News Nuggets | 1 August: Meta to Launch 'Personas' AI Bots; Conotoxia Shows New Feature

<p>Conotoxia Introduces 'Accept
Payments' Feature</p><p><a href="https://www.financemagnates.com/tag/conotoxia/" target="_blank" rel="follow">Conotoxia</a>,
a retail trading and fintech company, has rolled out a new 'Accept Payments'
feature to provide a seamless payment experience for individual and corporate
users. The feature allows users to create and share payment links for varied
purposes like settling restaurant bills, collecting gift funds, or paying for
small services. </p><p>Payment can
be made in 27 different currencies using numerous payment methods, providing
great flexibility. Users can generate these links via the mobile app or the
website and share them with others through different electronic communication
mediums. These links are valid for two weeks by default, with an option for
unlimited renewal.</p><p>Meta to Launch AI Chatbots
with Personalities</p><p>Meta, <a href="https://www.financemagnates.com/tag/meta/" target="_blank" rel="follow">the
parent company of Facebook and Instagram</a>, is reportedly planning to introduce
AI-powered chatbots with distinct personalities. This move is a part of their
strategy to retain users by offering more engaging and personalized
experiences. The chatbots, internally referred to as 'personas', are expected
to carry out human-level discussions with users and display varied characters.</p><p>Current
prototypes are under development, with the launch of the final products
anticipated in the coming month. Some bots have already been explored with
unique speaking styles, such as one speaking like former U.S. President Abraham
Lincoln and another offering travel advice in the voice of a surfer. These
chatbots are expected to bring about a new dimension to user interaction, making
the user experience more dynamic and immersive.</p><p>Warning Issued against
Portaltradecapital Website</p><p>Investors
are advised to exercise caution while dealing with the website
Portaltradecapital.com, which is offering investments without being registered
to provide financial services in New Zealand. The website has falsely claimed
to be a registered company in New Zealand, using the credentials of a
legitimate New Zealand company, Portal Archive Limited.</p><p>According
to the Financial Markets Authority (<a href="https://www.financemagnates.com/tag/fma/" target="_blank" rel="follow">FMA</a>), Portal Archive Limited's director has
disassociated from any connection with this website. The entity
Portaltradecapital appears to be misrepresenting itself, potentially posing a
risk to investors.</p><p>Paul Turner Joins Capex </p><p><a href="https://www.financemagnates.com/tag/capex/" target="_blank" rel="follow">Capex.com</a>,
a global multi-asset fintech provider, has appointed Paul Turner as Executive
Director for the UAE &amp; MENA Region. Turner brings over a decade of
experience in the financial services industry to Capex and will focus on
sustaining the growth momentum of the UAE offices and executing business plans
that align with the Group's strategic goals. </p><p>Paul Turner
will report directly to Madalina Rotaru, Senior Executive Officer of Key Way
Markets LTD, the company operating CAPEX.com in the MENA region. Madalina
Rotaru expresses full confidence in Turner's capability to bring innovative
ideas to the table, sustain business momentum, and achieve positive outcomes
for clients, partners, and stakeholders.</p><p>Plum's New In-app News
Feature for Investors</p><p>Plum, a
smart money app, has incorporated financial and business news functionality
into its investment platform, in partnership with AI and machine-learning
fintech CityFALCON. This feature provides real-time insights into the
investments of customers, keeping them updated about developments impacting
their assets. Customers can now stay updated without leaving the app, making
portfolio management easier.</p><p>Following
the addition of Watchlists and Price Alerts earlier this year, news
availability across all investment instruments on Plum is expected to enhance
customer experience further. The company also plans to add ETFs for EU
customers later in the year.</p><p>FCA Appoints New
Chairpersons to Practitioner Panels</p><p>The
Financial Conduct Authority (<a href="https://www.financemagnates.com/tag/fca/" target="_blank" rel="follow">FCA</a>) has appointed Clare Woodman, Matt
Hammerstein, and Mandy Gradden as Chairpersons of the FCA Markets Practitioner
Panel, the FCA Practitioner Panel, and the Listing Authority Advisory Panel,
respectively. These leaders will be responsible for providing valuable input
from practitioners and market participants to assist the FCA in achieving its
objectives.</p><p>FCA Chair
Ashley Alder expressed confidence in the newly appointed Chairs and their
ability to provide meaningful insight and ensure the effectiveness of the
regulatory processes. The new Chairs are expected to carry on the excellent
work of the Panels and ensure that the FCA's regulation delivers the right
outcomes for firms, markets, and consumers.</p><p>HSBC Announces Massive Net
Profit Increase</p><p><a href="https://www.financemagnates.com/tag/hsbc/" target="_blank" rel="follow">HSBC's</a> net
profit has more than doubled to $18.1 billion for the first half of the year,
marking a significant increase compared to last year's $9 billion profit.
Profit before tax also rose by 147% to $21.7 billion, up from $8.78 billion in
the first half of 2022.</p><p>In light of
these strong results, HSBC's board has approved a second interim dividend of
$0.10 per share and announced a further share buyback of up to $2 billion. The
share buyback is expected to commence soon and be completed within three
months. These results underscore HSBC's financial strength and ability to
return capital to shareholders.</p><p>HSBC and Tradeshift's
Joint Venture</p><p>In
addition, HSBC and Tradeshift have announced a joint venture that will
facilitate smoother trading between businesses and their suppliers using
embedded finance solutions and financial services apps. As part of this
collaboration, HSBC will invest $35 million in Tradeshift in two stages and
will also join its board.</p><p>This
partnership aims to raise a minimum of $70 million from HSBC and other
investors. The digital solutions provided across the platforms will include
embedded payment and fintech services into trade, e-commerce, and marketplace
experiences, promising enhanced trading operations.</p><p>Fastmarkets Appoints Larry
Neal</p><p>Fastmarkets
has announced the appointment of Larry Neal, the current CEO of Cisive and
former President of S&amp;P Platts, to its Board of Directors. Neal's extensive
industry experience and his proven record of driving business growth will
strengthen Fastmarkets' leadership and position the company for continued
success.</p><p>At S&amp;P
Platts, Neal tripled revenues in seven years and successfully managed a global
workforce. His strategic insight, operational excellence, and customer focus
throughout his career make him a valuable addition to the board. This
appointment is expected to fortify Fastmarkets' position in providing pricing
data, analysis, and events to the global cross-commodity markets.</p>

This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.