Core Viewpoint - SoftBank Group's stock price surged by up to 13% following the announcement of its acquisition of ABB's robotics business for approximately $5.4 billion, which has heightened expectations regarding its ventures in artificial intelligence [1] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition involves ABB's industrial robotics division, marking a significant move for SoftBank into the "physical AI" sector, which is perceived as a potential catalyst for the next industrial revolution [1] - The deal was announced during market hours on Wednesday, contributing to a broader rebound in Japanese tech stocks [1] Group 2: Market Reaction - Following the acquisition announcement, SoftBank's stock price continued to rise, driven by investor enthusiasm for AI-related companies [1] - Other robotics-related companies also experienced stock price increases, with Nabtesco rising by 4.5%, Yaskawa Electric up by 10%, Harmonic Drive Systems increasing by 17%, and Fanuc gaining 4.6% [1]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a bullish outlook on stocks related to Reliability of Power/Water/Energy, Efficiency of Energy/Resources/Land, and solutions for Aging Populations/labor strains [1][15][38] Core Insights - Sustainable funds with broader APAC regional mandates have outperformed non-ESG peers for six consecutive quarters, while those with individual country mandates have struggled [1][35] - Performance is deemed more critical than policy for the growth of Sustainable Investing's AUM penetration, with a focus on quality and governance [1][13] - The report highlights a notable increase in AUM penetration for ANZ-focused Sustainable funds, reaching 4.8% by 1Q25, up 23 basis points year-over-year [12] APAC Fund Performance and Flows - APAC-focused Sustainable equity AUM remained flat at US$212 billion, with minor outflows of -US$0.9 billion in 1Q25, primarily from Japan and Emerging Markets-focused funds [9][19] - Passive Sustainable strategies now represent 52% of total APAC-focused Sustainable AUM, attracting US$1.0 billion of inflows in 1Q25 [9][19] - Sustainable funds in the top two quintiles based on 3-year risk-adjusted returns saw cumulative inflows of +US$6.0 billion in 2024, contrasting with -US$16 billion outflows in the bottom cohort [10][12] Stock Ideas - New entrants into the E&S Leaders screen include companies like JYP Entertainment, Kweichow Moutai, and Tata Consultancy, all rated as Buy by Goldman Sachs [6][7] - Thematic stock in focus includes Harmonic Drive Systems, which aligns with Green Capex and Aging Populations Solutions themes [6] Sustainable Fund Trends - The report notes that the median performance of APAC-focused Sustainable funds was at the 45th percentile in 1Q25, indicating underperformance relative to peers [35][42] - Greater China-focused Sustainable funds have shown significant impact on median performance, comprising approximately 50% of the funds tracked [36][44] - The report emphasizes a less-is-more approach to Sustainable integration strategies, focusing on measurable metrics [38]

Core Viewpoint - Goldman Sachs identifies Physical AI as a significant emerging trend, emphasizing its applications in autonomous driving, AI equipment, and robotic automation [2][8]. Group 1: Definition of Physical AI - Physical AI, also known as generative physical AI, enables autonomous machines to perceive, understand, and execute complex operations in the real physical world [4]. - It extends traditional generative AI by allowing machines to comprehend spatial relationships and physical behaviors, resulting in more realistic outputs that adhere to physical laws [5]. Group 2: Autonomous Driving - Goldman Sachs highlights key players in the autonomous driving sector, including Uber, Pony.ai, BYD, Li Auto, Xiaomi, and Baidu [9]. - Uber is collaborating with Waymo to launch autonomous ride-hailing services in Austin and Atlanta by 2025, with expectations of a human-machine hybrid model in the future [9]. - Pony.ai is projected to achieve a 27% compound annual growth rate from 2024 to 2027, with profitability expected by 2030 [9][10]. Group 3: AI Equipment - In the AI equipment sector, Goldman Sachs favors companies such as Horizon Robotics, Mobileye Global, AAC Technologies, and Quanta Computer [12]. - Horizon Robotics is recognized as a leader in the ADAS/AV field in China and a key supplier for BYD [12]. - Mobileye is expected to gain a larger market share among Western OEMs due to its leadership in the ADAS sector [12]. Group 4: Robotics and Automation - Goldman Sachs focuses on companies like Harmonic Drive Systems, Yaskawa Electric, Sanhua Intelligent Controls, and Shenzhen Inovance Technology in the robotics and automation space [14]. - Harmonic Drive Systems leads the small precision gearbox market, widely used in humanoid robots [14]. - Yaskawa Electric is enhancing automation levels with its dual-arm robot, MOTOMAN NEXT [14]. Group 5: Infrastructure and Support - The development of AI relies on robust infrastructure, with Goldman Sachs favoring companies such as Belden, Flex, Jabil Circuit, TE Connectivity, Amphenol, Dassault Systemes, Prysmian, and Legrand [16]. - These companies play critical roles in data centers, power, cabling, and industrial automation, providing essential support for AI operations [16].