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Metaplanet has added 5,268 Bitcoin to its treasury, lifting its total holdings to 30,823 BTC—a stash now worth roughly $3.5 billion. The move marks another aggressive step in the company’s ambition to dominate corporate Bitcoin accumulation.

The Tokyo-listed firm disclosed the latest purchase via its analytics platform, citing an average cost per coin in the range of $116,800. With this transaction, Metaplanet fortifies its position among the largest public Bitcoin treasuries globally. The company has previously disclosed a 5,419-coin buy earlier in September.

Metaplanet’s strategy, initiated in 2024 when it shifted from hotel and media operations into a Bitcoin-heavy treasury model, has relied heavily on capital raises and issuance of equity linked instruments. In early September, shareholders green-lit a plan to issue up to 550 million new shares overseas—raising about ¥130.3 billion —with proceeds earmarked in part for further BTC accumulation. Eric Trump, who serves on Metaplanet’s advisory board, was present at the meeting and took part in a fireside chat session.

The company projects bold long-term goals: by 2026, it aims to reach 100,000 BTC, and by late 2027, to hold 210,000—about 1 percent of total Bitcoin supply.

Despite its crypto focus, Metaplanet’s stock performance has been volatile. Since mid-June, the share price has fallen sharply—losing over 50 percent—reflecting investor concern over dilution risk, weak revenue fundamentals, and compressed valuation premiums compared to its Bitcoin holdings.

Analysts caution that Metaplanet’s heavily leveraged approach leaves it vulnerable. Should Bitcoin’s price fall, the firm could see large mark‐to-market losses or face funding constraints if markets turn against inflows. Still, Metaplanet argues its “Bitcoin yield” metric—growth in BTC per share—aligns incentives for equity holders to back continued accumulation.

The company also is diversifying its strategy. It has launched a U. S.-based subsidiary in Miami to manage derivatives and income-generation business lines, and is developing digital platforms rooted in Bitcoin.

The city-state’s employers have set a striking pace as they head into the final quarter of 2025: a Net Employment Outlook of 45 per cent signals that nearly three in five organisations expect to expand their workforces. That optimism comes amid shifting global headwinds, structural reforms, and a rising demand for specialised talent.

The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey canvassed 525 UAE employers across sectors to assess hiring intentions. A positive balance of 45 per cent means that those anticipating workforce increases outnumber those expecting reductions by nearly half. This figure places the UAE among the world’s more aggressive labour markets, especially given challenges such as global trade uncertainty, rising automation, and fluctuating commodity prices.

This projected hiring boom is not evenly distributed. The strongest demand lies in transport, logistics and automotive, energy and utilities, and consumer goods and services. These sectors appear ready to leverage infrastructure projects, green energy transitions, and regional consumption growth. Meanwhile, the information technology sector is showing solid demand at +48 per cent, reflecting sustained digital transformation pushes.

Driving much of this confidence is corporate expansion: 40 per cent of participating firms cited scaling operations as their primary reason for hiring. Another 28 per cent pointed to pivoting business models and growth into new areas. In addition, nearly 30 per cent of respondents acknowledged that talent shortages—and competition for specialised skills—are influencing recruitment strategies.

Yet the buoyant sentiment is tempered by caution. Roughly 10 per cent of employers still expect to trim staff, particularly in roles vulnerable to automation or in sectors facing structural disruption. Around 15 per cent responded that they will hold staffing constant, prioritising internal upskilling over external recruitment. In interviews, some HR executives noted that while they want to hire aggressively, wage inflation, geopolitical uncertainty, and regulatory shifts may prompt them to phase recruitment over several quarters.

Regional and global context strengthens the UAE’s position. In the third quarter of 2025, the UAE recorded a world-leading NEO of +48 per cent. That marked a standout alignment with its long-term growth strategy, and the Q4 figure of +45 per cent suggests sustained momentum rather than a cyclical spike. Elsewhere, the global average NEO stood at +24 per cent during Q3 — placing the UAE’s outlook nearly double the global benchmark.

Analysts view this hiring optimism as part of a broader strategy to reposition the UAE as a knowledge-economy hub. Recent government initiatives have focused on advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and logistics corridors. These programs have triggered demand not only for engineers and technicians but also for data scientists, sustainability consultants, and cross-disciplinary professionals. In one corporates sector round-table, a senior UAE CEO observed that “the competition for deep tech talent is global, and we must offer not just pay but opportunity, stability and a pathway for growth.”

Labour authorities are also aligning policies with employer needs. New visa frameworks, targeted Emiratisation programmes, and regulatory incentives for R&D investment are being synchronized with workforce forecasts. At the same time, the UAE’s PMI for non-oil activity has held above the expansion threshold, underlining demand growth across private sectors and supporting hiring intent.

However, potential headwinds remain significant. Global supply chain disruptions, slowing demand in key export markets, and monetary tightening in major economies could dampen growth. Employers may delay or scale back hiring plans if external pressures intensify. Some labour economists warn of mismatches between skills supplied locally and those demanded, especially in emerging fields.

Gold surged to an unprecedented high on Wednesday, driven by investor flight to safe assets after the United States entered a federal government shutdown that threatens to delay key economic data releases.

Spot gold climbed above $3,875 per ounce, and U. S. gold futures for December touched $3,887.40, marking fresh peaks in the metal’s dramatic rally this year. The dollar weakened, while U. S. stock futures slid, reflecting the heightened uncertainty gripping global markets.

The shutdown froze large swathes of federal operations after Congress failed to approve funding for the 2026 fiscal year, triggering furloughs for approximately 750,000 federal workers and imposing a daily cost to the government of around $400 million.

With the shutdown effectively halting the release of critical economic indicators—most notably the September non-farm payrolls data—the Federal Reserve is being forced to rely on alternate data sources to assess conditions ahead of its October meeting. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee warned that central bankers will need to “turn to other data sources” if official reports are suspended.

In labor market reports released earlier, the JOLTS data showed only marginal growth in job openings in August, while hiring declined—signalling cooling momentum in the U. S. labour market. This, combined with the shutdown, has increased market expectations that the Fed will move to cut interest rates in October. Futures now price in a 96 per cent likelihood of a 25-basis-point cut.

Institutional demand has bolstered the gold rally: central banks have continued to accumulate bullion, even as inflows to gold-backed exchange-traded funds have surged. Analysts point to a powerful confluence of safe-haven inflows and speculative momentum. Deutsche Bank and other firms have flagged upside targets in the $3,900–$4,000 range if current conditions persist.

Silver also posted gains, hitting a 14-year high, while platinum and palladium lagged modestly. In India, gold prices on the MCX breached all-time highs, crossing ₹1,17,351 per 10 grams as global and domestic investors sought shelter from volatility.

Analysts caution, however, that the rally faces key risks. A rebound in the dollar, a surprise hawkish tilt from the Fed, or a sudden resolution of the funding impasse could reverse momentum. The longer the shutdown endures, the greater the danger that data collection becomes impaired—threatening the quality of future releases such as inflation, GDP, and employment statistics.

The valuation of the U. S. Treasury’s gold reserves has also gained attention: the gold holdings—officially booked at historical rates—now command a market value exceeding $1 trillion, driven by the steep rise in bullion prices.

Wall Street insiders note that the shutdown has injected a new element of volatility into markets already stretched by geopolitical tensions and macro imbalances. Equity futures were already under pressure on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both down nearly 0.5 per cent in early trade.

By Anjan Roy Donald Trump’s high fees for H1B visas are a serious headache for India, not just for the sake of its impact on India’s IT sector and services exports to USA. This is a huge worry for the overall security environment and strategic- diplomatic scenario for India. Among others, if China is able […]

The article China Is Making Every Effort To Attract Talent Thrown Out By America appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

The overnight Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rate surged to 5.018 %, marking its first breach of 5 % this year amid tightening liquidity pressures tied to quarter-end demand.

Liquidity in the local banking system has become deeply constrained as the aggregate balance of Hong Kong dollar deposits plunged to historically low levels and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority continues active currency-peg defence. The jump in HIBOR reflects mounting stress in short-term funding markets even as the HKMA’s base rate remains at 4.50 %, following its downward adjustment earlier this month in line with the U. S. Federal Reserve.

Banks are confronting sharper funding costs just as capital market activity intensifies. The costs of intra-day and overnight loans between financial institutions are rising, exerting upward pressure on lending rates and potentially damping leveraged trading strategies and margin financing. Several market participants have begun repricing forward rate agreements to reflect a higher floor for short-term rates.

The sharp move in overnight HIBOR comes after months of extreme volatility. Earlier in 2025, the overnight rate plunged—from around 4.50 % in May to near zero—as the HKMA intervened by selling Hong Kong dollars to counter excessive strength, flooding banks with liquidity. That in turn compressed funding costs across all tenors. But the very intervention that depressed rates is now being reversed: as the HKMA buys Hong Kong dollars to defend the weak end of its trading band, it is draining system liquidity, pushing interbank rates upward.

Analysts view this as part of the natural adjustment embedded in Hong Kong’s Linked Exchange Rate System, where capital flows and monetary interventions translate into automatic interest rate feedback mechanisms. With the aggregate balance shrinking sharply, funding is now scarcer and HIBOR has begun to converge toward U. S. dollar rates.

Still, structural frictions remain. Banks have so far been cautious to fully pass through heightened HIBOR into lending rates, citing competitive pressures and deposit stickiness. Likewise, mortgage borrowers on HIBOR-based plans face mounting exposure.

The HKMA’s earlier 25 basis point cut to its base rate to 4.50 % followed a matching reduction from the U. S. Federal Reserve. That move provides a nominal cushion to banks’ cost of funds. But with HIBOR now overshooting expectations, the policy buffer is tightening.

In foreign exchange markets, the HKMA’s continued interventions to maintain the HKD’s 7.75–7.85 peg are intensifying. Pounds and U. S. dollar flows have grown more volatile, pressuring capital inflows and outflows that ripple into short-term rates. Some strategists caution that if HIBOR remains elevated, Hong Kong’s carry trade — borrowing in HKD at low cost to invest in higher-yielding assets — may lose its appeal.

At the same time, robust IPO issuance and equity market activity bolster demand for Hong Kong dollars, adding to funding stresses. Brokers and margin financiers, squeezed by rising short-term rates, are beginning to reduce leverage usage.

Monetary officials have reiterated that the primary mandate of the HKMA is exchange rate stability, not targeting specific interest rates. But as interbank funding becomes more expensive, the tension between rate dynamics and peg defence is becoming harder to manage.

Market watchers are now eyeing whether HIBOR will stabilise around the 4.5 %–5.5 % band or continue climbing. Forward curves imply that some of the rate shock is already priced in. Meanwhile, banks are expected to adjust lending floors and reframe risk pricing over the coming weeks, especially in the mortgage and leveraged finance sectors.

U. S. equity markets eked out modest gains on Monday as investors absorbed mixed signals from policymakers and braced for a potentially disruptive funding impasse. The S&P 500 rose about 0.3 percent, while the Nasdaq added 0.5 percent.

Tech and semiconductor names powered much of the upside, with Nvidia climbing nearly 2 percent and Micron advancing over 4 percent. Meanwhile, energy lagged, weighing on the Dow Jones. Treasuries rallied: the 10-year yield fell to around 4.14 percent.

Markets have long eyed the congressional standoff over government funding, now escalating toward a possible shutdown as the funding deadline tightens. If Congress fails to agree on a stopgap measure by the start of October, crucial economic reports — including this week’s non-farm payrolls — may be delayed.

Within the Senate, tension has grown around healthcare and Medicaid funding demands, a key sticking point in negotiations. Democratic leaders have warned against accepting a funding plan that omits those measures, even as pressure mounts to avoid a closure.

Analysts warn that the shutdown risk magnifies uncertainty over Federal Reserve policy. Without fresh labour and inflation data, the central bank may have to lean more heavily on its own forecasts, complicating rate-cut expectations. Some strategists suggest the Fed could still manage two cuts in 2025, contingent on how deeply economic data is disrupted.

Historical precedent somewhat tempers alarm. In past shutdowns of limited duration, equities have tended to rebound quickly. On average, the S&P 500 returns roughly 0.1 percent during shutdowns, and over the following year the index has gained about 12.2 percent. Still, the threat this time includes a new wrinkle: proposals for mass federal layoffs rather than traditional furloughs, which could intensify economic and psychological fallout.

Sector watchers anticipate uneven effects. Government contractors and firms reliant on federal payments could see downside pressure. In contrast, defensive and AI-linked names may continue attracting flows.

Gold cracked past $3,800 per ounce as investors rotated into safe havens, and the dollar weakened amid risk aversion. Meanwhile, earnings announcements and deal activity remain under close scrutiny: Electronic Arts jumped nearly 4.5 percent after announcing a $55 billion going-private deal.

Markets have thus far held up despite the political drama. The headline indexes are still straddling their 50-day moving averages — Nasdaq has run more than 100 sessions without dipping below. But as the week progresses, volatility could spike if lawmakers stall or key data go missing.

India defeated Pakistan in the Asia Cup final in Dubai, but it was the trophy presentation that has reverberated across cricketing circles. Indian players refused to accept the trophy or medals from Mohsin Naqvi, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board and President of the Asian Cricket Council, turning what should have been a moment of celebration into a publicly charged standoff.

Tensions ripple beyond the pitch because of this act. Through the refusal, both nations have set what analysts say is a dangerous template where political grievances eclipse sport itself. The decision to rebuff a symbolic handover, traditionally steeped in sporting civility, signals that future India-Pakistan fixtures may be shaped less by cricketing merit than by national narratives.

The refusal drew immediate attention. India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, lamented that his team was denied the rightful moment of recognition. Across national media, voices questioned the boundaries between patriotism and play. In Pakistan, captain Salman Ali Agha accused India of disrespecting the spirit of cricket, while insisting that gestures made behind closed doors had been misrepresented.

For India, the refusal came after repeated snubs in the tournament — players declined to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts. The Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed that the team had resolved not to accept the trophy from Naqvi. The BCCI plans to lodge a formal protest at the upcoming ICC meeting.

Observers see this as the collapse of the practice known as “cricket diplomacy” — the idea that cricketing encounters might ease broader geopolitical tensions. Analysts warn that once such norms crumble, they are difficult to resurrect. The absence of handshakes, the broken presentation protocol, and accusations of politicisation all feed into a narrative that cricket is simply another front in the bilateral rivalry.

This is not the first time politics has shadowed India-Pakistan cricket, but few moments match the clarity of this rupture. Political polarisation in both countries has long influenced bilateral relations, and the 2025 military flare-ups between them have deepened fissures. Some critics argue that the match-day conduct was unavoidable given the broader climate of hostility. Others contend that the sanctity of the game deserves insulation from statecraft.

Stakeholders are now walking a tightrope. The ACC must decide whether to uphold its leadership’s neutrality or face accusations of bias. The ICC will be pressured to weigh in — either by endorsing standards that separate sport from politics or by allowing countries to redefine the conduct of play. Grassroots cricket lovers, meanwhile, worry that the spectacle of national identities may overshadow the joy of the game itself.

Dubai-based AMIS Development has received the opening tranche of Dh5 billion from Singapore’s First APAC Fund VCC, following a memorandum signed in November 2024 to invest the full amount over time. The capital injection will be used to accelerate AMIS’s land acquisitions, expand its project pipeline, and progress ongoing luxury residential developments across Dubai.

Founder and CEO Neeraj Mishra confirmed that the funds are earmarked for strategic purchases in key areas such as Meydan and Dubai Islands, as well as advancing flagship projects already underway. He described the investment as a vote of confidence in AMIS’s vision and execution. Darrell Lim, founding shareholder and director at First APAC Fund, said this initial disbursement marks a milestone in their collaboration and pledged continued support tied to performance.

AMIS is working on multiple high-end residential projects including Woodland Terraces and the recently announced Woodland Crest, scheduled for handover in the second quarter of 2027. The developer previously sold out its Woodland Residences development, valued at Dh425 million, with delivery expected in April 2026. The new funding is set to support these and future projects, giving AMIS greater flexibility to accelerate timelines and expand its footprint.

The First APAC Fund is managed by Pilgrim Partners Asia, licensed under Singapore’s regulatory framework. For the AMIS deal, PPA has appointed Greenback Capital Limited, a Dubai-based firm, as the sub-investment manager to oversee transaction structuring and monitoring. Funds will be deployed in tranches, subject to milestones in AMIS’s project execution.

U. S. securities regulators have delivered a rare favourable response to a crypto infrastructure startup, granting a “no-action” letter to DoubleZero that clears its 2Z token from immediate enforcement risk under securities laws. The Division of Corporation Finance stated that, based on the facts presented, it would not recommend enforcement action and that the 2Z token need not be registered as a class of equity securities.

The letter, dated 29 September 2025, indicates that the Division accepted the argument that DoubleZero’s programmatic transfers of 2Z tokens—automatic distributions tied to network contribution—fall outside the classic securities framework if conducted as specified. The Division emphasised that its position is fact-sensitive: any deviation from the described token model could alter the assessment.

SEC Chief Counsel Michael Seaman signed the response, and the Division’s stance affirms that, under the conditions laid out by DoubleZero and its counsel, compliance with Sections 5 and 12 of U. S. securities law is not required for this token model. The decision does not amount to a general opt-out for all tokens, but offers a regulatory precedent for projects structured similarly.

Commissioner Hester Peirce, in a public statement accompanying the action, framed the move as a model for how the SEC might engage with innovation without expanding its reach beyond mandates set by Congress. She observed that Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network projects like DoubleZero differ fundamentally from capital-raising schemes: tokens issued in DePIN networks are intended to incentivise contributors rather than to deliver profits derived from managerial efforts. Peirce argued that applying securities laws to such tokens risks stifling infrastructure growth rather than protecting investors.

DoubleZero’s model reconstructs how blockchain systems interact with underutilised physical fibre infrastructure. Contributors supplying fibre bandwidth or network connectivity can earn 2Z tokens as compensation. The company asserts that these tokens function primarily as utility instruments—facilitating access and rewarding service—not as speculative investments. The SEC’s letter affirms that under its described assumptions, Howey-style securities analysis does not capture this design.

Market response was muted. Tokens in the DePIN ecosystem dipped by around 2 % in the 24 hours following the announcement—suggesting that while the regulatory clarity is a positive signal for builders, traders may be cautious about immediate upside.

Industry stakeholders view this as a potentially transformative moment. Legal and crypto analysts argue that the DoubleZero relief may embolden other infrastructure-oriented projects to seek direct regulatory engagement, rather than assuming hostile enforcement. The letter gives craftable guardrails for teams to align token economic models with functional incentives.

Nevertheless, the relief comes with caveats. The Division reserves the right to reconsider if conditions change. As critics note, this decision does not immunise DePIN tokens universally—each must be evaluated on whether token distribution is truly non-speculative, decentralised, and aligned with service contribution. Projects must maintain transparent, algorithmic issuance plans and avoid marketing that emphasises profits or speculation.