Feb 28, 2026

Email 1:

Subject: Review: Demons Haunt Southeast Asia Indo-Pacific Futures

Sender: aseanwonk@substack.com

Content:

– A new book titled “From Southeast Asia to the Indo-Pacific” by Amitav Acharya highlights the urgent need for Southeast Asia to “exorcise its demons and escape a geopolitical nightmare.”

– The book stresses that despite past successes in managing geopolitical competition through ASEAN and bilateral trade pacts, the region faces severe new challenges threatening its geoeconomic potential.

– Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong recently warned about overt and subtle pressures from competing major powers seeking to influence opinions and sow division in the region.

– The Indo-Pacific region’s future hinges on avoiding being overwhelmed by these pressures and maintaining regional unity.

– The book poses a provocative question: “Will the Indo-Pacific idea sink ASEAN, drowning the very idea of Southeast Asia?”

– Subscribers can access detailed analysis, future scenario labels, key policy contours, and implications via ASEAN Wonk’s paid subscription.

---

Email 2:

Subject: Need to Know: After trouncing the global benchmark this fund manager is now eyeing portfolio twists

Sender: reports@marketwatchmail.com

Content:

– Henry Neville, multiasset portfolio manager at Man Group, delivered 9 of 10 successful bets over the past year, generating a 52% compound annual growth rate between the start of 2025 and Feb 11, 2026, more than double the MSCI World’s 22.1%.

– His 10 investment themes over the next decade include: weaker dollar & stronger gold, more nuclear power, rising Japanese stocks, increased defense spending and automation, aging demographics, and the rise of Indian middle class.

– Trade baskets involve assets like gold, uranium miners, oil and gas services companies, and Japanese equities.

– Neville highlights that some theme valuations (Japan, energy, gold) are becoming expensive but gold miners remain reasonably priced.

– He is considering adding industrial metals (especially aluminum and copper) and cybersecurity stocks due to their strong prospective demand.

– Markets note recent company performances: Netflix shares surged on abandoning Warner Bros. bid, Dell Technologies reported record earnings, and Block is cutting nearly half its workforce embracing AI.

– Economic data releases and geopolitical tensions include Pakistan bombing Afghanistan and ongoing US-Iran nuclear talks.

---

Email 3:

Subject: 💥 How to Profit From the Biggest Disruption in Modern History

Sender: fluentinfinance+finance@substack.com

Content:

– AI is causing the largest wealth transfer in modern history by rapidly disrupting legacy industries.

– IBM recently lost $20 billion in market value after Anthropic’s AI tool Claude Code demonstrated unprecedented ability to modernize COBOL code running 95% of worldwide ATM transactions, undermining IBM’s costly mainframe maintenance business.

– This disruption is analogous to how Netflix destroyed Blockbuster or gasoline tractors replaced horse power.

– Key insights include:

– The “Complexity Razor”: Companies profiting from complexity rather than genuine innovation face disruption.

– “Technical Debt Fallacy”: Legacy systems thought too difficult and expensive to replace are now obsolete due to AI.

– “Pick-and-Shovel Mandate”: Investing in AI infrastructure (chips, cloud, energy) is the winning strategy.

– “Margin vs. Revenue Test”: Distinguishing whether AI helps a company lower costs or completely replaces its services is crucial.

– The AI disruption unfolds in three phases; currently in Phase Two – the Application Layer, where specific targeted AI tools emerge.

– Career advice stresses adapting by learning AI tools to augment productivity.

– Final message: The AI revolution is a “digital tractor” reshaping industries rapidly; investors and professionals must prepare or be left behind.

---

Email 4:

Subject: Axios Pro Rata: OpenAI + Amazon’s $110B fundraise, Caesars takeover rumors, and AI-driven layoffs

Sender: dan@axios.com

Content:

– OpenAI announced a massive $110 billion funding round at an $840 billion valuation, including $50 billion from Amazon, $30 billion from Nvidia and SoftBank, cash only, no cloud compute credits.

– Microsoft, a longtime OpenAI backer, didn’t participate but reaffirmed partnership.

– OpenAI seeks an additional $10 billion from sovereign wealth funds and investors.

– Netflix withdrew from bidding for Warner Bros. Discovery; Paramount Skydance won with a $31/share offer, facing regulatory hurdles.

– Jack Dorsey’s fintech company Block is laying off 40% of staff (~4,000 people), citing AI tools enabling smaller, flatter teams; Block shares rose 25% post-announcement.

– The massive layoffs may set a precedent for Corporate America as AI adoption accelerates.

– Brink’s will acquire NCR Atleos for $6.6 billion; indicating cash/ATM business remains significant despite digital payment trends.

– Various venture capital deals in AI, XR glasses, brain health, and digital infrastructure.

– Public offerings and acquisitions in AI drug discovery, data centers, and aerospace sectors.

– Notable promotions in investment firms and new senior hires.

– Caesars Entertainment shares rose 19% on takeover rumors, recalling its 2008 leveraged buyout and subsequent financial struggles.

– Forgent Power Solutions recently went public, focusing on scaling energy platform and infrastructure investments.

Stay Well!