U.S. prosecutors have served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas tied to Chair Jerome Powell’s 2025 congressional testimony on the central bank’s headquarters renovation. Powell called the criminal probe “unprecedented” and a threat to the Fed’s independence, warning against political interference in rate-setting; investors reacted by rotating into safe havens and questioning the policy outlook. The episode raises the stakes ahead of key inflation data and the next FOMC meeting as markets weigh the risk of politicized monetary policy.
Source: FinanceFeeds
CME overhauls gold and silver margins to percentage-of-notional as volatility surges
CME Group will set margins for gold, silver, platinum and palladium as a percentage of notional value, replacing fixed dollar amounts after metals spiked to record highs. The move, effective after Tuesday’s close, should reduce ad‑hoc adjustments and better scale requirements with price swings; initial maintenance margins are set at 5% for gold and 9% for silver. Strategists said higher collateral needs at current levels may temporarily weigh on prices as traders recalibrate positions.
Source: Seeking Alpha
JPMorgan, BNY Mellon top estimates to kick off bank earnings season
JPMorgan Chase posted stronger‑than‑expected Q4 results, with revenue and EPS both beating estimates, while Bank of New York Mellon also surpassed forecasts on the top and bottom line. The beat‑and‑raise tone puts focus on 2026 guidance for net interest income, fee growth, and credit costs, as well as how managements see Fed policy, deposit pricing, and capital returns shaping performance this year.
Source: Seeking Alpha
South Korea lifts corporate crypto ban, paving way for institutional allocations
Seoul finalized guidelines ending a nine‑year prohibition on corporate cryptocurrency investments, with listed companies and professional institutions now permitted to allocate to digital assets under a tightly controlled framework. The new rules include a 5% cap of net equity per year, eligibility limited to top‑tier coins on regulated exchanges, and enhanced reporting—measures aimed at unlocking capital while containing risk.
Source: FinanceFeeds
UK FCA warns on complex ETPs sold to retail, presses for tougher checks under Consumer Duty
The Financial Conduct Authority flagged weaknesses in how firms assess suitability and communicate risks for complex exchange‑traded products, including leveraged and inverse strategies. The watchdog urged stronger appropriateness testing and clearer disclosures, noting daily resets and time decay can lead to losses even when investors correctly call market direction; it signaled closer supervision where firms fall short of Consumer Duty standards.
Source: FinanceFeeds
BitGo targets nearly $2B valuation in New York IPO as crypto custody takes the stage
Crypto custodian BitGo filed to list on the NYSE under ticker “BTGO,” seeking to raise up to ~$201 million at a valuation near $1.96 billion. The public debut would spotlight regulated infrastructure over trading‑driven models, as institutions demand qualified custody, compliant wallet tech, and robust settlement rails to scale digital‑asset strategies.
Source: FinanceFeeds
Bakkt doubles down on stablecoins with DTR acquisition, plans neobank push
Bakkt agreed to acquire Distributed Technologies Research in an all‑stock deal valued around $168 million, folding programmable stablecoin settlement into its core payments stack. Backed by Intercontinental Exchange, Bakkt said the move should cut vendor reliance, accelerate product rollout, and support a neobanking strategy with multiple distribution partners this year.
Source: FinanceFeeds
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