Crypto traders have become more optimistic about the near-term price movements in Bitcoin and Ethereum, prediction market data shows—but overall market sentiment is still in the gutter.  Odds on Myriad’s prediction market—which is operated by Decrypt's parent company, Dastan—have swung more than 20% in the last few days in favor of a “pump” to $84,000 for Bitcoin before it dumps down to $55,000. That move coincides with the top crypto asset's significant rebound from below $63,000 on Tuesday to more than $ ...

The recent crypto slump has weighed heavily on Ripple Labs' XRP (CRYPTO: XRP). The token is down over 60% on its all-time high, closing at $1.42 on Feb. 18. Unfortunately, XRP is likely to struggle further if the rout continues, which it may well do. Standard Chartered recently slashed its 2026 target for XRP by 65% from $8 to $2.80. The investment bank also backpedalled on forecasts for Bitcoin and Ethereum, citing the harsh climate and liquidity challenges. That said, its XRP cut was the biggest and may ...

A short rebound in stocks fizzled after Monday's drop, as worries about the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence continued to unsettle markets which digested yesterday’s AI scare, and await today’s Claude / Anthropic presentation, while preparing for tonight’s State of the Union address (“SOTU”). Some have suggested that Trump may attack power generation risks during SOTU as he deals with affordability.As of 8:00am ET, S&P 500 futures traded unchanged, erasing an earlier 0.3% gain. The benchmark fel ...

Group 1: Market Reactions to AI Concerns - A renewed sell-off in stocks perceived to be at risk from AI disruption has occurred, particularly affecting software and data companies like Workday, Adobe, and Oracle [1] - The FTSE 100 index has seen a decline, with banks and miners contributing to the drop, as anxiety around AI threats influences market sentiment [13][26] - The AI fear trade has extended to various sectors, including delivery and payment stocks, with significant declines in companies like American Express, Mastercard, and Visa [27][28] Group 2: Company-Specific Updates - Oxford BioMedica shares fell 9% despite a robust trading update, as investors awaited news on a potential takeover from EQT [6] - Unite shares dropped over 9% after reporting earnings at the lower end of guidance for 2025, alongside a softer outlook for 2026 [7] - Croda International reported profits at the top end of guidance, with sales for 2025 rising 4.4% to £1.7 billion, and adjusted operating profit increasing 7.9% to £295.3 million [19] Group 3: Economic and Sectoral Implications - A Citrini Research memo outlined a hypothetical scenario where rapid AI disruption could lead to mass unemployment, potentially undermining consumer demand and investment incentives [28][29] - The market is entering a phase where extreme scenarios generate outsized reactions, particularly concerning capital flows within the software-financing ecosystem [29] - Concerns about liquidity mismatches in private credit markets, particularly related to software-backed loans, have emerged, indicating potential vulnerabilities in the financial system [22][24]

Key TakeawaysStandard Chartered (STAN) missed Q4 2025 profit estimates, reporting a pretax profit of $814 million against the $1.1 billion expected by analysts.China escalated geopolitical tensions by imposing export controls on 40 Japanese entities, including subsidiaries of Mitsubishi Corp (MSBHF) and Subaru (FUJHY), citing military ties.The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) strengthened to 97.889, while Bitcoin (BTC) fell below the $63,000 threshold amid shifting risk sentiment.Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Kat ...

Group 1 - Standard Chartered reported a full-year pretax profit increase of 16%, reaching $6.96 billion compared to $6 billion the previous year, but fell short of the $7.2 billion average analyst estimate [1] - The bank's revenue growth was driven by robust global banking and strong wealth inflows, particularly in its primary markets of Asia and Africa [1] - A $1.5 billion share buyback was announced, set to commence imminently [2]

It’s been a roller coaster ride for Bitcoin (BTCUSD) investors in the last six months. The crypto asset touched all-time highs of $126,223 in October 2025. While market participants were expecting the bull run to sustain, Bitcoin reversed sharply and currently trades lower by 46.8% at $67,704. While the steep correction might have created some panic, it’s important to note that deep correction after a big rally is not uncommon for Bitcoin. As an example, Bitcoin dropped from $69,000 towards the end of 202 ...

Standard Chartered has begun a process to sell its Botswana business and expects to get first bids by middle of the year, sources say https://t.co/aqv7o2Uabn ...

The shock exit of Standard Chartered’s finance chief and the implications of HSBC’s multibillion-dollar purchase of a bank stake will loom large as the two report earnings https://t.co/BYq0b0CADe ...

Market Performance - European stocks closed positively, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 up by 1.19%, the UK's FTSE 100 climbing 1.23%, Germany's DAX gaining 1.12%, and France's CAC 40 ending 0.81% higher [1][3]. - Defense stocks rose due to an agreement between India and France to strengthen defense and aerospace ties [2]. - Mining and banking sectors also saw significant gains, with notable performances from companies like Antofagasta, which soared nearly 11% [4]. Company Updates - BAE Systems reported a better-than-expected 12% rise in full-year operating profit, leading to a 4% increase in its shares [4]. - In Germany, Rheinmetall climbed more than 5%, and Heidelberg Materials gained about 4.3% [5]. - Bayer's shares fell over 7% due to a proposed $10.5 billion settlement related to litigation over its Roundup weedkiller [6]. Sector Performance - In the UK market, mining companies such as Fresnillo, Anglo American Plc, and Glencore gained between 4.25% and 4.8% [4]. - In France, companies like Thales, ArcelorMittal, and STMicroelectronics saw gains of 2%-5% [7]. - Notable declines were observed in food retailer Carrefour, which slid more than 5% after reporting a decline in operating profit [8]. Economic Indicators - France's inflation eased to the lowest in five years, with the consumer price index rising only 0.3% year-on-year in January [9]. - The EU harmonized inflation softened to 0.4% from 0.7% in December, marking the weakest rate since December 2020 [10]. - In the UK, the consumer price index posted an annual increase of 3% in January, the lowest since March 2025 [12].