Core Perspective - The UK is moving towards establishing payment card sovereignty to reduce reliance on US-owned networks like Visa and Mastercard, reflecting a broader trend of payment independence in Europe [3][5][9]. Group 1: Current Landscape - Approximately 95% of UK card transactions are processed through Visa and Mastercard, indicating a high level of centralization and concentration risk in the payment system [3][4][13]. - The UK's National Payments Vision emphasizes the need for infrastructure modernization to enhance resilience and reduce dependency on a few global technology providers [3][4]. Group 2: Domestic Payment Initiatives - UK banks are accelerating plans for a domestic card payments alternative, which has been discussed for years as a government-backed initiative to provide a backup to existing systems [4][12]. - The move towards a dedicated domestic payments rail is significant, as it aims to align incentives, liability frameworks, and technology to build consumer trust and merchant acceptance [17][18]. Group 3: Challenges and Considerations - Open Banking is not yet a complete substitute for card payments, as it lacks the full range of use cases and consumer familiarity associated with traditional cards [14][16]. - Structural challenges exist within the Open Banking sector, including profitability issues and intense competition, which hinder its ability to serve as a core national payments infrastructure [15][16]. Group 4: Strategic Importance - Payments are increasingly recognized as strategic national infrastructure, necessitating coordinated public-private investment and interoperability with European schemes to ensure resilience [12][18]. - The geopolitical landscape has heightened concerns about the UK's exposure to risks associated with reliance on US payment networks, making the development of domestic alternatives more critical [8][9].

The Trump Administration is again pressuring credit card issuers to cap the interest rates they charge card holders. "James Dimon, lower your friggin' credit card interest rates," White House trade advisor Peter Navarro said Thursday on Bloomberg Radio. "You are a criminal the way you charge the American people at 22, 25 and 30% and the president wants you to lower that," Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensab ...

Visa and Mastercard handle about 95pc of all card transactions in the UK. - Toby Melville/Reuters Britain is accelerating plans to launch an alternative to Mastercard and Visa amid growing fears Donald Trump could pull the plug on the global payments system. The UK’s largest banks are plotting a new British platform to handle the 50 billion payments made every year after concerns were raised about Mr Trump’s ability to switch off the current system. Lenders including Barclays, Natwest, Lloyds, Santande ...

(https://www.businesswire.com/newsroom)## Wish your news had this kind of reach?[span]:hover:bg-white [&span]:focus:bg-white px-4 py-4 rounded-[90px] relative inline-block flex items-center justify-center shrink-0 text-base font-semibold disabled:text-disabled [&span]:disabled:bg-whiteTransparent [&span]:disabled:text- disabled [&:not(:hover)_.button-icon]:text-tertiaryBright pr-14" id="3186" href="/sign-up/account"Sign Up] (https://www.businesswire.com/sign-up/account)[span]:disabled:bg-whiteTransparent [& ...

Group 1 - Visa Inc. introduced Visa & Main, a platform aimed at enhancing small business growth in the U.S. by addressing barriers related to digital adoption, customer reach, and capital access [2][3] - The initiative targets undercapitalized entrepreneurs, with 43% of small businesses reporting financing challenges, and includes a $100 million working capital facility in partnership with Lendistry [3][4] - Visa & Main combines funding with digital tools and marketing assistance to help small businesses capitalize on high-traffic events, such as the FIFA World Cup 2026, and promotes the use of fraud prevention and digital payment tools [4][5] Group 2 - Visa Inc. is a global leader in digital payment services, facilitating secure transactions between consumers, merchants, and institutions through its extensive network [5] - The company's strategy focuses on increasing acceptance, transaction volumes, and long-term network engagement by supporting small businesses and enhancing their operational capabilities [3][4]

Core Viewpoint - Visa's exclusive partnership with the Olympics highlights the challenges Europe faces regarding payment systems, particularly the dominance of foreign payment providers and the declining use of cash [1]. Group 1: Visa's Role and Market Dynamics - Visa has been the sole card provider for the Olympics since 1986, with a sponsorship deal extended to 2032, emphasizing its monopoly in this high-profile event [1]. - Approximately two-thirds of card transactions in the euro area are processed by international card schemes like Visa and Mastercard, indicating a significant reliance on foreign payment systems [1]. - A spokesperson for Visa stated the company's commitment to enhancing the purchasing experience for Olympic products, despite the growing trend of consumers not carrying cash [1]. Group 2: European Central Bank (ECB) Initiatives - The ECB aims to launch a digital euro by 2029, which is seen as crucial for Europe's economic security and to reduce dependency on non-EU payment providers [1]. - The digital euro is intended to be available for both wholesale and retail payments, functioning offline like cash and online, to maintain control over monetary policy [1]. - Legislative proposals for the digital euro have faced delays in the European Parliament, but recent endorsements from the European Council and Parliament have strengthened the ECB's position [1]. Group 3: Cash Payment Acceptance - Cash payments are still accepted at Olympic venues, with ATM machines available for cash withdrawals, although the trend shows a significant preference for card payments [1]. - The Esselunga grocery chain, located in the Olympic press center, initially did not accept cash but announced it would start accepting cash payments to improve service [1].

Quick Read Invesco Quality ETF (SPHQ) returned 93.7% over five years versus 77.1% for the S&P 500. Invesco Quality ETF gained 6.0% year to date in 2026 versus 1.5% for the broader index. Mastercard and Visa combine for nearly 10% of the portfolio. Costco delivers 30.3% return on equity. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here. When most investors think about S&P 500 exposure, they picture ow ...

Core Insights - The wealth of billionaires worldwide increased by 16% in the last year, reaching $18.3 trillion, marking an 81% increase since 2020, highlighting a growing divide between the ultra-rich and the rest of the population [2][3] - The youngest hedge fund billionaires are actively influencing stock market dynamics, with their investment choices reflecting strategies in a volatile financial landscape [4][5] Billionaire Wealth and Market Influence - The report attributes the increase in billionaire wealth to U.S. policies, tax cuts, and reduced scrutiny of monopolies, which have allowed the wealthy to consolidate political influence [3] - Billionaires are 4,000 times more likely than average citizens to hold political office, indicating a significant concentration of power [3] Stock Picks and Market Trends - The youngest hedge fund billionaires' stock selections provide insights into navigating current market conditions, with a focus on unique holdings to avoid duplication [7][10] - The report includes a list of the 12 youngest hedge fund billionaires and their top stock picks, ranked by age, showcasing a diverse selection of investments [10] Individual Stock Highlights - **NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)**: Clifford Asness holds a 2.62% stake worth $4.09 billion, with analysts projecting a revenue of $67.5 billion for the fiscal fourth quarter, exceeding guidance [12][13][14] - **Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)**: Philippe Laffont's top pick, accounting for 7.27% of his portfolio, is developing a new application called "Instants" to enhance user engagement [18][20] - **Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)**: Ken Griffin's fifth-largest holding, with a 0.16% portfolio share worth $1.04 billion, recently launched Visa & Main to support small business growth through a $100 million working capital facility [23][25][26]

格隆汇2月14日｜13F报告显示：Maverick Capital Ltd.四季度建仓做多谷歌C、应用材料、波士顿科学、 Visa、以及Camden Property。增持台积电、英伟达、GFL Environment、Carvana。清仓Kenvue、美国银 行、AMD、Danaher、以及Insmed。减持Nubank、迪士尼、Merit Medical、Acadia Health、Sherwin- Williams。重仓英伟达、微软、亚马逊、台积电、谷歌C。 ...

Market Overview - Stocks are higher due to cooler than expected inflation data, although there has been a recent sell-off [1][2] - The Nasdaq composite and S&P 500 are up, with real estate, healthcare, and utilities leading the gains as investors rotate away from tech [2] - Walmart reached an all-time high, while Visa, Nvidia, and Apple saw declines [3] Inflation and Economic Indicators - January's consumer price index (CPI) showed slower inflation, the lowest since May, with improvements in food and energy prices [6][7] - Services inflation remains high, indicating persistent inflationary pressures [7][22] - The unemployment rate dropped to 4.3%, with job growth concentrated in healthcare and social assistance sectors [9][10] Federal Reserve Outlook - Chicago Fed President Austin Goulby emphasizes the need for more progress on inflation before considering further rate cuts [28][29] - Core inflation is projected to remain around 3%, which is above the Fed's target [30][31] - The Fed is cautious about making premature rate cuts, focusing on actual inflation and employment data [21][26] Sector Performance - Semiconductor and software stocks are showing mixed performance after a recent sell-off [4][5] - Defensive sectors like consumer staples and utilities are gaining traction as investors seek stability amid market volatility [57] - AI disruption fears are impacting various industries, including transportation and real estate, as companies adapt to new technologies [51][52] Company Highlights - Rivian reported better-than-expected Q4 results, achieving its first annual gross profit and strong guidance for future vehicle deliveries [63][64] - Applied Materials, a major supplier of chipmaking equipment, has seen significant stock gains due to increased demand driven by AI investments [70][71] - American Superconductor is focusing on enhancing grid reliability and power quality to meet rising electricity demands [81][82]