Mark Townsend, Author at Global Finance Magazine

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Technology

Ripple Nears Banking License

Crypto firm Ripple has been granted conditional approval in its bid to secure a national trust bank charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)—the US federal regulator that supervises national banks and federal savings associations.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

OpenAI: Disney’s Billion-Dollar Partner

Disney announced a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI, a development that is likely to send shockwaves through the US creative industry.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

Tougher H-1B Visa Stance Spells Global Change

President Donald Trump is pushing back against longstanding US immigration rules.

Banking

Ripple In Banking License Push

Crypto company Ripple has applied to US regulators for a national bank charter, as the distinction between digital asset firms and traditional financial institutions becomes increasingly blurred.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

United Kingdom: Capital Markets Flounder

The state of the United Kingdom’s capital markets is perilous. IPO activity has fallen to its lowest levels in 30-years.

Economics, Policy & Regulation

Saudi Arabia: Liberalizing The Real Estate Market

Starting January 2026, Saudi Arabia will permit foreigners to buy and own property in designated zones, reversing longstanding restrictions to attract more foreign investment.

Economics, Policy & Regulation

Russia Skirts Sanctions Using Bitcoin

Efforts by the West to punish Russia using an array of sanctions are being undermined as Russian companies increasingly use...

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

Talabat Stumbles Despite UAE’s Top 2024 Listing

The Middle East subsidiary of Delivery Hero, Talabat, raised $2 billion from an initial public offering on Dec. 10. Talabat...

Economics, Policy & Regulation

Global Rules, Local Impact: UAE Aligns With OECD

Starting Jan. 1, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will levy a tax of 15% on large multinationals (MNCs) operating in...

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

Lulu IPO Gets Mixed Reception

Lulu Retail Holdings, a major operator of hypermarkets in the Middle East, raised $1.72 billion last month in an initial...

News

China’s $1.3 Billion Peru Gamble Redraws Global Trade

A new $1.3 billion deep-water megaport in Peru will likely become the latest battleground in a rumbling trade dispute between...

Banking

ADQ To Purchase Odeabank

Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company (ADQ) has agreed to acquire a 96% stake in Bank Audi’s loss-making Turkish subsidiary, Odeabank,...