Once the preserve of science fiction, humanoid robotics is now in the realm of reality. From Elon Musk's Optimus to Boston Dynamics, companies are pouring money and time into developing these robots for business and commercial use.

We take an in-depth look into this emerging industry with Sean Darby, equity strategist at Mizuho Securities, who compares it to the rise of EVs – what started small quickly gathered steam among consumers. It's shaping up to be a compelling trade for investors, with a basket of humanoid-related stocks in Asia up almost 60% this year, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.

Darby joins John Lee and Katia Dmitrieva in Hong Kong to discuss what exactly is a humanoid robot, what can it actually do given the current technology, and what challenges lie ahead? And will they simply help us with household chores – or take all our jobs?

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Stock markets have been surprisingly resilient this year. Despite global trade chaos, war in the Middle East, Russia's extended invasion of Ukraine and domestic political strife, major equity markets around the world have rallied near record levels.

Investors are finding a lot to like from India to South Korea, where domestic growth stories, technology and AI investment, and diversified supply chains leave plenty of room for growth, says Jessica Tea, JPMorgan emerging markets and APAC equities investment specialist. She joins John Lee and Katia Dmitrieva from Singapore to discuss consumption strength across Asia — highlighted by the popularity of Labubu dolls — investing in the backend of EVs and finding returns amid uncertainty.

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The huge political and economic shifts taking place amid US President Donald Trump's global trade war, turmoil in the Middle East and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict is putting geopolitical risk front and center of investment decisions. JPMorgan, for instance, has just launched a Center for Geopolitics, as companies become more reluctant to simply rely on business models and financial experience.

Marko Papic, chief strategist at BCA Research, an independent research group founded in 1949, joins John Lee and Katia Dmitrieva to give his take on the consequences of such significant global changes and how investors can best navigate these turbulent and uncertain times.

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