Stablecoin issuer Tether is reportedly set to acquire a significant stake in Italian media company Be Water as it cements its presence in the European Union.

According to a report citing unnamed sources familiar with the decision, Tether plans to invest around €10 million ($10.8 million) into Be Water.

The move has not yet been confirmed by either Tether or Be Water at the time of publication.

Tether strengthens Italian footing

Be Water is a Milan-based media group that owns podcast production companies Chora Media and Will Media, as well as Be Water Film, which focuses on film production and distribution. 

The company is known for producing narrative-driven content, including a podcast series in collaboration with Bloomberg titled “Quello che i soldi non dicono” (“What Money Doesn’t Say”).

While the exact motivation behind the deal is still unclear, the investment appears to be part of Tether’s ongoing push into Italy.

Earlier this year, Tether made headlines with its investment in Juventus Football Club, one of Italy’s most iconic sports brands.

The company acquired a minority stake as part of a broader plan to move beyond its core business of stablecoins and digital payments. 

At the time, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said the investment would be a “pioneer in merging new technologies, such as digital assets, AI, and biotech, with the well-established sports industry to drive change globally.”

European expansion challenges

Tether’s journey through the broader European market hasn’t been entirely smooth. 

The company has faced mounting pressure from the EU’s new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.

A number of major exchanges, including Coinbase, Kraken, and Crypto.com, have pulled USDT from their platforms for European users.

As regulatory expectations tighten, Tether has yet to fully align with the bloc’s evolving compliance standards.

Expanding beyond crypto

Nevertheless, the recent developments follow a profitable year for Tether, with the company reporting $13 billion in profits for 2024. 

With returns from holdings in US Treasuries, Bitcoin, and other assets, the stablecoin issuer has been channeling excess capital, reportedly over $7 billion as of January 2025, into strategic investments beyond crypto and global expansion plans.

One area of focus for the company has been the artificial intelligence sector.

Last month, CEO Ardoino teased previews of several new AI-based products that the firm was currently developing.

Among the projects in the pipeline are a local AI voice assistant, a translator, and a Bitcoin wallet agent, which will all be a part of Tether’s upcoming AI SDK platform.

According to Ardoino, these tools would be bundled into something called Tether Data, the firm’s in-house AI toolkit built on the Bare runtime.

In terms of its global expansion progress, Tether has secured regulatory approvals in several jurisdictions, including Thailand and El Salvador, since the start of 2025.

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Oklo Inc (NYSE: OKLO) says its loss widened rather significantly in 2024, leading to a more than 10% decline in its stock price on Tuesday.

The nuclear energy company lost 74 cents on a per-share basis versus 47 cents only in 2023.

Still, analysts remain bullish as ever on the pre-revenue company as the narrative surrounding it is more important than its financials in the near term.

Including today’s decline, Oklo stock is down 50% versus its year-to-date high on February 7^th.

Why are analysts keeping bullish on Oklo stock?

Oklo shares are being punished this morning also because its management warned of “significant expenses and continuing financial losses” on Tuesday.

However, a senior Wedbush analyst Dan Ives recommends that investors focus on the longer term.

Ives sees upside in Oklo stock to $45 as its new 75-megawatt reactor will help “deliver more power to customers, specifically data centres.” His price target indicates potential for about a 60% gain from current levels.  

Note that the nuclear technology company based out of Santa Clara, CA is committed to start delivering commercial power by the end of 2027.

Oklo’s 75MW model will lead to better plant economics

Following the company’s earnings release today, Citi analyst Vikram Bagi agreed that Oklo stock may remain choppy in the near term, but echoed a positive view for the longer term.

Bagi is also bullish on the firm’s 75MW model “due to data center customer requirements that indicate 60-75 megawatt as the sweet spot.”

Oklo’s Aurora nuclear reactors are now capable of producing between 15MW and 75MW from a single powerhouse – significantly more than 15MW to 50MW previously.

According to Bagi, larger design will lead to increased upfront costs, but will deliver “better overall plant economics” in the long run.

Despite recent pullback, Oklo shares are currently up some five-fold versus their 52-week low.

Oklo’s recent acquisition could soon drive revenue

Oklo stock remains attractive because giants like Microsoft have repeatedly shown interest in nuclear energy as a reliable and carbon-free power source for their energy-intensive data centers.

Analysts are bullish on the NYSE listed firm’s recently completed acquisition of Atomic Alchemy to expand into the radioisotope market.

Bagi expects Oklo to start reaping the benefits of that buyout by early next year.

The Atomic Alchemy deal could begin driving revenue for the company as early as the first quarter of 2026, he told clients in a recent note.

Investors should note, however, that the nuclear technology company does not currently pay a dividend. Its future hinges on its ability to secure timely agreements with potential customers.

So, delays on that front remain a significant downside risk for OKLO shares at the time of writing.

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Asian stock markets were mostly higher on Wednesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street.

Investor sentiment was lifted by growing expectations of early interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve after a larger-than-expected decline in US consumer confidence for March.

Optimism also stemmed from potential tariff exemptions by the US administration, as traders awaited further clarity on upcoming trade policies. On Tuesday, Asian markets ended on a mixed note.

At an event on Monday, US President Donald Trump stated that he “may give a lot of countries breaks” on reciprocal tariffs set to take effect on April 2, adding to speculation over trade policies.

Japan’s Nikkei extends gains

The Japanese stock market moved higher, adding to the gains from the previous session.

The Nikkei 225 traded near the 38,000 mark, supported by advances in index heavyweights, exporters, and technology stocks.

By the morning session close, the Nikkei 225 was up 109.61 points, or 0.29 percent, at 37,890.15, after touching an intraday high of 38,151.39.

Among individual stocks, SoftBank Group rose nearly 1 percent, while Uniqlo operator Fast Retailing gained more than 1 percent.

In the auto sector, Honda and Toyota both declined by more than 1 percent.

Hong Kong and China stocks rebound

Hong Kong stocks advanced, driven by gains in Chinese electric vehicle makers and a rebound in technology shares.

The Hang Seng Index rose 0.24 percent to 23,399.84, recovering from Tuesday’s close at its lowest level since March 4.

The Hang Seng Tech Index gained 0.6 percent.

On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index remained largely unchanged, while the Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.2 percent.

Shares of Chinese EV maker Nio rose 1.2 percent to HK$34.20 after CEO William Li stated in a media briefing that the company expects to break even in the fourth quarter of this year.

Other Asian markets

Australian shares advanced for a fifth consecutive session, with the S&P/ASX 200 surpassing the 8,000 level.

The S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.78 percent to 8,004.40, after reaching a session high of 8,014.10.

Seoul shares opened higher Wednesday, following gains on Wall Street, driven by strength in tech and auto stocks.

The Kospi climbed 0.79%, to 2,636.639.

Wall Street recap

After the previous session’s rally, US stocks traded without clear direction on Tuesday, with major indexes fluctuating before settling higher for a third consecutive session.

The Nasdaq gained 83.26 points, or 0.5%, to close at 18,271.86, while the S&P 500 rose 9.08 points, or 0.2%, to 5,776.65.

The Dow edged up 4.18 points, or less than 0.1%, to 42,587.50.

Investors remained uncertain about President Donald Trump’s tariff strategy, following reports that the administration may take a more targeted approach.

Traders seemingly overlooked a report from the Conference Board, which showed a steeper-than-expected decline in US consumer confidence.

The consumer confidence index fell to 92.9 in March, down from a revised 100.1 in February, missing economists’ expectations of 94.2.

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The FTSE 100 index has remained in a consolidation phase in the past few weeks as investors focus on the Bank of England (BoE) actions and the upcoming tariffs by the Donald Trump administration. The index was trading at £8,665 on Wednesday, a few points below its all-time high of £8,910.

Bank of England actions

The FTSE 100 index has remained in a tight range as investors focused on the actions of the Bank of England. The BoE has become one of the most conservative central banks in the industry. 

It has delivered just three interest rate cuts in this cycle, bringing the headline rate to 4.50%. Officials have hinted that they will maintain their conservative leaning in the coming meetings even as the economy weakened.

The most recent economic data showed that the UK economy contracted slightly in January, a trend that may continue this year. 

A key concern is that Donald Trump may decide to increase tariffs on imported goods from the UK next week. On the positive side, the US and the UK have a fairly balanced trade relationship, meaning that it may be excluded from tariffs by the US. 

Therefore, some analysts believe that the BoE should embrace a more dovish tone since interest rates remain high, hurting growth. This explains why UK bond yields have continued rising, with the 10-year bunds yielding 4.75%, and the closely-watched 5-year yielding 4.40%.

The rising bond yields partially explain why the FTSE 100 index has remained under pressure since investors are receiving a higher return by just investing in the bond market. 

Economists expect that UK inflation will remain elevated for a while. Data released on Wednesday will show that the headline CPI remained at 3.0%, while the core CPI softened from 3.7% to 3.6%. These numbers are substantially higher than the BoE target of 2.0%.

Top FTSE 100 shares in 2025

Most companies in the FTSE 100 index have risen this year. Fresnillo, a Mexican company that mines silver, is the best-performing company in the Footsie as it jumped by 50% this year. This surge happened as investors predicted more revenue and profits because of higher silver prices. 

Airtel Africa share price has jumped by 43% this year, becoming one of the best telecom companies globally. The stock jumped after the company’s revenue growth accelerated. Its customer count jumped by 7.9% to 163.1 million, while the revenue in the last quarter jumped by 20% to $3.6 billion. 

Rolls-Royce share price has soared as investors cheered its strong results that showed that it reached its mid-year target two years ahead of schedule. 

Other top-performing companies in the FTSE 100 index this year are names like BAE Systems, Lloyds Banking Group, Prudential, Coca-Cola, Standard Chartered, Aviva, and Antofagasta. 

On the other hand, the top laggards in the index are companies like WPP, JD Sports, Diageo, Intercontinental Hotels, Sainsbury, and Glencore. All these companies have crashed by over 10% this year. 

FTSE 100 index technical analysis

FTSE 100 index chart | Source: TradingView

The daily chart shows that the FTSE 100 index has been in an uptrend in the past few months. It soared to a record high of £8,908, and then dropped. This decline was important as the stock retested the important support level at £8,473, the highest swing on May 15. This retreat was part of a break-and-retest chart pattern, a popular continuation sign.

The index has remained above the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA), a sign that bulls are in control. Therefore, a combination of these moving averages and the break-and-retest points to further gains, potentially to the all-time high of £8,908. A break above that level will point to more gains, potentially to £9,000.

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Pop Mart International Group Ltd. reported a 188% surge in profit for 2024, driven by strong overseas demand for its intellectual property (IP) toys and rapid store expansion.

The Beijing-based toy maker saw net income reach 3.1 billion yuan ($427 million), significantly ahead of analyst expectations, while full-year sales more than doubled to 13 billion yuan ($1.79 billion).

With growing momentum outside China, Pop Mart now plans to expand its international presence, particularly in North America and Europe, through physical stores and brand collaborations focused on pop culture integration.

Pop Mart’s stock shot up after the results came out, but dipped sharply afterwards. The stock has gone up by over 350% in the past year.

North America and Europe expansion

Following strong international sales, Pop Mart is doubling down on its overseas strategy.

The company said it would prioritise physical store development in globally iconic locations across North America and Europe.

These regions have emerged as key growth markets amid the brand’s rising popularity and global recognition.

The approach aims to replicate the company’s success in Asia, where branded stores play a critical role in consumer engagement and IP visibility.

The firm stated that the goal of opening stores abroad is to “enhance brand experience and recognition,” as part of its broader plan to strengthen the link between pop culture and its collectible toy line-up.

Pop Mart also confirmed plans to build on its artist and brand partnerships to drive cross-boundary creative collaborations, a strategy that aligns with global consumer interest in novelty collectibles.

13 IPs cross 100 million yuan

Labubu, a standout among Pop Mart’s extensive portfolio of character IPs, was identified as a key contributor to the company’s 2024 growth.

The brand noted that 13 of its IPs individually generated over 100 million yuan ($13.8 million) in annual sales, highlighting the depth and popularity of its character range.

The company’s patented designs have proven particularly lucrative, with collectors and casual buyers alike contributing to strong product turnover.

Its growing ecosystem of original and licensed character properties remains a core pillar of its revenue model, as demonstrated by the spike in IP-driven sales this year.

This focus on IP development has helped Pop Mart distinguish itself from other toymakers, giving it an edge in a highly competitive retail market.

Brand collaborations to grow IPs

Looking ahead, Pop Mart plans to deepen cooperation with both artists and commercial brands.

This focus on cross-boundary collaboration is designed to enhance the appeal and cultural relevance of its toy lines.

By integrating visual art, fashion, and entertainment into its offerings, the company aims to broaden its audience and improve brand stickiness.

This strategy will also help adapt Pop Mart’s designs to regional tastes as it expands across diverse markets.

The combination of proprietary IPs and strategic licensing is expected to continue driving sales, particularly as the company expands its footprint in the Western hemisphere.

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The US Department of Commerce has added 80 entities to its export control “entity list,” including more than 50 from China, as part of an intensified crackdown on the flow of advanced American technologies.

The move is the Trump administration’s first such action under its ongoing national security policy and aims to prevent China from acquiring sensitive US-origin technology for military purposes.

The banned companies include developers of artificial intelligence (AI), exascale computing, and quantum technologies.

Firms can no longer be supplied by US businesses without a government-issued licence.

27 firms linked to China’s military tech

According to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), 27 of the blacklisted Chinese organisations were added for allegedly obtaining US-origin items that contribute to China’s military modernisation efforts.

Another seven were listed for assisting in the advancement of China’s quantum technology capabilities.

These additions are part of a larger strategy to curb Beijing’s access to cutting-edge computing technologies that are believed to have both civilian and military uses, commonly referred to as “dual-use technologies”.

The listed entities are accused of acting “contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States”, with some reportedly supplying to already-sanctioned Chinese giants like Huawei and its chipmaking arm HiSilicon.

These measures follow a broader pattern of the US reinforcing export controls over tech products linked to defence applications and surveillance infrastructure.

Inspur and others face renewed bans

Six subsidiaries of Chinese cloud computing provider Inspur Group were included in the updated blacklist.

These had previously faced sanctions under the Biden administration in 2023.

Inspur’s recurring appearance on the list highlights Washington’s concerns about its potential role in facilitating access to restricted technologies.

The updated restrictions also extend to entities believed to be intermediaries or “transit points” in third countries.

These intermediaries are suspected of enabling Chinese firms to obtain banned items despite prior controls.

Analysts point out that Chinese companies have been using such third-party networks to acquire strategic US-made dual-use technologies that would otherwise be inaccessible.

US-China tensions tighten tech controls

The new round of sanctions comes amid worsening US-China tensions.

The Trump administration has ramped up tariffs and trade restrictions targeting China’s tech sector, particularly focusing on semiconductors, supercomputers, and AI chip development.

These efforts are part of the “small yard, high fence” policy, which aims to selectively isolate sensitive technologies with military implications while preserving general trade.

The Commerce Department confirmed that it will continue to enhance its tracking and tracing of unauthorised exports, especially those involving advanced semiconductors made by Nvidia and AMD.

This includes ongoing investigations into potential smuggling activities and circumvention of export controls via third-party suppliers.

The move also comes in the wake of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s rapid growth, which has popularised open-source, low-cost AI models.

These developments have challenged US tech firms by offering alternatives to their high-cost, proprietary systems, prompting Washington to reassess how its technologies are being adopted globally.

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