Capital markets news | Wed 17 Dec 2025
Do you know?
US Federal Reserve: One of the most unusual features of the Federal Reserve is its hybrid public‑private structure: the Board of Governors is a federal government agency, but the 12 regional Reserve Banks are separately incorporated institutions whose shares are owned by private member banks, which must subscribe capital equal to a fixed percentage of their own capital and surplus.
Equity
- Bjak founder weighs IPO as Malaysian insurtech expands abroad Edge Star
- DNeX to be included in F4GBM, F4GBMS indices from 22 Dec Edge NST Star
- China AI chip firm Biren to launch Hong Kong IPO in coming weeks Edge NST Yahoo
- Hong Kong’s red-hot IPO market closing 2025 with rush of deals Yahoo
- Rupee rout dims hopes of a strong recovery in Indian stocks Edge
- Tax firm Andersen raises USD176m in US IPO Edge
- Medical supply company Medline is going public this week Yahoo
- US stocks lose steam after mixed bag of jobs numbers Edge
- Nasdaq seeks to extend trading hours as Wall Street gears up for 24/7 move Edge
- Databricks raises USD4b at USD134b valuation as its AI business heats up Yahoo
- Waymo in talks to raise billions at over USD100b valuation Yahoo
- US money managers strike private deals in fight to keep mandates Star
- Tether leads USD8m investment in Speed to expand USDT use Coindesk
Debt
- Bank Simpanan Nasional’s AAA rating affirmed RAM
- CGIF’s AAA rating affirmed RAM
- IJM Land’s A2(s) issue rating affirmed RAM
- SMJ Energy’s AAA sukuk rating affirmed RAM
- AEON Credit issues 11th senior sukuk worth RM200m Edge Star
- Bank Pembangunan gives RM97.6m facility to Coronade Properties Edge NST Star
- India RBI adds USD5b via currency swap to boost liquidity Edge
- US overdraft fees jump at big banks amid regulatory, economic shifts Edge
- Shadow banks cross USD250t mark as watchdog warns on data Edge Private credit pressures to fuel further defaults in 2026 NST
Digital assets
- Bitcoin fatigue sets in as token heads for fourth annual loss Edge Yahoo
- Bitcoin derivatives point to USD85k-USD100k play Coindesk
- Zero-knowledge tech is the key to quantum-proofing bitcoin Coindesk
- Visa offers stablecoin settlement for US banks using Circle’s USDC Edge
- Digital asset ETPs post third straight week of net inflows Cointelegraph
- BofA fund manager survey flashing contrarian sell signal Coindesk
- FDIC to unveil plan for banks to issue stablecoins Edge Coindesk Cointelegraph
- Crypto urges SEC to see the good in blockchain privacy tools Cointelegraph
- Marshall Islands launches world’s first blockchain-based UBI Coindesk
- Brazil to test blockchain in real estate auction to reduce fraud, disputes Coindesk
- UK regulator consults on crypto rules for exchanges, lending and DeFi Cointelegraph
M&A
- TotalEnergies divests 10% of Sarawak’s SK408 block to Thailand’s PTTEP Edge Yahoo
- Former Equatorial Melaka among several hotels up for sale in the state Edge
- PRG buys land in Klang for RM6m Star
- YLPG sells 2 double-storey shops for RM1.7m Star
- Ge-Shen terminates JB land sale Star
- Philippine tycoon to sell troubled water utility amid scrutiny Edge
- Vedanta gets court nod to split business, shares hit record Edge
- India’s HDFC Bank gets cenbank nod to buy 9.5% of IndusInd Bank Edge
- Warner Bros likely to reject USD108.4b Paramount bid, back Netflix Yahoo
- Kushner’s Affinity withdraws from Warner Bros takeover battle Yahoo
- Cencora takes majority stake in cancer care platform OneOncology for USD5b Yahoo
- Quantum Computing to buy Luminar Semiconductor for USD110m Yahoo
- California Pizza Kitchen sells itself Yahoo
- Kering sells 60% stake in Fifth Avenue property Yahoo
- Kongsberg buys US missile company Zone 5 for undisclosed sum Edge
- E.W. Scripps rejects Sinclair’s acquisition offer Yahoo
- WSP Global signs agreement to acquire power and energy company TRC Yahoo
- Anglo, Teck win Canada’s approval to form USD50b miner Edge
- Holcim expands in Latin America with Peruvian deal Edge
- Serica Energy to buy Spirit’s Southern North Sea assets for GBP57m Yahoo
- Shell mergers chief Greg Gut quit after CEO blocked BP bid Edge
- Advini, Cordier by InVivo in merger talks Yahoo
- Shell seeks buyers for stake in Germany’s Schwedt refinery NST
- Luckin Coffee is said to consider bidding for Nestle’s Blue Bottle Edge
- MSC emerges as leading contender to acquire ZIM Yahoo
Other markets
- Thai central bank is taking action on baht, worried by rapid rise NST
- Vietnam won’t let go of the global economy Star
- Xi faces calls for stronger yuan in rare public currency debate Edge
- China’s market revival hinges on gloomy economy turning corner Edge
- Bank of Japan expected to hike rates to 30-year high Mail NST
- Japan’s manufacturing sector contracts at slower pace in Dec NST Star
- South Korea pension fund set to take bigger role in FX stability Edge
- Economists at Commonwealth Bank of Australia tip a Feb rate hike NST
- New Zealand government faces later return to budget surplus Star
- Fed’s Bostic: No rate cuts next year Yahoo
- Dallas Fed paper argues federal funds rate transmission effectiveness waning Yahoo
- US business activity growth slows while price pressures mount Edge
- US retail sales shows resilient consumer spending beyond cars Edge
- Delayed US employment reports expected to show softening labour market NST
- Goldman Sachs reshaping investment banking to focus on digital infra, AI Edge
- PayPal applies to become a bank as US loosens regulatory reins Edge
- Milei’s currency shift targets reserve build-up Star
- UK unemployment nears 5-year high ahead of BOE meeting Edge
- Britain to consider revamping capital rules for likes of Citadel and XTX Edge Star
- Eurozone activity weaker than expected on German industry Edge
- AI investment to keep rising and boost world economy, OECD says Edge