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  1. 1

    Bitcoin rises above $85,000 as MicroStrategy and Strive buy $183 million

    Bitcoin rebounded above $85,000, its highest level since January and nearly 30% above August lows, as MicroStrategy and Strive resumed significant accumulation after a correction. Their purchases came during a broader slowdown in corporate Bitcoin buying, with activity increasingly concentrated among a few firms. The rebound also lifted corporate holdings above the reported industry average acquisition cost of about $80,500, reversing the loss position described at the time of the report. MicroStrategy was simultaneously managing its balance sheet through preferred-stock repurchases and reserve payments, while Strive expanded its Bitcoin position alongside higher cash and equivalents.

    Key facts

    • MicroStrategy bought 950 BTC at an average price of $79,670 each.
    • Strive bought 1,355 BTC at an average price of $79,475 each.
    • MicroStrategy’s holdings reached 846,000 BTC, with a cumulative cost of $63.8 billion.
    • Strive’s total Bitcoin holdings reached 26,355 BTC.
    • MicroStrategy held $5.04 billion in reserves and $1.05 billion in cash on September 20.

    Commentary

    MicroStrategy’s preferred-stock repurchases show that its Bitcoin strategy is being managed alongside the securities supporting it, not through coin purchases alone. Strive’s financing mix—where SATA preferred shares represented 57.7% of fundraising—shows why future corporate demand may depend on capital-market access as much as confidence in Bitcoin.

    Sources: Moomoo

  2. 2

    Technology shares lift Asian markets as dollar gains on further US rate-hike bets

    Asian investors returned to technology shares as oil’s retreat improved risk appetite and optimism grew around possible US-Iran talks. Attention also focused on Donald Trump’s planned meeting with Xi Jinping, with hopes of extending a US-China trade truce and finding cooperation on artificial intelligence. Meta’s Muse AI assistant added to enthusiasm about future demand for AI-related hardware. At the same time, hawkish signals from major central banks supported the dollar and weighed on the yen. The Federal Reserve’s latest warning that inflation remained unresolved kept markets alert to additional US tightening, while weaker Treasury yields helped bolster the broader equity move.

    Key facts

    • MSCI’s Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index rose more than 1% in early trading.
    • South Korean stocks climbed nearly 2%.
    • The yen traded at 157.39 per dollar, near a three-week low.
    • The dollar index stood at 100.4, close to a seven-week high.
    • Markets priced a 56% chance of an October US rate hike, up from 43.5%.

    Commentary

    The rally is a selective bet on AI and diplomacy rather than a broad easing signal. The contrasting market response to recent central-bank decisions suggests investors want convincing anti-inflation resolve, leaving Japan’s currency weakness difficult to address without a stronger monetary-policy response.

    Sources: Euronext Markets: Real-time Stock Market Data | live

  3. 3

    Bank of Canada governor warns tariffs could halve fourth-quarter growth

    Canada’s economic rebound faces renewed pressure from two shocks: the unresolved trade war with the United States and renewed conflict in the Middle East. Macklem said tariffs could roughly halve fourth-quarter growth to below one per cent. Canadian counter-tariffs may raise costs and eventually feed into consumer prices, while higher fuel prices and damage to global refining capacity threaten to keep inflation elevated. Macklem said the risks pull in opposite directions, with weaker activity and stronger price pressures. The Bank had expected the conflict to ease and supply disruptions to normalize, bringing inflation back toward its two per cent target, but the latest developments have clouded that outlook.

    Key facts

    • Non-energy exports rose at an annualized 14.5 per cent in the second quarter of 2026.
    • Business investment rose at an annualized 8.8 per cent in the second quarter of 2026.
    • Canada’s economy grew at an annualized 3.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2026.
    • Inflation hovered around three per cent for four consecutive months.

    Commentary

    The warning exposes a fragile adaptation rather than a settled recovery: companies have changed supply chains and sought more overseas customers, but uncertainty can still freeze investment and hiring. With tariff effects and global energy prices beyond the bank’s direct control, adjustment falls increasingly on businesses and households rather than monetary policy.

    Sources: Financial Post

  4. 4

    ECB launches blockchain settlement service for financial markets

    The European Central Bank has linked its payment system to blockchain-based financial markets through Pontes, enabling digital-securities transactions to settle in central-bank money instead of stablecoins or other private funds. Alongside the launch, it said it would invest a small share of its own portfolio in blockchain-based securities, initially targeting highly rated, euro-denominated debt from public institutions. The initiative is part of central banks’ wider effort to adapt as shared digital ledgers are used to issue and trade assets. The ECB says the technology could simplify asset lifecycles and automate transactions, while its separate consumer digital-euro project is intended to reduce reliance on US card networks.

    Key facts

    • Deutsche Bank, Santander and Clearstream completed onboarding for Pontes.
    • Pontes will initially operate from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CET on business days.
    • The ECB aims to launch a consumer digital euro in 2029.
    • The Swiss National Bank is running Project Helvetia for securities settlement.
    • The Bank of England is testing blockchain through its Digital Securities Sandbox.

    Commentary

    Blockchain is being treated less as a rival financial system than as a layer that incumbent institutions can absorb. The pressure point is governance: efficiency gains matter only if settlement retains the credibility that has made central-bank money acceptable to markets.

    Sources: Euronext Markets: Real-time Stock Market Data | live

  5. 5

    World Bank raises India’s current-financial-year growth forecast to 6.6%

    The World Bank’s regional outlook presents India as the main driver of South Asia’s expansion, with the upgraded projection attributed to strong domestic demand and free-trade agreements. It says private consumption has been especially robust, helped by low inflation and rationalisation of the Goods and Services Tax, while export resilience supported activity. Tariff cuts and recent trade deals, including agreements with the United Kingdom and European Union, also underpin the outlook. World Bank Vice President for South Asia Johannes Zutt said the region’s prospects remain strong despite a challenging global environment.

    Key facts

    • The World Bank raised its forecast from 6.3% to 6.6% for the current financial year.
    • India’s growth is estimated at 7.1% in FY25 and 7.6% in FY26.
    • GST rate reductions are expected to support consumer demand in the first half of FY27.
    • Elevated global energy prices could increase inflation and constrain household disposable income.

    Commentary

    The forecast is confident but conditional: its logic depends on growth momentum translating into sustained household spending rather than being offset by pressures outside policymakers’ control. That makes demand resilience the key test of whether the upgrade holds.

    Sources: News On AIR

  6. 6

    Most Gulf stock markets fall as regional tensions outweigh diplomatic hopes

    Most Gulf stock markets moved lower in early Monday trading as renewed regional military and rhetorical tensions outweighed cautious hopes for diplomatic progress at United Nations meetings. Energy markets remained unsettled after Washington and Tehran exchanged fresh threats and Yemen’s Houthis launched weekend drone and missile attacks targeting Riyadh and Saudi Aramco’s Yanbu energy hub. Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, said Tehran had formally given international mediators conditions for restarting negotiations to end the conflict with the United States. Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Saudi Arabia declined, while Qatar rose, leaving investors balancing geopolitical risk against company-specific performance.

    Key facts

    • Abu Dhabi’s index fell 1.8%.
    • International Holding Co. shares dropped 4.5%.
    • Dubai’s main index eased 0.1%.
    • Saudi Arabia’s benchmark slipped 0.1%, while Saudi Aramco fell 0.8%.
    • Qatar’s benchmark gained 0.5%, led by Qatar National Bank’s 1.7% rise.

    Commentary

    The reaction looks driven more by immediate risk management than by a clear regional economic repricing, because the pressure came from security threats alongside uncertain diplomacy. Its resolution therefore depends less on the opening market moves than on whether the negotiation conditions lead to an end to the conflict.

    Sources: today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd

  7. 7

    US prosecutors examine Binance over possible Iran sanctions violations

    US federal prosecutors are examining whether Binance knowingly allowed trading activity that violated US sanctions on Iran, with investigators focusing on the exchange’s awareness of the transactions and decision to let them proceed. The Manhattan US Attorney’s Office is leading the inquiry, joined by the Justice Department’s criminal division in Washington. Binance said it has “zero tolerance” for sanctions violations, cooperates with law enforcement and works to remove bad actors; the Justice Department declined to comment. The inquiry does not establish wrongdoing and could end without charges, but it adds to scrutiny of Binance amid Washington’s broader efforts to economically isolate Iran.

    Key facts

    • Binance is the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.
    • The Wall Street Journal reported an Iran-related Justice Department examination in March.
    • In March, it was unclear whether investigators were examining Binance, its users, or both.
    • Binance previously said it was unaware of any Justice Department investigation.

    Commentary

    The decisive issue is whether prosecutors can link sanctioned activity to Binance’s own knowledge and controls, rather than merely to users’ conduct. That distinction raises the stakes because Changpeng Zhao’s 2023 guilty plea and the company’s $4.3 billion anti-money-laundering settlement already established serious US compliance pressure, even though this inquiry may not produce charges.

    Sources: finance.biggo.com

  8. 8

    Volkswagen shares fall after profit warning and blue-chip index exit

    Volkswagen’s latest profit warning has deepened pressure on the German automaker, as it reduced its expected operating return and blamed a Porsche impairment, worsening market conditions—especially in China—and restructuring expenses. The company also said faster movement toward battery-electric vehicles was hurting expectations for its Audi and Volkswagen Passenger Cars brands. The warning coincided with Volkswagen’s removal from the Euro Stoxx 50, underscoring the company’s weakening position among major European listed businesses. Volkswagen is pursuing a broad restructuring and job-cutting program while facing Chinese competition, tariffs and the costly shift to electric vehicles. Deutsche Bank said the warning may exaggerate the deterioration in the underlying business.

    Key facts

    • Volkswagen cut its operating-return forecast to 1%, from 4% to 5.5%.
    • One-off effects of €10 billion will hit Volkswagen’s 2026 earnings.
    • Shares fell 8.3% Friday and another 0.5% Monday.
    • Volkswagen’s shares have fallen 27.5% this year, near their lowest level since 2010.
    • Nokia replaced Volkswagen in the Euro Stoxx 50.

    Commentary

    The warning is less a clean read on day-to-day operations than a collision between exceptional charges and a difficult strategic transition: underlying margins remain around 4% and cash generation is intact. That distinction suggests the immediate damage reflects both weaker confidence in Volkswagen’s position and the burden of paying to reshape the business.

    Sources: CNBC

  9. 9

    Oil prices edge higher ahead of potential U.S.-Iran talks

    Oil prices recovered marginally Tuesday after several sessions of declines as traders awaited possible U.S.-Iran discussions at this week’s United Nations General Assembly. President Donald Trump said he was open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expected in New York, although the two countries exchanged threats Sunday. Iran also conveyed conditions for re-engaging negotiations, Al Jazeera reported, citing security chief Mohsen Rezaei. KCM Trade analyst Tim Waterer called the move a likely short-covering bounce rather than a fundamental shift and said prices could remain range-bound and headline-sensitive. China privately urged Tehran to help curb Houthi attacks after Saudi Arabia appealed to Beijing.

    Key facts

    • Brent November futures rose 22 cents, or 0.22%, to $100.57 a barrel.
    • October WTI gained 2 cents, or 0.02%, to $95.80 before expiring Tuesday.
    • The more-active November WTI contract rose 13 cents, or 0.14%, to $92.49.
    • Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis said they attacked Riyadh and a Saudi Aramco facility in Yanbu.
    • Saudi Aramco loaded about 14 million barrels onto seven supertankers inside the Gulf Sunday.

    Commentary

    The supply picture is being managed rather than normalised: Saudi Aramco increased exports through the Strait of Hormuz after attacks halted some Yanbu shipments, while Libya’s Sharara oilfield saw a partial production reduction. Those operational strains mean diplomatic headlines are competing with concrete logistics risks, limiting the rebound’s durability.

    Sources: Euronext Markets: Real-time Stock Market Data | live