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Artificial Intelligence: AMD Takes On Rivals In The AI Chip Sweepstakes

December 7, 2023

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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More Stories on Investments

Private Equity: KKR Suspends Operations on Goodpacks Exit

April 14, 2020

KKR is suspending its efforts to exit its investment in Goodpacks, a Singapore based supply chain solutions company. While the company’s primary container leasing business to food and rubber companies has remained steady with little to no impact form the coronavirus economic slowdown, the bids received by KKR were far beyond what the private equity…

Private Equity: Leon Black Talks Aramark, the U.S. Economy, and the Feds

April 14, 2020

Leon Black made a rare appearance in the media yesterday. The co-founder of alternative asset manager Apollo Global Management (NYSE: APO) appeared on CNBC along with Aramark (ARMK) CEO John Zillmer. During the conversation, the two discussed their NYC Health Heroes program. Aramark, the world’s largest U.S.-based provider of food, facilities, and uniforms, partnered with Mr….

Venture Capital: Silver Lake Partners Takes Hit on Entertainment and Sports Investments

April 14, 2020

Silver Lake Partners has seen the value of several key holdings decline during the current economic slowdown. About 15% of the portfolio consists of companies in the sports and entertainment industry. 

These holdings have taken a substantial hit as they are the center of the economic slowdown.

Let’s examine what is happening at the tech central Venture Capital and Private Equity firm.

Alternative Investments: What’s Happening With Shadow Banking

April 14, 2020

In the Great Credit Crisis, banks took the biggest hit and the lion’s share of blame for the economic collapse.

Banks entered the crisis with too little equity capital. Their loan portfolios consisted of garbage loans. From 2008 to 2012, 414 banks with almost $700 billion in assets failed. Hundreds more had to seek a merger with financially secure institutions.

This time, the banking system enters into an economic slowdown in much better shape. 

Venture Capital: A Startup Making 3D Printers Switches to COVID-19 Test Swabs

April 14, 2020

A nimble startup in San Francisco, which made 3D printers for a living, has turned on a dime and is making COVID-19 test swabs instead. Of course, these are 3D-printed. Origin, the startup in question, has already completed successfully clinical trials on April 12.

Digital Assets: Crypto Exchange Huobi Deploys On-Chain Analytics Tool To Nab “Illicit” Activities

April 14, 2020

The Huobi Group’s Star Atlas is a proprietary on-chain analytics tool to monitor on-chain cryptocurrency transactions for illicit activities. One of its main purposes is to detect and deter illicit activities and criminals. Huobi also wants to address regulators’ worries that cryptocurrencies are a hotbed of criminal activity.

FinTech: TransferWise Executes A Quarter of its Cross-Border Transfers in Less Than 20 Seconds

April 14, 2020

TransferWise, the London-based fintech, is “building the best way to move money around the world.” It tweeted last week: “Making fast the new normal: 25% of TransferWise’s payments today are instant – but all consumers should benefit from instant payments.”

Liquid Alternatives: Life After Corona – ETFs To Chase Infrastructure Spend

April 14, 2020

With employment at historic lows, and most of America’s Main Street shut down, Trump’s $1 trillion infrastructure plan could deliver a dual advantage. It would give Americans work, and shore up the country’s infrastructure. A Bloomberg article suggests spending through the states, focused on roads and environmental infrastructure. The ETFs discussed below could be beneficiaries of this spending blitz.

Artificial Intelligence: Apple and Google Will Partner on COVID-19 Contact Tracing

April 14, 2020

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) have come together to develop smartphone technology against COVID-19. Users will be notified on their phone if they have come into contact with infected persons.

Hedge Fund: Jana Partners Strikes Deal with Bloomin’ Brands on Directors

April 13, 2020

Activist fund Jana Partners has struck a deal with Bloomin’ Brands (NASDAQ: BLMN) on board seats. The two firms agreed to add two new independent directors to the restaurant company’s board. Bloomin is best known as the owner of Outback Steakhouse. The activist fund, which owns 9% of BLMN, has been pushing for changes to the board due to falling sales at the company.

Venture Capital: Aksia Warns PE and VC Shops Against PPP Hunt

April 13, 2020

Private equity and venture capital firms want government money. But investment consulting firm Aksia says they need to think twice about any bailout capital

The industries have lobbied for their portfolio companies to achieve eligibility under the new Small Business Administration program.

Real Estate: Coronavirus Hits Property Deals Across Manhattan

April 13, 2020

Aby Rosen, the co-founder and principal of RFR Realty, is dropping out of two previously announced deals in Manhattan. RFR is backing out on a deal to buy 900 Third Avenue in Midtown from Paramount Group (PGRE) for $400 million. It is also walked away from a plan to buy property at 1600 Broadway in Times Square that listed at roughly $200 million. There are reports that Mr. Rosen is willing to consider closing the deal for 900 Third Avenue when the pandemic has passed.

Digital Assets: Bitfinex Transacts BTC Worth Record-Breaking $1.1B For A Minuscule $0.68

April 13, 2020

On April 10, there were waves in the crypto world when a massive bitcoin transaction of 161,500 bitcoin (BTC) occurred at a fee of 0.00010019 BTC.
Translated to US$ the two sides of the equation equal to $1.1 billion vs charges of $0.68. Don’t even try to work out the percentage on that one

Liquid Alternatives: Non-transparent ETFs Could Move Mutual Funds’ Cheese

April 13, 2020

American Century’s actively managed, non-transparent ETFs started trading earlier this month. American Century Focused Dynamic Growth ETF (BATS: FDG) and American Century Focused Large-Cap Value ETF (BATS: FLV) are not required to disclose their holdings daily. In this respect, they are more like mutual funds, and less like most ETFs – which disclose daily. Should mutual funds worry?

Venture Capital: Chinese Startups Limp Back to Face Falling Valuations, Down Rounds

April 13, 2020

It’s a painful observation, but venture capitalist firms with plenty of dry powder are looking at Chinese startups as potential multi-baggers. After the disruption of the coronavirus, startups confront difficult fundraising, lower valuations, and tighter performance expectations. But things may be turning.

Alternative Investments: The Latest 13D Filings

April 13, 2020

Even though Friday was a Holiday, electronic 13D filings continued to flow in the Securities and Exchange Commission. Breaking Down 13D Filings Michael Burry of Scion Capital filed a 13D that did not show an increase in his 5.3% ownership of GameStop (NYSE: GME). Still, he has continued to make suggestions as to what the…

FinTech: Wellpay Raises $3.8M; Offers Zero-Interest, Zero-Fee Plans To Help With Medical Bills

April 13, 2020

As healthcare providers and patients reel from the COVID-19 crisis, Wellpay steps up to help.
Fresh from a raising of $3.8 million from lead investors 8vc, Mubadala Capital-Ventures, Montage Ventures, TTCER, and Advisors.fund, healthcare fintech Wellpay has accelerated the launch of its platform.

Artificial Intelligence: accessiBE’s AI Makes the Web Accessible to the Differently-Abled

April 13, 2020

The net has become indispensable over the years, and especially more so during these days of social isolation and lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. Yet, consider the plight of the blind and deaf, people with motor and cognitive disabilities, and those suffering from handicaps due to old age. They are unable to use the net because most websites are not designed for use by the “differently-abled.” accessiBE uses AI to make websites fully accessible.

Alternative Investments: Arcardia Faces Criticism for Government Program Investment Pitch

April 13, 2020

Arcadia Investment Partners faces criticism for an investment pitch that sought to generate returns from government coronavirus programs. A pitch reportedly suggested that wealthy investors could generate 22% to 175% returns through programs designed to help Americans keep their jobs. The programs – largely announced by Congress, the President and the Fed in recent weeks – also aim to boost the economy at a time it is crashing.

MSCI Research: Private Equity Firms Face a Valuation Reckoning

April 10, 2020

Private equity funds could face a huge hit to valuations as of the end of the third quarter, according to MSCI Research.

Using their private equity valuation model, they determined some private equity funds could take a Q1 write-down of portfolio companies by as much as 35%.

Investors who recently compiled their year-end valuations may have a false sense of security right now. Many could be shocked in a few months when they realize the devastation of the first quarter.

Private Equity: What Will Be the Fate of Envision Healthcare?

April 10, 2020

Private equity-backed Envision Healthcare is struggling to deal with the dramatic loss of revenues. Patients have turned to telehealth resources and canceled ambulatory surgeries. Envision provides medical staff to hospitals and operates surgery centers and is owned by KKR (NYSE: KKR). The company has seen its business drop by about 70% in a very short period of time. More than 90 of its centers are closed because of the spread of the coronavirus across the United States.

Fintech: Small Business Administration May Leave Out Non-Bank Lenders From Programs

April 10, 2020

Non-bank Lenders may not take part in the funding process for small businesses provided by the Small Business Administration.

The $349 billion loan program put in place to help small businesses survive the current economic shut down caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Small Business Administration has been reaching out to banks and lenders to service the PPP loans.

Alternative Investments: Activant Capital Announces New Infrastructure Fund

April 10, 2020

Activant Capital has announced a new $257m fund to invest in commerce infrastructure technology. Activant is a growth equity fund that invests in infrastructure platforms focused on efficiency across industries. The firm invests between $15 million to $60 million in high-growth companies.

Venture Capital: Peter Brooke, a VC and PE Legend, Passes Away at 90

April 10, 2020

Peter Brooke passed away last week at the age of 90 from congestive heart failure and pneumonia. His passing is not related to COVID.

Brooke received the moniker as the Johnny Appleseed of venture capital and private equity. Mr. Brooke built two of the largest venture capital firms in the world. He also helped fund several of the most successful companies in the world, including FedEx (NYSE: FDX) and Biogen (NASDAQ:BIIB).