JPMorgan Rises 1.64% as $2.52 Billion Surge Propels It to 27th in Market Activity Amid 1MDB Settlement

On August 22, 2025, JPMorgan (JPM) rose 1.64% with a trading volume of $2.52 billion, a 30.69% increase from the prior day, ranking 27th in market activity. The bank announced a $330 million settlement with the Malaysian government to resolve disputes tied to its involvement in the 1MDB scandal, a multi-billion-dollar embezzlement scheme at a state fund. The agreement, reached without JPMorgan admitting liability, includes a contribution to Malaysia’s 1MDB Assets Recovery Trust Account and mutual withdrawal of pending litigation. Concurrently, Swiss authorities fined the bank 3 million francs for anti-money laundering failures linked to 1MDB-related transactions, citing insufficient safeguards during 2014–2015.

The settlement follows a 2021 lawsuit by Malaysia against JPMorgan’s Swiss unit, which alleged the bank processed $800 million in questionable transfers to a fraudulent joint venture. Swiss courts had previously convicted two executives in the scheme of fraud and money laundering. JPMorgan emphasized enhanced compliance measures post-resolution, stating it has strengthened controls to regain regulatory trust. The 1MDB scandal, which spanned 2009–2014, implicated global institutions and officials, with Malaysia recovering $7.03 billion in linked funds through settlements with other entities. JPMorgan’s resolution marks a strategic focus on addressing past operational gaps while avoiding reputational damage from prolonged litigation.

A strategy of purchasing the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding for one day yielded a total profit of $2,340 from 2022 to the present, with a cumulative return of 23.4%. This indicates moderate performance, aligning with a conservative approach to volume-based trading strategies.