Currencies

The U.S. Federal Reserve will be keeping a watchful eye on bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, Fed chair nominee Jerome Powell said before Congress on Tuesday.

Asian stocks were mostly higher Wednesday following overnight gains on Wall Street as investors looked ahead to a likely U.S. interest rate hike.

The CME has increased its margin requirements for bitcoin futures to 43% ahead of the launch, up from 35%. “Margins for CME bitcoin futures are being increased to 43% for launch as a result of the normal review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage,” according to a release from the CME.

The Latest on the Greek ruling on the extradition of Russian cybercrime suspect Alexander Vinnik (all times local): 2:30 p.m. Greece's Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a request to extradite a Russian cybercrime suspect to the United States to stand trial for allegedly laundering billions of dollars using the virtual currency bitcoin.

Virtual currency bitcoin hit another all-time peak on Tuesday, two days after the launch of the first ever bitcoin futures on a U.S. exchange and ahead of the start of another futures contract next week.

Bitcoin futures began trading on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) on Sunday, a move seen as a milestone for the cryptocurrency.

Ethereum is trading above $600 for the first time this week. The digital currency has jumped 98% in value in the last month and more than 7,250% since this time last year, according to Coinbase.

Israel's markets regulator said on Tuesday bitcoin-based companies would not be included in any indexes on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) but that does not mean they should be banned from trading.

Shares were mostly lower in Asia on Tuesday as investors stepped back after several days of advances, erasing early gains.

U.S. stock indexes edged higher in early trading Monday as gains in technology and energy companies outweighed losses among makers of packaged foods and other consumer goods.

Boeing said on Monday it would raise its quarterly dividend by 20 percent to $1.71 per share and replace its existing share repurchase program with a new $18 billion authorization.

___ Bitcoin futures soar amid frenzy over virtual currency NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street got its first taste of bitcoin on Monday, with the price of the first-ever futures contract for the digital currency jumping 20 percent.

The latest on developments in financial markets (All times local): 9:35 a.m.

Newly launched bitcoin futures on Monday suggested that traders expect the cryptocurrency’s blistering price gains to slow in the coming months.

Wall Street closed slightly lower on Monday as March auto sales disappointed and investors questioned whether the Trump administration would deliver on its pro-business economic stimulus.

Gemini co-founders Tyler Winklevoss and Cameron Winklevoss on their success in bitcoin.

Trading of bitcoin futures on the Cboe has kicked-off, driving the price even higher. But, some investors are still wary of the cryptocurrency, either unsure of what it is or concerned about its volatility.

The NYC explosion had a brief impact on U.S. stock index futures.

Bitcoin futures eased back from an initial surge of almost 22 percent to trade up 13 percent on Monday, in an eagerly awaited U.S. market debut that backers hope will confer greater legitimacy on the volatile cryptocurrency and lead to its wider use.