Cryptocurrencies
- Decentralized exchange PancakeSwap announced that it has launched its own gaming marketplace.
- GameFi platform BinaryX announced the launch of Pancake Mayor, a new city-building simulator, on the PancakeSwap Gaming Market.
- Crypto infrastructure firm Paxos has received in-principle approval from Singapore’s regulator for a new entity that plans to launch a US dollar-backed stablecoin.
- Frankfurt-based Commerzbank AG announced that it has received a license to provide custody services for cryptocurrency asset classes.
- SC Ventures, the investment company of Standard Chartered Bank, has officially launched Libeara, its tokenization platform. Libeara, an independent entity based in Singapore, will be involved in the bank’s digital asset space and tokenization-related initiatives.
- Crypto company Bakkt announced that, in addition to BTC and Ether, it will expand its custody support to include Bitcoin Cash, Dogecoin, Ethereum Classic, Litecoin, Shiba Inu, and USDC. The company is considering expanding this list in early 2024
- The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has made another postponement decision as expectations increase that spot crypto ETFs will be approved.
- According to Bloomberg, the SEC postponed its decision regarding Grayscale’s applications for Ether ETF and Hashdex’s spot Bitcoin ETF.
- The SEC had until November 17 to respond to both companies’ applications. With the decision, the SEC postponed this date to January 1, 2024.
- Total assets locked (TVL) on Ethereum layer-2 networks exceeded $13 billion on November 10, according to data from blockchain analytics platform L2Beat. Users’ demand for lower transaction costs is driving the adoption of Layer 2 networks.
- Binance Labs, Binance’s venture capital, announced on November 15 that it invested in Arkham (ARKM).
- IMF Director General Kristalina Georgieva emphasized the importance of central bank digital currencies (CBDC) in a speech.
- The value of Solan rose more than 17 percent to year-highs the day after the announcement, as ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood praised the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the Solana network.
- Citibank has partnered with Avalanche for its Blockchain FX solution. Using Avalanche blockchain infrastructure, Citibank has developed an innovative application to price and execute two-way spot foreign exchange (FX) transactions.
FED
- The manufacturing index announced by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) New York Branch rose to 9.1 in November, exceeding market expectations.
- Experts stated that it is certain that the Fed will keep the interest rate constant at the December meeting, based on the pricing in the money markets, and that the predictions that the bank will start reducing interest rates as of June next year have gained strength.
Global Markets
- While global markets are following a mixed course as recession concerns in the Chinese economy grow stronger, all eyes are on the data to be announced in the USA today.
- After the first face-to-face meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping after a one-year break, activity in the markets increased.
- While the US Senate approves the temporary budget bill that will prevent the federal government from shutting down, the bill will be submitted to US President Joe Biden for signature to become law.
- International credit rating agency Fitch Ratings reported that the financing and growth difficulties of regional banks in the USA will continue in 2024.
- Yesterday in the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq index increased by 0.07 percent, the Dow Jones index increased by 0.47 percent and the S&P 500 index increased by 0.16 percent. Index futures contracts in the USA started the new day with a mixed course.
- European stock markets also followed a buying-oriented trend yesterday.
- Industrial production in the Eurozone was also below expectations, decreasing by 1.1 percent in September compared to the previous month.
- Yesterday, the DAX 40 index in Germany increased by 0.86 percent, the CAC 40 index in France increased by 0.33 percent, the FTSE 100 index in the UK increased by 0.62 percent and the MIB 30 index in Italy increased by 0.42 percent. Index futures contracts in Europe started the new day with a mixed course.
- A barrel of Brent oil is traded at $80.77 in international markets.
Technology and Stocks
- As the balance sheet season continued, it was noteworthy that the shares of Target, one of the US retail giants, increased by approximately 18 percent. Today, the company financial results of Wallmart, another retail giant in the country, will be in the focus of investors.
- In addition, Alibaba Group Holding’s third quarter financial results are expected to be announced today.
