Barclays Brief

Opportunities in Asian Equities

Barclays Brief

Show Notes

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 Samsung & SK Hynix: Pricing Tailwinds Intact Thinking Macro: The best AI value might be hiding in Tokyo China Technology: The Forest Report – 1Q26 Edition Asia Credit Alpha: AI central in Korea/China

Listeners can also explore the topic further: Q3 2026 Global Outlook: Solid fundamentals, fewer bargains

Important Content Disclosures Important non-Research content disclosures

More from Barclays Brief

Oct 20, 2026

The US consumer has proved to be more resilient than expected, supported by a constructive employment backdrop, income growth and rising household wealth. But beneath that aggregate strength, behaviour is shifting. Consumers are becoming more selective, and their ability to absorb further inflation is becoming increasingly divided by income. In this episode of the Barclays Brief, host Ronnie Wexler speaks with Priya Ohri-Gupta, Head of US High Grade Research and US Consumer Credit Research Analyst, about the state of US consumer resilience and why it is increasingly uneven. They explore the emergence of a two-speed consumer economy, with higher-income households supported by wealth creation while lower-income consumers face greater pressure on their ability to spend. At the same time, consumers across the board are becoming more deliberate about where their money goes, seeking value and trading down. Ronnie Wexler and Priya Ohri-Gupta also consider the signals that could point to weakening demand, and how inflationary pressures currently being absorbed by retailers could test resilience into 2027. As US consumers become more selective, investors may need to follow suit. With the important holiday spending period approaching, Ohri-Gupta considers the characteristics that could differentiate consumer and retail businesses as spending patterns evolve.

Oct 12, 2026

Ahead of the UK Autumn Budget, the consensus view is that higher borrowing costs and a weaker fiscal backdrop have left the Chancellor of the Exchequer with little room to manoeuvre. But what if markets are focusing on the wrong part of the story? In this episode of the Barclays Brief, host Patrick Coffey sits down with Jack Meaning, Chief UK Economist at Barclays, to examine why expectations of a sharp squeeze of the Chancellor’s fiscal headroom may be overstated. While higher gilt yields have dominated the debate, stronger nominal earnings and tax receipts could leave the Chancellor in a more resilient position than many investors assume, at least for now. The conversation explores the outlook for inflation, interest rates and the UK Budget, alongside signs of stronger business investment, the potential productivity benefits of AI and why the UK may be emerging as a relative source of stability in Europe. For investors, businesses and households alike, the key question is whether the prevailing narrative on the UK has become too negative and what that could mean for growth, markets and policy in the months ahead. This episode was recorded on Wednesday 7 October at 10:30am British Summer Time.

Oct 9, 2026

French government bonds, or OATs, are under growing pressure. While rising yields reflect a broader sell-off across European markets, concerns over France’s fiscal trajectory and political uncertainty are driving an additional risk premium.

Sep 30, 2026

Markets have spent much of 2026 confronting higher bond yields, tighter central bank policy and elevated oil prices. By historical standards, that should have been enough to derail growth. Instead, markets and the global economy have continued to surprise to the upside. In this episode of Barclays Brief, host Ronnie Wexler is joined by Ajay Rajadhyaksha, Global Chairman of Research, to discuss the thinking behind Barclays Research's latest Global Outlook, Reluctantly Optimistic. They explore why the traditional relationship between higher rates and weaker growth appears to be weakening, and how a powerful AI investment cycle is helping sustain economic momentum. The conversation also examines the strength of US corporate earnings, the resilience of the US consumer and early signs that AI-driven productivity gains are extending beyond the largest technology companies. While risks remain, particularly around sovereign debt and bond markets, Rajadhyaksha argues that the fundamental drivers supporting growth and risk assets remain firmly in place. This episode was recorded on Monday 28 September at 5:00pm British Summer Time.

Sep 29, 2026

The recent summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping brought greater stability to US-China relations, but little substantive resolution. Continued dialogue and an extension of the trade truce offer grounds for optimism, however major questions around trade, geopolitics and AI remain unresolved.

See all episodes →