Investment

• Goldman Sachs stock has edged higher following quarterly results that revealed an increase in investment banking revenue, specifically within advisory and underwriting. • The company reported a solid return on equity, signaling strong financial performance and capital strength despite broader macroeconomic volatility. • This growth is significant as the stock typically fluctuates based on central bank policies and investor sentiment toward large US financial institutions.

• Food-tech platform Wonder, owned by Lore, has raised over $650 million in a Series D funding round. • The investment brings the company's valuation to $9 billion, with participation from returning investors Accel, GV, and NEA. • New investors joining the round include AllianceBernstein, Kayne Anderson, and Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest.

• MetLife Investment Manager and PineBridge Investments announced on Thursday that Asia continues to be a primary hub for transformational AI investment. • The investment focus is shifting from a narrow concentration on chips and data centers toward a broader ecosystem including memory, compute, and advanced manufacturing. • This expansion encompasses critical supporting infrastructure such as power grids, industrial systems, and general power infrastructure.

• MetLife Investment Management reports that Asia is entering a multi-trillion-dollar energy capital expenditure cycle to upgrade electricity infrastructure. • This surge in investment is driven by rising power demands fueled by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers. • Taiwan and South Korea are positioned as the primary beneficiaries due to their global leadership in advanced chips and memory semiconductors.

• SK Automation secured a significant order valued at RMB 4.5 billion from battery giant CATL, while Lingyun Guang reported a nearly six-fold increase in net profit driven by AI investments. • Xingye Silver & Tin, via its subsidiary Xingye Gold (Hong Kong), acquired a 20% stake in Australian-listed Tartana Minerals Limited (TAT) for approximately A$5.1827 million. • These developments, announced after the market close on July 16, highlight a surge in strategic industrial growth and overseas mineral resource expansion for companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges.

• Arizton research indicates the Europe data center colocation market is projected to grow from USD 11.65 billion in 2025 to USD 46.51 billion by 2031. • The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 25.94%, with Western Europe dominating the investment landscape at USD 33.17 billion (71.3% of the total). • Growth is primarily driven by the rising infrastructure demands of AI and cloud workloads, alongside 5G deployment and digitalization efforts.

• UK artificial intelligence companies received a record £4.6bn in investment during Q2 2026, according to data from Beauhurst. • AI dominated the funding landscape, capturing 57% of all equity investment during this period. • This surge highlights the UK's growing role as a hub for AI development and the sector's immense appeal to investors.