Dec 06, 2025

Email 1:

Subject: Review: Myth of the Asian Century in Regional Futures?

Summary: A new book by former top Singapore diplomat Bilahari Kausikan questions the utility of the “Asian Century” concept in forecasting Southeast Asia’s and the broader region’s future amidst complex geopolitics. The book challenges triumphalist and cynical views, urging a more nuanced perspective that accounts for historical and geopolitical contexts. Readers can explore key datapoints, potential regional futures, and implications for major actors in Asia’s evolving landscape through ASEAN Wonk’s full analysis, available with a subscription.

Email 2:

Subject: Need to Know: Why ‘buy the dip’ is not that great a strategy

Summary: Although “buy the dip” (BTD) is a popular investment strategy, research by AQR Capital Management finds it underperforms compared to passive investing, particularly since 1965 and even more so from 1989 onwards. BTD often bets against market momentum and is less effective during downturns compared to trend-following strategies, which tend to better manage risk. The analysis also highlights that BTD returns degrade further when accounting for transaction fees. Market updates include key asset performance and notable corporate news.

Email 3:

Subject: Axios Pro Rata: Continuation conflicts

Summary: A private equity dispute arose when a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund sued Energy & Minerals Group (EMG) over the planned sale of Ascent Resources via a continuation vehicle (CV). The conflict highlights LP-GP tensions, with accusations of unfair voting processes and conflicting data disclosure. Meanwhile, Netflix agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming assets for nearly $83 billion, pending regulatory approvals. The newsletter also covers recent venture capital funding rounds, notable M&A transactions, fundraising efforts, personnel changes, and industry data showing 2025 as one of the busiest dealmaking years.

Email 4:

Subject: Money Stuff: The Podcast: Flying High in Bird Heavens

Summary: The latest episode of the Money Stuff podcast is now available. Hosts Katie and the producer discuss a variety of topics including corporate holiday parties, shareholder meetings, strategic narratives in the investment world, the evolution of digital asset treasury companies, Bill Ackman’s closed-end fund plans, comparisons of CEFs versus ETFs, and developments related to structured notes and ETFs. Listeners can access the episode on Apple, Spotify, or other platforms, and are invited to provide feedback via email.

Stay Well!