Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

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.

Gate News: According to the latest Gate TradFi data, MINIMAX (MINIMAX-W 00100.HK) has dropped by 14% in a short period. Current volatility is significantly higher than recent averages, indicating increased market

Elice Group, a South Korean AI firm, plans to IPO this year to fund next-gen portable modular data centers. With a revenue increase and a focus on cloud services over education, they aim to expand AI solutions and secure GPU procurement projects.

Chainlink has partnered with SIX Group to provide onchain access to real-time stock market data from Swiss and Spanish markets, enhancing blockchain applications. This integration supports tokenized assets and connects traditional finance with blockchain.

Japan plans to offer up to $10 billion in financial assistance to Southeast Asian nations facing rising oil prices due to the Middle East conflict. This aid aims to secure oil supplies and strengthen regional cooperation.

Goldman Sachs has filed for the Goldman Sachs Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, targeting steady income with limited Bitcoin upside by investing 80% in Bitcoin-related instruments and using a dynamic options overwrite strategy.

Zerion confirmed a recent AI-driven social engineering attack by North Korean hackers, resulting in a $100,000 loss from corporate hot wallets. User funds remain safe, and the company has taken precautionary measures. This follows another significant attack on Drift Protocol.

Shin Hyun-song, nominee for Bank of Korea governor, acknowledged the coexistence of CBDCs and stablecoins at a confirmation hearing. He proposed a three-pronged approach for the won's internationalization and pledged to divest foreign assets to prevent conflicts of interest.

Copper prices rose as traders reacted to U.S.-Iran peace talks, reversing a six-week decline. Improved market sentiment, driven by increased Chinese demand and easing inflation fears, suggests long-term growth in copper demand, particularly from AI data centers.

GitLab announced a partnership with Google Cloud, boosting its stock by nearly 7%. The collaboration integrates GitLab's Duo Agent with Google Cloud's Vertex AI, enhancing enterprise developer workflows. A new commercial model allows cloud customers to use existing commitments for GitLab services.

Naver issued $1.09 billion in green bonds to fund eco-friendly data centers and ESG initiatives. The investment supports its carbon neutrality goal by 2040 and contributes to South Korea's AI strategy by advancing GPU deployment.