Author: Dr Issac PJ

Bitcoin surged to a record high during early Asian trading on Thursday, breaking through $124,000 and overtaking Google parent Alphabet’s market capitalisation, as a wave of institutional demand, corporate adoption, and pro-crypto policy in the United States fuelled optimism that the rally has much further to run. The world’s largest cryptocurrency briefly touched $124,450 late on Wednesday before easing slightly, propelling its market capitalisation to $2.456 trillion — enough to rank as the fifth-largest asset globally. The move cemented Bitcoin’s position above the $120,000 support level and underscored the momentum that has been building in recent weeks. Ethereum followed the…

DP World has reported a strong financial and operational performance for the first half of 2025, highlighting the resilience of its integrated global trade platform in the face of ongoing geopolitical tensions, shipping disruptions, and uncertainty over global trade tariffs. Revenue for the six months to June 30 rose 20.4 per cent year-on-year to $11.244 billion, driven by robust growth in its Ports & Terminals division and contributions from recent acquisitions. Adjusted Ebitda increased 21.4 per cent to $3.033 billion, while container volumes climbed 6.7 per cent across its global portfolio to reach 45.4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). On…

Oil prices dipped midweek as market sentiment shifted in response to the International Energy Agency’s latest forecast, which indicated that global oil supply is set to outpace demand this year. Brent crude futures slipped 41 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $65.71 a barrel by mid-morning London time, while US West Texas Intermediate fell 50 cents, or 0.8 per cent to $62.67. Analysts pointed to the combination of the American Petroleum Institute’s latest inventory data and the IEA’s softer demand outlook as key drivers of the downward move, even as the market awaits Friday’s meeting between US President Donald Trump…

Al Ansari Financial Services, the largest non-banking financial institution and services provider in the GCC, has reported record results for the first half of 2025, with operating income rising 13 per cent year-on-year to Dh638 million. The growth was driven by the consolidation of the recently acquired BFC Group results from the second quarter and strong performance across most business lines, underscoring the group’s market leadership and resilience despite geopolitical headwinds, the group said in a statement. Ebitda climbed 11 per cent to Dh287 million, maintaining a 45 per cent margin. Net profit after tax increased 3 per cent to…

Salik Company, Dubai’s exclusive toll gate operator, has reported a record performance in the first half of 2025, with net profit after taxes rising 41.5 per cent year-on-year to Dh770.9 million. In a move reflecting confidence in its strong financial position, the board has proposed a cash dividend of the same amount, equivalent to 10.278 fils per share and representing 100 per cent of H1 profit. The company said in statement that total revenue for the period surged 39.5 per cent to Dh1.53 billion, supported by a 45.6 per cent year-on-year increase in the second quarter. Ebitda reached Dh1.07 billion…

Bitcoin is fast approaching uncharted territory, with prices surging as US President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on imported gold bars jolt traditional safe-haven markets and redirect capital into the world’s largest cryptocurrency. A potent mix of macroeconomic shifts, institutional inflows, and policy reforms is propelling Bitcoin to the forefront of global finance, redefining its role as “digital gold.” Early Monday, Bitcoin jumped more than 3.3 per cent to $122,150, according to TradingView, inching closer to its all-time high of $123,000 set earlier this summer. The rally followed Trump’s decision to impose a 39 per cent tariff on imported gold —…

Talabat Holding has reported strong financial results for the second quarter of 2025, prompting the Mena region’s leading online ordering and delivery platform to raise its full-year guidance. The company posted a 32 per cent year-on-year increase in gross merchandise value (GMV) to $2.4 billion, with revenue up 35 per cent to $982 million. On a constant currency basis, GMV growth reached 33 per cent and revenue climbed 36 per cent. Adjusted Ebitda rose 31 per cent to $166 million, maintaining a 6.8 per cent margin, while net income jumped 33 per cent to $119 million, or 4.9 per cent of…

Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation  (Empower), the world’s largest district cooling services provider, reported a 7.1 per cent increase in consumption during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The growth, measured in refrigeration tons per hour (RTh), was attributed to high occupancy rates in existing projects and the addition of new developments to the company’s portfolio. Empower said in a statement that the expansion has further diversified its customer base, which includes residential, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, retail, entertainment, and other sectors. These industries are increasingly adopting energy-efficient cooling solutions to reduce carbon emissions and…

Adnoc Logistics & Services has reported its highest-ever quarterly results for Q2 2025, with revenue rising 40 per cent year-on-year to $1.26 billion and Ebitda increasing 31 per cent to $400 million. Net profit for the quarter was up 14 per cent to $236 million, underscoring the company’s resilience in a challenging global shipping market. For the first half of 2025, revenue climbed 40 per cent to $2.44 billion, with Ebitda growing 26 per cent to $744 million, maintaining a robust 30 per cent margin. Net profit for the period rose 5 per cent to $420 million, supported by strong…

Global bullion markets were thrown into turmoil after a surprise ruling from US Customs and Border Protection suggested that imported gold bars would be subject to tariffs, stunning traders who had assumed the metal would be exempt. The move triggered a dramatic spike in New York futures, which hit a record high before retreating sharply when the Trump administration signalled it would issue an executive order to clarify what it called “misinformation” about the tariffs. The episode underscored the vulnerability of the global gold trade to sudden policy shifts. Gold, usually treated as a financial instrument rather than a physical…