Finance Knuggets

Feb 19, 2026

  1. Email 1: Asian Business Review – HK-China insurers and healthcare 3D printing
  2. The life insurance agent numbers in Hong Kong increased by 9% by December 2025, driven by expanding talent schemes targeting offshore wealth.
  3. Healthcare 3D printing market is expected to grow at a 17% CAGR reaching $14.6 billion by 2033, primarily due to patient-specific devices and orthopaedics.
  4. Global retail market surged to $30 trillion in 2025, despite strains caused by AI, with 48% of retailers upgrading IT infrastructure.
  5. Philippines pre-need insurance premiums rose to $300 million, with 690,064 plans sold by Q3 2025, up from 509,323 a year earlier.
  6. India certified its first autonomous shipping software enabling AI-controlled unmanned vessel navigation.
  7. Taiwan’s insurance industry profits plummeted 43.3% to $6.2 billion by December 2025, mainly due to halved profits in the life insurance sector.
  8. The Thai power sector anticipates 20% core EPS growth supported by the Power Development Plan and tariff normalization.
  9. Asia anticipates a 100 GW energy surge driven by AI and data centers, with data center electricity use predicted to quadruple to 832 TWh by 2030.
  10. Commentary focuses on ingredient importance in Asian consumer food and beverage purchases and digital finance supervision via blockchain.
  11. Upcoming events include Asian Telecom Awards in February and several Malaysian business awards in April.
  12. Innovation awards highlighted EV-specific insurance and organizational transformation winners at the Asian Management Excellence Awards 2026.

  13. Email 2: MarketWatch – Wall Street veteran advising diversification away from US assets

  14. Andy Constan, a 40-year Wall Street veteran, has shifted from overweight U.S. investments to diversifying globally due to attractive bond yields and policies elsewhere.
  15. Since early 2025, Japanese, German, UK, Canadian, and Australian bonds have offered sizable positive returns, unlike the previous decade.
  16. Constan advocates diversified, low-cost, global stocks, bonds, gold, and commodities holdings, cautioning against market timing and trading.
  17. He warns of high potential market moves due to uncertain AI impacts combined with elevated financial system leverage.
  18. Recent market data shows falling U.S. bond yields, stock futures pointing higher, and mixed sector earnings; major companies including Berkshire Hathaway are adjusting holdings.
  19. Barclays reports increased volatility among individual U.S. stocks despite the S&P 500’s historically narrow trading range.
  20. Prominent tickers include Nvidia, Tesla, Infosys, and Apple; hot topics involve early earnings releases by private software companies and real estate issues with data center expansion.

  21. Email 3: Fluent in Finance Newsletter – US economy, AI disruption, and investment strategies

  22. The US national debt is projected to reach $64 trillion within a decade, threatening economic growth and elevating interest costs to over $2.1 trillion by 2036.
  23. AI disruption is causing a rapid market reevaluation with software stocks sharply falling; companies supplying AI infrastructure like Corning, SK Hynix, and Vertiv are benefiting.
  24. Insiders from top AI companies publicly express concerns about AI risks and ethical challenges; regulation and job disruptions are underway, especially in white-collar sectors.
  25. Housing market shows uneven trends with falling sales in many regions; buyers have increased negotiating power, especially outside overbuilt Sun Belt markets.
  26. US jobs data revisions removed over 2 million jobs retrospectively, suggesting a weaker labor market and economy than previously reported.
  27. Foreign stock markets, especially Japan and South Korea, have outperformed the US, fueled by weaker dollar and strong AI-linked sectors.
  28. Investment recommendations emphasize diversification, focusing on companies enabling AI infrastructure rather than software firms facing disruption.
  29. Technical analysis flags short-term weakness in technology and cryptocurrencies but maintains a positive long-term outlook for equities.
  30. Insider trading highlights notable recent purchases in consulting, food ingredients, medical products, aerospace, biotech real estate, and SPACs.
  31. Active trades signal bullish bets on recovery plays in US auto parts and momentum in international AI-related telecom.
  32. Key advice for investors: protect against inflation via real assets, focus on AI infrastructure, diversify globally, be cautious on overbuilt housing markets, and prepare for sustained higher interest rates.

  33. Email 4: SaaS CFO Newsletter – CFO financial discipline and SaaS business insights

  34. Advises SaaS business founders to run their companies “like they are for sale” to ensure clean, accurate financial data and operational discipline essential for scaling and due diligence.
  35. Highlights importance of maintaining detailed Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) schedules for investor confidence and accurate retention metrics.
  36. Warns about common pitfalls in revenue data due to inconsistent invoicing or revenue recognition.
  37. Promotes upcoming SaaS industry events focused on pricing architecture and cloud cost management in the AI era.
  38. Sponsored content emphasizing the need for dynamic billing infrastructure and strategic CFO leadership in SaaS companies.
  39. Provides curated resources including podcasts, SaaS metrics tools, and explanations differentiating bookings, invoices, and revenue.
  40. Offers partner links for bookkeeping, tax help, and sponsorship opportunities in the SaaS tech audience.
  41. Mentions educational SaaS courses and shares founder’s background with over 25 years in finance and accounting, emphasizing expertise in SaaS CFO roles.

  42. Email 5: Axios Pro Rata – Regulatory clash on prediction markets, AI investments, and deal flow

  43. CFTC Chairman Mike Selig asserts federal regulatory authority over prediction markets, clashing with state governments like Utah, igniting a legal battle likely to reach the Supreme Court.
  44. Selig argues prediction markets have legitimate economic roles and should be regulated federally, even for sports-related trades, limiting states’ abilities to regulate.
  45. Saudi Public Investment Fund-backed AI company Humain invested $3 billion in Elon Musk’s xAI prior to its SpaceX merger, signaling deepening AI ties in the Middle East.
  46. Multiple venture capital and private equity deals reported including:

      – London-based AI lab Ineffable Intelligence raising $1 billion led by Sequoia Capital.

      – Various substantial funding rounds across tech, biotech, fintech, energy, cybersecurity, and startup sectors worldwide.

  47. Several acquisitions and mergers in insurance, marketing, aerospace maintenance, animal health, financial advisory, payment processing, telecommunications, and logistics sectors.
  48. Notable personnel changes in venture capital firms.
  49. Highlights include high private equity activity in software amid public market valuation resets.
  50. Readers encouraged to subscribe to Axios Pro Deals for in-depth VC, PE, and M&A deal coverage.

Stay Well!

summy
summy