Equities

For the first time ever, zero-day options (0DTE) on the S&P 500 Index surpassed all other expirations combined in the fourth quarter of 2024, highlighting the rapid growth of these short-term contracts, Bloomberg reports. Trading in options expiring the same day averaged more than 1.5 million contracts

Canadian exchange-traded funds (ETFs) experienced record-breaking growth in 2024, surpassing C$500 billion in assets for the first time, as reported by Bloomberg. This surge was fueled by strong market returns and substantial inflows. At the end of December, Canadian ETF assets under management reached C$519 billion, according to

US equity funds enjoyed a significant influx of cash last week, rebounding from the previous week's sell-off, as reported by Reuters. The positive shift was attributed to a combination of factors, including a lower-than-expected inflation report, the passage of a stopgap funding bill averting a government shutdown, and

India has officially dethroned China as Asia's top market for initial public offerings (IPOs) in 2024, fueled by a surge in company listings and buoyant stock market valuations, according to data from Dealogic and KPMG. This shift, as reported by Financial Times, is attributed to a confluence of

The number of companies listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) has plummeted to a two-decade low, with only four companies going public this year and several delisting, as reported by the Financial Times. The city-state's regulator is currently investigating ways to stem the tide of the equity market&

The world's leading private equity firms are facing a growing problem in China: they can't sell their investments. As Beijing continues its crackdown on initial public offerings (IPOs) and the Chinese economy slows, foreign investors find themselves trapped, unable to exit their investments and recoup their

The UK's listed housebuilders are on track to complete the fewest new homes for sale in a decade, as a combination of stringent planning regulations and elevated mortgage rates stifle the market, reports the Financial Times. This trend emerges despite the Labour government's ambitious efforts to

Despite escalating trade tensions between the US and China, Goldman Sachs remains optimistic about Chinese stocks in 2024, suggesting a limited downside for the market, as reported by Bloomberg. The bank's China portfolio strategist, Si Fu, told Bloomberg TV on Monday that the market has already priced in

The Federal Reserve's hawkish pivot this week has abruptly shifted investor sentiment, causing a surge in volatility and raising concerns about the sustainability of the recent stock market rally, reports Bloomberg. "Risk appetite has suddenly turned twitchy," states Bank of America Corp. strategist Michael Hartnett, in

Indian shares suffered their first weekly decline in five weeks, ending a four-week rally, as the Federal Reserve's shift towards fewer rate cuts next year triggered an exodus of foreign funds, reports Reuters. The Nifty 50 index dropped 1.5% to 23,587.50 at market close on