#1 Strength of an Ant - Ant Group: Largest FinTech in the World.
Ant group, the largest fintech company in the world was founded by Jack Ma of Alibaba fame. The company is estimated to be valued at $200 billion. Ant Group has filed for an IPO to sell 10% of its stakes on the Shangai’s Nasdaq like exchange and 5% on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company is looking raise $30 billion, the highest ever. The previous highest raise was for Aramco, $25.6 billion.
#2 Neuralink - Fitbit for your Skull.
Neuralink is a brain machine interface company by Elon Musk. The company recently showcased a demo of a pig, Gertrude, with Neuralink outfitted with the device. During the demo, Musk was quoted saying “its like a Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires.”
Elon Musk’s ambition with the device is to help solve any number of neurological problem, from memory loos to stroke and to monitor a user’s health. However, Musk’s main ambition is for humans to reach ‘AI Symbiosis’.
#3 TikTok USA Sale - Walmart and Microsoft Jointly Front Runners.
The US retail giant, Walmart, recently announced that they will join hands with Microsoft, to make a bid for USA business of Chinese video sharing app, TikTok. Walmart said that this bid would help expand it operations. Trump’s government has given TikTok to sell its USA operations to an American firm within 90 days or face a ban. The strategy to buy TikTok for Microsoft and Walmart makes sense as TikTok has a fairly large user base and both companies can exploit this by advertising their products and services. However data privacy is a big concern and both companies need to address this issue
#4 Quote - “Life isn’t about finding yourself, its about creating yourself.”
#5 Lionel Messi Transfer Saga - Watching with Rose Tinted Glasses?
Lionel Messi, one of the greatest football players, has requested for a transfer request after 20 years of being at the club including the academy years. Exasperated with the board and ex-coach including the new coach, Ronan Koeman, the player told the new coach that “He is more out that in.” Messi has been linked with several clubs including his ex-boss Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and an eye-catching pairing with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus. A lot of criticism has been chucked at the Barcelona Board and their new manager for the poor treatment towards Messi and their star players. But is their more to the story? Is Messi looking for a final lucrative deal of his football career? It’s disrespecting a legend to raise such questions, however a recent article on Daily Mail provides insight to this.
Us at Seven Cups Sunday feel Messi has a lot to offer - way more than any lucrative contract.
#6 Citibank Blunder? The Million Dollar Question.
Citibank accidentally transferred $900 million to a group of lenders. The goof up took place, when Revlon asked Citibank to transfer a few million dollars from Revlon’s account to some of its lenders. But instead of transferring money from Revlon’s account, Citibank transferred $900 million from their own account to the group of lenders. Some of these lenders transferred the money back, but other such as Brigade Capital didnt. The entire episode was taken to court and the judge Saw merit in Citibank’s claim, and granted request to freeze roughly $175 million that Citi paid Brigade Capital. So as of now the hedge fund cant withdraw, transfer or dispose of the money till th court rules on the matter.
#7 Microsoft Integrates Android Apps into Windows.
‘Your Phone’ App - Microsoft integrates Android Apps into Windows 10. You can access Android apps in Your Phone app and launch the apps which mirrors on your Microsoft device. This feature has been rolled in a ‘tester’ mode and expected to be launched in Samsung Note 20 phones later in 2020.