BELLEVUE, Wash.

Two centuries of Rome’s wars seen from the wrong end of the record, from the First Punic War to a legionary’s forty-year march to the edge of Han China. All three standalone novels are now available in English and Italian, two of them in Romanian.

Historical novelist Alessandro Catorcini has completed The Shield Triptych, three standalone novels bound not by a plot or a recurring cast but by a single object: a Roman shield, and what it means to carry one, lose one, or watch it outlast the man beneath it.

The novels are about the people history hurries past. Not the consuls whose names were cut into columns, but the engineer who drew the ships; not the generals who won the battles, but the farmer’s son who lived through the worst defeat Rome ever suffered and spent fourteen years deciding what that made him.

“I write about the people the record leaves out,” the author said. “The soldiers who survived the battles that made other men famous, and the makers whose inventions outlived their names. The stone remembers the consul. It almost never remembers who built the thing that won.”

The three books span roughly two hundred years and can be read in any order:

• The Hammer and the Shield (264 BC, the First Punic War): Follows Manius Fabricius, a senator’s son who reads hulls the way other men read glory. When his father and brother drown in the strait at Scylla, the family calls it valor and Manius knows it was error. He answers with an invention: an iron-beaked boarding bridge that nails enemy ships to Roman decks and turns the sea into a battlefield Rome cannot lose. The bridge wins Rome the water. The column in the Forum names the consul. And the device that conquered the sea carries a flaw only its maker can see.
  Buy / Review: Amazon (EN) · Google Play (EN) · Amazon (IT) · Google Play (IT) · Goodreads
• The Shield Left Behind (216 BC, the Second Punic War): Opens on the day the largest army Rome had ever raised was swallowed whole beside the river Aufidus. Titus Labonius lived, and could never afterward say for certain whether he had lain still beneath the dead a heartbeat longer than a brave man would have. Marked with the disgraced legiones Cannenses and shipped to rot in Sicilian exile, he keeps the one thing he did not throw away, and soldiers fourteen years the long way home toward Zama and Hannibal’s final defeat.
  Buy / Review: Amazon (EN) · Google Play (EN) · Amazon (IT) · Google Play (IT) · Lulu (RO) · Google Play (RO) · Goodreads
• The Farthest Shield (53 BC, Carrhae): Sends Lucius Ateporix Vettius east and never brings him back. Sold across the steppe after Rome’s worst defeat of the age, he walks for forty years past the Oxus and the Talas, into the service of warlords and the gaze of a Han general, toward a town at the edge of the known world. The novel draws on the Lost Legion hypothesis, the proposal that survivors of Carrhae ended their long march as the Han frontier county of Liqian.
  Buy / Review: Amazon (EN) · Amazon (IT) · Lulu (RO) · Google Play (RO) · Goodreads

The author was born in Genoa, Italy, and writes in both Italian and English, translating and editing his own Italian editions rather than licensing them out. The Farthest Shield and The Shield Left Behind are also available in Romanian.

“The Mediterranean I grew up on was not a backdrop, it was a workplace,” the author said. “Ships got built badly and people drowned. Men walked east because walking east was the only thing left. I wanted to write that world at eye level, from inside a life that history never bothered to write down.”

The three novels are available now in paperback and ebook. Full details, sample chapters, and buy links for every edition are at www.catorcini.com.

Book Details

About the Author

Alessandro Catorcini writes literary historical fiction set in the less-told corners of the ancient world. Born in Genoa, Italy, he studied Latin and Greek in school and fell in love with the classical world then; the novels are what that love turned into. He lives in Bellevue, Washington, where he works as a technology executive, and he writes in both Italian and English. 

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Alessandro Catorcini
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Website: www.catorcini.com

ALBANY, New York

Richard Bennett, a financial markets research and investment strategy professional, continues to focus on quantitative investment research, macroeconomic analysis, asset allocation, portfolio construction, and risk management.

As financial markets become increasingly influenced by global economic conditions, capital flows, technology, and rapidly expanding datasets, Bennett believes that investment research requires a more structured and multidimensional analytical process. His approach emphasizes the combination of market data, macroeconomic indicators, quantitative models, valuation analysis, and risk controls to better understand changing market environments.

Rather than relying primarily on short-term market forecasts, Richard Bennett focuses on evaluating the broader forces that may influence asset prices over time.

These can include economic growth, inflation trends, interest-rate conditions, market liquidity, corporate fundamentals, investor positioning, and changes in capital allocation across different sectors and asset classes.

This research framework reflects a broader investment philosophy centered on disciplined analysis and risk awareness.

A Data-Driven Approach to Market Research

One of Richard Bennett’s primary areas of interest is the use of quantitative analysis to support financial market research.

Modern markets generate large amounts of economic, corporate, trading, and behavioral data. Bennett views this information as most useful when it is organized within a clear analytical framework rather than considered in isolation.

Quantitative indicators can help researchers identify patterns, compare historical market environments, evaluate relative valuations, and monitor changes in momentum, volatility, liquidity, and investor behavior.

At the same time, Bennett believes quantitative models should not be treated as substitutes for broader market understanding. Instead, they can be used alongside fundamental and macroeconomic research to provide additional context and improve the consistency of investment analysis.

By combining different sources of information, investors may be better positioned to distinguish between short-term market noise and more meaningful changes in economic or financial conditions.

Understanding Market Cycles

Market-cycle analysis is another important component of Richard Bennett’s research interests.

Financial markets do not operate under a single set of conditions. Different periods can be characterized by expansion, slowing growth, rising inflation, declining inflation, changes in monetary policy, shifts in liquidity, or increasing market uncertainty.

These conditions can influence sectors, asset classes, and investment styles in different ways.

For this reason, Bennett emphasizes the importance of evaluating portfolios within the context of the broader economic and market environment.

A strategy that performs effectively under one set of conditions may behave differently when interest rates, volatility, economic growth, or investor risk appetite changes. Understanding these relationships can therefore play an important role in portfolio construction and strategic asset allocation.

Market-cycle research can also help investors develop more flexible investment frameworks rather than relying on fixed assumptions about future market behavior.

Risk Management as Part of the Investment Process

Richard Bennett also places significant emphasis on risk management.

In his view, investment analysis should not focus exclusively on identifying potential returns. It should also consider the risks associated with market volatility, concentration, correlation, liquidity, and changing economic conditions.

A disciplined risk-management framework can include diversification, position sizing, portfolio monitoring, scenario analysis, and the evaluation of how different assets

may respond to unexpected market developments.

This approach is particularly relevant during periods of elevated uncertainty, when relationships between asset classes can change quickly and traditional assumptions may become less reliable.

Bennett believes that effective portfolio management requires an ongoing balance between opportunity and risk. As market conditions evolve, investment strategies may need to be reviewed and adjusted rather than remaining static.

Quantitative Research and Portfolio Construction

Quantitative research can also play an important role in portfolio construction.

Richard Bennett’s areas of interest include the analysis of multiple factors that may influence investment performance, such as valuation, momentum, quality, volatility, earnings trends, and broader macroeconomic conditions.

By examining several variables together, researchers can develop a more comprehensive view of potential opportunities and risks.

This type of analysis can also support portfolio optimization by helping investors evaluate how individual positions interact within a broader portfolio.

Instead of looking at each investment independently, portfolio analysis considers factors such as diversification, correlation, volatility, and overall exposure to different market drivers.

For Bennett, this broader perspective is an important part of disciplined investment strategy.

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Investment Research

Another area Richard Bennett continues to follow is the development of artificial intelligence and financial technology.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being explored across financial markets for applications involving data analysis, pattern recognition, research automation, risk monitoring, and information processing.

Bennett is particularly interested in how AI-based technologies may complement traditional investment research.

Financial analysts today have access to significantly more information than in previous decades. Economic data, company disclosures, market prices, news, alternative datasets, and quantitative indicators can create an enormous volume of information that must be evaluated.

AI and advanced analytical systems may help researchers organize, compare, and interpret this information more efficiently.

However, Bennett believes technology is most useful when incorporated into a disciplined analytical process.

Models and algorithms may identify correlations or patterns, but investment decisions still require an understanding of economic context, risk, market structure, and the limitations of available data.

The combination of human judgment, quantitative research, and advanced technology may therefore become an increasingly important part of modern investment analysis.

A Long-Term Perspective

Richard Bennett’s investment philosophy also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a long-term perspective.

Short-term market movements can often be influenced by sentiment, positioning, unexpected news, and temporary changes in liquidity. While these factors may create opportunities, they can also introduce significant noise into the investment process.

Bennett believes that long-term investment analysis should remain connected to broader fundamentals, including economic conditions, corporate performance, valuation, and sustainable market trends.

This does not mean ignoring short-term developments. Instead, it means evaluating them within a larger framework and determining whether they represent temporary market reactions or more meaningful structural changes.

A disciplined investment process can help investors remain focused on long-term objectives while continuing to adapt to evolving market conditions.

Richard Bennett and SUMMIT QUANT CAPITAL INC

Richard Bennett is associated with SUMMIT QUANT CAPITAL INC, where his professional focus includes financial markets research, quantitative investment analysis, risk management, and investment strategy.

The company maintains an interest in the continued evolution of quantitative finance, data analytics, financial technology, and artificial intelligence within investment research.

As markets become increasingly data-intensive and interconnected, SUMMIT QUANT CAPITAL INC continues to examine how traditional financial analysis and emerging technologies can be combined to support more structured and informed approaches to market research.

For Richard Bennett, the evolution of investment management is likely to involve a growing integration of financial theory, economic analysis, quantitative methods, and intelligent data technologies.

The objective is not simply to generate more information, but to develop research frameworks that can help investors interpret that information more effectively and make decisions within a disciplined risk-management process.

About SUMMIT QUANT CAPITAL INC

SUMMIT QUANT CAPITAL INC focuses on financial markets research, quantitative investment analysis, and data-driven investment methodologies.

Its areas of interest include global capital markets, macroeconomic trends, quantitative research, portfolio strategy, risk management, financial technology, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in investment analysis.

Media Contact Details
Richard Bennett
Financial Markets Research & Investment Strategy
Email: Send Email
Website: summit-quant.com

London, UK

UK Financial Ltd, creator of the Maya Preferred Project and the UK Financial Moonshot Token (UKFLMS), today announced another important milestone in the company’s eight-year blockchain journey.

UK Financial Ltd recently designated $0.15 in gold backing per UKFLMS token while the token was trading at under one penny.

UNDER $0.01 MARKET PRICE • $0.15 GOLD BACKING PER TOKEN • ON-CHAIN TRANSPARENCY • REAL-WORLD-ASSET STRATEGY • BUILDING SINCE 2018

MAYA PREFERRED PRA RECOGNIZED AS A REAL WORLD ASSET

Maya Preferred PRA (MPRA) is now categorized on Etherscan under “Real World Assets.”

Etherscan, one of Ethereum’s primary blockchain explorers, displays the Real World Assets classification directly on the Maya Preferred PRA token page.

For UK Financial Ltd, the significance goes beyond a label.

The verified Ethereum smart contract for Maya Preferred PRA identifies MPRA as:

“Maya Preferred PRA – Preferred Class A Series Real World Asset Token (Gold & Silver Backed)”

The verified contract source further states that Maya Preferred PRA represents a Real World Asset backed by gold and silver and issued by UK Financial Ltd.

EIGHT YEARS OF BUILDING — NOW VISIBLE ON ETHEREUM

Maya Preferred was originally established as part of UK Financial Ltd’s effort to connect traditional real-world assets with blockchain technology.

What began years ago as an ambitious effort to bring gold, silver and other physical-asset structures into cryptocurrency has continued developing into a broader Real World Asset ecosystem.

Today, that history is increasingly visible directly on-chain.

MPRA Contract:
 0xEc1227BfB3e76d7a2A9bca24d9E98f68dE8bf808

Maximum Total Supply: 200,000,000 MPRA

CHAINLINK VERIFICATION — NINE TOKENS VERIFIED

UK Financial Ltd has made Chainlink verification a centerpiece of its latest blockchain milestone.

The company recently signed an agreement with Chainlink and subsequently verified supply information for all nine of its exchange-traded tokens, including Maya Preferred.

After nearly eight years, UK Financial Ltd says this verification demonstrates that it kept its commitment regarding the limited available token float.

Chainlink Verification Address:
 https://www.mayapreferred.io/CHAINLINK/MPRA/SUPPLY

UK FINANCIAL MOONSHOT TOKEN — 1 BILLION MAXIMUM SUPPLY

The UK Financial Moonshot Token carries a maximum supply of 1 billion tokens.

The company has already purchased more than 350 million of those tokens through buyback-style transactions directly on the Moonshot App.

UK Financial Ltd confirmed this 350 Million UKFLMS buyback has been executed, this was part of round one of two rounds and the Company has plans on purchasing as much of the remaining 1 billion tokens in round 2 as early as today.

UK Financial Ltd plans to continue purchasing from the remaining available float in the future, with the possibility of burning tokens acquired through those purchases.

FROM A COMPANY CLAIM TO VERIFIABLE BLOCKCHAIN INFORMATION

Most importantly, investors, researchers, exchanges and blockchain analysts do not have to rely solely on statements from UK Financial Ltd to examine how Maya Preferred PRA describes itself.

They can examine the verified smart-contract source directly on Ethereum.

MPRA’s verified contract source contains the Real World Asset designation and describes the token as backed by gold and silver. Etherscan’s token interface now additionally categorizes Maya Preferred PRA under Real World Assets.

That gives the public another independently visible layer through which to examine the Maya Preferred ecosystem.

JAMES DAHLKE: “THE BLOCKCHAIN IS BEGINNING TO TELL OUR STORY FOR US”

James Dahlke, President and CEO of UK Financial Ltd, stated:

“For eight years, we have said that Maya Preferred was built around real assets. Today, people don’t simply have to take our word for it. Go to Ethereum. Go to Etherscan. Look at Maya Preferred PRA. It is categorized under Real World Assets, and then go one step further and read our verified smart contract. It says exactly what Maya Preferred PRA was designed to represent — a Real World Asset token backed by gold and silver.”

Dahlke continued:

“That is where I believe cryptocurrency has to go. Don’t just tell people what something is. Put the structure on-chain. Give people the contract address. Give them the wallets. Give them the information and let them verify it themselves. The blockchain is beginning to tell our story for us.”

THE NEXT CHAPTER OF MAYA PREFERRED

The recognition comes as UK Financial Ltd continues expanding the infrastructure surrounding the Maya Preferred ecosystem, including its work involving Real World Assets, regulated-token architecture, blockchain transparency and ERC-3643 infrastructure.

Maya Preferred PRA remains the flagship Preferred Class token of the Maya Preferred Project and the foundation upon which a broader digital-asset ecosystem has been developed.

For UK Financial Ltd, the Etherscan RWA categorization represents something particularly important:

Visibility.

After years of development, the terminology UK Financial Ltd has used to describe Maya Preferred PRA can now be seen directly within one of Ethereum’s most widely used blockchain explorers.

VERIFY IT — DON’T JUST BELIEVE IT

UK Financial Ltd encourages the cryptocurrency community, exchanges, analysts and Maya Preferred holders to independently examine the Ethereum blockchain.

Token: Maya Preferred PRA
Symbol: MPRA
Blockchain: Ethereum
Classification displayed by Etherscan: Real World Assets
Maximum Total Supply: 200,000,000 MPRA
Contract: 0xEc1227BfB3e76d7a2A9bca24d9E98f68dE8bf808

The company believes the future of Real World Asset tokenization will ultimately be determined not by marketing claims, but by transparency, verifiability and infrastructure that can be independently examined on-chain.

UK FINANCIAL LTD

THE MAYA PREFERRED PROJECT

Eight Years of Building. Real Assets. Real Blockchain Infrastructure. Verifiable On-Chain.

FROM MEME TOKEN TO REAL-WORLD-ASSET INFRASTRUCTURE — UK FINANCIAL LTD IS WRITING ITS OWN HISTORY ON ETHEREUM.

#UKFinancialLtd #MayaPreferred #MPRA #UKFLMS #Chainlink #Ethereum #Etherscan #RWA #GoldBacked #RealWorldAssets

Media Contact Details
LJames Dahlke
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