Apr 12, 2024

I recently read about a new book that analyzes China’s assertive diplomacy in Southeast Asia and beyond. The book, titled “China’s Rising Foreign Ministry” by scholar Dylan Loh, delves into the future evolution of China’s diplomacy and its implications for the region and the world. It goes beyond the traditional state-centric models of China’s behavior and examines the spheres of Beijing’s influence in more depth. The book sheds light on why and how China’s diplomacy is increasingly driving its assertiveness, drawing from interviews with Chinese diplomats and Asian practitioners as well as data-driven analysis of Beijing’s behavior.

In a separate news, I came across an article discussing how lower interest rates could affect older adults. The article explains that while lower interest rates may seem beneficial for making big purchases, they can have adverse effects on retirees who rely on income benefits. The piece provides insights from an attorney and financial adviser, Patrick Simasko, on the potential impact of lower interest rates on older adults’ finances.

Today I heard about some interesting developments in the finance world. It looks like there are some new funds on the horizon, with Floating Point, an early-stage VC firm, raising $70 million for its second fund. Additionally, three top executives of Sun Capital Partners have left to form their own firm called Palm Peak Capital, which will focus on mid-market industrial manufacturing and business services companies in North America. Another fund making waves is Sunna Ventures, a new climate tech firm that has raised $40 million for its debut fund from a single, unidentified family office.

In other news, it seems that Macy’s has made amends with Arkhouse Management, an activist investment firm seeking to buy the iconic retailer for $6.6 billion. This settlement comes after a contentious proxy fight and lawsuit, with Macy’s adding two of the Arkhouse nominees to its board and continuing to engage with them about the takeover offer. Lastly, in the world of venture capital deals, there have been some significant fundraising rounds. For example, HysetCo, a French renter of hydrogen-powered EVs to taxi drivers, raised €200m, and Guesty, a New York-based provider of property management software for the short-term rental and hospitality markets, raised $130m in Series F funding. These are just a few examples of the ongoing activity in the venture capital space.

Stay Well!