Core Insights - China is strategically shifting from dollar-denominated loans to yuan-denominated loans to enhance the international use of the yuan and reduce reliance on the dollar amid geopolitical tensions [3][5][21] Financial Implications - Chinese lenders can issue yuan bonds at lower costs compared to dollar debt, allowing them to lend at reduced rates without incurring significant losses [1][15] - Kenya reported a reduction of $215 million in annual debt-servicing costs by converting its Chinese railway loans from dollars to yuan [5] - Ethiopia is looking to convert part of its $5.38 billion debt to China into yuan loans, indicating a trend among sovereign nations to seek cheaper financing options [6][10] Geopolitical Context - The shift to yuan loans is part of China's broader strategy to deepen its influence in Africa and counterbalance U.S. financial dominance [3][10] - The yuan's increased role in international commerce is seen as a way to mitigate the financial advantages held by the U.S. [3][21] Global Yuan Adoption - There has been a notable increase in the issuance of yuan-denominated bonds, with a total of 68 billion yuan ($9.5 billion) issued as of October this year, doubling the total for the entire year of 2024 [8] - Countries like Hungary, Kazakhstan, and Sri Lanka are actively engaging in yuan-denominated financing, reflecting a growing trend [8][10] Economic Strategy - China's economic slowdown and deflationary pressures are prompting a loose monetary policy, making yuan loans more attractive to global borrowers [7][19] - The People's Bank of China is working to open up domestic financial markets and encourage the use of the yuan in international trade [16][17] Long-term Goals - China's ambition is to establish the yuan as a credible alternative in a multi-polar monetary system and eventually as a global reserve currency [21][22] - The ongoing efforts to promote the yuan's internationalization may require deeper financial reforms and easier access for foreign investors [22][23]

By Rahul Trivedi BENGALURU (Reuters) -South Korea's economy grew at a modest pace last quarter, supported by strong exports and a pickup in household consumption as government measures helped stimulate demand, a Reuters poll suggested. Asia's fourth-largest economy was projected to have expanded a seasonally adjusted 0.9% in the July-September quarter after posting upbeat growth in the second quarter, according to the median forecast of 12 economists. On a year-on-year basis, gross domestic product (GDP ...

In the latest Ethereum price prediction, analysts question whether the recent ETH USD Price technical breakout is genuine or a bull trap. Ethereum price held steady near $3,850 during late US trading on Thursday as market desks weighed record derivatives activity against uneven spot ETF flows and mixed year-end forecasts from major banks. According to Coingecko data, the Ethereum price was trading at $3,836, showing a slight increase of approximately 2%, in line with Bitcoin as the broader crypto market ...

Core Insights - Hilltop Holdings Inc. reported a net income of $45.8 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, for Q3 2025, a significant increase from $29.7 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, in Q3 2024, driven by improved credit loss reversals and net interest income [1][5][9] Financial Performance - The reversal of credit losses was $2.5 million in Q3 2025, compared to $1.3 million in Q3 2024, indicating a positive shift in the economic outlook [9] - Net interest income for Q3 2025 was $112.4 million, up from $105.0 million in Q3 2024, reflecting a net interest margin increase to 3.06% from 2.84% [11][9] - Noninterest income rose to $217.8 million in Q3 2025, an 8.7% increase from $200.4 million in Q3 2024 [9][13] - Total assets increased to $15.6 billion at the end of Q3 2025, up from $15.4 billion at the end of Q2 2025 [9] Shareholder Returns - The Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per common share, payable on November 21, 2025 [2] - Hilltop repurchased 1,701,274 shares for $55.1 million at an average price of $32.36 per share during Q3 2025 [2][3] - The total amount authorized for share repurchase was increased to $185 million, providing approximately $62 million of available capacity through January 2026 [3] Segment Performance - PlainsCapital Bank generated $55 million in pre-tax income, supported by strong loan and deposit growth [5] - The mortgage origination segment faced challenges with a pre-tax loss of $7 million due to a dampened home-buying market, despite stable origination volumes of $2.3 billion [5][9] - HilltopSecurities achieved a pre-tax margin of 18% on net revenues of $144 million, indicating robust performance across business lines [5] Capital and Asset Quality - Hilltop maintained strong capital levels with a Tier 1 Leverage Ratio of 13.13% and a Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio of 20.33% as of September 30, 2025 [9][15] - Non-accrual loans decreased to $68.3 million, or 0.75% of total loans, down from 0.80% in the previous quarter [9][15]

Core Points - Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per common share, representing an approximate 5.6% increase from the previous quarter, payable on December 31, 2025 [1] - The company also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per 1/1000 preferred share for its Series A Non-Voting Preferred Stock, also payable on December 31, 2025 [2] - Seacoast Banking Corporation has $15.9 billion in assets and $12.5 billion in deposits as of June 30, 2025, and operates 103 full-service branches across Florida [3] Company Overview - Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida is one of the largest community banks in Florida, providing integrated financial services including commercial and consumer banking, wealth management, and mortgage services [3] - The company recently completed the acquisition of Villages Bancorporation, Inc., effective October 1, 2025, with the merger of Citizens First Bank into Seacoast National Bank [6][7]

Core Viewpoint - USBC, Inc. has announced a strategic partnership with Uphold and Vast Bank to launch the world's first retail tokenized deposit offering, which will provide global access to U.S. dollar-denominated tokenized deposits and accounts, enhancing the future of digital finance [1][5]. Group 1: Partnership Details - The partnership will allow Uphold's customers to open U.S. dollar deposit accounts, enabling the holding and transferring of digital representations of U.S. dollar deposits at Vast Bank on USBC's blockchain starting in 2026 [3]. - A non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed to finalize the terms of the partnership, with a definitive agreement expected in Q4 2025, subject to board and regulatory approvals [8]. Group 2: Product Features - USBC tokenized deposits are designed to be compliant with U.S. regulations, offering FDIC insurance eligibility and Reg E protections, distinguishing them from synthetic stablecoins [6][7]. - The product provides three key advantages: unparalleled safety, regulatory confidence, and programmable finance, enabling instant settlement and real-time international payments [7]. Group 3: Strategic Implications - This initiative is expected to accelerate revenue by increasing deposit volumes at Vast Bank and enhancing engagement with retail and institutional clients [6]. - USBC aims to solidify its position as a leader in digital finance by integrating traditional banking protections with blockchain technology, thereby expanding the global influence of the U.S. dollar [5][16].

Oct 23, 2025 11:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time Oconee Federal Financial Corp. Announces Quarterly Dividend Share SENECA, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oconee Federal Financial Corp. (OTCQX: OFED) (the "Company†), the holding company for Oconee Federal Savings and Loan Association, announced today that the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share of the Company's common stock. The dividend will be payable to stockholders of record as of November 6, 2025, and will be paid on or about N ...

Core Insights - The Fidelity International High Dividend ETF (FIDI) provides equity investors with a means to diversify portfolios and achieve dividend income [1] Group 1: Fund Structure and Methodology - FIDI tracks the Fidelity International High Dividend Index, which selects over 100 constituents based on a proprietary methodology [1] - Companies are grouped by country and sector, then assigned a composite score based on fundamental metrics to identify attractive dividend characteristics [2] - The index adjusts scores to eliminate small size bias, selecting those with the highest scores for inclusion [3] Group 2: Geographic and Market Capitalization Exposure - The fund offers diversified exposure to countries such as the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, France, and Australia, focusing on large- and midcap stocks [4] - The fund avoids small-cap companies and emerging markets to reduce volatility [4] Group 3: Sector Exposure and Weighting - Stocks are selected based on high exposure to targeted factors and weighted by market capitalization, with an additional overweight adjustment for all stocks in a sector [5] - The fund currently has a significant tilt towards the financial sector, which comprises 33% of its exposure, along with consumer staples, materials, industrials, and utilities [6] Group 4: Cost Efficiency and Yield - FIDI has a low net expense ratio of 19 basis points, equating to $19 per $10,000 invested, appealing to cost-conscious investors [7] - The fund has a 30-day SEC yield of 4.18% as of October 14, indicating potential for sustainable dividends [7]

Market Overview - The crypto market is attempting to regain upward momentum, with Bitcoin (BTC) aiming to surpass $110,000, while the CoinDesk 20 Index has increased by over 1% in the last 24 hours, with notable gains in tokens like HYPE, KHYPE, and XMR [1] - Social media sentiment remains positive, driven by expectations of a 25 basis points rate cut by the Federal Reserve, which is part of a liquidity easing cycle [2] Market Dynamics - The dollar index is showing bullish trends, which may restrict Bitcoin's upside potential [2] - Risk proxies such as the iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) and Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) have breached key support levels, indicating underlying weakness in the market [3] - Volume studies suggest persistent weakness in the Bitcoin market, corroborating a bearish outlook in BTC options on Deribit and Standard Chartered [3] Economic Factors - Recent banking funding stress and liquidity tightening are negatively affecting Bitcoin's performance, although there are indications that the bull run is not over, with lower bond yields and economic slowdown risks potentially leading to aggressive Fed easing [4] - Oil prices have risen by 4% following U.S. sanctions on major Russian suppliers, which may introduce increased volatility and risk aversion in the market [4] Upcoming Events - Binance Square is hosting an AMA on October 23 regarding the growth and community building of early-stage projects [7] - The U.S. Department of Labor will not release its usual jobless claims reports due to a federal government shutdown on October 23 [7] - SSV DAO is voting on amendments to focus SSV 2.0 on a protocol that enables atomic cross-rollup transactions, with voting ending on October 23 [7]

Core Insights - The article highlights the journey of Shirin Behzadi, who overcame significant personal and professional challenges to become the CEO of Home Franchise Concepts (HFC) and achieve remarkable growth in the company [3][13]. Company Overview - Home Franchise Concepts (HFC) experienced substantial growth under Behzadi's leadership, with franchisee revenues reaching $850 million in 2018, marking a 70% increase compared to the industry norm of 6% to 9% [15]. - The company expanded its offerings and improved its franchise model, leading to a 99% renewal rate among franchisees [8]. Leadership and Management - Behzadi emphasized the importance of collaboration and communication within the company, creating Franchise Advisory Councils to ensure franchisee success and improve product offerings [15]. - The transition to CEO in 2015 came after a sale agreement with a private equity firm, where Behzadi was tasked with driving growth despite personal health challenges [13][11]. Strategic Decisions - The company shifted its marketing focus from brand awareness to direct response marketing during the Great Recession, which helped navigate economic challenges [10]. - A significant decision was made to raise franchise prices, which was initially seen as risky but ultimately led to increased growth and franchisee interest [8]. Challenges and Resilience - Behzadi faced severe health issues, including a brain tumor, yet continued to lead the company through its growth phases [11]. - The company successfully adapted to economic downturns and leveraged its solid foundation to find opportunities for growth [10].