Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

On April 15, Hong Kong's indices showed mixed results, with the Hang Seng Index up 0.29%. Key gains came from Alibaba-W and the innovative drug sector, buoyed by governmental support. Airline stocks also rebounded amid falling oil prices.

Kevin Warsh, nominated by Trump for Federal Reserve chair, is the wealthiest candidate in recent history, with a net worth up to $209 million. His diverse investments include Silicon Valley, fintech, and AI. Despite potential conflicts, he has a modern view on digital assets.

Gate News: According to the latest Gate TradFi data, COCOA (Cocoa) has surged by 6% in a short period. Current volatility is significantly higher than recent averages, indicating increased market activity.

Tim Cook invested about $1.06 million in Nike by purchasing 25,000 shares at $42.43 each on April 10, as revealed in a recent SEC filing.

Dunamu and Naver Financial plan to merge by September 30, 2026, and pursue an IPO. Shareholders will exchange shares, with Dunamu becoming a subsidiary of Naver Financial, while merger details await regulatory review.

Deutsche Börse Group has invested $200 million in Payward, acquiring about 1.5% of its shares. This partnership, focused on integrating traditional finance with digital assets, aims to improve services for institutional investors, pending regulatory approval.

BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) bought 2,870 BTC on April 14, continuing a streak of 9,631 BTC over five days, reflecting growing institutional participation in Bitcoin via regulated ETFs. This trend reduces market supply and enhances access and compliance for traditional investors.

ASML raised its 2026 revenue forecast to €360-400 billion, driven by high demand for advanced chips due to AI investments. Q1 2026 results showed net sales of €8.8 billion. Strong growth in both EUV and non-EUV systems is expected, alongside increased dividends and share repurchases.

Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) reported a $3.82 billion net loss for Q1 2026, primarily from unrealized digital asset losses. Despite this, it continues to accumulate Ethereum, now holding 4.87 million ETH worth $10.7 billion. Quarterly revenue increased to $11.04 million, mainly from staking rewards.

Edith Sithole Chen Yik-ting, CEO of HKEx, cautions against extending trading hours in Hong Kong, highlighting potential disadvantages for local investors and emphasizing the importance of product offerings over operational hours. She also noted robust IPO interest from international companies and investors.

American Battery Materials increased its IPO size to 2.5 million shares at $6 each, aiming to raise $15 million. The company explores lithium resources in Utah and plans to list on NYSE American, currently traded under "BLTH."

Iran plans to utilize alternative ports to bypass U.S. restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to sustain its maritime trade amid ongoing international pressure.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Hong Kong has become a key hub for the movement of Iranian funds. Using shell companies, it handles as much as $4.8 billion in oil proceeds each year and also helps procure military technology. Although U.S. sanctions keep escalating, Hong Kong still serves as an important base for Iran’s shadow banking, and it avoids U.S. financial system oversight through small banks and offshore transshipment. The Hong Kong government has refused to cooperate with unilateral sanctions, which has helped facilitate the flow of underground funds. The United States has therefore changed its strategy, trying to make it harder to set up shell companies to stop the flow of funds.

Hermès' shares dropped 14% after reporting a 6% decline in Middle East sales due to the Iran war's impact on tourism. Overall sales rose 5.6%, missing expectations, with the U.S. as a bright spot. Currency fluctuations also contributed to revenue loss.

SIX Group announced a partnership with Chainlink to put stock market data from Swiss and Spanish exchanges on-chain, marking further progress in bringing traditional financial data on-chain. This move will help drive the development of new financial applications and strengthen the connection between DeFi and TradFi. This collaboration shows that traditional financial institutions are gradually embracing blockchain technology.

Largan Precision is about to hold a product briefing; the stock price is nearing 3,000 TWD. Because it refused Apple’s additional order request, it is focusing on CPO technology in collaboration with TSMC. The company’s breakthroughs in the AI hardware supply chain and its rollout of new high-end lens products will have a positive impact on revenue growth. It is expected to launch new products such as a variable aperture.

The IMF has downgraded its 2026 global growth forecast to 3.1%, citing risks of recession from rising oil prices and US-Iran tensions. Bitcoin has also dropped significantly amid poor macroeconomic conditions and rising global debt.

KKR is set to acquire approximately $820 million in convertible bonds from Samsung SDS, aiding its digital transformation and blockchain initiatives, while also providing advisory services in various areas including M&A and AI.

Donald Trump critiques UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the country's handling of immigration and oil policy. He expresses disappointment over the UK-US relationship and praises King Charles' upcoming visit, while also rebuking Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's remarks.

Mizuho Securities identified Cloudflare, ServiceNow, and Atlassian as top software stocks ahead of Q1 2026 earnings, despite a challenging market. Price targets were adjusted, reflecting strong fundamentals amid ongoing valuation compression in the sector.