Big Tech and financial watchdog clash over regulation of digital payments LeapRate

January 09, 2024 BY Elizabeth Anderson

Big Tech and financial watchdog clash over regulation of digital payments

The CCIA maintains that supervising the companies that offer digital payment services will choke innovation and progress, and hamstring startups in the industry. This response followed a November 2023 statement by the CFPB, which claimed that financial operations such as smartphone payments and digital wallets emulated traditional payment methods but fell short of user protection.…

January 09, 2024 BY Elizabeth Anderson

Merck moving forward with $680m Harpoon acquisition

Harpoon has a portfolio of innovative T-cell engagers using the company’s proprietary TriTAC and ProTriRAC platforms to harness and activate a patient’s immune system to eliminate malign cells. During 2023, Harpoon shares climbed by 41% and surged by almost 112% on Monday. Analysts believe Merck is exploring new avenues of growth as its current top-selling…

January 08, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

Plus500’s FY Revenues Rise to $725M, Beating Expectations

The positive outcome contrasts with earlier projections, as Plus500 initially anticipated ending the year with revenue and EBITDA in line with market expectations, set at $645 million and $300 million, respectively. The brokerage emphasised the resilience of its balance sheet, noting its robust nature, with cash balances reaching approximately $900 million at the close of…

January 08, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

XTB Launches New ETF Passive Investment Plan in the UAE

The Investment Plans feature pre-made portfolios, allowing investors to easily access ETFs with allocations automatically managed based on their risk preferences. With plans starting at just $15, investors can combine up to 9 ETFs covering a diverse range of assets and geographies. This product is particularly tailored for individuals seeking passive investment options without the…

January 08, 2024 BY Elizabeth Anderson

New Fed faces may be key to calculated rate cuts

This year, the regional banks and their members are Cleveland’s Loretta Mester, Atlanta’s Raphael Bostic, San Francisco’s Mary Daly and Richmond’s Tom Barkin. Despite raising rates to a 22-year record high in H1 of 2023, Wall Street is still expecting rate cuts to begin in March this year, continuing for six rounds, so the new…

January 08, 2024 BY Elizabeth Anderson

Storms and strikes not flooding the positive outlook on the UK economy

As traders recently turned bullish on the sterling for the first time in three months, analysts believe the UK economy, which spent most of 2023 on the rim of recession, is on the rise. Bloomberg reports that stocks are also stronger, according to the latest retail statistics. Realistically, this outlook can sour very quickly, especially…

January 08, 2024 BY Elizabeth Anderson

UK users being put to the test by cryptocurrency exchanges

Starting today, cryptocurrency investors will have to declare which type of investments they action and answer questions on a variety of financial services and regulations if they wish to keep on trading on these platforms. On this declaration, users must choose an investor profile, which is either high net-worth above £100,000, more than £250,000, or…

January 05, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

Investors Park a Record $123 Billion in Cash To Start the Year Off

According to BofA, this financial manoeuvre, typically observed in the first week of January, comes on the heels of 2023's unprecedented annual cash inflow totalling $1.3 trillion. Such movements highlight a trend where investors, prioritising security and influenced by increased interest rates, have shifted away from stocks and towards more stable assets. Drawing from EPFR's…

January 05, 2024 BY Simon Mugo

Eren Eraslan Appointed As Head of IG’s Northern Europe Unit

The above role allowed him to significantly influence the firm's growth and strategy in these regions. His tenure at IG Deutschland lasted for over a year and eight months, during which he proved his leadership abilities and contributed substantially to the firm's development. Since December 2023, he has taken up the mantle as Head of…

January 05, 2024 BY Elizabeth Anderson

US Jobs report and nonfarm payrolls data outlook

The dollar set itself on track for its longest winning streak since September 2023 and the 10-year US Treasury yield rose one basis point at 4.01%. The US data due to be released later today will contain information regarding rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, with market sentiment predicting good nonfarm payrolls data. Don’t miss…