David Woo, former Head of Global Rates, FX and EM Research at Bank of America, is long oil and short AI. He explains why Treasury yields are rising, why Japan has no fiscal way out, and why he'd own gold against the dollar, euro and yen. Is the AI boom running into a capital problem? In this episode of 1BasisPoint, we sit down with David to talk through a year in which oil and AI drove every asset class. In this episode: - Why he's long oil and short AI, and how the trade played out in 2026 - AI valuations, commoditisation, and the Anthropic and OpenAI margin question - Why Treasury yields are rising: returns on capital and the cost of financing AI - China, open-source models, and US tech restrictions - Japan's fiscal outlook, the yen, and Treasury repatriation risk - The 1987 crash comparison - Why oil and the Nasdaq could decide the Fed's next move - Using options to trade binary political risk - His outlook on gold, currencies, and the next 6-12 months Chapters 00:00 – 2026 Market Outlook: Long Oil, Short AI 02:19 – The Political Forces Behind the AI Boom 06:52 – Rising Yields and AI's Cost of Capital 09:45 – AI Economics, Profitability, and Valuations 16:23 – China, Open-Source AI, and US Tech Restrictions 21:48 – Can Open-Source Models Disrupt OpenAI and Anthropic? 25:05 – Japan, the Yen, and US Treasuries 31:45 – Japan's Politics and Capital Flows 35:20 – Could Markets Repeat the 1987 Crash? 37:49 – Why Traditional Rate Models May Be Failing 41:56 – Inflation, Tariffs, and Supply Chains 45:59 – What Should the Fed Do Next? 48:29 – Macro Trading, Political Risk, and Options 50:22 – Best Macro Opportunities: Oil, AI, Gold, and Currencies 👤 ABOUT THE GUEST David Woo is the Founder and CEO of David Woo Unbound (2021-present). He was previously Head of Global Rates, FX and EM Fixed Income and Economics Research at Bank of America (2010-2021), Head of Global FX Strategy at Barclays (2004-2010), and Head of CEEMEA Local Markets Strategy at Citi (2000-2004). He began his career as an economist at the International Monetary Fund. --- 📌 ABOUT 1BASISPOINT 1BasisPoint brings you direct access to the fund managers, investors, and capital allocators who don't usually talk publicly. No recycled headlines, no hot takes — just honest, research-backed conversations about how the best in the business actually think. Hosted by Krish & Rehan. 🔗 FOLLOW & LISTEN Website: https://www.1bps.us Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0DoEJuX01OmoxLOBHJXTYr?si=1d244d2e4629480f Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/1basispoint/id1893808224 Subscribe for more conversations with investors, portfolio managers, economists, and market practitioners. --- Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of any current or former employer, firm, or affiliated organization. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as a solicitation, recommendation, or offer to buy or sell any security, fund, or financial instrument. Listeners should consult with a qualified professional for specific advice tailored to their individual circumstances. We are not responsible for any losses or liabilities incurred by acting on information from this podcast.