Hi, it’s Manuel Baigorri in Hong Kong and Takako Taniguchi in Tokyo, looking at M&A activity in Japan building on last year’s record. Also today, Thyssenkrupp officials are doubtful that a deal to sell company’s steel division to Jindal is doable. Today’s top stories SpaceX blockbuster IPO lures investors into murky private deals . PayPay, SoftBank raise $879.8 million in payments firm’s US IPO. T...
Hi, it’s Manuel Baigorri in Hong Kong and Takako Taniguchi in Tokyo, looking at M&A activity in Japan building on last year’s record. Also today, Thyssenkrupp officials are doubtful that a deal to sell company’s steel division to Jindal is doable. Today’s top stories SpaceX blockbuster IPO lures investors into murky private deals . PayPay, SoftBank raise $879.8 million in payments firm’s US IPO. Thyssenkrupp doubts Jindal steel deal can be agreed. Allianz, Sun Life consider bids for HSBC Life Singapore. Tokyo shift A record deals boom last year put Japan on the priority list for bankers and investors. As we approach the end of the first quarter, momentum suggests 2026 will be another banner year. Leading the charge—after a standoff—the Toyota group has reached an agreement with Elliot Investment Management to privatize Toyota Industries in a transaction valuing the company at $43 billion, making it the biggest acquisition ever of a Japanese firm. Tokyo-based SoftBank, meanwhile, is a key investor in OpenAI’s $110 billion fundraising, committing $30 billion . These huge transactions are already helping dealmakers in Japan to one of their biggest quarterly hauls on record, data compiled by Bloomberg show. “Corporate Japan is transforming and the active inbound and outbound M&A markets, both in public and private M&A, are compelling evidence,” said Tracy Whiriskey , a partner and global co-head of insurance at law firm Linklaters. With Japan’s population in steady decline, companies have been seeking growth elsewhere. At the same time, there’s been a substantial increase in inbound M&A on the back of the country’s reforms to improve corporate governance and shareholder returns. Private equity-led transactions and activism are on the rise, along with corporate carve-outs and take-private deals. “These factors are converging to unlock transactions that would have been inconceivable a decade ago, creating the conditions for a genuinely transformative year in Japanese M&A,...
March 12 (Reuters) - Lucid showcased a two-seater robotaxi concept without pedals and a steering wheel and announced a self-driving tech subscription for its electric vehicles at its investor day event on Thursday. The monthly subscription would be priced between $69 and $199 depending on the level of autonomous driving capability a customer chooses, the EV maker said. Lucid's move puts it in l...
March 12 (Reuters) - Lucid showcased a two-seater robotaxi concept without pedals and a steering wheel and announced a self-driving tech subscription for its electric vehicles at its investor day event on Thursday. The monthly subscription would be priced between $69 and $199 depending on the level of autonomous driving capability a customer chooses, the EV maker said. Lucid's move puts it in line with bigger rivals Rivian and Tesla, which have both shifted to subscription-based advanced driver assistance systems in recent months. Automakers are increasingly looking to software and recurring revenue streams to bolster their businesses beyond vehicle sales. Lucid's two-seater robotaxi concept is similar to Tesla's Cybercab, which is also designed without a steering wheel or pedals and operates entirely on Full Self-Driving system. The Elon Musk-led company last month said its first Cybercab had officially rolled off the production line at its Gigafactory in Texas. Musk said Tesla expects to begin mass production of the Cybercab in April. Starting last month, Tesla owners could no longer purchase its Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature as a one-time, permanent option, with the company shifting to a monthly subscription plan priced at $99 per month. Musk has since said the $99 monthly price will rise "as FSD's capabilities improve." Rivian launched its in-house driver assistance system, Autonomy+, priced at $49.99 per month or $2,500 as a one-time purchase, undercutting Tesla's pricing. (Reporting by Akash Sriram and Abhirup Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)
Last month, the New York Attorney General (NYAG) brought a lawsuit against Valve accusing the company of promoting "illegal gambling" through its randomized in-game loot boxes. On Wednesday, Valve issued its first public comment on the case , comparing its digital loot boxes to randomized real-world purchases like blind-bagged toys or packs of trading cards. "Generations have grown up opening base...
Last month, the New York Attorney General (NYAG) brought a lawsuit against Valve accusing the company of promoting "illegal gambling" through its randomized in-game loot boxes. On Wednesday, Valve issued its first public comment on the case , comparing its digital loot boxes to randomized real-world purchases like blind-bagged toys or packs of trading cards. "Generations have grown up opening baseball card packs and blind boxes and bags, and then trading and selling the items they receive," Valve wrote. "On the physical side, popular products used in this way include baseball cards, Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, and Labubu." Though that may seem like an apt comparison on the surface, Valve's loot boxes differ from these real-world examples in large part because of Valve's control of the Steam Marketplace, which serves as the only legitimate way to exchange or resell those items. While owners of real-world items are free to trade or sell them however they want, Valve has cracked down on many third-party sites that enable the exchange of in-game items— especially when those items are used as glorified chips for gambling games . Read full article Comments
Image source: The Motley Fool. March 12, 2026 Call participants Founder and CEO — Leaf Li CFO — Arthur Chen Director of Investor Relations — Daniel Yuan Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] Takeaways Net new funded accounts -- Added 230,000 net new funded accounts, down 8% sequentially but up 9% year over year, with Hong Kong moderating, and Japan plus Malaysia showing ...
Image source: The Motley Fool. March 12, 2026 Call participants Founder and CEO — Leaf Li CFO — Arthur Chen Director of Investor Relations — Daniel Yuan Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] Takeaways Net new funded accounts -- Added 230,000 net new funded accounts, down 8% sequentially but up 9% year over year, with Hong Kong moderating, and Japan plus Malaysia showing double-digit sequential growth. -- Added 230,000 net new funded accounts, down 8% sequentially but up 9% year over year, with Hong Kong moderating, and Japan plus Malaysia showing double-digit sequential growth. Total funded accounts -- Reached approximately 3.4 million, a 40% year-over-year increase. -- Reached approximately 3.4 million, a 40% year-over-year increase. Total client assets -- HKD 1.23 trillion at quarter-end, up 66% year over year and flat sequentially due to mark-to-market losses on Hong Kong holdings offsetting net inflows. -- HKD 1.23 trillion at quarter-end, up 66% year over year and flat sequentially due to mark-to-market losses on Hong Kong holdings offsetting net inflows. Margin financing & securities lending balance -- Expanded 7% quarter over quarter to HKD 67.7 billion, aided by increased U.S. margin trading activity and Hong Kong IPO leverage demand. -- Expanded 7% quarter over quarter to HKD 67.7 billion, aided by increased U.S. margin trading activity and Hong Kong IPO leverage demand. Total trading volume -- Hit a record HKD 3.98 trillion, up 38% year over year and 2% from the prior quarter; U.S. stock trading turnover grew 17% sequentially to HKD 3 trillion. -- Hit a record HKD 3.98 trillion, up 38% year over year and 2% from the prior quarter; U.S. stock trading turnover grew 17% sequentially to HKD 3 trillion. Hong Kong stock trading volume -- Contracted 31% sequentially to HKD 821 billion, partially cushioned by interest in gold, and precious metals. -- Contracted 31% sequentially to HKD 821 billion, partially cushioned by interest in gold,...
is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. WordPress.org is launching a new tool that lets you create a private website directly in your browser, according to an announcement on Wednesday. You can access the...
is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. WordPress.org is launching a new tool that lets you create a private website directly in your browser, according to an announcement on Wednesday. You can access the tool by heading to my.WordPress.net, which opens up a workspace where you can start building a website without signing up to WordPress, choosing a hosting plan, or selecting a domain. As noted by WordPress, the private sites created using its in-browser workspace “aren’t optimized for traffic, discovery, or presentation.” Instead, WordPress positions the tool as a way to create a private environment for creating drafts, journaling, and research, as well as for experimenting with plugins, themes, and features. WordPress says that all my.WordPress.net data stays in your browser and “is not uploaded anywhere.” You just need to enter your name to get started. Image: WordPress The workspace is built on WordPress Playground, the same tool that creates WordPress demos. Its storage starts at around 100MB, and offers a variety of plugins you can play around with, such as a personal RSS reader, a customer relationship management tool, and an AI-powered assistant.
Bloomberg Economics' Anna Wong predicts AI will be deflationary for the economy over the next two-to-five years. She speaks at an event for Bloomberg subscribers in Washington, DC on March 11. (Source: Bloomberg)
Bloomberg Economics' Anna Wong predicts AI will be deflationary for the economy over the next two-to-five years. She speaks at an event for Bloomberg subscribers in Washington, DC on March 11. (Source: Bloomberg)
European Central Bank Governing Council member Fabio Panetta said that officials mustn’t let war-driven inflation stoke wages, while cautioning against too strong a response. In comments on Tuesday in Rome, the Bank of Italy governor told his institution’s annual meeting of shareholders that fallout from the Iran crisis risks outlasting any hostilities currently gripping the Middle East. “A highly...
European Central Bank Governing Council member Fabio Panetta said that officials mustn’t let war-driven inflation stoke wages, while cautioning against too strong a response. In comments on Tuesday in Rome, the Bank of Italy governor told his institution’s annual meeting of shareholders that fallout from the Iran crisis risks outlasting any hostilities currently gripping the Middle East. “A highly uncertain environment is taking root and is likely to extend beyond the acute phase of the conflict,” Panetta said. “It will be essential to monitor expectations closely and to prevent a wage-price spiral, while ensuring that monetary policy action remains proportionate and consistent with the ECB’s mandate.” Panetta’s comments provide a snapshot of how thinking at the central bank may be evolving now that the war has entered its second month. US President Donald Trump has told aides he’s willing to end hostilities even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, according to the Wall Street Journal. But an attack on a tanker by Iranian drones early on Tuesday — one of the most significant such assaults of the conflict so far — underscores how military action is far from abating. The remarks by Panetta coincided with the release of data both in Italy and in the euro region, underscoring how the energy crunch caused by the war has stoked inflation. Given the parallels with the gas-driven shock in 2022, officials are poised to ensure a timely response if needed before any second-round effects take hold. “Monetary policy is again facing a negative supply shock amid high uncertainty, as was the case in 2022, in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” Panetta said, while adding that interest-rate settings are now different. “Compared with 2022, monetary policy is now in a more favorable position to safeguard price stability.” Whatever happens next, it’s already the case that price growth will be above the ECB’s 2% target this year, with feebler economic expansion, a...
Aveanna Healthcare ( AVAH ) on Thursday announced an agreement to acquire Family First Homecare, a pediatric home care provider, for $175.5M in a bid to expand its geographic footprint in specialized care. Atlanta, Georgia-based Aveanna ( AVAH ) disclosed in a regulatory filing that it reached an equity purchase agreement to buy all issued and outstanding membership interests of Family First in an...
Aveanna Healthcare ( AVAH ) on Thursday announced an agreement to acquire Family First Homecare, a pediatric home care provider, for $175.5M in a bid to expand its geographic footprint in specialized care. Atlanta, Georgia-based Aveanna ( AVAH ) disclosed in a regulatory filing that it reached an equity purchase agreement to buy all issued and outstanding membership interests of Family First in an all-cash transaction. The home healthcare provider added that it will fund the acquisition with a combination of cash on hand and debt. Operating 27 locations across seven states, including Florida, Family First mainly delivers private duty nursing services targeting the pediatric population. “Family First Homecare is a tremendous cultural fit for us and reinforces our strategic mission to deliver high-quality care while bringing unprecedented value and clinical innovation to our payors and stakeholders,” Aveanna ( AVAH ) CEO Jeff Shaner remarked. The transaction is expected to close in Q2 2026. More on Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AVAH) Presents at 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference Transcript Aveanna rises as full-year revenue outlook exceeds consensus Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Historical earnings data for Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Financial information for Aveanna Healthcare Holdings
In Brief Israeli AI agent startup Wonderful has raised $150 million in a Series B funding round that values it at $2 billion, coming just four months after the company raised a $100 million Series A. The new round was led by Insight Partners and saw participation from existing investors, including Index Ventures, IVP, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Vine Ventures. The company has so far raised $286...
In Brief Israeli AI agent startup Wonderful has raised $150 million in a Series B funding round that values it at $2 billion, coming just four months after the company raised a $100 million Series A. The new round was led by Insight Partners and saw participation from existing investors, including Index Ventures, IVP, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Vine Ventures. The company has so far raised $286 million in total. Just thirteen months in, Wonderful says it has seen strong demand for its customer service AI agent platform across telecom, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. The startup focuses on non-English-speaking markets and claims to tailor its platform to each market it serves, fine-tuning for language, cultural norms, and regulatory environments, and sending local teams to manage deployment. The company said it’s seen good results with its strategy of sending engineering teams to work with its customers, sometimes on premises, to deploy and integrate its AI tech into their workflows and systems, and tailor those according to their market. Wonderful, which currently operates across 30 countries in Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, said it will use the fresh cash to expand operations to more countries. It will also bump up its headcount to 900 from the current 300 to double down on its strategy of deploying teams to help its customers get the tech up and running quickly. “In 2026, enterprises will be deciding who to partner with to operationalize AI across their organizations, and those decisions will hinge on who can deliver deep integrations across complex infrastructures and tailor solutions to each organization’s unique environment,” Bar Winkler, CEO and co-founder of Wonderful, said in a statement. “We built our platform and operating model around that reality, and the demand we’re seeing globally reflects it. This capital allows us to expand our ability to support enterprises to do what they want with AI.”
Klaus Vedfelt/DigitalVision via Getty Images The Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund ( EXG ) is a closed-end fund designed to provide investors with exposure to domestic and international, dividend-paying equities while enhancing income through a covered call options strategy. While the strategy has historically performed well, providing investors with consistent monthly ...
Klaus Vedfelt/DigitalVision via Getty Images The Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund ( EXG ) is a closed-end fund designed to provide investors with exposure to domestic and international, dividend-paying equities while enhancing income through a covered call options strategy. While the strategy has historically performed well, providing investors with consistent monthly income, alternative funds may be more optimal when considering performance, fees, and portfolio diversification. In this report, I will discuss the overall theme of the fund and provide an argument for investors to consider the combination of two alternative funds, the Adams Diversified Equity Fund ( ADX ) for domestic equity exposure and the Avantis International Large-Cap Value ETF ( AVIV ) for international exposure. About Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund EXG was launched by Eaton Vance on February 27, 2007 and trades on the NYSE Arca Exchange. EXG has a modest fee of 107bps, comparable to funds like the Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund ( CSQ ) and SRH Total Return Fund ( STEW ), which have management fees of 100bps and 90bps, respectively, excluding additional fees applied to leverage. EXG is presently diversified across 95 holdings with a 32% options overlay, meaning that 32% of the total assets have covered calls applied to the positions. Seeking Alpha When comparing funds, I believe investors must weigh their overall investment objectives and relative fees related to the funds. For example, an investor may want broad diversification across domestic & international equities, value & growth, small-, mid-, and large-cap equities, and fixed income. While EXG provides investors with both domestic and international equities, I believe performance can be enhanced segmenting out the two themes through the use of two alternative strategies. While EXG has performed relatively well compared to peer strategies, the Adams Diversified Equity Fund ( ...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET Call participants Chief Executive Officer — Ryan Ezell Chief Financial Officer — Bond Clement Executive Chairman — Mike Critelli Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] Takeaways Total revenue -- Increased 33% year over year for the quarter, with both quarterly and annual revenue reaching the highest...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET Call participants Chief Executive Officer — Ryan Ezell Chief Financial Officer — Bond Clement Executive Chairman — Mike Critelli Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] Takeaways Total revenue -- Increased 33% year over year for the quarter, with both quarterly and annual revenue reaching the highest levels since 2017. -- Increased 33% year over year for the quarter, with both quarterly and annual revenue reaching the highest levels since 2017. Data analytics segment revenue -- Achieved record highs, growing exponentially, and the fourth quarter delivered more revenue than the entire segment produced in all of 2024. -- Achieved record highs, growing exponentially, and the fourth quarter delivered more revenue than the entire segment produced in all of 2024. Data analytics gross profit -- Rose to 48% of total company gross profit during the quarter, up sharply from 8% in the prior-year period. -- Rose to 48% of total company gross profit during the quarter, up sharply from 8% in the prior-year period. Adjusted EBITDA -- Gained 123% for the full year using the revised calculation methodology, with fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA up 40% versus fiscal Q4 2024. -- Gained 123% for the full year using the revised calculation methodology, with fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA up 40% versus fiscal Q4 2024. Net income -- Improved 191% year over year for the full year, with fourth quarter net income at $3 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, versus $4.4 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in fiscal Q4 2024 (impacted by higher depreciation, interest, and tax costs). -- Improved 191% year over year for the full year, with fourth quarter net income at $3 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, versus $4.4 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in fiscal Q4 2024 (impacted by higher depreciation, interest, and tax costs). Recurring high-margin revenue -- Ended the year with over $12 million ...
Bayberry Capital Partners LP fully exited its position in Golar LNG (GLNG 2.24%) during the fourth quarter, according to a February 17, 2026, SEC filing. What happened According to an SEC filing published February 17, 2026, Bayberry Capital Partners LP sold its entire 346,000-share stake in Golar LNG (GLNG 2.24%) during the fourth quarter. The net position change for the quarter, reflecting the sh...
Bayberry Capital Partners LP fully exited its position in Golar LNG (GLNG 2.24%) during the fourth quarter, according to a February 17, 2026, SEC filing. What happened According to an SEC filing published February 17, 2026, Bayberry Capital Partners LP sold its entire 346,000-share stake in Golar LNG (GLNG 2.24%) during the fourth quarter. The net position change for the quarter, reflecting the share sale, was $13.98 million. What else to know Top five holdings after the filing: NYSE:LION: $29.76 million (9.6% of AUM) NASDAQ:CHDN: $23.03 million (7.4% of AUM) NYSE:WCC: $21.55 million (6.9% of AUM) NYSE:PRMB: $19.63 million (6.3% of AUM) NYSE:SXT: $19.47 million (6.3% of AUM) As of Thursday, shares of Golar LNG were priced at $44.80, up 32% over the past year and far outperforming the S&P 500’s roughly 21% gain in the same period. Company overview Metric Value Price (as of Thursday) $44.80 Market capitalization $4.6 billion Revenue (TTM) $393.52 million Net income (TTM) $65.68 million Company snapshot Golar LNG designs, builds, owns, and operates marine infrastructure for LNG liquefaction and regasification, including LNG carriers, floating liquefaction (FLNG) vessels, and floating storage regasification units (FSRUs). The firm generates revenue through operation and chartering of LNG shipping and FLNG assets. It serves a global client base in the energy sector, including utilities and industrial customers seeking LNG transportation and infrastructure solutions. Golar LNG Limited is a leading provider of floating LNG infrastructure, with a business model centered on the operation and charter of LNG carriers, FLNG vessels, and FSRUs. The company leverages its technical expertise and asset base to deliver flexible, scalable solutions to a global client base. Its competitive advantage lies in its integrated approach to LNG logistics and its ability to serve diverse customer needs across the LNG value chain. What this transaction means for investors Looking at Golar’s la...