Market Signal Briefing

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

SummaryArmada Hoffler Properties is rated a Buy thanks to significant turnaround potential, an attractive 8.5% dividend yield, and solid valuation.AHH is actively managing debt maturities, focusing on deleveraging, refinancing, and shifting to more fixed-rate, longer-term debt to strengthen its balance sheet.Risks include economic sensitivity, some tenant concentration, and high interest rates, but rate cuts and project pipeline offer upside catalysts for AHH.A successful turnaround could drive AFFO growth and share price upside of even more than 70% from current prices, in addition to very strong dividend income. TrongNguyen/iStock via Getty Images

Introduction & Financials Armada Hoffler Properties (NYSE:AHH) is a vertically integrated, self-managed REIT focused on developing, building, acquiring, and managing high-quality office, retail, and multifamily properties, mainly addressing the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern US markets. The stock is down nearly 50% from its levels

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in AHH, AHH.PR.A over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sable Offshore Corp. (“Sable” or the “Company”) (NYSE: SOC) today provided an update regarding its ongoing litigation with the California Coastal Commission (“Coastal Commission”). In the Santa Barbara Superior Court’s tentative ruling released on October 14, 2025, the court indicated that it will deny Sable’s claims against the Coastal Commission. Sable vigorously disagrees with the court’s tentative ruling. If adopted after the court’s hearing scheduled on October 15, the ruling would have no impact on the resumption of petroleum transportation through the Las Flores Pipeline System. Additionally, oil and gas production from the federal Santa Ynez Unit and the flow of petroleum from the Santa Ynez Unit to the Las Flores Canyon processing facilities or to a potential Offshore Storage & Treating Vessel (“OS&T”) would be unaffected by rulings in the Coastal Commission litigation. Sable nevertheless intends to appeal this ruling to the California Court of Appeal if the ruling is adopted by the Santa Barbara Superior Court.

Sable is suing the Coastal Commission for the damages it has caused Sable by erroneously issuing cease and desist orders during Sable’s anomaly repair program on the Las Flores Pipeline System. The anomaly repair program and hydrotesting of the Las Flores Pipeline System was completed in May 2025 in accordance with the Federal Consent Decree. Sable intends to continue its pursuit of the writ of mandate in the Court of Appeal as well as declaratory relief and inverse condemnation claims in excess of approximately $347 million.

Jim Flores, Chairman and CEO of Sable said, “Although the tentative ruling is disappointing, it has no impact on Sable’s business strategy of either resuming petroleum transportation through the Las Flores Pipeline System or selling its Santa Ynez Unit production through an OS&T. California has an opportunity to authorize the resumption of petroleum transportation through the Las Flores Pipeline System per its obligations in the Federal Consent Decree and lower gasoline prices for California residents. Sable is very concerned about the state’s crumbling energy complex. California’s economy will face dire consequences if refineries continue to close due to the lack of domestic production, which should be a major concern for the bondholders of the State of California. The Las Flores Pipeline System offers a California-based solution benefitting workers, state and local government revenues and the environment that can almost immediately serve to reverse this trend.”

Sable continues to work diligently with the State of California to safely and responsibly resume petroleum transportation through the Las Flores Pipeline System in accordance with the Federal Consent Decree. Continued delays in approving the Restart Plans for the Las Flores Pipeline System could prompt Sable to pursue the accelerated OS&T strategy, which was utilized to process Santa Ynez Unit production in federal waters from 1981 – 1994. During that time period, the Santa Ynez Unit produced over 160 million barrels of oil equivalent. Regardless of whether California approves the resumption of petroleum transportation through the Las Flores Pipeline System, Sable plans to pursue the OS&T strategy which Sable believes will allow it to refinance its existing term loan.

About Sable

Sable Offshore Corp. is an independent oil and gas company, headquartered in Houston, Texas, focused on responsibly developing the Santa Ynez Unit in federal waters offshore California. The Sable team has extensive experience safely operating in California.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this press release include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words “could,” “should,” “will,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “continue,” “plan,” “forecast,” “predict,” “potential,” “future,” “outlook,” and “target,” the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward- looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements will contain such identifying words. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of Sable’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause Sable’s actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include: the ability to recommence sales from the Santa Ynez Unit assets and the cost and time required therefor; global economic conditions and inflation; increased operating costs; lack of availability of drilling and production equipment, supplies, services and qualified personnel; geographical concentration of operations; environmental and weather risks; regulatory changes and uncertainties; litigation, complaints and/or adverse publicity; privacy and data protection laws, privacy or data breaches, or loss of data; our ability to comply with laws and regulations applicable to our business; and other one-time events and other factors that can be found in Sable’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and any subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Current Report on Form 8-K, which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are available on Sable’s website (www.sableoffshore.com) and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website (www.sec.gov). Except as required by applicable law, Sable undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release.

Disclaimers

The Santa Ynez Unit assets discussed in this press release restarted production in May 2025 and have not sold commercial quantities of hydrocarbons since such Santa Ynez Unit assets were shut in during June of 2015 when the only onshore pipeline transporting hydrocarbons produced from such Santa Ynez Unit assets to market ceased transportation. Since the May 2025 production restart, the oil produced has been transported via pipeline to storage tanks onshore at Sable’s Las Flores Canyon processing facility where it is being stored pending resumed petroleum transportation through the Las Flores Pipeline System. There can be no assurance that the necessary approvals will be obtained that would allow the Las Flores Pipeline System to recommence transportation or the contemplated use of an Offshore Storage and Treating Vessel that would allow the Santa Ynez Unit assets to recommence sales.

More News From Sable Offshore Corp.

SummarySafe Bulkers faces macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds, but prudent fleet management supports long-term sustainability.SB maintains profitability and strong liquidity, despite revenue and margin pressures, aided by balanced charter exposure and strategic debt management.Valuation remains attractive, with SB trading below book value and forward-looking metrics indicating further upside potential for the stock.I reiterate a buy rating on SB, but recommend cautious entry, due to recent overbought technical signals and potential short-term dips. MihailDechev/iStock via Getty Images

Four months after my previous analysis on Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE:SB), the stock has already increased by over 10% just as I expected. Even now, global macroeconomic headwinds are intense, worsened by geopolitical tensions and tariff riffs. That’s

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of SB either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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From a quantitative perspective, the 91.7% change in Palantir Technologies (PLTR) stock from 4/17/2025 to 10/14/2025 was mainly influenced by a 37.5% change in the company's Net Income Margin (%). This narrative goes beyond mere numbers, but first, let's analyze the stock price movement and its contributing factors.

Factors behind stock price change

Trefis

Investing in a single stock can be risky, but there is substantial value in a broader diversified strategy like the one we implement with Trefis High Quality Portfolio. We extend beyond just equities. Is a portfolio composed of 10% commodities, 10% gold, and 2% crypto, in addition to equities and bonds, likely to yield better returns over the next 1-3 years while providing superior protection if the markets drop by 20%? We have analyzed the data.

Returning to the "change": The variation in fundamental factors such as valuation, revenue, and margins tell a story related to business performance and investor sentiment. Below, we have highlighted key developments that affected the stock price movement for PLTR stock. To provide a quick background: PLTR offers software platforms that assist the intelligence community in discovering hidden data patterns and supporting counterterrorism investigations and operations through seamless collaboration between analysts and operators.

Reasons for the Movement in Palantir Technologies StockPalantir Technologies announced outstanding second quarter 2025 earnings on August 4, 2025, with revenue crossing the 1 billion dollar mark for the first time, signifying a 48% year-over-year increase and exceeding analyst predictions. The company also elevated its full year 2025 revenue forecast, triggering a substantial surge in the stock price.The firm witnessed an accelerated uptake of its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) across various sectors, especially in the U.S. commercial market, which recorded a 93% year-over-year growth in revenue. This pointed to a robust enterprise demand for Palantir's AI offerings.Palantir secured and broadened multiple critical government contracts, including a significant 10 billion dollar, 10-year deal with the U.S. Army, a 109 million dollar renewal with ICE, as well as other defense-related agreements, solidifying its strong standing in government and defense analytics.Analyst perceptions turned more positive, with numerous firms upgrading their ratings and increasing price targets for PLTR stock following the impressive financial results and optimistic outlook, indicating heightened confidence in its long-term growth trajectory.Notwithstanding strong performance and growth incentives, the stock's high valuation and vulnerability to profit-taking led to periods of volatility, as investors evaluated the premium valuation against anticipated growth potential.Our Current Assessment Of PLTR StockOpinion: We currently find PLTR stock appealing yet volatile. Why is that? Dive into the complete narrative. Read Buy or Sell PLTR Stock to understand what informs our present assessment.

Risk: However, it's important to note that Palantir isn’t shielded from significant declines. It dropped approximately 23% during the Covid slump and suffered a much steeper decline of around 85% during the inflation shock phase. Despite all the positive aspects surrounding the stock, these drastic dips illustrate its vulnerability when markets take a downturn. Strong fundamentals are essential, but during turbulent periods, abrupt sell-offs can still take place.

Consistently selecting winners is a challenging endeavor, particularly considering the volatility tied to individual stocks. Instead, the Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, featuring a selection of 30 stocks, has demonstrated a history of comfortably outperforming the S&P 500 over the last four years. Why does this occur? As a collective, HQ Portfolio stocks have provided superior returns with lower risk compared to the benchmark index; providing a smoother investment experience, as illustrated in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

This industry leader is returning a ton of cash to shareholders, but remains available at a deeply discounted valuation.

The market may continue to trade near all-time highs, but growth stocks have done most of the heavy lifting.

This delineation can clearly be seen in the chart below, showing the performance of two index-tracking exchange-traded funds (ETFs). As you can see, there is quite a difference between the last six months' performance from high beta (growth-ish) and low volatility (value-ish) stocks in the S&P 500.

Data by YCharts.

Said another way, a lot of growth stocks' valuations have become stretched, while many Steady Eddie businesses remain reasonably valued.

Today, I will look at an ultra-high-yield dividend stock that has been left behind by the bull market and explain why it may be a once-in-a-decade opportunity.

Nomad Foods: Europe's leading frozen food provider
Anchored by brands like BirdsEye, Iglo, Aunt Bessie's, and Goodfellas, Nomad Foods (NOMD 2.31%) is the dominant force in Europe's frozen food industry.

Nomad holds a 47% market share among its top 25 products, primarily selling frozen food in the following categories:

Fish: Consists of fish fingers, breaded fish, and natural fish. This is the largest category for Nomad, equalling 33% of sales.
Vegetables: Ready-to-cook frozen vegetables account for 25% of revenue.
Meals: Products range from noodles, pasta, and lasagna to pancakes and other ready-made meals.
Poultry: Includes chicken nuggets, burgers, and grilled meat.
Ice cream and others: Consists of numerous ice cream options as well as pizza, soups, baked goods, and meat substitutes.

Image source: Getty Images.

Leading these categories across most of Europe, Nomad Foods' various brands are ranked No. 1 in brand awareness and preference among consumers in 12 of 15 markets.

With two-thirds of its portfolio consisting of protein or vegetable offerings, Nomad is well-positioned to thrive amid the global shift toward healthier food options.

Steady cash flows offset a hefty debt load
Thanks to the repeat-purchase nature of its products, Nomad is a very stable operator, generating consistent cash flows and profitability over time.

Data by YCharts.

While revenue growth has stalled recently due to consumer uncertainty, management expects free cash flow (FCF) to grow by 15% annually over the next three years as capital expenditures drop and efficiency programs take hold.

This growing FCF is important for Nomad as the company is home to $2.2 billion in debt, versus a market capitalization of $1.8 billion.

Typically, it is a bad sign when a company's debt exceeds its market cap. However, in Nomad's case, a lot of this is due to its discounted share price -- and its consistent FCF and profitability show it can easily handle its debt payments.

A once-in-a-decade valuation and an ultra-high-yield dividend
The main reason that Nomad's market cap is lower than its net debt balance stems from the fact that its share price is down 41% from its one-year high.

While there is nothing fundamentally wrong with Nomad's business, this sell-off matches what has happened to a lot of low-volatility stocks in the market, as I pointed out earlier.

Following this decline, the company currently trades at a decade-long low valuation, and its dividend yield is at an all-time high of 5.5%.

Data by YCharts.

What makes this ultra-high-yield dividend even more interesting is that it only uses 43% of the company's net income, or 35% of its FCF. These figures show that the 13% dividend increase investors saw to start the year isn't likely to be Nomad's last, as its dividend payments are very well funded.

In addition to this hefty dividend yield, management has lowered the company's share count by a staggering 6% annually over the last three years. This combination of ultra-high-yield dividend payments and hefty share repurchases makes Nomad a very shareholder-friendly investment.

Ultimately, Nomad Foods won't ever be mistaken for a growth stock. However, its industry leadership, stable operations, consistent cash flow, and generous shareholder returns make it a compelling investment opportunity while it trades at a once-in-a-decade low valuation.

Josh Kohn-Lindquist has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Palantir and AppLovin have seen their revenue growth explode higher.

Growth stocks have been leading the market higher for much of the past decade, and with artificial intelligence (AI) still looking to potentially be in its early innings, there is a good chance this could be the case for the next 10 years as well.

Let's look at two hypergrowth stocks that have been increasing sales by 40% or more that you can buy this year.

Palantir Technologies
Palantir Technologies (PLTR 1.52%) has transformed itself from primarily a data gathering and analytics contractor for the U.S. government into one of the most important AI companies in the world. Its growth has been nothing short of amazing, with revenue accelerating for eight straight quarters. Last quarter, its revenue jumped 48% year over year to top $1 billion, led by a 93% surge in U.S. commercial revenue.

Image source: Getty Images

The company's growth trajectory changed following the launch of its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP), which is now being used by corporations across nearly every major industry.

Instead of building its own large language model (LLM), the company built a platform that makes those models more useful. AIP gathers and organizes a customer's data and maps it to real-world assets and workflows, giving AI models the context they need to make better decisions and avoid AI "hallucinations." This makes AI more useful for real-world applications, which is why the company has been seeing such strong growth.

The company's next big opportunity is with AI agents that can not only make recommendations but can also take autonomous actions within customer guidelines. If Palantir can become a leader in AI agents, its growth could continue to accelerate even more.

The business is firing on all cylinders, but the stock's valuation is very expensive, trading at over 100 times 2025 sales estimates. However, the company is executing better than almost anyone else in the AI software-as-a-service (SaaS) space, and that momentum doesn't look like it's slowing anytime soon.

AppLovin
AppLovin (APP 0.08%) has transformed itself from a niche mobile game developer into one of the most explosive AI adtech platforms in the market. The company's Axon 2.0 engine has completely changed the game by using AI to optimize ad placement, targeting, and bidding in real time.

That shift has sent growth soaring. Last quarter, revenue jumped 77% year over year to $1.26 billion, while adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) nearly doubled to $1 billion.

What's even more impressive is that the company has also been able to expand gross margins and reduce costs while increasing revenue at this pace, which is a rare combination. Most of this so far has come from mobile gaming, but management is now expanding into e-commerce and web advertising, where the potential market is far larger.

If successful, this could be another huge growth driver. UBS analysts have said that early feedback among web-based advertisers has been positive, with its industry checks showing strong traction with companies testing the platform.

AppLovin is also rolling out a self-serve ad manager that allows more advertisers to directly run their campaigns, a move that could attract more small and mid-size advertisers. The company is expanding internationally, where the majority of gamers live. The combination of new markets and self-serve access could continue to drive strong growth over the next several years.

Short-sellers have tried to challenge the story, but AppLovin keeps delivering strong results quarter after quarter. Regulators have also reportedly asked questions about its data practices, but nothing material has come from it so far, and analysts at Oppenheimer see it more as noise.

If Axon 2.0 proves as effective outside of gaming as it has been inside, AppLovin's stock could still be just getting started.

Geoffrey Seiler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

AI advancements, redesigned hybrid frameworks and outcome-based employee experience strategies will shape the future of work in the U.K., ISG Provider Lens® report says

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Enterprises in the U.K. are reimagining workplace strategies to balance innovation, resilience and sustainability, according to a new research report published today by Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm.

At some enterprises in the U.K., GenAI is no longer an experiment. Those organizations are harnessing its capabilities to improve operational efficiency and foster a culture of progress with continuous learning and adaptation at the forefront.

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The 2025 ISG Provider Lens® Future of Work Services report for the U.K. finds enterprises are integrating advanced technologies into core business functions while rethinking hybrid work design and acting on sustainability commitments in their digital workplaces. Increasingly, GenAI is enabling businesses to create hyperpersonalized employee experiences by analyzing vast amounts of data to tailor interactions and offerings to individual preferences and behaviors. By pairing these innovations with strong governance and responsible AI practices, companies are boosting both efficiency and resilience amid inflationary pressures and talent shortages.

“At some enterprises in the U.K., GenAI is no longer an experiment, but the cornerstone of workplace transformation,” said Iain Fisher, director at ISG. “Those organizations are harnessing its capabilities to improve operational efficiency and foster a culture of progress with continuous learning and adaptation at the forefront. But the majority of organizations are still waiting to see how other pilots work out before committing to deployment at scale.”

Hybrid work has evolved from a sudden trend into a standardized operational model, ISG says. Today, more than 60 percent of U.K. job postings offer hybrid or fully remote work options. Enterprises in the U.K. are crafting hybrid strategies that balance employee autonomy and organizational accountability. They are also enhancing collaboration, using work hubs such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom to facilitate seamless interaction among team members. Connecting employees, partners and customers through orchestrated workflows creates cohesive ecosystems that foster inclusivity and faster adaptation to market changes.

Another notable trend is how enterprise approaches to employee experience are becoming outcome-driven, the report says. U.K. enterprises are moving from static sentiment surveys to real-time telemetry and behavioral analytics to track engagement and performance. They are adopting digital employee experience (DEX) platforms, integrated with IT and human resources systems, to identify risks of disengagement early and allow tailored interventions. This capability equips organizations to offer targeted support, ensuring employee needs are addressed promptly and appropriately.

Sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments have become core to U.K. workplace strategies, ISG says. Companies are embedding sustainable practices into technology and supplier decisions, ensuring fair labor standards are met and reducing carbon footprints. Many are adopting smart building technologies, renewable energy sources and IoT tools to monitor and optimize energy use in real time. By aligning social responsibility with business objectives, they are strengthening stakeholder trust and treating sustainability as both an ethical obligation and a competitive differentiator.

“Sustainability is now central to strategic decision-making,” said Kevin Turner, principal consultant at ISG and lead author of the report. “U.K. enterprises that align ESG with business goals strengthen reputation, attract investment and create lasting value.”

The report also explores other trends in the workplace services market in the U.K., including heightened budget scrutiny that is pushing enterprises toward self-funding transformation and increased emphasis on using technology to unite IT, HR and operations for sustainable business outcomes.

For more insights into the workplace technology-related challenges faced by enterprises in the U.K., plus ISG’s advice for overcoming them, see the ISG Provider Lens® Focal Points briefing here.

The 2025 ISG Provider Lens® Future of Work Services report for the U.K. evaluates the capabilities of 45 providers across seven quadrants: Workplace Strategy and Enablement Services, Collaboration and Next-gen Experience Services, Managed End-user Technology Services — Large Accounts, Managed End-user Technology Services — Midmarket, Continuous Productivity Services (including Next-gen Service Desk), Smart and Sustainable Workplace Services and AI-augmented Workforce Services.

The report names Accenture, Capgemini, Fujitsu, HCLTech, Infosys, TCS and Wipro as Leaders in six quadrants each. Computacenter and DXC Technology are named as Leaders in five quadrants each, while Atos and Unisys are named as Leaders in four quadrants each. Microland, Movate and NTT DATA are named as Leaders in two quadrants each. BT, Capita, CGI, Coforge, Deloitte, Getronics, SCC and UST are named as Leaders in one quadrant each.

In addition, Coforge and NTT DATA are recognized as Rising Stars — companies with a “promising portfolio” and “high future potential” by ISG’s definition — in two quadrants each. Microland, SCC and Stefanini are recognized as Rising Stars in one quadrant each.

In the area of customer experience, Microland is named the global ISG CX Star Performer for 2025 among workplace services providers. Microland earned the highest customer satisfaction scores in ISG’s Voice of the Customer survey, part of the ISG Star of Excellence™ program, the premier quality recognition for the technology and business services industry.

Customized versions of the report are available from Computacenter, Fujitsu and SCC.

The 2025 ISG Provider Lens® Future of Work Services report for the U.K. is available to subscribers or for one-time purchase on this webpage.

About ISG Provider Lens® Research

The ISG Provider Lens® Quadrant research series is the only service provider evaluation of its kind to combine empirical, data-driven research and market analysis with the real-world experience and observations of ISG’s global advisory team. Enterprises will find a wealth of detailed data and market analysis to help guide their selection of appropriate sourcing partners, while ISG advisors use the reports to validate their own market knowledge and make recommendations to ISG’s enterprise clients. The research currently covers providers offering their services globally, across Europe, as well as in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the U.K., France, Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, the Nordics, Australia and Singapore/Malaysia, with additional markets to be added in the future. For more information about ISG Provider Lens research, please visit this webpage.

About ISG

ISG (Nasdaq: III) is a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm. A trusted partner to more than 900 clients, including 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is a long-time leader in technology and business services that is now at the forefront of leveraging AI to help organizations achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm, founded in 2006, is known for its proprietary market data, in-depth knowledge of provider ecosystems, and the expertise of its 1,600 professionals worldwide working together to help clients maximize the value of their technology investments.

More News From Information Services Group, Inc.

Image Credits:Waymo

2:00 AM PDT · October 15, 2025

Waymo said on Wednesday it will offer a commercial robotaxi service in London in 2026, marking the Alphabet-owned company’s second international expansion following Tokyo.

The announcement to bring the company’s robotaxis to the UK follows weeks of speculation fueled by a couple of London-based job postings. Waymo already has ties to the UK. In 2019, the company acquired Latent Logic, a UK startup spun out of Oxford University’s computer science department that uses a form of machine learning called imitation learning to make self-driving car simulation more realistic. Waymo launched an engineering hub in Oxford as part of the acquisition.

In a blog post, Waymo said its all-electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles — equipped with self-driving technology — will begin driving on London’s public roads in the coming weeks. Waymo will start with human safety drivers behind the wheel before it launches driverless testing and eventually inviting the public to hail its robotaxis, a strategy that it has used in other commercial markets such as Phoenix and San Francisco.

Waymo wouldn’t provide further details on when the company would remove the human safety driver or the size of the testing fleet. Waymo spokesperson Ethan Teicher did confirm the company intends to operate a self-driving car service for public riders next year.

When that robotaxi service launches in 2026 will depend on the UK government finalizing its approval process for those operations. 

Waymo plans to use Moove, a company that already manages its autonomous vehicles (AVs) in Phoenix, to handle fleet operations. Waymo has increasingly tapped partners to share the load of operating a robotaxi service. In Austin and Atlanta, its partner Uber splits the responsibilities of owning and operating a fleet of driverless vehicles. Uber handles the charging, maintenance, and cleaning of the autonomous vehicles, and manages access to the robotaxis via its app. Meanwhile, Waymo monitors the tech and the autonomous operations, including roadside assistance and certain aspects of rider support.

Waymo has ramped up its testing and commercial operations over the past two years, spreading beyond its initial market in Phoenix to several other U.S. cities, including Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The company also has plans to offer a commercial robotaxi service in Miami, Nashville and Washington DC.

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Kirsten Korosec is a reporter and editor who has covered the future of transportation from EVs and autonomous vehicles to urban air mobility and in-car tech for more than a decade. She is currently the transportation editor at TechCrunch and co-host of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast. She is also co-founder and co-host of the podcast, “The Autonocast.” She previously wrote for Fortune, The Verge, Bloomberg, MIT Technology Review and CBS Interactive.

You can contact or verify outreach from Kirsten by emailing [email protected] or via encrypted message at kkorosec.07 on Signal.

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SINGAPORE, Oct. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EngageLab, a global leader in omnichannel customer engagement, made a remarkable impact at E-Commerce Expo Asia 2025, Singapore Tech Week. The EngageLab booth became a focal point for e-commerce innovators and industry leaders eager to explore the future of customer engagement technology.

Throughout the event, the EngageLab team demonstrated how its robust platform empowers businesses to seamlessly connect with customers worldwide via AppPush, WebPush, Email, SMS, WhatsApp, OTP, and more. Attendees experienced firsthand how EngageLab’s solutions drive higher conversions, stronger retention, and smarter, data-driven marketing for e-commerce brands.

Omnichannel & Marketing Automation: Accelerating E-Commerce Growth

EngageLab’s core strength lies in its powerful Omnichannel and Marketing Automation platform, designed for the fast-paced world of e-commerce. By unifying AppPush, WebPush, Email, SMS, WhatsApp, and more, EngageLab enables brands to deliver seamless, personalized customer journeys across every channel. With AI-driven segmentation, automated triggers, and real-time analytics, e-commerce businesses can:

Acquire customers efficiently with targeted, consistent messagingBoost conversions through personalized offers and timely remindersDrive retention with automated re-engagement and loyalty campaignsStay compliant with robust data security EngageLab helps e-commerce brands reduce manual work, increase ROI, and deliver outstanding customer experiences at scale.

A highlight of the expo was the keynote speech by Jerry Yin, Group Vice President of GPTBots & EngageLab. Jerry’s session, “Smart E-Commerce: Unlocking Global Success with AI Agents and Omnichannel Messaging,” placed a strong emphasis on the power of true omnichannel engagement. He illustrated how e-commerce businesses can break through market fragmentation by unifying customer touchpoints across multiple channels—ensuring every message is timely, relevant, and personalized, no matter where the customer is.

AI Agents in the Spotlight: GPTBots Drives Next-Gen E-Commerce Innovation

As another flagship product under Aurora Mobile, GPTBots provides end-to-end enterprise AI agent solutions. At the expo, GPTBots drew significant attention from e-commerce innovators and decision-makers for its transformative impact on operational efficiency and customer support. Many e-commerce brands expressed strong interest in integrating AI-powered customer support into their websites. Attendees were particularly impressed by the versatility of GPTBots AI Agents, which are already being applied across a range of critical e-commerce scenarios, including:

24/7 AI Customer Support: Instantly resolving customer inquiries, processing returns and exchanges, and providing multilingual assistance, significantly improving satisfaction and reducing response times.Intelligent Product Recommendations: Leveraging customer data and browsing behavior to deliver personalized product suggestions that boost conversion rates and average order value.Order Tracking & Notifications: Proactively updating customers on order status, shipping, and delivery, reducing manual workload and enhancing transparency. These conversations at E-Commerce Expo Asia 2025 reaffirmed the growing demand for intelligent, scalable AI solutions in the e-commerce sector. As a trusted partner to leading enterprises worldwide, EngageLab, together with GPTBots, remains committed to continuous innovation, empowering businesses to achieve operational excellence, sustainable growth, and superior customer success.

About EngageLab
EngageLab is a world-leading AI-powered omnichannel customer engagement solution provider, unites technology and versatility to offer seamless customer interactions and marketing automation across every channel, including Email, AppPush, WebPush, OTP, SMS and WhatsApp Business. It empowers businesses to build lasting relationships and achieve higher conversions and retention. With a strong focus on innovation and performance, EngageLab supports businesses in over 220 countries and regions, delivering more than 1 million messages every second across various channels.

About GPTBots
GPTBots is an enterprise AI agent platform that empowers businesses to build, manage, and deploy sophisticated AI agents without coding expertise. By integrating Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) technology, and an extensive plugin ecosystem, GPTBots helps companies automate complex workflows and enhance customer engagement across multiple channels.

For Media Inquiries:
Contact: [email protected]
Website: www.engagelab.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5f5873df-a5f7-4f13-bceb-20a6262610a8

, /PRNewswire/ -- Yum China Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: YUMC and HKEX: 9987, "Yum China" or the "Company") today announced that it will report its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2025 before the U.S. market opens on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 (after the trading hours of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Tuesday, November 4, 2025).

Yum China's management will hold an earnings conference call at 7:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 (8:00 p.m. Beijing/Hong Kong Time on Tuesday, November 4, 2025).

A live webcast of the call may be accessed at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/4vatr2tq.

To join by phone, please register in advance of the conference through the link provided below. Upon registering, you will be provided with participant dial-in numbers and a unique access PIN.

Pre-registration Link: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI9e7407ad602f441ea518cca00c739e9d 

A replay of the webcast will be available two hours after the event and will remain accessible until November 3, 2026. Additionally, earnings release accompanying slides will be available at the Company's Investor Relations website http://ir.yumchina.com. 

About Yum China Holdings , Inc. 

Yum China is the largest restaurant company in China with a mission to make every life taste beautiful. The Company operates over 16,000 restaurants under six brands across around 2,400 cities in China. KFC and Pizza Hut are the leading brands in the quick-service and casual dining restaurant spaces in China, respectively. In addition, Yum China has also partnered with Lavazza to develop the Lavazza coffee concept in China. Little Sheep and Huang Ji Huang specialize in Chinese cuisine. Taco Bell offers innovative Mexican-inspired food. Yum China has a world-class, digitalized supply chain which includes an extensive network of logistics centers nationwide and an in-house supply chain management system. Its strong digital capabilities and loyalty program enable the Company to reach customers faster and serve them better. Yum China is a Fortune 500 company with the vision to be the world's most innovative pioneer in the restaurant industry. For more information, please visit http://ir.yumchina.com.

Investor Relations Contact
Tel: +86 21 2407 7556
E-mail: [email protected] 

Media Contact
Tel: +86 21 2407 3824
E-mail: [email protected] 

SOURCE Yum China Holdings, Inc.

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The Existing Seismic Data and interpretation for the Northern Portion of the Property from four 2D Seismic reflection lines has recently been reviewed by Agapito with respect to Potash Cycles 5, 13 and 18 as well as Paradox and Leadville clastic intervals. A time structure map of the top of the Paradox Formation salt was constructed.

Alphabet's Waymo is bringing its driverless ride-hailing services to London, the first European market for its robotaxi.

The company said in a release on Wednesday that it plans to start test drives on London's roads in coming months, with human safety specialists at the wheel. It intends to open its robotaxi service next year, assuming it can get permissions from regulators as well as local and national leaders.

London will mark the company's second international city after Tokyo, where testing began in early 2025.

Waymo has been aggressively expanding in the U.S., and now offers a commercial service in the Los Angeles area, Phoenix, San Francisco, Atlanta and Austin, Texas. The company has also announced plans to start robotaxi services in Miami and Washington, D.C., and said in August that it obtained permits to begin testing its autonomous vehicles with trained safety drivers on board in New York City.

In London, Waymo's fleet will be comprised of Jaguar iPACE electric vehicles equipped with the company's Waymo Driver autonomous systems. Waymo said it already employs engineering teams in Oxford and London, and that it plans to work with Moove to handle operations and maintenance for its fleet.

Moove provides vehicle financing to drivers who want to purchase a new vehicle for ride-hailing, and offers services like cleaning, some repairs and charging of electric vehicles to transportation businesses including Waymo and Uber, which is an investor in the startup.

In June, the U.K. announced an accelerated framework for commercial pilots by AV ventures, an effort to bring self-driving investments to the region. London also established a "Vision Zero" goal earlier this year to eliminate all serious injuries and deaths in its transportation systems by 2041.

Waymo says its system "is involved in five times fewer injury-causing collisions, and twelve times fewer injury-causing collisions with pedestrians compared to humans," according to the company's analysis of its own data.

The company has also reported that its self-driving vehicles have logged 100 million "fully autonomous miles" on public roads, and provided more than 10 million paid rides to passengers to-date.

Waymo is part of Alphabet's "Other Bets" segment, which brought in revenue of $373 million in the second quarter on a loss of $1.25 billion. Alphabet plans to report third-quarter results on Oct. 29.

Wayve, a U.K.-based startup backed by SoftBank and Microsoft, previously announced that it plans to bring a robotaxi commercial pilot to London next year. While Waymo uses radar, lidar and other sophisticated sensors in its vehicles, Wayve is developing camera-based systems, an approach that's similar to Tesla's pursuits.

— CNBC's Jennifer Elias contributed to this report.

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Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Rexel S.A. (OTCPK:RXEEY) Q3 2025 Sales Call October 15, 2025 2:00 AM EDT

Company Participants

Guillaume Jean Texier - CEO & Director
Laurent Delabarre - Group Chief Financial Officer - Leading the China & India Cluster

Conference Call Participants

Martin Wilkie - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Daniela Costa - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
William Mackie - Kepler Cheuvreux, Research Division
George Featherstone - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Delphine Brault - ODDO BHF Corporate & Markets, Research Division
Andre Kukhnin - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Ben Uglow
Miguel Nabeiro Ensinas Serra Borrega - BNP Paribas Exane, Research Division
Eric Lemarié - CIC Market Solutions, Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Good morning. This is the conference operator. Welcome, and thank you for joining the Rexel's Third Quarter 2025 Sales Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] At this time, I would like to turn the conference over to Mr. Guillaume Texier, Group CEO of Rexel. Please go ahead, sir.

Guillaume Jean Texier
CEO & Director

Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today for our Third Quarter 2025 Sales Presentation. I appreciate you making the time to be with us so early. As always, I'm joined by Laurent Delabarre, our Group CFO, who will walk you through the detailed sales figure in just a few minutes. But first, I'd like to take a look at the key highlights of the quarter and share how our transformation continues to support our growth and performance, even in a complex and evolving environment. So let's get started.

We delivered solid top line momentum with Q3 '25 being the 6th consecutive quarter of sequential improvement. We are also maintaining rigorous pricing and we keep investing with discipline where demand is strongest. At the same time, we are progressing on our Axelerate 2028 road map, raising digital adoption, deploying AI to improve speed and accuracy across commercial and

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Here are three stocks added to the Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) List today:

Adherex Technologies (FENC - Free Report) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company which is focused on the development of Sodium Thiosulfate for the prevention of ototoxicity from cisplatin in pediatric patients. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised almost 55.6 downward over the last 60 days.

Alibaba (BABA - Free Report) is one of the leading e-commerce giants in China. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised almost 16.8% downward over the last 60 days.

Alico (ALCO - Free Report)  is involved in various operations and activities including citrus fruit production, cattle ranching, sugarcane and sod production, and forestry. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 5.8% downward over the last 60 days.

View the entire Zacks Rank #5 List.

Bitcoin’s price is once again testing crucial support levels at around $110,000 following a major crypto market liquidation event. Analysts warn of another potential 15% drop, with short traders piling in and threatening a further decline toward the $96,530 mark. CryptoQuant’s Head of Research, Julio Moreno, noted that this is the third major attempt by short traders to push BTC below the $110,000–$108,000 range, emphasizing a sharp increase in short positions ahead of last Friday’s crash.

Meanwhile, on-chain analyst Ali Martinez stated that Bitcoin must reclaim the $119,000 level to sustain its bullish outlook. Failure to do so, he warned, could result in another correction, aligning with data from Glassnode’s MVRV pricing bands that indicate a potential fall toward $96,530.

Bloomberg senior commodity strategist Mike McGlone questioned Bitcoin’s recent performance, noting that despite carrying “over twice the risk,” it has delivered similar returns to the S&P 500 since crossing the $100,000 milestone. With risk assets underperforming gold in 2025, McGlone suggested this could be a “sell bell” for broader markets. Institutional investors also appear to be exiting, as Bitcoin ETF outflows point to selling pressure amid current volatility.

At the same time, gold has surged as part of the ongoing “debasement trade,” benefiting from the weakening US Dollar. Gold futures broke records by surpassing $4,200 per ounce, soaring nearly 60% this year alone—outpacing equities, crypto, and other major asset classes. Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley described the rally as evidence of global currency debasement concerns, noting that all assets are increasingly judged by their resistance to fiat erosion.

As investors flock to safe havens, the growing divergence between Bitcoin and gold underscores shifting confidence in fiat currencies—even as BTC’s next move hinges on reclaiming key resistance levels.

<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

The $2.40–$2.42 support zone is crucial for XRP, with buyers defending this level amid volatile trading conditions.Updated Oct 15, 2025, 7:22 a.m. Published Oct 15, 2025, 7:22 a.m.

(CoinDesk Data)

What to know: XRP experienced a sharp decline due to macroeconomic pressures and market deleveraging, with open interest dropping by 50%.Despite the downturn, spot volumes increased by 40%, indicating potential institutional re-entry.The $2.40–$2.42 support zone is crucial for XRP, with buyers defending this level amid volatile trading conditions.Heavy deleveraging across derivatives markets drags XRP lower before buyers defend the $2.40 zone, setting up a key support retest heading into Asia trading.

News BackgroundXRP traded sharply lower through the October 14–15 session as macro pressure and broad crypto deleveraging sent open interest down 50% to $4.22 billion. Despite the washout, spot volumes jumped 40%, signaling institutional re-entry. Ripple’s newly announced partnership with Immunefi — a $200,000 XRP Ledger security test running Oct. 27–Nov. 24 — helped anchor sentiment after an early-session slide.Price Action SummaryXRP fell 1.97%, sliding from $2.54 to $2.49 while swinging through a $0.16 band ($2.55–$2.39) — roughly 6% intraday volatility.Buyers stepped in repeatedly at $2.40–$2.42, defending key support after a midday capitulation.Volume exploded to 179.4 M at 13:00, nearly double the 24-hour average, validating accumulation at the lows.Sellers capped rebounds near $2.53, where consistent distribution formed a near-term ceiling.Late-session trade saw XRP recover modestly to $2.50 as dip-buying stabilized order books.Technical AnalysisThe $2.40–$2.42 area remains the critical pivot for bulls. Multiple rebounds confirm institutional defense, but momentum remains fragile below the $2.53–$2.55 resistance cluster. A sustained break below $2.40 would open downside targets at $2.33 and $2.25, while reclaiming $2.53 could re-establish an advance toward the broader $2.65 breakout line.Volume-weighted metrics point to accumulation amid forced unwinds — a classic short-term base-building phase if funding normalizes.What Traders Are WatchingWhether $2.40 continues to hold through Monday’s Asia open.Re-leveraging signs after open interest halved on derivatives exchanges.Volume follow-through above $2.50 confirming accumulation.Macro headlines tied to trade-war rhetoric and Fed policy as volatility drivers.More For You

Crypto Trading Volumes Fall 17.5% in September Despite Record Open Interest

Combined spot and derivatives volumes fell 17.5% in September, continuing a four-year seasonal trend

What to know:

Trading activity falls 17.5% in September slowdown: Combined spot and derivatives volumes dropped to $8.12 trillion, marking the first decline after three months of growth. September has now seen reduced trading volume for the fourth consecutive year.Open interest reaches record high despite derivatives market share decline: Total open interest surged 3.2% to $204 billion and peaked at an all-time high of $230 billion during the month.Altcoins on CME outperform as Bitcoin and Ether futures decline: While CME's total derivatives volume stayed flat at $287 billion (-0.08%), SOL futures jumped 57.1% to $13.5 billion and XRP futures rose 7.19% to $7.84 billion. BTC and ETH futures fell 4.05% and 17.9% respectively.View Full Report

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The planned deal sets a $2.45 billion post-money valuation and follows CoinDCX’s April 2022 raise of $135 million at a $2.15 billion valuation.

What to know:

Coinbase agreed to invest in CoinDCX; completion is subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions.CoinDCX is one of India’s largest exchanges with operations expanding in the Middle East.In April 2022, CoinDCX raised $135 million at a $2.15 billion valuation.Read full story

Dogecoin's price movement between October 13 and 14 reflected cautious optimism across the crypto market. The token faced firm resistance at $0.22, retreating slightly to close at $0.21 after a brief intraday breakout attempt.

Ripple has announced that it will provide digital asset custody services for Absa Bank, one of South Africa's largest financial services organisations. 

The collaboration is meant to respond to growing demand for secure and compliant crypto infrastructure in the region. 

Expanding global footprint The partnership will help Ripple, which already has a strong presence in Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region, to further expand its footprint in the African market.

"Having spent time in South Africa earlier in my career, it holds a special place in my heart, so I'm delighted we’re bringing institutional-grade digital asset custody to one of the nation’s leading banks," Ripple's Reece Merrick said while commenting on the partnership. 

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As reported by U.Today, Ripple also joined forces with African fintech company Chipper Cash to enable cross-border payments in the region. 

Why Trust CoinGape

CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

CoinShares XRP ETF is gearing up for launch as the issuer amends its application to disclose the ticker and additional details ahead of Nasdaq listing. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will announce its final decision on CoinShares spot XRP ETF next week, with the final deadline for Grayscale’s XRP exchange-traded fund due this week.

CoinShares XRP ETF Files with the US SEC
According to a US SEC filing dated October 14, CoinShares submitted an S-1 form to announce XRPL as the ticker as it prepares to list on Nasdaq. The issuer has not yet disclosed the management fee and is likely waiting for other issuers to reveal their fee. However, there are mentions of the sponsor fee payable in XRP, with terms still awaited.

Moreover, the issuer revealed BitGo as the custodian and Valkyrie Funds LLC as a seed capital investor. The details about XRP purchased by Valkyrie were not disclosed in the filing. The trust has updated language, risk factors, and other details, including staking.

“The Trust will not directly or indirectly participate in any staking program, and accordingly the shareholders will not receive any staking rewards or other income,” as per the filing.

Other details disclosed in the filings include CSC Delaware Trust Company as the trustee, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services as transfer agent and administrator, Paralel Distributors as marketing agent. Also, U.S. Bank NA is the cash custodian of the Trust.

XRP ETF May Get Approval This Week
Six spot XRP ETF decisions are due between October 18 and 25, with the SEC’s final deadline for a decision on Grayscale’s ETF due this week. Decisions on 21Shares, Bitwise, WisdomeTree, CoinShares, and Canary Capital applications are due next week. However, experts believe the commission could greenlight all XRP ETF listings this week with Grayscale, pending the end of the US government shutdown.

Notably, institutional investors remain upbeat on ETF approval as XRP continues to record strong buying. As CoinGape reported, XRP funds saw strong inflows of $61.6 million last week despite the largest-ever crypto market crash.

At press time, XRP price rebounded 1% over the past 24 hours, with the price currently trading sideways above $2.50. The 24-hour low and high are $2.41 and $2.53, respectively. Furthermore, trading volume has dropped by 20% in the last 24 hours.

Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.

Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.

TLDR:

Ripple’s partnership with Absa Bank marks its first major crypto custody collaboration in Africa.
The move extends Ripple’s global custody network into emerging African financial markets.
Absa Bank will use Ripple’s technology to manage institutional-grade crypto and tokenized assets.
Ripple now serves institutions across five continents, with growing demand in regulated crypto custody.

Ripple is taking another step into institutional finance with a new partnership in South Africa. The company has joined forces with Absa Bank to introduce institutional-grade digital asset custody for African markets. This move comes as global interest in compliant blockchain infrastructure continues to grow. 

Ripple’s strategy now extends across multiple continents, signaling a broader shift toward regulated crypto services. The announcement was made in a company blog post on October 15, 2025.

Ripple and Absa Join Forces to Strengthen Crypto Custody Services
According to Ripple’s announcement, Absa Bank will adopt Ripple’s enterprise custody technology to store and manage digital assets, including cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets. The integration aims to give institutional clients safe, compliant access to blockchain-based products.

Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, said the partnership reflects Africa’s evolving financial landscape. He emphasized that the continent is entering a new phase of digital asset adoption, where secure storage and regulatory compliance are becoming essential.

Absa’s decision positions it as one of the first major African banks to offer institutional crypto custody. 

The move could enable large organizations to participate in blockchain markets without compromising security. Ripple’s solution offers built-in compliance controls, which allow financial institutions to navigate regional regulations with confidence.

This partnership also marks Ripple’s growing presence across Africa, following its earlier collaboration with payments provider Chipper Cash. Together, these moves reinforce Ripple’s goal to serve both traditional and crypto-native institutions in emerging markets.

Africa’s Growing Role in the Global Digital Asset Ecosystem
Ripple’s 2025 New Value Report found that 64% of finance leaders in the Middle East and Africa are turning to blockchain to reduce settlement times and improve cross-border payment efficiency. 

Absa’s partnership is a response to this trend, signaling that banks are beginning to view crypto custody as part of standard financial infrastructure.

Robyn Lawson, Head of Digital Product and Custody at Absa, noted that the bank wants to provide clients with “secure, compliant, and robust” storage options for their digital holdings. 

Ripple’s platform gives Absa access to proven infrastructure and global best practices, allowing the bank to operate within the highest security and operational standards.

Ripple’s network now spans Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Its expansion into South Africa strengthens its reputation as a trusted infrastructure provider for tokenized finance. 

With over 60 regulatory licenses globally, the company continues to position itself as a leader in bridging traditional banking and blockchain technology.

As more African banks explore digital asset strategies, partnerships like this could accelerate the continent’s transition toward blockchain-based financial systems.