Bank of America announced a major shift in its wealth management strategy:Beginning January 5, advisors at Private Bank, Merrill, and Merrill Edge will be allowed to recommend crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) to clients — with no asset minimums. Previously, only high-asset clients meeting specific thresholds could access Bitcoin ETFs (since early 2024). This update moves...
Flex, an AI-driven fintech aiming to become a one-stop financial operating system for mid-sized U.S. businesses, has raised $60 million in a Series B round led by Portage Ventures, valuing the company at ~$500 million. This brings Flex’s total equity funding to $105 million. 🔑 What Makes Flex Stand Out? Flex targets America’s “jumbo shrimps”...
Activist investor Jonathan Litt (Land & Buildings), who holds a 1% stake in First Industrial Realty Trust, is urging the company to take decisive actions—asset sales, capital returns, and a board refresh—moves he believes could boost the stock price by 30%. Litt stresses that while he thinks highly of First Industrial’s portfolio and leadership, the...
Edison is set to significantly ramp up renewable energy investments, a move that will increase the Italian utility’s debt—prompting parent group EDF to explore selling a minority stake to avoid adding pressure to its own balance sheet. 🔑 Key Highlights 🏛️ EDF’s Strategic Move CEO Nicola Monti confirmed that EDF intends to sell up to...
Visa has announced plans to formally enter the Syrian market, following an agreement with the country’s central bank to build a modern digital payments ecosystem. 🔑 Key Developments 🏛️ Geopolitical & Economic Context 📌 What This Means for the Region Visa’s entry signals: As digital payments expand across emerging markets, Syria may soon undergo one...
A closer look at how the new investment program may shape the future of wealth-building in the U.S. As part of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the U.S. Treasury is preparing to launch “Trump Accounts”—a new nationwide investment account for all children born 2025–2028. While details are still emerging, financial planners say...