Recent escalating developments in the Middle East conflict appears to have reduced the likelihood of ceasefire. Wage growth in April was its lowest since June 2021, which should mean less inflation. However, the Cleveland Federal Reserve predicts the upcoming headline April CPI inflation reading will be a disappointingly high 3.5% year/year, the same as March. The Yen fell 5% in April, then bounced 5% since then. There’s been no event, so the best we can say is as long as people can borrow at...

In this monthly China update, our experts examine the factors that drove the recent rally in the Hong Kong stock markets and the outlook ahead for the Chinese economy following encouraging PMI trends. They also look ahead to the upcoming Politburo meeting, and weigh the consequences of a stronger and weaker Chinese Yuan. This episode is presented by Richard Tang, China Strategist and Head Research Hong Kong at Julius Baer with Hong Hao, Partner and Chief Economist at GROW Investment Group.

Julius Baer Chief Investment Officer Yves Bonzon joins journalist Hanna Wise to take a closer look at Julius Baer's investment strategy. In this third and final episode they look at performance and risk and how this impacts investors.   Yves shares how we analyze and assess performance, how to avoid "bad" performance and what "healthy" performance looks like, especially in a volatile market. He also talks about the risks involved with performance, how we mitigate those risks, and how he...

Asian currencies have been roiled by an unexpectedly stronger US Dollar this year, but we do not equate this to the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997. Most Asian countries are better positioned than before to weather currency volatility and temporary higher oil prices, due to stronger fundamentals and more flexible exchange rates. However, the effect of a weaker Renminbi could last longer as economic growth slows and given China is the biggest trading partner for most countries in Asia and...

The oil market has remained surprisingly calm despite the recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. What are the dynamics at play here? And looking ahead, how might the oil and gas industry evolve as we head into a new era of energy transition and electric vehicles? In this episode, Norbert Ruecker, Head of Economics & Next Generation Research speaks to Pearlyn Wong, Investment Content and Campaigns Asia, on his latest insights on the oil market.

As gold prices hit record highs, we are joined in the studio by Carsten Menke, Head of Next Generation Research, and Chris Irwin, Head of FX and Precious Metals Trading Asia, to discuss the causes and consequences of the metal’s remarkable rally.

The most likely trajectory for the Middle East is that things de-escalate. World economic growth looks set to accelerate, meaning inflation could remain sticky. We look for rate cuts in September, November and December, and for treasury yields to come down a little bit. Technology stocks are sensitive to the slightest negatives, but a strong economy still suggests a positive outlook for earnings growth this year. This episode is presented by Mark Matthews, Head of Research Asia at Julius...

The significant innovation in the semiconductor industry over the years has undoubtedly enabled the huge advances in artificial intelligence. But where do we go from here? Will more efficient and better performing chips be enough to satisfy the requirements of AI models?  In this episode, Helen Freer, Investment Writer, talks to Luca Menozzi, Next Generation Analyst, about what the transition to a new era in computing architecture might mean for the future of AI. 01:14 Has innovation in the...

The S&P’s performance after “shock events” shows, unsurprisingly, that the ones that caused no damage to the economy had the least impact on the market, and vice versa. The oil price is steady post Iranian attacks on Israel, suggesting the latter this time. While the Yom Kippur War and Oil Embargo of 1973 strike parallels with today, the global economy is less than half as reliant on oil as it was then. There are many other suppliers apart from the Middle East, and no one is talking...

In this monthly China update, our experts analyze the recent depreciation of the Chinese Yuan, the impact of potential quantitative easing on the Chinese economy, how to look at the Chinese EV sector against the backdrop of a volatile Sino-US relationship, and also why Gold continues to surge. This episode is presented by Richard Tang, China Strategist and Head Research Hong Kong at Julius Baer with Hong Hao, Partner and Chief Economist at GROW Investment Group, and was recorded on 8 April,...

In this episode, we take a look at how equity markets today shape up against the peaks seen at the start of 2022. We also examine investor positioning, and if it’s a good time to buy Japanese stocks. This episode is presented by Kelly Chia (Deputy Head of Research, Asia).

When it comes to building your investment portfolio, asset allocation is key. For Julius Baer Chief Investment Officer Yves Bonzon, finding an asset allocation breakdown that meets your individual needs and that you can withstand, even in the case of extreme shocks, makes all the difference.    In the second episode of our How we Manage Money series, Yves Bonzon explains the do’s and don’ts of portfolio construction, the difference between strategic and tactical asset allocation, and how...

In this episode, we talk about the numbers 21 and 8599 on top of a review of what happened in March, and what we can look forward to in April.This episode is presented by Kelly Chia (Deputy Head of Research, Asia).

Whether it's those who are working in finance or those who are making their own way as investors, women are building confidence – and portfolios. Explore the investment strategies that women have, why stereotypes of how they manage wealth are outdated, their risk appetites, and more. The Beyond Markets Podcast is joined by Mayssa Scheib, Intermediaries Relationship Manager with Julius Baer.

With many stock market indices having hit record highs in the first quarter of 2024, it is timely to look at some of the factors our analysts take into account when selecting their preferred stocks. Besides looking at the development of individual companies, it is also important to join the dots and see what the important drivers are in different sectors and subsectors. So, what has our attention currently?  In this episode of the Beyond Markets podcast, Bernadette Anderko, Investment Writer,...

In this episode, we examine the recent central bank actions and review the asset market moves. In particular, we discuss our latest views on two popular funding currencies - the Japanese Yen and the Swiss Franc, how to think about the Japanese equity market if the Yen does appreciate, and why we should stick to quality stocks in the US. This episode is presented by Richard Tang, China Strategist and Head of Research Hong Kong at Bank Julius Baer.

Bitcoin has been getting plenty of attention so far this year and with the halving expected in around a month’s time, that is not expected to change. In this episode of the Beyond Markets podcast, Helen Freer, Investment Writer, talks to Manuel Villegas, Next Generation Research, about how the halving will work and what it means for the blockchain’s dynamics. Please note that this podcast is for educational purposes only and does not represent a recommendation of any kind with regard to...

A sequential rise in February core inflation is not cause for concern, as it is due to “residual seasonality”, an auto insurance outlier, and residential real estate which will come down. The S&P 500 index’s positive return in each of the last four months is something that only happened 16 times before; on average after those times, it returned 16% to the end of the year. There is a break-out in the downward trend of the Chinese stock market, and the gradient is turning positive in...

In this episode, we talk about why we are still positive on Japanese stocks despite key indices retreating from all-time highs. This episode is presented by Cheng Hin Saw, Head of Equities Specialists Asia, and Kelly Chia, Deputy Head of Research Asia.

In this Next Generation episode of Beyond Markets Damien Ng, Next Generation Research Analyst at Julius Baer, and Laurenz Kellenberger, Chief Scientific Officer at Basilea, join us to discuss antimicrobial resistance, its causes, and its potentially devastating consequences.

Employment data suggests slower wage inflation and overall inflation ahead, and therefore lower interest rates. The S&P is up 26% since its interim low in October 2023, the same return as all of 2021, but in a third the time. A change pf key personnel at the US State Department may signify a change in policy. A cease-fire in Ukraine would be a real positive for Europe, and would also mean lower energy prices, a win for President Biden. Government and central bank sources in Japan are...

Managing money successfully is more than just avoiding mistakes. For Julius Baer Chief Investment Officer Yves Bonzon, it comes down to having a solid investment approach built on core investment beliefs that provide a framework. This allows us to make investment decisions in a disciplined way and not based on the twists and turns of the market.   In the first episode of our How we Manage Money series, Yves Bonzon joins journalist Hannah Wise to discuss this framework including how it helps...

In this monthly China update, our experts discuss top of mind issues including takeaways from the National People’s Congress, the role of quantitative funds in China and the outlook for the Hong Kong property market.   This episode is presented by Richard Tang, China Strategist and Head Research Hong Kong at Julius Baer with Hong Hao, Partner and Chief Economist at GROW Investment Group.

In this episode, we talk about extended markets and a very data heavy week. Nvidia dethrones Saudi Aramco to be the 3rd largest stock in the world and we do a comparison of today’s Magnificent 7 stocks to the Dotcom.   This episode is presented by Kelly Chia (Deputy Head of Research, Asia).