Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

Waller says the economy is near full employment, favors rate cuts as the main policy tool, and sees balance-sheet reduction as counterproductive, advocating a gradual approach ahead of confirmation. Abstract: In his remarks, Fed chair-nominee Christopher Waller argues the economy is near full employment and that interest rate cuts should be the primary policy tool, with rate adjustments benefiting more people. He notes that reducing the Fed's balance sheet has been counterproductive and should proceed gradually, signaling a priority shift toward rate policy ahead of potential confirmation.

Gate News message, April 21 — According to the Xinhua News Agency, Pakistani sources said on April 21 that U.S. negotiators have been arriving in Pakistan over the past two days.

Gate News: According to the latest Gate TradFi data, XAGUSD (Silver) has dropped by 2% in a short period. Current volatility is significantly higher than recent averages, indicating increased market activity.

Charles Schwab plans to expand into crypto, offering Bitcoin education and direct BTC/ETH trading, allowing customers to buy Bitcoin in accounts; analysts call it a major mainstreaming moment. Schwab announces an expansion into cryptocurrency with Bitcoin education and direct BTC/ETH trading, enabling clients to hold Bitcoin in their accounts; analysts view this as a turning point toward mainstream adoption.

On April 21, Zelenskyy announced that maintenance on the Friendship oil pipeline is complete and the pipeline is ready to resume operations.

Iran plans to reopen its stock market in 10–12 days per IRNA, but stock codes for companies with direct war losses will remain suspended. Abstract: Iran's securities exchange chief announced the market will reopen within about 10 to 12 days, according to IRNA, with trading resuming for most listings while direct-war-loss company codes stay suspended.

Summary: Ondo, Clearstream and 360X announce a phased tokenized-securities integration, with ten U.S. equities trading on 360X now and planned custody, settlement, and collateral via Clearstream. Abstract: The article reports a strategic partnership among Ondo Finance, Clearstream, and 360X to integrate tokenized securities with traditional financial infrastructure across the full asset lifecycle. The initial phase enables ten tokenized U.S. equities to trade on 360X, with issuances on Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Chain. In the next phase, Clearstream will provide custody, settlement, and collateral services, while Ondo plans to tokenize European-listed assets and expand distribution beyond the United States. The alliance aims to improve liquidity and transparency, enabling regulatory-compliant blockchain-enabled markets across Europe through Ondo's EU approvals and Clearstream's extensive asset footprint.

Gate News message, April 21 — Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, testified before the Senate that Bitcoin demonstrates significant potential as a computer science tool and holds value as an instrument of power projection. Paparo stated that Bitcoin is a tangible reality w

Gate News message, April 21 — The S&P 500 index (U.S. benchmark equity index) turned negative today as market sentiment weakened.

Gate News message, April 21 — Bessent, the nominee for Federal Reserve chair, stated he will operate independently from President Trump. He expressed uncertainty about Trump's reasons for selecting him, noting that after divesting assets, he plans to reallocate funds into compliant assets as close a

Gate News message, April 21 — Naderi, a member of Iran's parliamentary leadership, stated on April 21 that Iran will not hold a second round of negotiations until the maritime blockade issue is resolved, according to Iran's Student News Agency. Naderi denied previous media reports claiming Iran had

Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh pledged at a confirmation hearing that, if confirmed, he would sell undisclosed assets in accordance with an agreement with the Office of Ethics to address potential conflicts of interest. He emphasized the priority of rising living costs and the need for fundamental reform, including a new inflation framework and improved communications, and noted that the Federal Reserve’s economic forecasts have a time horizon that is too long and that it is still working through legacy errors. Warsh also said he has agreed to sell the relevant assets, and if confirmed, he would liquidate any remaining undisclosed holdings.

Gate News message, April 21 — Chinese industrial materials company ST Huarong (600421.SH) surged to the daily limit on April 21, closing at 5.55 yuan per share. However, on the same day, the company announced a dramatic reversal of its 2025 earnings forecast, shifting from projected profitability to

Oil prices surged: WTI hit $92 and Brent at $93.68, with intraday gains near 4% and 3.65% as both benchmarks extended gains throughout the session. Abstract: The piece notes a continued rise in crude oil prices on April 21, with WTI at $92 and Brent at $93.68, as both benchmarks maintained intraday momentum, indicating persistent upward pressure in the oil market.

Gate News message, April 21 — U.S. stock indices opened with modest gains on April 21, with the Dow Jones up 0.60%, the S&P 500 up 0.25%, and the Nasdaq up 0.29%. The crypto sector showed mixed performance, with Solana rising 1.89%, Bitmine gaining 0.13%, and SharpLink up 0.06%, while Circle

Gate News: According to the latest Gate TradFi data, FCEL (FuelCell Energy Inc) has surged by 16% in a short period. Current volatility is significantly higher than recent averages, indicating increased market

WTI crude fell 11% to $84 as Middle East tensions eased, easing supply concerns that had boosted prices.

Gate News message, April 21 — Maersk stated that the current geopolitical situation remains highly dynamic and advised against shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Gate News message, April 21 — According to Gate's market data, the S&P 500 Equal-Weight Index (a measure of the 500 largest U.S. companies weighted equally rather than by market capitalization) rose 0.6% today and is poised to mark its first record since February. The equal-weight index has

The article notes that Bitcoin’s volatility over the past month has fallen to around 42%, with the price staying within the $65,000–$75,000 range, significantly lower than Kospi’s volatility. The approval of U.S. spot ETFs has drawn institutional capital in, improving liquidity and hedging capability, and strengthening Bitcoin’s resilience. Korean equities have highlighted the risk of Middle East energy supply and sharp swings in oil prices, underscoring Bitcoin’s role as a de-nationalized, relatively stable safe-haven asset.