U.S. Stock Futures Drop as Iran War Escalates, Oil Surges Past $115 
South Korea March Exports Expected to Surge to Near Five-Year High Amid AI-Driven Chip Demand 
Reflection AI Eyes $25 Billion Valuation in Massive $2.5 Billion Funding Round 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady Amid U.S.-Israel-Iran Tensions and BOJ Signals 
Henkel in Advanced Talks to Acquire Olaplex at $2 Per Share 
Luxury Car Sales in the Middle East Take a Hit Amid Iran War 
NAB Plans to Cut 170 Jobs While Expanding Offshore Operations 
Ukrainian Drones and the #MadeByHousewives Movement: Kyiv Fires Back at Rheinmetall CEO 
Nomura Upgrades PDD Holdings to Buy, Calls Stock Too Cheap to Ignore 
Eli Lilly and Insilico Medicine Forge $2.75 Billion AI-Driven Drug Discovery Deal 
Brown-Forman and Pernod Ricard in Merger Talks to Create World's Largest Spirits Giant 
Oil Prices Surge Past $100 as U.S.-Iran Peace Hopes Collapse 
Gold Prices Rise Amid Geopolitical Tensions and Safe Haven Demand 
Goldman Sachs Sees Value in European Real Estate Stocks Despite Sharp Selloff 
Nanya Technology Shares Surge 10% After $2.5 Billion Private Placement from Sandisk and Cisco 
KPMG UK Cuts 440 Audit Jobs Amid Low Attrition and Cooling Professional Services Demand 
At the 2025 Sohn Investment Conference in Hong Kong, global hedge funds revealed top stock picks spanning China, India, and Korea, signaling a strategy to diversify amid rising market volatility and trade tensions.
Flight Deck Capital spotlighted Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU), citing its autonomous taxi unit Apollo Go, which mirrors Google’s Waymo but operates independently of capital markets. Founder Jay Kahn forecasts China’s ride-hailing sector reaching $237 billion by 2034, with Apollo capturing 15%—a segment the market currently undervalues.
Apeiron Capital backed DiDi Global for its profit rebound in China and rapid growth in Latin America. Meanwhile, Triata Capital highlighted PDD Holdings, the parent of Temu, noting its monthly active users now exceed Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), signaling strong global momentum for Chinese e-commerce.
In India, Arisaig Partners favored MedPlus Health Services for its private-label strategy, competitive pricing, and rising middle-class consumer demand. Panvira Management pitched Piramal Pharma, a contract development and manufacturing firm, citing high growth potential and favorable tax normalization.
Geopolitical shifts are also shaping investment theses. MY.Alpha Management’s Jon Jhun endorsed Hyundai Engineering & Construction (KS:000720) for its dominant role in the nuclear EPC sector, benefiting from Korea’s position in the global nuclear supply chain, excluding Russia and China. Frontline Global Management recommended Spanish defense firm Indra Sistemas (BME:IDR), betting on expanded European defense contracts.
Activist hedge fund Palliser Capital disclosed a 3% stake in Japan’s Toyo Tire, urging shareholder-friendly reforms. Oasis Management remains bullish on Round One, a Japanese entertainment firm branching into Michelin-inspired dining in the U.S.
The broad range of ideas—from AI-driven mobility to defense and healthcare—underscores hedge funds’ pursuit of global alpha despite uncertain macroeconomic conditions.
