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London’s Financial Sector Sees 17% Drop in Job Vacancies

Job vacancies in London’s financial services sector dropped by 17% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This decline is largely attributed to inflation, global economic challenges, and post-Brexit adjustments in Britain.

Mark Astbury, Associate Director at Morgan McKinley, explained that companies are becoming increasingly cautious and focusing more on strategic hires rather than aggressive recruitment.

However, the City of London saw a 7% rise in job vacancies from the previous quarter, driven by growing demand for professionals in regulatory compliance, digital transformation, and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) projects. This surge highlights the specialized roles companies continue to seek despite broader market slowdowns.

The lingering impact of Brexit continues to affect London’s financial center, with the loss of around 40,000 jobs, a figure recently confirmed by the Lord Mayor of the City of London.

Bitcoin Surges 23% In A Week As Investor Optimism Returns

Bitcoin was on track for a weekly gain of around 23% on Friday as a series of positive macroeconomic and policy developments boosted investor sentiment.

The cryptocurrency was trading about 6% higher at roughly $77,000, up from around $62,800 at the start of the week. Crypto-related stocks also rallied, with Coinbase and Circle gaining more than 9%, while Strategy rose 7%.

Macro Factors Fuel Rally

Bitcoin’s latest surge began Wednesday after Treasury yields fell sharply following a major intervention by the U.S. Treasury in the bond market. Lower yields eased pressure on risk assets and helped trigger a broader move into cryptocurrencies.

The rally was further amplified by a major short squeeze. Around $2.7 billion in crypto short positions were liquidated, according to CoinGlass.

Max Stuedlein, head of Partnerships at Sygnum APAC, said the move reflected an alignment of macroeconomic and policy catalysts, including the Treasury’s decision to increase buybacks of longer-dated government debt.

Clarity Act Boosts Sentiment

Investor confidence improved further on Thursday as the White House and crypto industry leaders made a final push to advance the Clarity Act in the coming weeks.

The legislation is widely viewed as a potential catalyst for the crypto market, although its chances of passing remain relatively limited.

Despite the rally, bitcoin remains well below its 2026 high of $94,820 reached in January and its all-time high of $126,198, set last October.

Analysts See More Volatility Ahead

Lucy Gazmararian, founder and managing partner at Token Bay Capital, said the crypto market may be approaching the end of its bear cycle.

She expects bitcoin could experience one more decline of around 20% before the market turns, pointing to historical cycles and the recent liquidation of heavily leveraged short positions.

Gazmararian also described bitcoin as a long-term hedge against monetary debasement, while warning that its short-term price remains highly volatile and driven by market cycles.

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