South Korea's June presidential election ended six months of political uncertainty and policy paralysis in the country. Investors are optimistic that President Lee Jae-myung, with the support of the legislative assembly, can boost the economy with fiscal stimulus and corporate governance reform. The Kospi Index has surged more than 20% this year, surprising many global investors who have until now been hesitant to allocate capital in the country.

President Lee faces many challenges, however, including the threat of US tariffs, increasing competition from Chinese exports and a sluggish economy. And what does a return to democratic party policies mean for the chaebols, the scions of Korean industry? Peter Kim, investment strategist and managing director for KB Securities, discusses the outlook for Asia's fourth-largest economy with John Lee and Katia Dmitrieva on the Asia Centric podcast.

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The economic impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs has led to a rethink over the US dollar. After the “Liberation Day” tariffs were announced on April 2, global investors sold both US equities and the dollar, a rare event that raises concerns about the credibility of US Treasuries and the dollar itself. Moody’s downgrade of the US credit rating and the sharp appreciation of certain currencies, particularly the Taiwan dollar, against the greenback have further intensified the situation.

Are we entering a period of de-dollarization? What are the implications for the regions' central banks, corporations and financial institutions – many of which are major holders of US Treasuries? And which Asian currencies could outperform following this paradigm shift? Stephen Chiu, chief Asia FX and rates strategist for Bloomberg Intelligence discusses these issues with John Lee on the Asia Centric podcast.

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A big shift in regional trade is underway following US President Donald Trump's announcement – and temporary pause – of the so called "Liberation Day" tariffs. Exports from Southeast Asia are surging, as companies around the world frontload and reroute shipments of parts and final goods such as toys and smartphones.

Which countries are benefiting the most from this demand and the intensifying strategy of "China+1", how long will these high export levels be maintained, and what are the risks for consumers and companies? Katia Dmitrieva speaks with Robert Subbaraman, head of global macro research at Nomura, about the latest on the trade front.

Read our story here: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-21/china-us-trade-soars-as-exporters-race-to-hit-trade-truce-window?utm_source=website&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=copy

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