Bloomberg Citigroup Inc is taking another step into the world of cryptocurrencies. The Wall Street giant will help its richest clients bet on crypto as part of a new digital assets group inside its burgeoning wealth management unit, according to a memo to staff seen by Bloomberg News. The new effort will be led by Alex Kriete and Greg Girasole. …

Bloomberg Visa Inc has agreed to buy Swedish open-banking platform Tink AB as the payment giant looks to expand beyond its card network. San Francisco-based Visa said it will pay a total of 1.8 billion euros ($2.15 billion) — including cash and retention incentives — to acquire the fintech firm, according to a statement. Banks and startups use Tink to …

Bloomberg The Bank of Korea (BOK) once again looks set to spearhead Asia’s first interest-rate hikes, after Governor Lee Ju-yeol said policy normalisation is in the pipeline this year, triggering a recalibration of market bets. As pandemic-era stimulus runs the risk of inflating asset bubbles and spurring more volatility in capital flows across the region, several central banks have stressed …

Bloomberg Mexico’s central bank is seen holding its key interest rate at a five-year low, as policy makers expect that recent price shocks will prove to be transitory. The bank, known as Banxico, unanimously voted to keep borrowing costs at 4% in its last two meetings, after inflation hit 5.9% in May — far above the bank’s 4% target ceiling. …

Bloomberg The Bank of England (BOE) pushed back against speculation that a surge in UK inflation means it’s preparing to boost interest rates, saying the economy still needs support to recover from the pandemic. The central bank warned against “premature tightening,” toughening its language on the need to maintain stimulus. The remarks contrasted with a sharp increase in the bank’s …

Bloomberg A $6 trillion boom in US equities to open 2021 is leaving the pandemic’s winners in the dust as investors shift their focus to companies taking advantage of a reopening economy. Americans’ renewed interest in shopping and travel — not to mention meme stocks — helped send the S&P 500 Index to a 14% gain. Losing out were the …

Bloomberg Companies are racing to public markets like never before, cashing in on record-high stock prices. An all-time high of almost $350 billion has been raised in initial public offerings in the first six months of this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, surpassing the previous peak of $282 billion from the second half of 2020 and enriching entrepreneurs …

Bloomberg The International Monetary Fund (IMF) board gave its unanimous support to a proposal to create a record $650 billion of new reserves for its members, bringing the plan to increase resources for nations struggling with the pandemic one step closer to final approval. All members attending the meeting of the executive board — composed of 24 individuals from IMF …

Bloomberg Oil posted its fifth straight weekly gain, the longest winning streak since December, as demand recovers and supplies continue tighten in the US and China. Futures in New York rise 3.4% this week to the highest level since October 2018. Demand continues to rebound while the market expects output will only get a modest increase from the Opec+ alliance, …

Bloomberg The US and Germany want to conclude a deal by August to blunt Moscow’s geopolitical gains once the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is finished, with the two sides exploring ways to shore up Ukraine’s energy sector and deter Russian aggression through the threat of sanctions. The agreement, which some officials hope to have ready for Chancellor Angela …