Currencies

HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s de-facto central bank spent more than a billion dollars propping up the city’s exchange rate, as it sought to defend a currency peg that has been strained by volatility in the greenback.The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) took out HK$9.42 billion (S$1.5 billion) of the city’s currency from circulation after the exchange rate touched the weak end of its US dollar peg. In earlier weeks, the monetary authority had injected liquidity into the financial system to rein in gains in the local exchange rate as...

The U.S. dollar sank to a three-year low on Thursday as Asian currencies gained ground, fueled by political pressure on the Federal Reserve and improving regional risk sentiment. The dollar index slipped 0.2% to 0.3% during Asian trading, marking its weakest level since March 2022. U.S. President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, calling for aggressive interest rate cuts. A Wall Street Journal report that Trump may name Powell’s successor earlier than expected added further pressure on the greenback, prompting speculation of a possible rate cut...

Most stocks fell on Thursday and oil rose as traders kept a nervous eye on the Iran-Israel ceasefire, while the dollar dropped after Donald Trump said he had a handful of candidates to succeed Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell, fuelling rate cut bets.Uncertainty over the US president’s trade war was also keeping sentiment subdued, with most countries still not reaching deals with Washington to avert the reimposition of steep tariffs ahead of a July 9 deadline.With a shaky peace between Iran and Israel holding for now, Trump said he would...

Asian stock markets presented a mixed picture on Thursday, with Japanese equities climbing to a four-month high while other regional indices stuttered. Investors are navigating a complex landscape of geopolitical, economic, and fiscal uncertainties as they brace for US President Donald Trump’s fast-approaching deadline on tariffs. A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran has provided some market relief, but attention is shifting to US policy and its potential impact on global markets.Markets have been somewhat soothed by a ceasefire between Israel and Iran that appears to be holding, for now....

World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture backed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, is set to release a stablecoin audit and launch a new application.What Happened: The Trump family, which has a 75% claim on the venture’s net revenues, has been the subject of criticism due to potential conflicts of interest with the president’s involvement in crypto, reported Reuters.Zak Folkman, the co-founder of the platform, said the audit would be carried out “within days.” Folkman revealed that the app would make it seamless for lay investors to use cryptocurrencies.World Liberty...

BENGALURU: Thai stocks and the baht were largely unchanged on Wednesday after the country’s central bank stood pat on rates, as expected, while other Asian currencies and equities rose as easing Middle East tensions lifted sentiment. The currency was trading at 32.623 per dollar after the Bank of Thailand (BoT) held its key one-day repurchase rate steady at 1.75%, following two straight cuts, as it looked to preserve limited policy space amid persistent trade uncertainty and deepening political turmoil. The central bank said its monetary policy remained accommodative to support...

London, United Kingdom, June 25th, 2025, ChainwireGSR, crypto’s capital markets partner, today announced a major upgrade to its systematic over-the-counter (OTC) trading platform, expanding foreign exchange (FX) capabilities, improving execution quality, and broadening access to hundreds of digital assets.The upgraded platform introduces both a new user interface (UI) and an enhanced API, giving clients flexible access to GSR’s liquidity across more than 200 digital assets and 25 fiat currencies. This development reflects GSR’s mission to help founders and institutions scale with confidence by providing institutional-grade liquidity solutions that meet the...

Summer 2025 Numis ExhibitionsEven on vacation, numismatists often seek opportunities to expand their currency knowledge. One of the most rewarding ways to combine leisure with learning is by visiting local museums and exploring their numismatic collections. To help you plan your next getaway with some numismatic fun in your schedule, here’s a curated list of must-see currency-related exhibitions at museums from around the world.MONEY!Displaying 3,000 objects that span Sweden’s numismatic history, the “MONEY!” exhibition at The Economy Museum offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the country’s currency culture....

Deutsche Bank's Mapping the World's Prices report provides a fascinating overview of the cost of living in the world's major metropolises. This year's edition, published on June 24, covers more than 69 cities and highlights striking dynamics in the cost of living and the crucial role of currencies in the hierarchy of the world's cities.Let’s take a closer look at where life is cheapest, where it’s painfully pricey, and how currency movements are drawing the map.Most expensive metropolises: A matter of strong currenciesThe United States and Switzerland dominate almost every...

Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Wednesday, June 25, confirmed eliminating Haytham Abdullah Bakri, the head of the Al-Sadiq Currency Exchange in Southern Lebanon, for allegedly transferring Iranian funds to Hezbollah. IDF said the exchange facilitated the transfer of funds originating from the Iranian Quds Force for "Hezbollah terrorist activities."Hezbollah is a Shia Muslim political and military group in Lebanon with strong backing from Iran. Israel views Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation along with many other countries, including the UK and the  US."The 'Al-Sadiq' Currency Exchange serves as a funds storage and...