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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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Venture Capital: Online Shopping Store Hollar May Down Shutters
Online Shopping Store Hollar May Down Shutters.VC investors may take a haircut on their investments in the online dollar store.
Liquid Alternatives: New Fixed Income ETFs From BMO Now Trading in Toronto
New Fixed Income ETFs From BMO are Now Trading in Toronto. The three new ETFs include a first-of-its-kind one that is based on mortgage-backed securities.
Two of these new fixed-income ETFs from BMO Global Asset Management invest in corporate bonds, while the third invests in mortgage-backed securities.
Real Estate: Takeaways from the NAREIT Study on the U.S. Economy
The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) commissioned advisory and consulting firm EY to examine the economic impact that REITs have on the US economy.
Real Estate: Ellington Residential Mortgage Reports Quarterly Earnings
Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT (NYSE: EARN) reported financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2019. Ellington had an impressive quarter. Net income registered at $9.7 million, or $0.78 per share and Core Earnings hit $2.8 million, or $0.23 per share. Ellington had previously announced a dividend payment last month of $0.28. The current annualized dividend yield for Ellington Residential is 10.2% at current prices. Book value grew by 5% year over year.
Digital Assets: Bitcoin to Beat the Dow to $40K, Says Analyst Tom Lee
Bitcoin to Beat the Dow to $40K, Says Analyst Tom Lee. The Fundstrat Global Advisors co-founder said in a CNBC interview on February 10 that he expected Bitcoin to record a gain of nearly 200% after it recently broke above its 200-day moving average.
Private Equity: Harvard Law School Publishes Memo on PE Year in Review, Outlook for 2020
The Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance published a memorandum from Andrew Nussbaum, Karessa Cain, and Steve Cohen of the Wachtell Lipton law firm. Wachtell Lipton is a New York-based corporate law firm that handles mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments, takeovers and takeover defense, shareholder activism, corporate and securities law, and corporate governance. The memo is titled Private Equity—Year in Review and 2020 Outlook.
Venture Capital: VC Funding in Australia in 2019 Bucks Weak Asian Trend
VC Funding in Australia in 2019 Bucks Weak Asian Trend. VC funding in Australia in 2019 rose to a record US$1.145 billion from US$1.033 billion in 2018.
Australia was a standout amongst the otherwise disappointing show in the Asia Pacific region where deal value declined to US$73 billion from $126 billion in 2018, said KPMG.
Liquid Alternatives: Simon-Taubman Deal for Malls Sparks Rally in REITs ETF
Simon Property Group will buy Taubman Centers in a $3.6 billion deal.
The Invesco KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT ETF (NYSEArca: KBWY) shot up 3.6% on Monday on news of the transaction. Taubman Centers (NYSE: TCO) constitutes 3.7% of the ETF’s portfolio. Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG) will pay $ 52.50 in cash per share of Taubman to acquire a majority stake in TCO.
Artificial Intelligence: New Magnetic Memory Device Could Punch Through The Physical Barriers To Faster AI
Researchers at Northwestern University and the University of Messina in Italy have developed a new magnetic memory device. Built of antiferromagnetic (AFM) materials, it solves the limitations of existing hardware for data-centric applications, especially in artificial intelligence.
FinTech: ASX-Listed, Buy Now Pay Later Startup Sezzle Notches Up 1M Customers
The Sezzle payments platform, which enables credit-starved shoppers to “buy now, pay later,” now boasts of one million customers across the United States and Canada.
Launched in 2016, it took Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL) all of three years to build a base of 500,000 customers. However, between August 2019 and today, the fintech has doubled that number to a million.
Real Estate: Taubman Centers Sells to Simon Property Group
Taubman Centers (NYSE: TCO) reported financial results for the quarter and full-year periods ended December 31, 2019. It also provided a big surprise for shareholders. The outlet operator has sold to Simon Property Group in an all-cash deal. According to Tim Melvin, we’ll likely see more deals in this real estate space in the coming year.
Alternative Investments: Brookfield Asset Management Closes $20 Billion Global Infrastructure Fund
Brookfield Asset Management announced the closing of its fourth flagship infrastructure fund. The Brookfield Infrastructure Fund IV has total commitments of $20 billion. That figure surpassed its target goal of $17 billion in funds.
Hedge Funds: Kyle Bass Won’t Apologize for Twitter Feud on Coronavirus
Kyle Bass refuses to apologize for a deleted tweet that said the U.S. should allow coronavirus to “rampage through the ranks” of the Communist Party. Bass, the founder and CIO of Hayman Capital, found himself in a Twitter fight with the EIC of a Chinese newspaper.
Hedge Funds: Elliott’s Offensive on Evergy Unnerves Chamber of Commerce
Curtis Sneden, president of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce is concerned about repercussions from activist hedge fund Elliott Management’s broadside against regional utility Evergy, Inc. (NYSE: EVRG). Feared activist hedge fund Elliott wrote to Evergy on January 21 requesting changes that would create value for shareholders. New York-based Elliott is owned by billionaire Paul Singer.
It owned an “economic interest” in Evergy worth $760 million as of the date of the letter.
FinTech: Real Estate Analytics Startup HouseCanary Raises $65 Million
Real Estate Analytics Startup HouseCanary Raises $65 Million. The funding will allow HouseCanary to develop the most accurate valuations in the property sector. The round was led by Morpheus Ventures, Alpha Edison, and PSP Growth, and it brought HouseCanary’s aggregate funding to $130 million.
Private Equity: Sycamore Partners Eyes Deal to Purchase Victoria’s Secret
Sycamore Partners is considering a deal to purchase Victoria’s Secret from L Brands (NYSE: LB). CNBC reported a possible deal Sunday while citing sources close to the matter. Sycamore manages roughly $10 billion in assets and has specialized in brick-and-mortar deals. It has previously worked on deals involving Talbots, Nine West, and Staples.
Liquid Alternatives: Sustainable Investing Meets Munis in New Van Eck ETF
Van Eck will soon launch the VanEck Vectors Sustainable Muni ETF.
The fund manager will meet investors’ growing preference for sustainable investing by offering it inside of a fixed income vehicle. It filed with the SEC for its plans to launch the VanEck Vectors Sustainable Muni ETF
Venture Capital: Snowflake’s Latest Funding Triples Its Valuation to $12.4B
Snowflake, the cloud data warehousing company, raised new funding of $479 million at a valuation of $12.4 billion. Dragoneer Investment Group and Salesforce led the round.
Artificial Intelligence: Legal AI Draws Blood; Nabs Very Senior, Fraudulent Divorce Lawyers in Silicon Valley
Justine Falcon, a legal AI, is credited with busting a ring of divorce lawyers indulging in real-estate fraud in connivance with an inside contact in the District Attorney’s office in Silicon Valley. AI startup ORBAI has developed Justine Falcon AI.
Private Equity: Goldman Sachs to Launch $8 Billion Buyout Fund
West Street Capital Partners – the private equity arm of Goldman Sachs – will start fundraising next week. The PE shop is part of Goldman’s ambitious effort to raise $8 billion for a second buyout fund. Reuters reports this would be the second buyout fund for the bank since 2008.
Digital Assets: Bakkt’s Bridge2 Acquisition Eyes Revolutionary Rewards-to-Crypto Conversion
The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) announced Wednesday its agreement to acquire Bridge2 Solutions, a leading provider of loyalty solutions for merchants and consumers. ICE did not disclose the terms of the acquisition.
Bakkt intends to monetize for consumers the loyalty rewards programs that run on the Bridge2 platform. It will do this through its proposed Loyalty App.
Venture Capital: Cloud Security Company Netskope Raises $340 Million In A Series G
Cloud Security Company Netskope Raises $340 Million In A Series G led by Sequoia Capital Global Equities. The funding propels Netskope’s valuation to nearly $3 billion.
Artificial Intelligence: A Deep Learning Computer System Teaches Itself to Predict Extreme Weather
Researchers at Rice University have developed a computer system that taught itself how to accurately predict extreme weather events such as heatwaves and cold spells up to 5 days in advance.
Interestingly, the so-called “capsule neural network” requires very little information about current weather conditions. Instead, it uses a somewhat antiquated (analog) method of weather forecasting that was rendered obsolete in the 1950’s cue to the advent of computers.
FinTech: InterMex To Use Ripple’s ODL Solution For Cross-Border Transactions
International Money Express, Inc. (NASDAQ: IMXI), a cross-border remittances and payment services company operating primarily in Latin America and the Caribbean, announced its partnership with Ripple, the provider of enterprise blockchain solutions for global payments.