Good afternoon and welcome to The ASX Today for Thursday, I’m Jon Davidson. The good mood was still palpable after Commonwealth’s big jump on Wednesday, a second day of gains in that stock helped push the ASX to a fresh record high on Thursday, though really we’re more or less where we were last October.Listen to the HotCopper podcast for in-depth discussions and insights on all the biggest headlines from throughout the week. On Spotify, Apple, and more.The Japanese Nikkei also hit a fresh record today as J ...

TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Ltd (TASE: TASE) is pleased to announce that its financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2025 will be published on Thursday, March 5, 2026, after market close. The financial statements and the investors presentation will be posted on TASE's MAYA website as well as on the website of the Israel Securities Authority (MAGNA) and under Investor Relations in TASE's website, at https://ir.tase.co.il/eng. The reports will inc ...

Group 1: BitGo's IPO - BitGo raised $212.8 million in its initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange, pricing shares at $18, exceeding the expected range of $15-$17 [2] - The stock opened at $22.43, bringing BitGo's valuation to $2.59 billion, marking the first stock market debut by a digital asset company in 2026 [2] Group 2: NYSE's Tokenized Securities Platform - The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is developing a platform for trading and on-chain settlement of tokenized securities, pending regulatory approvals [3] - The new digital platform will enable 24/7 operations, instant settlement, and stablecoin-based funding, integrating the NYSE's Pillar matching engine with blockchain technology [3] - The platform will support trading of tokenized shares that are fungible with traditional securities and will allow tokenized shareholders to participate in dividends and governance rights [3] Group 3: Industry Leadership and Vision - Lynn Martin, President of NYSE Group, emphasized the NYSE's commitment to leading the industry towards fully on-chain solutions, combining trust with advanced technology [4] - The NYSE aims to reinvent market infrastructure to meet the demands of a digital future, leveraging its long-standing expertise in market operations [4]

Group 1: BitGo IPO - BitGo priced its shares at $18 for its initial public offering, securing a valuation of approximately $2.1 billion, marking a rare IPO for a pure-play crypto custody business [2] Group 2: NYSE Tokenized Trading Platform - The New York Stock Exchange announced the development of a platform for trading and on-chain settlement of tokenized securities, enabling 24/7 operations, instant settlement, and stablecoin-based funding [3] Group 3: Blockspace Acquisition - Blockspace acquired Bitcoin Layers, a data aggregation site known for tracking and analyzing Bitcoin Layer 2 networks, to support the rollout of new data products focusing on the Bitcoin L2 landscape [4] Group 4: Digital Asset Inflows - Digital asset products saw $2.17 billion in inflows last week, the largest since October, indicating a resurgence in institutional interest [5] Group 5: Coinbase Quantum Advisory Board - Coinbase established an advisory board focused on quantum computing and blockchain, hiring experts to assess long-term cryptographic risks associated with quantum computing [7]

Core Viewpoint - Nasdaq is seeking SEC approval to remove restrictions on options trading for crypto ETFs, which could enhance market accessibility and trading fairness for investors [1][3]. Group 1: Nasdaq's Proposal - Nasdaq filed a form with the SEC to amend options position and exercise limit rules for certain crypto assets [1]. - The proposed rule change aims to eliminate the previous 25,000 position and exercise limit restrictions for options on crypto ETFs [3]. - Nasdaq is requesting immediate effectiveness of the proposal, asking the SEC to waive the standard 30-day delay [4]. Group 2: Impact on Crypto ETFs - If approved, the rule change will affect various crypto funds, including those linked to Bitcoin and Ethereum launched by major asset managers like BlackRock and Fidelity [2]. - As of January 22, spot Bitcoin ETFs have total net inflows of $56.6 billion, while spot Ether ETFs have $12.34 billion in inflows [4]. Group 3: Market Implications - Nasdaq believes the change will promote "just" and "equitable" trading principles, eliminate discrimination, and foster a free and open market [3]. - The exchange asserts that the proposal does not impose significant burdens on competition and aims to protect investors [4].

Group 1 - A group of individuals was arrested for using electronic means to commit property appropriation, specifically through a cryptocurrency scam [1][4] - The scam involved creating a fake trading platform that impersonated the legitimate Nasdaq exchange, misleading victims into investing [2][4] - The group utilized social media platforms like Zalo and Telegram to simulate trading activity and falsely report profits to attract investors [5] Group 2 - Preliminary investigations revealed that the scam operation was organized in Cambodia, with Vietnamese nationals recruited to execute various roles [4] - The total amount swindled from victims is estimated at VND14 billion, with significant losses reported by individual victims [5] - Law enforcement seized substantial evidence during a raid, including cash, electronic devices, and fraudulent materials [6]

Market Overview - The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange experienced a decline today, with the Tel Aviv 35 Index falling by 0.44% to 3,866.86 points and the Tel Aviv 125 Index decreasing by 0.33% to 3,913.39 points. In contrast, the BlueTech Global Index increased by 0.74% to 697.62 points. The All Bond corporate bond index remained unchanged at 423.26 points. Total turnover in equities was NIS 4.51 billion and in bonds was NIS 4.97 billion [1]. Currency Exchange Rates - In the foreign exchange market, the shekel-dollar rate was set 0.032% higher at NIS 3.151/$, while the shekel-euro rate decreased by 0.28% to NIS 3.672/€ [2]. Notable Stock Movements - Camtek saw the largest increase on the Tel Aviv 35 Index, rising by 6.37%. Other notable gainers included Tower Semiconductor Ltd. with a rise of 2.41%, Ormat Technologies Inc. increasing by 3.52%, and Azrieli Group rising by 1.52% [2]. - Conversely, Elbit Systems Ltd. led the market decline, falling by 3.77% with the highest trading turnover. YH Dimri Construction and Development also fell by 3.77%, marking the largest drop on the Tel Aviv 35 Index. Other decliners included Next Vision down by 2.38%, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. down by 2.60%, and Fattal Holdings down by 2.95% [3]. - Outside the Tel Aviv 35 Index, Gilat Satellite Networks experienced a significant rise of 5.66% [3].

LATEST: ⚡ Brazilian stock exchange B3 has revealed it plans to launch a tokenization platform for traditional assets and a proprietary stablecoin for settlements, with the rollout expected in 2026. https://t.co/w2PJcb9F9K ...

🇧🇷 JUST IN: Brazil’s main stock exchange B3 plans to launch a tokenization platform and issue its own stablecoin for token trading and settlements starting in 2026. https://t.co/QzRSUkrwPz ...

Core Insights - Beijing's asset management scale is approximately 48 trillion yuan, accounting for nearly 30% of the national total [2] - The city aims to establish itself as a global wealth management center, leveraging its market advantages, resource endowments, and policy environment [2] - The financial industry in Beijing represents about half of the national total assets, with leading indicators in various financial metrics [2] Group 1 - The city is focusing on high-standard development of the financial industry, emphasizing reforms in key areas and innovative financial services [3] - There is a strong emphasis on promoting financial support for the real economy, directing resources towards new productive forces and urban governance [3] - Support for the Beijing Stock Exchange's reform is a priority, aiming to enhance its role in serving innovative small and medium-sized enterprises [3] Group 2 - The city plans to expand financial openness, promoting cross-border investment facilitation and hosting significant financial forums [3] - There is an intention to introduce international best practices and deepen collaboration with both domestic and foreign financial institutions [3]