Latest news with #FS
RTHK
4 days ago
- Business
- RTHK
HK has big role in 'new era for Asia', says Paul Chan
HK has big role in 'new era for Asia', says Paul Chan Paul Chan says Hong Kong will find new opportunities, momentum and solutions as it takes on a larger role in an increasingly-integrated Asia. Photo courtesy of the Financial Secretary's office Financial Secretary Paul Chan on Sunday said Hong Kong has a major role to play in the continued integration of economies across Asia - a trend that he described as one of the most important and irreversible developments in the globe. In a blog post titled "A New Era for Asia", Chan trumpeted Hong Kong's contributions to the Asian economy, noting that the SAR's exports by value surged 15.5 percent in May on a year-on-year basis, stretching the growth trend to a 15th consecutive month. The finance chief also pointed to an almost-60-percent increase in exports to Vietnam over the first five months of the year, while exports to Japan and the mainland rose around 20 percent over the same period. Chan also said even though Asia has been facing many geopolitical challenges, the economy for the region as a whole has demonstrated "strong resilience." He cited forecasts from the International Monetary Fund that developing Asian economies will see GDP growth of around 4.5 percent for this year and next – around three percentage points higher than developed economies. The minister said economic partnerships within Asia will only deepen in future, with the global economy set to face more trade and non-trade barriers going forward. In an era of sustained rapid growth in Asia, Chan said, Hong Kong will find more opportunities, new momentum and new solutions. He cited the SAR's financial services sector as one example of how the city can further diversify and take on an even more important role. The FS also said as new laws regulating stablecoins come into force in August, the government and financial regulators will strive to create a favourable market environment and encourage issuers to expand the applications of these virtual assets, and create solutions to real problems faced by both people and businesses.
RTHK
22-06-2025
- Business
- RTHK
HK's financial centre position strengthening: FS
HK's financial centre position strengthening: FS Paul Chan said the SAR's economy has demonstrated strong resilience, achieving nine consecutive quarters of GDP growth. File photo: RTHK Financial Secretary Paul Chan says Hong Kong's position as an international financial centre is strengthening, citing increased trading volumes and its leading global IPO market. Writing in his weekly blog on Sunday, Chan said the SAR's economy has demonstrated strong resilience, achieving nine consecutive quarters of GDP growth and surpassing HK$3 trillion. He said the stock market regained an upward trajectory over the past year, marked by significant increases in trading volume, with the average daily turnover now exceeding HK$240 billion. Chan noted that since Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing added chapter 18A to its main board listings rules – enabling listings for biotech companies without revenue or profits – the number of such companies has risen significantly. "Since the implementation of the '18A' reform in 2018, the number of newly listed companies in the new economy and biotechnology sectors has risen to about 370, accounting for approximately 14 percent of all listed companies, with a market capitalisation share exceeding 27 percent and trading volume share surpassing 30 percent," he said. "The '18C' reform introduced in 2023, along with the recent proposal for a 'Technology Enterprises Channel' and the facilitation of the return of China concept stocks listed in the United States, reflects our ongoing assessment of circumstances and commitment to reform, continually enhancing the attractiveness and competitiveness of the stock market." Turning to innovation, the finance chief reported significant investment in research and development (R&D) and growth in start-ups, expressing expectations for Hong Kong to become a top cross-border wealth management hub. "Innovation and technology is another important engine for Hong Kong's economic development. Local R&D expenditure approached HK$33 billion in 2023, rising 10 percent year-on-year. The number of local start-ups reached a record high of about 4,700 by the end of last year," he said. "Science Park and Cyberport, as flagship innovation and technology hubs, have nurtured and supported 22 listed companies and 20 unicorns, with their start-ups holding over 700 intellectual property rights." Chan also said he will lead a delegation of about 30 start-up representatives to the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin. He said the goal is to introduce Hong Kong's examples in innovative technology R&D and application to international investors and innovation leaders.
RTHK
15-06-2025
- Business
- RTHK
HK has growth potential in digital finance: FS
HK has growth potential in digital finance: FS Paul Chan said a policy statement for digital asset development will be issued soon. File photo: RTHK Financial Secretary Paul Chan said on Sunday that digital finance is among the areas Hong Kong can develop in the long run, adding that the government will issue its second policy statement on digital asset development by the end of the month. Chan said the statement is needed in light of "the latest developments and a change in situations". The minister said officials will announce the government's vision and policy directions on how they will help combine digital asset innovations with traditional financial services. Writing on his weekly blog, Chan said the policy statement will also touch on raising the flexibility and safety of digital assets in real economic activities. He noted that in August, the SAR will implement a licensing regime for stablecoins, which are virtual assets meant to maintain a stable value relative to assets such as actual currencies. The secretary said many market participants are interested in this and the Monetary Authority will handle licence applications as quickly as possible. "It is estimated that the total market value of global stablecoins is about US$240 billion, and the global stablecoin trading volume exceeded US$20 trillion last year," Chan said. "With the booming development of the digital asset market, the market demand for stablecoins is expected to increase further." Chan went on to say that while the global equity market has faced a lot of uncertainties so far this year, Hong Kong stood out being as the local bourse was robust and rose by around 20 percent. He said there have been funds from places such as the US, Europe and the Middle East flowing into the Hong Kong market, for initial public offerings as well as refinancing.
Daily Mirror
06-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
EU train station which could see 594-mile train journeys from the UK
A new direct train service from St Pancras International could stretch as far as Milan in Italy, as Italy's state railway invests in services through the Channel Tunnel An exciting new service may provide Brits with a new way to visit Italy that doesn't involve flying. Currently, the Eurostar allows Brits to travel with convenience to a few key destinations around Europe, including Paris, Lille, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Italy's state railway has announced plans to run between London and Paris by 2029 as part of a €1bn (£860m) investment in services through the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone, Kent, and beyond. Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) says it will use trains modelled after its Frecciarossa express services in continental Europe - an alternative to Eurostar. FS raised the prospect of longer links from London, including to Marseille and Milan via Lyon. The new services are facilitated by a planned terminal redesign of London's St Pancras. London St Pancras Highspeed, the company responsible for the station, hoped a redesigned terminal could attract new railway operators to compete with Eurostar, reported the Times. The prospective route would see trains depart from London St Pancras station to Milano Centrale - Milan's main train station. The Italian station opened in the early 1930s to replace an older, smaller station. There are 24 tracks at Centrale, with a soaring glass and metal arched roof over the platforms. The imposing design of the building was intended to showcase the dominance of then-Prime Minister Mussolini's fascist regime, according to Italia Rail. In addition to being one of the most grand train stations in design, Milano Centrale is the second-largest station in Italy - behind Roma Termini. In addition to being a hub for international travellers, the station offers regular daily service to cities throughout Italy. In fact, over 320,000 people pass through the station each day. On the platform level of the station, there are shops and restaurants, as well as an information office for confused or curious travellers. There is also a Sala Freccia Club across from Track 21, for travellers with a Gold or Platinum CARTAFRECCIA card or an Executive or AV Salottino ticket. There is also a Sala Blu next to track four, for passengers with disabilities who need special assistance. The lowest level of the station has shops and restaurants to kill time between trains. On the mezzanine and upper levels there are more shops and restaurants. The ground level of Milano Centrale is where travellers can find a ticket office, the KiPoint left luggage facility, a post office, and most of the shops and restaurants in the station. Travellers can also access the Centrale Metro station without leaving the building, and just outside of the train station are the boarding points for several city bus and tram lines.
Cision Canada
03-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Graphite One's Graphite Creek Project Approved for FAST-41 Federal Permitting Dashboard
Graphite One becomes the first Alaskan Critical Mineral mining project on the FAST-41 Dashboard FAST-41 status follows completion of Graphite One Feasibility Study funded by a $37.3M award under the Defense Production Act G1 enters Permitting Phase as Presidential Critical Mineral Executive Order calls for "Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production" and "Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential" VANCOUVER, BC, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - Graphite One Inc. (TSXV: GPH) (OTCQX: GPHOF) (" Graphite One", the " Company", or "G1"), is pleased to announce that the Company's Graphite Creek project – the upstream anchor for G1's complete U.S.-based advanced graphite supply chain (" Graphite Creek")– has been accepted as a "covered project" onto the FAST-41 Permitting Dashboard. Graphite One's project is the first Alaskan mining project to be listed on the FAST-41 Dashboard. "The approval of Graphite Creek as FAST-41's first Alaskan mining project is a major step for G1 and our complete U.S.-based supply chain strategy," said Anthony Huston, CEO of Graphite One. "With President Trump's Critical Mineral and Alaska Executive Orders, Graphite One is positioned at the leading edge of a domestic Critical Mineral renaissance that will power transformational applications from energy and transportation to AI infrastructure and national defense." Graphite One's domestic supply chain is planned to produce graphite concentrate from the Graphite Creek deposit North of Nome, Alaska and Anode Active Material at a facility to be constructed in Warren, Ohio, subject to financing (the " Project"). FAST-41 status follows publication of Graphite One's Feasibility Study (" FS") on April 23, 2025, which, with the support of the Department of Defense Production Act (DPA) award, was completed 15 months ahead of schedule. The annual graphite concentrate capacity of the Graphite Creek Mine in the FS was increased from that in the 2022 Pre-Feasibility Study (" PFS") – from 53,000 tpy to 175,000 tpy while maintaining a 20-year mine life. Measured plus Indicated Resources increased to 322% of the PFS resource. The FS projects a post-tax internal rate of return of 27%, using an 8% discount rate, with a net present value of $5.03 billion and a payback period of 7.5 years. FAST-41 streamlines the permitting process by providing improved timeliness and predictability by establishing publicly posted timelines and procedures for federal agencies, reducing unpredictability in the permitting process. FAST-41 also provides issue resolution mechanisms, while the federal permitting dashboard allows all project stakeholders and the general public to track a project's progress, including periods for public comment. The action drew strong support from Alaska's leading public officials: "America's dependency on foreign minerals and metals is a drag on our economy and a danger to our national security," said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. "As the largest natural graphite deposit in the nation, adding Graphite Creek to the FAST-41 Permitting Dashboard sends a strong signal that Alaska is key to U.S. Critical Mineral development." "Graphite One's addition to the FAST-41 permitting dashboard is yet another indication that this project is a national priority of strategic importance," said Senator Lisa Murkowski. "There is no question that developing the largest natural graphite deposit in all of North America is far better for our economy, security, and competitiveness than importing the entirety of our supply from unstable nations like Mozambique. I thank the Trump administration for adding Graphite One to the dashboard and look forward to the day this project comes online." "I want to congratulate Graphite One, which has achieved this milestone thanks to funding from the Defense Production Act, something I have been working on relentlessly in the Senate since the project's inception," said Senator Dan Sullivan. "This project has the potential to open up our state's abundant reserves of critical minerals and metals, which would also be very significant for our country's national security. We must end America's dependence on China for critical minerals, like graphite, resources that are necessary for alternative energy and sources and critical defense technologies. Thankfully, President Trump understands our state's great potential, and is determined to help unleash our vast resources and create good paying jobs to Alaskans. Graphite One's FAST-41 status is great news for our state and our country." "Securing our supply chains for critical minerals is a core priority and requires a whole of government approach." said Alaska Congressman Nick Begich. "Our national security, sovereignty, and continued self-determination require that we take action, and Graphite One is leading the way." Graphite One's Complete U.S.-Based Supply Chain Strategy The Project is planned as an integrated business operation to produce lithium-ion battery anode materials and other graphite products for the U.S domestic market on a commercial scale using primarily natural graphite from Alaska. The Project combines the operation of an advanced graphite manufacturing facility to be located in Warren Ohio with the supply of natural flake graphite from the Company's proposed Graphite Creek Mine in Alaska. The resources associated with the Company's Alaska State mining claims were cited by the U.S. Geological Survey in January 2022 as America's largest natural graphite deposit 1, and in 2023, "as among the largest in the world." This precedes the FS-verified deposit amount increase. The Ohio manufacturing facility received a $325M Letter of Interest from the EXIM Bank in September 2024. About the Permitting Council and FAST-41 Established in 2015 by Title 41 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41), the Permitting Council is a federal agency charged with improving the transparency and predictability of the federal environmental review and authorization process for certain critical infrastructure projects. The Permitting Council is comprised of the Permitting Council Executive Director, who serves as the Council Chair; 13 federal agency Council members (including deputy secretary-level designees of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Army, Commerce, Interior, Energy, Transportation, Defense, Homeland Security, and Housing and Urban Development, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Chairs of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation); and the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The Permitting Council coordinates federal environmental reviews and authorizations for projects that seek and qualify for FAST-41 coverage. FAST-41 covered projects are entitled to comprehensive permitting timetables and transparent, collaborative management of those timetables on the Federal Permitting Dashboard. FAST-41 covered projects may be in the energy production, electricity transmission, energy storage, surface transportation, aviation, ports and waterways, water resource, broadband, pipelines, manufacturing, mining, carbon capture, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and machine learning, high-performance computing and advanced computer hardware and software, quantum information science and technology, data storage and data management, and cybersecurity sectors. The Permitting Council also serves as a federal center for permitting excellence, supporting federal efforts to improve infrastructure permitting including and beyond FAST-41 covered projects to the extent authorized by law, including activities that promote or provide for the efficient, timely, and predictable completion of environmental reviews and authorizations for federally-authorized infrastructure projects. Qualified Person Jason Todd, with Barr Engineering Co. is the primary qualified person for the Feasibility Study incorporated in the NI 43-101 technical report that is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at and the Company's website. Mr. Todd is a Qualified Person as defined under 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release. About Graphite One Inc. GRAPHITE ONE INC. (TSX‐V: GPH; OTCQX: GPHOF) continues to develop its Graphite One Project (the " Project"), with the goal of becoming an American producer of high grade anode materials that is integrated with a domestic graphite resource. The Project is proposed as a vertically integrated enterprise to mine, process and manufacture high grade anode materials primarily for the lithium‐ion electric vehicle battery market. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Anthony Huston" (signed) For more information on Graphite One Inc., please visit the Company's website, On X @GraphiteOne Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, including those related to the Fast 41 listing and the anticipated impact of the FAST-41 status, any statements related to the planned production of any mineral reserves and resources, the construction of the Warren, Ohio facility, and events or developments that the Company intends, expects, plans, or proposes are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward ‐ looking information can be identified by the use of forward ‐ looking terminology such as "proposes", "expects", "is expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "projects", "plans", "is planning", "intends", "assumes", "believes", "indicates", "to be" or variations of such words and phrases that state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The Company cautions that there is no certainty that the Fast 41 listing will impact the Company as set forth in this press release, that the Graphite Creek Project produces the minerals set out in the FS or that the facility will be built in Warren, Ohio. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party opposition, changes in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at
