This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Merchant groups attacked a settlement to end decades of litigation over card networks’ interchange fees, alleging in court filings this week that the proposed pact still gives Visa and Mastercard far too much legal immunity and leeway to set fees. Several of the objecting merchants said Friday that the settlement reached last month largely resembles a prior agreem ...

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AFRM), the payment network that empowers consumers and helps merchants drive growth, today announced that Rob O'Hare, CFO, will participate in a shareholder fireside chat on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. The discussion will be moderated by Matthew Coad from Truist and will begin at 9:00 AM Pacific Time. The event will be webcast live on the Company's investor relations website at https://investors.affirm.com, and management will addre. ...

Key Takeaways Visa and AXP posted earnings beats, but their growth drivers and post-report trajectories diverge.Visa saw strong payments and cross-border gains despite higher expenses and rising client incentives.AXP's premium spending strength, fee income and lower credit-loss provisions lifted EPS sharply.Visa Inc. (V) and American Express Company (AXP) both turned in healthy earnings reports, but the forces propelling their growth continue to diverge in important ways. For investors evaluating which paym ...

In the past, the holiday season was always a high-performance time for the retail sector, which expected to end the year with strong sales figures. From Black Friday sales and gift shopping to Christmas decorations and homeware, consumer cheer and last-minute shopping taking place across Q4 would have a profound impact on the growth and overall profits for the entire year. Today, rising inflation rates and higher costs of living across the board have seen consumer budgets shrink drastically, ushering in a n ...

Core Insights - Blockchain is transitioning from a proof of concept to becoming a fundamental financial infrastructure by 2025, with major institutions moving from testing to building [1][2] Group 1: Traditional Financial Institutions - In Q3 2025, traditional financial institutions began integrating blockchain to enhance operations, reduce transaction costs, and improve market positioning [2] - JPMorgan's Kinexys network processes over $2 billion in daily transactions and has cleared more than $1.5 trillion since its launch, indicating a strong commitment to blockchain as a standard for institutional settlements [3] - SWIFT is developing a shared real-time ledger that will connect over 30 global banks, operating alongside its existing messaging system [3] Group 2: Stablecoin Initiatives - Stablecoin-focused projects gained traction in Q3, with Circle launching Arc, a Layer-1 blockchain designed for stablecoin finance [4] - Stripe and Paradigm introduced Tempo, a payments-first Layer-1 blockchain for stablecoin transactions, with advisory partners including Deutsche Bank, Visa, and Shopify [4][5] - Visa initiated a pilot program for select partners to pre-fund accounts with stablecoins to expedite cross-border payouts, with a broader rollout planned for 2026 [5] - Standard Chartered's Anchorpoint joint venture applied for a stablecoin issuance license under Hong Kong's new regulatory framework, positioning itself as a pioneer in direct stablecoin issuance among multinational banks [5] Group 3: Technology Firms - Technology companies are establishing the infrastructure for blockchain applications, with Google Cloud launching the Universal Ledger (GCUL), a neutral Layer-1 blockchain aimed at banks and capital markets [6] - CME Group is testing GCUL for faster collateral settlement and margin optimization, showcasing the collaboration between tech firms and financial institutions [6]

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve has initiated interest rate cuts, with potential for further reductions, impacting various sectors of the economy and specific companies [1][2]. Group 1: Interest Rate Impact - The Federal Reserve raised interest rates to combat inflation, reaching a peak of 5.5% in 2022, and recently cut rates to a target of 4% to 4.25% [1][2]. - Lower interest rates make borrowing cheaper, which can stimulate business expansion and consumer spending, affecting many businesses [3]. Group 2: Realty Income - Realty Income is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that manages income-producing properties and distributes profits as dividends [5]. - It is the sixth-largest REIT globally, with properties valued at approximately $61 billion across nine countries [6]. - Anticipated interest rate cuts will lower Realty Income's cost of capital, enhancing its ability to acquire new properties and refinance existing loans, supporting growth and dividend stability [7]. - The attractiveness of Realty Income's dividend may increase relative to bonds, potentially attracting more investors [9]. Group 3: Bank of America - Bank of America is a major global bank with a primary income source from net interest income (NII) [10]. - A decrease in interest rates may lead to a reduction in NII, as loan yields typically decline faster than deposit costs [12]. - In the second quarter, Bank of America's NII grew 7% year over year to $14.7 billion, representing 55% of total revenue [12]. Group 4: Visa - Visa operates the world's largest payment network, processing transactions worth trillions of dollars [13]. - Interest rate cuts will have an indirect effect on Visa, as lower borrowing costs may boost consumer and business spending, leading to increased transaction volume [14]. - In its fiscal third quarter, Visa's total payment volume rose 8% year over year, with processed transactions increasing by 10% year over year, indicating strong growth potential as interest rates influence spending [16].

Core Insights - Affirm has announced the availability of its flexible payment options for in-store purchases using Apple Pay on iPhone, enhancing consumer choice and flexibility [1] Company Developments - The integration allows Apple Pay customers in the U.S. to utilize Affirm's payment solutions, building on the previous successful launch for online checkouts [1]

Core Insights - Visa Inc. is set to release its second-quarter earnings results on April 29, with analysts expecting earnings of $2.68 per share, an increase from $2.51 per share in the same period last year [1] - The company is projected to report quarterly revenue of $9.55 billion, up from $8.78 billion a year earlier [1] Group 1: Earnings Expectations - Analysts anticipate Visa's quarterly earnings to rise to $2.68 per share from $2.51 per share year-over-year [1] - Revenue expectations for the quarter are set at $9.55 billion, reflecting a significant increase from the previous year's $8.78 billion [1] Group 2: Strategic Moves - Visa has proposed a $100 million payment to Apple Inc. to secure the Apple Card network, indicating competitive dynamics in the payment network sector [2] - Visa shares experienced a 0.7% increase, closing at $337.51 on Monday [2] Group 3: Analyst Ratings - Barclays analyst Ramsey El-Assal has an Overweight rating with a price target raised from $361 to $396 [8] - BMO Capital analyst Rufus Hone maintains an Outperform rating, increasing the price target from $350 to $370 [8] - Mizuho analyst Dan Dolev holds a Neutral rating, boosting the price target from $304 to $359 [8] - JP Morgan analyst Tien-Tsin Huang maintains an Overweight rating with a price target increase from $340 to $375 [8] - Goldman Sachs analyst Matthew O'Neill has a Buy rating, raising the price target from $346 to $384 [8]