Barclays Brief

Opportunities in Asian Equities

Investor positioning across Asian equities is shifting, with opportunities increasingly driven by market-specific factors rather than a single regional or thematic narrative. In this episode of Barclays Brief, Patrick Coffey is joined by Kaan Singh, Head of APAC Barclays Equities Tactical Strategies and Flow Equity Derivatives, to dive in to where investors are putting money to work in Asia and why. They discuss the rotation toward Japan, as investors look beyond the most crowded AI and semiconductor trades and search for more durable structural themes. Alongside this, the conversation explores early signs of re-engagement in China, supported by improving market sentiment and upcoming tech IPOs, and Korea’s highly concentrated semiconductor and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market. Looking ahead, they consider how market expectations around AI investment are evolving and offer a clearer lens on how opportunities across Asian equities could develop. Clients can read more on Barclays Live: * Cross Asset Research, Korea: Large investment plan from the semiconductor manufacturers [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FP6a434023c4d78f1b656ff486&restriction=DEBT] * Samsung & SK Hynix: Pricing Tailwinds Intact [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FP69f50100e0b5664c4f35181d] * Thinking Macro: The best AI value might be hiding in Tokyo [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FP6a1efb0484d3760750b87ebd] * China Technology: The Forest Report – 1Q26 Edition [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FP6a2ae891c566bc2d2b653eaa] * Asia Credit Alpha: AI central in Korea/China [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FP6a460140c4d78f1b6571a032&restriction=DEBT] Listeners can also explore the topic further: * Q3 2026 Global Outlook: Solid fundamentals, fewer bargains [https://www.ib.barclays/research/global-outlook/q3-2026-solid-fundamentals-fewer-bargains.html] Important Content Disclosures [https://www.ib.barclays/disclosures/important-content-disclosures.html] Important non-Research content disclosures [https://www.ib.barclays/disclosures/important-nonresearch-content-disclosures.html]

Brexit, Burnham and Britain's Next Decade

Ten years after the Brexit referendum, many studies assess the effects on the UK economy as negative, pointing to weaker growth, lower investment and a tighter fiscal backdrop as its legacy. But the focus now is forward-looking. After Andy Burnham set out his 10-year economic vision centred on devolving more power to Britain’s cities and regions, the debate is shifting from what Brexit changed to what kind of economic model could define Britain’s next decade. Joining Patrick Coffey, UK Chief Economist Jack Meaning reviews the state of the UK economy today, including subdued growth, inflation that remains close to 3%,and the limited room any future Chancellor has on borrowing, tax and spending. They examine whether greater devolution could support stronger growth and identify potential policy changes investors should watch. They also highlight why the UK’s underlying fundamentals may be stronger than market sentiment often suggests. This episode was recorded on Monday 29 June at 3pm British Summer Time. Listeners can hear more related to this topic: -Decoding the bond sell-off [https://www.ib.barclays/our-insights/barclays-brief/decoding-the-bond-sell-off.html?cid=shownotes_podcast___2606BB38MR____] Clients can read more on Barclays Live: -First Look: Burnham speech [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FP6a425ca16e7bb564fdcc96c2] -UK – 10 years after Brexit [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FP6a3aafc08461036122b935a8] -Making Sense of Makerfield [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FP6a20ade0416aff3e6e2663d0&restriction=DEBT] Important Content Disclosures [https://www.ib.barclays/disclosures/important-content-disclosures.html]

Can football fever lift the economy?

The World Cup has kicked off across North America in its largest and most geographically dispersed format yet. This year, the tournament expands to 48 teams (up from 32 in 2022), 104 matches (vs. 64) and 16 host cities across the US, Canada and Mexico. The scale is set to drive a surge of visitors, viewership and national pride, but the economic payoff may be short-lived. In this episode of Barclays Brief, Ronnie Wexler, Global Head of Equities Distribution, sits down with Pooja Sriram, Senior US Economist, to discuss the tournament’s economic implications for host countries, how viewership could translate into value, which sectors stand to benefit most and why demand looks uneven. Listeners can hear more related to this topic: * Prediction markets: a new market signal [https://www.ib.barclays/our-insights/barclays-brief/prediction-markets-a-new-market-signal.html] * Jet fuel shortage: Holidays at risk? [https://www.ib.barclays/our-insights/barclays-brief/jet-fuel-shortage-holidays-at-risk.html] Clients can read more on Barclays Live: * World Cup 2026: Viewership drives value [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FP6a22144bce1e9b0296a958a6] * Cupflation: The World Cup effect on prices [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FP696963ad726de568d97310b6] * ¡Goool! World Cup Day 1 [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FP6a2be11dc566bc2d2b65c464] Important Content Disclosures [https://www.ib.barclays/disclosures/important-content-disclosures.html] Important Non-Research Content Disclosures [https://www.ib.barclays/disclosures/important-nonresearch-content-disclosures.html]

The rise of the consumer health economy

Consumer health is undergoing a structural shift, moving beyond traditional treatment and becoming embedded in everyday spending. Where consumers were once focused on curing illness, they are increasingly aiming for prevention, with demand extending across categories from supplements and sports nutrition to oral health and functional foods. In this episode of the Barclays Brief, Patrick Coffey is joined by Warren Ackerman, Head of European Consumer Staples Research, to explore how this shift in consumer behaviour is reshaping the industry. They discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated consumer interest in self-care, driving sustained demand for health-related products and increasing the role of e-commerce in the category. The conversation also examines where growth is emerging today, from increased spend in established categories to new areas supported by advancing science, as well as how these trends differ across developed and emerging markets. They explore how the industry is evolving as it becomes more consumer-led, and where the next opportunities lie, including e-commerce and more personalised health solutions. Clients can read more on Barclays Live: * The Future of Consumer Health: Growing Pains [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FS6a266d2663e94e2126cb1eb2] * Consumer Health: The leaders and laggards [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FP6a28d0f4fdb9b503f72cd3b3] * India Consumer Health: The next battleground [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FP6a2b772c53e5150d1c8d3a60] Listeners can also hear more episodes on this topic: * Weight loss drugs: Scaling‑up [https://www.ib.barclays/our-insights/barclays-brief/weight-loss-drugs-scaling-up.html] Important Content Disclosures [https://www.ib.barclays/disclosures/important-content-disclosures.html]

US equities: short-term pain, long-term gain?

US equities have delivered strong gains year-to-date, despite a challenging macro backdrop, but that momentum is beginning to look less secure. While fundamentals remain supportive, the near‑term setup is becoming more stretched. In this episode of Barclays Brief, Patrick Coffey is joined by Alex Altman, Head of Equity Tactical Strategies in our Markets division, to break down his shift to a short-term tactically cautious view. They discuss how the balance of risks has begun to shift, with elevated euphoria and crowded positioning — particularly in AI‑linked momentum trades — leaving markets more exposed if that positioning unwinds. At the same time, higher real yields are starting to weigh on valuations, making the forward return profile less compelling, despite resilient earnings and macro data. They also examine equity supply, with a growing pipeline of IPOs and broader issuance adding complexity to the near‑term outlook. Taken together, these dynamics point to a more fragile setup. Patrick and Alex explore how the market may evolve and what role a pullback could play in resetting the current environment. Clients can read more on Barclays Live: * The Global Volatility Pulse: Macro stumble, technical reset [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FP6a2776c147fee46ec57030b7] * Equity Market Review: Shaky momentum, nascent rotation [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FP6a225b04dd99b05a72e17781] * U.S. Equity-Linked Strategies: AI Capex Funding: Why Equity? Why Converts? [https://live.barcap.com/go/publications/link?contentPubID=FP6a26da1a53e5150d1c8b0384] Listeners can also hear more episodes on this topic: * The Fed's next move [https://www.ib.barclays/our-insights/barclays-brief/inflation-crosscurrents-energy-vs-ai.html] * The cusp of a capex supercycle [https://www.ib.barclays/our-insights/barclays-brief/the-cusp-of-a-capex-supercycle.html] * A bullish view on US equities [https://www.ib.barclays/our-insights/barclays-brief/a-bullish-view-on-US-equities.html] Important Content Disclosures [https://www.ib.barclays/disclosures/important-content-disclosures.html] Important Non-Research Content Disclosures [https://www.ib.barclays/disclosures/important-nonresearch-content-disclosures.html]