke to Mark Cranfield, Bloomberg's MLIV Strategist. Plus - Hang Lung Properties posted its fiscal year 2025 results. For more on the companies earnings and the outlook on mainland China and Hong Kong's property sector, we spoke to Chair Adriel Chan. He spoke to Bloomberg's David Ingles and Yvonne Man. 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 January jobs report and U.S tech earnings. In the UK – a look ahead to the 2026 winter Olympic games. In Asia – a look ahead to Japan’s snap election and a monetary policy decision from the Reserve Bank of Australia. - Michael McKee, Bloomberg International Economics and Policy Correspondent, to preview the January jobs report in the U.S.- Mandeep Singh, Global Tech Research Head at Bloomberg Intelligence, to preview U.S tech earnings.- Tommaso Ebhart, Bloomberg’s Milan Bureau Chief, to preview 2026 olympic games.- Paul Jackson, Bloomberg EcoGov Editor for Japan/Koreas, to preview snap Japan election.- James McIntyre, Bloomberg Economist for Australia and New Zealand, to preview RBA decision.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Breaking news from the White House.   President Donald Trump said he intends to nominate Kevin Warsh to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve, according to a post on his Truth Social platform.   “I have known Kevin for a long period of time, and have no doubt that he will go down as one of the GREAT Fed Chairmen, maybe the best,” Trump wrote. “On top of everything else, he is ‘central casting,’ and he will never let you down.”    Warsh, who served on the US central bank’s Board of Governors from 2006 to 2011 and has previously advised Trump on economic policy, would succeed Jerome Powell when his term at the helm ends in May. It marks a comeback for Warsh, 55, whom the president passed over for the top job in 2017 when he selected Powell.   If confirmed by the Senate, the former Fed governor will take charge of US monetary policy at a time when many economists and investors see its traditional insulation from elected officials as being under threat from the White House. Warsh aligned himself with the president in 2025 by arguing publicly for lower interest rates, going against his longstanding reputation as an inflation hawk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific. Apple Inc. delivered record quarterly sales and a better-than-anticipated forecast for the current period, even as the company warned that rising component costs are threatening to squeeze margins. Revenue will rise 13% to 16% in the second quarter, exceeding the 10% projected by Wall Street, driven by strong demand for the new iPhone 17, growth in services and a rebound in China. President Donald Trump said he would be announcing his pick for a nominee to chair the Federal Reserve on Friday morning, signaling an end to a months-long process that has spurred speculation over the future of the world's most powerful central bank. Trump, asked at an event Thursday evening in Washington when he would make his decision known, responded: "Tomorrow morning." Dollar Industries declined today. But there was a lot of volatility in the foreign exchange. For a closer look, we spoke to David Finnerty, Bloomberg's Rates/FX Strategist. Asia technology shares are performing better then their US Counterparts. Apple's results drove the positive sentiment across the APAC along with a flurry of earnings out of South Korea this past week. For more perspective on the AI trade, we heard from Herald van der Linde, Head of Asia Pacific Equity Strategy at HSBC. He spoke to Bloomberg's Annabelle Droulers and David Ingles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A busy day for tech earnings across Asia and the U.S. Samsung's chip business posted a sharp profit jump on strong AI demand and announced a major buyback, while SK Hynix delivered its best quarter on record. In the U.S., Microsoft shares slipped as cloud growth slowed despite record AI spending, Meta's strong ad business is funding big investments in artificial intelligence, and Tesla beat profit expectations while unveiling plans to invest $2 billion in Elon Musk's AI company, xAI. We break down the results with Daniel Newman, CEO of the Futurum Group. And -  Jerome Powell has two more opportunities to adjust interest rates before his term as Federal Reserve chair ends — and he may not need them. After the Fed kept borrowing costs on hold Wednesday, Powell talked up a "clear improvement" in the US outlook and said the job market shows signs of steadying. It signals a cautious optimism: Fed officials delivered three cuts last fall, and see nothing in the latest data to suggest more are needed to prop up the economy. For more on the outlook, we heard from Jeanette Garretty, Principal and Managing Director at Robertson Stephens. She spoke to Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Avril Hong on the Asia Trade. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The dollar slumped to its lowest since early 2022 after President Donald Trump indicated he's comfortable with its recent decline. "No, I think it's great," Trump told reporters in Iowa on Tuesday when asked if he was worried about the currency's drop. "I think the value of the dollar — look at the business we're doing. The dollar's doing great." Trump's comments added fuel to what was already the dollar's deepest drop since his tariff rollout sent markets into a tailspin last year and fanned fears that his erratic policy shifts would drive overseas investors to pull back from the US. After his comments the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index extended losses to as much as 1.2%, as the US currency weakened against all of its major counterparts before steadying somewhat in Asia trading Wednesday. For more on the dollar, we heard from Robert Kaplan, Goldman Sachs Vice Chairman and Former Dallas Fed President. He spoke to Bloomberg's Stephen Engle at the Goldman Sachs Global Macro Conference Asia Pacific. Plus - Microsoft, Meta and Tesla are among the companies expected to report results on Jan. 28 US. For more on what to look out for in the latest tech earnings and the overall AI trade, we heard from Phil Palumbo, Founder, CEO and Chief Investment Officer, Palumbo Wealth Management.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump threatened to hike tariffs on goods from South Korea to 25%, citing the failure of the country's legislature to codify the trade deal. Trump in a social media post on Monday said the new rate would apply to autos, lumber, pharmaceutical products and “all other Reciprocal TARIFFS.” Under the existing agreement, the president set a 15% levy on South Korean exports. It's an important week for earnings in Asia with Samsung and SK Hynix reporting results. Bloomberg's South Korean Equities Reporter, Youkyung Lee, discusses what the market is expecting. Tech names including Meta Platforms, Tesla and Microsoft all report earnings on Wednesday, with Apple reporting Thursday. Zachary Hill is Portfolio Management at Horizon. He gives his take on the big week for the Mag 7, and the possibility of another US government shutdown.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The yen gained on Monday as traders started the week on heightened alert for Japan intervening in the market following the currency’s recent slide. Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned the market on Sunday, saying Japan will take all necessary measures to address speculative and highly abnormal movements. Kei Okamura is Portfolio Manager and Managing Director for Japan Equities at Neuberger Berman. He discusses Takaichi's warning, bonds, and the Japan CPI data coming later this week.Gold rose beyond $5,000 an ounce for the first time, extending a rally fueled by US President Donald Trump’s reshaping of international relations and investor flight from sovereign bonds and currencies. Katy Kaminski, Chief Research Strategist at Alpha-Simplex, talks demand in precious metals and the upcoming Fed decision.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 some of the biggest names in tech. In the UK – a look ahead to the UK Prime Minister’s visit to China. In Asia – a look ahead to Apple’s earnings and why business in Asia is a key focal point. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TikTok and its Chinese parent ByteDance Ltd. have closed a long-awaited deal to transfer parts of their US operations to American investors, securing the popular video app's future in the US and avoiding a nationwide ban. Bloomberg's Annabelle Droulers explains. In Asia - tech stocks are in focus. Alibaba Group is preparing an IPO of its chipmaking unit -- T-Head. The unit develops chips for computing and storage. And it's become a strong contender domestically thanks to sustained investment from Alibaba. For more on the AI rally, we heard from Ivy Ng, Chief APAC investment officer at DWS. She spoke to Bloomberg's David Ingles and Yvonne Man.  Plus - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's plan to temporarily cut the consumption tax on food to zero is undoubtedly a bad idea, and a rather nakedly political one.  Bloomberg Opinion Columnist Gearoid Reidy writes that Takaichi's plan is likely to be less effective than more targeted measures to help lower-income households struggling with inflation, and temporary tax cuts have a habit of becoming sticky. Reidy joins us to explain. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump said he would refrain from imposing tariffs on goods from European nations opposing his effort to take possession of Greenland, citing a "framework of a future deal" he said was reached regarding the island. The decision, which Trump announced Wednesday on social media, marks a stark reversal for a president who has repeatedly attempted to coerce Europe over Greenland. It came after a meeting with North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. For more perspective, we heard from George Friedman, Founder and Chairman of Geopolitical Futures. He spoke to Bloomberg's Paul Allen and Avril Hong on the Asia Trade. Plus -  Japanese stocks gained as sentiment improved following US President Donald Trump's declaration that he would refrain from imposing tariffs on European nations opposed to his goal of taking over Greenland. For more on what is going on in Japan, we spoke to Alice French, Bloomberg's Japan Stock Reporter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japanese bonds rebounded at the open on Wednesday after a selloff that triggered volatility across global financial markets. Treasuries also edged higher. Japan's 40-year bond yield fell six basis points after Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama called for calm after a rout that had pushed yields to all-time highs. Treasuries also recovered part of their losses, with the yield on the 10-year dropping one basis point to 4.28%. For more on what's moving the markets in the Asia-Pacific, we turn to Paul Dobson, Executive Editor for Asia Markets. Plus - US benchmark stock indexes sank more than 2% and the dollar slid against most major currencies after President Donald Trump's latest push to take over Greenland. For more perspective, we heard from Christopher Smart, Arbroath Group Managing Partner. He spoke to Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Avril Hong on the Asia Trade. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Treasuries fell across the curve and stocks retreated as President Donald Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland reignited trade tensions. In China, the economy lost more momentum last quarter even as it met the government’s target in 2025, in another year of lopsided growth that will be hard to sustain in an era of protectionism around the world. For more the latest market moves in the Asia-Pacific, we turn to Winnie Hsu, Bloomberg's Asia Equities Reporter.Plus - The world-beating rally in South Korean stocks is poised to extend as the nation presses ahead with efforts to improve shareholder returns and lure global capital. Korea Exchange (KRX) CEO Jeong Eun Bo made the prediction in an exclusive interview with Bloomberg News reporter Youkyung Lee in Seoul on January 16, as the Kospi extended its record-breaking surge in the first weeks of 2026. Jeong also touched on ETFs, how to tackle Korea’s so-called “zombie” companies, and expanding trading hours at the Korea Exchange.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump's fixation on Greenland offers an ice-cold reminder to leaders in Europe and abroad: No deal is ever final. Trump announced a 10% tariff, rising to 25% in June, on eight European nations, including Denmark, for saying they would undertake token NATO military exercises in Greenland in response to US saber-rattling. While the tariffs aren't certain to take effect, the threat was a brazen escalation and insult to close US allies, trampling over the US-EU trade deal reached only six months earlier at Trump's Turnberry resort in Scotland. Trump's targets in Europe pushed back quickly. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer blasted his tariff threat as "completely wrong," France's Emmanuel Macron called it "unacceptable" and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said his country wouldn't be "blackmailed." For more on how geopolitics is moving the markets, we heard from Julia Wang, North Asia Chief Investment Officer at Nomura. She spoke to Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Avril Hong. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said President Donald Trump may well keep him in his current job, which would eliminate him from contention for the next Federal Reserve chair. Trump expressed reluctance about nominating Hassett as the successor to current Fed Chair Jerome Powell, saying "I actually want to keep you where you are, if you want to know the truth." Hassett once was considered the frontrunner, along with Fed Governor Christopher Waller, former governor Kevin Warsh and BlackRock Inc. executive Rick Rieder. It's now seen as a four-man race, while Rieder's candidacy has recently gained late momentum, according to people familiar with the matter, as some view him as potentially better placed to win US Senate confirmation. For more perspective, we heard from Bill Campbell, Global Bond Portfolio Manager at DoubleLine.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 Netflix and Intel. In the UK – a look ahead to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In Asia – a look ahead to China GDP data. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US and Taiwan agreed to a trade pact that would lower tariffs on goods from Taiwan to 15% and see Taiwanese semiconductor companies increase financing for American operations by $500 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. shares climb as much as 2.7% in Taipei after the chipmaker’s strong results and outlook underscored the strength of demand trends related to AI. The shares ended 4.4% higher overnight in the US. Rob Haworth, Senior Investment Strategy Director at U.S. Bank Asset Management Group, talks TSMC, the day's eco data, and what's next for the Fed. After reporting huge profits in Q4, Wendell Huang, the CFO of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. affirmed the company’s strong conviction in the “mega trend of AI demand.” Huang mentions that the company is eyeing smaller tech gap between US and Taiwan chipmaking fabrication plants. While addressing the challenges, Huang says that the key to managing forex exposure is to keep it simple.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will call a snap election early in the parliamentary session starting later this month, in a bid to shore up her leadership and secure a mandate for the new ruling coalition. Takaichi told officials from the ruling bloc that she will give more details of the dissolution on Jan. 19, according to Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Shunichi Suzuki and Hirofumi Yoshimura, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, the LDP's coalition partner. We spoke to Isabel Reynolds, Bloomberg's Tokyo Bureau Chief Plus - Stocks started Thursday on a softer note after Wall Street gauges retreated as investors rotated out of richly valued technology stocks. We heard from Jason Liu, Head of APAC Equity & Derivative Strategy at BNP Paribas. He spoke to Bloomberg's Paul Allen and Avril Hong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.