UK crypto, crypto staking, crypto property, crypto regulation. Photo by BeInCrypto The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has outlined its priorities for 2026, signaling a strong push to support growth, innovation, and technological adoption in the financial sector. In a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the FCA emphasized plans to finalize rules for digital assets, advance UK-issued stablecoins, and strengthen the country’s digital finance infrastructure. The letter details the regulator’s pro- ...

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Core Insights - Average HELOC rates are declining, leading to the highest demand for home equity lending since 2008, with over 557,000 new home equity loans totaling nearly $31.6 billion originated through Q3 2025 [1] - Homeowners have a record amount of equity in their homes, nearly $36 trillion at the end of Q2 2025, the highest ever reported [2] - With mortgage rates around 6%, homeowners are likely to retain their low-rate primary mortgages, making HELOCs an attractive alternative for accessing home equity [3] HELOC Rates and Pricing - The average weekly HELOC rate is currently 7.44%, based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio of 70% [2] - HELOC interest rates are determined by an index rate plus a margin, with the prime rate recently falling to 6.75%, leading to potential rates around 7.50% [4] - Lenders have flexibility in pricing HELOCs, and rates can vary significantly based on credit score, debt levels, and home value [5] HELOC Functionality - A HELOC allows homeowners to access equity without giving up their low-rate primary mortgage, providing flexibility in borrowing and repayment [6] - Introductory rates are common, such as FourLeaf Credit Union's offering of 5.99% for 12 months, which later adjusts to a variable rate of 7.25% [7] - The advantage of a HELOC is that interest is only paid on the amount borrowed, allowing homeowners to keep some credit available for future needs [8] Current Market Considerations - Rates for HELOCs can range from nearly 6% to as high as 18%, depending on individual creditworthiness and lender offerings [9] - For homeowners with low primary mortgage rates and significant equity, now is considered an optimal time to obtain a HELOC for various uses, including home improvements or personal expenses [10] - A typical monthly payment for a $50,000 HELOC at a 7.50% interest rate would be approximately $313 during the draw period, but rates are variable and can increase over time [11]

Google is expanding its push into consumer finance in India with the launch of a UPI-linked credit card, betting on a country of more than 1.4 billion people where fewer than 50 million currently hold a credit card. On Wednesday, Google entered India’s growing co-branded credit card market with the launch of Flex by Google Pay, partnering with private lender Axis Bank to expand access to credit in the country’s UPI-driven payments ecosystem. India’s rapid adoption of digital payments through the govern ...

ROME, Dec. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Stablecoins continue to advance from a niche instrument to a core settlement layer. In the first seven months of 2025, stablecoin transaction volumes surpassed $4 trillion, up 83% year-on-year, and now sit alongside traditional networks in terms of scale. Regulators are moving in parallel: the SEC has opened the door to multiple spot Bitcoin ETFs, and major custodians such as BNY Mellon, State Street, and DBS are broadening their digital-asset operations. Continue Read ...

Russian financial chief warns crypto can never replace the ruble. Source: Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images. Key Takeaways The head of Russian Financial Markets has said that crypto can never replace the ruble. The comments came amid Russia’s growing use of cryptocurrencies for international trade. Putin has played a key role in advancing pro-crypto policies in the country despite the central bank’s opposition. Russia has a new emerging crypto critic in the form of Anatoly Aksakov, chairm ...

2 小微企业在申请创业担保贷款前1年内新招用符合创业担保贷款申请条件的人数达到企业现有在职职工 人数10%（超过100人的企业达到5%），并与其签订1年以上劳动合同； 创业担保贷款 是指以符合规定条件的创业者个人或小微企业为借款人，由创业担保贷款基金或政府性融资担保机构提 供担保，由经办银行发放，由财政部门给予贴息，用于支持个人创业或小微企业吸纳就业的贷款业务。 小微企业申请创业担保贷款 需要满足哪些条件？ 小微企业申请创业担保贷款 需要满足三方面条件： 1 属于现行中小企业划型标准规定的小型、微型企业； 给予贷款实际利率50%的财政贴息 对还款积极、带动就业能力强、创业项目好的小微企业，创业担保贷款到期后可继续申请贷款及贴息支 持，累计次数不超过3次。 如何申领？ 3 无拖欠职工工资、欠缴社会保险费等违法违规信用记录。 小微企业能贷多少 创业担保贷款？ 经办金融机构根据企业实际招用人数 合理确定创业担保贷款额度 最高不超过400万元 贷款期限不超过2年 财政部门 申请创业担保贷款贴息支持的个人或小微企业，应向当地人力资源社会保障部门申请资格审核。 通过资格审核的个人或小微企业，应当向当地创业担保贷款担保基金 ...

Group 1: Market Overview - The Asia-Pacific stock markets generally declined, and US stock futures fell slightly due to escalating geopolitical tensions, leading to increased demand for safe-haven assets like gold and silver, with silver hitting a new high and gold approaching its historical peak from October [1][3] - International oil prices rebounded significantly, with WTI and Brent crude oil both rising over 1%, driven by Trump's order to impose a comprehensive blockade on sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, raising concerns about tighter supply [1][9] - The US dollar index continued its upward trend, increasing by over 0.2% during the day, while US Treasury yields rose slightly, indicating a shift in market focus towards upcoming inflation data for clearer policy direction [1][11] Group 2: Precious Metals Performance - Precious metals experienced a notable surge, with gold prices rising to over $4,330 per ounce, just shy of the October record high of $4,381, and silver surpassing $66 per ounce, marking a historical peak [3][6] - Platinum also saw its fifth consecutive day of gains, reaching its highest level since 2011, reflecting a broader trend of capital flowing into hard assets amid rising geopolitical risks [1][6] Group 3: Employment Data Impact - The latest US employment data showed a modest increase of 64,000 jobs in November, with the unemployment rate rising to 4.6%, the highest since 2021, but the data was not seen as severe enough to trigger immediate rate cuts by the Federal Reserve [10][11] - Market expectations for a rate cut in January are currently around 20%, as the Federal Reserve may view the employment report with a balanced perspective rather than a negative one [10][11]

Sagicor Group Jamaica Ltd said on Tuesday it will merge with Sagicor Life Inc, unifying operations under a new holding company, Sagicor Group Caribbean, and in the process create a US$6.9-billion entity. The deal, struck with parent Sagicor Financial Company Ltd, will consolidate insurance, banking, and investment services across the Caribbean.“By merging our Caribbean operations, we are combining two institutions with deep roots and strong reputations across the Caribbean to form a regional champion with g ...

Digital banking firm PT Super Bank Indonesia surged 24%, hitting the daily trading limit, on its Jakarta debut following an initial public offering that ranks as Indonesia’s second largest this year https://t.co/lGMCxYmscd ...