A breakthrough in the Dream Finance investigation reveals a global retreat. Following the MiCA-triggered blackout in Lithuania, new insider intel and local reports confirm the liquidation of the group’s entities in El Salvador and Poland. From mysterious loans from AlphaPo to UBO links with SoftSwiss, the veil of transparency is finally being lifted on the Dream Finance empire. Analysis: The Fragmentation of a High-Risk Payment Empire Following our recent report on the “MiCA Guillotine” falling on Dream Finance UAB in Lithuania, FinTelegram has received critical insider intelligence that paints a picture of a global corporate “clean-up.” This information, corroborated by external investigative reports from FOCOS and El Salvador Now, suggests that the Dream Finance Group (operating as CoinsPaid and CryptoProcessing) is systematically dissolving secondary entities to bury toxic financial trails. 1. The El Salvador Exit: Shadow Loans and Offshore Havens The liquidation of Dream Finance (El Salvador), which reportedly began in March 2024, is more than a routine closure. According to investigations by FOCOS, the entity was utilized to “safeguard” over $2.1 million from offshore casinos located in tax havens. Most alarming for compliance officers is the revelation of a “weird loan” taken from AlphaPo. AlphaPo (website), a crypto processor notorious for its involvement in high-risk gambling and for being the target of a massive $60M hack (linked to the Lazarus Group), has long been rumored to be part of the same ecosystem as CoinsPaid. A direct financial link—in the form of a loan—suggests a level of commingling and mutual dependency that exceeds a standard business relationship. 2. The Polish Liquidation: Proving the SoftSwiss UBO Link The dissolution of Dream Finance (Poland) provides the “smoking gun” regarding the group’s beneficial ownership. The naming of Pavel Kashuba and Dmitry Yatzkau, aka Dmitry Yaikau aka Dzmitry Yaikau, close partners of SoftSwiss and CoinsPaid founder Ivan Montik, as the UBOs of the Polish entity confirms what FinTelegram has asserted for years: CoinsPaid and SoftSwiss are two sides of the same coin. Pavel Kashuba is a well-known figure in the SoftSwiss executive structure (often cited as CFO). This connection validates the hypothesis that CoinsPaid serves primarily as a “captive” payment rail for the SoftSwiss iGaming empire, designed to process gambling funds under the guise of an independent crypto service provider. 3. Contextualizing the Pattern: Why the Retreat? This news provides vital context to the RatEx42 “Black” listing of Dream Finance. The pattern is clear: Lithuania: Suspended due to MiCA’s inability to tolerate high-risk gambling flows. El Salvador: Liquidated after being exposed for shielding casino funds. Poland: Liquidated after UBO links became too visible. For compliance analysts, this looks like a “Controlled Demolition.” By liquidating these entities, the group likely seeks to terminate legal trails, making it harder for regulators to map the historical flow of funds between offshore casinos, AlphaPo, and the SoftSwiss core. Go to the Dream Finance listing on RatEx42 here. The Compliance Verdict: Transparency via Whistleblowers The information provided by our community is proving more effective than official registries. The collapse of the El Salvador and Polish entities, combined with the Lithuanian shutdown, indicates that the “Shadow Rail” model is under existential threat. The RatEx42 Critical (Black) Rating for Dream Finance is hereby reinforced. Any financial institution still interacting with the remaining Estonian or North American entities of this group must account for the high probability of hidden liabilities and toxic history involving AlphaPo. Read our AlphaPo reports here. Whistle42: A Call to the Inner Circle We thank the whistleblowers who are helping to bring transparency to the Dream Finance/SoftSwiss web. Your information is vital for protecting the integrity of the European financial market. Do you have documents related to the AlphaPo loan? Are you aware of where the $2.1 million in El Salvador was moved after liquidation? Do you have internal emails regarding the MiCA transition strategy for the Estonian entity? Share Information via Whistle42 Submit your evidence anonymously via Whistle42.com. Help us map the truth.

B2PRIME Group has published its latest “Liquidity Pulse” report, arguing that a volatile 2025 recalibrated trading activity across metals, FX, equities and digital assets—and that the liquidity winners in 2026 will be providers and venues capable of handling faster markets, tighter risk controls and more automated execution. The report frames last year as a collision of “macroeconomic shocks and rapid technological innovation,” with liquidity conditions shifting as volatility changed investor positioning and algorithms expanded their share of flows. In its 2025 recap, B2PRIME lists the forces it says dominated liquidity formation: “Elevated volatility,” “Safe-haven demand,” “Shifting currency dynamics,” “Growth in institutional crypto adoption,” and the “Expansion of automated trading.” The report links those trends to a market structure reality that is increasingly multi-asset and continuous, where execution quality and resilience matter as much as price. It also argues that the mix of geopolitics, monetary policy surprises and technology adoption produced sharper swings and more episodic liquidity—forcing traders to pay closer attention to when and where depth appears. The central message for 2026 is that liquidity is becoming more concentrated around institutional-grade infrastructure. B2PRIME says that “liquidity has increasingly consolidated around providers capable of delivering stable and institutionally structured execution across metals, crypto and major FX pairs,” and adds that, in its view, “the role of a true Prime liquidity partner became central to operational resilience and competitiveness during 2025.” In practical terms, that implies brokers and buy-side firms will continue migrating away from fragile, single-source setups toward diversified connectivity, consistent pricing and lower-latency routing that can hold up through fast markets. Takeaway B2PRIME’s 2026 outlook is less about “what will rally next” and more about how liquidity will behave: more automated, more episodic around macro catalysts, and more concentrated around prime-grade, multi-asset execution providers built for resilience. Metals and Crypto Became the Liquidity Anchors, With ETFs and Stablecoins Driving Flow On metals, the report describes gold as the defining asset of 2025, citing an early-year price around “$2,750–2,800 per ounce” and a rapid move toward the “$3,150 threshold” by late March, before a later-year surge that pushed above $4,000. B2PRIME links the move to safe-haven demand and macro uncertainty, but also points to policy and balance-sheet factors: it notes a “dovish monetary policy” backdrop and says concerns rose as “U.S. debt…surpassed $38 billion,” while central bank buying increased. For liquidity providers and brokers, the implication is straightforward: when macro risk dominates, metals can become both a hedge and a volume engine, concentrating flows in the most liquid venues and feeds. Silver, in B2PRIME’s telling, outperformed on a different narrative—industrial demand meeting constrained supply. The report says silver began the year “at around $30 per ounce” and by December “crossed $60 for the first time,” attributing the rally to manufacturing demand from photovoltaics, EVs and electronics alongside limited supply growth. It argues the market remained structurally tight, stating that “for the fifth consecutive year through 2025, the market recorded a structural supply deficit,” estimating a 2025 deficit range of “~117 and ~149 million ounces.” The liquidity angle is that commodity pricing is increasingly sensitive to tightness and positioning, which can amplify intraday moves when depth thins. In crypto, the report portrays 2025 as a maturity milestone, saying major assets “established themselves as a more mature and trustworthy market,” with Bitcoin and Ethereum remaining liquidity hubs. It highlights stablecoin growth as a key liquidity transmission channel, stating, “Total stablecoin market capitalization exceeded $300 billion by October 2025, up from around $200- $ 205 billion earlier in the year,” and adds that supply reached “nearly $314 billion” amid regulatory clarity, “including the GENIUS Act.” ETFs are described as the primary institutional on-ramp: “ETFs remained the central driver of capital flows to cryptocurrencies,” with Bitcoin ETF assets “around ~ $121 billion globally as of late 2025.” If that framework holds, 2026 crypto liquidity may hinge less on retail bursts and more on regulated wrappers, stablecoin settlement rails and consistent institutional risk budgets. FX and Equities Showed Regional Divergence as Automation and 24/7 Pressure Built In FX, B2PRIME argues liquidity conditions shaped how currencies responded to inflation and rate differentials. It says the dollar remained central to trading but that “its dominance in international settlements has lessened,” while the DXY “gradually decreased from the high of 109 to the lows of 97-98.” For the euro, it points to inflation cooling “to 2% in November,” helping drive EUR/USD “from lows of 1.04 to a high of 1.17,” while warning that liquidity can still thin around weaker data releases. The yen is framed as a liquidity stress case study: during calm periods it supported carry trades, but “when global volatility increased…yen positions unwound quickly,” producing sharp reversals as liquidity temporarily dried up. Equities, by contrast, are presented as a story of regional divergence moderated by depth. B2PRIME cites U.S. gains of roughly “13%” for the S&P 500, “about 17%” for the Nasdaq and “6%” for the Dow by early December, arguing that “deep liquidity in U.S. equity ETFs and futures” helped smooth volatility and absorb institutional flows. In Europe, it notes double-digit gains—citing the DAX up “close to…19.9%” and the Euro Stoxx 50 up “around 16.1%”—while adding that “thinner intra-day liquidity made European stocks more sensitive to headline news than U.S. peers.” In Asia, it highlights the Nikkei up “roughly by 15.2%” and points to net foreign outflows of “~$10 billion in November,” linking flow reversals to tech valuation concerns and liquidity drains. Looking into 2026, the report’s most consequential lens is structural: automation and resilience. It says the algorithmic trading market was estimated at “$3.85 billion in 2025,” projecting growth to “$13.07 billion by 2035,” and argues that automated execution is now core across asset classes—citing algorithms facilitating “more than 70% of transactions in cryptocurrency trading,” and machine execution around “30%” of orders on the largest exchanges in traditional markets, and “more than 35%” in FX. It also warns that the shift toward “24/7 trading” increases round-the-clock strain on execution, monitoring and risk systems. In short, B2PRIME’s 2026 outlook is a market plumbing thesis: whichever firms can maintain robust liquidity, controls and uptime through continuous, automated markets will be best positioned—while “no investment advice, recommendations, or future predictions are provided,” and “past performance does not indicate future results.”

After a long wait, the DOJ has finally released thousands more Epstein files — and there's a lot of disturbing stuff in there.In the monologue above, Jimmy Kimmel unpacks mentions of Donald Trump and Elon Musk, leading in to the latter with a reminder of Musk's post on X last year, accusing the president of being in the files."What [Musk] neglected to mention is he is in there too," says Kimmel. "His name comes up more than a thousand times, including in 2012 when he and Epstein were planning a visit to the island. Elon claims he never went to Epstein island, he says his correspondence is being deliberately misinterpreted by his enemies. For example, when he wrote Jeffrey Epstein — a registered sex offender, by the way — to ask 'What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?', he was asking so he could avoid that night. He had a lot of work to do, he didn't want to be distracted by wild parties, you understand?"Elsewhere, Kimmel responds to Trump saying there's "nothing on me" in the Epstein files."I'm almost surprised he's not bragging about how much he's mentioned in the Epstein files," says Kimmel, launching into a Trump impression. "I'm in there more than any other pr...more than Abraham Lincoln!"

UnauthorizedThis firm may be providing or promoting financial services or products without our permission. You should avoid dealing with this firm and beware of scams. Almost all firms and individuals must be authorised or registered by us to carry out or promote financial services in the UK. This firm is not authorised by us and may be targeting people in the UK. Search our Warning List for other unauthorised firms and individuals we're aware of. Unauthorised firm details Name: Core Signals / https://www.coresignals.ai/ Website: https://www.coresignals.ai/ Some firms may give incorrect contact details including postal addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses. They may change these contact details over time. They may also give you details that belong to another business or individual, so the information looks genuine. What this means for you If you deal with this firm, you won't have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service if you want to complain. You also won't be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) if things go wrong. This means it's unlikely you'd get your money back if the firm goes out of business. If you sent money to a fraudster on or after 7 October 2024, you may be covered by protections introduced by the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR). Find out what to do if you've been tricked into making a payment to a scam account. How to protect yourself You should only deal with financial firms that are authorised by us. If a financial firm is authorised by us, it gives you greater protection if things go wrong. You can use the FCA Firm Checker to make sure a financial firm is authorised by us and has our permission to provide the services you're looking for. You'll also be able to find: information on how you're protected contact details for authorised firms If you're contacted unexpectedly by a financial business, make sure you reply using the contact details on the Firm Checker. Find out more about how to protect yourself from scams. Report an unauthorised firm If you think you've been approached by an unauthorised firm, call us on 0800 111 6768, or use our contact form.

Etrading Software’s dedicated consolidated tape (CT) subsidiary – ETS Connect UK – has published its draft user contract and fee schedule, to enable the delivery of the UK bond CT.  As part of the pricing, fintechs and small firms with annual revenues below £50 million will be able to use CT data at no cost, while bigger firms will fall into tiered revenue bands, spanning £6 a month at the lower end of the scale, to £300 for the firms with the largest annual revenues.  Moreover, the licensing publication is expected to ensure market participants have early visibility of the legal and commercial framework related to UK bond CT data, and support ETS Connect UK in meeting policy objectives of bolstering UK competitiveness on a global stage, encouraging innovation and supporting the fintech landscape.  Speaking to The TRADE, Sassan Danesh, chief executive of Etrading Software, explains: “By providing the bond data for free to smaller firms, we are supporting the government’s objective to create a strong and diverse UK-based fintech ecosystem.” In addition to providing low or no cost for smaller firms, ETS Connect UK has also committed to meeting specific requirements to deliver the tape, including operating on a 24/5 basis, providing users with continuous support during UK market hours and offering optional out of hours support for global institutions.  Read more – Etrading Software confirms intention to bid for OTC derivatives consolidated tape Currently, the UK bond CT is scheduled to go-live on 22 June 2026, in line with Etrading Software’s delivery roadmap for the tape.  The publication of the licensing comes a week after Etrading Software signed a concession agreement with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), formally triggering the CT’s implementation phase.  Specifically, the agreement allows the tape delivery to advance in line with the published timeline, which also includes the publication of technical specifications, a series of industry engagement activities and the establishment of a CT consultative committee, set to be announced on 16 February 2026.  The post Etrading Software announces pricing and draft user contract for UK bond consolidated tape appeared first on The TRADE.

Teciem has launched today as an independent company, following the acquisition of Finastra’s Treasury and Capital Markets (TCM) division by the Apax Funds. The investment will support product development and the growth of its 1,300-strong team, including all senior leaders who are moving from Finastra. From its first day, Teciem serves more than 340 financial institutions, including 70 of the world’s top 100 banks. Its software portfolio, including Kondor, Summit, Opics, Sophis, Fusion Risk and Fusion Invest, covers treasury, capital markets, risk management, regulatory compliance, and investment management operations. Headquartered in London, Teciem is led by CEO Wissam Khoury, who brings 25 years of experience in fintech. Having served as EVP of Finastra’s TCM unit for four years, Khoury built the leadership team and prepared the business for its transition. Wissam Khoury “As a standalone business dedicated to providing industry-leading treasury and capital markets software and services, Teciem is focused on delivering excellence and accelerating innovation across our product portfolio,” said Khoury. “With the backing of Apax and their expertise in supporting technology businesses, we’ll be investing further in product development and technology, delivering even greater value to our customers.”       Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by lifeforstock via Freepik The post Teciem Launches as Standalone Firm After Apax Acquires Finastra’s TCM Division appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The Russia-linked state-sponsored threat actor known as APT28 (aka UAC-0001) has been attributed to attacks exploiting a newly disclosed security flaw in Microsoft Office as part of a campaign codenamed Operation Neusploit. Zscaler ThreatLabz said it observed the hacking group weaponizing the shortcoming on January 29, 2026, in attacks targeting users in Ukraine, Slovakia, and Romania, three

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is preparing regulatory changes that would let ESG funds invest in JUMP+ companies with strong governance scores. The SEC is drafting new rules to allow Thai ESG Funds to invest in listed companies participating in the JUMP+ Program run by the Stock Exchange of Thailand, provided they achieve a Corporate Governance Report score of at least 90. The amendments were approved in principle by the Capital Market Supervisory Board in December 2025 and are expected to take effect in March 2026, once the SEC finalises the relevant rules and notifications. If implemented, shares of qualifying JUMP+ companies would become eligible assets for Thai ESG Funds. The move would expand the investment scope of ESG funds while encouraging listed companies to strengthen governance and pursue structured growth plans with ongoing disclosure to investors. As of 26 January 2026, there were 77 Thai ESG Funds, including the Thailand ESG Extra Fund. They are managed by 19 asset management companies with a combined net asset value of about THB 103.1 billion, up 249 percent from the end of 2024. Currently, Thai ESG Funds can invest in shares of listed companies with strong environmental or ESG performance. They can also invest in sustainability related debt instruments and sustainability related investment tokens. Eligible assets also include units of infrastructure funds and real estate investment trusts with ESG credentials. The JUMP+ Program supports listed companies in developing long-term growth strategies. It focuses on improving governance and strengthening transparency through regular communication with investors. Participating companies must submit their JUMP+ plans by 31 March 2026.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by farknot via Freepik   The post Thai SEC Links ESG Fund Access to Corporate Governance Scores appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

RBA’s expected rate hike still jolted markets, lifting the Aussie and forcing traders to reprice near-term policy expectations.

CNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos reports on bitcoin retracing much of the post-election move as rate expectations shift, with the selloff spreading from tokens into crypto-exposed equities and spot crypto ETFs.

WHAT HAPPENED? The Finance Bill 2025/26 proposes substantial changes to the United Kingdom taxation of carried interest....By: Mayer Brown

Data, analytics, and technology company Equifax unveiled Credit Abuse Risk, a new solution to help lenders fight first-party fraud. The new offering leverages machine learning to identify common first-party fraud tactics such as credit washing and loan stacking. News of Equifax’s Credit Abuse Risk predictive model comes on the heels of the launch of the company’s Synthetic Identity Risk tool. The solution empowers institutions to identify when fraudsters are using fake identities to set up credit accounts and obtain loans. A new offering from international data, analytics, and technology company Equifax will help protect lenders from first-party fraud. Credit Abuse Risk is a new predictive model that leverages FCRA-regulated data to spot fraud tactics such as credit washing and loan stacking. The model will help lenders make more confident lending decisions. “By focusing on application behavior in real time, Credit Abuse Risk quickly helps to reduce the potential for fraud and related costs,” Equifax Chief Product Officer for US Information Solutions Felipe Castillo said. “This supports a more confident lending environment and helps keep credit available for consumers.” In a world of phishing and deepfakes, first-party fraud is a type of financial crime that often goes overlooked in conversations about fraud prevention. First-party fraud, unlike third-party fraud, involves fraud committed by the actual customer or account holder rather than by an external party impersonating someone else. Credit Abuse Risk is designed to detect two specific forms of first-party fraud: loan stacking, in which an individual applies for multiple loans in a short period of time with no intention of repaying the debt, and credit washing, in which an individual attempts to remove accurate but negative information from their credit report. Credit Abuse Risk identifies the behaviors associated with these types of fraud during prequalification, account origination, or portfolio review, enabling lenders to adjust loan terms based on FCRA-compliant insights. Powered by machine learning, Credit Abuse Risk offers enhanced insights derived from behavioral indicators that detect atypical credit activity, and provides targeted decisioning that addresses the lifecycle of fraud. Credit Abuse Risk features comprehensive portfolio protection covering all credit tiers and actionable intelligence that empowers lenders to make real-time, regulated decisions on credit terms. This includes FCRA-compliant scoring with adverse action reason codes to ensure transparency in the event of application denials, restrictive credit term modifications, and related actions. Credit Abuse Risk is part of Equifax’s suite of fraud solutions and works alongside the company’s Synthetic Identity Risk tools. Introduced earlier this month, Equifax’s Synthetic Identity Risk uses machine learning algorithms to detect fraud patterns—such as those related to synthetic identity fraud—that are often difficult to spot using traditional methods. Synthetic identity fraud occurs when a fraudster combines aspects of a real identity with fake data to create a new, fictitious identity. The fraudster then uses these fictitious identities to open credit accounts and secure loans on which they eventually stop making payments. The fact that these synthetic identities often include real data and appear in mostly legitimate means that these frauds can be difficult to detect and can persist for long periods of time. Equifax estimates that charge-offs per known synthetic identity cost companies on average $13,000. “Synthetic identity fraud is a rapidly growing threat impacting the consumer lending ecosystem,” Castillo said. “With Synthetic Identity Risk, Equifax strengthens lenders’ fraud defenses, helping them to uncover hidden risks and ultimately shift from reactive loss recovery to proactive prevention. In doing so, they not only reduce their financial losses but they (also) safeguard and build long-term trust with their legitimate customers.” Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equifax made its Finovate debut at FinovateFall 2011 in New York. The company’s differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology help financial institutions, companies, employers, and public agencies make better decisions with more confidence. Along with Experian and TransUnion, Equifax runs one of the three major credit reporting agencies in the US, has nearly 15,000 employees around the globe, and operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. Equifax is publicly traded on the NYSE under the ticker EFX and has a market capitalization of $24 billion. Photo by Growtika on Unsplash The post Equifax Unveils Credit Abuse Risk to Combat First-Party Fraud appeared first on Finovate.       

we are pleased to announce the launch of our regulatory resources hub, a centralised and easy-to-navigate guide to the core laws and compliance frameworks shaping financial services across leading jurisdictions. the hub provides concise summaries and direct access to key regulations from bermuda, the british virgin islands, and the cayman islands, helping firms and professionals quickly identify the regulatory requirements relevant to their operations. whether you are reviewing licensing obligations, aml requirements, or governance standards, this hub is designed to support efficient and informed compliance. current jurisdictions covered bermuda: overview of the core regulatory framework and licensing requirements. british virgin islands: summary of key financial services legislation and regulatory obligations. cayman islands: guidance on compliance standards and ongoing regulatory responsibilities. we will continue to expand the regulatory resources hub including additional jurisdictions such as anguilla, cyprus, and jersey. we invite you to explore and make use of this new resource as part of your ongoing compliance and regulatory monitoring activities. visit our regulatory resources hub here. stay informed. stay compliant.

Log in to today's North American session Market wrap for February 2 Traders are still trying to grasp the significance of Friday’s historic move in the metals market after Kevin Warsh's nomination to be the next Fed Chair.The price action was so extreme that it exceeded 99.9996% of typical volatility observations — a very rare 6-sigma event.Silver retested the $71.30 lows (!) after gapping down at the weekly open, but rebounded sharply to close the session up around 2%, near $80.Gold, meanwhile, wicked down to $4,400 and remained relatively calm throughout the session.Metals are unlikely to snap back immediately, but they are showing notable resilience following such a massive shock.Stocks, on the other hand, have recovered all of Friday’s losses, supported by the fastest growth in US manufacturing since 2022 and dip-buying following weekend risk deleveraging, as the probability of Iran-US talks increased in an effort to ease mounting pressure.Diplomacy remains a possible path forward, but the odds of reaching a consensus to avoid a full-blown conflict appear low.US demands — including reducing enriched uranium and scaling back ballistic missile programs — have been described as unacceptable by Iranian advisers.Oil has also given back a large portion of its Friday gains and is now retesting its upward trendline around $62 — a familiar pattern when geopolitical risk premiums fail to hold.Meanwhile, a partial US government shutdown began over the weekend, leading to the postponement of Friday’s NFP release. Further details will follow once the BLS announces an updated schedule. Discover:Bitcoin breaks $80,000! Altcoins suffer – BTC, ETH and SOL OutlookOil prices down 6% as US-Iran de-escalation hopes cool market heat… Is it the end of the line for bulls?Stocks rebound to start February – US Index Outlook zoom_out_map Market Close Heatmap – Source: TradingView – February 2, 2026 Palantir just beat on its earnings by an enormous margin so expect movement there tomorrow!For the rest, the picture is broadly green from the beat on the Manufacturing PMIs, great news that were very welcome for investors.Keep a close eye on Volatility events this week, as this weekend didn't deliver any surprises but anxiety remains high.Cross-Assets Daily Performance zoom_out_map Cross-Asset Daily Performance, February 2, 2026 – Source: TradingView As you can see, this weekend offered quite some volatile gaps lower across asset classes.Still, most remained pretty resilient after today's action, particularly with Sentiment rebounding.Trader can still expect a lot of volatility this week.A picture of today's performance for major currencies zoom_out_map Currency Performance, February 2, 2026 – Source: OANDA Labs The US Dollar also rebounded sharply in today's session, extending above the 50% retracement of its Greenland move lower.For the rest of FX, the CHF has been getting hammered quite harshly in the past two session so keep an eye on whether this lasts or not. The Swiss currency is also affected by risk-appetite and can either jump up or down depending on the outcomes of the US-Iran talks.AUD traders will be looking closely at tonight's RBA event – Get ready!Major Earnings in Tomorrow's session zoom_out_map Earnings Calendar for February 3, 2026 – Source: Nasdaq.com Tomorrow's session will focus heavily on traditional and energy sectors – Focus on Chevron, Exxon and Verizon, all releasing their earnings during the pre-Open.A look at Economic data releasing throughout today and tomorrow's sessions zoom_out_map For all market-moving economic releases and events, see the MarketPulse Economic Calendar. All eyes are on the Royal Bank of Australia.Today’s evening session is dominated by the Reserve Bank of Australia rate decision, where a 25 bps hike is heavily expected – Traders will also focus on Bullock's tone to spot if more are to come or not.Any shift in tone around how restrictive policy really is or the balance of risks between inflation and growth could move rate expectations quickly, particularly at the front end of the Aussie curve.With US Data not releasing due to the partial shutdown, traders will focus more on the weekly ADP report as the NFP won't come on time.Safe Trades, keep a close eye on the Middle East!Follow Elior on Twitter/X for Additional Market News, interactions and Insights @EliorManier Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only.If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use.Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets.© 2026 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Martin's role at DOJ was narrowed following a protracted feud with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, sources told MS NOW.

The Countries Driving China’s $1.2T Trade Surplus This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways China’s trade surplus reached $1.19 trillion in 2025, a record-breaking figure despite escalating global tensions. Hong Kong and the U.S. together accounted for nearly half of China’s total surplus. India and Vietnam have emerged as significant contributors, each creating surpluses for China of over $100 billion. A trade surplus occurs when a country exports more goods and services than it imports, resulting in a net inflow of foreign currency. For China in 2025, this surplus has grown to unprecedented levels, topping $1.19 trillion according to the General Administration of Customs. The visualization above, created by Aneesh Anand, maps out which countries contributed most to this surplus. The dataset highlights China’s top 15 surplus partners, showcasing a global pattern of economic interdependence and imbalance. Breaking Down China’s Trade Surplus by Country Hong Kong topped the list with a surplus of $303.9 billion, largely due to re-exports and transshipment trade. RankTrade PartnerChina's Surplus (US$ bn) 1 Hong Kong303.93 2 U.S.280.35 3 India116.12 4 Vietnam100.15 5 Netherlands73.39 6 UK66.44 7 Thailand53.75 8 Singapore46.08 9 Philippines38.87 10 Italy26.31 11 Germany25.42 12 Malaysia15.69 13 France11.63 14 Canada6.21 15 Indonesia3.16 Close behind Hong Kong was the United States at $280 billion, continuing a long-standing trade imbalance. India and Vietnam, at over $100 billion each, underline China’s deepening trade ties in Asia. Why Are China’s Trade Surpluses So High? Despite rising protectionism, tariffs, and diplomatic tensions, China’s manufacturing engine remains robust. Even American tariffs have failed to dent the flow of consumer electronics, machinery, and intermediate goods being exported from China. Part of the explanation lies in global supply chains. Many goods are still assembled or completed in China, especially electronics, before being shipped abroad. This entrenched role as the “workshop of the world” has kept China’s exports high, even in an era of attempted decoupling. Trade Imbalances Remain a Sore Point As the Council on Foreign Relations notes, China’s massive surpluses remain a puzzle to some economists, particularly due to underreported service imports or capital flows that mask the true extent of imbalances. For major partners like the U.S., this imbalance has long been a political flashpoint. A large trade deficit means the U.S. imports significantly more from China than it exports in return, which has raised concerns about domestic job losses, the decline of American manufacturing, and growing economic dependence. Successive U.S. administrations have tried to reverse this pattern, most notably through tariffs, reshoring incentives, and supply chain diversification. However, these efforts have yielded limited results. China continues to dominate in key export sectors like electronics, machinery, and intermediate goods, making it difficult for American producers to compete without incurring higher costs. For policymakers, the trade gap is about more than just numbers. It touches on national security, global influence, and the sustainability of U.S. debt, as trade deficits are often financed by foreign investment in American assets. Reducing the trade imbalance with China remains a central, if elusive, goal in broader economic strategy. Learn More on the Voronoi App For more historical context, check out our related post on Eight-plus years of the US–China trade gap on the Voronoi app.

Weekly Analysis: Wild Days Not Over Yet? on Friday, there was a major sell-off in the metals and stocks. What now?