Year-over-year, existing home sales were up 1. 7%. Prices were also up. The median sales price increased 2. 1% to $415,200. “Home sales increased in October even with the government shutdown due to homebuyers taking advantage of lower mortgage rates,” NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said. Sales shrank at the low end of the market, with home sales below $100,000 falling 2. 8%. For homes priced between $100,000 and $250,000, sales climbed less than 1%. Sales of homes priced between $250,000 and $500,000 gained 5%. Realtors reported even bigger gains at the upper end of the housing market. For homes priced between $500,000 and $750,000, the increase was 6. 3%. Sales increased 10. 2% for homes priced between $750,000 and $1 million. And home sales above $1 million jumped 16. 4%. DAVID HARSANYI: DON’T BUY THE NOSTALGIA, GENERATION Z. LIFE IS BETTER THAN YOU THINK Earlier this month, the median age of a first-time home buyer reached a record high of 40, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors. The median age of first-time buyers increased to 40 this year from 38 the previous year. In the 1980s, the typical first-time home buyer was in their late 20s,” according to NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/economy/3894133/existing-home-sales-up-october/
Tag: year-over-year
South Korean Crypto Exchanges Face Earnings Pressure Amid Bitcoin Price Slump
**South Korean Crypto Exchanges Face Earnings Pressure as Trading Volumes Plummet Amid Market Slump**
Trading volumes on South Korea’s major crypto exchanges Upbit and Bithumb have fallen sharply, averaging just $1.88 billion daily in early November — the lowest level since January 2025. This decline comes after a strong third quarter where both exchanges reported massive gains, with Upbit’s operating profits soaring 180% to 235.3 billion won.
In 2025 alone, over 391 new tokens have been listed across top Korean exchanges, marking a 47% increase from the previous year. This surge in listings aims to bolster user engagement amid the current weak market environment.
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### What is Causing Earnings Pressure for South Korean Crypto Exchanges?
South Korean crypto exchanges are under significant earnings pressure primarily due to a sharp drop in trading volumes following a market downturn. After a booming third quarter fueled by rising digital asset prices, Bitcoin’s price plummeted below $95,000 — its lowest point in six months. Coupled with heightened global uncertainties, investor hesitation has dramatically reduced daily trading activity to levels unseen earlier in 2025.
This increased volatility heavily impacts revenue, as trading fees make up nearly all income for these platforms. With fewer trades occurring, exchanges like Upbit and Bithumb face shrinking fee-based earnings.
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### How Has the Recent Market Slump Affected Upbit and Bithumb’s Performance?
The market slump has severely affected Upbit and Bithumb. According to CoinGecko data, combined daily average trading volumes on both platforms dropped to around $1.88 billion from November 1 through mid-month. This is a significant decline from the $7.8 billion peak seen in January and even the $3-4 billion daily range observed in recent months.
Despite these recent challenges, Upbit’s operator Dunamu reported impressive third-quarter results: operating profits rose 180% year-over-year to 235.3 billion won (~$161.7 million), revenue surged 104% to 385.9 billion won, and net income quadrupled to 239 billion won. Similarly, Bithumb’s operating profits increased eightfold to 70.1 billion won, revenues grew 184% to 196 billion won, and net income jumped 34 times to 105.4 billion won.
These gains were originally driven by a rebound in digital asset prices, improved market sentiment following U.S. legislative advancements such as the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for United States Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act), Ethereum’s rally, and expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut.
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### Challenges Weighing on Market Confidence
However, ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions, fading hopes for imminent interest rate cuts, and the aftermath of a $100 million Ethereum hacking incident have eroded investor confidence. This has pushed the market into an “extreme fear” state, as tracked by CoinMarketCap.
Bitcoin’s price has fallen approximately 25% from its October 6 peak of $126,210, severely drying up trading activity and raising concerns of an impending crypto winter. Industry officials emphasize that without diversified revenue streams, exchanges remain highly exposed to such market fluctuations.
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### Steps Toward Sustainability and Growth
To counteract subdued trading volumes, South Korean exchanges have accelerated token listings. According to APYWA, Korea’s top five exchanges — Korbit, Coinone, GOPAX, Upbit, and Bithumb — added approximately 391 new tokens between January 1 and mid-November 2025, a 47% increase compared to all of 2024. The pace of listings notably intensified in the second half of the year.
Despite these proactive efforts, sideways market trading has kept volumes muted. Industry experts stress that regulatory reforms are necessary to enable business diversification and reduce reliance on volatile trading fees. An industry official noted:
> “Without alternative revenue streams, exchanges will remain at the mercy of market volatility. While the phased approval of corporate participation in the crypto market is a positive signal, long-term sustainability requires regulatory reforms that allow for greater business diversification.”
Disclosures filed with South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Services confirm these trends, illustrating short-term challenges amid broader market headwinds.
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### Frequently Asked Questions
**What are the main revenue sources for South Korean crypto exchanges like Upbit and Bithumb?**
Trading fees dominate, accounting for approximately 98.2% of revenue at Dunamu (Upbit) and 98.3% at Bithumb. This reliance makes earnings highly sensitive to fluctuations in trading volumes.
**How might U.S. policy changes influence South Korean crypto exchange earnings?**
U.S. legislative developments, like the approval of the GENIUS Act, can improve global market sentiment, indirectly benefiting South Korean exchanges by boosting trading activity in assets such as stablecoins. However, ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions and shifting Federal Reserve interest rate expectations could counterbalance these positive effects, leading to continued earnings volatility.
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### Key Takeaways
– **Market Volatility’s Direct Impact:** Sharp declines in Bitcoin and Ethereum prices have halved trading volumes on major Korean exchanges, significantly reducing fee-based revenue streams.
– **Record Q3 Gains Now at Risk:** Upbit and Bithumb posted impressive profit increases in Q3 2025, but recent slumps to $1.88 billion in daily volumes threaten these gains without new strategic measures.
– **Diversification Urgently Needed:** Listing 391 new tokens in 2025 is a positive step toward engagement, but regulatory reforms enabling alternative revenue sources are critical to withstand crypto market downturns.
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### Conclusion
South Korean crypto exchanges are currently grappling with mounting earnings pressure due to declining trading volumes and heightened market volatility — a stark contrast to the record profits recorded in the third quarter by leaders like Upbit and Bithumb.
Global factors such as U.S.-China trade tensions and security breaches continue to weigh heavily on investor confidence. Given the sector’s heavy dependence on trading fees, diversification is imperative for sustained profitability.
Accelerated token listings and calls for regulatory reforms demonstrate how exchanges are adapting to current challenges. Looking ahead, investors should monitor Federal Reserve policy signals and legislative developments closely, as a rebound in digital asset prices could restore trading momentum and stabilize earnings.
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*Stay informed on crypto market trends and volatility — follow our updates for the latest insights.*
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/bitcoin/south-korean-crypto-exchanges-face-earnings-pressure-amid-bitcoin-price-slump/
New Zealand Dollar drifts lower below 0.5650 as China’s Trade Surplus narrows in October
The NZD/USD pair is attracting some sellers near the 0.5620 level during the Asian trading hours on Friday. The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) has weakened against the US Dollar (USD) following a narrowing of China’s trade surplus in October and a disappointing New Zealand jobs report. Traders are also bracing for the flash U-Mich Consumer Sentiment survey scheduled for later on Friday.
Data released by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China showed that China’s trade surplus narrowed to $90.07 billion in October, down from $90.45 billion previously. This figure fell short of the forecasted $95.60 billion. Meanwhile, exports rose by just 1.1% year-over-year in October, missing expectations for a 3.0% gain. Imports increased by 1.0% year-over-year, a sharp decline from 7.4% in September and below the market consensus of 3.2%.
The narrowing of China’s trade surplus could weigh on the New Zealand Dollar, often seen as a proxy for China, given that China is one of New Zealand’s major trading partners.
Adding to the NZD’s weakness, New Zealand’s unemployment rate climbed to 5.3% in the third quarter (Q3), marking its highest level since 2016. This weak jobs report has strengthened the case for a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) this month, putting additional selling pressure on the NZD. Most economists now expect a 25 basis points (bps) reduction at the RBNZ’s final meeting of the year, scheduled for November 26.
On the US side, Challenger jobs data indicated a sharp increase in job cuts, suggesting a possible cooling in the US labor market. The report revealed that companies cut over 150,000 jobs in October, marking the biggest reduction for the month in more than 20 years.
Following the release of the Challenger jobs data, traders have ramped up bets on a rate cut in the US, which has weighed on the Greenback against the NZD. Trading in Fed funds futures now implies a 70% probability of a rate reduction at the Federal Reserve’s next meeting, up from 62% a day earlier, according to the CME FedWatch tool.
Overall, the combination of weaker Chinese trade data, a disappointing New Zealand jobs report, and signs of softening in the US labor market is influencing price action in the NZD/USD pair as traders adjust their expectations ahead of key upcoming economic releases.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/finance/new-zealand-dollar-drifts-lower-below-0-5650-as-chinas-trade-surplus-narrows-in-october/
Regions Financial Corporation (RF) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Operator: Good morning, and welcome to the Regions Financial Corporation’s quarterly earnings call. My name is Chris, and I will be your operator for today’s call. [Operator Instructions] I will now turn the call over to Dana Nolan to begin.
**Dana Nolan**
EVP & Head of Investor Relations
Thank you, Chris. Welcome to Regions’ Third Quarter earnings call. John and David will provide high-level commentary regarding our results. Earnings documents, which include our forward-looking statement disclaimer and non-GAAP reconciliations, are available in the Investor Relations section of our website. These disclosures cover our presentation materials, today’s prepared remarks, and Q&A.
I will now turn the call over to John.
**John Turner**
President, CEO & Chairman
Thank you, Dana, and good morning, everyone. We appreciate you joining our call today.
Earlier this morning, we reported strong quarterly earnings of $548 million, resulting in earnings per share of $0.61. On an adjusted basis, earnings were $561 million or $0.63 per share.
We delivered adjusted pretax pre-provision income of $830 million, a 4% increase year-over-year, and we generated a strong return on tangible common equity of 19%. We…
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4830817-regions-financial-corporation-rf-q3-2025-earnings-call-transcript?source=feed_all_articles