News
Each day, DailyAlts tracks major developments across the alternative investment world. Our content is procured from primary contacts in the industry and secondary sources across the web. Our goal is to give readers the most up-to-date news and engaging experience to open new doors and areas of knowledge. Our stories cover nine separate verticals of the alternative investment industry.
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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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FinTech: Bankers Fight For Wealth Management Turf; Lloyds Acquires Embark For $500M
Lloyds Banking Group (LON: LLOY) announced Thursday (July 29, 2021) the acquisition of Embark Group, an investment and retirement platform business, for £390 million (US$500 million). Embark will become a wholly subsidiary of Lloyds’ Scottish Widows Group, bringing with it about £35 billion of assets under administration on behalf of 410,000 consumer clients. Jackie Leiper, Managing Director Pensions, Stockbroking & Distribution at Scottish Widows, will become CEO of Embark.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Direxion Launches 2X Leveraged Clean Energy ETF
Direxion announced Thursday (July 29, 2021) its launch of the Direxion Daily Global Clean Energy Bull 2x Shares (KLNE), a leveraged ETF that seeks to return 200% of its benchmark index, the S&P Global Clean Energy Index, in a single day.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Timothy Plan Launches Two ETFs For Biblical Investing
Faith-based investment company Timothy Plans announced Thursday the launch of two new ETFs, namely, the Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock ETF (TPHE) and the Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core Enhanced ETF (TPLE). In line with the principles of Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI), these ETFs would not invest in companies involved with alcohol, tobacco, gambling, or gambling equipment, or abortion, pornography, anti-family entertainment, or non-biblical lifestyles.
Digital Assets: Greenidge Gen. To Use Crypto Profits For New Solar Farm
Greenidge Generation Holdings, which runs a bitcoin mining operation alongside its power supply unit in Upstate New York, announced Thursday (July 29, 2021) that it will shutter a 40-year old coal ash landfill in the Finger Lakes region, and thereafter set up a 5MW solar farm at the 143-acre site.
Artificial Intelligence: Another Win For DABUS In Patent Law, This Time in Australia
In an Australian federal court judgement on Friday, Judge Jonathan Beach ruled that Dabus, an AI system, could be recognised under patent law as an inventor, and overturned a February 2021 decision by the Australian Deputy Commissioner of patents that an “inventor” can only be a natural person.
FinTech: Google Pay Users Get Virtual Card Powered By Marqeta
Global card issuer Marqeta (NASDAQ: MQ) has tied up with Google Pay to offer a new virtual payment card that expands its users’ ability to use their mobile wallet for purchases at more merchants, both online and in-store.
Venture Capital: Exo Raises $220M For Handheld Ultrasound Device
Exo, a company developing a handheld ultrasound imaging device, announced today its $220 million Series C round led by RA Capital Management and joined by BlackRock, Sands Capital, Avidity Partners and Pura Vida Investments. Existing investors also participated in the round.
Digital Assets: Mike Cagney’s Figure Tech Closes Oversubscribed Series D At $200M
New investors joined Figure Technologies’ Series D, taking the round to $200 million. The Series D, originally announced in May, saw new investors joining up, including entities and funds managed and/or advised by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc., Blockchain.com, Rockaway Blockchain, HOF Capital, Endeavour Capital, National Bank Holdings, Goldentree Asset Management and L1 Digital.
Liquid Alternatives: Blueprint’s “Alternative To Liquid Alternatives”
Blueprint Investment Partners have issued a report analyzing the performance of liquid alternatives across major market drawdowns, given the fact that demand for these products has materialized into a 300% increase in U.S. liquid alternative mutual fund and ETF assets since Q3’07. The report finds that despite their perceived success, liquid alts face challenges such as high expenses, tracking error and clients’ propensity to exit these strategies in the face of bull markets.
Artificial Intelligence: South Africa Recognizes AI As An “Inventor,” Awards Patent
South Africa, in a global first, has awarded a patent for the invention of a food container that improves grip and heat transfer, and named Dabus (‘device for the autonomous bootstrapping of unified sentience’), an artificial neural system, as the inventor thereof. The patent was secured by University of Surrey professor Ryan Abbott and his team, who represented Dr. Stephen Thaler, the creator of Dabus.
FinTech: Revolut Ties With UK Restaurants To Offer Upto 30% Cashback To Diners
Revolut, the UK-based challenger bank, is rolling out new features in its banking app aggressively after its giant fundraise of nearly $800m in a Series E round earlier this month that valued it at $33 billion. The latest new facility for Revolut users is Restaurant Rewards, a cashback feature that rewards them for dining at Revolut-partnered restaurants across the UK.
Venture Capital: Landis, Which Facilitates Equality In Homeownership, Scores $165M Raise
Landis, which helps more American renters acquire homes and democratizes homeownership, announced Tuesday its $165 million Series A round led by Sequoia Capital. Also participating were Signia Venture Partners, Will Smith’s Dreamers VC, and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. Other investors included founders of fintechs Plaid, Cash App, and Ethos. The founders of Instacart, Front, Flatiron Health, and Tango also participated in the funding round.
Digital Assets: Cryptoassets As A National Currency – “Inadvisable Shortcut,” Says IMF
In a blog this week the IMF warned against the use of cryptoassets as a national currency, saying it was a “step too far.” Though cryptos had obvious advantages such as cheap and faster cross-border transfers, financial inclusion, and ease of access, the IMF warned that “in most cases, risks and costs outweigh potential benefits.”
Alternative Investments/ESG: A Shariah Compliant ETF Tracking China ‘A’ Shares Debuts In Malaysia
Value Partners Group Ltd listed today the VP-DJ Shariah China A-Shares 100 ETF, the world’s first Shariah-compliant A-share exchange traded fund (ETF), on Bursa Malaysia. The ETF provides investors exposure to Shariah-compliant stocks within the China A-Shares equity universe. The ETF tracks the performance of the Dow Jones Islamic Market China A-Shares 100 Index.
Artificial Intelligence: Tably, An AI-Powered App, Can Tell How Your Cat Is Doing
Sylvester.ai, which uses AI to improve animal health outcomes, has created Tably, an open beta app that “a cat parent” can download and better understand their pet’s health and mood. Tably is an AI-based monitoring tool that allows cat-lovers and their veterinarians to monitor cats remotely and painlessly.
FinTech: Alternative Investments Platform Yieldstreet Funded Over $2 Billion
Yieldstreet offers retail investors the opportunity to invest in alternative asset classes such as real estate, marine, art, legal finance, and commercial lending. Products are offered across a range of various yields, durations, and minimums after specialized teams evaluate each opportunity within their respective asset class. According to Yieldstreet, investors earn a passive income while diversifying their portfolios. The platform has topped $2 billion in deals funded while returning over $1 billion to investors.
Venture Capital: DataRobot Banks $300M Series G; Acquires Algorithmia
DataRobot announced today its raise of $300 million in a Series G round led by existing investors Altimeter Capital and Tiger Global and joined by new investors Counterpoint Global (Morgan Stanley), Franklin Templeton, ServiceNow Ventures, and Sutter Hill Ventures. The financing came simultaneously with news of DataRobot’s acquisition of the machine learning operations (MLOps) platform, Algorithmia.
Artificial Intelligence: AI-Powered BeachBot Fights Litter Nuisance On Beaches
Edwin Bos and Martijn Lukaart of TechTics floated Project BB to clean up the litter on the Scheveningen Beach in Holland. The battery-powered, 2.5 feet wide BeachBot was the result – an adorable, Mars-Rover-like machine that traverses beaches on plump wheels designed not to leave any tracks on the sand. For all its cute looks, it descends on the hapless cigarette butt with determination and precision.
Alternative Investments/Digital: Goldman Sachs Applies For “DeFi And Blockchain Equity ETF”
Wall street heavyweight Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) has filed with the SEC for launching a new ETF titled the Goldman Sachs Innovate DeFi and Blockchain Equity ETF. According to the filing, the fund would benchmark the Solactive Decentralized Finance and Blockchain Index.
Digital Assets: Bitcoin Closes In On $40K After Amazon Rumors Spark Rally
Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency, which had been in a downtrend since its April highs, and tested $30,000 on more than one occasion, surged nearly 15% after a rumor that Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) would start to accept payments in some cryptocurrencies later this year. As this is being written, bitcoin is trading at $39,162 and within kissing distance of the key, psychological resistance of $40,000.
Venture Capital: Rivian Lands $2.5B; Plans Second EV Plant Including For Batteries
Electric vehicle maker Rivian announced Friday (July 23, 2021) its close of a $2.5 billion funding round led by Amazon’s (NASDAQ: AMZN) Climate Pledge Fund, D1 Capital Partners, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), and funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. Also investing were Third Point, Fidelity Management and Research Company, Dragoneer Investment Group, and Coatue.
Liquid Alternatives: Three Reasons
Spawned after the 2008 financial crisis, liquid alternatives have disappointed investors. During the 2010s, these instruments averaged an annualized gain of 1.66%. Writing in Morningstar, columnist John Rekenthaler makes a telling comment in his article Liquid Alternatives Funds: Is There Any Hope?: “The concern lies when the hedged investment trails high-quality bonds, as has been the case with liquid alternatives funds. In that case, why bother with trickery? You could just hold Treasuries instead.”
FinTech: UK-Based PensionBee Reports Assets Under Administration Have Doubled In A Year
An influx of new customers has boosted two-fold PensionBee’s assets under administration as at June 30, 2021. Further, in a landmark year, PensionBee (LON: PBEE) raised £55 million from an IPO in April, putting it on course to achieve profitability by 2023.
Artificial Intelligence: Metaspectral Gets Grant From British Columbia For AI-Enabled Plastic Sorting
The CleanBC Plastics Action Fund, which is funded by the BC Government and administered by Alacrity Cleantech, has awarded a grant of $300,000 to Metaspectral, a Canadian company that derive real-time insights from AI using ultra-high-resolution, visible-to-infrared (hyperspectral) images.