Iran War Fuels Bond Rout as Asia Markets Reel | Insight with Haslinda Amin 05/18/2026

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  May 18, 2026 at 05:51  |  46:31  |  Bloomberg Markets
Speakers
Pruksa Iamthongthong — Head of Equities, Aberdeen Investments
Jayant Acharya — CEO, JSW Steel

Summary

The episode covers global market turmoil driven by the Iran war, rising oil prices, and a bond selloff. Chinese economic data disappoints, but a contrarian case for Chinese equities is presented. India's market suffers from oil dependency and lack of AI exposure, while JSW Steel's CEO discusses capex and demand. Samsung strike talks add to supply chain concerns.

  • Iran war deadlock pushes oil above $100, stoking inflation fears and a bond selloff across Asia.
  • China's April retail sales miss sharply, but Aberdeen Investments remains overweight on China as a contrarian opportunity.
  • India's stock market nears dropping out of the world's top five, hurt by oil prices and no AI exposure.
  • JSW Steel CEO Jayant Acharya outlines $2.5 billion capex plan, expects cost increases to be offset by steel price gains.
  • Samsung enters last-ditch talks with its labor union to avert a strike that could disrupt global memory chip supply.
  • Aberdeen's Pruksa Iamthongthong highlights AI cloud growth in Chinese internet names like Alibaba and Tencent.
  • Energy security and China localization (AI self-sufficiency) are identified as long-term themes.
  • The Indian rupee hits record lows, prompting government measures including gold import duty hikes.
Trade Ideas
Pruksa Iamthongthong Head of Equities, Aberdeen Investments 16:16
China equities are contrarian buy
China's equity market is a contrarian opportunity because valuations are attractive relative to the AI-driven rallies in Taiwan and Korea. Despite weak headline macro data, selective sectors like energy security (battery storage) and China localization (AI self-sufficiency supply chain) show bright spots, and consumer spending has become more discerning rather than disappearing. The need for energy security from the Iran war also supports China's supply chain strengths.
FXI MED
Pruksa Iamthongthong Head of Equities, Aberdeen Investments 18:01
Chinese internet stocks to watch
Chinese internet stocks like Alibaba and Tencent have earnings on track, with AI cloud growth accelerating and margins improving. This guidance supports higher valuations once sentiment returns, making them a key area to watch selectively.
BABA TCEHY MED
Up Next
1:35:07
Global Bond Rout Deepens as Inflation Fears Hit Stocks | The Asia Trade 5/18/2026
Bloomberg Markets · May 18
29:06
National Pension's virtual asset proportion plummets to 40%. Is it a great escape happening before crypto taxation is confirmed? Even a petition against taxation | Seo Dong-ju, Kim Dong-hwan, Park Sang-hyuk, Digital Asset Editor-in-Chief [Crypto PLUS]
3PRO TV (삼프로TV) · May 18
6:08:21
[26.05.18 Morning Broadcast Full View] Tech Stock Rally Halted by Interest Rate and Oil Price Concerns! New York Stock Market 3 Major Indices Decline
3PRO TV (삼프로TV) · May 18
20:04
Nomura Re-evaluates Samsung Electronics as a 'Structural Growth Stock' / Why You Should Change Stocks in a Plunging Market | CEO Lee Gwon-hee
815 Money Talk (815머니톡) · May 18
52:52
Samsung Electronics strike concerns and high interest rate burden...When will the stock market decline stop?_26.05.18. | Lee Hyeok-jin, Yeo Do-eun, Heo Jae-mu [Morning N Investment]
3PRO TV (삼프로TV) · May 18

This Bloomberg Markets video, published May 18, 2026, features Pruksa Iamthongthong discussing FXI, BABA, TCEHY. 2 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Pruksa Iamthongthong  · Tickers: FXI, BABA, TCEHY