Blackstone CEO, Stephen A. Schwarzman, shared insightful perspectives on Blackstone’s share performance since its inception with an initial investment of $400k. He discussed the pivotal moment in 2015 when Jack Ma and others convinced him of the #AI-driven business opportunities, leading to the hiring of the first data scientist. Schwarzman remarked on the Federal Reserve's effective measures in reducing inflation. Based on Blackstone's real estate portfolio and a data-driven assessment of rent increases, he believes that U.S. inflation is currently near 2%. Schwarzman also expressed confidence that the Fed will exercise prudence in managing interest rates.
The UK’s Minister of State for Business and Trade, Lord Johnson, and Foreign Secretary Rt Hon Lord Cameron, along with Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, emphasized their strong belief in Britain's resurgence and eagerness for business. They demonstrated a notable commitment to eliminating bureaucratic obstacles and attracting new investments, particularly in the UK’s priority sectors: Financial Services, #Technology, Life Sciences, and #CleanEnergy. In our SDI view, the UK stands to be among the European winners if current challenges in Germany's government persist for longer.
When speaking with Baker Hughes Chairman & CEO Lorenzo Simonelli about strategies for the #EnergyTransition, I inquired about leveraging Baker Hughes' capabilities from the oilfield services business into #renewable areas.
Following her discussion of NASDAQ's growth story, including acquisitions, I had the opportunity to catch up with NASDAQ Chair and CEO Adena Friedman.