The HKMA has called for additional research to assess the feasibility and impact of introducing a retail CBDC in Hong Kong. Image by MMollaretti, Adobe Stock. As financial institutions worldwide explore the adoption of digital currencies, Hong Kong’s stance on its own Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), known as e-HKD, remains cautious. A recently published...
Source: SGKB Switzerland’s fifth largest cantonal bank, St.Galler Kantonalbank (SGKB), has partnered with SEBA Bank to offer custody and trading services for Bitcoin and Ethereum. SGKB announced that the service is initially available to a select group of wealth-management clients at SGKB with future plans to expand the offering to retail customers soon. Christian Bieri,...
Mastercard’s expert Ashok Venkateswaran has expressed skepticism about the current viability of widespread central bank digital currencies (CBDC), claiming that the broad adoption of CBDC could be “difficult,” according to CNBC. Venkateswaran, Mastercard’s Blockchain and Digital Assets Lead for Asia-Pacific, discussed the complexities surrounding the implementation of CBDCs during the Singapore FinTech Festival. He pointed...
-- Shares of SK Hynix Inc (KS:000660) briefly surged to a record high on Monday, extending a raft of recent gains amid growing bets that the South Korean memory chip maker will benefit from its exposure to an artificial intelligence boom. SK Hynix shares rose 3.6% to 152,000 won, briefly hitting a lifetime high of...
-- China’s domestic share markets rose on Monday as trade resumed after the Lunar New Year holiday, amid signals that consumer spending had picked up and in some cases surpassed pre-COVID levels during the week-long break. The blue-chip Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 index rose 0.5% to a 1-½ month high, while the Shanghai Composite index...
-- Shares of major Australian lithium miners rose on Monday amid unconfirmed reports that Chinese battery maker CATL had closed a major lithium mine in the mainland, pointing to potentially tighter supplies. Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX:PLS), Piedmont Lithium Ltd (ASX:PLL), Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX:LTR), Arcadium Lithium PLC DRC (ASX:LTM) and Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX:MIN) added...
Mercer International (NASDAQ:MERC) Inc. experienced a decline in EBITDA during the fourth quarter of 2023, reporting $21 million, which was down from $38 million in the previous quarter. The company\'s fiscal year EBITDA saw a substantial drop to $17 million from the previous year\'s $537 million, attributed to weaker market conditions. However, the company noticed...
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (NYSE:AEM) announced robust financial and operational results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2023. The company reported record gold production, significant cash from operations, and an increase in mineral reserves. Despite a net loss in the fourth quarter due to non-cash impairment charges, Agnico Eagle achieved an operating margin...
In the latest earnings call, Casella Waste Systems (NASDAQ:CWST) announced significant growth in the fourth quarter of 2023, with revenues increasing by 32.1% year-over-year to $359.6 million. The company experienced a robust increase in adjusted EBITDA, which rose by 46.1% compared to the previous year, reaching $82.2 million. Casella attributed its successful financial performance to...
Balchem Corporation (NASDAQ:BCPC) reported a strong performance in sales and earnings, driven by its minerals and nutrients business as well as the food and beverage markets. Despite facing challenges in the Animal Nutrition & Health segment in Europe and North America, the company expressed optimism about growth potential in the latter half of 2024. The...