Tuesday, 16 December 2025

SOUTH KOREA EASES DISCOUNT RATE RULES FOR NON-LIFE INSURERS

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- The recent easing of discount rate regulations by South Korea’s financial authorities will alleviate pressure on the solvency position of the country’s non-life insurers, according to a new AM Best commentary.

AM Best in a statement said the country’s non-life insurers are facing increasing solvency pressures due to declining market interest rates, together with the tightening of the discount rate calculation for insurance liabilities by its domestic regulators.

The report stated that a recently announced plan is expected to slow the pace of these cuts taking effect, which should ease the burden that insurers would face in securing their solvency positions.

In South Korea’s non-life insurance market, the discount rate used in liability valuation plays an essential role in determining balance sheet strength under IFRS 17 and the Korean Insurance Capital Standard (K-ICS), as the majority of the insurance book is structured as long-term contracts.

According to the global credit rating agency, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) has been actively involved in setting standards for the discount rate curves to enable better comparability within the industry.

The FSS had initially planned for a soft landing under IFRS 17 accounting standards that were implemented in 2023, allowing a higher discount rate at implementation, then phasing in discount rate decreases gradually until 2027.

However, interest rates have since fallen faster than expected, in which South Korea’s 10-year treasury bond yield has decreased from 3.85 per cent in August 2023 to 2.56 per cent at the end of April 2025, with a partial rebound to 3.34 per cent in the beginning of December 2025.

The report indicates that the FSS has revisited its plans related to lowering the discount rate and opted to slow the implementation pace to alleviate excessive capital pressures, based on industry feedback.

-- BERNAMA

Monday, 15 December 2025

Axi: Crypto as a Strategic Portfolio Component for Traders & Investors in 2026

SYDNEY, Dec 15 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As global financial markets evolve, Axi is making the case that cryptocurrencies — accessed through its platform and expanding lineup of crypto perpetual futures (“perps”) — deserve a meaningful place in diversified portfolio planning for 2026. Crypto trading has increasingly shifted toward derivatives, with perpetual futures now forming the core of digital asset activity worldwide. Recent data indicates that perpetual futures account for roughly 68% of all Bitcoin trading volume and about 76% of total global crypto derivatives volume in 2025, highlighting their continued growth and influence.

In parallel with this shift, Axi has expanded its lineup to include more than 150 perpetual futures contracts across major and emerging tokens, giving traders deep exposure within a regulated, single-platform environment. With derivatives dominating global crypto markets, Axi’s platform provides the liquidity, accessibility, and flexibility modern traders expect — including 24/7 market access and the ability to employ leverage in a controlled and regulated setting. This mirrors the versatility of traditional financial instruments while offering exposure to the rapidly developing digital asset landscape.

The rise in institutional participation underscores this evolution: as of 2025, institutions reportedly account for approximately 42% of all crypto derivatives trading volume, signalling growing institutional confidence in crypto markets beyond pure retail speculation. “With perps driving most crypto activity, we’re broadening our offerings to meet traders where the market is going,” said Stuart Cooke, Head of New Business at Axi. “Our goal is to bring everything into one trusted ecosystem — perps, copy trading, mobile apps, and institutional-grade support.” Looking ahead to 2026, the mainstream status of crypto derivatives highlights a pivotal moment for investors evaluating diversified strategies.

Looking ahead to 2026, the mainstream status of crypto derivatives highlights a pivotal moment for investors evaluating diversified strategies. The dominance of derivatives over spot trading in 2025 points to the rapidly maturing market environment, while traders and investors — from speculative participants to those hedging or seeking thematic exposure — increasingly require flexible, advanced tools. Axi’s infrastructure and broad contract range are built to support these evolving needs. The availability of perpetual contracts through a valued broker offers expanded flexibility, robust risk-management potential, and round-the-clock access, acknowledging both the opportunities and inherent risks of digital asset derivatives.

About Axi
Axi is a multi-asset broker offering access to forex, commodities, indices, and increasingly — crypto markets via regulated derivatives and spot adjacent instruments. Its expanded crypto perpetual offering is designed to meet demand from both professional and retail clients seeking regulated, versatile, and globally accessible trading options.

For more information contact mediaenquiries@axi.com

Promoted by AxiTrader LLC. Trading carries a high risk of investment loss. Crypto assets are complex and volatile products. Prices are highly volatile and can fluctuate rapidly, resulting in substantial losses. Crypto trading is not regulated in all jurisdictions and may not be suitable for all investors. Consider whether you understand how these products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

SOURCE: Axi Trader LLC

DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.

--BERNAMA

Friday, 12 December 2025

AM BEST LIFTS NEW INDIA ASSURANCE OUTLOOK TO POSITIVE

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- AM Best has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of B++ (Good) and the long-term issuer credit rating (Long-Term ICR) of “bbb+” (Good) of The New India Assurance Company Limited (New India).

Concurrently, the global credit rating agency in a statement said it has affirmed the India National Scale Rating (NSR) of aaa.IN (Exceptional) of New India with a stable outlook.

The rating actions reflect New India’s very strong balance sheet strength, adequate operating performance, favourable business profile and marginal enterprise risk management (ERM), with a neutral impact from its majority ownership by the Government of India.

The outlook revision follows an improving trend in New India’s ERM fundamentals. AM Best cited enhancements to the company’s risk management framework, stronger systems and controls, and progress in resolving longstanding audit qualifications.

AM Best expects New India to continue strengthening its ERM in the near to medium term through improved internal controls and account reconciliation to resolve outstanding audit matters.

The company’s balance sheet remains supported by risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level in fiscal year 2025, based on Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio. Its reinsurance assets are viewed as high quality, while its investment portfolio carries moderate risk.

Despite sizeable holdings in domestic equities that may introduce volatility, New India’s bond investments are largely in well-rated government and corporate bonds.

AM Best assesses New India’s operating performance as adequate, with a five-year average return on equity of 2.5 per cent (fiscal years 2021 to 2025). Fiscal year 2025 earnings declined due to lower investment returns and a one-off provision on old reinsurance balances, though underwriting performance improved.

However, robust investment income, including interest, dividends and realised equity gains, continues to provide a sizable contribution to overall earnings. Operating earnings remained positive in the first half of fiscal year 2026, driven by robust investment returns.

New India retains its position as India’s largest non-life insurer by gross premiums written. Its portfolio is moderately diversified, though concentrated in health insurance, while overseas branches and subsidiaries support its international footprint.

-- BERNAMA

CTBC Highlights Global Strategy At London Summit

 

Rachael Kao (right), President of CTBC Financial Holding, joins the “CEO Keynote interview” at the Financial Times Global Banking Summit 2025, engaging in a discussion with moderator Kimberley Long (left) on CTBC’s development and trends in the banking industry. / Courtesy of CTBC Financial Holding

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- CTBC Financial Holding president Rachael Kao has outlined the group’s digital innovation, environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, and global expansion at the Global Banking Summit 2025 in London, from Dec 2 to 4, where she was the only representative from Taiwan’s financial sector.

In a statement, CTBC said Kao joined the "CEO keynote interview" at the three-day summit, co-hosted by the Financial Times and The Banker, which gathered over 1,000 participants and more than 40 C-suite executives.

Kao said resilience has become a defining capability for financial institutions, noting that CTBC’s strong operational foundation, risk management, digital transformation and sustainable finance efforts form its long-term growth engine.

She highlighted the bank’s focus on green finance, transition financing, ESG investment, and supply-chain decarbonisation, supported by its role as Asia-Pacific chair of the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) and participation in the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).

CTBC said many Taiwanese exporters face rising sustainability requirements, and the bank assists clients with carbon accounting, transition planning and energy-efficiency solutions.

Kao added that CTBC, operating over 370 locations in 14 countries, acts as a "supply-chain bank" for companies expanding overseas, particularly in the semiconductor sector, offering financing, cash management and net-zero advisory services.

She concluded that the group also advances financial inclusion by providing easy-to-use ATM interfaces for seniors, visually impaired individuals, and foreign nationals, using artificial intelligence to prevent fraud, and offering a fully digital small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) lending process.

-- BERNAMA

Tuesday, 9 December 2025

Bitget October 2025 Protection Fund Maintains $741M Average Despite Slumptober


VICTORIA, Seychelles, Dec 9 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX), today released its October 2025 Protection Fund report, recording an average monthly valuation of $741,435,710 despite a challenging month across digital asset markets. The fund peaked at $811,031,000 on October 6 and registered a monthly low of $691,886,000 on October 17, maintaining stability even as broader crypto prices declined.

October marked one of the more turbulent months for the industry this year, with major assets facing sharp corrections and heightened volatility. Against this backdrop, Bitget’s Protection Fund, established in 2022 with a base commitment of $300 million, continued to demonstrate resilience and transparency. The fund’s October average remains nearly 147% above its original allocation, reaffirming the UEX's capacity to safeguard user assets even in unpredictable conditions.

The Protection Fund provides an independently verifiable safety net designed to protect users during abnormal market events. Valuations are updated daily based on prevailing market conditions and asset holdings, ensuring full visibility into available coverage at any point in time.

Alongside the Protection Fund, Bitget’s Proof of Reserves (PoR) maintains a 1:1 reserve ratio or higher for all user assets. Together, the initiatives form a comprehensive protection framework with the PoR ensuring complete backing, while the Protection Fund offers an additional layer of defense during periods of extreme volatility.

“As we advance toward a borderless Universal Exchange, security and transparency must lead the way. A sustained Protection Fund above $700 million and being transparent in our Protection Fund numbers every month builds trust for users to engage with the market confidently, even in volatile conditions,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget.

October’s report reflects a market environment where users increasingly look for verifiable safeguards, not just performance. As global participation grows, consistent Protection Fund reserves help set expectations around incident response and recovery, forming part of Bitget’s long-term approach to user safety within the UEX architecture.

For real-time tracking, please visit Protection Fund here.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 120 million users with access to millions of crypto tokens, tokenized stocks, ETFs, and other real-world assets, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin priceEthereum priceXRP price and other cryptocurrency prices, all on a single platform. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI-powered trading tools, interoperability across tokens on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Chain, and wider access to real-world assets. On the decentralized side, Bitget Wallet runs as the leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built-in the platform.

Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World's Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. In the world of motorsports, Bitget is the exclusive cryptocurrency exchange partner of MotoGP™, one of the world’s most thrilling championships.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/613267e9-a67c-4ac3-8cf2-8cfa6608fd20
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/247fe204-ea93-404f-9a5e-bb856c1c6462


SOURCE: Bitget Limited

DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.

Monday, 8 December 2025

AM Best Affirms Excellent Ratings For Bermuda’s NEWGT Reinsurance

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a-” (Excellent) of Bermuda’s NEWGT Reinsurance Company Ltd (NEWGT).

The outlook for these credit ratings (ratings) is stable, reflecting NEWGT’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

In a statement, AM Best said NEWGT’s balance sheet strength is well-supported by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which was assessed at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio.

As of the financial year ending on March 31 (fiscal year 2024), the company showed somewhat elevated underwriting risks from significant premium growth during the period, and it expects to maintain a similar level over the coming years.

Underpinned by its stable internal capital generation and conservative investment portfolio, NEWGT is viewed to have enough capital buffer and a moderate level of reinsurance dependency. However, its exposure to potential credit risk is mitigated partially by a high-quality and well-diversified reinsurance panel.

A wholly owned subsidiary and captive insurer of ITOCHU Corporation (ITOCHU), one of Japan’s largest general trading companies, NEWGT’s operating performance has been consistently positive during the most recent five-year period.

For fiscal year 2024, while premium income from businesses related to its ultimate parent, ITOCHU, and a third party increased, net income moderately dropped due to sizeable reserves mainly booked to reflect uncertainty in United States tariffs and potential underwriting losses in Thailand from the Myanmar earthquake in March 2024.

Going forward, AM Best expects some volatility will accompany NEWGT’s expansion plan into non-marine business that carries higher net retention. Nevertheless, the company’s operating performance is expected to remain profitable given its prudent underwriting practices and reinsurance programmes.

-- BERNAMA

Bitget Releases Major Upgrades to GetAgent With Smarter Responses and Free Access for All Users

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Dec 8 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX), today announced a major upgrade to GetAgent, its AI-powered trading assistant. The update introduces a more flexible answering engine, a streamlined user interface, and a significant expansion of membership quotas, making advanced AI trading tools more accessible than ever to users across all tiers.

GetAgent, launched earlier this year, has become a key part of Bitget’s trading experience, helping tens of thousands of users simplify analysis and execution. The centerpiece of this upgrade is the improved answer system. GetAgent now intelligently detects what a user is asking—whether they want a quick insight or a comprehensive analysis— and adjusts its response automatically. For fast requests, the assistant provides a concise, actionable answer. When deeper context is needed, traders can activate Research Mode with one tap, generating a full multi-dimensional analysis that includes technical signals, risk considerations, on-chain data, and market structure.


Member TierBeforeAfter
Daily Query QuotaDaily Query QuotaAdditional Research Quota
Basic02010
Plus1010050
Ultra50UnlimitedUnlimited

To complement the upgrade, Bitget has significantly increased usage quotas for all GetAgent membership levels. All users now have broader access to daily queries, research outputs, and analytical tools—even at the free Basic tier. Mid-tier members receive 10-times more daily limits than before, while premium tiers now enjoy unlimited or near-unlimited access to GetAgent’s full intelligence capabilities.

Also, Bitget has redesigned the GetAgent interface for clarity and ease of use. The improved UI offers smoother navigation, a more intuitive chat layout, and streamlined access to research reports, trade previews, and position insights.

“AI trading is entering a new phase, and GetAgent is leading that shift. By combining real-time intelligence, natural-language research, and fully integrated execution, we are redefining what an exchange can offer. This upgrade pushes us closer to a future where every trader has an AI companion capable of supporting their entire decision-making process,”said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget.

Alongside the upgrade, Bitget recently introduced AI trading camp—specialized agents running live strategies with transparent performance. They offer users a lightweight way to explore different trading styles and compare real-time behavior across models, further showcasing the practical potential of GetAgent’s AI capabilities.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 120 million users with access to millions of crypto tokens, tokenized stocks, ETFs, and other real-world assets, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, XRP price and other cryptocurrency prices, all on a single platform. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI-powered trading tools, interoperability across tokens on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Chain, and wider access to real-world assets. On the decentralized side, Bitget Wallet is an everyday finance app built to make crypto simple, secure, and part of everyday finance. Serving over 80 million users, it bridges blockchain rails with real-world finance, offering an all-in-one platform to on/off ramp, trade, earn, and pay seamlessly.

Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World's Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. In the world of motorsports, Bitget is the exclusive cryptocurrency exchange partner of MotoGP™, one of the world’s most thrilling championships.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3f6e93b2-8c4e-45b5-b78e-2b5b5620d64b

SOURCE: Bitget Limited

DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.

--BERNAMA