Hello and welcome to Morning Brief Market Sunrise. I'm Raman Karamali live from Yahoo Finance Studios in London. It's Thursday 4th September.Coming up on the show, Apple fights back against open AI and perplexity as it plans to launch its own AI powered web search tool for Siri. Nvidia chips are still in demand in China despite Beijing's objections. And could gold hit $5,000 an ounce.Well, that's the prediction from Goldman Sachs. So, grab your coffee and let's own the morning. Well, the first thing you nee ...

Summary of the Conference Call on China Smart Driving Chip Sector Industry Overview - The smart driving chip market in China is projected to reach USD 15.4 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 40% from 2025 to 2030, driven by the increasing adoption of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features [2][34] - The penetration of Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) features is expected to reach 88% by 2030, creating a significant market opportunity for smart driving chips [2][12] Key Companies Discussed Horizon Robotics - Horizon Robotics is positioned as the domestic leader in smart driving System on Chip (SoC), with a projected 23% vehicle share for L1-L2 SoC and 30% for L2+ SoC in 2024 [3] - The company is expected to capture 29% of the outsourced L2+ & above SoC TAM by value by 2030, supported by its unique hardware-software integrated model [3][14] - Horizon's SoC design is co-optimized with smart driving algorithms, allowing for lower costs and faster iterations, potentially increasing OEM net income by 10-20% on a RMB 150K vehicle [3] - Horizon Robotics is rated Outperform with a price target of HKD 15, indicating a 56% upside potential [3][8] Black Sesame - Black Sesame is the second-largest domestic vendor but faces challenges due to a lack of scale and heavy R&D burdens, which could pressure its financials [4][9] - The company focuses on L2+ SoC, capturing a 9% vehicle share in 2024, but lacks software expertise, slowing customer acquisition compared to Horizon [5] - Black Sesame's current balance sheet can only support R&D investments for 1-2 years, suggesting a need for frequent capital raises, which could dilute shareholder value [5] - Black Sesame is rated Underperform with a price target of HKD 16, indicating a 15% downside potential [5][9] Market Dynamics - Concerns exist regarding OEMs' in-house development of smart driving chips potentially disrupting the outsourcing market; however, it is expected that around 60% of the market will remain open to third-party vendors by 2030 [2][13] - The competitive landscape is evolving, with Horizon Robotics and Black Sesame primarily competing against Nvidia in the L2+ & above market [14] - The increasing consumer preference for smart driving features is a critical differentiator among OEMs, with over 70% of consumers considering ADAS functionalities important in vehicle purchasing decisions [18][21] Financial Metrics - Horizon Robotics has a market cap of HKD 133.3 billion and an enterprise value of HKD 116.3 billion, with a reported EPS of RMB 0.51 for 2024 [6] - Black Sesame has a market cap of HKD 12 billion and an enterprise value of HKD 10.4 billion, with a reported EPS of RMB 1.20 for 2024 [6] Investment Implications - Horizon Robotics is expected to maintain its technological leadership through significant R&D investments, which will also allow for future expansion into robotics and global markets through joint ventures [8] - Black Sesame's lack of software capabilities and scale may hinder its long-term success, necessitating a strategic shift or additional funding to remain competitive [9] Conclusion - The smart driving chip sector in China is poised for rapid growth, with Horizon Robotics positioned as a leader due to its integrated hardware-software solutions, while Black Sesame faces significant challenges that could impact its market position and financial health [8][9]

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 30: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) listens as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks in the Cross Hall of the White House during an event on "Investing in America" on April 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump was joined by CEOs to highlight companies and their investments in the United States during the event. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)Getty ImagesWithout U.S. investors, there would be little China-based technological advance of the high-end variety to talk about. That’s why it’s bo ...

Group 1 - The article discusses the investment approach of Michael Del Monte, emphasizing a holistic view of the investment ecosystem rather than evaluating companies in isolation [1] - Michael Del Monte has over 5 years of experience as a buy-side equity analyst and previously worked in professional services for over a decade across various industries [1] Group 2 - The article does not provide any specific financial data or performance metrics related to companies or industries [2][3]

Core Insights - The AI industry is maturing, leading to potential challenges for Nvidia, which currently dominates the AI accelerator market [1][2] - Despite Nvidia's growth and profitability, signs of a slowdown in AI demand could negatively impact its stock performance [2][7] Group 1: Generative AI Challenges - A significant number of generative AI projects are failing to deliver positive results, with a report indicating that 95% of such pilots do not yield meaningful outcomes [5][4] - The high costs associated with AI technology make it difficult for businesses to justify investments if they do not see returns, potentially weakening demand for AI computing services [6][7] Group 2: Financial Struggles of AI Start-ups - AI companies, including OpenAI, are experiencing substantial cash burn, with OpenAI projected to lose $5 billion against $3.7 billion in revenue last year [9][10] - The unsustainable pricing of AI services, coupled with the high costs of Nvidia's GPUs, poses a risk to the profitability of AI companies [10][11] Group 3: Limitations of AI Model Improvements - While AI models continue to improve, the pace of advancement is slowing, with recent launches not significantly outperforming existing models [12][13] - If companies cannot justify increasing expenditures on AI training due to diminishing returns, demand for Nvidia's GPUs may decline [13][14]

Core Insights - Cisco has launched the Secure AI Factory in collaboration with NVIDIA to provide a comprehensive solution for enterprises to utilize their data securely for agentic AI at scale [2][5] - The solution includes Cisco AI PODs integrated with VAST InsightEngine, designed to accelerate retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines, ensuring AI agents have immediate access to necessary data [3][7] - The architecture supports low-latency model interaction and high-performance networking, enabling near-real-time business insights while maintaining security and governance [4][11] Company Collaboration - The partnership between Cisco, NVIDIA, and VAST Data aims to create a validated architecture that enhances enterprise AI adoption and secures data through AI Defense [5][7] - VAST Data is the first vendor to integrate with Cisco AI PODs, providing an NVIDIA AI Data Platform reference design for enterprise customers [8] Technical Capabilities - The new capabilities allow for faster data extraction and retrieval, reducing RAG pipeline latency from minutes to seconds, thus facilitating near-real-time AI responses [11] - The architecture is designed to support multiple agents and workloads simultaneously, enabling continuous operation and dynamic learning for AI agents [11] Market Impact - The integration of these technologies represents a significant milestone in the evolution of enterprise AI, allowing intelligent agents to operate securely and collaboratively at an unprecedented scale [5][6]

Group 1 - Nvidia's venture capital arm has made its first investment in Quantinuum, valuing the quantum computing company at $10 billion [1] - The investment is part of a larger $600 million funding round, with Nvidia being a new prominent investor [1][2] - Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang has adjusted the outlook for quantum computing, indicating that practical applications will arrive sooner than previously expected [1] Group 2 - Quantinuum is collaborating with Nvidia at the Accelerated Quantum Research Center in Boston, aimed at advancing quantum computing technology [2] - Honeywell, which holds approximately 54% of Quantinuum, will also participate in the funding round alongside other investors like QED Investors, JPMorgan Chase, Mitsui & Co., and Amgen [2] - Quantinuum disclosed that 35 unnamed investors are involved in the new funding round, confirming earlier reports [2] Group 3 - Under CEO Rajeeb Hazra, Quantinuum focuses on developing high-performance quantum computers capable of solving complex tasks that traditional computers struggle with [3] - The company is creating quantum computing platforms applicable in various fields, including chemistry, machine learning, cybersecurity, finance, and drug development [3] - Quantinuum was formed in 2021 through the merger of Cambridge Quantum and Honeywell Quantum Solutions, and it completed a $300 million funding round in January 2024, with a pre-funding valuation of $5 billion [3] Group 4 - Honeywell plans to split into three independent publicly traded companies, with the funding for Quantinuum intended to prepare for a potential IPO by 2027 [4]

Group 1 - In August, the number of layoffs in the U.S. reached 85,979, the highest for the same period since 2020 [1] - The U.S. ADP employment numbers increased by 54,000 in August, below the market expectation of 65,000 [2] - Initial jobless claims in the U.S. for the week ending August 30 recorded 237,000, the highest since June 2025 [2] Group 2 - Nasdaq plans to modify listing rules for small IPOs and Chinese companies, raising the listing threshold [2] - Nvidia is reportedly planning to launch a new chip, B30A, in the Chinese market, potentially priced at twice that of H20 [2] - Apple is expected to introduce an AI network search tool next year to compete with OpenAI and Perplexity AI [2] Group 3 - Eli Lilly's Olomorasib received breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA for lung cancer treatment [2] - Novo Nordisk is researching the effects of Ozempic on Alzheimer's disease, with results expected this fall [2] - Sanofi's Amlitelimab for atopic dermatitis achieved all primary and secondary endpoints in Phase III trials, but results fell short of market expectations [2] Group 4 - Goldman Sachs and T. Rowe Price have established a strategic partnership to provide innovative public-private investment solutions [2] - Unilever plans to reassess 200 executive positions and will lay off 25% of its workforce [2] - WeRide's Robotaxi GXR has commenced 24-hour fully autonomous commercial operations in Guangzhou Huangpu [2] Group 5 - Seagate's Q2 revenue increased by approximately 9.8% year-over-year to $10.24 billion, with adjusted earnings per share of $2.91, exceeding expectations [2] - American Eagle's Q2 revenue reached $1.28 billion, with net profit increasing by 15% year-over-year to $77.6 million, also surpassing expectations [2]

Group 1 - Cohesity is preparing for a potential IPO in 2026, aiming for a valuation comparable to its competitor Rubrik, which has a market cap of $17 billion [1] - The company abandoned its earlier IPO plans to merge with Veritas' data protection division, completing the merger in December 2024, which positioned Cohesity as the largest data protection software provider with a 19% market share [1] - Following the merger, Cohesity's valuation exceeded $7 billion [1] Group 2 - The CEO expressed a desire for Cohesity to become a major player in the industry before going public, indicating that the company is currently a "small fish" compared to competitors like Rubrik and Commvault [1] - Cohesity's fiscal year ends in August, suggesting that the company may not be ready for an IPO until the fall of 2026, contingent on maintaining strong business momentum [1] - The CEO believes that if Cohesity can demonstrate performance metrics similar to Rubrik, its valuation could be "comparable or even higher" [1]

Core Insights - Exa, an AI search company co-founded by Jeffrey Wang and Will Bryk, has raised $85 million in Series B funding, valuing the company at $700 million [1][3] - The company aims to create a search engine that surpasses Google, positioning itself as the AI equivalent of Google [3][4] Company Overview - Exa was founded in 2021, prior to the emergence of ChatGPT, with the belief that AI requires a dedicated search engine [3][4] - The company has developed a large-scale indexing system and various new search technologies to provide users with advanced search capabilities [4][5] Product Features - Exa's search engine is designed specifically for AI, featuring six proprietary characteristics: 1. High-quality knowledge acquisition, optimizing for quality over SEO content [5][6] 2. Comprehensive content access, providing complete page information for AI processing [6][9] 3. Speed, with a goal to create the fastest search API, achieving latency below 450 milliseconds [7][9] 4. High computational capability, allowing extensive searches for various information [9][10] 5. Customization, enabling tailored searches for specific AI applications [10][13] 6. Zero data retention, ensuring sensitive query data is not stored [10][13] Future Aspirations - Exa plans to expand its indexing and processing capabilities significantly, aiming to collect a vast majority of global information and build a GPU cluster five times larger than its current one [13][18] - The ultimate goal is to surpass Google in search capabilities [13][18] Team Background - Jeffrey Wang, a Harvard graduate, co-founded Exa and previously worked at Plaid, focusing on data and network infrastructure [15][18] - The company includes several skilled team members from prestigious universities, enhancing its technological expertise [17][18]