Category

Daily Briefs

Daily Brief China: Lung Fung Group, CiDi Inc, Iron Ore, Longfor Properties, Hang Seng Index and more

By | China, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • Lung Fung Group Holdings Ltd Pre-IPO Tearsheet
  • CiDi IPO – Peer Comp and Thoughts on Valuation
  • Iron Ore’s Speculative Run Loses Steam
  • Lucror Analytics – Morning Views Asia
  • Hong Kong Single Stock Options Weekly (Dec 08–12): Late Support Emerges as Breadth and Volumes Slide


Lung Fung Group Holdings Ltd Pre-IPO Tearsheet

By Akshat Shah

  • Lung Fung Group (LFG HK) is looking to raise at least US$100m in its upcoming Hong Kong IPO. The deal will be run by DBS.
  • LFG is a Hong Kong-based department store chain retailing a wide variety of pharmaceutical products, health products, beauty products and other consumer goods.
  • According to Frost & Sullivan in 2024, LFG was the largest pharmaceutical product retailer by retail sales value in Hong Kong, with a 5.2% market share.

CiDi IPO – Peer Comp and Thoughts on Valuation

By Akshat Shah

  • CiDi Inc (CIDI HK) is looking to raise about US$183m in its upcoming Hong Kong IPO.
  • CiDi is a leading autonomous driving technology provider for commercial vehicles in China, with a strong foothold in the autonomous mining segment.
  • In our previous note, we looked at the firm’s past performance. In this note, we talk about the IPO valuations.

Iron Ore’s Speculative Run Loses Steam

By Umang Agrawal

  • Iron ore’s rally appeared sentiment driven, as narrowing mill margins and easing blast furnace activity highlight softening fundamentals and fading demand support.
  • Broader technical momentum is weakening as MACD turns bearish and prices retreat from Bollinger resistance, flagging rising downside risks ahead.
  • The DCE-SGX spread’s position below key MAs and repeated lower Bollinger band tests signal weak momentum, leaving upside uncertain and the near-term bias tilted bearish.

Lucror Analytics – Morning Views Asia

By Leonard Law, CFA

  • In today’s Morning Views publication we comment on developments of the following high yield issuers: Longfor Group, Seazen Group, Nickel Industries
  • UST yields were stable yesterday, with long-end yields rising marginally despite a decent auction of 30Y notes (which stopped through marginally, at 4.773% award vs. the 4.774% when-issued yield).
  • The yield on the 2Y UST was unchanged at 3.54%, while the yield on the 10Y UST rose 1 bp to 4.16%. Equities were mixed, as tech stocks declined on disappointing earnings from Oracle Corp. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% to 6,901, while the Nasdaq declined 0.3% to 23,594.

Hong Kong Single Stock Options Weekly (Dec 08–12): Late Support Emerges as Breadth and Volumes Slide

By John Ley

  • Early weakness gave way to a late rebound, leaving HSI modestly lower on the week after a choppy but contained trading pattern.
  • Breadth continued to deteriorate, with fewer than one third of optionable names finishing higher for a second consecutive week. Option volumes continue lower trend.
  • Pop Mart stood out with a large increase in option volume after heavy selling to start the week.

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Daily Brief India: Tata Steel Ltd, Diffusion Engineers, ICICI Prudential AMC, Shadowfax Technologies and more

By | Daily Briefs, India

In today’s briefing:

  • Tata Steel: Strategic Announcements Boost Long-Term Positioning; Valuation Still Balanced
  • Diffusion Engineers: Betting on High-Margin Heavy Engineering Through Historic, Doubled Capex
  • ICICI Prudential AMC – Reasonably Priced for the Longer Term.
  • Shadowfax Technologies Pre-IPO: Strong Revenue Growth, but Margins Remain Depressed


Tata Steel: Strategic Announcements Boost Long-Term Positioning; Valuation Still Balanced

By Rahul Jain

  • Recent strategic announcements improve pellet security, downstream mix, and low-carbon readiness, strengthening Tata Steel’s long-term positioning.
  • Balance sheet can fund near-term projects, but upstream expansions require careful sequencing amid non-linear cyclical earnings.
  • Valuation remains balanced at ₹165–185/share, with Europe performance the key swing factor for re-rating.

Diffusion Engineers: Betting on High-Margin Heavy Engineering Through Historic, Doubled Capex

By Sudarshan Bhandari

  • Diffusion Engineers (DIFFNKG IN) is India’s integrated engineering solutions provider specializing in welding consumables, wear plates/parts, and heavy engineering equipment for core industrial sectors. 
  • The company is targeting to double its top-line in 3 to 4 years with a sustainable EBITDA margin range of 15% to 17%
  • The most critical growth trigger is the INR 70 crore capacity expansion at the Nimji and B33 facilities, which is designed to double production capacity and drive internal cost efficiencies.

ICICI Prudential AMC – Reasonably Priced for the Longer Term.

By Himanshu Dugar

  • Ipru AMC, the largest AMC with high active AUM share and 60+% of Equity AUM boasts of one of the best operating metrics in the industry.
  • The IPO is being priced in line with peers based on FY25 accounting PE (40x vs 40-44x), however, based on Core PE the relative valuations stands at 40x vs 48/52x
  • We are bullish on the industry/company from a long-term perspective, although near-term valuations may look fully priced in light of regulatory tightening of profit pool and intensifying competition.

Shadowfax Technologies Pre-IPO: Strong Revenue Growth, but Margins Remain Depressed

By Hong Jie Seow

  • Shadowfax Technologies (1310315D IN) is looking to raise US$225m in its upcoming India IPO.
  • Shadowfax Technologies third-party logistics (3PL) company that leverages a unified platform to facilitate digital commerce across India.
  • In this note, we look at the company’s past performance.

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Daily Brief United States: Alphabet, Microsoft Corp, Nasdaq-100 Stock Index, TeraWulf, Duke Energy, SoundHound AI , Monday.com , Amazon, Staar Surgical Co, Broadcom and more

By | Daily Briefs, United States

In today’s briefing:

  • Alphabet. More Of The AI, Less Of The Drama
  • Microsoft Is Turning The Fed’s Rate Cut Into A 2026 AI Spending Supercycle!
  • US Indices (SPX,NDX) Tactical Outlook After After the Fed’s Final Rate Cut
  • TeraWulf: How Far Can Its High-Impact Google-Backed Partnerships Push Its Market Climb?
  • Duke Energy: An Insight Into Its Dynamic Load Growth Capture
  • SoundHound Inside: How Strategic Partnerships Are Powering Its Next Big AI Revenue Surge!
  • Monday.com Inside: How Diversified Sales Channels Are Helping It Win Bigger, Faster!
  • Amazon.com Inc – Amazon Just Made Groceries a 5-Hour Game—Here’s What’s Fueling the Shift!
  • STAAR Surgical Faces Shareholder Activism and Alcon’s Revised Bid Amidst China Sales Recovery and Strategic Uncertainty
  • Oracle, Broadcom: Communication Errors – Bullish Tone when the Market Only Hear Concerns


Alphabet. More Of The AI, Less Of The Drama

By William Keating

  • Marc Benioff on Gemini 3: I’ve used ChatGPT every day for 3 years. Just spent 2 hours on Gemini 3. I’m not going back. The leap is insane
  • Anthropic on expansion of Google Cloud TPU:  The expansion is worth tens of billions of dollars and is expected to bring well over a gigawatt of capacity online in 2026.
  • DeepMind is Alphabet’s dark horse. AlphaFold is one of the most significant AI-related accomplishments ever. What will they turn their attention to next? Let’s see…

Microsoft Is Turning The Fed’s Rate Cut Into A 2026 AI Spending Supercycle!

By Baptista Research

  • The big story heading into 2026 is simple.
  • Microsoft looks like the early favorite to be the market’s biggest AI winner.
  • Every new budget cycle pushes more workloads, more data, and more everyday work into Azure and Copilot.

US Indices (SPX,NDX) Tactical Outlook After After the Fed’s Final Rate Cut

By Nico Rosti

  • The Fed cut rates this week—likely the last cut for an extended period—and moved into a wait-and-see stance / monitoring mode, to assess economic conditions ahead.
  • Both the S&P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX) and the Nasdaq-100 Stock Index (NDX INDEX) have suffered very high volatility this week, after the Fed decision, after several flat days.
  • This insight will try to forecast what is the next probable direction for the two main US indices in the next few weeks.

TeraWulf: How Far Can Its High-Impact Google-Backed Partnerships Push Its Market Climb?

By Baptista Research

  • TeraWulf’s third-quarter 2025 earnings call reflects both noteworthy achievements and areas of concern, contributing to a balanced investment thesis.
  • This period has been pivotal, with the company signing a landmark 360-megawatt IT load agreement at its Lake Mariner campus, in collaboration with Fluidstack and backed by Google.
  • This 10-year contract is anticipated to generate substantial annual revenue and operating income, underscoring the strategic shift towards high-performance computing (HPC) and establishing TeraWulf as a leader in this transition.

Duke Energy: An Insight Into Its Dynamic Load Growth Capture

By Baptista Research

  • Duke Energy’s third-quarter 2025 results showcased a strong financial performance, with an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.81, up from $1.62 in the same period last year.
  • This growth can primarily be attributed to the ongoing expansion in the company’s electric utilities sector.
  • Duke Energy has also revised its full-year earnings guidance to a narrower range of $6.25 to $6.35 per share, indicating confidence in its financial outlook for the remainder of the year.

SoundHound Inside: How Strategic Partnerships Are Powering Its Next Big AI Revenue Surge!

By Baptista Research

  • SoundHound, a pioneer in the field of voice and conversational AI, presented its third-quarter results for 2025.
  • The company highlighted robust revenue growth, expanded technological reach, and strategic acquisitions, underscoring a period of precise execution amid booming enterprise AI adoption.
  • In terms of financial performance, SoundHound reported a sizable 68% increase in revenue year-over-year, reaching $42 million for the quarter.

Monday.com Inside: How Diversified Sales Channels Are Helping It Win Bigger, Faster!

By Baptista Research

  • Monday.com reported robust financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, reflecting both strengths and challenges in its business strategy and execution.
  • The company’s revenue rose by 26% year-over-year to $317 million, demonstrating solid growth, particularly driven by expansion in their large customer base.
  • The company successfully added more large customers, with significant growth in accounts of $50,000, $100,000, and $500,000 in annual recurring revenue (ARR).

Amazon.com Inc – Amazon Just Made Groceries a 5-Hour Game—Here’s What’s Fueling the Shift!

By Baptista Research

  • Amazon’s bold move to expand same-day perishable grocery delivery to over 2,300 U.S. cities is now intersecting with an equally bold policy shift from the Federal Reserve.
  • With the central bank announcing a rate cut for the first time in two years, Amazon finds itself in a macro environment that could supercharge its delivery ambitions—or complicate them.
  • The Fed’s monetary easing lowers borrowing costs, boosts consumer liquidity, and alters capital allocation across sectors.

STAAR Surgical Faces Shareholder Activism and Alcon’s Revised Bid Amidst China Sales Recovery and Strategic Uncertainty

By Special Situation Investments

  • STAAR Surgical’s China sales rebounded to 60% of normalized levels, supporting activist investors’ opposition to Alcon’s takeover offer.
  • Alcon increased its bid to $30.75/share, but Broadwood and Yunqi rejected it, citing inadequate shareholder value.
  • Shareholder vote on Alcon’s offer is scheduled for December 19, with potential board reshuffle if takeover is blocked.

Oracle, Broadcom: Communication Errors – Bullish Tone when the Market Only Hear Concerns

By Nicolas Baratte

  • Oracle: results were decent. Management released a huge Remaining Performance Obligation number aka future AI Infra revenue. That spooked the market. 
  • Broadcom: a very good quarter, AI semi revenue guidance back on track. But Broadcom will reach its 2027 revenue target ($60-90bn) with 5 customers, not 3.
  • Results and outlook (for both) were ok to good; market reaction very negative.  1) the AI narrative is dead  2) the correction is especially steep for expensive stocks  

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Daily Brief Japan: Raksul Inc, TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX, 3 D Matrix Ltd, GiG Works, Human Creation Holdings, Hurxley Corp, i-mobile Co Ltd, NEOJAPAN Inc, NexTone, Nomura System Corporation and more

By | Daily Briefs, Japan

In today’s briefing:

  • Raksul (4384 JP): Goldman-Backed Founder MBO Highlights Japan’s New Tech Take-Private Cycle
  • Will Substantive Reforms to Governance Be Postponed Again This Time for Building a Track Record?
  • 3 D Matrix Ltd (7777 JP): 1H FY04/26 flash update
  • GiG Works (2375 JP): Full-year FY10/25 flash update
  • (09 Dec 2025) Human Creation Holdings(7361 JP) — Fisco Company Research
  • (12 Dec 2025) Hurxley Corp(7561 JP) — Fisco Company Research
  • i-mobile Co Ltd (6535 JP): Q1 FY07/26 flash update
  • NEOJAPAN Inc (3921 JP): Q3 FY01/26 flash update
  • (10 Dec 2025) NexTone(7094 JP) — Fisco Company Research
  • (11 Dec 2025) Nomura System Corporation(3940 JP) — Fisco Company Research


Raksul (4384 JP): Goldman-Backed Founder MBO Highlights Japan’s New Tech Take-Private Cycle

By Rahul Jain

  • Goldman Sachs will take Raksul private via a ~¥100bn MBO, restoring meaningful governance influence to the founder—one of the most explicitly founder-aligned take-privates in Japan’s tech sector.
  • Public markets consistently undervalued Raksul’s multi-vertical SME platform; going private enables longer-horizon investment, selective M&A, and disciplined scaling across printing, logistics, marketing tech, and adjacent digital services.
  • Deal completion probability is high (90–95%): a fair premium, full founder support, and limited interloper risk leave minority shareholders best served by tendering into the offer.

Will Substantive Reforms to Governance Be Postponed Again This Time for Building a Track Record?

By Aki Matsumoto

  • Transitioning to company with audit and supervisory committee is neutral for governance improvement, but the reason governance improvement hasn’t decisively improved is that few companies adopt the US-type 3-committee structure.
  • Currently, discussions are underway on company with US type 3 Committees, specifically the proposal that “only when outside directors constitute majority, shall the authority to determine nominations reside with theBOD.”
  • This resembles the situation when companies established audit committees prioritized demonstrating improvements in corporate governance over substantive enhancements to corporate governance itself.

3 D Matrix Ltd (7777 JP): 1H FY04/26 flash update

By Shared Research

  • Operating revenue increased 46.8% YoY to JPY4.8bn, driven by strong sales of TDM-621, especially in the US.
  • The company returned to profitability with an operating profit of JPY361mn, improving JPY893mn YoY, aided by forex gains.
  • Full-year FY04/26 forecast predicts JPY9.3bn operating revenue and JPY400mn operating profit, reversing previous year’s losses.

GiG Works (2375 JP): Full-year FY10/25 flash update

By Shared Research

  • GiG Works reported revenue of JPY22.3bn (-12.2% YoY) and net income of JPY272mn, surpassing full-year forecasts.
  • The company recorded impairment losses of JPY171mn in the Web3 Services and Sharing Economy businesses for FY10/25.
  • For FY10/26, GiG Works forecasts revenue of JPY22.0bn, operating profit of JPY50mn, and net income of JPY10mn.

(09 Dec 2025) Human Creation Holdings(7361 JP) — Fisco Company Research

By FISCO

Key points (machine generated)

  • Human Creation Holdings is an independent solution integrator listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under ticker 7361.
  • The company is transforming by expanding into M&A brokerage, IT consulting, development, maintenance, and BPO services.
  • Through mergers and acquisitions, it aims to enhance capabilities and position itself as a next-generation management consulting firm.

This article is sourced from an online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only.


(12 Dec 2025) Hurxley Corp(7561 JP) — Fisco Company Research

By FISCO

Key points (machine generated)

  • Hurxley is projected to achieve an operating profit of 1.9 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2026, with a 55% interim progress rate.
  • The company focuses on diversified mergers and acquisitions in the food sector, particularly in prepared meals, store assets and solutions, and logistics and food processing.
  • Its prepared meals segment includes the ‘Hokka Hokka Tei’ brand, and the store assets segment was enhanced by the acquisition of TRN Corporation in 2006.

This article is sourced from an online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only.


i-mobile Co Ltd (6535 JP): Q1 FY07/26 flash update

By Shared Research

  • In FY07/26, the company reported JPY10.1bn revenue (+129.7% YoY) and JPY8mn operating profit (-99.3% YoY).
  • Consumer Service business Q1 FY07/26 revenue was JPY9.6bn (+154.2% YoY) with JPY76mn operating profit (-93.0% YoY).
  • Online Advertising business Q1 FY07/26 revenue was JPY563mn (-12.6% YoY) with JPY50mn segment loss (profit in FY07/25).

NEOJAPAN Inc (3921 JP): Q3 FY01/26 flash update

By Shared Research

  • Revenue increased to JPY6.1bn (+15.2% YoY), operating profit to JPY1.9bn (+36.7% YoY), and recurring profit to JPY2.0bn (+35.1% YoY).
  • Revenue from desknet’s NEO Cloud rose to JPY2.7bn (+30.1% YoY) due to a price revision in September 2024.
  • Revised full-year FY01/26 forecast: revenue JPY8.2bn, operating profit JPY2.4bn, net income JPY1.7bn, annual dividend JPY50.00 per share.

(10 Dec 2025) NexTone(7094 JP) — Fisco Company Research

By FISCO

Key points (machine generated)

  • The report by FISCO Ltd. analyzes NexTone, a company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under ticker 7094.
  • It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute an investment invitation.
  • FISCO disclaims guarantees on the report’s accuracy and includes disclaimers about investment risks.

This article is sourced from an online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only.


(11 Dec 2025) Nomura System Corporation(3940 JP) — Fisco Company Research

By FISCO

Key points (machine generated)

  • FISCO Ltd. forecasts a 6.0% sales increase for Nomura System Corporation, reaching 3,472 million yen by December 2025.
  • The report predicts significant declines in operating profit, ordinary profit, and net profit, with decreases of 18.9% and 22.3%.
  • The company aims to improve earnings through a steady increase in prime projects and delivering high value-added solutions.

This article is sourced from an online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only.


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Most Read: Yixin Group , Raksul Inc, Aditya Birla Capital Ltd, ANE Cayman Inc, Rothwell International Co, Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd H, Austal Ltd, Emeren Group and more

By | Daily Briefs, Most Read

In today’s briefing:

  • CSI Hong Kong Connect Internet Index Rebalance: Large Flows & Impact on Friday
  • [Japan M&A] CEO & Chairman Entice GS to Sponsor an MBO for Recently Lackluster Raksul (4384)
  • NIFTY200 Momentum30 Index Rebalance: Huge Turnover and Flow in December
  • Monetary Policy Tide Is Turning Up
  • ANE Cayman (9956 HK): CDH Holds All The Cards
  • A Tender Offer of 52.5% Stake in Rothwell International by Trillion Luck Group
  • 2026 High Conviction Idea: Zijin Mining – Copper Scarcity Rerating to HK$48
  • HEW: Packing Festive Presents
  • Austal (ASB AU): Hanwha Cleared To Lift Stake To 19.9%
  • SSI Newsletter Highlights: Merger Arbitrage Opportunities, Strategic Reviews and More


CSI Hong Kong Connect Internet Index Rebalance: Large Flows & Impact on Friday

By Brian Freitas

  • There are 2 constituent changes for the CSI Hong Kong Connect Internet Index in December. Plus there are large capping changes for some stocks.
  • Estimated one-way turnover at the rebalance is 11.9% and the round-trip trade is HK$26.6bn (US$3.4bn). There are 16 stocks with more than 1x ADV to trade.
  • The adds drifted lower vs the deletes in September and October but have started outperforming in December. There could be more outperformance following announcement of the index changes.

[Japan M&A] CEO & Chairman Entice GS to Sponsor an MBO for Recently Lackluster Raksul (4384)

By Travis Lundy

  • Raksul Inc (4384 JP) is a business roll-up business. They do printing, and advertising, and marketing, and supply. They want to be all things to all SMEs. 
  • They are pretty good at it. Revenues and EBIT have been growing at 20-30% a year for years, and are scheduled to grow 19% and 26% for several years ahead.
  • The bid is up 40% from last, but that gets them to a 30-month high. The register is very open. Lots of active institutional shareholders who have to agree. Maybe.

NIFTY200 Momentum30 Index Rebalance: Huge Turnover and Flow in December

By Brian Freitas

  • There will be 19 constituent changes for the Nifty200 Momentum 30 Index that will be implemented at the close on 30 December.
  • Estimated one-way turnover is 64.6% resulting in a round-trip trade of INR 161.3bn (US$1.8bn). There are 27 stocks with over 1x ADV to trade.
  • Some stocks will have passive flows from other index trackers at the same time while others are potential adds/close adds to global indices over the next couple of months.

Monetary Policy Tide Is Turning Up

By Phil Rush

  • Markets are already pricing the return of rate hikes in 2026 for Canada, Australia and New Zealand, while policymakers elsewhere are starting to warn of the possibility.
  • Transitional support to structural adjustments needs unwinding, as Canada signals most prominently. Broader activity resilience and inflation reveal the risk of overstimulation.
  • The BoE already committed a policy mistake by easing too early, and is split by those recognising the persistent danger. Market pricing remains too dovish for 2026.

ANE Cayman (9956 HK): CDH Holds All The Cards

By David Blennerhassett

  • The feedback I get on this transaction canvasses comments such as: “it just doesn’t feel right“, or “there’s something funny going on“, or simply “weird“. 
  • With~20% of the shareholder register, involving opaque pre-IPO investors, none of whom have provided IUs, a Shanghai Henlius (2696 HK)-like situation unfolding is bandied around. The comparison is, however, tenuous.
  • Further inquiries suggest CDH is likely in control of 18% of that 20%. This needs to be clarified.

A Tender Offer of 52.5% Stake in Rothwell International by Trillion Luck Group

By Douglas Kim

  • After the market close on 11 December, Trillion Luck Group announced a tender offer of a 52.5% stake in Rothwell International Co (900260 KS).
  • The tender offer price is 1,580 won per share, which is 58% higher than current price.
  • There has not been a meaningful positive impact of keeping Rothwell publicly listed in Korea. It makes more sense to take the company private. 

2026 High Conviction Idea: Zijin Mining – Copper Scarcity Rerating to HK$48

By Rahul Jain

  • Structural copper tightness, strong gold cash flows, and rising silver prices position Zijin for multi-year earnings growth and a valuation re-rating in 2026.
  • Leadership transition reduces founder dependence, strengthens governance credibility, and enables multiple expansion as Zijin aligns with global copper-scarcity peers.
  • Base valuation is HK$40–41; spot and peer convergence support HK$48–50, implying 35–40% upside with clear catalysts across copper expansions and gold stability.

HEW: Packing Festive Presents

By Phil Rush

  • Another hawkish repricing occurred, despite little support from the Fed, although the six members favouring higher rates reveal hawkish discomfort beyond current voters.
  • Trade with China is still avoiding the trade war well enough to prevent a massive shock, and UK GDP data kept following its residual seasonality rather than fundamental stories.
  • It’s all happening next week as central banks and statistical authorities ram releases in before Christmas. Bailey’s bias to pivot should deliver a BoE cut while the ECB holds.

Austal (ASB AU): Hanwha Cleared To Lift Stake To 19.9%

By David Blennerhassett

  • After the US’ CFIUS permitted the Hanwha Group to acquire up to a 100% stake in Aussie-based shipbuilding and defense firm Austal Ltd (ASB AU), FIRB’s support appeared a lock.
  • FIRB has now cleared Hanwha to lift its stake to 19.9% from 9.9%, “and cannot increase its shareholding above 19.9 per cent“. Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Tattarang currently holds ~19.4%. 
  • This development should not come as a surprise. Fundamentally, Austal is not inexpensive. 

SSI Newsletter Highlights: Merger Arbitrage Opportunities, Strategic Reviews and More

By Special Situation Investments

  • Emeren Group’s merger arbitrage presents a 13% spread with a shareholder vote imminent, despite operational softness concerns.
  • TrueCar’s buyout vote is set for December 22, with AutoNation potentially reducing required financing by joining.
  • AUB Group’s merger discussions with EQT and CVC ended without a binding proposal, reflecting management’s confidence in fundamentals.

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Daily Brief Australia: Predictive Discovery, Fenix Resources , Austal Ltd, Canyon Resources, Talga Group and more

By | Australia, Daily Briefs

In today’s briefing:

  • Predictive (PDI AU) & Robex (RBX AU) Together Again
  • Predictive Discovery (PDI AU): Is Robex’s Revised Offer Really a Superior Proposal?
  • Fenix Resources (FEX AU) 3-Year Production Plan Has An Exciting Ramp And Upgrade To FY26
  • Austal (ASB AU): Hanwha Cleared To Lift Stake To 19.9%
  • Canyon Resources — Minim Martap remains on track
  • TLGRF: Innovation Leader in the Development and Production of Graphite Battery Materials.


Predictive (PDI AU) & Robex (RBX AU) Together Again

By David Blennerhassett

  • After Perseus Mining (PRU AU) fielded a scrip option for 17.8%-held Predictive Discovery (PDI AU), I questioned whether Robex Resources (RXR AU) would exercise its matching rights. I was wrong. 
  • Robex has “lifted its bid“, now 7.862 PDI for every Robex share. Under the revised Offer Robex will own 46.5% of the combined entity, down from 49%.
  • PDI considers the new terms to be superior to Perseus’ tilt. Apparently, so do several of PDI’s largest shareholders.  Perseus has now terminated its binding proposal. Out of the picture?

Predictive Discovery (PDI AU): Is Robex’s Revised Offer Really a Superior Proposal?

By Arun George

  • Under the revised merger terms, Robex Resources (RBX CN) shareholders would receive 7.862 Predictive Discovery (PDI AU) shares per Robex share (vs 8.667 previously). PDI shareholders get 53.5% of MergerCo.
  • The Board has declared that Robex’s offer is superior to the Perseus scheme’s offer. Strangely, on a value basis, the Robex revised offer is still lower than the Perseus offer.
  • Robex’s offer is mainly superior due to support from major PDI shareholders, who reportedly oppose a Perseus Mining (PRU AU) scheme, thereby lowering the likelihood of a revised Perseus offer. 

Fenix Resources (FEX AU) 3-Year Production Plan Has An Exciting Ramp And Upgrade To FY26

By Sameer Taneja

  • Fenix Resources (FEX AU) presented a 3-year production plan, with iron ore shipments growing from 2.4 million tons in FY25 to 5.7 million tons in FY28 (midpoint guidance).  
  • The company upgraded its FY26 production guidance to 4.2-4.8 million tons (from earlier 4.1 million tons), while maintaining its cash costs in the 70-80 AUD/ton range (C1 cash costs).  
  • A feasibility study has commenced, which will take Fenix Resources (FEX AU) into the 6-10 million range from FY29—more details in a management conference call on 15th December. 

Austal (ASB AU): Hanwha Cleared To Lift Stake To 19.9%

By David Blennerhassett

  • After the US’ CFIUS permitted the Hanwha Group to acquire up to a 100% stake in Aussie-based shipbuilding and defense firm Austal Ltd (ASB AU), FIRB’s support appeared a lock.
  • FIRB has now cleared Hanwha to lift its stake to 19.9% from 9.9%, “and cannot increase its shareholding above 19.9 per cent“. Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Tattarang currently holds ~19.4%. 
  • This development should not come as a surprise. Fundamentally, Austal is not inexpensive. 

Canyon Resources — Minim Martap remains on track

By Edison Investment Research

Canyon Resources confirmed it remains on track to commission the Minim Martap bauxite project in line with previous expectations, as Cameroon returns to ‘business as usual’ following the presidential elections. It continues to aim for first production in early 2026 and first shipment around mid-2026. The company remains well capitalised, having completed a first tranche of the A$205m funding package, with the remainder expected to close in Q1 CY26. We maintain our project level valuation of A$735m, which adjusted for corporate overheads and pro forma net cash implies a value of A$0.35/share, before accounting for the project’s vast residual resource.


TLGRF: Innovation Leader in the Development and Production of Graphite Battery Materials.

By Zacks Small Cap Research

  • Talga Group (OTCQX: TLGRF, ASX: TLG) is a global leader in the development and production of graphite battery materials.
  • Its flagship product, Talnode -C, is a fast-charge graphite anode material made in Sweden with an ultra-low carbon footprint.
  • The company’s battery material technologies enable anode manufacturing from both natural and recycled graphite.

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Daily Brief Thailand: HD, Thai Oil Pcl and more

By | Daily Briefs, Thailand

In today’s briefing:

  • Primer: HD (HD12 TB) – Dec 2025
  • Thai Oil – ESG Report – Lucror Analytics


Primer: HD (HD12 TB) – Dec 2025

By αSK

  • Hana Microelectronics is a leading independent Electronics Manufacturing Service (EMS) provider in Southeast Asia with a diversified manufacturing footprint across Thailand, China, the US, Cambodia, and South Korea.
  • The company is strategically positioned to benefit from long-term secular growth trends in the semiconductor industry, including the increasing electronic content in automobiles (especially EVs), the proliferation of IoT devices, and the rollout of 5G technology.
  • While facing near-term headwinds from sluggish demand in certain segments and foreign exchange volatility, the company’s investment in high-growth areas like Silicon Carbide (SiC) power semiconductors and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) presents significant future growth opportunities.

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Thai Oil – ESG Report – Lucror Analytics

By Leonard Law, CFA

  • Thai Oil Public Company Limited (TOP) is primarily engaged in downstream oil refining, as well as the manufacture of petrochemical products.
  • TOP operates Thailand’s largest complex oil refinery, with a capacity of 275 k bbl/day (accounting for c. 21% of the country’s total oil refining capacity).
  • In addition, the company is expanding capacity through its clean fuel project, with the aim of raising capacity by c. 45% to 400 k bbl/day. 

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Daily Brief South Korea: Isupetasys, Rothwell International Co, SNT Holdings, SK Holdings Co Ltd/Old, Celltrion Inc and more

By | Daily Briefs, South Korea

In today’s briefing:

  • KOSPI200 Index Rebalances – A Year in Review (2025)
  • A Tender Offer of 52.5% Stake in Rothwell International by Trillion Luck Group
  • SNT Holdings: Issuing CB and EB Totalling 148 Billion Won
  • Primer: SK Holdings Co Ltd/Old (003600 KS) – Dec 2025
  • Celltrion (068270 KS): Stellar 3Q Result; Poised for Accelerated Growth on Expanding Portfolio


KOSPI200 Index Rebalances – A Year in Review (2025)

By Douglas Kim

  • In this insight, we discuss the price performance actions of 32 stocks that have been rebalanced in KOSPI200 in 2025.
  • Among the 16 additions to the KOSPI200 index in 2025, the average share price performances are up on average 19.5% (3 months performance prior to the announcement dates).
  • Among the 16 deletions to the KOSPI200 index in 2025, the average share price performances are down on average 13.5% (3 months performance prior to the announcement dates).

A Tender Offer of 52.5% Stake in Rothwell International by Trillion Luck Group

By Douglas Kim

  • After the market close on 11 December, Trillion Luck Group announced a tender offer of a 52.5% stake in Rothwell International Co (900260 KS).
  • The tender offer price is 1,580 won per share, which is 58% higher than current price.
  • There has not been a meaningful positive impact of keeping Rothwell publicly listed in Korea. It makes more sense to take the company private. 

SNT Holdings: Issuing CB and EB Totalling 148 Billion Won

By Douglas Kim

  • SNT Holdings (036530 KS) is issuing convertible bonds (CB) and exchangeable bonds (EB) totalling 148 billion won to improve its financial structure and secure funds for new business investments. 
  • The investor in this CB and EB is IMM Credit & Solution (ICS), which will acquire the entire amount through a private placement.
  • This additional capital raise could result in S&T Holdings potentially increasing its stake in Smec Co Ltd (099440 KS).

Primer: SK Holdings Co Ltd/Old (003600 KS) – Dec 2025

By αSK

  • SK Inc. operates as the holding company for South Korea’s SK Group, a major conglomerate with a diversified portfolio spanning energy, telecommunications, semiconductors, chemicals, and biopharmaceuticals.
  • The company is strategically focused on four key growth areas: advanced materials, green energy, biopharmaceuticals, and digital technologies, actively investing to secure future growth engines.
  • As a holding company, its financial performance is closely tied to the performance of its major subsidiaries, including SK Hynix, SK Innovation, and SK Telecom, making it a proxy for the broader South Korean industrial landscape.

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Celltrion (068270 KS): Stellar 3Q Result; Poised for Accelerated Growth on Expanding Portfolio

By Tina Banerjee

  • Celltrion Inc (068270 KS) has reported 3Q25 result, with double-digit YoY growth in key parameters. Key parameters also improved sequentially. Stellar 3Q performance was powered by high-margin young products.
  • In 4Q25, Celltrion is expected to achieve sequential revenue growth of at least 30%, the COGS ratio in the mid- 30% range, and the operating profit margin improving to 40%.
  • Stable revenue from mature products and rapid growth from newly launched products should drive topline growth. With the merger effect ending in 3Q25, profitability should improve in 4Q.

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Daily Brief Singapore: Rubber Future SGX TSR20, Flagright and more

By | Daily Briefs, Singapore

In today’s briefing:

  • Sri Lanka’s Rubber Exports Lose Grip as New Challenges Shape Outlook
  • Primer: Flagright (FLAG123 SP) – Dec 2025


Sri Lanka’s Rubber Exports Lose Grip as New Challenges Shape Outlook

By Vinod Nedumudy

Highlights

• Exports dip nearly 7% YoY in September due to weak tire shipments

• President firm on SVAT removal, raising liquidity concerns

• EUDR compliance becomes key export test in days to come

  • During the first nine months, total export earnings fell 5.97% to US$713.62 million, largely driven by a 16.3% drop in tire and tube shipments.

Primer: Flagright (FLAG123 SP) – Dec 2025

By αSK

  • Flagright is an AI-native, no-code Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance and fraud prevention platform targeting fintechs, banks, and other financial institutions.
  • The company’s key differentiator is its use of generative AI and AI agents to automate compliance workflows, significantly reducing false positives and operational costs for its clients.
  • Having raised a total of $7.6 million in funding, Flagright is in a growth phase, expanding its product suite and global presence, particularly in North America and Europe.

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Daily Brief United States: Wealthfront Corporation, Crude Oil, Palantir Technologies , Clear Secure, Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Autonation Inc, Celanese Corp Series A, CoreWeave and more

By | Daily Briefs, United States

In today’s briefing:

  • Analogues Over Anecdotes: Calibrating Wealthfront’s Trading Path
  • From Algorithms to Exchanges: Wealthfront Makes Its Move to Nasdaq
  • Oil futures: Crude off lows as Venezuelan tanker seized by US
  • Palantir Just Landed A $448M Navy Deal—What It Means for U.S. Shipbuilding!
  • CLEAR: From Airports to Enterprises—A Game-Changing Growth Story in Secure Identity & Seamless Travel!
  • Clearwater Analytics Surges as Activist Starboard Demands Sale – Is a Takeover Imminent?
  • AutoNation Acquires Iconic Toyota Dealer—Is This the Start of a Regional Takeover?
  • Oil futures: Crude slides as surplus concerns offset geopolitics
  • Celanese Corporation: The High-Conviction Growth Blueprint Combining Cost Discipline
  • CoreWeave’s Risk-Proof Growth Blueprint: The Powerful Combo of Diversification


Analogues Over Anecdotes: Calibrating Wealthfront’s Trading Path

By IPO Prophet

  • Wealthfront is expected to begin trading on Friday, December 12, 2025, under the ticker WLTH on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
  • The IPO comprises 34.6 million shares—approximately 21.5 million new shares issued by Wealthfront and 13.1 million shares offered by existing shareholders—at a price range of $12.00 to $14.00 per share.
  • As is our practice, we start by establishing context using analogues—past offerings that share structural, economic, or behavioral similarities with the new issue.

From Algorithms to Exchanges: Wealthfront Makes Its Move to Nasdaq

By IPO Prophet

  • Wealthfront Corporation, the Palo Alto automated investing and digital banking platform, has filed to go public on Nasdaq under the ticker “WLTH.” 
  • The company plans to offer 34.6 million shares of common stock at an estimated range of $12.00–$14.00, with cornerstone commitments from BlackRock and Wellington, who may purchase up to $150 million of shares at the IPO price.
  • Based on the fully diluted share count disclosed in the S-1, Wealthfront’s initial public offering implies a fully diluted company market value of approximately $2.4 billion at the midpoint.

Oil futures: Crude off lows as Venezuelan tanker seized by US

By Quantum Commodity Intelligence

  • Crude oil futures recovered from monthly lows Wednesday after reports that the US had seized a Venezuelan tanker, although fears over a massive surplus kept benchmarks at the low end of the December trading range.
  • Front-month Feb26 ICE Brent  futures were trading at  $62.67/b (2042 GMT) versus Tuesday’s settle of $61.94/b, while Jan26 NYMEX WTI  was at  $59.02/b against a previous close of $58.25/b.
  • Brent recovered from an intraday low $61.35/b after officials confirmed that the US Coast Guard had led an operation to seize the vessel carrying Venezuelan oil.

Palantir Just Landed A $448M Navy Deal—What It Means for U.S. Shipbuilding!

By Baptista Research

  • The U.S. Navy just signed a $448 million contract with Palantir Technologies to overhaul how it maintains and repairs nuclear submarines.
  • This partnership centers on “Ship OS,” a new AI-driven logistics platform built by Palantir.
  • It aims to digitize and streamline the Navy’s sprawling and often outdated maintenance and supply chain processes.

CLEAR: From Airports to Enterprises—A Game-Changing Growth Story in Secure Identity & Seamless Travel!

By Baptista Research

  • CLEAR, a pioneer in secure identity solutions, showcased a mix of advantageous and challenging aspects in its latest quarterly results.
  • The company reported a year-over-year revenue increase of 15.5%, reaching $229.2 million, and a 14.3% rise in total bookings to $260.1 million.
  • The growth figures surpassed previous guidance, indicating strong financial performance.

Clearwater Analytics Surges as Activist Starboard Demands Sale – Is a Takeover Imminent?

By Baptista Research

  • Clearwater Analytics surged in premarket trading after reports that activist hedge fund Starboard Value has taken a nearly 5% stake in the company.
  • The move, first reported by Reuters, signals growing investor pressure on the cloud-based investment accounting and analytics provider.
  • Starboard is reportedly urging Clearwater to enhance its share price and consider a full sale process, especially in light of recent interest from private equity suitors such as Thoma Bravo, Warburg Pincus, and Permira.

AutoNation Acquires Iconic Toyota Dealer—Is This the Start of a Regional Takeover?

By Baptista Research

  • AutoNation just made a strategic pit stop in the Baltimore area with its acquisition of Jerry’s Toyota, a more than 40-year-old dealership that’s been a fixture in the Mid-Atlantic automotive scene.
  • The move, announced December 9, marks AutoNation’s first Toyota acquisition in over a decade and expands its footprint deeper into a region where it’s been steadily building scale.
  • What makes this deal unique isn’t just the brand—Toyota is among the most durable and profitable franchises in retail auto—but the dealership’s heritage and the deliberate succession planning involved.

Oil futures: Crude slides as surplus concerns offset geopolitics

By Quantum Commodity Intelligence

  • Crude oil futures on Thursday were trading at multi-week lows as geopolitical events vied with growing surplus concerns to set the direction of travel for the remainder of 2025.
  • Front-month Feb26 ICE Brent  futures were trading at  $61.47/b (2021 GMT) versus Wednesday’s settle of $62.21/b, while Jan26 NYMEX WTI  was at  $57.78/b against a previous close of $58.46/b.
  • But the glut scenario was clearly winning over this week, said analysts, with continued expansion on the supply side met with only modest demand growth.

Celanese Corporation: The High-Conviction Growth Blueprint Combining Cost Discipline

By Baptista Research

  • Celanese Corporation’s third-quarter 2025 earnings call outlined a mix of strategic initiatives and ongoing challenges facing the company.
  • The company’s leadership, including CEO Scott Richardson and CFO Chuck Kyrish, focused on financial results, operational strategies, and future plans.
  • Performance in the third quarter showcased some positive aspects.

CoreWeave’s Risk-Proof Growth Blueprint: The Powerful Combo of Diversification

By Baptista Research

  • CoreWeave’s third quarter of 2025 results highlight significant growth and the challenges the company faces in meeting high demand within the AI cloud services sector.
  • The company reported a notable revenue increase of 134% year-over-year to $1.4 billion, demonstrating robust demand for its AI cloud platform.
  • The revenue backlog has surged to $55 billion, which is indicative of strong future demand and customer confidence in CoreWeave as a critical player in AI infrastructure.

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