Indonesia weighs new central bank mandate; rupiah weakens

Indonesia weighs new central bank mandate; rupiah weakens

INDONESIAN lawmakers are weighing changes at the central bank that include a broader mandate and a lower bar for removing senior officials, heightening investor concerns about the monetary authority’s independence. The move sparked a slump in bonds and the rupiah and comes just days after the government revamped a “burden-sharing” arrangement with the central bank…

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Australia says social media ban will not age test all users

Australia says social media ban will not age test all users

AUSTRALIA will not require social media giants to verify the ages of all users under its ban on under-16s using the platforms, Canberra said on Tuesday. But platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube are expected to take “reasonable steps” to stop children from accessing the apps, it said. Australia has been a leader in…

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US looks to boost strategic uranium reserve for nuclear power

US looks to boost strategic uranium reserve for nuclear power

[NEW YORK] The Trump administration’s top energy official said that the US should look to boost its strategic uranium reserve to buffer against Russian supplies and increase confidence in the long-term prospects of nuclear power generation. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright comments underscore the Trump administration’s plans to promote nuclear energy as the demand for…

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Asia: Markets fluctuate ahead of expected US rate cut

Asia: Markets fluctuate ahead of expected US rate cut

ASIAN markets were mixed on Monday as traders geared up for an expected interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve this week. Equities have enjoyed a strong run-up over recent weeks as a string of data on jobs and inflation provided the US central bank with enough leeway to resume its rate reductions. Wednesday’s policy…

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Blockchain billionaire emerges from Figure’s post-IPO surge

Blockchain billionaire emerges from Figure’s post-IPO surge

[NEW YORK] It took him a few tries, but Mike Cagney is now a billionaire. Shares of blockchain-based lender Figure Technology Solutions have soared almost 40 per cent since Thursday’s (Sep 11) initial public offering (IPO), making him the latest in a recent surge of newly minted crypto-related billionaires. Cagney’s ambitions for the New York-based…

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India tweaks IPO rules to allow easier listing for big firms

India tweaks IPO rules to allow easier listing for big firms

[MUMBAI] India’s securities market regulator on Friday (Sep 12) made it easier for very large private companies to go public in one of the world’s top destinations for first-time share sales this year. Companies with market capitalisation of more than five trillion rupees (S$72.9 billion) can now make an initial public offering (IPO) of as…

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