Global Community

NatWest Group is teaming up with OpenAI to bring generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to its customer service and productivity. This partnership marks the first time a UK-based bank has joined forces with OpenAI.

Prudential Plc hired Citigroup to assist with its potential initial public offering of Indian unit ICICI Prudential Asset Management, according to a media report. The offering could raise ~$1B, but details could change as preparations are in the preliminary stage, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

BP has agreed to sell a 25% stake in its subsidiary, BP Pipelines TANAP, to Apollo Global Management for $1 billion. This subsidiary holds a 12% stake in the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), which transports natural gas from Azerbaijan to Turkey and eventually to Italy and Greece.

Thomas Wyatt Nigeria Plc has reported a significant decline in its financial performance for the year ended March 31, 2024. The company posted a loss of N12.4 million, marking a 129% decline from the N43.1 million profit recorded in the previous year.

Catalysts Most Immediate Catalyst (1–2 Years) Rising Interest Rates: Higher interest rates boost Avanza’s net interest income from client deposits. User Growth: Strong customer acquisition, driven by increased digital adoption in financial services.

Catalysts Most Immediate Catalysts (1–2 Years) Semiconductor Equipment Demand – As AI, cloud computing, and automotive chips grow, chipmakers (TSMC, Intel, Samsung) are increasing fab capacity, boosting demand for AMAT’s semiconductor equipment. AI Boom & High-Performance Computing – AI chips (from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel) require advanced manufacturing tools, where AMAT is a key supplier.

Catalysts Most Immediate Catalyst (1–2 Years): Technology & AI Integration: Increased use of AI-driven surveillance, automated threat detection, and predictive analytics can improve efficiency and reduce reliance on human labor. Growing Demand for Security Services: Rising concerns over crime, workplace safety, and geopolitical instability are driving corporate and government spending on security.

Catalysts Most Immediate Catalysts (1–2 Years) AI Growth with Copilot & Azure AI – Microsoft is aggressively integrating AI into Office 365 (Copilot) and Azure AI, driving enterprise adoption and monetizing AI-powered software. Cloud Expansion (Azure) – Azure continues to gain market share, benefiting from enterprise digital transformation and AI workloads.

Bull - Growth in miles driven increases the wear and tear on vehicles, requiring more maintenance and repair work to keep them on the road, benefiting LKQ. LKQ’s collision business could see rising demand from increasing auto claims as more drivers return to the road following the COVID-19 pandemic.