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Demetra Holdings Plc Posts €132.5 Million Profit in 2024 Amid Strategic Execution and Economic Resilience

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 25, 2025

Robust Financial Results and Strategic Leadership

At its annual general meeting on June 24, Demetra Holdings Plc announced a profit of €132.5 million for 2024. Acting chairman Nearchos Ioannou acknowledged the unwavering support of shareholders, emphasizing that the company’s strong performance reflects years of disciplined execution and a strategic focus that has established it as the largest listed investment company on the regulated Cyprus Stock Exchange.

Steady Growth in a Volatile Global Environment

Ioannou detailed how Demetra maintained its upward momentum despite the ongoing global economic and geopolitical uncertainties. Focusing on the domestic economy, he noted that Cyprus posted one of the highest growth rates in the eurozone at 3.4 percent, driven primarily by a renaissance in tourism, vigorous domestic consumption, and expansive growth in the services and technology sectors.

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Macroeconomic Trends and Future Outlook

Highlighting other key economic indicators, Ioannou pointed out that inflation moderated to 2.2 percent and unemployment fell to 4.6 percent by the fourth quarter. A fiscal surplus of 4.3 percent also contributed to a reduction in public debt to 65 percent of GDP. Looking ahead, he forecast stable growth of around 3 percent in 2025, with inflation remaining near 2.2 percent. Strength in net exports, especially within the services sector, along with accelerated investment activity fueled by EU Recovery and Resilience funds, underpin the optimistic outlook.

Risks and Strategic Responses

Despite the positive trends, Ioannou cautioned against emerging challenges. Warnings from OECD and IMF regarding global growth deceleration and risks of an overheated domestic economy were acknowledged. Concerns about public spending pressures and elevated non-performing loans within credit-acquiring institutions also persist, potentially constraining domestic capital mobilisation. Additionally, the high concentration in the banking sector poses competitive challenges that require attention.

Investment Milestones and Future Development

Reviewing the company’s financial journey, Ioannou recounted the successful exit from a long-standing investment in Hellenic Bank—a decision that, over 12 years, yielded a compounded annual return of 19.7 percent. Although the profits reported in 2024 do not include realised gains, the sale of Hellenic Bank shares in February 2025 further bolstered the company’s financial profile. With net assets rising by 35.9 percent to €499.8 million, Demetra now stands on a robust footing to navigate its next phase of growth.

Maintaining Commitment to Long-Term Value Creation

In closing, Ioannou reaffirmed Demetra’s commitment to building long-term value. He stressed the necessity for adaptability, flexibility, and transparency in the face of ongoing global challenges, including geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, and energy price volatility. As Demetra continues to refine its forward-planning and investment strategy, the company remains determined to support both consumer and business interests, underpinning its strategic vision for the future.

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Moonshot’s Kimi K2: A Disruptive, Open-Source AI Model Redefining Coding Efficiency

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 14, 2025

Innovative Approach to Open-Source AI

In a bold move that challenges established players like OpenAI and Anthropic, Alibaba-backed startup Moonshot has unveiled its latest generative artificial intelligence model, Kimi K2. Released on a late Friday evening, this model enters the competitive AI landscape with a focus on robust coding capabilities at a fraction of the cost, setting a new benchmark for efficiency and scalability.

Cost Efficiency and Market Disruption

Kimi K2 not only offers superior performance metrics — reportedly surpassing Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4 and OpenAI’s GPT-4.1 in coding tasks — but it also redefines pricing models in the industry. With fees as low as 15 cents per 1 million input tokens and $2.50 per 1 million output tokens, it stands in stark contrast to competitors who charge significantly more. This cost efficiency is expected to attract large-scale and budget-sensitive deployments, enhancing its appeal across diverse client segments.

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Benchmarking Against Industry Leaders

Moonshot’s announcement on platforms such as GitHub and X emphasizes not only the competitive performance of Kimi K2 but also its commitment to the open-source model—rare among U.S. tech giants except for select initiatives by Meta and Google. Renowned analyst Wei Sun from Counterpoint highlighted its global competitiveness and open-source allure, noting that its lower token costs make it an attractive option for enterprises seeking both high performance and scalability.

Industry Implications and the Broader AI Landscape

The introduction of Kimi K2 comes at a time when Chinese alternatives in the global AI arena are garnering increased investor interest. With established players like ByteDance, Tencent, and Baidu continually innovating, Moonshot’s move underscores a significant shift in AI development—a focus on cost reduction paired with open accessibility. Moreover, as U.S. companies grapple with resource allocation and the safe deployment of open-source models, Kimi K2’s arrival signals a competitive pivot that may influence future industry standards.

Future Prospects Amidst Global AI Competition

While early feedback on Kimi K2 has been largely positive, with praise from industry insiders and tech startups alike, challenges such as model hallucinations remain a known issue in generative AI. However, the model’s robust coding capability and cost structure continue to drive industry optimism. As the market evolves, the competitive dynamics between new entrants like Moonshot and established giants like OpenAI, along with emerging competitors on both sides of the Pacific, promise to shape the future trajectory of AI innovation on a global scale.