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TKO/WWE Lifts In And Out Of The Ring; Up and Down Cycle; TKO's Nick Khan Offers Positive Vibes To US Admin Re Ali Act Amendment; TKO's LinkedIn Enjoys Strong News Media Buzz

April 23 (Wall St, New York) : April 24 (Sydney, Australia)

UFC - MMA Building Stars Again

New York Kind Of Feeling
US Stocks - Black Friday - Black-ish Thursday into Friday
Post WrestleMania; Road To WWE Backlash 2026
WWE Management And Wrestlers Bullish; Wrestling and Boxing
Sports Biz Event Tickets And Merch Drive
Danhausen Lifts WWE Merch Hausen
Traditional Big Tech Sector Takes Big Hit April 23

Media Man Group Weekly Series

U.S, Australia, Europe, World

April 23, 2026

Netflix Inc $92.82 -0.42 -0.45%
Alphabet Inc Class A $338.89 -0.43 -0.13%
NVIDIA Corp $199.64 -2.86 -1.41%
Amazon Dotcom Inc $255.08 -0.28 -0.11%
Apple Inc $273.43 +0.26 +0.095%
Meta Platforms $659.15 -15.57 -2.31%
Tesla $373.72 -13.79 -3.56%
Microsoft Corp $415.75 -17.17 -3.97%

News

ASX 200 futures down 4 points: 0.1% to 8828

AUD -0.4% to US71.30¢

Bitcoin $78,168.22 +0.52%

Dogecoin $0.09776 +2.24%

Ripple aka XRP $1.4374 +1.48%

Wall St:
Dow -0.4%
S&P -0.4%
Nasdaq -0.9%

VIX +0.39 to 19.31
Gold -1% to $US4694.14 an ounce
Brent oil +4.5% to $US106.44 a barrel
Iron ore -0.6% to $US106.65 a tonne
10-year yield: US 4.32% Australia 5.00%

News

April 24 (Sydney, Australia)

Numbers Double Check

Australian Dollar: $0.7124 USD (down $0.0036 USD)
Iron Ore: $106.65 USD (down $0.45 USD)
Oil Price (West Texas): $97.39 USD (up 4.52 USD)
Gold Price : $4,693.02 USD (down $46.76 USD)
Copper Price: $6.0225 USD (down $0.1145 USD)
Dow Jones: 49,310.32 (down 179.71 points)

News

Bulls control Crude Oil

The conflict in the Middle East has altered the dynamics of the oil market.

The longer the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, the higher the risks of a Brent rally.

Don’t expect things to return to normal. Before the conflict in the Middle East, the oil market was in the hands of the bears. Demand was falling due to the shift towards alternative energy sources, whilst supply was rising. OPEC+ was gradually increasing production to avoid losing market share and investors were talking about a record surplus. Today, the IEA estimates the loss of supply at 12 million barrels per day, which is more than during the Arab oil embargo of 1973–1974 and the Iranian Revolution of 1978–1979 combined. However, it would be rather naive to think that the end of the war will cause prices to plummet.

Even after the Strait of Hormuz reopens, it will take months to restore production in the damaged energy infrastructure of the Persian Gulf. At the same time, countries are seriously concerned about energy security and will work hard to boost oil demand. Interestingly, the current decline in demand is preventing Brent from soaring too high.

Vitol, a crude oil trader, estimates a demand loss of around 4 million barrels per day due to excessively high prices. If we add Saudi Arabia’s workarounds, the increase in US crude exports, and active purchases by China and India of Russian barrels stranded at sea, then the stabilisation of Brent near $100 starts to look logical. The math suggests that the actual deficit is closer to 5% than 10%.

The problem is that the crude on Russian tankers at sea is running out, the US’s ability to ramp up supply is limited by existing infrastructure, and a resumption of fire in the Middle East could lead to the Houthis blocking Saudi Arabia’s alternative routes. With this background, Citi’s forecast of Brent rising to $110 a barrel should the Strait of Hormuz be blocked for another month will seem far too modest.

The longer the US and Iran delay reaching a peace agreement, the more devastating the oil crisis risks being for the global economy. However, optimism has not yet faded. Investors are operating on the assumption that ‘it could be worse’. A fragile peace in the form of an indefinite ceasefire is better than war. The transit fee paid to Iran is seen as compensation for the bombing of its territory. (FxPro)

News Flashback

March 2026

plus

Past, Present and Future

News Flashback

TKO Group Holdings Inc
$195.41 +6.21 +3.28%

News Flashback

TKO's WWE Gets John Cena For WrestleMania Vegas 2026

John Cena to host WrestleMania 42

John Cena is stepping back onto The Grandest Stage of Them All as the host of WrestleMania 42. The Greatest of All Time broke the news on social media that he is headed to Las Vegas. The 17-time World Champion retired from in-ring competition last December after his loss to Gunther at Saturday Night's Main Event but is now making his first return to WWE. Don't miss all the action when WrestleMania 42 STREAMS LIVE on Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, at 6 ET/3 PT on the ESPN App from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

News Flashback

WWE Raw Hits Madison Square Garden with Title Defenses and Big Returns

Penta El Zero Miedo defends the Intercontinental Championship against hometown hero Kofi Kingston, fresh off Kingston's social media challenge. The Usos put the World Tag Team Titles on the line in a Street Fight against Austin Theory and Logan Paul, while Nia Jax and Lash Legend face Bayley and Lyra Valkyria for the Women's Tag Championships. CM Punk confronts Roman Reigns amid their heated feud, Brock Lesnar returns for revenge on Oba Femi, and Finn Bálor addresses a Judgment Day betrayal—all building hype for WrestleMania 42. The show streams live on Netflix at 8 ET from the iconic arena.

News

News Flashback

November 2025

Polymarket Partnership Could Be a Game Changer for TKO Group Holdings (TKO)

Nov 17

(In Case You Missed It)

Polymarket/UFC/TKO

Polymarket recently announced a multi-year partnership making it the Official and Exclusive Prediction Market Partner for UFC and Zuffa Boxing, introducing real-time fan prediction metrics directly into UFC broadcasts and social media experiences.

This collaboration marks the first time major sports organizations have integrated prediction market technology into the live fan experience, creating new ways for audiences to interact and for TKO's sports brands to differentiate themselves.

We'll explore how this innovative fan engagement initiative could strengthen TKO Group Holdings' investment narrative by deepening audience connection and content value.

What Is TKO Group Holdings' Investment Narrative?

To see the value in TKO Group Holdings as a shareholder, you really have to believe in its ability to keep building out top sports entertainment brands like UFC and WWE into global, multi-platform franchises. A lot of the story is about continuing to grow earnings and revenue faster than the overall market, attract loyal audiences, and evolve with changes in media rights, streaming, and digital fan engagement. Recent announcements, such as the multi-year partnership with Polymarket, reflect TKO’s push to unlock new monetization avenues and deepen fan involvement.

However, it’s unlikely this news will materially change the core short-term catalysts, which are still dominated by performance in key international deals, broadcast partnerships, and the rollout of new events. The biggest risks remain legal challenges, compression of media rights value, and questions about board experience. The new fan engagement efforts add differentiation, but don’t directly reduce these core risks for now. On the flip side, investors should pay close attention to ongoing legal proceedings against TKO and UFC.

TKO Group Holdings' shares have been on the rise but are still potentially undervalued by 15%.

Ten retail investors in the Simply Wall St Community produced fair value estimates for TKO ranging from US$63.92 to a very large US$37,618.47. While community views can be widely split, ongoing legal challenges remain a topic several market participants keep circling back to as a concern for TKO’s future performance. Explore these diverse perspectives and see how the risks and opportunities stack up.

Bonus:

TKO Group $200.29 -4.20 -2.05%

News Flashback

Magnificent 7, Markets, Stocks

New York/Wall Street
September 15, 2025

TKO Bullish Mad Monday Off WrestleMania 43 Saudi News: Media Man Edition!

Netflix Inc $1,202.26 +13.82 +1.16%
Alphabet Inc Class A $251.61 +10.81 +4.49%
NVIDIA Corp $177.75 -0.071 -0.040%
Amazon Dotcom Inc $231.43 +3.28 +1.44%
Apple Inc $236.70 +2.63 +1.12%
Meta Platforms $764.70 +9.11 +1.21%
Tesla $410.26 +14.32 +3.62%
Microsoft Corp $515.36 +5.46 1.07%

News

Lead Up

New York/Wall Street

September 12, 2025

TKO Bullish Friday Leading Into Weekend; TKO Bullish Heading To Mad Monday Off WrestleMania 43 Saudi News: Media Man Edition!

Netflix Inc $1,188.44 -15.06 -1.25%
Alphabet Inc Class A $240.80 +0.43 +0.18%
NVIDIA Corp $177.82 +0.65 +0.37%
Amazon Dotcom Inc $228.15 -1.80 -0.78%
Apple Inc $234.07 +4.04 +1.76%
Meta Platforms $755.59 +4.69 +0.62%
Tesla $395.94 +27.13 +7.36%

Bonus:

TKO Group $202.44 +0.060 0.030%

News Flashback

Historical Data and Intel

TKO Group: News

September 13, 2025

Jones Financial Companies Lllp Acquires 77,883 Shares of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. $TKO

Jones Financial Companies Lllp significantly increased its stake in TKO Group Holdings by 149,775%, now owning 77,935 shares valued at approximately $11.9 million.

Several institutional investors, including Vanguard and Invesco, have also raised their stakes in TKO Group, indicating a strong interest in the company, which is now 89.79% owned by institutional investors.

TKO Group recently declared an increased quarterly dividend of $0.76, up from $0.38, reflecting a strong return for investors despite a high dividend payout ratio of 125.62%.

Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its position in shares of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. by 149,775.0% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 77,935 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 77,883 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp's holdings in TKO Group were worth $11,909,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Hemington Wealth Management grew its stake in TKO Group by 425.0% during the 1st quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 168 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in TKO Group during the first quarter worth $26,000. Sentry Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in TKO Group during the first quarter worth $25,000. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of TKO Group in the first quarter worth $27,000. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of TKO Group by 129.8% in the first quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the company's stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 122 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.79% of the company's stock.

News Flashback

Insider Buying and Selling at TKO Group

In related news, Director Nick Khan sold 45,168 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.82, for a total value of $7,715,597.76. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 156,494 shares in the company, valued at $26,732,305.08. This represents a 22.40% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 73,725 shares of company stock valued at $12,767,807. Corporate insiders own 61.30% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

TKO has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Baird R W raised TKO Group to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, September 5th. Zacks Research upgraded TKO Group from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 2nd. Bank of America upped their target price on TKO Group from $200.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. Robert W. Baird began coverage on TKO Group in a report on Friday, September 5th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $225.00 target price for the company. Finally, Roth Capital raised their target price on TKO Group from $208.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $192.21.

TKO Group Stock Up 0.0%

Shares of NYSE:TKO traded up $0.09 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $202.33. 897,072 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 683,611. TKO Group Holdings, Inc. has a 52-week low of $114.01 and a 52-week high of $204.10. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $178.94 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $165.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a current ratio of 1.30. The company has a market capitalization of $40.12 billion, a PE ratio of 83.61 and a beta of 0.79.

TKO Group (NYSE:TKO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The company reported $1.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.23 by ($0.06). TKO Group had a net margin of 5.40% and a return on equity of 2.82%. The business had revenue of $1.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.23 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.72 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 53.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that TKO Group Holdings, Inc. will post 3.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

TKO Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be paid a $0.76 dividend. This is an increase from TKO Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.5%. TKO Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 62.81%.

TKO Group Profile

TKO Group Holdings, Inc operates as a sports and entertainment company. The company produces and licenses live events, television programs, and long-form and short-form content, reality series, and other filmed entertainment on digital and linear channels and via pay-per-view. It is involved in the merchandising of video games, apparel, equipment, trading cards, memorabilia, digital goods, and toys, as well as sale of travel packages and tickets.

News Flashback

Mag 7 Markets Lead Up

Historical Data and Intel

Trades

New York/Wall Street

September 9, 2025

TKO Bullish Friday And Weekend Media Man Edition!

Netflix Inc $1,263.25 +18.49 +1.49%
Alphabet Inc Class A $239.63 +5.59 +2.39%
NVIDIA Corp $170.76 +2.45 +1.46%
Amazon Dotcom Inc $238.24 +2.40 +1.02%
Apple Inc $234.35 -3.53 -1.48%
Meta $765.70 +13.40 +1.78%
Tesla $346.97 +0.57 +0.16%
Microsoft Corp $498.41 +0.21 0.042%

Bonus:

TKO Group $196.43 -4.07 -2.03%

News Flashback

TKO Group Holdings, Inc. is an American sports and sports entertainment company. Established on September 12, 2023, the public company was formed by a merger between Endeavor subsidiary Zuffa—the parent company of mixed martial arts promotion Ultimate Fighting Championship —and the professional wrestling promotion World Wrestling Entertainment. TKO is led by CEO Ari Emanuel and president Mark Shapiro, both of Endeavor; Dana White and Nick Khan retained their roles as CEOs of UFC and WWE respectively upon the merger, while WWE co-founder Vince McMahon served as executive chairman until resigning from the company in January 2024 amid a sex trafficking scandal. The merger marked the first time that WWE has not been solely and primarily majority-controlled by the McMahon family, which founded the company and owned it for over 70 years. As of 2024, the UFC and WWE were the two most valuable combat sports organizations in the world according to Forbes. UFC was listed as the most valued mixed martial arts company with a revenue of $1.406 billion and WWE being the most valued professional wrestling promotion with a revenue of $1.398 billion in 2023. (Wikipedia)

TKO owns iconic properties including UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization; WWE, the global leader in sports entertainment; and PBR, the world’s premier bull riding organization. Together, these properties reach 210 countries and territories and organize more than 500 live events year-round, attracting more than three million fans.

TKO also services and partners with major sports rights holders through IMG, an industry-leading global sports marketing agency; and On Location, a global leader in premium experiential hospitality. (Credit: TKO Group)

News Flashback

September 2, 2025

Market regime change: Microsoft weakening whilst Alphabet strengthens Nvidia and OpenAI have become synonymous with the AI revolution, each offering its own breakthrough solutions. This has made Nvidia the most valuable company on the market. OpenAI remains private for now. However, the old guard of IT giants, such as Microsoft and Alphabet, are not standing on the sidelines of the AI race, although they are conducting it in different ways, which is affecting their shares differently.

Microsoft owns a stake in OpenAI, giving it access to the latest developments, but integrates them into its own programmes, including chatbots. For a long time, betting on Microsoft was an indirect bet on OpenAI with their well-known ChatGPT. This approach paid off earlier this year, as the share price recovered faster than many competitors after the April slump. From its lows at the start of April to its highs at the end of July, the stock soared 55%, already making its way to historic highs since the beginning of June.

For a long time, Alphabet shares lagged their competitor in terms of share price growth over the past five years. They were also weaker in their recovery after the April correction, adding 40% to their lows before peaking at the end of July.

However, since August, the markets have clearly shifted into a different mode, with MSFT falling 7.5% against GOOG's 13% growth. This divergence began even before the release of GPT-5, the latest model, which faced widespread criticism from users, forcing the company to revert to GPT-4, originally announced over two years ago. Negative sentiment was also fuelled by comments from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who acknowledged that the market is currently in a bubble due to inflated expectations.

Google Gemini is steadily developing and gradually gaining consumer support due to its convenient integration into the company's extensive ecosystem. This aspiration resonates with investors. It seems that market participants are seeking to diversify their bets on AI agents, creating demand for Alphabet shares at the expense of Microsoft.

September marks the end of the financial year in the US, and investors often use August and September to switch to new trends or restart existing ones. September is historically the worst month for stock indices, but it can also be a good entry point during a downturn.

It is only important to understand whether we are seeing the start of a trend reversal or a temporary correction. Signals of this should be sought in MSFT's dynamics. Technically, with the stock trading at $506, it remains within a corrective pattern as long as it stays above the $450–$470 range. The upper bound aligns with last year's peak and the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement of the rally from the April lows to the July highs, while the lower boundary corresponds to the 200-day moving average. A break below this level would signal a deeper trend reversal.

GOOG shares are close to local overbought conditions, as the RSI on daily timeframes is approaching 75, near which the shares have experienced local corrections over the past six years. Therefore, there is a high chance that both shares will soon experience increased selling pressure; the only question is how deep this correction will be. (FxPro)

News

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"An investment in ones self is always the best bet" Greg Tingle, Media Man Group

Markets, Cryptos, Miners, Politics and Pop Culture

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WrestleMania Weekend Trends Upward With Media and Social Media Blitz

All That Glitters Can Sometimes Be Gold! Gold Overall Media and Long Term Save Haven; Cash King In Short Term; Money In The Bank Mixed Strategy: Media Man Group

April 17/18, 2026

Markets

S&P/ASX 200 8946.90 +0.41%
S&P 500 7126.06 +1.20%
NIKKEI 58475.90 -1.75%
FTSE 10667.63 +0.73%
AUD/USD 71.73 +0.03%
GOLD 4829.40 -0.79
SILVER 80.755 +2.35
BTC $77,298.39 +3.58%

Cryptos

Bitcoin is gathering momentum around $75K

Market Overview

The cryptocurrency market capitalisation stands at $2.55T, up 0.56% over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency sentiment index has fallen from 23 to 21, while US stock indices are rallying. The top performers among the most liquid coins are APT (+7.2%), AAVE (+6.4%) and IOTA (+5.2%); the underperformers are NEAR (-1%), ZEC (-2.5%) and DASH (-3.2%).

Bitcoin remains near $75K, showing little change over the last two days. However, this is not a lull but a build-up of momentum, as the leading cryptocurrency is at a key resistance level where the 61.8% retracement of the decline and the March highs converge. In the first half of 2025, this area acted as support, halting the correction, while in 2024 the rally ended at this level. Given this background, the direction chosen could determine the fate of the entire crypto market over the coming months. And here, both sides need thorough preparation.

Solana has significantly outperformed the market over the last day, attempting to bounce off an important long-term support line, but failing to do so for over two months now. We will only be able to declare a victory for the bulls once it has consolidated above the $105 level, at which point we can talk about a return above the 200-week moving average, a break above previous local highs and a breach of the round figure.

News Background

The crypto market has entered a ‘no-trade zone’ and is awaiting a signal from the US Federal Reserve, said BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes. According to him, the current range-bound movement is due to the lack of clear macroeconomic signals.

Pension funds, insurance companies and large investors no longer view Bitcoin as a speculative instrument. They regard it as a standard component of an investment portfolio — regardless of capital inflows or outflows from crypto ETFs, Sygnum Bank notes.

Over the next few years, Ethereum could exceed $62,000, suggested BitMine CEO Tom Lee. According to him, the recent downturn in the crypto market can be viewed as a ‘mini-crypto winter’, which is nearing its end.

One of the Bitcoin developer groups has presented a new proposal to improve the first cryptocurrency’s network (BIP-361). The proposal involves freezing 1.7 million BTC held in obsolete P2PK addresses that are potentially vulnerable to quantum attacks.

News

The dollar is retreating

The de-escalation in the Middle East has left the dollar vulnerable

The Bank of England is managing rate expectations, maintaining the outlook for two hikes.

Over the past two weeks, the US dollar has fallen to its lowest level since early March, giving back almost all the gains made since the start of the armed conflict in the Middle East. Talks with Iran are set to resume in the coming days. Donald Trump continues to insist that the war will end soon and that an extension of the ceasefire will not be necessary. Coupled with record highs in US stock indices, this is contributing to the continued rally in EURUSD, as geopolitics has ceased to support the greenback, bringing macroeconomics back into focus.

Investors’ attention has also shifted to corporate earnings reports and Congress’s deliberations on Kevin Warsh’s nomination for the post of Fed Chair. Contrary to Trump’s promises, the replacement of the Fed Chair may coincide with accelerating inflation driven by rising oil prices, requiring a tightening of monetary policy. What will Warsh choose? To justify the president’s trust or to demonstrate the central bank’s independence and adherence to its principles?

Investors are drawing parallels with the 1970s, when an inflationary shock amid the oil crisis saw the Fed chair, loyal to the White House, ease monetary policy. The rate cuts resulted in an even sharper rise in consumer prices and the entrenchment of high inflation expectations. At that time, the US dollar collapsed. It was only the subsequent change in the central bank chief and the aggressive tightening of monetary policy, despite the recession, that put the dollar on a path of steady growth from the summer of 1980.

Currency interventions could put pressure on the greenback. Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuko Katayama has long spoken of selling USDJPY. However, following a conversation with Scott Bessent, the intensity of her pressure on speculators has increased. This suggests that the US is not opposed to intervening in the Forex market. In 1985, coordinated currency interventions led to a multi-year decline in the USD.

Other European currencies are rising in tandem with the euro. The British pound has returned to pre-war levels, partly due to the ‘hawkish’ rhetoric of Bank of England officials. Megan Green believes that the futures market’s expectations of two rate hikes in 2026 are justified. Meanwhile, Andrew Bailey stated that previous market estimates of four hikes were too high. (FxPro)

News

Stocks driven by FEAR on TACO

Confidence in an approaching end to the war in the Middle East, the resilience of the US economy to geopolitical shocks, and expectations of a strong first-quarter earnings season enabled the S&P 500 to surpass the January record highs.

About a year ago, after the White House introduced tariffs, the broad stock index first fell and then surged as Trump Chickens Out. Nowadays, since late March, the fear of missing out on TACO has been driving strong volumes, as investors who missed last year’s rally rush to catch up.

Usually, such sharp surges occur from the very bottom of a bear market. This time, the S&P 500 has lost less than 10% from its January highs. So, it has not even been officially called a correction. Something similar occurred only in March 2000, on the eve of the dot-com bubble bursting. (FxPro)

News

April 15

The euro sees no obstacles to growth

Global risk appetite and monetary policy divergence are driving gains in EURUSD

The Bank of Japan gave no signal of a rate hike in April.

The US dollar continues to retreat amid falling demand for safe-haven assets, as the de-escalation of the Middle East conflict has raised global risk appetite. Investors are confident that US-Iran peace talks will resume shortly. This is aided by the White House’s shift from a military strategy to economic leverage through a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

A prolonged blockade could lead to the IMF’s adverse scenario. Under this scenario, oil prices would remain above $100 per barrel for an extended period, global GDP would slow to 2.6%, and inflation would rise to 5.4%. In the baseline scenario, economic growth in 2026 will be 3.1%, 0.2 percentage points lower than the previous forecast. The International Monetary Fund believes that the eurozone will suffer more than the US. The shared currency bloc is dependent on energy imports.

However, the euro has a positive correlation with risk appetite, and its bulls have capitalised on the strong rally in US indices, pushing them towards record highs. At the same time, the rising correlation between the VIX volatility index and the US dollar is putting pressure on the greenback.

MUFG Research notes that the 40% rally in Brent since the start of the war in the Middle East should have led to a 3% fall in EURUSD. The firm attributes the euro’s return to pre-war levels to rising global risk appetite and divergence in monetary policy. The futures market is pricing in a 35% probability of a Fed rate cut in 2026. Investors are confident of two ECB rate hikes and a 30% chance of a third.

Other global currencies have benefited from the US dollar’s weakness. However, the yen is in no hurry to rise as Kazuo Ueda’s comments unsettled USDJPY bears. The BoJ Governor stated the Bank would continue to monitor developments in the Middle East and gave no signals of a tightening of monetary policy. This is a dovish tone, as he has given such signals before. As a result, the futures market has reduced the probability of monetary tightening in April from 55% to 32%. (FxPro)

News

April 16

Crypto stalls as risk appetite shows cracks

Market Overview

The crypto market capitalisation fell by 0.74% over the past 24 hours to $2.5 trillion. Today’s top performers include Immutable (+3.2%), SushiSwap (+0.8%) and Tron (+0.7%). The underperformers were Dash (-5.4%), Toncoin (-4.5%) and NEAR Protocol (-4.4%). The crypto market took a step back, despite further gains in stock indices. From its local low at the end of March, the crypto market has risen by 8.6%, a more modest increase than the Nasdaq 100’s 13.6%.

Bitcoin briefly rose above $76K on Tuesday, almost matching March’s peak levels, but had retreated to $73.6K at the time of writing. Buyers are looking for a catalyst to push the price to a new level beyond the consolidation range. If Bitcoin is looking for external signals, it may remain indecisive until key US stock indices hit new highs. However, we are more inclined to believe that the first cryptocurrency’s stagnation is a sign of a fragile risk appetite that will soon manifest in the broader market.

News Background

The conflict in Iran has increased the appeal of non-sovereign money and brought Bitcoin closer to serving as a real medium of exchange, according to Bitwise. Since the start of the war in the Middle East, BTC has risen by 12%, whilst the S&P 500 and gold have fallen by 1% and 10% respectively.

Bitcoin could fall to $30K only if the US economy enters a deep recession, according to analyst Benjamin Cowen. A correction of 65–70% from the highs is in line with historical trends and is not exceptional.

According to CoinDesk, derivatives accounted for 76.5% of the total trading volume on centralised crypto exchanges (CEX) in March — the highest figure since September 2023. Derivatives trading volume on CEXs stood at $3.99 trillion — 3.2% lower than in February.

Trump’s nominee for Fed chair has disclosed his cryptocurrency investments. Kevin Warsh has invested in the Polymarket prediction market and several decentralised startups, according to his financial disclosure statement.

News

Australia

April 17

Australian Dollar: $0.7159 USD (down $0.0011 USD)
Iron Ore: $106.25 USD (up $1.95 USD)
Oil Price (West Texas): $93.37 USD (up $1.98 USD)
Gold Price : $4,788.31 USD (down $2.53 USD)
Copper Price: $6.0340 USD (down $0.0445 USD)
Dow Jones: 48,578.72 (up 115.00 points)

News

World warned 'don't deal with Iran oil'

The Trump administration has confirmed that the temporary sanctions waiver on Iranian oil exports that was introduced on 20 March will not be extended. It is due to expire within days, and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says that reinstating the oil sanctions will be the "financial equivalent" of a bombing campaign in terms of Iran's ability to generate revenue. Bessant has also warned that the US is willing to impose secondary sanctions on companies or nations that buy Iranian oil or have Iranian money in bank accounts. Meanwhile, Iran has urged the US to end its blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that it will be regarded as a breach of the two-week ceasefire if it remains in place. (RMS)

News

Machinery or maintenance failure in focus at Geelong refinery

Viva Energy believe a gas leak was responsible for an explosion and the resulting fire at its Geelong oil refinery, although the exact cause is still under investigation. Bill Patterson from Viva Energy has downplayed suggestions that the disaster is linked to delayed maintenance work at the plant; he notes that some such work has been deferred due to the Iran war, but this had not been scheduled for the part of the refinery where the incident occured. Fire Rescue Victoria's Deputy Commissioner Michelle Cowling says the initial indications suggest that a mechanical or engineering failure within equipment in a transfer section of the refinery may have been responsible for the disaster. (RMS)

News

'I'm not happy': Trump renews criticism of Australia, ignores defence spend boost

US President Donald Trump has again criticised Australia for not helping the US in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, with Trump making his comments while being questioned as he left the White House on Thursday US time. Ignoring the federal government's recent announcement that it will spend an extra $53 billion on defence over the next decade, an decision partly made to assuage criticism from the Trump administration about Australia's low military spending, Trump said "I'm not happy with Australia because they were not there when we asked them to be there", while he did not respond to questions as to whether he was still on good terms with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. (RMS)

News

War a chance to wound illicit tobacco market

Retailers of illegal cigarettes say that supply chain problems resulting from the Iran war have pushed up the prices of their products. A pack of popular Double Happiness cigarettes has risen from about $7 a pack to $17 in recent weeks, while a carton of 10 packs, that would have previously sold for between $60 and $70, is now selling for as much as $140. The rise in the price of illegal cigarettes has led to calls for the federal government to 'wound' the tobacco black market by cutting the tobacco excise, thereby reducing the cost of legal cigarettes. (RMS)

News

Auto

We will not survive': Toyota, Honda and Ford CEOs issue chilling warning about China - and it could hit your portfolio

70 per cent of all new electric vehicles now come from China, leaving Toyota, Honda and Ford worried about projects and overhauling their strategy. Honda President and CEO Toshihiro Mibe said after a recent visit to a Shanghai parts factory that "we have no chance against this", with Ford and Toyota leaders having expressed similar sentiments regarding Chinese makers' sheer speed in not just building cars, but designing them. Automotive stocks are a common part of many broad-based mutual funds and ETFs, while Tesla, Ford and Toyota remain among the best-known investment options in the sector. However, big shifts in focus under the threat of Chinese manufacturing, along with disappointing sales figures by foreign car makers in China, could make investors with holdings in those stocks nervous. (RMS)

News

X News

Elon Musk Proposes Universal High Income to Offset AI Job Losses

On Friday, Musk posted on X that universal high income payments from the federal government offer the best fix for AI-driven unemployment, arguing AI and robotics will create abundant goods and services without inflation. He differentiates this from universal basic income, pointing to AI's potential for far greater wealth that makes work optional. Reactions divided sharply, with supporters praising adaptation to tech changes and critics warning of lost purpose, government overreach, and economic pitfalls like eroded work incentives.

News

WWE/Pro Wrestling/Pop Culture

Shawn Michaels Marks 30 Years Since Iron Man Classic with Bret Hart

On March 31, 1996, at WrestleMania XII in Anaheim, Bret Hart defended his WWF Championship against Michaels in a grueling 60-minute Iron Man Match before 18,853 fans. The bout ended 1-1 after regulation, but Michaels won his first world title in sudden-death overtime with Sweet Chin Music at 61:52, fulfilling his 'boyhood dream' as announcer Gorilla Monsoon declared. Fans cherish it as wrestling's blueprint for storytelling, with many crediting the match for sparking their lifelong passion, while Michaels' anniversary post brought back waves of nostalgia for the reconciled rivals' endurance test.

News

WWE

Stephanie McMahon Headlines WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026

The WWE Hall of Fame ceremony at Dolby Live in Las Vegas features Stephanie McMahon leading the Class of 2026 alongside AJ Styles, Demolition, Sid Eudy, Bad News Brown, and Dennis Rodman, hosted by Michael Cole and The Miz. Triple H's heartfelt tribute drew her warm reply, 'Forever baby, with you, I can fly,' amid fan reflections on the 10th anniversary of Chyna's death and ongoing calls for her solo induction. Reports indicate Vince McMahon won't attend, highlighting family dynamics as WWE honors its evolving legacy.

News

WWE Unveils Hulk Hogan Statue at WrestleMania 42 Weekend

The statue anchors the 'Hulkamania Forever' exhibit at WWE World in Las Vegas, packed with relics like championship belts, a Hulkamobile motorcycle, and vintage posters from Hogan's 1980s peak. Triple H dubbed it 'Immortal,' honoring the six-time champion who brought wrestling mainstream, though some fans noted ironies like Nick Hogan's 2007 car crash near the motorcycle display and joked about the statue's dark bronze patina. This first post-death WrestleMania tribute coincides with Netflix's 'Hulk Hogan: Real American' docuseries premiere on April 22, drawing crowds to celebrate the complicated icon.

News

Pop Culture/Gaming/Movies

Street Fighter Live-Action Trailer Unleashes 1990s Arcade Vibes

The official trailer for the live-action Street Fighter movie, set during the Super Street Fighter II era, stars Andrew Koji as Ryu, Noah Centineo as Ken Masters, and Callina Liang as Chun-Li, who draws them into the World Warrior Tournament. Directed by Kitao Sakurai, it features WWE stars like Cody Rhodes as Guile and Roman Reigns as Akuma, alongside Jason Momoa as Blanka and 50 Cent as Balrog, embracing the game's campy fun over gritty realism. The cast appeared at WrestleMania in full regalia, and most reactions praise the trailer's goofy spirit, though some note cosplay-like vibes; it hits theaters October 16.

News

WWE

Cody Rhodes and CM Punk share emotional promo and hug on final SmackDown before WrestleMania

Cody Rhodes delivered a promo praising CM Punk as the new Mr. WrestleMania, stating that his father Dusty Rhodes would be proud of Punk, and expressing love for him. CM Punk reciprocated the sentiment toward Cody Rhodes before they embraced to close the show.

News

Danhausen Curses Stephen A. Smith on ESPN's First Take

The WWE wrestler, real name Donovan Danhausen from Warren, Michigan, crashed Friday's First Take in Las Vegas to hype WrestleMania 42, declaring Stephen A. cursed while hosts Molly Qerim and Keyshawn Johnson laughed. Fresh off signing with WWE in February 2026 after his AEW contract ended, Danhausen debuted dramatically at Elimination Chamber and has fans buzzing with his 'very nice, very evil' antics, including a Goodyear Blimp ride where he gleefully cursed the city below. The stunt amps up excitement for the two-night event at Allegiant Stadium on April 18-19, with rumors of more surprises alongside host John Cena. (Media Man Peg-On). Danhausen got off to a bit of a rough start in his WWE debut but has more than made up for it. Catch the Danhausen Fever and Mania. Media Hausen! Wrestle Hausen Weekend!

News

Bitcoin News Byte

Despite a 47% Price Drop, Bitcoin Traders Aren’t Selling:

A survey of U.S. Bitcoin holders and crypto subreddit posts found that despite anxiety and market turbulence, most investors (69%) held onto their Bitcoin, with only 8% panic selling.

Bitcoin faced a dramatic market correction in early 2026, plunging 46% from its $126,000 all-time high and briefly dipping below $61,000 on February 6.

The drop erased over $1 trillion in market value and prompted headlines warning of a defining crypto moment. Social media feeds filled with reactions, yet most holders remained on the sidelines.

A survey by Oobit of 1,006 American Bitcoin holders and sentiment analysis of 117,630 posts across 10 major crypto subreddits reveals that fear did not translate into widespread selling.

News Flashback

Last Week

Gold News

Gold is back in focus as markets react to geopolitics

The market is fixated on the threat of accelerating inflation driven by high energy prices. As a result, central banks are expected to adopt a tighter monetary policy, keeping rates at high levels or even raising them. This has a positive impact on fiat currencies and strips gold of its key feature as a store of value amid currency debasement. It is no surprise that the precious metal, which had got off to a strong start, has been losing out to Bitcoin and the US dollar since the start of the armed conflict in the Middle East. Although gold is generally regarded as a safe-haven asset, in the early stages of financial market turmoil, investors often choose to flee to liquidity. They favour fiat currencies and are far more willing to buy US dollar-nominated short-term treasuries.

Gold prices usually recover only if market shocks worsen, fears of recession or stagflation rise, and central banks start adding liquidity. Bank of America believes that the markets are still underestimating the scale of the potential consequences of geopolitical tension. They are fixated on the threat of accelerating inflation and are not considering a global economic downturn. Therefore, the longer the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran lasts, the better it is for the precious metal.

UBS Global Wealth Management notes that gold serves as a hedge against currency devaluation, rising budget deficits and recession. All of these could result from a geopolitical shock. The firm therefore maintains its bullish outlook on gold. In its view, the precious metal could rise to the $5,900-$6,200 range before the end of this year. However, gold must first weather the storm of numerous central bank meetings. The RBA has already raised its cash rate to 4.15%. Investors now expect ‘hawkish’ rhetoric from the rest. The ECB and the Bank of Japan are ready to tackle inflation, and the futures market expects them to tighten monetary policy. The Fed and the Bank of England are most likely to talk about prolonged pauses in their cycles.

Thus, gold appears to be a win-win option. It will gain if the conflict in the Middle East drags on, and will not lose if it ends. Investors just need to be patient for a little while. (FxPro)

News

Media Man Awards

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'Media Services Company Of The Month' award

The Australian Financial Review wins Media Man 'Newspaper Of The Month' award; Runner-up: The Australian

Google wins Media Man 'Search Engine Of The Month' award

Netflix wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Month' award

WWE wins Media Man 'Wrestling Promotion Of The Month' award

UFC wins 'Combat Sports Brand Of The Month' award; Runner-ups: Most Valuable Promotions, Everlast, BKFC

Mack Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Brand Of The Month' award

CAT wins Media Man 'Heavy Industry Brand Of The Month' award

Dynasty: The Murdochs wins 'Streaming Show Of The Month' award (Netflix)

Markets, Shares, Cryptos, Miners, Social Media and Culture

Wrestling With Numbers In WrestleMania Week!

NBA Ballers In Vegas Get Bullish! Bet On Pop Culture Biz!

April 15, 2026

Tuesday Rises In New York
Wednesday Down Under

Sydney, Australia to Wall Street, New York, and beyond the Blackstump and Internet Matrix Of Things!

Pop Culture themes

"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" (Cannonball Adderley)
"Gold" (Spandau Ballet)
"The Wall Street Hustle" (10cc)
"Bulls on Parade" (Rage Against the Machine)
"Down Under" (Men at Work)
"From Dusk Till Dawn" (Tito & Tarantula)

Markets

ASX 200 futures up 43 points/0.5 per cent: 9047

AUD flat to US71.26¢

Bitcoin $74,131.87 -0.86%

Wall St:

Dow +0.7%
S&P +1.21%
Nasdaq +2.0%

VIX down 0.68 to 18.44
Gold +2.2% to $US4,844.23 an ounce
Silver 79.285 -0.19
Brent oil -4.2% to $US95.21 a barrel
Iron ore -1.1% to $US103.50 a ton
10-year yield: US 4.26% Australia 4.95%

Coffee 296.25 -1.35

Cocoa 3623.13 - 22.86

Numbers Double Check

April 15, 2026 (Sydney, Australia)

Australian Dollar: $0.7120 USD (up $0.0028 USD)
Iron Ore: $103.50 USD (down $1.10 USD)
Oil Price (West Texas): $92.07 USD (down $5.90 USD)
Gold Price : $4,841.42 USD (up $100.18 USD)
Copper Price: $6.0815 USD (up $0.0805 USD)
Dow Jones: 48,535.99 (up 317.74 points)

News

ASX up, traders hopeful of further Iran talks

The Australian sharemarket posted a solid gain on Tuesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.5 per cent to close at 8,970.8 points. Investor sentiment was bolstered by indications that the Trump administration could seek further peace talks with Iran before the temporary ceasefire ends next week. BHP was up 3.2 per cent at $56.10, Deep Yellow rose nine per cent to $1.93 and WiseTech Global advanced 3.8 per cent to $38.56. However, Santos was down 0.9 per cent at $7.96 and Westpac fell 2.6 per cent to $41.48. (RMS)

News Lead Up (24 Hours Ago)

ASX ends lower as Hormuz blockade weighs

The Australian sharemarket lost ground on Monday, with the S&P/ASX 200 shedding 0.4 per cent to close at 8,926 points. Energy and coal stocks rallied after the Trump administration's threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz boosted the price of Brent crude oil; Woodside Energy rose 2.6 per cent tp $34.15 and Whitehaven Coal was up 2.6 per cent at $8.33. However, Evolution Mining fell 2.4 per cent to $13.22, Life360 shed 8.1 per cent to end the session at $17.91 and EML Payments was down 35.7per cent at $0.37. (RMS)

News

Biz/Industry (Australia)

'We may be out of business': suppliers issue plea for help

Bundaberg Brewed Drinks CEO John McLean says the company's diesel fuel bill has increased by nearly 40 per cent since the start of the Iran war. He adds that Bundarberg may ask customers such as Coles and Woolworths to accept a temporary surcharge that can be removed quickly when the situation improves. McLean emphasises that Bundaberg wants to avoid any increases in the price of its products for consumers. However, he warns that Bundaberg and many other businesses may no longer be viable unless they can recover the rising cost of fuel and other inputs. (RMS)

News

PwC, Viva red-faced as ASIC spots $25m error

Fuel refiner and petrol station owner Viva Energy Group included $559m worth of impairment charges associated with its retail outlets in its financial accounts for calendar 2025. However, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission has reviewed Viva Energy's full-year accounts and found that it had made an error in how it accounted for a $25 million impairment expense; as a result, the company will have to book an extra $25 million in write-downs for the year. Viva Energy's auditor, PwC, has indicated that it does not comment on client work. (RMS)

News

Shares: NYSE

Alphabet Inc Class A
$332.91
+11.60 +3.61%
Lead Up
$321.24
+3.97 +1.25%
Lead Up
$317.26
-1.21 -0.38%

TKO Group Holdings Inc
$195.37 -0.100 -0.051%
Lead Up
$195.47
-1.90 -0.96%
Lead Up
$197.37
+0.30 +0.15%

Netflix Inc
$106.24
+3.08 +2.99%
Lead Up
$103.16
+0.15 +0.15%
Lead Up
$103.03
+0.94 Today +0.92%
(0.17%)+0.18
After Hours: $103.21

Tesla Inc
$364.16
+11.74 +3.33%
Lead Up
$352.42
+3.42 +0.98%

Palantir Technologies Inc
$135.70
+3.33 +2.52%
Lead Up
$132.37
+4.26 +3.33%

Wynn Resorts Ltd
$105.59
+2.53 +2.45%
Lead Up
$103.06
-0.94 +0.90%

Rio Tinto Ltd
$173.82
-0.470.27%
(ASX)

Elders Ltd
$7.43
-0.12 -1.59%
Lead Up
$7.64
+0.040 Today +0.53%
(ASX): Australian Stock Exchange

Paramount Skydance Corp
$11.08
+0.35 +3.26%
Lead Up
$10.73
+0.11 +1.04%

Warner Bros Discovery Inc
$27.37
-0.020 -0.073%
Lead up
$27.39
-0.050 -0.18%

Media Man Peg-On: Play the long game. TKO and Netflix are staples of entertainment/media, and audience numbers, media and marketing creative will help keep them at the high level in most regards. Tesla has the Musk magic and X factor. Aussie miners are frequently strong given the nature of the biz. Gina R took a financial hit re legal as per Australian Financial Review news story. Media remains volitile.R

News

Sports/MMA

Ulberg Knocks Out Procházka on One Leg to Win UFC Title

At UFC 327 in Miami's Kaseya Center, underdog Ulberg overcame a likely ACL tear from Procházka's leg kicks, hobbling through Round 1 before countering with a signature strike at 3:45 for the knockout. Procházka later called his 'stupid mercy' moment—easing off and taunting—the reason he lost, vowing to destroy that part of himself and return stronger. Ulberg dismissed the excuse, saying he never counted himself out, while his 9-12 month recovery delays any rematch talk. The upset has fans debating warrior honor versus no-mercy fighting. (Media Man: The power of the human spirit. Never say die. It ain't over till it's over sport)!

News

Combat Sports/UFC/Trump

Trump Cheers Ulberg's Shocking UFC 327 Title Win in Miami

At a packed Kaseya Center, underdog Ulberg claimed UFC gold at 3:45 of the first round despite a mid-fight knee injury, marking one of the promotion's most unlikely victories. Paulo Costa stormed back for a third-round TKO over Azamat Murzakanov, then leaped the cage to thank cageside President Trump, who grinned and joked about his looks. Trump arrived with Dana White, Marco Rubio, and family for his first public sports event since the U.S.-Israel conflict, while Josh Hokit upset Curtis Blaydes to earn a White House fight announcement against Derrick Lewis on June 14. (Media Man Peg-On): It's a Win-Win-Win!

News

Sports/Entertainment/WWE

Joe Tessitore's Top 5 Breakout Stars for WrestleMania 42

ESPN's Joe Tessitore ranks Oba Femi No. 1 for his raw power, including a big win over Brock Lesnar, followed by Trick Williams' charisma, Je'Von Evans' high-flying at age 21, Lash Legend's athletic tag team reign, and Dominik Mysterio's heel evolution. The NXT-heavy list highlights WWE's youth movement ahead of the two-night event at Allegiant Stadium on April 18-19. Stephen A. Smith joked about turning down an on-screen manager role, comparing himself to Pat McAfee. (Media Man Peg-On): Seems like Joe Tess is too much of a nice guy than to turn heel like Pat McAfee. Just saying.

News

Gaming/Pop Culture/Vegas Strip

$10 Billion Vegas Arena Complex Proposed Near the Strip

Starr Vegas Development revealed plans Sunday for a 63-acre complex two miles south of the Strip, featuring a convertible arena for NBA, hockey, soccer, and concerts, plus a casino resort, 752-foot tower with 2,605 hotel and condo units, retail, offices, and halls of fame for boxing and combat sports. CEO Chuck Haifley of Big Vision LLC announced $6 billion in private funding with no taxpayer money needed, backed by partners like ticketing exec Lou Weisbach and local landowners. The bid arrives as the NBA explores expansion to Las Vegas by 2028-29 amid seven competing proposals, with fans excited about the city's sports growth and skeptics noting tourism challenges and soccer rivalries. (Media Man Peg-On): Good to see that at least a few folks are still bullish on and in Vegas. NBA is the thick of things. Big Balls-Ers!

News

Pop Culture/WWE RAW/Wrestling

CM Punk Faces Roman Reigns in Final Raw Showdown Before WrestleMania 42

Fans gear up for Monday Night Raw in Sacramento, where World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk meets Royal Rumble winner Roman Reigns ahead of their Night 2 title clash at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium on April 18-19. The rivalry ignited when Reigns won the 2026 Rumble in Saudi Arabia, leading to heated exchanges like Punk's pipe bombs and Reigns' intense stares. Night 1 brings Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi, an Intercontinental ladder match with Bron Breakker, Rey Mysterio, and Dragon Lee, plus title bouts, as one devoted fan pushes through health challenges to attend in Kevin Owens gear.

Pop Culture/WWE/Gaming

WWE 2K26 Season 2 Launches with Borderlands Crossover and Free Stars

Ringside Pass Season 2 drops April 15 for WWE 2K26, featuring a bold Borderlands crossover that transforms Rhea Ripley into a cybernetic dominator, CM Punk into a spiked Psycho mask-wearer, and Becky Lynch into a fiery Firehawk. Free additions include NXT powerhouse Oba Femi with his tribal beads and commanding entrance, plus Kelly Kelly's nostalgic return in pink Diva gear that Barbie Blank herself hyped. While some fans love the creative mashup for custom modes, others call it mismatched slop and crave pure wrestling content.

News

WWE/Lucha LIbra AAA Worldwide/TKO Group

Two El Grande Americanos Brawl into Mask vs. Mask Showdown

At Lucha Libre AAA's Mexico City event on April 11, WWE's Chad Gable returned as the original El Grande Americano, unmasking Octagon Jr. before sparking a wild post-match brawl with Ludwig Kaiser, who took over the character after Gable's injury. Kaiser suplexed Gable through the barricade amid refs and security pulling them apart, then grabbed the mic to challenge him to a Mask vs. Mask match. The high-stakes clash, overseen by Triple H and The Undertaker, is reportedly set for AAA's May 30 event in Monterrey, where the loser unmasks in lucha libre tradition. Fans and insiders hailed the electric brawl as one of the year's best angles.

News

WWE/Pop Culture

Liv Morgan Drops 'Trouble' Music Video Ahead of WrestleMania 42

WWE released the 2:35 music video on YouTube Sunday, where the 2026 Women's Royal Rumble winner teases her title match against champ Stephanie Vaquer. The pop track matches Morgan's troublemaker vibe with wild lyrics, leather jackets, and high-energy dancers in gritty urban settings. Fans split between praising the fun visuals and roasting the vocals, as their heated feud builds to WrestleMania 42 this weekend. (Media Man Peg-On): Hot. Eye Ball Grabber!

News

Becky Lynch Launches AMO Coffee at WWE World

After teasing a big announcement, WWE superstar Becky Lynch announced her AMO coffee brand launches at WWE World powered by Fanatics, inviting fans to her booth for the first taste and priority box access. The playful promo matches her boastful style, linking to her 'Greatest Female Wrestler of All Time' T-shirt and tying into WrestleMania 42 season amid her feud with AJ Lee. Built with husband Seth Rollins, AMO positions itself as the top brew, drawing excited replies from fans ready to grab a cup. (Media Man Peg-On): Cheers Seth and Becky, so, I guess we have no choice but to now cover the news via our Cafe News Media brand also. Cheers to hard and smart work.

News

News/Pop Culture/Sports Business/Streaming

Netflix Announces Fury vs. Joshua Heavyweight Clash This Autumn

Netflix announced Saturday that Fury and Joshua will fight this autumn in the UK, live exclusively on the streaming service, right after Fury's unanimous decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Fury, back from retirement with a 36-1-1 record, demanded the long-teased all-British showdown, while Joshua, 28-5 and seated ringside, dismissed him as a 'clout chaser' but hinted at readiness on his terms. No exact date or venue is set yet—Wembley is speculated—but Fury insists it's Joshua or nothing, capping a decade of buildup between the rivals. (Media Man Peg-On): This match up has the potential to break some sort of streaming records, maybe just outside Mike Tyson sort of numbers.

News

Pop Culture/Gaming/WWE

Fortnite Teases Stone Cold Steve Austin Skin for WWE Crossover

Epic Games dropped a hype video showing WWE legend Steve Austin in his iconic gear, grabbing a green canister for a Fortnite-style stunner before chugging beers amid shattering glass and fireworks. The skin arrives in the Item Shop on April 16, 2026, with the v40.20 update, joining past WWE stars like John Cena and Roman Reigns in this Wave 3 bundle that may include Liv Morgan. Fans love the nostalgic nod to Austin's Attitude Era catchphrase, complete with skull back bling and beer bash emotes, priced around 1,500-2,000 V-Bucks. (Media Man Peg-On): The gamification of sports and pop culture legends like Stone Cole continues. Stuns the gaming world is a good way.

News

Pop Culture/WWE/Wrestling

Sami Zayn Faces Boos and Lays Out Lil Yachty on SmackDown

On Friday's SmackDown, United States Champion Sami Zayn shrugged off heavy boos and vowed to defend his title against Trick Williams at WrestleMania 42 unchanged, no matter the fan backlash. Tensions peaked when Lil Yachty, Williams' celebrity ally, yanked Zayn from ringside only to take a Helluva Kick over the barricade, helping Williams win his match. Meanwhile, Carmelo Hayes revealed plans to rehab his knee injury and skip WrestleMania for a second straight year, drawing fan frustration over WWE's direction for homegrown stars.

News

Pop Culture Dream Matches: Fantasy Booking

Trump vs The Hood
Jake Paul vs Dana White
Sami Zayn vs WWE Universe
Danhausen vs Cody Rhodes
Killer vs The Missing Link
The Masked Superstar vs Mr X
Michael Saylor vs Bears
Mr FOX vs Mr VOX
Joe Tessitore vs Pat McAfee: Special ref: Michael Cole (fantasy booking)
Claudio CSRO vs Seth Rollins - Cafe Shop Brawl For All
Becky Lynch vs Alexa Bliss - Cafe Shop Brawl - Special Ref: CSRO. Special Enforcer: John Cena
Team TKO vs TEAM WWE

News

AI News (Aust)

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has told an event hosted by the media and creative sectors at Parliament House that Australia's existing copyright regime has served it well for many years. She said the federal government had said for some time that it has no plans to weaken copyright protections when it comes to artificial intelligence, while Australia's creative and media sector have made it clear that they are prepared to do licence deals with AI firms, and that existing copyright laws enable them to do just that. (RMS)

News

The miners to own in diesel crisis

Bell Potter's survey of Australian-listed mining companies concluded that diesel fuel accounted for up to 15 per cent of their operating costs prior to the start of the Iran war. Stuart Howe from Bell Potter says the war and the surge in crude oil prices will result in higher costs for much of the mining sector, while production could be impacted by the availability of diesel. Bell Potter recommends that investors rotate into mining stocks that are less exposed to diesel prices. Analysts note that miners with large-scale open-cut operations are most at risk of a supply crisis due to their heavy reliance on diesel-powered truck fleets. (RMS)

News

Batteries, coal push out east coast LNG shortage to 2029

The Australian Energy Market Operator now expects any gas supply shortage in the south-eastern states to occur in 2029, compared with its previous forecast of 2028. AEMO says gas shortfalls in 2029 are now regarded as a risk only during "extreme peak day demand conditions". It has cited a number of factors for its revised forecast, including expectations of lower demand for gas for power generation, an extension of the Eraring coal-fired power station's operating life and the estimated 30 gigawatts of battery storage projects that are currently being developed. Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the improved outlook shows that the federal government's "balanced" energy plan is working. (RMS)

News Lead Up

Streaming News Watercooler

Netflix CEO allegedly won’t speak to Meghan Markle on phone without lawyer

Meghan Markle is caught in a fresh Netflix storm with rumors claiming CEO Ted Sarandos is refusing to take her calls without a lawyer. Netflix denies everything but whispers of canceled deals and rising tension have fans questioning the truth!

News

A.I News

Australia

Watchdog warns against 'dangerously' positive AI advice amid crypto trading spike

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has expressed concern about the growing tendency for young Australians to use artificial intelligence platforms like ChatGPT for financial advice. Its figures show young people are following 'dangerously' positive AI recommendations about investing in risky investments such as crypto, with their faith in what has been referred to as 'unverified, risk-averse digital advice' occurring as many Australians are struggling with major cost of living pressures; ASIC's figures also show that 23 per cent of Gen Z now hold crypto assets – up from just 9 per cent in 2023. (RMS)

News

Resources

Drill, baby, drill: Boom for mineral, petroleum explorers

Advisory firm BDO has calculated that ASX-listed mineral and petroleum explorers raised a record $5.63 billion in the final quarter of last year. It broke the previous record for fund raising of $3.75 billion that was set in the same period in 2021, with the $5.63 billion in fund raising leaving mineral and petroleum explorers with record cash reserves of $12 billion. It comes as the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that spending on mineral exploration hit a two-year high in the final quarter of 2025, while spending on petroleum exploration was at a decade high. (RMS)

News

A.I News

Global giants join Australia in fight to make AI companies pay for content

Both the US and the UK appear to be backing the stance of the federal government of wanting AI companies pay for their use of content that has been produced by artists, musicians and journalists. In a document released on Friday that was titled 'Respecting Intellectual Property Rights and Supporting Creators', the White House stated that US copyright laws - under which content theft for the training of AI models, or any other use, is illegal - will remain. For its part, the UK government stated last week that it no longer had a "preferred option" on copyright reform, which comes after it last year endorsed a proposal that would have allowed tech companies to use copyrighted work without permission unless rights holders 'opted out' of the process. Its change of stance follows a longrunning campaign – led by artists including Elton John and Thom Yorke from Radiohead – which warned that the unlicensed use of copyrighted material for training AI models was threatening the livelihoods of people working in the creative industries. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Bitcoin News Byte

Despite a 47% Price Drop, Bitcoin Traders Aren’t Selling:

A survey of U.S. Bitcoin holders and crypto subreddit posts found that despite anxiety and market turbulence, most investors (69%) held onto their Bitcoin, with only 8% panic selling.

Bitcoin faced a dramatic market correction in early 2026, plunging 46% from its $126,000 all-time high and briefly dipping below $61,000 on February 6.

The drop erased over $1 trillion in market value and prompted headlines warning of a defining crypto moment. Social media feeds filled with reactions, yet most holders remained on the sidelines.

A survey by Oobit of 1,006 American Bitcoin holders and sentiment analysis of 117,630 posts across 10 major crypto subreddits reveals that fear did not translate into widespread selling.

News

X Newsfeed

WWE

Cody Rhodes and Matt Cardona Dish on Indie-to-WWE Return

WWE Champion Cody Rhodes hosted Matt Cardona on 'What Do You Wanna Talk About?', where Cardona detailed his path back to WWE after six years as the 'Indy God.' It started with his wife Chelsea Green nudging President Nick Khan during a TNA spot on NXT, leading to Cardona's direct text and a January 2026 SmackDown deal. They fantasy-booked a fun ladder match in WWE 2K26, and Cardona shouted out indie standouts Big Trouble Ben Bishop and Richard Holliday as future WWE stars, sparking excitement online about their friendship and the indie-WWE bridge. Media Man Peg-On: Cardona'a indi matches and feud with Killer Kross was excellent. Our Cardona indy highlight. Vs Holliday was great too, as was Kross vs Holliday.

News

25 Years Since WCW Nitro's Final Episode Ended Monday Night Wars

On March 26, 2001, WCW Monday Nitro aired its last show from Panama City Beach, Florida, capping five and a half years of intense competition with WWF Raw. Key moments included Booker T winning the world title, a dramatic simulcast announcement of WWF purchasing WCW's assets for $4.2 million, and Sting defeating Ric Flair in the main event that echoed the show's debut. Fans today share live memories of the surreal night, clips of the McMahon surprise, and thoughts on WCW stars like Booker T and Sting who later succeeded in WWE.

News Flashback

Last Week

Gold News

Gold is back in focus as markets react to geopolitics

Thus, gold appears to be a win-win option. It will gain if the conflict in the Middle East drags on, and will not lose if it ends. Investors just need to be patient for a little while. (FxPro)

News

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'Media Services Company Of The Month' award

The Australian Financial Review wins Media Man 'Newspaper Of The Month' award; Runner-up: The Australian

Google wins Media Man 'Search Engine Of The Month' award

Netflix wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Month' award

WWE wins Media Man 'Wrestling Promotion Of The Month' award

UFC wins 'Combat Sports Brand Of The Month' award; Runner-ups: Most Valuable Promotions, Everlast, BKFC

Mack Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Brand Of The Month' award

CAT wins Media Man 'Heavy Industry Brand Of The Month' award

Dynasty: The Murdochs wins 'Streaming Show Of The Month' award (Netflix)

Media Man

Market highlights
ASX 200 futures are pointing up 24 points or 0.3 per cent to 8719.
All US prices New York time

AUD +0.7% to US71.22¢
Bitcoin +1.8% to $US70,210
Wall St: Dow -0.1% S&P -0.2% Nasdaq +0.01%
VIX -0.31 to 25.19
Gold +1.1% to $US5195.40 an ounce
Brent oil -8% to $US91.05 a barrel
Iron ore +0.8% to $US103.90 a tonne
10-year yield: US 4.15% Australia 4.84%

March 10, 2026

Numbers Double Check

Australian Dollar: $0.7066 USD (up $0.0086 USD)
Iron Ore Apr Spot Price (SGX): $102.80 USD (up $1.25 USD)
Oil Price (WTI): $86.38 USD (down $4.52 USD)
Gold Price: $5,144.08 USD (down $27.84 USD)
Copper Price (CME): $5.8895 USD (up $0.0520 USD)
Bitcoin: $69,007.25 USD (up 2.78% in last 24 hours)

Market and Cryptos

March 10, 2026

Sydney, Australia to Wall Street, New York

ASX 200 futures up 184 points/2.2%: 8751
AUD +0.5% to US70.68¢
BTC $68,916.32 +2.52%
Dow +0.5%
S&P +0.8%
NAS +1.4%
VIX -4.16 to 25.33
Gold -0.6% to $US5141.51 an oz
Silver 86.825 +2.568
Oil -1.4% to $US91.42 a barl
Iron ore +1.2% to $US102.80 a ton

News

Numbers Double Check

Australian Dollar: $0.7066 USD (up $0.0086 USD)

Iron Ore: $102.80 USD (up $1.25 USD)

Oil Price: $86.38 USD (down $4.52 USD)

Gold Price: $5,144.08 USD (down $27.84 USD)

Copper Price: $5.8895 USD (up $0.0520 USD)

Dow Jones: 47,740.80 (up 239.25 points)

News

ASX caught in $90b wipe-out as oil soars 27pc

The Australian sharemarket retreated on Monday, after a surge in the price of crude oil in response to the escalating war in the Middle East; the S&P/ASX 200 fell 2.9 per cent to close at 8,599 points, having reached an intra-day low of 8,457.2. BHP shed 5.1 per cent to end the session at $50.10, NextDC was down 6.4 per cent at $12.81 and the ANZ Bank fell 2.3 per cent to $36.78. However, Karoon Energy rose 10.2 per cent to $2.00 and Yancoal Australia advanced 13.3 per cent to $7.17. (RMS)

News

Media/Streaming/Sports (Australia)

Netflix rules out bid for NRL rights

A spokesman for Netflix says the streaming company is not interested in bidding for the upcoming NRL broadcast rights, as Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys seeks a $4 billion deal over five years. The spokesman's remarks back up previous comments by Netflix executive Brandon Riegg that it is interested in marquee sporting events rather than entire seasons, while a $4 billion deal over five years would be larger than the AFL's six-year $4.5 billion deal. V'landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo believe they can secure a deal of that size because of the introduction of two new teams; the PNG Chiefs and the Perth Bears and the popularity of its annual Las Vegas season launch. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Digital Business (Australia)

Subscriptions in firing line to ease living costs

The federal government has proposed legislation that would make it easier for households to cancel subscriptions that they no longer require. The former Coalition government introduced similar reforms in 2018 aimed at making it easier to cancel credit cards via the internet. Research undertaken by the Consumer Policy Research Centre shows that about 75 per cent of Australians have had a negative experience when trying to cancel a subscription. It is estimated that households collectively have around $46m worth of subscriptions that they no longer use. (RMS)

News

Mining/Energy/Resources (Australia)

Glencore mulls ASX listing in wake of value gap that foiled Rio merger

Glencore CEO Gary Nagle says the commodities company is considering a secondary listing on the ASX, to help boost its valuation in the wake of its failed merger with Rio Tinto. The two companies had been considering a merger that would have created the world's biggest mining company, with a valuation of more than $300 billion, but Rio announced last month that it was abandoning talks with Glencore because the parties could not agree on a price for a "scrip deal". Nagle says the logic of a merger with Rio still exists, but he signalled that the two companies were "far apart on valuation." (RMS)

News

Cryptos

The crypto market has temporarily found balance

Market Overview

The crypto market cap on Monday morning is $2.31 trillion, just over 1% higher than a week ago. Volatility in cryptocurrencies decreased significantly in the second half of the week, unlike in traditional financial markets. Cryptocurrencies did not emerge as a safe haven; instead, they found only a temporary balance between opposing forces.

Last week, crypto failed to maintain its mid-week momentum. They are also avoiding a collapse following traditional markets, which began trading on Monday. This is too fragile a balance, and we see a greater risk of increased cryptocurrency sell-offs as institutional players are forced to reduce leverage amid the decline of key assets.

The sentiment index stood at 8 on Monday, returning to single digits after twelve days of attempts to stabilise and form a rebound. This behaviour proves once again that not all extremely low sentiment values constitute a good entry point.

Bitcoin is trading at $67K, around which it has been for more than 4 weeks. On intraday intervals, purchases are still noticeable on dips below $66K. Still, it is difficult to rely on this support given the powerful movements in financial markets.

News Background

Bitcoin is in the deepest phase of a bear market, and the situation could worsen, according to ZX Squared Capital, which expects BTC to fall further by 30% in 2026 due to the war with Iran.

Culper Research has opened short positions on Ethereum and BitMine shares. Analysts believe that the altcoin's economy has deteriorated following the recent Fusaka update.

For the first time in US history, the Trump administration has included cryptocurrencies and blockchain in the National Cybersecurity Strategy, which explicitly states the need to protect these technologies at the state level.

Florida has passed the first state-level stablecoin bill in the US. Governor Ron DeSantis will sign the document within the next 30 days.

The US SEC has dropped charges against Justin Sun. The founder of Tron agreed to pay a $10 million fine but did not admit guilt. In 2023, the SEC accused Sun of unregistered sales of securities in the form of Tron and BitTorrent cryptocurrencies, as well as fraudulent price manipulation.

About 38% of altcoins have approached historic lows. The situation in the sector is worse than after the collapse of the FTX crypto exchange, notes analyst Darkfost. (FxPro)

News

Euro/World

No one will help the euro

Europe is an unintended victim of the Middle East conflict.

The growing likelihood of two ECB rate hikes is not enough to boost EURUSD. The US dollar posted its strongest weekly performance in a year and may extend its rally amid intensifying geopolitical risks in the Middle East. Political developments in Iran have increased uncertainty about the conflict's trajectory, boosting safe-haven demand for the dollar. As a result, EURUSD opened the week with a gap lower. The rapid rise in oil prices contributed to recessions in the US economy in 1973, 1980, 1990 and 2008. And the current cooling of the American labour market, driven by the White House's tariff and anti-immigration policies, suggests a downturn. Indeed, in February, non-farm employment fell by 92K, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%. However, the United States is currently a net energy exporter. Its economy will suffer less from a rally in Brent and WTI above $100 per barrel than Europe or Asia. This is why the shock of rising oil and gas prices is reversing the ‘sell America’ flows. US stock indices have fallen less than their competitors, and the greenback has risen. Speculators have reduced their net shorts on the USD by two-thirds over the past few days. Even the increased chances of two ECB rate hikes this year to above 30% are not enough to halt the euro’s fall. Before the armed conflict in the Middle East, investors believed that the deposit rate would remain unchanged in 2026. Now they are confident it will rise from 2% to 2.25% and estimate the possibility of growth to 2.5% amid potential inflation acceleration. However, when geopolitics reigns supreme, central banks fade into the background. The ECB is unlikely to start a cycle of monetary tightening amid serious economic pain from energy disruptions and a surge in oil and gas prices. European reserves are depleted, and the region is a net importer of energy, with the lion's share coming from the Middle East. EURUSD rightly looks like one of the main currency pairs affected by the escalation of the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran on Forex. (FxPro)

Casino Culture News

Casino def:

a public room or building where gambling games are played. Origin: early 18th century (in the sense ‘small house’): from Italian, diminutive of casa ‘house’, from Latin casa ‘cottage’. The sense ‘public room for gambling’ dates from the mid 19th century.

History:

The history of casinos is a transformation from ancient social rituals to highly regulated, multi-billion-dollar global entertainment hubs. While gambling is as old as human civilisation, the "casino" as a dedicated physical building emerged in 17th-century Italy.

Key Historical Eras

Ancient Origins (3000 BC – 1600 AD) Earliest Evidence: Archaeological finds in Mesopotamia show six-sided dice made of bone used around 3000 BC.

China: Early forms of lotteries and tile games (precursors to dominoes) were used to fund state projects as early as 200 BC.

Rome & Greece: Betting on chariot races and gladiatorial contests was common, leading Romans to invent the first gambling chips to bypass anti-gambling laws.

The Birth of the "Casino" (1638 – 1800s), established in 1638, is recognized as the world's first official government-sanctioned gambling house.

Venice, Italy: The Ridotto established in 1638, is recognized as the world's first official government-sanctioned gambling house.

Etymology: The word "casino" comes from the Italian casa (house), originally referring to a small country villa or social club where people met for music and dancing.

European Expansion: Elaborate gaming houses spread to cities like Paris and Monte Carlo in the 19th century, catering to the aristocracy.

The American Frontier (1800s – 1931)

Saloons: Early American gambling thrived in western saloons and Mississippi riverboats, with New Orleans serving as an early hub.

Prohibition: By the early 20th century, most US states had outlawed gambling, pushing it underground until Nevada's legalization in 1931.

The Modern Era (1931 – Present)

Las Vegas: The legalization of gambling in Nevada (1931) led to the rise of the "Strip," with iconic resorts like the Flamingo (1946) pioneered by figures like Bugsy Siegel.

Global Shifts: Macau overtook Las Vegas in revenue in 2007, becoming the world's largest gambling market.

Digital Revolution: The first online casinos launched in 1994, transitioning the industry into the multi-billion-dollar digital space it is today.

The Lead Up

Markets/Trades

January 2026

Current

Jan 7 into 8

Sin City Sydney to Wall Street and Vegas

MGM Resorts International $34.12 -1.62 -4.53%

Wynn Resorts Ltd $116.37 -4.14 -3.44%

Las Vegas Sands $61.43 -2.35 -3.68%

Boyd Gaming Corporation $86.07 -1.74 -1.98%

Caesars Entertainment, Inc. $23.00 -0.77 =3.24%

Red Rock Resorts, Inc. $61.27 -0.82 -1.32%

Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. $46.04 -0.36 -0.78%

PENN Entertainment, Inc. $13.82 -0.99 -6.68%

Light & Wonder Inc CHESS $157.26 +0.36 +0.23% (ASX)

Profile

Light & Wonder, Inc., FKA Scientific Games Corporation, is an American corporation that provides gambling products and services. The co HQ in Enterprise, Nevada.
The gaming division provides products such as slot machines, table games, shuffling machines, and casino management systems. Bally, WMS & Shuffle Master.

January 2026

Jan 3

MGM Resorts International $36.49

Wynn Resorts Ltd $122.57 +2.24 +1.86%

Las Vegas Sands $65.21 +0.12 +0.18%

Boyd Gaming Corporation $86.19 +0.95 +1.11%

Caesars Entertainment, Inc. $23.56 +0.17 +0.73%

Red Rock Resorts, Inc. $62.97 +1.02 +1.65%

Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. $45.49 +0.74 +1.65%

PENN Entertainment, Inc. $14.85 +0.100 +0.68%

Light & Wonder Inc CHESS $156.00 -1.57 -1.00% (ASX)

News Flashback

Markets/Trades

News (post Xmas)

Dec 26

December 2025

New York, USA and Sin City Las Vegas

MGM Resorts International $37.68 +0.59 +1.59%

Wynn Resorts Ltd $124.36 -0.66 -0.53%

Las Vegas Sands $66.20 -0.13 -0.19%

Boyd Gaming Corporation $86.60 +1.19 +1.39%

Caesars Entertainment, Inc. $24.79 +0.29 +1.18%

Red Rock Resorts, Inc. $62.74 +0.69 +1.11%

Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. $45.22 +0.18 +0.40%

PENN Entertainment, Inc. $15.10 +0.46 +3.14%

Light & Wonder Inc CHESS $158.00 +0.54 0.34% (ASX)

News Flashback

Hotels offering up to 50% off rooms ahead of Black Friday

Nevada (Las Vegas)

A Strip casino-hotel has announced discounted room rates ahead of Black Friday, including up to 50 percent off rooms and resort credits. Sahara announced its “cyber steals” Wednesday, offering discounted rates on bookings into the first half of 2026. Until Dec. 3, travelers can book and receive 50 percent off “best available” room rates for stays through June 30, 2026, with no booking fees and guaranteed room type.

News

Three days of Formula One excitement about to hit the Strip

Nevada (Las Vegas)
The Las Vegas Grand Prix returns for its third year this week, transforming the Strip into a three-day motorsports extravaganza — complete with racing action, associated events and road closures across the corridor. This year’s spectacle is expected to draw 300,000 fans. “What I love about this event is that there truly is something for everyone,” said Emily Prazer, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

News

Fallout exhibit anchors new era of atomic pop-culture tourism

Nevada (Las Vegas)
As Fallout fans converged on Southern Nevada for their annual pilgrimage, the National Atomic Testing Museum was transforming itself, stocking fridges with ice-cold Nuka-Cola, showcasing pristine bright blue Vault 33 suits and lighting up the iconic “Welcome to New Vegas” sign. The preparations heralded an unprecedented partnership between the museum and game publisher Bethesda Softworks, bringing the world’s largest publicly available Fallout collection to its spiritual home in Southern Nevada.

News

The Lead Up/Flashback

Casino, Gaming and Hotel Stocks

Markets/Trades

November 10, 2025

New York, USA and Sin City Las Vegas

MGM Resorts International $32.85 +0.19 +0.58%

Wynn Resorts Ltd $130.24 +4.10 +3.25%

Las Vegas Sands $66.35 +1.14 +1.74%

Boyd Gaming Corporation $83.06 +1.79 +2.15%

Caesars Entertainment, Inc. $20.27 +0.45 +2.27%

Red Rock Resorts, Inc. $59.21 +1.38 +2.39%

Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. $40.31 +0.58 +1.45%

PENN Entertainment, Inc. $15.81 +1.27 +8.71%

Light & Wonder, Inc. $89.50 +8.94 +11.10%

News

(In Case You Missed It - over a month ago)

Crown Resorts/Crown Perth, Australia

Writes:

We couldn’t be more proud of our Crown team members who volunteered their time to support Telethon7, a West Australian charity supporting sick kids and their families. For the 17th year, we were honoured to support the incredible work of Telethon, hosting the Telethon Ball at Crown Perth, answering phones in the call room, giving the Little Telethon Stars and their families a staycation at Crown Towers and sponsoring the Telethon Community Stage. On behalf of the Crown Resorts Foundation, Crown Perth CEO Brian Pereira FCA GAICD FAIM closed out the weekend with a $2.5 million donation towards Telethon. (Source: Crown Resorts/Crown Perth)

News

Current

U.S Sports

Two MLB pitchers indicted in gambling investigation

Two Major League Baseball pitchers allegedly conspired with sports bettors to rig pitches they threw so the bettors would profit from illegal wagers, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn and the FBI announced in an indictment on Sunday. Cleveland Guardians player Luis Leandro Ortiz was arrested Sunday at Logan Airport in Boston.

News

Non-gaming spending up 10.7%, per-capita down 2.6%

Asia (Macau)
Macau visitors spent MOP20.38 billion (US$2.55 billion) on non-gaming offerings last quarter, with this amount up by 10.7 per cent year on year…same-day visitors spent some MOP3.62 billion, an increase of 27.6 per cent – versus MOP16.76 billion by visitors who spent more than one day, up 7.6 per cent…per-capita spending fell 2.6 per cent, at MOP1,950…the third quarter of 2025 welcomed an increase of 13.6 per cent in visitation, which totalled 10.45 million.

News

F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix race weekend rooms

Nevada (Las Vegas)
Room rates on the Las Vegas Strip during this year’s Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend at the top two resort companies are mixed compared with last year. The average three-night room rate at MGM Resorts properties on Las Vegas Boulevard are higher for this year’s race weekend than last around the first week of November, while Caesars Entertainment’s rates are running lower than a year prior. The lowest available room rates at the nine MGM Resorts properties are averaging $1,624.08 for Nov. 20-23, up 24 percent.

News

Vanderpump, ‘I’m not going to price myself out of the market’

Nevada (Las Vegas)
Lisa Vanderpump has stamped her brand across the Strip. Her Vanderpump Hotel will replace the Cromwell next year. Vanderpump says she’s planning “attainable luxury” on the corner of the Strip and Flamingo Road. “It has to be something that everybody who has supported me can afford,” Vanderpump said. “I’m not going to price myself out of the market.”

News

Casino News

Resorts World estimates it will generate $2.5B for transit by 2030

New York (New York City)
Resorts World has estimated that it will send $2.5 billion to the MTA [over the next four years if it is awarded one of the gaming licenses by the state in December. Resorts World, which has operated a racino in South Ozone Park for the last 14 years and has long been considered one of the frontrunners to receive one of up to three downstate gaming licenses.

NBA, sportsbooks review most vulnerable bets, wager limits

National (sports)
In the wake of the NBA betting scandal, the league and its partner sportsbooks continue to review what types of bets are most vulnerable to manipulation and how much bettors should be allowed to wager on such bets, sources familiar with the discussions told ESPN on Thursday.

Macau
Macau’s gaming operators recorded gross gaming revenue of $3.01 billion in October, up 15.9%. The October GGR figure was 8.7% higher than the previous post-COVID record month of August. For the first 10 months of 2025 combined, GGR climbed to $25.7 billion – up 8.0%.

Major Strip operator predicts strong fourth quarter

Nevada (Las Vegas)
A slower summer in Las Vegas, marked by declining September visitation and muted gaming revenue, is prompting casinos to adjust their strategies, but top Strip executives remain cautiously optimistic about a rebound in the fourth quarter and into 2026… Bill Hornbuckle, president and chief executive officer of MGM Resorts, said, “Vegas is fine. Fundamentally, we feel good about the fourth quarter (of 2025).”

Developers of stalled casino project seek to keep plans alive

Nevada (Las Vegas)
Last fall, the developers of a stalled casino project faced some stark words at a Clark County Commission meeting. With the team behind Dream Las Vegas asking for more time on their approvals again, Commissioner Jim Gibson said the situation “can’t go on forever,” that officials want projects they “believe are really happening,” and the likelihood of more extensions down the road was “remote.” Now, the developers are back with yet another request for more time…commissioners on Wednesday are scheduled to consider a request for a third time extension on the Dream hotel-casino project.

Kelly Clarkson adds August 2026 dates Caesars Palace

Nevada (Las Vegas)
Grammy-winning singer Kelly Clarkson is adding four performances in August 2026 to her “Studio Sessions” residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The new shows are scheduled for Aug. 7, 8, 14 and 15. Clarkson, 43, launched the residency in July then postponed several dates after her ex-husband died. She rescheduled those performances to July and August 2026.

Off-Strip resort sets Elvis series, no-cover NYE shows

Nevada (Las Vegas)
Westgate is leaning into — and gyrating with — favorite showmen past and present. The off-Strip resort has formally announced details of what we posted some weeks ago, a series of Elvis revivals in 2026. “The King: 1973 Live — Aloha From Westgate” plays Jan. 14.

Thousands turn out in downtown Las Vegas for no-cover events

Nevada (Las Vegas) - John Katsilometes, Review-Journal - Crowds are eating up Feed The Block on Fremont East. And the annual Halloween adventure on the abutting Fremont Street Experience drew a mass of humanity on Friday night. Downtown was jammed on both nights. Diplo’s headlining performance drew about 10,400 people, city of Las Vegas stats, to the third Feed The Block event. This was on a Monday night, mind you. By comparison, about 2,200 people were counted in the same area on the Monday before Halloween. An average Friday night in September with no event is about 5,000 on the block.

News Flashback

Casino News

Nov 3, 2025

U.S. Online and Social Casinos

Fanatics Casino Expands with Major Launches: Fanatics Casino, which debuted its standalone real-money app in May 2025 across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia, continues to gain traction with aggressive promotions and a robust game library, positioning it as a top new entrant for November.

New Sweepstakes Casinos Hit the Market:
Fresh platforms like Sweeps Royal and BankRolla launched in late October 2025, offering over 1,000 slots each, generous sign-up bonuses (e.g., 750,000 Gold Coins + 1 Sweeps Coin), and themed promotions for Halloween and beyond, targeting social gaming enthusiasts.

Top Social Casinos Ranked for November: McLuck and Crown Coins lead the list of U.S. social casinos with free Gold Coins play, welcome bonuses up to 500 spins, and 5,000+ titles, emphasizing no-risk sweepstakes-style.

November Bonus Offers Surge: Sites like BetMGM are rolling out 100% deposit matches up to $1,000 plus $25 no-deposit credits, while others like Bet365 offer spin bonuses, capitalizing on the month's promotions to attract new players.

Physical Casino Developments

Resorts World New York Boosts Economic Projections: The casino has revised its forecast for contributions to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) upward to $2.5 billion, highlighting ongoing revenue growth from slots and table Casino Dotorg

Arizona Tribe Eyes Major Redevelopment: The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is seeking proposals to transform a former mine site near Loop 101 into a potential replacement for Casino Arizona, promising economic boosts and new gaming facilities.

Canadian Casino Relocation Breaks Ground: The Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs broke ground on a $100 million project to relocate the Gold Eagle Casino to a 67-acre site in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, aiming to enhance tourism and community development.

International and Regulatory News
Finland Ends State Gambling Monopoly: On November 3, 2025, Finland introduced a new licensing system, allowing private operators to enter the market for the first time and breaking Veikkaus Oy’s long-standing exclusivity on slots, lotteries, and betting.

UK Faces Backlash Over 24-Hour Slot Casino: Tynemouth MP Alan Campbell criticized the approval of a controversial 24-hour slots venue at Preston Grange, calling it a "terrible decision" amid concerns over gambling addiction and community impact.

YouTube Cracks Down on Gambling Content: Starting November 2025, YouTube is enforcing stricter rules on gambling and gaming videos, including age restrictions and demonetization, to protect younger audiences from promotional content.

Legal and Industry Updates
BetMGM Lawsuit Advances: A federal judge denied BetMGM's motion to dismiss a lawsuit from VIP gambler Larry Murk, who alleges the operator unfairly inserted him into an online promo contest; oral arguments are scheduled for January 26, 2026.

No-KYC Casinos Gain Popularity: Platforms like BetWhale and BitStarz are seeing a 68% uptick in users opting for anonymous play without ID verification, offering faster payouts and privacy-focused real-money gaming.

News

WWE and UFC Themed Slot Games Continue To Build Upon Popularity; TKO Beancounters See Strong Merit; No Official Betting On TKO's/WWE Action Pro Wrestling Match Outcomes!

UFC MMA Match Betting Remains Bullish! UFC themed 'The Smashing Machine' movie gets strong industry and fan reviews; UFC/MMA themed movie 'Brawler' still happening; Tipped to be a big hit in Vegas (Media Man Group/Casino News Media)

News Flashback And Lead Up

News

Will Las Vegas be awarded another Super Bowl this week?

Nevada (Las Vegas)

Las Vegas could learn this week whether it will be named the host city for the 2029 Super Bowl when NFL owners hold their fall meetings. Future Super Bowl sites will be a topic of discussion, but whether those talks result in a decision remains to be seen. What’s known is that the NFL and Las Vegas recently began exclusive negotiations for hosting duties for Super Bowl 63 in 2029 at Allegiant Stadium. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has formally submitted Las Vegas’ bid, and the NFL is reviewing the package, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

News

Analyst predicts 2026 comeback for Las Vegas

Nevada (Las Vegas)
Weakness in Las Vegas will continue through the third quarter, but the fourth quarter "could be better" ...Truist Securities

“In the current environment, we don’t expect many earnings surprises, but continue to favor companies with best-in-class assets.”

Citing: Monarch Casinos, Churchill Downs, and Station Casinos. Jonas also liked real estate investment trusts (REITs) and digital B2B firms, lauding their safety, earnings growth, and cash flow.

News

Green Valley Ranch Resort unveils new logo to coincide with renovations

Nevada (Las Vegas)
Green Valley Ranch Resort in Henderson has unveiled a new logo, timed to coincide with property-wide renovations. Parent company Station Casinos says the "refreshed identity" is meant to reflect the resort's transformation and the guest experience. That includes a monogram that blends the initials G-V-R into a shorthand. "As Green Valley Ranch approaches its 25th anniversary, this was the perfect moment to step back and celebrate our journey while looking ahead to the future," Ken Janssen, the resort's vice president and general manager, said. “The refreshed logo reflects the on-going $200 million transformation of the property in terms of being contemporary in design."

News

Major film studios could be here if some unions have their way

Nevada (Las Vegas)
Movies like “The Hangover” and “Ocean's Eleven” piqued interest in the Las Vegas Strip long ago. But now Nevada labor unions hoping to boost jobs and tourism are pushing state officials to offer tax credits aimed at bringing more Hollywood filmmaking to the state. The effort to offer up to $95 million in tax credits to Sony Pictures Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery for a new film production facility in the Vegas suburbs didn't win enough legislative support earlier this year. But more than a dozen labor unions are pushing to revive the proposal during an expected special session next month. (Wires)

News

Developer celebrates opening of new Las Vegas hotel

Nevada (Las Vegas)
The developer of Symphony Park’s new hotel held a grand opening celebration for the project. Dallas real estate firm Jackson-Shaw, which opened its dual-branded hotel in the sprawling mixed-use Las Vegas spread this summer, threw a flashy party Thursday to give people an inside look at the AC Hotel and Element property. The five-story, 441-room hotel boasts 18,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 10,000-square-foot ballroom, as well as a restaurant and a piano lounge.

Casino News: Las Vegas

Key Expansions and Projects

Durango Casino & Resort Growth:
Red Rock Resorts is accelerating its Durango expansion in southwest Las Vegas, adding 25,000 square feet of gaming space and 250 hotel rooms. Construction starts July 2028, following record Q2 2025 earnings of $108.3 million (up 55% YoY). The project targets the booming residential corridor near the resort.

Bally's Tropicana Site Redevelopment:
Bally's Corp. unveiled a three-year timeline for a 3,000-room hotel-casino-entertainment complex around the new Oakland Athletics ballpark. Groundbreaking is set for April 2026, with the $1.5 billion project aiming to transform the former Tropicana site into a mixed-use hub.

Henderson Casino Approval:
Clark County commissioners greenlit a new casino in Henderson's Water Street District, including street vacations and design reviews. This off-Strip project could boost local gaming options by late 2026.

Operational Changes and Challenges:
Golden Gate Goes All-Virtual: Downtown's historic Golden Gate Casino has fully phased out live table game dealers, replacing them with electronic roulette and blackjack terminals. Owner Derek Stevens calls it a "doubling" of projected revenue, appealing to younger players, though tourists are mixed—some miss the human element, others praise the faster pace and lower house edge.

Las Vegas Sands Digital Shutdown:
The company axed its live-dealer streaming platform, cutting 150 local jobs. The initiative targeted legal iGaming states but couldn't compete in a crowded market.

Cyberattack Hits Off-Strip Resort:
An unnamed casino-hotel suffered a breach between Jan. 8-11, 2025, exposing data of ~4,700 guests, staff, and partners. No ransomware details were disclosed, but it highlights ongoing cybersecurity risks in gaming.
North Las Vegas Sale: Poker Palace Casino changed hands for $9.4 million, per county records. The buyer plans minor upgrades to the locals-focused property.

Tourism and Competition Pressures:
California Rival Looms: The $600 million Hard Rock Casino Tejon opens November 13 near Bakersfield, featuring 2,000 slots and 150,000 sq ft of gaming—rivaling MGM Grand-scale floors. It's expected to siphon West Coast gamblers, exacerbating Vegas's 1 million visitor drop in early 2025.

No Panic Yet:
Despite sluggish Strip hotel rates and airport traffic, experts like Citizens' Jordan Bender forecast a rebound, with conventions driving 15-20% growth in 2026. The $600 million Las Vegas Convention Center expansion is key to this outlook.

Big Wins and Buzz:
Jackpot Fever: A gambler turned a $3 bet into a life-changing payout at Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa near Las Vegas. Details on the exact amount weren't specified, but it lit up social media as a feel-good story amid industry woes.

Governor's Blackjack Streak:
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker reported $1.4 million in Vegas winnings on his tax return, crediting "incredibly lucky" blackjack hands.

Dining, Events, and Accolades:
Michelin Milestone: Fontainebleau Las Vegas earned the first "One Key" designation for a Nevada gaming resort in the 2025 Michelin Guide, recognizing its luxury amenities alongside 37 other U.S. hotels.

New Eats:
High Steaks Vegas, a modern steakhouse by chef James Trees, debuted atop Rio's Masquerade Tower mid-month. Meanwhile, Bellagio's Yachts of Monaco boat tours launch October 3 from the new Carbone Riviera dock.

Halloween Hype:
Vegas ranks #7 in North American Halloween excitement per Betway's study. Red Rock hosts "Fright Night Bingo" on October 30 with free drinks, DJs, and costumes. Citywide events include the When We Were Young Festival (Oct 18-19) and Downtown Rocks concerts.

G2E Spotlight:
SuzoHapp returned to the Global Gaming Expo with innovations in gaming tech partnerships, drawing crowds to booth displays. (Grok)

News

Cleopatra wins Media Man 'Casino Classic Game Of The Month' award

News

News Flashback

MGM CEO says Dubai casino approval still pending as 2028 resort construction advances

MGM Resorts International has yet to receive approval to operate a casino at its upcoming $2.5 billion integrated resort in Dubai, CEO Bill Hornbuckle said, despite earlier expectations that a decision would have been made by now.

“I thought by now, Abu Dhabi would have ruled on what they were doing,” Hornbuckle said during a recent industry conference, referring to the anticipated regulatory green light. “There’s a lot of dialogue around that.”

The resort, currently under construction on a 25-acre artificial island near Jumeirah Beach and the Burj Al Arab, is being developed in partnership with the government-owned Wasl group. It will feature MGM Grand, Bellagio, and Aria-branded hotels, along with a 250,000-square-foot podium that has been purpose-built to accommodate a casino should regulatory conditions allow.

While a federal gaming regulator, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), was established in recent years to oversee commercial gambling activities across the UAE, the final decision to authorize casino operations remains with the rulers of individual emirates.

Hornbuckle noted that the company is still waiting on an official directive from Dubai’s leadership. “We don’t have permission yet from the ruler of Dubai to go forward,” he said. “I don’t know when we’ll hear, but I do believe this ... If this gets a casino, and I believe it will over time, we think it’s a massive opportunity.”

MGM submitted its license application to the GCGRA in September 2024. Any future approval would likely involve both federal coordination and local consent. The GCGRA is currently chaired by Jim Murren, MGM’s former CEO.

Meanwhile, competition in the UAE's nascent casino sector is heating up. Wynn Resorts is preparing to open the country’s first casino at its upcoming property in Ras Al Khaimah.

Scheduled for a 2027 launch, the resort on Al Marjan Island will likely be the UAE’s only licensed casino at the time of opening, according to Wynn CEO Craig Billings. He said last month that he anticipates it will be “the first and only casino in the country.”

Wynn has also expanded its footprint in Ras Al Khaimah by acquiring an additional 70 acres of land, raising speculation of a potential second property in the emirate. Analysts estimate that the UAE gaming market could generate annual revenues of up to $8 billion, while Wynn has projected figures closer to $5 billion.

Despite Wynn’s confidence in securing a dominant position, sources cited by Arabian Gulf Business Insight suggest that other operators may eventually receive licenses, casting doubt on the prospect of a long-term monopoly.

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