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US President Donald Trump announced that his administration will “permanently pause” migration from all so-called Third-World countries, declaring that current immigration flows have eroded national progress and vowing to revert admissions approved under his predecessor. The declaration came in a post on his social-media platform following a fatal shooting near the White House involving an Afghan national.

The measures outlined by Trump include revoking benefits for non-citizens, denaturalising certain migrants, and deporting those viewed as security risks or a burden to the state. He described the move as necessary to allow the US immigration system to “fully recover.” The policy lacks clarity on which countries fall under the Third-World classification and how the pause will be implemented.

This move marks the most sweeping immigration restriction since the start of his second term, which has already seen a broad tightening of refugee resettlement, expanded travel bans, and stricter visa controls. Since January, the administration has expanded vetting procedures and raised the administrative burden on legal immigration processes, affecting international students, skilled workers, and asylum seekers.

The freeze on migration follows a comprehensive review ordered by immigration authorities of all green cards issued to people from 19 countries flagged as “of concern.” That evaluation was initiated after the Washington shooting, with authorities signaling possible revocations. Government officials have described the overhaul as central to restoring order and safeguarding national security.

Critics warn the sweeping restrictions will hamper the United States’ ability to attract global talent and undercut its economic competitiveness. International students, skilled professionals, and refugees — all contributors to innovation and workforce growth — may now face steep hurdles, or clearance may be indefinitely delayed. Humanitarian organisations have expressed alarm over the impact on vulnerable populations seeking refuge and legal residency.

JPMorgan Chase & Co has upgraded its recommendation on China’s stock market to “overweight,” arguing that potential gains in the coming year now outweigh the risks of sharp losses. Strategists at the firm, including Rajiv Batra, explained that China’s market has already surrendered much of its outperformance this year, creating what they describe as an attractive entry point. They highlighted a combination of factors poised to support equities — widespread adoption of artificial intelligence, renewed consumption measures, and expectations of governance reforms. The performance setback appears to have reset valuations and left positioning relatively light, paving the way for what JPMorgan analysts see as potentially strong upside ahead.

The shift follows a quarter in which the MSCI China Index dropped around 6.2 percent even as broader regional indices in Asia-Pacific posted modest gains. JPMorgan noted that the Chinese equity market remains in the early stages of recovering from a downcycle that began in late 2020. With valuations now seen as acceptable and investor sentiment subdued, the bank anticipates room for rally once supportive catalysts take hold.

Analysts argue that companies tied to technology and AI stand to benefit most from upcoming tailwinds. Firms previously weighed under regulatory and macroeconomic uncertainty may now attract renewed investor interest, especially where corporate governance improvements and capital discipline have strengthened balance sheets. Entities with exposure to domestic consumption, industrial automation, electric vehicles, and energy storage are viewed as especially well positioned.

Some investors remain cautious, citing lingering macroeconomic headwinds, weak property prices, deflationary pressures and subdued consumer sentiment that have dampened retail participation in equity markets. But for long-term investors with a willingness to absorb volatility, JPMorgan’s call marks a turning point: the market’s immediate downside appears limited while its upside — if China’s growth impulses and structural reforms materialise — could be substantial.

JPMorgan also sees potential gains for Asian equities more broadly. With China, Hong Kong, South Korea and India judged as overweight, and Taiwan as neutral, the bank expects the MSCI Asia ex-Japan Index could rise roughly 15 percent from current levels if global liquidity remains supportive. Regional equities, they argue, may benefit from a reorientation of capital flows away from developed markets towards Asia’s current valuations.

At the same time, the bank’s optimism contrasts with more cautious forecasts from some rivals, which warn earnings uncertainty and high valuations could trigger consolidation rather than a sustained rally. That divergence underscores the highly bifurcated nature of the market: selective positioning may offer rewards, but indiscriminate exposure could remain risky.

By K Raveendran A quieter phase has set in around discussions on a potential trade agreement between India and the United States, yet the subdued optics conceal a period of more intense negotiation. Officials on both sides describe a process that has deliberately stepped away from public signalling, opting instead for steady and less visible […]

The article India, US Energy Alignment Shapes A Quieter Trade Push appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Market attention turned sharply towards World Liberty Financial as its WLFI token climbed more than 7% on the daily chart, supported by renewed momentum in a buyback programme that has drawn heightened interest from traders. The jump in value, which pushed volumes higher across multiple exchanges, underscored a shift in sentiment around the project after a period of steady consolidation in its price trajectory.

Traders noted that the upswing aligned with the recommencement of the token buyback scheme, which had been announced earlier in the year as part of the platform’s strategy to stabilise circulating supply and incentivise long-term holding. The renewed activity around the programme appeared to signal confidence within the project’s core team, with market participants interpreting the move as an effort to strengthen liquidity and reinforce the token’s market position during a phase of broader volatility in digital assets.

The project, positioned as a decentralised finance ecosystem offering yield products and cross-border payment tools, has been attempting to carve out a more distinct space in the congested DeFi landscape. Its token performance has shown periods of sharp movement in line with broader market swings, but the latest rise stood out due to the targeted intervention through the buyback initiative. Analysts tracking on-chain data confirmed a noticeable reduction in WLFI circulating supply over the past 48 hours, indicating execution of the buyback in measurable volumes.

A senior market analyst at a Dubai-based digital asset fund said the token’s rebound reflected “a coordinated liquidity strategy combined with renewed user engagement,” adding that sustained price support would depend on whether the buybacks continue at a stable pace. The analyst also pointed to the rising interest in tokens backed by structured DeFi models, noting that these projects have gained traction as traders search for instruments offering more predictable mechanics compared with purely speculative assets.

WLFI’s latest surge coincided with a broad improvement in sentiment across mid-cap digital tokens, though its gain exceeded the general market trend. Data aggregators showed that while major assets such as Bitcoin and Ether recorded modest upward moves, WLFI’s performance outpaced most alternative tokens in its category. The increase was accompanied by a measurable uptick in wallet activity, with new holders entering the market as trading forums circulated speculation about further buyback rounds.

Company representatives had earlier disclosed that the buyback programme was designed to respond dynamically to market conditions, enabling the project to reinforce token value during periods of instability. Blockchain analysts have noted that such mechanisms, if implemented with transparency and predictable parameters, can help sustain community confidence and mitigate sharp sell-offs. The WLFI team’s renewed engagement, including technical updates and communication around upcoming ecosystem features, also contributed to the current sentiment shift.

Industry observers said market participants were also watching regulatory signals closely, as global jurisdictions continue to refine frameworks for digital assets. A clearer regulatory environment, particularly in markets influential to token liquidity, has historically contributed to greater investor participation. WLFI’s activity in markets such as the UAE and Southeast Asia has expanded over the past year, aided by partnerships with payment service providers and liquidity networks aiming to widen adoption.

Developments in DeFi have shown that buyback-driven appreciation, while effective in the short term, typically requires sustained platform growth to maintain momentum. This has put attention on WLFI’s roadmap, which outlines the rollout of additional financial tools and integrations aimed at strengthening ecosystem utility. Market analysts said user adoption metrics over the next quarter would be critical in determining whether the token can retain the gains recorded following the buyback revival.

The broader digital asset market has been characterised by alternating periods of risk appetite and caution, shaped by shifting macroeconomic indicators and geopolitical developments. WLFI’s rise occurred during a phase where traders were displaying a stronger preference for tokens linked to structured platforms with defined use cases. This positioned WLFI favourably as its developers highlighted enhancements to yield mechanisms and expansion into multi-chain support, which could increase platform accessibility.

Trading desks reported that the token’s order books reflected thicker buy-side interest as the session progressed, suggesting that momentum-driven traders were reinforcing the upward movement. Price analysts, however, cautioned that tokens experiencing sudden appreciation following buybacks may face corrections if broader market sentiment turns or if programme intensity decreases. Despite this, WLFI’s advocates argue that the project’s tokenomics structure is engineered to provide periodic support without distorting long-term market behaviour.

Moscow has moved to ease restrictions on investments tied to digital assets by announcing that major fund managers will be permitted to purchase derivatives linked to cryptocurrencies from early next year. Under this policy shift, the Bank of Russia plans to amend regulations in the first quarter of the upcoming year to allow capital-management firms, previously barred, to engage in futures and options referencing digital currencies.

The initiative marks a departure from earlier policy built around tightly defined access for “specially qualified” investors under a three-year pilot programme unveiled in March, which required individuals to hold over 100 million rubles in securities or earn above 50 million rubles annually. Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov confirmed the government is also considering scrapping the “superqual” status entirely, a label proposed for crypto-investors under previous drafts.

The timing aligns with a broader regulatory realignment in which Moscow is both cautioning on crypto risks and expanding permissible use-cases. Earlier this year the central bank issued guidance emphasising that direct cryptocurrency holdings carry significant risk even as it proposed a stepped investment regime for qualified entities. Meanwhile legislators had sanctioned the use of crypto-assets for certain cross-border payments and legalised mining operations in July of last year.

Significant players in the Russian financial sector are already positioning themselves for the shift. Sberbank, the country’s largest lender by assets, reported it had raised 1.3 billion rubles through crypto derivative offerings in recent months and signalled plans to expand the business line further.

Market watchers interpret the regulatory loosening as part of a dual strategy: fostering new sources of capital amid constraints from sanctions, while maintaining supervisory controls on the evolving digital-asset ecosystem. “Allowing derivatives tied to cryptocurrencies is a big step—Russian funds were previously excluded,” said one analyst at a Moscow-based brokerage. At the same time, the analyst warned that “the oversight framework remains immature and the risks of liquidity, valuation and sanctions remain.”

Critics caution that letting traditional investment firms access crypto-linked instruments could raise systemic vulnerabilities. The European Union has recently targeted stablecoin-linked Russian entities under sanctions, and anti-money-laundering regulators flagged the region as high-risk, particularly in flows tied to offshore crypto trading.

Regulators in Moscow underline that the institutional gateway is intended to provide a controlled environment. The Bank of Russia’s earlier proposal for an experimental legal regime limited participation to investors meeting strict asset or income thresholds and required intermediaries to ensure transparency of transactions. It did not allow cryptocurrencies to be used as payment for goods and services.

As the investment window broadens, industry participants expect asset management firms to bring structured products to market, linking outcomes to benchmark crypto indices rather than direct holdings of tokens. “Derivatives give firms a means to hedge and gain exposure without custody of coins,” noted a fund-manager in Moscow. However, he added that regulatory clarity on taxation, disclosure, and cross-border transfers is still lacking.

The government’s removal of the “superqual” status could widen the investor base further, allowing mid-sized firms and high-net-worth individuals access to asset classes previously off-limits. This move may increase competition, as offshore platforms draw new Russian clients frustrated by domestic restrictions.

At the same time, the expanded framework raises questions about how Russia’s risk-management infrastructure will evolve. The central bank has repeatedly warned that cryptocurrencies remain speculative and not backed by the state; ongoing amendments to legislation will need to address issues of market integrity, investor protection and sanctions compliance.

The prediction-market platform Polymarket has gained regulatory clearance to resume operations in the United States following approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The move positions Polymarket to re-enter a market it exited after a settlement with the regulator in 2022, signalling a major shift in how event-based trading may evolve in the US financial ecosystem.

Polymarket, founded by Shayne Coplan in 2020 and headquartered in New York City, agreed to pay a US$1.4 million penalty in 2022 for running an unregistered derivatives trading platform for US users and subsequently blocked American access. The company operated offshore in the interim. The pathway back into the domestic market opened when Polymarket acquired QCX LLC, a Florida-based derivatives exchange and clearinghouse that already held CFTC licences. That acquisition cost US$112 million, paving the way for regulatory compliance. Filings show QCX was designated as a “designated contract market” by the CFTC on 9 July 2025.

In September the CFTC issued a no-action letter to QCX and QC Clearing, exempting them from certain swap-data reporting and record-keeping requirements in relation to event contracts. This relief underpinned Polymarket’s return plans. According to sources the platform is now onboarding select US customers in a beta phase ahead of full rollout, with initial trading markets expected to focus on sports and pop-culture outcomes. Polymarket has stated it will operate through a fully regulated US-compliant structure and self-certify markets for US users.

Polymarket stands in a more competitive field than when it left. Peer Kalshi, likewise a US-licensed event-contract platform, secured major funding and a US regulatory victory in the preceding period. Kalshi’s US positioning has prompted other entrants—including FanDuel and DraftKings—to develop federally compliant “predictions” offerings. Polymarket’s re-entry means the event-trading sector is becoming a more mainstream component of financial and sentiment-based markets rather than a niche crypto experiment.

Industry watchers view the CFTC’s approval as indicative of a broader regulatory willingness to accommodate prediction markets, provided they operate under transparent, licenced frameworks. Acting CFTC Chair Caroline Pham has previously described event contracts as an “important new frontier.” Polymarket’s CEO Coplan declared on social media: “Polymarket has been given the green light to go live in the USA by the @CFTC. Credit to the Commission and staff for their impressive work. This process has been accomplished in record timing.”

Polymarket claims that global users placed about US$6 billion worth of predictions in the first half of 2025 alone on its platform, covering politics, entertainment and economy. Critics contend that even under regulated models, event markets carry risks of gambling-style behaviour and could present transparency and integrity challenges. Some US state regulators have expressed concern that such products may bypass traditional gaming laws under the guise of financial contracts.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, fell swiftly this week as a sustained sell-off put the token on track for its steepest monthly decline since 2022. It slipped as much as 7.6 per cent to around $80,553 before trimming losses, while the broader crypto market cap fell below $3 trillion for the first time since April.

Forced liquidations, institutional outflows and thin liquidity emerged as key drivers of the slide. Analysts at Ergonia pointed to a convergence of derivative blow-outs and structural selling via exchange-traded products as factors creating a “particularly vulnerable state” where even stabilisation efforts face immediate supply pressure. Futures liquidations exceeded $1 billion, and data highlight more than 30 per cent in market cap erasure since early October.

While Bitcoin climbed to an all-time high near $126,000 in early October, the recent downturn amounts to roughly a 25 per cent retreat within the month. Bloomberg data confirm this represents the largest monthly fall since June 2022. The correction has triggered a reevaluation of year-end positioning, with derivatives markets assigning around a 50 per cent chance that Bitcoin finishes the year under $90,000 — marking a significant sentiment shift in a matter of weeks.

One root cause of the near-term pressure lies in the unwind of leveraged positions. Many traders who piled into futures and perpetual contracts saw funding rates turn against them, triggering cascaded liquidations. Binance chief executive Richard Teng described the move as a “healthy consolidation” for the industry, albeit one that comes amid rising risk aversion and tighter macro conditions. The wave of deleveraging has spilled into alt-coins and broader risk assets, emphasising how crypto still mirrors the wider market’s orientation toward volatility and liquidity stress.

Institutional-product flows add another level of challenge. The launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs earlier this year raised expectations of large capital inflows, but the current environment has seen outflows, particularly from funds that repositioned, hedged or redeemed positions. This structural selling has combined with retail and leveraged exits to deepen the draw-down.

Despite the short-term strain, some analysts suggest the correction may clear the way for a healthier structure going forward. Liquidity indicators normally near major crypto rallies are showing signs of restocking, and some models view the current phase as a reset rather than the end of the cycle. However, sceptics caution that macro risks — including higher rates, regulatory headwinds and geopolitical stress — continue to hang over the sector and may dampen the timing or pace of any recovery.

Among market participants, sentiment has shifted markedly. Portfolio manager Nigel Green of deVere Group noted that heavy borrowing in speculative positions meant “any reversal triggers liquidations that accelerate the move”. Others highlight that although corrections of 20–30 per cent have occurred in past Bitcoin bull markets, the current confluence of leverage, product flows and liquidity outflows is unique, suggesting this phase may represent more than a standard dip.

With December positioning now in focus, the coming days will be closely watched. The monthly close looms large — if Bitcoin avoids a full 25 per cent drop it could blunt the signal of stress; if it does not the message to markets could be more definitive. The broader crypto ecosystem will also look for signs of capitulation or stabilisation — levels of derivative stress, fund flows and institutional signals will inform whether this is a tactical pull-back or the early stages of a deeper consolidation.

As one of the first major asset-classes to undergo structural institutional adoption, Bitcoin’s current draw-down serves as a test of how the market absorbs large-scale flows and macro shocks. The unfolding developments will have implications well beyond the crypto world, casting light on how digital assets behave within the larger financial system.