Louis Velazquez is a dynamic force at the crossroads of technology, finance, and media. As the founder of MegaHoot Technologies and a financial industry veteran, Velazquez has built a reputation for identifying disruptive trends and turning them into profitable ventures. His diverse career spans from his early days as a competitive athlete to becoming a pioneering tech innovator and influential radio show host.
China April Retail Sales +0.2% y/y (exp 2%) & Industrial Prduction +4.1% y/y (exp 5.9%)
China April 2026 economic activity data. Retail Sales 0.2% y/y expected 2.0%, prior 1.7% Industrial Production 4.1% y/y expected 5.9^ prior 5.7% Fixed Asset Investment
China April data misses badly, Iran war and weak demand weigh. Retail sales growth plunge.
China’s April retail sales rose just 0.2%, the weakest since 2022, while industrial output grew only 4.1%, badly missing forecasts, as the Iran war and
Chinese House Price Index continues to slump: April -3.5% y/y (prior -3.4%)
For the m/m -0.1% prior -0.2% This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.
Japan’s 10-year bond yield hits 1996 high as fresh debt plans emerge. Extra budget coming
Japan’s 10-year bond yield hit its highest since 1996 at 4.2% after a government source confirmed fresh debt issuance is planned to fund a supplementary
Singapore April 2026 non-oil exports +24.5% y/y vs prior 15.30%
Singapore’s non-oil domestic exports surged 24.5% year-on-year in April, dramatically beating the median forecast of 10.9% growth, driven by strong electronics shipments including integrated circuits
UK housing prices rise but employer confidence stays near record low
UK asking prices rose 1.2% in May, above seasonal norms, while a separate survey showed British employer confidence near record lows with pay awards set
Bernstein says Figure’s Q1 results shows uniqueness of blockchain marketplaces
Figure Technology Solutions latest quarterly results showed Bernstein analysts just how different it is from most balance sheet-based fintech lending platforms.
New Zealand services sector contracts again in April as fuel costs bite
New Zealand’s services sector contracted for a second straight month in April, with the PSI reading at 48.9, as businesses cited fuel prices and the
Axios says Trump is waiting for a response from Iran
Trump is holding off for a revised offer from Tehran, and still believes Iran is willing to reach an agreement, according to Axios. This article
Heads up for Trump situation room meeting called for tuesday – military option discussion
Axios reports that Trump is expected to hold a meeting with top officials from his national security team in the White House Situation Room on
Economic and event calendar in Asia Monday, May 18, 2026 – Chinese April data
A mixed bag of data expected from China with improving retail and IP while property investment not. House price data should show a continued slump.
weekend news – Drone hits UAE nuclear plant as Iran war deadlock deepens
A drone struck an electrical generator at the UAE’s Barakah nuclear plant on Sunday as U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks stalled, with Trump warning Tehran time was
- Pecu Novus Joins Chainlist, Opening a 110,000 TPS Blockchain to the World’s Largest Smart Contract Developer Ecosystem
A nine-year-old Layer-1 network completes its EVM transition and the timing may matter more than the listing itself. On a directory page that most […]
- HSBC, Canton and the Institutional Tokenisation Stack
On April 13, 2026, HSBC’s Global Payments Solutions division confirmed it had successfully completed a pilot simulating the issuance, transfer, and […]
- Morgan Stanley Signals Strategic Shift Toward a Tokenized Financial System
As global financial markets continue to evolve under the weight of digital infrastructure, Morgan Stanley is increasingly positioning itself for what […]
- How eToro’s Zengo Deal Reshapes the Competitive Landscape for Money Transfer and Trading Platforms
eToro has entered into an agreement to acquire Zengo, a self‑custodial crypto wallet provider, in a deal valued at around $70 million, according to […]
- Kraken’s Confidential IPO Filing, New Investors and Recent Extortion Attempt
Kraken has confirmed that it has confidentially filed for an initial public offering (IPO) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, […]
- HootDex’s Central Limit Order Book vs. DeFi AMMs
Decentralized finance has largely been defined by Automated Market Maker systems that use liquidity pools and mathematical curves to set prices. AMMs […]
- The SEC’s Latest Statement on Decentralized Finance
In its latest staff statement, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) outlined how certain decentralized finance interfaces may fall […]
UAE says drone strike caused fire at nuclear plant
Attack at Barakah plant caused no injuries, and authorities say radiation levels remain normal
China April Retail Sales +0.2% y/y (exp 2%) & Industrial Prduction +4.1% y/y (exp 5.9%)
China April 2026 economic activity data. Retail Sales 0.2% y/y expected 2.0%, prior 1.7% Industrial Production 4.1% y/y expected 5.9^ prior 5.7% Fixed Asset Investment
China April data misses badly, Iran war and weak demand weigh. Retail sales growth plunge.
China’s April retail sales rose just 0.2%, the weakest since 2022, while industrial output grew only 4.1%, badly missing forecasts, as the Iran war and
Chinese House Price Index continues to slump: April -3.5% y/y (prior -3.4%)
For the m/m -0.1% prior -0.2% This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.
Japan’s 10-year bond yield hits 1996 high as fresh debt plans emerge. Extra budget coming
Japan’s 10-year bond yield hit its highest since 1996 at 4.2% after a government source confirmed fresh debt issuance is planned to fund a supplementary