1 hr. ago
Prediction market Kalshi is partnering with brokerage and financial infrastructure start-up Alpaca as it looks to expand internationally.
Individuals and businesses who use Alpaca's brokerage infrastructure now have access to Kalshi's prediction market platform, said the companies in a joint news release.
Alpaca recently secured a U.S. brokerage license that allows it to facilitate orders to buy or sell derivatives contracts.
More From Cryptoprowl:
Goldman Sachs Reiterates Buy Ratings On Coinbase And Robinhood
#brokerage #infrastructure #goldman
Individuals and businesses who use Alpaca's brokerage infrastructure now have access to Kalshi's prediction market platform, said the companies in a joint news release.
Alpaca recently secured a U.S. brokerage license that allows it to facilitate orders to buy or sell derivatives contracts.
More From Cryptoprowl:
Goldman Sachs Reiterates Buy Ratings On Coinbase And Robinhood
#brokerage #infrastructure #goldman
2 hours ago
Shein stock tumbled more than 10% in gray-market trading on Monday, the day before it was set to begin trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, a sign of tepid investor enthusiasm heading into the listing. Futu Securities, Bright Smart, and Phillip Securities — three of Hong Kong's major brokerages — each quoted the stock down more than 10% shortly after gray-market trading got underway, according to Reuters.
At Futu, which leads Hong Kong's retail brokerage market by trading volume, the shares were last quoted near HK$42. Brokerages quote gray-market prices for a stock before it begins official trading on an exchange.
According to Reuters, citing unnamed sources, Shein priced its shares at HK$48.56 apiece, raising $1.7 billion and pegging its valuation at roughly $26.5 billion. The official pricing announcement is due later on Monday, with trading set to begin Tuesday under stock code 00625.
Bevis Ho, a senior ****** yst at Futu Securities, said the move signals "caution among both retail and institutional investors," explaining that right now "investors see greater potential in AI and robotics themes than in fast fashion."
Shein's current market value amounts to just over one-quarter of the roughly $100 billion it commanded at its private-market high in 2022, with the steep decline tied to tariff and duty changes across the U.S. and Europe that have eroded the core economics of its business.
#futu #securities #gray
At Futu, which leads Hong Kong's retail brokerage market by trading volume, the shares were last quoted near HK$42. Brokerages quote gray-market prices for a stock before it begins official trading on an exchange.
According to Reuters, citing unnamed sources, Shein priced its shares at HK$48.56 apiece, raising $1.7 billion and pegging its valuation at roughly $26.5 billion. The official pricing announcement is due later on Monday, with trading set to begin Tuesday under stock code 00625.
Bevis Ho, a senior ****** yst at Futu Securities, said the move signals "caution among both retail and institutional investors," explaining that right now "investors see greater potential in AI and robotics themes than in fast fashion."
Shein's current market value amounts to just over one-quarter of the roughly $100 billion it commanded at its private-market high in 2022, with the steep decline tied to tariff and duty changes across the U.S. and Europe that have eroded the core economics of its business.
#futu #securities #gray
3 hours ago
Barclays now expects the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates at its September and December meetings, reversing a prior forecast of no changes through the remainder of the year, after Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh delivered a hawkish address at the annual Jackson Hole symposium last Friday, according to Reuters.
The Wall Street brokerage described Warsh's speech as "notably hawkish" and said it offered an implicit case for further tightening, according to Reuters. Each of the two projected increases would amount to 25 basis points. The Fed's benchmark federal funds rate currently stands at a target range of 3.5% to 3.75%.
Barclays did note that near-term monthly inflation prints are likely to look considerably cooler than the longer-horizon gauges Warsh cited, but warned that base effects would undercut any apparent improvement in those annual measures before December. Traders are **** igning a 60.4% probability to a September hike, CME Group's FedWatch tool showed.
Warsh's Jackson Hole address, his first keynote at the event as Fed chair, drew significant market attention as his clearest opportunity to fill what had been a deliberate communications void since he took office in May. Warsh told the symposium that policymakers would "have work to do" if they lacked confidence that inflation was returning to the Fed's 2% target. In his remarks, Warsh cast inflation as unacceptably elevated, judged prevailing financial conditions to be doing too little to restrain demand, and described the labor market as operating at or near full employment.
Warsh reinforced his opposition to providing explicit forward guidance, declining to spell out the conditions that would trigger a policy response. "I stand here today committed to a discipline, not to a decision," he said. He acknowledged that this summer's inflation readings came in better than expected but said they did not show meaningful improvement in underlying price trends. The 2-year Treasury yield climbed following the remarks, and traders raised the odds of a September rate increase.
#warsh #barclays
The Wall Street brokerage described Warsh's speech as "notably hawkish" and said it offered an implicit case for further tightening, according to Reuters. Each of the two projected increases would amount to 25 basis points. The Fed's benchmark federal funds rate currently stands at a target range of 3.5% to 3.75%.
Barclays did note that near-term monthly inflation prints are likely to look considerably cooler than the longer-horizon gauges Warsh cited, but warned that base effects would undercut any apparent improvement in those annual measures before December. Traders are **** igning a 60.4% probability to a September hike, CME Group's FedWatch tool showed.
Warsh's Jackson Hole address, his first keynote at the event as Fed chair, drew significant market attention as his clearest opportunity to fill what had been a deliberate communications void since he took office in May. Warsh told the symposium that policymakers would "have work to do" if they lacked confidence that inflation was returning to the Fed's 2% target. In his remarks, Warsh cast inflation as unacceptably elevated, judged prevailing financial conditions to be doing too little to restrain demand, and described the labor market as operating at or near full employment.
Warsh reinforced his opposition to providing explicit forward guidance, declining to spell out the conditions that would trigger a policy response. "I stand here today committed to a discipline, not to a decision," he said. He acknowledged that this summer's inflation readings came in better than expected but said they did not show meaningful improvement in underlying price trends. The 2-year Treasury yield climbed following the remarks, and traders raised the odds of a September rate increase.
#warsh #barclays
10 hours ago
ShipStation, a provider of multicarrier parcel shipping software, is offering e-commerce sellers the ability to also select and coordinate with less-than-truckload operators at pre-negotiated rates in one integrated platform, bringing to life promised benefits from ownership's recent acquisition of freight brokerage Worldwide Express Group.
Few, if any, software-as-a-service companies that connect small-and-midsize merchants with parcel carriers offer a pallet-shipping solution.
"Most of those small companies don't have enough volumes to do full truckload so their first need after parcel shipping tends to be LTL, which creates this natural linkage between LTL freight brokerage and parcel," said Chris Wofford, the founder of Wofford Advisors LLC, a strategic advisory firm for the logistics sector.
In early June, private equity firm Thoma Bravo acquired WWEX Group and merged it with portfolio company Auctane, which provides shipping and fulfillment technology through brands like ShipStation, Stamps.com, Metapack and Packlink. The combined valuation of the companies is $12 billion.
WWEX Group companies include Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz, Unishippers, JEAR Logistics and BLX Logistics.
#parcel #Companies #wwex
Few, if any, software-as-a-service companies that connect small-and-midsize merchants with parcel carriers offer a pallet-shipping solution.
"Most of those small companies don't have enough volumes to do full truckload so their first need after parcel shipping tends to be LTL, which creates this natural linkage between LTL freight brokerage and parcel," said Chris Wofford, the founder of Wofford Advisors LLC, a strategic advisory firm for the logistics sector.
In early June, private equity firm Thoma Bravo acquired WWEX Group and merged it with portfolio company Auctane, which provides shipping and fulfillment technology through brands like ShipStation, Stamps.com, Metapack and Packlink. The combined valuation of the companies is $12 billion.
WWEX Group companies include Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz, Unishippers, JEAR Logistics and BLX Logistics.
#parcel #Companies #wwex
24 hours ago
A safe 3.5% withdrawal on $1.6 million yields somewhere between $52,000 and $56,000 gross, but taxes and pre-Medicare health insurance shrink real spending power to roughly $35,000 annually.
Enhanced ACA premium tax credits expired January 1, 2026, restoring the 400% federal poverty line cliff and potentially costing early retirees tens of thousands per year in premiums.
Once Social Security kicks in between ages 67 and 70 alongside Medicare, the equation flips, letting the same $1.6 million portfolio support roughly double the lifestyle it funded during the bridge years.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
You are 61. You have $1.6 million across retirement and brokerage accounts. You want to stop working now, but Social Security is six to nine years away depending on when you claim. Until then, the portfolio carries every dollar of spending, every health insurance premium, and every tax bill. That is a heavier lift than most people realize.
#million #Social #roughly
Enhanced ACA premium tax credits expired January 1, 2026, restoring the 400% federal poverty line cliff and potentially costing early retirees tens of thousands per year in premiums.
Once Social Security kicks in between ages 67 and 70 alongside Medicare, the equation flips, letting the same $1.6 million portfolio support roughly double the lifestyle it funded during the bridge years.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
You are 61. You have $1.6 million across retirement and brokerage accounts. You want to stop working now, but Social Security is six to nine years away depending on when you claim. Until then, the portfolio carries every dollar of spending, every health insurance premium, and every tax bill. That is a heavier lift than most people realize.
#million #Social #roughly
2 days ago
Most investors know bear markets are just a normal part of the stock market's cyclical ebb and flow. Most of those same investors also know, however, just how devastating a bear market can be. The average one pulls stocks down by more than 30% from peak to trough, and in some cases can last for years. Never even mind the amount of time that's often required just to reclaim levels reached before the bear market began.
Still, they're survivable, particularly if you can remember one thing about them when it's most difficult to do so. That one thing is, you want to be 100% invested when they end.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Then there's the second-most important thing. That is, you have no idea when they're going to end. You only know that -- like every one so far -- the next one will eventually end as well.
Numbers from mutual fund company Hartford indicate that the average of the 27 bear markets suffered since 1929 has dragged the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) 35.2% lower over the course of 289 calendar days. Based on data from CFRA, the brokerage firm Charles Schwab agrees with the scope of the typical loss but says the last 12 bear markets lasted an average of 14 months.
#know #thing #down
Still, they're survivable, particularly if you can remember one thing about them when it's most difficult to do so. That one thing is, you want to be 100% invested when they end.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Then there's the second-most important thing. That is, you have no idea when they're going to end. You only know that -- like every one so far -- the next one will eventually end as well.
Numbers from mutual fund company Hartford indicate that the average of the 27 bear markets suffered since 1929 has dragged the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) 35.2% lower over the course of 289 calendar days. Based on data from CFRA, the brokerage firm Charles Schwab agrees with the scope of the typical loss but says the last 12 bear markets lasted an average of 14 months.
#know #thing #down
2 days ago
MLPs like EPD carry UBTI risk inside an IRA, and their natural return-of-capital tax shelter already makes taxable accounts the better fit.
An 8% high-yield portfolio costs a 24% bracket investor $9,600 annually in taxes that a Roth eliminates entirely.
REITs and BDCs pay ordinary income taxed at your marginal rate. Roth placement converts that liability into permanent tax-free compounding.
Act now: the ***** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Enterprise Products Partners didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Every April, high-yield investors in the 24% federal bracket quietly write a check to the IRS that they never had to send. A $500,000 portfolio spinning off roughly 8% in blended yield hands the government $9,600 per year in ordinary income tax when it sits in a taxable brokerage account. Inside a Roth, that same portfolio hands over zero. The stock selection determines whether that gap actually shows up, and one popular high-yield ***** et can turn the Roth advantage into a headache.
#Portfolio #free #bracket
An 8% high-yield portfolio costs a 24% bracket investor $9,600 annually in taxes that a Roth eliminates entirely.
REITs and BDCs pay ordinary income taxed at your marginal rate. Roth placement converts that liability into permanent tax-free compounding.
Act now: the ***** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Enterprise Products Partners didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Every April, high-yield investors in the 24% federal bracket quietly write a check to the IRS that they never had to send. A $500,000 portfolio spinning off roughly 8% in blended yield hands the government $9,600 per year in ordinary income tax when it sits in a taxable brokerage account. Inside a Roth, that same portfolio hands over zero. The stock selection determines whether that gap actually shows up, and one popular high-yield ***** et can turn the Roth advantage into a headache.
#Portfolio #free #bracket
4 days ago
reAlpha Tech Corp. (NASDAQ:AIRE) announced on August 21 that it completed the approximately $8.5 million acquisition of InstaMortgage on August 19. The companies closed after waiving a condition tied to outstanding regulatory approvals in Virginia and New York. Shares closed 10.5% higher at $1.58 on August 21 following the announcement.
The consideration includes $500,000 in cash and $1.5 million of reAlpha common stock issued at closing. reAlpha Tech Corp. (NASDAQ:AIRE) may pay up to another $6.5 million through semiannual installments over three years using cash or common shares, although at least $1.5 million of the deferred consideration must be paid in cash.
Source: pexels
InstaMortgage adds full-cycle lending capabilities covering origination, underwriting, funding, and loan sales. reAlpha Tech Corp. (NASDAQ:AIRE) said its combined mortgage platform now covers 38 states and Washington, D.C. Bringing lending in-house could retain economics previously passed to outside partners while giving reAlpha greater control over customer execution.
According to reAlpha Tech Corp. (NASDAQ:AIRE)'s acquisition announcement, InstaMortgage reported originating more than $4 billion of mortgages over the past five years. Combining that infrastructure with brokerage, mortgage and ****** le services could improve cross-selling and reduce customer handoffs.
#corp
The consideration includes $500,000 in cash and $1.5 million of reAlpha common stock issued at closing. reAlpha Tech Corp. (NASDAQ:AIRE) may pay up to another $6.5 million through semiannual installments over three years using cash or common shares, although at least $1.5 million of the deferred consideration must be paid in cash.
Source: pexels
InstaMortgage adds full-cycle lending capabilities covering origination, underwriting, funding, and loan sales. reAlpha Tech Corp. (NASDAQ:AIRE) said its combined mortgage platform now covers 38 states and Washington, D.C. Bringing lending in-house could retain economics previously passed to outside partners while giving reAlpha greater control over customer execution.
According to reAlpha Tech Corp. (NASDAQ:AIRE)'s acquisition announcement, InstaMortgage reported originating more than $4 billion of mortgages over the past five years. Combining that infrastructure with brokerage, mortgage and ****** le services could improve cross-selling and reduce customer handoffs.
#corp
4 days ago
How can I find a certified financial planner (CFP) who is not **** ociated with a brokerage house? I want truly independent advice and not steered toward selling me securities. I especially want tax advice. Everyone I have called turned out to be **** ociated with a brokerage house.
-Anonymous
This question shows that you're definitely on the right track toward finding a financial advisor who will put your needs first.
There's no surefire way of finding the right fit, but there are a few important filters you can use to increase your odds. (Looking for financial advice? This tool can help match you with potential advisors.)
Why the CFP Certification Matters
#financial #House #right #finding
-Anonymous
This question shows that you're definitely on the right track toward finding a financial advisor who will put your needs first.
There's no surefire way of finding the right fit, but there are a few important filters you can use to increase your odds. (Looking for financial advice? This tool can help match you with potential advisors.)
Why the CFP Certification Matters
#financial #House #right #finding
5 days ago
On Aug. 18, Ripple closed a bond sale in an upsized $275 million private placement of senior unsecured notes. The cash is intended to fund the operation and expansion of Ripple Prime, the company's relatively new institutional brokerage arm. XRP (CRYPTO: XRP), for its part, was coasting near $1 that week, one of its weakest weekly closes in nearly two years.
Since then, XRP's price has surged by around 52% thanks to strength in the wider crypto market, but that still leaves its holders with an uncomfortable thought. Ripple raised real money while the coin went nowhere, suggesting that XRP's fortunes are, at least in the market's eyes, distinct from those of its issuer. So, is there actually a way that Ripple's raise can end up helping XRP down the line, or not?
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
The senior unsecured notes issued by Ripple are normal corporate debt, and not anything that could be considered bearish for XRP, as it's a coin ****** ociated with a blockchain, and the XRP Ledger (XRPL) has no balance sheet that can be affected by Ripple taking on liabilities.
But investors should take note of the financing approach that Ripple chose.
#Crypto #flashing #senior
Since then, XRP's price has surged by around 52% thanks to strength in the wider crypto market, but that still leaves its holders with an uncomfortable thought. Ripple raised real money while the coin went nowhere, suggesting that XRP's fortunes are, at least in the market's eyes, distinct from those of its issuer. So, is there actually a way that Ripple's raise can end up helping XRP down the line, or not?
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
The senior unsecured notes issued by Ripple are normal corporate debt, and not anything that could be considered bearish for XRP, as it's a coin ****** ociated with a blockchain, and the XRP Ledger (XRPL) has no balance sheet that can be affected by Ripple taking on liabilities.
But investors should take note of the financing approach that Ripple chose.
#Crypto #flashing #senior
5 days ago
Ripple is expanding its institutional trading business into U.S. equities, launching a Delta One service that brings stock, index and digital ******* et derivatives onto the same prime brokerage platform.
Ripple Prime said the business is live and will let clients execute total return swaps tied to U.S. listed equities, indices and digital ******* ets. The structure gives hedge funds, ******* et managers and other financial firms economic exposure to those markets without requiring direct ownership of the underlying securities.
The offering extends Ripple Prime beyond its existing foreign exchange, fixed income, derivatives and digital ******* et services. Clients can use a single counterparty relationship while cross-margining exposures across supported ******* et classes around the clock, bringing traditional market products closer to the 24/7 infrastructure already common in crypto.
More From Cryptoprowl:
Bernstein Forecasts Bitcoin Will Reach $150,000 By Mid-2027
#business #derivatives
Ripple Prime said the business is live and will let clients execute total return swaps tied to U.S. listed equities, indices and digital ******* ets. The structure gives hedge funds, ******* et managers and other financial firms economic exposure to those markets without requiring direct ownership of the underlying securities.
The offering extends Ripple Prime beyond its existing foreign exchange, fixed income, derivatives and digital ******* et services. Clients can use a single counterparty relationship while cross-margining exposures across supported ******* et classes around the clock, bringing traditional market products closer to the 24/7 infrastructure already common in crypto.
More From Cryptoprowl:
Bernstein Forecasts Bitcoin Will Reach $150,000 By Mid-2027
#business #derivatives
5 days ago
Diversification is a key concept of Foolish investing. These days, The Fool suggests holding at least 50 different stocks across various sectors, or achieving a similar effect through index funds.
I'm taking a hybrid approach. As of Aug. 25, my portfolio holds 56 stocks, cryptocurrencies, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
The holdings aren't equal, though. Some are smaller, tentative bets. One fund is simply a higher-yielding alternative to holding cash in my brokerage account. Most are strong convictions with long ownership histories, but I hesitate to buy more in this market.
But you're here to see the stocks I'd recommend buying right now for the long haul. The ones combining robust business models with dominant market positions -- and affordable valuations. I do have a handful of those.
#NVIDIA
I'm taking a hybrid approach. As of Aug. 25, my portfolio holds 56 stocks, cryptocurrencies, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
The holdings aren't equal, though. Some are smaller, tentative bets. One fund is simply a higher-yielding alternative to holding cash in my brokerage account. Most are strong convictions with long ownership histories, but I hesitate to buy more in this market.
But you're here to see the stocks I'd recommend buying right now for the long haul. The ones combining robust business models with dominant market positions -- and affordable valuations. I do have a handful of those.
#NVIDIA
5 days ago
Charles Schwab (NYSE: $SCHW) plans to expand its crypto offering with three additional tokens, giving clients access to Solana (CRYPTO: $SOL), Avalanche (CRYPTO: $AVAX) and Chainlink (CRYPTO: $LINK) in the coming months.
The new ****** ets will join Bitcoin (CRYPTO: $BTC) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: $ETH), which are already available through Schwab Crypto, the brokerage's digital ****** et trading platform. Schwab began rolling out the service to clients in May 2026 as part of its push into direct cryptocurrency trading.
In a Thursday announcement, the company said the decision to add SOL, AVAX and LINK comes amid client demand for established digital ****** ets. It also plans to add more cryptocurrencies and other digital ****** ets to the platform over time.
More From Cryptoprowl:
Bernstein Forecasts Bitcoin Will Reach $150,000 By Mid-2027
#assets #clients #trading
The new ****** ets will join Bitcoin (CRYPTO: $BTC) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: $ETH), which are already available through Schwab Crypto, the brokerage's digital ****** et trading platform. Schwab began rolling out the service to clients in May 2026 as part of its push into direct cryptocurrency trading.
In a Thursday announcement, the company said the decision to add SOL, AVAX and LINK comes amid client demand for established digital ****** ets. It also plans to add more cryptocurrencies and other digital ****** ets to the platform over time.
More From Cryptoprowl:
Bernstein Forecasts Bitcoin Will Reach $150,000 By Mid-2027
#assets #clients #trading
5 days ago
On August 20, Futu Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:FUTU) reported the strongest quarter in its history, with trading volume pushing past HK$6 trillion for the first time. Buried inside those numbers, though, is a reminder that the company's oldest and largest client base isn't as untouchable as it once looked, with **** et outflows tied to new compliance rules. The result is a business firing on nearly every cylinder except the one investors have relied on the longest.
Futu's headline numbers back up the enthusiasm. Total revenue climbed 35.6% year over year to HK$7.2 billion, while net income jumped 41.6% to HK$3.6 billion, pushing net margin to 50.6%. Total trading volume rose 78.8% year over year to a record HK$6.42 trillion, with U.S. stock trading volume up 67.2% sequentially to HK$5.02 trillion as clients piled into semiconductor and artificial intelligence names. Client **** ets grew even faster than trading activity, up 43.6% year over year to HK$1.4 trillion, and margin financing and securities lending balances jumped 85.1% to HK$95.1 billion as an active Hong Kong IPO market encouraged clients to lean on leverage.
The growth isn't confined to trading. Net new funded accounts rose 23.7% year over year to 252,000, led by Malaysia, where the business reached operating breakeven for the first time. Futu also picked up a Type A securities license from Thailand's regulator, its third market launch in the ASEAN region, and became the first Hong Kong broker approved for securities-backed margin financing tied to virtual **** ets under an upgraded Type 1 license. In the U.S., moomoo's newly launched prediction markets generated more than $200 million in trade volume in their first month, while Futu's IPO business served nearly 60% of new Hong Kong listings during the quarter.
Not every part of the story is expanding. Chairman Leaf Li acknowledged that **** ulative **** et outflows tied to new regulations came to a mid-single-digit percentage of total client **** ets, the result of compliance-driven adjustments and risk-off sentiment among the company's Mainland Chinese clients. Growth is also getting more expensive to buy. Customer acquisition cost rose sequentially to HK$2,600 as new regulatory developments weighed on net new funded accounts.
Profitability showed some strain too, with gross margin slipping to 86.3% from 87.4% a year earlier as processing and cloud service fees increased, while operating expenses rose 35.1% year over year as research and development, selling and marketing, and general administrative costs all climbed on investments in AI, Web 3 initiatives, and international expansion. Even the brokerage business had a trade-off, as blended commission rates fell because a larger share of trading shifted into lower-margin U.S. stocks and options.
#Margin
Futu's headline numbers back up the enthusiasm. Total revenue climbed 35.6% year over year to HK$7.2 billion, while net income jumped 41.6% to HK$3.6 billion, pushing net margin to 50.6%. Total trading volume rose 78.8% year over year to a record HK$6.42 trillion, with U.S. stock trading volume up 67.2% sequentially to HK$5.02 trillion as clients piled into semiconductor and artificial intelligence names. Client **** ets grew even faster than trading activity, up 43.6% year over year to HK$1.4 trillion, and margin financing and securities lending balances jumped 85.1% to HK$95.1 billion as an active Hong Kong IPO market encouraged clients to lean on leverage.
The growth isn't confined to trading. Net new funded accounts rose 23.7% year over year to 252,000, led by Malaysia, where the business reached operating breakeven for the first time. Futu also picked up a Type A securities license from Thailand's regulator, its third market launch in the ASEAN region, and became the first Hong Kong broker approved for securities-backed margin financing tied to virtual **** ets under an upgraded Type 1 license. In the U.S., moomoo's newly launched prediction markets generated more than $200 million in trade volume in their first month, while Futu's IPO business served nearly 60% of new Hong Kong listings during the quarter.
Not every part of the story is expanding. Chairman Leaf Li acknowledged that **** ulative **** et outflows tied to new regulations came to a mid-single-digit percentage of total client **** ets, the result of compliance-driven adjustments and risk-off sentiment among the company's Mainland Chinese clients. Growth is also getting more expensive to buy. Customer acquisition cost rose sequentially to HK$2,600 as new regulatory developments weighed on net new funded accounts.
Profitability showed some strain too, with gross margin slipping to 86.3% from 87.4% a year earlier as processing and cloud service fees increased, while operating expenses rose 35.1% year over year as research and development, selling and marketing, and general administrative costs all climbed on investments in AI, Web 3 initiatives, and international expansion. Even the brokerage business had a trade-off, as blended commission rates fell because a larger share of trading shifted into lower-margin U.S. stocks and options.
#Margin
6 days ago
VOO is the ******* umed default for 73 million Trump Accounts, but SPYM's 0.02% fee undercuts VOO's 0.03% for an essentially identical fund.
A 1 basis point fee gap yields roughly $9 extra per account over 18 years, but scaled across 73 million accounts the aggregate savings become material.
Switching from VOO to SPYM inside a Trump Account triggers no capital gains tax and requires only a ticker change at the custodian.
Don't wait: the ******* yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
The Trump Account proposal would auto-open a tax-advantaged brokerage account for every child in America, and Washington is reportedly steering all ~73 million of those default accounts into a single S&P 500 index fund with a fee cap of 0.10%. The politically obvious pick is Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:VOO), the retail investor's household name for cheap large-cap exposure. VOO owns the same 500 companies as every other S&P tracker, charges next to nothing, and has become the default answer whenever someone asks where to park long-horizon money. If the government picks VOO, the choice is uncontroversial. A cheaper, functionally identical option is also available.
#identical
A 1 basis point fee gap yields roughly $9 extra per account over 18 years, but scaled across 73 million accounts the aggregate savings become material.
Switching from VOO to SPYM inside a Trump Account triggers no capital gains tax and requires only a ticker change at the custodian.
Don't wait: the ******* yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
The Trump Account proposal would auto-open a tax-advantaged brokerage account for every child in America, and Washington is reportedly steering all ~73 million of those default accounts into a single S&P 500 index fund with a fee cap of 0.10%. The politically obvious pick is Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:VOO), the retail investor's household name for cheap large-cap exposure. VOO owns the same 500 companies as every other S&P tracker, charges next to nothing, and has become the default answer whenever someone asks where to park long-horizon money. If the government picks VOO, the choice is uncontroversial. A cheaper, functionally identical option is also available.
#identical
6 days ago
Orbis Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for "Orbis Global Equity Strategy". The letter can be downloaded here. In the first half of 2026, the Global Equity Strategy returned 19.9%, surpassing the MSCI All Country World Index by 7.8%. The market faced narrow breadth in the quarter. The strategy focuses on AI investments categorized into four groups: "Core" (direct exposure), "Enablers" (supporting businesses), "AI Powered" (companies enhanced by AI), and "Overlooked" (misjudged resilient companies). The firm emphasizes maintaining strong but flexible convictions in a fluctuating market, prioritizing disciplined, evidence-based investment over emotional decision-making. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Orbis Global Equity Strategy highlighted Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN). Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) is a specialty insurance services company that provides distribution, underwriting, product development, administration, and risk management services. On August 24, 2026, Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) closed at $44.34 per share. The one-month return of Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) was -3.63%, and its shares lost 23.17% over the past 52 weeks. Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) has a market capitalization of $17.29 billion.
Orbis Global Equity Strategy stated the following regarding Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The biggest winners have been concentrated in AI. But not all AI exposure is equal. We frame ours in four groups. The first is the "Core", the second is "Enablers", the third is AI "Powered" and the fourth is the "Overlooked": resilient businesses the market has mispriced as AI casualties. The first three are widely understood. The fourth is where we believe the market is most wrong, and where we are hunting.
Take insurance brokerage. Brown & Brown and Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) are brokers: they sit between companies and insurers, matching clients to the right coverage and placing it for a fee, without carrying the risk themselves. Both are priced as AI casualties. Two fears weigh on the stocks: a softening pricing cycle and AI disintermediation. The pricing cycle is already in the price. On AI, we disagree. Ryan Specialty makes the case from the other end of the market: a leading specialist in excess and surplus, the part of insurance built for complex, hard-to-place, and emerging risk. That market is structurally expanding, and we view Ryan as its most capable navigator. The pattern holds across the Overlooked. We are not buying businesses AI leaves alone. We are buying businesses that put AI to work. Scaled brokers with proprietary data are sharpened by it, not replaced."
#NYSE #strategy #orbis
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Orbis Global Equity Strategy highlighted Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN). Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) is a specialty insurance services company that provides distribution, underwriting, product development, administration, and risk management services. On August 24, 2026, Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) closed at $44.34 per share. The one-month return of Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) was -3.63%, and its shares lost 23.17% over the past 52 weeks. Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) has a market capitalization of $17.29 billion.
Orbis Global Equity Strategy stated the following regarding Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The biggest winners have been concentrated in AI. But not all AI exposure is equal. We frame ours in four groups. The first is the "Core", the second is "Enablers", the third is AI "Powered" and the fourth is the "Overlooked": resilient businesses the market has mispriced as AI casualties. The first three are widely understood. The fourth is where we believe the market is most wrong, and where we are hunting.
Take insurance brokerage. Brown & Brown and Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) are brokers: they sit between companies and insurers, matching clients to the right coverage and placing it for a fee, without carrying the risk themselves. Both are priced as AI casualties. Two fears weigh on the stocks: a softening pricing cycle and AI disintermediation. The pricing cycle is already in the price. On AI, we disagree. Ryan Specialty makes the case from the other end of the market: a leading specialist in excess and surplus, the part of insurance built for complex, hard-to-place, and emerging risk. That market is structurally expanding, and we view Ryan as its most capable navigator. The pattern holds across the Overlooked. We are not buying businesses AI leaves alone. We are buying businesses that put AI to work. Scaled brokers with proprietary data are sharpened by it, not replaced."
#NYSE #strategy #orbis
6 days ago
Orbis Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for "Orbis Global Equity Strategy". The letter can be downloaded here. In the first half of 2026, the Global Equity Strategy returned 19.9%, surpassing the MSCI All Country World Index by 7.8%. The market faced narrow breadth in the quarter. The strategy focuses on AI investments categorized into four groups: "Core" (direct exposure), "Enablers" (supporting businesses), "AI Powered" (companies enhanced by AI), and "Overlooked" (misjudged resilient companies). The firm emphasizes maintaining strong but flexible convictions in a fluctuating market, prioritizing disciplined, evidence-based investment over emotional decision-making. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Orbis Global Equity Strategy highlighted Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO). Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) is a leading insurance brokerage firm operating through Retail and Specialty Distribution segments. On August 24, 2026, Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) closed at $74.62 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $24.97 billion. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) posted a one‑month return of 1.32%, while its shares lost 22.31% over the past 52 weeks.
Orbis Global Equity Strategy stated the following regarding Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The biggest winners have been concentrated in AI. But not all AI exposure is equal. We frame ours in four groups. The first is the "Core": direct exposure through companies like Samsung Electronics, Taiwan Semiconductor, and SK Square. The second is "Enablers": the businesses providing the power, materials, and real estate that hyperscalers need to operate. The third is AI "Powered": companies where AI accelerates an already compelling model, like Alphabet. The fourth is the "Overlooked": resilient businesses the market has mispriced as AI casualties. The first three are widely understood. The fourth is where we believe the market is most wrong, and where we are hunting.
Take insurance brokerage. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) and Ryan Specialty are brokers: they sit between companies and insurers, matching clients to the right coverage and placing it for a fee, without carrying the risk themselves. Both are priced as AI casualties. Two fears weigh on the stocks: a softening pricing cycle and AI disintermediation. The pricing cycle is already in the price. On AI, we disagree. AI may automate commodity cover like personal auto, but that is under 5% of Brown & Brown's book. The rest is commercial and specialty insurance, where the broker exercises judgement and answers for a denied claim. It is a people business, and Brown & Brown has spent more than eighty years serving mid sized companies that lack the in-house expertise in insurance."
#strategy #Equity
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Orbis Global Equity Strategy highlighted Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO). Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) is a leading insurance brokerage firm operating through Retail and Specialty Distribution segments. On August 24, 2026, Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) closed at $74.62 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $24.97 billion. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) posted a one‑month return of 1.32%, while its shares lost 22.31% over the past 52 weeks.
Orbis Global Equity Strategy stated the following regarding Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The biggest winners have been concentrated in AI. But not all AI exposure is equal. We frame ours in four groups. The first is the "Core": direct exposure through companies like Samsung Electronics, Taiwan Semiconductor, and SK Square. The second is "Enablers": the businesses providing the power, materials, and real estate that hyperscalers need to operate. The third is AI "Powered": companies where AI accelerates an already compelling model, like Alphabet. The fourth is the "Overlooked": resilient businesses the market has mispriced as AI casualties. The first three are widely understood. The fourth is where we believe the market is most wrong, and where we are hunting.
Take insurance brokerage. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) and Ryan Specialty are brokers: they sit between companies and insurers, matching clients to the right coverage and placing it for a fee, without carrying the risk themselves. Both are priced as AI casualties. Two fears weigh on the stocks: a softening pricing cycle and AI disintermediation. The pricing cycle is already in the price. On AI, we disagree. AI may automate commodity cover like personal auto, but that is under 5% of Brown & Brown's book. The rest is commercial and specialty insurance, where the broker exercises judgement and answers for a denied claim. It is a people business, and Brown & Brown has spent more than eighty years serving mid sized companies that lack the in-house expertise in insurance."
#strategy #Equity
6 days ago
Lowell, Arkansas-based J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) is a leading North American transportation and logistics company. It provides freight transportation, intermodal, truckload, dedicated, brokerage, and supply chain solutions, leveraging technology, capacity, and infrastructure to improve efficiency. The company has a market capitalization of approximately $25.9 billion.
Shares of this leading transportation and logistics company have significantly outperformed the broader market over the past year. JBHT has gained 73.1% over this period, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied 18.3%. Likewise, JBHT has climbed 33.7% so far this year, outperforming the S&P 500's 11.8% year-to-date gain.
IonQ vs. Rigetti: The Better Quantum Computing Stock for Long-Term Investors
QQQ is Still in a Negative Gamma Regime. Here's How a 'Put Wall' and Fibonacci Support Could Come Into Play.
Stocks Set to Open Lower as Chipmakers Get Hit, Nvidia Earnings and Warsh's Jackson Hole Speech Awaited
#market
Shares of this leading transportation and logistics company have significantly outperformed the broader market over the past year. JBHT has gained 73.1% over this period, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied 18.3%. Likewise, JBHT has climbed 33.7% so far this year, outperforming the S&P 500's 11.8% year-to-date gain.
IonQ vs. Rigetti: The Better Quantum Computing Stock for Long-Term Investors
QQQ is Still in a Negative Gamma Regime. Here's How a 'Put Wall' and Fibonacci Support Could Come Into Play.
Stocks Set to Open Lower as Chipmakers Get Hit, Nvidia Earnings and Warsh's Jackson Hole Speech Awaited
#market
6 days ago
Grayscale's Zcash Exchange Traded Fund, better known as an ETF, began trading Tuesday on NYSE Arca, listing a nine-year-old investment product months after developers disclosed and patched a critical vulnerability in the privacy coin's shielded transaction system.
Trading under the ticker ZCSH, the world's first exchange-traded product offering spot Zcash exposure allows investors to track the price of ZEC through brokerage accounts without having to buy or store the token themselves.
"Grayscale has a long history of identifying emerging technologies and investment themes early, and our nine-year history operating this fund is the clearest signal of demand," Grayscale Head of Index Steve Vanourny told Decrypt.
ZCSH began as the Grayscale Zcash Trust in October 2017. Grayscale filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in November to convert the trust into an exchange-traded fund. As an exchange-traded product, shareholders do not own ZEC directly but instead own shares intended to track the value of the fund's ZEC holdings.
Vanourny said Zcash's maturity, privacy features and investor demand for ****** ets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum made this the right time to list the nine-year-old fund.
#zcash #nine #vanourny
Trading under the ticker ZCSH, the world's first exchange-traded product offering spot Zcash exposure allows investors to track the price of ZEC through brokerage accounts without having to buy or store the token themselves.
"Grayscale has a long history of identifying emerging technologies and investment themes early, and our nine-year history operating this fund is the clearest signal of demand," Grayscale Head of Index Steve Vanourny told Decrypt.
ZCSH began as the Grayscale Zcash Trust in October 2017. Grayscale filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in November to convert the trust into an exchange-traded fund. As an exchange-traded product, shareholders do not own ZEC directly but instead own shares intended to track the value of the fund's ZEC holdings.
Vanourny said Zcash's maturity, privacy features and investor demand for ****** ets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum made this the right time to list the nine-year-old fund.
#zcash #nine #vanourny
6 days ago
I'm 84 and my wife is 77, and we are both fully retired. We have no significant financial obligations beyond routine monthly expenses such as food, utilities, taxes, insurance and so forth. Our largest expenses are required minimum distribution-related taxes and annual real-estate taxes, which together run about $7,000 per year.
Our combined net worth is approximately $8 million, most of which is held in separate traditional IRAs — two in my name and two in my wife's name. Our annual income comes from Social Security, RMDs and monthly pensions from previous employers. Our pensions total about $2,200 per month.
Dick's Sporting Goods' epic drop hits other footwear giants, as shoppers sour on retro sneakers
There's so much betting against long-term bonds that a turnaround could catch investors off guard, says Citadel Securities
After taxes, we reinvest approximately half of our RMDs in a taxable brokerage account. The other half goes into a bank account from which we pay our expenses; it normally maintains a balance of about $45,000. We simply don't seem to need much money. Our relatively minor healthcare expenses are covered by Medicare and Medigap policies.
#taxes
Our combined net worth is approximately $8 million, most of which is held in separate traditional IRAs — two in my name and two in my wife's name. Our annual income comes from Social Security, RMDs and monthly pensions from previous employers. Our pensions total about $2,200 per month.
Dick's Sporting Goods' epic drop hits other footwear giants, as shoppers sour on retro sneakers
There's so much betting against long-term bonds that a turnaround could catch investors off guard, says Citadel Securities
After taxes, we reinvest approximately half of our RMDs in a taxable brokerage account. The other half goes into a bank account from which we pay our expenses; it normally maintains a balance of about $45,000. We simply don't seem to need much money. Our relatively minor healthcare expenses are covered by Medicare and Medigap policies.
#taxes
6 days ago
Vanguard Group agreed to acquire Altruist, a wealth technology and custody platform serving independent financial advisers, the companies announced Wednesday. The transaction is worth around $4 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Altruist's platform combines a self-clearing brokerage with tools covering account opening, trading, portfolio management, billing, and reporting for independent wealth-management firms. The company competes with Charles Schwab and Fidelity Investments in providing custodial and administrative services to independent financial advisers, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Following the close of the deal, Altruist is expected to operate as a standalone business, retaining its leadership, brand, and distinct operating model, the companies said. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close later this year. Financial terms were not disclosed by the companies.
Vanguard first invested in Altruist in 2020, according to the company. The acquisition advances Vanguard chief executive officer Salim Ramji's broader effort to diversify the firm's revenue streams beyond its low-fee index funds by building out a financial advice business. Vanguard itself plans to become an anchor client for parts of the Altruist platform.
"Altruist's mission to make financial advice more accessible, more affordable, and help advisers scale their practices, that very much rhymes with what we're trying to do here at Vanguard," Ramji said. "That's really how this acquisition was born."
#platform #advisers #Companies
Altruist's platform combines a self-clearing brokerage with tools covering account opening, trading, portfolio management, billing, and reporting for independent wealth-management firms. The company competes with Charles Schwab and Fidelity Investments in providing custodial and administrative services to independent financial advisers, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Following the close of the deal, Altruist is expected to operate as a standalone business, retaining its leadership, brand, and distinct operating model, the companies said. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close later this year. Financial terms were not disclosed by the companies.
Vanguard first invested in Altruist in 2020, according to the company. The acquisition advances Vanguard chief executive officer Salim Ramji's broader effort to diversify the firm's revenue streams beyond its low-fee index funds by building out a financial advice business. Vanguard itself plans to become an anchor client for parts of the Altruist platform.
"Altruist's mission to make financial advice more accessible, more affordable, and help advisers scale their practices, that very much rhymes with what we're trying to do here at Vanguard," Ramji said. "That's really how this acquisition was born."
#platform #advisers #Companies
7 days ago
When you first start investing, getting your brokerage account balance to even $1,000 can seem like a real accomplishment. Getting it to $100,000 can seem almost impossible.
But you don't necessarily need a huge salary, flawless stock-picking skills, or perfect market timing. In reality, you just need discipline, a consistent pattern of investing, and a diversified portfolio of high quality stocks. Give it enough time and you can let the long-term power of compounding do a lot of the work for you.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
But the best path to success involves knowing exactly what it takes to get to where you want to be. Saying you want your portfolio to get to $100,000 is all well and good. But understanding exactly how much you need to be putting aside every month and making it happen is the key.
During the past century, the S&P 500 has produced an average annual return of roughly 10%. Some years have generated much higher returns. Some have delivered steep losses. Those who have ridden out that volatility and maintained their long-term focus, however, have been rewarded.
#NVIDIA #signal #need #Portfolio
But you don't necessarily need a huge salary, flawless stock-picking skills, or perfect market timing. In reality, you just need discipline, a consistent pattern of investing, and a diversified portfolio of high quality stocks. Give it enough time and you can let the long-term power of compounding do a lot of the work for you.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
But the best path to success involves knowing exactly what it takes to get to where you want to be. Saying you want your portfolio to get to $100,000 is all well and good. But understanding exactly how much you need to be putting aside every month and making it happen is the key.
During the past century, the S&P 500 has produced an average annual return of roughly 10%. Some years have generated much higher returns. Some have delivered steep losses. Those who have ridden out that volatility and maintained their long-term focus, however, have been rewarded.
#NVIDIA #signal #need #Portfolio
7 days ago
SPAXX tracks T-bill yields near 4% but its 0.42% expense ratio ranks among the highest in its money market peer group.
VMFXX runs historically cheaper than SPAXX, and FDLXX delivers state-tax advantages, giving cost-focused investors two direct upgrades to consider.
Don't wait: the ****** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
If you have a Fidelity brokerage account, there is a good chance your uninvested cash is already sitting in Fidelity Government Money Market Fund (NASDAQ:SPAXX) and you have never given it a second thought. Fidelity parks uninvested cash in SPAXX by default, and most investors never look. That is fine for a while. It becomes expensive the moment short rates start moving and you do not notice.
SPAXX is a government money market mutual fund run by Fidelity that holds short-term U.S. government securities, Treasury repurchase agreements, and cash. Its job is simple: preserve $1 per share, pay interest daily, and stay liquid. It sits inside the Fidelity Hereford Street Trust and doubles as the core position, meaning it is where trade proceeds, dividends, and deposits land automatically until you invest them.
#spaxx #money #fund
VMFXX runs historically cheaper than SPAXX, and FDLXX delivers state-tax advantages, giving cost-focused investors two direct upgrades to consider.
Don't wait: the ****** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
If you have a Fidelity brokerage account, there is a good chance your uninvested cash is already sitting in Fidelity Government Money Market Fund (NASDAQ:SPAXX) and you have never given it a second thought. Fidelity parks uninvested cash in SPAXX by default, and most investors never look. That is fine for a while. It becomes expensive the moment short rates start moving and you do not notice.
SPAXX is a government money market mutual fund run by Fidelity that holds short-term U.S. government securities, Treasury repurchase agreements, and cash. Its job is simple: preserve $1 per share, pay interest daily, and stay liquid. It sits inside the Fidelity Hereford Street Trust and doubles as the core position, meaning it is where trade proceeds, dividends, and deposits land automatically until you invest them.
#spaxx #money #fund
7 days ago
You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters.
Apex Fintech Solutions has signed a deal with Gemini ***** e Station to bring Gemini ***** an's crypto event contracts to Apex's recently launched prediction markets platform. With this deal, the Gemini subsidiary would become the exclusive regulated venue for crypto prediction markets distributed through Apex's Futures Commission Merchant (FCM).
Apex's brokerage clients will use Gemini for execution and clearing for their crypto event contracts. Gemini will also bring additional contract categories, such as sports, economics, and financial markets.
"Leveraging more than a decade of experience building and operating a regulated platform for crypto, a new and emergent ***** et class, we deliberately chose to build our predictions platform in-house," said Tyler Winklevoss, CEO of Gemini, in a statement. "We believe that predictions are the future of markets, and this strategy allows us to expand our offering and open access to valued partners like Apex as demand for event contracts grows."
This follows news earlier this month that Apex launched a prediction markets platform, with an API that gives firms access to market flow from prediction market exchange Kalshi. With the new platform, Apex handles all FCM operations, clearing, segregated custody and account management, so firms don't have to build their own FCM infrastructure or direct exchange connectivity.
#gemini
Apex Fintech Solutions has signed a deal with Gemini ***** e Station to bring Gemini ***** an's crypto event contracts to Apex's recently launched prediction markets platform. With this deal, the Gemini subsidiary would become the exclusive regulated venue for crypto prediction markets distributed through Apex's Futures Commission Merchant (FCM).
Apex's brokerage clients will use Gemini for execution and clearing for their crypto event contracts. Gemini will also bring additional contract categories, such as sports, economics, and financial markets.
"Leveraging more than a decade of experience building and operating a regulated platform for crypto, a new and emergent ***** et class, we deliberately chose to build our predictions platform in-house," said Tyler Winklevoss, CEO of Gemini, in a statement. "We believe that predictions are the future of markets, and this strategy allows us to expand our offering and open access to valued partners like Apex as demand for event contracts grows."
This follows news earlier this month that Apex launched a prediction markets platform, with an API that gives firms access to market flow from prediction market exchange Kalshi. With the new platform, Apex handles all FCM operations, clearing, segregated custody and account management, so firms don't have to build their own FCM infrastructure or direct exchange connectivity.
#gemini
7 days ago
UPS disclosed Monday that it is investing more than $2 billion across its international, healthcare, and supply chain solutions businesses, revealing the total figure for the first time. The investments began in 2024 and are set to continue through 2028, the company said.
Scott Szwast, UPS vice president of international strategy, framed the spending as an effort to build out capabilities that help customers in specialized sectors navigate increasingly complicated global supply chains. "These investments are really aligned to one of our big strategic areas of focus, which is creating capabilities to enable our customers, particularly in complex industries, to more effectively run their global supply chains," he told CNBC.
Among the initiatives are a new hub in the Philippines slated for this year, a facility in Ontario, Canada, due to open in 2027, and an air hub at Hong Kong International Airport scheduled for 2028. UPS has also opened a technology-enabled logistics center in Taiwan and an Amsterdam facility that integrates freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and cold-chain capabilities under one roof. The Taiwan facility has used automation and robotics to cut total supply chain time by one day, Szwast said. UPS also operates weekly service on the Paris–Hong Kong route and the Shenzhen–Sydney route, each running five days a week.
Szwast said that as global supply chains come under growing strain, companies have moved to spread risk across multiple sourcing and distribution points rather than relying on a single node, even as those same businesses push out new products with unfamiliar logistics demands faster than ever before. "What they find in a lot of cases is that their supply chains look more like their histories than their strategies," he said.
The $2 billion figure encompasses a previously announced $48 million buildout of 27 temperature-controlled facilities across the Americas, Europe, and Asia aimed at handling temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, including GLP-1 weight loss drugs. UPS said the healthcare initiative is part of its broader effort to grow in higher-margin logistics services.
#global #Logistics
Scott Szwast, UPS vice president of international strategy, framed the spending as an effort to build out capabilities that help customers in specialized sectors navigate increasingly complicated global supply chains. "These investments are really aligned to one of our big strategic areas of focus, which is creating capabilities to enable our customers, particularly in complex industries, to more effectively run their global supply chains," he told CNBC.
Among the initiatives are a new hub in the Philippines slated for this year, a facility in Ontario, Canada, due to open in 2027, and an air hub at Hong Kong International Airport scheduled for 2028. UPS has also opened a technology-enabled logistics center in Taiwan and an Amsterdam facility that integrates freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and cold-chain capabilities under one roof. The Taiwan facility has used automation and robotics to cut total supply chain time by one day, Szwast said. UPS also operates weekly service on the Paris–Hong Kong route and the Shenzhen–Sydney route, each running five days a week.
Szwast said that as global supply chains come under growing strain, companies have moved to spread risk across multiple sourcing and distribution points rather than relying on a single node, even as those same businesses push out new products with unfamiliar logistics demands faster than ever before. "What they find in a lot of cases is that their supply chains look more like their histories than their strategies," he said.
The $2 billion figure encompasses a previously announced $48 million buildout of 27 temperature-controlled facilities across the Americas, Europe, and Asia aimed at handling temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, including GLP-1 weight loss drugs. UPS said the healthcare initiative is part of its broader effort to grow in higher-margin logistics services.
#global #Logistics
7 days ago
Cryptocurrency exchange Gemini (NASDAQ: $GEMI) is expanding further into prediction markets through a new partnership with Apex Fintech Solutions.
Gemini, founded by the twin brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, is teaming up with privately held Apex to expand distribution of its prediction markets to brokerage firms.
In a statement, the companies said that Gemini will become the exclusive provider of event contracts distributed by Apex to its brokerage clients.
More From Cryptoprowl:
Canadian Defense Tech Firm Jumps 92% as Government Revenue Boosts Margins
#apex #NASDAQ #gemi #solutions
Gemini, founded by the twin brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, is teaming up with privately held Apex to expand distribution of its prediction markets to brokerage firms.
In a statement, the companies said that Gemini will become the exclusive provider of event contracts distributed by Apex to its brokerage clients.
More From Cryptoprowl:
Canadian Defense Tech Firm Jumps 92% as Government Revenue Boosts Margins
#apex #NASDAQ #gemi #solutions
7 days ago
Orbis Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for "Orbis Global Equity Strategy". The letter can be downloaded here. In the first half of 2026, the Global Equity Strategy returned 19.9%, surpassing the MSCI All Country World Index by 7.8%. The market faced narrow breadth in the quarter. The strategy focuses on AI investments categorized into four groups: "Core" (direct exposure), "Enablers" (supporting businesses), "AI Powered" (companies enhanced by AI), and "Overlooked" (misjudged resilient companies). The firm emphasizes maintaining strong but flexible convictions in a fluctuating market, prioritizing disciplined, evidence-based investment over emotional decision-making. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Orbis Global Equity Strategy highlighted Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN). Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) is a specialty insurance services company that provides distribution, underwriting, product development, administration, and risk management services. On August 24, 2026, Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) closed at $44.34 per share. The one-month return of Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) was -3.63%, and its shares lost 23.17% over the past 52 weeks. Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) has a market capitalization of $17.29 billion.
Orbis Global Equity Strategy stated the following regarding Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The biggest winners have been concentrated in AI. But not all AI exposure is equal. We frame ours in four groups. The first is the "Core", the second is "Enablers", the third is AI "Powered" and the fourth is the "Overlooked": resilient businesses the market has mispriced as AI casualties. The first three are widely understood. The fourth is where we believe the market is most wrong, and where we are hunting.
Take insurance brokerage. Brown & Brown and Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) are brokers: they sit between companies and insurers, matching clients to the right coverage and placing it for a fee, without carrying the risk themselves. Both are priced as AI casualties. Two fears weigh on the stocks: a softening pricing cycle and AI disintermediation. The pricing cycle is already in the price. On AI, we disagree. Ryan Specialty makes the case from the other end of the market: a leading specialist in excess and surplus, the part of insurance built for complex, hard-to-place, and emerging risk. That market is structurally expanding, and we view Ryan as its most capable navigator. The pattern holds across the Overlooked. We are not buying businesses AI leaves alone. We are buying businesses that put AI to work. Scaled brokers with proprietary data are sharpened by it, not replaced."
#market #letter
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Orbis Global Equity Strategy highlighted Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN). Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) is a specialty insurance services company that provides distribution, underwriting, product development, administration, and risk management services. On August 24, 2026, Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) closed at $44.34 per share. The one-month return of Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) was -3.63%, and its shares lost 23.17% over the past 52 weeks. Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) has a market capitalization of $17.29 billion.
Orbis Global Equity Strategy stated the following regarding Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The biggest winners have been concentrated in AI. But not all AI exposure is equal. We frame ours in four groups. The first is the "Core", the second is "Enablers", the third is AI "Powered" and the fourth is the "Overlooked": resilient businesses the market has mispriced as AI casualties. The first three are widely understood. The fourth is where we believe the market is most wrong, and where we are hunting.
Take insurance brokerage. Brown & Brown and Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) are brokers: they sit between companies and insurers, matching clients to the right coverage and placing it for a fee, without carrying the risk themselves. Both are priced as AI casualties. Two fears weigh on the stocks: a softening pricing cycle and AI disintermediation. The pricing cycle is already in the price. On AI, we disagree. Ryan Specialty makes the case from the other end of the market: a leading specialist in excess and surplus, the part of insurance built for complex, hard-to-place, and emerging risk. That market is structurally expanding, and we view Ryan as its most capable navigator. The pattern holds across the Overlooked. We are not buying businesses AI leaves alone. We are buying businesses that put AI to work. Scaled brokers with proprietary data are sharpened by it, not replaced."
#market #letter
7 days ago
Orbis Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for "Orbis Global Equity Strategy". The letter can be downloaded here. In the first half of 2026, the Global Equity Strategy returned 19.9%, surpassing the MSCI All Country World Index by 7.8%. The market faced narrow breadth in the quarter. The strategy focuses on AI investments categorized into four groups: "Core" (direct exposure), "Enablers" (supporting businesses), "AI Powered" (companies enhanced by AI), and "Overlooked" (misjudged resilient companies). The firm emphasizes maintaining strong but flexible convictions in a fluctuating market, prioritizing disciplined, evidence-based investment over emotional decision-making. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Orbis Global Equity Strategy highlighted Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO). Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) is a leading insurance brokerage firm operating through Retail and Specialty Distribution segments. On August 24, 2026, Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) closed at $74.62 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $24.97 billion. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) posted a one‑month return of 1.32%, while its shares lost 22.31% over the past 52 weeks.
Orbis Global Equity Strategy stated the following regarding Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The biggest winners have been concentrated in AI. But not all AI exposure is equal. We frame ours in four groups. The first is the "Core": direct exposure through companies like Samsung Electronics, Taiwan Semiconductor, and SK Square. The second is "Enablers": the businesses providing the power, materials, and real estate that hyperscalers need to operate. The third is AI "Powered": companies where AI accelerates an already compelling model, like Alphabet. The fourth is the "Overlooked": resilient businesses the market has mispriced as AI casualties. The first three are widely understood. The fourth is where we believe the market is most wrong, and where we are hunting.
Take insurance brokerage. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) and Ryan Specialty are brokers: they sit between companies and insurers, matching clients to the right coverage and placing it for a fee, without carrying the risk themselves. Both are priced as AI casualties. Two fears weigh on the stocks: a softening pricing cycle and AI disintermediation. The pricing cycle is already in the price. On AI, we disagree. AI may automate commodity cover like personal auto, but that is under 5% of Brown & Brown's book. The rest is commercial and specialty insurance, where the broker exercises judgement and answers for a denied claim. It is a people business, and Brown & Brown has spent more than eighty years serving mid sized companies that lack the in-house expertise in insurance."
#global
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Orbis Global Equity Strategy highlighted Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO). Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) is a leading insurance brokerage firm operating through Retail and Specialty Distribution segments. On August 24, 2026, Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) closed at $74.62 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $24.97 billion. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) posted a one‑month return of 1.32%, while its shares lost 22.31% over the past 52 weeks.
Orbis Global Equity Strategy stated the following regarding Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The biggest winners have been concentrated in AI. But not all AI exposure is equal. We frame ours in four groups. The first is the "Core": direct exposure through companies like Samsung Electronics, Taiwan Semiconductor, and SK Square. The second is "Enablers": the businesses providing the power, materials, and real estate that hyperscalers need to operate. The third is AI "Powered": companies where AI accelerates an already compelling model, like Alphabet. The fourth is the "Overlooked": resilient businesses the market has mispriced as AI casualties. The first three are widely understood. The fourth is where we believe the market is most wrong, and where we are hunting.
Take insurance brokerage. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) and Ryan Specialty are brokers: they sit between companies and insurers, matching clients to the right coverage and placing it for a fee, without carrying the risk themselves. Both are priced as AI casualties. Two fears weigh on the stocks: a softening pricing cycle and AI disintermediation. The pricing cycle is already in the price. On AI, we disagree. AI may automate commodity cover like personal auto, but that is under 5% of Brown & Brown's book. The rest is commercial and specialty insurance, where the broker exercises judgement and answers for a denied claim. It is a people business, and Brown & Brown has spent more than eighty years serving mid sized companies that lack the in-house expertise in insurance."
#global
8 days ago
Retired married couples can withdraw ~$46,700 from a traditional IRA tax-free by stacking three 2026 deductions, including $32,200 standard and $12,000 in new senior deductions.
Most retirees skip this window by ****** uming all IRA withdrawals trigger taxes, waiting for forced RMDs at 73 when rates can reach 22% or higher.
Couples can use the window to reinvest IRA funds in a brokerage account or convert to Roth, both strategies carrying zero federal tax owed.
Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset's free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don't waste another minute; learn more here.
Every January, a specific window opens for retired married couples: they can pull roughly $46,700 out of a traditional IRA, count it as ordinary income, and owe nothing in federal tax. The window closes on December 31. Most couples do not use it, and the mechanics of why they leave it unused, and what it costs them later, are the actual story.
#advisor
Most retirees skip this window by ****** uming all IRA withdrawals trigger taxes, waiting for forced RMDs at 73 when rates can reach 22% or higher.
Couples can use the window to reinvest IRA funds in a brokerage account or convert to Roth, both strategies carrying zero federal tax owed.
Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset's free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don't waste another minute; learn more here.
Every January, a specific window opens for retired married couples: they can pull roughly $46,700 out of a traditional IRA, count it as ordinary income, and owe nothing in federal tax. The window closes on December 31. Most couples do not use it, and the mechanics of why they leave it unused, and what it costs them later, are the actual story.
#advisor
8 days ago
Farrah Aldjufrie revealed she is expecting a baby boy with former Buying Beverly Hills costar Zach Goldsmith
Aldjufrie's family, including mom Kyle Richards, celebrated the news at a **** reveal party organized by her sister Sophia Umansky
Goldsmith, who has two sons from a previous relationship, works with Aldjufrie at her stepfather Mauricio Umansky's brokerage, The Agency
Kyle Richards' pregnant daughter, Farrah Aldjufrie, revealed the father of her baby.
In a video shared to TikTok on Sunday, Aug. 23, the 37-year-old reality TV star revealed that she is having a baby with her former Buying Beverly Hills costar Zach Goldsmith. "Zach Goldsmith and I are having a..." Aldjufrie captioned her video, which documented the **** reveal party she had with her family.
#zach #baby
Aldjufrie's family, including mom Kyle Richards, celebrated the news at a **** reveal party organized by her sister Sophia Umansky
Goldsmith, who has two sons from a previous relationship, works with Aldjufrie at her stepfather Mauricio Umansky's brokerage, The Agency
Kyle Richards' pregnant daughter, Farrah Aldjufrie, revealed the father of her baby.
In a video shared to TikTok on Sunday, Aug. 23, the 37-year-old reality TV star revealed that she is having a baby with her former Buying Beverly Hills costar Zach Goldsmith. "Zach Goldsmith and I are having a..." Aldjufrie captioned her video, which documented the **** reveal party she had with her family.
#zach #baby
