Core Insights - GAMCO Investors, Inc. is a diversified asset manager and financial services company [1] - The company's investment services are primarily provided through its subsidiary GAMCO Asset Management Inc [1] - GAMCO Asset Management Inc manages separate accounts for high net worth individuals, institutions, and qualified pension plans [1] - The company also acts as an advisor to a family of Mutual Funds [1]

Last month, I published The Latest Thoughts From American Technology Companies On AI (2025 Q2). In it, I shared commentary in earnings conference calls for the second quarter of 2025, from the leaders of technology companies that I follow or have a vested interest in, on the topic of AI and how the technology could impact their industry and the business world writ large. A few more technology companies I’m watching hosted earnings conference calls for 2025’s second quarter after I prepared the article. The ...

Core Viewpoint - REITs are highlighted as ideal income instruments for investors, but not all REITs are equally reliable, necessitating careful selection for long-term investment [1] Group 1: Parkway Life REIT - Parkway Life REIT (PLife REIT) is a healthcare REIT with a diversified portfolio of 75 properties valued at S$2.46 billion, including hospitals and nursing homes in multiple countries [2] - For 1H 2025, PLife REIT reported gross revenue of S$78.3 million, an 8.1% year-on-year increase, and net property income of S$73.8 million, up 8% year-on-year [3] - The distribution per unit (DPU) rose 1.5% year-on-year to S$0.0765, supported by a moderate gearing level of 35.4% and a low cost of debt at 1.5% [3][4] Group 2: CapitaLand Ascendas REIT - CapitaLand Ascendas REIT (CLAR) is Singapore's oldest and largest industrial REIT, managing 229 properties with total assets under management (AUM) of S$16.8 billion as of 30 June 2025 [5] - In 1H 2025, CLAR's gross revenue decreased by 2% year-on-year to S$754.8 million, while net property income dipped by 0.9% to S$523.4 million [6] - The DPU fell by 0.6% year-on-year to S$0.07477, but the portfolio maintained a healthy occupancy rate of 91.8% and a positive rental reversion of 9.5% [6] Group 3: Keppel DC REIT - Keppel DC REIT is a data centre REIT with a portfolio of 24 data centres across 10 countries, boasting an AUM of approximately S$5 billion as of 30 June 2025 [8] - The REIT reported a significant gross revenue increase of 34.4% year-on-year to S$211.3 million for 1H 2025, with net property income rising 37.8% to S$182.8 million [8] - DPU increased by 12.8% year-on-year to S$0.05133, with a high portfolio occupancy rate of 95.8% and a strong positive portfolio reversion of around 51% [9] Group 4: Frasers Centrepoint Trust - Frasers Centrepoint Trust (FCT) is a retail REIT with a portfolio of nine suburban retail malls and an office building, managing total AUM of S$7.1 billion [10] - For 1H FY2025, FCT's gross revenue improved by 7.1% year-on-year to S$184.4 million, and net property income climbed 7.3% to S$133.7 million [11] - The DPU inched up 0.5% year-on-year to S$0.06054, with a high portfolio occupancy rate of 99.9% and increased shopper traffic and tenant sales [12]

Group 1: Palantir Technologies - Palantir Technologies has experienced a significant surge in demand for its AI platform, leading to a notable increase in its stock price [1] - The company's revenue and earnings growth in recent quarters has resulted in a 5x increase in stock price over the past year, with a current market cap of $385 billion [2] - The strong demand for Palantir's AI software has driven its stock performance, but it is currently trading at a high valuation multiple [8] Group 2: ASML Holding - ASML Holding is a key player in the semiconductor industry, holding a near-monopoly in extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) machines essential for advanced chip manufacturing [4][5] - The company reported a 40% sequential increase in net bookings to 5.5 billion euros in Q2 and expects 15% revenue growth to 32.5 billion euros by the end of 2025 [6] - ASML's revenue increased by 34% in the first half of 2025, indicating potential for stronger-than-expected performance due to robust AI infrastructure spending [7]

Core Insights - China's leaders are committed to ending aggressive price cuts by companies, which regulators believe are leading to excessive competition and harming the economy [1][2] - The "anti-involution" campaign is a response to overcapacity in manufacturing, a result of previous government stimulus efforts, and price cuts aimed at clearing stock or boosting consumption [2][6] - There are growing concerns that ongoing price wars could lead to entrenched deflation, which would impede efforts to stabilize China's $19 trillion economy [2][8] Industry Context - The term "involution" has gained traction in China, describing the hypercompetitive environment that often results in self-defeating behaviors among individuals and companies [3][6] - The shift from property-driven growth to a more industrial complex has led to increased resource investment without corresponding returns, contributing to a "race to the bottom" in various sectors [6][7] - The current level of competition is resulting in diminishing returns, posing a threat to economic stability, prompting the government to consider interventions [7][8]

Core Insights - Oracle's recent earnings report revealed a significant backlog tied to multi-year AI and cloud contracts, raising questions about the speed of revenue conversion [1][4] - The company's remaining performance obligations (RPO) and plans for scaling cloud infrastructure suggest improved revenue visibility over the long term [2] Financial Performance - In Q1 of fiscal 2026, Oracle reported total revenue of $14.9 billion, a 12% increase year-over-year, with cloud infrastructure revenue soaring 55% to $3.3 billion [4] - Non-GAAP earnings per share rose 6% year-over-year to $1.47 [4] Backlog and Revenue Recognition - Oracle's RPO surged 359% to $455 billion, attributed to four multi-billion-dollar customer contracts [4] - Expected revenue recognition from RPO is approximately 10% within the next 12 months, 25% in months 13 to 36, 34% in months 37 to 60, and the remainder after five years, indicating a back-weighted revenue profile [5] Market Sentiment - CEO Safra Catz described the quarterly results as "astonishing," highlighting the growing demand for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) [5] - Despite the positive long-term outlook, some investors express concerns regarding the timing of backlog conversion and the execution of Oracle's ambitious capacity expansion plans [6][7]

Core Viewpoint - XRP has surged past the $3 mark, with bullish predictions for its price driven by Federal Reserve policy decisions and the upcoming fourth-quarter cycle [1][4]. Federal Reserve Impact - The Federal Reserve's meeting on September 17 is crucial, with a 99.9% chance of an interest rate cut, either by 25 basis points or 50 basis points [3][4]. - A 25 basis point cut is expected to stabilize crypto markets, while a 50 basis point cut could lead to significant price increases for XRP and other cryptocurrencies [4][8]. Price Predictions - If a 50 basis point cut occurs, XRP could potentially rise to between $3.25 and $3.50, possibly exceeding its all-time high [4]. - Looking ahead to the fourth quarter of 2025, a major bull run is anticipated, with XRP projected to reach a minimum of $10, and possibly $15 or $20, driven by Bitcoin's performance and market momentum [5][6]. Market Performance - As of the latest data, XRP is trading at $3.05, reflecting a 2.1% increase in the past 24 hours, and has gained over 415% in the past year, making it the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization [9].

Group 1 - The Venezuelan government is leveraging cryptocurrency, particularly dollar-pegged digital currencies, to navigate economic sanctions and maintain its economy [1][2] - The use of Tether (USDT) has surged since June, allowing businesses to exchange currency in a context where traditional dollar access is severely restricted [2][3] - The shift towards digital currencies is a response to the crippling effects of U.S. sanctions, which have limited access to foreign currency and forced businesses to adapt or face collapse [3][4] Group 2 - The U.S. Treasury's recent actions, including a restricted license for Chevron, have exacerbated the dollar shortage in Venezuela, prompting officials to explore cryptocurrency solutions [4][5] - State-run oil company PDVSA has increased its use of digital currencies, particularly USDT, as traditional payment methods have become unreliable [6][7] - Venezuela's crypto system involves a limited number of banks selling USDT to government-approved businesses, which can then use the cryptocurrency for transactions or sell it on secondary markets [7]

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Centrica and X-energy announce entry into a Joint Development Agreement to deploy X-energy's Xe-100 Advanced Modular Reactors in the United Kingdom. ...

Group 1 - Rheinmetall has reached an agreement to acquire the military division of Luerssen Group, Naval Vessels Luerssen, to expand into naval shipbuilding [1][2] - The acquisition is part of Rheinmetall's strategy to strengthen its position as a leading supplier of defense technology in Germany and Europe [2] - Rheinmetall aims to address the increasing demand from naval forces and rising procurement budgets with high-performance system solutions and modern digital infrastructure [3] Group 2 - Rheinmetall reported sales of 2.43 billion euros ($2.85 billion) in the three months to June, which fell short of expectations due to delays in German contract awards [4] - Naval Vessels Luerssen (NVL) is a privately owned group with four shipyards in northern Germany and international locations, expecting sales of around 1 billion euros ($1.17 billion) in the 2024 financial year [5] - NVL employs approximately 2,100 people worldwide [5]