Regional Banking

Business

Hong Kong Set to Issue First Stablecoin Licenses in March, Marking Watershed Moment for Crypto Hub Ambitions

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is poised to grant its inaugural stablecoin issuer licenses next month, a key step in the city's comprehensive push to establish a regulated digital asset ecosystem. The move follows a rigorous application process and signals a new era of oversight for the burgeoning sector.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

C&S Wholesalers Deepens Southeast Roots with Key Sedano's Supermarket Supply Deal

The major wholesaler has been tapped as the primary supplier for Florida's prominent Hispanic grocery chain, Sedano's, marking the latest move in its aggressive expansion across the Southeastern U.S. retail landscape.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Costa Rica's New Leader Seeks Bukele's Blueprint to Combat Surging Narco-Violence

President-elect Laura Fernandez turns to El Salvador's controversial leader Nayib Bukele for guidance, signaling a hardline shift in tackling Costa Rica's escalating drug trade violence, including plans for a Bukele-style mega-prison.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Columbia Financial Surpasses Revenue Forecasts with Stellar Q4 Performance

Columbia Financial (NASDAQ: CLBK) reported fourth-quarter revenue that significantly exceeded Wall Street expectations, driven by a 247% year-over-year surge. The community bank's performance highlights strengthening net interest income and an accelerating tangible book value.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

GE Vernova's Meteoric Rise: After Doubling in a Year, Is the Energy Spin-Off Still a Buy?

Shares of GE Vernova (GEV) have surged over 100% in the past year, closing near $726. As the energy transition play captivates the market, analysts are divided on whether its valuation still offers room to run or signals a peak.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

RTX's Defense Unit Secures Key Contracts and Test Milestones, But Valuation Concerns Loom

Raytheon, an RTX business, achieves a critical ballistic flight test for the U.S. Army's new interceptor while securing over $1.2 billion in new defense contracts. These wins solidify its role in next-generation air defense but come as the company's stock trades near record highs, prompting investor scrutiny over future growth.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Market Volatility Highlights Tether's Enduring Appeal as a Dollar Proxy

Amidst crypto market turbulence, Tether (USDT) maintains its dominance as the leading stablecoin, offering investors a potential harbor and sparking debate over its role in modern finance.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

SoFi's Billion-Dollar Milestone: Is the Fintech's Valuation Running Ahead of Reality?

SoFi Technologies dazzles with its first $1 billion revenue quarter and a push into crypto payments, but a stark valuation gap has emerged, raising questions about whether its stock price has already outpaced its growth narrative.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Barclays Reshuffles Top Ranks, Bolstering Key Divisions Ahead of EU Headquarters Move

Barclays PLC announces a series of senior leadership appointments across its securitized products, payments, and European operations, signaling strategic focus areas as it prepares to relocate its EU hub to Paris.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Caleres Bolsters Leadership with Fashion Veteran Kristen Sosa to Steer Key New York Brands

Industry veteran Kristen Sosa joins Caleres as Division President, taking the helm of a portfolio including Stuart Weitzman, Veronica Beard, and Favorite Daughter, signaling a strategic push for growth.

Feb 2, 2026

World

U.S. and India Forge Trade Truce, Slashing Tariffs in Deal Tied to Energy and Ukraine

The United States and India have announced a significant trade agreement, dramatically reducing tariffs after months of tension. The deal, linked to India halting Russian oil purchases, aims to boost bilateral trade and supply chain diversification.

Feb 2, 2026

World

U.S. Intensifies Counterterrorism Campaign in Somalia Amid Growing ISIS Threat to Homeland

The United States has dramatically escalated airstrikes in Somalia, conducting over 150 missions since 2025, as military officials warn of a direct threat from ISIS-affiliated groups plotting attacks against American soil.

Feb 2, 2026

Trump Pressures House GOP to Back His Shutdown Deal Amid Conservative Revolt

President Trump urges immediate House passage of a bipartisan spending deal to end the government shutdown, facing resistance from both progressive Democrats and his own party's right flank over immigration enforcement terms.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Canopy Growth: Why This Cannabis Stock Remains a High-Risk Bet Despite Regulatory Shifts

Canopy Growth's shares have plummeted over 99% in five years, yet analysts warn its challenges run deeper than its stock price suggests. Despite recent U.S. regulatory changes, structural industry headwinds and the company's own track record make it a speculative play at best.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Wegmans' Customer Satisfaction Slips as Value-Conscious Shoppers Drive Retail Shift

A new national report reveals Wegmans Food Markets experienced one of the steepest declines in customer satisfaction among major grocers in 2026, as economic pressures reshape shopping priorities toward value and convenience.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Winter Storm Fern Exposes Grid Fragility: A Million Outages Reignite Infrastructure Debate

The severe winter storm Fern, leaving nearly a million customers without power, has starkly highlighted the U.S. electrical grid's persistent vulnerabilities. This comes despite repeated warnings from reliability monitors about the system's growing strain.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

AI and Finance: Is XRP Positioned to Ride the Next Wave?

As artificial intelligence reshapes finance, we examine whether XRP's underlying technology is built to capitalize on the trend of 'agentic AI' handling transactions, or if its potential benefits remain speculative.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Bank of America Shares Dip: A Buying Opportunity or a Sign of Deeper Concerns?

Bank of America's stock has retreated roughly 5% over the past month, trading below key fair value estimates. Analysts are divided on whether this presents a value entry point or reflects growing market apprehension about interest margins and credit quality.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Behind the $500 Million Deal: Abu Dhabi Royal Family Acquires Major Stake in Trump-Linked Crypto Venture

A company linked to a key UAE national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, secured a 49% equity stake in World Liberty Financial, the Trump family's flagship crypto firm, just days before President Trump's 2025 inauguration. The investment raises fresh questions about the intersection of foreign capital, presidential family businesses, and U.S. policy.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Cramer's AI Bet: Alphabet Could Out-Earn Meta in Artificial Intelligence, Earnings to Reveal

CNBC's Jim Cramer positions Alphabet as the potential 'only winner in AI,' suggesting its upcoming earnings may show it generating more revenue from AI than rival Meta Platforms.

Feb 2, 2026