FTSE 100 down 23 points to 10,351 UK services sector PMI improved last month OECD growth forecast cut to 2.8%, or 2.1% if Iran war lasts 3.20pm: UK consumer confidence improves UK consumer confidence last month saw the largest monthly gain in sentiment since in five years, according...
FTSE 100 down 23 points to 10,351 UK services sector PMI improved last month OECD growth forecast cut to 2.8%, or 2.1% if Iran war lasts 3.20pm: UK consumer confidence improves UK consumer confidence last month saw the largest monthly gain in sentiment since in five years, according...
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo outlines mounting geopolitical risks, cautioning about the outlook of the Iran war, the evolving dynamics of US-China relations and the broader challenges facing American foreign policy. He speaks with Haslinda Amin from the sidelines of 'Nomura Investment Forum Asia' in Singapore. (Source: Bloomberg)
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo outlines mounting geopolitical risks, cautioning about the outlook of the Iran war, the evolving dynamics of US-China relations and the broader challenges facing American foreign policy. He speaks with Haslinda Amin from the sidelines of 'Nomura Investment Forum Asia' in Singapore. (Source: Bloomberg)
Alphabet Inc. ’s Google must make changes to its artificial intelligence generated search summaries after the UK’s antitrust watchdog forced it to give publishers more control over how their content is used. The Competition and Markets Authority said that the “world first” move against Google would give publishers the chance to block their content from being used to power AI features in search. “T...
Alphabet Inc. ’s Google must make changes to its artificial intelligence generated search summaries after the UK’s antitrust watchdog forced it to give publishers more control over how their content is used. The Competition and Markets Authority said that the “world first” move against Google would give publishers the chance to block their content from being used to power AI features in search. “This will put publishers, like news organizations, in a stronger position to negotiate content deals with Google,” the CMA said on Wednesday. The order comes as Google faces increasing challenges to its search business from AI chatbots, including OpenAI ’s ChatGPT, that are rapidly changing how users engage with digital content. Google has nine months to implement all the changes imposed by the CMA. Google will immediately begin testing new changes to allow “a subset of website owners” in the UK to manage how their links and content appear in generative AI search features, Mrinalini Loew, general manager at Google Search Ecosystem, said in response. “We’re also actively listening to feedback from publishers and creators, and engaging with regulators like the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority to ensure website owners have the right tools as user preferences evolve,” Loew said in a blog post . The conduct requirements follow the CMA’s decision to designate Google with having so-called strategic market status in search and online advertising business, which gave the watchdog power to demand information and conduct change. The designation does not mean the company acted anti-competitively. As part of the decision, Google must also publish how search content is used by its generative AI, provide publishers with metrics on user engagement with their content in generative AI features and attribute that content clearly.
Vertigo3d/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis I currently view Vistance Networks ( VISN ) as a hold with speculative buy potential for investors comfortable with uncertainty and willing to follow the company’s transformation closely. The company has changed dramatically over the last year. Debt has largely disappeared, the business has become smaller, and management appears focused on buildi...
Vertigo3d/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis I currently view Vistance Networks ( VISN ) as a hold with speculative buy potential for investors comfortable with uncertainty and willing to follow the company’s transformation closely. The company has changed dramatically over the last year. Debt has largely disappeared, the business has become smaller, and management appears focused on building around fewer areas where it believes the company can compete. At the same time, management may not be finished reshaping the company if the proposed RUCKUS sale eventually closes. What caught my attention with VISN is that this is not a traditional turnaround story or a dividend story. The developing situation is whether management can continue creating shareholder value after selling major assets and returning cash to investors. The decision now centers on whether the remaining company becomes stronger, more focused, and better positioned to compete. For current shareholders, there may still be reason for patience. Aurora and RUCKUS continue generating business for the company. The balance sheet appears significantly cleaner, and management has shown a willingness to reduce leverage rather than simply rebuilding debt. Investors still need to track whether the company can continue creating value going forward. For new investors, the investment becomes more speculative. Some may prefer waiting for greater clarity surrounding the proposed RUCKUS sale and what the remaining company looks like afterward. Others may view the transition period as an opportunity if management proves the remaining business can compete and grow over time. To understand where Vistance Networks may be headed, investors first need to understand what changed. What Changed At VISN? Before the sale, the company operated as CommScope , a much larger networking and communications infrastructure company with several business segments supporting broadband, enterprise networking, wireless systems, and cable...
TikTok billionaire Zhang Yiming has overtaken India’s Mukesh Ambani to become Asia’s second-richest person after a rise in ByteDance’s valuation and further progress in the Chinese firm’s AI ambitions. (Source: Bloomberg)
TikTok billionaire Zhang Yiming has overtaken India’s Mukesh Ambani to become Asia’s second-richest person after a rise in ByteDance’s valuation and further progress in the Chinese firm’s AI ambitions. (Source: Bloomberg)
Kagenmi The Australian economy grew by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2026, missing market expectations of 0.5% and slowing from the 0.9% growth recorded in the previous quarter. This marks the weakest quarterly pace of growth in a year, dragged down by sluggish household and government spending, weather-related mining disruptions, and cooling overseas demand. On an annual basis, GDP growth came in ...
Kagenmi The Australian economy grew by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2026, missing market expectations of 0.5% and slowing from the 0.9% growth recorded in the previous quarter. This marks the weakest quarterly pace of growth in a year, dragged down by sluggish household and government spending, weather-related mining disruptions, and cooling overseas demand. On an annual basis, GDP growth came in at 2.5%, undershooting the consensus forecast of 2.7%. Separately, the Ai Group Industry Index for manufacturing edged up to -22.4 in May 2026; while the movement shows marginal relative improvement, the deeply negative print still indicates a severe contraction in sector activity. Meanwhile, the private sector service industry slipped into contraction territory as the S&P Global Australia Services PMI dropped to 48.7 in May from April’s 50.7. This contraction was driven by softening demand and broader macroeconomic headwinds. Reflecting this slowdown, the overall Composite PMI was finalized at 48.7, down significantly from the previous month. The S&P/ASX 200 Index shares edged up 14 points, or 0.2%, to 8,739 in early trade, snapping two sessions of muted activity . The Australian dollar held above $0.71, trading near three-week highs as markets weighed the country’s latest GDP figures. More on Australia: EWA: Why Australia Is Missing Out On The Tech-Led Rally Australia's May manufacturing PMI revised upward to 50.7, easing from April high Australia headline inflation beats expectations, easing to 4.2% Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on iShares MSCI Australia ETF Dividend scorecard for iShares MSCI Australia ETF
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently highlighted a shift from copper to optical interconnects for AI data center connectivity, citing physical limits to copper. Huang pointed to photonics suppliers, including Lumentum Holdings (NasdaqGS:LITE), as important to solving AI infrastructure bottlenecks. Nvidia has committed significant investment to Lumentum and other optical networking firms to support nex...
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently highlighted a shift from copper to optical interconnects for AI data center connectivity, citing physical limits to copper. Huang pointed to photonics suppliers, including Lumentum Holdings (NasdaqGS:LITE), as important to solving AI infrastructure bottlenecks. Nvidia has committed significant investment to Lumentum and other optical networking firms to support next generation AI data center build outs. Lumentum Holdings (NasdaqGS:LITE) is in the spotlight...
Tropical Storm Jangmi is bearing down on Tokyo, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and widespread disruption. Nearly 880 flights have been canceled at airports in the Tokyo area, while power outages have been reported across Japan. (Source: Bloomberg)
Tropical Storm Jangmi is bearing down on Tokyo, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and widespread disruption. Nearly 880 flights have been canceled at airports in the Tokyo area, while power outages have been reported across Japan. (Source: Bloomberg)
In recent days, Siemens and Nvidia announced a three-way collaboration with Fluence Energy to create an AI data center reference architecture that integrates Fluence’s Smartstack battery platform to support power-intensive NVIDIA DSX Vera Rubin “AI factory” designs. While this blueprint does not represent firm orders, it places Fluence’s grid-scale storage at the center of how future AI data cente...
In recent days, Siemens and Nvidia announced a three-way collaboration with Fluence Energy to create an AI data center reference architecture that integrates Fluence’s Smartstack battery platform to support power-intensive NVIDIA DSX Vera Rubin “AI factory” designs. While this blueprint does not represent firm orders, it places Fluence’s grid-scale storage at the center of how future AI data centers could manage grid constraints and reliability challenges. Next, we’ll examine how Fluence’s...
Getty Images Market Review Global Equities (as measured by the MSCI All Country World Index) declined 3.20% in the first quarter of 2026, starting the year with solid gains before falling over 7% in March as conflict gripped the Middle East. Energy was by far the top performing Global sector, followed by Utilities and Materials, which were supported by higher commodity prices, particularly for oil...
Getty Images Market Review Global Equities (as measured by the MSCI All Country World Index) declined 3.20% in the first quarter of 2026, starting the year with solid gains before falling over 7% in March as conflict gripped the Middle East. Energy was by far the top performing Global sector, followed by Utilities and Materials, which were supported by higher commodity prices, particularly for oil and gas. The United Kingdom registered a positive return for the period, largely due to its exposure to the Energy sector, while continental Europe traded down on consumer weakness and as higher fuel prices dampened the economic outlook. Japanese equities also posted a small gain for the period, buoyed by the convincing victory of the pro-growth Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in February's snap elections. North America underperformed for the period, partly due to weakness in the Technology sector, while Emerging Markets outperformed Developed, aided by gains in Korea and Taiwan. Value stocks outperformed their growthier counterparts significantly while small cap stocks outperformed larger companies. Higher quality stocks had solid performance for the period, but the profitability factor remained out of favor. QVS Factor Performance The RS Global team's proprietary QVS (Quality, Valuation and Sentiment) Model evaluates over 10,000 global companies in search of the best investment opportunities. It is designed to identify companies that have the potential to consistently create shareholder value, are reasonably valued, and exhibit favorable market sentiment. The model helps us focus our resources, as we conduct additional research only on companies with the strongest model recommendations. Stocks in the highest ranked quintile of the model outperformed stocks ranked in the lowest quintile for the period, led by the Valuation and Sentiment factors, while Quality lagged. Overall returns were also positive in a majority of regions. The model was strongest in Japan, North Americ...
Mayuree Tipnoysanga/iStock via Getty Images AI demand is straining the entire data center supply chain, chips, power, cooling, and grid infrastructure. RACK targets the companies building that foundation. The AI investment opportunity is expanding beyond software, models and platforms. As adoption grows, more advanced workloads require greater compute capacity and the infrastructure to support it....
Mayuree Tipnoysanga/iStock via Getty Images AI demand is straining the entire data center supply chain, chips, power, cooling, and grid infrastructure. RACK targets the companies building that foundation. The AI investment opportunity is expanding beyond software, models and platforms. As adoption grows, more advanced workloads require greater compute capacity and the infrastructure to support it. That demand is making data centers a larger and more important investment theme. Data centers are where chips, memory, servers, networking equipment, electricity and cooling systems come together to power the next generation of digital workloads. As a result, pressure is building across the data center supply chain, from semiconductors and storage to power equipment, cooling technologies, grid infrastructure and real estate. The VanEck Data Center Supply Chain ETF ( RACK ) is designed to provide targeted exposure to this opportunity by investing in companies contributing to the buildout and operation of data center infrastructure. Rather than focusing only on the most visible AI companies, RACK looks across the supply chain to the businesses helping build, power, cool and connect the infrastructure needed to support rising AI demand. The Investment Case for Data Center Infrastructure Looks Different Today For many investors, AI has been discussed primarily through the companies building models, applications and cloud platforms. But the next phase of the theme may depend just as much on the companies supplying the physical infrastructure. Every AI model, chatbot response and autonomous system requires compute infrastructure: servers, chips, storage, networking, power and cooling housed in data centers. As demand rises, the constraints are appearing across several layers at once. This is what makes the current cycle different. It is not just a semiconductor cycle, a power cycle or a real estate cycle. It is a coordinated infrastructure buildout. However, infrastructure cycle...