Thursday, December 19

Tag: finance

Nasdaq hit by error affecting thousands of trades, nixing some
Finance

Nasdaq hit by error affecting thousands of trades, nixing some

Nasdaq Inc. was hit by a system error Wednesday that impacted thousands of stock orders, leading some to be canceled, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The exchange operator told market participants it’s investigating an order-entry issue that caused inaccuracies and delays, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter. Nasdaq’s electronic communication channel, which processes so-called financial information exchange or “FIX” messages, was affected, the people said. The incident, starting around 2:30 p.m. New York time, involving “certain FIX/RASH order entry ports,” Nasdaq said in an emailed statement that didn’t elaborate on the cause. “We are working to reach a prompt resolution to deliver the correct execution reports,” it said...
All you need to know after bitcoin hit US$40,000
Finance

All you need to know after bitcoin hit US$40,000

Bitcoin has jumped more than 140% this year to outstrip other investments like stocks and gold, and optimism for further gains is high. Its stellar performance comes after a turbulent period for the token. Following a crash in cryptocurrencies last year, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried is now in jail for fraud, while top exchange Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao recently pleaded guilty to US anti-money-laundering and sanctions violations, and were hit with fines of US$4.3 billion (RM20.05 billion) for Binance and US$50 million for Zhao. Is bitcoin’s return to the US$40,000 level a sign the industry is maturing and another bull run is underway, or will the token be derailed again? Here’s all you need to know: Why has bitcoin just hit a 19-month high of almost US$41,000?...
Bitcoin rises above US$42,000 for first time since April 2022
Finance

Bitcoin rises above US$42,000 for first time since April 2022

Bitcoin rose on Monday, briefly surpassing US$42,000 (RM195,699) for the first time since April 2022, in a new surge of momentum fueled by the possibility of US interest rate cuts and traders betting that the US will soon approve exchange-traded bitcoin funds. The world's biggest cryptocurrency hit as high as US$42,162 on Monday, its highest since April 2022, seemingly casting off the funk that had settled over crypto markets following the collapse of FTX and other crypto-business failures last year. At 1256 GMT, it was at US$41,754, up 4.4% on the day. Its 50% rally since mid-October has "seemed to mark a decisive shift away from the bearishness of 2022 and early 2023," said Justin d'Anethan - head of business development for Asia-Pacific at Keyrock, a digital assets market ...
BNM sees at least half of local banks’ new financing being aligned with climate-supporting activities by 2026
Finance

BNM sees at least half of local banks’ new financing being aligned with climate-supporting activities by 2026

Malaysia is expecting to see at least half of new financing by local banks aligned with climate-supporting or transitioning activities by 2026, said Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) governor Datuk Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour. He said there is currently growing focus and concrete climate action taken by financial institutions in Malaysia and to date, the industry’s financial commitment stands at over US$43 billion (RM200.9 billion) for environmental, social and governance (ESG) purposes. “That said, Malaysia cannot do this on its own. As stated in the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), the government anticipates that Malaysia will require investments of about US$280 billion by 2050 to meet our energy transition needs,” Abdul Rasheed said in his opening address at Malaysia’s Climat...
2023 taxation: Without GST, Malaysia still on right track for fiscal consolidation
Finance

2023 taxation: Without GST, Malaysia still on right track for fiscal consolidation

The government is now looking at further narrowing its fiscal deficit which eased to 5.6% last year after hitting 6.4% in 2021 amid a much-needed pandemic-induced spending to boost the economy and safeguard Malaysian’s livelihood at large. Initiatives to ensure more effective and sustainable financial management for the country have been one of the measures by the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Under the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) 2021-2025 launched in September this year, the government said it will look at ways to broaden its fiscal revenue, with efforts, among others, to improve tax collection by promoting voluntary tax declaration and the introduction of e-invoicing. No GST, for nowDespite the brouhaha about th...
Bhutan’s Secret Bitcoin Mining Operations Uncovered in Forbes Investigation
Finance

Bhutan’s Secret Bitcoin Mining Operations Uncovered in Forbes Investigation

An investigative report by Forbes has unveiled a clandestine operation in the remote reaches of the Kingdom of Bhutan: a series of undisclosed Bitcoin mining facilities quietly operating amidst the mountainous terrain. Through the use of satellite imagery from various sources and insider information, Forbes uncovered four covert crypto-mining sites concealed within Bhutan's dense forests. These sites showcased elongated mining units and sophisticated data center cooling systems tucked away in the Himalayan landscape. Additionally, images revealed robust power infrastructure, including high-capacity lines and transformers connecting Bhutan's hydroelectric plants to these clandestine facilities. These covert operations, seemingly initiated in 2020 based on construction pattern...
Singapore and Indonesia Launch Cross-Border QR Payment Linkage
Finance

Singapore and Indonesia Launch Cross-Border QR Payment Linkage

Singapore and Indonesia announced the launch of a cross-border QR code payment linkage, allowing customers of participating financial institutions in both countries to conduct retail transactions seamlessly. Additionally, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) introduced a real-time payment systems linkage between Singapore's PayNow and Malaysia's DuitNow, enabling instant, secure, and cost-effective cross-border funds transfers. The initiatives aim to enhance regional payment connectivity, promoting economic connectivity and digital integration. MAS Managing Director Ravi Menon expressed the significance of the linkage, stating, "This linkage represents another step towards ASEAN’s vision for regional payments interconnectivity." Indonesi...
Binance and Thai Billionaire to Launch Crypto Exchange in 2024
Finance

Binance and Thai Billionaire to Launch Crypto Exchange in 2024

A joint venture between Binance Holdings Ltd and Gulf Energy Development Pcl is set to introduce a cryptocurrency exchange in Thailand early next year, following regulatory approval. Gulf Binance Co received the green light from the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission on November 10 to commence operations, as revealed in a late Wednesday stock exchange filing. The platform will initially operate as an invitation-only exchange before opening to the general public, with the anticipated launch in January, according to a presentation by Gulf Energy. Previous filings indicated that Gulf Energy held a 51% stake in the joint venture, while Binance owned the remaining share. Despite being the largest cryptocurrency exchange globally, Binance and its founder, Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, ...