Business
Found 759 articles
Beijing expands regulatory oversight on outbound technology investment
One month after ordering the dissolution of Meta’s acquisition of startup Manus, Beijing has unveiled sweeping regulations tightening control over overseas deals. Effective July 1, the State Council’s new framework grants authorities broad powers to scrutinize investments involving sensitive data, proprietary technology, and national security interests.
Bank of England’s Greene bets on tokenized deposits over stablecoins
Five years from now, the current obsession with stablecoins may look like a misplaced concern. Bank of England policymaker Megan Greene argues that tokenized deposits are poised to dominate the digital landscape, eventually rendering the volatile, often unregulated assets known as stablecoins obsolete in the eyes of the global banking sector.
Central bank independence faces renewed political pushback
Political friction is mounting against central banks as officials enforce unpopular rate hikes to combat global price surges. Current and former policymakers warn that increasing interference threatens to erode institutional credibility, potentially entrenching inflation and complicating the delicate task of stabilizing economies amidst rising government debt.
China accelerates digital yuan rollout to bypass global dollar reliance
Beijing is aggressively expanding the digital yuan’s reach, pushing banks to integrate the currency into fiscal spending, salary disbursements, and cross-border trade. This systemic shift aims to insulate China’s economy from potential geopolitical shocks while establishing a sovereign alternative to Western-dominated payment networks and the prevailing reserve currency.
Blackstone-backed Liftoff pivots to $3.7 billion US IPO target
Redwood City-based Liftoff Mobile is testing investor appetite for software listings again, aiming for a $3.66 billion valuation in a revised U.S. initial public offering. The Blackstone-backed firm plans to raise up to $418 million by offering 19 million shares priced between $20 and $22 apiece.
BMO Recruits UBS Veteran to Lead U.S. Mergers and Acquisitions
David Descoteaux is stepping into a pivotal leadership role at BMO Financial, tasked with heading the bank's U.S. M&A team for capital markets and commercial banking. His appointment concludes a month-long search to unify the Canadian lender's regional divisions as it seeks to capture rising deal flow across North America.
Private credit faces deepening losses and investor caution
Aggregate unrealised losses at 51 business development companies climbed to 2.35% of net asset value in the first quarter of 2026, marking the sector's steepest quarterly decline since mid-2022. This erosion of portfolio fundamentals highlights growing anxiety over profitability and the sustainability of debt servicing in private credit markets.
Kalshi bolsters surveillance team with former FBI analyst
Facing mounting scrutiny over insider trading, prediction market Kalshi has recruited former FBI intelligence analyst Tyler Neff to its surveillance division. Neff, who spent seven years focusing on white-collar crime at the bureau's New York field office, joins the exchange to strengthen oversight of increasingly volatile betting patterns.
Private Credit Strains Under Rising Unrealised Losses
Aggregate unrealised losses at U.S. business development companies climbed to 2.35% of net asset value in the first quarter of 2026, marking the sharpest quarterly decline since 2022. This deterioration highlights growing pressure on middle-market borrowers struggling to navigate sustained high borrowing costs and cooling exit environments.
EU's six largest economies back unified capital market oversight
Finance ministers from the European Union’s six largest economies have reached a consensus on centralizing capital market supervision. By shifting oversight from national regulators to the Paris-based European Securities and Markets Authority, the group aims to bolster the bloc's competitiveness against mounting economic pressure from the United States and China.
Hungarian Prosecutors Seize $300 Million in Central Bank Probe
Hungarian authorities have seized 92 billion forints, roughly $300 million, in an expanding money laundering investigation targeting foundations established by the National Bank of Hungary. The move follows a State Audit Office report that flagged opaque investment structures and the potential mismanagement of hundreds of billions in public assets.
Euro zone inflation persists as fuel costs ripple through major economies
As fuel costs stemming from the Iran conflict filter into transport and entertainment sectors, inflation across the euro zone's four largest economies remained firmly above the European Central Bank’s 2% target throughout May, signaling that price pressures are broadening rather than receding across the bloc.
Monte dei Paschi CEO pivots to integration over merger speculation
Dismissing recent reports of a potential tie-up with rival Banco BPM, Monte dei Paschi di Siena CEO Luigi Lovaglio confirmed on Friday that the bank’s current strategy remains tethered to the absorption of Mediobanca, the Milanese merchant firm acquired in a landmark 16-billion-euro deal concluded last year.
Markets Tread Carefully as Gulf Ceasefire Talks Advance
Global equities are holding near record highs as reports of a potential 60-day ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran offer a reprieve from months of energy market volatility. Despite the cautious optimism, crude prices remain sensitive to the fragile negotiations and the looming threat of persistent inflation.
Fed liquidity reforms face hurdle in quest for smaller balance sheet
New Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh faces a stark reality as he pushes to shrink the central bank’s $6.7 trillion balance sheet: while regulatory tweaks could drain some excess reserves, the structural shifts in the financial system since the 2007-2009 crisis make a return to pre-recession levels highly improbable.
Indian insurers push for higher tax-free thresholds to spur long-term capital
Indian life insurers are lobbying the government to double the tax-free limit on insurance policies from 500,000 rupees, aiming to revitalize stagnant inflows. The industry argues that current caps, implemented in February 2023, have stifled the growth of non-unit-linked schemes and reduced demand for essential long-term government debt.
Swiss Court Rejects Appeal from Gazprombank Bankers
Four former Gazprombank employees have exhausted their legal options after Switzerland’s highest court upheld convictions for failing to conduct proper due diligence. The case centers on financial accounts linked to Sergey Roldugin, a concert cellist and close associate of President Vladimir Putin, which the court deemed insufficiently vetted.
Hong Kong eyes tax-free performance bonuses to lure global fund managers
Hong Kong is moving to waive taxes on performance-linked bonuses for fund managers, a strategic shift aimed at cementing the city's status as Asia’s premier financial hub. By eliminating the current 17% levy on carried interest, officials hope to attract elite investment talent who are increasingly mobile in their choice of location.
Three Months Into the Gulf Conflict, Markets Face Inflation Pressure
Three months after the onset of military action between the United States, Israel, and Iran, the initial timeline for a short-lived campaign has dissolved. With shipping through the Strait of Hormuz at a virtual standstill, global markets are bracing for the economic fallout of prolonged regional instability.
Asia's Wealthy Brace for Recession Amid Succession Gaps
With over 50% of high-net-worth individuals in the Asia-Pacific region citing recession as their primary concern for the coming three years, investors are grappling with a volatile global landscape defined by shifting trade policies and energy price spikes linked to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
ECB policymakers signal June rate hike as inflation pressure mounts
A number of European Central Bank officials considered an interest rate increase as early as April, according to accounts from the bank’s latest meeting. While policymakers ultimately opted to hold rates steady, the internal debate reveals a growing consensus that the era of looking past energy-driven price shocks is nearing its end.
US Treasury Launches Trump Accounts App for Child Investment
The U.S. Treasury has released the Trump Accounts app nationwide, initiating a federal program that provides a $1,000 seed deposit for children born between 2025 and 2028. Developed with Robinhood and BNY, the platform aims to foster long-term wealth building through tax-deferred index fund investments starting this July.
France threatens crypto firms with prosecution over MiCA licensing
With the European Union’s June 30 deadline for MiCA compliance fast approaching, French market regulator AMF has issued a stark ultimatum: crypto firms failing to secure proper licensing will face blacklisting and potential legal prosecution if they continue to target customers within the bloc without authorization.
E6 nations weigh shift to centralized EU capital market oversight
Finance ministers from Europe’s six largest economies gathered in Berlin on Thursday to reconcile national interests with a proposal to transfer capital market supervision to the Paris-based European Securities and Markets Authority. The meeting marks a push to consolidate oversight before engaging the remaining 21 EU member states.
Brazil's Manufacturing Surge Drives First-Quarter Economic Recovery
Brazil's economy likely accelerated in the first quarter of 2025, with growth projected at 1.0% compared to the previous three-month period. A Reuters poll of 24 analysts points to a rebound fueled by a robust manufacturing sector and resilient household spending, marking a shift away from the stagnation seen at the end of last year.
RWE Eyes Expanded Control Over Power Operator Amprion
Germany’s largest power producer, RWE, is weighing a bid to increase its 25.1% stake in the grid operator Amprion. The move involves a potential acquisition of shares currently held by a group of pension funds, a strategic shift that would tighten the utility's grip on critical national energy infrastructure.
Monte dei Paschi and Banco BPM weigh merger path
Talks between Monte dei Paschi di Siena and rival Banco BPM resurfaced shortly after the reappointment of MPS CEO Luigi Lovaglio in April, according to reports from Italian news agency Adnkronos. The potential union of Italy’s third and fourth-largest lenders remains a long-discussed strategy to challenge the dominance of UniCredit and Intesa Sanpaolo.
US Treasury Trims Sanctions List to Sharpen Enforcement
The U.S. Treasury Department is scrubbing 76 names and entities from its sanctions blacklist, a strategic recalibration intended to reduce administrative bloat. By removing deceased individuals and defunct organizations, officials aim to redirect enforcement resources toward more pressing national security threats and active evasion schemes.
Central banks eye UK gilt market as yields hit multi-year highs
A sharp climb in UK government bond yields has finally caught the attention of official institutions and central banks, many of which are now exploring the gilt market for the first time. The surge in rates has transformed the asset class into a source of compelling value for global reserve managers.
Venezuela’s opaque debt adviser hire sparks investor concern
The Venezuelan government has appointed Centerview Partners to manage its $150 billion debt restructuring, bypassing a formal competitive bidding process. This move has drawn scrutiny from investors and officials, who question the lack of transparency in selecting a firm that stands to earn significant fees from the country's economic recovery.