SpaceX Scrubs Starship Test Flight | The Asia Trade 5/22/2026

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  May 22, 2026 at 06:13  |  1:37:23  |  Bloomberg Markets
Speakers
Jonathan Curtis — Portfolio Manager, Franklin Templeton
Brandon Cho — Co-founder and CEO, SemiFive
Shery Ahn — Anchor, Bloomberg Television
Mitsuya Kishida — CEO, Nidec

Summary

The episode covers SpaceX's scrubbed Starship test flight ahead of its massive IPO, Asian equity market optimism on Iran talks, and a broadening AI trade beyond TSMC. Key interviews include Franklin Templeton's Jonathan Curtis on memory and Chinese AI stocks, SemiFive CEO on custom chip demand, and Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels CEO on luxury travel resilience. Japan inflation data complicates BOJ policy, while oil volatility persists due to geopolitical tensions.

  • SpaceX delayed a critical Starship test flight after a launchpad issue, with IPO plans hinging on rocket reusability.
  • Asian stocks opened higher as U.S.-Iran negotiations showed signs of progress, though oil prices remained volatile.
  • IBM surged after a $1 billion U.S. grant for quantum computing, boosting quantum-related stocks.
  • Nidec CEO addressed internal quality and accounting probes, while highlighting data center demand growth.
  • Japan's core CPI fell below expectations, complicating the BOJ's rate path amid a weak yen near 160.
  • Jonathan Curtis of Franklin Templeton expressed bullish views on memory chip makers (Samsung, SK hynix, Micron) and Chinese AI leaders (Alibaba, Tencent).
  • SemiFive CEO reported surging custom AI chip demand and confidence in sustained high growth.
  • The AI trade is broadening from TSMC to ecosystem players like MediExactly, cooling, and memory stocks.
Trade Ideas
Jonathan Curtis Portfolio Manager, Franklin Templeton 57:31
Memory demand from AI just starting.
Memory chip demand from agentic AI is just getting started, and companies like Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron are critical suppliers. The memory space is undervalued relative to the coming demand, and they own Samsung.
005930.KS 000660.KS MU MED
Jonathan Curtis Portfolio Manager, Franklin Templeton 59:26
Chinese AI leaders safe from rules.
They own Alibaba and Tencent in China because the Chinese government wants these market leaders to win in AI and will not change the rules on them, making the stocks attractive.
BABA 0700.HK MED
Brandon Cho Co-founder and CEO, SemiFive 85:57
SemiFive to sustain high growth.
SemiFive is experiencing rapid growth from custom AI chip demand, with production bookings surging and confidence in sustaining very high double-digit growth. The company is well-positioned in the AI chip design ecosystem.
SemiFive MED
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This Bloomberg Markets video, published May 22, 2026, features Jonathan Curtis, Brandon Cho discussing 005930.KS, 000660.KS, MU, BABA, 0700.HK, SemiFive. 3 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Jonathan Curtis, Brandon Cho  · Tickers: 005930.KS, 000660.KS, MU, BABA, 0700.HK, SemiFive