The U.S. has reportedly resumed physical cash shipments to Iraq after a four-month halt, following an agreement by Baghdad to implement stricter controls aimed at preventing the funds from being diverted to Iran.
The U.S. dollar strengthened on Thursday after military strikes in the Middle East drove oil prices higher, reinforcing expectations for a hawkish Federal Reserve. Sterling saw modest gains, though analysts noted the move was not driven by UK fundamentals.
Investor sentiment toward the Japanese yen has soured to its most pessimistic level since 2022, driven primarily by concerns over the Bank of Japan's policy path, according to a Bank of America survey. Speculative short positions have meanwhile surged to their highest since 2007.
The Japanese yen rallied sharply following reports that the country's massive government pension fund may be directed to increase domestic investments. Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar held a narrow range ahead of key inflation data next week.
The Japanese yen strengthened after officials signaled the nation's massive $1.81 trillion pension fund could boost domestic holdings, a major policy shift to support the currency. The U.S. dollar was little changed, securing a slight weekly gain ahead of key inflation reports.
Cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has introduced its virtual debit card in Peru, allowing users to spend digital assets and fiat currencies directly from their accounts. The launch is part of the firm's expansion in Latin America, tapping into the region's growing adoption of digital finance.
Decentralized finance project TrueDAO has raised $10 million in a strategic funding round to accelerate the development of its AI-driven financial protocol. The round was led by Brevan Howard Digital, with participation from Zee Prime Capital and Jump Capital.
Crypto payment gateway NOWPayments has introduced a new infrastructure allowing businesses to send mass crypto payouts using only an email address, eliminating both network and service fees. The system aims to significantly reduce operational costs for companies in sectors like affiliate marketing, gaming, and payroll.
Colombia's benchmark COLCAP stock index finished Friday's session with a 0.65% gain, driven by strength in the industrial, services, and agriculture sectors. The advance occurred alongside a strengthening Colombian peso and a downturn in key commodity prices.
