RT Nick Szabo (@NickSzabo4)@ShadowofEzra Actual American interest, if we must intervene in Eurasia at all, lies in allying with strategically located countries like Malaysia and the Houthis and throwing their enemy Israel under the bus. ...

Core Insights - Jefferies and SMBC Group have signed a memorandum to enhance their strategic capital and business alliance, focusing on a joint venture in Japan to consolidate their wholesale Japanese equities business [1][9] Group 1: Joint Venture Details - The joint venture, named SMBC Nikko Jefferies Securities, will encompass equity capital markets (ECM), equity sales and trading, and equity research globally, with SMBC Nikko holding the economic and voting majority [2] - SMBC Group plans to increase its economic ownership stake in Jefferies to up to 20% on a fully-diluted basis while keeping voting interests under 5% [3] Group 2: Growth Drivers for Jefferies - The integration of SMBC Nikko's domestic operations with Jefferies' overseas activities will enhance issuer coverage, order flow from global investors, and research capabilities, allowing Jefferies to underwrite Japanese ECM deals starting January 2027 [4] - The $2.5 billion credit facility will enable Jefferies to strengthen its exposure in pre-IPO financing, leveraged lending in EMEA, and structured finance, which are areas with high margin potential [5] Group 3: Financial Expectations - SMBC Group anticipates that by the fifth year of the alliance, profit contributions from the joint venture will reach approximately JPY 50 billion, with JPY 10 billion from the Japanese equities business alone, indicating significant incremental revenues for Jefferies [7] Group 4: Strategic Implications - The partnership offers Jefferies the potential for accelerated growth in Asia through expanded market share, new revenue streams, and more stable capital backing, which could lead to outperforming peers in Japanese ECM and related markets [11]

Core Insights - EVA Air and Southwest Airlines have established a new interline agreement, enhancing connectivity for EVA Air passengers traveling from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago to various destinations across the U.S. via Southwest's network [1][2][4] Group 1: Partnership Details - The interline agreement allows passengers to book a single itinerary that includes flights from both airlines, with coordinated ticketing and through-checked baggage service [3] - Passengers will receive boarding passes for all segments at the first point of departure, simplifying the connection process [3] Group 2: Strategic Goals - The partnership aims to position EVA Air for long-term growth by combining resources with Southwest Airlines, enhancing operational efficiency and responding to market needs [4] - The collaboration is expected to provide competitive fares and broaden access to key routes, improving transpacific travel options [4] Group 3: Network Expansion - EVA Air currently operates 89 weekly flights to major U.S. and Canadian cities, with plans to increase this to 94 by year-end [5] - Through the partnership, passengers will gain access to over 100 cities across the U.S., significantly expanding travel options [5]