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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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Libra to seek registration as a payment system
Swiss financial regulator FINMA said it had received a request from the Libra Association for assessment of Libra’s classification
The Libra project would indicatively classify under financial market infrastructure regulation, the regulator said. On a current evaluation, it would need a payment system license from FINMA.
Libra on the backfoot as France, Germany oppose virtual currencies
France and Germany oppose Facebook’s proposed Libra cryptocurrency
In a setback for Libra, the finance ministers of France and Germany issued a joint statement opposing the digital currency.
They claimed that virtual currencies were risky for consumers, financial stability, and the monetary sovereignty of European states.
Stocks Propel Hedge Funds to the Best First Half in a Decade
The beleaguered hedge fund industry has something to cheer about. According to Hedge Fund Research, funds gained 5.7% during the six months ended June 2019.
Frantic Bidding War for Australian Fintech GBST Holdings
Tumultuous week sees SS&C Technologies and FNZ locked in battle to acquire GBST
UK-based FNZ had the last word in the sequence of bid and counter-bid that unfolded last week between SS&C and FNZ over Australian fintech GBST Holdings.
Preqin: Alternative Assets in Europe Surge
Europe ranks second in the global pecking order of alternative asset markets. Over 6,300 fund managers and 3,000 institutional investors are responsible for €1.62 trillion worth of alternative assets.
Preqin has released its latest report on the European alternatives market during 2019.
Recession or not? 60% of Americans think ‘yes’ in uncanny 2007 deja vu
An ABC/Washington Post poll finds six out of ten Americans expect a recession in 2020
That’s nearly the same result as the 69% opinion observed in November 2007, some months before the global financial crisis.
Americans are despondent from the U.S.-China trade wars, and this despite an economic climate of low unemployment.
For $5 Million, You Can Passively Invest in an Index of 500 hedge Funds
Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) and Hedge Fund Research Inc (HFR) are teaming up to launch an innovative new product.
It’s a fund that will track HFR’s 500 index. The index comprises the largest 500 funds that report to the HFR Database and offer quarterly liquidity or better.
Arrowgrass Capital Partners Will Shut Down
Blame the Fed, Blame the ECB, Blame All-Around Arrowgrass Capital Partners is shuttering its doors after 11 years. The hedge fund – founded by Deutsche Bank AG traders – blamed central banking policies around the globe for its closure. Investors have been rushing to redeem capital over the last two years. A letter viewed by…
Ori Living gets $20 million funding led by Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs
Ori’s robotic furniture and interiors can be moved around to optimize a small living space
In the picture above, a bed that concealed in the ceiling is lowering itself down to the floor. At night, the living room space easily converts to a bedroom.
Optimization of living space in smaller dwellings will be crucial in increasingly overcrowded cities. According to UN estimates, by 2050, two-thirds of the world population of 10 billion people will live in cities.
Ori, a Boston-based start-up, makes furniture that is compact, portable, and concealable within a small living area. Its space optimization solutions are useful to homeowners, builders, and interior decorators.
Private equity is the top gainer for the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS)
A healthy 19.18% gain on its private equity asset class powered an overall return of 8.35% at the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS)during the last fiscal year
As a result, the fund’s returns were 9.3%, 6.77%, and 9.60% across the three-, five-, and 10-year timeframes. In the immediately preceding fiscal year, the fund earned 7.97%. The return fell short of the fund’s target rate of 8.64%, however.
Challenger bank Revolut launches 3-D secure payments for online transactions
Revolut launched earlier this week a new 3-D Secure payment feature that could protect its users from online fraud
The 3-D Secure payment feature applies only to e-commerce payments, that is those made online, and not to a physical card swipe in a shop.
Liquidity Mismatch in the UK Direct Property Fund Sector: Could Woodford repeat?
“It is time for the FCA to act on illiquid assets,” says Bob Steers in an opinion published this week
The Woodford Equity Income Fund imbroglio might well repeat in the highly popular UK direct property fund sector, says Steers.
A sudden spike in redemptions, as was the case in the Woodford Income Fund, might well lead these open-ended funds to shut the gate on withdrawals pending the liquidation of properties, a typically longer-term asset. If the fund is selling into a weak market, the redemptions could come at a hefty loss for investors.
Credijusto, the Mexican SME lending platform, Raises $42 Million
Point 72 Ventures and Goldman Sachs led Credijusto’s Series B funding round
Participating investors included Thomvest Ventures, Wolfson Group, Third Lake Capital and Argo Ventures, as well as existing investors Kaszek Ventures, QED Investors, Broadhaven Capital Partners, John J. Mack, and Supernode Ventures.
Only six months ago it arranged a credit facility of up to $100 million with Goldman Sachs.
With this round of funding, has raised a total of $153 million in venture and debt capital.
Dubai residential property is much cheaper than Hong Kong, London, and New York
On a global basis, Dubai real estate is relatively quite affordable
In an analysis of the city’s real estate market, Knight Frank has drawn an interesting comparison: in Dubai, $1 million will buy 143 sq m of residential space compared to 16 sq m in Monaco, 22 sq m in Hong Kong, and 31 sq m in both London and New York.
That’s quite a difference when you consider its strategic location and quality of life and safety rankings.
Blackrock to raise $300 million in new realty fund targeting Asia
Blackrock Real Estate, an arm of BlackRock, the private equity giant, is raising money for its fifth Asia-focused real estate fund
According to sources, BlackRock already has commitments in the range of $300 million and $350 million for this fifth fund.
The previous fund in the series, the value-add Asia Property Fund IV, raised $500 million when it closed in November 2017.
RegTech Revenues Climb in Step with Startup Activity, Says CCAF Benchmarking Report
RegTech revenues in 2018 top $5 billion following a sharp pickup in startup activity
The above statistic is a finding of the “Global RegTech Benchmarking Report,” published by The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) and sponsored by EY Japan.
Hedge fund Autonomy Capital Drops $1 Billion on Argentinian Wagers
Autonomy Capital lost that much in one month following political turmoil in Argentina
Last month we reported on the losses suffered by Brazilian hedge fund Newfoundland Capital Management in Argentinian stocks.
Turns out Autonomy Capital, the prominent macro fund founded by Robert Gibbins, was also singed.
Softbank Having Second Thoughts About the WeWork IPO
SoftBank, a significant investor in WeWork, wants the shared workspace company to postpone its IPO
What a comedown. WeWork was last valued at $47 billion earlier this year when SoftBank invested $2 billion. But investors are unlikely to give the company a valuation of more than $15 billion to $20 billion, sources said.
REIT Industry Shows Growth in Acquisitions
The National Association for Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit) has released its report of the performance of the REIT industry in the second quarter of 2019. The association found that Funds from Operations (FFO) totaled $16.5 billion, a 2.8% increase from the first quarter of 2019 while Net operating income totaled $24.8 billion, 2.4% higher…
ECB announces massive stimulus; Trump cries foul
The European Central Bank launched a new bond buying package and cut deposit rates to stimulate the Eurozone economy
The central bank said it will purchase assets worth € 20 billion ($ 21.9 billion) every month until such time as necessary.
Leon Cooperman: High odds of interest rates going up make private equity risky
The legendary hedge fund manager said declining interest rates had propped up returns in PE, but this could change
Cooperman was speaking at an event hosted by the New York Alternative Investment Roundtable. Initially calling private equity a scam, he later clarified his remarks. Though he was put off by the high fees and lengthy lock-ups, he said the industry wasn’t a scam.
What does Ken Griffin know about uber-luxe real estate that we don’t?
The billionaire, hedge fund manager, paid nearly $100 million for a Palm Beach property next to one he already owned
Ken Griffin is the US titleholder for owning the most expensive home in the country. He has a penchant for acquiring the most costly and luxurious properties in the priciest cities across the globe.
Real Estate is the Top Long-Term Asset, According to Survey
SophisticatedInvestor.com recently took a survey of over 2000 investors between the ages of 35 and 65. Real estate is the top asset class for the long-term, according to a recent survey. Roughly 22% of respondents to the Sophisticated Investor survey deemed it so. Even more interesting is that 25% of those respondents between 45 and…
AT&T Gets Heat from Billionaire Activist
Hedge Fund Elliott Management writes to ATT on how to “realize a historic increase in value” for its shareholders
Billionaire Paul Singer owns Elliott Management. It revealed in its letter yesterday to telecom conglomerate AT&T that it owned $3.2 billion of the latter’s stock. Elliott’s open letter claimed that AT&T could boost its share price to $60+ by 2021 through “readily achievable initiatives.”