News related to
trading

Shares in Santos plunged by up to 13.6% as the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company-backed XRG consortium formally withdrew its A$36.4 billion takeover offer, stating it could not reach agreement with Santos on critical commercial terms.

The consortium, which includes ADQ and Carlyle alongside XRG, had proposed A$8.89 per share in June, equivalent to US$5.76 at the time. Santos had adjusted that for a dividend and told XRG on Monday that it was prepared to accept US$5.626 per share.

This marks the third unsuccessful major offer for Santos over seven years, including a rejected bid from Harbour Energy in 2018 and abandoned merger talks with Woodside Energy. Analysts warn that repeated deal failures erode investor confidence in the company’s ability to seal a large-scale acquisition.

Investor concern was immediately reflected in the market. Santos shares dropped to A$6.61 in early trading, their lowest level since June 10, as the premium embedded in the bid evaporated. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was marginally down.

Analysts and banks responded by downgrading the stock. Jarden cut its rating from “overweight” to “underweight”, lowering its 12-month target from A$8.40 to A$7.05 per share. turn0news10turn0search1turn0search2

Santos leadership emphasised its strong project pipeline, pointing to the Barossa gas project in northern Australia and the Pikka oil venture in Alaska as key future growth drivers. Company chair Keith Spence reiterated that Santos has a clear strategy to generate cash, reward shareholders, reinvest in infrastructure and grow production while maintaining safety and reliability.

XRG stated that a “combination of factors, when considered collectively, have impacted the Consortium’s assessment of its indicative offer”, including inability to agree on terms under the Scheme Implementation Agreement. Among sticking points was the demand that the consortium assume certain regulatory and tax-risk obligations, which XRG considered unacceptable.

Curve DAO is considering a proposal to pre-mint 60 million crvUSD to support its new Yield Basis AMM, a mechanism designed to use leveraged Bitcoin pools to eliminate impermanent loss while boosting yield. The crvUSD would be borrowed and paired with BTC in liquidity positions rather than sold on the open market, avoiding direct dilution of circulating stablecoin supply.

Proposed by Curve founder Michael Egorov, Yield Basis is expected to launch with three capped pools, each for BTC wrappers, with deposit limits of about US$10 million per pool. The proposal claims that Yield Basis returns value to both veYB holders and to Curve / veCRV holders through trade-and-fee flows, vote incentives, and other revenue mechanisms.

However, the plan has met with resistance in Curve’s governance forums. Critics warn that pre-minting unbacked crvUSD introduces systemic risk, including potential for unmanageable supply growth, governance overreach, and threats to the peg of crvUSD. One commenter described the risk of minting “out-of-thin-air, unbacked, 60M crvUSD”. Some community members argue the DAO’s current permissions already allow arbitrary minting of crvUSD, a concern in light of past vulnerabilities.

Risk mitigation is a major topic of debate. Suggestions include turning the pre-mint into a strict credit line structure, with per-pool limits, a governance-controlled kill-switch, staged rollout starting with a single BTC wrapper, insurance or first-loss vaults, and better transparency via telemetry dashboards. Yield Basis proponents have responded by noting that the protocol has passed six audits to date, is running a Sherlock bug bounty, and intends to enforce caps at launch. They emphasise that crvUSD in Yield Basis is minted only when BTC is deposited.

Scale and revenue projections form a core of the discussion. The proposal argues that Yield Basis solves what’s known as the demand-side absorption issue for crvUSD: rather than minting tokens that are sold, pairing them internally with BTC leverages LP positions, creating supply sinks and revenue flows. Fee distributions—from arbitrage trades, stablecoin pair pools involving crvUSD, and trading commissions—are structured to benefit veCRV holders, veYB holders, and liquidity providers. The DAO ecosystem is slated to receive a share of YB token inflation for vote incentives in major stablecoin pools.

Stakeholders are closely watching governance dynamics. veCRV voting power is fragmented, voter turnout on high-stakes proposals is variable, and some members say optics could affect market confidence. The precedent set by this mint could influence how future protocol decisions are made.

Prosus NV has raised its holding in Urban Company Ltd to 7.35 per cent, after acquiring roughly an additional 4 percentage points by investing about $139 million, ahead of the home services startup’s Initial Public Offering. This move positions Prosus as one of Urban Company’s largest shareholders and signals strong institutional faith in the firm’s prospects.

Urban Company’s IPO drew overwhelming demand — it was subscribed over 103 times — and its shares listed at a premium of about 57.5 per cent over the issue price on the National Stock Exchange, opening at ₹162.25 versus the ₹103 issue price. The listing surged the company’s market valuation to nearly $2.8 billion.

According to Ashutosh Sharma, head of Prosus India Ecosystem, the firm increased its stake during the IPO allotment. Prosus first backed Urban Company in 2021; this latest acquisition underscores its continued appetite for stakes in Indian startups with domestic consumer and service-led business models.

Urban Company, founded in 2014 by Abhiraj Singh Bhal, Varun Khaitan, and Raghav Chandra, operates across home services such as beauty, cleaning, appliance repair and plumbing. It has expanded into over 50 cities in India and also operates in international markets including UAE and Singapore. The company reported strong financial performance in its fiscal year ending 2025, with revenue growth of around 36 per cent year-on-year and its first net profit of approximately ₹239–₹240 crore.

Investor enthusiasm was evident in the IPO process. Qualified Institutional Buyers led the subscription with particularly strong bids. The grey market premium, which reflects expectations ahead of listing, had risen to over 50 per cent above the issue price, signalling investor confidence in an upward listing trajectory.

Prosus’s move comes amid a broader trend of institutional investors increasing their exposure to Indian startups ahead of IPOs, particularly those in consumer-facing, service-oriented sectors. Earlier urban and tech-led listings have attracted robust demand, and IPOs that show solid unit economics—strong margins, revenue growth, steps toward profit—are being favoured by capital.

Urban Company’s stock market debut saw a steep rise: the shares not only opened with a 57.5 per cent premium on NSE, but trading surged further, reflecting both investor optimism and perceived underpricing in its IPO offer.

Prosus, headquartered in the Netherlands and known for its early stake in Tencent Holdings, has invested over $8-9 billion in the Indian startup ecosystem. It has backed firms such as Swiggy, Meesho, and PayU. Its amplified investment in Urban Company exemplifies a strategy of anchoring bets on firms that combine growth potential with improving financial metrics.

Hong Kong’s technology sector soared as benchmarks hit their highest point since 2021, supported by mounting investor confidence in China’s artificial intelligence ambitions. The Hang Seng Tech Index jumped about 4.2%, reaching a level not seen since November 2021, while Alibaba, Baidu and other major players saw robust gains on optimism around AI innovation.

Baidu led the charge, climbing roughly 16% in Hong Kong trading—its biggest surge since March 2022—as analysts upgraded its outlook in light of growing belief in its chip-development strategy. Alibaba also rose strongly; its Hong Kong-listed shares have reached levels unseen since late 2021, bolstered by its expanding cloud and AI-linked operations. Market watchers noted increasing activity in China Unicom and internal chip design projects contributing to the momentum.

This surge comes amid broader trends: domestic AI developers are accelerating roll-outs of proprietary chips, cloud computing investment is rising, and regulatory signals suggest stronger support for technology self-reliance. Meanwhile, progress in international matters—such as negotiations over TikTok’s operations—has reduced investor uncertainty, further boosting risk appetite in equity markets.

While enthusiasm is widespread, concerns persist among analysts over the sustainability of growth. High valuations have raised questions about how quickly revenue from AI and cloud services can scale. The technical challenge of chip design and the global competition in semiconductor technology remain formidable barriers.

Nasdaq has mandated that listed companies obtain shareholder approval before issuing new shares to acquire cryptocurrencies, and must disclose fuller justifications and risk assessments for large-scale crypto purchases.

The exchange’s enhanced oversight aims to guard investors, particularly retail traders, from underestimating the high volatility and speculative nature of cryptocurrencies. Companies must now explain why they are buying substantial amounts of crypto and articulate the associated financial, regulatory and market‐risk implications.

Under the new requirements, issued by Nasdaq earlier this month, firms proposing to issue equity to raise funds for crypto purchases must secure affirmative vote from their shareholders. Non‐compliance may result in trading suspension or delisting. Nasdaq is also tightening disclosure obligations: entities must show how much crypto they hold, the rationale for those holdings, and how they plan to manage the risks.

Architect Partners reports that over 120 US‐listed companies have announced plans to raise more than US$130-billion this year for cryptocurrency acquisitions, nearly 100 of which are listed on Nasdaq. Many of these firms have adopted “crypto-treasury” strategies—allocating a significant portion of their balance sheets to digital assets. Some high-profile companies have already attracted scrutiny for the size of their holdings and for the effects on shareholder dilution.

Nasdaq justifies the changes by citing investor protection. Wholesale accumulation of crypto assets can dramatically affect stock price volatility. There is concern that some retail investors may not fully grasp how crypto’s price swings, regulatory uncertainty or tax treatment risk hurting returns, or causing losses.

Critics worry the new rules could slow innovation or deter companies considering crypto exposure. Companies accustomed to quickly buying digital assets may face delays because shareholder voting cycles are time-consuming and costly. Some argue that imposing blanket rules could punish well-prepared firms that already maintain strong governance, transparency, and risk controls.

Regulators such as the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have been increasing pressure on exchanges and firms around crypto disclosures, anti‐fraud measure and governance. Nasdaq’s move aligns with broader regulatory momentum in financial markets toward more oversight of firms with substantial crypto exposure.

Hesai Group’s shares surged in their Hong Kong debut, trading above its IPO price after the lidar‐sensor maker raised approximately HK$4.16 billion in its secondary listing.

Trading under code 2525, the stock opened at HK$229.20, about 7.7 per cent above the offer price of HK$212.80. Demand was strong: the international tranche was oversubscribed around 14 times, while the Hong Kong public tranche drew nearly 168.65 times subscription. Six cornerstone investors including HHLR Advisors, Taikang Life, and WT Asset Management committed some US$148 million worth of shares, agreeing to hold them for at least six months.

Hesai’s second quarter performance helped set the stage. Its revenue rose by 54 per cent year-on-year, shipments more than tripled, and the company reported a net profit of roughly RMB 44.1 million, reversing a loss from the year before. These results support its strategy to scale lidar sensor shipments, especially for advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous driving applications.

A key driver is Hesai’s plan to cut manufacturing costs and selling prices. CEO David Li stated that the company is working to reduce the cost of its sensors dramatically, targeting a price of about US$200 per unit from previous models that sold for tens of thousands of dollars. To assist this, production expansion is underway, and Hesai is also pursuing international customers and counterparties in the autonomous vehicle and robotics sectors.

Geopolitical and regulatory pressures are also shaping Hesai’s approach. The dual listing in Hong Kong while retaining its U. S. listing on Nasdaq reflects efforts to strengthen capital access amid U. S.-China tensions. Hesai had earlier denied accusations of misleading investors over revenue and alleged military links; the company stated its operations are independent and compliant with regulations.

Gemini Space Station, the cryptocurrency exchange founded by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, saw its shares leap more than 32% when it began trading on Nasdaq under the ticker “GEMI”. The stock opened at $37.01, having been priced at $28, after the company raised $425 million through an initial public offering.

Gemini sold 15.2 million shares at the set price, above the originally floated range of $24 to $26 per share. Investor demand exceeded supply by over twenty times. Nasdaq also participated with a $50 million private placement simultaneous with the IPO.

The valuation placed Gemini at approximately $3.3 billion, non-diluted. After the rally, the share price settled closer to $32, still well above the IPO price but reflecting a pull-back from the intraday highs.

Gemini posted a net loss of $282.5 million for the first half of 2025, following a $159 million loss in 2024. Despite those losses, its business spans crypto exchange services, a stablecoin, and a rewards credit card product.

Regulatory developments have bolstered confidence in the cryptocurrency sector. Gemini has benefited from relaxed oversight compared with earlier years, and the IPO is seen as a signal of institutional adoption amid stronger clarity from U. S. regulators. The firm is now viewed alongside the likes of Coinbase and Bullish, both of which have gone public.

Singapore is gearing up to reveal a comprehensive “value unlock” package by the end of the year aimed at reviving the nation’s stock market, regulators said. Key initiatives will likely build on the Equity Market Development Programme, stronger listing incentives, streamlined regulations and enhanced shareholder rights, intended to improve liquidity, listings and investor confidence.

The EQDP, a S$5 billion programme announced earlier in the year, will see its first tranche of S$1.1 billion allocated to three asset managers—Avanda Investment Management, JP Morgan Asset Management and Fullerton Fund Management—to invest in Singapore-listed equities. These selections were made partly based on alignment with objectives to broaden participation beyond large-cap stocks and strengthen asset-management capabilities.

Alongside co-investment funding, tax incentives are being offered for primary and secondary listings. A 20 per cent corporate income tax rebate applies for qualifying new primary listings, and a 10 per cent rebate for secondary ones. There is also pressure to ease regulatory requirements around prospectus disclosures, shorten IPO-approval timelines, and allow earlier investor outreach in IPOs.

Regulatory reforms under consideration include reducing the profit requirement for Mainboard listings, aligning secondary listing rules with international disclosure standards, and possibly removing the financial watch-list mechanism for loss-making firms while increasing the role of disclosure over prescriptive reporting.

Market analysts welcome the measures but caution that they may not address deeper structural weaknesses. Singapore’s exchange has seen more delistings than IPOs in many months, a low number of growth-stage listings, a prevalence of companies with weak profitability, and low free floats among many issued shares. These factors have limited trading depth and made it harder for mid-caps to attract institutional investors.

Insolvency reform is also part of the picture. Proposed changes to Singapore’s Companies Act would broaden the so-called cross-class “cram-down” powers, letting restructuring plans be imposed even over dissenting shareholders in certain cases. The proposals include streamlining processes for issuing new shares or disposing of assets during restructuring, and revising compensation frameworks for restructuring managers.

Regulatory agencies such as the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Singapore Exchange Regulation, and the Equities Market Review Group are all involved in shaping the yet-to-be-announced package. Public consultations on many proposals have taken place or are underway, especially around IPO rules, listing thresholds, and listing admission criteria.

Bybit has restored full access to its mobile app for users in India, marking a pivotal stage in its compliance efforts and reaffirming its long-term presence in the market. Access to its website is being reinstated in phases and is expected to be fully live within the next three to four days. This marks a strategic relaunch of services including spot trading, derivatives, options and copy trading, supported by enhanced Know Your Customer protocols and security measures.

The exchange began its compliance drive earlier this year by registering with the Financial Intelligence Unit-India as a reporting entity under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in January 2025. That move followed a penalty of approximately INR 9.27 crore imposed for operating without proper registration. Services had trickled back in February for authorised users, but full restoration remained pending until now.

Bybit co-founder and CEO Ben Zhou said the company views this phase Bybit Restores Full Trading Access in India as more than a mere return—it signals a renewed chapter in its India operations. He emphasised India’s potential as a leading digital-asset market and reiterated the company’s commitment to delivering secure, transparent, world-class trading experiences. Vikas Gupta, Country Manager of Bybit India, described the moment as a landmark in providing Indian clients a seamless and compliant trading environment. He also spoke of broader ambitions to nurture India’s crypto ecosystem through education, strategic partnerships and community initiatives.

Legal counsel from Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas led Bybit’s regulatory realignment, navigating months of negotiations and product realignment to meet Indian norms and transaction-reporting requirements. The process has been framed as a model for other offshore platforms seeking a compliant pathway into India’s tightening regulatory environment.

Bybit has intensified its outreach in the Indian market, serving as title sponsor for the India Blockchain Tour 2025 and preparing for the next leg, “Metamorphosis – India Blockchain Tour,” in New Delhi on 27–28 September. The exchange has also unveiled its World Series of Trading 2025, offering welcome bonuses and prizes such as cars and smartphones to attract users.

India remains one of the world’s most dynamic cryptocurrency markets, despite stiff tax and regulatory hurdles—such as a 30 per cent tax on crypto gains and no comprehensive legal framework yet in place. The restoration of Bybit’s services under tighter compliance standards reflects its resilience and underscores the importance of regulatory alignment for offshore platforms.

Gold in Dubai opened trading on Tuesday with the 22K grade touching Dh408 per gram, setting a fresh all-time high and elevating investor and shopper concerns alike. The 24K variety climbed to Dh440.5, while 21K inched ever closer to the key Dh400 level, trading at Dh391.0 per gram.

Global and regional market dynamics are fueling this surge. The international spot price of gold has consistently pushed new heights, recently nearing $3,600 per ounce, with August seeing an approximate 31 per cent year-to-date gain. In part, this reflects growing expectations of US Federal Reserve rate cuts, which traditionally support gold’s safe-haven appeal.

Experts caution that the Dh408 per gram summit for 22K gold may not mark a plateau. Elevated global demand, festival-season jewellery purchases, and sustained investor appetite are converging. Yet there is also speculation about a pullback. Some analysts interpret current levels as ripe for partial profit-taking, while others expect continued momentum if support holds.

The 상승 in gold prices is reshaping shopper sentiment. With Dubai gold surges; 22K at Dh408 now firmly established, affordability becomes a pressing issue for consumers, particularly those buying for weddings, gifts, or as long-term stores of value. Jewellery retailers, in turn, are adapting by promoting lighter ornament designs and gold savings schemes to manage demand amid elevated prices.

Buyers may face a strategic dilemma: delay purchases in hopes of a correction, or lock in gold at historically high prices before potential further rises. The combination of geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures, and currency fluctuations continues to bolster gold’s attractiveness.

As the UAE moves deeper into its peak gold-buying season, Dubai gold surges; 22K at Dh408 encapsulates the shifting dynamics at play: strong upward trajectory, global economic tension, and consumer caution all intersecting in a market where every dirham counts.

eToro Group Ltd is poised to pursue bolder acquisitions after securing a substantial liquidity base, according to one of its co-founders. At the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio, Italy, Ronen Assia, executive director and co-founder, confirmed that the firm “has cash and cash equivalents of around $1.2 billion at the end of the first half of the year, with a cash position of $988 million, with no debt.” He added: “We’re looking to do more ambitious stuff involving acquisitions,” emphasising that eToro aims to broaden both asset classes and its geographic footprint.

eToro’s deliberate pivot into more aggressive mergers and acquisitions comes on the heels of its listing on Nasdaq in May 2025, where it raised $620 million in its initial public offering. The company’s robust cash war-chest endows it with flexibility to explore new verticals and markets in a dynamic fintech landscape.

Beyond financial strength, eToro is deepening its product offering. The platform recently rolled out tokenisation and artificial intelligence tools targeted at retail investors, along with expanding its global reach. Meanwhile, preliminary selected business metrics for July and August reveal continued operational momentum: assets under administration rose to $19.7 billion, funded accounts approached 3.69 million—both reflecting high year-on-year growth—while crypto trading volumes surged by nearly 50 percent.

The company’s healthy balance sheet is grounded in a successful IPO and product innovation. In Q1 2025, eToro reported $736 million in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments, alongside growth in user accounts and assets under administration. The firm also expanded its trading products, launching options in the UK and futures in Europe, while diversifying geographic access to include exchanges in Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong.

This marks a clear signal that bold acquisitions are on eToro’s horizon—a phrase that captures the firm’s evolving strategic ambition and its capacity to act decisively in a competitive market.

The timing of this announcement is significant. Mergers and acquisitions within fintech and crypto sectors have become tools for scale, innovation, and regulatory navigation. With its substantial liquidity and no leverage, eToro may look to acquire firms offering complementary capabilities—whether in tokenisation, AI-driven trading, wealth management, or regional expansion.

Ronen Assia’s stance highlights both intent and preparedness. The expressed goal to take on “more ambitious” deals indicates a readiness to move beyond smaller bolt-ins, aiming instead for transformative moves that could reshape the firm’s product and regional scope. The emphasis on adding asset classes and locales suggests potential targets might include firms with niche offerings or solid footprints in under-penetrated markets.

At a time when many fintech companies are consolidating or recalibrating amid macroeconomic shifts and evolving regulation, eToro’s proactive posture sets it apart. With backing of a strong balance sheet and public market credibility, the platform is well placed to capitalise on strategic M&A opportunities as they arise.