KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — JustMarkets, a multi-asset CFD broker, today released market insights analyzing how volatility in the US100 and S&P 500 index CFDs may create broader CFD trading opportunities. Recognizing that large movements in US equities frequently impact the forex market, gold prices, and overall market sentiment, the company aims to help CFD traders consider more than one instrument when assessing market conditions.

The US100 index may be influenced by attitudes to technology and growth stocks, while the S&P 500 provides a bigger picture of the US equities market. In case of substantial fluctuations of these index CFDs, traders tend to reevaluate their risks.

The role of VIX

Also referred to as the market’s “fear gauge,” the VIX index measures the level of anticipated volatility in the S&P 500.

An increase in VIX values is commonly an indicator of growing market uncertainty, which may fuel the demand for safe-haven assets like the US dollar, Japanese yen, or gold. On the other hand, a decrease in VIX values would normally point to growing investor confidence.

Why forex traders watch US indices

It is common for index volatility to extend to the foreign exchange market; however, the effect will usually depend on the cause of the volatility. In the case of stocks falling due to investor risk aversion, the US dollar could rally as capital moves to liquidity, which may in turn affect the EUR/USD and GBP/USD CFDs.

Alternatively, if the stocks fall because of expectations of slower economic growth in the US or an accommodative policy from the Federal Reserve, the dollar could weaken instead. In high volatility conditions, the Japanese yen may also warrant attention, as investors tend to move towards safe-haven assets when selling riskier ones.

Gold and changing risk sentiment

Gold may attract demand during times of increased uncertainty, but its correlation with equity markets is not always consistent.

Aside from fluctuations in the stock markets, gold is affected by the US dollar, interest rates, inflation expectations, and central bank policies. That is why many investors may use both technical and macroeconomic analysis together rather than depending solely on correlation.

Managing volatility

Higher volatility may create opportunities, but it also adds execution risk. In times leading up to important releases like inflation figures, Fed meetings, quarterly earnings, or other geopolitical events, markets may see increased spreads, volatility, and false breakouts.

Risk management practices commonly discussed in this context include position sizing, stop-loss placement, and confirming setups before entering a trade, as well as avoiding concentration in highly correlated positions.

Looking beyond a single market

Many CFD traders may look beyond a single asset class. Observing US100 and S&P 500 CFDs in connection with the VIX index, the dollar and yen, as well as gold, may give a wider picture of the market and help identify opportunities overlooked on a single chart.

Platforms such as JustMarkets, which offer an opportunity to trade CFDs across several asset classes, may make this easier. It is possible to observe and trade CFDs on stock indices, currency pairs, commodities, stocks, and cryptos in one platform.

About JustMarkets

JustMarkets is a global financial CFD trading platform designed to eliminate technical “noise,” enabling investors to focus on what matters most: making accurate decisions. With modern infrastructure and professional services, JustMarkets serves as a reliable partner for CFD traders seeking to master the financial arena.

Risk Warning: Trading Forex and CFDs involves significant risk and can result in the loss of your invested capital. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

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SOURCE JustMarkets

HONG KONG, Aug. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and Saint Francis University (SFU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership focused on advancing research and development in AI-enabled biomaterials and digital health technologies. The collaboration aims to accelerate innovation, facilitate technology transfer, and nurture the next generation of talent in applied sciences.

The MoU was signed by Ir Dr Ted Suen, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, and Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, President of Saint Francis University.

Ir Dr Ted Suen said, “We are delighted to partner with Saint Francis University to advance innovation in AI-enabled biomaterials and digital health. This collaboration exemplifies both institutions’ shared commitment to applied research that translates into tangible solutions addressing real-world societal challenges. By combining ASTRI’s R&D capabilities with SFU’s academic strengths, we can drive innovation across healthcare, smart city applications, education technology, elderly care, and more, whilst nurturing the diverse talent pipeline essential for Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology hub.”

Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung said, “This partnership between SFU and ASTRI will leverage their respective strengths in applied research, artificial intelligence, and health sciences. As Hong Kong’s largest tertiary institution for registered nurse training, SFU offers not only nursing programmes but also programmes in physiotherapy, pharmaceutical studies, and community health. This collaboration will further drive the integration and application of AI in health sciences and related professional services. SFU is also committed to advancing AI education and research. Through this partnership, we aim to explore AI applications in digital health, elderly care, medical support, and special educational needs, uniting technology with professional expertise to meet the changing demands of society.”

Under the agreement, the two institutions will collaborate across three key pillars: joint research and development, technology transfer and commercialisation, and talent development.

Joint R&D in AI-Enabled Biomaterials & Digital Health
The partnership will focus on co-developing AI-driven biomaterial design platforms that integrate machine learning with material science to accelerate the discovery and optimisation of biocompatible materials for medical applications. Research initiatives will include nano-biomaterial-based diagnostic and therapeutic solutions, such as targeted drug delivery systems, bio-sensing platforms, and biodegradable implants, paired with AI algorithms for real-time patient monitoring and personalised treatment adjustment.

The collaboration will also extend to AI-powered solutions for digital health, elderly care, special educational needs (SEN) support, smart city applications, and educational technology. Both parties will jointly submit research proposals to government funding schemes, industry sponsorship programmes, and regional innovation grants.

Technology Transfer & Commercialisation
ASTRI and SFU will jointly explore commercialisation pathways including technology licensing, industry partnerships, and spin-off opportunities, with particular focus on the Greater Bay Area healthcare market and the emerging Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) health tech sector. ASTRI will provide professional technical support to facilitate SFU’s research advancement and real-world commercialisation, leveraging complementary strengths to advance the commercial translation and practical deployment of research outcomes.

Talent Development & Knowledge Exchange
The partnership will establish student internship and attachment programmes, with ASTRI hosting SFU students for research internships in AI-related R&D teams. The institutions will co-organise AI-themed academic and industry events, including the expansion of ASTRI’s “AI Empowerment” seminar series, to foster knowledge exchange between academia, industry, and the public sector. Visiting scholar arrangements will facilitate the exchange of researchers and faculty members for collaborative research and teaching activities.

This partnership paves the way for collaboration in course development, internships, joint research, and specialised labs. Together, ASTRI and SFU aim to foster innovation, advance IT and digital health education, and cultivate diverse talent with expertise and industry insights to support Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem.

Photos Download: bit.ly/4znxbCy

About ASTRI
Founded in 2000 by the HKSAR Government, Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is the city’s largest government-funded R&D centre. Committed to transforming high-impact research into practical innovations, ASTRI drives market-driven, interdisciplinary advancements across sectors, including Smart City, FinTech, Digital Health and Life Sciences, New Industrialisation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and Advanced Electronics, New Energy and Energy Storage, and Green and ESG Technologies. Following its merger with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, ASTRI has further strengthened its capabilities, with over 1,500 patents and 2,200 successful cases of technology transfer. Recognised with numerous international awards, ASTRI continues to nurture top I&T talent and foster collaborations among the I&T ecosystem, contributing to Hong Kong’s high-value economic development. For more information, please visit: https://www.astri.org 

About Saint Francis University
Saint Francis University (SFU), formerly known as Caritas Institute of Higher Education, has a history of over four decades, with its origin tracing back to Caritas Francis Hsu College established in 1985. SFU was officially granted the university title in 2024 and became an applied science university in the same year.

As a pioneering applied science university, SFU integrates theory and practice, offering over 40 programmes at various levels, including undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, covering academic areas including Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities & Languages, Technology, and Business Management. SFU is committed to nurturing a new generation of talent equipped with solid professional knowledge and the spirit of lifelong learning. For details, please visit: https://www.sfu.edu.hk/

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SOURCE Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI)

Available as a ChatGPT plugin and Claude connector, bringing personalised, institutional-grade investment intelligence into the AI services investors already use

SINGAPORE, Aug. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Longbridge Group, an AI-native financial technology company, today announced that Longbridge is now available as a plugin on ChatGPT and a connector on Claude. The launch brings personalised investing into the AI assistants that hundreds of millions of people use for work, learning and everyday decision-making.

As AI assistants increasingly become a starting point for how people search, learn and make decisions, Longbridge believes investing should become part of those same conversations. Users can securely connect their Longbridge accounts and access personalised investment insights through natural conversation, based on their portfolios, watchlists and investment goals.

There is no need to learn a separate AI application or manually upload portfolio screenshots. Once authorised, Longbridge can combine an investor’s portfolio context with live, institutional-grade market data within ChatGPT or Claude.

The launch reflects Longbridge’s vision of making AI a natural part of every investor’s daily life. Rather than asking investors to change their existing habits, Longbridge is bringing trusted investing experiences into the AI services they already use.

“Hundreds of millions of people already use AI every day to find answers, solve problems and make decisions,” said Nowa Zhu, Group CEO and Co-Founder of Longbridge. “Investing should be no different. By bringing Longbridge to ChatGPT and Claude, we are making investing a natural extension of the AI experiences people already know, rather than asking them to build new habits.”

Personalised Investing in the AI You Already Use

Through Longbridge on ChatGPT and Claude, investors can:

Securely connect their Longbridge accounts for a portfolio-aware investing experience.Review their portfolios and explore portfolio construction, asset allocation and investment ideas through natural conversation, without manually analysing individual holdings.Receive personalised insights based on their portfolios, watchlists and investment goals.Research investment and using institutional-grade market data covering the US, Hong Kong SAR, mainland China and Singapore markets.Understand company earnings, macroeconomic developments and market-moving factors in the context of their own investment strategies.

Unlike general-purpose AI assistants, Longbridge AI combines institutional-grade market data, secure portfolio connectivity and personalised investment memory. This enables insights grounded in each investor’s holdings and objectives. Instead of starting every conversation from scratch, Longbridge AI can understand what investors own, what they are watching and how market developments may affect their portfolios.

Whether researching companies, screening investment opportunities, analysing earnings, reviewing portfolio performance or evaluating potential buy and sell opportunities, investors can access professional-grade market intelligence through natural conversation without leaving ChatGPT or Claude.

Designed for everyone—from first-time investors to experienced investors managing global portfolios—Longbridge AI helps users spend less time searching for information and more time making informed investment decisions.

Building the AI Infrastructure for the Future of Investing

The launch represents more than an additional distribution channel. Just as app stores became a gateway to digital services during the smartphone era, AI assistants are emerging as a new way for people to discover and access specialised capabilities.

For investors, this means AI assistants can move beyond discussing the market in general and begin providing insights informed by the investor’s own circumstances. With secure authorisation, ChatGPT and Claude can use Longbridge to combine portfolio holdings, watchlists and investment goals with live, institutional-grade market data—without requiring users to download a new application or upload portfolio screenshots.

For financial services, making these capabilities available through AI requires trusted connections to regulated financial infrastructure. This includes authorised access, secure connectivity and clear safeguards that keep investment decisions under the investor’s control.

For Longbridge, the launch is a natural extension of an architecture designed to make its investment capabilities securely available across different AI services and interfaces. Because these capabilities are not tied to a single interface, they can meet investors wherever they choose to use AI—through Longbridge’s own services, ChatGPT and Claude today, and other emerging AI interfaces in the future.

“This is more than opening another channel for Longbridge,” Zhu added. “Our investment capabilities have been built so they can be securely accessed through the AI services investors choose to use. Whether through the Longbridge plugin on ChatGPT or the connector on Claude, authorised access and secure connectivity remain central to the experience, and investment decisions remain with the investor. As AI becomes an increasingly important interface for decision-making, we want Longbridge to provide the trusted financial infrastructure behind those experiences.”

By combining institutional-grade market data, secure portfolio connectivity, personalised investment intelligence and responsible execution capabilities, Longbridge is laying the foundation for the next generation of AI-powered investing—from AI assistants that help investors make better-informed decisions today to investment agents capable of supporting increasingly sophisticated investment workflows in the future.

About Longbridge Group

Longbridge Group is an AI-native financial technology company building trusted infrastructure that connects investors, financial institutions, AI and global financial markets.

Its integrated ecosystem comprises Longbridge Securities, an AI-powered online brokerage; LongPort, an institutional-grade trading technology and infrastructure provider offering multi-market and multi-asset solutions; and Longbridge AI, a next-generation AI-native financial data and investing platform. Together, they are redefining how individuals and institutions access, understand and interact with financial markets.

Founded in 2019, Longbridge operates licensed financial businesses across multiple jurisdictions. It holds 22 financial regulatory licences or qualifications across the US, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore and other markets, and has secured more than US$150 million in strategic investment from leading global financial institutions and investment firms.

Longbridge’s vision is to make investing a seamless part of how people use AI every day by building trusted infrastructure for the future of intelligent investing.

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SOURCE Longbridge Group