Bloomberg The European Central Bank (ECB) is intensifying discussions with bank executives over their readiness for a potential surge in company defaults and a drying-up of energy-market liquidity, amid the worsening stand-off over Russian gas supplies. The Frankfurt-based bank watchdog wrote to lenders last month, telling them to analyse the impact of a gas stoppage on their businesses, according to …

  Bloomberg Argentine fintech Uala will allow clients in Mexico to receive money from abroad starting as it taps the fast-growing remittances market, which is expected to reach $60 billion in this year. The new service will be operated by Mexican bank ABC Capital, whose acquisition by Uala was announced in November, with the aim of expanding its financial services …

  Bloomberg Bitcoin rallied the most since July, breaking out of the narrowest trading range in about two years, as a drop in the dollar renewed demand for battered risk assets worldwide. The largest cryptocurrency by market value advanced as much as 10.1% to $21 in New York. The increase was the most since July 19. Bitcoin is outperforming most …