A recent report from the World Bank highlights a pressing global issue: 8.5% of the world’s population—approximately 700 million people—live in extreme poverty, defined as surviving on less than $1.90 a day.

Despite progress in reducing the proportion of those living in poverty since the 1990s, the actual number of people facing these harsh conditions has remained stable due to population growth, particularly in high-poverty regions such as Asia.

Asia plays a significant role in the global poverty landscape, with countries like India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia housing large populations struggling to access essential services, education, and healthcare.

Statista reports that the World Bank utilizes varying poverty thresholds, with $3.65 per person per day applicable to lower-middle-income countries and $6.85 for upper-middle-income populations.

It is estimated that in 2024, approximately 1.7 billion people (21.4%) and 3.5 billion people (43.6%) will be living under these respective poverty lines.

Source: Statista

Contributing factors to global poverty

Several interrelated factors contribute to the persistence of poverty in Asia.

Rapid population growth, income inequality, insufficient job opportunities, inadequate social safety nets, and environmental degradation are critical drivers of this ongoing crisis.

Rural communities are particularly vulnerable due to limited access to essential services and economic opportunities.

The consequences of poverty are severe, particularly for children who often lack access to education, making them more susceptible to hunger and preventable diseases.

Women and girls typically face the greatest challenges, encountering significant barriers to education, healthcare, and economic advancement.

The dire living conditions in urban slums, especially in countries like India and Bangladesh, vividly illustrate the plight of those trapped in extreme poverty.

To effectively combat global poverty in Asia, targeted policies and collaborative efforts among governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector are essential.

Key initiatives include investing in education and vocational training, promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development, improving healthcare systems, and fostering equitable economic growth, with a particular focus on women, children, and ethnic minorities.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and eradicating poverty by 2030 requires nations to tackle the unique challenges faced by regions like Asia.

By implementing targeted policies and promoting inclusive growth, countries can make substantial progress in reducing global poverty and fostering a more equitable society.

Collaboration and concerted efforts are crucial for driving sustainable development and ensuring a better future for generations to come.

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This week in LATAM’s cryptocurrency landscape, Colombia and Brazil are emerging as leaders with promising growth opportunities.

According to the recent Geography of Cryptocurrency Report 2024 by Chainalysis, the region has seen a remarkable 42.5% increase in cryptocurrency transactions year-over-year, solidifying its status as the second-fastest-growing market worldwide.

The report highlights that approximately 700 million people in Latin America engaged in crypto transactions, totaling a staggering 415 billion Pesos from July 2023 to June 2024.

In comparison, Sub-Saharan Africa leads globally with a 45% rise in crypto activity.

Colombia ranks fifth in cryptocurrency adoption, with an impressive influx of $25 billion in crypto transactions during the specified period.

The country is also the sixth-fastest-growing in this sector, showcasing a notable 25% increase in the value of its crypto transactions, according to Chainalysis.

Meli Dólar: Mercado Libre’s game-changing initiative

Mercado Libre’s introduction of Meli Dólar, a stablecoin linked to the US dollar, marks a significant shift in Latin America’s cryptocurrency environment for 2024.

This initiative enhances Mercado Libre’s loyalty program across Brazil and Mexico, offering users the stability of the US dollar amidst fluctuating markets.

In an interview with Forbes, Ignacio Estivariz, VP of Fintech Services at Mercado Libre, reported millions of users have already received Meli Dólar through loyalty rewards or direct purchases.

While the focus remains on Brazil for now, Estivariz mentioned that there are no immediate plans to extend Meli Dólar to other countries.

Brazil’s regulatory efforts in cryptocurrency

Brazil’s government is working closely with the central bank to address regulatory challenges related to cryptocurrency and meal vouchers.

With Gabriel Galipolo as the new central bank president, the government aims to unify its regulatory approach, which has been fragmented in the past.

Meanwhile, the stablecoin sector in Brazil is experiencing rapid growth and has begun to surpass Bitcoin in transaction volumes on local exchanges.

Stablecoins are appealing to users seeking less volatility, positioning Brazil as a hub for B2B cross-border payments.

Recent data from Chainalysis reveals Latin America as the second-fastest-growing region for stablecoin usage, with a growth rate exceeding 42%.

US elections impact on Latin American crypto markets

As the US presidential race heats up, financial markets are reacting. Polls indicate a tightening race between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, influencing assets such as Bitcoin and the Mexican peso.

Trump has taken the lead in online prediction markets such as PredictIt and Polymarket. Polymarket last favored him 61% to 39% over Harris, Reuters reported.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal on Friday, Trump’s gains on Polymarket could be attributed to a group of four accounts that have collectively wagered around $30 million in cryptocurrency on his potential victory.

Investors are cautious, noting that current market movements are also influenced by rising economic optimism following strong US job reports and recent Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.

Latin America’s cryptocurrency landscape is rapidly evolving, with countries like Colombia and Brazil leading the charge in digital asset adoption and blockchain technology integration.

This shift not only reflects changing consumer preferences but also signifies a broader transformation of financial frameworks.

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The Indian real estate market is booming.

With rising economic growth and rapid urbanization, the market is estimated to reach a size of $1.3 trillion by 2034 and $5.17 trillion by 2047, according to a report by realtors body CREDAI.

With a focus on sustainability fuelling a reimagination in the way buildings are constructed, the adoption of green leases is also seeing a rise.

Harish Fabiani, group chairman of Americorp Ventures and co-owner of India Land, a real estate development firm, breaks down the concept for Invezz.

What is green leasing?

Green leasing is a new approach to real estate contracts that incorporates sustainability objectives in the settlement between the landlord and the tenant.

It focuses on energy efficiency, water conservation, and lowering waste, encouraging each party to contribute towards achieving environmental goals.

Unlike conventional leases, green leases create a shared duty among stakeholders to reduce environmental impacts.

Why is it crucial for the Indian real estate sector?

This approach is crucial in the Indian real estate sector, as it singlehandedly contributes nearly 40% to the overall emissions.

In recent years, the significance of sustainability within the Indian real estate sector has grown notably.

This increase is prompted by the government’s push for green buildings and smart city initiatives, as India remains the third-biggest CO2 emitter globally, producing over 30% of the emissions.

What are the key elements of green leasing?

Today, the key elements of green leasing consist of energy audits and water efficiency measures, in contrast to traditional lease agreements that often ignore these environmental elements.

Multiple reports have highlighted LEED, GRIHA, and WELL building certification as the key rating systems adopted to build sustainable commercial real estate.

It also outlines India’s sustainability goals, which include attaining net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2070 and drawing 50% of energy from renewables by 2030.

How does green leasing help stakeholders financially?

Sustainability in the real estate sector is crucial not just for the environment but also for the finances of the stakeholders.

This is because energy-efficient buildings can lower operational costs by up to 20%. Green buildings can cut down electricity consumption by 20-30% and water usage by 30-50%, aligning the interests of homeowners and renters.

Green leasing also supports Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) targets by promoting electricity efficiency and environmental management.

Meanwhile, traditional leasing often focuses on short-term earnings rather than long-term sustainability.

What is the future outlook on green leasing?

Reports show that green leases are bound to reach up by 20% in the next 1-2 years, marking a notable shift towards sustainability.

This move will enable landlords and tenants to benefit from increased rental earnings, low utility costs, tax benefits, and regulatory advantages.

For the landlords, sustainability features including electricity efficiency systems and green certifications can strike property values and attract renters with low energy values.

Additionally, landlords can also take advantage of tax benefits and rebates.

Green-licensed buildings command a 12-14% rental premium rate over non-green buildings, reflecting the marketplace’s reward for sustainable development investments. On the other hand, tenants may benefit from lower energy values and better operating surroundings because of better lighting and air quality.

These factors contribute to higher employee productivity and help the employer’s sustainability desires in commercial setups.

Green leasing generally consists of clauses around energy utilization, waste management, and reducing emissions.

In India, government regulations, along with the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), promote green building practices and incentives along with sustainable and green building programs.

These practices offer monetary support to landlords and tenants for implementing sustainability measures.

These systems are aligned with global environmental targets and promote the proper adoption of green leasing on a large scale.

Barriers to green leasing and how to overcome them

Green leasing can transform the real estate sector by aligning with the sustainability objectives of landowners and tenants.

However, certain barriers continue to hamper its extensive adoption.

One of the biggest barriers to green leasing is the initial value of enforcing greater sustainable measures. Installing a power-saving system, water treatment technology, and green infrastructure in a building requires a substantial amount of cash, which many landowners and renters do not wish to spend.

Additionally, there’s a lack of knowledge about the long-term monetary and environmental advantages, which hinders its massive adoption.

Many developers are still unaware that they can use a green lease template to standardize and simplify the system and become compliant with practices and requirements.

Joining a green lease network can also be beneficial because it provides access to assets, tools, training, recognition, and advocacy.

Proper education and collaboration could effectively help overcome those boundaries.

Similarly, innovative financing models such as Energy Performance Contracts (EPC) or green loans can reduce the initial charges by permitting tenants and landlords to share the financial burden.

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Investing in a stock just before the release of its quarterly financial results can be a risky bet.

However, if you identify companies with a history of beating expectations, the dynamics change.

For those with a sufficient risk appetite, such investments may yield healthy returns within days.

Here are two companies scheduled to report their earnings next week, both known for consistently surpassing expectations.

ServiceNow Inc (NYSE: NOW)

ServiceNow has a track record of exceeding quarterly earnings expectations approximately 90% of the time, with its share price typically rising by around 3.5% following financial releases, according to data from Bespoke Investment Group.

The cloud computing company is set to announce its third-quarter results on October 23rd.

Analysts project earnings of $3.46 per share on $2.74 billion in revenue, representing year-over-year increases of 18.5% and 19.8%, respectively.

Michael Turrin, an analyst at Wells Fargo, holds a positive outlook on the stock ahead of NOW’s earnings report.

His overweight rating, coupled with a price target of $1,025, suggests about a 12% upside from the current price.

“We continue to focus on the highest quality businesses with strong platform positioning, balanced growth profiles, and management teams with proven track records. NOW meets all three criteria,” he stated in a research note last week.

Turrin also noted that ServiceNow stock is well-positioned to benefit from AI tailwinds following the recent launch of Xanadu.

Monolithic Power Systems Inc (NASDAQ: MPWR)

Monolithic Power Systems is another stock worth considering ahead of its upcoming earnings release, as it has a history of beating expectations approximately 88% of the time.

The semiconductor stock typically sees an average rise of more than 2.5% on earnings day, according to Bespoke data.

The consensus estimates MPWR will earn $3.04 per share in its third financial quarter, marking a 22.1% increase from $2.49 per share in the same quarter last year.

Oppenheimer analyst Rick Schafer recently added Monolithic Power to his list of top semiconductor picks, citing its potential to benefit significantly from ongoing demand for AI power solutions.

He noted, “There is a largely binary set-up for the group, with leading AI-exposed companies likely to deliver upside results and outlooks, while most others will be roughly in line, reflecting anemic non-AI demand trends.”

Additionally, shares of Monolithic Power Systems currently offer a dividend yield of 0.55%, providing another compelling reason to consider adding it to your portfolio.

Notably, MPWR has turned a $1,000 investment into nearly $24,000 over the past ten years.

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