Tough timing amid the current pressure on some of the companies. What do you make of this questioning. Yeah.So, you know, importantly, the reason we launched this fund is we believe this is the most profound technology shift that we will see in our lifetimes. So whatever happens over the next couple of months is going to happen. But the direction of travel over the next 20 years we think is very positive as it relates to AI.And if we just, you know, reflect back over the last 25 years and the cloud, the soc ...

I mean, what a difference a couple of days makes. What do you make about this sudden evaluation. Anxiety.Yeah. Good morning. In some ways, it's expected.You can't expect everything to go up all the time. I do think that there is something to be said about the month of August being special in a seasonal way. But the other thing is there are people who are taking gains.There's also when there's fear that comes into the markets, usually the ones that are casualties first are the ones with the highest valuation ...

Core Viewpoint - Key semiconductor stocks experienced declines in both Asia and the U.S. following reports that the Trump administration may seek equity stakes in companies receiving federal grants under the CHIPS Act [1][2]. Government Plans - U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is considering a plan for the government to acquire equity stakes in chip-producing companies, specifically mentioning Intel, in exchange for grants under the CHIPS Act [1][2]. - The potential deal with Intel could result in the government obtaining a 10% stake in the company [2]. Impact on Other Companies - The equity stake condition may extend to other companies receiving grants under the CHIPS Act, including Micron, TSMC, and Samsung [3]. - A significant portion of the grant money allocated to these companies has yet to be disbursed [3]. Market Reactions - Intel's shares fell over 1% to $25.02 after a nearly 7% increase the previous day [4]. - AMD shares dropped 1.4% in premarket trading after a 5.4% decline on Tuesday, while Micron's shares fell 5.16% [4]. - In Asia, TSMC's shares decreased by 4.2% to TWD 1,135, and SK Hynix shares fell by 2.9% to KRW 255,500 [4]. Nvidia's Position - Nvidia's shares rose slightly to $175.85, as the company has not received any grants under the CHIPS Act due to its reliance on external chip manufacturers like TSMC and Samsung [5]. Political Context - Former President Donald Trump has criticized the Biden-era CHIPS Act, labeling it ineffective and suggesting that the government should seek equity for the funds provided to companies [6]. - Lutnick emphasized the shift in approach, stating that the Biden administration was giving money without seeking equity, while the Trump administration aims to secure a stake in return for financial support [6]. Additional Developments - SoftBank announced a deal to purchase $2 billion worth of Intel stock at $23 per share [7].

Core Insights - Intel stock surged nearly 7% following reports of potential government investment and a significant stake from SoftBank, indicating renewed investor interest and potential for a stock rally [1][2] - The company has faced challenges including declining revenues and market share losses, but government backing and a domestic manufacturing edge could drive a turnaround [2][4] - Intel's revenue is projected to decline to about $52 billion in 2024, but there are signs of potential recovery with a projected annual growth of 7% from 2025 to 2028 [4][9] Revenue Trends - Intel's revenues fell from $79 billion in 2021 to $53 billion in 2024 due to a cooling PC market and competition from AMD [4] - The PC market is expected to recover with low single-digit growth, but Intel's sales are still projected to dip by 2% this year [4] - A rebound in CPU-related spending and stronger product offerings could position Intel to benefit from the recovery in the PC market [8] Margin Analysis - Intel's adjusted net margins have declined from around 29% in 2021 to approximately 8.5% in 2023, with negative margins expected in 2024 [10] - The company plans to cut $1.5 billion in operating expenses and lay off about 25,000 employees, which could improve margins over time [11] - If margins recover to about 20% by 2028, this could significantly enhance profitability [11] Valuation Insights - Currently trading at about $25 per share, Intel's valuation reflects a high earnings multiple, with potential for significant upside if growth resumes [12] - If revenue grows to about $64 billion by 2028 with adjusted net income reaching nearly $13 billion, the stock price could approach $60 per share [12] - The turnaround timeline is flexible, with potential gains expected as key metrics improve [13]

And I do want to start here with this idea that we've had. Any time you have a big rally, you're always going to have these daily pullbacks, even weekly pullbacks, if you will. That doesn't necessarily mean the rally is over.And I do wonder if you see enough fundamental case there for this rally to reset and continue. Yeah, well, I view it as a bump in the road because it's our view. When you do a revolution, you're just continuing to get validation from earnings and from everything we've seen from the data ...

Core Insights - Graphjet Technology has significantly increased its production capacity by 7 times through the commissioning of new machinery and equipment, enabling the production of various types of graphite and graphene for multiple industries, including semiconductors [1][4][5] - The completion of a new laboratory enhances the company's ability to customize product properties, improve quality control, and conduct future research and development [2][3] - The company is well-positioned to benefit from the growing demand in the semiconductor industry, particularly for AI chip production, amid a recent graphite shortage [4][5] Company Developments - The new machinery and laboratory are expected to attract larger and more sophisticated customers, enhancing Graphjet's market position [2][3] - Graphjet's patented technology utilizes palm kernel shells, a waste product, to produce single-layer graphene and artificial graphite, promoting sustainable production methods [6] Industry Context - The semiconductor industry is experiencing a shift towards in-house AI chip manufacturing, with significant investments, such as SoftBank's $2 billion equity investment in Intel, indicating a favorable outlook for chip manufacturing in the U.S. [4][5] - Graphite and graphene are critical materials in semiconductor manufacturing, especially for processes requiring high temperature and precise control, positioning Graphjet to capitalize on this trend [5]

Company Overview - Pop Mart, a Chinese toymaker, reported a near-400% surge in net profit, driven by global demand for its LABUBU dolls [1][11] - The company’s adjusted net profit reached CNY4.71 billion, with revenue at CNY13.88 billion, marking a year-on-year increase of 204.4% [3] Financial Performance - In the first half of 2025, Pop Mart's revenue from China was CNY8.28 billion, up 135.2%, while revenue from Asia-Pacific (excluding China) was CNY2.85 billion, rising 257.8% [4] - Revenue from the Americas surged to CNY2.26 billion, up 1,142.3%, and revenue from Europe and other regions rose 729.2% to CNY480 million [4] Product and Market Expansion - LABUBU generated revenue exceeding CNY4.8 billion, becoming one of the world's most popular IPs in the first half of 2025 [5] - The company plans to launch a miniature LABUBU that can be clipped onto phones [6] Strategic Initiatives - Pop Mart established four regional headquarters in April to enhance its globalization strategy [7] - The company opened its first stores in landmark locations such as Cambridge in the UK and Bali in Indonesia, with plans to expand into markets including the Middle East, South Asia, Central and South America, and Russia [8] Market Position - Pop Mart's market cap surpassed HKD400 billion, with shares rising more than 200% in the last year, making it worth more than Mattel, Hasbro, and Sanrio combined [2]

Market Overview - The South Korean KOSPI index opened lower, down 1.98% at 3089.26 points, with a high of 3121.52 and a low of 3079.27 [1][2] - The Nikkei 225 index in Japan also saw a decline, with a drop of 1.68% [4] Economic Insights - The Bank of Korea's Governor, Lee Chang-yong, indicated that while the economy rebounded in Q2, uncertainties from trade negotiations with major economies could influence monetary policy decisions next week [2][3] - Lee emphasized the need to consider various factors before deciding on a potential return to a monetary easing cycle, citing rising delinquency rates among small businesses and regional developers as a financial stability risk [3] - Despite a supportive supplementary budget, Lee warned of high risks in tariff negotiations and noted that inflation could remain close to the Bank's 2% target due to stable energy prices and weak demand [3] Industry Performance - South Korea's automotive exports rose by 8.8% year-on-year in July, reaching $5.83 billion, marking the second consecutive month of growth, with exports to the EU surging by 32.7% [4] - Exports to the U.S. fell for the fifth consecutive month, down 4.6% year-on-year to $2.33 billion, although the decline rate slowed significantly from June's 16% [4] Corporate Developments - SoftBank Group's stock fell over 8% following the announcement of a $2 billion investment in Intel, acquiring shares at $23 each, which will make SoftBank the fifth-largest shareholder in Intel [6] - The investment aims to support Intel's manufacturing transformation and AI ecosystem development in the U.S. [6]

Core Viewpoint - Asian tech stocks experienced a decline, significantly impacted by the drop in US tech stocks, with SoftBank Group's shares falling by 9.17% [1] Group 1: Company Performance - SoftBank Group's stock price fell for the second consecutive trading day after announcing a $2 billion investment in Intel [1] - Intel's stock rose by 6.97% in the US, closing at $25.31 [1] - Other Japanese tech stocks also saw declines, with semiconductor giant Advantest's shares dropping by 6.27% [1] - Renesas Electronics and Tokyo Electron's stocks fell by 2.46% and 0.75%, respectively [1] Group 2: Market Influences - The decline in Asian tech stocks was influenced by a drop in Nvidia's stock, a key player in the AI sector [1] - US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is considering federal government investment in semiconductor companies to secure funding for domestic manufacturing under the CHIPS Act [1] - Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC and manufacturer Foxconn saw their stock prices decrease by 1.69% and 2.16%, respectively [1] - TSMC produces high-performance GPUs for Nvidia, while Foxconn has a strategic partnership with Nvidia to build an "AI factory" [1] Group 3: Regional Market Trends - Most South Korean tech stocks also declined, with chipmaker SK Hynix's shares falling by 3.33% [1] - However, Samsung Electronics' stock increased by 0.75% [1]

Group 1: SoftBank and Intel - SoftBank Group announced a $2 billion investment in Intel, leading to a 6.97% increase in Intel's shares, which closed at $25.31 [1] - Following the announcement, SoftBank's shares dropped as much as 9.17% amid a decline in technology stocks in Asia [1] Group 2: Broader Technology Sector Impact - Other Japanese tech stocks, including Advantest, Renesas Electronics, and Tokyo Electron, experienced declines of 6.27%, 2.46%, and 0.75% respectively [2] - South Korean, Taiwanese, and Hong Kong technology stocks also fell, influenced by losses in U.S. tech stocks, particularly Nvidia [2] Group 3: U.S. Semiconductor Industry - U.S. Commerce Secretary is considering federal equity stakes in semiconductor companies receiving funding under the CHIPS Act, aimed at boosting the semiconductor industry [3] - Companies like TSMC and SK Hynix have received funding under the CHIPS Act, with TSMC manufacturing Nvidia's high-performance GPUs [4][5] Group 4: Market Performance in Asia - TSMC and Foxconn shares declined by 1.69% and 2.16% respectively, while SK Hynix shares fell by 3.33% [4] - The Hang Seng Tech index in Hong Kong lost 0.87%, with Kuaishou Technology, JD Health International, and Horizon Robotics being the worst performers [5]