How Indonesia's Big Tycoons Rigged Market, Played MSCI

Recommendable!

(252) How Indonesia's Big Tycoons Rigged Market, Played MSCI | Vantage on Firstpost - YouTube

Facebook parent Meta is selling nearly $100 billion in stock to pay for its AI buildout and Nvidia is buying $3 billion of it

Amazing stuff!

Current valuation of Meta about $1.6 trillion.

"Facebook parent Meta is selling nearly $100 billion in stock to pay for its AI buildout, after years of buying back its own shares.

Chipmaker Nvidia, which sells Meta its AI chips, is buying $3 billion of it."

"... Meta isn't the only giant coming up short. Amazon (AMZN) and Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) each spent more than their businesses brought in during a quarter this year, then borrowed heavily. Meta is the first to hand much of the bill to shareholders instead. ..."

Wednesday, October 28, 2026 - Join The Flyover

Meta's nearly $100 billion stock sale is a turning point for how Big Tech pays for AI

Credit Card Arrears Account for 35.2% of Bad Loans in China

Bad news!

(164) Credit Card Arrears Account for 35.2% of Bad Loans | World DNA - YouTube

Citigroup gets Beijing’s approval for wholly owned securities firm in China

Good news!

"US bank Citigroup has received approval to set up a wholly foreign-owned securities firm in mainland China, allowing the lender to pursue more opportunities in one of the world’s largest capital markets. ..."

"... The approval, which was also announced on the same day by the China Securities Regulatory Commission, followed a recent approval by Beijing for the U.S. payments giant Visa to prepare to set up a bank card clearing business in China. ... 

In a statement, Citi, a major U.S. financial services provider, said the onshore securities license will allow Citi — through the new entity — to offer equities brokerage, securities underwriting, securities research and principal trading services to domestic and foreign clients. ..."

Citigroup gets Beijing’s approval for wholly owned securities firm in China | South China Morning Post (behind paywall)

Citi gets nod from Beijing to set up a wholly owned securities company in China

Swiss giant UBS considers shock call to leave Switzerland, sources say

Is the Swiss government going to make a huge mistake here?

For a very long time, Switzerland has been known for being savvy, reliable and using common sense when it comes to economic and business policies.

(2) Swiss giant UBS considers shock call to leave Switzerland, sources say - YouTube

4 to 9 Major Banks Used SPLC to discriminate against, denied and debanked Conservative, Christian Groups since 2021

This is disturbing news! Hopefully, fines or other, more severe punishments will follow!

For these largest banks to refer to the extremely controversial, leftist SPLC is quite shocking!

Bravo President Trump for asking for such a review (see Executive Order below)!

4 to 9? Depends on how you define major banks?

"... Some financial institutions participated in Government-directed surveillance programs targeting persons participating in activities and causes commonly associated with conservatism and the political right following the events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. ..."

"Four of America’s largest banks relied on the Southern Poverty Law Center in decisions affecting conservative and religious organizations, according to a newly released federal debanking report.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency report, released Wednesday, details instances involving JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, PNC Bank, and TD Bank, all of which referenced the SPLC while denying loans to organizations or closing their accounts. The SPLC‘s map of hate groups lists some mainstream conservative and Christian groups alongside Klan chapters, due to the groups’ views on marriage, immigration, critical race theory, or opposition to radical Islam. ..."

"... “Today’s report provides irrefutable evidence that the nation’s largest banks have denied, debanked and discriminated against customers and lawful businesses,” said Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould. “Americans should have access to financial services regardless of their beliefs, affiliations, or political views. Fair access to financial services is not a mantra—it is a mandate. The Trump Administration is committed to ending the weaponization of finance against hardworking Americans, once and for all.” ..."

4 Major Banks Used SPLC in Adverse Decisions Affecting Conservative, Christian Groups, Federal Review Finds - The Daily Signal

Feds accuse nine top banks of de-banking — denying accounts due to ideology, religion, and more

OCC Releases Report on Large Banks’ Debanking Activities (the original report)

Guaranteeing Fair Banking For All Americans (President Trump's Executive Order)

The History of the Bloomberg Terminal

Recommendable!

I remember well that when I started working as an economist several decades ago for an economic forecasting and consulting firm, the headquarters also had a Bloomberg terminal. I needed the terminal then to catch up with the latest news and economic data of some of the countries I was covering then as an economist.

The History of the Bloomberg Terminal - IEEE Spectrum "Wall Street traders and analysts an unprecedented window on global markets"

Polymarket & Kalshi: The rise of prediction markets with Palki Sharma

Recommendable!

(237) Polymarket & Kalshi: The rise of prediction markets | The Palki Sharma Show | India Global Review - YouTube

The Plan for a Unified Nordic Stock Exchange in Scandinavia Explained

Recommendable!

(231) The Plan for a Unified Nordic Stock Exchange Explained - YouTube

Tel Aviv Stock Exchange again considerably outperforms S&P, NASDAQ, and STOXX Europe 600 in the year 5786

Happy New Year (Rosh Hashanah) Israel!

Unfortunately, I (Google) could not find a chart with historical monthly data from 2000 to 2026! This is bad!

"... In the Jewish year 5786, which in the TASE’s analysis is the period September 25, 2025 to September 4, 2026, the Tel Aviv 35 Index rose by 40.5% ...

In New York, the S&P 500 Index and the Dow Jones Index rose by 16% over the same period, while the Nasdaq rose by 18%.

In Europe, the STOXX Europe 600 Index rose by 17%, and the
MSCI World Index, which tracks the developed countries, rose by 16.5%. ..."

Tel Aviv Stock Exchange again outperforms in 5786 - Globes "In the Jewish year just ending, the Tel Aviv 35 Index rose by 40.5%, which compares with a 16% rise in the S&P 500 Index in the same period."

Africa’s Richest Man Eyes Mega IPO in Nigeria: What Does It Mean for Africa? with Palki Sharma

Good news!

(243) Africa’s Richest Man Eyes Mega IPO: What Does It Mean for Africa? | The Palki Sharma Show | IGR - YouTube

AI is turning everyday retail investors into mini quant funds

Good news!

"Americans are vibe-coding trading algorithms and handing over their stock portfolios to AI agents that can buy and sell assets on their own. For the retail crowd, sophisticated strategies were once accessible only to the tech-savvy few. Now, AI assistants can build an automated strategy from simple written prompts, allowing traders to crunch numbers at a superhuman scale without even watching the market. But skeptics worry the technology could expose less-experienced investors to new dangers."

The Wall Street Journal What's news

He’s Letting AI Agents Invest His Money. They Even Have Names (behind paywall) "Americans are vibe-coding trading algorithms and handing over their stock portfolios to AI agents. Welcome to the world of the robot retail investor."

Tether: a secretive $200 billion crypto currency company

Food for thought! The transition to digital currencies is not easy! Digital currencies provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to privatize money!

Why not privacy for a private company if it so chooses? Just because the company is large by some measure and executes significant transactions does not automatically impose or require more disclosure (as e.g. some journalists may wish).

Does the company break any criminal laws? Often banking and money transactions are more successful and best done discreetly!

"About Tether

Tether was founded by a group of Bitcoin enthusiasts and early adopters, passionate about facilitating the use of fiat currencies in a digital manner.

In 2014, the company launched Tether.to, a blockchain-enabled platform aimed at disrupting the conventional financial system with a more modern approach to money."

"Tether Operations, S.A. de C.V. is an El Salvador-based entity and part of the group of companies that issues and manages the USD₮ stablecoin." (Google Search)

"Tether, which mints the world’s most widely used crypto token, is likely one of the most valuable private companies on earth, with an estimated value of $200 billion, exceeding the total share value of McDonald’s.

The company’s token, known as USDT, is a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar that has become the backbone of a parallel banking system pervading parts of the world.

The token has also become a key tool for money launderers for industrial-scale scam centers, which operate out of grim office complexes across Southeast Asia. Tether’s assistance in law enforcement investigations has become highly sought-after by agencies around the world struggling to address surging crypto crime. ...

But who owns this powerful and controversial firm? The company has never given a full picture publicly. ..."

Tether: a $200 billion crypto company you can’t look inside "Its USDT crypto token underpins a trillion-dollar market, but cryptocurrency giant Tether won’t answer questions about its ownership."

Tether

Bond Markets Are Losing Patience — And Putting Governments on Notice

Headline of the day! 

Hopefully, Western countries with high government debt get the message! It is high time for Western countries to correct their irresponsible and reckless fiscal profligacy that has been going on for way too many years!

Hopefully, this latest rise in government bond yields is not a temporary fluke but a persistent warning!

"Something unusual is happening in global bond markets, and it is more consequential than the usual swings in yields. Government borrowing costs are rising across much of the developed world. The US 10-year Treasury is approaching 5 percent, and the 30-year Treasury yield is at levels not seen since 2007. “Meltdown” is too dramatic a word, but the bond market is clearly sending a message. Bond prices fall when investors demand higher yields, and global investors clearly want to be paid more for lending money to governments carrying large debts, running persistent deficits, and still contending with above-target inflation. ..."

Bond Markets Are Losing Patience — And Putting Governments on Notice | The Daily Economy "Rising yields are turning sovereign debt from an abstract fiscal problem into an immediate budget constraint."

Notice the chart below is outdated since US debt is now at $40 trillion

Chart of the day

Serious stuff! The federal budget deficits and debt accumulation is out of control! President Trump needs to do something!

The Wall Street Journal What's news

Notice the curve went up to and stayed in the 6-8% range in the second half of the administration of the senile, demented and lifelong pathological liar 46th President.

EU: Freiheitseinschränkung der Bürger durch neue Kapitalkontrollen gegen Banken aus Drittstaaten

Sehr bedenklich! Zieht die Festung EU noch mehr Zugbrücken rauf! Betrifft das z.B. auch das Vereinigte Königreich und Schweiz?

Hinweis ich habe den Artikel nicht gelesen.

"Ab dem 11. Januar 2027 droht EU-Bürgern mit Auslandskonten Ungemach. Ab diesem Zeitpunkt soll es Banken aus Drittstaaten wie der Schweiz, Großbritannien, den USA oder auch Singapur untersagt sein, europäischen Bürgern sogenannte Kernbankdienstleistungen anzubieten. Damit sind im Prinzip drei Kernfunktionen gemeint: das klassische Einlagengeschäft, also Giro-, Spar- oder Festgeldkonten, das Kreditgeschäft sowie das Garantiegeschäft. Banken, die diese Dienstleistungen auch künftig EU-Bürgern anbieten wollen, müssen dann eine eigens zugelassene, vollständig beaufsichtigte Zweigstelle in genau dem Mitgliedstaat unterhalten, in dem der Kunde ansässig ist. ..."

EU: Freiheitseinschränkung der Bürger durch neue Kapitalkontrollen "Brüssel zieht die finanzielle Repressionsschlinge enger. Ab 2027 erschwert die EU ihren Bürgern den Zugang zu Konten außerhalb ihres Machtbereichs. Hinter technokratischen Formeln wächst eine totalitäre Finanzarchitektur, die Kapital bindet und den Zugriff auf privates Vermögen vorbereitet. In Brüssel weiß man, dass hier alles zusammenbricht."

What does Chinese Unitree Robotics' IPO mean for the humanoid industry?

Another Sputnik shock!

What are some of the competitive advantages of the US: Very competitive and rapid technological innovation and discovery as well as deep and less risk averse financial markets. Is China catching up?

"Shares of Unitree Robotics, China's high-profile humanoid robot maker known for fluid athletic maneuvers, shot up more than 629% to 1,100 yuan apiece upon their debut in Shanghai on Wednesday, after the company raised 6.1 billion yuan ($905 million).

The listing, at a valuation of $9 billion, marks China's first onshore initial public offering by a humanoid robot company. Dozens of rivals, such as Agibot, are reportedly preparing to list in Hong Kong.

The Hangzhou-based company is backed by some of China's most influential technology companies, including Tencent, Alibaba, Meituan and DeepSeek.

State media reported that China is now home to more than 140 humanoid robot companies. Players from a range of industries, particularly electric vehicle makers, are rushing into the sector. Some, such as Xpeng, have announced plans to begin mass production this year, while Chinese EV giant BYD is expected to unveil its first humanoid robot this month.

China's humanoid robots have been drawing growing attention with increasingly sophisticated public demonstrations. ..."

"... Since it was founded in 2016, Unitree has made headlines for its low-cost quadruped and humanoid robots. The Hangzhou, China-based company, formally Yushu Technology Co., is best known for its humanoids, which are used in research labs around the world.

You’ve likely seen videos of Unitree’s G1 robot dancing, doing kung fu, or backflipping, among other things. In addition, the company offers robotic hands, arms, and lidar. ..."

What does Unitree Robotics' IPO mean for the humanoid industry? - The Robot Report

China's humanoid robot push gains momentum with Unitree's IPO

Foreign Borrowers Rush Into Asia/Australia Bond Markets for financing

Impressive! Get ready for some Dim Sum, Panda and Kangaroo bonds! 😊

(247) Foreign Borrowers Rush Into Asia Bond Markets | World Business Watch - YouTube

Dollar Losing Ground? Brazil's Lula Makes Chinese Yuan a Permanent Part of Debt Strategy. Really!

A strange news report coming from an Indian news media outlet! 

No mentioning that Brazil's President Lula is a democratic socialist!

Why does Brazil not borrow from India instead of China?

(966) Dollar Losing Ground? Brazil's Lula Makes Chinese Yuan a Permanent Part of Debt Strategy|Vantage |4K - YouTube

Roboter-Start-up Humanoid wird zum Einhorn – auch Bosch und Schaeffler steigen ein

Auch die Bananenrepublik D hat Einhorns! Na sowas! 😊

Roboter-Start-up Humanoid wird zum Einhorn – auch Bosch und Schaeffler steigen ein (erschienen 22.7.2026) "Humanoid ist erst zwei Jahre alt und schon 1,35 Mrd. $ wert. Jetzt steigen Bosch und Schaeffler ein, obwohl die Serienproduktion noch aussteht. Warum die deutschen Industriekonzerne in das Start-up investieren."

Humanoid Raises $152 Million at $1.35 Billion Post-Money Valuation, Becoming Europe’s First Pure-Play Humanoid Robotics Unicorn (original news release)

Quelle