Crypto firm Ripple is applying for a national bank charter in the United States, its CEO Brad Garlinghouse wrote, following a similar move by stablecoin giant Circle. The move reflects a broader push by crypto firms for regulatory clarity and deeper integration with the traditional financial system.
Sterling notched a weekly loss on Friday, marking a lacklustre end to a week that saw fiscal and political uncertainties rattle investor appetite for UK assets. Traders expect the Bank of England to lower borrowing costs by 25 basis points next in September
Investors will be keeping a close eye on tariff headlines out of Washington next week, as a temporary suspension of punitive import levies is set to expire. If that Wednesday deadline passes without an increase in trade tensions, it could prove positive for the markets.
Crypto mining stocks logged strong weekly gains, in a rally fueled by signs that a favorable macroeconomic backdrop could support the US Federal Reserve’s soft-landing narrative. Shares of major mining firms surged between 13% and 28% over the past four trading sessions.
Nvidia hit a market value of $3.92 trillion on Thursday, briefly becoming the most valuable company in history. Shares rose as much as 2.4%, giving the company a higher market cap than Apple’s record closing value of $3.915 trillion on December 26, 2024.
The U.S. dollar rose against major currencies, including the yen, euro and Swiss franc, after data showing the U.S. economy created more jobs than expected, signalling that the Federal Reserve might take longer to cut interest rates.
