Thematic (Sector/Industry)

• The Dow hit a record high as investors rotated into value and blue-chip stocks, while the S&P 500 edged higher and the Nasdaq slipped modestly.
• AI stocks slid after CoreWeave’s weak guidance, SoftBank exited Nvidia to fund OpenAI, and Michael Burry alleged accounting-driven profit inflation across major tech firms.
• SoftBank posted record H1 FY25 profit of ¥2.92tn, driven by Vision Fund and OpenAI gains, boosting NAV to ¥36.2tn; sold Nvidia stake and announced a 1:4 share split.

• Bullish growth estimates from AMD will help alleviate negativity to start.
• Yesterday saw some disappointing SPE/semi results from Kokusai Elec, Sumco and JX Advanced metals.
• Sony surprised to the upside with a flurry of analysts weighing in with TP hikes overnight.

• ‘Buy’ calls for Genting Singapore; DBS keeps ‘hold’ rating.
• Lim & Tan starts ‘buy’ on Zixin Group, targeting a price of 6.6 cents.
• Maybank raises Sanli Environmental’s target price after $205M PUB project win.

• Weave has significantly expanded its portfolio to 1,400 units through the acquisition of apartments in Tokyo.
• AB Capital has enhanced its presence in Japan by acquiring properties in Osaka and securing a deal with Marriott.
• Savills has appointed Neil Brookes, previously of Knight Frank, to lead its APAC Capital Markets division.

• US markets experienced declines, particularly in high growth sectors, amid fears of a potential AI bubble
• Constellation Software’s stock drawdown may be attributed to investor fears of increased competition from AI, but the company’s strong customer relationships and focus on solving customer problems suggest they may not be as vulnerable as perceived

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• Wall Street surged on optimism over a Senate deal to end the US government shutdown, while President Trump promised Americans a $2,000 “dividend” funded by tariff revenues.
• Tech stocks rebounded strongly, driving the Nasdaq up 2.2% near record highs, led by gains in NVIDIA (+5.8%), Palantir (+8.8%), and Micron (+6.5%).
• Japanese stocks rose on Monday ahead of the Senate deal, with futures up further +0.7% on tech optimism, though upcoming SoftBank earnings may steer near-term sentiment.

• Takaichi loosening the investment spigots for nuclear and renewable will help the likes of JSW and Renova.
• The European Commission banning ZTE and Huawei from telco networks will be a boon for NEC.
• TSMC signalling 12 new leading edge fabs helps semi-caps outperforming, setting strong stage for Japan to start.

• CGSI raises DBS target price above $60, joining Citi and Maybank.
• RHB raises OCBC’s target price by 7% but remains ‘neutral’ post 3QFY2025 results.
• RHB maintains DBS as ‘buy’ and UOB as ‘neutral’ after 3QFY2025 results.

• Q2FY26 results show a “stabilizing” sector, but this was a illusion. The 30-90 bps margin beat was gifted almost entirely by a 3.6% INR depreciation.
• The aggregate numbers hide a structural bifurcation. Tier-1 players like TCS face GenAI “productivity headwinds”, forcing “involuntary attrition”. Agile Mid-Tiers like Coforge and Persistent are monetizing AI and winning share.
• Investors can no longer buy “the IT sector.” The Q2 results prove it’s a tale of two industries, a choice between leaders facing a painful transition and high-growth, high-premium challengers.

• Nasdaq -0.2% lower, capping a 3% weekly decline amid continued pressure on AI-related stocks.
• The U.S. government shutdown, now in its 40th day, remains deadlocked over ACA subsidies and spending cuts, with no imminent resolution.
• Profit taking in AI related names will remain a focus for the market. JP earnings have largely been positive. Softbank to report Tues – another test for sentiment

• Sandisk +15% as the NAND S/D imbalance shows no signs of easing until next year at least.
• Olympus’s new CEO steps into his role by announcing 2,000 job cuts which the market will like.
• Rohm throwing cold water on its AI ambitions makes this a soon to be consensus short for now.

• Increasing US and Australian ties in the critical minerals space provide some opportunities
• After the initial hype and capital raisings, better entry prices have arisen
• The upside-downside ratio is  high and government support provides a backstop

• Jensen Huang claims that the world is running out of workers & there will be a shortage of 50 million workers by the end of the decade. Enter humanoid robots.
• Elon Musk claims that AI and robots will take all our jobs, working will be optional and we can grow vegetables while he’s on his way to becoming a trillionaire
• Technology and society are rapidly approaching a critical decision point. Jobs for robots or for humans?

• Celltrion inlicensed two antibody-based new drug candidates for the treatment of autoimmune diseases in KRW1T deal. Dong-A ST received approval for epilepsy drug, Xcopri, developed by SK Biopharmaceuticals in Korea.
• Hanmi Pharmaceutical will distribute and sell three major COPD treatments developed by Boehringer Ingelheim. Shandong Boan Biotechnology’s marketing application for denosumab biosimilar has been accepted in the UK.  
• Eisai has settled patent infringement litigation with Torrent Pharmaceuticals related to Lenvima in the U.S. Otsuka Holdings initiated Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating quabodepistat, for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

• India’s digital payments market is booming, expected to grow from Rs. 116.8 trillion in FY2025 to over Rs. 250 trillion by FY2029.
• Pine Labs targets India’s 80+ million small and mid-sized merchants with UPI-first devices and sector-specific affordability solutions.
• India’s largest issuer of gift cards, Pine Labs is also a leading player in checkout affordability and merchant payment solutions.

• For the week: Nikkei: -4.1% | TPX -1% | JPY 153.49 (-0.52¥ )
• Sector:  Services +3.3%, Agri +3.2%, Other Prod. +3%; Telco -7.1%, Shippers -4.1%, Elec. Equip. -3.8% 
• Stocks: Anritsu +19%, Goldwin +18%, Ryohin Keikaku +17%, NH Foods +15%, NSK +14%, Japan Tobacco +13%

• China dominates the Rare Earths market, but global diversification is accelerating due to supply chain security and export curbs.
• India holds 8% of global reserves and is adopting a “mine-to-magnet” strategy, backed by the Rs. 16,300 crore Critical Mineral Mission.
• India’s REE demand is expected to double by 2030 (driven by EVs/wind), supported by Rs.5,000 crore magnet incentives and export control policies.

• ADX Energy (ADX AU)C; Target price of A$0.30 per share: Busy 1H26 – 3Q25 WI sales averaged 251 boe/d, in line with expectations.
• The company held ~A$4 mm in cash at the end of September, also in line with forecasts.
• A busy operational period is anticipated in 1H26.

Key points (machine generated)

• The strategy involves buying put options on low-priced PARC stocks (Palantir, Applovin, Robinhood, Coin) for potential high returns.
• Investors are advised to allocate 1.5 to 2% of their portfolio to these puts to hedge against market downturns.
• This method allows for a one-way bet with limited loss exposure, effectively de-risking the portfolio without directly targeting the stocks.

This article is sourced from an online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. This article was originally published 3 months ago on Value Investors Club.

• DBS reaches all-time high; UOB drops 2.8%, but OCBC’s research keeps ‘buy’ on UOB.
• Analysts split on NetLink NBN Trust; commend its stable 5.5% yield.
• uSMART initiates ‘buy’ on Centurion Corp for its strong margins and demand.

• In Q4 2025, the global server market sees significant changes with E Ink and C3 launching Pixel Paper Labs in Sri Lanka.
• China’s rare earth export controls are tightening, leading to major hiring initiatives that impact global supply chains.
• Nintendo’s FY25 forecast improves due to strong Switch 2 sales, while Tesla faces challenges in India due to high import duties.

• U.S. stocks fell sharply as AI-related names slumped on valuation fears, layoffs surged, and tariff uncertainty deepened, leaving major indexes on track for their worst week since April.
• Tesla shareholders approved Elon Musk’s pay package, potentially worth $1 trillion
• Take-Two fell 7% after a surprise loss and delaying GTA VI despite stronger bookings, while e.l.f. Beauty plunged 33% on tariff-hit margins and a weak fiscal 2026 outlook.

• Big beat for Sandisk with margins set to surge as BiCS8 rollout gathers steam.
• Rohm numbers disappoint and new MTP points to delayed AI server revenues.
• MLCC maker Taiyo Yuden effectively cuts its FY OP guidance despite headline raise.

• India is intensifying its electric mobility push to achieve 30% EV sales by 2030, focusing on mandates, financing, and targeted city-level saturation to accelerate adoption.
• The EV transition will reduce oil imports, cut emissions, enhance renewable energy integration, and position India as a global clean mobility leader amid slow early progress.
• A decisive shift from incentives to mandates, coupled with focused financing, R&D, and urban pilot programs, can fast-track India’s electric mobility transformation over the next five years.

• Memory prices surging WoW with wholesalers hoarding NAND and DRAM supplies as S/D remains tight.
• Good read for connectivity/wire and cable names on the Lumentum and Coherent beat.
• ARM beat setting a good tone for Softbank after its -17% 2-day drop.

• U.S. equities advanced as Supreme Court scepticism toward Trump tariffs fuelled hopes for rollbacks. Court questioning cantered on the president’s authority; traders trimmed bets that the tariffs would be upheld.
• AMD rallied 2.5% after beating earnings expectations, lifting broader AI-related names including Broadcom (+2%) and Micron (+9%). But sentiment on AI mixed
• In Japan: Another day full of earnings. Weak yen and potential rollback of tariffs likely a positive for Japan Autos and Industrials. 

• DBS initiates coverage of NTT DC REIT as ‘buy’ with a 20% target rise.
• OCBC lowers First REIT’s fair value due to ongoing FX impact.           
• AIMS APAC REIT reports 1.1% increase in DPU for 1HFY2026.

• Temasek is considering a merger of Mapletree and Capitaland to create a $150 billion fund manager.
• Ex-Blackstone and Partners Group have raised $1.1 billion for real estate secondaries in Asia-Pacific.
• Wee Hur and Aravest have purchased Singapore’s Hotel Miramar for $123 million and a Brisbane office tower.

• The WTR Consumer Index declined 4.1% in October, lagging the S&P SmallCap 600, which was down only 0.9%, for the third straight month.
• Our index underperformed in October despite showing relative earnings outperformance.
• The WTR Consumer Index’s prospective 12-month earnings increased 1.6% versus a 0.6% decline for the S&P SmallCap 600.

• The global food system has been, and continues to, undergo a structural transformation driven by population growth, climate change and the rise of a larger, wealthier global population.
• The global middle-class population is projected to increase from 4.1bn currently to just over 5bn by 2035.
• By 2050, global food demand is expected to increase significantly as population rises and diets shift from staple grains to higher-value proteins and dairy products ‒ a change that exponentially increases the strain on land, water and feedstock systems worldwide.

• Ahold Delhaize’s results came in a bit better than expected, whereby especially the margin development in the US was the main (positive) surprise.
• The margin in Europe was flat. Also impressive was the growth in online sales, both in Europe and the US.
• The company reiterated its guidance for FY25 and announced a new EUR 1bn share buyback for 2026.

• Equities fell on valuation concerns as AI stocks declined despite strong earnings, with Palantir dropping 8%.
• Nintendo’s 1H net profit surged 83% to ¥198bn on 110% higher sales, with FY3/26 profit forecast raised 26% to ¥350bn, driven by strong Switch 2 sales plans.
• Japan still earnings driven but stronger yen, weak overseas stocks and lower Futures suggest a period of consolidation.

• Of the 30 companies that constitute the Straits Times Index (STI), Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) have long been a cornerstone.
• For investors seeking growth and diversification beyond the blue-chip giants, the iEdge Singapore Next 50 indices present a compelling hunting ground beyond the 30 largest companies on the SGX. 
• These indices track the next 50 largest stocks after the top 30 SGX stocks ranked by market capitalization, and are home to a dynamic cohort of REITs.

• SMCI (bad)and AMD (good) numbers failing to lift the mood AH with CEO’s of GS, MS, Capital Group calling for a correction.
• Lasertec, Advantest, TEL and Kokusai likely to wobble at the open, but it may be too early for dip-buying yet.
• Nintendo posts impressive numbers and guidance looks obviously conservative with the NSW2 set to be their best selling console ever.

Each week, I’ll share five intriguing investment ideas that recently caught my attention. These ideas are meant to spark your research and help you kickstart the week ahead with fresh insights.

Because these ideas are the result of my first-level idea generation process, they require more in depth research. Therefore, the ideas will often be concise, with occasional references to valuable work from other practitioners that I encourage you to explore.

If you have something fascinating to share that could benefit me and the wider community, don’t hesitate to send it my way—I’d love to hear from you!

• U.S. had 78,692 public EV stations and 235,398 ports as of Oct 2025, up 4.9% YTD; California led with 24% share.
• ChargePoint dominates Level 2 chargers (33% share), while Tesla leads in DC Fast charging (54% of total DC ports). Electrify America and EVgo follow with ~8% and 7% shares.
• Europe surpassed 1 million charge points; China reached 4.32 million public and 17.35 million total chargers by Aug 2025.

• Temasek is considering a merger between Mapletree and Capitaland to form a $150 billion fund manager.
• Wee Hur and Aravest are collaborating to acquire Singapore’s Hotel Miramar for $123 million.
• Aravest has also acquired a 50% stake in a Brisbane office tower for $131 million with SMFL’s backing.

• UOB KayHian issues ‘Buy’ rating for ASL Marine, target price at 33 cents.
• Analysts boost outlook on Wilmar after 3Q update and Indonesia cooking oil case end.
• CGSI expects DFI to prioritize medium-term goals and acquisitions at the investor day.

• In this strategy update, we look at the two new stock indices – the iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index and the iEdge Next 50 Liquidity Weighted Index – released by the SGX on 22 September 2025.
• The two new indices cover the next 50 largest companies listed on the SGX Mainboard, excluding the 30 largest companies by market capitalization (which are covered by the benchmark Straits Times Index, STI).
• The 50 constituent companies are identical for both new indices, but the first is weighted by free-float market capitalization while the second is weighted by turnover to capture the relative liquidity of the constituents.

• AI deals drove Nasdaq +0.5%: OpenAI $38B AWS, Lambda/Microsoft multibillion, Iris Energy $9.7B Microsoft; Nvidia +2.2%.
• Palantir Q3 beat: 21¢ EPS/$1.18B rev, Q4 guide $1.33B on AI; stock +1% AH
• Kimberly-Clark buys Kenvue for $48.7B, merging 10 $1B brands; Kenvue +12%, KC -14%.

• The South African listed property sector extended its recovery through October, supported by stabilising inflation, a softer global rate backdrop, and renewed capital inflows into income-yielding assets.
• The J803 All Property Index delivered an 8.13% total return for the month, bringing year-to-date gains to 21.11%
• Sector breadth remains the strongest in over two years, with 26 of 40 counters posting positive returns.

• UOB KayHian starts ‘Buy’ on ASL Marine, targeting 33 cents.
• Analysts optimistic on Wilmar after 3Q update and Indonesia cooking oil case resolution.
• CGSI expects DFI’s management to prioritize medium-term goals and acquisitions.

• Decent Onsemi numbers point to a more broad-based recovery, but the end of the Nexperia disruption may be seen as negative for  Rohm and Renesas
• Socionext +17% on Fri on Google’s Willow news but likely to give it all back on poor guidance
• SEI, TDK, Lasertec and TEL all pointing up, Screen down on timing issue

• The government’s 300 MT crude steel capacity target by 2030 is now in full swing, anchored by ArcelorMittal’s newly-cleared INR1.5 lakh crore greenfield project and aggressive brownfield by other players.
• This signals a multi-lakh-crore capex super-cycle, moving from planning to execution. The 14-month fast-track approval for AM/NS in Andhra Pradesh provides a new, de-risked template for mega-projects.
• While execution is accelerating, the sector’s profitability hinges on two key variables: managing persistent Chinese imports and securing the massive volume of coking coal required to fuel this expansion.

• The Indian government is actively considering a new wave of PSB consolidation, headlined by a potential merger of Union Bank of India and Bank of India, alongside selective privatisation.
• This signals a strategic shift from post-NPA crisis management to building globally competitive banks, which could fundamentally alter the sector’s competitive landscape and credit capacity.
• With PSBs on their strongest footing in a decade, this consolidation round has a higher chance of success, forcing investors to re-evaluate the long-term structure of Indian banking.

• Excluding an outlier, our coverage universe is expected to witness a 56.6% YoY earnings growth in 4Q25, rapidly accelerating from the previous quarter.
• Stocks with the best growth are Xinjiang Goldwind (2208 HK), Sany Heavy Equip. (631 HK), Dongfang Electric (1072 HK), CTG Duty Free (1880 HK), and Cosco Shipping Energy (1138 HK).. 
• CICC (3908 HK), CNBM (3323 HK), Shanghai Electric (2727 HK), Sinotrans (598 HK), Anjoy Foods (2648 HK), Cosco Shipping Ports (1199 HK), and Haier Smart Home (6690 HK) may upgrade. 

• U.S. stocks closed higher, primarily driven by a significant rally in Amazon shares following strong quarterly results & cloud computing growth.
• Nexperia: Wafer supply suspension by Dutch parent on Oct 26 due to payment terms dispute; China unit asserts sufficient inventories and stable supply chain
• Japan closed on Monday for Culture Day Holiday; Tues Earnings: Nintendo, Mitsubishi, NTT, Marubeni & more

• Feature article: Feeding the future The case for food system investment Megatrends, at a very basic level, dictate the “direction of travel” for economic, social and political activity; investments made on this basis will receive powerful trend support.
• Today, the transformation of the global food system represents one such structural force.
• As demographic expansion, rising income and growing climate pressure converge, food sustainability as a strategic, long-term investment theme is no longer a forward-looking concept but a current market reality.