How much is Meghan making from this? Why is she appearing as a guest judge on MasterChef? Why has she joined an AI fashion discovery platform? Maybe a better question is, why the hell not? Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast I am standing across the street from a five-star hotel in Sydney’s eastern suburbs wearing sunglasses and a large hat like a low-budget private detect...
How much is Meghan making from this? Why is she appearing as a guest judge on MasterChef? Why has she joined an AI fashion discovery platform? Maybe a better question is, why the hell not? Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast I am standing across the street from a five-star hotel in Sydney’s eastern suburbs wearing sunglasses and a large hat like a low-budget private detective. My noble aim is to spot Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, or at the very least scope out the exclusive women’s wellness retreat – shrouded in mystery – where she is slated to appear on the final day of her and Harry’s whirlwind four-day trip down under . Continue reading...
Hong Kong’s stock exchange operator is planning to halve the time it takes to settle stock trades, matching a global push toward shorter settlement windows despite concerns over the operational hurdles for Western investors. Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd. proposed moving to a T+1 cycle, settling trades one day after the transaction, from the current two-day requirement, according to a consult...
Hong Kong’s stock exchange operator is planning to halve the time it takes to settle stock trades, matching a global push toward shorter settlement windows despite concerns over the operational hurdles for Western investors. Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd. proposed moving to a T+1 cycle, settling trades one day after the transaction, from the current two-day requirement, according to a consultation paper released Friday. The shift could take effect in the fourth quarter of 2027. The proposed change covers assets including equities, exchange-traded products, structured products, real estate investment trusts, and listed debt securities. It also applies to the physical settlement of equities resulting from exercised stock options. Initial public offerings will be excluded from the shift, maintaining their current T+2 schedule for listing after price discovery. The public and market participants have until May 18 to submit comments on the proposal. The move aims to align Hong Kong’s $7.5 trillion market with international peers, most notably the US, which transitioned to T+1 in 2024. This marks the second major structural overhaul for the city’s exchange in three years, following the 2023 decision to slash the IPO settlement period from five days to two. The transition presents significant logistical challenges for global funds. In a preliminary discussion paper released in July, HKEX acknowledged that a T+1 cycle in an Asian time zone creates a same-day settlement pressure for European and US investors. Global firms will likely need to bolster overnight trade processing capabilities and potentially staff desks on Sunday afternoons to manage Hong Kong’s Monday settlements, the exchange said. Industry advocacy groups have also signaled caution regarding the accelerated time-line. The Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association warned in December that compressed cycles increase the risk of failed trades. The group highlighted that many post-trade functio...
The 'Brain-Computer Interface Integrated Ward' at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. An increasing number of medical institutions in China are establishing specialized “brain-computer interface wards,” a move designed to accelerate the transition of BCI technology from research laboratories to clinical application. The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University r...
The 'Brain-Computer Interface Integrated Ward' at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. An increasing number of medical institutions in China are establishing specialized “brain-computer interface wards,” a move designed to accelerate the transition of BCI technology from research laboratories to clinical application. The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University recently unveiled a BCI integrated ward. The facility aims to address clinical challenges associated with chronic neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy. By pooling resources from neurology, neurosurgery, and other disciplines, the ward seeks to provide patients with highly precise diagnostic and rehabilitation services.
IR_Stone/iStock via Getty Images Has gold’s volatility persistently increased? - Key drivers behind gold’s rising volatility Gold’s volatility has picked up in 2026 (Chart 1). It breached its historical upper quartile, rising to the top fifth percentile of the data series since 1971. The drivers of such large swings in the gold price are discussed in our Gold Market Commentary from January , Febru...
IR_Stone/iStock via Getty Images Has gold’s volatility persistently increased? - Key drivers behind gold’s rising volatility Gold’s volatility has picked up in 2026 (Chart 1). It breached its historical upper quartile, rising to the top fifth percentile of the data series since 1971. The drivers of such large swings in the gold price are discussed in our Gold Market Commentary from January , February and March , and include: Cooling Fed rate cut expectations and upticks in bond yields sparked by various triggers such as the announcement of Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair nominee in late January and the Middle East conflict that pushed up inflationary concerns in late February A strengthening of the USD, reversing a three-month declining trend Investor unwinding of long positions in futures, options and gold ETFs following the final exponential surge in gold’s rally, which took it from US$5,000/oz to US$5,500/oz in just three days Stop-loss orders, which amplified gold’s moves when it breached down through key thresholds. Chart 1: Gold’s volatility has picked up in the beginning of 2026, akin to the spikes seen in previous periods of risk Gold’s monthly realised volatility since 1971* *Based on daily returns of the LBMA Gold Price PM in USD from 1 January 1971 to 31 March 2026.The long-term average is based on monthly volatility data between January 1971 and March 2026 (Source: ICE Benchmark Administration, World Gold Council) And while the gold market rebounded a couple of times, continued geopolitical risk increased liquidity needs during market stress, adding further pressure, especially as the war in the Middle East affected important trading and demand hubs such as Dubai. It is important to note that gold is not the only asset whose volatility has increased in 2026 (Chart 2). Volatilities of equities and bonds have increased sizably in March. And such episodes have happened before. For instance, during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), investors sold gold, given its a...
Israel and Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire, U.S. military officials say the blockade of Iranian ports and ceasefire is holding, Trump nominates former Coast Guard doctor as CDC chief.
Israel and Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire, U.S. military officials say the blockade of Iranian ports and ceasefire is holding, Trump nominates former Coast Guard doctor as CDC chief.
(RTTNews) - Asian stocks ended lower on Friday, snapping a three-day rally as investors sought more clarity regarding further developments in a potential U.S.-Iran peace deal ahead of the expiry of a two-week truce next week.
(RTTNews) - Asian stocks ended lower on Friday, snapping a three-day rally as investors sought more clarity regarding further developments in a potential U.S.-Iran peace deal ahead of the expiry of a two-week truce next week.
Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY) is crushing the market so far this year. Shares of the oil and gas producer have skyrocketed nearly 40%, even with a pullback over the last few weeks. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) index has clawed its way back to a low single-digit percentage gain. Most energy stocks have moved significantly higher in 2026. Occidental, though, ranks among the biggest wi...
Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY) is crushing the market so far this year. Shares of the oil and gas producer have skyrocketed nearly 40%, even with a pullback over the last few weeks. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) index has clawed its way back to a low single-digit percentage gain. Most energy stocks have moved significantly higher in 2026. Occidental, though, ranks among the biggest winners year to date. But is it the smartest stock to buy right now? The easy answer for why Occidental's shares have performed so well this year is the U.S. war with Iran. The conflict has rattled global energy markets, driving up demand for U.S. oil and gas. As a major producer in the Permian Basin, the Rocky Mountain region, and the Gulf of Mexico, Occidental has been an immediate beneficiary of the Middle East supply disruption. Continue reading
What is Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) likely to look like in three years? Well, the company's various achievements over the years are impressive, and if robotaxis are added to that list, then Tesla is highly likely to boom. On the other hand, the failure to achieve, at least, a commercial robotaxi service could lead to a sizeable bust for this tech giant. Here's what you need to know about the range of out...
What is Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) likely to look like in three years? Well, the company's various achievements over the years are impressive, and if robotaxis are added to that list, then Tesla is highly likely to boom. On the other hand, the failure to achieve, at least, a commercial robotaxi service could lead to a sizeable bust for this tech giant. Here's what you need to know about the range of outcomes over the next few years. Tesla's expensive valuation is often used as a stick to beat the company with. The argument is understandable if you view it as an electric vehicle (EV) company and don't factor in any value for its robotaxi business. There's quite a wide range of earnings outcomes baked into Wall Street analyst estimates for Tesla. Continue reading