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On January 28th, local time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on January 27th that if Iran attacks Israel, Israel will retaliate with "force Iran has never seen before." Regarding claims about proceeding with reconstruction before the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu explicitly stated that this "will not happen." He also denied rumors that Israel had allowed Turkey and Qatar to participate in the Gaza International Stabilization Force, saying, "That will also not happen." Netanyahu further asserted that the establishment of a Palestinian state in the Gaza Strip "has not happened in the past, and will never happen again."On January 28th, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) held its regular January press conference, where a spokesperson introduced the upcoming "2025 Survey Report on the Status and Intentions of Chinese Enterprises Outward Investment." The report shows that Chinese enterprises outward investment will develop steadily in 2025, with nearly 80% of surveyed enterprises intending to expand or maintain their outward investment, and nearly 90% holding a relatively optimistic attitude towards the prospects of Chinas outward investment. Among these, 60% of surveyed enterprises expect their outward investment profit margins to increase or remain unchanged, nearly half hope to organize enterprises to "go global as a group" and prioritize investment in the manufacturing industry, and 90% of surveyed enterprises show an increased willingness to use RMB for outward investment. Wang Wenshuai, spokesperson for the CCPIT, stated that in 2025, the national CCPIT systems "Thousands of Delegations Going Global" special action organized 2,144 delegations to 92 countries and regions for business negotiations, achieving significant results in helping enterprises go global.On January 28th, Westpac joined other major banks in predicting a 25 basis point rate hike by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) at its February meeting. Westpac believes that persistently high inflation has cast a "decisive vote" for policy tightening, while maintaining its basic assessment that this rate hike will be a one-off move, not the start of a long-term rate hike cycle. Westpac argues that accurately identifying spare capacity in an economy nearing full employment and full capacity utilization is difficult. In this environment, inflation outcomes become the most reliable policy guide. The bank points out that underlying inflationary momentum is currently higher than the level needed for a smooth return to the RBAs 2-3% target range, leaving the RBA with little room to delay action. Nevertheless, Westpac does not expect automatic and continuous rate hikes. Current policy is considered to be at a restrictive level, and the remaining task of cooling inflation is relatively modest. The most likely outcome is a wait-and-see approach after February, while clearly conveying that the RBA is prepared to act again if inflation fails to slow as expected.According to futures news on January 28th, for the week ending January 24th, Japanese commercial crude oil inventories decreased by 271,837 kiloliters from the previous week to 9,251,160 kiloliters. Japanese gasoline inventories increased by 54,578 kiloliters from the previous week to 1,718,926 kiloliters. Japanese kerosene inventories decreased by 69,137 kiloliters from the previous week to 1,930,575 kiloliters. The average operating rate of Japanese refineries was 91.1%, compared to 89.7% the previous week.January 28 – Following the completion of necessary internal procedures by both parties, the Hong Kong-Turkey Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (Investment Agreement) will come into effect on February 4. According to the agreement, both governments commit to providing protections for each others investors, such as fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory treatment of their investments, compensation in the event of investment expropriation, and allowing the free transfer of investments and profits overseas. The agreement also stipulates that investment disputes can be resolved in accordance with internationally recognized rules, including arbitration. Hong Kongs Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Edward Yau, stated that by strengthening investment protections, the Investment Agreement will enhance investor confidence, expand investment flows between Hong Kong and Turkey, and benefit the economic development of both places.

Ex-CFO pleads guilty to stealing from SPACs to trade meme stocks, cryptocurrencies

Skylar Shaw

Jan 04, 2023 14:13

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An ex-chief financial officer (CFO) of several special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) pled guilty to stealing more than $5 million from them and losing almost all of it in joke stocks and cryptocurrencies.


Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, Cooper Morgenthau, 35, of Fernandina Beach, Florida, entered a plea of guilty to one count of wire fraud. The judge was U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer.


When Morgenthau is sentenced on April 25, the suggested federal guidelines call for a jail term of between six and seven and a half years.


The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission also resolved related civil allegations against him in exchange for his agreement to lose $5.11 million and pay an equivalent amount in restitution.


A representative for Morgenthau, Michael Bowen, refused to comment.


According to the authorities, Morgenthau stole more than $1.2 million from African Gold Acquisition Corp between June 2021 and August 2022, covered it up by fabricating account statements, and either spent it all in securities trading or lost it all.


The SEC said that Morgenthau then solicited $4.7 million from investors in SPACs known as Strategic Metals Acquisition Corp to make up for his losses, only to lose the majority of it in cryptocurrency trading.


African Gold, a New York-based company formed to purchase a gold mining company, raised $414 million in an IPO in February 2021.


According to the SEC, it dismissed Morgenthau in August of last year when he ran out of money and its suppliers refused to do business with him.


At the time, African Gold said that it fired Morgenthau after becoming aware of his "improper withdrawals" and efforts to hide them.


According to a statement from Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, Morgenthau "confessed that he betrayed the trust that he owed to his public and private investors."