Sep 23, 2025

I recently came across news regarding the Xiangshan Forum 2025, shedding light on the security stakes in Asia. The forum featured ministerial participation from several Southeast Asian states, showcasing evolving perceptions of the security environment in the region. Notable participants included ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn and Malaysia’s Defense Minister Khaled Nordin, who emphasized responsible rivalry management and the importance of trust-building in the region.

The forum discussions highlighted the importance of regional and global cooperation in countering rising unilateralism and protectionism. ASEAN’s alignment with China’s Global Governance Initiative was noted, emphasizing the potential for collaboration to counterbalance fragmentation. The forum also revealed the priority policy datapoints to monitor across major countries with wider regional and global implications, indicating key areas of focus for the future.

In other news, Morgan Stanley’s Mike Wilson cautioned about potential market ructions if the Fed does not meet investors’ expectations in terms of rate cuts. Wilson pointed out that the economy may not require aggressive rate cuts as anticipated, highlighting strong earnings growth and pent-up demand in various sectors. The market’s reaction to lower interest rates was discussed, with Wilson emphasizing the importance of monitoring liquidity stress indicators for potential equity corrections.

Additionally, a proposed deal between the U.S. and China regarding TikTok’s algorithm was revealed, indicating plans for ByteDance to lease a duplicate copy of the algorithm to a new joint venture controlled by a U.S. investor group. The deal aims to address regulatory concerns while allowing ByteDance to continue operating TikTok outside the U.S. Despite some uncertainties surrounding the deal, it marks a significant development in the ongoing discussions about TikTok’s operations.

I recently heard about the acquisition of Semler Scientific Inc. by Strive Inc. in an all-stock deal, marking a new stage of consolidation among Bitcoin accumulators. The transaction values Semler at $90.52 a share, a 210% premium to its Friday closing price. The combined company will hold nearly 11,000 Bitcoins, showcasing the trend of digital-asset treasury companies that have emerged as cryptocurrency prices rose.

Stay Well!