Bloomberg Daybreak: Asia Edition Stocks Fall on Greenland Tariff Angst, Korea Exchange CEO Jeong Eun Bo
Jan 20, 2026
Winnie Hsu, an Asia equities reporter for Bloomberg, shares insights on the impact of U.S. tariff threats on Asia-Pacific markets and China's slowing growth momentum. Jeong Eun Bo, CEO of the Korea Exchange, discusses ambitious plans to extend trading hours and attract foreign investment, predicting the KOSPI could soar to 6,000. He emphasizes the need to delist 'zombie' companies to enhance market confidence and highlights South Korea's journey towards MSCI's developed market status, which could attract significant capital inflows.
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Two-Speed China: Manufacturing Vs. Domestic Demand
- China met its 5% annual growth target but Q4 growth slowed to 4.5%, the weakest since late 2022.
- The data reveal a split between strong manufacturing and weak domestic demand, signaling a two-speed China story investors must weigh.
Investment Drop Signals Structural Drag
- Fixed-asset investment fell 3.8% year on year, the first annual decline in decades and a sign of lingering weakness.
- The decline partly reflects policy to curb excess capacity, but it also drags on recovery and deters foreign capital.
Property Market May Be Bottoming, Not Recovering
- China's property market shows slowing declines and signs of bottoming but no clear recovery yet.
- The persistent drag from property will hinder domestic demand and keep some foreign investors cautious.