标签： North America

The Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) is set to redefine the global precious metals trading landscape, leveraging a combination of robust market demand, regulatory support, and cutting-edge digital technologies. Established two decades ago as the region’s first derivatives exchange, DGCX has evolved into a cornerstone of the Middle East’s financial ecosystem, offering a diverse range of products, including currencies, commodities, and Sharia-compliant contracts. With gold prices surpassing $4,000 per ounce amid geopolitical uncertainty, the exchange is strategically positioned to capitalize on the precious metal’s resurgence as a safe-haven asset. The UAE Central Bank’s mandate requiring gold bullion to be stored in DMCC-approved vaults has further solidified the foundation of physical trade in the region. DGCX’s integration of AI-driven technologies enhances operational efficiency and scalability, enabling deeper liquidity, broader market access, and unparalleled physical integrity. The exchange is also introducing a dirham-denominated gold contract, designed to mitigate geopolitical risks and promote the UAE’s national currency in global trade settlements. Additionally, DGCX plans to launch a daily benchmark gold price, aligned with international standards, to provide market participants with precise pricing and hedging opportunities. The exchange’s commitment to operational excellence includes same-day or real-time settlement processes, reducing counterparty risk and improving capital efficiency. To ensure global connectivity, DGCX is exploring extended operating hours to align with key international markets, offering continuous trading opportunities across time zones. Furthermore, the exchange is democratizing gold investment through fractionalized tokenized gold and silver, allowing retail investors to participate with smaller denominations backed by physical assets. These initiatives underscore DGCX’s ambition to become a globally recognized hub for commodities and derivatives trading, driven by transparency, innovation, and stakeholder-centric strategies.

Al Maryah Community Bank, the UAE’s pioneering fully integrated digital bank, has unveiled the ‘Mbank Millionaire’ campaign, a groundbreaking national savings initiative designed to foster a culture of intelligent and sustainable saving among individuals and families. This campaign, launched in anticipation of the bank’s fifth anniversary in 2026, stands as one of the most extensive savings drives in the UAE. It offers an impressive array of over 7,000 cash prizes, including 615 monthly winners who could receive up to Dh10,000 each, alongside three grand prizes of Dh100,000 each through special draws. The campaign will reach its zenith with a grand prize of Dh1 million, to be announced during the bank’s fifth-anniversary celebrations. All draws are meticulously supervised by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development to ensure transparency and integrity. The initiative also seeks to inspire Al Maryah Community Bank customers to perceive saving as a rewarding and impactful habit. Customers maintaining an average monthly balance of Dh1,000 or more in their savings accounts are automatically entered into the monthly draw, with additional entries granted for every Dh100 of their average monthly balance, thereby increasing their chances of winning. Wissam Farran, Chief Intelligence & Innovation Officer of Al Maryah Community Bank, emphasized the campaign’s significance, stating, ‘As we approach five years of serving our community, this campaign is our way of acknowledging our customers who have supported our vision from the outset. Mbank Millionaire is more than a savings campaign; it’s an invitation for every individual to believe that every dirham saved today is a tangible step toward realizing tomorrow’s dreams.’

Anthony Cabrera recently completed the construction of his three-bedroom house in Hopatcong, New Jersey, just ahead of a new wave of tariffs on essential building materials and home furnishings. Starting in March, Cabrera worked diligently with a contractor to finalize his project before the tariffs took effect earlier this week. Despite his efforts, his initial budget of $300,000 surged to $450,000 due to rising costs for imported items like cabinets from Asia. ‘Tariffs were definitely on my mind throughout the whole process,’ Cabrera remarked, expressing concern over the escalating expenses. His experience mirrors the challenges faced by many homebuyers, builders, and renovators across the US. The White House argues that these tariffs aim to bolster domestic manufacturing and safeguard national security. However, economists warn that they could exacerbate the housing market’s struggles by increasing construction costs and slowing down projects. Peter Harrell, a visiting scholar at Georgetown Law School, noted, ‘The last thing an already not great new construction market needs is higher input costs.’ The new tariffs, which include a 50% levy on steel and copper imports, are part of a broader series of measures that could further inflate prices for consumers. Goldman Sachs estimates that US consumers will bear up to 55% of the cost of these tariffs this year. Furniture companies, including RH and IKEA, have already warned of potential price hikes, while smaller businesses like Jean Lin’s Manhattan-based design gallery, Colony, have seen reduced sales due to tariff-related uncertainties. The National Association of Home Builders has expressed concerns that these tariffs will create additional challenges for an already strained housing market, particularly affecting affordable housing projects. While some economists believe the tariffs alone won’t spell disaster for the industry, they acknowledge that the cumulative impact could be significant. ‘It’s yet another unwelcome thing that they have to deal with now,’ said Jake Krimmel, a senior economist at Realtor.com.