Finance

Wall Street asset manager Franklin Templeton has partnered with crypto infrastructure company MoonPay to integrate its BENJI tokenized fund with MoonPay’s payment network. The partnership allows eligible institutional clients to seamlessly swap stablecoins for yield-generating tokenized funds around the clock, without leaving the blockchain environment. Franklin Templeton described the deal as “the foundation for a broader strategic relationship” between the two companies. This marks another step in traditional finance’s integration with crypto infrastructure. ...

Prominent investor and short seller Andrew Left was found guilty in a case that has sent shockwaves through the short-selling community. The verdict could have far-reaching implications for the legal risks faced by short sellers in the future.

Berkshire Hathaway has announced a $6.8 billion acquisition of Taylor Morrison, one of the largest homebuilders in the United States. The deal marks the company’s biggest real estate purchase since Warren Buffett’s retirement, signaling continued confidence in the long-term housing market despite elevated mortgage rates. Taylor Morrison holds significant land reserves across multiple states and delivers over 10,000 homes annually.

Japanese and South Korean stock markets both hit record highs as investors buy into expectations of a possible turning point in the Iran conflict. Meanwhile, international oil prices continue to climb due to fragility around the Strait of Hormuz. Despite geopolitical risks, Asian markets are showing strong growth momentum, with technology and manufacturing sectors leading gains.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell issued a rare warning that the Fed’s credibility is at risk, suggesting that political pressure is threatening the central bank’s independence. His reference to “stress tests” was interpreted as a response to executive interference in monetary policy. The statement has drawn market attention as it may signal unprecedented external pressure on the Fed’s rate-setting process.

According to the BBC, Universal Music Group has rejected billionaire investor Bill Ackman’s takeover bid. As one of the world’s largest music companies, Universal represents numerous major artists and holds extensive music catalog rights.

Fed’s First Inflation Report Under Chair Warsh Shows Prices Near 3-Year High The Federal Reserve’s first inflation report under new Chair Kevin Warsh reveals U.S. consumer price growth approaching its highest level in nearly three years, prompting market reassessment of monetary policy direction. Core personal consumption expenditure (PCE) prices rose 3.1% year-over-year, up 0.3 percentage points from the prior month — the fastest pace since September 2023. Energy price volatility was a primary driver, with international oil prices surging over recent months due to ongoing Middle East geopolitical tensions, pushing up transportation and manufacturing costs. ...

Key Points Ferrari officially unveiled its first fully electric vehicle, the Luce, marking the Italian automaker’s entry into the EV era. However, the market reaction was negative — shares fell approximately 7% on the day of the announcement. Details The Luce is Ferrari’s first production car without any internal combustion engine, featuring a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. The company claims a range of over 400 km and a 0-100 km/h time under 3 seconds, maintaining Ferrari’s performance heritage. ...

Oil Prices Fall Sharply on Iran Deal News International oil prices fell sharply on news of a potential Iran-US agreement. Brent crude dropped significantly as markets priced in reduced Middle East supply risks. Analysts warn prices could rebound quickly if negotiations collapse.

[Flash] Bitcoin Holds Above $77,000 as Oil Slide Lifts Asian Equities and Risk Appetite Bitcoin traded above $77,000 on Monday, CoinDesk reported. Asian equities rose broadly following a roughly 5% drop in oil prices, which boosted risk appetite across global markets. In a separate development, Nasdaq announced plans to launch Bitcoin options trading, marking another milestone in the mainstream financial system’s adoption of crypto assets. The move is expected to give institutional investors more regulated instruments for crypto portfolio allocation. ...