Everyone makes plans: for travel, fitness or the year ahead. China does it too. Last week, China’s top leaders met in a four-day conclave in Beijing to decide on the country's goals and aspirations for the next five years.

A publication by US President Donald Trump on social media led to the largest 24-hour wipeout in crypto history. The most curious part about the event was the discovery that someone realised a nine-figure profit by shorting the crypto market right before the news.

The third quarter of 2025 saw most asset classes make gains pushed by easing trade tensions, AI euphoria, and the first but most likely not last rate cut of the year by the Federal Reserve. Equities delivered a strong performance with Asian markets in the lead. On the credit side Emerging Market debt was the strongest performer and France’s political turmoil continued to weigh on Europe. On the macro side, the focus is now on the cooling US labour market as payroll figures were revised downwards, and job creation declined.

AI build-out is a classic front-loaded capex cycle with back-loaded payoffs.

October AA Insights

The broad trade-weighted dollar is down roughly 7% this year, and the forces driving that decline show no signs of reversing. But depreciation should not be mistaken to the end of its dominance.

A $100,000 fee per foreign hire is the new cost structure under the revised H-1B regulation, a policy shift that's turning Silicon Valley's talent pipeline into an expensive gamble.

Revolut recently launched a secondary share sale, leading to a staggering new valuation of US$75 billion. This milestone strengthens its position among the world’s leading neobanks and signals a new chapter for digital banking.

As President Trump’s tariffs trigger a wave of financial and diplomatic disputes, Asia’s largest powers are reassessing their alliances and strategic priorities, signalling a significant shift from the dynamics that have shaped the past decade.

On 10 September 2025, Oracle shares soared 36% in a single session, adding more than $230bn in market value. The rally rippled across the tech sector, lifting semiconductor and cloud infrastructure stocks, driving the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to record highs.