Bessent Flags Bigger Debt Buyback; Japan's Inflation Picks Up | The Asia Trade 8/21/2026

HAIDI: THIS IS "THE ASIA TRADE." PAUL: THE TOP STORIES THIS HOUR, ASIAN STOCKS SET TO FOLLOW WALL STREET LOWER, WHILE A BOND RALLY FIZZLES OUT, EVEN AS SCOTT BESSENT FLAGS WIDER EFFORTS TO BUY BACK DEBT, AND A NEW FISCAL PLAN WITHIN DAYS. HAIDI: BLOOMBERG LEARNED ANTHROPIC EXPECTS TO MATCH OR EXCEED THE RECORD NUMBERS FROM THE SPACEX I. P.O. , PREPARING TO FILE PUBLICLY AS SOON AS THIS MONTH. PAUL: AND ALIBABA’S QUARTERLY PROFIT DIVES 75% AS A.I. SPENDING HEADS TOWARDS $10 BILLION. BUT AS U.S.-LISTED SHARES ...