How to Invest for Tariff Purgatory

9 May 2025 · 31 min
Episode

9 May 2025 · 31 min

0:00

In this episode of the Barron Streetwise Podcast, host Jack Howe talks with Bhanu Bhaweja, Chief Strategist at UBS Investment Bank, about the current "tariff purgatory" – a period of heightened trade tensions, especially U.S. tariffs on China, and their implications for investors. Bhaweja argues that while the Fed may cut rates aggressively, the long‑end Treasury yields are unlikely to fall, weakening the traditional "Fed put" and raising the cost of equity. He warns that investors have become complacent, extrapolating decades of low‑inflation, high‑growth conditions that are now eroding due to de‑globalization. The conversation moves to tactical asset allocation: a short‑term shift to defensive equities (consumer staples, utilities, REITs) and a higher bond weighting (40/60 bond/equity) for the next three to six months, with a return to a more traditional 60/40 mix over the longer horizon, plus a modest gold allocation. Bhaweja also reviews Disney’s recent earnings, noting streaming profitability, a new Abu Dhabi resort partnership, and the broader impact of tariffs on consumer demand. He projects nominal market returns of 5‑7% (3‑4% real) over the next decade, emphasizing the need for alpha generation through sector and stock selection, particularly in tech, healthcare, and AI‑enabled industrials. The episode ends with practical advice for long‑term investors on portfolio rebalancing, expectations management, and the diminishing efficacy of policy “puts.”

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