An outbreak of the highly fatal Nipah virus in India’s eastern state of West Bengal has sparked widespread attention and public concern in China ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday when millions will travel. While the virus has infected at least five people in West Bengal, including one in critical condition, Chinese health experts say it is difficult to transmit and less likely to cause an outbre...
An outbreak of the highly fatal Nipah virus in India’s eastern state of West Bengal has sparked widespread attention and public concern in China ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday when millions will travel. While the virus has infected at least five people in West Bengal, including one in critical condition, Chinese health experts say it is difficult to transmit and less likely to cause an outbreak in China. With a fatality rate of up to 75 per cent and no effective treatment or vaccines available, the virus has triggered unease in China, with related topics trending on the country’s social media platforms on Monday. Advertisement “It’s so scary, especially with the Spring Festival coming up. I don’t want to experience another lockdown,” one online user said, referring to the Lunar New Year holiday. Another asked, “Can’t we temporarily shut the travel channel with India?” Last month, China and India eased visa rules for each other in a move aimed at boosting travel between the world’s two most populous countries. Advertisement The timing of the health threat to China is a concern as the Lunar New Year approaches, a period of extremely high travel traffic into, within and out of the country. The 40-day travel rush, known as chunyun, runs this year from February 2 to March 13.
Hong Kong has struck a deal with the Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE) to deepen cross-border connectivity in bullion trading, as the city steps up efforts to build a broader gold ecosystem spanning trading, clearing and storage. The agreement comes as gold prices hit a record high of US$5,110 per ounce on Tuesday morning, buoyed by geopolitical tensions and growing expectations of lower US interest ra...
Hong Kong has struck a deal with the Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE) to deepen cross-border connectivity in bullion trading, as the city steps up efforts to build a broader gold ecosystem spanning trading, clearing and storage. The agreement comes as gold prices hit a record high of US$5,110 per ounce on Tuesday morning, buoyed by geopolitical tensions and growing expectations of lower US interest rates, which have revived demand for the precious metal as a safe-haven asset. A government official said the partnership marked “the dawn of a new chapter – one in which Hong Kong and Shanghai join forces to shape the future of global gold markets”. Advertisement In this explainer, the Post breaks down what the new accord changes – and whether it could eventually put Hong Kong on the same footing as rival gold hubs in London, New York and Switzerland. Why the Shanghai Gold Exchange matters Founded in 2002 by the People’s Bank of China, the SGE is the mainland’s only official exchange for trading gold, silver and platinum. It launched an international board in 2014, according to the exchange.
(RTTNews) - German American Bancorp (GABC) revealed earnings for its fourth quarter that Increased from the same period last year and beat the Street estimates. The company's bottom line came in at $35.68 million, or $0.95 per share. This compares with $23.21 million, or $0.78 per share, last year. Excluding items, German American Bancorp reported adjusted earnings of $35.90 million or $0.96 per s...
(RTTNews) - German American Bancorp (GABC) revealed earnings for its fourth quarter that Increased from the same period last year and beat the Street estimates. The company's bottom line came in at $35.68 million, or $0.95 per share. This compares with $23.21 million, or $0.78 per share, last year. Excluding items, German American Bancorp reported adjusted earnings of $35.90 million or $0.96 per share for the period. Analysts on average had expected the company to earn $0.87 per share. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. The company's revenue for the period rose 47.4% to $96.00 million from $65.14 million last year. German American Bancorp earnings at a glance (GAAP) : -Earnings: $35.68 Mln. vs. $23.21 Mln. last year. -EPS: $0.95 vs. $0.78 last year. -Revenue: $96.00 Mln vs. $65.14 Mln last year. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
'Burnham rebellion growing' and 'Clan united' 14 minutes ago Share Save Share Save Fallout following the decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in a forthcoming by-election has continued, with the Mail reporting a growing rebellion among government officials. It reports that 50 MPs have signed a letter protesting against the decision, noting that pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer h...
'Burnham rebellion growing' and 'Clan united' 14 minutes ago Share Save Share Save Fallout following the decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in a forthcoming by-election has continued, with the Mail reporting a growing rebellion among government officials. It reports that 50 MPs have signed a letter protesting against the decision, noting that pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has "intensified". The Times says that senior Labour figures have "privately conceded" that they expect to lose the Gorton & Denton by-election as a result of the Burnham block. The paper says the fight for the seat is "likely to be deeply divisive", with the Greens and Reform UK "set to pile pressure" on Sir Keir. The prime minister has defended his decision regarding Burnham, insisting that allowing him to run for the seat would "divert our resources" from "very important" campaigns in May's elections. Several papers picture former Man United footballer Sir David Beckham and his family at an award ceremony in Paris, after Lady Beckham became a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. Under the headline "Clan united", the Sun calls it a "show of solidarity", noting it is the first time that the family have been seen together following the row with Brooklyn, the eldest son, on Instagram last week. The couple were joined by their other three children - Romeo, Cruz and Harper. "You are my everything" declares the Star, pairing the photo of the family in Paris with a quote from Lady Beckham's Instagram post to mark her acceptance of the knighthood. Though the Beckhams are also front and centre of the Guardian, the paper's headline reads: "Tories face backlash after 'mental health' jibe over Braverman's exit". It reports that the Conservative Party had to correct the record after they initially said Suella Braverman had defected to Reform UK because of "mental health" issues. In a fresh statement, the party said the original had been a draft version sent out in error. A beaming ...
HSBC Holdings Plc will close a key retail branch in Singapore’s financial district and open a wealth center at the same building, as the lender doubles down on serving affluent clients in one of Asia’s key financial hubs. The branch at Raffles Place — one of six in the city-state — will shut on Feb. 28, according to a notice sent to customers. HSBC expects to open an upgraded wealth center in Sing...
HSBC Holdings Plc will close a key retail branch in Singapore’s financial district and open a wealth center at the same building, as the lender doubles down on serving affluent clients in one of Asia’s key financial hubs. The branch at Raffles Place — one of six in the city-state — will shut on Feb. 28, according to a notice sent to customers. HSBC expects to open an upgraded wealth center in Singapore Land Tower in February, a spokesperson said in response to a Bloomberg News query. The shift underscores how global lenders are retreating from traditional retail banking in Singapore to pursue the region’s booming wealth management market. Citigroup Inc. closed its last branch in the city-state in 2024 as part of a similar pivot, while HSBC has been pruning retail assets in selective markets over the past few years. Singapore remains a priority market for HSBC and its distribution footprint in the country will be unchanged, the spokesperson said, adding that the new Raffles Place center aligns with the bank’s strategy to convert branches into wealth centers. The move comes less than two weeks after HSBC opened a strategic review of its Singapore insurance business, as part of Chief Executive Officer Georges Elhedery ’s global simplification push. HSBC Starts Review of Insurance Business in Singapore HSBC Sells French Loan Portfolio to Its Former France Subsidiary Citi to Exit Retail Banking in 13 Markets Across Asia, Europe Its Raffles Place retail branch opened in 2018 under a three-year plan to expand the bank’s consumer and wholesale banking businesses in Singapore. The bank has three other wealth centers in the city-state, with the most recent opening at Star Vista in April.
South Korean automaker and pharmaceutical stocks were falling after President Donald Trump late Monday threatened to raise tariffs on some Korean imports to 25% because that country’s government has been too slow to approve a trade deal reached last year.
South Korean automaker and pharmaceutical stocks were falling after President Donald Trump late Monday threatened to raise tariffs on some Korean imports to 25% because that country’s government has been too slow to approve a trade deal reached last year.
Why Bitcoin's Failing Its Role As A 'Safe Haven' Versus Gold Authored by Francisco Rodrigues via CoinDesk.com, In theory, bitcoin should thrive during times of uncertainty as it’s sound money that’s censorship-resistant. In practice, it’s becoming the first thing investors sell when push comes to shove. As geopolitical tensions flared over the past week, following Trump’s threats of tariffs agains...
Why Bitcoin's Failing Its Role As A 'Safe Haven' Versus Gold Authored by Francisco Rodrigues via CoinDesk.com, In theory, bitcoin should thrive during times of uncertainty as it’s sound money that’s censorship-resistant. In practice, it’s becoming the first thing investors sell when push comes to shove. As geopolitical tensions flared over the past week, following Trump’s threats of tariffs against NATO allies over Greenland and speculation of potential military action in the Arctic, markets pulled back, and volatility spiked. Since Jan. 18, after Trump first threatened tariffs in his push for Greenland acquisition, bitcoin has lost 6.6% of its value, while gold has moved up 8.6% to new highs near $5,000. The reason lies in how each asset fits into portfolios during times of stress. Bitcoin’s always-on trading, deep liquidity, and instant settlement make it an easy asset to offload when investors need to raise cash quickly. Gold, despite being less accessible, tends to be held rather than sold. This makes bitcoin behave more like an “ATM” during periods of panic, undermining its reputation as digital gold, according to NYDIG’s Global Head of Research, Greg Cipolaro. “Under periods of stress and uncertainty, liquidity preference dominates, and this dynamic hurts bitcoin far more than gold,” Cipolaro wrote. “Despite being liquid for its size, bitcoin remains more volatile and reflexively sold as leverage is unwound. As a result, in risk-off environments, it is frequently used to raise cash, reduce VAR, and de-risk portfolios regardless of its long-term narrative, while gold continues to function as a true liquidity sink,” he added. Large holders aren’t helping either. Central banks have been buying gold at record levels, creating strong structural demand. Meanwhile, long-term bitcoin holders are selling according ot NYDIG’s report. Onchain data shows that vintage coins are continuing to move toward exchanges, suggesting a steady stream of selling. This “seller overhan...
Key Points The percentage of homeowners who carry a mortgage after 65 has risen in the past five years. The money in your retirement account can grow dramatically over time. You must balance the advantage of having no mortgage with the advantage of having more money later in life. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › At one time, the prevailing belief was that no o...
Key Points The percentage of homeowners who carry a mortgage after 65 has risen in the past five years. The money in your retirement account can grow dramatically over time. You must balance the advantage of having no mortgage with the advantage of having more money later in life. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › At one time, the prevailing belief was that no one should enter retirement carrying a mortgage. However, times have changed. The percentage of people 65 and older who owe money on their homes has jumped by 13% in just five years. In other words, there's a chance you'll still have a mortgage when it comes time to retire. Whether you have a retirement plan through work or are self-employed and have a solo 401(k), it can be tempting to use the dollars "just sitting there" to pay off a mortgage. The question then becomes: Should you? Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » Not just sitting there The thing about retirement accounts is that your money is never just sitting there. It's steadily growing thanks to compounding, being used to purchase quality assets at a bargain price, or both. The first thing you must ask yourself is whether you're ahead financially by withdrawing funds from your retirement account. Here are three other questions that will help you take a deeper dive. How much are you earning? Look at your portfolio's performance over the past few years and check its annual growth rate. Let's say your portfolio has grown by 8% annually and you have a mortgage with an APR of 4%. As good as it might feel to own your home outright, do you really want to pull money from an account earning 8% to pay off a 4% mortgage? Would you get hit with a penalty? If you're under the age of 59 1/2 you have to be careful. Typically, withdrawing money from an account like a 401(k) or an individual retirement account (IRA) incurs a 10% penal...