For the second day in a row now, Donald Trump has given Muhammad bin Salman, the crown prince of course of Saudi Arabia, the kind of welcome the United States typically reserves for our closest allies. Like an ally we really, really, really love. I mean, first Trump greeted the Saudi leader at the White House with a military flyover.Then he goofed around with him in the Oval Office like their old friends, even creepily joking about being willing to shake his hand no matter where it has been, which also soun ...

Last month, President Trump granted a pardon to a billionaire felon after the felon's company enriched a Trump family business. The pardon went to Changping Xiao, a Chinese-born businessman who was accused by the Justice Department of causing quote significant harm to US national security. The president says he does not know Xiao.Our reporting shows that Xiao's company supported a Trump family firm at critical moments leading up to the president's pardon. Changping Xiao is founder of Binance, the world's la ...

[Music] House Democratic leaders are launching an investigation into President Trump's reported demand that the Justice Department pay him $230 million in compensation for federal investigations into him. The probe led by representatives Jamie Raskin and Robert Garcia highlights ethical and legal concerns of the potential payout. In a letter to Trump, they write, quote, "Your plan to have your obedient underlings at the Department of Justice instruct the US at Treasury to pay you personally hundreds of mill ...

Market Reaction - The U.S. stock market experienced its largest decline in six months, with the S&P 500 dropping nearly 3% following President Trump's threat of significant tariff increases on Chinese products due to China's strict control over the rare earths market [1] - Trade talks between the U.S. and China are progressing slowly, with China facing an effective tariff rate of 64.9%, which includes an additional 34% duty imposed by former President Trump [2] Rare Earths and Mining Developments - China has expanded its export controls to include five additional rare-earth metals, increasing the total number of critical minerals under export control to 12 [1] - Trilogy Metals, a Canadian rare earths developer, saw its stock price surge nearly 140% after the U.S. government acquired a 10% stake in the company, with options to purchase an additional 7.5% [3] - The Trump administration plans to reverse a ban on the Ambler Road project in Alaska, which aims to facilitate access to the Ambler Mining District, known for its rich deposits of copper, cobalt, germanium, and gallium [4] - Trilogy Metals has experienced a remarkable increase of over 1,200% in stock price over the past year, with a market capitalization nearing $1 billion [4] Ethical Concerns - The U.S. government's investment in Trilogy Metals has raised ethical concerns and potential conflicts of interest, particularly regarding foreign government involvement in domestic companies [5]

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority is facing allegations that its auction process for a bond data project was unfair because of a technical issue and conflict of interest https://t.co/BWZuMWBLwR ...

Core Insights - Understanding financial advisor compensation is crucial for consumers, with 36% unaware of how they pay for services and 20% believing services are free [1][2] Compensation Models - Advisor compensation is primarily categorized into commission-based and fee-based relationships [2] - Fee-based compensation can include various structures such as annual fees, monthly subscriptions, one-time consultations, or asset-based fees [3][4] Commissions - Commissions are one-time payments for selling specific financial products, with a decline from 23% of advisors in 2024 to an expected 16% in 2026 [5] - Pros include potentially lower costs for consumers needing specific product advice [6] - Cons involve conflicts of interest, where advisors may recommend products that yield higher commissions rather than optimal solutions [8] Assets Under Management (AUM) Fees - AUM fees are typically around 1% of assets managed, with 72% of advisors using this model in 2024, projected to rise to 78% in 2026 [9][10] - Pros include a common compensation structure, but cons include a focus on investment advice rather than comprehensive financial planning [11][12] Flat Dollar Fees - Flat fees provide predictability and align incentives between clients and advisors, but may be high for those with limited funds [13][15] - This model can exclude clients with fewer investable assets, as it may not be profitable for advisors to take them on [15] Subscription, Hourly, and Per-Engagement Fees - These models are straightforward and may be cost-effective for certain consumers, particularly those with less financial complexity [20] - However, accountability may be lower, and finding advisors who charge these fees can be challenging, with less than 1% of advisors using this model in 2024 [20]

Core Insights - Rapido, an Indian ride-hailing platform, has doubled its valuation to $2.3 billion following a secondary share sale by Swiggy, indicating strong market interest and growth potential [1][3] - Swiggy has sold its entire 12% stake in Rapido for ₹24 billion (approximately $270 million), with Prosus acquiring about 10% of the stake for ₹19.68 billion (around $222 million) and WestBridge Capital purchasing the remaining stake for ₹4.31 billion (about $49 million) [2] - The valuation increase reflects a significant rise from Rapido's previous valuation of $1.1 billion in September 2024, as confirmed by its CEO [3] Company Developments - Rapido has recently entered the food delivery market in Bengaluru through a pilot program operated by its subsidiary Ownly, marking a strategic move into a sector dominated by Swiggy and Zomato [4] - The partnership with Swiggy as a last-mile delivery provider has allowed Rapido to gain insights into customer demand and operational challenges faced by restaurants [5] - Swiggy had previously indicated a potential conflict of interest regarding its stake in Rapido due to Rapido's entry into food delivery, leading to the decision to sell its stake [6] Market Implications - The impact of Rapido's new food delivery business on established players like Swiggy and Zomato remains uncertain, as it is still early to assess the competitive dynamics [7]

Core Points - Steve Witkoff sold an interest in his real estate management company for $120 million to avoid potential conflicts of interest [1][3] - The financial disclosure indicates Witkoff's assets are valued at least $350 million, with several holdings exceeding $50 million [4][3] - Witkoff's portfolio includes residential and commercial real estate, stakes in various tech companies, and digital assets [5] Group 1: Financial Disclosure - The financial disclosure was submitted in August and indicates Witkoff's official start date as June 30 [2] - The document does not confirm approval from ethics officials at the White House [2] - Witkoff's holdings include upscale properties in major cities such as Los Angeles, Miami Beach, and New York City [3] Group 2: Asset Valuation - Witkoff's assets include residential real estate in Southampton, New York, and a cash account at a US bank [4] - Other significant holdings include a stake in SpaceX, shares in Cisco Systems, Reddit, and Uber [5] - Witkoff received $34 million in distributions from a holding company that includes various real estate developments and World Liberty Financial [6]

Financial Activities - Trump 在第二任期初期已通过某种方式获利超过 30 亿美元 [1] - Trump 今年投资超过 1 亿美金于债券 [1] - Trump 在 1 月 20 日宣誓就职后立即开始购买债券 [2] Conflict of Interest Concerns - Trump 可以通过延迟或否决某些政策来从中获利，存在利益冲突 [3] - Trump 滥用总统权力，因为总统职位在规则和利益冲突方面的要求不如国会议员或内阁成员严格 [5] Business Ventures - Trump 推出 Trump Mobile 和 Trump coins [4]

Political Commentary - Former President Trump suggests the Intel CEO should resign immediately due to alleged conflicts of interest [1] - The call for resignation follows a Senator's investigation into potential ties with China [1]