Jerry Lin
The Latest
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Hong Kong Stock Exchange Reports 10% Profit Surge as IPOs and Trading Volume Rebound
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. (HKEX) reported a 10% rise in annual profit, reaching a record HK$13.05 billion ($1.7 billion) for 2024, driven by a surge in trading turnover and a rebound in initial public offerings (IPOs). The results mark a strong recovery for the exchange, which had previously been weighed down by sluggish economic growth in China and regulatory constraints. 
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. (HKEX) reported a 10% rise in annual profit, reaching a record HK$13.05 billion ($1.7 billion) for 2024, driven by a surge in trading turnover and a rebound in initial public offerings (IPOs). The results mark a strong recovery for the exchange, which had previously been weighed down by sluggish economic growth in China and regulatory constraints. -
U.S. Consumer Confidence Plunges in February as Inflation, Trade War Fears Grow
U.S. consumer confidence dropped sharply in February, marking its largest monthly decline since August 2021, as inflation concerns and uncertainty over trade policy weighed on sentiment. The Conference Board reported Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index fell to 98.3, down nearly 7% from January, falling below the Dow Jones estimate of 102.3. 
U.S. consumer confidence dropped sharply in February, marking its largest monthly decline since August 2021, as inflation concerns and uncertainty over trade policy weighed on sentiment. The Conference Board reported Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index fell to 98.3, down nearly 7% from January, falling below the Dow Jones estimate of 102.3. -
Bitcoin Plummets Below $87K as Analysts Warn of Further Downside
Bitcoin tumbled to a three-month low on Sunday, briefly dipping below $87,000, as a wave of liquidations triggered widespread sell-offs. The drop, which saw Bitcoin slide by 13% in February, has led analysts to warn that the bottom may not yet be in sight. 
Bitcoin tumbled to a three-month low on Sunday, briefly dipping below $87,000, as a wave of liquidations triggered widespread sell-offs. The drop, which saw Bitcoin slide by 13% in February, has led analysts to warn that the bottom may not yet be in sight. -
Bybit Confirms $1.4 Billion Crypto Hack, Ethereum Drops Amid Security Breach
Cryptocurrency exchange Bybit confirmed on Friday that it had suffered a significant security breach, with hackers withdrawing over $1.4 billion worth of Ethereum (ETH) and staked ETH (stETH) from its cold wallet. The exchange's CEO, Ben Zhou, stated that the attack stemmed from a manipulated transfer, allowing the hacker to take control of one of the company's multisig wallets. 
Cryptocurrency exchange Bybit confirmed on Friday that it had suffered a significant security breach, with hackers withdrawing over $1.4 billion worth of Ethereum (ETH) and staked ETH (stETH) from its cold wallet. The exchange's CEO, Ben Zhou, stated that the attack stemmed from a manipulated transfer, allowing the hacker to take control of one of the company's multisig wallets. -
U.S. Jobless Claims Tick Up to 219,000 as Labor Market Holds Steady
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits edged higher last week, but layoffs remain relatively low, reflecting a labor market that continues to show resilience. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims rose by 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 219,000 for the week ending February 15, slightly above analysts' projections of 215,000. 
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits edged higher last week, but layoffs remain relatively low, reflecting a labor market that continues to show resilience. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims rose by 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 219,000 for the week ending February 15, slightly above analysts' projections of 215,000. -
Gold Prices Hit Record High as Tariff Concerns and Dollar Volatility Drive Demand
Gold prices surged to an all-time high of $2,954.69 per ounce on Thursday as investors sought refuge amid rising global economic uncertainty, inflationary pressures, and geopolitical tensions. Spot gold climbed 0.6% to $2,951.25, while U.S. gold futures advanced 1.1% to $2,969.30, marking the tenth record high this year. 
Gold prices surged to an all-time high of $2,954.69 per ounce on Thursday as investors sought refuge amid rising global economic uncertainty, inflationary pressures, and geopolitical tensions. Spot gold climbed 0.6% to $2,951.25, while U.S. gold futures advanced 1.1% to $2,969.30, marking the tenth record high this year. -
UK Inflation Surges to 10-Month High, Challenging Bank of England’s Rate Path
The United Kingdom's inflation rate unexpectedly accelerated to 3% in January, exceeding analysts' forecasts and complicating the Bank of England's path for interest rate cuts. Data released Wednesday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed consumer prices rising at the fastest pace in ten months, driven by higher airfares, fuel costs, and a controversial value-added tax (VAT) on private school fees. 
The United Kingdom's inflation rate unexpectedly accelerated to 3% in January, exceeding analysts' forecasts and complicating the Bank of England's path for interest rate cuts. Data released Wednesday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed consumer prices rising at the fastest pace in ten months, driven by higher airfares, fuel costs, and a controversial value-added tax (VAT) on private school fees. -
Gold Rally Extends as Goldman Sachs Lifts Price Target to $3,100 Amid Trade War Concerns
Gold prices extended their gains on Tuesday, driven by investor demand for safe-haven assets amid growing uncertainty over U.S. tariff policies under President Donald Trump. Spot gold rose 0.6% to $2,913.79 an ounce as of 07:14 GMT, while U.S. gold futures climbed 0.9% to $2,925.50. 
Gold prices extended their gains on Tuesday, driven by investor demand for safe-haven assets amid growing uncertainty over U.S. tariff policies under President Donald Trump. Spot gold rose 0.6% to $2,913.79 an ounce as of 07:14 GMT, while U.S. gold futures climbed 0.9% to $2,925.50. -
U.S. Retail Sales Plunge 0.9% in January as Consumers Pull Back Spending
Retail sales in the U.S. fell sharply in January, declining 0.9% from the previous month as consumers curtailed spending across key sectors, according to a Commerce Department report released Friday. The drop was significantly steeper than the 0.2% decline forecast by economists and follows an upwardly revised 0.7% gain in December. 
Retail sales in the U.S. fell sharply in January, declining 0.9% from the previous month as consumers curtailed spending across key sectors, according to a Commerce Department report released Friday. The drop was significantly steeper than the 0.2% decline forecast by economists and follows an upwardly revised 0.7% gain in December. -
U.S. Wholesale Prices Rise 3.5% in January, Signaling Persistent Inflation Pressures
Wholesale inflation in the U.S. remained elevated in January, with the Producer Price Index (PPI) rising 0.4% for the month and 3.5% year-over-year, according to data released Thursday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The latest figures exceeded economists' expectations and reinforced concerns that inflation remains stubbornly high despite Federal Reserve efforts to stabilize prices. 
Wholesale inflation in the U.S. remained elevated in January, with the Producer Price Index (PPI) rising 0.4% for the month and 3.5% year-over-year, according to data released Thursday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The latest figures exceeded economists' expectations and reinforced concerns that inflation remains stubbornly high despite Federal Reserve efforts to stabilize prices.
