Year: 2026

May
12
2026
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By Lily Chang
How are cloud cost optimizations affecting software margins and valuations?

Analyzing cloud cost optimization’s impact on software margins and valuations

Investments and Business
Cloud cost optimization describes the deliberate process of cutting and managing expenses tied to cloud infrastructure, including compute, storage, networking, and managed services. As software companies grow, particularly those offering software-as-a-service, cloud spending frequently emerges as one of the largest elements within the cost of goods sold. In recent years, mounting cloud expenses, economic pressures, and investor emphasis on profitability have elevated cloud optimization from a purely technical topic to a priority discussed at the board level.Optimization techniques typically include rightsizing workloads, committing to reserved capacity, improving software efficiency, adopting FinOps practices, and, in some cases, moving workloads between cloud…
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May
11
2026
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By Lily Chang
What strategies help diversify portfolios without sacrificing expected returns?

How to diversify your portfolio and still get good returns

Investments and Business
Diversification aims to reduce risk by spreading investments across different assets, sectors, and strategies. The common concern is that adding more holdings can dilute returns. However, when diversification is executed with intention, it can preserve or even enhance expected returns by improving risk-adjusted performance. The key is to focus on uncorrelated return sources, cost efficiency, and disciplined portfolio construction.Prioritize Low-Correlation Assets Rather Than Merely Increasing QuantityAdding assets that move independently of each other reduces portfolio volatility without necessarily lowering expected returns. Correlation, not quantity, is what matters.Equities across regions: Developed and emerging markets tend to move through separate economic rhythms;…
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May
11
2026
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By Lily Chang
What central banks can do when shocks come from outside

Addressing external shocks: central bank strategies

International
External shocks—ranging from commodity-price spikes, wars, and pandemics to foreign monetary tightening and sudden stops of capital—pose immediate and diverse challenges for central banks. The appropriate response depends on the shock’s nature (demand, supply, financial, or external liquidity), its persistence, and the economy’s structural characteristics. This article outlines practical tools, strategic choices, case evidence, and trade-offs central banks face when shocks originate beyond national borders.Classifying external shocks and the policy implicationsDemand shocks: Global demand collapses reduce export receipts and domestic output. Policy emphasis usually shifts toward supporting activity—lowering interest rates, providing liquidity, and enabling fiscal support.Supply shocks: Commodity or input…
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May
11
2026
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By Lily Chang
Denmark: How companies use circular design to reduce cost and supply risk

Danish businesses: circular design for cost efficiency and reduced supply risk

Economy
Denmark has become a testbed for circular design because of its compact industrial base, strong design tradition, advanced recycling infrastructure, and policy environment that encourages resource efficiency. Danish companies use circular design not only to reduce environmental impact, but to cut costs, stabilize supply chains, and unlock new revenue models. The following explores how circular design is applied in Denmark, with concrete company examples, methods, outcomes, and practical lessons for other firms.Understanding circular design and its significance for cost and supply vulnerabilitiesCircular design is a product- and system-level approach that prioritizes durability, repairability, reuse, remanufacturing, material recovery, and use of…
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