AGP Executive Report

Qatar-UAE Trade Boost: Qatar and the UAE reviewed ways to deepen economic cooperation, with bilateral trade hitting $8.4B in 2025 (+10%) and Qatari exports to the UAE topping $6.7B. Indonesia Carbon Finance: Indonesia’s NEK carbon instrument targets up to $5.8B in green investment and aims to cut an estimated 570M tonnes of CO2e, with the SERUK carbon registry set to launch July 9. Cambodia Investment Pitch: Cambodia’s deputy PM urged Japanese firms to invest as the country pushes a technology-led economy and cracks down on online scams. US Corporate & Market Signals: A judge refused to overturn a jury finding that Elon Musk misled Twitter investors in the 2022 takeover; meanwhile, Virtus shares jumped after crossing above the 200-day moving average. Crypto Treasury Reality Check: Strategy sold 3,558 BTC for about $216M to fund preferred-stock dividend obligations, raising questions about its “never sell” stance. Banking Tech Pressure: Research warns European banks risk falling behind on real-time payments and faster settlement unless they modernize legacy systems and automate reconciliation. Pakistan Digital Securities Push: Pakistan launched InvestPak, a digital platform to broaden access to government securities via web and mobile. Clean Energy Outlook: ACORE/S&P Global Energy report expects clean energy investment to hit a record in 2026 despite policy uncertainty.

Gold & Rates Watch: Gold is bouncing after a brutal June selloff, with traders pointing to a potential floor near $4,000 as the macro calendar turns quiet and attention shifts to mid-month US CPI for fresh rate-hike clarity. US Equities Outlook: A strategist argues the S&P 500’s rally still has room to run into year-end, while warning investors not to overreact to AI “bubble” narratives. Crypto Investor Pain: UK retail investors in Nigel Farage-backed Stack BTC are down sharply after the share price cratered, while XRP holds near $1.20 resistance as ETF inflows build. Regulation & Banking: India’s SEBI cancelled an AIF registration over repeated reporting failures, and the RBI slapped penalties on Bank of Baroda and GIC Housing Finance for KYC/fair-practices lapses. Capital Markets Infrastructure: Canada’s CDCC executed the first Secured General Collateral (SGC) Notes issuance, aiming to expand secured short-term funding options. Real Assets & Deals: Arada launched an Abu Dhabi-based platform targeting $5bn in Gulf property investments; Australia and Fiji signed a defense alliance with a €606m investment component. AI/Tech Policy: South Korea plans a semiconductor “Future Response Fund” to park excess chip tax windfalls for long-term growth.

Fed Watch: A deVere note warns the Fed’s “cut” playbook is getting harder as weak US jobs data collides with sticky inflation, leaving investors to rethink portfolio assumptions. Crypto & Flows: Citi cut its Bitcoin target to $82,000 as ETF demand weakens, while reports also spotlight how Trump’s memecoin revenue ($636m) contrasts with retail losses ($3.81b). Market Strategy: A separate investing piece argues conviction should be grounded in why you own an asset and what could break the thesis, not in staying loyal through discomfort. Regional Markets: The Philippines’ PSEi is bracing for June inflation (BSP seen at 6–7%), and Bangladesh’s DSE rose on renewed confidence. Banking & Regulation: Bahrain?—instead, QatarEnergy and MoCI signed a framework to allocate hydrocarbon-derived resources for industrial investment, while Bangladesh moves to open 44 SOEs to private capital. Deal/Capital Raising: easyJet signaled it may accept a £5.5bn takeover by Castlelake. Corporate/Legal: New US securities class actions target PicS (lead-plaintiff deadline Aug 4) and ADMA (Aug 10). Emerging Investment Themes: Bangladesh and Fiji push MSMEs toward funding readiness; Malaysia–Laos reaffirm trade and investment ties; and Gujarat touts Rs 1.24 lakh crore in semiconductor investments.

Philippines-Canada Deal Flow: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says his Canada visit unlocked $2.5B in investment commitments across mining, critical minerals, energy, services and IT-BPM, with talks also pointing to free-trade cooperation. Singapore Dispute Resolution: A new look at Singapore’s arbitration and court ecosystem flags rising cross-border disputes in energy, tech and private-capital governance as regulatory and geopolitical pressures intensify. Crypto Retail Pain: Nansen estimates nearly 1 million buyers of Trump’s memecoin lost about $3.8B by end-June, while DOJ says its Adani bribery dismissal wasn’t tied to planned $10B US investment. Pensions & Markets: Nigeria’s PenCom extended PFAs’ investment flexibility for 24 months amid limited domestic instruments, while India cancelled auctions of 9 critical mineral blocks due to weak investor response. Infrastructure & Capital Markets: Cube Highways Trust plans a ₹5,000-cr IPO via offer-for-sale to broaden liquidity; Cyprus rolled out a €168m water package to expand desalination and modernize irrigation.

Policy Push for Infrastructure: A new Associated General Contractors of America survey finds strong bipartisan support for Congress to pass a fully funded federal highway, bridge and transit bill before Sept. 30, with 78% backing a new measure and 80% favoring steady or higher spending. Banking Regulation: Egypt’s central bank tightened rules, requiring board-approved internal policies and limits for banks’ corporate and securitization bond investments, including credit-rating and maturity caps. Market Strategy & Risk: Goldman Sachs flagged emerging market debt as a standout Q3 opportunity, citing yield pickup and diversification benefits as AI concentration fades—while warning investors to assess risks tied to data-center-linked issuance. Crypto Fallout & Retail Warning: Multiple reports highlight how Trump’s TRUMP memecoin paid him about $636M while buyers collectively lost about $3.8B, underscoring the gap between promoter gains and retail outcomes. Private Credit Stress: US regulators and industry coverage point to rising redemption requests in private credit funds, with withdrawals accelerating as banks pull back on some lending channels. New Retail Investing Accounts: The US is rolling out “Trump Accounts,” seeding federally funded child investment accounts via Robinhood with tax-deferred growth. Cross-Border Investment Deal: India and Israel’s bilateral investment agreement took effect, aiming to boost investor protection and speed dispute resolution. Tech Watch: AMD investors are eyeing July 22-23 for its “Advancing AI” event as semis wobble and sentiment shifts.

Pakistan–Türkiye Investment Push: PM Shehbaz Sharif met Turkish business leaders in Istanbul, urging new investment in energy, mining, IT, telecoms, infrastructure, logistics and privatisation, while pointing to reforms and a more predictable policy environment. East Africa Agri-Finance Race: Kenya unveiled a KES 1.081tn (about Sh21tn) NASIP 2026–2030 blueprint, built on blended financing with private capital expected to fund nearly half, aiming to modernise value chains and create 2m+ jobs. Nigeria Banking & Development Finance: EBRD plans at least $1.5bn in Nigeria over three years, after already committing $280m since operations began, as it expands in power and trade finance. India–Israel Investment Certainty: India’s India–Israel Bilateral Investment Agreement took effect, designed to protect investors while preserving sovereign policy space and adding an independent dispute resolution route. AI & Industrial Capex: Infineon commissioned its €5bn Smart Power Fab in Dresden ahead of schedule, doubling capacity and adding ~1,000 jobs to support AI data-centre power and automotive needs. Retail Investor Watch: NSE issued an advisory against “dabba” illegal trading services, warning investors to avoid unregistered platforms. Fixed Deposit Rates: Some banks offer up to 8.3% for senior citizens on 3-year FDs (up to Rs 3 crore), with Jana Small Finance Bank highlighted. Crypto Investor Fallout: Reports say retail investors lost billions in the $TRUMP meme coin collapse while insiders linked to Trump entities reportedly profited.

UAE Real Estate Mood: Lebanon courts Emirati capital as Gulf investors signal “appetite” for ports, airports and digital governance, while a separate Abu Dhabi property Q&A points to a steadier, more deliberate market tone versus Dubai’s faster reaction to global flows. AI Infrastructure Spending: Hyperscalers’ AI capex is still climbing, with investors urged to focus on binding constraints like power and data centers rather than chasing software winners. Tokenization Push: Real-world asset tokenization is gaining traction as a practical use case, with gold highlighted as an early testbed for on-ledger ownership. Impact Investing Debate: Vineet Rai argues impact investing is disciplined capital for social outcomes, not charity—shifting how long-term value is measured. Regulation Watch (Canada): Canada finalizes an access model for continuous disclosure documents, with an effective date set for Sept. 22, 2026. Investor Risk Alerts: Multiple securities class actions and lead-plaintiff deadlines were issued, including AeroVironment and Commvault, alongside broader scrutiny of governance and disclosure practices. Africa Capital Flows: Google says it topped a $1bn Africa investment target, adding cloud connectivity hubs and an applied AI lab in Ghana.

Green Energy & Jobs: Odisha signed a MoC with Japan’s IHI Corp and ACME Group for Rs 67,000 crore in green projects, targeting 7,600 jobs across green ammonia and methanol in Paradip and Gopalpur. FDI Watch: South Korea’s FDI rose 9.1% to $14.28bn in H1 2026, with greenfield slightly down but M&A up sharply, while services drew more inflows. EU Climate Finance: The EU Commission and EIB approved a €2.5bn Modernisation Fund round to back 51 clean energy projects across 11 countries, funded via EU ETS revenues. EV Supply Chain Push: Thailand secured $4.1bn in EV-related investment pledges across 198 projects, spanning batteries, components and charging. AI/Industrial Mega-Plans (Korea): Yeongnam conglomerates unveiled a combined 312tn won investment push for AI, robotics, data centers, space and advanced manufacturing. Corporate Capital Markets: Adani Enterprises upsized its share sale goal to ₹15,000 crore after strong investor demand. Investor Protection: Kazakhstan launched an expert council on investor protection, with prosecutors set to oversee investor-business interactions. Market Notes: US markets are closed July 3 for Independence Day; crypto trades as usual. Local Finance Crime: Malaysia charged four people over a non-existent perfume “investment” scheme that allegedly cheated a soldier out of RM38,400.

Private Credit Stress: Blue Owl’s credit funds again gated redemptions after investors sought large withdrawals, underscoring how redemption risk is spreading even as markets rebound. AI Investment Push: Microsoft launched the $2.5B “Frontier Company” to help enterprises build and manage AI apps, while India’s AI plans got a boost from nearly $80B in Big Tech commitments. Fixed Income Watch: BIS warned the AI capex boom could bust, and credit spreads are tight—meaning limited upside and bigger downside if conditions sour. Market Mood: Investors digested a weaker June jobs report as tech weighed on U.S. stocks. Cross-Border Finance: EDC and EXIM Thailand signed an MoU to expand trade and investment cooperation across priority sectors. Emerging Markets: Zambia’s investor interest is rising post-default, with Citi pointing to mining, energy and agriculture tailwinds. Corporate/Wealth: Orion Digital reported Q1 gains and rolled out a new Intelligent Investing app. Policy & Capital Markets: Bangladesh drafted a new Visa Policy 2026 aimed at attracting investment and easing travel. Litigation Deadlines: Multiple investor-rights class actions hit upcoming lead-plaintiff deadlines, including BitGo and Erasca.

Semiconductor Capital Spending: Samsung unveiled a 140 trillion won ($90B) Chungcheong investment push spanning displays, semiconductors, batteries and chip materials, while SK Hynix added a $64B plan for new memory chip plants in Cheongju—both aimed at extending the AI boom beyond Seoul. Regional Investment Push: Sejong City secured an 8 trillion won ($5.2B) Samsung Electro-Mechanics deal for advanced semiconductor packaging substrates tied to AI server demand. Market Mood: India’s Sensex and Nifty trimmed early gains as profit-taking and FII selling kept investors cautious. Regulatory/Policy Watch: Scotland’s water regulator opened a consultation on 2027-2033 bill limits and investment plans, proposing annual increases capped at 2% above inflation in normal cases. Cross-Border Finance: Google said it has topped its $1B Africa investment target, announcing new connectivity hubs and an applied AI lab in Ghana. Corporate/Deal Flow: Meta backed India fintech CRED with a $900M raise, valuing it at $4.5B and expanding WhatsApp’s global leadership role. Governance & Compliance: The FBI director’s delayed disclosure of a six-figure MSTR purchase drew scrutiny under the STOCK Act.

Sovereign Wealth Surge: Gulf GCC state funds pushed investments to a record $53.9B across 108 deals in the first half, with Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala leading at $15.2B despite Iran-war volatility. ETF for Kids Investing: State Street’s SPYM was picked as the exclusive low-cost default ETF for “Trump Accounts,” a Treasury-run program launching July 4 to help children start tax-advantaged investing early. AI Cloud Push: Meta shares jumped after reports it’s preparing a cloud business to sell excess AI computing capacity, putting pressure on AWS/Azure/Google Cloud and specialized AI infrastructure rivals. Market Mood Check: Stocks slipped Wednesday as investors reassessed AI winners; semis dragged (Micron and Sandisk down sharply) while Meta’s rally helped offset broader weakness. Healthcare Logistics Investment: UPS is spending $48M on 27 temperature-controlled cross-dock facilities to expand pharma and cold-chain shipping capacity. Legal/Investor Alerts: A wave of securities class actions and lead-plaintiff deadlines hit multiple names, including GeneDx (WGS), BitGo (BTGO), Hub Group (HUBG), Genius Group (GNS), FS KKR (FSK), and others.

SEBI Reform Watch: SEBI has launched a consultation to fix AIFs’ long-running investor-consent problem, proposing clearer ways to get votes when investors don’t respond and to tighten “related party” language around conflicted transactions. AI Mega-Funding: SoftBank has completed the second $10bn tranche of its $30bn OpenAI investment, with the final $10bn due on Oct 1, as market chatter continues around potential IPO timing. India Credit & Macro: Moody’s says India’s investment-grade rating should hold even if the fiscal deficit slips, arguing energy-price pressure is likely temporary but warning debt-servicing costs remain the key risk. Sovereign/Development Finance: The World Bank approved a $700m Jordan program aimed at turning stability into private investment, jobs, and green/digital transition. Corporate Deals & Growth Capital: British Solar Renewables (BSR) secured up to £130m mezzanine financing from Eiffel Investment Group to scale its UK/Australia solar-plus-storage platform. Energy & Markets: EU construction investment is forecast to rebound in 2026 after a 2025 dip, with civil engineering leading the recovery. Corporate/Investor Risk: A lawsuit alleges Peabody misled investors about a coal mine, claiming “artificially inflated” stock moves. Tech Investing Climate: China tightened outbound investment rules for national security, adding new compliance friction for global investors.

UK Defence Investment Plan: The UK unveiled a long-delayed £15bn defence investment plan, but it still falls short of what military chiefs say they need; the package includes scrapping older kit like Storm Shadow cruise missiles and some helicopters, with a push toward uncrewed and lower-cost effects. US Space Supply Chain Push: The SBA and NASA signed an MOA to expand private investment in small businesses supporting America’s space exploration supply chain. AI Infrastructure Flows: AI ETF demand is shifting from pure software to the physical stack—memory chips, power, cooling/HVAC, and data centers—showing investors want proof of AI capex economics. Micron Earnings Shock: Micron’s net income jumped 15x to $28.24bn as AI memory demand surged, sending its stock up after hours and reinforcing the “AI needs hardware” trade. Governance Scrutiny: ISS-Corporate found director support is high overall, but governance chairs face the most pushback, with median support at 94.1%. Investor Legal Alerts: New class-action and investigation notices hit multiple public names, including Ensign Group, GeneDx, Roblox, Hertz, Oxford Industries, and others.

UK Defence Investment Plan: Keir Starmer’s long-delayed Defence Investment Plan is set to publish with about £5bn for drones and autonomous systems, lifting the overall settlement to roughly £14.5bn after resignations over “too little, too late” funding. Bitcoin Market Clarity: Strategy’s “not obligated to sell” Bitcoin clause is sparking investor confusion—reducing fears of forced liquidation while still implying discretionary monetisation risk. Tokenization Push: Securitize cleared its merger and is set to debut on the NYSE as SECZ, betting tokenized funds and bonds can scale fast as Wall Street moves real-world assets onto blockchain rails. Hospitality IPO Watch: OYO parent Prism filed updated Sebi papers for a Rs 6,650 crore IPO with a fresh issue only—no offer-for-sale by existing investors. AI/Chips Investment Theme: South Korea’s leaders are publicly backing massive AI and semiconductor investment plans, while investors weigh whether the buildout is innovation or a valuation risk. Africa Investment Climate: Liberia’s forum in Accra highlights a shift toward economic diplomacy to attract FDI, while concerns persist that conflict and governance failures still deter capital. Energy & Infrastructure: EIB and Airbus signed a €1bn R&D loan tranche, and Australia’s data center buildout is forecast to top $4.1bn in 2026 as AI demand accelerates capex.

Malaysia Investment Push: MITI and MIDA approved 5,899 manufacturing projects worth RM774.4bn (2020-2025), with 86% already realised and 416,914 jobs created, though the biggest approval-to-delivery gaps show up in large, capital-heavy deals. Futu Legal Risk: Futu Holdings faces a proposed New York class action tied to alleged concealment of China securities-law compliance risks, sending shares down sharply. Somalia-China Trade: Somalia’s commerce minister says China’s zero-tariff policy is a major export and investment tailwind for higher-value Somali goods. UK Defence Spending: Starmer’s final Defence Investment Plan is set to outline £5bn+ over four years for drones and hybrid naval capabilities. Canada Market Halt: CIRO halted trading in Premium Income Corporation (PIC.PR.A) pending news. Banking/Deals: Commerce Bancshares to acquire Nolan & Associates to add full-service middle-market investment banking. Private Credit: RevX Capital closed its third private credit fund, targeting Rs 900cr (with greenshoe), and flagged a new fund launch for Aug 1. India Infrastructure Funding: India doubled its NIIF anchor commitment by adding Rs 30,000cr to support a second infrastructure fund. Energy Permits Watch: A report warns stalled U.S. wind/solar permits could threaten $121bn of renewable investment. Aerospace Finance: Airbus secured a €1bn EIB loan as part of a larger €3.4bn R&D financing package. Semiconductor Capacity: Samsung and SK hynix back a new South Korea chip hub with an 800 trillion won plan to expand memory for AI infrastructure. ETF Product Innovation: Tema ETFs partners with SemiAnalysis to launch research-driven semiconductor ETFs across the chip value chain. Real Estate: Real Capital Solutions bought a 36-story Atlanta office tower for about $49.5m, betting on leasing upside. Investor Alerts: Multiple securities class-action deadlines and notices continue to circulate, including for First Solar and several other public companies.

South Korea AI/semiconductor blitz: President Lee Jae Myung unveiled a sweeping plan to lock in global leadership, with Samsung and SK hynix set to invest about 800tn won ($518bn) each in new chip lines and SK Group adding 1,100tn won for semiconductors plus 1,000tn won for AI data centers, while government pushes AI data-center buildout to 2035. Regulator focus on investor protection: Nepal’s Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle swore in new SEBON chair Gopal Prasad Bhatta, urging market reforms, stronger investor safeguards, and action plans with clear timelines. Crypto risk watch: Grayscale warned Bitcoin could fall further if the CLARITY Act stalls and the Fed raises rates, tying the outlook to regulatory and balance-sheet risks. Wealth/markets access: Mirae Asset launched MAPS in Hong Kong to unify trading across traditional and digital assets, and Morgan Stanley expanded access to its private-markets PMAX fund by removing accredited-investor limits. Capital raising in India: Eleven invested ₹216 crore into its financial services business (total ₹470 crore), while CreditAccess Grameen raised ₹425 crore via private NCDs. Energy investment policy: Malaysia’s gas industry chief urged full liberalisation and removal of the RM35 power-sector gas price cap to attract more international players. Market infrastructure: Sri Lanka’s CSE began tightening rules on dormant investor accounts via KYC updates to curb fraud without seizing assets.