The Global Economy Podcast with Fexingo: International Markets, Currencies, and World Trade

Episode 82 of The Global Economy Podcast dives into China's latest escalation in export controls targeting Japan, announced on June 29, 2026. Lucas and Luna unpack how these new restrictions on drone makers, nuclear firms, and defense institutes are rippling through global semiconductor and electronics supply chains. They connect the policy to the yen's slide past 161 per dollar and the broader tr...

Lucas and Luna examine why emerging market ETFs are getting hammered in late June 2026, with EEM down 5.6% in a week and EWY plunging nearly 10%. The culprit? A surging trade-weighted dollar index at 120.4, which is crushing currencies from the yen to the yuan and forcing capital outflows. They drill into the specific mechanics: dollar-denominated debt, local-currency revenue mismatches, and the F...

Lucas and Luna examine the surprising divergence in European markets as of late June 2026. While headline indices like the DAX and CAC 40 hit new highs, ETFs tracking the broader eurozone—EZU, FEZ, VGK—are posting sharp weekly losses. The hosts drill into the currency effect: a strengthening euro is compressing returns for US-based investors in European ETFs, masking strong local-currency equity p...

Episode 79 of The Global Economy Podcast examines a puzzle: India's economy is growing at over 6 percent annually, yet the MSCI India ETF (INDA) has fallen nearly 1 percent in the past week and is down year-to-date. Lucas and Luna dig into the disconnect, focusing on two specific factors: rising core inflation in India, which hit 4.8 percent in May, and the widening current account deficit, which...

The US dollar has been strengthening, and for emerging market economies with dollar-denominated debt, that's a growing problem. In this episode of The Global Economy Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down why a rising dollar makes it more expensive for countries like Argentina, Turkey, and Indonesia to service their foreign debt. They look at the mechanics of currency mismatches, the rising risk of de...

In this episode of The Global Economy Podcast, Lucas and Luna examine how the fragile peace deal and ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are disrupting global shipping and oil markets. With the trade-weighted dollar at 120.4 and core inflation hitting 3.4%, they discuss the economic ripple effects—from higher transport costs to shifting trade routes. Specific focus on the UN agency's pause of...

South Korean stocks are down over 8% in the past week, even as exports hit record highs. Lucas and Luna unpack the disconnect: the trade-weighted dollar is climbing, the yen is at 161 per dollar, and the Kospi is getting squeezed by weak emerging market sentiment, Iran-Hormuz shipping risks, and a rotation out of Asia ex-Japan. They look at the EWY ETF's 8.5% drop, compare it to Taiwan's EWT falli...

Lucas and Luna break down a striking divergence in global markets as of late June 2026: emerging market equity ETFs like the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) and the Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) are down sharply over the past week, even as exports from many of those same countries show robust growth. They zero in on the case of South Korea, whose won has weakened past 1,400 per...

In this episode of The Global Economy Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down the surprising impact of the U.S. Iran oil sanctions waivers issued on June 23, 2026. With the trade-weighted dollar rising and oil prices under pressure, they examine how unlocking billions in Iranian revenue is shifting supply dynamics and affecting emerging market ETFs like EEM and FXI, which dropped 4% and 5% respectively...

On this episode of The Global Economy Podcast, Lucas and Luna examine a surprising divergence: Mexico's stock market, tracked by the EWW ETF, has dropped 4.6% in the past five days even as the Mexican peso has strengthened against the dollar. They explore why the 'nearshoring boom' narrative is fraying, with factory job cuts hitting record levels and US-China trade tensions creating headwinds. Luc...

In this episode of The Global Economy Podcast, Lucas and Luna examine the surprising divergence between strong US GDP growth and factory job cuts that in June 2026 approached levels last seen during the financial crisis and the pandemic. They unpack what the S&P Global manufacturing PMI data reveals about structural shifts in American industry—from automation and reshoring to the lingering effects...

On June 23, the US issued sweeping sanctions waivers on Iran oil, unlocking billions in revenue for Tehran. Lucas and Luna dive into what this means for global crude markets, the weakening dollar, and emerging-market currencies. They discuss why the dollar trade-weighted index is rising even as the euro and yen strengthen, and how the Iran deal could reshape supply chains in the Middle East. Speci...

Episode 70 of The Global Economy Podcast examines how the yen at 161.4 per dollar is forcing a realignment of supply chains across Asia. Lucas and Luna explore the dilemma for Japanese manufacturers: stay in Japan with a weaker yen or shift production to Southeast Asia to hedge currency risk. They contrast Toyota's strategy of hoarding production capacity at home with Sony's pivot to ASEAN supplie...

In Episode 69 of The Global Economy Podcast, Lucas and Luna examine a striking divergence in European defense stocks—German and French defense companies have jumped 15-20% year-to-date, while UK defense stocks are flat. They trace this back to the ECB's rate hikes widening the North-South economic gap, and to a new EU defense spending directive that favors continental champions. The hosts analyze...

Episode 68 of The Global Economy Podcast examines why Taiwan stocks, as tracked by the EWT ETF, have surged 5.2% in the past week while China's FXI dropped 4.7%. Lucas and Luna explore the divergence between the two markets, focusing on Taiwan's semiconductor dominance and its insulation from China's economic slowdown. They discuss how the weakening yen is boosting Taiwan's export competitiveness,...

Episode 67 of The Global Economy Podcast examines how the yen's decline to 160 per dollar is rewiring Asia's manufacturing and trade patterns. Lucas and Luna explore the specific case of Japan's auto parts suppliers relocating production to Thailand and Vietnam, and how this is boosting ETFs like EWT and EWY while challenging China's EV ambitions. They reference real data: the yen at 160.2 per USD...

On this episode of The Global Economy Podcast, Lucas and Luna dissect the growing divergence between eurozone and UK equity markets as of late June 2026. While the European Central Bank's rate hikes are stabilizing the euro and attracting capital flows into European ETFs like EZU and FEZ, the Bank of England's rate hold at 3.75% amid geopolitical uncertainty is weighing on UK stocks, as reflected...

In this episode of The Global Economy Podcast with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore how the declining US dollar is transforming trade flows and investment patterns worldwide. As the trade-weighted dollar index slips to 119.5, down from 120.12, they analyze the implications for emerging markets like India, where the ETF INDA is up 2.6% in five days, and for the euro, now trading at 1.16 per dollar....

Episode 64 of The Global Economy Podcast dives into the stunning 11% surge in the iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) over the past five trading days. Lucas and Luna explore why Korean equities are rallying so sharply even as broader emerging markets wobble. They examine the interplay between the weakening yen, Korea's export competitiveness in semiconductors and autos, and a potential China demand...

Brazil's commodity exports are hitting record highs in June 2026, yet the iShares MSCI Brazil ETF, EWZ, has dropped 3 percent in the past five days. Lucas and Luna dig into the contradiction: a soaring trade surplus weighed down by fiscal fears, political noise around the central bank, and a real that keeps surprising to the weak side. They look at how iron ore and soy volumes are masking deeper s...

Lucas and Luna examine why Australian ETFs are surging relative to other developed markets in June 2026, even as the trade-weighted dollar eases from recent highs. With the US dollar index slipping to 119.5 and the yuan weakening to 6.76 per dollar, Australia's commodity-heavy exports are gaining a competitive edge. The hosts drill into how iron ore and LNG shipments are benefiting from a weaker A...

Lucas and Luna dig into the Bank of England's decision to hold rates at 3.75% on June 18, 2026, and why the pound's muted reaction masks a growing divide between UK stocks and bonds. They explore how the BoE's dovish hold contrasts with the Fed's hawkish pause under new chair Kevin Warsh, and what this means for the British pound, the FTSE 100, and UK-focused ETFs like EWU. With UK inflation stuck...

After years of a relentless strong dollar, the greenback has started to ease. The trade-weighted dollar index dipped to 119.5 from 120.12 last week. Lucas and Luna explore what a slightly weaker dollar means for global portfolio flows. They examine a surprising divergence: emerging market ETFs like EEM surged 4.9% in five days, while China's FXI tumbled 5%. With the yen at 160 per dollar and the e...

In this episode of The Global Economy Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the dramatic unwinding of the yen carry trade and its ripple effects across Asian currencies in June 2026. With the yen trading at 160.2 per dollar and the trade-weighted dollar index dipping to 119.5, they analyze how leveraged speculators are abandoning the strategy that once propped up risk assets globally. The conversation d...

Lucas and Luna explore the quiet unwind of the yen carry trade in June 2026. With the yen at 160 per dollar and the Bank of Japan signaling policy normalization, hedge funds and retail traders are scrambling. They break down a specific case: how a Tokyo-based prop desk lost 12% in a week when yen volatility spiked, and what it means for emerging market currencies and U.S. Treasuries. The trade-wei...