Mondi Group: Strong Q1, Yet MNP Share Price JSE Stalls – Will the Break Come?

Mondi Group remains a heavyweight in global packaging and paper, delivering solid earnings and strategic progress even as its South African share price remains in a range. Continue reading “Mondi Group: Strong Q1, Yet MNP Share Price JSE Stalls – Will the Break Come?”

Hackers Execute Biggest Digital Heist in Brazilian History

Law enforcement officials are investigating what they are calling the biggest digital heist in Brazilian history, where hackers stole about $140 million from Brazilian banks after paying a technology company employee only R$15,000 ($2,760) for his corporate credentials.

A São Paulo-based company called C&M Software, which connects fintechs and smaller banks to the Pix instant payment system and other Central Bank infrastructure in Brazil, was targeted. Criminals gained unauthorized access to the reserve accounts of six financial institutions.

Paulo Barbosa, the São Paulo police detective leading the investigation, stated at a press conference Thursday that “this is the biggest fraud suffered by financial institutions through the internet.”

The plot began when thieves approached João Nazareno Roque, an IT operator at C&M, outside a bar near his home in March.

Roque admitted to initially selling his system credentials for R$5,000, then receiving an additional R$10,000 to help develop the software that enabled the breach.

Police arrested the 30-year-old at his home in City Jaraguá. The attackers pretended to be the impacted banks and issued fake Pix transfer orders on June 30, local time.

Banking-as-a-service provider BMP was among the most affected, confirming losses exceeding R$400 million ($73.8 million) from its central bank reserve account. The company filed the first police report revealing the extent of the wider attack.

Criminals quickly used Latin American over-the-counter desks and exchanges to convert the stolen reais into cryptocurrency. Blockchain analysis by crypto expert ZachXBT shows that before authorities could freeze accounts, at least $30–40 million had been transferred into Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether (USDT). The R$270 million ($49.8 million) held in one wallet has since been blocked.

BoFA: Sell U.S Stock Market, Shows Bearish Signal

Bank of America warns that the S&P 500 is nearing a sell signal after recently reaching all-time highs, according to strategist Michael Hartnett. He noted that if the index crosses 6,300 points—just 0.3 percent above Thursday’s close investors should consider selling their shares.

Hartnett emphasized that the risks of a market bubble are increasing, particularly as the House of Representatives has passed a $3.04 trillion tax-cutting fiscal package. He stated in a note, “Growth is more difficult to overcome than fear, so overbought markets can remain overbought.”

The strong performance of the US economy has pushed US stocks to new highs, especially following President Donald Trump’s easing of tariff policies. This has led to a more speculative market environment, with artificial intelligence and other technology giants gaining renewed popularity.

However, Trump’s announcement that his administration will begin sending letters to trading partners keeps trade issues at the forefront of discussions.

In addition, the US dollar has experienced a historic decline in value, falling over 10% so far in 2025, coinciding with sporadic increases in long-term US Treasury yields. This unusual trend indicates that as investors reassess President Trump’s unpredictable policy changes, they are reevaluating US holdings, which were viewed as safe havens.

Many currency experts anticipate further weakening of the dollar in the coming years, despite its continued status as the world’s reserve currency. Erik Nelson, a macro strategist at Wells Fargo, commented, “It’s US exceptionalism falling by the wayside, and the rest of the world is playing catch-up.”

In April, the “Sell America” movements in the stock, foreign exchange, and US Treasury markets caused significant turbulence worldwide, and analysts expect similar trends to persist. Nelson noted, “I believe that political stability is waning around the world, which is generally problematic for volatility in financial and economic markets.”

Grayscale Surprised on XRP, Solana ETF Delays

The US Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision to postpone the launch of its Digital Large Cap Fund was deemed “unexpected” by Grayscale.

 

The company claimed that the regulator’s unexpected decision on Wednesday demonstrated the evolving nature of the regulatory environment. Grayscale stated that although this development was surprising, it illustrates how the regulatory environment around a first-of-its-kind digital asset product, such as GDLC, is dynamic and ever-changing.

The conversion of Grayscale’s GDLC fund, which focuses on Bitcoin but exposes investors to Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Cardano, into an exchange-traded fund was expedited by the SEC. However, a note from the regulator stating that it would not yet permit the product to begin trading was also attached. Grayscale went on to say:

“We are working closely with important stakeholders to meet all requirements, and Grayscale is still committed to pursuing the listing of GDLC as an exchange-traded product. We’ll supply.

The CoinDesk 5 Index, which gauges the performance of the top five most liquid and sizable digital assets, serves as the basis for Grayscale’s Large Cap fund. Over 80% of the fund’s assets are made up of bitcoin.

According to the SEC filing, Ethereum accounts for about 11% of the ETF’s assets, followed by Solana (2.8%), XRP (4.8%), and Cardano (0%). GDLC wants to be listed on the NYSE Arca as a full-fledged ETF. The asset manager has already converted its Ethereum and Bitcoin trusts into Grayscale’s funds. Because the funds were closed-end, supply and demand imbalances resulting from their structures caused the products to trade at a premium or discount to the value of their underlying holdings.

Invicta Holdings FY2025: Net Income Soars 60%, EPS Up 57%, Yet JSE: IVT Shares Stall

Invicta Holdings (JSE: IVT) has emerged from years of volatility with a strong FY2025, demonstrating disciplined restructuring and consistent earnings growth. Continue reading “Invicta Holdings FY2025: Net Income Soars 60%, EPS Up 57%, Yet JSE: IVT Shares Stall”

Stock Markets Rally: Dow Jones Closes Week Near Record Highs on 3% Gain

US stock markets closed broadly higher today, with Dow Jones Approaching the all time high, extending the strong summer rally with solid gains across all major indices. Continue reading “Stock Markets Rally: Dow Jones Closes Week Near Record Highs on 3% Gain”