Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. The race for crypto dominance has entered politics, with U.S. president Donald Trump and Reform U.K.’s leader Nigel Farage both pitching bold visions to make their nations the global hub for digital assets. Farage Pledges to Make Britain a Crypto Powerhouse Speaking at the Digital Asset Summit in London on Monday, Farage told attendees, "I am your champion," outlining plans to create a “state-owned Bitcoi ...

Core Insights - Shawbrook has extended its partnership with One Stop Business Finance (OSBF) by providing a £65 million ($87.2 million) revolving loan facility to Castelnau Group, marking a significant development in their collaboration [1][3] - The lending agreement with OSBF has been enhanced by 50% to reach £30 million, reflecting the growth and mutual objectives of both companies over the past six years [1][2] Group 1: Shawbrook and OSBF Partnership - OSBF, established in 2014, specializes in asset-based financial services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including bridging finance and working capital loans [2] - The initial engagement between OSBF and Shawbrook began in 2019 with a £3 million revolving credit line, which has seen progressive increases, culminating in a loan book exceeding £50 million [2][3] - Shawbrook's director Matthew Newman highlighted the strong demand for funding and support provided by OSBF, indicating a robust relationship between the two entities [3] Group 2: Castelnau Group Loan Facility - The £65 million revolving loan facility for Castelnau Group is notable for its size and the substantial initial drawdown, which exceeded 90% of the facility [4] - Castelnau Group, managed by Phoenix Asset Management Partners, focuses on investing in UK-based small to mid-cap private companies, emphasizing sustained value growth and strategic capital deployment [4] - Shawbrook's director Ismail Farhat expressed confidence in Castelnau's business model and track record, indicating a commitment to support their growth and operational strengthening [5]

Core Insights - United Airlines is preparing to launch a rewards-earning debit card, similar to Southwest Airlines' recent offering [1][13] - The card will be called the United MileagePlus® Debit Rewards and will charge a $4 monthly fee, which can be waived with a $2,000 average monthly balance [2][4] - The earning rates for the card are relatively low, with 1 mile per $1 spent on United purchases and 1 mile per $2 spent on other purchases [3][9] Earning Structure - Cardholders can earn 2,500 bonus miles for spending $10,000 in a year, but there is a cap of 70,000 miles on annual earnings [4][9] - The effective earning rate is 0.5 miles per $1 spent on everyday purchases, which is less than half of what United's no-annual-fee credit card offers [9][14] Partnerships and Technology - The debit card will operate on Visa's network and utilize SoFi Technologies' Galileo Financial Technologies platform [6] - Sunrise Banks N.A. will serve as the banking partner, providing FDIC insurance up to $250,000 for card funds [7] Market Positioning - The card is not expected to be a good deal for most travelers due to its low earning rates compared to existing credit card options [9][14] - It may be a viable option for individuals who cannot qualify for a rewards-earning credit card, allowing them to earn some rewards on everyday spending [11][14]

Core Viewpoint - The dollar showed mixed performance against major currencies, remaining flat against the euro and yen while declining against the Swiss franc, indicating a cautious approach from investors in a risk-averse environment [1] Currency Performance - The dollar was flat against the euro and yen, suggesting stability in these currency pairs [1] - The dollar experienced a decline against the Swiss franc, highlighting a shift in investor sentiment towards safer assets [1] - Overall, the dollar's slight recovery indicates a temporary avoidance of risk by investors [1]

Core Insights - YouTube creator Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, is venturing into digital finance with a new trademark application for "MrBeast Financial" [3][5] - The trademark aims to establish a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform offering banking, investment, and cryptocurrency services [4][10] - If approved, MrBeast Financial could be the first major influencer-led banking brand in the U.S., with examination expected by mid-2026 [5] Company Developments - The trademark application was filed under Beast Holdings LLC and includes features like crypto payment processing and decentralized exchange operations [4][10] - MrBeast has a diverse business portfolio, including Feastables and MrBeast Burger, indicating a strong entrepreneurial background beyond YouTube [6] - Previous reports suggest that MrBeast's company had pitched products like credit cards and personal loans, aligning with the new financial brand's direction [7] Industry Trends - The move into finance reflects a growing trend of influencers expanding their brands into fintech, leveraging their large followings for new ventures [10] - MrBeast is also exploring other technology sectors, including plans for a mobile phone service, showcasing broader ambitions in the tech and fintech landscape [8] - Allegations of MrBeast profiting from low-cap cryptocurrency projects highlight the risks and scrutiny associated with influencer-led financial initiatives [9]

Core Insights - The article discusses the current state of the equity market, highlighting concerns about potential peaks in the SP500 index and the implications for investors [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - Sensor Unlimited is an economist with a PhD, specializing in financial economics and quantitative modeling, with a decade of experience in the mortgage market, commercial market, and banking industry [2]. Group 2: Investment Strategies - Sensor Unlimited contributes to the investing group Envision Early Retirement, offering solutions for high income and growth through dynamic asset allocation, including two model portfolios for different investment strategies [1].

Core Insights - Intesa Sanpaolo's IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division has facilitated approximately $50 billion in US transactions over the past three years, indicating robust growth in project finance and capital markets activity [2][4]. Market Performance - From January to August 2025, global project finance volumes surpassed €200 billion, with IMI CIB participating in over €30 billion, accounting for around 15% of global volumes [4]. - Between 2018 and 2024, US project finance volumes grew approximately 20% annually, while IMI CIB's activity increased nearly 34% per year [4]. Key Transactions - Notable transactions include: - AT&T (2025): Joint Lead Manager and Active Bookrunner for a €2.75 billion bond issuance [5]. - Bighorn Project (2024): Participation in a $3.4 billion financing for a 300 MW hyperscale data center in Reno, Nevada [5]. - Cider Project (2024): Structured and partially underwrote a $870 million long-term loan for New York's largest solar PV park [5]. - SunZia (2023): Structured and partially underwrote an $8.8 billion green credit facility for a major green energy infrastructure project [5]. - CEMEX SAB de CV (2023): Involved in a $1 billion hybrid green bond issuance [5]. - JFK New Terminal One (2022): Organized and underwrote a $6.63 billion financing for New York's New Terminal One [5]. Americas Operations - IMI CIB operates in the Americas with a significant presence in New York, employing over 200 professionals and serving as the operational hub [6]. - The division supports over 150 global corporate groups, including US Fortune 500 companies and major Latin American firms, as well as around 50 financial institutions [7]. Strategic Positioning - Intesa Sanpaolo IMI Securities Corp. connects US investors with European financial assets, enhancing ties between Italian corporates and US investors [8]. - The division is recognized as a strategic bridge between Europe and the United States, supporting growth-oriented investments [8].

Upgrades - Baird upgraded Zions Bancorp (ZION) to Outperform from Neutral with an unchanged price target of $65, advising investors to take advantage of the selloff in shares [2] - Stifel upgraded International Paper (IP) to Buy from Hold with an unchanged price target of $57.80, noting that initial exuberance following the CEO's appointment has been replaced by more realistic expectations [2] - HSBC upgraded Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $50, up from $43, citing record-high precious metal prices and copper's outperformance due to supply disruptions [2] - KeyBanc upgraded AppFolio (APPF) to Overweight from Sector Weight with a $285 price target, indicating renewed confidence in the company's momentum following customer conversations at its annual conference [3] - UBS upgraded Deere (DE) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $535, down from $545, expecting 2026 to be the last year of earnings downturn before recovery in 2027 [4] Downgrades - TD Cowen downgraded Booz Allen (BAH) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $105, down from $125, anticipating a reduction in fiscal 2026 guidance [5] - Barclays double downgraded AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) to Underweight from Overweight with an unchanged price target of $60, citing excessive stock valuation despite attractive opportunities [5] - Raymond James downgraded Bank OZK (OZK) to Market Perform from Outperform without a price target, reducing next year's EPS forecast by roughly 12% due to softer loan growth expectations and higher expenses [5] - Raymond James downgraded Graphic Packaging (GPK) to Market Perform from Outperform without a price target, indicating that recent share weakness limits differentiation [5] - Raymond James downgraded Silgan Holdings (SLGN) to Outperform from Strong Buy with a price target of $53, down from $60, while still constructive on the company, taking a more conservative approach due to caution from Q2 items [5]

Hello and welcome to morning brief market sunrise. I'm Raman Karamali live from Yahoo Finances studios in London. It's Friday 17th October.Coming up on the show is Jamie Diamond's fear of cockroaches turning into a reality. Regional banks continue to slide. Gold looks set for its best week since 2008.and I'll tell you why Tesla shares are down in the pre-market despite posting a rise in sales. So, grab your coffee and let's own the morning. Shares of regional banks and investment bank Jeff continue to slide ...

Core Viewpoint - Proactive Investors provides fast, accessible, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience, focusing on medium and small-cap markets as well as blue-chip companies and broader investment stories [2][3]. Group 1: Company Overview - Proactive Investors has a team of experienced financial journalists and broadcasters, including Stephen Gunnion, who has over 25 years of experience in various media formats [1]. - The company operates in key finance and investing hubs worldwide, with bureaus and studios located in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney, and Perth [2]. Group 2: Content Focus - The content produced by Proactive covers a wide range of sectors, including biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging digital and EV technologies [3]. - Proactive aims to engage motivated private investors by delivering news and unique insights across these markets [3]. Group 3: Technology Utilization - Proactive is committed to adopting technology to enhance its content creation processes, utilizing automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring all content is edited and authored by humans [4][5].