Weak growth is beyond oil – Sound Economies with Mel & Peter, 16 April 2026
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... Read More →
Jitters high despite ceasefire – Sound Economies with Mel & Peter, 8 April 2026
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... Read More →
Private credit vs public debt – Sound Economies with Mel & Peter, 1 April 2026
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... Read More →
What should investors do amid cloudy skies? – Sound Economies with Mel & Peter, 26 March 2026
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... Read More →
Stocks holding up amid oil woes – Sound Economies with Mel & Peter, 18 March 2026
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... Read More →
Let’s talk private credit – Sound Economies with Mel & Peter, 12 March 2026
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... Read More →
Eyes on the Middle East and on China’s softer GDP outlook – Sound Economies with Mel & Peter, 5 March 2026
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... Read More →
2025 showstoppers and 2026 market movers – Sound Economies with Mel & Peter, 27 February 2026
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... Read More →
Sound Economies with Mel & Peter: 19 February 2026
We flag some concerns in Southeast Asia: Indonesia’s USD 760 million planned consumption stimulus and initial hints of a crisis for the Philippine peso. We also look at more Chinese firms establishing homebases in Singapore, and an early exit planned... Read More →
Sound Economies with Mel & Peter: 12 February 2026
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... Read More →