Mar 31, 2026

1. Email Subject: China Touts LMC 2.0 Mekong Minilateral At 2026 Boao Forum

   Summary: At the 2026 Boao Forum, China highlighted a new phase in its Lancang Mekong Cooperation (LMC) minilateral as a key part of regional geoeconomic and geopolitical cooperation. The discussion included South China Sea talks, a new defense pact, nuclear power developments, updated sanctions disclosures, media bans, and rail infrastructure projects. The message underscores China’s active role in promoting regional order, enhancing economic links, and managing tensions. The ASEAN Wonk newsletter also explores modern trade pact complexities, energy security strategies, and evolving conflict dynamics around Myanmar, emphasizing the broader implications of these developments for ASEAN countries.

2. Email Subject: CFOs: Don’t Let AI Do the Math ➗s

   Summary: Ben from TheSaaSCFO.com shares insights on integrating AI into finance and accounting systems, highlighting the importance of structured data input and maintaining a deterministic computational layer before applying AI for explanation and commentary. His lessons emphasize separating calculation and narration roles of AI, precomputing critical metrics, providing context over prompts, and setting operational constraints for reliable output. The newsletter also covers SaaS metrics, offers practical guidance on adopting usage-based pricing, informs about upcoming SaaS-related events, and shares perspectives on shifting SaaS pricing models due to AI capabilities.

3. Email Subject: World-beating U.S. stocks are ‘extremely cheap,’ says Bill Ackmans

   Summary: Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman encourages investors to ignore bearish market sentiment driven by the Middle East conflict and energy price spikes, asserting that many high-quality U.S. stocks are currently undervalued and present a buying opportunity. The article also references supportive analyst views on the technology sector’s earnings growth prospects despite recent market volatility. Goldman Sachs predicts continued double-digit earnings growth for S&P 500 companies. Market data reflect ongoing risk aversion, but prominent strategists believe current valuations offer long-term investment potential.

4. Email Subject: Axios Pro Rata: Blast offs

   Summary: Axios highlights SpaceX’s preparation for an unprecedented IPO expected to raise approximately $75 billion with a valuation potentially exceeding $1 trillion, underscoring its size, novel conglomerate structure, and Elon Musk’s central role. The newsletter discusses Sysco’s $29 billion acquisition of Jetro Restaurant Depot to form a leading U.S. food services company amid inflationary pressures. It also covers significant venture capital funding rounds for AI and technology startups, private equity deals, IPO filings, and ongoing mergers and acquisitions across various sectors, reflecting a dynamic and active financial markets environment.

5. Email Subject: Money Stuff: Private Assets Are Coming to 401(k)s

   Summary: Bloomberg Money Stuff reports that the U.S. Labor Department under the Trump administration proposes a rule to ease regulatory and litigation barriers for including alternative investments such as private equity, private credit, real estate, and crypto in 401(k) retirement plans. The proposal offers fiduciaries a “safe harbor” by outlining prudent investment evaluation processes but does not fully eliminate the risk of lawsuits from employees. The discussion covers the challenges of balancing innovation in retirement investing with fiduciary duties and legal uncertainties, the evolving influence of regulators and plaintiffs’ lawyers, and implications for market players. Additional topics include debt restructuring tactics, wealth management concierge services, momentum effects in investing, and recent notable industry news.

Stay Well!