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Meet Surface Pro 8 – the most powerful 2-in-1 Surface built for Windows 11

Microsoft announces pre-orders of new Surface Pro 8 starting 20 January in Singapore

SINGAPORE Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – Microsoft today announced that pre-orders for the new Surface Pro 8 will commence from 20 January in Singapore via commercial authorised resellers and retailers, and the Microsoft Store.

Surface-Pro-8.jpg
Surface-Pro-8.jpg

From now till 14 February, customers who pre-order a Surface Pro 8 on the Microsoft Store or via any authorised retailer or reseller will receive a complimentary Surface Pro Signature Keyboard[1] (worth $239). Consumers can also enjoy a 1-month free subscription for Microsoft 365 and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Starting at SG$1,649, Surface Pro 8 is equipped with 11th Gen Intel® Core™ processors and two Thunderbolt 4 ports for higher performance and faster connections for all your multitasking needs. Loaded with the new Windows 11 and up to 16 hours of battery life, Surface Pro 8 is the most powerful 2-in-1 PC on the market.

“We are excited to bring the new Surface Pro 8 to Singapore, our most powerful Pro ever. For the last decade, Surface has been at the forefront – challenging convention, pioneering new experiences and creating entirely new categories of devices. Today, we are revealing an update to our iconic 2-in-1, representing the most significant leap forward since Pro 3. We hope that this will help users unlock more possibilities as they work on-the-go or from home, to deliver connected user experiences in our new hybrid world of work,” said Shyamol Bansal, Business Group Lead for Surface, Microsoft Singapore.

Surface Pro 8 combines the power of a laptop with the flexibility of a tablet, with the iconic Kickstand and detachable Keyboard, as well as built-in Slim Pen storage and charging.[2] It is also designed to light up the best of Windows 11, which features powerful new experiences that bring you closer to what you love. New features such as Snap Layouts, Widgets and Groups will empower your productivity and inspire your creativity, complementing the new Surface Pro 8 for a seamless user experience.

Surface Pro 8 features a vibrant 13″ PixelSense touchscreen that is virtually edge to edge. With Dolby® Vision™ and Adaptive Color Technology, users can enjoy a viewing experience that is comfortable on the eyes and true to life. Surface Pro 8 is the ideal hybrid device, giving you a dynamic on-the-go tablet and the ultimate work-from-home set-up. The incredible 5MP front-facing camera, 10MP-4K rear-facing camera, Dolby® Atmos™ sound, and dual far-field Studio Mics will keep users looking and sounding their best.

The new Surface Pro Signature Keyboard provides storage and charging capability for the new Surface Slim Pen 2, keeping it nearby and ready whenever inspiration strikes. Now equipped with haptic feedback and a 120Hz display refresh rate, users can experience new ways to create on screen, complete with the feeling of pen on paper. It is also equipped with zero force inking that allows instant ink flow the moment the Slim Pen 2 touches the screen. Best of all, it works across the entire portfolio of ink-enabled Surface devices, allowing more users to enjoy the power and precision of the new Slim Pen 2.

Surface Pro 8 is available for pre-orders starting 20 January via commercial authorised resellers AsiaPac Distribution , Insight Technology Solutions , JK Technology and UIC Asian Computer Services. Authorised retailers include Best Denki, Challenger, Courts, Gain City, Harvey Norman, Microsoft Store and Microsoft authorised stores on Lazada and Shopee.

It will be generally available from 15 February and will be available in the following configurations in Singapore:

MO-table.JPG
MO-table.JPG

For more information on the latest Surface devices, please visit our blog .



[1] While stocks last
[2] Pen storage and charging available on select Keyboards.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

 

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://news.microsoft.com. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-public-relations-contacts.


#Microsoft

Taiwan Lantern Festival Returns to Kaohsiung, City of Light, in 2022

KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – Kaohsiung is once again, two decades later, hosting Taiwan Lantern Festival. Unprecedented, it will be a dual-venue event taking place at Love River Bay and Weiwuying simultaneously to highlight the port city’s joviality and vibrance against a pleasantly diverse cityscape.

A glittering Love River Bay after nightfall

Taiwan Lantern Festival 2022 revolves around the theme of “Zoom in to Taiwan, Highlight Kaohsiung.” A ray of light is geometrically configured to form the first Chinese character of the city’s name, ablaze. The concept of light is further accentuated with the use of bright colors, thereby spotlighting the city’s warmth and geniality and the exciting array of lantern works at the festival.

 

The main lantern at Weiwuying marks a first attempt at incorporating the art of calligraphy. While Weiwuying is located in the port city’s Fengshan District, this collaboration of artist Benson Lu and calligrapher Tong Yang-tze centers on the first of the name’s two Chinese characters: feng, or phoenix. Aptly dubbed “Phoenix Dancing,” the work readily conjures up an image of lively and vigorous flourishes in calligraphy.

 

Weiwuying is home to the world’s largest single-roofed performing arts center. Complete with woods, fungi, and a lake against rolling hills, the Weiwuying Metropolitan Park stands out as a fitting land art venue for Taiwan Lantern Festival 2022.

 

At the Love River Bay site, in the spotlight, literally, is “Absorbed by Light.” The seat left vacant on the bench means that anyone can sit down and become part of the work. The widely shared worry about the interpersonal isolation caused by smartphones does not stop many from congratulating themselves for having such gadgets to perform daily chores, solve problems, keep track of the pandemic, and stay one with the world.

 

Two decades ago, Taiwan Lantern Festival showcased a refreshingly new look of the Love River. Upon the festival’s return to Kaohsiung two decades later, residents and visitors are invited to see for themselves how the city has progressed in city governance, lighting aesthetics, and smart environment. A reborn Kaohsiung awaits you!

Ascent Partners debuts Doconomy’s award-winning methodology “Åland Index” in Hong Kong and Mainland China

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – Ascent Partners Group Limited is proud to announce today (Jan. 20, 2022) that it is the first sustainability advisory firm to roll out the game-changing, impact calculations methodology Åland Index from Swedish Doconomy. The index calculates carbon footprint from consumption and will be launched in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Simon Mak, Co-founder and CEO of Ascent Partners

Mathias Wikström, CEO of Doconomy

The Åland Index was developed in 2016 and is taken to a broader market by Swedish impact tech pioneer Doconomy. This innovative, unique CO2 impact calculator instantly gained richly deserved recognition by scooping the Grand Prix in the Cyber category at the 2017 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Among its admired features, its practical, worldwide application has been immediately demonstrated. As of today, Doconomy is in partnerships with more than 25 banks and financial institutions representing over 500 million users. The Doconomy partnerships spans the world and contains a variety of institutions as United Nations, Mastercard, WWF, to mention a few.

“Covid-19 inspires change in consumers’ sustainable behaviour. Moreover, environmental concerns keep rising steeply. More and more people around the world are willing to consume with less of a carbon footprint. Hence, we are honoured to be the first sustainability advisory firm authorized by Doconomy to introduce the Åland Index to Hong Kong and Mainland China. We believe that this Index can be applied to a variety of financial institutions with payment systems, as it uses a merchant code of the payment system to quantify the carbon footprint”, said Simon Mak, Co-founder and CEO of Ascent Partners and also the former CEO of Friends of the Earth (HK).

 

”Ascent Partners has an environment-focused DNA. My partners and I have acquired extensive and solid environmental backgrounds and work experiences. The ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) mindset serves as our company’s guiding principle. With the Doconomy Åland Index, we can educate our clients to discover how every single one of their purchasing decisions can make a positive impact on the climate, help to change the world, and save the planet.” said Simon Mak.

 

Mathias Wikström, CEO of Doconomy, said: “Reducing the climate crisis cannot be achieved by one single person or company alone. It must be a mission undertaken by everyone and every company around the world. Doconomy has been committed to finding like-minded partners. As of today, companies representing more than 500 million users are collaborating with Doconomy to enable individuals to start to understand their behaviours’ climate impact. We see great potential in Hong Kong and Mainland China and we are grateful to be in partnership with the Ascent Partners, which allows Doconomy and Åland Index to broaden our reach here and together we can contribute more to carbon reduction.”


Ascent Partners, a trusted corporate valuation and advisory firm with offices in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Singapore, serves more than 400 leading corporate clients (such as AIA and BOC) including more than 50 listed companies on ESG reporting.

 

Find out more about

Ascent Partners https://ascent-partners.com/

Doconomy https://doconomy.com/

 

#AscentPartners #Doconomy

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

FS-ISAC Launches Program to Bolster the Financial Sector’s Supply Chain Security

Akamai Technologies Joins Critical Providers Program as Founding Member

NEW DELHI, INDIA – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – FS-ISAC, the only global cyber intelligence sharing community solely focused on financial services, announced today the launch of its Critical Providers Program designed to strengthen the security of the financial sector’s supply chain. As critical service providers increasingly host, connect, and protect a substantial percentage of financial institutions’ infrastructure, FS-ISAC created the program to foster continuous collaboration and information sharing between its member firms and their providers. This will bolster the industry’s protections and preparedness against sophisticated cyber threats.

                                                                                                                   

Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the world’s most trusted solution to power and protect digital experiences, joins the Critical Providers Program as founding member to help facilitate a two-way dialog with the financial sector about threat intelligence and cybercriminal tactics.  

 

“As financial services adopt new technologies to evolve the way they operate and serve customers, critical providers have become both an important ally to the industry and a target for cybercriminals,” said Teresa Walsh, Global Head of Intelligence of FS-ISAC. “The Program will ensure our members efficiently receive accurate and timely security information from their critical providers. In the event of a large-scale incident, this will empower our members to act and/or remediate expeditiously, while arming them with the pertinent information to brief key stakeholders.”

 

“We are honored to be a founding member of this important program and applaud FS-ISAC for taking a leadership role in facilitating direct communication between critical providers and the financial sector,” said Dr. Boaz Gelbord, Chief Security Officer, Akamai. “We are looking forward to sharing what we are seeing from the unique vantage point of our globally distributed edge platform, listening to the members’ experiences, and collaborating on ways to mitigate current and future risks.”

 

During a large-scale cyber incident or threat involving the sector and its critical providers, the Program will leverage FS-ISAC’s dedicated communication channels to expedite the dissemination of accurate information necessary to address the immediate risks and keep the industry safe.

Note to the Editor
Critical Providers are defined as non-financial organizations providing network infrastructure and services that, if impacted by an incident, would in real-time interrupt a significant amount of core financial services across the sector, in turn impacting the public’s ability to manage financial transactions.

 

About FS-ISAC

The Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC) is the only global cyber intelligence sharing community solely focused on financial services. Serving financial institutions and in turn their customers, the organization leverages its intelligence platform, resiliency resources, and a trusted peer-to-peer network of experts to anticipate, mitigate and respond to cyber threats. Headquartered in the United States, the organization has offices in the United Kingdom and Singapore, and members in more than 70 countries.

 

To learn more, visit www.fsisac.com. For clarity and perspective on the future of finance, data, and cybersecurity from top C-level executives around the world, visit FS-ISAC Insights. To learn more about joining FS-ISAC as a member, visit fsisac.com/membership.

 

About Akamai

Akamai powers and protects life online. The most innovative companies worldwide choose Akamai to secure and deliver their digital experiences – helping billions of people live, work, and play every day. With the world’s largest and most trusted edge platform, Akamai keeps apps, code, and experiences closer to users – and threats farther away.

 

Learn more about Akamai’s security, content delivery, and edge compute products and services at www.akamai.com, blogs.akamai.com, or follow Akamai Technologies on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

For intelligence and insights to help manage security risks, including blogs such as Akamai Reports Another DoS in Log4j2 (CVE-2021-45105): What You Need to Know, visit Akamai’s Security Threat Hub.

#FS-ISAC

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Student Volunteerism Hits New High as Student Volunteers Contributed 16,000 Hours to Singapore’s Cybersecurity Community in 2021

AiSP continues to partner with Ensign InfoSecurity and other industry players to support more youths to explore their interests and pursue a cybersecurity career in the future

SINGAPORE  Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – A total of 130 students in Singapore contributed more than 16,000 volunteer hours to the cybersecurity community as part of the Student Volunteer & Recognition Programme (SVRP) initiative in 2021. 2021 saw the highest number of volunteers and volunteer hours recorded since the launch of SVRP in 2019.

AiSP SVRP 2021 award winners with Minister-of-State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of National Development Mr Tan Kiat How (from left – Tay Gao Jun, Tay Ru Yi, Mr Tan Kiat How, Kevin Tan, Sng Jay Kai, Edwin Chua, Koh Liang Han, Lee Yi Terng)

 

Developed by the Association of Information Security Professionals (AiSP) and Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), the SVRP aims to encourage volunteerism amongst students while honing their interest and capabilities in cybersecurity. SVRP, an initiative under CSA’s SG Cyber Youth Programme, receives strong support from local Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) as well as industry partners. Ensign InfoSecurity (Ensign) is one of the leading cybersecurity players who has provided volunteering and learning opportunities for students to acquire industry knowledge and develop relevant skillsets.

Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of National Development, Mr Tan Kiat How, graced the SVRP Awards Ceremony to recognise student volunteers for their contributions to the cybersecurity community in 2021. A total of 97 awards, including 5 Gold Awards, were given to student volunteers during the ceremony, recognising their passion, dedication, and contributions to the sector.

 

“With the accelerating pace of digitalisation, we see a huge demand for cybersecurity professionals in Singapore and around the world. The Government is committed to nurture a robust cyber talent pipeline and helping our youths to seize these exciting opportunities. The AiSP Student Volunteer Recognition Programme is a good platform for our youths to pick up cybersecurity skills, be guided by mentors, network with peers and apply their minds in tackling real world challenges. I congratulate all the awardees and wish them all the best in their cybersecurity journey!” said Mr Tan.

 

Each award recipient contributed at least 60 hours of volunteer work, with Gold Award recipients contributing at least 150 hours. One of the gold recipients, Tay Gao Jun from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, contributed over 1,400 volunteer hours in 2021. Gao Jun also received the Honorary Ambassador Award, having participated in and received the Gold Award for the SVRP for three consecutive years from 2019.

 

Minister-of-State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of National Development, Mr Tan Kiat How with AiSP SVRP 2021 organising committee (from left – Freddy Tan, AiSP SVRP Work group member, Steven Ng CIO and EVP of MSS, Ensign InfoSecurity,  Mr Tan Kiat How, Ms Sherin Lee, AiSP Vice President and Head of Marketing, Brand and Communications, Ensign InfoSecurity)

 

The full list of winners can be found on https://www.aisp.sg/svrp_winners_2021.html

 

“We are heartened by the increase in volunteers and enthusiasm from the students. These indicate a greater level of awareness and passion for cybersecurity among youths. This is definitely a significant step in the right direction as we continue to build a sustainable cyber talent pipeline and narrow the considerable, chronic talent gap we face as an industry,” said Ms Soffenny Yap, AiSP EXCO Lead for Student Volunteer Recognition Programme.

 

Ensign is a longstanding industry partner supporting SVRP that AiSP has worked closely with to organise and deliver youth engagement and learning initiatives. These opportunities are tailored to help youths discover their aptitude and calling for cybersecurity while enabling them to acquire and hone practical skills relevant to their future professions. Ultimately, these initiatives aim to allow youths to better prepare themselves before they enter the workforce.

 

“Cultivating a robust and vibrant cyber talent pool is the common goal of AiSP and Ensign, and SVRP plays a key role in achieving this outcome. This is also part of Ensign’s multi-pronged strategy to create greater interest in cybersecurity among youths, attract diverse talents, and nurture the next generation of cyber leaders. As a leading player in the cybersecurity ecosystem, our overarching objective is to make sure we have the talents and skills to scale up our nation’s cyber defence capabilities and ensure the evolving cyber threats do not undermine our digital ambitions,” said Ms Tammie Tham, Co-Chair of the AiSP Advisory Council and CEO, Ensign InfoSecurity

 

About AISP

The Association of Information Security Professionals (AISP) was registered with the assistance of the Singapore Computer Society (SCS) and the strong support of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (iDA) in February 2008. It was officially launched on 17 April 2008 by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports.

 

AISP aims to:

  • To promote, develop, support and enhance the integrity, technical competence, management expertise, status and interests of information security professionals in Singapore.
  • To promote the development, increase and spread of information security knowledge and of any related subject.

About Ensign InfoSecurity

Ensign InfoSecurity is the largest, pure-play end-to-end cybersecurity service provider in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, Ensign offers bespoke solutions and services to address their clients’ cybersecurity needs. Their core competencies are in the provision of cybersecurity advisory and assurance services, architecture design and systems integration services, and managed security services for advanced threat detection, threat hunting, and incident response. Underpinning these competencies is in-house research and development in cybersecurity. Ensign has two decades of proven track record as a trusted and relevant service provider, serving clients from the public and private sectors in the Asia Pacific region.

 

For more information, visit www.ensigninfosecurity.com or email marketing@ensigninfosecurity.com

 

#EnsignInfoSecurity

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Authorities in Laos Draft Law on Hydropower Safety

Laos to Inspect Hydropower Dams Every 5 Years (Photo Ngam Ngiep 1)
Ngam Ngiep 1 Hydropower Project

The government of Laos has completed drafting a law on hydropower safety to improve safety and reduce accidents.

Vetter’s new clinical manufacturing site now officially authorized

Vetter Development Service Rankweil receives manufacturing authorization

  • Important milestone reached for the new site
  • Additional filling capacities for early-stage clinical development
  • First customer audits already completed

RAVENSBURG, GERMANY and RANKWEIL, AUSTRIA – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – Vetter, a leading global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), has received the manufacturing authorization for its new site in Rankweil, Austria. As a result of the successful inspection held by the responsible national regulatory authority, the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), the site can now support clinical development projects of international pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The service provider had purchased the approximately 10,000 square meters manufacturing facility in 2020.

 

 

Manufacturing of prefilled vial systems at Vetter.
Source: Vetter Pharma International GmbH

 

Vetter Development Service Rankweil represents the company’s European counterpart to its existing clinical manufacturing site near Chicago. With the new site further expanding its international presence, Vetter is responding to the growing global demand for fill & finish services. The Austrian facility increases the company’s capacity in the important field of process development as well as clinical manufacturing of Phase I and II injectables for customers.

 

“We are consistently investing in the expansion of our development and filling capacities,” says Dr. Claus Feussner, Senior Vice President Vetter Development Service. “Our ambition is to support our customers in the best possible way on their journey to develop promising new therapies for patients. The site’s approval is an important step in our strategic company development.”

 

Since acquiring the Rankweil site in the middle of 2020, Vetter has modified and equipped all laboratory, technical and production areas to its high-quality standards. In addition, the company optimized numerous systems and processes.

 

“For pharmaceutical companies and their service providers, it has to be the ultimate goal to fully comply with the regulations of “Good Manufacturing Practices” (GMP). This ensures the quality of the manufactured medicinal products and therefore also the patient safety,” adds Wolfgang Weikmann, Vetter’s Senior Vice President of Quality Assurance and Quality Control. “The comprehensive inspection conducted by the AGES revealed that the systems and processes implemented at the Rankweil site are fully capable to fulfill the high quality requirements.”

 

The successfully completed cGMP inspection by AGES enables the new clinical manufacturing facility in Rankweil to officially start operations and to realize customer projects in the clinical development phase on their way to approval. First customers have already performed initial visits and audits at the new site.

 

Please find a short video sequence of Vetter Development Service Rankweil here.


Find the Vetter press kit and more background information here.


About Vetter

Headquartered in Ravensburg, Germany, Vetter is a family-owned, global leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with production facilities in Germany, Austria and the United States. Currently employing more than 5,500 individuals worldwide, the company has long-term experience in supporting biotechnology and pharmaceutical customers both large and small. Vetter services range from early stage development support including clinical manufacturing, to commercial supply and numerous packaging solutions for vials, syringes and cartridges. As a leading solution provider, Vetter appreciates its responsibility to support the needs of its customers by developing devices that contribute to increased patient safety, convenience, and enhanced compliance. Great importance is also given to social responsibility including environmental protection and sustainability. Learn more about Vetter at www.vetter-pharma.com

#Vetter

OctaFX Releases List of Top 2021 Events that Affected the Financial Market

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – The year 2021 was packed with exciting developments and meaningful circumstances in world affairs—its economy, politics, and policies—impacting the financial sector as a whole. With the help of its analytics team, the international Forex broker OctaFX compiled a basic rundown to deliver some of the more critical, vital events which it deemed especially important.

 

The U.S. dollar’s tumultuous journey through quantitative easing (QE)

During the COVID-19 crisis, the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) and the European Central Bank (ECB)—the central banks that issue the world’s reserve currencies—flooded the financial markets with new money. The official reason stated was helping the suffering economy because of the pandemic.

 

Therefore, U.S. president Joe Biden’s proposal of a 1.9 trillion USD stimulus package to Congress arrived on 21 January. The Republican Party was highly sceptical about this approach—some congressmen even recalled the already worrying, continual growth of the national debt (a mass total of 21.6 trillion USD at the time). It is a long-term development whose lack of resolution as of yet does not shake the market’s firm belief in the reliability of the U.S. dollar.

 

Biden follows suit by signing stimulus plan

Fast forward two months, the U.S. Senate (6 March) and the U.S. House of Representatives (10 March) both approved the stimulus plan before Biden signed it on 11 March as a 1.9 trillion USD economic rescue package. Far from being a bipartisan undertaking, no Republican approved the new order. Although, the document was amended, for example, the clause on raising the minimum wage was removed. New money flooding the market like this filled most market participants with a bullish sentiment.

 

Another 1.2 trillion USD for ‘infrastructure spending plan’

Towards the end of June 2021, expectations for a tight monetary policy were running high but then the U.S. Senate agreed on and approved a new ‘infrastructure spending plan’, totalling another 1.2 trillion USD. The reason was a sharp increase in inflation in the months prior to June.

 

Both institutions—the Fed and the ECB—have kept rates at zero or negative and implemented quantitative easing (QE) throughout 2021, increasing their balance sheets and buying bonds with that money. Because of this, their yields fell, which encouraged investors to put capital into companies’ stocks and look for other projects.

 

Fed announces the end of bailout measures

In September, the U.S. Federal Reserve officially declared that it is ready to end its quantitative easing programme and may raise the base rate already from 2022 rather than 2023, as previously assumed. The Fed further added it would continue to buy 120 billion USD worth of assets each month for the time being: 80 billion USD in treasuries and 40 billion USD in mortgage-backed bonds.

The regulator’s rhetoric initially spooked investors, but overseas markets moved higher on 23 September. The American S&P 500 was recovering from a marginal fall and rose by 1%. Finally, the U.S. monetary regulator started winding down asset purchases from the market to 105 billion USD in November (from 120 billion USD previously) and to 90 billion USD in December—strong signals for the market that the economy starts to revitalise itself.

 

Bitcoin reaches historic ATH in April before falling again by 53%

The whole of April, the crypto industry radiated with enthusiasm over an ongoing bull market before bitcoin—surprisingly to most—started a steep correction from a historical all-time high of 63,500 USD (13 April 2021) to 34,600 USD (29 May 2021). In those first initial waves downward, due to triggered margin calls, around 8 billion USD in position liquidations took place. This process had put most of the trading community on a new kind of alertness.

This downtrend continued up to 20 July 2021, reaching a price of 29,600 USD per bitcoin (that’s over 53% from the previous all-time high). Only after that point did an uptrend start with a late-summer high of 52,600 USD (6 September 2021). Most were sure the bottom for bitcoin back then had been hit and more frequent but careful trading resumed during that time.

 

Ethereum stays strong but stable while bitcoin tops twice more

Six weeks later, the mother of all cryptocurrencies topped off its previous all-time high twice in close succession—65,990 USD (20 October 2021) and 67,500 USD (8 November 2021), vindicating a suspected bull market across market observers, retail investors, and legacy institutions once again. All the while, the altcoin market soldiered on with a fluctuating performance, seeing Ethereum’s persistence and some success stories such as the Solana smart-contract platform. The latter rose from 1.84 USD on 1 January to its all-time high of 258.93 USD on 6 November, gaining 13,972%. Many opportunities for lucrative trades and initial long-term investments were realised. At the same time, some solid altcoin projects stagnated during this period, only showing that their turn for growth has yet to come. 

 

U.S. and E.U. prioritise the basic materials sector

In autumn, the E.U. and the U.S. have agreed to suspend duties on steel and aluminium products. During a speech, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stressed that her institution planned to develop proposals to suspend duties imposed on goods from the U.S. She elaborated that this would bring trade in steel and aluminium products back to their levels before these tariffs were imposed in 2018.

U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated the intentions of the European Union and the United States jointly committing to a carbon-based agreement on steel and aluminium trade. After President Trump’s era of ‘economic isolationism’, many investors in the relevant industries understood this development as a bullish long-term sign.

 

European Union at a crossroads

In 2021’s fourth quarter, the euro fell to its lowest value since the start of July 2020. The reason for the plunge was the worsening business climate in the E.U.

In Germany, supply problems within most industries have worsened. Berlin, as the fourth-biggest economy in the world, also inaugurated its new government in December. One important aim of the new coalition is to introduce a wide variety of new taxes on secondary homeownership and carbon emissions on all levels,  be it corporate or private. Germany is a major player in the European Union’s power dynamics structure. Its new government in Berlin will have much to say about the way onwards in terms of the continent’s financial and political development.

 

What the future holds

As Powell hinted throughout the year, in January 2022 there will be a monthly quantitative easing cap of 60 billion USD, halving the 2021 rate and initiating a probable and gradual farewell to the emergency policy. A process that market participants of all shapes and sizes (private and corporate) will have to pay close attention to.

 

All of the dynamics above will have exciting new developments in 2022 and the years after—many of which will hit most by surprise. So, financial education and constant research and training towards economic and financial literacy are paramount to navigating through these fast-paced markets. This plain truth applies just as much to Foreign Exchange as it does to the stock market or the cryptocurrency domain. 

About OctaFX

OctaFX is a global broker that provides online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers a state-of-the-art trading experience to over 7.5 million traders worldwide. The company is well-known for its financial expertise, analytics, and educational programme. It maintains a high emphasis on financial literacy in its trading community. OctaFX has also won more than 45 awards since its foundation, including the 2021 ‘Best Forex Broker Asia’ award and the 2020 ‘Most Transparent Broker’ award from Global Banking & Finance Review and Forex Awards, respectively.

#OctaFX

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.