Sound Economies with Mel & Peter

Tighter belts in Asia – Sound Economies with Mel & Peter, 21 May 2026

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) - Episode rundown (00:18) - Intro (00:46) - Quick updates (02:35) - Danantara's new export controls on coal, palm oil (08:00) - Managing oil prices and domestic demand in the Philippines and Thailand (13:03) - India PM slows down fuel subsidies (18:55) - Our conviction vs market forecast on global stocks (25:41) - Our global outlook

First oil, now food – Sound Economies with Mel & Peter, 14 May 2026

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?’ [https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Z0zHtwYkRkOi3IWluFrzvQ] (00:34) - Episode rundown (00:49) - Intro (01:16) - Quick updates (02:27) - Removal of 18 Indonesian stocks from the MSCI global indices (07:18) - Trump meets Xi in Beijing (14:17) - US-Iran conflict and the rise of global food prices (21:01) - UK gilt rates reach new peaks (25:16) - Our global outlook

Oil higher for longer – Sound Economies with Mel & Peter, 7 May 2026

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) - Japan diversifying trade to Latin America (09:18) - ADB's advice to governments amidst sustained, high oil prices (16:30) - Poll: Oil price outlook (16:50) - Trivia: Where do Chinese jumbos go? (20:06) - Record-high US 10-year Treasury yields (24:29) - German government's new attempt at growth (26:41) - Our global outlook

Of taxes and household buys – Sound Economies with Mel & Peter, 30 April 2026

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 Invest – China Fund. The fund managers will discuss strategies to maximise returns amid global disruptions. Please register here: ⁠https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_julp5eMtRdeRr_NM6YlBIg#/registration [https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_julp5eMtRdeRr_NM6YlBIg#/registration] Timestamp: (00:00) - Episode rundown (00:12) - Intro (00:40) - Quick updates (02:01) - Positive change in China's credit rating outlook (08:10) - Moving the bar for the global middle class (25:24) - UAE leaves OPEC (28:00) - Our global outlook

Can't have your cake – Sound Economies with Mel & Peter, 23 April 2026

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) - MSCI responds to stock frying in Indonesia (14:18) - Japan relaxes weaponry sales (19:28) - Shifting global middle class (31:07) - Our global outlook