Commonwealth Bank of Australia has partnered with Mastercard to conduct the nation's first pilot of authenticated 'agentic' payments, a move that could redefine how transactions are initiated and managed by artificial intelligence.
In a major strategic pivot, Global Payments (NYSE:GPN) is shedding its issuer processing business to focus on merchant acquiring, fueled by its planned acquisition of Worldpay. The move aims to reshape its revenue streams and competitive edge in the evolving payments landscape.
Fintech startup Jelou has raised $10 million in Series A funding to scale its AI-driven conversational banking platform, Brain, from Latin America to the U.S., enabling payments, verification, and credit services directly within messaging apps.
Facing internal resistance to AI adoption, payments company MassPay linked its use directly to a profit-sharing pool. The result, according to CEO Ran Grushkowsky, was not just significant cost savings and eliminated hiring needs, but a notable boost in team morale.
The world's largest payment networks are taking a measured approach to stablecoins for everyday consumer transactions, citing a lack of clear demand in developed markets and emphasizing their role as infrastructure providers rather than disruptors.
Main Street Capital (NYSE: MAIN) stands out in the BDC sector with its unique policy of paying monthly dividends supplemented by periodic special payouts. While appealing to income-focused investors, this approach raises questions about the sustainability of its cash flows and the underlying health of its portfolio in a shifting economic landscape.
The Bank of Spain's gold and foreign exchange reserves soared to nearly €94 billion in 2025, a historic peak fueled by global demand. As bullion's role evolves, the nation's complex history with its gold—from the Civil War-era 'Moscow gold' controversy to modern monetary strategy—offers a poignant backdrop.
The British government's move to retroactively alter leasehold ground rent contracts is undermining a foundational pillar of its investment landscape: trust in the rule of law. This erosion of contractual certainty risks deterring the long-term capital essential for growth, from energy to AI infrastructure.
A broad crypto market sell-off has dragged AI-linked tokens to one of their steepest weekly declines in recent memory, erasing billions in value. Despite the price pain, key infrastructure projects in the decentralized AI and agent ecosystem continue to advance.
Alibaba Group is making a massive, multi-billion yuan bet to integrate its Qwen AI assistant across its ecosystem and develop its own AI chips, signaling a strategic pivot to reduce foreign dependency and deepen user engagement amid intense competition.
A newly surfaced 2014 email from the Jeffrey Epstein documents reveals Bitcoin-aligned executives warning investors about backing rival projects like Ripple. Some XRP proponents are framing the disclosure as validation of the token's early significance, though market momentum remains bearish.
For many Americans, the dream of homeownership is masking a harsh financial reality. Experts warn that being 'house poor'—where housing costs consume an unsustainable portion of income—is a growing, often unnoticed, threat to financial health and personal well-being.
The payments giants Visa and Mastercard reported robust revenue and earnings growth for their latest quarters, though their premium valuations continue to spark investor debate on which offers the superior long-term opportunity.
The spirits giant files for legal protection for its production and warehouse assets in Latvia, citing cash flow pressures from geopolitical fallout and market headwinds, while assuring global sales remain unaffected.
India is negotiating with Ant International to link its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the Alipay+ network, a move that could simplify overseas transactions for Indian travelers and signal a thaw in economic relations with China, according to government sources.
Amid a cautiously recovering Eurozone economy, dividend-paying stocks are gaining attention from investors seeking reliable income and a buffer against market volatility. We analyze three standout European companies offering compelling yield and value.
As markets navigate uncertainty, a low-cost, diversified bond ETF is gaining renewed attention from investors seeking stable yield and portfolio ballast. We examine the strategy behind one popular fund and its role in a long-term income plan.
Alibaba Group has pledged 3 billion yuan ($431 million) to promote its Qwen AI app during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, significantly outpacing similar campaigns by rivals Tencent and Baidu and marking a major escalation in China's competitive AI landscape.
Alibaba Group has announced a massive 3 billion yuan ($431 million) campaign to promote its Qwen AI app during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, significantly outpacing similar efforts by rivals Tencent and Baidu. The move intensifies a high-stakes battle for user adoption in China's rapidly evolving artificial intelligence sector.
As Europe's markets navigate a fragile recovery, investors are turning to dividend-paying stocks for income and resilience. We examine three companies offering attractive yields, weighing their potential against underlying financial risks.
