Author: Jordan

Happy Friday! Gold loan fintechs are moving towards building their own loan books. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.Also in the letter:■ How to train your robot?■ Nasscom’s new chair■ Flipkart’s Minutes app planGold loan fintech startups build own loan books as RBI tightens norms Gold-loan fintech startups are shifting from pure sourcing and distribution to building their own loan books as the RBI tightens rules for the sector.Driving the news: Players such as Indiagold and Oro, both of which now hold NBFC licences, are scaling their own lending businesses and exploring co-lending partnerships.Until now, these startups largely…

Visitors from overseas enamored by Chinese-style ornaments crafted with the precious metalA shop assistant arranges jewelry at a Lao Feng Xiang Jewelry store in Shanghai on April 9, 2026. (GAO ERQIANG / CHINA DAILY)A video of Maye Musk, the mother of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, purchasing handcrafted gold jewelry in Shanghai earlier this year sparked an online buzz.But long before Ms Musk’s trending post, Chinese-style gold jewelry — carrying thousands of years of craftsmanship — was already on the shopping lists of many overseas tourists, along with tea, silk and other cultural souvenirs.Shanghai Yuyuan Tourist Mart, a key check-in for…

Takeaways The rally has lost its internal momentum as positioning becomes crowded and systematic flows fade, shifting the focus from chasing upside to managing downside risk Oil may gradually reassert itself as the macro driver, and the longer disruptions persist, the greater the risk that equities are forced to reconnect with energy reality Geopolitical noise is evolving into structural risk, and if the assumption of a short-lived conflict breaks, it becomes the catalyst that finally moves the market out of its holding pattern Oil Risk Creeps Back to Levels That May MatterThe tape is no longer climbing a wall of…

After a blistering near-vertical surge that added almost 40% to its value between late 2025 and early 2026, gold’s recent pullback is anything but a sign of weakness, according to experts. The precious metal remains firmly underpinned by resilient central bank demand and volatile geopolitical currents, even as rising real yields and currency fluctuations temper its advance.Pullback as digestion, not weakness“Contrary to what many think, gold has not fallen on evil times. What is happening since early 2026 is much more of digestion following a remarkable rally than the opposite of the underlying trend,” Eugenia Mykuliak, founder and executive director of…

HSBC UK is reducing rates across its mortgage ranges by up to 0.25%. The rate reductions cover products for first-time buyers, home-movers and buy-to-let borrowers.   In its first-time buyer range, five-year fixed rates have reduced by up to 0.15%, with a 60% LTV premier product down to 4.86% with £750 cashback, the standard £999 fee product down to 4.89% with £750 cashback (increasing to £1,500 for energy efficient homes, and a fee-free rate down to 4.99% with £500 cashback (increasing to £1,000 for energy efficient homes). An 85% LTV five-year fix with a £999 fee is down…

The UK government is keen to encourage people to invest. If you are thinking of dipping your toe into the stock market, an Isa is often the best way, as it lets you protect any gains from tax. Here’s how to get started.Consider your goalsBefore you open a stocks and shares Isa, think about what the money is for, says Jason Hollands, the managing director at Bestinvest by Evelyn Partners, an investment platform. This type of Isa will only suit you if you have cash that you can afford to put away for a while.“Is it to provide some money…

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Households could be paying tens of thousands of dollars more on their annual home loan interest bill if the RBA hikes the cash rate in line with expectations.New data from PropTrack has revealed where buyers face the biggest hit to their monthly interest bill, with experts warning the sharp U-turn in forecasts may catch many recent buyers off guard.But industry professionals say one segment of buyers is viewing the uncertainty as a good opportunity, and are preparing to jump in while others sit on the sidelines.Jump ahead to see how much another two rate hikes could cost buyers across the…

If you don’t think there is a mortgage type for you, think again. Most mortgages usually require a credit score of at least 620 (sometimes higher), tax returns that show a history of steady income, not too much debt and a down payment of no less than 5%. But, if you have less-than-perfect credit, a non-W2 job or you’re short on down payment savings, there are actually loan types made specifically for you. CNBC Select has compared dozens of mortgage lenders to find those with the most flexible approval requirements. For more information on how we made our choices, view…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Major General Puleng Dimpane as the acting National Police Commissioner following the precautionary suspension of General Fannie Masemola, who faces serious charges related to the Public Finance Management Act.Dimpane is currently the Chief Financial Officer in the South African Police Services (SAPS). She has been with SAPS for over two decades and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce as well as an Honours Degree in Business Administration.Her appointment comes after Masemola appeared in court earlier this week on four counts linked to alleged violations of the Public Finance Management Act.Addressing the nation from the Union Buildings in…