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Precious metals spiked as investors hedged rising geopolitical risk, driving gold close to $5,000/oz and silver past $100 in a broad flight to safety. Crude oil also bounced after reports that a U.S. naval “armada” was headed toward Iran, stoking supply concerns and reviving inflation-watch narratives just as markets reassess risk. The moves underscore tightening cross-asset correlations between geopolitics, commodities, and inflation expectations.

Source: SeekingAlpha | SeekingAlpha

Nasdaq filed a rule change, now effective, to lift the 25,000‑contract position/exercise limits on options tied to spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs. The shift aligns crypto ETF options with other commodity-based products and could deepen liquidity and improve hedging, while the SEC retains authority to revisit the change within 60 days. Expect more institutional strategies—and potentially bigger intraday swings—as position sizes scale.

Source: FinanceFeeds

Capital One agreed to buy Brex in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $5.15B, folding Brex’s corporate cards, spend management and recently launched stablecoin payments into one of the country’s largest banks. The transaction, expected to close mid-2026 pending approvals, highlights banks’ growing preference to acquire crypto-adjacent capabilities rather than build them from scratch. It also marks a pivotal moment for tokenized payments moving into mainstream corporate finance.

Source: FinanceFeeds

UBS is preparing to roll out crypto trading to select private-banking clients, adding to a reported effort to offer curated crypto investment options under tight risk controls. The move reflects mounting demand from high‑net‑worth customers and follows peers expanding custody, brokerage, and tokenization pilots. A cautious, limited-scope launch underscores how large banks are entering crypto via their most sophisticated client segments first.

Source: FinanceFeeds | SeekingAlpha

Ericsson shares jumped after a Q4 earnings beat and shareholder returns via a higher dividend and a new buyback plan, even as the CEO signaled further workforce reductions to streamline costs. The results suggest resilience in networks demand and execution on margins as the company navigates carrier capex cycles and geopolitics in 5G markets. Investors welcomed clearer capital-allocation signals alongside ongoing efficiency measures.

Source: SeekingAlpha

SLB (Schlumberger) posted a Q4 beat on revenue and EPS as international and offshore cycles stayed firm, and management said the company can quickly scale operations in Venezuela as conditions permit. The update points to continued strength in global upstream spending and a widening breadth of growth drivers beyond North America. Investors will watch execution in Latin America and offshore as energy supermajors lock in multi‑year project plans.

Source: SeekingAlpha | SeekingAlpha

DXC Technology will integrate Ripple’s institutional custody, stablecoin payments (RLUSD), and onchain capabilities into DXC’s Hogan core banking platform, which supports 300M+ accounts and over $5T in deposits. The tie‑up offers banks a path to deploy regulated digital asset services without re‑platforming their cores—potentially accelerating tokenization, programmable payments, and custodial offerings. It’s a notable bridge between legacy infrastructure and onchain finance at enterprise scale.

Source: FinanceFeeds

Samsung denies 80% memory price hike rumor

Wall Street drifts after Intel results cap a volatile week

Kansas bill proposes state-run Bitcoin and digital asset reserve

Coinbase: Crypto enters 2026 with healthier market structure

U.S. PMI Composite inches up to start the year