Where is Asia’s smart money going?

Markets are up despite an oil crisis, AI capex keeps climbing, and Asia's capital allocators are making big moves. So where is the region's smart money actually going?

Maria sits down with co-host Aleksey — global head of investment solutions at Leo Wealth — for a full market vibe check across the region. They get into the two camps dividing investors right now (are we in '98 or about to hit a wall?), why North Asia is eating Southeast Asia's lunch on capital flows, and the surprising case for nuclear energy making a comeback.

Aleksey floats a wild idea that's gaining serious traction: a compute futures market where you can buy GPU hours the same way you buy oil. They also unpack the Manus-Meta deal fallout, debate India's perennial "almost there" problem, and try — really try — to find the bull case for Southeast Asia.

Timestamps

00:00 — “If an oil crisis can’t crash markets… what can?”

00:29 — Where is Asia’s smart money going right now?

07:50 — Why Asia suddenly feels bullish again

10:46 — The uncomfortable truth about Southeast Asia’s growth story

12:47 — India vs China: why investors still hesitate

17:29 — The next big AI trade: compute futures markets

25:33 — Can Asia produce a true AI software giant?

29:22 — IPO mania is returning

37:06 — The Manus/Meta controversy explained

42:47 — Rapid fire: Japan, China, India & Southeast Asia bull/bear cases

46:23 — “I don’t have a bull case for Southeast Asia”

50:54 — What markets are still underestimating about AI

Give us feedback or nominate topics & speakers at 6040podcast@techinasia.com.