• Thu, March 13, 2025

by: Observer

Blockchain's Billion-Dollar Blunder: How Finance's Tech Revolution Became an Awkward Evolution

Blockchain was supposed to rewrite finance's playbook, but costly smart contracts, endless integration struggles, and security fiascos have turned the tech's promised revolution into a lesson on

by: Forbes

Elon Musk Hit With First Formal Conflict Of Interest Complaint Over FAA-Starlink Deal

Musk has long faced concerns about his Trump administration work posing a conflict of interest with his private companies.

by: stacker

What are business expense cards and how do they work?

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock What are business expense cards and how do they work? M anaging business expenses used to mean shuffling paper receipts, chasing down emp

by: WKYT

Lexington welder discusses impact tariffs could have on business

Now that the trump administration's 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports have gone into effect, we talked to a central Kentucky welder who uses steel and aluminum materials for a living.

by: CNN

Trump imposes sweeping 25% steel and aluminum tariffs. Canada and Europe swiftly retaliate

President Donald Trump imposed sweeping 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imported into the United States Wednesday, a policy aimed at leveling the playing field for US manufacturing but a move that threatens to drive up prices on a broad range of consumer and industrial goods for Americans.

by: CNBC

CNBC Daily Open: A muted inflation report for February supported markets even as the trade war heats up

Cooler-than-expected U.S. inflation soothed investors, but U.S. President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports have kicked off a tariff war.

by: Politico

Lobbyists lay out an ethics roadmap for using AI

The National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics has unveiled its first set of recommendations for the use of artificial intelligence in lobbying campaigns.

by: SmartAsset

New Jersey Corporate Tax: What It Is and How It Works

New Jersey applies a graduated corporation business tax (CBT) on corporations, with rates that vary based on income. Recent law changes have added extra fees for some corporations, affecting their total tax costs.

by: RochesterFirst

Business owner and manager share thoughts on east end restrictions, six months later

Going on six months now since the restrictions have been put in place at the City's East End Entertainment district. News 8's Adelisa Badzic spoke to a business owner and a manager Thursday - who are both split on the city's decision.

by: Reuters

AIA declares $1.6 billion buyback, annual new business value rises 18%

Kong based insurer AIA on Friday declared a $1.6 billion buyback plan, citing a refurbished capital management policy, and posted an 18% rise in annual value of new business on strong performance at core markets.

by: TipRanks

ARMOUR Residential REIT Updates Financial Position and Dividend

ARMOUR Residential REIT ( ($ARR) ) has shared an announcement. On March 13, 2025, ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc. released a presentation detailing

by: GOBankingRates

The Best Time of Year To Buy a House

Real estate agents and mortgage lenders alike often have strong opinions about when the best time to buy a home is. The housing market, though volatile at times, can have a certain predictability

by: Moneyweb

How Eskom and National Treasury saved taxpayers more than R20bn

Considering the pressure on the budget, the need to limit government borrowings, and the fact that Eskom has a big upcoming payment of R39 billion for debt maturing on 2 April 2026 and another of R10 billion in 2027/28, Eskom and National Treasury agreed that government would rather settle these two amounts and finalise the debt relief programme.

by: WFAA

Fort Worth family business faces rising costs due to steel tariffs

Justin Haas, owner of J Haas Welding and Fabrication, manages rising steel costs by stocking up and maintaining transparency with clients about tariff impacts.

by: AOL

Tech leaders at Anthropic, IBM, and Meta warn that AI is coming for software developer jobs

Tech leaders are sounding the alarm that within months, AI will be doing all new coding and programming—but there's conflict when it comes to timing and impact. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei had a bold prediction this week that could kill thousands of jobs in software development,

by: Insider

FourLeaf Federal Credit Union Review 2025

Our FourLeaf Federal Credit Union explains the online credit unions bank accounts, and compares it to other online financial institutions.

by: CNA

CNA Explains: What happens if a Singapore-licensed investment platform goes under?

On online forums and social media, users highlighted that - unlike for bank deposits - money placed with such investment platforms is not covered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation's (SDIC) Deposit Insurance Scheme.

by: Moneycontrol

Top gainers and losers today: Stock that moved the most on March 13

Benchmark indices ended lower in a volatile session, with Nifty slipping below 22,400 despite positive cues from industrial production and retail inflation data, closing the week nearly a percent lower.

by: Audacy

Tax cuts, big housing investment, highlight Parker's new, $6.7 billion city budget proposal

Mayor Cherelle Parker's new $6.7 billion budget proposal features major cuts to some of the city's marquee taxes while also funding a massive expansion of housing investment citywide. City Council will now debate before a final approval vote in June.

by: GOBankingRates

Why Money Expert Ramit Sethi Hired a Financial Advisor

Ramit Sethi, host of Netflix's "How To Get Rich," New York Times bestselling author and Host of the "I Will Teach You To Be Rich" podcast, is a trusted sage in the personal finance space and

by: Reuters

French antitrust clears Carrefour's acquisition of Delhaize's French business

French antitrust authority said on Thursday it had approved the acquisition by Carrefour of the French business of Belgian retailer Louis Delhaize on the condition that eight stores would be sold to competitors.

by: Insider

What Happens If I Don't File My Taxes? Understanding the Consequences

Learn what happens if you don't file your taxes in 2025. Discover the consequences, penalties, and how to address unfiled tax returns to avoid further issues.

by: Reuters

Tesla working with Baidu to improve assisted driving system in China - sources

Tesla is working with Chinese tech giant Baidu to improve the performance of its advanced driving assistance (ADAS) system in China, two people with knowledge of the matter said, after a recent update drew customer criticism.

by: Reuters

US importers and retailers of EU wine warn of closures, layoffs from tariffs

U.S. importers, distributors and retailers selling French champagne and Italian wines told Reuters that U.S. President Donald Trump's threatened 200% tariff on European alcoholic drinks would hit them hard.
  • Fri, March 14, 2025

by: BusinessGhana

Govt to overhaul VAT System by end of year - Finance Minister

The government aims to implement the VAT reforms by the end of the year, ensuring a more efficient tax system that aligns with international best practices.

by: Variety

VFX and Animation Studio Cinesite Raises $215 Million On the Heels of Technicolor Collapse

The Cinesite group, a global visual effects and animation studio collectives, has raised $215 million through a series of transactions "to support its continued operations, technological innovation and strategic expansion" during a turbulent time for the VFX industry that in recent weeks saw the collapse of VFX giant MPC and its parent company Technicolor.

by: Cryptopolitan

Crypto Analysts Believe This New Crypto Could Become Bigger Than Solana, XRP and BNB

A new crypto project is turning heads as analysts believe it could outgrow industry giants like Solana, XRP and BNB. While these established tokens dominate DeFi, trading and payments, this emerging contender is tackling real-world financial challenges in a way no other has.

by: BusinessTech

South Africa bans cannibas and hemp products, and Eskom maintenance lie

Here are five other news stories making waves in South Africa today:

by: CNN

Wall Street is turning its back on Trump and flashing an economic warning

On-again, off-again tariffs, mass government layoffs, funding cuts and immigration crackdowns have seriously spooked Wall Street, which is emphatically rejecting President Donald Trump's chaotic economic agenda.

by: Invezz

4 reasons Alibaba stock price is surging this year and what next

Alibaba stock price has bounced back this year, soaring to its highest level since November 2021. BABA rose to a high of $140 in New York, and is beating other technology companies like Amazon and Alphabet.

by: Stocktwits

Crown Castle Stock Gains Premarket After $8.5B Deal To Sell Small Cells And Fiber Solutions: Retail's Divided

Crown Castle (CCI) stock rose 3% in pre-market trade on Friday after the cell tower operator said it would sell its small cells and fiber solutions businesses for a total of $8.5 billion. The communications-focused real estate investment trust (REIT) said it would sell its small cells business to private equity firm EQT AB and its fiber solutions

by: Investopedia

Why Filing Your Taxes Early Could Save You Stress and Money

Filing your taxes early can get you your refund faster. You'll have more time to plan how you'll pay your taxes if you prepare your return before the deadline.

by: IOL

Empowering workers and SMEs: key digital inclusion strategies from the B20 Summit

Discover how the B20 summit is shaping a future-ready economy in South Africa through essential digital inclusion strategies for workers and SMEs.

by: Forbes

AI's Expanding Role In Retail And E-Commerce: Balancing Efficiency With Human Touch

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the way businesses operate in the retail and e-commerce spaces. From streamlining supply chains to enhancing customer interactions, AI is becoming a powerful tool—but like any major transformation, it comes with both opportunities and challenges.

by: Fortune

Publicis New York CEO Carla Serrano and the downside of Trump's war against all

I was talking yesterday with Carla Serrano. Along with being CEO of Publicis New York and chief strategy officer of Publicis Groupe, she is a fellow Canadian and we were commiserating about the impact of the ongoing tariff war on a personal level.

by: IOL

This is how the VAT increase will impact your transport, food and electricity bills

The recent VAT increase proposal in South Africa raises concerns about its impact on low-income households, particularly regarding essential goods and services.

by: Newsweek

Companies and Communities Feel Effects of $20B Climate Funding Freeze

"Many of them are going to go out of business," a clean-energy entrepreneur said of the companies that had been counting on the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.

by: Mint

Bajaj Finserv Loan: Find the latest updates on gold loan

Access gold loan starting from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 2 crore and benefit from quick disbursal, free insurance of gold, competitive interest rates, and more.

by: CNN

Elon Musk's Tesla says it could be targeted by retaliatory tariffs

Tesla, the electric car company run by Elon Musk, said this week that retaliatory tariffs against US manufacturers could harm its operations and that the US should carefully consider its trade policies,

by: IOL

Standard Bank aims to lead Africa's energy, infrastructure development

Standard Bank Group's CEO Sim Tshabalala outlines how the bank wants to be part of the mobilisation of finance for energy and infrastructure projects in Africa, highlighting the bank's role in sustain

by: CNN

Fear and resignation after 'world's most powerful company' pays Trump a $100 billion 'protection fee'

It was a surprise ceremony at the White House presided over by President Donald Trump to unveil a $100 billion investment from what he called the world's most powerful company, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).

by: GOBankingRates

Best 3-Month CD Rates and Offers for 2025

CD is a good option if you're looking for a guaranteed rate with no risk. Find out which banks currently offer some of the best 3-month CD rates.

by: Reuters

Hong Kong's AIA misses VONB estimates, unveils $1.6 billion buyback

Hong-Kong based insurer AIA on Friday posted an 18% rise in annual value of new business (VONB) but missed estimates, while announcing a $1.6 billion share buyback that analysts said fell short of market expectations.

by: Reuters

BMW foresees earnings hit as Europe counts the early cost of tariffs

German carmaker BMW said on Friday it expected tariffs to cost it 1 billion euros this year, while European officials warned the U.S. economy would be the biggest loser if President Donald Trump pursues an "idiotic" trade war.

by: Reuters

Wall Street slides as trade war escalates, S&P 500 confirms correction

Wall Street ended sharply lower on Thursday and the S&P 500 confirmed it is in a correction after cool inflation data was overshadowed by fears that the escalating tariff war being waged by the United States against some of its biggest trading partners could reignite inflation and tip the economy into recession.

by: Reuters

Australia's Westpac settles auto finance class action lawsuit for $81 million

Australia's Westpac Banking Corp has reached an A$130 million ($81.84 million) settlement on a class action lawsuit against the lender over commissions paid to auto dealers over five years, the bank said on Friday.

by: Reuters

Singapore's DBS raises $2 billion through US dollar bonds, term sheet shows

DBS Group , Southeast Asia's biggest bank, has raised $2 billion through a multi-tranche U.S. dollar senior bond issuance for general business purposes and to finance treasury activities, according to a term sheet seen by Reuters on Friday.

by: Insider

Life after RTO: 11 Amazon employees reflect on the highs and lows of returning to the office full time

Amazon's 5-day return-to-office mandate took effect earlier this year. Some workers applaud the RTO policy, while others say it's ruined their jobs.

Blockchain's Billion-Dollar Blunder: How Finance's Tech Revolution Became an Awkward Evolution

Blockchain was supposed to rewrite finance's playbook, but costly smart contracts, endless integration struggles, and security fiascos have turned the tech's promised revolution into a lesson on
The article from Observer discusses the challenges and potential solutions for integrating blockchain technology into the financial sector. It highlights that despite the initial hype, blockchain's adoption has been slow due to several reasons including regulatory uncertainty, scalability issues, and the complexity of integrating with existing financial systems. The piece points out that blockchain's promise of decentralization, transparency, and security has not fully materialized in practical applications due to these hurdles. To address these issues, the article suggests several strategies: enhancing regulatory frameworks to provide clarity and security for investors, improving blockchain's scalability through technological advancements like sharding or layer-2 solutions, and fostering better collaboration between traditional financial institutions and blockchain innovators. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for education to demystify blockchain for financial professionals and the public, and the importance of developing user-friendly interfaces to make blockchain technology more accessible. The article concludes that while blockchain has stumbled in its integration into finance, with concerted efforts in these areas, it could still revolutionize the sector.

Read the Full Observer Article at:
https://observer.com/2025/03/why-blockchain-integration-into-finance-has-stumbled-and-how-to-fix-it/