UBS On-Air: Market Moves

US President Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on US importers of products from Canada, without exempting products covered by the latest iteration of the NAFTA trade deal. If implemented, the tax would probably push up US consumer prices quite quickly. However, markets offered a muted response—the Canadian dollar and US inflation-linked bonds remaining relatively calm. Investors seem inclined to discount or dismiss such threats.

As investors now operate within the AI economy, Jason Draho, Head of Asset Allocation Americas and Paul Hsiao, Senior Asset Allocation Strategist Americas, from the UBS Chief Investment Office, join to share a framework on how to navigate it. We also discuss how to assess the economic impacts of AI, along with a look at portfolio construction through an AI lens. Host: Daniel Cassidy

Semiconductors have seen a drop over the past month, raising the question of whether markets are starting to price in a real AI glut or simply reassessing a powerful rally. This episode explores why AI demand may prove more resilient than the recent sell-off suggests, where the real constraints are emerging across the infrastructure stack, and what that could mean for semiconductor stocks from here.

Violence has reignited in the Gulf, with Iran firing ballistic missiles at US military bases. Crude oil futures responded; Brent rose to over USD 90 per barrel. Of more political focus, Saturday’s US gasoline prices averaged almost USD 4 per US gallon. The geopolitical focus is whether the Red Sea route (taking about 7% of global oil supply) is attacked by Iranian allies.

Following a busy week up on Capitol Hill, Shane reflects on the testimonies of Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett before the House Appropriations Committee, along with the Senate confirmation hearings of three Trump administrations nominees. Plus, an update on the US-Iran conflict as military strikes remain ongoing. Featured is Shane Lieberman, Senior Governmental Affairs Advisors, Governmental Affairs US. Host: Daniel Cassidy