Fintech Policy

Business

MarketAxess: A Deep Value Play or Value Trap? Analysts Clash on Bond Trading Platform's Future

MarketAxess Holdings (MKTX), once a high-flying fintech darling, has seen its share price erode by nearly 70% over five years. As the bond trading platform grapples with shifting market dynamics and increased competition, investors are left debating whether the current valuation presents a rare buying opportunity or signals deeper structural challenges.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Fed Chair Contender Kevin Warsh Faces Defining Test: Preserving Central Bank Independence Amid Political Pressure

As speculation mounts over the next Federal Reserve leadership, top economists point to Kevin Warsh's crisis-era experience as a strength, but warn his legacy will hinge on a single, monumental challenge: shielding interest-rate policy from political influence.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Robinhood's Triple Play: From Trump Accounts to SpaceX IPO and Tokenization

Robinhood is positioning itself at the center of three major financial shifts: potentially administering new federal savings accounts, vying for a key role in SpaceX's blockbuster IPO, and expanding into tokenized assets. This strategic pivot could redefine the fintech's role from a trading app to a core financial infrastructure player.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Jelou Secures $10M to Bring AI-Powered Banking to WhatsApp in U.S. Expansion

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.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Tarabut Bolsters Open Banking Platform with Strategic Acquisition of AI Firm Servable

Bahrain's Tarabut, a regulated open banking platform, acquires AI engineering specialist Servable to embed advanced financial AI capabilities—from risk assessment to fraud detection—directly into its infrastructure for banks and fintechs across the Middle East.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Government Shutdown Looms, Grammys Spotlight Immigration as Protests Sweep Nation

A partial government shutdown triggers furloughs, the Grammys become a platform for political statements, and nationwide protests over immigration policy unfold amid a severe winter storm's aftermath.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Markets Edge Lower Ahead of Key Labor Data, Earnings Deluge

U.S. stock futures pointed to a lower open Monday as investors braced for a flood of corporate earnings and crucial labor market reports that could sway Federal Reserve policy expectations.

Feb 2, 2026

Mortgage Proposals and Rate Swings: A Housing Market in Search of Real Solutions

As mortgage rates fluctuate and ambitious policy ideas emerge, economists warn that financing tweaks cannot solve the core issue: a chronic shortage of homes.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Medicare's Obesity Drug Coverage Set to Fuel Lilly's Weight-Loss Pill Launch, CEO Says

Eli Lilly's CEO sees Medicare's new policy covering obesity treatments as a pivotal moment, poised to unlock access for millions of beneficiaries to its incoming oral drug, orforglipron, and intensify the market battle with Novo Nordisk.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Gold's Sharp Retreat: A Pause in the Safe-Haven Rally or a Sign of Things to Come?

After a historic surge, gold prices have experienced their steepest drop in decades. Yet, analysts point to enduring geopolitical tensions and monetary policy shifts as reasons why the metal's long-term appeal remains intact.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Analysts See Deep Value in Eos Energy Enterprises as Stock Trades at Steep Discount

A new valuation model suggests Eos Energy Enterprises' stock could be significantly undervalued, presenting a potential opportunity for investors amid a shifting energy policy landscape.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Warsh Nomination Triggers Historic Metals Meltdown, Investors Reassess Fed Outlook

Gold and silver prices plunged to multi-year lows as markets reacted to former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh's nomination, signaling a potential shift toward a more hawkish central bank policy and stronger dollar.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The Vanishing Numbers: How America's Fraying Economic Data Infrastructure Threatens Jobs and Stability

A quiet crisis is eroding the foundation of U.S. economic decision-making. As key federal data agencies face budget cuts, political pressure, and operational challenges, the resulting information gap could leave policymakers and businesses 'flying blind,' increasing the risks of policy missteps, deeper recessions, and prolonged unemployment.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Gold and Silver Extend Losses After Historic Plunge, Testing Safe-Haven Narrative

Precious metals continue their sharp retreat from January's record highs, with silver leading the decline as market sentiment shifts following key U.S. policy signals.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

PROG Holdings Stock Surge Puts Valuation in Spotlight: Momentum or Misalignment?

Shares of PROG Holdings (PRG) have rallied sharply in recent months, prompting investors to scrutinize whether the fintech company's current valuation reflects its underlying fundamentals or is simply riding a wave of market momentum.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Pope Leo XIV Urges Dialogue as Tensions Rise Between U.S. and Cuba

The American-born pontiff has issued a public plea for peace amid reports of a covert U.S. plan to destabilize Cuba's government, marking his latest critique of Trump-era foreign policy.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The Utah Banker Who Built a Wall: Marriner Eccles and the Battle for Fed Independence

As political pressure on the Federal Reserve intensifies, the legacy of Marriner Eccles—the Utah banker who architected its modern independence—offers a crucial lesson. A BYU expert explains why shielding monetary policy from politics remains vital for economic stability.

Feb 2, 2026

World

House Speaker Confident of Tuesday Vote to End Government Shutdown

House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed confidence that Republicans have the votes to pass a stopgap funding bill by Tuesday, aiming to end a partial government shutdown triggered over the weekend amid ongoing immigration policy disputes.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Czech Capital Sees Mass Rally in Support of President Amidst Government Standoff

Tens of thousands gathered in Prague's Wenceslas Square on Sunday, voicing support for President Petr Pavel in his escalating constitutional dispute with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's coalition government. The protest, organized by pro-democracy activists, highlights deep divisions over Ukraine policy and a controversial ministerial appointment.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

PayPal Q4 Earnings Preview: Can the Digital Payments Giant Beat Expectations Amid Sector Headwinds?

As PayPal prepares to report its fourth-quarter results, investors are watching closely for signs of resilience in its core business and updates on its strategic turnaround efforts. The report could set the tone for the broader fintech sector.

Feb 2, 2026