STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Sweden's central bank cut its key policy rate to 2.25% from 2.50% as expected on Wednesday to boost sluggish economic growth and said its forecast for interest rates held though it stood ready to act if the outlook for prices and activity changed. The Riksbank has slashed rates over the last year nearly as fast as it hiked them when the global bout of inflation hit after the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. At its meeting in December, the Riksbank had said it expected to cut only once more in this cycle, sometime in the first half of this year, but rate-setters have been concerned about sluggish growth.
Could Bitcoin Reach $150,000 in 2025?
Pro-cryptocurrency winds are blowing in the government and could spell big things for Bitcoin and other digital assets.
AI chip toolmaker Advantest hikes full-year profit forecast as DeepSeek roils markets
Japan's Advantest on Wednesday hiked its full year operating profit forecast by 37% due to strong demand for its testing tools for chips used in artificial intelligence tasks. "As of late, we have seen further growth in tester demand for AI related, high performance semiconductors," CEO Douglas Lefever told an earnings briefing. Operating income in the October-December quarter climbed 158% to 69.2 billion yen.
Bitwise Files to Launch Dogecoin ETF
The asset manager is among a number of issuers seeking ETFs for the memecoin.
Japan’s Metaplanet Plans to Buy 21,000 Bitcoin by 2026
The “21 Million Plan” comprises the issuance of 21 million shares via moving strike warrants and represents Asia’s largest-ever equity capital raise for Bitcoin with a target of 16.65 billion yen.
‘Congress was created to be very slow’ — Perianne Boring on Crypto’s future
Perianne Boring says crypto regulation doesn’t need to wait on Congress, as agencies like the SEC and CFTC already have the power to act.
Half of wealthy Gen Zers and millennials admit to ‘digital shoplifting,’ rationalizing it with inflation and influencer hacks
Customers are duping merchants into issuing refunds even if they receive and keep their products.
Nvidia and the stock market come roaring back after historic sell-off
After plunging 17% on Monday, Nvidia climbed almost 9% as investors rushed in to buy this historic dip in shares of the top chip maker.
Fed likely to hold rates steady despite Trump call for cuts as it awaits tariff, immigration changes
President Donald Trump may want lower interest rates, but the Federal Reserve will almost certainly keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at its two-day policy meeting that ends Wednesday. Trump said last week in Davos, Switzerland that he would bring down energy prices, then “demand” that the Fed lower borrowing costs. Later, when asked by reporters if he expected the Fed to listen to him, he said, “yes.”
The Pound’s Slump Adds to Inflation Headache at Bank of England
(Bloomberg) -- The Bank of England faces an extra dilemma ahead of next week’s interest-rate decision, with the slump in the value of the pound threatening to add to resurgent price pressures.Most Read from BloombergTrump's Federal Funding Pause Threatens State Financials NYC Subway’s Most Dangerous Stations Are on Lexington Ave. LineHousing Aid Uncertain After Trump’s Spending Freeze MemoTexas HOA Charged With Discrimination for Banning Section 8 RentersNewsom Enlists Magic Johnson, Guggenheim