Bloomberg Daybreak Asia: Treasuries Hold Gains, Bitcoin Hits New All-Time High
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Bloomberg
16 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
H1 2025 APAC syndicated loans market overview
Greater China Greater China syndicated loans issuances concluded at USD 82.9 billion in H1 2025, marking a 34.5% decrease in volume year-on-year. Borrowers are cautious in raising funds, with over half of the loans issued went into supporting refinancing efforts, sitting at 55% of the total volume. Meanwhile, project finance and general corporate purposes came in at 14% and 12%, respectively. As for capital-related expenditures, the spending momentum did not sustain from last year, issuances fell sixfold. In terms of currencies, HKD gained the spotlight, with 34.8% of Greater China loans volume denominated in HKD. Worth noting, there was also an increase in the popularity of issuing in Euros in H1 2025. Especially in the Offshore China Loans market, the popularity of Euro-denominated loans accounted for around 40% of the volume. The largest deal signed in H1 2024 was issued by Fengmiao Wind Power with SMBC as the green loan coordinator. It was signed with a dual-currency TWD-EUR in a 9-tranche structure, totaling TWD 102.9 billion (USD 3.9 billion equivalent). The deal was also considered the second largest APAC ex-Japan Green UoP deal in H1 2025. Syndicated borrowing amongst ASEAN borrowers in H1 2025 were not in line with the trend of dropping volume across the broader APAC ex-Japan region, marking an increase of 25.3% year-on-year, totaling USD 42.9 billion. ASEAN Borrower loans were primarily issued for general corporate purposes (24%) and refinancing (23%), while issuance for real estate and sustainable purposes rose to 16% and 9%, respectively. The share of refinancing has declined, reflecting a growing focus on ESG, long-term infrastructure, and development financing. The share of USD-denominated loans to ASEAN borrowers has dropped from 48% to 27.5% year-on-year, as borrowers increasingly diversify into other currencies like SGD, which now leads at 43.5%. This shift is largely driven by the weakening of the U.S. dollar—spurred by recent U.S. tariff policies and evolving global monetary dynamics—making USD borrowing less attractive. The largest ASEAN loan signed in H1 was to Marina Bay Sands integrated resort for SGD 12.0 billion (USD 9.4 billion equivalent). It is to finance the expansion of the Marina Bay Sands Resort, including the construction of a new fourth tower. It is signed with a 3-tranche structure with over 26 banks participating in the deal. Among the mandated lead arranging banks, United Overseas Bank claimed the top spot, followed by DBS and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp, with market shares of 8.73%, 8.0%, and 7.94%, respectively. Among the bookrunners, United Overseas Bank ranked top, followed closely by BDO Union Bank, and DBS, making up market shares of 10.59%, 9.84% and 8.32%.
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
From Crypto Beginner To Debt-Free: Investor's 'Boring' Strategy Beats FOMO Crowd
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. The crypto market's recent surge has created countless success stories, but few demonstrate the power of disciplined goal-setting quite like mb99's journey. After nearly five years of weathering crypto's notorious volatility, this German investor just achieved what many only dream of: complete student loan freedom through cryptocurrency gains. The Patient Play That Paid Off When mb99 first entered the crypto space around 2020, the landscape looked drastically different. Bitcoin was trading below $30,000, altcoins were largely speculative plays, and the current bull run was just a distant possibility. But unlike many who chase quick profits or fall victim to endless FOMO cycles, mb99 had something more powerful: a clear exit strategy. Don't Miss: — no wallets, just price speculation and free paper trading to practice different strategies. Grow your IRA or 401(k) with Crypto – . 'Paying off student loans was always my crypto goal,' mb99 shared in a Reddit post that quickly gained traction across financial communities. This singular focus became both his North Star and his shield against the emotional turbulence that destroys so many crypto portfolios. The journey wasn't smooth. Like virtually every crypto investor from that era, mb99 endured 'a lot of low points' where selling seemed like the rational choice. The 2022 crypto winter, regulatory uncertainty, and countless market corrections tested his resolve repeatedly. Yet he held firm, understanding that meaningful wealth building requires surviving the inevitable storms. The Exit Strategy That Actually Worked What separates mb99's story from typical crypto tales isn't just his gains—it's his discipline to actually realize them. When recent market momentum pushed his portfolio to debt-clearing levels, he faced the classic investor's dilemma: sell now or wait for potentially larger gains? 'There was a little voice telling me to wait longer since I think many coins will go much higher in the long run,' he admitted. 'But I knew I would be so frustrated if I wasted this chance by waiting and prices went lower.' Trending: New to crypto? on Coinbase. This moment crystallizes one of investing's hardest lessons: perfect timing is impossible, but good timing with clear objectives beats endless optimization. By sticking to his predetermined goal rather than chasing theoretical maximum returns, mb99 secured his financial freedom. The Tax Advantage That Made It Sweeter Adding another layer to this success story, mb99's location in Germany provided a crucial tax benefit. Under German law, cryptocurrency gains are tax-free if holdings are maintained for longer than a year—a rule that applied perfectly to his situation. This meant every euro of his student loan payoff went directly toward debt elimination rather than tax obligations. This highlights an often-overlooked aspect of crypto investing: location-specific tax implications can dramatically impact net returns. While U.S. investors face capital gains taxes on crypto profits, other jurisdictions offer more favorable treatment for long-term holders. Beyond the Numbers: The Freedom Factor The emotional impact of mb99's achievement extends far beyond spreadsheet calculations. 'Super super happy, it's an insane feeling,' he described, noting that being debt-free 'feels even better than expected' and makes him feel 'freer than expected.' This sentiment resonates deeply across the financial independence community. Student loan debt, with its psychological weight and compound interest burden, represents more than just numbers—it's often a barrier to major life decisions, from career changes to for Today's Crypto Investors mb99's journey offers several crucial takeaways for current market participants: Define your exit before you enter. Without clear objectives, even successful investments can become missed opportunities. Whether your goal is debt freedom, a house down payment, or retirement funding, having concrete targets creates decision-making frameworks that emotions can't easily override. Volatility is the price of admission, not a bug. Every crypto investor will face periods of doubt and potential losses. Understanding this upfront helps build the psychological resilience necessary for long-term success. Good enough beats perfect. mb99 could have potentially earned more by holding longer, but he chose certainty over speculation. In a market driven by unpredictable factors, securing meaningful progress often trumps maximizing theoretical returns. The Next Chapter Now debt-free, mb99 plans to 'start stacking again' with a crucial advantage: no interest-bearing debt eating into future returns. This clean slate allows for more aggressive investment strategies and longer time horizons—a position many investors would envy. His story serves as a powerful reminder that in a market often dominated by get-rich-quick narratives, sometimes the most revolutionary act is simply having a plan and sticking to it. As crypto continues its volatile dance between euphoria and despair, mb99's disciplined approach offers a blueprint for turning digital assets into real-world freedom. Read Next: Accredited investors can —with up to 120% bonus shares—before this Uber-style disruption hits the public markets Image: Shutterstock This article From Crypto Beginner To Debt-Free: Investor's 'Boring' Strategy Beats FOMO Crowd originally appeared on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Surprise! Four-Day Work Weeks Make Employees Happier, Productive
The evidence is growing that a shorter work week is better not just for workers, but for employers as well. The largest-ever study of a four-day work week found that employees working fewer hours weren't just happier, but they also maintained productivity and had better job satisfaction, according to an article on the study published by Scientific American. In fact, the four-day work week was so successful that most companies kept the reduced schedule even after the study ended. Published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, the study looked at 2,896 employees at 141 companies in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Shorter Week, Less Stress Before shifting to the reduced four-day work week, companies involved in the study restructured their workflow to maintain 80% of a worker's weekly productivity by eliminating activities like unnecessary meetings. Some researchers suspected that the condensed schedule would lead to more stress for workers who hurried to get their tasks completed in time. 'When workers want to deliver the same productivity, they might work very rapidly to get the job done, and their well-being might actually worsen,' said lead author Wen Fan, a sociologist at Boston College in Massachusetts, in the Scientific American article. 'But that's not what we found.' Overall, workers felt better job satisfaction and reported better mental health after six months of the study. And while the study didn't look at whether companies' productivity levels dropped, it did say that 90% of companies kept the shorter work week even after the trial ended, indicating they weren't worried about a dip in profits. The study did leave some questions unanswered. For example, since employees self-reported the results, researchers wondered whether they over-emphasized the positive benefits in an effort to retain the extra day off. Read the original article on Investopedia
