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International
Jack Ma Out Of Spotlight As Chinese Regulators Pounce
January 04, 2021

The eCommerce billionaire Jack Ma has been in the eye of the storm as China’s regulators have flexed their muscles and taken on FinTech companies. However, Alibaba Group Founder Ma has retreated from the public eye. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock...

Retail
Today In Retail: Retail Sales Fall In Hong Kong Amid Pandemic; Afterpay Reports 30 Pct...
January 04, 2021

In today’s top retail news, retail sales fell 25 percent in Hong Kong in the first 11 months of 2020, while Afterpay reported a 30 percent rise in the average basket size for its customers in the U.S. over the holidays. Plus, a large rise...

International
India’s Digital Payments Soar; Reserve Bank Launches Tracking Index
January 04, 2021

It’s been more than four years since India instituted its most recent demonetization policies. We’re a long away from the fall of 2016, when the administration under Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the economic policy where 500 and 1,000 rupee notes would be demonetized. Get...

Acquiring
AvidXchange Buys Core Assoc. To Automate Mid-Market Accounts Payable
January 04, 2021

Accounts payable (AP) and payments firm AvidXchange has acquired AP software solutions platform Core Associates, to advance payments automation in the construction industry and mid-market businesses. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS...

Retail
Risky Business: Malls See Late Holiday Surge Despite Pandemic
January 04, 2021

With the holidays all over except for the returns, it’s time for the troubled mall sector to face the existential crisis that it avoided thanks to what looks like a decent season in terms of foot traffic, despite the pandemic. Local reports from Houston, Washington,...

Retail
Retail Sales Dropped 25 Pct In Hong Kong From January To November
January 04, 2021

As the pandemic repelled high-spending visitors and local shoppers spent less, retail sales in Hong Kong plummeted 25 percent in the first 11 months of 2020, the South China Morning Post reported. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy...

Retail
Afterpay Reports 30 Pct Rise In Basket Size For US Customers Over The Holidays
January 04, 2021

Afterpay said on Monday (Jan. 4) that the average basket size for its customers in the U.S. rose by 30 percent in a comparison of the 2020 and 2019 holiday shopping seasons, according to an announcement. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock...

Faster Payments
Riding Real-Time Rails Into 2021
January 04, 2021

Real-time payments (RTP) are ready for their closeup, and decisions are happening behind the scenes now as banks and financial institutions (FIs) consider their RTP strategy for 2021. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to...

B2B Payments
Bangladesh Garment Suppliers Hit Hard By Late Payments
January 04, 2021

“It was a year of trepidation and angst,” said Rubana Huq, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), according to recent Dhaka Tribune reports. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all...