China’s Guangzhou Futures Exchange (GFEX) has announced a fresh set of trading curbs for selected platinum and palladium futures contracts, tightening position requirements and daily trading limits as part of broader efforts to manage volatility and curb speculative activity in the niche precious metals market.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the exchange said the changes will take effect from December 29 and will apply to several forward-dated platinum and palladium contracts that are actively traded by investors. For platinum, the affected contracts are PT2606, PT2608, PT2610, and PT2612, while the adjustments for palladium cover PD2606, PD2608, PD2610, and PD2612.
Under the revised rules, the minimum daily opening position for the specified platinum and palladium contracts will be raised from one lot to two lots. The minimum closing position will remain unchanged at one lot. Exchange officials said the adjustment is intended to raise the entry threshold for new positions, discouraging short-term, low-capital trades that can amplify price swings, while still allowing investors to reduce or exit positions smoothly.
Beyond the opening position requirement, GFEX will also impose a daily opening position limit of 300 lots per contract for non-futures company members and individual clients. The cap applies on a per-contract basis and is designed to prevent concentrated bets from dominating trading in markets that are relatively small compared with major base metals or energy futures. The exchange clarified that hedging transactions and market-making trades will be exempt from the limits, ensuring that industrial users and liquidity providers can continue to operate without restriction.
Platinum and palladium futures are among the newer contracts launched by the Guangzhou Futures Exchange, which was established to expand China’s derivatives market beyond traditional commodities and to strengthen the country’s role in pricing strategic resources. Both metals are critical inputs in automotive catalytic converters and are also used in electronics, chemicals, and jewellery, making their prices sensitive to shifts in global auto production, emissions regulations, and substitution between the two metals.
Market participants say these contracts can be prone to sharp price moves, particularly when liquidity thins or speculative interest rises. As a result, Chinese exchanges frequently adjust trading rules such as position limits, margins, and transaction thresholds to maintain orderly markets and contain systemic risk. Similar measures have been deployed in the past across commodities ranging from steel and coal to lithium and rare earths during periods of heightened volatility.
The timing of the latest curbs also comes as global platinum group metals markets face structural uncertainty. Demand is being reshaped by slowing growth in internal combustion vehicle sales in some regions, rising adoption of electric vehicles, and ongoing shifts in emissions standards. Supply dynamics, including output from major producers in South Africa and Russia, continue to add to price sensitivity.
By exempting hedging and market-making activity, GFEX appears to be signaling that its focus is squarely on speculative excess rather than on restricting legitimate risk management or liquidity provision. Traders said the measures are likely to moderate intraday volatility without materially harming overall market participation.
The exchange did not indicate whether further adjustments are planned, but analysts expect GFEX and other Chinese exchanges to remain proactive in fine-tuning trading rules as market conditions evolve and as newer futures contracts gain broader participation.
Nigeria’s broadband penetration crossed the 50% threshold for the first time in November 2025, reaching 50.58%—a historic milestone reflecting gradual improvements in digital infrastructure amid economic challenges.
However, this achievement underscores the country’s failure to meet the ambitious 70% target outlined in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) 2020-2025, which expires at the end of December 2025.
The shortfall highlights persistent structural barriers, including infrastructure deficits, regulatory hurdles, and economic pressures, despite concerted efforts to expand connectivity in Africa’s most populous nation. According to the latest industry statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on December 24, 2025, broadband subscriptions—defined as connections offering minimum speeds of 1.5 Mbps under the NBP—totaled 109.6 million in November, up from October’s figures and representing a 0.69 percentage point monthly gain.
Year-to-date growth stands at 6.15 percentage points, rising from 44.43% at the end of 2024, when broadband connections were approximately 91.5 million.
Total internet subscriptions, encompassing 3G, 4G, and emerging 5G, reached 144.7 million, a slight increase from 142.6 million in October.
Active voice subscriptions hit 177.4 million, with teledensity at 81.84% based on a population estimate of 216.7 million.
Market leadership remains concentrated among the “Big Four” operators.
MTN and Airtel’s dominance is driven by aggressive 4G/5G rollouts, with MTN launching commercial 5G in 28 cities and Airtel in over 20 states. Globacom’s fiber-optic backbone (Glo 1 submarine cable) supports its fixed broadband push, while 9mobile struggles post-rebranding and ownership changes.
While the 50% crossing—achieved two years after the NBP’s interim 50% goal for 2023—signals progress driven by mobile network expansions, competitive data bundles, and initiatives like the National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria (NBAN) launched in February 2025, stakeholders lament persistent structural barriers.
Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), attributed slow rollout to unresolved issues like multiple taxation (up to 40 levies per state), exorbitant right-of-way (RoW) fees (e.g., N145 per meter in some states despite federal waivers), and hidden levies, including education taxes, highway charges, imposed despite official waivers.
Additional challenges include infrastructure vandalism (19,000 fiber cuts reported in 2025, averaging 30-43 daily), unreliable power supply forcing diesel dependency (costing operators N500 billion annually in fuel), spectrum scarcity delaying 5G rollout, weak corporate governance, and SIM-NIN linkage mandates causing a 10-15 million subscriber drop in early 2025.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in telecoms has plummeted (239% drop in 2023, continuing into 2025) due to forex shortages, naira devaluation (from N460/$ in 2023 to N1,600/$ in 2025), and policy instability.
The NBP 2020-2025, developed by ICT experts and approved in March 2020, set bold targets to bridge the digital divide:
70% penetration by 2025 (missed; current 50.58%).
Minimum speeds: 25 Mbps urban, 10 Mbps rural (partial progress; average 15-20 Mbps in cities).
50% by 2023 (delayed to 2025).
At least one smartphone assembly plant by 2023 (unrealized; reliance on imports; cheapest 4G devices >N100,000 vs. target N18,000).
70% 4G subscriptions by 2023 (missed; now 51.99%; 5G at 3.6%).
Investment: $3.5-5 billion needed; actual inflows fell short due to economic headwinds.
Progress has been uneven: From 37.8% in 2020 to 50.58% in 2025, driven by 4G coverage reaching 80% of the population and fiber optic expansion—over 50,000 km laid.
Initiatives like NBAN of February 2025 promote infrastructure sharing to cut costs, while NCC’s approval for 4,000 new towers in 2025 aims to extend coverage to underserved rural areas, where penetration lags at ~30%.
Economically, broadband penetration is pivotal: A 10% increase correlates with 2% GDP growth, according to World Bank estimates, fueling sectors like fintech, e-commerce, and edtech.
Google’s 2025 report projects $1.1 billion higher GDP from penetration gains, enabling innovation, productivity, and digital inclusion—critical for Nigeria’s young population with 18 years median age.
Yet, the shortfall risks exacerbating inequality: Urban areas (e.g., Lagos at 65%) advance, while rural North lags (20-30%), hindering poverty reduction and SDG goals.As the NBP sunsets, focus shifts to a successor—potentially NBP 2026-2030—emphasizing fiber inland with 120,000 km target, 5G acceleration with spectrum auctions in Q1 2026, public-private partnerships, and affordability subsidies.
With Africa’s largest population, Nigeria’s trajectory is expected to influence regional digital ambitions—balancing incremental gains against the urgency for transformative infrastructure investment without succumbing to fiscal constraints.
China’s commerce ministry has said Beijing wants companies involved in the restructuring of TikTok’s U.S. operations to reach solutions that comply with Chinese laws and regulations and balance the interests of all parties.
This underscores its first substantive public comment as a long-negotiated deal to avert a U.S. ban on the app moves toward completion.
The remarks come weeks after TikTok’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, quietly signed binding agreements to hand over control of TikTok’s U.S. operations to an Oracle-led consortium, a breakthrough aimed at ending years of regulatory limbo and intense political pressure in Washington. Despite the significance of the transaction, Beijing has so far remained largely mum on the details of the deal, underscoring the sensitivity of the arrangement for Chinese authorities.
Speaking at a regular press conference on Thursday, commerce ministry spokesperson He Yongqian said China’s position was consistent.
“The Chinese government would like to see companies reach solutions that comply with Chinese laws and regulations and balance the interests of all parties,” she said, when asked directly about the TikTok handover.
He added that Beijing expects reciprocal goodwill from Washington. “It is hoped that the U.S. side will work with China in the same direction, earnestly fulfill its corresponding commitments, and provide a fair, open, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for the continuous and stable operation of Chinese enterprises in the United States,” she said.
The deal, brokered earlier this month after months of renewed negotiations, would see control of TikTok’s U.S. business transferred to a new entity majority-owned and governed by U.S. investors. Oracle, which already hosts TikTok’s U.S. user data under a long-running data security partnership, is expected to take a central role in overseeing data storage, security architecture, and compliance. Other U.S.-based financial investors are also part of the consortium, according to people familiar with the arrangement.
Under the terms agreed so far, ByteDance would retain a minority, non-controlling stake in the U.S. entity, while relinquishing operational control and governance rights. Three managing investors—Oracle Corporation, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi state investment firm MGX—will collectively hold 45% of the new company. Another 5% will be owned by additional new investors whose identities have not been fully disclosed. Affiliates of existing ByteDance investors will hold 30.1%.
The structure is designed to address U.S. national security concerns by ensuring that TikTok’s U.S. operations, including data handling and content moderation policies, are effectively ring-fenced from its China-based parent.
The transaction is expected to be finalized by January, a timeline that reflects pressure from U.S. lawmakers and regulators who have threatened to enforce legislation that could force TikTok off U.S. app stores if it fails to sever ties with ByteDance. TikTok has more than 170 million users in the United States, making it one of the most politically charged technology platforms in the country.
China’s cautious language reflects the legal and political constraints surrounding the deal. Beijing has repeatedly stressed that any transfer of TikTok-related technology, particularly its recommendation algorithms, must comply with China’s export control rules, which were updated in 2020 to cover advanced data-processing technologies. Those rules effectively give Chinese authorities veto power over the export of TikTok’s core algorithm, a key reason negotiations stalled in previous years.
While the latest arrangement is structured as a transfer of operational control rather than a full sale of technology, it still requires careful navigation of Chinese regulatory requirements. That sensitivity helps explain why Beijing has avoided explicit endorsement of the deal, even as talks advanced and binding agreements were signed.
The commerce ministry’s comments also reflect broader frustration in Beijing over what it sees as discriminatory treatment of Chinese firms operating in the United States. TikTok has become the most prominent example of a wider pattern of scrutiny facing Chinese technology companies amid deepening strategic rivalry between the two countries.
If finalized as planned, the Oracle-led deal would mark one of the most significant forced restructurings of a major global tech platform. Whether it fully satisfies regulators on both sides, however, will only become clear once the final structure is approved and implemented early next year.
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said Japan’s underlying inflation is gradually accelerating and moving closer to the central bank’s 2% target, reinforcing the case for further interest rate increases as the country continues its cautious exit from decades of ultra-loose monetary policy.
Speaking on Thursday to Keidanren, Japan’s most influential business lobby, Ueda said the BOJ remains prepared to keep tightening policy as long as economic conditions and price trends evolve in line with its projections. He stressed that the central bank is no longer fighting deflation but is instead focused on ensuring that inflation is sustained by rising wages and corporate pricing power, rather than by temporary cost shocks.
“Given that real interest rates are very low, the BOJ will continue to raise interest rates in accordance with improvements in the economy and prices,” Ueda said, signaling that policy normalization remains a work in progress rather than a one-off adjustment.
His remarks come just days after the BOJ raised its short-term policy rate to 0.75%, the highest level in roughly three decades. The decision marked another milestone in Japan’s slow dismantling of a monetary framework built on negative or near-zero interest rates, yield curve control and massive asset purchases that were maintained for years to counter entrenched deflation and weak domestic demand.
Ueda said the latest rate increase reflected growing confidence within the BOJ that Japan’s economy can withstand higher borrowing costs, particularly as global headwinds appear to be moderating. He noted that uncertainties linked to U.S. tariff policies and broader trade tensions, which had previously weighed heavily on Japan’s export-driven economy, have eased somewhat, allowing the central bank more room to focus on domestic conditions.
A key pillar of the BOJ’s optimism is the labor market. Ueda said Japan’s labor conditions remain tight and are likely to stay that way unless there is a major economic shock. Structural challenges, including the country’s shrinking and ageing population, have reduced the supply of workers and strengthened employees’ bargaining power, pushing companies to offer higher pay and improved working conditions.
Those pressures, he said, are already feeding through into wage growth and corporate behavior. Large firms agreed to the biggest pay hikes in decades during last year’s annual wage negotiations, and early signals suggest that companies are preparing to maintain similar momentum in the next round of talks. Ueda said sustained wage increases are essential to creating a stable cycle in which higher incomes support consumption, allowing firms to raise prices without eroding demand.
He also highlighted a notable shift in how companies are setting prices. In the past, many firms absorbed higher costs to avoid losing customers, reinforcing Japan’s low-inflation mindset. Ueda said that behavior is changing, with businesses now more willing to pass on rising labor and input costs across a wider range of goods and services, not just food and energy.
“Japan’s underlying inflation has followed a moderate uptrend as a whole,” Ueda said. “Amid tightening labor market conditions, firms’ wage- and price-setting behavior has changed significantly in recent years. Achievement of our 2% inflation target, accompanied by wage increases, is steadily approaching.”
The comments are likely to be closely scrutinized by financial markets, which have been sensitive to any hint about the pace of future rate hikes. At last week’s post-policy meeting briefing, Ueda’s cautious tone was interpreted by some investors as dovish, triggering renewed weakness in the yen. The currency has remained under pressure against the dollar, amplifying concerns about rising import costs and their impact on households.
A persistently weak yen has become a political and economic issue, as it lifts prices for fuel, food and other essentials, squeezing real incomes even as wages rise. While exporters benefit from a cheaper currency, policymakers are increasingly wary that excessive yen depreciation could undermine public support for the BOJ’s policy shift and dampen consumer spending.
Ueda did not directly comment on exchange rate levels but reiterated that policy decisions would be guided by the outlook for inflation and economic activity, rather than short-term market moves. He also emphasized that the BOJ would proceed carefully, adjusting policy step by step to avoid destabilizing the economy or financial system.
Markets widely expect the BOJ to keep rates unchanged at its next policy meeting on January 22–23. Attention will instead focus on the central bank’s updated quarterly forecasts for growth and inflation, which could offer clearer signals on how policymakers view the durability of recent price increases and the likelihood of further rate hikes later in the year.
However, Ueda’s remarks underline a growing confidence within the BOJ that Japan is finally edging closer to a long-sought goal: a self-sustaining cycle of wage growth and inflation that allows monetary policy to return to more normal settings. But risks from global growth, currency volatility and domestic consumption remain firmly on the radar.
The internet promised to level playing fields between small businesses and large corporations, between emerging markets and established economies. That promise has partially delivered—but only for businesses that invest wisely in their digital presence.
A company in Lagos can now serve customers in London. A startup in Nairobi can compete with established firms in New York. A growing business in Accra can build audiences across continents. The barriers that once confined small businesses to local markets have largely disappeared. What remains is the challenge of execution.
The businesses succeeding in this borderless environment share common characteristics. They present themselves professionally online. They build websites that function flawlessly regardless of where visitors access them. They understand that digital presence isn’t merely a marketing expense but fundamental business infrastructure.
ProfileTree, recognised as one of the best web design and digital marketing agencies with over 450 Google reviews and more than 1,000 completed projects worldwide, works with businesses across multiple continents. Their founder Ciaran Connolly identifies the pattern: “The businesses growing fastest internationally are those that invested in professional digital presence before they felt ready for it. They built credibility infrastructure that opened doors. Businesses waiting until they’re ‘big enough’ find competitors already occupying the space they wanted. The best time to build serious web presence is before you think you need it.”
This observation applies equally whether a business operates from Belfast, Boston, or Bangalore. Professional digital presence has become prerequisite for serious commercial ambition.
Why Web Presence Determines Business Boundaries
Twenty years ago, business boundaries were largely geographic. Serving customers beyond your immediate region required physical expansion—offices, staff, logistics networks. The investment demanded meant that international operation remained exclusive to large corporations with substantial capital.
Digital channels changed this equation fundamentally. A well-built website serves visitors anywhere with internet access. E-commerce platforms process transactions across currencies and borders. Video calls replace international travel for client relationships. The infrastructure that once required millions now requires thousands.
But this democratisation creates its own competition. When geography no longer limits who can serve a market, businesses compete against everyone serving that market—regardless of where competitors are based. A Nigerian consultancy competes with American firms for the same clients. A Kenyan e-commerce business competes with global retailers. The opportunity is vast, but so is the competitive pressure.
In this environment, web presence quality becomes decisive. Visitors comparing options judge businesses primarily by their digital presentation. A professionally built website signals capability and credibility. An amateur website signals the opposite—regardless of the actual quality of products or services offered.
What Professional Web Presence Actually Requires
Professional web presence extends beyond attractive visual design. It encompasses technical performance, user experience, content quality, and search visibility working together to create commercial effectiveness.
Technical performance matters because visitors abandon slow websites regardless of what those websites offer. Research consistently shows that each second of load time costs conversions. Mobile performance matters even more—visitors on phones tolerate delays less than desktop users. The best web developers build performance into projects from inception rather than attempting optimisation after launch.
User experience determines whether visitors find what they seek and take desired actions. Navigation must be intuitive. Information architecture must reflect how customers think, not how businesses organise internally. Conversion pathways must guide visitors toward meaningful engagement without creating friction that drives abandonment.
Content quality establishes expertise and builds trust. Businesses must communicate clearly what they offer, why it matters, and why they deserve consideration over alternatives. This communication must work for visitors at different stages—those just discovering options and those ready to make decisions.
Search visibility ensures that potential customers find the business when searching for relevant solutions. Without visibility, even excellent websites generate limited value. The best agencies build search optimisation into website foundations rather than treating it as separate concern.
The Credibility Challenge for Growing Businesses
Emerging businesses face a specific credibility challenge. They lack the track record that established competitors reference. They lack the brand recognition that shortcuts evaluation. They must earn trust that larger competitors receive by default.
Professional web presence addresses this challenge directly. A well-built website demonstrates capability through its own quality. It shows that the business invests in presentation, attends to details, and operates professionally. These signals matter to visitors evaluating unfamiliar businesses.
The best web design agencies understand this credibility function. They build websites that communicate professionalism immediately—within the seconds visitors take to form initial impressions. They ensure that nothing undermines trust: no broken elements, no amateur mistakes, no inconsistencies that suggest carelessness.
For businesses in emerging markets particularly, this credibility signalling proves crucial. International customers may harbour assumptions about quality standards. Professional web presence counters those assumptions before they become obstacles. It demonstrates that this business operates at standards matching any competitor anywhere.
Building for International Audiences
Websites serving international audiences face requirements beyond those serving local markets. They must function across different devices, connection speeds, and contexts. They must communicate clearly despite cultural differences. They must handle practical considerations like time zones, currencies, and international contact.
Connection speed variation affects design decisions. Visitors in some markets access websites primarily through mobile networks with variable bandwidth. Websites built assuming fast connections frustrate these visitors with slow loading and excessive data consumption. Performance optimisation isn’t luxury—it’s accessibility for significant audience segments.
Cultural considerations influence content and design choices. Colours, imagery, and communication styles carry different associations across cultures. The most recommended web design agencies research target audiences and adapt approaches accordingly rather than assuming that what works locally will work universally.
Practical functionality must accommodate international visitors. Contact forms should handle international phone formats. Business hours should specify time zones. Payment systems should support relevant currencies and methods. These details signal that the business genuinely serves international customers rather than merely accepting them.
The Integration of Design and Marketing
Effective websites don’t exist in isolation. They function as hubs within broader marketing ecosystems—connected to search engines, social platforms, email marketing, and increasingly artificial intelligence systems that recommend businesses to users.
This integration begins with how websites are built. Technical foundations must support marketing activities. Content management systems must enable ongoing publication without developer involvement. Analytics implementations must track meaningful metrics. The best web development incorporates these requirements from project inception.
Search engine optimisation particularly requires integration with design. Site structure affects how search engines understand and rank content. Technical implementation affects page speed and mobile experience—both ranking factors. Content strategy must align with keyword opportunities. Agencies offering both web design and SEO services deliver better results than those treating them separately.
The rise of AI-powered search adds new dimensions. AI systems increasingly answer questions directly rather than simply listing websites. They recommend businesses based on information they’ve gathered across the web. Websites built with clear, structured information that AI systems can easily process appear in these recommendations more frequently.
Choosing Partners for Digital Growth
Businesses seeking web presence partners should evaluate candidates on factors that predict results rather than factors that merely feel comfortable.
Track record depth matters more than individual highlights. Agencies with hundreds of completed projects have solved problems similar to yours. They’ve refined processes through repetition. They’ve learned what works and what doesn’t across diverse situations. The best agencies demonstrate consistent quality across extensive portfolios.
Communication quality indicates what working relationships will feel like. Agencies that respond promptly and clearly during evaluation will likely maintain those standards during projects. Those that prove difficult to communicate with early will likely frustrate throughout engagement.
Technical capability must match project requirements. Businesses needing e-commerce functionality should verify relevant experience. Those requiring integration with specific systems should confirm capability. The leading agencies discuss technical requirements thoroughly before proposing solutions.
Commercial focus distinguishes agencies that deliver business results from those that deliver only attractive designs. Agencies should ask about business objectives, target audiences, and success metrics. Those jumping directly to aesthetic preferences may produce beautiful websites that fail commercially.
Investment That Compounds
Professional web presence represents investment rather than expense. Unlike advertising that stops working when spending stops, effective websites continue generating value indefinitely. They attract visitors through search visibility built over time. They convert visitors through optimised user experience. They build credibility that supports all other marketing efforts.
This compounding effect means that early investment produces disproportionate returns. Businesses that build professional presence while small benefit as they grow. The credibility infrastructure scales with them. The search visibility accumulates. The competitive advantage compounds.
Businesses delaying this investment often find themselves perpetually behind. Competitors who invested earlier occupy search positions that prove difficult to displace. They’ve accumulated reviews and references that newcomers lack. The gap widens rather than narrows.
The global opportunity available to well-positioned small businesses has never been greater. Geographic barriers have fallen. Market access has democratised. What separates businesses that capture this opportunity from those that don’t is increasingly the quality of their digital presence and the seriousness with which they approach professional online representation. Those that invest wisely in the best web design and digital marketing find that international growth becomes achievable regardless of where they started.
