Finance Knuggets
Jul 10, 2025
I recently came across news about Hong Kong’s waste-to-energy initiatives, with ties to mainland China, being crucial for the city’s green goals. The first incinerator, after eight years of construction, is set to be completed this year. Additionally, the global market for venipuncture procedures is expected to reach $1.5 billion by 2030, driven by the growing demand for diagnostic testing. Moreover, the market for remote surgery technology platforms is projected to reach $10.52 billion by 2034, fueled by the increasing demand for minimally invasive surgeries. China’s insurance market is also expected to grow significantly by 2032, potentially reaching a market value of $1.4 trillion.
In another piece of news, a survey conducted by Manulife found that independence outweighs lifespan among priorities for respondents, all of whom either currently own or intend to buy insurance. The Asia-Pacific region is eyeing the fastest growth in the global cardiovascular information system market, thanks to rapid urbanization and increased healthcare spending. Furthermore, developments in genomics, AI, and biotechnology are expected to drive the global cancer immunotherapy market to a value of $247.2 billion by 2029. Interestingly, 6 in 10 Gen Z individuals do not feel financially secure, although the concept of emergency savings has gained traction among this generation.
Lastly, the news highlighted the exponential growth of the crypto market, with a veteran advisor emphasizing the importance of including cryptocurrencies in investment portfolios. The advisor believes that not recommending bitcoin is irresponsible and that firms that do not allow their advisors to allocate to crypto may be violating fiduciary obligations. The advisor also predicts a significant rise in the price of bitcoin, expecting it to reach $500,000 by 2030. Despite initial concerns about the viability of cryptocurrencies, the advisor is optimistic about the potential for growth and adoption in the future.
The private equity recruiting process seems to be on hold, with banks concerned about a potential surplus of junior analysts due to a slowdown in recruiting for post-banking roles. This could disrupt banks’ hiring models and make it harder to secure the best candidates. On another note, companies are exploring the idea of becoming gold treasury companies, capitalizing on the trend of tokenizing real-world assets like gold to increase shareholder value.
Today, I learned about the use of blockchain technology to enable a scalable and high-return business model through tokenization. This innovation is being promoted as a way to buy some stock, but there are considerations related to the Investment Company Act that need to be taken into account. The calculations for the value of a win above replacement in sports also came up, with different methods being used to determine this value. It was mentioned that spot-fixing is an issue that affects big-time sports, but there is also concern about the potential for manipulation in lower-tier sports where the gambling market may be more lucrative than the sport itself.
Additionally, the involvement of individuals like Jeffrey Tarrant and Scott Bessent, who is now the US Treasury secretary, was brought to my attention. It was noted that Charlie Munger had publicly criticized someone, which could have been valuable to certain individuals in the crypto space. Overall, the news seemed to touch on various aspects of finance, from innovative business models to the intricacies of sports gambling and the influence of key figures in the industry. The importance of understanding and navigating these complex financial landscapes was emphasized throughout the report.
Stay Well!