Latest in Finance
Korea Herald
15 minutes ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Kakao Bank secures 'virtual bank' license in Thailand
South Korea's internet-only lender Kakao Bank said Thursday it has received approval from the Thai government to operate a "virtual bank," marking the first reentry of a Korean bank into the Thai market in 25 years. The Thai Ministry of Finance recently selected a consortium formed by Kakao Bank and Thailand's leading financial group SCBX as one of three operators of the country's upcoming virtual banking system. "This license is a crucial step in exploring new markets and a valuable opportunity to showcase the excellence of Korea's digital finance technology," Kakao Bank Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Yoon Ho-young said. Through the virtual bank project, Kakao Bank aims to serve as a bridgehead for Korean banks and companies looking to enter the Thai market, he said. The Kakao Bank consortium received high marks for its expertise in building digital banking infrastructure, advanced technological capabilities, and localization strategies. Thailand's virtual banking initiative is designed to offer financial services entirely through digital platforms without physical branches -- similar to South Korea's internet-only banks. Full-scale operations are expected to begin in the second half of 2026, following a one-year preparation period.
Phone Arena
16 minutes ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
First-ever JBL Flip 7 discount is now available at Walmart
Flip 7 Save $20 on the JBL Flip 7 $129 99 $149 95 $20 off (13%) Walmart has launched the first-ever JBL Flip 7 discount that you might not want to miss. Right now, select colors are $20 off, allowing you to experience an upgraded audio experience at a more affordable price. Get yours and save! Buy at Walmart Flip 7 Receive the latest mobile news Subscribe By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy Flip 7 Grab Surfshark VPN now at more than 50% off and with 3 extra months for free! Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer Looking for a high-quality portable Bluetooth speaker with the familiar JBL Flip design and new features? Theis the one you need! Released this April, the unit has received its first-ever discount at Walmart, saving you $20!Granted, that's a modest price cut on the device's $149.95 original price, but it's still worth it. How so? Well, the newer model packs extras like Auracast support, improved water and dust resistance, and a PushLock system that lets you easily attach it to your backpack. It sounds even better than the JBL Flip 6, too!Featuring an IP68 rating and a rugged design, this portable speaker is an excellent pick for outdoor gatherings. It also stands out with JBL AI Sound Boost support, delivering punchier bass and crisp only that, but the JBL portable app provides impressive sound customization options. Aside from several EQ presets, the app offers a rather extensive seven-band customizable EQ so you can tailor the speaker to your more—the JBLsupports lossless audio through USB-C. All you have to do is plug it into a compatible lossless audio source (such as a laptop), and you're all set!This bad boy has a pretty good battery life, too. With Playtime Boost enabled, the speaker lasts up to 16 hours—but note that this mode reduces low-end response, making it better suited for podcasts. Disable it, and you can enjoy slightly lower overall playtime (14 hours, to be exact), but you get a fuller the JBLis a solid upgrade over the previous model. It's a bit pricier than the Flip 6 at its standard price, but now that you can get it for $20 off, it's definitely worth checking out. Get yours and save with Walmart's first-ever bargain on the latest JBL Flip model.
Argaam
17 minutes ago
- Business
- Argaam
Saudi energy minister says OPEC+ become major oil price guarantor
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said OPEC+ has become a key guarantor of oil prices and the sector as a whole. In his speech at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, he also mentioned that OPEC+ is a trustworthy and successful alliance that adapts to changing conditions and has had great success maintaining oil market stability. In response to a question on whether the Kingdom and Russia would step in to replace any potential loss of Iranian oil, he said, 'We only react to realities," Reuters stated. He stated that Saudi Arabia and Russia are working together to create a climate for those wishing to invest in both countries in various ways, including through joint ventures (JVs), emphasizing the need to create a suitable investment climate despite the current circumstances.
Business Recorder
17 minutes ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Copper hits near one-week low on stronger dollar, growth fears
Copper prices touched a near one-week low on Thursday and other base metals also slipped, dragged down by a strong dollar and mounting global growth fears amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The LME's three-month copper was down 0.5% at $9,609 per metric ton in official open-outcry trading. Prices hit their lowest level since June 13. 'A stronger U.S. dollar on higher on geopolitical concerns tends to weaken U.S. dollar-based prices. Long-only funds are sitting on the sidelines due to elevated risk concerns,' said SP Angel analyst John Meyer. The pullback also reflects reduced activity as U.S. traders are away for the Juneteenth holiday on Thursday, he added. The dollar firmed, buoyed by rising Middle East tensions and as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's cautionary tone on inflation, and oil prices jumped. Israel struck a key Iranian nuclear site and Iranian missiles hit an Israeli hospital, as U.S. President Donald Trump kept the world guessing about whether the U.S. would join Israel in air strikes seeking to destroy Tehran's nuclear facilities. Copper eases on growth concerns, firmer dollar War, elevated oil prices and inflation tend to disrupt supply chains, increase costs, and dampen investment, slowing global growth. LME copper inventories dropped by 4,025 tons to 103,325 tons, data for Wednesday showed. This marked the weakest level in more than a year. In recent months, copper has been flowing to the United States, where it attracts a premium due to expectations Trump will impose tariffs on the metal. LME aluminium fell 0.8% to $2,526. Meanwhile, premiums for consumers buying aluminium on the physical market in the United States fell more than 7% on Wednesday as traders speculated that U.S. import tariffs on shipments from Canada could be cut, metal industry sources said. LME tin lost 0.5% to $32,200, zinc shed 0.3% to $2,630, lead inched 0.4% lower to $1,986, while nickel was down 0.1% at $15,035. The International Lead and Zinc Study Group on Wednesday said the global zinc market surplus narrowed in April while the lead market swung to surplus.
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Everest Metals gains DIBC membership to advance rubidium project in WA
Everest Metals has been granted membership in the US Defence Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC), enabling the company to advance its Mt Edon rubidium project in Western Australia (WA). Managed by Advanced Technology International on behalf of the US Department of Defence (DoD), the DIBC aims to strengthen the DoD's industrial base by fostering collaboration between the government and private sector entities. The approval provides Everest with opportunities for prototyping, access to commercial solutions and project development funding tailored for defence needs. This membership could also streamline contracting processes and potentially secure non-dilutive funding to expedite the development of the Mt Edon Project. Everest is actively aiming to establish a commercial pilot plant for the project by 2026. Everest Metals executive chairman and CEO Mark Caruso said: 'We are thrilled to join the DIBC, a testament to the strategic importance of our Mt Edon Rubidium Project. This approval opens doors to collaborate with the US Department of Defence, access non-dilutive funding, and advance our goal of establishing a commercial rubidium pilot plant. 'With rubidium's critical applications in defence and high-tech industries and forecast growing demand, Everest is well-positioned to address global supply constraints and meet growing demand for this extremely scarce mineral.' This initiative aligns with the strategic importance of rubidium in defence, aerospace, medical and high-tech industrial applications. With rubidium's classification as a critical mineral by the US, the project is poised to contribute to domestic production and reduce reliance on international supply chains. US President Donald Trump invoked emergency powers in March to boost domestic production of critical minerals, aiming to reduce the US' dependency on foreign sources, especially China. The executive order utilises the Defense Production Act to financially support the processing of critical minerals such as lithium and nickel, vital for electronics and electric vehicle batteries. "Everest Metals gains DIBC membership to advance rubidium project in WA" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
