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MALAYSIA unexpectedly kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged, halting its tightening cycle earlier than expected, as a darkening global outlook poses risks to the economy.

WHILE foreign interest in Singapore properties has been on the rise in recent years, wealthy foreigners are likely buying assets under their individual names – instead of through their family offices – to circumvent financial disincentives.

BINANCE Holdings, the world’s largest crypto exchange, was named among the key counterparties to digital-asset platform Bitzlato, which has been accused of processing millions of dollars in illegal funds.

CHINA is expected to keep benchmark lending rates unchanged for a fifth month in January, a Reuters survey showed, although analysts think cuts next month are probable after the central bank pledged steps to boost a Covid-ravaged economy.

FEARS that a high-interest-rate environment will hinder innovation or private capital investment are overblown, according to private investors and financial regulators attending the World Economic Forum. But they do see room for some correction of valuations, and for more regulation in some parts of the financial ecosystem.

HIGH-grade borrowers in the US and Europe who seek to sell bonds for environmental, social and governance projects should expect no cost discount as in the past, according to Goldman Sachs Group.

CENTRAL banks in Indonesia and Malaysia will likely deliver another modest interest rate increase each as they look to wind down their monetary tightening and turn their attention to economic growth.

US AUTHORITIES said on Wednesday they have arrested the majority shareholder and cofounder of Hong Kong-registered virtual currency exchange Bitzlato for allegedly processing US$700 million in illicit funds.

CITIGROUP is raising compensation for its junior investment bankers by as much as 15 per cent even as many Wall Street peers are cutting jobs and slashing bonuses after last year’s industry-wide deals slump.

ETHEREUM software company ConsenSys confirmed that it’s eliminating 96 positions, representing 11 per cent of the crypto firm’s total workforce.