There are growing calls for Taiwan's central bank to diversify its reserves. Credit: Timo Volz via Pexels. Key Takeaways Taiwan will explore adopting Bitcoin as a reserve asset. The announcement comes amid calls for the central bank to diversify away from the U.S. dollar. Taiwan’s central bank reserves are heavily concentrated in U.S. Treasuries. Taiwan’s government and central bank (CBC) will consider incorporating Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. Confirming the news on Wednesday, Nov. 12, L ...

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Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the current market outlook, emphasizing that earnings are driving the market, with expectations for the S&P 500 to end the year around 7,000, supported by strong earnings growth [1][2]. Earnings Performance - Analysts are raising their 2026 earnings expectations, with Q1 and Q2 of 2025 showing better-than-expected results, moving from low to mid single-digit growth to low double-digit increases year-over-year [3]. - The Q3 earnings reporting season for the S&P 500 is projected to show a 14% increase, significantly higher than the initial expectation of 6.5%, indicating strong performance despite market volatility [4]. Investment Opportunities - The article presents a list of 13 cheap stocks under $10, selected based on a forward P/E ratio below 15 and the number of hedge fund holders, indicating strong hedge fund interest [6][7]. Company Highlights - **Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (NASDAQ:MLCO)**: - Stock Price: $9.07, Forward P/E: 15, Hedge Fund Holders: 18 - Reported Q3 2025 revenues of $1.31 billion, up 11% from $1.18 billion year-over-year, attributed to improved gaming and non-gaming operations [9][10]. - EBITDA for Macau properties increased by 21% year-over-year, with strong growth in the Philippines and Cyprus [11][12][13]. - **Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG)**: - Stock Price: $5.03, Forward P/E: 11.57, Hedge Fund Holders: 19 - Announced the launch of the UK's first agentic AI financial assistant, aimed at providing personalized financial guidance to 21 million mobile app customers [14][15]. - Analysts have raised the price target for Lloyds, with RBC Capital increasing it to 110 GBP and Kepler Capital setting it at 97 GBP, both maintaining positive ratings [16][17].

Group 1: Market Reactions to Tariffs - President Trump's threat to impose a 155% tariff on Chinese imports led to a significant drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average by nearly 900 points, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also declining as traders anticipated increased trade tensions [2][3] - A previous increase in tariffs to 100% on Chinese goods resulted in the S&P 500 falling by 2.7%, the Dow dropping 878 points (1.9%), and the Nasdaq sliding 3.6%, erasing a month's worth of gains for major tech companies [3] - The announcement of a 10% universal tariff on April 2, 2025, caused global markets to plunge, highlighting the immediate impact of tariff announcements on market sentiment [3] Group 2: Trade Agreements and Market Sentiment - A recent US-China trade agreement reduced customs duties on fentanyl from 20% to 10%, lowering the overall tariff rate on Chinese imports from 41% to 31%, but the market reaction was muted, indicating that investors may have already priced in the changes [4] - The proposed $2,000 "tariff dividend" announced by President Trump led to a significant rebound in the cryptocurrency market, with Bitcoin surpassing $106,000 and Ethereum climbing past $3,600, showcasing a shift in investor focus towards digital assets [4] Group 3: Economic Implications and Criticism - Economists criticized the proposed "tariff dividend," with Nobel laureate Paul Krugman labeling it "deeply irresponsible" and estimating it could cost $600 billion, which is double the projected 2025 tariff revenue [5] - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested that the "dividend" might not be a direct payment but could manifest as tax cuts, raising questions about the feasibility and clarity of the proposal [5] Group 4: Global Trade Dynamics - President Trump's threats of a 50% import tariff on European Union goods led to immediate declines in European stock markets, with major indices like the Bel20, AEX, CAC40, and Dax all experiencing significant drops [6][7] - In contrast, the US and India are reportedly nearing a WTO-compliant trade deal, which aims to boost Indian exports and improve investor sentiment following a steep increase in import duties on Indian goods [8] Group 5: Impact on Indian IT Sector - Trump's hints at a more favorable stance on H-1B visas led to a rally in Indian IT stocks, with the Nifty IT Index surging over 2% and individual companies like Infosys and TCS experiencing notable gains [9] - The hiring ramp-up by Wall Street banks in India's Global Capability Centers reflects the contradictory nature of the policies, as they respond to earlier visa crackdowns while still seeking talent [9] Group 6: Market Performance and Volatility - On November 12, 2025, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 48,000 for the first time, marking a 0.7% gain, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq showed mixed results, indicating a divergence in market performance [10][11] - The overall market performance was influenced by optimism surrounding the end of a US government shutdown, leading to a rotation from tech stocks to more defensive sectors [11] - The market remains characterized by volatility, with Trump's pronouncements consistently injecting uncertainty and prompting varied reactions across different sectors [12]

Core Viewpoint - The recent fluctuations in gold prices are influenced by the potential end of the U.S. government shutdown, easing geopolitical tensions, tightening dollar liquidity, and profit-taking by long positions. Gold prices have rebounded as market expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut in December increase, stabilizing investment demand [2][11]. Group 1: U.S. Government Shutdown and Dollar Liquidity - The U.S. government shutdown has led to significant selling pressure on gold, with COMEX gold futures dropping below $4000 per ounce, reaching a low of $3901.3 per ounce [2]. - The Federal Reserve's announcement to halt balance sheet reduction in December is expected to alleviate the low reserve issue in the U.S. banking system, where bank reserves fell below the "ample liquidity" threshold of $3.1 trillion, reaching $2.85 trillion by November 5 [3]. - The U.S. Congress passed a temporary funding bill on November 9, which is expected to end the government shutdown and reduce the fiscal liquidity siphoning effect [3]. Group 2: Economic Indicators and Rate Cut Expectations - Economic indicators suggest a slowdown, with October's job cuts reaching the highest level for that month in nearly 20 years, increasing by 175.3% year-over-year [5]. - October's inflation data showed a mild increase, with the CPI rising 0.3% month-over-month, which is below market expectations and previous months, reinforcing the market's anticipation of a Federal Reserve rate cut [5][6]. - The Supreme Court's ruling on IEEPA tariffs may exacerbate the U.S. debt issue, potentially forcing the Federal Reserve to consider rate cuts [5]. Group 3: Gold Market Dynamics - Central bank gold purchases are on the rise, with a reported 220 tons bought in Q3 2025, a 28% increase from the previous quarter, reversing earlier declines [7]. - Global gold demand reached a record high of 1313 tons in Q3 2025, with total demand valued at $146 billion, driven by significant inflows into gold ETFs, which saw a historic high of $26 billion [7][8]. - The SPDR gold ETF's holdings rebounded to 1042.06 tons by November 10, after a drop to 1036.05 tons in late October due to selling pressure [8]. Group 4: Market Outlook and Trading Strategies - The easing of dollar liquidity concerns and the potential for a Federal Reserve rate cut have shifted the macro narrative towards optimism, reducing the selling pressure on gold [11]. - Investors are advised to monitor COMEX gold options to hedge against increased volatility, with trading volumes reaching a historical high of 175,000 contracts [11].

Core Insights - Bairong Inc. has established a strategic ecosystem partnership with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank to enhance the development of "financial agents" and promote the integration of AI in the financial sector [2][8] - The partnership aims to create a long-term "AI + finance" cooperation alliance, focusing on the deep integration of finance and technology [2][4] Company Overview - Bairong Inc. is a leading AI turnkey service provider in China, specializing in the industrial application of AI technologies [5][10] - The company has developed a core technology framework that includes its AI agent platform (Bairong CybotStar) and a self-developed large model (BR-LLM) [5][10] Strategic Partnership Details - The strategic cooperation agreement signed in November 2025 will enable both parties to explore joint development in areas such as AI-driven business innovation and intelligent risk management [2][7] - Bairong Inc. will provide SPD Bank with customizable AI hubs and enterprise-level intelligent agent capabilities, enhancing the bank's core functions [7][8] Industry Context - The partnership is set against the backdrop of global digitalization and the rapid evolution of the AI industry, which is transforming the financial sector [3][4] - SPD Bank is recognized as a pioneer among state-owned commercial banks in adopting technology-driven financial service models [4]

Core Insights - The article discusses how geographic location significantly influences the potential for earning a six-figure salary in the U.S. [2][4] - A study by ScoutLogic analyzed nearly 40 metropolitan areas to identify where high-paying jobs are most accessible, considering factors like job market strength, salary growth, and living costs [3][5] Summary by Sections Salary Potential by Location - Certain metropolitan areas, particularly those with strong tech, government, and corporate sectors, offer more opportunities for six-figure salaries [4][6] - The study emphasizes that while location is crucial, the demand for specific skills also plays a significant role in salary potential [6][7] Top Metropolitan Areas for Six-Figure Salaries - The top five metropolitan areas identified for six-figure salary opportunities are: 1. San Jose, CA - 64.7% of jobs pay over $100K, with a median household income of $157,444 and a salary growth rate of 6.5% [8][11] 2. San Francisco, CA - 59.8% of jobs pay over $100K, median income of $133,780, and a growth rate of 2.8% [8][11] 3. Denver, CO - 18.4% of jobs pay over $100K, median income of $102,339, and a growth rate of 5.4% [9][11] 4. Washington, D.C. - 26.4% of jobs pay over $100K, median income of $123,896, and a growth rate of 2.3% [9][11] 5. Portland, OR-WA - 13.2% of jobs pay over $100K, median income of $94,573, and a growth rate of 5.7% [10][11] Comparison of Other Major Metros - Other notable metropolitan areas include Boston and Seattle, which have a higher percentage of six-figure jobs but rank lower due to higher living costs [12][11] - San Diego, Charlotte, and Salt Lake City also feature in the top 10, balancing income potential with moderate living expenses [13][11] Detailed Data on Salary Opportunities - The article provides a detailed table of various metropolitan areas, showing the percentage of jobs paying over $100K, median household income, salary growth rates, estimated monthly costs, and overall six-figure opportunity scores [13][14]

Core Insights - The meeting at COP30 emphasized the need for stronger public-private collaboration to achieve 1.5°C-aligned solutions and resilient development [1][3][4] Group 1: Meeting Objectives and Participants - The 13th Annual High-Level Meeting of Caring for Climate was convened by the UN Global Compact, UNEP, and UNFCCC, bringing together CEOs, government leaders, investors, and civil society representatives [2][3] - The forum aimed to explore collaboration between business and government to enhance the ambition of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and transition from fossil fuels [3][4] Group 2: Climate Action and Economic Implications - The meeting highlighted the urgent need for a significant increase in ambition and implementation to address climate impacts, with 1.5°C as a non-negotiable benchmark [4][6] - It was noted that bold climate action is not a cost but a pathway to long-term profitability, resilience, and shared prosperity [4][6] Group 3: Financial Mechanisms and Investment - Discussions focused on the necessary policy and finance mechanisms to unlock private investment in national transitions and de-risk capital flows, especially in emerging economies [5][6] - The UN Global Compact aims to mobilize finance for a just transition and improve clean energy access while prioritizing resilience [6][8] Group 4: Private Sector Readiness - According to the 2025 UN Global Compact–Accenture CEO Study, 88% of CEOs believe the business case for sustainability is stronger than five years ago, with 99% planning to maintain or expand their climate commitments [8] - The findings indicate the private sector's readiness to lead in sustainability, contingent on government support through regulatory clarity and financial instruments [8]

Experts said this boosted chances of an interest rate cut at the December monetary policy meeting, although this also depends on factors such as economic growth and the conclusion of a trade deal with the US.This marks the third time in FY26 that inflation has stayed below the central bank's target range of 4% with a margin of two percentage points on either side of that figure. Inflation based on the "The positive impact of the Live EventsA close callA two-slab GST structure took effect September 22, lowe ...

Market Performance - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 328 points, closing above 48,000 for the first time, marking its 17th record high of the year as investors anticipated the end of the longest government shutdown in history [1] - The Dow's back-to-back record close was driven by gains in UnitedHealth and Goldman Sachs, contributing to a 13% gain for the year, although it still lags behind the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, which have risen 16% and 21% respectively [3] ETF Industry - U.S.-listed ETFs saw a significant inflow of $171 billion in October, bringing the total for 2025 to over $1 trillion, indicating a strong interest in exchange-traded funds [4] Sector Performance - In the broader market, healthcare and financial sectors led modest gains for the S&P 500, positively impacting ETFs such as the SPDR Financial Index and the healthcare select sector ETF [5] - AMD's stock surged by 9% after the company set ambitious targets during its investor day, reflecting strong investor confidence in the tech sector [5][6] Economic Outlook - The CEO of AMD projected that the overall AI market could exceed $1 trillion by 2030, highlighting significant demand for AI technologies [6] - Despite the government shutdown affecting the release of critical economic data, investors remained optimistic about the market's fundamentals [6][9]