Tom Lee: Can Stablecoins Solve US Debt Issues?In an interview with Mario Nawfal, Tom Lee, Chairman of Bitmine, pointed out that stablecoins can currently be observed as a microcosm of how debt problems are addressed: for dollar-pegged stablecoins, their issuers use collateral assets to purchase government bonds, forming a circular mechanism that provides a degree of sustained financial stability. If the Federal Reserve rolls out a true Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) – one that enables every American t ...

Monetary Policy - Malaysia's current borrowing cost levels are sufficient to support growth [1] - The country can hold off on further cutting borrowing costs [1] Banking Sector - A veteran banker led a Malaysian lender to record profit [1]

[Music] Producer prices fell a tenth of a percent in August while expectations were that inflation would increase. We're still awaiting of course Thursday's CPI data to see how consumer prices fared in the month. But a positive signal to investors who are anticipating the Fed will cut rates next week. Ed Yardi, our Denny Research president, joining me now to talk more through all of this. Ed, it's great to see you. So, does this wholesale inflation number sort of confirm what we're going to get from the Fed ...

Market Overview - The market closed with mixed results, with the Dow down 0.5% or 220 points, while the NASDAQ composite and S&P 500 both reached record highs, gaining 0.06% and 0.3% respectively [2][3] - The technology sector saw significant gains, particularly with Oracle's stock rising 36%, contributing to a year-to-date increase of 97% [5][6] Sector Performance - The XLK technology ETF reached a record high for the first time in four weeks, driven by strong performance from Oracle [3] - Energy and utility sectors also performed well, each increasing by more than 1.5% [3] Company Highlights - Broadcom's market capitalization increased by over $100 billion, with its stock up 60% year-to-date [4] - Oracle's market cap is now approximately $230 billion, reflecting a substantial increase due to its stock performance [5] Investment Sentiment - Wall Street analysts are increasingly bullish, with Deutsche Bank raising its price target for the S&P 500 to 7,000 from 6,550, indicating confidence in continued market growth [6][7] - The ongoing capital expenditure (capex) spending, particularly in artificial intelligence, is seen as a key driver for the market rally [6][11] Economic Context - The S&P 500 is currently trading around 66,500, suggesting potential for further upside [7] - Concerns about inflation persist, with the Federal Reserve's inflation target being missed for over four years, leading to cautious expectations regarding interest rate adjustments [18][19] Corporate Strategy - AT&T is focusing on expanding its fiber network, aiming to reach 60 million households by the end of the decade, with a current reach of over 30 million [34][35] - The company is investing heavily in infrastructure, which is expected to improve cash flow characteristics significantly once completed [39][40] Future Outlook - Analysts suggest that the AI theme remains critical for U.S. equities, with a focus on technology and software sectors for investment [21][24] - The market is expected to continue its upward trajectory, driven by strong corporate earnings and strategic investments in technology [24][26]

Investment Strategies - Investors can strategically use dividend-paying stocks and dividend ETFs to generate income, especially with potential interest rate cuts [1] - The episode offers insights and free Fidelity tools to help find dividend-paying stocks for financial goals [1] - Fidelity provides free stock screener tools for researching stock pricing, performance, and investment ideas [1] - Fidelity also offers an ETF/ETP screener tool for researching ETFs/ETPs [2] Market & Economic Factors - Discussion includes the Fed meeting and interest rates [1] - The report touches on bonds and recession worries [1] Dividend Investing - The report defines what dividend stocks are [1] - It also addresses the risks of chasing high dividends [1] - Income investing using dividends is explored [1] - Dividend-paying ETFs, mutual funds, and SMAs are discussed [1]

Group 1 - The company is focused on the western part of the country and primarily serves small business customers [1] - There is a cautious outlook regarding the impact of elevated inflation, higher interest rates, and tariff uncertainty on borrowers [2] - Despite concerns, the current business environment remains reasonably stable, with ongoing customer engagement [3]

Mr Ellison’s net worth climbed above $400bn on Wednesday after the share price of his IT giant Oracle soared.Larry Ellison, the technology mogul and ally of Sir Tony Blair, has overtaken Elon Musk as the world’s richest man after his fortune jumped by $120bn (£89bn) in a single day.That’s all for today but you can read all the latest business and economics news from The Telegraph here .Thanks for joining us on this live blog.“One of the reasons why taxes have risen to such a high level is because there’s be ...

Group 1 - The distinction between public and private markets is evolving, with private markets increasingly playing a crucial role in the economy while public markets shape narratives [1][5][18] - The historical reliance on a 60/40 portfolio is being challenged as investors seek tools for better outcomes with reduced volatility [1][4] - The landscape of private capital is changing, with companies like SpaceX and Stripe remaining private for extended periods, indicating a shift in how companies finance themselves [2][11] Group 2 - The high yield market has financed companies undergoing significant changes, and a massive CapEx boom is anticipated in sectors like data, sustainability, and energy transition [10][13] - The private credit market is predominantly composed of investment-grade counterparts, contrary to the perception that it is mainly non-investment grade [11][14] - The private equity industry is expected to undergo a transformation, with fewer firms able to maintain investor relationships due to evolving business models [15][36] Group 3 - The concentration of capital expenditure is increasingly focused on a small number of companies in technology and data, raising questions about the underlying economy driven by private companies [19][20] - Public market performance has been strong, with earnings exceeding consensus estimates, yet concerns about inflation and its impact on consumer pricing persist [21][22] - The need for long-term infrastructure investments is highlighted, particularly as the demographic shift towards retirees increases the demand for inflation-hedged assets [31][34] Group 4 - The U.S. remains a preferred investment destination due to its robust economy and financial systems, despite some skepticism regarding government policies and market conditions [46][47][48] - There is a growing interest in diversifying investments beyond the U.S. while still recognizing its strengths as the largest and most liquid market [46][47] - The potential for misallocation of resources in the current investment climate is a concern, emphasizing the need for careful portfolio management [26][34]

Core Insights - The Producer Price Index (PPI) for August showed a month-over-month decrease of -0.1%, indicating a significant cooling of inflation compared to expectations of +0.3% [1][2] - Year-over-year PPI decreased to +2.6% from a revised +3.1%, while core PPI also fell to +2.8% from +3.4%, reflecting a notable decline in inflationary pressures [3] PPI Details - The revision for the previous month’s PPI was adjusted down from +0.9% to +0.7%, marking the highest level in three years but suggesting a halt in inflation escalation [2] - The metric excluding food, energy, and trade saw a month-over-month increase of +0.3%, while the year-over-year figure for the same metric rose by 10 basis points to +2.8% [4] Market Reaction - Pre-market futures showed a positive reaction, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rising by +32 and +125 points respectively, influenced partly by Oracle's strong quarterly results [5] Federal Reserve Implications - The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is set to meet next week, with expectations leaning towards a potential interest rate cut, possibly by 50 basis points instead of the previously anticipated 25 basis points [6][7] - The upcoming Consumer Price Index (CPI) data is crucial as it will indicate how much of the increased costs have been passed to consumers, with the CPI Inflation Rate remaining steady at +2.7% for the past two months [7]

Core Insights - The Producer Price Index (PPI) for August showed a month-over-month decrease of -0.1%, indicating a cooling of inflation compared to expectations of +0.3% [1][2] - Revisions to the previous month's PPI were also downward, from +0.9% to +0.7%, marking the highest level in three years but suggesting a halt in inflationary pressures [2] - Year-over-year PPI decreased to +2.6% from a revised +3.1%, with core PPI also dropping to +2.8% from +3.4%, reflecting a significant cooling trend [3] Market Reaction - Pre-market futures reacted positively to the PPI data, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq showing gains of +32 and +125 points respectively, while the Dow remained flat [5] - The small-cap Russell 2000 index also saw a slight increase of +6 points [5] Federal Reserve Implications - The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is set to meet next week, with expectations of a potential interest rate cut, possibly more than the widely anticipated 25 basis points [6][7] - The cooling inflation metrics may lead the Fed to reconsider its previous stance on employment and inflation, with the upcoming Consumer Price Index (CPI) data being crucial for understanding consumer cost impacts [7][8]