Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>The trade war detente between the US and China is over. US legislation to further restrict China's access to chips was initiated the day after the Busan meeting.</li>
<li>China is formulating its US-style Validated End User (VEU) system for Rare Earth Element (REE) exports, which will restrict shipments for US military use.</li>
<li>The real conflict between the US and China over technology and rare earths is likely to involve many volatile periods in the coming year as both attempt to achieve self-sufficiency.</li>
</ul>


The trade war detente between the US and China is over. US legislation to further restrict China's access to chips was initiated the day after the Busan meeting.
China is formulating its US-style Validated End User (VEU) system for Rare Earth Element (REE) exports, which will restrict shipments for US military use.
The real conflict between the US and China over technology and rare earths is likely to involve many volatile periods in the coming year as both attempt to achieve self-sufficiency.


The Art of the Trade War: COVERT OPERATIONS AND PROPAGANDA

<ul>
<li>Chinese AI model downloads have surpassed those of the U.S. putting at risk the valuations of the large hyperscalers in the U.S.</li>
<li>Chinese open-source AI models offer a more secure, efficient, and lower cost alternative to Chat GPT -5 , Claude 4.5 Sonnet, and other U.S. LLMs.  </li>
<li>We believe that there will be a turning point when investors will realize that the Chinese open-source AI models have undercut the premise of U.S. global dominance of AI.</li>
</ul>


Chinese AI model downloads have surpassed those of the U.S. putting at risk the valuations of the large hyperscalers in the U.S.
Chinese open-source AI models offer a more secure, efficient, and lower cost alternative to Chat GPT -5 , Claude 4.5 Sonnet, and other U.S. LLMs.  
We believe that there will be a turning point when investors will realize that the Chinese open-source AI models have undercut the premise of U.S. global dominance of AI.


CHINA'S AI COMMODITIZATION: Can Global AI Valuations Survive?

Chief Executive Officer, Emmer Capital Partners Limited

Manishi Raychaudhuri

Chief Executive Officer

Emmer Capital Partners Limited

Emmer Capital Partners is an Asia Pacific focused financial advisory firm engaging in strategic financial asset allocation advice, bespoke thematic research and advising early-stage companies and connecting them to investors. Emmer Capital provides macro-economic and multi-asset investment strategy inputs to institutions, family offices, private wealth managers, private equity, and corporate boards directly and through independent research platforms. Emmer Capital also advises a wide range of startup companies on fund raising and business strategy. Emmer Capital's active engagement with the print and electronic media reaches a broad spectrum of investors across the globe.

<ul>
<li>In October FIIs bought US$2.36bn of Asian equities, sharply lower than US$8.42bn in September. They sold Taiwan (-US$3.2bn), bought Korea (US$4.2bn) and India (US$1.66bn). ASEAN continued to be sold.</li>
<li>FIIs' dampened sentiment was triggered by Asia's toppish valuations and a decline in probability of a Fed rate cut in December, which in turn led to a stronger US Dollar.</li>
<li>Going forward we expect flows to recover in Taiwan and stay healthy in Korea, as sentiment on AI capex recovers, driven by strong growth and robust capex targets of hyperscalers.</li>
</ul>


In October FIIs bought US$2.36bn of Asian equities, sharply lower than US$8.42bn in September. They sold Taiwan (-US$3.2bn), bought Korea (US$4.2bn) and India (US$1.66bn). ASEAN continued to be sold.
FIIs' dampened sentiment was triggered by Asia's toppish valuations and a decline in probability of a Fed rate cut in December, which in turn led to a stronger US Dollar.
Going forward we expect flows to recover in Taiwan and stay healthy in Korea, as sentiment on AI capex recovers, driven by strong growth and robust capex targets of hyperscalers.


Asian Equities: Foreign Flows Wobbled in October; Taiwan Sold, Korea Moderated; India Bounced Back

AI | Semiconductors | Commodities, Mint Finance

Raghav Vashisht

AI | Semiconductors | Commodities

Deep Fundamental Analysis

Mint Finance

Mint Finance's investment research blends deep fundamental analysis with technical & quant insights. Investment strategies straddle across multiple asset classes with risk management embedded into every trade to deliver an outsized reward-to-risk ratio.

Mint Finance's research is centered around three key themes. First, energy transition and climate change. Second, artificial intelligence. Third, shifting world order with its impact across politics and monetary economics.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Citi’s claim that AI has triggered the first true semiconductor upcycle in 25 years is partially convincing but also shows signs of overreach.</li>
<li>While ASPs have soared and logic chip margins are inflated, signs of margin compression, overordering, and inventory noise suggest the pricing boom may be peaking.</li>
<li>Investors may need to distinguish between capital-efficient AI bets and overleveraged plays, especially as credit markets begin to price in growing execution and demand risks.</li>
</ul>


Citi’s claim that AI has triggered the first true semiconductor upcycle in 25 years is partially convincing but also shows signs of overreach.
While ASPs have soared and logic chip margins are inflated, signs of margin compression, overordering, and inventory noise suggest the pricing boom may be peaking.
Investors may need to distinguish between capital-efficient AI bets and overleveraged plays, especially as credit markets begin to price in growing execution and demand risks.


Citi’s AI Supercycle Thesis Faces a Logic Check

Semiconductor & Technology Specialist, Ingenuity

William Keating

Semiconductor & Technology Specialist

Ingenuity

Our focus is exclusively on in-depth research & consulting in the broader semiconductor industry. We focus on the key players, namely Intel, Micron, Qualcomm, Apple, Samsung, NVIDIA, AMD, TSMC & Global Foundries - as well as some of the lesser known, but nonetheless critical, companies such as ASML (for EUV), Mellanox, Cavium, Xilinx etc. We specialise in their products, roadmaps, process technologies, competitive advantages & threats etc. We also help our clients understand the implications of new and emerging technologies, e.g. 3D X-Point, 3D NAND, Carbon Nanotubes, Autonomous Driving, Graphene, Silicon Photonics, Wafer-Level Optics, Artificial Intelligence, FPGA, GPU, ASIC etc. 

Semiconductor Analysis & Research

<ul>
<li>If all of the publicly announced sovereign AI initiatives come to pass, they could account for upwards of $1 trillion in AI infrastructure spending through 2030</li>
<li>For now, "sovereign" AI means mostly means made in the USA. However, there a growing demand for "sovereign" AI from China, particularly among countries disillusioned by the US trade wars</li>
<li>In general AI infrastructure, the US is outspending China six to one in 2025. Could one be spending too much and the other spending too little? Let's see... </li>
</ul>


If all of the publicly announced sovereign AI initiatives come to pass, they could account for upwards of $1 trillion in AI infrastructure spending through 2030
For now, "sovereign" AI means mostly means made in the USA. However, there a growing demand for "sovereign" AI from China, particularly among countries disillusioned by the US trade wars
In general AI infrastructure, the US is outspending China six to one in 2025. Could one be spending too much and the other spending too little? Let's see... 


Sovereign AI. National Strategic Imperative, FOMO Or Both?

United States

Microsoft Corporation operates as a software company. The Company offers applications, extra cloud storage, and advanced security solutions. Microsoft serves customers worldwide.

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Microsoft Corp (MSFT US)

The Art of the Trade War: COVERT OPERATIONS AND PROPAGANDA

The trade war detente between the US and China is over. US legislation to further restrict China's access to chips was initiated the day after the...

David Mudd

CHINA'S AI COMMODITIZATION: Can Global AI Valuations Survive?

Chinese AI model downloads have surpassed those of the U.S. putting at risk the valuations of the large hyperscalers in the U.S.

David Mudd

Asian Equities: Foreign Flows Wobbled in October; Taiwan Sold, Korea Moderated; India Bounced Back

FIIs cut Asian equity purchases in October due to high valuations & lower Fed rate cut probability driving a stronger USD. Expect flow revival in...

Manishi Raychaudhuri

Citi’s AI Supercycle Thesis Faces a Logic Check

Citi believes AI has sparked a semiconductor upcycle, but warnings about potential overreach and pricing peaks still exist. Investors should be...

Mint Finance

Sovereign AI. National Strategic Imperative, FOMO Or Both?

In general AI infrastructure, the US is outspending China six to one in 2025. Could one be spending too much and the other spending too little?...

William Keating

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52-week Range

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The Art of the Trade War: COVERT OPERATIONS AND PROPAGANDA

The trade war detente between the US and China is over. US legislation to further restrict China's access to chips was initiated the day after the...

David Mudd

CHINA'S AI COMMODITIZATION: Can Global AI Valuations Survive?

Chinese AI model downloads have surpassed those of the U.S. putting at risk the valuations of the large hyperscalers in the U.S.

David Mudd

Asian Equities: Foreign Flows Wobbled in October; Taiwan Sold, Korea Moderated; India Bounced Back

​FIIs cut Asian equity purchases in October due to high valuations & lower Fed rate cut probability driving a stronger USD. Expect flow revival in...

Manishi Raychaudhuri

Citi’s AI Supercycle Thesis Faces a Logic Check

​Citi believes AI has sparked a semiconductor upcycle, but warnings about potential overreach and pricing peaks still exist. Investors should be...

Mint Finance

Sovereign AI. National Strategic Imperative, FOMO Or Both?

In general AI infrastructure, the US is outspending China six to one in 2025. Could one be spending too much and the other spending too little?...

William Keating

FIIs cut Asian equity purchases in October due to high valuations & lower Fed rate cut probability driving a stronger USD. Expect flow revival in...

Citi believes AI has sparked a semiconductor upcycle, but warnings about potential overreach and pricing peaks still exist. Investors should be...