Bitcoin Hits $82K as Trump Backs Crypto

The summary: Trump’s win and crypto-friendly promises have sent bitcoin soaring, sparking hopes for a digital asset boom and possibly transforming the US into the world’s crypto capital.

The details:

• Bitcoin blasted past $82,000 for the first time, supercharged by Trump's election win and his promises to make the US "the crypto capital of the planet."

• Trump's pledge to create a strategic bitcoin stockpile and bring in crypto-friendly regulators has crypto enthusiasts buzzing with hopes of sweeping deregulation.

• The crypto sector, including dogecoin (endorsed by Trump's fan Elon Musk), is in a bull run, with bitcoin up over 80% this year and analysts projecting it could climb as high as $100,000.

• Trump's agenda of tax cuts and regulatory rollbacks, now bolstered by potential Republican control of Congress, has fueled investor optimism across sectors.

Why it matters: Trump’s crypto cheerleading and promise to trim regulations could turn the US into a paradise for digital assets, fueling bitcoin’s jaw-dropping rally and attracting new investors. With Republicans likely to control Congress, Trump has a clear path to fast-track policies that give crypto a serious leg up—and investors are taking notice. If bitcoin’s gains hold, we could be in for a financial shakeup that makes the sector less “Wild West” and more mainstream moneymaker.

£194m Swiss Deal Puts Aquis on World Stage

The summary: SIX Group’s takeover of Aquis underscores London's stock market woes but might just give this plucky British bourse the boost it needs to thrive on a global stage.

The details:

• Swiss bourse operator SIX Group snapped up London’s Aquis for a cool £194m, stirring fresh fears over the health of UK’s equity markets. The deal prices Aquis shares at a generous 727p each, a 120% premium over last week’s price.

• Aquis claims the acquisition will give it the muscle to go toe-to-toe with Europe’s bigger players. SIX, for its part, sees this as a prime opportunity to bolster its exchange and data businesses beyond Swiss borders.

• Despite pride in Aquis’s growth since 2012, CEO Alasdair Haynes admitted to potential risks and praised the deal as a way to safeguard future gains for shareholders.

• This takeover adds to the recent wave of foreign buyouts in the UK, with overseas acquirers snapping up 37 AIM-listed firms over the past year, more than twice the previous year’s tally.

Why it matters: The takeover of Aquis by Switzerland’s SIX Group signals yet another nibble at the UK’s shrinking stock market scene, raising eyebrows over London’s fading allure for homegrown firms. With fewer IPOs and a sharp decline in AIM listings, British businesses are increasingly becoming targets for overseas buyers. It’s a sign that if the UK wants to stay relevant in the global market game, it may need more than just plucky spirit and nostalgia.

Government Sells More NatWest Shares, £1bn Down

The summary: After a £1bn buyback, the UK government’s stake in NatWest shrinks further, recouping billions from its 2008 bailout, as the bank’s share price rises and the retail investor sale idea is quietly shelved.

The details:

• NatWest has bought back £1bn of shares from the UK government, trimming its stake from 14.2% to 11.4%—and continues its journey back to full privatisation.

• The government's holding has plummeted from 38% in December 2023, following a series of share sales that have now recouped over £20bn from the 2008 bailout.

• The much-hyped plan to sell shares to retail investors—pushed by the Tories with a costly, unused campaign—has been scrapped in favour of more traditional sales methods.

• With shares up nearly 20% since July, NatWest’s buybacks are a sign of its strong recovery and a step closer to freeing itself from government ownership.

Why it matters: The UK government’s slow and steady exit from NatWest is a sign the bank’s back on its feet after the 2008 bailout, having already pocketed £20bn from the sale of shares. The retail investor sale idea was quietly scrapped, leaving us with a more sensible approach to privatisation—no Trevor McDonald adverts required. With shares up 20%, it looks like the Treasury might actually make a tidy profit from all those taxpayer pounds after all.

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