Notizie

A member of the Bank of Japan's policy board, Ichirou Zeng, has expressed concerns about the potential consequences if inflation is not kept at an appropriate level. According to Jin10, Zeng highlighted that unchecked inflation could force companies to increase wages further to retain employees, potentially leading to a vicious cycle.

Bank of Japan Policy Board Member, Ichiro Zeng, stated that as the policy rate is currently near the estimated neutral level, the Bank of Japan needs to conduct a more comprehensive review of factors such as prices, employment, and financial conditions before considering further interest rate hikes. According to Jin10, Zeng emphasized the importance of evaluating these elements to ensure that any future monetary policy adjustments are well-informed and balanced.

A member of the Bank of Japan's board, Ichirou Zou, has stated that food prices will be a crucial determinant of future inflation in the long term. According to Jin10, Zou emphasized the significant role that food prices play in shaping inflationary trends. This perspective highlights the importance of monitoring food price movements as a factor influencing the broader economic landscape.

Bank of Japan board member Ichigo Zeng expressed concerns over Japan's negative real interest rates, emphasizing the need for prompt resolution. According to Jin10, Zeng noted that Japan is no longer experiencing deflation, which necessitates addressing the issue of negative real interest rates swiftly. This statement highlights the ongoing discussions within Japan's central bank regarding monetary policy adjustments in response to changing economic conditions.

On May 14, the Hong Kong stock market saw midday gains, with the Hang Seng Index rising by 0.34% and the Hang Seng Tech Index increasing by 0.3%. According to Jin10, the half-day market turnover for the Hang Seng Index reached 181.231 billion Hong Kong dollars. In terms of sector performance, stocks related to robotics, lithium batteries, home appliances, and film and television showed significant gains. Conversely, sectors such as commercial aerospace, gold, military industry, and pharmaceutical outsourcing experienced declines. Among individual stocks, Li Auto Inc. (02015.HK) rose over 6%, Alibaba Group (09988.HK) increased by more than 5%, and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (03750.HK) gained over 2%. On the downside, Zhaojin Mining Industry Co. Ltd. (01818.HK) fell by more than 11%, Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. Ltd. (02208.HK) dropped over 6%, Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Ltd. (01045.HK) decreased by nearly 6%, and WuXi AppTec Co. Ltd. (02359.HK) declined by more than 4%.

A member of the Bank of Japan's policy board, Kazuo Ueda, stated that during the monetary policy meeting in April, he assessed that the current economic conditions do not warrant a rush to increase interest rates. According to Jin10, Ueda emphasized the importance of carefully evaluating the economic environment before making any decisions on rate adjustments. He noted that the central bank remains committed to its accommodative monetary policy stance to support economic recovery.

A member of the Bank of Japan's board, Kazuo Ueda, has emphasized the importance of monitoring whether inflation driven by the yen's depreciation could elevate public inflation expectations, potentially impacting underlying inflation. According to Jin10, Ueda noted that the weakening yen might lead to higher import prices, which could subsequently influence consumer price trends. He stressed the need for careful observation of these developments to assess their effects on Japan's economic stability and inflation outlook.

A member of the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) Policy Board, Ichirou Zou, stated that Japan's inflation rate, while still below 2%, is now very close to the target. According to Jin10, this development comes as the BOJ continues to monitor economic indicators closely to assess the need for any policy adjustments. The central bank has been striving to achieve its inflation target to ensure economic stability and growth.

Japan has clearly entered a phase of inflation, according to Bank of Japan board member Ichiro Zeng. According to Jin10, Zeng highlighted the noticeable shift in Japan's economic environment, indicating that inflationary pressures are becoming more evident. This development marks a significant change in Japan's economic landscape, which has long been characterized by deflationary trends. The Bank of Japan continues to monitor the situation closely as it assesses the implications for monetary policy.

Thailand's central bank is considering imposing additional restrictions on online gold trading, a move that could impact a thriving sector for investors. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting concerns from trading platforms about the potential negative effects on investor opportunities. The central bank's proposal aims to address regulatory issues and ensure market stability, but it has raised alarms among market participants who view online gold trading as a rare profitable avenue. The outcome of these deliberations could significantly influence the future of gold trading in Thailand.

The Bank of Korea has announced its focus on developing a payment system centered around Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and deposit tokens in anticipation of a growing asset tokenization market. According to NS3.AI, the bank highlighted that stablecoins could be used as a supplementary tool, provided they adhere to stringent regulations and ensure redeemability and reserve asset stability. Additionally, the Bank of Korea cautioned that the 24/7 trading of tokenized assets might conflict with traditional market hours and settlement cycles, particularly during periods of market stress.

India's rupee is expected to remain under pressure near its historical low on Thursday due to persistent adverse factors related to oil prices. According to Jin10, the prolonged high oil prices have increasingly pressured the currency, prompting Indian Prime Minister to call for reduced non-essential overseas travel and gold imports to conserve foreign exchange reserves. Previously, India raised import duties on gold to curb the trade deficit. As oil import costs rise, the trade deficit may further widen, leading to a significant deterioration in the current account deficit. Nomura Securities reported that in the coming weeks and months, the Indian government might introduce additional policy measures, including restrictions on imports of electronic products, tightening regulations on the 'Liberalized Remittance Scheme' (which allows residents to remit up to $250,000 overseas annually), and possibly issuing bonds targeted at overseas Indian expatriates.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued no-action relief for fully collateralized event contracts. According to NS3.AI, this relief exempts designated contract markets, derivatives clearing organizations, and market participants from specific swap recordkeeping and reporting requirements. The relief is aimed at event contracts and reduces some compliance obligations related to swap data rules. Additionally, the CFTC has introduced a streamlined process for future applicants seeking similar relief.

Japan's government is contemplating an additional budget to alleviate the burden on households facing rising fuel costs, according to Kyodo News. This move is expected to put pressure on the country's already strained fiscal situation. Sources indicate that the supplementary budget for the current fiscal year will support families potentially affected by increased gasoline prices and utility bills during the summer heat. Following the report, yields on Japan's 30-year and 40-year government bonds rose as investors anticipate increased government borrowing to fund the additional budget. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has previously downplayed the likelihood of drafting an additional budget, asserting that the government's existing funds are sufficient to cover current fuel subsidies.

A recent survey conducted by polling firm Public First among 2,035 American adults indicates that only 4% of respondents would base their voting decisions on a candidate's stance on cryptocurrency policies. According to Odaily, the top three issues voters want Congress to address are affordable housing, consumer fraud protection, and reducing bank fees. Only 18% of those surveyed consider establishing rules for the crypto market a priority for Congress, just 1% more than those who prioritize regulating large banks.

The survey also found that 45% of respondents believe the risks of investing in cryptocurrencies outweigh the potential high returns, and only 19% have ever traded cryptocurrencies. Republican Congressman Dusty Johnson noted that while most voters are not concerned about digital assets, those who are, care deeply.

A Seoul court has acquitted Woori Bank in a case involving crypto-related overseas remittances linked to South Korea's foreign exchange and banking regulations. According to NS3.AI, the court determined that Woori Bank was not the substantive business entity responsible for the transactions, criticizing the prosecutors' legal theory as overly broad. This decision marks the first judicial ruling in a case that has been ongoing for approximately four years.

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators attempted negotiations on the CLARITY Act last night, according to ChainCatcher. The discussions aimed to persuade Democrats to compromise on at least two unresolved issues, but no agreement was reached.

Senator Cynthia Lummis stated that both parties have agreed on 99% of the bill's content and expressed hope that Democrats would address the remaining issues after the bill's committee review. She warned that if another incident like FTX occurs, the blame would fall on those who failed to act.

Democratic Senators Adam Schiff and Ruben Gallego have been advocating for a compromise on ethical standards and conflict of interest clauses related to the President's family before the committee review, making it a condition for supporting the bill.

Additionally, some Democratic senators have raised concerns about the Blockchain Regulatory Clarity Act (BRCA) provisions, which propose prohibiting lawsuits against non-custodial software developers under remittance business laws.

Sources indicate that while significant progress was made on ethical and conflict of interest issues, disagreements over BRCA amendments led to the breakdown of negotiations. The upcoming committee review is expected to be highly partisan.

Barclays analyst Bum Ki Son has indicated that South Korea's central bank may begin tightening its monetary policy in August. According to Jin10, the economist anticipates that the Bank of Korea will implement 'preventive' interest rate hikes, with one increase in both the third and fourth quarters of this year, followed by another in the second quarter of next year. This would raise the interest rate from the current 2.50% to 3.25%. In a research report, Son noted that after a stronger-than-expected performance in the first quarter's GDP, the central bank might hold a more optimistic view on economic growth prospects. He also highlighted concerns over rising overall consumer prices due to Middle Eastern oil price shocks, which could further prompt the Bank of Korea to adopt preventive rate hikes.

BitGo Holdings, a digital asset infrastructure company, recently released its first quarterly financial report following its listing on the NYSE. According to ChainCatcher, the company reported total revenue of $3.77 billion for the first quarter of 2026, marking a 112.6% increase compared to the previous year. This growth was primarily driven by the expansion of its digital asset business and increased revenue from its stablecoin-as-a-service offerings.

Despite the revenue growth, BitGo's GAAP net loss widened from $25.7 million in the same period last year to $60.7 million. This increase was attributed to a non-cash market value adjustment of approximately $53.7 million related to Bitcoin holdings and higher IPO-related stock compensation expenses. The adjusted EBITDA showed a loss of $1.7 million, contrasting with a profit of $3.9 million in the previous year.

In January, BitGo launched its derivatives business, generating a nominal trading volume of around $3 billion. However, due to the net revenue recognition for derivatives and gross revenue recognition for spot trading, the company's revenue declined by 38.7% quarter-over-quarter. The number of clients increased by 42% year-over-year, reaching 5,569 by the end of the quarter. As of the quarter's end, BitGo held 2,449 Bitcoins and $186.6 million in cash.

Fidelity has expressed its support for the Senate Banking Committee's progress on the CLARITY Act through a post on the X platform. According to ChainCatcher, Fidelity stated that the act offers a balanced regulatory approach. If passed, it would provide legal clarity for the digital asset market, benefiting U.S. investors and helping to maintain the United States' leadership in the global digital asset sector.