Fitch Upgrades Finamex Outlook Following Vector Asset Acquisition
Finamex Casa de Bolsa, a Mexican bourse, has been placed on a positive watch by Fitch Ratings after announcing its absorption of competitor Vector’s assets.
Currently, Finamex’s national long-term rating stands at ‘A(mex)’, placing it in the sixth level of investment-grade assets.
Fitch considers Finamex’s business model solid, with a growing trend in its net operating revenues. This growth is expected to accelerate following the completion of the asset transfer from Vector.
Vector initiated this move after being accused in the U.S., along with CIBanco and Intercam, of facilitating money laundering operations for Mexican drug cartels. As a result, the three entities entered separate asset liquidation processes.
Colombian Startup Akua Secures $8.5M in Seed Round
Akua, a Colombian startup offering payment solutions in emerging markets, announced it raised $8.5 million in a seed round to expand into Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, and Central America.
With these funds and additional capital from a pre-seed round, Akua has secured a total of $13 million in financing.
The company boasts an Acquiring as a Service (AaaS) model, holding Visa and Mastercard licenses, and the capability to process over 50 million transactions daily.
The seed round was co-led by global funds Flourish Ventures and Cathay Latam, with strategic participation from regional heavyweight investors such as Atlántico, Honey Island 4UM (Brazil), Krealo (Peru’s corporate venture arm of Credicorp), and Simma Capital (Colombia).
NVIDIA Continues H-1B Sponsorship Despite Trump’s Decree
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang stated that the company will continue sponsoring H-1B visas and covering all associated costs following President Donald Trump’s decree imposing a $100,000 fee per new application.
Huang’s message aims to reassure employees, especially those in the technology sector with H-1B visas, many of whom are from India and China.
NVIDIA, like the broader chip sector, employs a significant number of foreign workers. Huang has repeatedly mentioned that roughly half of the world’s AI researchers are Chinese.
Constellation Brands Faces Revenue Challenges
Despite a “compressed” stock valuation and better-than-expected second-quarter fiscal margins, Constellation Brands faces cyclical and structural revenue challenges, according to Morgan Stanley analysts.
Structural concerns include health and wellness worries, exacerbated by GLP-1 (peptide similar to glucagon) medications for obesity treatment.
Additional challenges include declining demand from younger consumers, cannabis substitution effects, and increased competition in the premium beer sector.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the impact of Fitch’s upgrade on Finamex? The positive watch by Fitch Ratings indicates a solid business model and growing net operating revenues for Finamex, with expected acceleration following the asset transfer from Vector.
- Who is Akua, and what does its recent funding mean? Akua is a Colombian startup offering payment solutions in emerging markets. Its $8.5 million seed round, along with pre-seed funding, will support expansion into Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, and Central America.
- Why is NVIDIA continuing to sponsor H-1B visas? Despite President Trump’s decree imposing a $100,000 fee per new H-1B application, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang stated the company will continue sponsoring visas and covering associated costs, reassuring employees—many of whom are foreign workers.
- What challenges does Constellation Brands face? Despite a compressed stock valuation and better-than-expected fiscal margins, Constellation Brands faces cyclical and structural revenue challenges. These include health and wellness concerns, declining demand from younger consumers, cannabis substitution effects, and increased competition in the premium beer sector.
