Blazing a trail – Sound Economies with Mel & Peter, 1 October 2026

Japan plans to set up a state-backed fund to invest in drone manufacturers and defence startups, but we are not sold on the idea. This episode also looks at the Philippines bracing for a Godzilla El Niño, China’s new stimulus for even cheaper consumer loans, and Turkey’s possible MSCI downgrade as local stocks bleed.

Timestamp:

(00:00) – Episode rundown
(00:19) – Intro
(00:48) – Quick updates
(02:55) – Philippines braces for a “Godzilla” El Niño
(11:01) – Japan looks to set up state investment fund to develop its defence industry
(19:28) – Chinese government attempts to stimulate more household spending
(23:40) – MSCI: Turkey may lose emerging market status
(27:13) – Our global outlook
(30:19) – Lundgreen’s Invest – High-Tech Defence Fund secures quadruple exit
(30:49) – Lundgreen’s Capital – Next big step: IPO in 2 years

“Sound Economies with Mel & Peter” is a weekly podcast where our founding CEO Peter Lundgreen and Manila-based Chief Economist for Southeast Asia and China Mel Lopez discuss what’s happening in economies around the world and their views of the global financial markets.

Tune in to this episode on Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts.