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A new valentine for crypto

Feb 12 2026
The shifting focus is the latest reminder of the dramatic shift that the SEC has taken toward crypto under President Donald Trump.

Trust us: The labor market’s fine

Feb 11 2026
In a midterm election that will be defined by cost-of-living issues, the relative strength of a “low-hire, low-fire” economy won’t be a great sales pitch.

Another day, another dollar hangover

Feb 10 2026
The greenback can’t catch a break.

The tariff man taketh

Feb 9 2026
New research from the nonpartisan Tax Foundation found that the president’s trade policies cost U.S. households about $1,000 on average last year.

Skinny accounts on the horizon

Feb 5 2026
The battle between crypto upstarts and banking stalwarts is moving to the Federal Reserve.

Meet Kevin Warsh

Feb 4 2026
Warsh’s evolution from crisis-era inflation hawk to Trump ally has been headscratching for some Fed watchers, and some are “wondering which version of Warsh will ultimately govern the central bank.”

Wall Street draws a line on AI

Feb 3 2026
AI has become an engine of the S&P 500, a central pillar of the U.S. economy and a core part of President Donald Trump’s economic agenda.

Why Warsh might not give Trump the economy he wants

Feb 2 2026
President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Reserve would inherit a healthy economy that most Americans believe is about to skid.

Business – South China Morning Post

What is tokenised gold and why are financial institutions and investors looking at it?

Feb 17 2026
This Lunar New Year, Hongkongers can gift friends and family digital gold tokens, a new way of blending the city’s tradition of giving gold for good wishes with the convenience of blockchain technology. HSBC added this new transfer feature earlier this month to its retail gold token, which represents fractional ownership of physical gold stored in a secure vault and is the only retail-focused gold token approved by Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission. The bank’s enhancement to its gold…

Chow Tai Fook-linked firms set for record US$192 million hit in Giordano case

Feb 16 2026
In the largest settlement for a Takeovers Code breach in Hong Kong, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has reached an agreement with two wholly owned subsidiaries of Chow Tai Fook Nominee (CTFN) – a company linked to the Henry Cheng Ka-shun family – requiring them to pay up to HK$1.5 billion (US$192 million) to independent shareholders of Giordano International. The agreement with Sino Wealth International, Giordano’s majority shareholder, and Clear Prosper Global followed an…

Hong Kong’s Kerry Properties secures Shau Kei Wan residential plot for US$177 million

Feb 16 2026
Hong Kong-based Kerry Properties has won a tender for a residential plot in Shau Kei Wan for HK$1.38 billion (US$177 million), which drew heavy bidding interest from both mainland Chinese and local developers. Kerry beat seven other bidders for a 50-year grant for the 1,349-square-metre (14,523 sq ft) parcel in the Eastern district, the Lands Department said on Monday. The plot was expected to provide a total gross floor area of over 130,000 sq ft, yielding around 300 residential units,…

UBS China venture faces wrath of silver investors after valuation change increases losses

Feb 16 2026
Thousands of Chinese retail investors spent the last day of the Year of the Snake on Monday filing complaints against UBS SDIC Fund Management for an overnight valuation change that caused steep losses for holders of its silver fund, even after the firm offered remedies. More than 200,000 people lodged complaints against the operator of the country’s only silver fund after the controversial change on February 2, according to Xiaofei Bao, an online Chinese consumer protection platform. The switch…

Hong Kong banks lure wealthy clients with gold, mahjong sets, fireworks during holiday

Feb 16 2026
Gold, mahjong sets, fancy lai see packets and dinners with fireworks views are among the incentives Hong Kong banks are using to lure wealthy customers from the city and the mainland during the Lunar New Year, which kicks off on Tuesday. Hong Kong authorities estimated that as many as 1.43 million mainland visitors would cross the border during the holiday period, up 6 per cent from a year earlier. The Year of the Horse begins on Tuesday, but the mainland holiday started on Sunday and ends on…

Can Hong Kong’s 4.8 million MPF members repeat record gains in Year of the Horse?

Feb 16 2026
The Year of the Horse is set to bring volatility for the investments of Hong Kong’s 4.8 million Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) members, following a record-breaking Year of the Snake that ended on Monday, according to analysts. The next zodiac year, which begins on Tuesday, is the seventh in the Chinese lunar calendar’s 12-year cycle, each represented by an animal. The Year of the Snake delivered estimated earnings of HK$251.6 billion (US$32 billion), the highest on record since the MPF was…

Hong Kong stocks rise to wrap up best lunar-year performance in eight years

Feb 16 2026
Hong Kong stocks rose on Monday as investors headed into the Lunar New Year holiday on an upbeat note, betting that the Year of the Horse will extend a rally that delivered the biggest lunar-year gain in eight years amid strong southbound inflows. The Hang Seng Index rose 0.5 per cent to 26,705.94 at the close of trading at noon, ending a two-day decline. The Hang Seng Tech Index added 0.1 per cent. The Hang Seng Index is up 32 per cent since the Year of the Snake began on January 29, 2025, the…

Korean investors pour US$92.5 million into Hong Kong-listed AI, tech stocks

Feb 16 2026
South Korean investors returned to mainland equities at the start of 2026, ramping up purchases of Hong Kong-listed players in artificial intelligence and semiconductors amid enduring enthusiasm for the tech sector. They bought US$92.5 million worth of Hong Kong-listed shares this year as of February 13, according to data from SEIBro, a portal maintained by the Korea Securities Depository. The buying was concentrated in newly listed technology companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking…

Bloomberg Markets

Topshop Opens in John Lewis in Bid to Regain UK Clothing Appeal

Feb 17 2026
Topshop and Topman clothing is set to go on sale at John Lewis Partnership Plc on Tuesday, marking the brands’ first large-scale appearance on British high streets in five years.

AI Scare’s $56 Billion Hit Tests Resilience of India’s IT Stocks

Feb 16 2026
For investors bullish on India’s technology services industry, the “AI scare trade” has created an opportunity to buy shares of companies that are able to survive the doomsday predictions.

Gold Holds Near $5,000 as Lunar New Year Holiday Mutes Trade

Feb 16 2026
Gold was little changed in early trade, with much of Asia closed for the Lunar New Year and after a US holiday on Monday.

Oil Holds Gain as Iran Conducts Naval Drills Before US Talks

Feb 16 2026
Oil was steady after its biggest gain in a week, as Iran carried out naval drills near a major regional transit chokepoint before talks with the US later Tuesday.

Oil Holds Gain on Iran, Gold Trades Below $5,000: Markets Wrap

Feb 16 2026
Crude oil held its gains with traders pricing in heightened geopolitical risk after Iran conducted naval exercises near a critical shipping corridor before talks with the US resume later.

BHP’s Bumper Copper Profits Offset China Drag on Iron Ore

Feb 16 2026
BHP Group said first-half earnings jumped by more than a fifth, as a years-long push to boost copper production and a surge in prices for the red metal helped to offset weakness in its China-focused iron ore and steelmaking coal businesses.

Chile Cherry Sales to China Disappoint on Oversupply, Demand Lag

Feb 16 2026
Chile notched a second disappointing season of cherry sales in China after exporting too much fruit too far ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday when consumption traditionally peaks.

ECB’s Nagel Touts Euro-Denominated Stablecoins for Payments

Feb 16 2026
Euro-denominated stablecoins can be a valuable tool for cheap international transfers, supplementing the European Central Bank’s push for a digital common currency, Governing Council member Joachim Nagel said.

Bloomberg Technology

Musk’s X Probed by Irish Data Watchdog Over Grok Sexual Images

Feb 17 2026
Ireland’s data protection watchdog has launched an investigation into X over concerns about sexualized images created and published using the Grok AI chatbot.

Modi Seizes AI Summit to Assert India’s Global Ambitions After Tough Year

Feb 17 2026
Six months ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was fending off verbal attacks from US President Donald Trump, trying to regain the upper hand over Pakistan after an armed conflict, and facing questions about his economy’s prospects.

AI Scare’s $56 Billion Hit Tests Resilience of India’s IT Stocks

Feb 16 2026
For investors bullish on India’s technology services industry, the “AI scare trade” has created an opportunity to buy shares of companies that are able to survive the doomsday predictions.

Apple Revamps Video Podcasts as Industry Shifts Toward Visuals

Feb 16 2026
Apple Inc. is revamping its video offering in Apple Podcasts as part of a broader industry shift toward visuals in the once audio-only medium.

SpaceX to Compete in Pentagon Contest for Autonomous Drone Tech

Feb 16 2026
Elon Musk’s SpaceX and wholly owned subsidiary xAI are competing in a secretive new Pentagon contest to produce voice-controlled, autonomous drone swarming technology, according to people familiar with the matter.

Germany Moves Closer to a Social Media Ban for Those Under 16

Feb 16 2026
Germany looks poised to introduce age restrictions on social media in a move likely to increase tensions with US President Donald Trump.

AI Disruption Fears Rattle Industries

Feb 16 2026
Anxiety about AI displacing businesses has rattled markets, shaking industries from software and wealth management to logistics. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Matt Bloxham joins Vonnie Quinn and Norah Mulinda to discuss what to expect going forward. He speaks on “Bloomberg Markets.” (Source: Bloomberg)

EDF Warns Solar, Wind Surge Straining Nuclear Fleet Costs

Feb 16 2026
Electricite de France SA said growing solar and wind generation was increasing equipment wear and maintenance costs at its nuclear reactors, which are forced to reduce output when power demand is insufficient.

Bloomberg Wealth

Peruvian Tycoon Hit With Wave of Shop Closures in Wealthy Lima Area

Feb 16 2026
An upscale municipality in Peru’s capital Lima temporarily shuttered over a dozen commercial spaces controlled by one of the country’s top conglomerates, igniting an unlikely battle between the company and a local mayor.

Student Loans May Be Radicalizing UK Taxpayers

Feb 16 2026
Support for a smaller state is growing. This might be why.

Banker Who Helped Lead Saudi Debt Boom Will Drive FDI Push

Feb 16 2026
About a decade ago, Saudi Arabia picked a veteran banker to help set up a debt-market program that’s since transformed the kingdom into one of the most prolific bond issuers globally. His next task is to help Riyadh draw in overseas cash and triple annual foreign direct investment to $100 billion by 2030.

‘Hello Girls!’: Epstein Donated to Harvard Student Group for Years After Sex Conviction

Feb 15 2026
Long after Jeffrey Epstein was known as a convicted sex offender, he was also a top contributor to an elite cluster of groups founded by Harvard University students. For years, he was able to fill a table with “girls” at an annual gala that featured celebrities, billionaires and cultural luminaries.

Three Senior Bankers at Raine in India Are Said to Depart Advisory Firm

Feb 14 2026
Three senior bankers at Raine Group in India, including the country head, are set to leave the boutique adviser to set up a new investment banking firm, according to people familiar with the matter.