Core Insights - Helport AI has successfully expanded its partnership with Atome, a leading Buy Now, Pay Later platform in Southeast Asia, achieving top performance in Atome's regional performance charts [1][2] - The partnership, initiated on May 19, 2025, has led to the onboarding of 78 trained AI-enabled agents, resulting in significant improvements in performance metrics [2][3] - Ongoing discussions between Helport AI and Atome aim to explore further program expansions in response to the growing adoption of BNPL services in Southeast Asia [3] Company Overview - Helport AI is a global technology company specializing in intelligent customer communication software and services, with its flagship product, AI Assist, designed to enhance the capabilities of customer contact teams [4] - The company focuses on leveraging AI technology to train and scale high-performing, compliant voice-based BPO teams tailored to the needs of fintech clients [3] Industry Context - Atome is recognized as one of Southeast Asia's leading BNPL platforms, providing consumers with flexible, interest-free payment options and aiming to improve financial access [5] - The partnership between Helport AI and Atome exemplifies the integration of AI technology in the BPO sector, enhancing operational efficiency and customer engagement [2][3]

Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AFRM ) is an American fintech operating in the buy now, pay later industry. The company offers flexible payment options, allowing consumers to split purchases into installments. AFRM uses AI and machine learning to optimize itsDear Reader,I am a Senior Derivatives Expert with over 10 years of experience in the field of Asset Management, specializing in equity analysis and research, macroeconomics, and risk-managed portfolio construction. My professional background covers both ...

Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AFRM ) is an American fintech operating in the buy now, pay later industry. The company offers flexible payment options, allowing consumers to split purchases into installments. AFRM uses AI and machine learning to optimize itsDear Reader,I am a Senior Derivatives Expert with over 10 years of experience in the field of Asset Management, specializing in equity analysis and research, macroeconomics, and risk-managed portfolio construction. My professional background covers both ...

"We think the risk/reward is attractive for a leading global commerce network with an early opportunity in several underpenetrated regions and further optionality to unlock incremental [gross merchandise value] and revenues through new partnerships and product expansion,†Wedbush wrote Monday. Key Takeaways Buy Klarna stock, analysts say, and it will pay off later. Klarna (KLAR) shares, which closed Friday near $41, are poised to rise as the company's business expands, analysts said. Deutsche Bank, Wedbush a ...

Company Overview - Cybersecurity company Netskope is targeting a valuation of $7.3 billion after pricing its shares at $19 for its upcoming IPO, which is at the top end of its expected range [1] - The share sale raised $908.2 million, and Netskope will begin trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "NTSK" [1] IPO Market Context - Netskope's IPO is occurring during a resurgence in IPO activity following a prolonged period of inactivity due to high inflation and rising interest rates, which has generated optimism on Wall Street and among venture capitalists [2] - Other recent IPOs include StubHub, which saw a 6% decline on its first trading day, and CoreWeave, which closed flat but later saw its shares triple [2] Recent Market Trends - The buy now, pay later firm Klarna experienced a 15% increase in its debut this month, indicating positive market reception for new listings [3] - Other companies like Bullish, Figma, and Circle have also seen significant gains since their market debuts, reflecting a favorable environment for IPOs [3]

Company Overview - StubHub has successfully raised $800 million from its initial public offering (IPO) after pricing the deal at the midpoint of a marketed range [2][4] - The company sold 34 million shares at $23.50 each, with a price range set between $22 and $25, valuing StubHub at approximately $8.8 billion [3][4] - StubHub plans to start trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "STUB" [3] Market Context - The IPO market is experiencing a resurgence, with funds raised in 2025 already surpassing those in previous years, marking the highest level since 2021 [3][4] - Recent IPOs, including those from Klarna and Gemini, have shown positive market performance, although the track record of recent listings has been mixed compared to earlier months [4]

Core Insights - Klarna Group has recently gone public, pricing shares at $40 and raising approximately $1.37 billion, resulting in a valuation of around $15 billion [1][2] Company Overview - Klarna is a significant player in the buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) sector, which gained popularity during the pandemic by allowing consumers to make purchases without upfront payment, repaying in installments, often interest-free [3][5] - The company partners with merchants to attract new customers and provide repeat business, offering interest-free payments and a budgeting tool through its app [5][6] Financial Performance - In 2024, Klarna's gross merchandise volume (GMV) reached over $105 billion, reflecting a 14% year-over-year increase, following a 12% growth in 2023 [10] - For the second quarter of 2025, Klarna reported a 21% year-over-year GMV growth, with active consumers increasing by 31% to 111 million, while revenue was $823 million, also up 21% year-over-year [11][12] - Despite revenue growth, Klarna experienced a rise in net losses to $53 million, compared to a $2 million loss in the same quarter of 2024 [11] Competitive Landscape - Compared to Affirm Holdings, Klarna has a higher GMV of approximately $56.5 billion over the last two quarters, while Affirm's GMV was $19 billion [12] - Both companies generated similar revenue in the second quarter, with Klarna at $823 million and Affirm at $876 million, but they operate under different business models [12][13] Business Model and Sustainability - Klarna's revenue primarily comes from merchant fees, while Affirm relies on longer-term loans that often include interest [13] - Klarna's fee-heavy model focusing on interest-free loans may be more sustainable through economic cycles, although rising losses could necessitate stricter underwriting, potentially slowing GMV growth [14] Market Position - Klarna's stock trades at a little over 5 times annualized revenue, which is considered reasonable in the current market context [14] - Having a banking charter provides Klarna with an advantage over Affirm, which depends on selling loans to asset managers and private credit companies, a less sustainable funding source during economic downturns [15]

Core Insights - Wall Street has seen a significant rebound in initial public offerings (IPOs), with seven companies going public in a week, raising over $100 million each, totaling $4.4 billion, the highest since November 2021 [1][2] IPO Activity - The total proceeds from traditional IPOs this year have reached $25 billion, marking the highest level since 2021 [2] - The recent IPOs include a variety of companies such as a Swedish buy now, pay later lender, a blockchain mortgage platform, a coffee chain, and a crypto exchange founded by the Winklevoss twins [3] Recent Listings - Notable recent IPOs include Gemini Space Station, Black Rock Coffee Bar, Via Transportation, and Legence, with Gemini raising $425 million and its stock up 18% [5][6] - Black Rock Coffee Bar, Via, and Legence raised $294 million, $493 million, and $728 million respectively, with their stocks increasing by 45%, 3%, and 8% [6] Market Trends - The IPO market has become very active post-Labor Day, with road shows being the busiest since mid-2021 [7] - Earlier in the week, Klarna and Figure Technology Solutions went public, raising $1.37 billion and $787.5 million respectively, with their stocks showing mixed performance [8] Future Projections - Renaissance Capital projects about three to five IPOs per week for the next two months, although they do not expect another week with as many large deals [4]

Core Insights - Klarna has successfully gone public on the New York Stock Exchange, with its stock price increasing by 30% on debut, reaching $52 per share, which gives the company a valuation of $15.1 billion and raised $1.37 billion from the IPO [1][4][5] - The IPO marks a significant milestone for Klarna, which was founded in 2005 and had been hinting at going public since 2019, facing delays due to market conditions [2][4] - Klarna's valuation has seen a dramatic decline from its peak of $45.6 billion in 2021 to $6.7 billion in 2022, reflecting the challenges faced by the fintech sector [4][5] Company Overview - Klarna is a Swedish "buy now, pay later" company that has evolved significantly since its founding, with a strong consumer base and market position [5] - The company has made operational changes, including requiring remote employees to return to the office and shifting focus back to customer support roles [6] IPO Details - Klarna's IPO is the first major public offering of the fall season, with expectations of more companies following suit before year-end [3] - The IPO price of $40 per share was a significant markdown from previous valuations, indicating a shift in investor sentiment [4][5] Investor Insights - Sequoia Capital emerged as the largest beneficiary of Klarna's IPO, holding a stake worth approximately $3.5 billion after the listing [9][16] - Other notable shareholders include cofounder Victor Jacobsson, whose stake is valued at $1.38 billion, and CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski, with a stake worth about $1.17 billion [17][29] - Heartland A/S, owned by billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen, holds a stake valued at $1.36 billion, while Commonwealth Bank of Australia has a stake worth $798 million [21][30] Market Context - Klarna's IPO comes amid a challenging environment for fintech companies, with rising interest rates and regulatory risks impacting investor confidence [5] - The company has faced significant losses, prompting it to set aside more capital to cover potential defaults from customers [5]

And right now we are 2 minutes away from the end of the trading day. Romaine Bostick here with Katie Greifeld taking you through to that closing bell with a global simulcast. And it starts right now.Jess Menton in the radio booth Lisa mateo by her side. Carol Massar and tim Stenovec taking a well unearned day off here on this Wednesday afternoon. Welcome to our audiences across all of our bloomberg platforms.A record setting day potentially here just for the S&P 500, though a somewhat tepid one. That's righ ...