Latest news with #PaulAllen
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
The Asia Trade 7/17/25
The Asia Trade "Bloomberg: The Asia Trade" brings you everything you need to know to get ahead as the trading day begins in Asia. Bloomberg TV is live from Sydney with Paul Allen and Haidi Stroud-Watts, getting insight and analysis from newsmakers and industry leaders on the biggest stories shaping global markets. (Source: Bloomberg)
Forbes
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Amsterdam Marks 750th Anniversary With Epic Car-Free Highway Festival
Amsterdam750 on the Ring highway June 21, 2025 Paul Allen/Andfotography2 Amsterdam has been celebrating 750 years of officially being a city since October 2024. In 1275, the city began its transformation from a small fishing village to a major trading destination. The birthday festivities include a wide range of events, from neighborhood festivals, the closure of the A10 ring road and a grand parade of tall ships culminating in a big party on the actual anniversary date of October 27, 2025. The highway festival already happened on summer solstace but there's plenty more happening between now and October. Here are a few suggestions of activities, places to stay and where to eat and drink, including some lesser known gems during Amsterdam750. Wedding on the Ring Paul Allen/Andfotography2 June 21, 2025 was a major highlight of Amsterdam's year-long 750th birthday celebrations. In an historical one-off event, the city closed 15 kilometers of the Ring highway (the A10) to cars. Brotherhood brass band, on the Ring, Amsterdam750 Paul Allen/Andfotography2 The pedestrian-only extravaganza featured music, sports, theater, dance and games (including an impressive number of tables with speed chess), spread over three zones on and around the Ring. Twenty couples even got married on the Ring, with one ceremony officiated by the Mayor of Amsterdam. Amsterdam-based singer songwriter Lorren Paul Allen/Andfotography2 Musical highlights along the highway included the soulful songs of Amsterdam-based singer songwriter Lorren, Brotherhood a brass band bursting with vibrant energy and the brass ensemble from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, founded in 1888. DJ Mas Amor at Amsterdam750 Paul Allen/Andfotography2 And, under the bridge, non-stop, back-to-back DJ sets from the top names in Dutch electronic music like Mas Amor, created an all-day rave. Right beside the rave, women were competitive weightlifting and further up the highway, was a forest of 750 large trees and 7500 small ones: replanted in and around the city after the Ring event. Holland Festival Holland Festival Paul Allen/Andfotography2 Running alongside the Ring festival was the 78th Holland Festival, an annual three weeks of performing arts from all over the world including music, dance, theatre, opera, visual arts and film. One of the highlights was performances by Trajal Harrell, a well-known American choreographer who combines elements from various dance traditions, fashion, music and visual arts. His beautiful meditative modern dance meets Japanese butoh piece, Welcome to Asbestos Hall, was inspired by Tatsumi Hijikata's original Asbestos Studio, a 1960s Tokyo experimental arts space. See Amsterdam from a Rooftop View from the rooftop of new Church, Amsterdam Paul Allen/Andfotography2 The spire on the roof of De Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in central Amsterdam is being restored so to offset the cost, a large platform has been placed on the roof and as part of 750 years of Amsterdam, the public can pay for the unique opportunity to climb up 216 stairs and enjoy panoramic views of the city. The climb upwards starts in the 17th century stairwell of De Nieuwe Kerk and continues up the temporary scaffolding. The 'Roof of the City' is open daily until November 2, 2025 at a cost of €15.00 or free to visit with a Museum Pass. Science and Technology Museum NEMO on Oosterdok, Amsterdam getty For another brilliant terrace experience, the Renzo Piano designed Nemo Science Museum has a new open green, sustainable rooftop open to the public that doesn't require entrance to the museum. Of course the museum is worth a visit too for its fun and engaging, interactive science and technology exhibits. Where to Stay, Eat and Drink Flagship Amsterdam saloon boat Paul Allen/Andfotography2 For a great overview of the city, have lunch on a canal boat. A private charter of a historic saloon boat with Flagship Amsterdam will take you down some of the smaller, pretty canals as well as past major sights like the Maritime Museum, the Anne Frank House and the Golden Bend. Board from Oosterdokskade 8, near the Central Station. Volkshotel rooftop, Amsterdam Volkshotel Volkshotel Amsterdam, in the eastern part of the city right beside Wibautstraat metro, is a fun place to stay, with Canvas restaurant and terrace on the 7th floor for breakfast and lively DJ sessions in the evenings. And on the 8th floor roof, guests can enjoy a sauna and hottubs. Once the headquarters for De Volkskrant newspaper, it now now has 216 modern hotel rooms, ranging from cozy hideouts to larger spaces. A Beautiful Mess, overlooking the IJ River serving tasty Middle Eastern cuisine, is a wonderful hospitality concept. It's staffed entirely by refugees from everywhere, under the management of Refugee Company who offer paid jobs and volunteer work in Amsterdam, Utrecht and Arnhem. Bunk Hotel, in the former Saint Rita church in Amsterdam north, offers an economical accommodation option with single and double sleeping pods and shared bathrooms. The convivial restaurant has a menu featuring local, seasonal ingredients prepared traditionally: smoked, cured, pickled, marinated and stewed. Hotel Casa, Amsterdam Paul Allen/Andfotography2 The rooftop terrace, GAPP, on the 8th floor at Hotel Casa is a lovely rooftop garden with great cocktails, cold beer (choose from over 30 local craft beers) and some proper Amsterdam-style snacks. Cafe Hesp, a canal-side restaurant, with an outdoor terrace on the Amstel river is great for lunch on a sunny day, small plates, salads, sandwiches. You can even go for a swim right in front of the terrace. Welcoming the herring party at Cafe Flamingo, Amsterdam Jessica Hartley Cafe Flamingo on Albert Cuyp market is in the trendy De Pijp neighborhood, located in the south part of the city, right below the city center. If you're there in June, be sure to go to a unique Dutch party that celebrates the new Herring with plenty of fish samples and a lethal Dutch liqueur. Vergulden Eenhoorn, a restaurant in a beautiful, hidden garden with a lovely outdoor terrace, an ideal spot for drinks. This old city farm from 1702 is located in the middle of the greenery at Ringdijk 58 and includes a café, restaurant and hotel.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Microsoft (MSFT): A Bull Case Theory
We came across a bullish thesis on Microsoft on Max Dividends's Substack. As of 2ⁿᵈ July, Microsoft's share was trading at $491.09. MSFT's trailing and forward P/E were 38.01 and 32.85 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. Radu Bercan / Microsoft (MSFT) is a dividend stock that stands out with a strong business model, reliable dividends, and massive growth potential. Microsoft, founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, is a leader in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and enterprise software. The company has a history of dividend growth, with 20 consecutive years of annual payout increases, and a 10-year dividend growth rate of 10.2%. Microsoft's dividend policy complements its $60 billion share repurchase program, creating a powerful total return proposition. Microsoft's future growth prospects are driven by its leadership in cloud computing (Azure), artificial intelligence (AI), and enterprise software. The company's $80 billion investment in AI infrastructure in FY2025 underscores its commitment to scaling high-margin AI services. Key growth drivers include AI monetization, cloud and hybrid work solutions, and strategic partnerships. Microsoft's AAA credit rating and diversified cash flows provide resilience, making it an attractive long-term investment with a 12-month average price target of $513 (11.8% upside). Microsoft's key traits define true 'forever stocks': wide economic moats, consistent free cash flow generation, and management teams that balance reinvestment with shareholder returns. While their dividend yields may appear modest, their double-digit dividend growth rates and massive share buyback programs create powerful compounding potential. Microsoft's strong financials, growth prospects, and commitment to returning capital to investors make it an ideal forever holding. Previously, we covered a on Microsoft by Ray Myers, published on May 25, which highlighted the company's critical role in AI infrastructure and energy needs. The stock has appreciated by 7.02% since our coverage. This is because the previous thesis on energy needs for AI played out. Max Dividends shares a similar view, emphasizing Microsoft's leadership in cloud computing, AI, and enterprise software, with a history of dividend growth and massive growth potential. The conviction in the thesis has strengthened, with Microsoft's $80 billion investment in AI infrastructure and a 12-month average price target of $513. Microsoft is on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 284 hedge fund portfolios held MSFT at the end of first quarter which was 317 in the previous quarter. Microsoft is on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 284 hedge fund portfolios held MSFT at the end of first quarter which was 317 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of MSFT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Microsoft (MSFT): A Bull Case Theory
We came across a bullish thesis on Microsoft on Max Dividends's Substack. As of 2ⁿᵈ July, Microsoft's share was trading at $491.09. MSFT's trailing and forward P/E were 38.01 and 32.85 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. Radu Bercan / Microsoft (MSFT) is a dividend stock that stands out with a strong business model, reliable dividends, and massive growth potential. Microsoft, founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, is a leader in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and enterprise software. The company has a history of dividend growth, with 20 consecutive years of annual payout increases, and a 10-year dividend growth rate of 10.2%. Microsoft's dividend policy complements its $60 billion share repurchase program, creating a powerful total return proposition. Microsoft's future growth prospects are driven by its leadership in cloud computing (Azure), artificial intelligence (AI), and enterprise software. The company's $80 billion investment in AI infrastructure in FY2025 underscores its commitment to scaling high-margin AI services. Key growth drivers include AI monetization, cloud and hybrid work solutions, and strategic partnerships. Microsoft's AAA credit rating and diversified cash flows provide resilience, making it an attractive long-term investment with a 12-month average price target of $513 (11.8% upside). Microsoft's key traits define true 'forever stocks': wide economic moats, consistent free cash flow generation, and management teams that balance reinvestment with shareholder returns. While their dividend yields may appear modest, their double-digit dividend growth rates and massive share buyback programs create powerful compounding potential. Microsoft's strong financials, growth prospects, and commitment to returning capital to investors make it an ideal forever holding. Previously, we covered a on Microsoft by Ray Myers, published on May 25, which highlighted the company's critical role in AI infrastructure and energy needs. The stock has appreciated by 7.02% since our coverage. This is because the previous thesis on energy needs for AI played out. Max Dividends shares a similar view, emphasizing Microsoft's leadership in cloud computing, AI, and enterprise software, with a history of dividend growth and massive growth potential. The conviction in the thesis has strengthened, with Microsoft's $80 billion investment in AI infrastructure and a 12-month average price target of $513. Microsoft is on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 284 hedge fund portfolios held MSFT at the end of first quarter which was 317 in the previous quarter. Microsoft is on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 284 hedge fund portfolios held MSFT at the end of first quarter which was 317 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of MSFT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Age
25-06-2025
- The Age
‘Eighth wonder of the world': sailing into Milford Sound on an ultra-luxury cruise ship
This article is part of Traveller's guide to luxury cruising. See all 27 stories. The assignment: spend a few days off the coast of New Zealand on one of the world's ritziest cruise ships. Sounds like fun, though I'm not sure how well I'll blend in with the paying passengers. According to a magazine story I've read, Scenic Eclipse II attracts a glamorous crowd: at the ship's 2023 christening at Málaga, on Spain's Costa del Sol, people wafted around the Observation Lounge in chiffon kaftans and the finest pale linens. Accessories? 'Chanel espadrilles, Hermès Apple watches and Louis Vuitton bucket bags.' Yikes. Day One The plane from Sydney descends over snow-capped alps into Queenstown, on New Zealand's South Island. The resort town is the gathering point for those setting sail tomorrow. At our hotel, notes in our rooms ask us to put our suitcases outside our doors by 9pm. The cases will be transferred to the ship during the night, leaving us with only our carry-on luggage to bring with us in the morning. Uh-oh. My carry-on luggage is a laptop case. No room in there for my PJs, toothbrush and so on. And no time to buy another case. The guy at the hotel reception desk offers me a couple of white plastic bin liners – the type used in kitchen tidies. I'm grateful, of course, but the prospect of boarding the ship with my possessions in garbage bags casts a slight pall over the rest of my evening. Day Two 9.30am: We board the bus that will take us from Queenstown to the port of Bluff, on the island's southernmost tip. After a three-hour drive through verdant countryside, we pull up at the dock, and there's Scenic Eclipse II, towering above us, gleaming and gorgeous. The vessel is 168 metres long and caters for just 228 passengers, compared with the thousands carried by some cruise ships. Its sleek design is said to have been inspired by Octopus, the super-yacht built for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The magazine story said the only pressure on board was living up to the decor – 'dressing with sufficient style to fit in with the pale-grey marble finishes, Italian Missoni striped cushions and lush abstract art works'. I am thinking glumly of those words as I hoist my garbage bags and trudge up the gangplank. Just ahead of me is one of the other journalists making the voyage, a former editor-in-chief of Vogue Australia, who swans aboard with her elegantly coiffed head held high, a Louis Vuitton carry-all casually slung over one arm. There's a woman for whom a Missoni cushion holds no fear. Resolve to stick close to her. The ship has about 180 crew members from more than 40 countries, and many of them are lined up in uniform to greet us. We're handed glasses of champagne, then escorted to our suites. Mine is the size of a large hotel room, with a compact sitting area and a small balcony. It is smart and extremely comfortable without being over-the-top opulent. 3.40pm: The captain, Torry Sakkariassen, makes a short address over the sound system. He mentions that overnight we will sail through a low-pressure system and encounter high winds as we round the south-western corner of New Zealand. 'Nothing to worry about,' he says in his cheery Norwegian accent. 5.10pm: Don't Worry, Be Happy is the song playing on the aft deck as we depart from Bluff. Waiters circulate with champagne. No one is wearing a chiffon kaftan. The passengers are undoubtedly affluent: the price of the full journey – 18 days from Queenstown to Auckland, with visits to several coastal towns and a side trip to Norfolk Island – ranges from $23,645 per person in a suite like mine to $123,260 per person in the two-bedroom penthouse. But they look to me like perfectly normal people. Friendly retirees in jeans and puffer jackets. 5.50pm: In the theatre, waiting for welcome-aboard talks by senior crew, I listen as a silver-haired man tells an evidently hard-of-hearing woman about a cruise to Antarctica he made on this vessel's sister ship. He tells her about a stop at the remote southern island of South Georgia and the huge creatures that lay in large numbers on the shore. 'Elephants!' the woman says incredulously. 'Elephant seals,' the man repeats. 7pm: We journalists meet for a seven-course dinner at Lumiere, the ship's French restaurant. (I say 'restaurant', but there's no bill involved. Food and drinks served on board – apart from a few rare spirits and wines – are complimentary.) The meal is presented by formally dressed waiters who bring the utmost seriousness to every task, from pouring the French wines recommended by the sommelier to using an eye-dropper to add tabasco to the consommé de queue de boeuf wagyu. That's oxtail soup, to you and me. By the time we leave the table, the ship is starting to sway a little. In my bathroom, I watch my lipstick roll slowly back and forth on the shelf below the mirror. Day Three 2.50am: Woken by the ship's movement. Strange creaking sound coming from somewhere. 7.20am: Press button to raise the blind. Bleak outside, and the sea is still churning. It's late spring, yet the daily information bulletin I call up on my TV screen says the temperature will peak at five degrees. 8.30am: Make my way to the main lounge, on Deck Four, occasionally putting a steadying hand on a wall. Lurch up to the help desk and ask the person on duty how he rates the present level of choppiness. 'It is very smooth,' he says in a firm, pleasant voice. 9.05am: Captain announces we are entering Milford Sound, and soon the conditions really are calm. Stretching 15 kilometres inland from the Tasman Sea, this is an extraordinarily beautiful place where steep-sided mountains loom over the water and thin waterfalls lace cobweb-like over cliff surfaces. The British writer Rudyard Kipling, who visited in the 1890s, called it the eighth wonder of the world. 10.15am: As we sail further into the Sound, a pod of dolphins appears on our port bow. One of those moments when you almost want to berate Nature for overplaying her hand. Too much! 10.45am: I take a ride on one of the ship's two black Airbus H130 helicopters. After lifting off from the helipad on Deck Eight, we buzz over inlets and hover beside precipices. In a picture taken by one of the other journalists, I look frozen with fear, but that's my exhilarated expression. 2pm: Cocktails on Deck Ten. The host is cruise director Chloe Barlow, a vivacious young Englishwoman who doubles as one of the ship's entertainers. 'I am totally in love with ABBA,' she says, and breaks into Honey, Honey. Scenic Eclipse I and II sail the world from the Arctic Circle to Antarctica and almost everywhere in between. Europe, South and North America, Asia, the South Pacific and Australia are all on itineraries. A Scottish couple, farmers from the Borders district, tell me they've been on several of the cruises and enjoyed them all, but Antarctica was the mind-blower. 2.50pm: Captain Sakkariassen announces that we're heading back out to the open ocean, and tonight can expect strong winds with swells of three to four metres. In my suite, I remember that all the drinks in the fridge are free. It hasn't been stocked with champagne, unfortunately, so I ring Francis, my designated butler, and ask if he could bring some. I'm expecting a glass or a minibar-sized bottle. What arrives is a full-sized bottle of Chassenay D'Arce Cuvée Première Brut. Oh well. 4pm: Join a tour of the ship conducted by Chloe Barlow, who in defiance of the increasingly heavy weather is wearing high-heeled sandals. 'This is the rockiest ship tour I've ever taken,' she says brightly as she teeters along a corridor. 9pm: The ship's chefs offer a variety of cuisines: Italian, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Indian and so on. At Koko's, the Asian restaurant, I have delicious Filipino dishes cooked on the teppanyaki grill. Retire to my suite, where I flick through the TV channels, watch the BBC for a bit, then toss back a couple of seasickness tablets I picked up from the help desk. Later discover you're supposed to take only one at a time. Day Four 9am: Breakfast at the Yacht Club, the casual restaurant on Deck Seven. As I wait for my order – omelette with smoked salmon – I learn that, for some, it was a long and uncomfortable night. A woman from North Carolina, an experienced cruiser, tells me there was a point when she wondered whether she should put warm clothes over her pyjamas, in case we needed to abandon ship. I decide not to divulge that, thanks to the double dose of seasickness tablets, I had 10 hours' uninterrupted slumber. Honestly haven't felt this well-rested in years. All is still now, because we're moored in the lee of Stewart Island, which lies some 30 kilometres off the bottom of New Zealand's South Island. Nothing much between here and Antarctica. Loading 12.15pm: A few of us clamber into a Zodiac bound for tiny Ulva Island, a wildlife sanctuary just off the coast of Stewart Island. We've signed up for a two-hour walking tour. Ulva is home to several bird and plant species that on mainland New Zealand are rare or have died out. Our guide's enthusiasm is catching, and the pristine forest enchanting. By the time we return to the ship, my hands are so cold I can hardly hold my champagne glass. 5.15pm: Trivia quiz in the lounge. The journalists – we call our team The Freeloaders – win the event. Nearly toss a Missoni cushion into the air in celebration. Day Five
