The official cryptocurrency of Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) rose on Wednesday after the popular NFT collection teased a cryptocurrency debit card as part of its push into consumer finance.‘Pengu Card’ For Crypto PaymentsThe Pengu Card, powered by payments giant Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) , will allow users to spend stablecoins or cryptocurrencies directly at over 150 million merchants, with up to 12% rewards and 7% yield on balances.The card will have three tiers: Standard, Black, and Gold, with Gold delivering the maxim ...

KBC fourth quarter profit narrowly beats consensus | ReutersSkip to main content[Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv]KBC Group logo is seen in this illustration taken March 12, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab]- Companies- Summary- Proposed dividend of 5.1 euros per share for 2025- KBC sets new medium and long-term financial targets- NII grows 12% year-on-year to 1.61 billion eurosFeb 10 (Reuters) - KBC ...

格隆汇2月11日｜Visa最新发布的报告显示，香港节庆及大型盛事正在成为吸引海外旅客的新动力。 45%海外访港旅客对香港的节庆及大型盛事表示兴趣，但仅34%曾亲身体验，反映市场仍有将兴趣转化 为实际旅游行程的发展空间。83%海外旅客在最近一次访港旅程中逗留一至六晚，期间人均消费达 2.8817万港元(约合3694美元)。 ...

President Donald Trump continues to try to shake things up as the second year of his current term gets underway. In January, he proposed a one-year cap on credit card interest of 10%. This is part of his push for better affordability for Americans. The administration is clearly issuing a warning to certain businesses within the financial services sector. Investors in these two S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) stocks shouldn't worry, though. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a r ...

Core Insights - The study reveals that while consumers in Asia Pacific are increasingly using AI for shopping, there are significant concerns regarding security and transparency during the checkout process [1][2][3] Consumer Behavior - 74% of consumers utilize AI-powered tools for product discovery, tracking, or learning about products, but 26% are uncertain if AI recommendations align with their best interests, indicating a demand for greater transparency [4][5] - Affluent consumers exhibit higher caution towards AI-enabled shopping, with 39% expressing greater expectations regarding data usage compared to 29% among lower-income groups [5] Trust and Security - Trust and control are critical as AI becomes part of the checkout experience, with 32% of consumers reluctant to share personal or payment information with AI systems [7] - Nearly 45% of consumers would be more open to AI-powered commerce if they had stronger assurances regarding payment security [7][8] Market Variations - Openness to AI-driven commerce varies across the region, with India and Vietnam showing 42% of consumers willing to use AI for online purchases, while digitally mature economies like Singapore, Japan, and New Zealand show lower interest at 14% to 16% [10][11] - The study indicates that improved payment security is the strongest enabler for increased adoption in more mature markets, highlighting the need for a secure ecosystem [12] Visa's Role - Visa is working to establish trusted frameworks in AI-driven commerce, connecting consumers, AI agents, and merchants through secure solutions like Visa Intelligent Commerce and the Trusted Agent Protocol [6][9] - Solutions such as Tokenisation and Visa Payment Passkeys are being implemented to enhance security and consumer confidence in AI-enabled shopping experiences [9]

Europe needs to cut its reliance on US payment groups including Visa and Mastercard “urgently”, according to comments reported by the Financial Times from the head of a European banking consortium. The remarks come as policymakers warn that the market dominance of US providers could be used as leverage if transatlantic relations were to worsen. “We are highly dependent on international [payment] solutions,” said Martina Weimert, chief executive of the European Payments Initiative (EPI), which brings tog ...

Core Viewpoint - The U.K. has expanded the British National Overseas (BNO) visa scheme, allowing children of BNO status holders to apply independently, which has drawn criticism from China as an interference in its internal affairs following the sentencing of pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison under a national security law [2][4]. Group 1: Visa Scheme Expansion - The U.K. expanded the BNO visa scheme to allow children of BNO status holders, who were under 18 at the time of Hong Kong's handover in June 1997, to apply independently [2]. - Since the launch of the BNO scheme in 2021, over 230,000 people have been granted visas, with nearly 170,000 relocating to the U.K. [3]. - The British government estimates that 26,000 people will arrive in the U.K. over the next five years due to the expanded visa route [7]. Group 2: Sentencing of Jimmy Lai - Jimmy Lai, the founder of the now-closed Apple Daily newspaper, received a 20-year sentence, the heaviest penalty under the national security law, for charges including collusion with foreign forces [4][5]. - Lai's case has prompted diplomatic tensions, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer raising the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping and calling for Lai's release [6]. - The British government has stated that the sentencing reflects a deterioration of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, which has led many to leave the territory [7]. Group 3: Reactions and Criticism - China's embassy in London condemned the U.K.'s visa scheme expansion as "despicable" and "reprehensible," asserting that it misleads Hong Kong residents [3]. - Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, defended Lai's sentencing, claiming he harmed citizens and colluded with foreign forces [8]. - International reactions include calls for Lai's release, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeling the ruling as "unjust and tragic" [8].

一、活动时间2026年1月1日至2026年6月30日 二、活动对象申办并成功核发Visa全球支付白金信用卡或visa留学白金信用卡的visa新客户(含主卡新客 三、活动内容活动期间，申办并成功核发visa全球支付白金信用卡或visa留学白金信用卡的visa新客户， 实体卡激活成功且完成任意一笔visa清算网络渠道境外消费后，即有机会获得60公里境内接送机权益1 份。奖品数量有限，活动期间限制2000份，每名客户限领一份，先领先得，领完即止。 户、附属卡新客户)。 ...

Core Insights - Visa Inc. opened fiscal 2026 with a resilient quarter, showcasing its status as a dependable compounder in the payments technology market [1] - The company reported adjusted earnings of $3.17 per share, a 15% year-over-year increase, and revenue of $10.9 billion, also up 15% [3] - Visa's Value-Added Services segment saw a significant revenue increase of 28%, reaching $3.2 billion, driven by demand for various services [5] Financial Performance - Visa's adjusted earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3 cents, while revenue exceeded expectations by 1.9% [3] - Cross-border volumes grew by 12% on a constant-currency basis, and payment volumes increased by 8% [3] - Processed transactions reached 69.4 billion, marking a 9% year-over-year increase, although slightly below the consensus estimate [3] Value-Added Services - The expansion of Visa's Value-Added Services (VAS) segment is a key growth driver, with revenues surging 28% [5] - The upcoming FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games are expected to further accelerate marketing and analytics services [5] Stablecoins and Digital Infrastructure - Visa is enhancing its role in blockchain-based infrastructure, enabling banks to issue and manage stablecoins [6] - Annualized settlement volumes for stablecoins reached $4.6 billion, indicating growing adoption in cross-border transactions [6] - Management has tempered expectations for stablecoins as mainstream consumer payment tools in developed markets, citing a lack of compelling product-market fit [7] Shareholder Returns - During the quarter, Visa returned $5.1 billion to shareholders, including $3.8 billion in buybacks and $1.3 billion in dividends [11] - The company's dividend yield of 0.81% exceeds that of Mastercard and the industry average [11] Analyst Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa's fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 EPS suggests increases of 11.9% and 13.3%, respectively [12] - The consensus for fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 revenues indicates growth of 11.3% and 10.2% [12] Valuation and Market Performance - Visa's stock is trading at 24.65X forward price/earnings, above the industry average of 19.28X [16] - Over the past three months, Visa shares declined 1%, outperforming the industry's 3.4% drop [13] Conclusion - Visa's strong fiscal Q1 performance highlights the durability of its transaction-led business model, supported by steady payment growth and robust cross-border volumes [21] - Strategic investments in digital infrastructure and stablecoin settlement enhance its long-term positioning [21]

Core Insights - Visa has expanded its stablecoin settlement pilot to the U.S., allowing select U.S. issuing and acquiring banks to use USDC instead of fiat currency for transactions on VisaNet, aiming to enhance liquidity and efficiency in cross-border payments [9][10][12] - The annualized settlement volume for stablecoins reached $3.5 billion, indicating a growing integration of stablecoins into mainstream payment systems, although it remains a small fraction of the overall stablecoin market [14][15] - Visa's approach is chain-agnostic, focusing on the functionality of stablecoins rather than the underlying blockchain technology, which allows for flexibility in payment processing [22][23] Visa's Stablecoin Strategy - The pilot program does not alter Visa's four-party payment structure but introduces USDC as a settlement medium between issuing and acquiring banks [10][11] - Visa has been testing stablecoin transactions since 2020, with previous trials in Nigeria and partnerships with Crypto.com, indicating a long-term strategy rather than a sudden shift [12][13] - The integration of stablecoins is seen as a significant step towards mainstream acceptance, moving beyond mere concept validation to real operational use [13][14] Market Context - The stablecoin market is estimated to have a transaction volume in the trillion-dollar range, making Visa's $3.5 billion annualized figure relatively small [14][15] - Traditional banking systems require pre-funding for settlements, which stablecoins can reduce significantly due to their faster transaction speeds, enhancing capital efficiency [16][17] - Visa's use of stablecoins is expected to improve settlement speed and operational efficiency, allowing banks to lower their required working capital [16][17] Technological Considerations - Visa's choice of Solana for the pilot, rather than Ethereum, reflects its focus on high throughput and speed, continuing its previous collaborations with Solana [22][23] - The company aims to create a "network of networks," allowing payment credentials to flow across various blockchain networks, enhancing interoperability [30][31] Competitive Landscape - Visa's strategy contrasts with Mastercard's focus on building a multi-asset network, indicating different approaches to integrating stablecoins into their payment ecosystems [39][40] - The competitive dynamics in the payment space are evolving, with companies like Circle also developing their own payment networks, potentially challenging traditional card organizations [42][43]