Geopolitical Considerations and U.S.-China Relations
Jesus Eler of HSBC raised the complexities of global capital allocation amid geopolitical fracturing. He cited the challenge of navigating national requirements in China, Europe, and the Middle East, as countries increasingly treat semiconductors, code, cloud infrastructure, and data as strategic assets requiring protected or restricted treatment. Connectivity and supply chain resilience, Eler emphasized, remain enduring sources of opportunity for investors navigating this fragmented landscape.
Steve Schwarzman offered an optimistic note regarding U.S.-China relations, anticipating positive developments in bilateral trade dynamics. His remarks aligned with credible reporting from financial and geopolitical sources indicating nascent movement toward easing tariffs, technology restrictions, and supply chain bottlenecks between the world’s two largest economies.​
David Solomon, Chief Executive of Goldman Sachs, noted acceleration in mergers and acquisitions and initial public offerings in the United States, driven by renewed confidence and a more permissive regulatory environment. While Europe has lagged due to heavier regulation, Solomon projected momentum to carry into 2026 and 2027 barring unexpected macroeconomic deterioration.
Assets of Fear and the Blockchain Imperative
When panelists addressed cryptocurrencies and gold, Patrice Motsepe characterized them as “assets of fear”—hedges held against currency debasement or geopolitical insecurity. Jamie Dimon, while acknowledging skepticism about speculative cryptocurrency markets, recognized blockchain, stablecoins, and smart contract platforms as transformative technologies reshaping transaction rails and financial services infrastructure.