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Chipmaker AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) has unveiled a range of innovative AI solutions spanning from data centers to personal computers. The AMD Instinct MI300 Series features data center AI accelerators, while the ROCm 6 open software stack introduces new features supporting Large Language Models (LLMs). Additionally, the Ryzen 8040 Series processors come equipped with Ryzen AI capabilities.
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Private Equity: Real Estate Firms Eye J.C. Penney
Private equity firm and Real Estate Investment Trusts are having discussions about buying J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP) if the bankrupt retailer does not reach an agreement with creditors.
The department store filed for bankruptcy in May after the spread of the coronavirus forced the retailer to close more than 800 stores across the country. J.C. Penney had been struggling to survive for the past few years, and the virus was the final nail in its coffin.
Real Estate: Trepp Says Delinquency Rate Increased in May
Trepp, a leading data provider and analytics firm serving the commercial real estate industry, issued a report on the state of the commercial real estate mortgage security (CMBS) markets this week.
Alternative Investments: Hercules Capital Announces SBA Decision
Hercules Capital (HTCG) has announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) has issued a “green light” or “go forth” letter inviting Hercules to finalize its application process to obtain a license to form and operate a third Small Business Investment Company (“SBIC”) subsidiary, following the Company’s recent presentation to the SBA committee. Upon approval, Hercules will obtain a third SBIC license held by subsidiaries of the Company and continue to access additional growth capital of $175.0 million of long-term debentures, bringing Hercules’ combined borrowing capacity through the SBIC program to a total of $285.3 million of capital.
Net Leased Real Estate – What’s Happening in Major U.S. Markets?
Net leased real estate continued to attract investor attention in the first quarter of 2020. According to the latest report from commercial real estate services and investment company CBRE Group (CBRE), Net-lease investment volume increased by 34.6% to $78.9 billion from the first quarter of 2019 to the first quarter of 2020. That is the highest increase on record, according to CBRE. While volumes may decline in the second quarter due to the economic shut down caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, investors are still clearly favoring this asset class.
Alternative Investments: NGL Energy Partners LP Enters New Loan Facility
NGL Energy Partners LP (NGL) announced that it has entered into a new $250 million term loan facility with certain funds and accounts managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management (APO). The loan will be used to refinance its existing $250 million bridge term loan facility that was established in July 2019 to finance a portion of the acquisition of Mesquite Disposals Unlimited LLC.
Fintech: Platform for Muslim Investors Raises $25 Million
Wahed, the ethical investment fintech for Muslim investors, announced that it has raised $25 million in venture funding. The proceeds will be used to ensure people can invest their money into a diversified portfolio consisting of stocks, commodities, real estate, and Halal-focused asset ownership certificates known as Sukuk. Wahed Prepares for Mainstream The funding round…
FinTech: Arival Launches Banking Product for “Abnormal” Customers (BETA)
Are you one of the following and struggling to get a bank account? Freelancer, tech startup, crypto or blockchain-related business, e-Residency business, a charity organization, blogger, influencer, expat? Well, worry no more. Digital bank Arival will help you (because the bank reads abnormal as above-normal). Digital bank Arival announced its beta launch on Thursday of an online bank account that caters to the above kinds of abnormal customers that are sometimes shunned by the legacy banking system.
Digital Assets: Russian Blockchain-based Trade Finance Platform Factorin Clocks $500M Turnover
In its first year, Factorin, a Russian blockchain-based trade finance platform has processed 246,000 invoices and supplies and chalked up a transaction turnover above $ 500 million. 30 banking organizations and factoring companies are already on-board the platform, and numerous small and medium-sized businesses are grateful customers.
Alternative Investments: Legg Mason’s First Semi-Transparent ETF
Legg Mason has launched The ClearBridge Focus Value ETF (CBOE: CFCV) on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), a fund aiming for long-term capital appreciation. The ETF is of the semitransparent kind, a technology offered by Precidian’s ActiveShares format. The active fund managers, in this case, ClearBridge Investments, LLC, can, therefore, keep its strategy confidential in the interests of the fund and its investors.
Venture Capital: Israeli Start-Up Nanox, Which Is Reinventing X-Ray, gets $20M
Israeli company Nanox wants to bring inexpensive and quick medical imaging services to the vast majority of the world’s population that currently has no access to these facilities. “Early detection via medical imaging may potentially save millions of lives annually for cancer patients alone,” says the company on its website. South Korean telecom major SK Telecom (NYSE: SKM) has invested $20 million in Nanox.
Real Estate: Vacasa Raises Stake from Silver Lake and Other Firms
Vacasa, the property management service for vacation rentals, said Tuesday it had raised $108 million in investment led by existing investor Silver Lake, with Riverwood Capital and Level Equity also taking part. Silver Lake first invested in the vacation rental firm back in October.
Alternative Investments: An Interview with Cheryl Pate of Angel Oak Advisors.
Today’s discussion is with Cheryl Pate of Angel Oak Advisors.
We spoke with Cheryl back in September about the community bank debt opportunity. We follow up with a new interview, here.
The world and the banking industry have undergone significant change due to COVI-19 since than so we caught up with her to discuss changes and opportunities in community banks and community bank debt.
Alternative Investments: Global X Launches Active ETF Focused on EM Bonds
ETF-provider Global X announced Wednesday its launch of the Global X Emerging Markets Bond ETF (NYSEAMERICAN: EMBD). It is an actively managed ETF focused on emerging market debt, and does not track an index. Yields on emerging market debt are expected to be more lucrative than traditional bond yields.
Digital Assets: Bloomberg’s Bitcoin Analysis – $20K in 2020
Bloomberg analyst Mike McGlone sticks with his bullish stance on bitcoin, the ‘first-born’ cryptocurrency, calling it a “resting bull.” McGlone’s analysis in the June 2020 Edition of the Bloomberg Crypto Outlook colors both gold and bitcoin (BTC) in the same bullish hues. “The metal and the crypto remain our top candidates to advance in 2020, with added rally fuel from Covid-19,” writes McGlone.
Artificial Intelligence: This Indian Startup Helps Enterprises Connect With Customers
Yellow Messenger addresses a new trend – the shift of user engagement for enterprises to new age channels such as WhatsApp, Google Assistant and Alexa. Founders Raghu Ravinutala and Jaya Kishore Reddy Gollareddy were far-sighted enough in 2014 to see the potential of conversational AI as a conduit between enterprises and mobile customers.
FinTech: Varo, Soon-to-be a National Bank, Scores $241M Fundraise
Challenger bank Varo, raised a further $ 241 million in a series D funding round co-led by existing investor The Rise Fund, and new investor Gallatin Point Capital. Other investors included movie producer Jeff Skoll, HarbourVest Partners, Progressive Insurance and U2 lead singer Bono.
Venture Capital: Fintech and Healthtech Startups To Get a Leg Up From London Stock Exchange and Global Accelerated Ventures
ELITE, the London Stock Exchange Group’s (LON: LSE) international business support platform, and Global Accelerated Ventures have launched a post-Covid-19 fundraising program. It will help fintech and healthtech firms with additional capital needs that may arise after the end of the pandemic.
Digital Assets: 2020 A Gravy Train for Crypto Bad Actors; $1.36B Siphoned in Five Months
CipherTrace’s latest report, “Cryptocurrency Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Report, Spring 2020,” claims that crypto-crimes during the first five months of 2020 netted their perpetrators $1.36 billion. At this rate, 2020 could well achieve the dubious distinction of recording the second-highest value in crypto crimes ever recorded. In 2019, crypto-criminals made off with $4.5 billion.
Alternative Investments: Insurance Giant Allianz Launches Risk-Managed ETFs
Allianz Investment Management, a subsidiary of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, announced Monday the launch of its new ETF product line. The new ETFs address investors’ concerns regarding risk in the current environment from heightened volatility because of the virus outbreak. They, therefore, include features such as buffers, caps, and index-linked returns to inspire confidence in the investors regarding the safety of their capital. The ETFs protect investors from a loss shock (up to a known buffer value) on the one side, but also let them participate in the gains from a rally (up to a cap) on the other.
Venture Capital: The Healthcare Innovation Landscape
COVID-19 could do for healthcare what the 2008 GFC did for fintechs.
An article in Forbes by Stephanie MacConnell looks at areas in healthcare that are likely to be most attractive to startups for innovation.
Artificial Intelligence: Satellites and AI Could Together Predict Wildfires Accurately
Traditional methods of predicting wildfires relied upon how much dry vegetation was present in an area, or in other words, the “fuel” that could trigger and sustain a wildfire. Scientists also looked at how dry the landscape was. These methods were chancy at best, and difficult to assess quickly enough across large areas. However, the analysis of satellite images with the help of artificial intelligence offers hope for a more reliable and faster prediction of wildfires.
FinTech: Mastercard Launches Fintech Express for Emerging European Startups
Mastercard (NYSE: MA) announced Tuesday the launch of its Fintech Express, a program to facilitate the launch and expansion of emerging European fintechs through tailor-made solutions.
Alternative Investments: BlackRock Gets Lion’s Share Of Fed’s Corporate Bond ETF Buying
For the first time in history, the U.S. Fed is buying corporate bonds and corporate bond ETFs simultaneously as part of a massive stimulus package. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York announced that the Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facility (SMCCF) will commence purchases of ETF’s on May 12. Seven iShares ETFs from the BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) stable accounted for 48% of the purchases between May 12 and May 19, according to data released by the Fed.
FinTech: Western Union Is Looking to Acquire MoneyGram International
A Bloomberg report says Western Union has made a takeover offer for MoneyGram.
If the transaction succeeds, the two biggest players in the money transfer business in the US would combine. However, the matter is not yet officially public, and Bloomberg quoted a person who asked not to be identified.