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Cboe Global Markets Announces Winners of the 2024 Options Institute Research Grant Program, Sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices and SpiderRock Advisors

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CHICAGO, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), the world’s leading derivatives and securities exchange network, today announced the recipients of The Options Institute Research Grant Program for 2024, sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) and SpiderRock Advisors. The recipients for the grant programs are as follows:

The Options Institute S&P Dow Jones Indices Fixed Income Index Ecosystem Research Grant:Siamak JavadiDr. Ali NejadmalayeriWilliam CampbellThe Options Institute SpiderRock Advisors Derivatives Solutions for Private Wealth and Institutional Investors Research GrantAnup BasuAdam Clements

The Options Institute, Cboe’s education arm, has been providing best-in-class investor education on the responsible use of options and trading strategies for more than 35 years. The Options Institute Research Grant Program supports academic research that catalyzes the understanding and advancement of derivatives usage and financial exchange marketplace structures. Recent grant topics have included the exploration of dispersion as an asset class, the impact of inflation on options markets, and retail options trading behaviors.

“Academic research plays an important role in educating market participants and shaping the conversation around our products and markets, especially as they evolve and new innovations come to the forefront,” said Alexandra Szakats, Head of The Options Institute at Cboe. “Cboe congratulates this year’s esteemed grant recipients, and we are excited to support academic research that explores how derivatives can offer opportunity to private wealth and institutional investors. We are also very interested to delve into the cross-section of indexing and the fixed income ecosystem.”

The Options Institute S&P Dow Jones Indices Fixed Income Research Grant

As recipients of The Options Institute S&P Dow Jones Indices Fixed Income Index Ecosystem Research grant, Mr. Javadi, Dr. Nejadmalayeri and Mr. Campbell will conduct research focused on price efficiency and liquidity in the fixed income index ecosystem.

Mr. Javadi, the lead researcher for the grant, is an Associate Professor of Finance at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and has held academic positions at Ohio University and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. His primary research interests include corporate finance, corporate governance, climate finance and empirical asset pricing. Dr. Nejadmalayeri is the John A. Guthrie Endowed Chair in Banking and Financial Services and a Professor of Finance at the University of Wyoming College of Business. Mr. Campbell, who has over three decades of experience as a risk manager, trader and consultant to the financial industry, is a consultant and university lecturer in economics and finance at the University of IllinoisUrbanaChampaign.

“S&P Dow Jones Indices is proud of our ongoing collaboration with Cboe and to sponsor this timely and essential research on the fixed income marketplace. S&P DJI believes in the trusted and reliable performance metrics of fixed income indices and hopes that this grant only further advances the crucial role that indices serve in fixed income markets,” said Frans Scheepers, Head of Fixed Income, Currency and Commodity Products at S&P Dow Jones Indices.

The Options Institute SpiderRock Advisors Derivatives Solutions Research Grant

The Options Institute SpiderRock Advisors Derivatives Solutions for Private Wealth and Institutional Investors Research Grant, awarded to Mr. Basu and Mr. Clements, will be focused on derivatives solutions within private wealth management and institutional investing. SpiderRock Advisors, as of May 2024, is a wholly owned subsidiary of BlackRock.

Mr. Basu, a Professor of Finance at Queensland University of Technology, has many years of experience in the banking and financial services industry and will serve as the lead researcher. His previous research focused on pension economics, investment management, and investor behavior. In 2023, Mr. Basu received the Government of India’s SPARC grant for examining strategic asset allocation choices for India’s National Pension System (NPS). Mr. Clements is a Professor in Finance at Queensland University of Technology, and his main research interests include financial econometrics, nonparametric estimation, time series modelling of asset return volatility and correlation and forecast evaluation.

“SpiderRock Advisors (SRA) has always incorporated research and academic principles in our investment management philosophy and commercial offering. SRA is committed to augmenting its investment management capabilities with industry leaders to continually deliver the highest value to our clients. We look forward to working alongside Mr. Basu and Cboe to further educate investors within the growing derivatives marketplace,” said Eric Metz, President & Chief Investment Officer at SpiderRock Advisors.

Both research teams may claim Cboe historical data sets valued up to $35,000, subject to applicable terms and regulatory approvals.

About Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE), the world’s leading derivatives and securities exchange network, delivers cutting-edge trading, clearing and investment solutions to people around the world. Cboe provides trading solutions and products in multiple asset classes, including equities, derivatives, FX, and digital assets, across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Above all, we are committed to building a trusted, inclusive global marketplace that enables people to pursue a sustainable financial future. To learn more about the Exchange for the World Stage, visit www.cboe.com.

Media Contacts

Cboe Analyst Contact

Angela Tu 

Tim Cave

Kenneth Hill, CFA 

+1-646-856-8734 

+44 (0) 7593-506-719

+1-312-786-7559 

atu@cboe.com

tcave@cboe.com

khill@cboe.com

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Cboe® and Cboe Global Markets® are registered trademarks of Cboe Exchange, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. S&P®, iBoxx®, iTraxx® and CDX® are trademarks of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates.  Dow Jones® is a trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC.  

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates do not recommend or make any representation as to possible benefits from any securities, futures or investments, or third-party products or services. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. is not affiliated with S&P DJI and SpiderRock Advisors. Investors should undertake their own due diligence regarding their securities, futures and investment practices. This press release speaks only as of this date. Cboe disclaims any duty to update the information herein.

Nothing in this announcement should be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell any securities or futures in any jurisdiction where the offer or solicitation would be unlawful under the laws of such jurisdiction.  Nothing contained in this communication constitutes tax, legal or investment advice. Investors must consult their tax adviser or legal counsel for advice and information concerning their particular situation.

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, make no warranty, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, any warranties as of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, completeness or timeliness, the results to be obtained by recipients of the products and services described herein, or as to the ability of the S&P DJI indexes to track the performance of the general market or any segment thereof, and shall not in any way be liable for any inaccuracies or errors. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates have not calculated, composed or determined the constituents or weightings of the securities that comprise the S&P DJI indexes and shall not in any way be liable for any inaccuracies or errors.

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SOURCE Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

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Youdao Dictionary Pen Unveils at CES 2025, Showcasing Cutting-Edge AI Innovations and Applications in Education

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LAS VEGAS, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Youdao, a leading intelligent learning company in China, is showcasing its AI-equipped smart device, the Youdao Dictionary Pen X7 series, at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2025).This event showcases the strength of ‘Chinese AI’ in the field of educational technology to a global audience.

The Youdao booth attracted significant attention at the exhibition. The showcased Youdao Dictionary Pen X7 series features proprietary applications, including Hi Echo and Mr. P AI Tutor, which are based on the ‘Zi Yue’ educational large language model. It also provides offline translation capabilities through an edge-side large language model, drawing many users to experience the products.

During the exhibition, Youdao was invited to participate in the Microsoft Greater China offline event at CES 2025. Renlei Liu, Senior Vice President of Youdao, attended a high-level roundtable discussion. Alongside representatives from tech companies such as Microsoft, TCL, Lenovo, and TimeKettle, they explored AI innovation and the globalization of consumer electronics in China.

Renlei Liu stated that large language models possess exceptional natural language processing and interaction capabilities. Leveraging its extensive experience in the language and learning sectors, Youdao launched China’s first educational large language model, ‘Zi Yue’, in 2023. Based on this model, Youdao upgraded all of its software and hardware products and introduced a series of proprietary educational applications, including the digital human language coach, AI Document Q&A, and transcription services for international students.

Renlei Liu said, ‘We believe that before the emergence of truly super applications based on large language models, various companies are exploring vertical fields and specific scenarios, much like the early days of China’s mobile internet, when killer applications had not yet emerged and internet companies were innovating within vertical scenarios. There are many similarities between the era of large models and the mobile internet era, and we are actively experimenting as well’.

Youdao has also applied the reasoning and knowledge Q&A capabilities of the large language model to academic learning scenarios, launching the AI comprehensive inquiry learning assistant, Mr. P AI Tutor. It integrates the large language model and RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) technology, enhancing the AI’s understanding of subject knowledge and the quality of its outputs. It offers guided explanations, multi-turn interactive heuristic teaching, and comprehensive Q&A support across all grades and subjects, addressing many issues in home tutoring scenarios.

Renlei Liu stated that Youdao is actively promoting the application of the “Zi Yue” educational large language model in various scenarios and has conducted a comprehensive AI upgrade of its business products to better meet users’ learning needs. As a result, Youdao’s AI subscription service has achieved rapid growth for seven consecutive quarters.

With the continuous development of large language model applications, improving the efficiency of AI research and development and application has become a key factor in industry competition. In response, Youdao has proposed a solution to harness the capabilities of smaller model applications. Renlei Liu pointed out that general large language models often aim for “large and comprehensive,” but the expansion of model size also leads to increased training and operational costs. For specific scenarios and tasks that require quick response times, using smaller models on the edge can facilitate more effective targeted training, enhance precision, and provide a better user experience.

The AI dictionary pen, equipped with a dedicated educational model can provide high-quality content and functional services, ensuring that it remains focused on learning purposes and is not used for entertainment or other applications. At the same time, by utilizing a smaller model on the edge for localized operation, it supports offline use, thereby avoiding disruptions from the network environment.

Renlei Liu stated that smaller models focus on high-quality vertical applications, which can continuously enhance user experience and build professional technical advantages through flexible and efficient training and iteration. Exploring the application of edge models in more specific scenarios is an important direction for Youdao’s development in AI technology.

In fact, Youdao has already made significant progress in the exploration of edge models. Based on its self-developed “Zi Yue” educational large language model, Youdao has developed the industry’s first edge large language model and applied it to the newly launched X7 series of dictionary pens. This dictionary pen features offline large language model translation capabilities, achieving translation results comparable to those of online NMT (Neural Machine Translation), greatly enhancing the accuracy and fluency of language learning.

As a star product in Youdao’s smart devices lineup, the Youdao Dictionary Pen X7 series has truly become an AI large language model dictionary pen. It is equipped with two proprietary applications of the first educational large language model, “Zi Yue” in China: the AI All-Subject Tutor, Mr. P AI Tutor, and the digital human language coach, Hi Echo, while also providing AI intelligent learning features such as AI essay refinement.

The Youdao Dictionary Pen X7 received an enthusiastic response from users upon its launch. It quickly became the best-selling product in the thousand-yuan price range, surpassing 30,000 units sold. During the 2024 Nov 11th Shopping Festival in China, the Youdao Dictionary Pen X7 Pro topped several industry rankings on major e-commerce platforms, marking the fifth consecutive year that Youdao dictionary pens have held the top position for sales in the same category across both JD.com and Tmall.

This time, Youdao showcased the Dictionary Pen X7 series at CES 2025, receiving widespread recognition on an international stage.

Focusing on AI + education, Youdao will continue to increase its investment in the research and development of edge model applications, promoting the implementation of large language models in more educational scenarios to provide learners with a better learning experience through efficient educational products.

About Youdao, Inc. 

Youdao, Inc. (NYSE: DAO) is a leading intelligent learning company in China focused on using technology to provide educational content, applications, and solutions for learners of all ages. Founded in 2006 as part of NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES; HKEX: 9999), Youdao offers a wide range of online courses, interactive learning apps, and smart learning devices.

For more information, please visit: http://ir.youdao.com & https://smart.youdao.com/en/.

CONTACT: youdaopr@rd.netease.com  

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SOURCE Youdao

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HTX 2025 Outlook: Five Sectors to Look Forward to, and How Trump’s Policy Will Affect Crypto Industry

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SINGAPORE, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The year 2024 marks a significant chapter in the history of the crypto industry, where we witnessed continuous breakthroughs in blockchain technology, surges in Bitcoin price, and a gradually more open regulatory environment, with cryptocurrencies gaining increasing recognition from the mainstream. As 2025 unfolds, HTX, the world’s leading digital asset exchange, has released its latest report, HTX 2024 Global Web3 Blockchain Ecosystem Review and 2025 Outlook, which provides forward-looking insights into the development prospects of the crypto industry.

Key Sectors for 2025

In the report, HTX highlighted five key sectors that showed encouraging progress last year, and will continue to closely monitor these areas in 2025.

Bitcoin Ecosystem

In 2024, Bitcoin‘s market dominance kept increasing, solidifying its position as the core asset, with spot ETFs acting as liquidity channels, and U.S. listed companies such as MicroStrategy (MSTR) serving as the vehicles to absorb unlimited dollar liquidity.

As a result, it is increasingly essential to further develop Bitcoin‘s ecosystem and enhance capital utilization efficiency. With strong support from macro markets and infrastructure support, a further surge in Bitcoin demand over the next two years is well-anticipated.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure remained a cornerstone in 2024’s crypto investments and funding. The synergy between capital and technology has driven the rapid development of Layer 1, Layer 2,  and middleware projects, among others.

Layer 1 solutions, in particular, now represent the focal point of technical development and exploration within the crypto space, and it is expected to remain a priority for development resources and capital investment in the future.

Meme Coins

The Meme coin sector emerged as a hotspot in 2024, fostering community consensus while integrating with fields like DeFi and GameFi to create new use cases. As the crypto market environment grows increasingly favorable, more retail investors are expected to enter the market, positioning Meme projects as vital channels for capital inflows.

AI

In 2024, the intersection of Crypto and AI sector has been driving the exploration of several segmented fields, the hottest one of which is AI agents. In the future, AI agents will gradually become personal butlers and assistants for users, serving them with comprehensive capabilities. Over time, they may develop unique cultures and religions.

This deep integration of AI and encryption technology is a groundbreaking evolution that is unattainable within Web2 and cannot be achieved by Web3 relying solely on encryption technology.

TON Ecosystem

Attributable to Telegram’s hundreds of millions of users and robust technical support, the TON ecosystem achieved significant milestones in various fields, pioneering the monetization of Web2 social applications through crypto. Moving into 2025, it needs to explore and find new business models to improve user retention and identify its next growth curve.

Donald Trump Effect: Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Worth Anticipating

The report also discusses the potential impact of crypto-friendly policies that could arise after Donald Trump takes office. Two important bills, the FIT21 Act and the Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Act, are likely to pass more quickly thanks to him.

The FIT21 Act aims to create a clear legal framework for token issuance and trading by classifying tokens as digital assets or digital commodities, transferring the regulatory responsibilities of many blockchain projects from the SEC to the CFTC, and introducing a safe harbor mechanism. This would help standardize and promote the healthy growth of the entire industry.

The Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Act, aligning with Trump’s campaign promises, if passed, would mark Bitcoin‘s transition from a niche asset to a nationally recognized reserve asset, greatly enhancing its legitimacy and recognition. It may also prompt other countries to adopt similar measures to further advance Bitcoin‘s global recognition and application.

The Act was submitted to Congress for deliberation on August 4, 2024, and referred to the Senate Banking Committee for review. Trump is well-positioned to push this bill through. Meanwhile, several U.S. states have already proposed their own Bitcoin Strategic Reserve bills. By 2025, Bitcoin as a strategic reserve may become a reality.

Additionally, under Trump’s presidency, the SAB121 Act is likely to be repealed, allowing traditional financial institutions to hold cryptocurrencies on their balance sheets, further accelerating the institutionalization of crypto assets and contributing to the overall maturity of the crypto market. The SEC’s application criteria of the Howey Test may also be relaxed, increasing the likelihood of more spot crypto ETFs being approved and more public listings of crypto companies.

Meanwhile, the report also provides a comprehensive summary of 2024, looking back on the key events that had a major impact on the crypto industry while summing up what HTX had achieved over the last year.

To learn more, please visit: https://square.htx.com/htx-2024-global-web3-blockchain-ecosystem-review-and-2025-outlook/ 

About HTX

Founded in 2013, HTX has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.

As a world-leading gateway to Web3, we harbor global capabilities that enable us to provide users with safe and reliable services.

Our growth strategy – “Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance”, underpins our commitment to providing quality services and values to virtual asset enthusiasts worldwide.

Contact Details

Ruder Finn Asia
htx@ruderfinn.com 

Company Website
https://www.htx.com

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SOURCE HTX

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ZWSOFT 2024 Year in Review: Empowering Sustainable Innovation

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GUANGZHOU, China, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — 2024 marked a transformative year for ZWSOFT, driven by its new mission: Empowering Sustainable Innovation. The ZWSOFT team took significant steps to drive innovation, foster collaboration, and deliver lasting value for customers, partners, and the global community.

From refining its all-in-one CAx solutions to fostering a thriving global ecosystem and nurturing talents, 2024 was a year of significant achievements and meaningful impact.

Refining All-in-One CAx Solutions for Global Professionals

In 2024, ZWSOFT unveiled the latest generation of its flagship products: ZWCAD 2025, ZW3D 2025, ZWCAD MFG 2025, PHOENICS 2025, and CADbro 2025. These releases introduced 45+ new features and 3,800+ enhancements, including powerful 3D capabilities, motion simulation, and AI-driven tools—all designed to deliver exceptional performance and empower professionals across industries.

These enhancements empower over 1.4 million users across 90+ countries, contributing to a 97.4% customer satisfaction rate in the company’s annual customer satisfaction survey. Throughout 2024, ZWCAD consistently earned recognition as a Leader and ranked among the top five in G2’s General-Purpose CAD category, solidifying its reputation as a reliable choice for designers and engineers worldwide.

Building Win-Win Partnerships for Greater Impact

ZWSOFT continued to build a vibrant global ecosystem based on collaboration, innovation, and shared success. The company’s flagship conference, ZWorld 2024, and prominent industry events such as Hannover Messe provided valuable platforms to connect with professionals worldwide and exchange insights on sustainable solutions for the AEC and manufacturing industries.

ZWSOFT further strengthened its global presence with five ZCON events held in Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Japan, and Vietnam, fostering stronger partnerships and unlocking new growth opportunities in key markets.

Collaboration remains at the core of ZWSOFT’s ecosystem. In 2024, the company partnered with over 260 global developers to deliver 300+ third-party applications and 430+ industry-specific solutions, tailored to address the unique needs of professionals across various industries.

Empowering Talents for a Sustainable Future

ZWSOFT’s commitment to nurturing future professionals and fostering innovation remained strong in 2024. The company collaborated with eight universities, providing software, equipment, and scholarships to support students and educators. The 2024 ZWSOFT CAD Competition attracted over 7,000 participants from 700+ universities, inspiring the next generation of designers and engineers.

ZWSOFT also continued to invest in its global workforce by launching the Overseas New Employee Training Program to help new team members integrate and thrive. Additionally, the company celebrated its people-first culture through ZWSOFT Family Day, bringing employees and their families together to foster a sense of community and recognize their contributions.

As 2025 begins, ZWSOFT remains committed to its mission of empowering sustainable innovation for businesses and individuals worldwide. With the strong foundation built in 2024, the company is poised to drive further progress, strengthen partnerships, and create a more sustainable future alongside its customers, partners, and employees.

Visit ZWSOFT’s 2024 Year in Review to learn more about the milestones that shaped an exceptional year.

About ZWSOFT

ZWSOFT aims to provide reliable all-in-one CAx (CAD/CAE/CAM) solutions for designers and engineers worldwide and enables them to streamline complex design workflows at a fair and reasonable price. Since ZWSOFT’s inception in 1998, over 1.4 million customers from more than 90 countries have chosen our products and solutions to solve their design challenges. Among the list are the world’s most innovative companies across various industries, including Saint-Gobain, LG, and Ericsson.

Website: https://www.zwsoft.com/ 

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SOURCE ZWSOFT CO., LTD. (Guangzhou)

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