Sep 18, 2026 · 5 min listen · Last updated September 18, 2026
From storyflo. This is your daily audio brief. Hey, Mason here. September 18th. The opening read — five stories that explain today's tape. Let's get into it. First, from Bloomberg · Markets. Philippines Says China Coast Guard Rammed Its Fisheries Boat.
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Daily Finance & Markets Brief · September 18th
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SEC: Go ahead and trade stocks like they’re crypto
America’s financial markets are one step closer to resembling America’s diners: The Securities and Exchange Commission will temporarily allow blockchain-based platforms to offer tokenized versions of US stocks, the agency announced yesterday—possibly opening the door to 24/7 trading of digitized mainstream assets. Until now, platforms like Coinbase and Robinhood offered tokenized securities that are purportedly linked to US stocks (but grant no ownership rights to the stock itself) only outside the US, because of US regulations.
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Sponsored by the Investment Company Institute, the asset management industry serving individual investors. Just two days after the Clarity Act effectively died, the SEC stepped into the breach. The agency unveiled its much-anticipated “innovation exemption” this morning, clearing the way for digital versions of stocks to trade legally in the U.S. The reg…
GCash Owner Gets Approval for Up to $1.5 Billion Philippines IPO
The company behind GCash, the biggest mobile wallet app in the Philippines, received approval from the country’s stock exchange operator of an initial public offering of as much as 92.3 billion pesos ($1.47 billion), clearing the final regulatory hurdle for a record debut.
‘Outlook Cloudy’: Fed Rate Hike Pits Bulls Against Bears Over Year-End Rally Odds
The Fed raised interest rates this week, and that’s stirring up some serious debate among investors. September’s historically tough for stocks, and with rising oil prices and anxiety over AI, it’s feeling especially rough this year. Some analysts, like Dean Curnutt from Macro Risk Advisors, are worried this could lead to a 10% pullback in the S&P 500, recalling the lack of a Santa Claus rally back in 2018 after a similar rate hike.
But not everyone’s pessimistic. Citadel Securities points out that historically, the S&P 500 tends to dip a bit in late September before bouncing back in October, especially in midterm election years. Goldman Sachs also sees a silver lining, noting that while initial declines are common in rate-hiking cycles, the following year often brings solid gains.
Interestingly, after the Fed's decision, the S&P 500 actually rose 1.14%, suggesting some confidence among investors that the Fed's actions will eventually tame inflation and support a rally. It’s a mixed bag out there, but the market’s response might be hinting at a more optimistic end to the year.
For listeners who want low-fee crypto exposure, our markets partner Kraken supports Bitcoin — link in show notes.
SEC Greenlights Tokenized Stocks After Clarity Act Fails in Senate
The SEC just approved tokenized stocks, allowing trading venues to offer digital versions of company shares for the next five years. This comes right after the Senate blocked the Clarity Act, which aimed to provide a regulatory framework for crypto. The SEC’s move is meant to encourage innovation while ensuring investor protections and market integrity. Companies like Robinhood and Coinbase are likely to benefit, with their stocks seeing a bump after the announcement.
Interestingly, the SEC's rules require that tokenized stocks maintain the same rights as traditional shares, including dividends and voting rights. Companies will also get a heads-up before their stocks are tokenized, allowing them to object if they choose. Major exchanges like the NYSE and Nasdaq are gearing up for this shift, looking to embrace 24/7 trading.
For listeners who want low-fee crypto exposure, our markets partner Kraken supports BTC — link in show notes.
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