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The Straits Times Index (STI) fell 2.43% this week, closing at 3,719.93 amid global economic concerns. CapitaLand Investment announced a S$162 million sale of its stapled securities and plans to acquire Wingate Group's investment management business for A$200 million. Jardine Matheson Holdings saw a significant decline of over 7%, while the U.S. markets continued their downward trend despite a late-week rally.
Deutsche Bank is developing a compliance-driven layer-2 blockchain solution on Ethereum using ZKsync technology, aimed at addressing regulatory challenges in financial systems. Part of Project Dama 2, it will enhance transaction efficiency while ensuring oversight for regulators. A minimum viable product is expected by 2025, pending regulatory approval.
Singapore has emerged as the global leader in cryptocurrency adoption, with 40% of its investors holding digital assets, according to a report. The city-state boasts a robust infrastructure for digital tokens, with around 30 licensed payment firms, and is implementing tax incentives for crypto. As traditional financial systems evolve, both Gen-Z and Baby Boomers are increasingly recognizing the potential of mainstream crypto transactions.
A recent interest rate cut by the Swiss National Bank has positioned Zurich to potentially surpass Hong Kong as the world's most expensive city for real estate. With the key interest rate halved to 0.5 percent, home prices in Zurich are expected to rise by 3.5 percent in 2025, further increasing the financial burden on young families seeking home ownership. As prices in Zurich outpace those in major cities like New York, Paris, and London, the real estate market is poised for continued growth despite concerns over affordability.
Denmark's Nykredit has made a DKr24bn ($3.5bn) cash offer to acquire Spar Nord Bank, representing a 49% premium on its share price, with completion expected in the first half of 2025. In other news, AllianceBernstein plans to sue Switzerland over the $17bn writedown of Credit Suisse's AT1 bonds, joining a lawsuit that claims investor rights were violated during the UBS takeover. Additionally, DBS Group, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group are potential bidders for Indonesia's Panin Bank, which has seen a significant rise in its share value this year. Morgan Stanley will pay $15mn to settle SEC allegations regarding inadequate fraud prevention measures at its Smith Barney unit.
Bybit participated in the Vietnam Tech Impact Summit 2024, discussing the regulatory landscape for digital assets. Chief Legal & Compliance Officer Robert MacDonald emphasized the need for robust regulations to foster trust and innovation, highlighting the challenges of integrating digital assets into traditional finance. The panel called for global regulatory consistency to enhance scalability and protect investors, with Vietnam positioned to align with best practices while addressing local needs.
Global markets opened the week cautiously, with Wall Street's tech stocks driving gains amid mixed sentiment. Investors are anticipating a 25 basis point rate cut from the Federal Reserve, supported by a strong US jobs report, while central bank meetings and US CPI data will be pivotal for future rate expectations. The US dollar found support at the 105.13 trendline, while the EUR/USD faces risks ahead of the ECB meeting, and the Japan 225 index shows potential for gains amid economic resilience.
IG
As Trump 2.0 approaches, offshore hubs, particularly in the Caribbean, may benefit from a potential rollback of global tax reforms. While Switzerland faces challenges with high tax rates, medium-sized financial centers like Singapore and Dubai could attract talent due to their favorable tax environments. The Swiss financial sector, constrained by direct democracy, may struggle to compete for international banking talent in the coming years.
Temasek Holdings is reducing its stake in U Mobile Sdn., a Malaysian telecom company that recently secured a significant 5G contract. The firm will sell part of its shares to an entity controlled by tycoon Vincent Tan and the Malaysian king’s daughter, lowering its ownership from 48% to 20%.
Terence Koh, founder of Genk, opted for a private criminal prosecution after a civil suit for data theft yielded insufficient deterrence. He criticized Singapore's lack of specific trade secrets legislation, noting that existing laws inadequately address commercial data theft, which undermines business security. Koh's case highlights the urgent need for stronger legal frameworks to protect proprietary information in the digital age.
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