{"id":87,"date":"2025-07-24T13:05:55","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T13:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/infovision.com.au\/?page_id=87"},"modified":"2025-08-09T23:41:23","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T23:41:23","slug":"latest-news","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.alfie.com.hk\/index.php\/latest-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Latest News"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Economy<\/a><\/h2>

Trump in Iowa tries to shift the conversation back to the economy<\/a><\/h4>
Jan 28 2026<\/h6>A brief swing through the farm state underscored administration fears about the midterms.

President Donald Trump acknowledges the crowd after speaking during an event at the Horizon Events Center in Clive, Iowa, Jan. 27, 2026.<\/a><\/p><\/div>

Americans give Trump low marks on handling of economy as midterms likely to center on affordability<\/a><\/h4>
Jan 16 2026<\/h6>Sixty-one percent of voters told a CNN poll released Friday that they disapprove of the way Trump is handling the economy.

President Donald Trump has struggled to stay on message, and even Republicans say he hasn\u2019t necessarily delivered on the economy.<\/a><\/p><\/div>

Capitol agenda: Trump tests GOP with Fed probe<\/a><\/h4>
Jan 12 2026<\/h6>

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Morning Money<\/a><\/h2>

A new valentine for crypto<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 12 2026<\/h6>The shifting focus is the latest reminder of the dramatic shift that the SEC has taken toward crypto under President Donald Trump.

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Trust us: The labor market\u2019s fine<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 11 2026<\/h6>In a midterm election that will be defined by cost-of-living issues, the relative strength of a \u201clow-hire, low-fire\u201d economy won\u2019t be a great sales pitch.

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Another day, another dollar hangover<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 10 2026<\/h6>The greenback can\u2019t catch a break.

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The tariff man taketh<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 9 2026<\/h6>New research from the nonpartisan Tax Foundation found that the president\u2019s trade policies cost U.S. households about $1,000 on average last year.

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Skinny accounts on the horizon<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 5 2026<\/h6>The battle between crypto upstarts and banking stalwarts is moving to the Federal Reserve.

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Meet Kevin Warsh<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 4 2026<\/h6>Warsh\u2019s evolution from crisis-era inflation hawk to Trump ally has been headscratching for some Fed watchers, and some are \u201cwondering which version of Warsh will ultimately govern the central bank.\u201d

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Wall Street draws a line on AI<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 3 2026<\/h6>AI has become an engine of the S&P 500, a central pillar of the U.S. economy and a core part of President Donald Trump\u2019s economic agenda.

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Why Warsh might not give Trump the economy he wants<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 2 2026<\/h6>President Donald Trump\u2019s pick to lead the Federal Reserve would inherit a healthy economy that most Americans believe is about to skid.

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Business - South China Morning Post<\/a><\/h2>

What is tokenised gold and why are financial institutions and investors looking at it?<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 17 2026<\/h6>This Lunar New Year, Hongkongers can gift friends and family digital gold tokens, a new way of blending the city\u2019s tradition of giving gold for good wishes with the convenience of blockchain technology.\nHSBC added this new transfer feature earlier this month to its retail gold token, which represents fractional ownership of physical gold stored in a secure vault and is the only retail-focused gold token approved by Hong Kong\u2019s Securities and Futures Commission.\nThe bank\u2019s enhancement to its gold...

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Chow Tai Fook-linked firms set for record US$192 million hit in Giordano case<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>In the largest settlement for a Takeovers Code breach in Hong Kong, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has reached an agreement with two wholly owned subsidiaries of Chow Tai Fook Nominee (CTFN) \u2013 a company linked to the Henry Cheng Ka-shun family \u2013 requiring them to pay up to HK$1.5 billion (US$192 million) to independent shareholders of Giordano International.\nThe agreement with Sino Wealth International, Giordano\u2019s majority shareholder, and Clear Prosper Global followed an...

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Hong Kong\u2019s Kerry Properties secures Shau Kei Wan residential plot for US$177 million<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>Hong Kong-based Kerry Properties has won a tender for a residential plot in Shau Kei Wan for HK$1.38 billion (US$177 million), which drew heavy bidding interest from both mainland Chinese and local developers.\nKerry beat seven other bidders for a 50-year grant for the 1,349-square-metre (14,523 sq ft) parcel in the Eastern district, the Lands Department said on Monday.\nThe plot was expected to provide a total gross floor area of over 130,000 sq ft, yielding around 300 residential units,...

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UBS China venture faces wrath of silver investors after valuation change increases losses<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>Thousands of Chinese retail investors spent the last day of the Year of the Snake on Monday filing complaints against UBS SDIC Fund Management for an overnight valuation change that caused steep losses for holders of its silver fund, even after the firm offered remedies.\nMore than 200,000 people lodged complaints against the operator of the country\u2019s only silver fund after the controversial change on February 2, according to Xiaofei Bao, an online Chinese consumer protection platform.\nThe switch...

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Hong Kong banks lure wealthy clients with gold, mahjong sets, fireworks during holiday<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>Gold, mahjong sets, fancy lai see packets and dinners with fireworks views are among the incentives Hong Kong banks are using to lure wealthy customers from the city and the mainland during the Lunar New Year, which kicks off on Tuesday.\nHong Kong authorities estimated that as many as 1.43 million mainland visitors would cross the border during the holiday period, up 6 per cent from a year earlier.\nThe Year of the Horse begins on Tuesday, but the mainland holiday started on Sunday and ends on...

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Can Hong Kong\u2019s 4.8 million MPF members repeat record gains in Year of the Horse?<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>The Year of the Horse is set to bring volatility for the investments of Hong Kong\u2019s 4.8 million Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) members, following a record-breaking Year of the Snake that ended on Monday, according to analysts.\nThe next zodiac year, which begins on Tuesday, is the seventh in the Chinese lunar calendar\u2019s 12-year cycle, each represented by an animal.\nThe Year of the Snake delivered estimated earnings of HK$251.6 billion (US$32 billion), the highest on record since the MPF was...

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Hong Kong stocks rise to wrap up best lunar-year performance in eight years<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>Hong Kong stocks rose on Monday as investors headed into the Lunar New Year holiday on an upbeat note, betting that the Year of the Horse will extend a rally that delivered the biggest lunar-year gain in eight years amid strong southbound inflows.\nThe Hang Seng Index rose 0.5 per cent to 26,705.94 at the close of trading at noon, ending a two-day decline. The Hang Seng Tech Index added 0.1 per cent.\nThe Hang Seng Index is up 32 per cent since the Year of the Snake began on January 29, 2025, the...

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Korean investors pour US$92.5 million into Hong Kong-listed AI, tech stocks<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>South Korean investors returned to mainland equities at the start of 2026, ramping up purchases of Hong Kong-listed players in artificial intelligence and semiconductors amid enduring enthusiasm for the tech sector.\nThey bought US$92.5 million worth of Hong Kong-listed shares this year as of February 13, according to data from SEIBro, a portal maintained by the Korea Securities Depository. The buying was concentrated in newly listed technology companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking...

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Bloomberg Markets<\/a><\/h2>

India Earnings Season May Offer AI-Scarred Bulls a Lifeline<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 17 2026<\/h6>Earnings growth is beginning to broaden beyond a handful of sectors.

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Topshop Opens in John Lewis in Bid to Regain UK Clothing Appeal<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 17 2026<\/h6>Topshop and Topman clothing is set to go on sale at John Lewis Partnership Plc on Tuesday, marking the brands\u2019 first large-scale appearance on British high streets in five years.

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AI Scare\u2019s $56 Billion Hit Tests Resilience of India\u2019s IT Stocks<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>For investors bullish on India\u2019s technology services industry, the \u201cAI scare trade\u201d has created an opportunity to buy shares of companies that are able to survive the doomsday predictions.

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Gold Slides Below $5,000 as Lunar New Year Holiday Mutes Trade<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>Gold slipped further below $5,000 an ounce in thin trading, with much of Asia closed for the Lunar New Year and after a US holiday on Monday.

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Oil Holds Gain as Iran Conducts Naval Drills Before US Talks<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>Oil was steady after its biggest gain in a week, as Iran carried out naval drills near a major regional transit chokepoint before talks with the US later Tuesday.

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S&amp;P 500, Nasdaq Futures Decline Ahead of US Return: Markets Wrap<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>US equity-index futures fell, setting a cautious tone ahead of the market\u2019s reopening after a holiday. Treasuries edged higher.

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BHP\u2019s Bumper Copper Profits Accelerate Shift From Iron Ore<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>BHP Group posted earnings at the upper end of analyst expectations, as a years-long effort to shore up copper production combined with a historic metals rally to offset a lackluster period for its giant iron ore business.

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Chile Cherry Sales to China Disappoint on Oversupply, Demand Lag<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>Chile notched a second disappointing season of cherry sales in China after exporting too much fruit too far ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday when consumption traditionally peaks.

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Bloomberg Technology<\/a><\/h2>

Activist Palliser Takes Stake in Toilet Maker Toto in AI Play<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 17 2026<\/h6>Activist fund Palliser Capital has taken a stake in Japanese washlet maker Toto Ltd. and is pushing the firm to ramp up promotion of its little-known chip parts business in a bid to unlock value from the AI boom.

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Musk\u2019s X Probed by Irish Data Watchdog Over Grok Sexual Images<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 17 2026<\/h6>Ireland\u2019s data protection watchdog has launched an investigation into X over concerns about sexualized images created and published using the Grok AI chatbot.

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Modi Seizes AI Summit to Assert India\u2019s Global Ambitions After Tough Year<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 17 2026<\/h6>Six months ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was fending off verbal attacks from US President Donald Trump, trying to regain the upper hand over Pakistan after an armed conflict, and facing questions about his economy\u2019s prospects.

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AI Scare\u2019s $56 Billion Hit Tests Resilience of India\u2019s IT Stocks<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>For investors bullish on India\u2019s technology services industry, the \u201cAI scare trade\u201d has created an opportunity to buy shares of companies that are able to survive the doomsday predictions.

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Apple Revamps Video Podcasts as Industry Shifts Toward Visuals<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>Apple Inc. is revamping its video offering in Apple Podcasts as part of a broader industry shift toward visuals in the once audio-only medium.

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SpaceX to Compete in Pentagon Contest for Autonomous Drone Tech<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>Elon Musk\u2019s SpaceX and wholly owned subsidiary xAI are competing in a secretive new Pentagon contest to produce voice-controlled, autonomous drone swarming technology, according to people familiar with the matter.

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Germany Moves Closer to a Social Media Ban for Those Under 16<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>Germany looks poised to introduce age restrictions on social media in a move likely to increase tensions with US President Donald Trump.

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AI Disruption Fears Rattle Industries<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>Anxiety about AI displacing businesses has rattled markets, shaking industries from software and wealth management to logistics. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Matt Bloxham joins Vonnie Quinn and Norah Mulinda to discuss what to expect going forward. He speaks on \"Bloomberg Markets.\" (Source: Bloomberg)

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Bloomberg Wealth<\/a><\/h2>

Peruvian Tycoon Hit With Wave of Shop Closures in Wealthy Lima Area<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>An upscale municipality in Peru\u2019s capital Lima temporarily shuttered over a dozen commercial spaces controlled by one of the country\u2019s top conglomerates, igniting an unlikely battle between the company and a local mayor.

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Student Loans May Be Radicalizing UK Taxpayers<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>Support for a smaller state is growing. This might be why.

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Banker Who Helped Lead Saudi Debt Boom Will Drive FDI Push<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 16 2026<\/h6>About a decade ago, Saudi Arabia picked a veteran banker to help set up a debt-market program that\u2019s since transformed the kingdom into one of the most prolific bond issuers globally. His next task is to help Riyadh draw in overseas cash and triple annual foreign direct investment to $100 billion by 2030.

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\u2018Hello Girls!\u2019: Epstein Donated to Harvard Student Group for Years After Sex Conviction<\/a><\/h4>
Feb 15 2026<\/h6>Long after Jeffrey Epstein was known as a convicted sex offender, he was also a top contributor to an elite cluster of groups founded by Harvard University students. For years, he was able to fill a table with \u201cgirls\u201d at an annual gala that featured celebrities, billionaires and cultural luminaries.

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