Sound Economies with Mel & Peter

Will the British economy see any sizable change under a new prime minister? We think not. This episode also looks at China possibly gatekeeping homegrown AI tools, the S&P index threatening a downgrade for Indonesia stocks, and the IMF’s odd calls for the US Fed. Timestamp: (00:00) - Episode rundown (00:26) - Intro (00:52) - Quick updates (01:43) - China gatekeeps its homegrown AI tech (09:30)...

SpaceX has taken off with its Wall Street debut last June. However, we argue in this episode that its surge is more hype than quality, and this might be the missing ingredient for other stock markets. We also talk about the lows of the Japanese yen and a surprise high from the US dollar. Timestamp: (00:00) - Lundgreen's Invest - High-Tech Defence Fund secures quadruple exit (00:31) - Episode r...

Oil prices are back to pre-conflict levels amid good progress on US-Iran negotiations, yet financial markets and household lifestyles did not get a reset from the high costs the war brought on. We explore what’s next after high fuel prices, a brief sell-off of AI stocks, the latest on MSCI’s ruling on Indonesia, and Japan’s momentum in arms exports in this episode. Timestamp: (00:00) - Lundgreen&#...

A hawkish US Federal Reserve is out to fight high inflation, which we see fueling greater volatility for the rest of 2026. We also look at disappointing consumption data in China, discuss expectations of faster gold accumulation by central banks, and share our expert outlook on the defence sector. Timestamp: (00:00) - Lundgreen's Invest - High-Tech Defence Fund secures quadruple exit (00:31) -...

The European Central Bank raised interest rates today – a move we do not agree with, as this will kill any remaining chance of a growth rebound for the region. This episode, we also look at faster US inflation; how the mega-IPOs of SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI will affect global stocks; and Brazil’s plan to ramp up oil production. Timestamp: (00:00) - Episode rundown (00:21) - Intro (00:48) - Qui...

Chinese equities are becoming more attractive among global investors and family offices. At home, however, the state is cracking down on outbound equity investments. This episode, we also raise concern about Japan’s new debt for continued oil price subsidies and the rising popularity of convertible bonds in the US. Timestamp: (00:00) - Episode rundown (00:20) - Intro (00:48) - Quick updates (02:18...

How will the global economy look like when the Russia-Ukraine and US-Iran conflicts are resolved? Let's find out. This episode also looks at Chinese property developers investing into semiconductor firms to rescue valuations, Italy’s slow progress on reforms, and major central banks signaling openness to rate hikes amid high inflation. Timestamp: (00:00) - Episode rundown (00:23) - Intro (00:5...

Developing Asia is feeling more squeezed as oil prices stay high. We look at further demand reduction measures in the Philippines to avert stagflation, Thailand’s new debt for additional consumer subsidies, and India winding down fuel support. We also turn down Indonesia’s planned export controls on coal and palm oil, and revisit our expectations for global stocks in 2026. Timestamp: (00:00) - Epi...

Oil prices may have already peaked in reaction to the US-Iran conflict, but food prices are slowly catching up. This episode also looks at the removal of 18 Indonesian stocks from MSCI indices, the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing, and surging UK gilt rates amid renewed political uncertainty. Timestamp: (00:00) - Webinar: ‘Where Can Indexes & Factors Fall Short?’ (00:34) - Episode rundown (00:49) -...

The Asian Development Bank advises governments to wind down blanket subsidies even as oil prices stay elevated, citing the need to preserve/keep fiscal buffers beyond this crisis. This episode also looks at trade ties between Japan and Latin America, rising US Treasury yields, and Germany’s new growth plan. Timestamp: (00:00) - Episode rundown (00:16) - Intro (00:44) - Quick updates (03:43) - Japa...

The income gap between mature and emerging markets is narrowing – apart from GDP growth, income tax rates are squeezing people’s purchasing power. This episode also looks at some wins and losses for China’s economy, and the UAE’s departure from the global oil cartel. Join us on Wednesday, 6 May 2026 for “Big Bets on China AI Stocks”, a quarterly webinar hosted by our multi-awarded Lundgreen’s Inve...

China’s price war problem has spread to online food orders, putting attempts to perk up domestic consumption at risk. Episode 80 also looks at MSCI’s delisting of two Indonesian stocks, Japan lifting its export ban on weaponry, and shifts in the global middle class. Timestamp: (00:00) - Episode rundown (00:14) - Intro (00:42) - Quick updates (01:49) - China price wars spreads to e-commerce (07:44)...

The IMF sees softer global growth amid the oil supply shock, but we look beyond this crisis for signs and find that domestic conditions spell the difference across economies. This episode, we also look at Trump’s forecast of prolonged high US pump prices, shifts in the carbon credit market, and an assessment of private credit funds. Timestamp: (00:00) - Episode rundown (00:16) - Intro (00:44) - Qu...

It’s been a year since the Liberation Day tariffs, yet the world continues to suffer the costly consequences of Trump’s policies. We see higher volatility continuing in global markets despite a US-Iran ceasefire. We also look at divergent stock market strategies in Malaysia and Europe, the latter the subject of pessimistic trades. Timestamp: (00:00) - Episode rundown (00:18) - Intro (00:46) - Quic...

Some central bankers and government officials are sounding the alarm over the private credit market, but we find rapidly growing government debt more concerning. We also discuss the rise of OpenClaw in China for AI-powered personal assistants and our near-term outlook regarding the US-Iran conflict. Time stamps: (00:00) – Episode rundown (00:41) – Quick updates (02:20) – Rise of OpenClaw AI assist...

Thick clouds loom over global markets as the US-Iran conflict stretches to a month, and we discuss what investors can do during this period. This episode also looks at demand-side interventions by Asian governments amid surging oil prices, and the well-attended China Development Forum in Beijing. Timestamp: (00:00) - Episode rundown (00:14) - Intro (00:41) - Quick updates (02:15) - Global CEOs att...

The world is being pummeled by sky-high fuel prices, but equities appear unfazed. Episode 75 also looks at US allies rejecting Trump’s call for backup at the Hormuz Strait, increased concern about Indonesia as it resorts to budget cuts, and our projected pause from the Fed and major central banks. Timestamp: (00:00) - Episode rundown (00:17) - Intro (00:42) - Quick updates (02:13)- Trump delays vi...

More family offices based in Hong Kong are diversifying investments into private equity, which we see as a smart move. This episode also considers a projected rise in default rates for private credit, as well as the outlook for oil prices and global growth amid the Middle East attacks. Timestamp: (00:00) - Episode rundown (00:15) - Intro (00:44) - Quick updates (02:36) - Hong Kong family offices&#...

Markets plunged as the US and Israel launched attacks against Iran, though the more important question is: what happens after these military operations? We discuss possible outcomes in the globally important region. This episode, we also look at China’s 2026 economic outlook and Berkshire Hathaway’s optimism towards Japanese conglomerates. (00:00) - Episode rundown (00:19) - Intro (00:49) - Quick...

In this video podcast, we identify three show-stopping events of 2025 that will remain key market drivers this year. For one, the AI-driven stock market surge had been strong but was limited to certain economies. We ask: do you think the AI rally will continue in 2026? Timestamp: (00:00) - Intro (00:39) - Episode rundown (01:15) - 2025 showstoppers (01:31) - AI-driven rally (08:50) - Poll: Do you...

Some unease is brewing in Asia this time around: we discuss the planned consumption stimulus in Indonesia, a rumbling crisis for the Philippine peso, and more Chinese firms uprooting to Singapore. Meanwhile, we also look at a planned early exit for ECB President Christine Lagarde. Timestamp: (00:00) - Episode rundown (00:18) - Intro (00:46) - Quick updates (02:07) - Q1 consumption stimulus plan fo...

Markets rallied after Prime Minister Takaichi’s Liberal party dominated Japan’s lower house election, but we stay wary about bold fiscal expansions without sustainable funding. We also look at China getting ahead in the global chips race, US fast food giants feeling the pinch, and confirm a global shift away from US investments in 2026. Timestamps: (00:00) - Start (00:29) - Quick updates (03:26) -...

In this episode, we observe silver and gold prices plunge over the past week while China stocks saw a deep one-day slide. Though worrisome, we argue that these declines should not trigger panic among investors. We also weigh expectations regarding Japan’s snap election. Time stamps: 00:00 - Start 00:30 - Quick updates 02:49 - The latest on global markets 03:51 - Upcoming snap election in Japan 09:...

Trump’s wild rhetoric has claimed new victims: the US dollar, which suffered a continuing slide against the yen; and consumer confidence that has plunged to a 12-year low. This bolsters our forecast of a 10% slide for the dollar this 2026. For Asia, we echo red flags raised regarding Indonesian stocks and draw optimism from new India-EU and China-Canada trade deals. Time stamps: 00:00 - Start 00:3...

Trump is pushing the markets to new limits as he threatens a renewed tariff war with the EU over his quest to acquire Greenland -- an attempt that would make life harder for investors and little gains for the US. We also look at debt-heavy Japan’s plan to cut taxes on food, rising doubts about the Indonesian central bank’s independence, and our forecast for a 10% drop for the dollar this year. Tim...