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Apple opened up its near-field communication (NFC) technology to third parties in the US, the UK, and five other markets. This enables third-party digital wallets like Google Wallet to offer in-app contactless transactions for in-store payments. Apple will also let users switch their default contactless app. Access became available with the release of Apple鈥檚 iOS 18.1 update in October.

II: How do you think the UK landscape is changing for payment providers? SD: It鈥檚 a very competitive space. Several players compete directly with us, but if I look at our core business growth, it's still largely unchecked. We鈥檙e still growing 100% year over year in the UK, which shows the demand from small merchants.

UK-based point-of-sale payments provider SumUp, for example, is plowing ahead with expansion despite a gloomy market outlook. It raised 鈧�590 million ($595.0 million) this year and recently diversified into consumer payments with a digital wallet for customers across Europe.

Ultra can help the British challenger bank emulate the success of industry-leading ultra-premium products like the American Express Gold and Platinum cards and Barclaycard Platinum. It should also encourage interest from mass affluent customers who then may take up other Revolut products.

This year, TikTok will pull in 22 times the ad revenues of fellow fast-grower Mercado Libre ($1.02 billion), but Latin America鈥檚 largest ecommerce retailer will rapidly ascend the advertising ranks in the coming years. Click here to view our full forecast for digital ad revenue growth by company worldwide. Amazon will get a growth boost from its OTT video service.

The news: Klarna is now available as a checkout option on Apple Pay in the US and UK, per a press release. Apple Pay users can pay with Klarna鈥檚 interest-free Pay in 4 offering for purchases between $35 and $2,000. They can also use Klarna鈥檚 longer-term, interest-bearing loans for bigger-ticket items. The tie-up will expand to Canada in the coming months.

Shein is losing share to Temu and TikTok Shop and facing a number of government investigations into its labor and selling practices. While Shein is angling to go public as soon as April, that could now be pushed into the second half of the year鈥攚hich would force the company to refile with the UK authorities, lengthening an already protracted process. Our take: Shein is in trouble.

Inditex bounces back after a rainy summer dented sales growth: The Zara parent reported a strong start to Q3 as shoppers responded positively to its product assortment.