|
Biz
News
Markets,
Cryptos and Culture
February
23, 2026
Sydney,
Australia to Wall Street, New York
"All
That Glitters"
Mining
For Intel
Fight
Biz Week
Aust
$: $0.7065 USD (up $0.0017 USD)
Iron Ore: $95.30 USD (down $0.05 USD)
Oil: $66.48 USD (down $0.12 USD)
Gold: $5,106.68 USD (up $116.40 USD)
Silver 87.500 +5.517
Copper: $5.8700 USD (up $0.1170 USD)
BTC: $65,364.18 4.08%
Dow Jones: 49,625.97 (up 230.81 points)
News
Reporting
season delivers strongest profit results since 2021,
lifting sharemarket
The
Australian sharemarket has enjoyed its best reporting
season since 2021, which has helped to lift what is
still viewed as an expensive bourse. With 80 per cent
of scheduled companies by market capitalisation having
reported as of last week, aggregate earnings per share
for the 2026 financial year is forecast to rise around
12 per cent after low single-digit falls in the past
three years. Companies that have performed well on
the release of their results have included BHP and
JB Hi-Fi, while those that have been punished include
Wesfarmers and Reliance Worldwide. (RMS)
News
Miners
MinRes
turnaround in full swing as flagship iron ore project
performs
West
Australian mining company Mineral Resources released
its results for the first half of the financial year
on Friday, with MinRes reporting an after-tax profit
of $573 million. It represented a big turnaround on
the $807 million loss posted a year ago, which was
announced at a time when MinRes MD and founder Chris
Ellison was under scrutiny over the disclosure of
a decade-long tax evasion scheme and his misuse of
company resources. Ellison says its latest result
was the "the strongest in the company's history",
while it reaffirmed its full-year volume and cost
guidance. (RMS)
News
Simon
Trott awarded Rio Tinto bonus as execs lose out to
Magnificent Seven on TSR award
The
base pay of Rio Tinto CEO Simon Trott will rise from
from Stg1.34m ($2.55m) to Stg1.41m from 1 March after
the mining company's board awarded him a five per
cent pay rise. Trott also received Stg600,000 in relocation
expenses to cover the cost from moving from his home
in Perth to London, along with receiving short term
incentive payments in cash and shares of $1.34m for
his four months as CEO and $1.25m for the eight months
he spent as head of Rio's WA iron ore operations.
(RMS)
News
Rio
Tinto boss lobbied Chalmers to save $11b fuel tax
rebate
The
federal government is under pressure to scrap the
$11 billion fuel tax rebate scheme that is used by
mining companies such as Rio Tinto and BHP. Unions
and environment groups argue that removing the rebate
scheme would force the resources sector to decarbonise
at a faster rate, along with saving taxpayer's money.
However, a letter released under freedom of information
rules has revealed that Rio's then-chief executive
of Australia, Kellie Parker, lobbied Treasurer Jim
Chalmers to maintain the rebate scheme in the May
budget, with Parker claiming Rio would not be in a
position to deploy an electric haul truck fleet until
the early 2030s. (RMS)
News
Landmark
deal commits South Australian gas to home market
Oil
and gas producer Santos has done a deal with the South
Australian government that will see all the gas it
currently exports from that state instead retained
in SA in what Premier Peter Malinauskas has labelled
a "state strategic reserve". Announcing
the deal ahead of his government going into caretaker
mode in the lead-up to the SA state election on 21
March, Malinauskas said the gas that would normally
go to Japan or South Korea to advance their economies,
will now be used to advance the SA economy. The deal
between Santos and the SA government comes amid growing
pressure on Santos's GLNG export venture in Queensland
to end purchases of gas from the domestic market to
meet its export contracts. (RMS)
News
Shares
(Before The Bell)
New
York Stock Exchange
TKO
Group Holdings Inc
$211.12 +2.44 +1.17%
Alphabet
Inc Class A
$314.98 +12.13 +4.01%
Netflix
Inc
$78.67 +1.67 +2.17%
News
Social
Media/Media
X
Launches Disclosure Tools to Fight Hidden Paid Promotions
Next
week, X rolls out new features to make it easier to
label paid promotions, with account suspensions for
those who skip disclosure. Bier announced this while
warning posters promoting Kalshi to add labels or
face bans, targeting spam in crypto, prediction markets,
and clipping agencies. Reactions range from crypto
users celebrating a spammer purge with memes to concerns
about clear rules, all while creators like Cynthia
joke they're safe since they skip the paychecks.
Pop
Culture/Gaming/Wrestling
WWE
2K26 Reveals Retro Entrances of CM Punk and Randy
Savage
WWE
Games shared first looks at WWE 2K26, recreating classic
entrances like CM Punk's 2003 indie debut and Macho
Man Randy Savage's 1998 WCW Nitro gear with Queen
Sherri by his side. Iyo Sky's feathered entrance drew
a thrilled 'Oh yeah! So cool!' from the champion herself.
The game launches March 13 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S,
PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, with Punk on the cover,
over 400 stars, and new modes like thumbtack Hell
in a Cell. Fans praised the nostalgic details while
hoping for era-specific animations.
News
Pop
Culture/Sports/Boxing
Conor
Benn Signs $15 Million Deal with Dana White's Zuffa
Boxing
Rising
boxer Conor Benn, 29, inked a one-fight deal with
Zuffa Boxing, the January 2026 venture from UFC president
Dana White and Saudi backer Turki Alalshikh, backed
by Riyadh Season and streaming on Paramount+. Fresh
off avenging his loss to Chris Eubank Jr., Benn thanked
Eddie Hearn for a decade of support—including
loans and defense during his 2022 drug test suspension—but
called Zuffa's offer impossible to refuse. Hearn expressed
devastation, saying he misjudged Benn's loyalty after
providing title shots and financial help, while Eubank
Jr. mocked both and White insulted Hearn directly.
News
Pop
Culture/Wrestling
Jey
Uso, Bronson Reed, and Original El Grande Americano
Set for Triple Threat Elimination Chamber Qualifier
on WWE Raw
WWE
announced a triple threat match on the next episode
of Raw featuring Jey Uso, Bronson Reed, and Original
El Grande Americano to qualify for the Elimination
Chamber. The card also includes Brock Lesnar's return,
a tribute to AJ Styles, World Champion CM Punk's appearance,
and a women's qualifier with Raquel Rodriguez, Kairi
Sane, and IYO SKY.
News
WWE
2K26 Reveals Kabuki Warriors, Nikkita Lyons Entrance,
and DX Shawn Michaels Ahead of Launch
WWE
Games shared first-look images of the Kabuki Warriors
in dramatic purple lighting, Nikkita Lyons' dynamic
63-second entrance with pyros and gold gear, and a
DX-era Shawn Michaels raising his arms under moody
lights with a simple 'Suck it' caption. The game launches
March 13 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo
Switch 2, after early access on March 6 for pre-orders,
featuring over 400 superstars like The Rock, Triple
H, and CM Punk in his showcase story. A massive full
roster reveal comes this week, alongside new modes
like I Quit matches and Inferno, with fans counting
down excitedly.
Pop
Culture
MMA/UFC
Bruce
Buffer Celebrates 30 Years as UFC's Iconic Announcer
At
UFC Houston on Saturday night, the Toyota Center honored
Bruce Buffer for 30 years calling fights, starting
from UFC 8 in 1996 and becoming the full-time voice
by UFC 13. His signature 'It's time! Ladies and gentlemen...'
has introduced 255 pay-per-views and countless events,
defining MMA's energy from early days to today. Buffer
shared his gratitude online, calling it a cherished
lifetime moment, while fans shared paintings, photos,
and praise for the GOAT announcer amid the night's
knockouts.
Pop
Culture
WWE/Gaming/Wrestling
WWE
2K26 Kicks Off Roster Reveal with Stunning Entrances
WWE
2K26 reveal week launched with cinematic videos of
superstar entrances, spotlighting Giulia, Nikkita
Lyons in her lion-logo fur coat, The Kabuki Warriors'
synchronized chaos, Shawn Michaels' DX nod, and Charlotte
Flair's royal poise. The game boasts over 400 superstars
like CM Punk and Stone Cold Steve Austin, launching
March 13, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo
Switch 2, with early access from March 6. Nikkita
Lyons roared her thanks, Roxanne Perez posed with
her title, and more reveals continue this week amid
flying pre-orders.
News
Pop
Culture
Combat
Sports/Boxing
Ryan
Garcia Dominates Barrios to Win First World Title
Garcia
cruised to a unanimous decision victory over the long-reigning
welterweight champion at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas,
earning scores of 119-108, 120-107, and 118-109 to
claim the WBC title and boost his record to 25-2.
He outlanded Barrios 185-106 overall and 103-43 in
power punches, showcasing speed and precision throughout
the 12 rounds. Post-fight, Garcia called out Shakur
Stevenson while rivals like Devin Haney and Conor
Benn weighed in online, fueling talk of superfights
in the division.
News
Pop
Culture/A.I/Hollywood
AI
Video of Robots vs Jets Over Eiffel Tower Rattles
Hollywood
ByteDance's
new Seedance 2.0 tool created the video in minutes
from a text prompt, delivering smooth action with
realistic physics and multi-shot scenes. Hollywood
studios like Disney and Netflix hit back with cease-and-desist
letters, claiming it trains on copyrighted films without
permission, while SAG-AFTRA worries about actors'
jobs. At a February 21 town hall, Matthew McConaughey
warned performers to adapt to AI, and Timothée
Chalamet called for safeguards to protect human creativity,
as reactions split between AI's cost-cutting promise
and its current glitches in storytelling.
News
Pop
Culture Flashback
Gold
by Spandau Ballet
Producers:
Steve Jolley & Tony Swain
Music
Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
Spandau
Ballet Official YouTube Channel
https://youtube.com/@spandauballet/
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home Sorry that the chairs are all
worn I left them here I could have sworn
These
are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another
play for today
Oh,
but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you
Nothing
left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing
so tall
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
After
the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time
Remember
we were partners in crime
It's only two years ago
The
man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you
And love is like a high prison wall And you could
leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul You've got the
power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You
could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You
got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing (You are, gold) Always
believe in your soul
You've
got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home Sorry that the chairs are all
worn I left them here I could have sworn
These
are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another
play for today Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud
of you
Nothing
left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing
so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've
got the power to know You're indestructible, always
believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Verse
2]
After
the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time
Remember we were partners in crime
It's
only two years ago The man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now
he's in love with you, he's in love with you
And
love is like a high prison wall
And
you could leave me standing so tall
News/Bio
Spandau
Ballet
Spandau
Ballet are an English new wave band formed in London
in 1979, best known as one of the leading acts of
the Second British Invasion of the early 1980s and
icons of the “New Romantic” movement.
Key
facts
Original
line-up (1979–1990, 2009–2019):
Tony
Hadley (lead vocals) Gary Kemp (guitar, chief songwriter)
Martin Kemp (bass) Steve Norman (saxophone, guitar,
percussion) John Keeble (drums)
Plus
early member Richard Miller (later replaced) and long-time
live/touring keyboardist Toby Chapman.
Biggest hits
“To
Cut a Long Story Short” (1980) – their debut
single, UK #5
“Chant
No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)” (1981)
“True” (1983) – worldwide #1 in many
countries, UK #1 for 4 weeks, US #4; one of the most
iconic ballads of the 1980s
“Gold” (1983) – UK #2, became an anthem
“Only When You Leave” (1984)
“I’ll Fly for You” (1984)
“Through the Barricades” (1986) – title
track of their most mature album
Career highlights
Five
studio albums in the 1980s:
Journeys
to Glory (1981), Diamond (1982), True (1983), Parade
(1984), Through the Barricades (1986)
Sold
over 25 million albums worldwide
Massive success especially in Europe, Australia, and
later in the U.S. with the True album
Split in 1990 after the Heart Like a Sky album underperformed
Highly public legal battle in 1999–2000: Gary
Kemp won a court case against Hadley, Norman, and
Keeble over unpaid royalties (the three had claimed
co-writing credits)
Reunion
Reformed
in 2009 with original line-up for a world tour and
the album Once More (2009, new recordings + acoustic
versions)
Toured
extensively until 2019
Documentary
film Soul Boys of the Western World (2014)
In
2017–2018 Tony Hadley left the band citing irreconcilable
differences
Post-2019
Since
2019 the remaining members have continued as Spandau
Ballet with new singer Ross William Wild (2018–2019),
then briefly with theatre actor/singer Sam Clarkson
Tony
Hadley now tours as a solo artist performing Spandau
hits plus swing and soul material Gary and Martin
Kemp remain active (acting, DJing, podcast “The
Rest Is Entertainment” etc.)
They’re
remembered for their sharp suits, romantic image,
soul-influenced pop, and especially the timeless ballad
“True.” One of the defining bands of the
1980s.
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
Santa
vs Grinch
Bulls
vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
White Light vs Dark Matter
Lexis King vs NIL's (WWE NXT)
Volk vs Naysayers (UFC: Sydney, Australia)
Brock Lesnar vs Everyone! (WWE Royal Rumble)
Zuffa Boxing vs Golden Boy
Zuffa vs Matchroom
Netflix Sports vs The World
Beast vs Flakes
WWE Crate vs Forklift
Markets,
Cryptos and Culture
February
18, 2026
Mining
For Intel
Sports, Streaming And Headlines Biz
Mid Week Motivation
Biz Disruptors To Step Back Into Cage and Ring
Big Biz Betting On Combat Sport And Pop Culture
Sydney,
Australia to Wall Street, New York
ASX
200 futures up 54 points/0.6%: 8955
AUD +0.2% to US70.89¢
BTC $67,622.29 -1.34%
Dow +0.3%
S&P +0.3%
Nas +0.4%
VIX -1.05 to 20.15
Gold -2% to $US4891.56 an ounce
Silver 73.220 -2.21
Oil -1.7% to $US67.48 a barrel
Iron ore -0.3% to $US96.40 a ton
News
Numbers
Double Check
Australian
Dollar: $0.7080 USD (up $0.0005 USD)
Iron Ore: $96.40 USD (down $0.40 USD)
Oil Price): $62.35 USD (down $1.38 USD)
Gold Price: $4,875.84 USD (down $117.88 USD)
Copper Price: $5.6740 USD (down $0.0855 USD)
Dow Jones: 49,561.88 (up 60.95 points)
News
Mining
rally lifts ASX as BHP beats forecasts
The
Australian sharemarket posted a solid gain on Tuesday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.2 per cent to close
at 8,958.9 points. BHP rose 4.7 per cent to $52.74,
JB Hi-Fi was up 8.1 per cent at $89.10 and Baby Bunting
advanced 8.6 per cent to end the session at $2.39.
However, Reliance Worldwide fell 9.1 per cent to $3.50,
WiseTech Global was down 1.6 per cent at $47.34 and
Seek finished 3.3 per cent lower at $16.54. (RMS)
News
Mining
rally lifts ASX as BHP beats forecasts
The
Australian sharemarket posted a solid gain on Tuesday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.2 per cent to close
at 8,958.9 points. BHP rose 4.7 per cent to $52.74,
JB Hi-Fi was up 8.1 per cent at $89.10 and Baby Bunting
advanced 8.6 per cent to end the session at $2.39.
However, Reliance Worldwide fell 9.1 per cent to $3.50,
WiseTech Global was down 1.6 per cent at $47.34 and
Seek finished 3.3 per cent lower at $16.54. (RMS)
News
Profit
season off to 'unusually strong start'
Banks
and resources stocks have been the key drivers of
a strong earnings performance so far in the February
reporting season. However, there have been mixed earnings
outside of these sectors, which has been reflected
in share prices; Cochlear and Temple & Webster
are the stocks that fell sharply after their latest
financial results were below expectations. Hasan Tevfik
from MST Marquee notes that overall, there has not
been such a strong start to the earnings season since
February 2021, when the market was recovering from
the impact of the pandemic. (RMS)
News
Mining
and gaming to lead wave of debuts
Foreign
companies currently comprise about 10 per cent of
stocks listed on the Australian sharemarket. Sixteen
overseas-based companies debuted on the ASX in 2025,
which is a four-fold increase on the previous year;
they included both IPOs and dual listings. Millie
Horton from Jarden says more international companies
are now recognising the ASX as one of the premium
listing venues; indeed, the ASX itself notes that
its volume of new listings often exceeds that of New
York and London. Resources and gaming companies are
tipped to drive future growth in foreign compamies
listing in Australia. (RMS)
News
Australian
steel tariffs hit China's mills
Industry
data shows that China exported a record 119 million
tonnes of finished steel in 2025, which is 7.5 per
cent higher than previously. Meanwhile, Chinese steel
producers' margins have fallen significantly in recent
years, and some smaller producers are concerned that
the Australian government's move to impose a 10 per
cent tariff on Chinese steel imports will have a major
impact on their profits. Other countries are also
pursuing anti-dumping measures against China's steel
industry. (RMS)
News
Cryptos
Bitcoin
dips below short-term support
Market
Overview
The
crypto market cap stood at $2.35 trillion on Tuesday
morning, roughly the same as it was yesterday and
seven days ago. The leaders in growth among the most
liquid coins over the past week are the anonymous
Zcash and Cosmos, which are widely involved in the
tokenisation of debt assets, adding over 20%. At the
same time, the leaders in decline during this period
are Ethereum (-1.7%), BNB (-1.5%) and Bitcoin (-1.1%).
The decline of the largest coins is an ominous sign
for smaller ones, as it may soon pull them down with
it at an accelerated pace.
Bitcoin
technically fell below the support line that ran through
the extreme lows of the first half of February, as
another attempt to break above $70K on Monday attracted
the interest of sellers, which quickly pushed the
price back to $67K. On Tuesday morning, BTC is trading
near $68K, where it was the day before, but the former
support now looks like local resistance. Confirmation
of this trend reversal will be a fall below the recent
lows of $67K, with subsequent targets at $65K and
$60K. News Background
The
current situation is more reminiscent of a change
in the global BTC trend than a local correction, according
to CryptoQuant. The market has already entered a ‘stress
zone’ but has not yet reached the stage of final
capitulation. To form a ‘true bottom,’ a
peak in loss-taking and a complete exhaustion of selling
pressure are necessary.
Capriole
Investments founder Charles Edwards cited the quantum
threat as one of the reasons for the current BTC correction.
In contrast, Benchmark considers such fears to be
exaggerated, and Blockstream expects supercomputers
to appear only in 20-40 years. Growing attention to
the threat of quantum computing is beginning to reduce
the long-term appeal of Bitcoin compared to gold,
said analyst Willy Woo. In his opinion, about 4 million
‘lost’ coins could be dumped on the market
after a quantum computer hacks Bitcoin.
Blockstream
CEO Adam Back criticised the BIP-110 update aimed
at combating ‘spam’ on the Bitcoin network.
He called the initiative a threat to the reputation
of the first cryptocurrency.
In
the fourth quarter, Harvard University's management
company withdrew more than 20% of its investments
from the Bitcoin ETF, investing in an Ethereum-based
ETF for the first time. Despite the partial sale,
Bitcoin ETF shares remain the most significant public
asset in Harvard's portfolio. (FxPro)
News
Biz/Politics/World
The
dollar is not in a rush
EURUSD
remains prone to consolidation
The
yen is strengthening thanks to capital flows
The
US markets, closed for Presidents' Day, brought calm
to the Forex market. Traders are not forcing events,
awaiting the publication of the January FOMC meeting
minutes. This has resulted in EURUSD moving into a
narrow trading range. The pair showed no interest
in the news that the ECB is ready to offer liquidity
to other central banks to prevent tensions in the
money markets. This involves an increase in repo operations
from the third quarter.
ING believes that the euro's growing global role is
positive for EURUSD. The exchange rate is closely
linked to capital flows, and their movement from the
US to Europe is good news for the regional currency.
Christine Lagarde shares this opinion. According to
the Frenchwoman, the general mood is currently in
favour of the euro, as money is flowing into the region.
The head of the ECB prefers incentives to taxes. Therefore,
cheap liquidity will accelerate rotation.
However,
in the short term, the US dollar has a counterplay.
The longer the Fed pauses in the easing cycle, the
wider the rate differential will be. The high attractiveness
of US assets will prevent investors from rushing to
transfer capital to Europe.
Japan
is also scoring points with international investors.
According to Kazuo Ueda (BoJ Governor), Sanae Takaichi
(Prime Minister) did not make any specific requests
that would restrict the activities of the central
bank. They discussed economic and financial conditions.
If the central bank continues to make decisions independently,
political stability will play into the hands of the
bears on USDJPY. Investors are trying to understand
whether the Prime Minister is pressuring the BoJ to
stop raising rates, which also increases debt servicing
costs.
Gold
is trying to find a balance point, treading water
around $5,000 per ounce. According to Jefferies, two
main macro factors are supporting the precious metal:
the depreciation of the US dollar and high inflation.
This allows the company to raise its forecast for
the end of the year from $4,200 to $5,000. It notes
the high risks of a short-term peak in Gold amid growing
fears among traders concerned about the collapse in
prices at the end of January.
The
situation on the silver market is even worse. Backwardation
is intensifying, and futures contracts with distant
delivery dates are falling in price. This is usually
characteristic of perishable goods such as agricultural
products. (FxPro)
News
Streaming/Australia
2.5
million Young Australians aged 6-13 watch YouTube
The
latest Roy Morgan Young Australian Survey shows that
89% of the 6-13 age group watches YouTube (an estimated
2.5 million people). The leading YouTube video category
is Gaming, watched by 1.33 million children aged 6-13
(53% of YouTube watchers in this age group), ahead
of 930,000 watching the Animation category (37%),
900,000 watching Comedy (36%), and 850,000 watching
the Animals and Music categories (34%). The survey
also shows that 67% of boys aged 6-13 watch YouTube,
compared with 39% of girls. Boys are also far more
likely to watch the Sports category (36% cf. 17%).
In contrast, girls show a strong preference over boys
for categories such as Animals, Music, Fashion, Unboxing,
DIY and Cooking. This research is part of an ongoing
programme of research into Young Australian life experiences,
preferences, priorities and opinions. This programme
has been operating since the early 2000s, with the
latest data collection on YouTube between April and
December 2025, with a nationwide sample of 1,129 Young
Australians aged 6-13. (Roy Morgan)
News
Tech
News
Palantir
Moves Headquarters from Denver to Miami
The
data analytics company, founded in Palo Alto in 2003
by CEO Alex Karp and Peter Thiel, shifted to Denver
in 2020 to step away from Silicon Valley. Now, with
no official reason stated, it has relocated to Florida—a
state without personal income tax that attracts tech
firms with business-friendly policies and quality
of life. Miami leaders hailed the move as a milestone
for the city's tech scene, while critics like Rep.
Maxwell Frost and candidate James Fishback raised
civil liberties concerns tied to Palantir's government
contracts.
News
x
News/AI News
xAI
Launches Grok 4.2 Beta with Multi-Agent Team
The
4.20 beta, available now to X Premium+ and SuperGrok
subscribers on web, iOS, and Android, requires selecting
'Heavy' mode to activate Grok as leader, alongside
Harper for research, Benjamin for fact-checking, and
Lucas for logic and creativity. Demos show it querying
SpaceX-NASA missions and summarizing global news with
transparent steps and sources. Early testers praise
its unbiased research prowess and rapid learning via
weekly updates, though some note glitches like a botched
pelican SVG, as xAI refines it through user feedback.
News
Pop
Culture/Sports
Ronda
Rousey Faces Gina Carano in Netflix MMA Superfight
The
bout headlines Netflix's first live MMA event on May
16 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, as a five-round
pro fight at 145 pounds inside a hexagon cage, promoted
by Jake Paul's MVP. Rousey, absent since her 2016
loss to Amanda Nunes, called it the biggest superfight
in women's combat sports history, while Carano shared
a pumped-up training montage saying she's ready to
make the walk again. Though skeptics note their ages—Rousey
at 39 and Carano at 44—the legacy showdown has
MMA buzzing with excitement ahead of UFC's big card.
News
Pop
Culture/Pro Wrestling/WWE/Brands
WWE
Partners with DUDE Wipes for In-Ring Branding Deal
WWE
announced a multi-year partnership with DUDE Wipes,
making the flushable wipes brand its official hygiene
product, complete with wrestler gear branding, event
sponsorships, and a custom commercial featuring Superstars.
Reigning Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio
debuted the logo on his bandana ribcage t-shirt during
his Monday Night Raw return from injury in a triple-threat
match. WWE's Jesse Tomares praised the disruptive
integrations, while DUDE Wipes' Ryan Meegan called
partnering with 'Dirty Dom' surreal, promising fun
and cleanliness amid fan puns and mixed reactions
on commercialization.
News
Gaming/Casino/Betting
This
29-year-old is worth $15b and wants you to bet on
everything
The
co-founder of America’s biggest predictions market
on the “wisdom of the crowd”, political
polarisation – and the company’s adviser,
Donald Trump jnr.
Tarek
Mansour believes deeply in prediction markets –
or so he tells me again and again. He says they will,
variously, play the role of modern oracle, innovative
asset, public educator, new journalism and political
saviour. At the moment, however, most of the money
flowing through them is gambling on American football.
“We’re
making the world a little bit smarter about the future,
and I think that’s a very valuable thing to build,”
Mansour says. “It’s not something that you
should take as the Holy Grail truth, but it’s
better than the alternatives.”
Mansour
is a co-founder and chief executive of prediction
market Kalshi, the largest such platform operating
in the US. He has chosen to meet me at Serafina, one
of a small chain of Italian restaurants, in Manhattan’s
Meatpacking District because it is close to Kalshi’s
offices and rarely crowded. The sky above New York
is a threatening grey, and Kalshi traders are forecasting
a 74 per cent chance of rain.
Serafina
is empty and, in fact, locked when I arrive at our
appointed 11.30am. The waiter unbolts the heavy door
and shows me to a corner table at a plush banquette.
The walls are of rough brick, and the floors are of
unfinished wood. There are a few other small tables
and a large bar. A radiant portrait of a woman decorates
one wall. The waiter, Angel, turns on dance music
that blares just for the two of us.
Mansour,
29, arrives a couple of minutes later, wearing a cream-coloured
hoodie and thick glasses, lenses slightly tinted.
His hair is dark and curly and falls over one side
of his forehead. He is unshaven and says he has not
been sleeping well.
“When
people talk about, ‘We believe in markets’,
what do they actually believe?” Mansour says.
“What it means is that you believe that they’re
a good way to figure out what the price of something
is … And in this case, we’re pricing the
future.”
The
idea behind prediction markets such as Kalshi is simple
and powerful. Participants trade shares of some future
event (for example, whether it will rain in New York
today). The shares are redeemable for $1 if the event
occurs and $0 if it does not. Beforehand, the price
(74¢, say) can therefore be read as a probability
of the event occurring (74 per cent). Thus, in theory,
if large and liquid, these markets quantify and broadcast
the “wisdom of the crowd”. (AFR) *Full article
and coverage via The Australian Financial Review
Culture
'Welcome
To The Blockchain' aka
The
Bitcoin Song
Intro
We're
now standing on the precipice of a global revolution
Of
economics, of politics, and government
Welcome to the blockchain
verse
Power
corrupts, money is power
The
power to control the money is one that is now
In the hands of those who pretend we can't function
without them
So how can we do something about it? (Huh?)
Working hard to get a raise, lifting that wage up
Inflation takes it like a hidden taxation
Manipulated interest rates to give the banks
A way to create money with the loans that they're
giving out daily (yup)
That means our money is debt
That we gotta pay back more than a hundred percent
No wonder then why the middle class is going under
When the one's above them gotta cover and come to
collect
And many have no access to banking
Making payments, or saving, so more fees are taken
And every day the gatekeepers are trying to stop change
We can not wait, welcome to the blockchain
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things
are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
verse
Bitcoin
is a decentralized ledger
And
the currency is its first enterprise ever
Secured by the worldwide incentivized network
Can't be stolen or controlled by any sized effort
You can send it anywhere and instantly
No one can intervene, no third party in between
There's no counterfeiting
Algorithms control the outer limits of how many coins
can get released
Programmable money, no government can seize it
Payments can be customized by sender and receiver
Contracts can be written cementing your agreements
With terms that can't be bent once you consent then
it completes it
Autonomous businesses are possible
Where profit is distributed amongst those adopting
it
Paradigm shift we must adjust to the ending
With the blockchain, bitcoin is just the beginning
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things
are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
bridge
Now
that we got control
We're
not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
Now that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things
are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
Writer:
Toby Ganger
News
Mining/Energy/Resources/Biz
Rio
Tinto dodges merger bullet
Rio
Tinto has dodged two 'bullets' due to Glencore's rejection
of a merger proposal: a possible BHP takeover bid
and a dangerous acquisition. BHP looked closely at
whether to bid for Rio Tinto if the latter announced
a merger with Glencore. The two companies would make
excellent merger partners; amongst others things,
their staff and senior people have similar cultures,
they are co-operating on future Australian iron ore
projects and they are copper joint venture partners
in Chile and the US. Meanwhile, there are significance
cultural differences between Rio Tinto and Glencore;
there is little doubt that Rio Tinto's CEO Simon Trott
would have had doubts about a merger once he understood
these cultural differences. (RMS)
News/Snapshot
Australian
Mining
Global
Commodity Rankings
Australia
holds some of the world's largest reserves and is
a leading producer of several key minerals.
#1
Producer: Iron Ore, Bauxite, Lithium, Rutile, and
Zircon.
#1
Reserves: Iron Ore, Gold, Lead, Nickel, Rutile, Uranium,
and Zinc.
#2
Producer: Gold, Alumina, and Manganese.
Key
Mining Hubs & Major Projects
Western
Australia: The nation's "engine room," producing
98% of Australia's iron ore and 60% of its gold. Major
sites include the Pilbara (iron ore) and the Super
Pit in Kalgoorlie (gold).
Queensland:
A global leader in metallurgical coal (Bowen Basin)
and silver/lead production (Cannington mine).
South
Australia: Home to Olympic Dam, which contains the
world's largest single uranium deposit and significant
copper and gold reserves.
Major
Players
The
sector is dominated by several multinational giants
and significant domestic players:
BHP:
Often ranked as Australia's most valuable company;
major interests in iron ore, copper, and coal.
Rio
Tinto: A world leader in iron ore (Pilbara) and aluminum.
Fortescue (FMG): Primarily focused on iron ore and
rapidly expanding into green energy.
Hancock
Prospecting: Australia's largest private mining company,
led by Gina Rinehart, the nation's wealthiest person.
South32:
Spun out of BHP; manages a diversified portfolio including
manganese, silver, and nickel.
2026
Trends & Developments
Critical
Minerals Push: The government has introduced a $23
billion package to support domestic processing and
manufacturing of critical minerals to reduce global
reliance on single-country supply chains.
Uranium
Rally: Prices exceeding US$100/lb have sparked renewed
interest in Australian prospects like the Kalkaroo
project.
M&A
Activity: Major merger talks continue between giants
like Rio Tinto and Glencore as they seek to consolidate
copper exposure for the EV market.
Workforce
Challenges: The Minerals Council of Australia is currently
calling for migration reforms to address a significant
"skills crunch" in the sector.
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
The
Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Money INC vs Right To Censor
Santa vs Grinch
Bulls vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
White Light vs Dark Matter
Lexis King vs NIL's (WWE NXT)
Volk vs Naysayers (UFC: Sydney, Australia)
Brock Lesnar vs Everyone! (WWE Royal Rumble)
Roman Reigns vs CM Punk (WWE WrestleMania)
Green vs The Coal Miners Daughter
AC/DC vs Swifties
Triangle v World Bank
Sarah's Oil vs Big Oil
Mr X vs Mr VOX
Mr X vs Mr Platformer
Mr FOX vs Mr Vice
Fox And The Hound vs The View
The Masked Superstar vs Mr Jones
The Undertaker vs Mankind
UFC Legends vs Father Time
Vinnie Vegas and Oz vs Los Americanos
NXT GM vs The Don
Mr Moneymaker vs Mr Regulator
Mr Blockchain vs Mr EU
WWE Unreal vs The Old Guard
Reality TV vs John Pilger Type Journalism and Docos
Mr Real Deal vs Mr Grifter
Mr Truth vs Mr Shock Jock
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky: Rematch
WWE Wrestlers vs NFL Super Bowl Players
Logan Paul and Bad Bunny vs Jake Paul and The Don
- Special ref: Damian Priest
Kelly Gang vs Snow White Clan
BKFC vs PFL vs ONE
Mr Sky vs Mr Vice
Marvel Universe vs DC Universe vs Monster Universe
Logan Paul vs Tom Brady
MMA vs Lucha Libre
Confirmed
Matches To Happen:
Rousey
vs Carano (Netflix) May 16
Tyson
Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov (Netflix) April 11
Media
Man
Roy
Morgan wins Media Man 'Media Services Company Of The
Month' award
X
wins Media Man 'Platform Of The Month' award; Runner-ups:
YouTube and LinkedIn
Netflix
wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Month' award
CAT
wins Media Man 'Heavy Industry Brand Of The Month'
award
Mack
Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Brand Of The Month' award
Logan
Paul wins Media Man 'Pop Culture Disruptor Of The
Month' award
WWE
wins Media Man 'Wrestling Promoter Of The Month' award
'Landman
wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award
WWE2K16
wins Media Man 'Game Of The Month' award
Claudio's
Cafe wins Media Man 'Coffee Brand Of The Month' award
Jim's
Mowing wins Media Man 'Australian Business Of The
Month' award
Barefoot
Investor wins Media Man 'Financial Media Company Of
The Month' award
Markets,
Cryptos and Culture
February
17, 2026
Mining
For Intel
Sydney,
Australia to Wall Street, New York
ASX
200 futures up 15 points/0.2 per cent: 8895
AUD
+0.04% to US70.76¢
Bitcoin
$68,543.35 -0.48%
Wall
St closed: holiday
Gold
-1% to $US4992.08 an ounce
Silver 76.391 -1.57
Brent oil +1.2% to $US68.59 a barrel
Iron ore +0.1% to $US96.80 a ton
10-year
yield:
US 4.05%
Australia 4.71%
News
Numbers
Double Check
Australian
Dollar: $0.7075 USD (up $0.0009 USD)
Iron Ore: $96.80 USD (down $0.05 USD)
Oil Price: $63.73 USD (up $0.84 USD)
Gold Price: $4,993.72 USD (down $48.08 USD)
Copper Price): $5.7625 USD (down $0.0255 USD)
Dow Jones: 49,500.93 (unchanged - closed: public holiday)
Markets,
Cryptos and Culture
February
16, 2026
Mining
For Intel
Sydney,
Australia to Wall Street, New York
ASX
futures up 51 points/0.6%: 8896
AUD -0.2% at US70.73¢
Bitcoin 68,435.13 -2.28%
Dow +0.1%
S&P +0.1%
Nasdaq -0.2%
Gold +2.4% to $US5042.04 an ounce
Silver 77.402 +2.24 +2.98%
Oil +0.3% at $US67.75 a barrel
Iron ore -2.7% at $US96.85 a ton
News
Numbers
Double Check
Australian
Dollar: $0.7066 USD (down $0.0030 USD) Iron Ore: $96.85
USD (down $2.55 USD)
Oil Price: $62.89 USD (down $0.04 USD)
Gold Price: $5,041.80 USD (up $99.82 USD)
Copper Price: $5.7880 USD (down $0.0025 USD)
Dow Jones: 49,500.93 (up 48.95 points)
News
Gold
rush pulls in dirt pirates and backpackers
The
price of gold has risen by 70 per cent in the last
year, prompting a new wave of prospectors at historic
goldfields such as Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.
The state accounts for more than 70 per cent of Australia's
gold production, primarily from the Kalgoorlie Goldfields.
The gold boom has attracted a range pf people to the
region, including amateur prospectors and families
that travel there on caravan holidays. It has also
resulted in extra work for Australia's gold stealing
detection unit, with a sharp rise in the theft of
ore from gold mine sites by criminals who process
it in backyards by using a cement mixer and chemicals
to extract the gold. (RMS)
News
Gold
News
48
Hours Ago
Gold
drags down the stock market
Traders
sold gold to meet margin requirements
The
unwinding of currency hedging operations supports
the US dollar The worst collapse in US stock indices
since November and a decline in jobless claims helped
the US dollar. However, the aggressive momentum of
the bears on EURUSD was held back by negative real
estate market statistics. Home sales fell to a 16-month
low, adding to concerns about an economic slowdown
and increasing the likelihood of the Fed easing monetary
policy in June from 58% to 73%.
The
uncertainty surrounding Donald Trump's policies is
forcing investors to either abandon US-issued assets
as part of a ‘sell America’ strategy or
hedge the currency risks of investments in securities
by selling the dollar. Therefore, the worst collapse
of the S&P 500 in almost three months led to the
closing of deals and supported the greenback.
The
fate of EURUSD depends on macro statistics and the
monetary policy of central banks. The futures market
is confident that the federal funds rate will remain
unchanged until June. 66 out of 74 Reuters experts
believe that the ECB deposit rate will remain at 2%
until the end of 2026. In their opinion, the eurozone
economy will slow down in 2026 from 1.5% to 1.2%.
This will be followed by a growth of 1.4% in 2027.
Divergence in monetary policy will play into the hands
of EURUSD in the medium term, but in the near future,
the wide interest rate differential will work in favour
of the bears.
If
US inflation does not slow down, the Fed's prolonged
pause will allow the US dollar to strengthen. The
collapse of US stock indices pushed gold prices below
$5,000 per ounce. This has often happened in the past,
with these assets moving in tandem, as the need to
maintain margin requirements on stocks leads to the
sale of other assets in the portfolio. Precious metals
were often among those sold off. History repeated
itself, causing XAUUSD to retreat.
The
Australian dollar also succumbed to pressure from
bears on the S&P 500. Hawkish rhetoric from Reserve
Bank officials unwilling to tolerate high inflation
increases the chances of continuing the cycle of monetary
restriction as early as March and puts pressure on
AUDUSD. However, the Aussie remains a high-yield currency,
so the deterioration in global risk appetite is leading
to pullbacks to the uptrend. (FxPro)
News
ASX
eyes record high as 80 companies prepare reports
Futures
pricing suggests that Australian equities will gain
about 0.6 per cent when the market opens on Monday,
following a mixed lead from Wall Street. The reporting
season will be a key focus for local investors in
the coming week, with 80 companies slated to release
their latest financial results in coming days. Economic
data to be released this week includes the quarterly
wage price index and employment data, while the Reserve
Bank will release the minutes from its recent monetary
policy board meeting at which it increased the cash
rate. The S&P/ASX 200 shed 1.4 per cent to close
at 8,917.6 points on Friday. (RMS)
News
Firmus
'AI factor' float facing ASX character test
The
ASX guidance for companies wanting to list on the
bourse states that they must satisfy the exchange
that each director and CEO "is of good fame and
character". The guidance also states that any
CEO or director that is going to be listed in the
company's prospectus must include a national criminal
history check; both requirements could prove to be
an issue for data centre technology business Firmus,
which aims to float on the ASX with a valuation of
$5.9bn-$7bn around the middle of this year. This is
because co-CEO Oliver Curtis has a criminal conviction
for insider trading. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Culture
'Welcome
To The Blockchain' aka
The
Bitcoin Song
Intro
We're
now standing on the precipice of a global revolution
Of
economics, of politics, and government
Welcome
to the blockchain
verse
Power
corrupts, money is power
The
power to control the money is one that is now
In
the hands of those who pretend we can't function without
them
So
how can we do something about it? (Huh?)
Working
hard to get a raise, lifting that wage up
Inflation
takes it like a hidden taxation
Manipulated
interest rates to give the banks
A
way to create money with the loans that they're giving
out daily (yup)
That means our money is debt
That we gotta pay back more than a hundred percent
No
wonder then why the middle class is going under
When
the one's above them gotta cover and come to collect
And many have no access to banking
Making payments, or saving, so more fees are taken
And every day the gatekeepers are trying to stop change
We can not wait, welcome to the blockchain
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
verse
Bitcoin
is a decentralized ledger
And
the currency is its first enterprise ever
Secured by the worldwide incentivized network
Can't be stolen or controlled by any sized effort
You can send it anywhere and instantly
No one can intervene, no third party in between
There's no counterfeiting
Algorithms control the outer limits of how many coins
can get released
Programmable money, no government can seize it
Payments can be customized by sender and receiver
Contracts can be written cementing your agreements
With terms that can't be bent once you consent then
it completes it
Autonomous businesses are possible
Where profit is distributed amongst those adopting
it
Paradigm shift we must adjust to the ending
With the blockchain, bitcoin is just the beginning
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
bridge
Now
that we got control
We're
not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
Now that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
Writer:
Toby Ganger
News
Mining/Energy/Resources/Biz
Rio
Tinto dodges merger bullet
Rio
Tinto has dodged two 'bullets' due to Glencore's rejection
of a merger proposal: a possible BHP takeover bid
and a dangerous acquisition. BHP looked closely at
whether to bid for Rio Tinto if the latter announced
a merger with Glencore. The two companies would make
excellent merger partners; amongst others things,
their staff and senior people have similar cultures,
they are co-operating on future Australian iron ore
projects and they are copper joint venture partners
in Chile and the US. Meanwhile, there are significance
cultural differences between Rio Tinto and Glencore;
there is little doubt that Rio Tinto's CEO Simon Trott
would have had doubts about a merger once he understood
these cultural differences. (RMS)
News/Snapshot
Australian
Mining
Global
Commodity Rankings
Australia
holds some of the world's largest reserves and is
a leading producer of several key minerals.
#1 Producer: Iron Ore, Bauxite, Lithium, Rutile, and
Zircon.
#1 Reserves: Iron Ore, Gold, Lead, Nickel, Rutile,
Uranium, and Zinc.
#2
Producer: Gold, Alumina, and Manganese.
Key
Mining Hubs & Major Projects
Western
Australia: The nation's "engine room," producing
98% of Australia's iron ore and 60% of its gold. Major
sites include the Pilbara (iron ore) and the Super
Pit in Kalgoorlie (gold).
Queensland:
A global leader in metallurgical coal (Bowen Basin)
and silver/lead production (Cannington mine).
South
Australia: Home to Olympic Dam, which contains the
world's largest single uranium deposit and significant
copper and gold reserves.
Major
Players
The
sector is dominated by several multinational giants
and significant domestic players:
BHP:
Often ranked as Australia's most valuable company;
major interests in iron ore, copper, and coal.
Rio
Tinto: A world leader in iron ore (Pilbara) and aluminum.
Fortescue
(FMG): Primarily focused on iron ore and rapidly expanding
into green energy.
Hancock
Prospecting: Australia's largest private mining company,
led by Gina Rinehart, the nation's wealthiest person.
South32:
Spun out of BHP; manages a diversified portfolio including
manganese, silver, and nickel.
2026
Trends & Developments
Critical
Minerals Push: The government has introduced a $23
billion package to support domestic processing and
manufacturing of critical minerals to reduce global
reliance on single-country supply chains.
Uranium
Rally: Prices exceeding US$100/lb have sparked renewed
interest in Australian prospects like the Kalkaroo
project.
M&A
Activity: Major merger talks continue between giants
like Rio Tinto and Glencore as they seek to consolidate
copper exposure for the EV market.
Workforce
Challenges: The Minerals Council of Australia is currently
calling for migration reforms to address a significant
"skills crunch" in the sector.
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
The Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Money INC vs Right To Censor
Santa vs Grinch
Bulls vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
White Light vs Dark Matter
Lexis King vs NIL's (WWE NXT)
Volk vs Naysayers (UFC: Sydney, Australia)
Brock Lesnar vs Everyone! (WWE Royal Rumble)
Roman Reigns vs CM Punk (WWE WrestleMania)
Green vs The Coal Miners Daughter
AC/DC vs Swifties
Triangle v World Bank
Sarah's Oil vs Big Oil
Mr X vs Mr VOX
Mr X vs Mr Platformer
Mr FOX vs Mr Vice
Fox And The Hound vs The View
The Masked Superstar vs Mr Jones
The Undertaker vs Mankind
UFC Legends vs Father Time
Vinnie Vegas and Oz vs Los Americanos
NXT GM vs The Don
Mr Moneymaker vs Mr Regulator
Mr Blockchain vs Mr EU
WWE Unreal vs The Old Guard
Reality TV vs John Pilger Type Journalism and Docos
Mr Real Deal vs Mr Grifter
Mr Truth vs Mr Shock Jock
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky: Rematch
WWE Wrestlers vs NFL Super Bowl Players
Logan Paul and Bad Bunny vs Jake Paul and The Don
- Special ref: Damian Priest
Kelly Gang vs Snow White Clan
BKFC vs PFL vs ONE
Mr Sky vs Mr Vice
Marvel Universe vs DC Universe vs Monster Universe
Logan Paul vs Tom Brady
TMZ Sports vs The View
MMA vs Lucha Libre
Markets,
Cryptos and Culture
Sydney,
Australia to Wall Street, New York
February
13, 2026
Black
Cat Edition
Black-ish Friday
"Paint
It Black" (The Rolling Stones)
"Black & Gold" (Sam Sparro)
"Black Night" (Deep Purple)
ASX
200 futures down 56 points/0.6%: 8917
AUD -0.5% to US70.93¢
BTC $66,024.85 -2.20%
Dow -0.9%
S&P -1%
NAS -1.5%
VIX +2.12 to 19.77
Gold -2.7% to $US4949.68 an oz
Silver 76.593 -7.615
Oil -3% to $US67.35 a b
Iron ore -0.6% to $US99.40 a ton
10-yr yield: US 4.10% AUST 4.80%
News
Feb
13
Number
Double Check
Australian
Dollar: $0.7096 USD (down $0.0034 USD)
Iron Ore: $99.40 USD (down $0.75 USD)
Oil Price: $62.93 USD (down $2.01 USD)
Gold Price: $4,941.98 USD (down $138.24 USD)
Copper Price: $5.7905 USD (down $0.1775 USD)
Dow Jones: 49,727.01 (down 394.39 points)
News
ANZ
soars 8pc, tech stocks extend losses
The
Australian sharemarket posted a solid gain on Thursday,
after reaching a new record intra-day high; the S&P/ASX
200 added 0.3 per cent to close at 9,043.5 points.
The ANZ was up 8.5 per cent at a new peak of $40.35,
Northern Star Resources advanced four per cent to
$29.39 and Origin Energy finished 3.9 per cent higher
at $11.50. However, AMP shed 26.7 per cent to end
the session at $1.28, Temple & Webster fell 32.6
per cent to $7.64 and Pro Medicus was down 23.9 per
cent at $129. (RMS)
News
Miners
Northern
Star pushes back gold mine build
Northern
Star Resources' CEO Stuart Tonkin has advised that
a final investment decision on the Hemi gold project
in the Pilbara is now slated to be made by June 2027.
He indicated that the mine is likely to take about
2.5 years to build, which will push back initial production
to at least 2030. Hemi is among the assets that Northern
Star acquired in 2025 via the takeover of De Grey
Mining, which had flagged initial production as early
as 2027. Meanwhile, Northern Star has posted a 2025-26
interim net profit of $760m, which is 41 per cent
higher than previously and was boosted by the record
gold price. (RMS)
Markets,
Cryptos and Culture
February
9, 2026
Sydney,
Australia to Wall Street, New York
Super
Bowl
Play To Win or Play To Survive
All That Glitters
Biz: Play The Long Game
"All
That Glitters"
Sorting
Pure Gold From Fools Gold?!
Who
Is Putting The Crypto And Market Strings?
"All
That Glitters" Edition: Super Bowl Edition
"Gold"
(Spandau Ballet)
"You
Got the Silver" (The Rolling Stones)
"Goldfinger"
(Shirley Bassey)
"Mercy,
Mercy, Mercy" (The Wolf Of Wall Street theme)
Cannonball Adderley
"Stretch
Your Face" (TOBACCO). Silicon Valley theme
"Diamonds"
(Rihanna)
"Falling
Down" (1993). (James Newton Howard)
"Every
1's a Winner" (Hot Chocolate)
"Still
Humble" (def rebel)
"Clubbed
to Death". (The Matrix theme). Kurayamino Mix.
(Rob D)
"Bulls
on Parade" (Rage Against the Machine)
ASX
futures up 102 points/1.2% to 8810
AUD +0.03% at US70.14¢
Bitcoin $71,179.95 +2.68%
Dow +2.5%
S&P +2.0%
Nasdaq +2.2%
Gold +3.9% to $US4964.36 an ounce
Silver 77.978 +7.14 +10.08%
Brent oil +0.6% at $US66.89 a barrel
Iron ore -1.6% at $US99.00 a ton
News
Numbers
Double Check
Australian
Dollar: $0.7015 USD (up $0.0058 USD)
Iron Ore: $99.00 USD (down $1.65 USD)
Oil Price: $63.55 USD (up $0.37 USD)
Gold Price: $4,966.26 USD (up $141.82 USD)
Copper Price: $5.8875 USD (up $0.1090 USD)
Dow Jones: 50,115.67 (up 1,206.95 points)
News
Stockmarket/New
York Stock Exchange
TKO
Group
$211.90 +3.74 +1.80%
Alphabet
Inc. Class A
$322.86 -8.39 -2.53%
Tesla
Inc
$411.11 +13.90 +3.50%
Trump
Media & Technology Group Corp
$11.46 +0.56 +5.14%
Netflix
Inc
$82.20 +1.33 +1.64%
News
ASX
to roar back as investors prepare for wild earnings
season
Futures
indicate the S&P/ASX 200 will gain 1.2 per cent
when it opens on Monday, following a strong lead from
Wall Street on Friday, where the Dow Jones Industrial
Average hit a record, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq
both rose around two per cent. The forecast gain on
the ASX comes as investors prepare for what is tipped
to be a wild earnings season, with both CSL and James
Hardie set to release their latest results this week,
while the Australian sharemarket slumped two per cent
on Friday in what was its worst session since US President
Donald Trump's "liberation day" tariffs
last April. (RMS)
News
Heavy
Industry
BlueScope
set for $2 billion cash boost amid takeover tussle
Takeover
target BlueScope Steel will release its latest half-year
results on 16 February, with CEO Tania Archibald likely
to tell investors about the potential for higher dividends
in coming years because of increased cashflow. Broking
house Jefferies tips that BlueScope will have an additional
$2 billion to pay out to shareholders by 2029, while
it values BlueScope at $37 a share. This compares
to the $30 per share offer that Steel Dynamics and
SGH have made for it, with the BlueScope board having
rejected that offer last month. (RMS)
News
Gold/Miners
Gold
miners rush to join the large caps, pushing out blue
chip names
Morgan
Stanley expects that gold mining stocks Westgold Resources
Regis Resources, Greatland Gold and Vault Minerals
will be added to the S&P/ASX 100 when it undergoes
its next quarterly rebalance next month. It will lift
the weighting of gold stocks on the benchmark to 5.5
per cent, which will be the highest level in decades,
while Pinnacle Investment Management and Lendlease
are expected to drop out of the ASX 100 and join the
Small Ords. Morgan Stanley expects that 17 companies
will be added to the Small Ords, including critical
minerals company Arafura Rare Earths and medical technology
firm 4D Medical.
News
Gaming
Biz
Gaming
billionaire's assault case revealed
Virtual
Gaming World has announced that Laurence Escalate
will temporarily step down as CEO of the company he
founded in 2010, with VGW operating online poker-machine-style
gambling. It comes after the billionaire was charged
with eight offences by West Australian police, including
burglary, assault and three counts of drug possession
with intent to sell or supply. Escalate' lawyers unsuccessfully
tried to keep details of the case secret, while he
could lose his assets under WA's criminal property
confiscation laws if found guilty of the drug charges
levelled against him. (RMS)
News
Sports
Business/Marketing
Super
Bowl
How
Australia's Michael Dickson graduated from 'second-class
citizen' to the brink of Super Bowl glory
Michael
Dickson will be playing for the Seattle Seahawks in
the Super Bowl on Sunday US time, with legendary quarterback
Tom Brady claiming that Dickson is the best punter
in the league. His appearance means it will be the
fourth successive year that an Australian will take
the field in a Super Bowl, with Dickson having failed
to secure a place in the AFL after graduating from
the Sydney Swans Academy in 2014. Former AFL player
Ben Graham, who in 2009 became the first Australian
to play in a Super Bowl, says punters are treated
like "second-class citizens" by the rest
of the playing roster, while the Super Bowl is the
third most-watched sporting event on the planet behind
the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. (RMS)
News
Sports
Biz/Marketing/Politics
Netball
sweetener: Rockhampton could lose 2032 Olympic rowing
over river fears
It
is understood that the International Olympic Committee
is looking to move rowing and canoeing events away
from Rockhampton at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic games.
Discussions on the possible move are taking behind
the scenes at the Milan Cortina Winter Games, with
the switch due to concerns about strong currents in
the Fitzroy River and its history of flooding. One
possible sweetener for Rockhampton if it does lose
the rowing and canoeing is if netball becomes included
as an "additional sport" at the 2032 Olympics,
with it being possible that Rockhampton could be chosen
to host netball events. (RMS)
News
Formula
One
Cadillac
F1 Team Reveals Livery in Times Square Super Bowl
Spectacle Amid Michael Bay Lawsuit
The
Cadillac Formula 1 Team, backed by General Motors
and set to join the grid as the 11th team in 2026,
unveiled its livery via a dramatic Times Square installation
that 'defrosted' during the Super Bowl LX fourth quarter.
Drivers Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas lead
the lineup from a U.K. base near Silverstone, with
realistic goals after a Barcelona shakedown test.
Hours before, director Michael Bay sued team CEO Dan
Towriss for $1.5 million over alleged contract breach
on the ad's concepts, which Cadillac called exploratory
talks with no deal finalized.
News
Lucha
Libre/Pro Wrestling
Chad
Gable Steals El Grande Americano Spot at AAA Event
At
Saturday's AAA on Fox event, Gable ambushed Kaiser
backstage, locked him in cuffs, and dominated a four-way
Rey de Reyes qualifier, pinning Rey Fenix, Dragon
Lee, and Octagón Jr. with suplexes and takedowns
to earn his spot. The Mexico City fans turned on him
hard, chanting 'Get Out!' and cheering Kaiser as the
true hero after his injury sidelined the original
gimmick last year. This WWE-AAA crossover feud, with
Kaiser honoring lucha style, has fans buzzing for
a mask-vs.-mask showdown as Rey de Reyes approaches
March 15.
News
Winter
Olympics
Protests
Clash with Milan Olympics Over Costs and Politics
Demonstrations
erupted on February 7 and 8 after the Milano Cortina
2026 opening ceremony, with protesters decrying over
€1.5 billion in public costs, environmental harm,
Israel's participation amid the Gaza conflict, and
U.S. ICE agents with Vice President JD Vance's delegation.
Clashes near Olympic sites like the athletes' village
led to tear gas, water cannons, and five arrests,
as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence.
While the Games continue smoothly through February
22, Vance faced boos at the ceremony and Israel's
team drew jeers, underscoring Italy's tensions over
globalization and geopolitics.
News
Sports
Marketing/Pro Wrestling/Gaming
WWE
2K26 Teases Seth Rollins Style and R-Truth Mocap
The
official WWE Games account shared a stylish screenshot
of Seth Rollins in his signature 'Fashion' gear, followed
by a 36-second video of R-Truth in a sensor-dotted
suit scanning his model on a ring-like set. WWE 2K26
launches March 13 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo
Switch 2, and PC, with over 200 superstars including
Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and legends like Hollywood Hogan.
Fans praised the accurate models and potential new
animations, though some debated graphics upgrades
over 2K25 and called for more NXT reveals.
News
Rare
Earths/Politics/Trade/Resources
Critical
mineral group eyes $1b value in float
Brisbane-based
miner RZ Resources is said to considering a sharemarket
float that would see it valued at $1 billion. It rose
to prominence last October when it was named by the
Trump administration as a possible supplier of critical
minerals to the US, and the Export-Import Bank of
the US has previously flagged plans to lend RZ Resources
up to $US460 million to accelerate development of
its Copi mineral sands project in western NSW and
to restart its mothballed processing plant in Brisbane,
with RZ Resources likely to use funds raised from
any IPO for the same purpose.
Newsfeed
Wall
Street
Wall
Street refers to the financial district in Lower Manhattan,
New York City, and is synonymous with the U.S. stock
market, major financial institutions, investment banks,
and economic news.
As
of the latest market close on February 6, 2026 (U.S.
markets), here's the snapshot after a volatile week
dominated by AI spending concerns, tech sell-offs,
and a sharp rebound:Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA):
Closed
at 50,115.67, up +1,206.95 points (+2.47%). This marked
the first-ever close above 50,000 for the Dow, driven
by a broad recovery in cyclicals and semiconductors.
S&P
500: Closed at 6,932.30, up +133.90 points (+1.97%).
Nasdaq
Composite: Closed at 23,031.21, up +490.63 points
(+2.18%).
The
week featured wild swings: early February saw a "software-mageddon"
style sell-off in tech and software stocks (e.g.,
triggered by heavy AI capex announcements from companies
like Amazon and concerns over disruption from models
like Anthropic's upgrades), leading to over $1 trillion
in losses for Big Tech at one point.
Fears
of an AI bubble, forced deleveraging, and high valuations
weighed heavily, especially on Nasdaq names.However,
Friday's rally saw dip-buying return, with strong
rebounds in chips (Nvidia, Broadcom, AMD up sharply)
and value/cyclical sectors (e.g., Caterpillar, Goldman
Sachs). The Dow ended the week up ~2.6%, while the
Nasdaq was still down ~1.9% for the week amid lingering
caution.Key themes in recent Wall Street news:AI investment
fears gripping markets, with strategists debating
if the sell-off in software/tech is "overdone."
Rotation
toward bonds, international plays, or oversold names
amid "Sell America" volatility.
Broader
concerns like inflation, gold volatility, and geopolitical/economic
factors (e.g., China exports, U.S. dollar strength).
Markets
remain choppy heading into upcoming data like U.S.
jobs and inflation reports.
News
Heavy
Industry News
Heavy
Industry Awards
Mack
Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Manufacturer Of The Month'
award
Caterpillar
wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The
Month' award
Bingo
Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The
Month' award
Elders
wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award
Landman
wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award
(Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)
News
News
Lead Up
Gold
Feb
7
Gold
tries to prove that the bull trend is not yet broken
After the most significant sell-off since 1980, gold
is attempting to stabilise. Bears argue that the bubble
has burst and events will unfold as they did in 2011.
Back then, after falling from record highs, the precious
metal entered a multi-year downtrend. Bank of America
notes that volatility remains elevated. This allows
us to talk about gold as a speculative asset and reduces
central banks' demand for bullion. This is especially
true given some recovery of confidence in the US dollar.
Bulls argue that the fundamentals of the gold market
remain intact. US government debt is growing rapidly,
which devalues Treasuries and the greenback. Political
and geopolitical risks remain high. The Fed will resume
its cycle of policy easing. Also, precious metals
do not seem expensive at these levels. The Dow Jones
index exceeded its value by 1.3 times in 1980, and
during the dot-com crisis, its ratio soared above
40. Currently, it is just over 10.
Events
at the end of last week unfolded too quickly. By the
close of last week, the collapse had reached historic
proportions, leaving scars on the market at the start
of February. Formally, we see the week closing in
positive territory and an impressive rebound of $550
from Monday's lows. It is also worth mentioning that
the price reached these levels for the first time
just two weeks ago. Nevertheless, we remain in the
bear camp, assuming that the three-year bull market
has already been broken. We may see attempts to grow
and even break through $5000, but we expect that too
many will sell gold at these levels. (FxPro)
News
News
Lead Up
Feb
7
Crypto:
too early to be greedy
Market
Overview
The
crypto market cap has lost more than 8% in the last
24 hours to $2.22T, dropping to $2.09T at its lowest
point. The Crypto fell below last April's lows and
rolled back to levels last seen in September 2024.
The market did not hold on to the strong line that
had served as support and resistance for more than
two years. Either this is a switch to panic mode,
or we saw a short-term overreaction during a period
of reduced liquidity, and cryptocurrencies will partially
rebound in the coming days.
The
sentiment index fell to 9, where it was last seen
in June 2022. In general, reaching single-digit levels
is a very rare occurrence. At the same time, we warn
again that such oversold conditions may be followed
by months of consolidation or bottoming out. Thus,
in 2022, the market only bottomed out in November,
falling by about a quarter, and the momentum for growth
only appeared in January.
Bitcoin,
at its lowest point at the start of trading on Friday,
fell to $60K, ending up just one step away from its
200-week moving average, which is just below $58K.
Bitcoin only fell below this line in 2022 and the
following year, 2023. Before that, in 2015, 2019,
and 2020, touching this line effectively stopped the
sell-off, attracting buyers. News Background
The
collapse of the crypto market reflects a decline in
interest in digital assets at the institutional and
regulatory levels, according to Deutsche Bank. Three
factors are putting pressure on Bitcoin: a steady
outflow of institutional investor funds, changes in
traditional Bitcoin market relationships, and the
loss of regulatory momentum that previously supported
liquidity and reduced volatility.
The
collapse of Bitcoin was caused by the actions of large
market participants, not panic among private investors,
said technical analyst Peter Brandt. In his opinion,
the nature of the movement, when BTC updated its lows
for eight days in a row, has all the signs of a “planned
sell-off.”
Tension
was heightened by unconfirmed rumours of a $9 billion
sale of bitcoins by a Galaxy Digital client.
Stifel
admits that bitcoin could collapse to $38K due to
the high correlation of cryptocurrencies with the
falling US tech sector.
According
to DeFiLlama, the net inflow of funds to Binance over
the past 24 hours amounted to almost $700 million.
The data refuted rumours circulating on social media
about mass withdrawals and account closures after
Binance reported technical problems with withdrawals
on February 3rd.
According
to Bloomberg, there is still disagreement in the US
over the Clarity Act. The current version of the document
prohibits the accrual of interest for staking. Crypto
companies are making new concessions to US banks,
but the parties have not yet reached an agreement.
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
The
Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Money INC vs Right To Censor
Santa vs Grinch
Bulls vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
White Light vs Dark Matter
Lexis King vs NIL's (WWE NXT)
Volk vs Naysayers (UFC: Sydney, Australia)
Brock Lesnar vs Everyone! (WWE Royal Rumble)
Roman Reigns vs CM Punk (WWE WrestleMania)
Green vs The Coal Miners Daughter
AC/DC vs Swifties
Triangle v World Bank
Sarah's Oil vs Big Oil
Mr X vs Mr VOX
Mr X vs Mr Platformer
Mr FOX vs Mr Vice
Fox And The Hound vs The View
The Masked Superstar vs Mr Jones
The Undertaker vs Mankind
UFC Legends vs Father Time
Vinnie Vegas and Oz vs Los Americanos
NXT GM vs The Don
Mr Moneymaker vs Mr Regulator
Mr Blockchain vs Mr EU
WWE Unreal vs The Old Guard
Reality TV vs John Pilger Type Journalism and Docos
Mr Real Deal vs Mr Grifter
Mr Truth vs Mr Shock Jock
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky: Rematch
WWE Wrestlers vs NFL Super Bowl Players
Bondi Beach vs Maroubra Beach
Coney Island vs Virgin Islands
Paul Bros vs Bunny and Gaga
Standard TV vs Woke TV
Humans vs Bots
Ice Ballers vs Snowflakes
Blue Collar vs White Coller vs "Elites"
vs Free Spirits: Freebird Rules
Dave vs HAL 9000
Markets,
Cryptos and Culture
Sydney,
Australia to Wall Street, New York
February
7, 2026
Black
Friday In The USA Sees Some Light Arrive; Crypto True
Believers Rejoince And Regain Some Lost Ground
Australians
See Yanks Regain Some Smiles
"All
That Glitters"
Sorting
Pure Gold From Fools Gold?!
Who
Is Pulling The Crypto And Market Strings?
Roller
Coaster Ride Continues Into The Weekend ...
"All
That Glitters" Edition: Part 6
"Gold"
(Spandau Ballet)
"You
Got the Silver" (The Rolling Stones)
"Goldfinger"
(Shirley Bassey)
"Mercy,
Mercy, Mercy" (The Wolf Of Wall Street theme)
Cannonball Adderley
"Stretch
Your Face" (TOBACCO). Silicon Valley theme
"Diamonds"
(Rihanna)
"Falling
Down" (1993). (James Newton Howard)
"Every
1's a Winner" (Hot Chocolate)
"Still
Humble" (def rebel)
"Clubbed
to Death". (The Matrix theme). Kurayamino Mix.
(Rob D)
"Bulls
on Parade" (Rage Against the Machine)
Markets
ASX
200 futures up 102 points/1.2% to 8749
AUD +1.4% to US70.21¢
BTC $71,212.23 +11.54%
Wall St:
Dow +2.5%
S&P +2%
NAS +2.2%
VIX -4.01 to 17.76
Gold +3.9% to $US4963.65 an ounce
Silver 77.978 +7.14 +10.08%
Oil +0.6% to $US67.93 a barrel
Iron ore -1.6% to $US99.00 a ton
News
Crypto:
too early to be greedy
Market
Overview
The
crypto market cap has lost more than 8% in the last
24 hours to $2.22T, dropping to $2.09T at its lowest
point. The Crypto fell below last April's lows and
rolled back to levels last seen in September 2024.
The market did not hold on to the strong line that
had served as support and resistance for more than
two years. Either this is a switch to panic mode,
or we saw a short-term overreaction during a period
of reduced liquidity, and cryptocurrencies will partially
rebound in the coming days.
The
sentiment index fell to 9, where it was last seen
in June 2022. In general, reaching single-digit levels
is a very rare occurrence. At the same time, we warn
again that such oversold conditions may be followed
by months of consolidation or bottoming out. Thus,
in 2022, the market only bottomed out in November,
falling by about a quarter, and the momentum for growth
only appeared in January.
Bitcoin,
at its lowest point at the start of trading on Friday,
fell to $60K, ending up just one step away from its
200-week moving average, which is just below $58K.
Bitcoin only fell below this line in 2022 and the
following year, 2023. Before that, in 2015, 2019,
and 2020, touching this line effectively stopped the
sell-off, attracting buyers.
News
Background
The
collapse of the crypto market reflects a decline in
interest in digital assets at the institutional and
regulatory levels, according to Deutsche Bank. Three
factors are putting pressure on Bitcoin: a steady
outflow of institutional investor funds, changes in
traditional Bitcoin market relationships, and the
loss of regulatory momentum that previously supported
liquidity and reduced volatility.
The
collapse of Bitcoin was caused by the actions of large
market participants, not panic among private investors,
said technical analyst Peter Brandt. In his opinion,
the nature of the movement, when BTC updated its lows
for eight days in a row, has all the signs of a “planned
sell-off.”
Tension
was heightened by unconfirmed rumours of a $9 billion
sale of bitcoins by a Galaxy Digital client.
Stifel
admits that bitcoin could collapse to $38K due to
the high correlation of cryptocurrencies with the
falling US tech sector.
According
to DeFiLlama, the net inflow of funds to Binance over
the past 24 hours amounted to almost $700 million.
The data refuted rumours circulating on social media
about mass withdrawals and account closures after
Binance reported technical problems with withdrawals
on February 3rd.
According
to Bloomberg, there is still disagreement in the US
over the Clarity Act. The current version of the document
prohibits the accrual of interest for staking. Crypto
companies are making new concessions to US banks,
but the parties have not yet reached an agreement.
(FxPro)
News
Gold
News
Gold
tries to prove that the bull trend is not yet broken
After the most significant sell-off since 1980, gold
is attempting to stabilise. Bears argue that the bubble
has burst and events will unfold as they did in 2011.
Back then, after falling from record highs, the precious
metal entered a multi-year downtrend. Bank of America
notes that volatility remains elevated. This allows
us to talk about gold as a speculative asset and reduces
central banks' demand for bullion. This is especially
true given some recovery of confidence in the US dollar.
Bulls
argue that the fundamentals of the gold market remain
intact. US government debt is growing rapidly, which
devalues Treasuries and the greenback. Political and
geopolitical risks remain high. The Fed will resume
its cycle of policy easing. Also, precious metals
do not seem expensive at these levels. The Dow Jones
index exceeded its value by 1.3 times in 1980, and
during the dot-com crisis, its ratio soared above
40. Currently, it is just over 10.
Events
at the end of last week unfolded too quickly. By the
close of last week, the collapse had reached historic
proportions, leaving scars on the market at the start
of February. Formally, we see the week closing in
positive territory and an impressive rebound of $550
from Monday's lows. It is also worth mentioning that
the price reached these levels for the first time
just two weeks ago. Nevertheless, we remain in the
bear camp, assuming that the three-year bull market
has already been broken. We may see attempts to grow
and even break through $5000, but we expect that too
many will sell gold at these levels/ (FxPro)
News
UK/Europe
News
The
Bank of England sank the pound
Markets
now pricing the BoE will cut its rate in March.
Neither
slowing inflation nor the strength of the euro scared
the ECB.
While
the ECB decided to support its currency, the Bank
of England deliberately sank the pound. Both regulators
left rates unchanged, but this is a dovish pause.
Four out of nine MPC members voted to cut the repo
rate from 3.75% to 3.5%, while markets had expected
only two.
Andrew
Bailey noted that there is an even chance of the next
rate cut next month, as inflation is sure to fall
significantly. As a result, the futures market raised
the probability of such an outcome from 20% to 60%,
pressuring GBPUSD.
The
ECB showed much more mercy to the euro. On the eve
of the Governing Council meeting, investors were concerned
that the slowdown in inflation in the eurozone to
1.7% in January and the 13% strengthening of the euro
against the USD over the past year would provoke ‘dovish’
rhetoric from Christine Lagarde.
But
eventually, she noted that the ECB would not make
decisions based on a single data point and that the
strengthening of the euro was already factored into
its forecasts. EURUSD bulls breathed a sigh of relief.
They were helped by disappointing data on the US economy.
In 2025, it created 1 million fewer jobs than in 2024.
According
to Challenger, layoffs are occurring at the fastest
pace since the global economic crisis of 2008-2009.
ADP is signalling a slowdown in employment, and unemployment
claims are exceeding forecasts. The Fed has already
cut rates three times pre-emptively in response to
signs of a cooling jobs market. If the negative trends
continue, the monetary easing will resume earlier
than expected. After a series of disappointing reports,
derivatives have raised the odds of an April rate
cut to 40%. If the BLS employment statistics bring
an unpleasant surprise, they could rise to 50%, which
is bearish for the US dollar.
It
is hard to say how the greenback will react to the
armed conflict in the Middle East. The erosion of
confidence in it due to Donald Trump's policies has
led to the loss of its status as the main safe-haven
asset. Gold has taken its place. However, the January-February
sell-off of the precious metal and rumours of a burst
bubble could change everything. Will the US dollar
regain its former glory? (FxPro)
News
The
Lead Up
24
Hours Ago
ASX
snaps two-day winning run as silver tumbles
The
Australian sharemarket snapped a two-day winning streak
on Thursday, with the S&P/ASX 200 closing down
38.60 points to 8889.20, while the price of silver
tumbled by 15 per cent. Silver miner South32 declined
4 per cent to $4.60, while BHP fell 3.9 per cent to
$50.36. Gold miner Genesis Materials declined by six
per cent to $6.87 and uranium miner Paladin Energy
slumped nine per cent to $12.36, while stocks to rise
included the Commonwealth Bank, which rose 1.4 per
cent to $159.28, and Regal Partners, up 5.1 per cent
to $3.07. (RMS)
News
Lead Up
ASX
rises as miners rally; Yancoal soars 9pc
The
Australian sharemarket posted a strong gain on Wednesday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.8 per cent to close
at 8,927.8 points. BHP rose 4.5 per cent to $52.40,
Northern Star Resources was up 6.2 per cent at $28.55
and Woodside Energy advanced 3.1 per cent to $25.84.
However, Origin Energy was down 3.6 per cent at $11.12
and Synlait Milk shed 13.5 per cent to end the session
at $0.45.
News
Lead Up
24
Hours + Ago
Miners
Glencore
soothes Rio concerns with US deal
Glencore
has secured a preliminary, non-binding agreement to
sell a 40 per cent stake in its Mutanda and Kamoto
copper mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The deal was struck just days before the expiry of
a deadline for Rio Tinto and Glencore to finalise
their proposed merger or extend the negotiations.
The consortium that will buy a minority stake in the
two copper mines is headed by Orion Resource Partners,
in which the US government has a stake. Rio Tinto
has concerns about the two mines' links to Israeli
businessman Dan Gertler, who was sanctioned by the
US government in late 2017.
News
NYSE
The
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) saw mixed performance
during the latest trading session on February 4, 2026.
While the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.52%
to close at 49,501.30, the broader NYSE Composite
Index edged up just 0.41% to finish at 22,975.59.
In contrast, tech-heavy indices like the Nasdaq and
S&P 500 faced pressure, sliding 1.5% and 0.5%
respectively as investors rotated out of major software
and semiconductor names.
Recent
Market Trends (February 2026)
Rotation
out of Tech: Investors are increasingly moving capital
from high-valuation AI and software companies into
"real economy" Dow components.
Active
IPO Market: Veradermics Inc (MANE) made a massive
debut on the NYSE on February 5, 2026, with shares
soaring 118% from their $17.00 IPO price.
Semiconductor
Consolidation: Texas Instruments announced the acquisition
of Silicon Laboratories for $7.5 billion, causing
SLAB shares to surge nearly 50%.
Healthcare
Volatility: Eli Lilly shares jumped 10% after strong
Q4 results, helping the company reclaim a $1 trillion
market cap, even as other healthcare firms like Novo
Nordisk slumped on cautious outlooks.
Market
Outlook and Valuations
As
of early February 2026, major Wall Street analysts
remain generally optimistic for the year, projecting
total returns for the S&P 500 of approximately
6% to 11% by year-end.
Current
valuations suggest that the U.S. equity market is
trading at roughly a 5% discount to fair value estimates,
with small-cap and late-cycle technology stocks identified
as especially attractive. However, experts warn that
elevated volatility is likely to persist due to shifting
government policies and potential risks in the AI
sector.
News
Lead Up
24
Hours Ago +
Crypto
market updates local lows
Market
Overview
The
crypto market cap fell 2.2% to $2.59 trillion, briefly
touching $2.49 trillion, and is continuing its descent
to last April's lows. Solana was hit particularly
hard by the sell-off among the top coins, losing 6.8%
compared to 2.9% for Bitcoin and 1.6% for Ethereum.
Tron outperformed the market, gaining 1% on the day
and losing only 2.3% over 7 days and 2.8% over 30
days, compared to a 14.5% and 18.1% decline in total
cap, respectively.
Bitcoin
broke through its 2025 lows on Tuesday and briefly
fell below $73,000, back to its early November 2024
lows. Although there has been some rebound since the
start of Wednesday, the sequence of lower local highs
and lows indicates that selling on the rise prevails
in the markets. Bulls, for their part, may point to
oversold conditions on the RSI and divergence, where
a lower local price low corresponds to a higher local
low on the relative strength index. There were two
such instances in 2024 and 2025, followed by gains
of more than 20% and 60%, respectively. However, during
the 2020 bear market, such signals did not work. News
Background
Demand
in the BTC spot market is drying up, with additional
pressure from stablecoin outflows from trading platforms.
Uncertainty surrounding the Fed's policy and the possible
appointment of Kevin Warsh threaten to strengthen
the dollar. This has a negative impact on risky assets,
according to Arctic Digital.
There
are no catalysts for growth in the crypto market,
and selling pressure remains. In such conditions,
Bitcoin risks falling to $56,000-58,000, according
to Galaxy Digital.
The
current crypto winter is closer to its end than its
beginning, according to Bitwise. The crypto market
is nearing the end of its decline phase, according
to Compass Point. The base scenario assumes that BTC
will bottom out in the $60,000-68,000 range.
According
to a JPMorgan survey, asset managers from 30 countries
around the world are betting on artificial intelligence,
leaving cryptocurrencies out of the picture. Only
17% of respondents consider digital assets to be a
key topic.
The
German division of ING Bank has opened access to exchange-traded
notes (ETNs) focused on cryptocurrencies to retail
clients. The instruments allow investors to invest
in Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana through the familiar
banking interface. (FxPro)
News
Gold
Gold
inflates a new bubble
The
US dollar may suffer because of Kevin Warsh
Gold
volatility remains elevated
The
drop of US stock indices amid new developments in
artificial intelligence has caused the US dollar to
retreat. Software stocks have been hit hardest by
Anthropic's innovations. The US market no longer looks
as exceptional as it once did, with investors tending
to diversify their portfolios and sell off American
stocks. Coupled with a reassessment of Kevin Warsh's
views as Fed chairman, this brings back interest in
buying EURUSD. The futures market gives a 59% probability
of a federal funds rate cut in June and expects two
acts of monetary expansion before the end of the year.
MUFG Bank notes that Kevin Warsh is respected by the
markets. Donald Trump's choice in his favour has eased
concerns about the Fed losing its independence and
boosted confidence in the US dollar. However, the
former FOMC official intends to cut rates. Rumours
are growing on Forex that they will fall by 100-125
basis points. The Fed is not a one-man show. It will
require a change in the economic outlook of the majority
of the Open Market Committee, and this process is
already underway. According to Richmond Fed President
Thomas Barkin, companies are not raising prices due
to customer resistance. They are absorbing the tariffs.
This is good news for inflation. The US economy is
growing thanks to the artificial intelligence ecosystem
and serving wealthy customers. The retreat of the
US dollar has strengthened investors' desire to buy
gold after the slump. Political and geopolitical tensions
remain high, fuelling interest in gold as a safe-haven
asset. In percentage terms, the precious metal recorded
its largest daily gain since March 2009. At that time,
investors were actively buying it due to the global
economic crisis. However, Bank of America warns that
there was no decline in volatility after gold collapsed
on Black Friday, 30 January. The indicator continues
to remain at high levels, increasing the risks of
a new bubble forming. As the parliamentary elections
approach, hedge funds are increasing their sales of
the yen. If the Liberal Democratic Party strengthens
its position in the lower house, interest in ‘Takaichi
trade’ will return, inspiring USDJPY bulls. (FxPro)
News
The
Lead Up
24
+ Hours Ago ...
Cryptos
Very
limited rebound in crypto
Market
Overview
The
crypto market capitalisation grew by 1.7% in 24 hours
to $2.65 trillion. Once again, the positive sentiment
in global financial markets came to the rescue of
crypto. BNB is leading the rebound, benefiting from
the support of the founder of Binance and Doge, which
was mentioned again by Musk. At the same time, local
resistance has formed in the market at $2.65-2.68
trillion, where the rebound has been losing momentum
since the beginning of the month.
Bitcoin
is trading above $78K, about 5% higher than Monday's
lows, but hitting resistance from 1 February. This
limited rebound is causing bearish sentiment about
the immediate prospects for Bitcoin and the whole
crypto market. News Background
According
to CoinShares, global investment in crypto funds fell
by $1.696 billion last week, following an outflow
of $1.732 billion the week before. Investments in
Bitcoin fell by $1.321 billion, in Ethereum by $308
million, in XRP by $44 million, in Solana by $32 million,
and in multi-asset funds by $14 million.
The
options market indicates that investors are beginning
to form positions in anticipation of a local bottom.
Long-term Bitcoin investors have moved into unrealised
losses, which allows the market to transition into
an ‘extremely bearish’ phase, according
to CryptoQuant. The market has also been negatively
affected by a persistent lack of liquidity for several
months.
Bernstein
expects the crypto market decline to end when Bitcoin
reaches the highs of the previous cycle in the $60,000
range. The subsequent reversal will lay the foundation
for the ‘most significant cycle’ for BTC.
Meanwhile,
Bloomberg Intelligence strategist Mike McGlone reiterated
his forecast for the current year, according to which
Bitcoin could fall to $10,000. In his opinion, the
current year may resemble the crisis years of 2008
and 2000-2001.
Corporate
Ethereum holders suffered a major loss after the asset's
value fell. According to BitMineTracker, the ‘paper’
losses of BitMine, the largest holder of the second-largest
cryptocurrency, amounted to $6.95 billion. Investor
Ross Gerber called this ETH purchase potentially ‘the
worst deal in history.’
Hong
Kong-based Trend Research has already begun to reduce
its positions, selling 33,589 ETH ($79 million) at
a loss. Japanese financial holding company Nomura
is also reducing its investments in cryptocurrencies.
However, Strategy continues to buy, acquiring another
855 BTC ($75.3 million) over the past week at an average
price of $87,974. (FxPro)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
The
Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Money
INC vs Right To Censor
Santa
vs Grinch
Bulls
vs Bears
Crypto
King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens
vs NWO
Neo
vs Agent Smith
John
McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO
vs Naysayers
Jake
Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
White Light vs Dark Matter
Lexis King vs NIL's (WWE NXT)
Volk vs Naysayers (UFC: Sydney, Australia)
Brock Lesnar vs Everyone! (WWE Royal Rumble)
Roman Reigns vs CM Punk (WWE WrestleMania)
Green vs The Coal Miners Daughter
AC/DC vs Swifties
Triangle v World Bank
Sarah's Oil vs Big Oil
Mr X vs Mr VOX
Mr X vs Mr Platformer
Mr FOX vs Mr Vice
Fox And The Hound vs The View
The Masked Superstar vs Mr Jones
The Undertaker vs Mankind
UFC Legends vs Father Time
Vinnie Vegas and Oz vs Los Americanos
NXT GM vs The Don
Mr Moneymaker vs Mr Regulator
Mr Blockchain vs Mr EU
WWE Unreal vs The Old Guard
Reality TV vs John Pilger Type Journalism and Docos
Mr Real Deal vs Mr Grifter
Mr Truth vs Mr Shock Jock
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky: Rematch
January
27, 2026
ASX
200 futures up 52 points or 0.6 per cent to 8880
AUD
+0.4% to US69.18¢
Bitcoin +1.7% to $US87,815
Wall St:
Dow +0.8% S&P +0.6% Nasdaq +0.5%
VIX -0.26 to 15.83
Gold +1.1% to $US5043.71 an ounce
Brent oil -0.4% to $US65.61 a barrel
Iron ore -1% to $US103.55 a tonne
10-year yield: US 4.21% Australia 4.81%
Markets,
Cryptos and Culture
January
2026
Jan
27
Sydney,
Australia re-opens
to
Wall Street, New York
Media
Man's X Returns With A Bang
Gold
Glitters And Crypto's Start To Shine Edition
"Ruby
Tuesday" In Sin City Sydney
"Tuesday's Gone" Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Gold" Spandau Ballet
"Stretch Your Face" Silicon_Valley theme
(Tobacco. Composer)
"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"(Cannonball Adderley).
The Wolf of Wall Street theme
Markets
ASX
200 futures up 52 points/0.6% to 8880
AUD +0.4% to US69.18¢
BTC $88,344.02 +0.64%
Wall
St:
Dow +0.8%
S&P +0.6%
NAS +0.5%
VIX -0.26 to 15.83
Gold +1.1% to $US5043.71 oz
Oil -0.4% to $US65.61 a barrel
Iron -1% to $US103.55 a ton
10-year
yield: US 4.21% Aust 4.81%
Cryptos
The
crypto market rose due to dollar weakness
Market
Overview
The
crypto market cap has fallen by 5% over the past seven
days. The decline resumed at the start of the new
week, with total capitalisation falling to $2.9T amid
slippage in an illiquid market. In recent hours, however,
positive momentum has prevailed, bringing the market
back to $2.97T due to the weakness of the US dollar
and global purchases of risky assets. But even now,
cryptocurrencies remain a lagging class of risk-sensitive
assets, falling short of metals and the strongest
global currencies.
Bitcoin
hit a low for the day near $86K, its lowest level
since December. After that, the market received support
from the weak dollar, which, like a tide, lifted all
boats at once. The technical bearish picture remains
relevant, despite the gains in recent hours. BTC remains
below its key moving average lines and has not attempted
to break through the support of the last two months.
News Background
Outflows
from spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US over the past shortened
week nearly offset the previous week's inflows, reaching
their highest level in almost 11 months. According
to SoSoValue, net outflows from spot BTC ETFs amounted
to $1.33 billion. Net weekly outflows from spot Ethereum
ETFs in the US exceeded $611 million.
Bitcoin
holders began to record net losses for the first time
since October 2023, signalling the asset's entry into
an ‘early bear market.’ Bitcoin is now trading
below the acquisition price of 75% of the total supply,
signalling growing pressure from sellers, Glassnode
notes.
The
main reason for BTC's weakness is large-scale sales
by long-term holders, rather than concerns about quantum
computing, according to Checkonchain.
Activity
on the Ethereum mainnet has exceeded that of layer
2 (L2) solutions since the Fusaka upgrade. Token Terminal
has called this trend a ‘return to the mainnet.’
At the same time, there has been an outflow of liquidity
from ‘add-ons.’
The
adoption of cryptocurrencies by banks, large corporations
and investment companies is no longer an ‘optional
or peripheral’ process, notes auditing firm PwC
in its report on global cryptocurrency regulation
for 2026. ‘Institutional participation has passed
the point of no return.’
DAT
companies accumulating cryptocurrencies on their balance
sheets will face ‘severe consolidation’
in the coming year — only a few of the largest
players with Bitcoin and Ethereum on their balance
sheets will survive, warns Pantera Capital. (FxPro)
News
Interventions
spooked the dollar
Rumours
of coordinated intervention caused the USD index to
plummet.
The
risk of a new shutdown is putting pressure on the
greenback.
The
US dollar started in the last week of January with
a down gap amid investor fears of coordinated currency
intervention. Japan's Deputy Finance Minister Atsushi
Mimura said that the authorities would respond to
speculative actions on the Forex in close cooperation
with the US. In 1985, such cooperation ended in a
spectacular collapse of the USD. Will we see history
repeat itself?
Politics
is encroaching on the economy. Donald Trump intends
to use non-market methods to lower the key policy
rate by replacing the Fed chair and filling the FOMC
with doves. The US president has repeatedly spoken
out in favour of a weaker currency, which would increase
the competitiveness of American manufacturers. Tokyo's
interest in strengthening the yen to lower import
prices and slow inflation is being exploited by Washington
for its own purposes.
Countries
are forced to respond to the uncertainty of Donald
Trump's policies and the associated slowdown in economic
growth with fiscal stimulus measures. According to
Apollo Global Management estimates, government support
measures will accelerate GDP growth in the US and
Germany by 1 percentage point in 2026 and in Japan
by 0.5 percentage points. This leads to an increase
in public debt. The Germans can afford this, which
has a positive effect on the EURUSD.
Pressure
on the US dollar has intensified due to the growing
risks of another shutdown. Dissatisfied with the shootings
in Minneapolis, Democrats are not going to vote for
the government funding package without serious changes
to the national security system. The government risks
being sidelined again, which will negatively affect
GDP growth. The same goes for the devastating winter
storm, which could bring hardship to nearly 200 million
Americans. Already, 11,900 flights have been cancelled
at airports from Dallas to Boston, and about 900,000
consumers are without power.
In
2025, the US economy managed to withstand tariffs
and the shutdown thanks to investments in artificial
intelligence, productivity growth and the wealth effect.
However, will it be resilient in 2026? If not, the
US dollar risks weakening.
Gold
was the main beneficiary of the fall in the USD index.
Its price rose by 17% so far this year and is approaching
$5,100 per ounce. (FxPro)
News
Jan
27
Gold
and silver mania lifts ASX to 3-month peak
The
Australian sharemarket climbed to a three-month high
on Tuesday as investors returned from the long weekend
to surging precious metal prices, looking past the
noise of shifting US trade policies.
President
Donald Trump said in a social media post that he will
increase tariffs on South Korean goods, including
autos, from 15 per cent to 25 per cent as he accused
the ally’s legislature of “not living up”
to its trade deal with Washington.
The
S&P/ASX 200 Index gained 85.3 points, or 1 per
cent, to 8945.40, rebounding from last week’s
0.5 per cent loss. If sustained, it would be the index’s
biggest one-day rise this year.
Of
the 11 sectors, nine were in the green, led by materials
and energy.BHP leapt 2.9 per cent, regaining its position
as Australia’s most valuable listed company for
the first time in 18 months, unseating the Commonwealth
Bank, which managed a modest 0.6 per cent gain.
Miners
led the charge as gold and silver set fresh records.
Bullion hit $US5100 an ounce, and silver topped $US114
on Monday. As a result, Horizon Minerals jumped nearly
8 per cent, Alkane Resources leapt 3.9 per cent, and
Newmont rose 1.8 per cent.
Among
silver mines, Investigator Silver and Silver Mines
advanced 8.3 per cent each, while, Sun Silver pushed
up 6 per cent.Elsewhere, Rio Tinto gained 2.2 per
cent, and Capstone Copper was the biggest index gainer,
up 8 per cent.
In
the index-heavy financial area, all the big banks
were in the green, led by Macquarie Group, up 2 per
cent. National Australia Bank rose 1.3 per cent.
Family
app Life360 and mining group Alcoa were the two biggest
laggards, down more than 8 per cent.
In
currencies, the Australian dollar climbed to US69.40¢,
nearing its strongest level in three years, on growing
expectations the Reserve Bank will lift the cash rate
next month.
Higher
borrowing costs would boost the appeal of Australian-denominated
assets such as government bonds.
Also
supporting the Aussie was a broadly weaker greenback
on fears of a partial US government shutdown this
week.
Republicans
and Democrats are at odds over funding for the Department
of Homeland Security after the fatal shooting of a
second US citizen by federal immigration officers
in Minnesota. (AFR) *full coverage via subscription
to The Australian Financial Review
News
Jan
27
Stocks
Shares
in DroneShield cratered 6 per cent despite doubling
revenue in the December quarter, from a year ago.
Iron
ore giant Fortescue Metals rose 1.3 per cent after
sweeping up all remaining shares of dual-listed Alta
Copper at $C1.40 ($1.47) per share, as the mining
giant expands into the red metal.
Wholesaler
company Metcash rallied 1.2 per cent following the
appointment of Bruce Sabatta as the new chief executive
of its food service and convenience business, from
next month.
Brazil-focused
explorer and producer Karoon Energy trimmed early
gains and was trading flat despite posting a lower
output in the December quarter, from the September
period.
Jewellery
retailer Michael Hill International jumped 4 per cent
after reporting a stronger half-year profit than a
year ago despite record gold prices.
Insurer
group AUB was placed on a trading halt after launching
a $400 million institutional placement to finance
a UK acquisition.
Santos
leapt 3.1 per cent on news it had finally shipped
its first liquefied natural gas cargo from a delayed
Barossa project in the Timor Sea.
Health
tech group Cyclopharm soared 18 per cent after its
lung imaging technology received a major endorsement
from America’s top medical professionals.
News
Numbers
Double Check
Australian
Dollar: $0.6918 USD (up $0.0080 USD)
Iron Ore Feb Spot Price: $103.55 USD (down $0.10 USD)
Oil Price): $60.58 USD (up $1.25 USD)
Gold Price: $5,036.89 USD (up $117.01 USD)
Copper Price: $5.9240 USD (up $0.1240 USD)
Dow Jones: 49,446.27 (up 347.56 points on Friday's
close)
News/Profile
Wall
Street
Physical
Street and Landmark
Wall
Street is an eight-block-long street in the Financial
District of Lower Manhattan.
Location:
It runs between Broadway and South Street, ending
at the East River.
Key
Landmarks: It is home to the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) and Federal Hall National Memorial, where George
Washington was inaugurated.
History:
The name originates from a 17th-century defensive
wall built by Dutch settlers to protect New Amsterdam
from potential British or Native American attacks.
Financial
Industry Metonym
The
term is a metonym for the U.S. financial markets,
including stock exchanges, investment banks, and brokerage
firms.
Institutions:
Major firms associated with Wall Street include JPMorgan
Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley.
Current
Activity (January 2026):
As
of January 24, 2026, markets have seen volatility
following a week of "policy whiplash" related
to international tariff threats. Recent trading shows
the S&P 500 flat, while the Nasdaq has risen 0.3%
despite a 17% tumble in Intel stock.
Media
and Publications
The
Wall Street Journal: A premier business-focused international
newspaper headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.
Pop
Culture: The street’s high-stakes culture has
been immortalized in films like Oliver Stone’s
Wall Street (1987) and Martin Scorsese’s The
Wolf of Wall Street (2013).
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
Santa
vs Grinch
Bulls
vs Bears
Crypto
King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens
vs NWO
Neo
vs Agent Smith
John
McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO
vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
White Light vs Dark Matter
News
Pop
Culture
It’s
All About the Money [”The Million Dollar Man”
Ted DiBiase]
By
Jimmy Hart & J.J. Maguire
Intro
(Money,
money, money, money, money...)
[Verse
1]
(Money, money, money, money, money...)
Everybody's got a price
Everybody's gonna pay
(Money, money, money, money, money...)
Because the Million Dollar Man...
Always get his way
(Money, money, money, money, money...)
[Verse
2]
(Money, money, money, money, money...)
Some might cost a little
Some might cost a lot
(Money, money, money, money, money...)
But I'm the Million Dollar Man...
And you will be bought
(Money, money, money, money, money...)
[Outro]
(Money, money, money, money, money...)
News/Profile
Flashback
Vinnie
Vegas was a professional wrestling persona used by
the actor and retired professional wrestler Kevin
Nash from 1992 to 1993 in World Championship Wrestling
(WCW). This gimmick was a wisecracking pseudo-mobster
character, inspired by Steve Martin's character in
the 1990 film My Blue Heaven.
Career
Overview
WCW
Debut: Kevin Nash was repackaged as Vinnie Vegas on
January 21, 1992, at the event Clash of the Champions
XVIII.
Stables
and Tag Teams: He was initially part of a stable of
large wrestlers called "A Half-Ton of Holy Hell,"
managed by Harley Race. Later, he joined the "Diamond
Mine" stable led by Diamond Dallas Page, forming
a tag team known as the Vegas Connection. Other stablemates
included the future Scott Hall (Diamond Studd) and
Raven (Scotty Flamingo).
Departure
to WWF: The Vinnie Vegas character was not considered
successful due to a lack of character development
and inconsistent booking. Nash left WCW for the World
Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in June 1993,
where he achieved superstardom under the ring name
Diesel.
Later
Success: Nash later returned to WCW in 1996 and was
a founding member of the influential New World Order
(nWo) faction under his real name, Kevin Nash, and
the nickname "Big Sexy".
News/Profile
Flashback
Michael
Wall Street
"Michael
Wall Street" most commonly refers to Michael
Wallstreet, a ring name used by professional wrestler
Mike Rotunda (born 1958). It can also refer to Michael
Douglas, the actor famous for portraying the corporate
raider Gordon Gekko in the film Wall Street.
Professional
Wrestling (Mike Rotunda)
Mike
Rotunda adopted the persona of Michael Wallstreet
(and later V.K. Wallstreet) in World Championship
Wrestling (WCW) starting in 1990.
The
Gimmick: A wealthy "financial wizard" from
Lower Manhattan who used a computer (managed by Alexandra
York) to predict the length and outcome of his matches.
Signature
Moves: His finishing move was often called the "Stock
Market Crash".
Notable
Teams: He is also well-known for his time in the WWF
as Irwin R. Schyster (I.R.S.), where he teamed with
Ted DiBiase to form Money Inc..
Legacy:
Rotunda was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class
of 2024 as part of The U.S. Express.
Film
and Finance (Michael Douglas)
Gordon
Gekko: Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best
Actor for his role as Gordon Gekko in the 1987 film
Wall Street.
Cultural
Impact: The character became the archetypal symbol
of 1980s corporate greed, famous for the line "Greed,
for lack of a better word, is good".
Sequel:
Douglas reprised the role in the 2010 sequel, Wall
Street: Money Never Sleeps.
Current
Status (2026)
Mike
Rotunda: As of early 2026, Rotunda remains a respected
veteran in the wrestling industry. Recent reports
from late 2025 indicated he had been hospitalized
for a serious heart condition but was moved to a rehabilitation
center for recovery.
Michael
Douglas: He continues to be active in the entertainment
industry as an actor and producer.
Miners
Hancock
Prospecting
Hancock
Prospecting Pty Ltd is a privately owned Australian
company primarily involved in the mining of iron ore
and, increasingly, the agriculture sector. It is led
by Executive Chairwoman Gina Rinehart, Australia's
richest person.
Company
Overview
Founded:
25 November 1955 by Lang Hancock.
Headquarters: Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Ownership:
The company is privately held, with Gina Rinehart
owning the majority stake (76.6%).
Core
Business: Hancock Prospecting has evolved from purely
mineral exploration into a major producer, primarily
in iron ore and agriculture, and is considered one
of the most successful private mining companies in
the world.
Major
Projects and Investments
Hancock
Prospecting has a diverse portfolio of major projects
and strategic investments.
Roy
Hill: This is a mega integrated iron ore mine, rail,
and port project in the Pilbara region of Western
Australia, which is Australia's largest single iron
ore mine.
Hope
Downs: A significant iron ore project operated as
a 50/50 joint venture with Rio Tinto Iron Ore, which
includes four open-pit mines.
Atlas
Iron: Hancock Prospecting acquired Atlas Iron in 2018,
which operates several iron ore mines including Mount
Webber, Sanjiv Ridge, and Miralga Creek.
Agriculture:
Through its agribusiness division, Hancock Prospecting
is Australia's second-largest producer of beef with
ownership interests in numerous cattle stations and
a majority stake in S. Kidman & Co. It is also
a 50% partner in the award-winning Bannister Downs
Dairy.
Critical
Minerals and Energy: The company has diversified its
investments into other strategic commodities necessary
for the "green transition", including stakes
in publicly traded companies involved in:
Lithium:
Investments in Australian firms like Liontown Resources
and Azure Minerals, as well as Germany's Vulcan Energy
Resources.
Rare
Earths: Significant shareholdings in global rare earths
producers such as US-based MP Materials and Australia's
Lynas Rare Earths, as well as exploration-stage companies.
Copper,
Coal, Oil and Gas: Exploration and production interests
in these commodities across Australia and internationally,
including projects in Ecuador, Canada, and the UK.
Pop
Culture Flashback
Heart
Of Gold
Song by Neil Young ? 1972
Lyrics
I
want to live
I want to give
I've been a miner
For a heart of gold
It's
these expressions
I never give
That keep me searching
For a heart of gold
And I'm getting old
Keep me searching
For a heart of gold
And I'm getting old
I've
been to Hollywood
I've been to Redwood
I crossed the ocean
For a heart of gold
I've
been in my mind
It's such a fine line
That keeps me searching
For a heart of gold
And I'm getting old
Keeps me searching
For a heart of gold
And I'm getting old
Keep me searching
For a heart of gold
You
keep me searching
And I'm growing old
Keep me searching
For a heart of gold
I've been a miner
For a heart of gold
Markets,
Cryptos And Culture
January
2026
Digital
Bush Telegraph
Wrestling
With Numbers And Showbiz Edition; Mining For Intel!
Sin
City Sydney, Australia
Wednesday January 14
Past
High Noon Update
to
Wall
Street, New York
Lucky/Unlucky Tuesday January 13
ASX
futures up 5 points or 0.1% to 8789 near 6am AEST
AUD -0.4% at US66.85¢
Bitcoin $95,297.29 +4.38%
Dow -0.7% S&P -0.3% Nasdaq -0.3%
Gold +0.1% to $US4599.68 an ounce
Brent oil +2.9% at $US65.70 a barrel
Iron ore -0.9% at $US108.20 a ton
Numbers
Double Check
Australian
Dollar: $0.6680 USD (down $0.0033 USD) Iron Ore Feb
Spot Price: $108.20 USD (down $0.85 USD)
Oil Price: $61.11 USD (up $1.60 USD)
Gold Price: $4,582.10 USD (down $26.34 USD)
Copper Price: $6.0015 USD (down 0.0210 USD)
Dow Jones: 49,082.27 (down 507.93 points)
News
Shares
BHP
Group Ltd $48.02 +0.44 +0.91%
Elders
Ltd $7.49 +0.16 +2.11% (ASX)
Rio
Tinto plc ADR Common Stock $83.59 +0.71 +0.86%
Mineral
Resources ADR $39.49
TKO
Group Holdings Inc $208.89 +9.82 +4.94%
Tesla
Inc $447.20 -1.76 -0.39%
Trump
Media & Technology Group Corp
$13.99 +0.070 +0.50%
Palantir
Technologies Inc $178.96 -0.45 -0.25%
NVIDIA
Corp $185.81 +0.87 +0.47%
Netflix
Inc $90.32 +0.91+1.02%
Paramount
Skydance Corp $12.14 -0.0100 -0.082%
Alphabet
Inc Class A $335.97 +4.11 +1.24%
Microsoft
Corp $470.67 -6.51 -1.36%
Porsche
Automobile Holding SE Unsponsored Germany ADR $4.37
-0.026 -0.59%
Volvo
ADR $33.38 -0.51 -1.50% (Parent company of Mack Trucks)
Bally's
Corp $16.64 -0.0100 -0.060%
Wynn
Resorts Ltd $116.40 -0.44 -0.38%
MGM
Resorts International $34.65 -0.17 -0.49%
Red
Rock Resorts Inc $62.38 +0.51 +0.82%
News
Australia
ASX
rallies as copper surge boosts BHP, Rio
The
Australian sharemarket posted a solid gain on Tuesday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.6 per cent to close
at 8,808.5 points. The rising price of copper and
gold boosted the resources sector, with BHP up 2.3
per cent at $47.58 and Northern Star Resources ending
the session 3.6 per cent higher at $26.35. Suncorp
Group in turn finished one per cent higher at $17.26
and Austral advanced 6.7 per cent to $8.73. However,
Woodside Energy fell 1.7 per cent to $23.31 and GQG
Partners was down 8.6 per cent at $1.64. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
News
Mining
(Australia and World)
Rio
may finally land its Glencore megamerger
The
prospects of a merger between Rio Tinto and Glencore
may have been boosted by the former's appointment
of Simon Trott as CEO last year. He is like to be
more amenable to a deal than his predecessor, Jakob
Stausholm, who is said to have objected to Glencore's
proposal in previous merger talks that its CEO Gary
Nagle rather than himself should head the combined
group. Meanwhile, Rio Tinto's dual listing in Australia
and the UK may be a challenge in sealing a merger.
Glencore's coal mines are also likely to be problematic,
given that Rio Tinto has exited the sector and these
assets would conflict with its environmental, social
and governance policy. (RMS)
News
Crypto:
sell-the-growth continues
Market
Overview
The
crypto market capitalisation grew by 1% over the past
day and is down 1% from a week ago. Bitcoin received
a boost from reports of a criminal investigation against
the head of the Federal Reserve, which created momentum
for a flight from US assets. In our view, this precedent
is negative for risk appetite.
Bitcoin
jumped to $92,500 but saw a significant influx of
sellers, returning to $90,300 at the time of writing.
Testing of the 50-day moving average as support continues.
A slip below $90K could have a strong psychological
effect, quickly taking the price to $87K and then
sending it lower below $80K.
XRP
is losing for the seventh day in a row, like Bitcoin,
rolling back to the 50-day MA and close to the round
level of $2.0. The coin is still up 10% since the
beginning of the year, but the initial momentum has
clearly lost steam, as there are too many people in
the markets willing to sell on the rise. Most likely,
this change in strategy for all cryptocurrencies will
characterise the market in the coming months.
News
Background
The
total open interest in Bitcoin derivatives has fallen
to its lowest level since the end of 2022, according
to CryptoQuant. Historically, reaching such levels
has preceded periods of consolidation or even bullish
reversals.
Bitcoin
could reach $2.9 million by 2050 in a base case scenario,
according to VanEck's forecast. This will happen if
the first cryptocurrency becomes a currency for international
settlements and enters the reserves of central banks.
The main obstacle to mass adoption remains the scalability
of the network. VanEck emphasised the importance of
developing second-level solutions that will speed
up transactions and reduce commissions.
Monero
(XMR) is regaining its status as the leading anonymous
coin amid the crisis in the Zcash ecosystem following
the departure of its development team. The asset has
been growing steadily for several weeks, outperforming
most of its competitors in the sector.
There
are more and more signs in the crypto market pointing
to the end of the sell-off. Among them are the stabilisation
of outflows from ETFs, the situation with perpetual
futures and positions on the CME, according to JPMorgan.
MSCI's
decision on 6 January regarding companies accumulating
cryptocurrencies is also favourable for cryptocurrencies.
The global provider of stock indices has decided not
to exclude them from its indices during the review
in February 2026. (FxPro)
News
Crypto
market grows with risk appetite in stocks
Market
Overview
The
crypto market gained 0.75% over the past 24 hours
to $3.13T in another attempt to turn towards growth,
pushing off the 50-day moving average. Appetite for
crypto grew amid a rebound in US financial markets
during Monday’s trading and continued growth
in Japanese stocks on Tuesday morning. Steady risk
appetite began to spread to cryptocurrencies, which
had underperformed the market for many weeks.
Bitcoin
has exceeded $92K since Monday evening, attempting
to climb above levels seen a week ago. There were
wide fluctuations on Monday, with an impressive increase
in sales when the price rose above $92K, but this
did not deter the bulls from continuing their attempts.
It would be too hasty to conclude sustained risk appetite
while the price remains below previous local highs
of $95K. An optimistic view of the situation considers
a series of rising local lows since November.
Ethereum
is holding above $3,000, carefully forming a bottom
at this level over the past five days. At the end
of last month, a similar support level was near $2,920.
As with Bitcoin, ETH is trading above the 50-day MA,
but still below the local peak on 6 January.
News
Background
Retail
investors continue to offload loss-making assets due
to fears of volatility, which is increasing selling
pressure, according to CryptoQuant.
Profit-taking
and shifting expectations in the options market indicate
that investors are postponing bullish expectations
to a later date, not believing in a quick rally. Optimism
about a breakout in the first quarter is fading, QCP
Capital notes.
Views
of cryptocurrency content on YouTube have fallen to
their lowest levels since 2021, ITC Crypto notes.
A similar decline in social interest has also been
recorded on social network X.
According to Arkham Intelligence, the DAT company
BitMine has increased the amount of locked assets
on the Ethereum network to 1.08 million coins. The
value of the portfolio exceeded $3 billion.
The
theory of Ethereum’s ‘demise,’ based
on its prolonged decline against Bitcoin, is untenable,
said MN Trading founder Michael van de Poppe. In his
opinion, the ETH/BTC rate has already bottomed out.
The key argument in favour of growth is the increase
in the volume of stablecoins on the Ethereum network.
South
Korea has lifted its ban on corporate investment in
cryptocurrencies. Legal entities will be able to allocate
up to 5% of their share capital to coins from the
top 20 by market capitalisation, excluding stablecoins.
(FxPro)
News
The
yen returned to the Takaichi trade
The
dollar resumed its growth after the lawsuit against
the Fed chairman
Rumours
of early elections in Japan drove up USDJPY quotes.
‘We’re screwed!’ -- that’s how
Donald Trump described the possible Supreme Court’s
ruling against his tariffs. The US will have to return
hundreds of billions of dollars, not to mention the
cancellation of investments that other countries intended
to make in exchange for lower import duties. In fact,
the White House screwed up a little earlier when the
Justice Department informed Jerome Powell about the
lawsuit. The Fed chairman and the markets perceive
this event as a factor putting pressure on the central
bank. Lowering rates under pressure from the president
could lead to uncontrolled inflation, as has occurred
in several emerging market countries in the past.
Investors will demand a higher risk premium on bonds.
Higher Treasury yields will weigh on the economy.
The
greenback is poised to benefit from both the Supreme
Court’s repeal of tariffs and the lawsuit against
Jerome Powell. The latter led to a rise in EURUSD
and allowed the euro to be sold at a higher price.
The refund of previously paid fees could be seen as
a fiscal stimulus that will boost the US economy.
The strength of the dollar was one of the reasons
for the USDJPY’s surge to its highest level since
July 2024. The second factor was rumours of early
elections in Japan. The new prime minister’s
ratings are high, and she intends to strengthen the
Liberal Democratic Party’s position in parliament.
As a result, investors are returning to a so-called
‘Takaichi trade’ with stocks rising while
the yen is weakening.
The
USDJPY rally is forcing the government to return to
verbal interventions. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki
Katayama expressed concern about the speculative nature
of the yen’s weakening at a meeting with her
American counterpart. She said that Scott Bessent
is also unhappy with what is happening on Forex.
Now
the markets are trying to determine the levels of
Tokyo’s potential intervention in the international
currency market. In 2024, it resorted to currency
interventions four times near the 160 level, a very
close call with 159 now.
Gold
took advantage of the growing distrust of fiat currencies.
It reached a new record high. As a result, CME changed
its margin calculation methodology to reduce volatility.
Its increase at the end of 2025 caused precious metals
to retreat. (FxPro)
News
Crude
Oil counteracts
While
developments in Venezuela acted as a headwind for
oil prices, events surrounding Iran provided clear
support. Expectations of an influx of cheaper supply
from Latin America pushed Brent crude to its lowest
level in eight months. However, escalating tensions
in the Middle East helped North Sea crude find a floor
and rebound. The four-day rally in black gold highlights
a renewed rise in geopolitical risk premiums.
According
to Capital Economics, mass protests, oil workers'
strikes, the blockade of the shadow fleet, and Tehran's
threats to close the Strait of Hormuz could push Brent
prices up by $15-20 per barrel. Iran is a much larger
oil producer than Venezuela, ranking fourth in OPEC.
It accounts for about 3% of global production, or
3.3 million barrels per day. Exports are estimated
at 2 million barrels per day, with about 90% going
to China. The country's share of China's black gold
imports is estimated at 15%. Venezuela's share is
only 2%. Western sanctions have significantly undermined
Tehran's potential. At the peak of its glory in the
1970s, Iran's share of global production was 10%.
Investors are hedging against the risks of Brent's
rally continuing at its fastest pace since the joint
US-Israeli attack on Iran last summer. At the same
time, the market is considering two key scenarios
for further developments. Either there will be a supply
crisis, or the resumption of the trade war between
the United States and China will deal a blow to the
world economy and global demand for oil. Following
Donald Trump's announcement of additional 25% tariffs
on countries doing business with Tehran, such a scenario
is quite likely. Such a rapid rally in Brent would
not have happened if speculators had not built up
huge short positions in North Sea crude against the
backdrop of events in Venezuela. Their unwinding is
leading to a rebound. Demand for oil call options
has jumped to its highest level since October. A significant
share of them are trading with strike prices at $80
per barrel. (FxPro)
News
Sports
Culture
NRL
broadcast deal focus for game changes
The
Australian Rugby League Commission's chairman Peter
V'landys still hopes the NRL's next broadcasting rights
deal will be worth at least $5bn. He contends that
in order to achieve a record rights deal the NRL must
evolve by making rule changes that will make the sport
more exciting and attract new viewers. The ARLC and
the NRL are currently consulting with the league's
17 clubs regarding a number of proposed rule changes
for the 2026 season; they include giving the team
that concedes a try the option of either kicking off
or receiving the ball. V'Landys notes that previous
rule changes have boosted NRL viewership from just
137 million in 2019 to 224 million in 2025. (RMS)
News
Jan
12
Tech/A.I
Joint
statement from Google and Apple
Apple
and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration
under which the next generation of Apple Foundation
Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and
cloud technology. These models will help power future
Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized
Siri coming this year.
After
careful evaluation, Apple determined that Google's
Al technology provides the most capable foundation
for Apple Foundation Models and is excited about the
innovative new experiences it will unlock for Apple
users. Apple Intelligence will continue to run on
Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, while maintaining
Apple's industry-leading privacy standards. (Source:
Google/Alphabet)
https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/joint-statement-google-apple/
News
Pop
Culture
NETFLIX
BECOMES OFFICIAL HOME OF WWE LIBRARY IN UNITED STATES
January
6, 2026 – Netflix and WWE today announced an
expansion to their long-term partnership that will
see the world’s leading entertainment service
become the home of WWE’s library in the U.S.
Beginning
immediately, Netflix is the new U.S. home for WWE’s
library of Premium Live Events (prior to September
2025) including WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal
Rumble, as well as award-winning documentaries and
original programming.
This
follows the January 2025 launch of WWE on Netflix,
where Monday Night Raw has become a weekly staple
in the global English Top 10. Past episodes of Monday
Night Raw are also available as part of the WWE library
on Netflix.
The
arrival of WWE’s library on Netflix also comes
ahead of Season 2 of original behind-the-scenes documentary
series WWE: Unreal on January 20.
News
Pop
Culture
Pro
Wrestling
AJ
Styles Returns to TNA Wrestling LIVE January 15 on
Premiere of Thursday Night iMPACT! on AMC
Jan
9, 2026
The
premiere of Thursday Night iMPACT! on AMC will be
PHENOMENAL.
For
the first time since Slammiversary, AJ Styles makes
his jaw-dropping return to TNA Wrestling as a new
era begins LIVE January 15 from the Curtis Culwell
Center in Dallas, Texas.
What
will "The Phenomenal One" have in store
as TNA Wrestling makes history once again?
Also
on the loaded lineup:
Frankie
Kazarian vs. Mike Santana for the TNA World Championship
The
IInspiration vs. The Elegance Brand for the TNA Knockouts
World Tag Team Championship
Elijah
and The Hardys vs. Order 4
Plus
more!
Thursday
Night iMPACT! on AMC debuts January 15, 2026 at 9/8c
LIVE from the Curtis Culwell Center in Dallas, Texas.
News
Pop
Culture
Pro
Wrestling: WWE - Studio/Production News
WWE
is set to be an important part of a new initiative
that Fanatics is launching.
It
was announced today that Fanatics and production company
OBB Media have linked up to launch Fanatics Studios,
which will see Fanatics produce its own feature films
and documentaries, unscripted and scripted original
programming, live event specials, premium digital
series, and more. WWE is listed among the partners
— with a “multi-project commitment across
unscripted and digital content.”
"YEE(A)T
with The Usos: Fanatics Studios will debut an unscripted
culinary series with WWE Superstars Jimmy and Jey
Uso, who will take their tag team efforts on the road
with a BBQ travel show featuring fellow WWE superstars
and celebrity friends distributed across WWE’s
social and YouTube channels"
News
Jan
12
Netflix
- WWE News
“Netflix
members welcomed WWE with a bang (but thankfully,
no permanent injuries). In 2025, our members watched
525M hours of WWE content”... “Of this total,
Raw accounted for nearly 340M views and 185M views
for Premium Live Events broadcast outside of the US
like SmackDown, WrestleMania, Elimination Chamber,
Money in the Bank, Night of Champions and Royal Rumble.”
...
Netflix
scribed that Raw ranked in the top 10 of its category
most weeks, with it only falling outside of the rankings
in December when “Stranger Things” took
up much of the top 10.
“Since
Raw’s official Netflix debut on January 6, 2025,
the show has made the Global English TV Top 10 nearly
every week it’s been on service (47 out of a
possible 52 weeks),” Netflix wrote. “Over
52 shows, Raw has averaged more than 3M views per
week.
“And
it’s not just in the US, the birthplace of the
WWE. Raw has made the Top 10 in 34 countries, including
the US (51 weeks), Bolivia (49 weeks), Canada (48
weeks), the UK (40 weeks) and Mexico (38 weeks).”
Media/TV
Biz
Research:
Netflix leads growth in streaming ad-tiers
Jan
13
Global
usage of ad-supported subscription tiers increased
across Netflix, Disney+ and HBO Max between Q4 2024
and Q3 2025, according to research from Digital i.
The
highest growth in adoption was on Netflix, with 40
per cent of active accounts using its Standard with
Ads plan in Q3 2025, in the 20 countries measured
by Digital i.
This
was up by 14 per cent from the 26 per cent of subscribers
on that tier in Q4 2024 that were recorded in Digital
i’s trend report, Evolving Streamer Strategies,
in 2025.
Ad-supported
tier usage rose from 35 per cent to 44 per cent on
Disney+ during that period and from 22 per cent to
28 per cent on HBO Max. Prime Video remained the service
with the highest ad-supported tier usage, but this
fell from 88 per cent of subscribers in Q4 2024 to
82 per cent in Q3 2025.
Digital
i measures streaming audience data in the UK, the
US, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, France,
Italy, Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Poland, Denmark,
Finland, Sweden, Norway, Australia, South Korea and
Japan. (Wires)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
Santa
vs Grinch
Bulls vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
Google Deepmind and Gemini vs X
Paul Bros vs Lucha Bros
Office Workers vs Field Workers
Markets,
Cryptos And Culture
January
2026
Digital
Bush Telegraph
Wrestling
With Numbers And Showbiz Edition; Mining For Intel!
Sin
City Sydney, Australia
Wednesday January 14
Past
High Noon Update
to
Wall
Street, New York
Lucky/Unlucky Tuesday January 13
ASX
futures up 5 points or 0.1% to 8789 near 6am AEST
AUD -0.4% at US66.85¢
Bitcoin $95,297.29 +4.38%
Dow -0.7% S&P -0.3% Nasdaq -0.3%
Gold +0.1% to $US4599.68 an ounce
Brent oil +2.9% at $US65.70 a barrel
Iron ore -0.9% at $US108.20 a ton
Numbers
Double Check
Australian
Dollar: $0.6680 USD (down $0.0033 USD) Iron Ore Feb
Spot Price: $108.20 USD (down $0.85 USD)
Oil Price: $61.11 USD (up $1.60 USD)
Gold Price: $4,582.10 USD (down $26.34 USD)
Copper Price: $6.0015 USD (down 0.0210 USD)
Dow Jones: 49,082.27 (down 507.93 points)
News
Shares
BHP
Group Ltd $48.02 +0.44 +0.91%
Elders
Ltd $7.49 +0.16 +2.11% (ASX)
Rio
Tinto plc ADR Common Stock $83.59 +0.71 +0.86%
Mineral
Resources ADR $39.49
TKO
Group Holdings Inc $208.89 +9.82 +4.94%
Tesla
Inc $447.20 -1.76 -0.39%
Trump
Media & Technology Group Corp
$13.99 +0.070 +0.50%
Palantir
Technologies Inc $178.96 -0.45 -0.25%
NVIDIA
Corp $185.81 +0.87 +0.47%
Netflix
Inc $90.32 +0.91+1.02%
Paramount
Skydance Corp $12.14 -0.0100 -0.082%
Alphabet
Inc Class A $335.97 +4.11 +1.24%
Microsoft
Corp $470.67 -6.51 -1.36%
Porsche
Automobile Holding SE Unsponsored Germany ADR $4.37
-0.026 -0.59%
Volvo
ADR $33.38 -0.51 -1.50% (Parent company of Mack Trucks)
Bally's
Corp $16.64 -0.0100 -0.060%
Wynn
Resorts Ltd $116.40 -0.44 -0.38%
MGM
Resorts International $34.65 -0.17 -0.49%
Red
Rock Resorts Inc $62.38 +0.51 +0.82%
News
Australia
ASX
rallies as copper surge boosts BHP, Rio
The
Australian sharemarket posted a solid gain on Tuesday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.6 per cent to close
at 8,808.5 points. The rising price of copper and
gold boosted the resources sector, with BHP up 2.3
per cent at $47.58 and Northern Star Resources ending
the session 3.6 per cent higher at $26.35. Suncorp
Group in turn finished one per cent higher at $17.26
and Austral advanced 6.7 per cent to $8.73. However,
Woodside Energy fell 1.7 per cent to $23.31 and GQG
Partners was down 8.6 per cent at $1.64. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
News
Mining
(Australia and World)
Rio
may finally land its Glencore megamerger
The
prospects of a merger between Rio Tinto and Glencore
may have been boosted by the former's appointment
of Simon Trott as CEO last year. He is like to be
more amenable to a deal than his predecessor, Jakob
Stausholm, who is said to have objected to Glencore's
proposal in previous merger talks that its CEO Gary
Nagle rather than himself should head the combined
group. Meanwhile, Rio Tinto's dual listing in Australia
and the UK may be a challenge in sealing a merger.
Glencore's coal mines are also likely to be problematic,
given that Rio Tinto has exited the sector and these
assets would conflict with its environmental, social
and governance policy. (RMS)
News
Crypto:
sell-the-growth continues
Market
Overview
The
crypto market capitalisation grew by 1% over the past
day and is down 1% from a week ago. Bitcoin received
a boost from reports of a criminal investigation against
the head of the Federal Reserve, which created momentum
for a flight from US assets. In our view, this precedent
is negative for risk appetite.
Bitcoin
jumped to $92,500 but saw a significant influx of
sellers, returning to $90,300 at the time of writing.
Testing of the 50-day moving average as support continues.
A slip below $90K could have a strong psychological
effect, quickly taking the price to $87K and then
sending it lower below $80K.
XRP
is losing for the seventh day in a row, like Bitcoin,
rolling back to the 50-day MA and close to the round
level of $2.0. The coin is still up 10% since the
beginning of the year, but the initial momentum has
clearly lost steam, as there are too many people in
the markets willing to sell on the rise. Most likely,
this change in strategy for all cryptocurrencies will
characterise the market in the coming months.
News
Background
The
total open interest in Bitcoin derivatives has fallen
to its lowest level since the end of 2022, according
to CryptoQuant. Historically, reaching such levels
has preceded periods of consolidation or even bullish
reversals.
Bitcoin
could reach $2.9 million by 2050 in a base case scenario,
according to VanEck's forecast. This will happen if
the first cryptocurrency becomes a currency for international
settlements and enters the reserves of central banks.
The main obstacle to mass adoption remains the scalability
of the network. VanEck emphasised the importance of
developing second-level solutions that will speed
up transactions and reduce commissions.
Monero
(XMR) is regaining its status as the leading anonymous
coin amid the crisis in the Zcash ecosystem following
the departure of its development team. The asset has
been growing steadily for several weeks, outperforming
most of its competitors in the sector.
There
are more and more signs in the crypto market pointing
to the end of the sell-off. Among them are the stabilisation
of outflows from ETFs, the situation with perpetual
futures and positions on the CME, according to JPMorgan.
MSCI's
decision on 6 January regarding companies accumulating
cryptocurrencies is also favourable for cryptocurrencies.
The global provider of stock indices has decided not
to exclude them from its indices during the review
in February 2026. (FxPro)
News
Crypto
market grows with risk appetite in stocks
Market
Overview
The
crypto market gained 0.75% over the past 24 hours
to $3.13T in another attempt to turn towards growth,
pushing off the 50-day moving average. Appetite for
crypto grew amid a rebound in US financial markets
during Monday’s trading and continued growth
in Japanese stocks on Tuesday morning. Steady risk
appetite began to spread to cryptocurrencies, which
had underperformed the market for many weeks.
Bitcoin
has exceeded $92K since Monday evening, attempting
to climb above levels seen a week ago. There were
wide fluctuations on Monday, with an impressive increase
in sales when the price rose above $92K, but this
did not deter the bulls from continuing their attempts.
It would be too hasty to conclude sustained risk appetite
while the price remains below previous local highs
of $95K. An optimistic view of the situation considers
a series of rising local lows since November.
Ethereum
is holding above $3,000, carefully forming a bottom
at this level over the past five days. At the end
of last month, a similar support level was near $2,920.
As with Bitcoin, ETH is trading above the 50-day MA,
but still below the local peak on 6 January.
News
Background
Retail
investors continue to offload loss-making assets due
to fears of volatility, which is increasing selling
pressure, according to CryptoQuant.
Profit-taking
and shifting expectations in the options market indicate
that investors are postponing bullish expectations
to a later date, not believing in a quick rally. Optimism
about a breakout in the first quarter is fading, QCP
Capital notes.
Views
of cryptocurrency content on YouTube have fallen to
their lowest levels since 2021, ITC Crypto notes.
A similar decline in social interest has also been
recorded on social network X.
According to Arkham Intelligence, the DAT company
BitMine has increased the amount of locked assets
on the Ethereum network to 1.08 million coins. The
value of the portfolio exceeded $3 billion.
The
theory of Ethereum’s ‘demise,’ based
on its prolonged decline against Bitcoin, is untenable,
said MN Trading founder Michael van de Poppe. In his
opinion, the ETH/BTC rate has already bottomed out.
The key argument in favour of growth is the increase
in the volume of stablecoins on the Ethereum network.
South
Korea has lifted its ban on corporate investment in
cryptocurrencies. Legal entities will be able to allocate
up to 5% of their share capital to coins from the
top 20 by market capitalisation, excluding stablecoins.
(FxPro)
News
The
yen returned to the Takaichi trade
The
dollar resumed its growth after the lawsuit against
the Fed chairman
Rumours
of early elections in Japan drove up USDJPY quotes.
‘We’re screwed!’ -- that’s how
Donald Trump described the possible Supreme Court’s
ruling against his tariffs. The US will have to return
hundreds of billions of dollars, not to mention the
cancellation of investments that other countries intended
to make in exchange for lower import duties. In fact,
the White House screwed up a little earlier when the
Justice Department informed Jerome Powell about the
lawsuit. The Fed chairman and the markets perceive
this event as a factor putting pressure on the central
bank. Lowering rates under pressure from the president
could lead to uncontrolled inflation, as has occurred
in several emerging market countries in the past.
Investors will demand a higher risk premium on bonds.
Higher Treasury yields will weigh on the economy.
The
greenback is poised to benefit from both the Supreme
Court’s repeal of tariffs and the lawsuit against
Jerome Powell. The latter led to a rise in EURUSD
and allowed the euro to be sold at a higher price.
The refund of previously paid fees could be seen as
a fiscal stimulus that will boost the US economy.
The strength of the dollar was one of the reasons
for the USDJPY’s surge to its highest level since
July 2024. The second factor was rumours of early
elections in Japan. The new prime minister’s
ratings are high, and she intends to strengthen the
Liberal Democratic Party’s position in parliament.
As a result, investors are returning to a so-called
‘Takaichi trade’ with stocks rising while
the yen is weakening.
The
USDJPY rally is forcing the government to return to
verbal interventions. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki
Katayama expressed concern about the speculative nature
of the yen’s weakening at a meeting with her
American counterpart. She said that Scott Bessent
is also unhappy with what is happening on Forex.
Now
the markets are trying to determine the levels of
Tokyo’s potential intervention in the international
currency market. In 2024, it resorted to currency
interventions four times near the 160 level, a very
close call with 159 now.
Gold
took advantage of the growing distrust of fiat currencies.
It reached a new record high. As a result, CME changed
its margin calculation methodology to reduce volatility.
Its increase at the end of 2025 caused precious metals
to retreat. (FxPro)
News
Crude
Oil counteracts
While
developments in Venezuela acted as a headwind for
oil prices, events surrounding Iran provided clear
support. Expectations of an influx of cheaper supply
from Latin America pushed Brent crude to its lowest
level in eight months. However, escalating tensions
in the Middle East helped North Sea crude find a floor
and rebound. The four-day rally in black gold highlights
a renewed rise in geopolitical risk premiums.
According
to Capital Economics, mass protests, oil workers'
strikes, the blockade of the shadow fleet, and Tehran's
threats to close the Strait of Hormuz could push Brent
prices up by $15-20 per barrel. Iran is a much larger
oil producer than Venezuela, ranking fourth in OPEC.
It accounts for about 3% of global production, or
3.3 million barrels per day. Exports are estimated
at 2 million barrels per day, with about 90% going
to China. The country's share of China's black gold
imports is estimated at 15%. Venezuela's share is
only 2%. Western sanctions have significantly undermined
Tehran's potential. At the peak of its glory in the
1970s, Iran's share of global production was 10%.
Investors are hedging against the risks of Brent's
rally continuing at its fastest pace since the joint
US-Israeli attack on Iran last summer. At the same
time, the market is considering two key scenarios
for further developments. Either there will be a supply
crisis, or the resumption of the trade war between
the United States and China will deal a blow to the
world economy and global demand for oil. Following
Donald Trump's announcement of additional 25% tariffs
on countries doing business with Tehran, such a scenario
is quite likely. Such a rapid rally in Brent would
not have happened if speculators had not built up
huge short positions in North Sea crude against the
backdrop of events in Venezuela. Their unwinding is
leading to a rebound. Demand for oil call options
has jumped to its highest level since October. A significant
share of them are trading with strike prices at $80
per barrel. (FxPro)
News
Sports
Culture
NRL
broadcast deal focus for game changes
The
Australian Rugby League Commission's chairman Peter
V'landys still hopes the NRL's next broadcasting rights
deal will be worth at least $5bn. He contends that
in order to achieve a record rights deal the NRL must
evolve by making rule changes that will make the sport
more exciting and attract new viewers. The ARLC and
the NRL are currently consulting with the league's
17 clubs regarding a number of proposed rule changes
for the 2026 season; they include giving the team
that concedes a try the option of either kicking off
or receiving the ball. V'Landys notes that previous
rule changes have boosted NRL viewership from just
137 million in 2019 to 224 million in 2025. (RMS)
News
Jan
12
Tech/A.I
Joint
statement from Google and Apple
Apple
and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration
under which the next generation of Apple Foundation
Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and
cloud technology. These models will help power future
Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized
Siri coming this year.
After
careful evaluation, Apple determined that Google's
Al technology provides the most capable foundation
for Apple Foundation Models and is excited about the
innovative new experiences it will unlock for Apple
users. Apple Intelligence will continue to run on
Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, while maintaining
Apple's industry-leading privacy standards. (Source:
Google/Alphabet)
https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/joint-statement-google-apple/
News
Pop
Culture
NETFLIX
BECOMES OFFICIAL HOME OF WWE LIBRARY IN UNITED STATES
January
6, 2026 – Netflix and WWE today announced an
expansion to their long-term partnership that will
see the world’s leading entertainment service
become the home of WWE’s library in the U.S.
Beginning
immediately, Netflix is the new U.S. home for WWE’s
library of Premium Live Events (prior to September
2025) including WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal
Rumble, as well as award-winning documentaries and
original programming.
This
follows the January 2025 launch of WWE on Netflix,
where Monday Night Raw has become a weekly staple
in the global English Top 10. Past episodes of Monday
Night Raw are also available as part of the WWE library
on Netflix.
The
arrival of WWE’s library on Netflix also comes
ahead of Season 2 of original behind-the-scenes documentary
series WWE: Unreal on January 20.
News
Pop
Culture
Pro
Wrestling
AJ
Styles Returns to TNA Wrestling LIVE January 15 on
Premiere of Thursday Night iMPACT! on AMC
Jan
9, 2026
The
premiere of Thursday Night iMPACT! on AMC will be
PHENOMENAL.
For
the first time since Slammiversary, AJ Styles makes
his jaw-dropping return to TNA Wrestling as a new
era begins LIVE January 15 from the Curtis Culwell
Center in Dallas, Texas.
What
will "The Phenomenal One" have in store
as TNA Wrestling makes history once again?
Also
on the loaded lineup:
Frankie
Kazarian vs. Mike Santana for the TNA World Championship
The
IInspiration vs. The Elegance Brand for the TNA Knockouts
World Tag Team Championship
Elijah
and The Hardys vs. Order 4
Plus
more!
Thursday
Night iMPACT! on AMC debuts January 15, 2026 at 9/8c
LIVE from the Curtis Culwell Center in Dallas, Texas.
News
Pop
Culture
Pro
Wrestling: WWE - Studio/Production News
WWE
is set to be an important part of a new initiative
that Fanatics is launching.
It
was announced today that Fanatics and production company
OBB Media have linked up to launch Fanatics Studios,
which will see Fanatics produce its own feature films
and documentaries, unscripted and scripted original
programming, live event specials, premium digital
series, and more. WWE is listed among the partners
— with a “multi-project commitment across
unscripted and digital content.”
"YEE(A)T
with The Usos: Fanatics Studios will debut an unscripted
culinary series with WWE Superstars Jimmy and Jey
Uso, who will take their tag team efforts on the road
with a BBQ travel show featuring fellow WWE superstars
and celebrity friends distributed across WWE’s
social and YouTube channels"
News
Jan
12
Netflix
- WWE News
“Netflix
members welcomed WWE with a bang (but thankfully,
no permanent injuries). In 2025, our members watched
525M hours of WWE content”... “Of this total,
Raw accounted for nearly 340M views and 185M views
for Premium Live Events broadcast outside of the US
like SmackDown, WrestleMania, Elimination Chamber,
Money in the Bank, Night of Champions and Royal Rumble.”
...
Netflix
scribed that Raw ranked in the top 10 of its category
most weeks, with it only falling outside of the rankings
in December when “Stranger Things” took
up much of the top 10.
“Since
Raw’s official Netflix debut on January 6, 2025,
the show has made the Global English TV Top 10 nearly
every week it’s been on service (47 out of a
possible 52 weeks),” Netflix wrote. “Over
52 shows, Raw has averaged more than 3M views per
week.
“And
it’s not just in the US, the birthplace of the
WWE. Raw has made the Top 10 in 34 countries, including
the US (51 weeks), Bolivia (49 weeks), Canada (48
weeks), the UK (40 weeks) and Mexico (38 weeks).”
Media/TV
Biz
Research:
Netflix leads growth in streaming ad-tiers
Jan
13
Global
usage of ad-supported subscription tiers increased
across Netflix, Disney+ and HBO Max between Q4 2024
and Q3 2025, according to research from Digital i.
The
highest growth in adoption was on Netflix, with 40
per cent of active accounts using its Standard with
Ads plan in Q3 2025, in the 20 countries measured
by Digital i.
This
was up by 14 per cent from the 26 per cent of subscribers
on that tier in Q4 2024 that were recorded in Digital
i’s trend report, Evolving Streamer Strategies,
in 2025.
Ad-supported
tier usage rose from 35 per cent to 44 per cent on
Disney+ during that period and from 22 per cent to
28 per cent on HBO Max. Prime Video remained the service
with the highest ad-supported tier usage, but this
fell from 88 per cent of subscribers in Q4 2024 to
82 per cent in Q3 2025.
Digital
i measures streaming audience data in the UK, the
US, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, France,
Italy, Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Poland, Denmark,
Finland, Sweden, Norway, Australia, South Korea and
Japan. (Wires)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
Santa
vs Grinch
Bulls vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
Google Deepmind and Gemini vs X
Paul Bros vs Lucha Bros
Office Workers vs Field Workers
Markets,
Crypto and Culture
January
2026
Sin
City Sydney, Australia to Wall Street, New York
Mining,
Media and Intel
Digital
Bush Telegraph
Jan
12
ASX
futures up 12 points or 0.1%/8697
AUD flat at US66.94¢
Bitcoin $90,571.34 - 0.17%
Dow +0.5%
S&P +0.7%
Nasdaq +0.8%
Gold +0.7% to $US4509.50 an ounce
Brent oil +2.2% at $US63.34 a barrel
Iron ore +0.4% at $US108.30 a ton
Shares
Before
The Bell
Media
Man Favs
TKO
Group Holdings Inc $199.63 -2.46 -1.22%
Netflix Inc $89.44 -1.09 -1.21%
Paramount Skydance Corp $12.06 -0.21 -1.71%
Tesla Inc $445.01 +9.21 +2.11%
Microsoft Corp $479.28 +1.17 +0.24%
Alphabet Inc Class A $328.57 +3.13 +0.96%
News
Numbers
Double Check
Australian
Dollar: $0.6671 USD (down $0.0022 USD)
Iron Ore Feb Spot Price: $108.30 USD (up $0.05 USD)
Oil Price: $59.12 USD (up $0.90 USD)
Gold Price: $4,509.20 USD (up $52.48 USD)
Copper Price: $5.8905 USD (up 0.0990 USD)
Dow Jones: 49,504.07 (up 237.96 points)
News
Lead Up
Jan
10
ASX
200 futures up 29 points/0.3 per cent to 8714
AUD
-0.1% to US66.90¢
Bitcoin
$90,338.65 -0.95%
Wall
St:
Dow +0.5%
S&P +0.7%
Nasdaq +0.8%
VIX -0.97 to 14.48
Gold +0.6% to $US4506.19 an ounce
Brent oil +1.7% to $US63.02 a barrel
Iron ore +0.4% to $US108.30 a ton
10-year
yield:
US 4.17%
Australia 4.68%
News
Geopolitics
will destroy the euro
EURUSD
falls due to geopolitics and expectations of tariff
removal
Gold
returns to debasement trading
The
US dollar continued its advance on Forex thanks to
a new batch of strong macro statistics. Jobless claims
rose less than expected. Productivity rose to a two-year
high, and the US trade deficit unexpectedly narrowed
to its lowest level since 2009. Donald Trump's plan
to balance foreign trade with import tariffs is working.
However, the Supreme Court may rule the tariffs illegal
by the end of the week on 9 January. The cancellation
of import duties would return funds to American companies
and households, which have largely absorbed the cost
of tariffs that previously weighed on economic growth.
The US economy has continued to expand, supported
by investment in artificial intelligence, rising productivity,
and the wealth effect created by record equity markets
that have boosted household prosperity. The return
of tariff revenues would effectively act as a fiscal
stimulus, increasing disposable income and corporate
cash flow. As a result, GDP growth and inflationary
pressures are likely to accelerate. This combination
will create another barrier to lowering the federal
funds rate. Stephen Miron's calls to cut it by 150
basis points in 2026 seem like a voice crying in the
wilderness. Most FOMC members understand perfectly
well what the return of money from tariffs could lead
to. The hawks will gain a strong trump card, the pause
in the monetary expansion cycle will be prolonged,
and the US dollar will benefit from this. Rumours
of additional sanctions against Russia are putting
pressure on the EURUSD. Diplomatic efforts to bring
peace to Ukraine are not yielding results, and the
continuation of the armed conflict will continue to
hold back the eurozone economy. Events in Venezuela
and talk of Greenland joining the US are increasing
geopolitical tensions. According to ECB Vice-President
Luis Guindos, this could hurt business, and increased
household savings will slow GDP growth. Despite the
strengthening of the US dollar, gold has managed to
counterattack. The precious metal is able to benefit
from the Supreme Court's repeal of tariffs. The return
of money will lead to an increase in the US budget
deficit and public debt. These processes underlie
debasement trading. In 2025, it became one of the
key drivers of the 65% rally in XAUUSD. (FxPro)
News
From
gold to crypto, fundies name their top trades for
2026
It’s
not all about gold in 2026 as investors reveal their
high-conviction plays across the ASX, commodities,
currencies and bitcoin.
Jan
7
Investors
have headed into the new year convinced that the roaring
bull market in safe havens like gold and silver will
not be the only game in town for making money.
While
the record run for gold is expected to hold its ground,
fund managers and strategists say the road map for
financial markets will start to broaden into slightly
more adventurous territory.
After
12 months of the ASX struggling to keep pace with
its international peers and the stubborn weakness
in the Australian dollar, bitcoin is among the assets
tipped to make a comeback.
The
market is expected to shift its focus towards the
changing of the guard at the US Federal Reserve and
the path of global interest rates.
Against
this backdrop, here are some of the top trades that
professional investors have made across asset classes
for 2026.
Commodities
Geologist turned fund manager Rick Squire at Acorn
Capital says the multi-year rally in gold will continue,
but he is betting that producers of the yellow metal
and businesses with advanced development projects
like Golden Horse Minerals and Rox Resources will
be the biggest winners.
“The
best gains will come from developers or companies
starting up new operations,” he says. “Explorers
may also start to run, but that will be in late 2026
or later.”
Argonaut’s
David Franklyn is the most bullish on uranium as major
global economies look to nuclear energy as a component
of their base load power.
Perennial’s
resource specialist Sam Berridge agrees, adding that
uranium could be the next critical mineral that the
US backs as a means of spurring investment in domestic
supply.
“The
nuclear renaissance 2.0 accelerated materially into
the close of 2025,” Berridge says.
In
a more contrarian pick, Richard Morrow, who runs the
Lowell Resources Fund, believes oil will shrug off
concerns about oversupply and bounce back as the US
dollar continues to soften. Brent prices lost 16 per
cent last year because of a global supply glut.
Stocks
While the broader sharemarket is tipped to grind higher
in 2026, Australian Ethical head of Australian equities
Nathan Parkin says some of the best opportunities
are in building materials, particularly companies
with meaningful US exposure such as Reece.
While
the stock declined into the back half of 2025, causing
it to slip out of the ASX 100, Parkin believes Reece’s
earnings have finally bottomed. “The propensity
for those earnings is to be sharply higher in the
next few years,” he says.
Parkin
also likes Reliance Worldwide, describing its focus
more on home repair and maintenance rather than new
builds that is still leveraged to a recovery in building
demand.
Aaron
Binsted of Lazard Asset Management, meanwhile, says
he has shifted his focus to more long-term bets for
2026 and is betting on logistics and moving away from
the local tech sector.
His
top picks are New Zealand-based Mainfreight and Freightways.
“As
the economy turns, we’re expecting those to be
good long-term earnings per share and dividend growers,”
Binsted says.
For
Morningstar director of equity research Johannes Faul,
the best opportunities are in the smaller retailers
– specifically fast food and footwear. Faul says
that stocks such as Domino’s Pizza have been
unfairly beaten down, creating attractive entry points.
He’s
also backing Accent Group, the firm behind several
shoe retailers including Hype and Platypus. He says
the company’s recent share price slump is “overdone”
that has left the stock trading at a deep discount.
Foreign
exchange
Currency strategists are betting on a stronger Australian
dollar as the Reserve Bank of Australia keeps interest
rates high, while other central banks like in Europe
and the US look to cut.
Alvise
Marino of UBS favours the Aussie against the euro
as the German economy falters. He says Australia’s
lower debt and higher rates make it the safer bet.
“The Aussie is likely to retain an interest rate
advantage,” he adds.
The
strategist has forecast the euro to drop to $1.70
by late 2026, from $1.75 currently.
Westpac’s
Richard Franulovich and NAB’s Ray Attrill, meanwhile,
are backing the Aussie against the US dollar. They
expect a “diverging” rate path with the
Fed to cut the benchmark while the RBA could look
to hike.
Attrill
adds that a new and likely more “dovish”
head of the Fed when chairman Jerome Powell steps
down in May will provide an extra tailwind.
Cryptocurrency
In the world of digital assets, Merkle Tree Capital
chief investment officer Ryan McMillin is expecting
bitcoin to rebound later in the year as the Trump
administration “runs the economy hot” heading
into the midterm elections.
While
bond markets imply at least two US rate cuts in 2026,
McMillin is expecting even more easing to be priced
once US President Donald Trump names the new Fed chief.
“We
see 2026 as a year where market structure and macro
finally catch up with the underlying progress,”
he says. “Bitcoin to new all-time highs in the
second half … led by institutional flows rather
than retail leverage.”
Crypto
exchange giant Coinbase believes bitcoin will lead
a digital rally in the first half before smaller alt-coins
play catch up later in the year.
Global
head of institutional research David Duong notes that
there is $US7.5 trillion ($11.2 trillion) sitting
in US money market funds which will be partially redeployed
into crypto markets as the Fed cuts rates.
Citi
forecasts bitcoin will soar to a record $US143,000
this year, up from about $US93,747 currently, and
ethereum will climb to $US4304, up from $US3224, driven
by a rebound in demand for exchange-traded funds.
Fixed
income
Matthew Wacher, Morningstar’s chief investment
officer for Asia-Pacific, likes Australian 10-year
government bonds. He argues that with yields of about
4.8 per cent, the bonds offer a better balance of
reward and safety than riskier corporate loans or
US debt.
“The
safety of Aussie government bonds and such yields
are pretty attractive. They can give your portfolio
a lot of protection,” he says, noting they currently
offer the best “risk-adjusted” returns for
the year ahead.
Australia
is one of only nine countries with a top-notch triple-A
rating by the top three rating agencies.
In
addition to Australian government bonds, Tim Hext
at Pendal is also bullish on gilts, adding that he
likes how both Australia and the UK governments are
managing their budgets. “At the end of the day,
fiscal policy matters more than monetary policy,”
he says.
While
the United States and Germany continue to spend freely,
he says Australia and the UK are cutting public spending
or raising taxes. It’s for this reason Hext is
betting against US and German government bonds and
expects both to perform poorly by comparison. (AFR)
*Full article and coverage via subscription to The
Australian Financial Review
News
The
Australian Financial Review wins Media Man 'Newspaper
Of The Month' award
News
Lead Up
24
Hours ago
Jan
9
ASX
200 futures up 26 points/0.3 per cent to 8716
AUD
-0.4% to US66.95¢
Bitcoin
$91,020.37 -0.34%
Wall
St:
Dow +0.5%
S&P -0.1%
Nasdaq -0.6%
VIX
+0.19 to 15.57
Gold
+0.1% to $US4459.27 an ounce
Brent oil +4.3% to $US62.55 a barrel
Iron ore -0.7% to $US108.25 a tonne
10-year yield: US 4.18% Australia 4.66%
News
Crypto
fails to find support for a breakout
Market
Overview
The
crypto market remained under pressure throughout Wednesday
and early trading on Thursday, losing about 4% of
its capitalisation to $3.08 trillion over the day.
The market once again confirmed its cautious sentiment,
retreating from the upper boundary of the consolidation
range of the last eight weeks. The retreat of the
stock markets created an unfavourable backdrop, and
cryptocurrencies were unable to move from a rebound
mode after the decline to a full-fledged recovery.
Bitcoin
plunged below $90K on Thursday morning after bears
seized the initiative at the end of the day on 5 January.
At its lowest point, BTC approached the 50-day moving
average, above which it climbed at the start of the
year. The end of the week will bring an answer to
the question of whether this curve has become a support
level or whether we saw a false breakout at the start
of the year.
News
Background
Bitcoin
could reach a new all-time high this year, said Bill
Miller, investment director at Miller Value Partners.
According to him, major Wall Street players are once
again showing interest in the asset.
Institutional
investors are again buying more Bitcoin through ETFs
than miners are mining per day, notes analyst Charles
Edwards. On-chain demand is still weak, but there
are signs of a return of liquidity on Binance.
The
main catalyst for Ethereum's growth in the new year
will be crypto neobanks, not speculative traders,
according to http://Ether.fi. Such platforms are capable
of attracting many more crypto users than spot ETFs.
On
7 January, Ethereum developers implemented the Blob
Parameter-Only (BPO) fork on the main network, which
increases the BLOB object limit from 15 to 21. This
will allow more transactions to be processed simultaneously,
increasing the efficiency of the blockchain without
the direct risk of overload.
Ripple
has announced that it has no plans to go public, despite
Wall Street's $40 billion valuation. Ripple's strong
institutional support and overall treasury size have
virtually eliminated the need for additional funding.
Privacy
is a critical feature necessary for the development
of global finance on the blockchain, which is why
it will become a major focus in the crypto industry
in 2026, according to a16z crypto. (FxPro)
News
Numbers
Double Check
Australian
Dollar: $0.6693 USD (down $0.0027 USD) Iron Ore: $108.25
USD (down $0.75 USD)
Oil Price : $58.22 USD (up $2.02 USD)
Gold Price: $4,456.72 USD (down $0.58 USD)
Copper Price: $5.7915 USD (down 0.0565 USD)
Dow Jones: 49,235.09 (up 239.01 points)
Media
Man Favs
TKO
Group Holdings Inc $202.09 -0.85 -0.42%
Tesla
Inc $435.80 +4.39 +1.02%
Rio
Tinto Ltd $144.53 -8.10 -5.31% (ASX)
Netflix
Inc $90.53 -0.19 -0.21%
Porsche
Automobile Holding SE Unsponsored Germany ADR $4.45
-0.020 -0.45%
Mercedes
Benz Group ADR $17.42 -0.11 - 0.63%
Volvo
ADR (Parent of Mack Trucks) $33.31 -0.100 -0.30%
Microsoft
Corp $478.11 -5.36 -1.11%
Wynn
Resorts Ltd $118.27 +1.90 +1.63%
MGM
Resorts International $35.15 +1.03 +3.03%
News
Australia
Jan
9
ASX
gains on tech and health; Ansell dives 6pc
The
Australian sharemarket posted a modest gain on Thursday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.3 per cent to close
at 8,72.8 points. WiseTech Global was up 2.2 per cent
at $68.28, CSL advanced 2.6 per cent to $174.45 and
Monadelphous Group finished 2.2 per cent higher at
$27.37. However, BHP fell 0.8 per cent to end the
session at $47.34, Beach Energy was down 1.4 per cent
at $1.07 and takeover target BlueScope Steel shed
1.6 per cent to close at $29.40. (RMS)
News
Employment
Hero settles with rival Seek
Human
resources technology company Employment Hero has dropped
its legal action against recruitment firm Seek, which
is both an investor in Employment Hero and a rival.
Employment Hero launched its action after Seek cut
off access to its application program interface (API),
which is a tool that permits companies such as Employment
Hero to directly post job ads to Seek and to manage
job candidate applications. Employment Hero had claimed
that Seek's action amounted to anti-competitive conduct,
but the two firms have advised that the matter has
been resolved. Employment Hero's access to Seek's
API will be permanently reinstated, and a three-week
hearing scheduled for September will not go ahead.
(RMS)
News
Nvidia's
platform to slash AI costs
Nvidia
CEO Jensen Huang has used the CES, the world's biggest
consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, to announce
the release of a new hardware platform. Known as Rubin,
it promises to reduce the cost of operating large
scale artificial intelligence models by 90 per cent,
while Huang also announced that Nvidia has entered
into a partnership with Mercedes to create the world's
first ‘thinking' and 'reasoning' car; he
says Nvidia's vision is that every car and truck will
be autonomous at some stage in the future (RMS)
News
Sports
As
Aussies seal Ashes victory, economists hit Bazball
for six
England's
aggressive batting style known as 'Bazball' is under
renewed scrutiny after losing the 2025-26 Ashes series
4-1. E61 Institute economists Adit Maitra and Matthew
Maltman have analysed England's performance in Test
matches since Bazball was introduced by incoming team
coach Brendon McCullum in 2022. They found that England
had initial success, winning 13 Tests during the first
18 months of the Bazball era; the team lost four matches
and just one resulted in a draw. However, England's
win rate has fallen sharply since the 2023 Ashes series,
as opposing teams have adjusted their own playing
style in response to the Bazball tactics; it should
also be noted that England did not tour Australia
or India - two of the highest-rated Test nations -
during the initial phase of the Bazball era. (RMS)
News
Resources/Energy
Defence
demand tipped to boost copper stampede
S&P
Global has forecast that worldwide demand for copper
will top 42 million tonnes by 2040, compared with
28 million tonnes in 2025. However, the firm warns
that the demand-supply deficit could reach 10 million
by 2040 unless there is a big increase in copper production.
Carlos Pascual from S&P Global emphasises that
copper supply is now a national security issue, given
its importance to industries such as defence and artificial
intelligence, and the fact that copper processing
is now dominated by China. BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue
are amongst the big miners that are ramping up their
exposure to copper. (RMS)
News
'Like
a sauna': World's hottest location
While
40-degree temperatures in Victoria this week amounted
to a near record for that state, such temperatures
are commonplace in Western Australia's Pilbara region.
It is home to much of WA's $150 billion resources
sector, but extreme heat there is becoming a material
risk and is forcing mining companies to put in measures
to protect their assets and their workforces. Dee
Egan, who is a resident of the Pilbara town of Onslow,
which has endured 45-degree heat for the better part
of the past week, says living there feels like you
are in a sauna all day. (RMS)
News
Oil
stocks are cheap for a reason
Shares
in Woodside Energy, Santos and Beach Energy have fallen
in value by between eight per cent and 44 per cent
over the last five years. In contrast, shares in the
world's biggest oil companies have risen by up to
161 per cent over this period. Sharemarket experts
contend that there are a number of reasons why Australian
oil producers are trading at a discount; they include
government policy headwinds and the fact that takeover
bids are unlikely, as well as company-specific issues.
Meanwhile, analysts say the Trump administation's
military action in Venezuela is likely to drive the
crude oil price lower, while rebuilding the nation's
oil industry is expected to take years. (RMS)
News
Jan
8
ASX
miner cheers Trump's 'involvement' in Greenland
Energy
Transition Minerals' MD Daniel Mamadou contends that
the potential for increased US involvement in Greenland
is a "positive", and that it will benefit
companies which operate in the Danish self-governed
territory. Energy Transition Minerals is engaged in
a long-running dispute with the Greenland government
over its Kvanefjeld rare earths project; the deposit
also contains uranium, and the government banned uranium
mining in 2021. Kvanefjeld is estimated to contain
up to one billion tonnes of rare earth minerals, including
terbium. Energy Transition Minerals' share price rose
44.9 per cent to $0.145 on Wednesday. (RMS)
News
Nickel
price offers respite for last few Australian mines
The
price of nickel has risen to $US18,785 per tonne in
London trading, which is its highest level since October
2024. The rally follows Vale's decision to suspend
nickel production in Indonesia until the nation's
government approves its annual production plan. Meanwhile,
Fitch Ratings subsidiary BMI has downgraded its nickel
price forecast for 2026 due to expectations that the
global surplus will rise; the firm now expects the
nickel price to average $US15,000 per tonne. However,
BMI is upbeat about the longer-term price outlook,
contending that rising demand for nickel will reduce
the glut. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
The
Lead Up
January
8, 2026
Sydney,
Australia to Wall Street, New York
ASX
200 futures down 4 points/0.1%: 8680
AUD -0.2% to US67.27¢
BTC $91,005.03 -1.57%
Wall
St:
Dow -0.7% S&P -0.2% NAS +0.3%
VIX +0.24 to 14.99
Gold -0.8% to $US4457.23 an oz
Oil -0.9% to $US60.16 a b
Iron ore +2.4% to $US109.00 a ton
10-yr
yield:
US 4.13%
AUS 4.76%
News
lead Up
NYSE:
News
On
January 7, markets were mixed with some retreat from
records as momentum cooled, but no major downturn
reported.
Markets
showed strength early in 2026, driven by AI optimism,
chip sector gains, and positive sentiment around technology.
Latest
Closes (January 6-7, 2026 session data)
Dow
Jones Industrial Average (DJIA): Closed at a record
49,462.08 (up ~0.99% on January 6), briefly surpassing
49,000 for the first time before minor pullback.
S&P
500: Closed at a record 6,944.82 (up ~0.62% on January
6), with intraday highs on January 7.
Nasdaq
Composite: ~23,547.17 (up ~0.65% on January 6).
NYSE
Composite Index: ~22,570.82 (up ~0.62% on January
6). Key Drivers:
Semiconductor
and AI-related stocks (e.g., Nvidia commentary at
CES 2026, memory/storage chipmakers hitting records).
Broader
market optimism despite geopolitical headlines (e.g.,
Venezuela developments affecting oil).
Early 2026 gains built on strong 2025 performance,
with chip indexes up significantly year-to-date. (Grok)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
Santa
vs Grinch
Bulls vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
Markets/Cryptos/Biz/Culture
January
2, 2026
Bitcoin
Never Sleeps Edition
Santa
def Grinch
Sydney
to Wall Street, New York and Beyond
ASX
futures down 31 points/0.4% to 8676
AUD -0.1% at US66.66¢
Bitcoin $88,602.45 +0.87%
Dow closed
S&P closed
Nasdaq closed
Gold -0.5% to $US4319.37 oz
Brent -0.8% at $US60.85 a b
BNB
$861.70 -1.14%
XRP $1.8761 +1.93%
DOGE $0.1266 +6.96%
News
Pop
Culture
Santa
def Grinch
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
Santa
vs Grinch
Bulls vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
News
Pop
Culture News
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking/Sports; Media Man Group Dream
Match Series; Crack The Code!
Million
Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
VKM vs Easy E
Vinnie Vegas vs Mr Corbin
Mr Corp Merch vs Mr Freelance
Masked Superstar vs John McAfee
Sid Justice vs Mr Blood Diamond
Mr Bluey Chipper vs Street Fighter - King Of The Streets
Mr Dotcom vs Mr Wiki
Mr Gold vs Mr Green - Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Khan vs Khan - Winner Take All Match
Mr Wolff vs The Cleaner
Mr News vs Mr Vice - U.S Market Footprint Stipulation
Mr Paramount vs Mr Netflix
Mr ESPN vs Mr Fox
Mr Kross vs Mr Cardona
Cesaro vs Rollins
Dirty Dom vs Mr AAA
Punks vs Egos
Kross vs H
Murdoch Title vs Title
Mr Black Coffee vs Mr Claudio's Cafe Blend
Mr Warner vs Mr Netflix: Broadway draw thus far! Re-match!
Winner take all?!
TMZ vs Riddle
UFC vs PFL
The Oracle vs Cincinnati, Ohio
Mr X vs Hollyweird
Succession vs Billions
Mouse House vs Art House
NFL vs UFL
ABC vs Mainstream Aussies
Reigns vs Blanka
Cody Rhodes vs Joe
E. Honda vs NJPW
Capcom vs Warner
Cena vs ACME
Combat Sports Players vs Father Time
NXT vs TNA Wrestling (Showdown, not Invasion)!
Alpha vs Meta
TED X vs The Others
WWE's Solo vs NYC and Western Australia
UFC Predator vs MMA Predator
UFC Legal vs UFC Bad Egg Betting Disruptors
Bulls vs Bears
Logan Paul vs WWE babyfaces
Santa's Helper vs Grinch
John McAfee vs FBI + + +, Running .... Netflix Wins
again!
Killer Kross vs Matt Riddle - Shoot Fight/Wrestling
(MLW)! Holliday working web?! Most Marketable?!
VKM vs Numerous!
MLW vs The World
The Big Event vs US Promoters
Storm vs WWE Locker Room. Lash Legend on side!
NXT Gold Rush: Page & Green vs Hendry & Hail
Baszler vs Itoh - HOG Superclash - Nov 15
MSG, NY winning with WWE and UFC in Nov
The Vision vs WWE Lockerroom
John Cena vs Dirty Dom
Miz vs Management
Jericho vs Internet Marks
Mr Gold vs Mr Fool's Gold
Neo vs Mr Smith
PBR vs Others. No Bull?!
Aus Gvt vs Big Tech
Banks vs Cryptos
NVIDIA vs World
White House vs Wokes
Packer vs Devil D
Lucha Bros vs AAA Heels
WWE Black Scorpion/Masked Man vs Babyfaces
CM Punk vs The Hood
Starks vs Oba Femi - NXT Deadline
TNA Wrestling vs Dirtsheets
TKO vs Naysayers
John Cena vs Gunther: SNME
Chris Jericho and Mr X vs IWC
Mr Netflix vs Mr Paramount
Triple H vs (many) Washington Cena Fans!
WWE vs Lucha LIbra AAA - Friendly TKO b2b
News
Best
Quotes
An
investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
— Benjamin Franklin
"Bottoms
in the investment world don't end with four-year lows;
they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim
Rogers
Be
fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when
others are fearful." — Warren Buffett
Media
Man "Bullish is a mindset"
News
The
dollar may defy expectations
The
return of American exceptionalism will help the greenback.
The yen will start the new year with interventions,
and the RBA with a rate hike. The US dollar ends 2025
with its worst performance in nearly a decade. By
mid-September, fears for the fate of the US economy
due to tariffs and expectations of Fed rate cuts had
caused the USD index to plummet to its lowest level
in 3.5 years. However, the greenback then recovered
thanks to large-scale investments in artificial intelligence,
GDP growth and capital inflows into the stock market.
At the end of the year, divergence in monetary policy
between the Fed and other central banks caused the
USD index to fall. Goldman Sachs believes that the
downward trend for the US dollar will continue in
2026, albeit on a smaller scale. The main drivers
of the greenback's decline will be accelerating economic
growth abroad and lower federal funds rates. The consensus
forecast of major Wall Street banks is for EURUSD
to rise to 1.2 and GBPUSD to 1.36 by the end of 2026.
What could go wrong? A Supreme Court ruling that the
White House tariffs are illegal would sow chaos in
financial markets and force investors to buy the US
dollar as a safe-haven asset. A big and beautiful
tax cut bill, coupled with investments in artificial
intelligence, will boost GDP and bring back the theme
of American exceptionalism to the markets. As a result,
the Fed will have less reason to ease monetary policy.
The federal funds rate will be cut only once in 2026,
if at all. If the factors of divergence in monetary
policy and the narrowing gap in economic growth between
the US and the eurozone do not work, investors' views
on the fate of the US dollar will change radically.
History may play in favour of the greenback. In 2017,
Donald Trump's first year as president, the USD index
weakened significantly. However, in 2018, it recovered
some of its lost ground. The yen will start 2026 under
the sign of intervention. The government is unhappy
with the USDJPY rally, and the Bank of Japan has failed
to break the bulls' back by raising the overnight
rate to its highest level since 1995. Either a rapid
continuation of the cycle of monetary restriction
or Tokyo's intervention in the Forex market is required.
The Australian dollar appears to be the favourite
thanks to expectations of a key rate hike by the Reserve
Bank and the Chinese economy's adaptation to US tariffs.
(FxPro)
News
Silver
stirs up the markets
Precious
metal sell-offs shake investors
Donald
Trump renews criticism of the Fed
While
major global currencies, led by the US dollar, are
recovering very slowly after Christmas, the precious
metals market has been rocked by a real thriller.
Silver and other assets in the sector have plummeted.
For XAGUSD, the fall was the largest since the beginning
of 2021. The trigger was an increase in CME margin
requirements for related futures contracts. This forced
speculators to take profits and triggered a pullback.
Silver saw a record rally in 2025. The 150% increase
is significantly higher than that of gold and other
assets in the sector. At the same time, the white
metal is still far from the inflation-adjusted price
record set in 1980. To return to that level, silver
would have to cost $200 per ounce today. ETF stocks
have grown by 150 million ounces this year, but are
still far from the highs recorded in 2021. The ratio
to gold also has room to fall.
Speculators
have used these arguments to justify the need for
further purchases of XAGUSD. There is indeed serious
competition between the US, Europe and Asia in the
physical asset market. This is due to the risks of
Washington imposing tariffs on silver imports after
adding it to the list of critical minerals. However,
the silver rally looks too rapid and resembles a bubble,
and it is quite possible that it may have burst. After
the CME raised margin requirements in February 2021,
the white metal collapsed by 43% over 18 months. Other
assets in the sector are following silver. Despite
the post-Christmas sell-off, gold is heading for its
second-best performance in a year in history. The
first was in 1979. The XAUUSD pullback does not look
like a burst bubble. The US economy risks slowing
down in 2026, and the Fed may accelerate the cycle
of monetary policy easing, especially under pressure
from the White House.
Donald
Trump is back to his old ways. The US president said
he would gladly fire Jerome Powell as Fed chairman.
He said that Powell was too slow to cut interest rates.
At the same time, the US administration does not rule
out filing a lawsuit against the head of the central
bank for incompetence due to excessive spending on
renovating the Fed's headquarters. The White House
wants to make room in the FOMC for the ‘doves’.
This increases the risks of a weakening US dollar.
(FxPro)
News
Dec
25
Precious
metals rewarded for success
The
US dollar is falling as a safe-haven asset amid growing
risk appetite
Gold is performing well, but other assets in the sector
are looking even better GDP growth of 4.3% in the
third quarter did not help the US dollar. It would
seem that the strength of the economy, the rise in
Treasury bond yields and the decline in the likelihood
of the Fed easing monetary policy in March to less
than 50% should have cooled the hot heads of the EURUSD
bulls. However, greed reigns supreme in the financial
markets. The S&P 500 closed at a record high,
which had a negative impact on the USD index. Donald
Trump was encouraged by the success of the US economy,
citing tariffs as the main reason. The president said
that the new Fed chairman would cut rates if the market
was performing well. Investors should be rewarded
for their success. Support from the White House is
helping US stock indices, improving global risk appetite
and reducing demand for the dollar as a safe-haven
asset. In such conditions, high-yield currencies feel
most at home. The British pound reached a three-month
high against the greenback, and the Australian dollar
reached a 14-month high. After the Reserve Bank signalled
the end of the monetary policy easing cycle, the futures
market began to price in expectations of a cash rate
hike in 2026. By Christmas, the start date for monetary
tightening had shifted to June, which created a tailwind
for AUDUSD. Investors in a Bloomberg survey see the
Bank of England's neutral rate at 3.25% and estimate
the chances of it falling to 3% in 2026 as fifty-fifty.
They are more dovish than the BoE. At their December
meeting, Andrew Bailey and his colleagues opted for
caution, which supported GBPUSD. Meanwhile, gold has
broken through the psychologically important level
of $4,500 per ounce. JP Morgan forecasts XAUUSD to
rise to 5,000 by the end of 2026 and estimates the
scale of bullion purchases by central banks and retail
investors at 585 tonnes per quarter. According to
the bank, every 100 tonnes above the base 350 tonnes
leads to a 2% increase in precious metal prices. Gold
has already gained more than 70% in value in 2025
and is heading for its best performance since 1979.
Other assets in the precious metals sector are growing
even faster. Prices for silver, platinum and palladium
have more than doubled this year. Along with strong
investment demand, fears about the introduction of
US import duties are playing into their hands. (FxPro)
News
Biz
Culture News Lead Up
48
+ hours ago
News
Media
Man Favs
TKO
$216.11 -1.33 -0.61%
Alphabet Inc Class A $313.56 +0.050 +0.016%
Netflix Inc $94.15 -0.32 -0.34%
Paramount Skydance Corp $13.50 -0.090 -0.66%
Porsche Automobile Holding SE Unsponsored Germany
ADR $4.60 -0.040 +0.86%
Mercedes Benz Group ADR $17.54 +0.11 +0.63%
News
Gold
Dec
24
Gold
passes $4500 for first time
Gold
has surpassed $US4500 an ounce for the first time
on escalating geopolitical tensions and prospects
for more US rate cuts. Spot gold rose1.5 per cent
to $US4504.59 an ounce at 10.38am AEDT, taking total
gains for the year past 70 per cent. This year is
shaping up to deliver the best return to gold investors
in over 40 years.Traders are betting the Federal Reserve
will follow three straight interest-rate cuts by lowering
the cost of borrowing again next year, which would
be a tailwind for non-yielding precious metals. Gold’s
haven appeal has also been amplified in the last week
by rising geopolitical tensions, particularly in Venezuela,
where the US has blockaded oil tankers as it ratchets
up pressure on the government of President Nicolás
Maduro. Gold miners on the ASX were, however, mixed.
Newmont was down 0.5 per cent, Northern Star was up
0.9 per cent and Evolution Mining up by 1.2 per cent.
News
Market
Recap
January
2, 2026
Australian
Dollar: $0.6670 USD (unchanged) Iron Ore: Bid $104.00
USD (public holiday) Oil Price: $57.42 USD (unchanged
- public holiday) Gold Price: $2,659.37 USD (down
$3.16 USD) Copper Price: $4.0305 (down 0.0875 USD)
Bitcoin: $88,211.47 (up 1.07%) Dow Jones: 48,063.29
(down 303.77 points)
News
Jan
2
NYSE
Closed
TKO
Group Holdings Inc: $209.00 -5.17 -2.41%
News
Big
Bash sell-off will 'kill Test cricket'
Cricket
Australia is under growing criticism over a proposal
to privatise the eight Big Bash League teams. Former
Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings is amongst
those to have questioned the proposal; amongst other
things, he contends that Australian cricket does not
the influx of money that would come from selling stakes
in BBL teams. He is also concerned that privatisatiom
would be detrimental to Test cricket in Australia,
because the new investors would expect top players
to prioritise their BBL franchise rather than the
long form of the game. Test cricket is already under
scrutiny after two of the matches in the current Ashes
series were over in less than two days, including
the flagship Boxing Day Test at the MCG; the fifth
Test starts on Sunday at the SCG, with Australia leading
the series 3-1. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Venus
rising with Australian Open wildcard
Tennis
Australia director Craig Tiley has described Venus
Williams' return for the 2026 tournament as a "win
for fans and tennis". The winner of seven grand
slam titles has not played in the Australian Open
since 2021, and she has not competed internationally
since 2023; at the age of 45, Williams will be the
oldest woman to compete in the Australian Open during
the modern era. She has been granted a wildcard to
appear in both the Australian Open and the Hobart
International. However, Tennis Australia is yet to
announce whether Nick Kyrgios will be given a wildcard
for the Australian Open, which begins on 12 January.
(RMS)
News
Australia/China
China
imposes beef quotas, now all eyes on Australia’s
EU trade deal
The
federal government will face growing pressure to finalise
a much-stalled free-trade agreement with the European
Union following China's move to introduce import controls
on beef. China has imposed a total import quota of
2.69 million tonnes in 2026, which will rise to 2.74
million tonnes next year; shipments that exceed the
quota will be subject to a 55 per cent duty, in a
move that is aimed at protecting local producers.
Australia's annual beef quota has been set at 205,000
tonnes, and Trade Minister Don Farrell says the federal
government expect the nation's status as a valued
Free Trade Agreement partner to be respected by China.
Australia exported 216,050 tonnes of beef to China
in 2024. (RMS)
News
Awards
Google
Finance wins Media Man 'Business News Website Of The
Month'; Runner-up: Yahoo! Finance
The
Australian Financial Review wins Media Man 'Newspaper
Of The Year' award (2025)
Sky
News Australia wins Media Man 'Australian Based News
Outlet Of The Year' award
TKO
Group wins Media Man 'Entertainment Promoter Of The
Year' award
Netflix
wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Year' award
Mack
Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Brand Of The Year' award
Caterpillar
wis Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Brand Of The Year'
award
X
and YouTube Tie for Media Man 'Platform Of The Year'
award
Markets,
Cryptos, Biz and Culture
Media
Man Group
All
That Glitters
Digital
Bush Telegraph - Australia to Hollywood and Silicon
Valley Edition; Media Watercooler
December
22, 2025
Sydney, Australia
December
21, 2025
Wall St, New York
Australian
Dollar: $0.6610 USD (down $0.0003 USD) Iron Ore: $104.50
USD (down $US0.50)
Oil: $56.52 USD (up $0.51 USD)
Gold: $4,340.10 USD (up $9.48 USD)
Copper: $5.4835 USD (up $0.0610 USD)
Bitcoin: $88,482.84 +0.23%
Dow Jones: 48,134.89 (up 183.04 points)
BTC
88,851.95 +0.26%
BNB $861.43 +0.84%
Dogecoin $0.1320 +0.04%
Market
Favs
Closed
Today
TKO
$213.44 +1.81 +0.86%
Alphabet Inc Class A +$307.16 +4.70 +1.55%
Netflix Inc $94.39 +0.39 +0.41%
News
Trading
Schwab
CEO Rick Wurster draws a ‘bright line’ between
investing and gambling
When
it comes to encouraging customers to invest for the
long haul or live in the fast lane, Rick Wurster says
he knows where his brokerage stands. And it is not
on the side of the guy dressed as a race-car driver.
Wurster, appointed Charles Schwab’s CEO in January,
has delivered higher profit this year thanks to individual
investors’ mounting confidence in trading everything
from stocks and bonds to options and exchange-traded
funds. An extended rally has led some ordinary Americans
into riskier, more-volatile markets.
News
Las
Vegas
30
years, millions of lights and one big party at downtown
Las Vegas’s Fremont Street Experience
In
Vegas time, 30 years is long enough to feel like forever.
It’s a monumental chunk of time wherein generations
of locals and visitors may have no understanding of
what came before. That’s how long we’ve
had the Fremont Street Experience—the historic
casino-lined five-block pedestrian promenade Downtown,
covered mostly by the 1,375-foot LED-screen canopy
flashing Viva Vision shows every night—instead
of “Glitter Gulch,” what we called Fremont
Street when you could drive your car there. When the
canopy came to life, there was no Stratosphere tower
in Las Vegas, no Bellagio fountains, no faux Eiffel
Tower.
News
US
Congressman
urges Commodity Futures Trading Commission to review
Kalshi-CNN deal
Congressman
Abe Hamadeh has called on federal regulators to review
the partnership between news broadcaster CNN and prediction
market platform Kalshi, warning that the deal posed
risks to market integrity and even national security.
In a letter to Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Acting Chairwoman Caroline D. Pham, Hamadeh requested
details on how the regulator is reviewing the partnership
between Kalshi and CNN. He argued that the arrangement
creates a conflict of interest as it allows a major
news organization to potentially profit from geopolitical
events.
News
More
Intel
Dec
19
Central
banks did not scare the dollar
Central
banks prefer to pause
The
strengthening of the dollar prevented gold from reaching
a record high. Global central banks are diverging
in their policy paths. In the wake of the Fed's decision,
Britain and Mexico have lowered rates, whereas the
eurozone, Norway, and Sweden have signalled a continued
pause. The Bank of Japan tightened its policy, raising
the overnight rate to its highest level since 1995
at 0.75%. Nevertheless, the US dollar strengthened
against major world currencies on expectations of
a prolonged pause in the process of lowering the federal
funds rate. The Bank of England lowered the repo rate
to 3.75% by five votes to four. Andrew Bailey warned
of limited room for manoeuvre in the monetary expansion
cycle in 2026. As a result, the futures market reduced
its expected scale to 25 basis points. The pound initially
strengthened, but a reassessment of US inflation data
brought GBPUSD back down to earth. As expected, the
ECB raised its eurozone GDP forecasts to 1.4% in 2025
and 1.2% in 2026. The central bank expects inflation
to remain below target until 2028. Christine Lagarde
did not encourage the ‘hawks’ who had previously
discussed raising deposit rates. The Frenchwoman repeated
the mantra that the European Central Bank is in a
comfortable position. The EURUSD's inability to break
through resistance at 1.176 resulted in a sell-off.
The Bank of Japan raised its overnight rate to 0.75%.
This outcome of the December meeting was predicted
by all 50 Bloomberg experts. In this regard, after
the BoJ's verdict, a sell-off of the yen began on
the facts. Moreover, the Governing Council did not
signal a continuation of the cycle of monetary tightening.
The US dollar strengthened against major world currencies
as investors ignored the slowdown in US core inflation
to 2.6% in November. This is the lowest level since
the beginning of 2021. After the shutdown, the BLS
is experiencing problems with data. It will take time
for confidence in it to return. The market's reluctance
to take US consumer price statistics at face value
played a cruel joke on gold. The precious metal hit
a new local high but failed to reach a record high
and was forced to retreat due to the strengthening
of the US dollar. According to Goldman Sachs, structurally
high demand from central banks for bullion and cyclical
support from the Fed's rate cuts will continue to
create tailwinds for XAUUSD. (FxPro)
News
U.S/Tech/Search/A.I
News
Google
executive addresses calls to slow AI, highlights security
and energy focus
Executive
cites cybersecurity and energy as key areas where
AI growth can be beneficial
Google
executive Royal Hansen responded to some lawmakers'
calls to slow the development of artificial intelligence
(AI) in the U.S., emphasizing the need to develop
and use the technology responsibly rather than fall
behind other countries.
"It's
really… this idea of being responsible as we
invest in and develop AI because there's a lot of
upside to using AI well, whether it's in energy production
or healthcare or science."
"But
in cybersecurity," he continued, "it's an
area where we need to keep people safe, help people
learn to use AI well at the same time."
News
Dec
22
Australia
Dodgy
$60m crypto mining scheme shut
The
Federal Court last week ordered that NGS Crypto and
two linked companies be wound up, with the three firms
known collectively as the NGS digital mining scheme.
The ruling followed an Australian Securities &
Investments Commission investigation into the dubious
scheme, with ASIC reporting that over 450 people invested
about $60 million with the NGS companies over a period
of six years. However, to date, only around $US4.5
million ($6.7 million) of that money has been traced.
(RMS)
News
Dec
20
Show
hits pay dirt, and some real gold
The
Discovery Channel Australia will broadcast the 10th
season of Aussie Gold Hunter from 8 January. The show
was the highest-rating factual series across Foxtel's
channels from 2017 and 2022, while it has an estimated
global audience of 40 million people in 140 countries.
Seven teams of gold prospectors will appear in the
new season of Aussie Gold Hunters; the program is
produced by Perth-based Electric Pictures, and executive
producer Andrew Ogilvie says much of its appeal lies
in its depiction of ordinary people finding gold -
or not finding it. (RMS)
News
Dec
22
New-age
'showman' stalking Hollywood
Netflix
and Paramount are battling for control of Warner Bros
Discovery, with Netflix's bid for much of Warner Bros
valued at $US72bn ($108.7bn). Some have claimed that
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos is trying to destroy Hollywood
with its bid, but he has stated he views it as a win
for the entertainment industry. He promised in a speech
in Paris to keep films in theatres, although he told
a Time magazine event this year that he views traditional
filmgoing as being outmoded for most people. Producer
Greg Berlanti has stated that Sarandos "has that
old studio showman flair", while US President
Donald Trump has spoken highly of him. (A.I Newsfeed)
News
Gold
Gold
prices surged over 65% this year, nearing $4,400 per
ounce.
Rising
central bank buying and geopolitical risks are driving
gold demand and outlook.
It’s
hard to imagine gold having a better year in 2026
than it has this year.
The
precious metal is up more than 65% this year and has
been retesting highs set near Halloween, gaining 7.5%
in the last month to get within sniffing distance
of $4,400 per ounce.
Markets
that achieve that kind of vertical lift — and
gold prices as measured by SPDR Gold Shares (GLD)
are up 33.7% annualized and roughly 140% cumulative
over the last three years — nearly always have
similarly scary pullbacks, so investors’ gold
nerves are on edge.
And
while gold has always been considered a hedge against
rising prices and inflation has proven persistent
and sticky, gold’s recent rise appears to have
little to do with inflation and more to do with geopolitical
risk, tariff concerns, a weakened dollar, and more.
News
Dec
20
Sharemarket
caps weak year of returns amid blue-chip exodus
Australia's
benchmark S&P/ASX 200 is set to underperform its
global peers in calendar 2025. It is on track to post
a gain of about six per cent, compared with 8.4 per
cent in 2024 and 11.4 per cent in 2023; in contrast,
the US and UK bourses are set to post double-digit
returns, while the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong has
gained nearly 30 per cent. Tony Sycamore from IG notes
that the S&P/ASX 200's performance would have
been much worse if it had not benefited from a rally
by the resources sector, which has gained about 25
per cent in the year to date; this has been primarily
due to a surge in the price of gold. The S&P/ASX
200 rose 0.39 per cent to 8,621.4 points on Friday.
(RMS)
News
Flashback
Markets,
Biz, News, Resources, Culture
December
19, 2025
Sydney, Australia
Australia
and World
S&P/ASX
200 8588.20 +0.37%
S&P 500 6778.28 +0.85%
NIKKEI 49001.50 -1.03%
FTSE 9837.77 +0.65%
AUD/USD66.15 +0.23%
GOLD 4331.30 +0.23%
BITCOIN $84,747.60 -1.52%
News
Markets
ASX
futures up 44 points/0.5% to 8627
Wall
Street:
S&P 500 +0.8%
Dow Jones: +0.1%
Nasdaq +1.2%
Europe:
Stoxx 50 +1.1%
FTSE +0.7%
DAX +1%
CAC +0.8%
Australian
dollar +0.1% to US66.12 cents
Bitcoin
$85,077.30 -0.99%
Gold
-0.3% to $US4325.33 per ounce
US
oil +0.1% to $US55.98 a barrel
Brent
crude oil +0.1% to $US59.71 a barrel
Iron
ore +1.3% to $US105.00 per ton
10-year
yield:
US 4.11%
Australia 4.74%
Germany 2.85%
News
Mining/Energy/Resources
Demand
headwinds may put brakes on iron ore's run
The
iron ore price has risen by about seven per cent so
far in 2025, but Vivek Dhar from the Commonwelth Bank
warns that oversupply concerns could soon see the
price of the steel input fall below $US100 per tonne.
He notes that demand headwinds are accelerating in
China, while shipments from the Simandou project in
Guinea have commenced. UBS in turn says factors such
as rising iron ore port inventories, pressure on the
steel sector and Simandou pose downside risks to iron
ore prices. Despite the bearish outlook, the ASX 200
materials sector has gained 27 per cent in the year
to date. (RMS)
News
Iron
ore tipped to plunge into a bear market
Westpac
is particularly bearish about the outlook for the
iron ore price, forecasting that it will fall by 20
per cent to about $US83 per tonne by the end of 2026.
The pessimistic forecast comes amid ongoing signs
of a downturn in China's steel industry. Production
fell by 11 per cent year-on-year in November, declining
for a sixth consecutive month. In contrast, iron ore
imports into China reached a record high during the
first 11 months of calendar 2025, and inventories
at the nation's ports have reached their highest level
since March. (RMS)
News
US
miners take on Simandou play in Guinea
The
Rio Tinto-backed Simandou iron ore mine in Guinea
is currently the world's biggest mining project. However,
the Kon Kweni iron ore deposit in south-east Guinea
is estimated to be of higher quality. It is owned
by US-based Ivanhoe Atlantic, which has proposed a
$US1.8bn mine and rail project to produce iron ore
with 66.5 per cent purity. Ivanhoe Atlantic's president
and CEO Bronwyn Barnes says every ton of iron ore
produced at Kon Kweni will be reserved solely for
US and allied supply chains. The company expects to
start shipping ore in the first half of 2027, while
it has received preliminary approval to list on the
Australian sharemarket. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Bitcoin
is holding, while Solana is on the edge
Market
Overview
The
crypto market capitalisation fell to $2.91T (-2.4%
for the day). The surge at the start of the US session
on Wednesday only fuelled the bears, who drove the
market down to $2.89T by the end of the day, retreating
only slightly from these lows. Under intense pressure,
the major old altcoins — Ethereum, XRP, and Solana
— retreated to multi-month lows, losing about
4% over the past 24 hours.
Bitcoin
is trading near $87K, roughly where it was the day
before. A sharp jump in price above $90K hit a wall
of selling, and now just above this round level is
a significant short-term resistance line, which was
support until 14 December. However, it is also difficult
for the market to find reasons to go below the $85K
level, from which the price has been rebounding since
the beginning of the week. Additionally, it is worth
noting that BTC is trading significantly above its
late November lows of $80K, outperforming major altcoins.
Solana's
price fell to $123, testing an important support area
from March 2024. Since its peak in September, this
seventh-largest altcoin has lost half of its value.
The technical rebound that began at the end of November
has ended, and if support at $120 fails, the road
down to $90 or even $70 will open up.
News
Background
Long-term
Bitcoin holders have almost completed their active
selling phase, according to K33 Research, which anticipates
a decrease in selling pressure. Over the past two
years, 20% of the supply has returned to the market,
and this process is almost complete.
Institutional
investors have begun buying Bitcoin at a rate faster
than miners can mine it, Capriole notes. For the first
time since November, demand from companies has exceeded
the inflow of new coins into the market amid a more
than 30% drop in the asset from its October highs.
Strategy
bought 641 bitcoins daily in 2025, according to Finbold
Research. This allowed it to increase its holdings
by 223,800 BTC (a 50% increase) in less than a year.
The
capacity of the Lightning Network (LN) micropayment
network has reached a historic high, thanks to technical
improvements and the implementation of the solution
by major exchanges. The growth of this indicator is
a sign of demand for faster and cheaper transactions.
(FxPro)
News
The
dollar's wings have been clipped
Christopher
Waller's dovish rhetoric halted the bears' attack
on EURUSD.
Slowing
British inflation caused the pound to fall, while
the Bank of Japan is preparing to raise rates.
Christopher
Waller's comments had as much of an impact on the
US dollar as the US labour market statistics. The
rise in unemployment to 4.6% and the acceleration
in average private sector employment over three months
from 13,000 in the summer to 75,000 in the autumn
forced investors to change their views. They began
to expect a prolonged pause in the monetary expansion
cycle and a reduction in the federal funds rate to
3.75% in 2026. However, a senior FOMC official thinks
differently.
Christopher
Waller is one of the candidates for the position of
Fed chair. He believes that the neutral rate is 2.75%,
which is 100 basis points below current levels. This
is significantly lower than the forecasts of the futures
market. If the cost of borrowing falls to this level,
Treasury yields will decline and the USD index will
collapse. Moreover, the futures market is confident
that the ECB's monetary expansion cycle is coming
to an end. Investors are beginning to price in expectations
of a rise in deposit rates. This is usually done when
the risks of inflation accelerating increase or monetary
policy becomes too loose. Neither of these conditions
applies to the eurozone. It is too early to talk about
a new trump card for EURUSD. On the contrary, weak
data on business activity in the currency bloc and
German business confidence from the IFO are disappointing
ECB hawks and putting pressure on the euro. The regional
currency appears too expensive. Japan has a different
problem. The yen appears too cheap for a government
fighting inflation. Therefore, Prime Minister Sanae
Takaichi will not stand in the way of the Bank of
Japan's intention to raise rates. Investors are eagerly
awaiting Kazuo Ueda's signals about the regulator's
actions in 2026. The BoJ is expected to very slowly
normalise monetary policy. This fact supports the
bulls on USDJPY. The slowdown in British inflation
from 3.6% to 3.2% in November caused the pound to
plummet. The futures market is confident that by April,
the repo rate will be cut by 50 basis points to 3.5%.
Investors doubt that the Bank of England will take
a hawkish stance in December. They expect Andrew Bailey
to signal a continuation of the cycle of monetary
policy easing. (FxPro)
News
The
Lead Up
Dec
18
ASX
ends lower on oil stocks; miners rally
The
Australian sharemarket lost ground on Wednesday, with
the S&P/ASX 200 shedding 0.2 per cent to close
at 8,585.2 points. Woodside Energy was down 2.4 per
cent at $23.40, GrainCorp fell 15.5 per cent to $7.09
and DroneShield ended the session 12,1 per cent lower
at $2.47. However, Liontown Resources was up 11.8
per cent at $1.51 and Humm Group rose 10.6 per cent
to $0.73 in response to a takeover bid.
News
Markets/Resources/Commodities
Dec
18
Australian
Dollar: $0.6600 USD (down $0.0030 USD) Iron Ore: $103.60
USD (up $US1.15)
Oil Price: $56.13 USD (up $0.94 USD)
Gold Price: $4,339.35 USD (up $28.14 USD)
Copper Price: $5.4205 USD (up $0.0545 USD)
Bitcoin: $85,642.68 USD (down 2.38%)
Dow Jones: 47,974.02 (down 140.24 points)
News
Currency
Notes Under The Watercooler
Crypto
Winter Darwinism
Digital
asset treasuries were flying high earlier this year
until bitcoin's sudden October crash. Now many of
those companies are sitting on unrealized losses.
Over
180 public companies currently hold crypto on their
balance sheets, with roughly 100 of that total having
followed some version a the playbook that Strategy
co-founder Michael Saylor pioneered in 2020 by issuing
debt and equity to rapidly accumulate bitcoin.
Bitcoin's
more recent volatility has prompted a sell-off across
the digital asset treasury space.
Strategy's
stock has fallen roughly 40% since bitcoin's Oct.
10 liquidation.
Investors
have wrestled with Strategy's imitators even worse
over the past month. KindlyMD (NAKA) has dived 39%.
Eric Trump's American Bitcoin (ABTC) is down 60%.
Anthony Pompliano's ProCap Financial (BRR) has fell
65%.
Other
ether-holding treasury companies, like sports betting
company SharpLink Gaming (SBET) and computing firm
Bit Digital (BTBT), have seen their stocks tumble
about 40% over the past two months.
"Market
concerns on MSTR are overstated and there is no realistic
scenario which threatens the longevity of MSTR,"
analyst Gautam Chhugani wrote in a note on Dec. 1.
"However, several MSTR copy-cats may continue
to trade at discount to their NAVs without a clear
path to raise long term capital."
Restructuring
and stronger players acquiring weaker ones are possibilities,
according to Will Owens, a research analyst for Galaxy
Digital.
"In
other words, treasury companies are about to enter
a Darwinian phase," Owens wrote earlier this
month.
Bet
with your head, not over it!
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Markets,
Cryptos and Pop Culture
Culture
In Biz Series Edition
December
To Remember
Dec
17
Sydney, Australia
Dec
16
Wall Street, New York Groove
Cryptos
Struggling; All That Glitters
TKO To Naysayers Again! Thank You Cena! Enter Gunther!
Clock ticking on Jericho and Rollins?
Road To Royal Rumble
World Streaming Wars
Crypto Wolf Of Wall Street Works Weekends And Xmas
Online Media vs Legacy Media: Disruptors
"Gold" (Spandau Ballet)
"Video Killed The Radio Star" *The Buggles)
"Money Changes Everything" (Cyndi Lauper)
"Ring My Bell" (Anita Ward)
"Netflix And Chill"
"War" Edwin Starr
Media Pop Culture Theme: "Another Brick In The
Wall" aka "We Don't Need No Education"
(Pink Floyd)
"Schools Out" (Alice Cooper)
Silicon Valley theme: "Stretch Your Face"
(Tobacco)
"All You Need Is Love" (The Beatles)
"The Social Network" (score album for film)
"Hall of Fame" (The Script)
"Eight Days a Week" (The Beatles)
"The Wolf of Wall Street" ("Mercy,
Mercy, Mercy" (Cannonball Adderley)
"Friday On My Mind" (The Easybeats)
"Trading Begins" (Wall Street track)
December
17, 2025
Sin
City Sydney, Australia
ASX
futures down 5 points/0.1% to 8597
Wall
Street:
S&P 500 -0.4%
Dow Jones: -0.8%
Nasdaq flat
Europe
Stoxx 50 -0.6%
FTSE -0.7%
DAX -0.6%
CAC -0.2%
Australian
dollar -0.2% to US66.30 cents
Bitcoin
$87,464.28 +1.75%
Gold
+0.1% to $US4311.28 per ounce
US
oil -2.6% to $US55.35 a barrel
Brent
crude oil -2.6% to $US59.01 a barrel
Iron
ore +0.9% to $US102.45 per ton
10-year
yield:
US
4.15%
Australia 4.72%
Germany 2.84%
Bitcoin
$87,464.28 +1.75%
News
Update: (Near Live)
News
New
York/Wall St via Mr Wolf!
December To Remember!
Dec
16 into Dec 17
Bells To Be Rung
NYC!
Cryptos
Today: (Near Live)
Cryptos
tarnished again! Slight upward movement
Bitcoin
$87,521.33 +1.90%
Market
ups and downs! Mood: Medium: Still picking up a little.
Play the long game?! Hardcores keep dream, as always!
Media
Man Favs:
(Near
Live)
Bells
Rung by Mr Wolf!
TKO hulks up Again! Going for submission on competitors?!
Christmas Grinch vs Santa.
Miners on hunt. Gamers full speed instead of socials.
Gaming Awards: Tomb Raider: Atlantis!
Tech heads and grapplers watch streaming wars!
NYSE Bell Ringers With Trees! Prep for new Season's
Beatings!
TKO kicks out again. Saturday Night's Main Event aftermath
heading to WWE RAW and Road To Royal Rumble In Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia
Wall
St, New York
TKO
Group Holdings Inc $210.65 +3.20 +1.54%
NVIDIA Corp $177.72 +1.43 +0.81%
Formula One Group Series $87.27 +0.15 +0.17%
Alphabet Inc Class A $306.57 -1.65 -0.54%
News Corp Class A $25.89 -0.16 -0.61%
Netflix Inc $94.57 +0.80 +0.85%
Caterpillar Inc $588.93 -0.83 -0.14%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp $10.73 +0.27
+2.58%
Tesla Inc $489.88 +14.57 +3.07%
Walt Disney Co $111.62 +1.13 +1.02%
Wynn Resorts Ltd $126.04 -0.21 -0.17%
Meta Platforms Inc $657.15 +9.64 +1.49%
Elders ADR $19.73 (US) (NYSE)
Mercedes Benz Group ADR $17.79 -0.050 -0.28%
Rio Tinto Ltd ADR $75.99 +0.17 +0.22%
Paramount Skydance Corp $13.85 -0.14 -1.00%
Red Light Holland Corp $0.019 -0.0012 -5.94%
Volvo ADR (parent/owner of Muck Trucks) $31.43 -0.34
-1.07%
Porsche Automobile Holding SE Unsponsored Germany
ADR $4.71 -0.040 -0.84%
Microsoft $476.39 +1.57 +0.33%
News
Energy,
tech drag ASX lower; DroneShield soars
The
Australian sharemarket lost ground on Tuesday, with
the S&P/ASX 200 shedding 0.4 per cent to close
at 8,598.9 points; local investors were awaiting the
upcoming release of US employment data for October
and November, which was delayed by the record government
shutdown. Life360 was down 5.7 per cent at $32.71,
Woodside Energy fell 2.2 per cent to $23.99 and Westpac
finished 1.1 lower at $38.48. However, DroneShield
rose 22,2 per cent to $2.81 and Qantas was up 2.9
per cent at $10.09. (RMS/AFR)
News
Mining
stocks best way to play rate hikes: Macquarie
Financial
markets are now pricing in a 25 per cent chance that
the Reserve Bank of Australia will increase the cash
rate as soon as February. Macquarie Group's equities
strategists say that contrary to popular opinion,
historical analysis shows that shares typically rise
in the early stages of a new monetary policy cycle.
Macquarie believes that mining stocks are set to benefit,
as interest rate rises tend to boost the sector's
earnings. (RMS)
News
Major
coins dragged the market down
Market
Overview
The
cryptocurrency market capitalisation fell by 2.7%
to $2.94T. Buyers failed to keep the market above
the $3 trillion threshold but managed to stabilise
prices for key cryptocurrencies above last month's
lows. Bitcoin lost 4%, Ethereum and XRP lost about
6%, and Solana lost 5%. These major coins, which have
ETFs, now appear to be victims of changing institutional
sentiment.
The
sentiment index fell to 11, rolling back to its lowest
level in precisely one month. Such a deep dive into
the fear zone confirms that we are seeing more than
just an interim correction, which occurred in February
and April.
Bitcoin
fell below $85K on Monday, marking a decline for four
consecutive days. Active selling began with the start
of active trading in the American session. This is
likely the result of a portfolio rebalancing at the
end of the year, as well as another wave of interest
in cryptocurrencies from corporations and institutions,
which drove the price up from April to August. It
appears that the next significant support level will
now be in the $81K range, where the November lows
and the March support range for the outgoing year
are concentrated. The golden support level is in the
$60-70K range, where the key resistance levels for
2021 and 2024 are located.
News
Background
Market
liquidity is declining as the end of the year approaches.
Leverage remains low, with market participants closing
positions and optimising balances, avoiding risky
bets, according to FlowDesk. The decline in liquidity
is exacerbated by historically low volumes of cryptocurrency
trading on platforms.
The
current Bitcoin rally appears to have come to an end.
Before the next major upward movement, a deeper correction
phase is likely, possibly to around $50,000, according
to CryptoQuant.
Companies
holding Bitcoin in reserves continue to ‘selectively
but steadily accumulate’ the asset. However,
the buyer base has expanded significantly: not only
miners are active, but also tech giants and financial
firms, Glassnode notes.
Strategy
bought 10,624 BTC ($980 million) over the past week,
repeating the scale of purchases from the previous
week, which was the highest since July, and made one
large purchase of bitcoins, in the same amount as
a week before. Strategy now owns 671,268 BTC with
an average purchase price of $74,972 per bitcoin.
Bitcoin's
hash rate declined by 17.25% over the week due to
the potential closure of mining farms in Xinjiang,
China, according to BlockBeats. The Chinese authorities'
measures may have been a response to a Reuters article
published in late November, which claimed that the
mining sector in China was experiencing a ‘quiet
revival’ — the country's share of the global
hash rate had grown to 14%. (FxPro)
24
hours ago
Global
Markets React to Central Bank Decisions and Policy
Outlooks
Stock
indices
The
Fed managed to please the American stock market by
easing its policy and forecasting an increase in GDP
from 1.8% to 2.3%, as well as a slowdown in inflation
from 3% to 2.5% in 2026, while also discussing the
positive impact of AI on productivity. As a result,
the S&P500 experienced its most dramatic reaction
to an FOMC meeting since March, and the Russell 2000
set a new record. A strong economy and inflation heading
towards the 2% target present a prime opportunity
for stocks. Along with increased productivity, this
indicates that S&P500 companies may see growth
in corporate earnings. Historical episodes in which
the Fed cut rates and markets were near their peaks
have shown higher levels 12 months later in every
case.
However,
expectations for the next rate cut have now shifted
to April, removing the indexes safety buffer. There
may be renewed talk of a tech giant bubble, as evidenced
by Oracle's shares plunging sharply after the company
reported disappointing earnings.
According
to Yardeni Research, investors should diversify away
from the "Magnificent Seven" and seek opportunities
in other issuers, as artificial intelligence is transforming
nearly every company into a technology firm.
What
is ahead
The
key events of the third week of December will be the
release of US labour market data for October and November,
as well as central bank meetings. The ECB, the Bank
of England and the Bank of Japan will have their say.
Investors will also pay attention to European business
activity data for December.
Jerome
Powell says that FOMC officials have similar views
on the US economy but differ in their assessment of
its risks. Hawks are concerned about high inflation,
while doves are worried about the cooling labour market.
If employment figures disappoint, derivatives will
shift expectations of monetary policy easing from
April to March, and possibly even January. This will
weaken the dollar. On the other hand, a pleasant surprise
from non-farm payrolls will allow the USD to recoup
some of its losses. While no changes are expected
from the ECB, the Bank of England is 90% likely to
cut its repo rate to 3.75%. However, the negative
is already priced into the pound, and in the event
of hawkish comments, the pound could strengthen. The
fate of the yen will depend on the outlook for the
Bank of Japan's leadership. Few doubt that the overnight
rate will be raised, but what next? (FxPro)
News
'I
love solving puzzles': How AFP's crypto sleuth tracks
ill-gotten gains
Abigail
Gibson is the Australian Federal Police's only cryptocurrency
forensic accountant, a role she has held since 2022,
after she first joined the AFP as a forensic accountant
in 2017. Gibson uses blockchains to look for clues
that might be able to connect individuals to money
laundering, scams or sales of illicit goods and services
on the dark web, and she says that "cryptocurrency
is a well-established method for criminals to attempt
to hide their wealth and transfer assets". Her
work includes aiding the AFP's Criminal Asset Confiscation
Taskforce, which has frozen $65 million in cryptocurrency
assets since July. (AFR)
News
Flashback
Miners
lift ASX after Fed; Oracle hits tech
The
Australian sharemarket posted a small gain on Thursday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.2 per cent to close
at 8,592. The resources sector was bolstered by a
rise in the gold price after the US Federal Reserve's
decision to reduce the cash rate for a third time;
Ramelius Resources advanced 6.7 per cent to $3.81
and Rio Tinto was up 1.8 per cent at $140.01. However,
a sharp fall in Oracle's share price weighed on local
technology stocks, with WiseTech Global shedding 2.2
per cent to end the session at $70.99. (AFR/Roy Morgan
Summary)
News
Crypto
market awaits the final battle of the year
Market
Overview
The
crypto market lost just over 1% in 24 hours to $3.08T,
falling back to the consolidation levels of late November.
Attempts to shake up the market at the beginning of
this month were unsuccessful for both bulls and bears.
Excluding this impulse, the market has been treading
water for almost two weeks, hovering around the 23.6%
correction rebound line from the October-November
decline. Such a shallow rebound could be a sign of
a strong bear market, but this will only be confirmed
if November's lows of $2.73T are updated.
Bitcoin
is trading near $90K, having crossed this level for
the fifth consecutive day. An upward trend line can
be drawn through the lows of late November, but BTC
is now trading dangerously close to this line. At
the same time, horizontal resistance has formed in
the $92K area, bringing the positions of bulls and
bears closer together over time and promising a decisive
battle by the end of this week. It could not only
be the last significant battle of the year but also
determine the trend for the coming months.
News
Background
Short
positions on Bitcoin have recorded their largest outflow
since March 2025, when the price of BTC was near its
lows. Investors likely believe that the current surge
in negative sentiment has bottomed out, according
to CoinShares.
According
to Glassnode, the reserves of long-term Bitcoin holders
fell to a cyclical low in November. This marks the
end of the spot sell-offs that have hindered market
growth throughout 2025.
Ethereum
exchange reserves have fallen to record lows, which
could signal an imminent supply crisis, according
to CryptoQuant. Since July 2025, the indicator has
fallen by about 20%.
The
largest American investment company, BlackRock, has
applied with the SEC to register an ETF that will
allow investors to earn income from staking Ethereum
without directly owning the cryptocurrency.
Strategy
has increased its weekly Bitcoin purchases to their
highest level since July. The company bought 10,624
BTC ($963 million) last week at an average price of
$90,615 per coin. Strategy now owns 660,624 BTC, purchased
for $49.3 billion at an average price of $74,696 per
Bitcoin. (FxPro)
News
Streaming
Wars: Netflix vs Paramount (for Warner Bros) aka WBD.
What's Up Doc?!
Paramount
makes hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
Dec
9
Paramount
Skydance has directly approached Warner Bros Discovery's
shareholders with a takeover offer; it has opted to
bypass the rival media group's board, contending that
Warner's directors have backed an "inferior proposal".
Paramount has proposed a cash offer of $US30 per share,
valuing its bid for the entire company at about $US108bn.
It is seeking to trump Netflix's deal to acquire some
of Warner's assets for around $US83bn, which has been
approved by the boards of both companies. Warner has
rejected Paramount's claims that its sale process
had favoured a single bidder.
*Developing
news story "The Streaming Wars"
News
Australia
- USA Connection
World
Leaders Condemn Bondi Beach Attack
Many
Small Crypto Bears Sell Out; Tests Patience To Often;
Bulls Controlling Market For Long Haul
News
56
hours ago +
Developing
Story
The
crypto market tries to form an uptrend
Market
Overview
The
crypto market soared by almost 7% over the past day,
reaching a capitalisation of $3.15T and forming a
higher local peak compared to Sunday. The mood on
the crypto market was buoyed by moves from institutional
giants Vanguard and Bank of America to open access
to digital assets for their clients. Combined with
the fact that the low point on December 1st is higher
than the lows on November 21st, we are seeing a series
of vital signs of an upward trend forming. However,
a conservative view suggests that fluctuations below
$3.38T are a correction from the previous decline.
Bitcoin
approached $94K on Wednesday morning, recovering half
of its losses from the sell-off between November 11th
and 21st. Considering the entire decline from its
October peak, BTCUSD remains trading below $ 98K as
part of the correction. The $98-100K range contains
three psychologically significant levels: the 50-day
average, early November support, and 61.8% of the
decline from the peak. Consolidation above this level
could convince buyers that crypto winter has not arrived.
News
Background
Vanguard,
the world's second-largest investment company by assets,
will open access to crypto ETF trading for its clients
on December 2nd. The company had previously stated
that it would avoid Bitcoin funds because cryptocurrency
is an “immature asset class” and does not
fit with the company's philosophy.
Bank
of America, one of the largest banks in the United
States, has recommended that its institutional clients
allocate 1% to 4% of their portfolios to cryptocurrencies.
Previously, investors were unable to access cryptocurrencies
because advisors were prohibited from recommending
such instruments.
The
four-year cycle theory has ceased to work, so Bitcoin
has a chance to reach new highs in 2026, according
to Grayscale. Analysts believe there are already some
signs that Bitcoin has likely bottomed out.
News
(from Friday: Sydney)
ASX
up as tech stocks rally, WiseTech gains
The
Australian sharemarket posted a modest gain on Thursday,
with lower trading volumes ahead of Wall Street's
closure for Thanksgiving Day; the S&P/ASX 200
added 0.1 per cent to close at 8,617.3 points. WiseTech
Global was up 6.9 per cent at $69.72, Bellevue Gold
rose 3.2 per cent to $1.29 and Reece advanced four
per cent to $12.73. However, DroneShield was down
7.8 per cent at $2 and Santos fell 1.8 per cent to
end the session at $6.44. (RMS)
News
The
Dollar's new edge: from shield to sword
The
dollar is losing its safe-haven status. • The
scale of the Fed's rate cuts has been overestimated.
• The yen is the main favourite for 2026.
BoJ
may not raise rates until March. If the US dollar
was previously a shield, it is now turning into a
sword. (FxPro)
News
Pop
Culture News
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking/Sports; Media Man Group Dream
Match Series; Crack The Code!
Million
Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
VKM vs Easy E
Vinnie Vegas vs Mr Corbin
Mr Corp Merch vs Mr Freelance
Masked Superstar vs John McAfee
Sid Justice vs Mr Blood Diamond
Mr Bluey Chipper vs Street Fighter - King Of The Streets
Mr Dotcom vs Mr Wiki
Mr Gold vs Mr Green - Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Khan vs Khan - Winner Take All Match
Mr Wolff vs The Cleaner
Mr News vs Mr Vice - U.S Market Footprint Stipulation
Mr Paramount vs Mr Netflix
Mr ESPN vs Mr Fox
Mr Kross vs Mr Cardona
Cesaro vs Rollins
Dirty Dom vs Mr AAA
Punks vs Egos
Kross vs H
Murdoch Title vs Title
Mr Black Coffee vs Mr Claudio's Cafe Blend
Mr Warner vs Mr Netflix: Broadway draw thus far! Re-match!
Winner take all?!
TMZ vs Riddle
UFC vs PFL
The Oracle vs Cincinnati, Ohio
Mr X vs Hollyweird
Succession vs Billions
Mouse House vs Art House
NFL vs UFL
ABC vs Mainstream Aussies
Reigns vs Blanka
Cody Rhodes vs Joe
E. Honda vs NJPW
Capcom vs Warner
Cena vs ACME
Combat Sports Players vs Father Time
NXT vs TNA Wrestling (Showdown, not Invasion)!
Alpha vs Meta
TED X vs The Others
WWE's Solo vs NYC and Western Australia
UFC Predator vs MMA Predator
UFC Legal vs UFC Bad Egg Betting Disruptors
Bulls vs Bears
Logan Paul vs WWE babyfaces
Santa's Helper vs Grinch
John McAfee vs FBI + + +, Running .... Netflix Wins
again!
Killer Kross vs Matt Riddle - Shoot Fight/Wrestling
(MLW)! Holliday working web?! Most Marketable?!
VKM vs Numerous!
MLW vs The World
The Big Event vs US Promoters
Storm vs WWE Locker Room. Lash Legend on side!
NXT Gold Rush: Page & Green vs Hendry & Hail
Baszler vs Itoh - HOG Superclash - Nov 15
MSG, NY winning with WWE and UFC in Nov
The Vision vs WWE Lockerroom
John Cena vs Dirty Dom
Miz vs Management
Jericho vs Internet Marks
Mr Gold vs Mr Fool's Gold
Neo vs Mr Smith
PBR vs Others. No Bull?!
Aus Gvt vs Big Tech
Banks vs Cryptos
NVIDIA vs World
White House vs Wokes
Packer vs Devil D
Lucha Bros vs AAA Heels
WWE Black Scorpion/Masked Man vs Babyfaces
CM Punk vs The Hood
Starks vs Oba Femi - NXT Deadline
TNA Wrestling vs Dirtsheets
TKO vs Naysayers
John Cena vs Gunther: SNME
Chris Jericho, Mr X and Austin Theory vs IWC
Mr Netflix vs Mr Paramount
Triple H vs (many) Washington Cena Fans!
Heroes vs Villains
News
Crypto
Movies/Docos
The
Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)
Follows early Bitcoin adopter Daniel Mross, exploring
Bitcoin’s origins, its volatile rise, and the
community behind it. Great for understanding Bitcoin’s
early days and its potential to disrupt finance.
Banking
on Bitcoin (2016)
Examines Bitcoin’s history, ideological roots,
and impact on global financial systems through interviews
with pioneers and experts. A solid primer for newcomers.
Cryptopia:
Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet
(2020)
Directed by Torsten Hoffmann, this documentary dives
into blockchain’s broader applications beyond
cryptocurrency, addressing scalability and regulatory
challenges. Ideal for those interested in blockchain’s
transformative potential.
Trust
Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) Narrated by
Rosario Dawson, it explores blockchain’s societal
impact, from financial inclusion to voting systems.
A comprehensive look at real-world applications.
Bitcoin:
The End of Money as We Know It (2015)
Traces the history of money and introduces Bitcoin
as a decentralized alternative, critiquing centralized
financial systems. Features interviews with crypto
experts.
Deep
Web (2015) Narrated by Keanu Reeves, this documentary
focuses on the Silk Road marketplace and its creator,
Ross Ulbricht, highlighting Bitcoin’s role in
dark web transactions.
Bitconned
(2024) Explores the Centra Tech crypto scam, detailing
how three individuals defrauded investors during the
2010s crypto boom. A cautionary tale about unregulated
markets.
Feature
Films
Crypto
(2019)
A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth,
and Kurt Russell. It follows a young anti-money laundering
agent investigating corruption and cryptocurrency
in his hometown. Critics note its exaggerated portrayal
but praise its entertainment value.
Silk
Road (2021)
A dramatization of Ross Ulbricht’s creation of
the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace using Bitcoin.
It explores his rise and fall, blending crime and
drama.
Dope
(2015) A coming-of-age comedy-drama featuring Bitcoin
as a plot device. High schooler Malcolm uses Bitcoin
for a dark web transaction, reflecting its early association
with illicit activities.
Bonus
Mentions
Life
on Bitcoin (2014): Follows a couple attempting to
live solely on Bitcoin for 100 days, showcasing early
adoption challenges.
Bitcoin
Heist (2016): A Vietnamese action-comedy about hackers
chasing a crypto criminal, blending humor and thrills.
Notes
Documentaries are generally more educational, focusing
on Bitcoin’s history, blockchain technology,
and real-world implications. They’re great for
beginners and enthusiasts alike.
Feature
films often dramatize crypto’s association with
crime or scams, sometimes oversimplifying or exaggerating
for effect. They prioritize entertainment over accuracy.
For a deeper dive, check streaming platforms like
Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or YouTube, where many
of these are available.
News
Wall
Street (Movie)
Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a
drama about ambition and greed in the 1980s financial
world. It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young
stockbroker desperate to succeed, who gets entangled
with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate
raider. Gekko’s mantra, “Greed is good,”
drives the story as Bud is lured into insider trading
and unethical deals, compromising his morals for wealth
and power.
The
film explores themes of capitalism, loyalty, and betrayal,
with Bud navigating pressures from Gekko, his father
(Martin Sheen), and his own conscience.
Key
Details: Cast: Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko), Charlie
Sheen (Bud Fox), Daryl Hannah (Darien Taylor), Martin
Sheen (Carl Fox).
Runtime: 2h 6m.
Genre: Drama/Crime.
Rating: R. Box Office: ~$44 million (US).
Awards:
Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Notable
Aspects:
Gekko’s
“Greed is good” speech is iconic, reflecting
1980s excess. Inspired by real-life figures like Ivan
Boesky and Michael Milken.
A
sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), continued
the story.
Where
to Watch (as of 2025):
Streaming: Available on platforms like Peacock or
rentable on Amazon, YouTube, or Apple TV (check current
availability).
Physical: DVD/Blu-ray via retailers like Amazon.
News
Best
Quotes
An
investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
— Benjamin Franklin
"Bottoms
in the investment world don't end with four-year lows;
they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim
Rogers
Be
fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when
others are fearful." — Warren Buffett
Media
Man News
Markets,
Biz, Currency, Resources, Media And Pop Culture Watercooler
Australia
And World
Politics
On The Side
December
2025
Sydney,
Australia
Dec 9
New
York
Dec 8
ASX
futures down 28 points/0.3% to 8605
Wall
Street:
S&P 500 -0.5%
Dow Jones: -0.6%
Nasdaq -0.4%
Europe:
Stoxx 50 flat
FTSE -0.2%
DAX +0.1%
CAC -0.1%
Australian
dollar -0.3% to US66.26 cents
Bitcoin
$91,279.79 +1.81%
Gold
-0.3% to $US4185.67 per ounce
Oil -2.2% to $US58.78 a barrel
Brent crude oil -2.1% to $US62.41 a barrel
Iron ore -1.4% to $US101.90 per ton
10-year
yield:
US 4.17%
Australia 4.70%
Germany 2.86%
Cryptos:
Bitcoin
$91,279.79 +1.81%
Ethereum $3,144.75 +3.59%
Tether $1.0001 -0.02%
XRP $2.0873 +2.63%
Dogecoin $0.1437 +4.28%
Media/Entertainment
Biz News
Paramount
Launches $108.4 Billion Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
Paramount,
under David Ellison's leadership post-Skydance merger,
offered $30 per share for the full Warner Bros. Discovery,
totaling $108.4 billion—$18 billion more in cash
than Netflix's $72 billion equity deal for studios,
HBO Max, and films. Backed by Ellison's family, RedBird
Capital, Middle Eastern funds, and Jared Kushner's
Affinity Partners, the bid promises $6 billion in
savings and over 30 theatrical films yearly with traditional
release windows. President-elect Trump flagged Netflix's
deal as an antitrust issue, while Warner Bros. plans
to review the offer and Netflix stands by its agreement
with a $5.8 billion breakup fee. (Grok)
News
Forex
has set its priorities
In
2026, the euro is expected to grow modestly, while
the yen will become the favourite.
The main outsider is the franc, while the Fed may
help the dollar.
Has
the euro grown too eagerly? The EURUSD rally was driven
by accelerating European inflation and business activity,
as well as confidence that the ECB's rate-cutting
cycle was coming to an end, a belief in peace in Ukraine,
and expectations of a Fed rate cut. However, political
problems in Germany and the growing likelihood of
a pause in US rate cuts in January have slowed down
the main currency pair.
Reuters
experts see limited growth potential. They forecast
the EURUSD to rise to 1.17, 1.19 and 1.2 in one, three
and 12 months. Moreover, the dollar's growth in the
short term is now considered possible by around 30%
of respondents compared to 6% a month earlier. The
main factor in the growth of EURUSD since the end
of the year has been the reversal in expectations
for the key rate in December. They have gone from
less than a 30% probability immediately after the
publication of the minutes of the October FOMC meeting
to almost 90% now.
Investors
seem to have forgotten about the ‘hawks.’
But the need for compromise for Jerome Powell opens
up the potential for the US dollar to strengthen.
Another DXY growth impulse is reasonably possible
after the rate cuts in September and October.
Reuters
experts consider the Japanese yen to be the main favourite,
and the Swiss franc to be the outsider. Experts expect
the USDJPY to fall by 7.5% in a year due to divergence
in monetary policy. The futures market sees a 90%
probability of an overnight rate hike on 19 December
to 0.75%, the highest since 1995. Bloomberg insiders
claim that Kazuo Ueda will signal a continuation of
the normalisation cycle if economic forecasts are
realised. The unexpected reluctance of consumer prices
in Switzerland to rise in November is putting pressure
on the National Bank, as is the slowdown in core inflation
to its lowest level since August 2021. The SNB has
previously stated that it would like to avoid a return
to negative interest rates. Still, the official forecast
of 0.4% CPI growth in the fourth quarter is unlikely
to materialise. As a result, the chances of a return
to negative interest rates are increasing, putting
pressure on the franc. (FxPro)
News
The
euro is gaining momentum
Inflation
and the US labour market are slowing down, while the
chances of a rate cut are increasing.
The US dollar is vulnerable, while the euro is being
helped by business activity.
The
US dollar had its worst series of daily declines since
2020, mainly due to the increased likelihood of an
interest rate cut by the Fed and the improved positions
of its main competitors. The pound is rising as fears
about the budget have been allayed. The yen and the
Australian dollar are awaiting interest rate hikes
by their respective central banks. The euro is rising
due to improved trade conditions, falling energy prices
and hopes for peace in Eastern Europe. The USD index
is further weakened by demand for hedging in anticipation
of the Christmas rally in US stock indices.
A
decline in private sector employment by 32K in November,
according to ADP, and a fall in the price component
of the PMI in the services sector to a 7-month low
have strengthened the position of speculators betting
on a decline in December. Doves at the Fed believe
it is better to play it safe and ease policy to prevent
an uncontrolled surge in unemployment. Hawks complain
that lowering rates will accelerate inflation, which
is already gaining momentum.
The
arguments of the first group of FOMC officials seem
more convincing, which is why the futures market assigns
a 89% probability of a 25-point cut on December 10th
and approximately a 50% chance of a 100-point cut
within a year. Since no further reductions are expected
from the ECB in the coming year, the market is re-evaluating
in favour of EURUSD growth. Moreover, even without
divergence in monetary policy, the US dollar has many
vulnerabilities. The potential repeal of tariffs by
the Supreme Court, the twin deficits in the budget
and trade balance, and faster economic growth outside
the US are all factors in favour of a further decline
in the USD index.
The
euro, on the contrary, draws strength from the remarkable
stability of the eurozone. In November, the composite
business activity index rose to its highest level
in 2.5 years, adding to its sixth consecutive month
of growth. Its positive dynamics give hope for a reduction
in the economic growth divergence with the US. Along
with the divergence in monetary policy between the
ECB and the Fed, the economy is driving the upward
trend in EURUSD. (FxPro)
News
Mining/Resources:
Australia
The
AI plot: miners fear IR ambush
The
Minerals Council of Australia has expressed concern
that the federal government's National AI Plan will
give unions more power and influence over businesses.
The MCA has sent a briefing note to its members in
which it alleges that unions are using artificial
intelligence as a 'stalking horse' to exert more control
over the business sector's use of technology; amongst
other things, the MCA fears that the government will
require businesses to consult with unions before implementing
technology in the workplace and co-design their AI
systems in partnership with unions. The Opposition
contends that the government is using AI as a 'Trojan
horse' to get unions into more workplaces. (RMS)
News
Australia
ASX
falls as gold stocks dip; Liontown up 15pc
The
Australian sharemarket posted a slight fall on Monday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 shedding 0.1 per cent to
close at 8,622.2 points. Trading was subdued as investors
await today's interest rate decision from the Reserve
Bank of Australia, which is expected to leave the
cash rate unchanged; the US Federal Reserve is in
turn widely tipped to ease monetary policy on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Newmont Mining was down 2.1 per cent at
$134.93, and the DigiCo Infrastructure REIT fell 1.1
per cent to $2.50. However, Liontown Resources was
up 14.8 per cent at $1.51 and TechnologyOne rose 0.4
per cent to $28.85. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Streaming/Media
Wars
Paramount
makes hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
Paramount
Skydance has directly approached Warner Bros Discovery's
shareholders with a takeover offer; it has opted to
bypass the rival media group's board, contending that
Warner's directors have backed an "inferior proposal".
Paramount has proposed a cash offer of $US30 per share,
valuing its bid for the entire company at about $US108bn.
It is seeking to trump Netflix's deal to acquire some
of Warner's assets for around $US83bn, which has been
approved by the boards of both companies. Warner has
rejected Paramount's claims that its sale process
had favoured a single bidder. (RMS)
News
Trump
wants a say in $108b Netflix tie-up
US
President Donald Trump says he intends to be involved
in any decision on whether Netflix's planned $US72
billion ($108 billion) acquisition of Warner Bros
Discovery goes ahead. Speaking as he arrived at the
Kennedy Centre for an event, Trump confirmed he had
spoken to Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos
recently about the deal, with Sarandos having met
with Trump at the White House to lobby for the acquisition,
while Trump indicated that the market share of the
combined entity may pose issues. (RMS)
News
Yesterday
The
Lead Up
Sydney,
Australia
Dec 8
New
York
Dec 7 (before the bell rings)
Markets
ASX
futs dn 13 pnts/0.2% to 8620
Wall St: S&P 500 +0.2%, Dow: +0.2%, NAS +0.3%
EUR: Stoxx 50 +0.1%, FTSE -0.5%, DAX +0.6%
AUS $ +0.4% to US66.39c
BTC $91,005.46 +1.72%
Gold +2% to $US4197.78 per ounce
Oil +0.7% to $US60.08 a barrel
Brent +0.8% to $US63.75 a barrel
Iron -1.2% to $US103.00 per ton
News
Numbers
Confirmed
Australian
Dollar: $0.6640 USD (up $0.0029 USD)
Iron Ore Jan Spot Price (SGX): $103.00 USD (down $US1.30)
Oil Price: $60.08 USD (up $0.38 USD)
Gold Price: $4,197.81 USD (down $10.26 USD)
Copper Price: $5.4540 USD (up $0.0950 USD)
Bitcoin:
$90,565.11 +1.23%
Dow
Jones: 47,954.99 (up 104.05 points)
Media
News
Sky
News one of world's most-watched channels
Sky
News Australia CEO Paul Whittaker says its YouTube
channel is now watched by an average of five million
Australians each month. The YouTube channel has now
been viewed more than 7.2 billion times since it was
launched in mid-2019; this compares with 3.8 billion
views in October 2023. Sky News Australia has also
ranked 9th among the most-watched news channels on
YouTube in December 2025. (RMS)
News
Social
Media
Meta
seals deals with news publishers
Meta
Platforms has secured content deals with a number
of news publishers, including USA Today, Fox News
and CNN. The owner of social media platforms such
as Facebook will use content from these media outlets
to train its artificial intelligence models. The company
says it aims to improve Meta AI's ability to deliver
"timely and relevant content and information"
(Roy Morgan Summary)
News
How
Australia became the testing ground for a social media
ban for young people
The
origins of Australia's social media ban for those
aged under 16 date back to late 2023. It was then
that the wife of South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas
read a book by American social psychologist Jonathan
Haidt, in which he stated a social media ban for those
aged under 16 would help solve mental health ills
he believes are caused by the platforms, with Malinauskas'
wife urging him to something about it. South Australia
then held a summit on the subject in partnership with
New South Wales, while in 2024, then federal opposition
leader Peter Dutton made a national ban a key policy
of the coalition. News Corp then took up the cause
with its 'Let Them Be Kids' campaign, with the federal
parliament passing legislation before the end of 2024
to enforce a national ban, which will come into effect
on 10 December.
News
Resources
Gorgon
LNG investment gets green light
The
partners in the Gorgon LNG venture have made a final
investment decision on the third stage of the project.
The latest expansion of Australia's biggest resources
project will connect the offshore Geryon and Eurytion
gas fields to Gorgon's existing infrastructure, including
its processing facilities on Barrow Island. The backfill
project will not increase Gorgon's capacity, but it
will ensure that the current rate of production is
maintained. Gorgon's major partners are Chevron, ExxonMobil
and Shell, while Osaka Gas, JERA and MidOcean Energy
all have small stakes in the project. (RMS)
News
Chevron
warning on gas reform
Federal
cabinet is due to meet on Monday to finalise a gas
reservation scheme for the east coast, as it moves
to head off a looming gas shortfall. Chevron Australia
contends there is a risk that the government's intervention
in the gas market could deter investment, while a
report commissioned by the Australian Pipelines and
Gas Association has found that while over 10,000 megawatts
of new gas for power supply may be required by the
mid-2040s, the majority of proposed new projects are
not able to meet the expected commercial return thresholds
under existing national electricity market arrangements,
and that a failure to install enough new gas supply
into the power grid could result in energy prices
increasing to more than $50 per megawatt hour annually.
(RMS)
News
Dec
5
Bear
market rebound in crypto is likely to continue
Market
Overview
The
crypto market capitalisation fell by 1% to $3.14 trillion
over the past 24 hours, retreating from local highs
but maintaining a relatively optimistic mood. Among
the popular coins for the day, Zcash is once again
in the lead, adding 10% and exceeding $400, while
XRP loses 3.6% to $2.09. However, we still classify
this as a rebound from oversold conditions, with doubts
about the ability to renew October highs in the next
couple of years. We also saw attempts to push the
market up at the end of 2017 and in 2021. The capitalisation
of the crypto market reached new highs during these
pre-New Year rallies, but this is a dangerous game
in which one needs to choose instruments more carefully
than usual.
Bitcoin's
recovery slowed down, facing resistance from sellers
in the $ 94,000 range. However, we view this as a
pause rather than an exhaustion of the corrective
rebound, which may well develop into the $98-100K
range in the next few days. Nevertheless, we adhere
to the 4-year cycle pattern, as the opposite has not
yet been proven. In addition, we have seen a significant
pullback from the highs of the previous two months,
which is consistent with what happened in 2013, 2017
and 2021.
News
Background
The
Bull Score index developed by CryptoQuant fell to
zero for the first time since January 2022, signalling
a bearish market phase. CryptoQuant acknowledges that
next year, Bitcoin is expected to fall to the $55K-$70K
range.
Most
of Bitcoin's on-chain indicators are bearish, notes
CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju. According to him, without
an influx of liquidity, the crypto market will enter
a bearish phase of the crypto cycle.
K33
draws attention to several emerging medium-term factors
that could form the basis for market growth. By February
2026, US regulators are expected to issue new rules
for 401(k) retirement savings, which could potentially
open up a $9 trillion market for Bitcoin.
Ethereum
developers have successfully activated the Fusaka
hard fork on the ETH mainnet. The update is designed
to implement fundamental improvements to increase
the scalability, efficiency and security of the Ethereum
network.
BlackRock
has announced the transformation of the financial
system, influenced by cryptocurrencies and the growth
of US public debt. Stablecoins are increasingly being
used for cross-border payments and have become a bridge
between the digital and traditional economies. (FxPro)
Pop
Culture News
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking/Sports; Media Man Group Dream
Match Series; Crack The Code!
Million
Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
VKM vs Easy E
Vinnie Vegas vs Mr Corbin
Mr Corp Merch vs Mr Freelance
Masked Superstar vs John McAfee
Sid Justice vs Mr Blood Diamond
Mr Bluey Chipper vs Street Fighter - King Of The Streets
Mr Dotcom vs Mr Wiki
Mr Gold vs Mr Green - Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Khan vs Khan - Winner Take All Match
Mr Wolff vs The Cleaner
Mr News vs Mr Vice - U.S Market Footprint Stipulation
Mr Paramount vs Mr Netflix
Mr ESPN vs Mr Fox
Mr Kross vs Mr Cardona
Cesaro vs Rollins
Dirty Dom vs Mr AAA
Punks vs Egos
Kross vs H
Murdoch Title vs Title
Mr Black Coffee vs Mr Claudio's Cafe Blend
Mr Warner vs Mr Netflix: Broadway draw thus far! Re-match!
Winner take all?!
TMZ vs Riddle
UFC vs PFL
The Oracle vs Cincinnati, Ohio
Mr X vs Hollyweird
Succession vs Billions
Mouse House vs Art House
NFL vs UFL
ABC vs Mainstream Aussies
Reigns vs Blanka
Cody Rhodes vs Joe
E. Honda vs NJPW
Capcom vs Warner
Cena vs ACME
Combat Sports Players vs Father Time
NXT vs TNA Wrestling (Showdown, not Invasion)!
Alpha vs Meta
TED X vs The Others
WWE's Solo vs NYC and Western Australia
UFC Predator vs MMA Predator
UFC Legal vs UFC Bad Egg Betting Disruptors
Bulls vs Bears
Logan Paul vs WWE babyfaces
Santa's Helper vs Grinch
John McAfee vs FBI + + +, Running .... Netflix Wins
again!
Killer Kross vs Matt Riddle - Shoot Fight/Wrestling
(MLW)! Holliday working web?! Most Marketable?!
VKM vs Numerous!
MLW vs The World
The Big Event vs US Promoters
Storm vs WWE Locker Room. Lash Legend on side!
NXT Gold Rush: Page & Green vs Hendry & Hail
Baszler vs Itoh - HOG Superclash - Nov 15
MSG, NY winning with WWE and UFC in Nov
The Vision vs WWE Lockerroom
John Cena vs Dirty Dom
Miz vs Management
Jericho vs Internet Marks
Mr Gold vs Mr Fool's Gold
Neo vs Mr Smith
PBR vs Others. No Bull?!
Aus Gvt vs Big Tech
Banks vs Cryptos
NVIDIA vs World
White House vs Wokes
Packer vs Devil D
Lucha Bros vs AAA Heels
WWE Black Scorpion/Masked Man vs Babyfaces
CM Punk vs The Hood
Starks vs Oba Femi - NXT Deadline
TNA Wrestling vs Dirtsheets
TKO vs Naysayers
John Cena vs Gunther - WWE SNME
Chris Jericho vs Markets
Peter Yan (UFC) vs Jet Lag and Long Distance. Yen
Wins!
Joshua Van (UFC_ def Alexandre Pantoia. Round 1, 26
secs! Anything can happen in the cage!
Netflix def Warner Bros aka WBD (for now). Paramount
Following Up Situation. Talk of White House media
in Washington, DC. Re-match?! Donald Trump: Special
Ref?!
News
Crypto
Movies/Docos
The
Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)
Follows
early Bitcoin adopter Daniel Mross, exploring Bitcoin’s
origins, its volatile rise, and the community behind
it. Great for understanding Bitcoin’s early days
and its potential to disrupt finance.
Banking
on Bitcoin (2016)
Examines Bitcoin’s history, ideological roots,
and impact on global financial systems through interviews
with pioneers and experts. A solid primer for newcomers.
Cryptopia:
Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet
(2020)
Directed
by Torsten Hoffmann, this documentary dives into blockchain’s
broader applications beyond cryptocurrency, addressing
scalability and regulatory challenges. Ideal for those
interested in blockchain’s transformative potential.
Trust
Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) Narrated by
Rosario Dawson, it explores blockchain’s societal
impact, from financial inclusion to voting systems.
A comprehensive look at real-world applications.
Bitcoin:
The End of Money as We Know It (2015)
Traces the history of money and introduces Bitcoin
as a decentralized alternative, critiquing centralized
financial systems. Features interviews with crypto
experts.
Deep
Web (2015) Narrated by Keanu Reeves, this documentary
focuses on the Silk Road marketplace and its creator,
Ross Ulbricht, highlighting Bitcoin’s role in
dark web transactions.
Bitconned
(2024) Explores the Centra Tech crypto scam, detailing
how three individuals defrauded investors during the
2010s crypto boom. A cautionary tale about unregulated
markets.
Feature
Films
Crypto
(2019)
A
crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth,
and Kurt Russell. It follows a young anti-money laundering
agent investigating corruption and cryptocurrency
in his hometown. Critics note its exaggerated portrayal
but praise its entertainment value.
Silk
Road (2021)
A
dramatization of Ross Ulbricht’s creation of
the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace using Bitcoin.
It explores his rise and fall, blending crime and
drama.
Dope
(2015)
A
coming-of-age comedy-drama featuring Bitcoin as a
plot device. High schooler Malcolm uses Bitcoin for
a dark web transaction, reflecting its early association
with illicit activities.
Bonus
Mentions
Life
on Bitcoin (2014): Follows a couple attempting to
live solely on Bitcoin for 100 days, showcasing early
adoption challenges.
Bitcoin
Heist (2016): A Vietnamese action-comedy about hackers
chasing a crypto criminal, blending humor and thrills.
Notes
Documentaries are generally more educational, focusing
on Bitcoin’s history, blockchain technology,
and real-world implications. They’re great for
beginners and enthusiasts alike.
Feature
films often dramatize crypto’s association with
crime or scams, sometimes oversimplifying or exaggerating
for effect. They prioritize entertainment over accuracy.
For a deeper dive, check streaming platforms like
Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or YouTube, where many
of these are available.
News
Wall
Street (Movie)
Wall
Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a drama
about ambition and greed in the 1980s financial world.
It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young stockbroker
desperate to succeed, who gets entangled with Gordon
Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate raider.
Gekko’s mantra, “Greed is good,” drives
the story as Bud is lured into insider trading and
unethical deals, compromising his morals for wealth
and power.
The
film explores themes of capitalism, loyalty, and betrayal,
with Bud navigating pressures from Gekko, his father
(Martin Sheen), and his own conscience.
Key
Details: Cast: Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko), Charlie
Sheen (Bud Fox), Daryl Hannah (Darien Taylor), Martin
Sheen (Carl Fox).
Runtime:
2h 6m.
Genre:
Drama/Crime.
Rating:
R. Box Office: ~$44 million (US).
Awards: Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for
Best Actor.
Notable
Aspects:
Gekko’s
“Greed is good” speech is iconic, reflecting
1980s excess. Inspired by real-life figures like Ivan
Boesky and Michael Milken.
A
sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), continued
the story.
Where
to Watch (as of 2025):
Streaming: Available on platforms like Peacock or
rentable on Amazon, YouTube, or Apple TV (check current
availability).
Physical:
DVD/Blu-ray via retailers like Amazon.
News
Best
Quotes
An
investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
— Benjamin Franklin
"Bottoms
in the investment world don't end with four-year lows;
they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim
Rogers
Be
fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when
others are fearful." — Warren Buffett
Media
Man "Bullish is a mindset"
News,
Markets, Biz, Politics, Mining, Media, Marketing,
Culture: Australia and World
December
2025
December
2
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6540 USD (flat)
Iron Ore: $103.85 USD (up $1.65 USD)
Oil: $59.48 USD (up $0.93 USD)
Gold: $4,237.89 USD (up $18.66 USD)
Copper: $5.2730 USD (down $0.0050 USD)
Bitcoin: $86,640.57 -0.14%
Dow Jones: 47,396.45 (down 319.97 points close)
News
Minerals
partner to help take on China
The
Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation's
pilot rare earth processing facility at Lucas Heights
in Sydney is slated to commence operating in early
2026. The federal government has advised that Australian
Rare Earths will be the first industry partner fro
the new ANSTO facility. Resources Minister Madeleine
King says the appointment of the program's first partner
will enhance national security initiatives and support
the governments Future Made in Australia strategy.
It will also enable Australian Rare Earths to accelerate
the development of its Koppamurra ionic-clay project
in South Australia. (RMS)
News
New
Eraring extension on cards
Origin
Energy's Eraring coal-fired power station was originally
slated to close this year, but the company struck
a deal with the NSW government in 2024 to keep the
plant operational until August 2027. However, a report
from the Australian Energy Market Operator has prompted
speculation that Eraring's operating life may need
to be extended again. The AEMO has warned that NSW
could potentially face power blackouts if Eraring
is closed on schedule, noting that grid-stabilising
synchronous condensors are unlikely to be installed
before then. Premier Chris Minns says his government
is open to further delaying Eraring's closure. (RMS)
News
Critical
minerals boom yet to take off as gold hogs investment
PwC's
2025 Aussie Mine report notes that 124 critical minerals
projects nationwide are stuck in a 'holding pattern'
between discovery and production, with investor preferring
the safe haven of gold. Few of these critical minerals
projects have a publicly disclosed net present value
of at least $1bn. The PwC report also notes that the
'investable universe' - critical minerals projects
that are considered to be attractive by commercial
investors - has increased by a net seven projects
in the last year. These are dominated by copper, nickel
and lithium. However, copper remains excluded from
Australia's critical minerals list and is therefore
not eligible for production tax credits. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
Dec
1
ASX
tipped for solid start ahead of GDP data
Futures
pricing suggests that Australian equities will gain
about 0.1 per cent when the market opens on Monday,
following a positive lead from Wall Street. The release
of GDP data for the September quarter is set to be
a key focus for local investors in the coming week,
as they seek guidance on the outlook for official
interest rates. Inflation data released last week
has heightened speculation that the next rate move
may be up rather than down. The S&P/ASX 200 shed
0.37 per cent to close at 8,614.1 points on Friday,
and it fell by three per cent in November. (RMS)
News
Nov
28
Gold
may have doubled, but miners a gamble
Factors
such as its 'safe haven' staus and record buying by
central banks have seen the price of gold rise by
more than 50 per cent so far in 2025. The share prices
of Australian-listed gold producers have also rallied
during 2025, and some have posted solid returns over
the last decade. However, analysis shows that just
100 of the 172 listed gold miners in 2015 are still
in business now. Meanwhile, about 40 per cent of the
survivors have posted a negative return over the last
10 years. (RMS)
News
'Bloodbath':
Black Friday deals pose a dilemma for small business
Australians
are expected to spend nearly $7bn over the four days
of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, and up
to $39bn over the month of November. Indeed, Black
Friday has evolved to essentially become a one-month
sales event, and there is a growing expectation among
consumers that every store will offer big discounts.
However, Black Friday is challenging for many small
businesses, which simply cannot match the deep discounts
of large retailers. This is highlighted by research
from the Council of Small Business Organisations;
it found that 60 per cent of small business owners
do not pay themselves at least occasionally, while
25 per cent have used their personal savings to stay
afloat. (RMS)
News
Australia's
Most Trusted and Distrusted Brands + The Retail Landscape
Join
Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine to discover Australia's
most Trusted and Distrusted brands; how traditional
retail brands are being impacted by Temu, Shein, and
AliExpress; how the dramatic shift to low prices is
affecting discount department stores like Kmart and
Big W; whether Amazon has finally become the digital
category killer, impacting Myer, JB Hi-Fi and Harvey
Norman; whether Coles and Woolworths are finally showing
real signs of reputational recovery; and whether the
retail sector seeing a rise in distrust amid all the
upheaval. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Media
and Marketing
Sport
keeps TV afloat as Seven pips Nine
The
Seven Network has become Australia's top-rating commercial
free-to-air broadcaster for a fifth consecutive year.
Seven's national audience share across the 2025 rating
year was 41.6 per cent, ahead of the Nine Network
on 40.5 per cent. Seven's total audience share across
all five free-to-air networks was 29.4 per cent, followed
by Nine (28.7 per cent), the ABC (21.5 per cent),
Ten (12.6 per cent) and SBS (7.7 per cent). Nine's
live coverage of the NRL Grand Final was the highest-rating
program for the year, with a record 4.56 million viewers;
the AFL Grand Final attracted a total audience of
4.18 million. (RMS)
News
The
Age misses mark on AFL deal
A
spokesman for DAZN says the UK-based sports-focused
streaming company "categorically refutes"
a recent media report which suggested that it could
seek to renegotiate Foxtel's current seven-year AFL
broadcasting rights deal. The Age reported last week
that unnamed sources had claimed that DAZN believes
it is paying too much for the AFL rights. Foxtel was
acquired by DAZN earlier in 2025, in a deal that is
said to have been worth about $3.4bn. (RMS)
News
News
media eyes $600m yearly boost
Google,
Meta, Microsoft, TikTok and Apple are estimated to
have had combined revenue of $41bn in Australia during
fiscal 2024. They could potentially pay local news
publishers about $610m a year via the federal government's
News Bargaining Incentive, which will penalise technology
companies that fail to secure content deals with the
nation's news publishers; based on the revenue of
the 'big five', the financial penalty for not striking
such deals could be around $920m a year. The NBI would
apply to all digital platforms that operate "significant"
social media or search services, even if they do not
feature any news content. (RMS)
News
Magazine
stable faces carve-up
Private
equity firm Mercury Capital still hopes to sell the
whole of Are Media to a single buyer. However, sources
at Are have said there is speculation within the publisher
that several potential suitors have expressed interest
in selectively buying some magazine titles, and shunning
the less profitable ones. Mining magnate Andrew Forrest
is said to have been approached about buying the flagship
Australian Women's Weekly via his family company,
Tattarang, which already owns the RM Williams magazine.
(Roy Morgan Summary)
News
AI
threat slashes billions from classifieds giants
Jarden
analyst Tom Beadle has downplayed the risks that online
classified advertising groups are facing due to the
growing use of artificial intelligence platforms.
He contends that AI companies are unlikely to develop
a 'killer application' that will disrupt the business
of Real Estate Dotcom Dot Au http://realestate.com.au
owner REA Group in the near term. However, REA Group's
market capitalisation has fallen by nearly $9bn since
August, while CAR Group - which owns Car Sales http://carsales.com.au
- has shed 16 per cent of its value. Nevertheless,
there are fears that AI platforms will be increasingly
used to directly search for jobs, homes or cars. (RMS)
News
Nov
28
Free
entry gets museum record-breaking visitors
Analysis
of the annual reports of museums in Australia shows
that consumers continued to embrace the nation's cultural
institutions in 2024-25. Museums Victoria had the
highest patronage, with 1.93 million visitors during
the financial year; however, this was 13 per cent
lower than previously. Meanwhile, Western Australia
Museum was the nation's second-most-visited museum,
with visits to its three sites rising by 21 per cent
year-on-year to 1.2 million. WA Museum chair Sheila
McHale notes that visitor numbers were boosted by
the state government's decision to waive entry fees
during the 2024-25 summer. (RMS)
News
Mining/Resources/Energy
Nov
28
Inside
the battle for BHP's future
There
is growing speculation that BHP's CEO Mike Henry is
preparing to step down after six years in the role.
However, BHP's merger talks with Anglo American last
week showed that Henry is still deeply engaged in
high-stakes strategic endeavours, rather than easing
into retirement. Potential internal candidates to
succeed Henry when he eventually steps down include
Geraldine Slattery, Rag Udd, Vandita Pant and Catherine
Raw. Meanwhile, some BHP directors believe that the
resources group should simplify its commodities portfolio
by exiting the coal sector and focusing on copper;
indeed, analysis shows that both BHP and Rio Tinto
have underperformed those of pure-play copper mines
in recent years. (RMS)
News
Nov
28
Bitcoin
stalled at a critical resistance
Market
Overview
The crypto market cap corrected by 0.4% to $3.10T,
pausing the cautious rebound from last Friday. Yet
we can’t talk about the rebound running out of
steam, as there was strong growth the day before.
But we do not see any increase in optimism, as just
about one in seven coins has gained in the last 24
hours, compared to a decline for most.
The
sentiment index rose to 25, the threshold for exiting
the territory of extreme fear, despite the latest
round of weakness. The index’s dynamics are likely
to attract buyers who were eager to enter the market
but were waiting for a discount after the highs were
set in early October.
Bitcoin
has fallen below $ 91K, stabilising near the 61.8%
Fibonacci retracement level of the decline since November
11th. The area near $90K was significant for the market
about a year ago, serving as support for the correction
after the growth momentum in early November. There
is some risk that it will now act as resistance, reinforcing
the bearish signal of a possible end to the rebound.
A rise above $95K would signal a victory for the bulls
and a return to a bull market, while a decline below
$87K could open the way to $80K, driving the market
into a depression.
News
Background
Kronos
Research describes the current dynamics as a classic
rebound from oversold conditions. The market has cleared
out excess long positions, creating room for growth,
according to Presto Research.
Futures
and options data point to a return of bullish sentiment.
The market is ‘ready for growth’ after speculative
longs were closed over the past two weeks, according
to GSR.
According
to CryptoQuant, in November, the Binance crypto exchange
increased its stablecoin reserves to a record $51.1
billion. The growth of this indicator can be seen
as a positive factor for the crypto market.
The
potential exclusion of Strategy from the S&P 500
index and continued outflows from spot crypto ETFs
could bring back bearish sentiment and trigger sell-offs,
warns QCP Capital.
Bolivia
will include cryptocurrencies and stablecoins in its
national financial system to modernise it.
Cryptocurrencies
will be allowed to be used as a means of payment,
savings accounts, credit products and loans. The authorities’
decision is a result of the country’s challenging
economic situation. (FxPro)
News
Heavy
Industry News
Mack
Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Manufacturer Of The Month'
award
Caterpillar
wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The
Month' award
Bingo
Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The
Month' award
Elders
wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award
Landman
wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award
(Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)
Jim's
Mowing wins Media Man 'Franchise Of The Month' award
News
Pop
Culture Flashback
Citizen
Kane (1941)
Directed
by Orson Welles | Written by Orson Welles & Herman
J. Mankiewicz | Cinematography by Gregg Toland
Why it’s considered one of the greatest films
ever made:
Revolutionary storytelling: Non-linear structure jumping
through multiple perspectives and timelines —
decades before it became common.
Iconic
moments/lines:
“Rosebud…”
The
campaign speech with the giant Kane poster
The
slow push-in on young Charlie playing in the snow
as his future is decided
“Old
age… it’s the only disease, Mr. Thompson,
that you don’t look forward to being cured of.”
(Bernstein)
News
Salt
of the Earth (1954)
Mexican
workers at a zinc mine call a general strike. It is
only through the solidarity of the workers, and importantly
the indomitable resolve of their wives, mothers, and
daughters, that they eventually triumph.
News
Sarah's
Oil
Sarah's
Oil is a 2025 American biographical drama film inspired
by the true story of Sarah Rector, an African American
girl born in 1902 in Oklahoma Indian Territory. At
just 11 years old, Rector inherited 160 acres of seemingly
barren land from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation allotment.
Believing—through faith and intuition—that
oil lay beneath it, she fought off greedy speculators
and corrupt oil magnates to develop the property,
which turned out to be rich in resources. This made
her one of the first female African American millionaires
in U.S. history, earning her the nickname "the
richest colored girl in the world." The film
draws from the 2014 book Searching for Sarah Rector:
The Richest Black Girl in America by Tonya Bolden
and highlights themes of faith, perseverance, family,
and resilience amid racial injustice during the early
20th-century oil boom.
Filming:
Principal photography took place in Oklahoma starting
in July 2024.
Release:
Premiered in U.S. theaters on November 7, 2025, distributed
by Amazon MGM Studios (moved up from a planned Christmas
Day slot).
Runtime:
1 hour 43 minutes.
Best
Quotes
The
best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."
"You
are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig
to find it and make it real."
"Your
mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will
find something golden."
"Don't
die without mining the gold in your mind."
"We're
like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's
inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."
"If
you want to find gold, you've got to love the process
of digging."
"Even
if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to
dig."
"Develop
men the same way gold is mined"
"Don't
go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in
looking for the gold."
"A
prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"
"A
prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't
find much gold"
"The
world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not."
"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are
silver, these are gold."
"All
that is gold does not glitter."
"Gold
is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears
out"
"Gold
is the money of kings"
"Mining
is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit.
An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher
of a dead mule."
"Anyone
can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds
the gold."
"True
gold fears no fire."
"The
desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means
of freedom and benefit."
"Make
new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these
are gold."
"When
taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes
considered like cheap copper – so are people."
Media
Man
Roy
Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Provider Of The
Month' award; Runner-ups: X, Google News, Yahoo! Finance
Markets,
News, Biz, Mining, Energy, Politics: Australia and
World
November
2025
Nov
28
Heavy
Industry News
Mack
Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Manufacturer Of The Month'
award
Caterpillar
wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The
Month' award
Bingo
Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The
Month' award
Elders
wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award
Landman
wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award
(Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)
Jim's
Mowing wins Media Man 'Franchise Of The Month' award
News
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6529 USD (up 0.0009 USD)
Iron Ore: $106.70 USD (up $0.10 USD)
Oil: $59.10 USD (up $0.40 USD)
Gold: $4,157.44 USD (down $8.15 USD)
Copper: $5.1625 USD (down $0.0410 USD)
Bitcoin: $91,056.34 -0.12%
Dow Jones: 47,427.12 (closed for Turkey Day)
News
Labor
urged to bite the bullet on energy bills
Treasurer
Jim Chalmers recently indicated that the federal government
has yet to decide whether to extend its electricity
bill rebates beyond December 2025. The rebate was
introduced in 2023 and extended by six months in the
March budget. The expiry of state energy rebates contributed
to the higher-than-expected 3.8 per cent headline
inflation rate in the year to October. Economists
have urged the government to end the rebates, contending
that they have a distortionary impact on inflation
and have cost the federal budget about $6.8bn to date.
Challenger's chief economist Jonathan Kearns notes
that rebates also risk lifting expectations of higher
inflation; indeed, ANZ-Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations
have risen to a two-year high. (RMS)
News
ASX
up as tech stocks rally, WiseTech gains
The
Australian sharemarket posted a modest gain on Thursday,
with lower trading volumes ahead of Wall Street's
closure for Thanksgiving Day; the S&P/ASX 200
added 0.1 per cent to close at 8,617.3 points. WiseTech
Global was up 6.9 per cent at $69.72, Bellevue Gold
rose 3.2 per cent to $1.29 and Reece advanced four
per cent to $12.73. However, DroneShield was down
7.8 per cent at $2 and Santos fell 1.8 per cent to
end the session at $6.44. (RMS)
News
What
bubble? AI investors double down
Australian
technology investors have used a slump on the US Nasdaq
earlier in the month to boost their exposure to the
artificial intelligence sector. Those investors included
Munro Partners, which has topped up its exposure to
Nvidia, Alphabet and Taiwan Semiconductor, while Loftus
Peak's holdings of US tech stocks include Amazon,
Microsoft, Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor. For his
part, Joseph Ziller from Ziller Funds Management says
he avoids AI stocks that are not creating value today
from their huge capital expenditure. (RMS)
News
Snowy
Hydro signs renewable power deals
Snowy
Hydro will announce today that it has signed a 15-year
deal to purchase power from a wind farm in South Australia
that is being developed by Aula Energy, and which
Rystad Energy says could cost between $810 million
and $945 million. In addition to the deal with Aula
Energy, Snowy Hydro will also announce that it has
entered into a 15-year contract with French-backed
TagEnergy to access 105 megawatts of capacity at the
Golden Plains storage battery, which will be located
alongside a large wind farm site near Geelong in Victoria.
(RMS)
News
Tech
giants target roadblocks to AI spending
Australian
Bureau of Statistics figures shows that investment
in machinery and equipment by IT firms in the September
quarter came in at $2.8 billion, which was double
the previous record of $1.4 billion set in the previous
quarter. The figure includes investment in routers,
cooling towers and servers used to construct data
centres, and technology companies such as Microsoft
and TikTok, along with data centre operators such
as NextDC and AirTrunk, have got together to form
Data Centres Australia. It will lobby for reforms
to energy, water and planning approval and copyright
laws, so as to encourage investment in AI-linked investment.
(RMS)
News
Atlassians
resist Allan's crusade
Atlassian
is expanding its operations in Victoria, where Premier
Jacinta Allan wants to legislate the right to work
from home two days a week for private and public sector
employees. Although he is an advocate of hybrid work
arrangements and once stated that his employees can
work from anywhere, Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes
is against the idea of work-from-home mandates, believing
that flexible work arrangements should be up to business
to decide. As to the future of the Australian tech
sector, Cannon-Brooke is very optimistic, even though
the federal government seems set to fail in its target
for the nation to employ 1.2 million tech workers
by the end of the decade. (RMS)
News
Online
out to pasture as Tabcorp bets big on pub and club
punters
Tabcorp
CEO Gillon McLachlan announced a major shakeup of
its retail wagering operations earlier in the yea
with McLachlan ditching a strategy by his predecessor
that was heavily focused on internet betting growth.
McLachlan instead plans to focus on punters in clubs
and pubs, where it has an advantage over rivals such
as Sportsbet and Ladbrokes. Its new strategy will
see it pay pubs and clubs hundreds of thousands of
dollars to help entice punters to gamble in their
venues, while it will allocate $50 million to pay
for bonus bets and other inducements for gamblers
in pubs and clubs. (RMS)
News
High
Court challengers of teen social media ban want Musk,
Google to fund case
A
group called the Digital Freedom Project is challenging
the federal government's under-16 social media ban
in the High Court, with the plaintiffs in the challenge
being teenage children of members of the group. The
group's president is NSW Libertarian Party MP John
Ruddick, who is encouraging the big tech companies
to fund its challenge, while he says it should be
the responsibility of parents to be aware of what
their children are doing online and to educate them
about the harms of social media. Minister for Communications
Anika Wells told parliament on Wednesday the government
was committed to the ban, and that it will not be
intimidated by legal challenges. (RMS)
News
Cricket's
shot at $1.2bn Big Bash prize
Cricket
Australia is aiming to partially privatise the Big
Bash League, although it will need the consent of
the various state cricket bodies. There are currently
eight teams in the BBL, with Cricket Australia hoping
to expand it to 10 teams; it has placed a value of
$1.2 billion on a 10-team BBL, meaning that it stands
to make a $600 million windfall if its plans go ahead.
Most potential bidders are likely to come from India,
with Cricket Australia not optimistic that local buyers
would be able to meet its asking price. (RMS)
News
Critical
minerals rise from waste ashes
Latrobe
Magnesium recently received a letter of interest from
the US Export-Import Bank, which offered to provide
up to $US122m ($187m) to help build a magnesium plant
in Victoria. Latrobe CEO David Paterson says China
accounts for about 90 per cent of the global supply
of magnesium, which is vital to the manufacture of
electric vehicles and military aircraft. Latrobe's
technology can convert the fly ash produced by coal-fired
power stations into magnesium oxide. It has built
a demonstration plant near the site of the defunct
Hazelwood power station, and the funding from the
US export credit agency will be used to build a commercial
plant. (RMS)
News
Mineral
explorers bounce on 81pc funding surge
Data
from advisory firm BDO shows that the 739 pre-revenue
minerals exploration companies on the ASX raised more
than $3.49bn in total during the September quarter.
This is 81 per cent higher than the June quarter,
and Sherif Andrawes from BDO expects this growth to
continue. Meanwhile, total exploration expenditure
by pre-revenue companies rose by 16 per cent to a
two-year high of $843.6m in the September quarter,
while the average cash balance of mineral explorers
increased by 20 per cent to $11m. Andrawes anticipates
strong IPO activity among pre-revenue explorers in
the December quarter. (RMS)
News
Palmer's
Covid drug donation behind tax dispute
Clive
Palmer is in a dispute with the Australian Taxation
Office over a purchase he made of a shipment of the
antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine during the COVID-19
pandemic. He is seeking a tax deduction of almost
$13m for his purchase, which was made at a time when
US President Donald Trump was promoting hydroxychloroquine
as a way of combatting COVID-19, with Palmer claiming
his deduction as a donation for defending Australia,
although the drug was never distributed. (RMS)
News
'How
far is it going to escalate?' Fear Santos gas plan
in Beetaloo basin could be start of NT fracking rush
Gas
and oil company Santos has announced plans to drill
12 fracking wells at Tanumbirini Station, which is
a large cattle station in the Northern Territory's
Beetaloo basin. Environment Centre NT executive director
Dr Kirsty Howey is worried that if Santos's plans
lead to to full-scale production, that over 6,000
wells could be drilled through "our precious
aquifers, polluting our groundwater with toxic chemicals",
with ninety percent of the NT's water supply coming
from groundwater. Howey says Santos should be a "good
corporate citizen" and refer its proposal to
be assessed under federal environment laws.
News
LNG
levy proposal scared producers
The
federal government is reviewing Australia's east coast
gas market, with it being understood that it was considering
a levy on east coast LNG exporters at one stage. However,
while that idea appears to have been shelved and the
government looks set to have settled on a gas reservation-style
scheme, the fact that the government was even considering
a levy has sparked concern among the gas industry
about the extent to which the government is prepared
to intervene in the sector. (RMS)
News
Smelters
become a test case for bailouts
Glencore
and Nyrstar are among the companies that have received
financial assistance from federal and state governments
to keep their ageing Australian smelters operating.
China's dominance of the critical minerals sector
has underlined the importance of continuing to produce
metals such as copper and zinc in Australia. Nyrstar's
lead smelter at Port Pirie and its zinc smelter in
Hobart can potentially be upgraded to produce critical
minerals such as antimony, bismuth, tellurium, germanium
and indium; these metals are crucial to Australia's
economic and security equation, particularly in the
wake of the recent critical minerals agreement with
the US. (RMS)
News
Crisafulli
denies favouritism amid mine deals
Harmony
Gold's Eva Copper Mine has received an undislosed
financial incentive from the Queensland government's
Northwest Energy Fund. However, two coal projects
in the state have received no financial assistance
from the government. Premier David Crisafulli has
rejected suggestions that the government is favouring
critical minerals over coal, arguing that it is providing
the coal industry with certainty with regard to regulation
and taxation; the government has previously been criticised
for retaining its Labor predecessor's controversial
coal royalty regime. Crisafulli adds that the Eva
Copper Mine will help ensure that Glencore's Mount
Isa smelter remains viable. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
ASX
rally tempers on CPI shock; miners rise
The
Australian sharemarket posted a sold gain on Wednesday,
despite a pullback in response to data showing that
inflation rose to a higher-than-expected 3.8 per cent
in the year to October. The S&P/ASX 200 added
0.8 per cent to close at 8,606.5 points, having risen
by about 1.2 per cent before the monthly CPI data
was released. BHP was up two per cent at $41.80, Pilbara
Minerals rose 7.2 per cent to $4.04 and Ramsay Health
Care advanced 3.8 per cent to $37.32. However, Temple
& Webster shed 32.3 per cent to end the session
at $13.83. (RMS)
News
Fortescue,
former execs settle with each side to pay costs
The
terms of a settlement between Fortescue and three
former executives will remain confidential, after
all parties to the legal dispute agreed to take no
further action. Michael Masterman, Bart Kolodziejczyk
and Bjorn Winther-Jensen had been accused of using
Fortescue's proprietary information when they left
to establish a rival 'green' iron company called Element
Zero in 2022. Fortescue commenced legal action in
April 2024, and attracted criticism for hiring private
detectives to undertake surveillance on the three
former employees and their families. Element Zero's
green iron plant in Perth will be formally opened
by Premier Roger Cook today. (RMS)
News
The
rare earths race is on
China
has spent unlimited money to develop the world's best
technology to produce heavy rare earths, while the
French have developed rival technology that is not
as good and is far more expensive. Meanwhile, Sinosteel's
$100m pilot plant in Western Australia to process
ore from Northern Minerals' Browns Range rare earth
project is likely to remain idle, as Northern Minerals
intends to build a new plant at Browns Range with
financial support from the US Export-Import Bank.
Haoma Mining's Bamboo Creek heavy rare earths deposit
is also a threat to China's dominance of the sector;
its Elazac process is now being used to extract gold
and platinum from the Bamboo Creek material, and it
could become a rival to the Chinese and French technology
for extracting heavy rare earths such as terbium.
(RMS)
Nov
26
News
Haoma
Mining: Chairman's Presentation to shareholders
Haoma
Mining NL Announcements
Haoma
Mining held its Annual General Meeting at Tonic House
in Melbourne on 26 November. Chairman Gary Morgan
updated shareholders on Haoma's major activities in
the Pilbara region of Western Australia, including
the use of the Elazac process to produce gold bullion
at the Bamboo Creek Pilot Plant, as well as its Pilbara
Heavy Rare Earth discovery. Shareholders were also
updated on progress at the Pirra Lithium exploration
joint venture between Haoma and SQM Australia, as
well as activities at Haoma's Top Camp Roadhouse and
Caravan Park at Ravenswood in Queensland. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
Lead
Up
Nov
25
Big
super's $110m stake in 'blood oil'
Australian
Federation of Ukrainian Organisations chair Kateryna
Argyrou says Australia's superannuation funds should
divest their stakes in companies such as India's Reliance
Industries. Argyrou's comments follow the revelation
that Reliance has profited from refining sanctioned
Russian crude oil and exporting the resulting fuels
into markets such as Australia. The nation's four
largest super funds have invested nearly $110 million
in Reliance; they include AustralianSuper and the
Australian Retirement Trust. (RMS)
Nov
25
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6462 USD (up 0.0009 USD)
Iron Ore: $105.00 USD (up $0.75 USD)
Oil: $58.84 USD (up $0.78 USD)
Gold: $4,123.68 USD (up $58.41 USD)
Copper: $4.9890 USD (down $0.0070 USD)
Dow Jones: 46,478.79 (up 233.38 points)
Bitcoin: $88,103.67 +1.47%
News
Force
miners to sell local: smelter owner
Nyrstar
Australia's CEO Matt Howell says the federal government
should consider implementing a domestic minerals reservation
scheme. It would work in much the same way as the
proposed domestic gas reservation scheme, and require
mining companies to sell a portion of their mineral
ore to Australian refinery operators. The future of
facilities such as Nyrstar's Port Pirie lead smelter
and its Hobart zinc smelter have been under scrutiny,
prompting federal and state government assistance.
However, Howell's proposal has been dismissed by Minerals
Council of Australia CEO Tania Constable, who has
cautioned against government intervention in the minerals
market. (RMS)
News
'Our
gas, our prices': Ed Husic breaks ranks with Labor
to demand an end to 'profiteering' by exporters
Former
Labor industry minister Ed Husic has backed a motion
by independent MP Nicolette Boele regarding east coast
gas prices. The motion calls on the federal government
to "only allow uncontracted gas to be exported
after it has been offered to the domestic market at
a reasonable price", with Boele saying Australia
does not have a gas supply problem, but rather a gas
export problem. Calling for stronger action against
what he labels 'profiteering' gas exporters, Husic
contends that "our gas, our prices: that should
be the bedrock of our thinking. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
ASX
to rally in 2026 on mining bounce: UBS
The
benchmark S&P/ASX 200 has retreated from the record
high of 9,904 points in recent weeks, having closed
at 8,525.1 yesterday. However, Richard Schellbach
from UBS is upbeat about the outlook for the local
bourse, forecasting that the ASX 200 will top 8,900
points again by the end of 2026. Schellbach says there
are expectations that earning growth will exceed 10
per cent in 2026; he adds that although this will
be driven by the resources sector, there will be earnings
growth across the broader sharemarket. (RMS/AFR)
News
BHP
drops second tilt at rival Anglo
BHP
has advised that it has held preliminary discussions
with Anglo American's board regarding a potential
merger, but says it is no longer considering a bid
for its London-based rival. BHP abandoned a previous
takeover bid for Anglo American in 2024, and the company
says it is still of the view that a merger would have
"strong strategic merits" and create significant
value for all stakeholders. BHP has indicated that
it will instead focus on its organic growth strategy.
Meanwhile, the latest aborted bid for Anglo has prompted
speculation that Rio Tinto could pursue growth via
acquisitions. (RMS)
News
Rinehart
puts blowtorch on Rio Tinto, BHP over net zero spending
Hancock
Prospecting's executive chair Gina Rinehart has criticised
major resources groups for spending billions of dollars
on reducing carbon emissions. Rinehart singled out
BHP and Rio Tinto in her speech to mark National Mining
Day; BHP is expected to spend up to $500m on reducing
emissions over the next five years, while Rio Tinto
has committed to halving its emissions by 2030 at
a cost of $US5bn over 10 years. Rinehart contended
that the dividends of BHP and Rio Tinto shareholders
are being "sacrificed on the green altar".
The speech was written by Rinehart but delivered by
Hancock Iron Ore's CEO Gerhard Veldsman via a video
message. (RMS)
News
Lithium
prices slide on Chinese mine restart
The
price of lithium fell sharply on Friday, in response
to media reports that China-based Contemporary Amperex
Technology could potentially resume production at
its Jianxiawo mine in early December. Data from S&P
Global Platts shows that the price of spodumene -
the type of lithium that is mined in Australia - fell
by 8.3 per cent to $US1,135 a tonne; the price of
lithium carbonate in turn fell by nine per cent to
91,020 yuan on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange. The
downturn prompted a fall in the share prices of Australian
lithium producers on Monday. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Santos
hit by delay on Narrabri gas ruling
Santos
has received another setback in its long-running bid
to proceed with the Narrabri gas project in NSW. A
two-day hearing on the Gomeroi people's appeal against
a Native Title Tribunal ruling on the project had
been scheduled to begin in the Federal Court this
week; however, Justice Natalie Charlesworth recused
herself from the case because an associate had worked
for Santos on secondment on two separate occasions.
Another judge is not available to hear the case, so
the traditional owners' appeal has been pushed back
to March 2026. (RMS)
News
Nov
24
UK
launches critical minerals strategy to reduce dependency
on China
British
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a critical
minerals and rare earths strategy, with the strategy
aimed at reducing the UK's dependency on China. It
includes a Stg50 million fund to boost production
at tungsten and lithium mines in Cornwall. Europe's
largest deposits of lithium are in Cornwall, while
the EU has previously singled out the county's tungsten
mine for potential financial support. The strategy
follows a six-week standoff between China and the
EU over the supply of chips used in the car sector,
while it seeks to ensure no more than 60% of any one
critical mineral comes from a single partner country
by 2035; the British government also wants to produce
at least 50,000 tonnes of lithium in the UK by the
same year. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Pop
Culture
Gold
Movie
Gold
is a 2016 American epic crime drama film directed
by Stephen Gaghan and written by Patrick Massett and
John Zinman. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Édgar
Ramírez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll,
Toby Kebbell, Craig T. Nelson, Stacy Keach and Bruce
Greenwood. The film is loosely based on the true story
of the 1997 Bre-X mining scandal, when a massive gold
deposit was supposedly discovered in the jungles of
Indonesia; however, for legal reasons and to enhance
the appeal of the film, character names and story
details were changed.
Trailer
Gold
(YouTube Movies and TV)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=yc0S96OZhi0
Gold
is the epic tale of one man's pursuit of the American
dream, to discover gold. Starring Oscar® winner
Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club,
The Wolf Of Wall Street) as Kenny Wells, a modern
day prospector desperate for a lucky break, he teams
up with a similarly eager geologist and sets off on
an amazing journey to find gold in the uncharted jungle
of Indonesia. Getting the gold was hard, but keeping
it would be even harder, sparking an adventure through
the most powerful boardrooms of Wall Street. The film
is inspired by a true story.
News
Citizen
Kane (1941)
Directed
by Orson Welles | Written by Orson Welles & Herman
J. Mankiewicz | Cinematography by Gregg TolandWhy
it’s considered one of the greatest films ever
made:
Revolutionary
storytelling: Non-linear structure jumping through
multiple perspectives and timelines — decades
before it became common.
Iconic
moments/lines:
“Rosebud…”
The
campaign speech with the giant Kane poster
The
slow push-in on young Charlie playing in the snow
as his future is decided
“Old
age… it’s the only disease, Mr. Thompson,
that you don’t look forward to being cured of.”
(Bernstein)
News
Salt
of the Earth (1954
Mexican
workers at a zinc mine call a general strike. It is
only through the solidarity of the workers, and importantly
the indomitable resolve of their wives, mothers, and
daughters, that they eventually triumph.
Best
Quotes
The
best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."
"You
are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig
to find it and make it real."
"Your
mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will
find something golden."
"Don't
die without mining the gold in your mind."
"We're
like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's
inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."
"If
you want to find gold, you've got to love the process
of digging."
"Even
if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to
dig."
"Develop
men the same way gold is mined"
"Don't
go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in
looking for the gold."
"A
prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"
"A
prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't
find much gold"
"The
world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not."
"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are
silver, these are gold."
"All
that is gold does not glitter."
"Gold
is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears
out"
"Gold
is the money of kings"
"Mining
is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit.
An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher
of a dead mule."
"Anyone
can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds
the gold."
"True
gold fears no fire."
"The
desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means
of freedom and benefit."
"Make
new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these
are gold."
"When
taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes
considered like cheap copper – so are people."
Media
Man
Roy
Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Provider Of The
Month' award; Runner-ups: X, Google News, Yahoo! Finance
Markets,
Crypto and Culture
Bulls
Still Running Show; Cryptos Struggle, Medium Bull
Update: Round 1! Bloody Noses and Black Eyes Cont!
Red And Black Attack! All That Glitters. Bells Getting
Rung! Aussie - US Connection
November
17, 2025
Sin
City Sydney, Australia
ASX
futures down 17 points/0.2% to 8808
Wall
Street:
S&P 500 -0.1%
Dow Jones: -0.7%
Nasdaq +0.1%
Europe:
Stoxx 50 -0.9%
FTSE -1.1%
DAX -0.7%
CAC -0.8%
Australian
dollar: US65.33 cents
Bitcoin
-2% to $US93,961
Gold
-2.1% to $US4084.06 per ounce
Oil +2.4% to $US60.09 a barrel
Brent crude oil +2.2% to $US64.39 a barrel
Iron ore -0.3% to $US102.50 per ton
10-year
yield:
US 4.15%
Australia 4.43%
Germany 2.72%
News
Update: (Near Live)
Bitcoin:
$94,402.04 -1.29%
New
York/Wall St via Mr Wolf!
The November Man!
16 Nov
Cryptos
Today: (Near Live)
Moody:
Cryptos loosing shine again!
Bitcoin
$94,489.19 -1.20%
Ethereum $3,101.05 -2.17%
Tether $1.0020 -0.20%
Binance Coin $928.81 -0.38%
XRP $2.4118 $2.2324 -0.67%
Solana $138.10 -1.20%
TRON $0.2931 -0.60%
Dogecoin $0.1594 -2.53%
Cardano $0.4862 -3.57%
Market
scares! Mood: Still somber-like for many; picking
up for some in traditional sectors! Regaining smiles
in selected cases! Hardcores keep dream! Many bears
sell out!
Media
Man Favs:
(Near
Live). Bells Rung by Mr Wolf! TKO kicks out, winning
again today! Christmas Grinch Comes Early for some!
Live ticket sales a talking point. Santa gives little
for miners, gamers, some tech heads and grapplers!
Wall
St, New York
TKO
Group Holdings Inc $184.09 +1.45 +0.79%
NVIDIA Corp $190.17 +3.31 +1.77%
Formula One Group Series A $90.12 -1.58 -1.72%
Alphabet Inc Class A $276.41 -2.16 -0.78%
News Corp Class A $26.15 -0.12 -0.46%
Netflix Inc $1,112.17 -42.06 -3.64%
Caterpillar Inc $554.03 +0.48 +0.087%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp $11.07 -0.96
-7.98%
Tesla Inc $404.35 +2.36 +0.59%
Walt Disney Co $105.80 -1.81 -1.68%
Wynn Resorts Ltd $120.73 -2.28 -1.85%
Meta Platforms Inc $609.46 -0.43 -0.071%
BHP Group Ltd (NYSE) $55.23 -0.72 -1.29% (NYSE)
Mercedes Benz Group ADR $17.17 -0.11 -0.64%
Elders ADR $19.73 (US)
Rio Tinto Ltd $87.00 +0.53 +0.61% (US)
Paramount Skydance Corp $15.68 +0.31 +2.02%
Red Light Holland Corp $0.024 +0.0012 +5.38%
News
Good
news for Crypto bargain hunters
Market
Overview
The
cryptocurrency market jumped 4.5% in the last 24 hours,
following reports of progress in ending the US government
shutdown and promises by the US president to distribute
$2,000 checks to families, with the funds received
from tariffs. The positive effect of this news has
been amplified by the fact that a more than 20% pullback
from the peak has fuelled greed. Among the top coins,
Ethereum (+5.8%) and XRP (+8%) are growing steadily,
outperforming Bitcoin, which is up 4.5%.
Bitcoin
surpassed the $106K mark, breaking out of the $99–$
104K consolidation zone, where it spent most of last
week. At the same time, the first cryptocurrency is
trading below its 50- and 200-day moving averages.
Moreover,
a death cross is forming there, as the first of these
averages is about to fall below the latter.
The
technical picture for Ethereum is more favourable,
as the bulls did not allow the coin to consolidate
below the 200-day MA and pushed it up on the latest
positive news. From current levels near $3,600, the
nearest target for buyers appears to be $4,000, which
promises to be an important signal of market health.
News
Background
Following
the market crash on October 10-11, whales sold 32,500
BTC, while small investors actively bought on the
dips. This is an alarming sign for Bitcoin, as historically,
prices tend to follow the direction of whales, according
to Santiment.
Bitcoin's
deleveraging phase is ‘largely complete’
after the sell-off. The first cryptocurrency could
rise to $170,000 over the next 6-12 months, according
to JPMorgan's forecast.
The
‘sluggish dynamics’ of the crypto market
are linked to the rebalancing of hodlers' portfolios.
This may have a negative impact in the short term,
but is beneficial in the medium and long term, said
Galaxy Digital founder Mike Novogratz.
ARK
Invest CEO Cathie Wood said she was forced to revise
her long-term forecast for Bitcoin for 2030 from $1.5
million to $1.2 million. She cited the rapid growth
of stablecoins, which are displacing BTC among investors
in emerging markets.
According
to a survey by the Alternative Investment Management
Association (AIMA) and PwC, 55% of traditional hedge
funds owned cryptocurrencies in 2025. Last year, the
figure was 47%.
Ripple
denied plans to hold an IPO. The company does not
intend to go public in the near future, following
the example of several participants in the cryptocurrency
industry. (FxPro)
News
Gold
stabilised at $4,000, but the upward trend has already
broken down Gold has stabilised around the $4,000
mark over the last ten days, ending the week at roughly
the same level as it started. Attempts by sellers
to push the price below $3,900 are meeting with impressive
buying interest.
This
is facilitated by the Supreme Court, which is considering
the illegality of US tariffs. If Donald Trump is defeated,
the money will have to be returned. As a result, the
budget deficit and public debt will increase, leading
to chaos in the financial markets. Concerns about
this are prompting investors to seek refuge in safe-haven
assets. However, this all appears to be an attempt
to play the old card, which can only delay the inevitable.
According
to estimates by the World Gold Council, central bank
purchases of bullion in 2025 are expected to amount
to 750-900 tonnes. In each of the previous three years,
the figure exceeded 1,000 tonnes. China's cancellation
of VAT credits for precious metal retailers will increase
prices for the jewellery industry and lead to a decline
in demand. ETF stocks are falling.
HSBC,
Bank of America and Societe Generale continue to stick
to their forecasts of $5,000 per ounce. However, the
gold rally has broken down. Selling on the rise is
becoming relevant. (FxPro)
News
Crypto
bulls fail to maintain momentum
Market
Overview
The
crypto market has gained 1% over the past 24 hours,
the first increase after four days of decline. The
market is stabilising at levels just above $3.4 trillion,
close to May's local highs. The situation currently
resembles a pause in the decline rather than a serious
reversal, due to somewhat cautious sentiment in the
stock markets and the strengthening of the dollar
since the second half of September. Ironically, this
reversal coincides with the resumption of the easing
cycle of monetary policy. The sentiment index has
emerged from the zone of extreme fear, which also
coincided with a market rebound. According to the
creators of such an index, now is the right time for
bulls. Still, traders should be cautious with such
an interpretation, as the previous rebound from extreme
fear was not long-lasting, and the market is now 5%
below the local low of 17 Oct, when sentiment last
recovered from extreme anxiety. Bitcoin is trading
near $103,000, pausing its rebound but remaining far
from its recent lows. The bulls managed to bring the
coin back above the 50-week moving average, but there
is still a lot of time left until the end of the week,
and for now, time is on the bears' side. On intraday
charts, it looks as if the rebound has run out of
steam and sellers are ready to seize the initiative
again.
News
Background
Cryptocurrencies
are under pressure from general risk aversion in global
markets. Among the factors are concerns about the
Fed's interest rate and the situation in the credit
sector, according to Hashdex. Wintermute attributes
the worst performance of cryptocurrencies among all
other asset classes to the redistribution of cash
flows to other markets. Short-term Bitcoin holders
continue to sell cryptocurrencies at a loss, using
any rebound as an opportunity to sell, notes analyst
Darkfost. However, accumulator addresses — wallets
that only buy and never sell — have acquired
a record 375,000 BTC over the past month. Amid the
asset's decline, French company Sequans Communications,
which accumulates Bitcoin, was forced to sell 970
BTC to partially repay its convertible debt. The company's
reserves fell from 3,234 to 2,264 BTC. Japanese company
Metaplanet, on the other hand, is raising funds to
purchase bitcoins. On 31 October, the company received
a $100 million loan secured by its reserves. Ripple
announced that it had raised $500 million in strategic
investments (with a valuation of $40 billion) from
major institutional players. Zcash (ZEC) could become
an alternative to Bitcoin among those who fear the
centralisation of BTC due to Wall Street and are concerned
about the tracking of on-chain transactions, according
to Galaxy Digital. Supporters of the private coin
refer to it as ‘encrypted Bitcoin’ and a
return to the principles of the cypherpunks. (FxPro)
Newsfeed
If
the 4-year cycles are still alive, BTC faces a pullback
to $70K
Market
Overview
The
crypto market continues its impressive decline, losing
another 2.4% over the past 24 hours. Having fallen
to a low of $3.3 trillion, the market is now at its
lowest point since early July. A steady move below
the 200-day moving average and a drop of more than
20% from its peak are sure signs of a bear market.
Perhaps crypto enthusiasts are confident that this
is a temporary decline, similar to the one seen in
March and April.
However,
we would prefer not to rule out the possibility of
another bear market starting in the coming years.
At a time when many have buried the 4-year cycles,
we still see that they have only lost amplitude but
have generally retained their influence. According
to these patterns, the market is close to or has already
passed its peak for the next couple of years, which
explains the intense selling pressure since Oct.
Bitcoin
fell to five-digit price levels overnight, touching
lows just below $99,000 twice. BTC traded steadily
below these levels from February to May. And then
there was a psychologically significant consolidation
period in December and January. The market is now
undergoing a critical test. Another step down will
open the way to the $60,000-$70,000 range. However,
there is a theoretical chance that BTC will quickly
rebound by the end of the week from the 50-week moving
average, which has served as a global support since
the first half of 2023.
News
Background
Early
investors continue to sell off cryptocurrency. Over
the past 30 days, long-term holders have sold 400,000
BTC — about 2% of the total supply of the asset,
according to WeRate. Additional pressure is coming
from continued outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs.
The
US government shutdown, now in its second month, is
also putting pressure on Bitcoin. Another factor is
the Coinbase premium, which remains in negative territory,
according to CryptoQuant. This indicates sustained
pressure from US sellers.
At
the same time, there has been a record outflow of
stablecoins from exchanges, indicating a shift of
capital from risky assets to safe-haven dollar instruments.
Demand for Bitcoin from institutional investors has
declined, according to Capriole. For the first time
in seven months, net purchases have fallen below the
daily issuance of the asset.
Bitcoin
has lost significant growth potential due to the influence
of large financial institutions and government structures,
according to Peter Thiel, the former PayPal CEO and
billionaire.
Strategy
intends to conduct its initial public offering on
the European stock market, issuing 3.5 million preferred
shares denominated in euros. The funds will be used
to purchase bitcoins and replenish working capital.
(FxPro)
News
Gold:
correction is not over yet
The
strengthening of the US dollar and higher Treasury
yields have brought the gold price back below $4000.
Yellow
metal is gradually losing its wild cards. It managed
to reach a record high thanks to devaluation trading,
expectations of aggressive monetary expansion by the
Fed, Donald Trump's threats of 100% tariffs against
China, geopolitics, pessimistic forecasts for the
global economy, and active purchases of bullion by
central banks.
However,
the White House is no longer attacking the Fed as
aggressively as before. The US and China have found
common ground. The Middle East conflict has been resolved,
and the global economy is proving resilient in the
face of tariffs. The Fed is cautious about lowering
rates, and central bank activity in the bullion market
is declining.
The
other two examples of similar velocity of gold rose
were 1979 and 2011. The experience of those years
shows that the surge and collapse were followed by
long periods of consolidation. In other words, after
a period of retreat from the top, the precious metal
will find its trading range and settle within it.
But for the weeks ahead, we continue to see more risks
of further decline. (FxPro)
News
Crypto
is on the verge of a bear market
Market
Overview
The
crypto market cap has fallen to $3.47 trillion. This
is 4% lower than the previous day and 19% off from
the global peak set just four weeks ago. Sellers are
pushing cryptocurrencies into bear market territory
(unofficially, this occurs when there is a 20% decline
from the peak) in the hope that the sell-off will
be self-sustaining near this point. However, we are
also seeing signs of a similar accelerated sell-off
at the start of the week, following a lull from Friday
to Sun.
The
sentiment index has fallen to 21, the lowest level
since 9 April, indicating extreme fear. Last month,
entering this territory triggered a rebound, but the
market has already fallen below those levels. As we
previously suggested, the initial surge of extreme
fear levels is only the beginning of a prolonged period
of volatility in this territory. This period is also
characterised by an even more substantial decline
in altcoins compared to the first cryptocurrency.
Bitcoin
plummeted below $ 105K, shedding nearly 3% in the
past 24 hours. Excluding short-term slips last month,
BTC has not traded lower since June. By and large,
it is now testing levels that served as resistance
last December and Jan.
News
Background
According
to CoinShares, global investment in crypto funds declined
by $360 million last week, following inflows the week
before. Only investments in Bitcoin declined, by $946
million. Investments in altcoins increased, with notable
gains in Ethereum by $58 million, in Solana by $421
million, in XRP by $43 million, and in Sui by $9 million.
QCP
Capital recorded large transfers of Bitcoin to the
Kraken exchange by early investors. According to analysts,
the current consolidation resembles the period before
the breakthrough in 2024. Otherwise, it could signal
the beginning of a crypto winter.
Bitcoin
is not showing growth as early investors pass the
baton to long-term holders. The recovery of the first
cryptocurrency is only possible after the ETF and
Strategy resume large-scale purchases, according to
CryptoQuant.
Strategy
bought 397 bitcoins last week at an average price
of $114,771. Strategy now owns 641,205 BTC worth $47.49
billion at an average purchase price of $74,057 per
coin. The company's weekly BTC purchase volumes remain
close to record lows.
Another
record was set in October by the Ethereum network,
with stablecoin transactions reaching $2.8 trillion
last month. Circle's USDC was the leader, accounting
for $1.6 trillion of the total turnover. (FxPro)
News
Flashback
Oil
Holds Strong Despite Bearish Fundamentals
Weekly
data from the EIA noted that the US returned to record
oil production rates last week, supplying an average
of 13.6 million barrels per day to the market, according
to the latest EIA data. The trend towards increased
supply began in August, but producers have only now
returned to the peak levels recorded at the end of
last year. Despite a 5.5-million-barrel increase in
US commercial inventories over the past two weeks,
inventories stay at the lower end of the range seen
over the past decade, leaving considerable room for
growth. The same can be said for the strategic reserve,
which holds nearly 40% less oil than it did five years
ago, before the start of the active sell-off. It is
an interesting game in which, on the one hand, the
US (the largest oil producer) is increasing supplies,
while OPEC+ is increasing quotas on a monthly basis.
This extremely bearish combination of factors did
not cause oil prices to collapse; it was only because
of global trade in currency depreciation that caused
precious metals, stock indices, and cryptocurrencies
to rise. Oil prices have not peaked in recent weeks
.. To be cont .. (FxPro)
News
Gold
hits new highs due to political turmoil
Gold
is outside the realm of politics.
While
currencies and securities depend on the actions of
presidents and governments, precious metals do not.
Therefore, political turmoil forces investors to use
them as safe-haven assets.
The
impressive 52% rally in gold started in April with
the introduction of tariffs on America's Liberation
Day. It continued due to the US government shutdown,
the political crisis in France, and the change of
leadership in Japan. he rise of gold above 4,000 dollars
per ounce is not only the result of the weakness of
fiat currencies. There are tectonic shifts in the
structure of investment portfolios and fears of financial
crises due to government recklessness.
The
share of precious metals is growing both in speculators'
assets and in the gold and foreign exchange reserves
of central banks. The indicator has already exceeded
the share of the euro. According to Eurizon Capital,
if it equals the share of the US dollar, the price
per ounce will soar to 8,500 dollars. The Supreme
Court's abolition of tariffs will inflate the US budget
deficit. France does not intend to reduce it, and
Japan plans to increase bond issuance. All this creates
a tailwind for commodity assets. (FxPro)
News
Pop
Culture News
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking/Sports; Media Man Group Dream
Match Series; Crack The Code!
Million
Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
VKM vs Easy E
Vinnie Vegas vs Mr Corbin
Mr Corp Merch vs Mr Freelance
Masked Superstar vs John McAfee
Sid Justice vs Mr Blood Diamond
Mr Bluey Chipper vs Street Fighter - King Of The Streets
Mr Dotcom vs Mr Wiki
Mr Gold vs Mr Green - Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Khan vs Khan - Winner Take All Match
Mr Wolff vs The Cleaner
Mr News vs Mr Vice - U.S Market Footprint Stipulation
Mr Paramount vs Mr Netflix
Mr ESPN vs Mr Fox
Mr Kross vs Mr H
Cesaro vs Rollins
Dirty Dom vs Mr AAA
Punks vs Egos
Kross vs H
Murdoch Title vs Title
Mr Black Coffee vs Mr Claudio's Cafe Blend
Mr Warner vs Mr Netflix: Broadway draw thus far! Re-match!
Winner take all?!
TMZ vs Riddle UFC vs PFL
The Oracle vs Cincinnati, Ohio
Mr X vs Hollyweird
Succession vs Billions
Mouse House vs Art House
NFL vs UFL
ABC vs Mainstream Aussies
Reigns vs Blanka
Cody Rhodes vs Joe
E. Honda vs NJPW
Capcom vs Warner
Cena vs ACME
Combat Sports Players vs Father Time
NXT vs TNA Wrestling (Showdown, not Invasion)!
Alpha vs Meta
TED X vs The Others
WWE's Solo vs Western Australia
UFC Predator vs MMA Predator
UFC Legal vs UFC Bad Egg Betting Disruptors
Bulls vs Bears
Logan Paul vs WWE babyfaces
Santa's Helper vs Grinch
John McAfee vs FBI + + +, Running .... Netflix Wins
again!
Killer Kross vs Matt Riddle - Shoot Fight/Wrestling
(MLW)!
VKM vs Numerous!
MLW vs The World
The Big Event vs US Promoters
Storm vs WWE Locker Room. Lash Legend on side!
NXT Gold Rush: Page & Green vs Hendry & Hail
Baszler vs Itoh - HOG Superclash - Nov 15
MSG, NY winning with WWE and UFC in Nov
News
Cryptocurrency
Movies
Docos
The
Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)
Follows early Bitcoin adopter Daniel Mross, exploring
Bitcoin’s origins, its volatile rise, and the
community behind it. Great for understanding Bitcoin’s
early days and its potential to disrupt finance.
Banking
on Bitcoin (2016)
Examines Bitcoin’s history, ideological roots,
and impact on global financial systems through interviews
with pioneers and experts. A solid primer for newcomers.
Cryptopia:
Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet
(2020)
Directed by Torsten Hoffmann, this documentary dives
into blockchain’s broader applications beyond
cryptocurrency, addressing scalability and regulatory
challenges. Ideal for those interested in blockchain’s
transformative potential.
Trust
Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) Narrated by
Rosario Dawson, it explores blockchain’s societal
impact, from financial inclusion to voting systems.
A comprehensive look at real-world applications.
Bitcoin:
The End of Money as We Know It (2015)
Traces the history of money and introduces Bitcoin
as a decentralized alternative, critiquing centralized
financial systems. Features interviews with crypto
experts.
Deep
Web (2015) Narrated by Keanu Reeves, this documentary
focuses on the Silk Road marketplace and its creator,
Ross Ulbricht, highlighting Bitcoin’s role in
dark web transactions.
Bitconned
(2024) Explores the Centra Tech crypto scam, detailing
how three individuals defrauded investors during the
2010s crypto boom. A cautionary tale about unregulated
markets.
Feature
Films
Crypto
(2019)
A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth,
and Kurt Russell. It follows a young anti-money laundering
agent investigating corruption and cryptocurrency
in his hometown. Critics note its exaggerated portrayal
but praise its entertainment value.
Silk
Road (2021)
A dramatization of Ross Ulbricht’s creation of
the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace using Bitcoin.
It explores his rise and fall, blending crime and
drama.
Dope
(2015) A coming-of-age comedy-drama featuring Bitcoin
as a plot device. High schooler Malcolm uses Bitcoin
for a dark web transaction, reflecting its early association
with illicit activities.
Bonus
Mentions
Life
on Bitcoin (2014): Follows a couple attempting to
live solely on Bitcoin for 100 days, showcasing early
adoption challenges.
Bitcoin
Heist (2016): A Vietnamese action-comedy about hackers
chasing a crypto criminal, blending humor and thrills.
Notes
Documentaries are generally more educational, focusing
on Bitcoin’s history, blockchain technology,
and real-world implications. They’re great for
beginners and enthusiasts alike.
Feature
films often dramatize crypto’s association with
crime or scams, sometimes oversimplifying or exaggerating
for effect. They prioritize entertainment over accuracy.
For a deeper dive, check streaming platforms like
Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or YouTube, where many
of these are available.
News
Wall
Street (Movie)
Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a
drama about ambition and greed in the 1980s financial
world. It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young
stockbroker desperate to succeed, who gets entangled
with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate
raider. Gekko’s mantra, “Greed is good,”
drives the story as Bud is lured into insider trading
and unethical deals, compromising his morals for wealth
and power.
The
film explores themes of capitalism, loyalty, and betrayal,
with Bud navigating pressures from Gekko, his father
(Martin Sheen), and his own conscience.
Key
Details: Cast: Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko), Charlie
Sheen (Bud Fox), Daryl Hannah (Darien Taylor), Martin
Sheen (Carl Fox).
Runtime: 2h 6m.
Genre: Drama/Crime.
Rating: R. Box Office: ~$44 million (US).
Awards:
Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Notable
Aspects:
Gekko’s
“Greed is good” speech is iconic, reflecting
1980s excess. Inspired by real-life figures like Ivan
Boesky and Michael Milken.
A
sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), continued
the story.
Where
to Watch (as of 2025):
Streaming: Available on platforms like Peacock or
rentable on Amazon, YouTube, or Apple TV (check current
availability).
Physical: DVD/Blu-ray via retailers like Amazon.
News
Best
Quotes
An
investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
— Benjamin Franklin
"Bottoms
in the investment world don't end with four-year lows;
they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim
Rogers
Be
fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when
others are fearful." — Warren Buffett
Media
Man "Bullish is a mindset"
Cryptocurrency
News, Fintech, Blockchain, Media
September
29, 2025
Cryptos
Today: (Near Live)
Bitcoin
$114,160.79 +1.91%
Ethereum $4,222.43 +2.12%
Tether $1.0005 -0.02%
XRP $2.8938 +1.08%
Solana $214.06 +2.03%
TRON $0.3372 +0.45%
Dogecoin $0.2369 +0.18%
News
September
29, 2025
Crypto
market attempts to form a double bottom
Market
Overview
The
crypto market has been gaining since the start of
the day on Friday, adding 3.5% during this time to
$3.85 trillion, but still 1.3% below the level of
a week earlier.
The
rebound is coming from roughly the same levels as
in early September. Once again, altcoins are recovering
stronger than BTC. Such outperformance in the early
stages of recovery often indicates the future winners
of the race, which in this case are altcoins.
The
sentiment index fell to 28 on Friday but recovered
to 50 by Monday. The approach to the extreme fear
zone seems to have activated optimists, who began
to buy back the drawdown. However, cautious traders
will likely prefer to wait for the results of the
50-day moving average test, which is currently passing
through $3.92 trillion.
At
the end of last week, Bitcoin found support at 109,000.
It was bought at roughly the same levels as the end
of August and even slightly higher, which is positive
for the bulls. On the other hand, September's local
high is lower than the previous one, which generally
indicates a decrease in volatility and a stronger
movement towards a breakout beyond the $108-118K range.
Movements within the range can give many false short-term
signals.
News
Background
Santiment
has recorded a surge in mentions of “buy on dip,”
which may indicate the likelihood of an imminent rebound.
In addition, whales continue to accumulate BTC, and
the supply of Bitcoin on exchanges is declining.
However,
Glassnode warns of a continued correction, given growing
selling pressure from long-term holders and declining
institutional demand for ETFs. The first Ethereum
ETF with a staking feature from REX Shares and Osprey
Funds has launched in the US. Investors will receive
monthly payments for supporting the ETH network. Applications
from BlackRock and Fidelity are still being reviewed
by the SEC.
Ethereum
has begun to show signs that a local bottom has likely
been reached, notes analyst Mikybull Crypto. The RSI
oscillator on daily charts has fallen to its lowest
levels since April, when ETH was trading around $1,400.
According
to the Wall Street Journal, US regulators are investigating
cases of potential insider trading involving companies
that accumulate cryptocurrencies in their reserves.
The SEC and FINRA have already sent inquiries to a
number of companies.
Rating
agency Moody's warns that the rapid expansion of cryptocurrencies’
use in developing countries, including stablecoins,
poses risks to monetary sovereignty and financial
stability. (FxPro)
News
September
25, 2025
The
crypto market is digging deeper
Market
Overview
The
crypto market capitalisation has fallen to a nearly
three-week low of $3.83 trillion, falling deeper below
its 50-day moving average. However, similar declines
at the end of June and the end of August only encouraged
buyers. On Thursday morning, Bitcoin wiped out the
previous day's gains, while major altcoins, Ethereum,
and Solana, have been declining for the fifth trading
session in a row.
The
sentiment index at 44 barely touches the fear zone,
preventing us from talking about a full-fledged reversal
in sentiment. Nevertheless, we are once again turning
our attention to crypto as an early indicator of risk
appetite. Altcoins, as well as small currencies of
developed countries, have been losing ground since
the Fed cut rates a week ago, and key US indices have
joined them since Tuesday.
On
Wednesday, Bitcoin unsuccessfully attempted to storm
the 50-day moving average. Earlier, BTCUSD fell out
of the upward channel that had been forming since
early September. These are all signs of a deeper dive
ahead, potentially into the $104-107K range.
News
Background
Bitcoin's
implied volatility has fallen to its lowest level
since 2023. Blockchain data points to a “calm
before the storm,” according to XWIN Research.
The last time this happened, it was followed by explosive
growth.
CoinW
also calls the situation “the calm before the
storm.” Negative funding rates, seasonal trends,
and inflows into institutional ETFs tip the odds in
favour of growth. According to CoinGlass, Bitcoin
has strengthened in October in 10 of the last 12 years.
If
US inflation turns out to be moderate, the Fed's rate
will be further reduced, and the amount of liquidity
in the market will increase. According to QCP Capital,
this factor will be the main driver of Bitcoin's growth
in October.
However, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon believes that the
Fed is unlikely to cut its key rate. He sees factors
that are more likely to cause inflation to rise than
fall.
SkyBridge
Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci confirmed his previous
forecast that Bitcoin will reach its target of $150,000
by the end of the year. In his opinion, November-December
is the most favourable period for buying BTC.
Pantera
Capital CEO Dan Morehead said BRICS countries, including
Russia and China, view Bitcoin as a tool for de-dollarisation.
In his opinion, these countries will prepare to create
state Bitcoin reserves and their own Bitcoin ETFs.
(FxPro)
News
Blockchain
News
1.
SWIFT Announces Blockchain-Based Overhaul for Global
Payments
The
Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication
(SWIFT), which handles millions of daily transactions,
is integrating a blockchain-based ledger into its
infrastructure. This move aims to enhance interoperability
and speed, with top global banks collaborating on
the project.
In
response to rising stablecoin competition, SWIFT's
update could accelerate tokenized asset adoption.
Industry experts see this as a pivotal step toward
hybrid traditional-fintech systems.
Related
buzz: Qatar National Bank (QNB) has adopted JPMorgan's
blockchain platform for instant USD payments in the
Middle East, building on its prior Ripple partnership
for cross-border efficiency.
2.
Institutional Momentum:
BlackRock's
Bitcoin ETF Expansion and Treasury PlaysBlackRock
filed for a Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, extending
its dominance beyond the $87 billion iShares Bitcoin
Trust. This signals growing mainstream interest in
yield-generating crypto products.
Anthony
Scaramucci-backed Hivemind Capital launched a $550
million fund to acquire digital tokens on the Avalanche
blockchain—the first of its kind for on-chain
treasuries.
However,
institutional Bitcoin acquisitions have slowed sharply,
with treasuries scaling back amid market volatility.
Analysts predict a potential cycle dip mirroring 2017,
with $200K BTC targets if liquidity holds.
3.
Regulatory and Government Advances
Nasdaq
proposed rule changes to tokenize equity securities
and exchange-traded products, potentially unlocking
billions in on-chain capital markets.
The
SEC is drafting an "innovation exemption"
to fast-track digital asset product approvals, while
U.S. lawmakers push to include crypto in retirement
plans.
Stablecoin
legislation is also advancing in Congress.
Globally,
Kyrgyzstan plans to migrate government services on-chain
by 2028, and the Philippines is exploring blockchain
post-corruption protests.
Fnality,
a blockchain payment firm, raised $136M from major
banks for real-time settlements.
4.
Tech Innovations and Ecosystem GrowthAmadeus Protocol
unveiled the world's first "thinking blockchain,"
converting mining power into AI intelligence via unique
Proof-of-Work (uPoW).
Solana
developers are debating removing block limits after
the Alpenglow upgrade to boost capacity for high-performance
validators.
Layer-1
blockchains are solidifying as crypto's backbone,
with tokenized assets and stablecoin rules testing
their scalability.
AGII
launched optimization engines for reliable blockchain
automation in Web3.
In
gaming and RWAs:
OFA
Group's real-estate tokenization platform with Blockchain
App Factory, and AAA's document-authentication pilot
using Integra Ledger.
5.
Market Sentiment and Warnings
Bitcoin's
upward grind continues, but analysts flag 10-20% pullbacks
and a possible financial crash by late September tied
to global M2 liquidity.
XRP
ETF speculation is heating up, with bearish trader
bets amid approval rumors.
Broader
trends: Korea Blockchain Week (through Sep 28) featured
exchange partnerships and regulatory updates. Decentralized
apps like Bitchat surged in Madagascar during protests.
News
Flashback
September
24, 2025
BTC
Calm Breaks as Bulls Face Resistance
Digital
assets have been hit by one of the biggest sell-offs
since the beginning of the year. According to Coinglass,
1.5 billion dollars in long positions were liquidated
at the start of this week. Bitcoin fell from its monthly
highs due to a revision of market views on the fate
of the federal funds rate, the strengthening of the
US dollar, and concerns about a decline in demand.
Corporations
have accumulated $116 billion worth of Bitcoin and
have become serious players in the market. The fall
in their shares, coupled with Nasdaq's requirement
for shareholder approval of new issues, has created
real panic. If these financial institutions find it
difficult to raise funds through securities issues,
demand for digital assets will fall, and prices will
also drop.
Optimists
believe that this is not the case. There are also
specialised exchange-traded funds and the resumption
of the Fed's monetary policy easing cycle is likely
to increase demand for Bitcoin ETFs. The outflow of
capital from money market funds will also play a role.
Reserves increased to a whopping $7.7 trillion in
2025. The average yield was 4.1%, which is significantly
higher than the average 0.6% on bank deposits. As
the federal funds rate declines, yields will fall,
and money will flow into other ETFs, including those
related to cryptocurrency.
Investors
believe that over time, the link between US stock
indices and Bitcoin will be restored. However, while
US stocks have such an important growth driver as
artificial intelligence technology, Bitcoin does not.
Companies from the S&P 500, especially tech giants,
regularly report positive corporate reports. Interest
in cryptocurrency purchases by corporations, on the
contrary, is falling.
The
cryptocurrency market is prone to extremes. The highest
derivative bets are concentrated at the 95,000 and
140,000 levels. This means that after a long period
of calm, investors are expecting to see a real storm.
Much will depend on the ability of Bitcoin bulls to
overcome important resistance levels at 113,500 and
115,000. If they succeed, there will be a chance to
restore the uptrend. Failure will increase the risks
of a Bitcoin correction. (FxPro)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Cryptocurrency
“Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme.”
– Naval Ravikant, former CEO of AngelList
“We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error.“
– Tyler Winklevoss, co-CEO of Gemini
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." —John McAfee, Founder
of McAfee Associates
“There
are 3 eras of currency: Commodity based, politically
based, and now, math-based.“ – Chris Dixon,
Venture Capitalist at Andreesen Horowitz
“As
the value goes up, heads start to swivel and skeptics
begin to soften. Starting a new currency is easy,
anyone can do it. The trick is getting people to accept
it because it is their use that gives the “money”
value.“ - Adam B. Levine, CEO of Tokenly
“Trading
Bitcoin is like trading Apple, Amazon, Google, or
Facebook a decade ago. The more you obsess over timing
the market, the more mistakes you make. They were
all technology networks that were dominant & destined
to grow.” - Michael Saylor, Former CEO of MicroStrategy
"Whereas
most technologies tend to automate workers on the
periphery doing menial tasks, blockchains automate
away the center. Instead of putting the taxi driver
out of a job, blockchain puts Uber out of a job and
lets the taxi drivers work with the customer directly."
- Vitalik Buterin, Co-Founder of Ethereum
"The
Latin American countries where you have this combination
of inflation or hyperinflation cycles – deflation
as well – and then you have very high friction
for financial transactions, a high percentage of people
who are unbanked, cryptocurrencies make total sense."
– Fred Thiel, CEO of Thiel Advisors & Marathon
Digital Holdings
“…we
know gold is a $12 trillion asset, bitcoin’s
about a 10th of gold. Could they be half of gold?
At one point, Sure, it could … And at some point,
it will be larger than gold… that money is finding
its way to Gen Z and Millennials, and they feel much
more comfortable with digital gold than old clunky
gold.” - Mike Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy Digital
“If
you don't believe me or don't get it, I don't have
time to try to convince you, sorry.” - Satoshi
Nakomoto, Founder of Bitcoin
Mining,
Energy and Resources: Australia and World
July
15, 2025
Gold
Price: $3,342.80 USD (down $13.15 USD)
News
Gold
Mining News
These
developments highlight a robust gold mining sector
in 2025, driven by high gold prices, operational advancements,
and geopolitical shifts, though challenges like environmental
concerns and state interventions persist.
Queensland
Court Approves Dittmer Gold Mine Expansion: On July
11, 2025, the Land Court of Queensland recommended
the expansion of Ballymore Resources’ Dittmer
gold mine in the Whitsunday region, despite local
opposition and environmental concerns over acid mine
drainage. New gold-finding technology is being deployed
at the site.
Shandong
Gold Mining Profit Surge: Shandong Gold Mining Co.,
Ltd. reported an 84.3-120.5% year-on-year increase
in net profit for the first half of 2025, driven by
its gold production and sales, with 96.4% of revenue
from China.
Serabi
Gold’s Record Production: Brazil-based Serabi
Gold achieved a record 10,532 ounces of gold production
in Q2 2025, bolstered by strong brownfield exploration
results.
Gold
Price Surge: Gold prices rose by about $40 per ounce
to nearly $3,360/oz on July 11, 2025, amid tariff
concerns and anticipation of the next US Federal Reserve
interest rate decision. HSBC forecasts an average
price of $3,215/oz for 2025, with Goldman Sachs predicting
up to $4,000 by mid-2026.
G
Mining Ventures Hits Milestone: G Mining Ventures’
Tocantinzinho mine in Brazil reached nameplate capacity,
producing 42,587 ounces in Q2 2025, with 2025 guidance
set at 175,000-200,000 ounces.
Mali
Seizes Barrick Gold: Mali’s government seized
over a ton of gold (worth ~$117 million) from Barrick
Mining on July 14, 2025, following a law granting
the junta leader indefinite rule, raising concerns
about state-driven asset seizures.
Matsa’s
Devon Pit Operational: Matsa Resources’ Devon
Pit gold mine in Western Australia began operations,
with haulage to processing expected by late July 2025,
benefiting from gold prices exceeding $5,000/oz.
Russian
Gold Miner Nationalized: Russia’s third-largest
gold producer, Yuzhuralzoloto, was ordered nationalized
by a Chelyabinsk court on July 12, 2025, amid wartime
government takeovers.
Mako
Mining’s Record Revenue: Mako Mining Corp reported
$38.1 million in gold revenue for Q2 2025, with operations
in Nicaragua, Arizona, and Guyana, and a cash reserve
increase of $18.2 million.
Australian
Miners Thrive: Australian gold miners like Gold Road
Resources (72,980 oz in Q2 2025) and Regis Resources
(373,000 oz in FY25) reported strong results, driven
by high gold prices and operational improvements.
Robex
Resources on Track: Robex Resources’ Kiniero
project in Guinea is set for its first gold pour in
Q4 2025, with drilling confirming strong mineral continuity.
Bitcoin
Adoption by Gold Miners: Publicly traded gold miners
Hamak Gold Limited and Panther Metals announced plans
to add Bitcoin to their treasuries, reflecting a growing
trend among gold mining firms. (Grok)
News
July
15, 2025
Alphabet
soup as BHP links with BYD, CATL
BHP
has a signed a memorandum of understanding with the
FinDreams Battery Co subsidiary of Chinese electric
car maker BYD. They will collaborate on the development
of battery-powered trucks for the resources group's
mining operations, including fast-charging technology.
BHP has secured a similar memorandum of understanding
with Hong Kong-listed CATL; the world's largest battery
maker has been blacklisted by the Pentagon due to
its alleged links to the Chinese military. The Chinese
deals are part of BHP's push to decarbonise its mining
operations by 2050. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Iron
ore rally under threat as China stockpiling to slow
Iron
ore futures in Singapore rose to $US99.75 per tonne
in trading on Monday, but Robert Rennie from Westpac
expects the price of the steel input to fall below
$US90 by the end of 2025. Rennie says China is "furiously"
building stockpiles of metals, including iron ore;
he adds that iron ore pricing will reflect fundamentals
when this stockpiling ends, which most likely will
result in a sharp fall in the iron ore price. The
looming start of production at Rio Tinto's Simandou
project in Guinea is likely to put further downward
pressure on the iron ore price. A weaker iron ore
would also affect the federal government's revenue
from taxes and royalties. (RMS)
News
Australian
miners warn on iron ore oversupply, steel glut
BHP
Australia president Geraldine Slattery has warned
that Australian iron ore miners are facing an environment
where there is an oversupply of the commodity, as
well as a glut of steel. Slattery was speaking on
the sidelines of an industry roundtable in Shanghai
that was held as part of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's
six-day trip to China. Fortescue executive chairman
Andrew Forrest, who also took part in the roundtable,
has called for a bilateral agreement between Australia
and China on green iron, with Forrest claiming that
green steel has the potential to generate hundreds
of thousands of new jobs. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Gold's
next move could make or break these ASX miners
Factors
such as gold's safe haven status and geopolitical
tensions prompted a strong rally in the price of the
precious metal in 2024-25, particularly in the second
half of the financial year. The gold price reached
a record high of around $US3,500 an ounce in April,
and Citi analysts believe that this may represent
its peak. However, Macquarie says there may be one
further rally due to the impact of the Trump administration's
proposed tax cuts on US government debt. MA Financial
has identified stocks that may benefit if the gold
price falls; they include Alkane Resources, Genesis
Minerals and Ora Banda Mining. (RMS)
News
Bowen
coal jobs hanging in balance
Australian-listed
Bowen Coking Coal has advised that it is taking active
steps to address its liquidity problems, amid the
current downturn in the price of coal. The company
says it is holding talks with multiple parties to
secure financing, while it is reviewing its coal operations
in Queensland in response to the challenging market
conditions. There are fears that up to 500 jobs at
its flagship Burton mine could be at risk due to factors
such as the falling price of coal and the impact of
the state government's coal royalty scheme. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
The
best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."
"You
are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig
to find it and make it real."
"Your
mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will
find something golden."
"Don't
die without mining the gold in your mind."
"We're
like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's
inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."
"If
you want to find gold, you've got to love the process
of digging."
"Even
if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to
dig."
"Develop
men the same way gold is mined"
"Don't
go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in
looking for the gold."
"A
prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"
"A
prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't
find much gold"
"The
world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not."
"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are
silver, these are gold."
"All
that is gold does not glitter."
"Gold
is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears
out"
"Gold
is the money of kings"
"Mining
is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit.
An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher
of a dead mule."
"Anyone
can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds
the gold."
"True
gold fears no fire."
"The
desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means
of freedom and benefit."
"Make
new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these
are gold."
"When
taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes
considered like cheap copper – so are people."
News
News
Bonus
Gold
by Spandau Ballet Producers: Steve Jolley & Tony
Swain
Music
Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home Sorry that the chairs are all
worn I left them here I could have sworn
These
are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another
play for today
Oh,
but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you
Nothing
left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing
so tall
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
After
the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time
Remember we were partners in crime
It's
only two years ago
The man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you
And
love is like a high prison wall And you could leave
me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul You've got the
power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something
I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing (You are, gold) Always
believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home Sorry that the chairs are all
worn I left them here I could have sworn
These
are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another
play for today Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud
of you
Nothing
left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing
so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've
got the power to know You're indestructible, always
believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Verse
2]
After
the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time
Remember we were partners in crime
It's
only two years ago The man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now
he's in love with you, he's in love with you And love
is like a high prison wall
And
you could leave me standing so tall
Mining,
Resources, Energy, Markets,News: Australia and World
June
30, 2025
War,
tariffs, growth slump take $33bn toll on miners
The
Department of Industry, Science & Resources has
forecast that Australia's resources export earnings
will fall to $369bn in 2025-26, compared with an estimated
$385bn in the current financial year. The quarterly
resources and energy report also forecasts that the
sector's export earnings will fall to $352bn in 2026-27.
The report notes a number of risks for the sector,
including geopolitical tensions, the Trump administration's
tariffs regime and slowing global economic growth.
The report forecasts that iron ore export earnings
will fall by $11bn to $104.8bn in 2025-26; however,
gold shipments are expected to rise by $10bn to $56bn,
and become the nation's third-biggest resources export
in 2025-26. (RMS)
News
Iran
could resume uranium enrichment 'in a matter of months',
UN nuclear watchdog says
International
Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Grossi
says Iran might be able to resume uranium enrichment
'in a matter of months', despite the US and Israeli
attacks on several of its nuclear facilities. There
have also been questions as to whether Iran was able
to relocate some or all of its estimated 408.6-kilogram
(900-pound) stockpile of highly enriched uranium before
the attacks, with Grossi admitting to CBS News that
"we don't know where this material could be".
Iran has decided to suspend co-operation with the
IAEA, and has Grossi's request for a visit to the
damaged facilities. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Rio
Tinto puts hunt for CEO on fast-track
Sources
have indicated that Rio Tinto is likely to announce
the successor to CEO Jakob Stausholm after its half-year
results are released on 30 July. The resources group
has commenced the process of interviewing and assessing
the shortlisted candidates for the role; the leading
internal contenders include chief commercial officer
Bold Baatar and the head of iron ore, Simon Trott.
Stausholm revealed plans to step down in May, prompting
speculation that he had been pushed out. Rival BHP
is said to be preparing for the eventual departure
of CEO Mike Henry. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Beach
touted as Narrabri buyer
Citi
has stated that regulators might require Santos to
divest its undeveloped Narrabri gas field in NSW in
order for them to approve its $30 billion takeover
by Abu Dhabi's XRG consortium. It comes as XRG was
given an exclusive four-week period of due diligence
on Friday to progress its bid for Santos, while the
Kerry Stokes-backed Beach Energy is seen as a potential
buyer for the Narrabri gas field, which contains an
estimated 1,500 petajoules of gas. Potential daily
production of 200 terajoules is equivalent to half
of NSW's current gas consumption. (RMS)
News
June
26, 2025
Australia
sues China-linked rare earths investors
Treasurer
Jim Chalmers has lodged Federal Court action against
Indian Ocean International Shipping & Service
for breaching Australian foreign investment laws;
action is also being taken against a former unnamed
associate of the firm. The company is one of five
foreign investors with links to China that Chalmers
ordered in 2024 to divest their shares in rare earth
miner Northern Minerals due to national interest concerns,
with Chalmers' legal action against Indian Ocean International
Shipping & Service said to be the first of its
kind. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
The
best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."
"You
are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig
to find it and make it real."
"Your
mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will
find something golden."
"Don't
die without mining the gold in your mind."
"We're
like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's
inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."
"If
you want to find gold, you've got to love the process
of digging."
"Even
if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to
dig."
"Develop
men the same way gold is mined"
"Don't
go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in
looking for the gold."
"A
prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"
"A
prospector who analyzes every speck of dirt won't
find much gold"
"The
world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not."
"Make
new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these
are gold."
"All
that is gold does not glitter."
"Gold
is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears
out"
"Gold
is the money of kings"
"Mining
is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit.
An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher
of a dead mule."
"Anyone
can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds
the gold."
"True
gold fears no fire."
"The
desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means
of freedom and benefit."
"Make
new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these
are gold."
"When
taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes
considered like cheap copper – so are people."
News
Gold
holds decline as ceasefire saps haven demand
Gold
held a decline as a shaky Iran-Israel ceasefire appeared
to hold, reducing demand for haven assets. Bullion
was near $US3330 an ounce, after closing down 1.3
per cent on Tuesday. The truce between Israel and
Iran continued after US President Donald Trump lashed
out at both sides for early breaches. Geopolitical
uncertainties, along with Trump’s aggressive
trade policy and central bank buying, have spurred
a 27 per cent advance in gold this year. The rally
has lost momentum over the last couple of months,
however, with bullion mostly trading between $US3300
and $US3400 an ounce. Spot gold rose 0.2 per cent
to $US3330.85 an ounce in Asian trading. The Bloomberg
Dollar Spot Index was flat. Silver was steady, while
platinum and dipped.
News
Bonus
Gold
by Spandau Ballet
Producers:
Steve Jolley & Tony Swain
Music
Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home
Sorry that the chairs are all worn
I left them here I could have sworn
These are my salad days
Slowly being eaten away
Just another play for today
Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you
Nothing left to make me feel small
Luck has left me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
There's something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
After
the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time
Remember we were partners in crime
It's only two years ago
The man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you
And love is like a high prison wall
And you could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know You're indestructible,
always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You
got the power to know You're indestructible, always
believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (You are,
gold)
Always believe in your soul You've got the power to
know
You're indestructible, always believing 'Cause you
are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home
Sorry that the chairs are all worn
I left them here I could have sworn
These are my salad days
Slowly being eaten away
Just another play for today
Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you
Nothing left to make me feel small
Luck has left me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
There's something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
After
the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time
Remember we were partners in crime
It's only two years ago
The man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you
And love is like a high prison wall
And you could leave me standing so tall
News
Markets
June
30, 2025
Australian
Dollar: $0.6535 USD (down $0.0009 USD)
Iron Ore July Spot Price (SGX): $94.75 USD (up $1.20)
Oil (WTI): $65.52 (up $0.33)
Gold: $3,274.23 (down $53.78)
Copper (CME): $5.1220 (up $0.0690)
Bitcoin: $107,356.68 (up 0.13%)
Dow Jones: 43,819.27 (up 432.43)
Markets
June
27, 2025
Australian
dollar +0.5% to 65.46 US cents
Wall
Street:
S&P 500 +0.8%
Dow Jones +0.9%
Nasdaq +1%
Europe:
Stoxx 50 -0.2%
FTSE +2%,
DAX +0.6%
CAC -0.01%
Bitcoin
+0.1% to US$107,875
Gold
$US3329.90 an ounce at 6.41am AEDT
US oil +0.5% to $US62.26 a barrel at 8.42am AEDT
Brent Crude Oil +0.1% to $US67.78 a barrel
Iron ore -1% at $US94.52 a ton
10-year yield: US 4.24% Australia 4.1% Germany 2.57%
News
Gold
once again approaches a cliff edge
The
Israel and Iran ceasefire has reduced demand for gold
as a safe-haven asset. The precious metal failed to
break out of the medium-term consolidation range of
$3,100 to $3,400 per troy ounce and resume its upward
trend. This signals weakness among bulls and allows
Citigroup to predict a fall in prices below $3,000
in 2026. According to the bank, thanks to Donald Trump's
‘big and beautiful’ tax bill, the acceleration
of the US economy will push gold prices down. The
decrease in geopolitical risks will also contribute
to gold's decline.
Goldman
Sachs, on the other hand, maintains its forecast for
the precious metal to rise to $4,000. It cites the
insatiable appetite of central banks, the weakening
dollar, and the fall in US Treasury bond yields. Indeed,
the White House is keen on lower debt market rates
and a weaker currency. A recent survey by the World
Gold Council shows that 43% of central banks plan
to increase their bullion purchases over the next
12 months, up from just 29% a year ago.
The
recent de-escalation has once again tested gold's
support at its uptrend, marked by the 50-day moving
average. On Friday, sellers pushed the price below
this level, which passes through 3324, and are even
attempting to stabilise below 3300. In May, a sharp
movement managed to push the price back above this
line. However, this metric is now turning downward,
reflecting over two months of consolidation after
reaching recent highs.
All
signs indicate a potential repeat of the consolidation
seen in November-December last year, which laid the
groundwork for the subsequent rally. However, there
is also a high probability that the failure to break
through the $3500 level over the past two months signals
a global trend reversal. We await whether this will
mirror 2020, with a 20% correction in the next six
months and a two-year sideways movement or resemble
the nearly halving in gold prices from 2011 to 2015.
(FxPro)
News
ASX
dips on tech sell-off; lithium stocks rally
The
Australian sharemarket drifted lower on Thursday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 easing 0.1 per cent to close
at 8,550.8 points. Northern Star Resources fell 2.3
per cent to $18.84, Xero was down 5.3 per cent at
$184 and the Commonwealth Bank finished 0.4 per cent
lower at $190.71. However, Mineral Resources was up
3.6 per cent at $20.90 and DroneShield added 11.7
per cent to end the session at $2.39. (RMS)
News
'Not
the moment' for abandoned rare earths mega-merger,
says Lynas boss
A
merger of Lynas Rare Earths with MP Materials would
create a monopoly of rare earths in the Western world,
and the idea that they should merge has been previously
flagged. Lynas CEO Amanda Lacaze said on Wednesday
that she had been of the view that a merger of the
two was a good idea, but that for a "variety
of reasons, it didn't happen". Speaking on the
sidelines of a talk for the Western Australian Mining
Club, she said that there were no discussions between
Lynas and MP Materials about a merger at present.
She said that deals often have their moment, "and
now is not the moment, unfortunately", in terms
of one between the two companies. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
"The
best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears.
To find the gold, think deeply and think better."
"You
are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig
to find it and make it real."
"Don't
die without mining the gold in your mind."
"We're
like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's
inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."
"Even
if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to
dig." Broadway Mining
"There's
a gold mine in you that must be exploited"
Markets
June
27, 2025
Australian
dollar +0.5% to 65.46 US cents
Wall
Street:
S&P 500 +0.8%
Dow Jones +0.9%
Nasdaq +1%
Europe:
Stoxx 50 -0.2%
FTSE +2%,
DAX +0.6%
CAC -0.01%
Bitcoin
+0.1% to US$107,875
Gold
$US3329.90 an ounce at 6.41am AEDT
US oil +0.5% to $US62.26 a barrel at 8.42am AEDT
Brent Crude Oil +0.1% to $US67.78 a barrel
Iron ore -1% at $US94.52 a ton
10-year yield: US 4.24% Australia 4.1% Germany 2.57%
News
Gold
once again approaches a cliff edge
The
Israel and Iran ceasefire has reduced demand for gold
as a safe-haven asset. The precious metal failed to
break out of the medium-term consolidation range of
$3,100 to $3,400 per troy ounce and resume its upward
trend. This signals weakness among bulls and allows
Citigroup to predict a fall in prices below $3,000
in 2026. According to the bank, thanks to Donald Trump's
‘big and beautiful’ tax bill, the acceleration
of the US economy will push gold prices down. The
decrease in geopolitical risks will also contribute
to gold's decline.
Goldman
Sachs, on the other hand, maintains its forecast for
the precious metal to rise to $4,000. It cites the
insatiable appetite of central banks, the weakening
dollar, and the fall in US Treasury bond yields. Indeed,
the White House is keen on lower debt market rates
and a weaker currency. A recent survey by the World
Gold Council shows that 43% of central banks plan
to increase their bullion purchases over the next
12 months, up from just 29% a year ago.
The
recent de-escalation has once again tested gold's
support at its uptrend, marked by the 50-day moving
average. On Friday, sellers pushed the price below
this level, which passes through 3324, and are even
attempting to stabilise below 3300. In May, a sharp
movement managed to push the price back above this
line. However, this metric is now turning downward,
reflecting over two months of consolidation after
reaching recent highs.
All
signs indicate a potential repeat of the consolidation
seen in November-December last year, which laid the
groundwork for the subsequent rally. However, there
is also a high probability that the failure to break
through the $3500 level over the past two months signals
a global trend reversal. We await whether this will
mirror 2020, with a 20% correction in the next six
months and a two-year sideways movement or resemble
the nearly halving in gold prices from 2011 to 2015.
(FxPro)
News
ASX
dips on tech sell-off; lithium stocks rally
The
Australian sharemarket drifted lower on Thursday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 easing 0.1 per cent to close
at 8,550.8 points. Northern Star Resources fell 2.3
per cent to $18.84, Xero was down 5.3 per cent at
$184 and the Commonwealth Bank finished 0.4 per cent
lower at $190.71. However, Mineral Resources was up
3.6 per cent at $20.90 and DroneShield added 11.7
per cent to end the session at $2.39. (RMS)
News
'Not
the moment' for abandoned rare earths mega-merger,
says Lynas boss
A
merger of Lynas Rare Earths with MP Materials would
create a monopoly of rare earths in the Western world,
and the idea that they should merge has been previously
flagged. Lynas CEO Amanda Lacaze said on Wednesday
that she had been of the view that a merger of the
two was a good idea, but that for a "variety
of reasons, it didn't happen". Speaking on the
sidelines of a talk for the Western Australian Mining
Club, she said that there were no discussions between
Lynas and MP Materials about a merger at present.
She said that deals often have their moment, "and
now is not the moment, unfortunately", in terms
of one between the two companies. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
"The
best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears.
To find the gold, think deeply and think better."
"You
are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig
to find it and make it real."
"Don't
die without mining the gold in your mind."
"We're
like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's
inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."
"Even
if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to
dig." Broadway Mining
"There's
a gold mine in you that must be exploited"
Cryptos,
Markets and Culture
"Don't
Mention The War" ...
Crypto's
Today: (Near Live)
Bitcoin
$106,192.78 +1.00%
Ethereum $2,432.44 +1.05%
Tether $1.00 -0.05%
XRP $2.17 +0.56%
BNB $644.48 +0.41%
Solana $146.26 USD +0.26%
Dogecoin $0.1663 USD +0.11%
News
Bitcoin
profiting on the returned demand for risk
Bitcoin
has been on a rollercoaster ride. Firstly, quotes
fell below the psychologically important round level
of 100,000 in response to the United States' bombing
Iran. Then, the cryptocurrency recorded one of the
best daily rallies in 2025 thanks to Donald Trump's
announcement of a ceasefire in the Middle East.
Along
with the deterioration of global risk appetite amid
the Israeli-Iranian conflict, fears about the growth
of token supply put pressure on Bitcoin. Western sanctions
are depriving the country of the opportunity to sell
traditional assets. To attract resources, it may start
selling cryptocurrency. Therefore, Tehran's reduction
in oil exports increased the risks of a further decline
in Bitcoin prices.
The
markets believed in the end of the Twelve-Day War
and returned to a positive outlook. The reduction
in the number of daily transactions on the Bitcoin
network from 600-700K in 2024 to 500K in 2025, with
the average payment volume remaining unchanged at
$7 billion, is good news. According to Glassnode,
this indicates institutional investors' increased
interest in digital assets.
Bitcoin
is also supported by consistently high demand for
Bitcoin-focused ETF products. Since their launch in
January 2024, specialised exchange-traded funds have
attracted more than $131 billion.
The
turning point in the Israeli-Iranian conflict gives
reason to expect a continuation of the rally in US
stock indices. The return of the S&P 500 to record
highs is strengthening global risk appetite and creating
a tailwind for the first Crypto. Events in the Middle
East have shown that Bitcoin has not become a hedge
against turmoil, as its creators intended.
Nevertheless,
the risky nature of cryptocurrency allows you to make
good money on it during periods of market prosperity.
How long will the current favourable period last?
The answer will depend on the end of the war in the
Middle East. It will also depend on Donald Trump's
unwillingness to escalate trade conflicts. There is
not much time left before the end of the 90-day tariff
delay. Are the markets and the S&P 500 waiting
for a new round of trade wars? (FxPro)
News
Crude
Oil still caught in a bear hug
The
price of a barrel of WTI fell to $64 at the start
of trading on Tuesday, while Brent fell to $66.7 at
its lowest point at the start of active trading in
Europe. Retreating to levels seen before the latest
conflict, the price recouped the ‘war premium’.
This was how the markets reacted to Iran’s relatively
restrained response and the subsequent reports of
a truce with Israel.
The
sharp decline in prices indicates the continuing dominance
of bears in the market, where the Middle East conflict
triggers a 20% price increase. Still, a moderate response
and Trump’s tweet nullify the entire war premium.
Although
it should be acknowledged that technically, Oil has
broken through this year’s downward trend resistance,
it has failed to develop its offensive. The sequence
of lower local highs is generally in line with the
trend that began in September 2023 and formed a downward
channel.
The
lower boundary of this corridor is now near $53 for
WTI and will decline to $47 by the end of the year.
For Brent, these levels are $56.5 and $50.50, respectively.
However, this corridor is only valid based on currently
known data. This is the main scenario for a time when
subdued economic growth reduces energy demand, despite
the OPEC+ declared market deficit.
If
Israel and Iran return to the intensity of action
we have seen in the last couple of weeks, it could
break the trend that has formed in recent years. However,
we still consider this scenario to be an alternative
rather than a baseline.
Moreover,
it cannot be ruled out that recent events will lead
to an easing of sanctions imposed on Iran, allowing
it to increase oil exports and further reduce its
price. Even without sanctions, Iran has a compelling
reason to try to increase its exports, spending the
proceeds on rebuilding the country. (FxPro)
News
Bitcoin
News
Bitcoin
Price Surge Amid Ceasefire Optimism: Bitcoin reclaimed
$106,000 following a ceasefire announcement between
Israel and Iran by U.S. President Donald Trump, boosting
global market confidence. The crypto market saw a
broad rally, with Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Cardano
gaining up to 13%. Analysts suggest a dovish signal
from Fed Chair Jerome Powell could push Bitcoin past
its $107,700 resistance level.
Analysts
Bullish on Bitcoin’s Future: Multiple analysts
project Bitcoin reaching $120,000 this year, driven
by factors like spot price resilience, central bank
policies, energy market trends, and technical setups.
Some even predict a cycle top of $330,000 based on
historical indicators like the AVIV ratio.
Institutional
Accumulation:
Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) added 245 BTC ($26
million) to its holdings, now totaling 592,345 BTC
worth over $63 billion.
BlackRock’s
Bitcoin ETF holds 3.25% of BTC’s total supply,
nearing $70 billion in assets, signaling strong institutional
interest despite slowing retail inflows.
Bitcoin
whales are accumulating during market dips, with a
bull flag pattern pointing to a potential $117,700
target.
U.S.
Policy Shifts:
The
U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision to remove “reputational
risk” from bank supervision (previously known
as Operation Choke Point 2.0) has fueled Bitcoin’s
recovery by easing restrictions on crypto custody
services.
U.S.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called Bitcoin “freedom”
and said it’s “here to stay.”
Fed
Chair Powell noted a “significant change in the
tone” of the crypto industry, hinting at increased
activity.
Trump
Family Ventures:
Eric
Trump announced “American Bitcoin,” a new
Bitcoin mining venture with Hut 8, leveraging favorable
U.S. energy policies.
Posts
on X claim Trump’s Truth Social filed for Bitcoin
and Ethereum ETFs with the NYSE, though this remains
unverified.
Market
Volatility and Recovery: Bitcoin briefly dipped below
$100,000 due to U.S.-Iran tensions but rebounded to
$105,000-$106,000 as ceasefire hopes grew. The market
saw $1 billion in liquidations during the dip, with
240,000 traders affected.
Bitcoin
Treasury Company: Investor Anthony Pompliano launched
ProCap Financial, a Bitcoin treasury firm with up
to $1 billion in BTC on its balance sheet, following
the trend of companies like Strategy.
Sentiment
on X:
Bitcoin
is hailed as a major technological disruption, listed
among the most significant innovations of the past
1,000 years.
Posts
counter the “bubble” narrative, emphasizing
Bitcoin’s resilience and long-term potential.
RFK
Jr. confirmed owning Bitcoin during a financial disclosure
inquiry.
Market
Context: Bitcoin is trading around $106,000, up from
a recent low of $98,500. The market is reacting to
geopolitical developments, Federal Reserve policies,
and institutional moves. Analysts remain divided,
with some seeing consolidation and others predicting
a breakout to new all-time highs. (Grok)
News
June
25, 2025
Sydney,
Australia
Markets
ASX
200 futures up 5 points/ 0.1% to 8540
AUD
+0.5% to US64.90¢
Bitcoin
+2.1% to $US106,042
Wall
St:
Dow +1.2%
S&P +1.1%
Nasdaq 1.4%
VIX
-2.35 to 17.48
Gold
-1.3% to $US3323.67 an ounce
Brent oil -5.1% to $US67.82 a barrel
Iron ore -1.1% to $US92.85 a ton
10-year
yield: US 4.29% Australia 4.15%
News
Roy
Morgan wins Media Man 'Media Services Of The Month'
award
Media
Man
UFC
wins Media Man 'MMA Promotion Of The Month' award
WWE
wins Media Man 'Wrestling Promotion Of The Month'
award; Runner-ups: NXT, TNA Wrestling, AEW, NWA
All
Elite Wrestling wins Media Man 'Challenger Brand Of
The Month' award and 'Encouragement Award Of The Month';
WWE: John Cena and AEW: Claudio Castagnoli was the
difference factor; AEW continues to gain stream! Cheer's
to the renewed WWE - AEW friendly .. er, war?!
WSL
wins Media Man 'Surfing Promotion/Brand Of The Month'
award
Netflix
wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Month' award;
Runner-ups: YouTube and MAX
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
The
best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."
"You
are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig
to find it and make it real."
"Your
mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will
find something golden."
"Don't
die without mining the gold in your mind."
"We're
like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's
inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."
"If
you want to find gold, you've got to love the process
of digging."
"Even
if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to
dig."
"Develop
men the same way gold is mined"
"Don't
go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in
looking for the gold."
"A
prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"
"A
prospector who analyzes every speck of dirt won't
find much gold"
"The
world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not."
"Make
new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these
are gold."
"All
that is gold does not glitter."
"Gold
is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears
out"
"Gold
is the money of kings"
"Mining
is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit.
An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher
of a dead mule."
"Anyone
can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds
the gold."
"True
gold fears no fire."
"The
desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means
of freedom and benefit."
"Make
new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these
are gold."
"When
taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes
considered like cheap copper – so are people."
News
Gold
holds decline as ceasefire saps haven demand
Gold
held a decline as a shaky Iran-Israel ceasefire appeared
to hold, reducing demand for haven assets. Bullion
was near $US3330 an ounce, after closing down 1.3
per cent on Tuesday. The truce between Israel and
Iran continued after US President Donald Trump lashed
out at both sides for early breaches. Geopolitical
uncertainties, along with Trump’s aggressive
trade policy and central bank buying, have spurred
a 27 per cent advance in gold this year. The rally
has lost momentum over the last couple of months,
however, with bullion mostly trading between $US3300
and $US3400 an ounce. Spot gold rose 0.2 per cent
to $US3330.85 an ounce in Asian trading. The Bloomberg
Dollar Spot Index was flat. Silver was steady, while
platinum and dipped.
News
Bonus
Gold
by Spandau Ballet
Producers:
Steve Jolley & Tony Swain
Music
Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home
Sorry that the chairs are all worn
I left them here I could have sworn
These are my salad days
Slowly being eaten away
Just another play for today
Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you
Nothing left to make me feel small
Luck has left me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
There's something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
After
the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time
Remember we were partners in crime
It's only two years ago
The man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you
And love is like a high prison wall
And you could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know You're indestructible,
always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You
got the power to know You're indestructible, always
believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (You are,
gold)
Always believe in your soul You've got the power to
know
You're indestructible, always believing 'Cause you
are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home
Sorry that the chairs are all worn
I left them here I could have sworn
These are my salad days
Slowly being eaten away
Just another play for today
Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you
Nothing left to make me feel small
Luck has left me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
There's something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
After
the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time
Remember we were partners in crime
It's only two years ago
The man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you
And love is like a high prison wall
And you could leave me standing so tall
Media/Marketing/Arts:
Australia
News
June
24, 2025
Thomson
to lead News Corp until 2030
US-based
media giant News Corporation has extended the current
contract of CEO Robert Thomson by three years. It
was slated to expire in mid-2027, but Thomson will
now remain at the helm until at least June 2030. News
Corp's chairman Lachlan Murdoch says Thomson has been
instrumental in the media groups' growth and transformation
in the digital age. Indeed, News Corp's digital revenue
accounted for about 50 per cent of its total revenue
in fiscal 2024, compared with about 20 per cent in
2014. Thomson has been CEO since 2013. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
News
Mia
Freedman's Mamamia and News Corp sued over cannabis
ads
The
Therapeutic Goods Administration has filed legal action
against News Corp's magazine division and Mamamia
in the Federal Court, with Mamamia being the media
company owned by Mia Freedman. The TGA alleges Mamamia
and News Corp's 'Body + Soul' magazine ran articles
that unlawfully promoted medicinal cannabis products
from Altus, which is a alternative-medicine website
and dispensary; the Mamamia article under scrutiny
was allegedly written by a person whose mother worked
for a company connected to Atlus. (RMS)
News
Ten
turns to Spotify to halt news losing streak
The
Ten Network has signed a deal with audio streaming
platform Spotify to broadcast its new current affairs
and news show '10 News+' each day as an hour-long
podcast and video. Spotify users will be able to access
it within minutes of it finishing it on TV, while
it will also be broadcast live on YouTube. With Ten
having long trailed behind Seven and Nine in the ratings
for free-to-air news, its new deal with Spotify follows
the cancellation of its long-running nightly talk
show 'The Project', with '10 News+' having being announced
in its place. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Media/Marketing/Arts:
Australia
June
23, 2025
Nine
banks on NRL-led revival
The
National Rugby League's current four-year broadcasting
rights deal expires at the end of the 2027 season.
Nine Entertainment and Foxtel are both keen to renew
their rights deals when negotiations begin in coming
months; the Stan streaming platform is likely to be
a key element in any future deal for Nine to broadcast
NRL matches, given the ongoing decline in linear TV
audiences and advertising revenue. Meanwhile, sources
at the Seven Network have indicated that it will not
bid for the broadcasting rights for the NRL's regular
season, although it may be interested in events like
the State of Origin series and international matches.
(Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Stan
to buy ELP rights 'this week'
Media
industry speculation suggests that Nine Entertainment
is poised to secure a three-year broadcasting rights
deal for the English Premier League. The incumbent
rights holder Optus Sport is halfway through its current
six-year deal with the EPL, which expires in 2028.
However, sources have indicated that Nine will pay
about $300m to take over the broadcasting rights for
the next three seasons; the ELP is expected to air
exclusively on Nine's Stan streaming platform. (RMS)
News
Google
ditches deals with publishers amid Labor inaction
The
Public Interest Publishers Alliance was established
in 2021 and comprises 24 independent news publishers.
The alliance negotiated a funding deal with technology
giant Google in 2022 that had been slated to run for
five years; the deal is believed to be worth several
million dollars a year and was negotiated with the
assistance of the Minderoo Foundation. Google has
advised alliance members that it will terminate the
deal two years ahead of schedule, because wants to
split the small payments across a broader range of
publications. The move comes amid criticism of the
federal government over its tardiness over the proposed
news bargaining incentive. (RMS)
News
'2025
Digital News Report more positive than it looks'
The
latest University of Canberra Digital News Report
has sparked some fears about the future of the Australian
news industry, but the reality is not as bad as it
may seem. Although media platforms overtook online
news as a "source of news" for the first
time, users are ultimately consuming content that
has come from news publisher websites. The report
reveals the percentage of people who pay for news
has increased, while the main 'takeaway' from the
report for advertisers is that consumer engagement
with news is strong and strengthening, which is again
consistent with ThinkNewsBrands and Roy Morgan data
on news consumption. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Telstra
nets film prize as impact and humour dominate Cannes
Several
Australian advertising campaigns has taken out awards
at the annual Cannes Lions International Festival
of Creativity. Telstra's Better on a Better Network
ad campaign won four awards in the film craft category,
including a Grand Prix award and two gold Lions. Telstra
also won four Lions in the film category for its Christmas
and business advertising campaigns. Other Australian
ads that were recognised at Cannes include one for
Suncorp, Coca-Cola and Volkswagen. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Leggett:
Clemenger ready to lead the market
Clemenger
BBDO has undergone major changes this year as it prepares
to become a fully owned Omnicom agency, with Clemenger
BBDO having combined with CHEP Network and Traffik
agencies to create one fully integrated agency. Clemenger
BBDO CEO Lee Leggett says it is now " ready to
lead the market", with its leadership team being
completed with the appointment last week of Stephen
de Wolf as new chief creative officer. His appointment
marks a return to Clemenger BBDO, where some of the
campaigns that he worked on included the highly-regarded
'Meet Graham' campaign for the Victorian Transport
Accident Commission. (RMS)
News
Pockets
as deep as the snow
Snow
Resorts Australia chairman Noel Landry says Victoria's
2025 ski season is expected to generate $21bn for
the state economy. The state's ski resorts have had
well "above average" snow depths since the
season officially began during the King's Birthday
long weekend. However, analysis shows that the cost
of lift tickets at Victoria's ski resorts for the
current season are generally much higher than some
popular resorts in New Zealand. Landry, who is also
the general manager of Buller Ski Lifts, emphasises
that the cost of lift tickets in Victoria is boosted
by state government charges that largely do not apply
when visiting overseas ski resorts. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Roy
Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Company Of The
Month' award
Cryptos
and Markets Today
June
18, 2025
Cryptos
Today: (Near Live)
Bitcoin
$104,579.40 USD -3.77%
Ethereum $2,522.84 USD -5.17%
Tether $1.00 USD +0.01%
XRP $2.18 USD -6.12%
BNB $648.56 USD -1.49%
Solana $148.85 USD -5.40%
USD Coin $1.00 USD -0.00%
Dogecoin $0.1698 USD -5.65%
TRON $0.2746 USD -2.01%
Cardano $0.616 USD -6.05%
Wrapped Bitcoin $104,501.43 USD -3.84%
News
Markets
ASX
futures down 17 points/0.2% to 8528
Australian dollar -0.6% to 64.82 US cents
Wall Street:
S&P 500 -0.8%, Dow Jones -0.7%, NAS -0.9%
Europe:
Stoxx 50 -1%, FTSE -0.5%, DAX -1.1%, CAC -0.8%
Bitcoin -3.8% to $US104,457
Spot gold flat at $US3387.83 per ounce
US oil +5% to $US75.32 a barrel
Brent crude oil +5% to $US76.90 a barrel
Iron ore -1.2% to $US92.90 per ton
10-year yield: US 4.39% Australia 4.25% Germany 2.53%
News
Pop
Culture News Flashback
The
Swiss Conspiracy: Movie
The
Swiss Conspiracy is a 1976 action-crime-drama film
directed by Jack Arnold, known for his work in B-horror
classics like The Incredible Shrinking Man.
It’s
a West German-American co-production filmed entirely
on location in Zurich and the Swiss Alps, giving it
a picturesque backdrop that often overshadows its
convoluted plot. The movie stars David Janssen as
David Christopher, a former U.S. Treasury official
turned security consultant, hired by a Zurich-based
Swiss bank to investigate a blackmail scheme targeting
five of its clients with secret numbered accounts.
The
cast includes Senta Berger, John Ireland, John Saxon,
Ray Milland, and Elke Sommer, with a mix of European
and American actors adding an international flavor.
The
plot revolves around the bank, led by president Hurtil
(Milland), receiving anonymous threats to expose the
identities of five clients unless it pays 10 million
Swiss francs in uncut diamonds.
The
blackmailed clients include a Chicago mobster (Saxon),
a Texas businessman (Ireland), a Dutch financier (Curt
Lowens), a Zurich resident (Berger), and a crooked
arms dealer who’s killed early on after refusing
to pay.
Christopher’s
investigation uncovers a web of deceit, with the blackmailees
potentially blackmailing each other. The Swiss Federal
Police, led by Captain Hans Frey, complicate matters
by suspecting Christopher himself. The story culminates
in a dramatic showdown in the Alps, involving a diamond
exchange and a surprise twist, though some critics
found the resolution murky.
The
film’s strengths lie in its vibrant Swiss scenery,
lively jazz-funk score by Klaus Doldinger, and a cast
that seems to enjoy the locale more than the script.
Highlights include fast-paced action scenes, exotic
sports cars, and Berger’s charismatic performance
as a Ferrari-driving femme fatale.
However,
it’s criticized for its slow pacing, talky investigation
scenes, and a plot that demands close attention to
follow—miss a minute, and you’re lost.
The
production quality varies, with some noting grainy
visuals and sloppy editing in certain DVD transfers,
possibly due to its public domain status. John Saxon’s
performance as the mobster is polarizing, with some
calling it exaggerated, while others praise the film’s
B-movie charm and 1970s Euro-thriller vibe.
It
holds a 5.0/10 rating on IMDb, reflecting mixed reception.
Fans
appreciate its suspense and setting, calling it an
underrated gem, while detractors find it bland and
poorly executed.
The
movie is available to stream on platforms like Tubi,
Hoopla, IndieFlix, and Prime Video (for rent or purchase)
in the US and Canada. A 4K restored special edition
from Film Masters includes extras like a commentary
track, a visual essay, and a featurette on Jack Arnold’s
career. (Grok)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Markets
and Cryptos
June
16, 2025
Sydney,
Australia
Markets
ASX
futures down 20 points/0.2% to 8532
AUD -0.1% at US64.81¢
Bitcoin +0.6% to $US105,292
Dow -1.8%
S&P -1.1%
Nasdaq -1.3%
Gold +1.4% to $US3432.34 an ounce
Brent oil +7.0% at $US74.23 a barrel
Iron ore -0.7% at $US93.85 a ton
News
Cryptos
Bitcoin
$105,646.18 USD +0.49%
Ethereum $2,549.30 USD +1.19%
Tether $1.00 USD -0.08%
XRP $2.17 USD +1.48%
BNB $648.26 USD +0.76%
Solana $153.19 USD +5.96%
USD Coin $1.00 USD -0.06%
Dogecoin $$0.1752 USD -1.00%
TRON $0.2734 USD +0.70%
Cardano $0.6329 USD +1.50%
Wrapped Bitcoin $105,633.91 USD +0.49%
News
Gold
2nd Ranked To USD In Global Reserves
Gold
has firmly reasserted itself as a strategic anchor
in the global financial system, now ranking second
only to the US dollar—and ahead of the euro—in
terms of official reserve holdings measured at market
value. This structural shift, outlined in the European
Central Bank’s latest report on the international
role of the euro, underscores how price dynamics,
central bank behavior, and geopolitical realignment
have collectively elevated gold’s monetary relevance.
From
Inflation Hedge to Geopolitical Barometer
In
2024, gold prices surged by 30%, followed by another
30% year-to-date in 2025, briefly reaching an all-time
nominal high of $3,500 per troy ounce in April. This
sharp rally signals more than just a technical or
inflation-driven cycle—it reflects a broader
revaluation of gold’s role amid rising global
uncertainty.
Conclusion:
Gold’s Strategic Repricing
The
ECB’s findings reflect a broader paradigm shift
in the logic of reserve accumulation. Gold has not
only appreciated in nominal terms—it has been
reconceptualized as a core asset for monetary sovereignty
and geopolitical insulation.
Its
elevation to second place in global reserves is more
than symbolic. It signals a growing distrust in traditional
reserve currencies and a collective desire among central
banks—particularly outside the Western alliance—to
build resilience against political and financial coercion.
In
this new global context, gold is no longer a passive
relic of the past. It is increasingly being recognized
as an active pillar of reserve strategy, with implications
that stretch far beyond price charts and interest
rate models.
News
Market
Background
Australian
dollar -0.1% to 64.84 US cents
Wall Street:
S&P 500 -1.1%, Dow Jones -1.8%, Nasdaq -1.3%
Europe: Stoxx 50 -1.3%
FTSE -0.4%
DAX -1.1%
CAC -1%
Bitcoin -0.3% to $US104,682
Spot gold +1.4% to $US3432.34 per ounce on Saturday
US oil +7.3% to $US72.98 a barrel on Saturday
Brent crude +7% to $US74.23 a barrel on Saturday
Iron ore -0.7% to $US93.85 per tonne
10-year yield: US 4.40% Australia 4.15% Germany 2.53%
News
Gold
News
Recent
gold news highlights a surge in prices driven by geopolitical
tensions and economic factors. Gold prices in Dubai
spiked to near-record highs, with 24-karat gold reaching
Dh412.75 per gram (approximately $112.84), following
Israel’s military strikes on Iran, boosting demand
for safe-haven assets. Globally, spot gold hit a one-week
peak at around $3,424.6 per ounce, up 1.2%, fueled
by Middle East conflicts and expectations of Federal
Reserve rate cuts. In India, gold prices crossed Rs
1,01,540 per 10 grams, a Rs 2,200 surge, driven by
safe-haven buying amid the Israel-Iran conflict. Analysts
note gold’s appeal as a hedge against market
volatility, with prices up 29% in 2025, though jewelry
demand has weakened due to high costs. Central banks
are on track to buy 1,000 metric tons of gold in 2025,
marking a fourth year of significant purchases to
diversify reserves. Posts on X also reflect bullish
sentiment, with some predicting gold could reach $4,000
per ounce, though such claims are speculative.
For
investors, gold remains attractive but experts caution
against over-allocation due to its volatility. Always
verify market trends with trusted financial sources
before making investment decisions. (Grok)
News
Best
Quotes
“Gold
is the money of kings.” – Anonymous.
“He
who has the gold makes the rules.” – Unknown.
“Gold
is a living god and rules in scorn, all earthly things
but virtue.” – Percy Bysshe Shelley.
“Gold
is a deep and liquid subject.” – Anonymous.
“Gold
is forever.” – Anonymous
News
Best
Quotes
"Journalism
allows its readers to witness history; fiction gives
its readers an opportunity to live it." - John
Hersey
"In
America, the president reigns for four years, and
journalism governs forever and ever." - Oscar
Wilde
"The
world is changing very fast. Big will not beat small
anymore. It will be the fast beating the slow"
Rupert Murdoch
Markets
and Cryptos
June
13, 2025
Markets
ASX
futures up 48 points/0.6 per cent to 8607
AUD +0.5% to US65.30¢
Bitcoin -1.9% to $US106,805
Wall St:
Dow +0.2% S&P +0.4% Nasdaq +0.2%
VIX +0.73 to 17.99
Gold +1% to $US3388.31 an ounce
Oil +0.4% to $US70.06 a barrel
Iron ore -0.7% to $US94.45 a ton
10-yr yield: US 4.36% Australia 4.23%
Cryptos
Cryptos
Today: (Near Live)
Bitcoin
$106,586.75 USD -2.33%
Ethereum $2,662.28 USD -5.95%
Tether $1.00 USD +0.07%
XRP $2.21 USD -3.99%
BNB $657.30 USD -1.68%
Solana $153.75 USD -5.97%
USD Coin $0.9999 USD +0.05%
Dogecoin $0.1828 USD -6.65%
TRON $0.2722 USD -2.28%
Cardano $0.6651 USD -5.68%
Wrapped Bitcoin $106,528.01 USD -2.20%
News
Bitcoin
fails to consolidate above $110K
Market
Picture
The
crypto market has lost 1.6% of its capitalisation
over the past 24 hours to $3.39 trillion. Technically,
this is a retreat from previous highs, which provided
resistance. The sell-off was triggered by pressure
on risky assets due to renewed tensions in the Middle
East. However, this should be seen as a temporary
setback.
Bitcoin
fell below $108K, once again encountering a sell-off
after touching $110K. This downward move caused a
broad group of altcoins to give back some of their
recent gains. Nevertheless, the sell-off appears to
be limited and technical for now. The dollar's proximity
to multi-year lows reinforces the bullish sentiment
for the near term.
News
Background
Bitcoin
Core developers will remove the default limit on the
amount of OP_RETURN data published in the v30 client
release scheduled for October. The actual limit will
be a block size of 4 MB.
The
Ethereum Foundation team has published its first report
as part of the Trillion Dollar Security initiative.
Researchers have identified six key areas that require
significant improvements to ensure the security of
the network in the future.
The
value of tokenised RWA assets has grown 245 times
over the past five years to $21 billion, according
to Coinbase. Private loans on the blockchain (61%)
and US government bonds (30%) accounted for more than
90% of the RWA market share.
Polygon
co-founder Sandeep Nailwal has taken full control
of the Polygon Foundation (PF) as its first CEO and
presented changes to the project's strategic priorities.
According
to Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas, the SEC could
approve spot ETFs based on a basket of cryptocurrencies
as early as July and then decide on Solana-based funds.
Another Bloomberg analyst, James Seyffart, does not
expect a decision from the SEC before early October.
(FxPro)
News
Oil
jumps amid a bear market
Several
pieces of bullish news converged on oil on Wednesday,
causing prices to jump more than 6% during the day,
but a 3% pullback on Thursday shows that bears are
still in charge.
Among
the important drivers for oil at the end of the day
on Wednesday were reports of the evacuation of part
of the US embassy in Iraq due to instability in the
region. This is a reaction to Israel's intensified
preparations for an attack on Iran, which sharply
increases the risks of retaliatory measures and a
reduction in oil supplies from the region.
In
addition, news of a trade agreement between China
and the US is positively impacting oil, potentially
increasing energy demand and overall risk appetite.
Soft US inflation data also contributed to the dollar's
weakening, facilitating oil price growth.
However,
important industry indicators also emerged. Commercial
crude oil inventories fell by 3.6 million barrels
last week after declining by 4.3 million and 2.8 million
barrels in the previous two weeks.
Earlier
reports from Baker Hughes pointed to a significant
reduction in active oil rigs to 442 (the lowest in
almost four years) compared to an average of approximately
486 in March-April. This is a clear shift towards
reduction after a period of stabilisation, which promises
a decline in production in the coming quarters.
It
appears that America will return to Saudi Arabia or
OPEC+, which is the market share gained after 2020.
In
its rise, the price of WTI crude oil approached the
200-day average, as we saw at the beginning of April.
The impressive sell-off as it approached this level
suggests that bears remain in control of the market,
regardless of the news. Except for a couple of weeks
at the beginning of the year, this downward trend
line has acted as effective resistance since August
last year. The bears' territory extends all the way
to the $70 level, which, if broken, would be an important
signal of a change in sentiment. Until then, the rise
of oil may remain an opportunity to sell at a higher
price. (FxPro)
News
Gold
News
Gold
Price Movements:
Gold
prices have been volatile due to global economic uncertainties
and trade tensions. On June 11, 2025, gold August
contracts on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) in
India opened at ?97,249 per 10 grams, reflecting a
rebound amid global uncertainties.
In
the U.S., spot gold prices fell 1.1% to $3,316.13
per ounce on June 6, after a stronger-than-expected
U.S. jobs report (139K jobs added in May) reduced
expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts. U.S. gold
futures settled 0.8% lower at $3,346.60.
On
June 12, gold prices in Chennai were reported at ?97,234
per 10 grams for 24-carat gold, with silver at ?1,06,900
per kg.
Gold
has risen approximately 28-30% year-to-date in 2025,
driven by geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty,
though it faced selling pressure after the U.S. jobs
data.
Central
Bank Gold Purchases:
Central banks globally are projected to buy 1,000
metric tons of gold in 2025, marking the fourth consecutive
year of significant purchases as they diversify reserves
away from U.S. dollar-denominated assets.
The
European Central Bank noted that gold has surpassed
the euro as the world’s second-most important
reserve asset for central banks, signaling a shift
in global financial strategies.
China’s
Gold Strategy:
China is pursuing a strategy to weaken the U.S. dollar’s
dominance by increasing gold reserves and promoting
gold-based trade, including through the Shanghai Gold
Exchange. In March 2025, the China Banking and Insurance
Regulatory Commission mandated insurance firms to
allocate at least 1% of their assets (worth over $4.5
trillion) to physical gold.
India’s
Gold Market:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has tightened rules
for gold loan collaterals, impacting the gold loan
market. India also maintains high import duties on
gold, though the RBI continues to accumulate gold
reserves.
On
June 3, 2025, 24-carat gold in India increased by
?282 to ?96,962 per 10 grams, while silver rose by
?2,178 to ?99,939 per kg. Gold remains ?2,138 below
its April 22 peak of ?99,100 per 10 grams.
Silver
Outperformance:
Silver prices have surged, reaching above $36.06 per
ounce on June 6, the highest since February 2012,
driven by technical momentum and investor interest
in precious metals as safe-haven assets. Silver has
gained over 20-25% in 2025 but trails gold’s
28-30% rise.
U.S.
Gold Reserves Audit:
U.S. Congressman Thomas Massie introduced legislation
to audit America’s gold reserves at Fort Knox,
the first comprehensive audit since 1953. Posts on
X suggest controversy, with some claiming U.S. Treasury
officials resisted the audit, raising speculation
about the reserves’ status. However, these claims
are unverified and inconclusive.
Investment
Trends:
Gold funds saw their first outflow in 15 months ($678
million in May), as investors shifted toward crypto
and other assets for diversification amid easing trade
tensions.
Experts
recommend holding 5-20% of portfolios in gold to hedge
against inflation and volatility, with some predicting
further price increases due to potential trade tariffs
and economic policies.
Other
Developments:
Tanzania plans to mandate that large-scale miners
refine and trade at least 20% of their gold output
domestically.
Concerns
about illegal gold mining in South Africa persist,
with a focus on a fugitive alleged kingpin linked
to a disused mine where 78 corpses were found.
Note:
Gold prices are influenced by factors like U.S. dollar
strength, Federal Reserve policies, geopolitical tensions
(e.g., U.S.-China trade disputes), and potential tariff
impacts. Investors are advised to consult certified
experts before making investment decisions. (Grok)
News
Best
Quotes
“Gold
is the money of kings.” – Anonymous.
“He
who has the gold makes the rules.” – Unknown.
“Gold
is a living god and rules in scorn, all earthly things
but virtue.” – Percy Bysshe Shelley.
“Gold
is a deep and liquid subject.” – Anonymous.
“Gold
is forever.” – Anonymous
News
Best
Quotes
"Journalism
allows its readers to witness history; fiction gives
its readers an opportunity to live it." - John
Hersey
"In
America, the president reigns for four years, and
journalism governs forever and ever." - Oscar
Wilde
"The
world is changing very fast. Big will not beat small
anymore. It will be the fast beating the slow"
Rupert Murdoch
Cryptos
and Markets
Cryptos
Cryptos
Today: (Near Live)
May
19, 2025
Sydney, Australia
Bitcoin
$104,266.52 USD +0.52%
ETH $2,421.78 USD -3.18%
Tether $1.00 USD -0.41%
XRP $2.39 USD +1.05%
BNB $644.71 USD -0.00%
Solana $168.47 USD +0.54%
USD Coin $1.00 USD -0.13%
Dogecoin $0.2251 USD +3.48%
Cardano $0.7427 USD -0.85%
TRON $0.2662 USD -2.40%
Wrapped Bitcoin $104,441.92 USD +0.75%
News
XRP
News
Price
Movement: XRP is trading around $2.40-$2.55, with
a recent peak at $2.65 on May 14, 2025. It’s
up over 366% in the past year but dipped 1.6% recently
due to market consolidation and legal uncertainties.
Analysts suggest a potential rally to $3.00 if it
breaks the $2.72 resistance, supported by bullish
indicators like RSI and low exchange inflows. Some
predict explosive growth to $5.90, $15, or even $123
based on technical patterns, though these are speculative.
SEC
vs. Ripple Lawsuit: The ongoing legal battle with
the SEC remains pivotal. On May 15, Judge Analisa
Torres rejected a joint SEC-Ripple motion to amend
a prior settlement due to procedural issues, leaving
the case in limbo. Despite this, Ripple’s legal
chief confirmed XRP’s non-security status remains
intact. A $50 million settlement was briefly finalized,
but renewed scrutiny and the SEC’s push to lift
restrictions on institutional XRP sales have stirred
uncertainty. A resolution could pave the way for XRP-spot
ETF approvals.
ETF
Speculation: Hopes for an XRP-spot ETF have driven
price surges, with filings from firms like 21Shares,
Bitwise, and Franklin Templeton. However, BlackRock’s
silence after SEC talks and a delayed decision on
Solana ETFs (with XRP ETF deadlines looming in June)
have tempered optimism. Experts warn an ETF might
not fully align with XRP’s utility-driven adoption.
Market
and Adoption: XRP hit $1.2 billion in daily trading
volume in South Korea, surpassing Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Ripple’s technological advancements include EVM
sidechains for blockchain interoperability and shared
MPC wallets for secure custody. President Trump’s
endorsement of XRP as a potential strategic reserve
currency and Missouri’s crypto tax break law
have fueled bullish sentiment. Ripple’s acquisition
of Hidden Road could lock up 5% of XRP’s circulating
supply, potentially driving prices to $5-$15 short-term.
Futures
and IPO Buzz: The CME Group is set to launch XRP futures
today, May 19, 2025, a move seen as a step toward
institutional adoption and potential ETF approval.
Speculation about a Ripple IPO, possibly valuing the
company at $100 billion, continues to grow, with SBI
Holdings noting XRP in escrow won’t count toward
valuation until the IPO.
Community
Sentiment: XRP’s community is optimistic, with
commentators like “J4b1” calling May 19
a potentially historic day, possibly tied to the futures
launch or legal developments. However, claims of a
finalized SEC settlement by May 19 appear unverified.
Posts on X highlight excitement but also speculative
narratives, like BlackRock buying XRP, which lack
confirmation.
Critical
Note: While bullish projections abound, some analysts
caution that historical patterns may not hold, and
regulatory hurdles could persist. Always verify claims,
especially from X posts, as they can be speculative
or misleading. For the latest, check trusted sources
or monitor Ripple’s official channels. (Grok)
News
Dogecoin
News
Price
Movements and Market Performance: Dogecoin has shown
significant volatility, with a recent 48.7% surge
over the past month, trading around $0.223 as of May
18, 2025. It reached a high of $0.248 in early May
but faced a slight pullback, consolidating near $0.22–$0.23.
Analysts suggest a potential breakout above the $0.25–$0.26
resistance could spark a new bull run, with price
targets ranging from $0.30 to $0.70 in the next 30
days, and some optimistic forecasts eyeing $1 in 2025.
However, a "death cross" on technical charts
indicates midterm bearish risks, making the $0.21
support level critical.
Whale
Accumulation: On-chain data reveals that Dogecoin
whales have accumulated over 1 billion DOGE in the
past month, signaling strong confidence in future
price gains. This activity, coupled with an 800% surge
in daily active addresses (reaching 674K, the highest
since November 2024), suggests robust network engagement
and potential for an explosive price move if support
holds.
ETF
Speculation: Enthusiasm is growing around four Dogecoin
ETF applications under SEC review, including one from
21Shares in partnership with the Dogecoin Foundation.
Bloomberg analysts estimate a 75% chance of approval
in 2025, which could drive mainstream adoption and
price growth. This news contributed to a 528% spike
in active addresses on May 13, from 74,640 to 469,477.
Network
and Ecosystem Developments: The Dogecoin Foundation
is pushing for broader adoption through DogeOS, an
app layer for gaming, AI, and DeFi, backed by $6.9
million in investment. This aims to transform Dogecoin
from a meme coin to a utility-driven asset, potentially
supporting its $100 billion market cap goal.
Market
Sentiment and Speculation: Posts on X reflect bullish
sentiment, with unverified claims of PayPal accepting
Dogecoin payments circulating, though these lack confirmation.
Additionally, Dogecoin’s futures open interest
surged from $989 million to $1.62 billion, indicating
heightened speculative trading. Some analysts warn
of overheating risks, but others see room for growth
before a cycle top.
Cautions
and Risks: Dogecoin creator Billy Markus warned about
a potential asset bubble that could crash the global
economy, though specifics were vague. Geopolitical
tensions and trade policy shifts continue to influence
crypto markets, adding uncertainty. The coin’s
volatility and reliance on speculative momentum remain
concerns. (Grok)
News
Bitcoin
Movie News
Michael
Saylor’s $40BN Bitcoin Bet: The Financial Times
released a documentary exploring Michael Saylor’s
bold corporate investment in Bitcoin, highlighting
his journey from corporate strategy to crypto prominence.
Posts on X indicate strong interest, describing it
as a must-watch for Bitcoin enthusiasts.
Everyone
Is Lying To You For Money: Set to premiere at SXSW
London in June 2025, this crypto-skeptical documentary
features interviews with former FTX and Celsius CEOs,
Sam Bankman-Fried and Alex Mashinsky, and examines
El Salvador’s Bitcoin adoption under President
Nayib Bukele.
Crypto
Man: A South Korean crypto-themed film based on true
events, slated for release in January 2025, was in
post-production as of December 2024.
Satoshi
Nakamoto Film: Directed by Sophia Banks, this upcoming
feature film, based on Andrew O’Hagan’s
“The Satoshi Affair,” will explore the mystery
of Bitcoin’s enigmatic creator.
Ross
Ulbricht Documentary: Filmmakers Jonah Tulis and Blake
J. Harris are nearing completion of a documentary
featuring over 60 hours of interviews with Ross Ulbricht,
the pardoned Silk Road founder, focusing on his life
and the platform’s role in popularizing Bitcoin.
Biggest
Heist Ever: Netflix’s 2024 documentary details
the 2016 Bitfinex hack by Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather
Morgan, who laundered $4.5 billion in Bitcoin, dubbed
“Bitcoin’s Bonnie and Clyde.”
Aimy
in a Cage: This 2015 dystopian horror film, adapted
from a graphic novel, was the first movie fully funded
by Bitcoin, allowing director Hooroo Jackson to maintain
creative control.
Cold
Wallet: A 2025 thriller about cryptocurrency fraud,
presented by Steven Soderbergh, has been praised for
its suspenseful take on a home invasion tied to crypto.
These
projects reflect growing cinematic interest in Bitcoin’s
cultural, financial, and criminal dimensions.
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
“Trading
Bitcoin is like trading Apple, Amazon, Google, or
Facebook a decade ago. The more you obsess over timing
the market, the more mistakes you make. They were
all technology networks that were dominant & destined
to grow.” - Michael Saylor, Former CEO of MicroStrategy
"Whereas
most technologies tend to automate workers on the
periphery doing menial tasks, blockchains automate
away the center. Instead of putting the taxi driver
out of a job, blockchain puts Uber out of a job and
lets the taxi drivers work with the customer directly."
- Vitalik Buterin, Co-Founder of Ethereum
"The
Latin American countries where you have this combination
of inflation or hyperinflation cycles – deflation
as well – and then you have very high friction
for financial transactions, a high percentage of people
who are unbanked, cryptocurrencies make total sense."
– Fred Thiel, CEO of Thiel Advisors & Marathon
Digital Holdings
“…we
know gold is a $12 trillion asset, bitcoin’s
about a 10th of gold. Could they be half of gold?
At one point, Sure, it could … And at some point,
it will be larger than gold… that money is finding
its way to Gen Z and Millennials, and they feel much
more comfortable with digital gold than old clunky
gold.” - Mike Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy Digital
“If
you don't believe me or don't get it, I don't have
time to try to convince you, sorry.” - Satoshi
Nakomoto, Founder of Bitcoin
Markets
ASX
futures down 7 points/0.1% to 8360 on Sat
Australian
dollar +0.1% to 64.10 US cents
Wall
Street:
S&P 500 +0.8%
Dow Jones +0.7%
Nasdaq +0.5%
Europe:
Stoxx 50 +0.3%
FTSE +0.6%
DAX +0.3%
CAC +0.4%
Bitcoin
+0.9% to $US104,244
Spot
gold -1.1% to $US3203.65 per ounce on Saturday
US
oil +1.4% to $US62.49 a barrel on Saturday
Brent
crude oil +1.4% to $US65.41 a barrel on Saturday
Iron
ore -1.5% to $US99.70 per ton (Singapore 62% grade)
10-year
yield:
US 4.48%
Australia 4.45%
Germany 2.59%
Cryptos
Today: (Near Live)
May
13, 2025
Sydney, Australia
Bitcoin
$102,452.96 USD -1.57%
ETH $2,473.59 USD -1.39%
Tether $0.9993 USD -0.10%
XRP $2.53 USD +7.21%
BNB $662.27 USD +1.78%
Solana $172.50 USD -0.12%
USD Coin $0.9993 USD -0.07%
Dogecoin $0.2295 USD -1.04%
Cardano $0.8162 USD +0.72%
TRON $0.2732 USD +3.10%
Wrapped Bitcoin $102,406.50 USD -1.66%
News
Cryptocurrency
News
Bitcoin
Price Surge: Bitcoin has surpassed $100,000, briefly
touching $105,000, driven by optimism around global
trade deals, particularly U.S.-U.K. agreements and
ongoing U.S.-China talks. Analysts warn of a potential
short-term sell-off ahead of the May 13 CPI print,
with BlackRock noting quantum computing as a risk
for Bitcoin ETFs.
Ethereum
Rally: Ethereum (ETH) has surged over 44% in three
days, reaching $2,600, fueled by the Pectra network
upgrade and declining Bitcoin dominance. Analysts
speculate ETH could hit $10,000 or even $12,000 in
2025 due to institutional adoption, DeFi growth, and
a high ETH burn rate.
Altcoin
Momentum: Altcoins like Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA),
and Dogecoin (DOGE) are rallying, with DOGE up 27%
and ETH leading with a 32% weekly gain. Bitcoin’s
dominance has dropped to 63.89%, signaling a potential
altcoin season.
Meta’s
Crypto Plans: Leaked reports suggest Meta is exploring
cryptocurrency support for its 3 billion users, potentially
integrating stablecoins for creator payments, which
could boost market sentiment.
Regulatory
Developments: SEC Chairman Paul Atkins is prioritizing
a rational crypto regulatory framework, with XRP noted
as the only regulated cryptocurrency in the U.S. However,
a bipartisan stablecoin bill (GENIUS Act) stalled
due to concerns over Trump’s personal crypto
ventures, raising conflict-of-interest issues.
Market
Inflows: Crypto investment products saw $882 million
in inflows last week, with U.S. crypto ETFs hitting
a record $62.9 billion in cumulative net inflows since
January 2024. BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF recorded
a 19th consecutive day of inflows on May 9.
Other
News: Coinbase acquired Deribit for $2.9 billion,
expanding its derivatives offerings. New Hampshire
passed a law allowing state investment in cryptocurrencies.
France’s rumored crypto ban was mentioned on
X but lacks credible confirmation and should be treated
as speculative. (Grok)
Blockchain
News
Meta’s
Blockchain Push: Meta is reportedly exploring a blockchain-based
payment system, potentially offering low-cost digital
transfers. This follows their unsuccessful Diem project,
signaling renewed interest in blockchain integration.
Crypto
in Education: Animoca Brands’ Yat Siu highlights
blockchain’s potential in education, particularly
through DeFi student loan financing. Ripple’s
$25 million donation to a crypto education fund underscores
growing academic influence.
XRP
and Interoperability: XRP is expanding into multichain
interoperability, connecting with Cosmos and EVM sidechains.
With 200+ financial partners, it aims to bridge traditional
finance and crypto ecosystems.
Avalanche
and Web3 Gaming: Avalanche’s John Nahas emphasizes
blockchain as seamless backend infrastructure for
gaming, citing examples like Gunzilla Games’
“Off the Grid,” which leverages blockchain
for user ownership.
Policy
Shifts: The Trump administration is driving a pro-crypto
agenda, with plans to integrate blockchain into financial
systems. Bank regulators are exploring blockchain-based
payment systems, a stark contrast to previous skepticism.
Robinhood’s
Blockchain Platform: Robinhood is developing a blockchain-based
platform for trading tokenized US securities in Europe,
potentially partnering with Arbitrum or Solana.
Ethereum’s
Pectra Upgrade: Ethereum’s latest upgrade introduces
features like smart wallets and lower fees but has
raised concerns about a new attack vector that could
allow hackers to drain funds.
Other
Developments: Brave is integrating Cardano into its
browser wallet, and MBS Global plans a $9 billion
blockchain financial hub in the Maldives.
For
real-time updates, platforms like Cointelegraph or
CryptoSlate on X are active sources,
News
Crypto
market slows down, nearing a top
Market
Picture
The
crypto market slowed down but continued to move upwards
over the weekend, reaching $3.35 trillion. For the
past few days, it has been trading in the region of
the highs since early February. Ethereum and Dogecoin
have been the stars of this movement, adding around
40% in seven days, although the former's contribution
is certainly more significant.
The
crypto market's sentiment is consolidating in the
greed zone, leaving the corresponding index at 70
for the last three days. This is a good basis for
continued gains: not too hot to take profits and not
too cold to leave traders on the sidelines.
Bitcoin
rallied above $105.5k on Monday morning, entering
the area of highs where it has twice failed to hold
over the past six months. The impressive corrective
pullback from late January to early April, in our
opinion, created substantial margin for a new wave
of growth. Therefore, we will not be surprised if,
along with the positive dynamics of stocks, BTCUSD
will move to the renewal of historical highs already
this week.
News
Background
On
the weekly bitcoin chart, after the upward breakout
of the ‘bull flag’ pattern, a further rise
to $182,000 is possible, given the growth before the
downward consolidation. Cointelegraph presented such
a scenario.
Significant
inflows into spot bitcoin ETFS in the US continued
for the third week in a row. According to SoSoValue
data, weekly net inflows into spot BTC-ETFS totalled
$921 million, bringing the total to $41.16 billion
since bitcoin-ETFS were approved in January 2024.
Inflows into spot Ethereum-ETFS in the US broke after
two weeks, recording a small net outflow of $38.2
million to $2.47 billion since last July.
Cryptoquant
noted that the strategy firm's pace of bitcoin purchases
exceeds the rate at which miners are issuing new coins.
The firm's holdings alone imply an annual deflation
of the asset of 2.23%.
Public
mining companies sold about 70% of mined bitcoins
in April against a falling mining profitability, TheMinerMag
calculated. Since March, miners seemed to be moving
away from the HOLDing strategy that had prevailed
last year.
Over
the years, Coinbase has considered investing a significant
portion of its savings in bitcoin, following the example
of Strategy, but abandoned the idea because of the
risks, said Brian Armstrong, head of the exchange.
(FxPro)
News
Markets
ASX
futures are pointing up 97 points/1.2% to 8364
AUD
-0.0% to US63.70¢
Bitcoin
-1.6% to $US102,525
Wall St:
Dow +2.8% S&P +3.3% Nasdaq +4.4%
VIX -3.51 to 16.03
Gold -0.03% to $US3235.57 an ounce
Brent oil +1.8% to $US65.03 a barrel
Iron ore +3.2% to $US100.00 a ton
10-year yield: US 4.47% Australia 4.36%
News
May
12, 2025
Investors
ramp up crypto spree as bitcoin nears record high
Australian
investors have pounced on the plunge in bitcoin earlier
this year and have been ramping up exposure to the
cryptocurrency in a bold bet that could pay off handsomely,
with analysts tipping prices to hit $US200,000 this
year.
The
world’s largest digital asset crossed the key
$US100,000 level last week for the first time since
February. Bitcoin extended that rally on Monday to
trade near $US105,000, just shy of its record of around
$US109,000 on January 20 – the day US President
Donald Trump was inaugurated.
It
represents a stunning turnaround for the cryptocurrency,
which traded as low as $US74,000 in early April amid
Trump’s escalating trade war. But sentiment started
to shift as traders hunted for alternatives to US
assets as they questioned the stability of the world’s
largest economy.
“Bitcoin
appeared to benefit from capital rotation associated
with ‘sell-America’ positioning and growing
scepticism around US monetary dominance,” Global
X investment analyst Justin Lin told The Australian
Financial Review after upgrading his year-end price
target to $US200,000.
The
trend was reinforced by a resurgence in global bitcoin
exchange-traded funds in April, with investors adding
$US2.9 billion ($4.5 billion) to those vehicles. That
marked a sharp reversal from February and March, when
more than $US5 billion in total was pulled from the
space.
A
further $US1.58 billion of flows moved into global
bitcoin ETFs in the first eight days of May, according
to US-listed crypto exchange Coinbase.
In
Australia, local ETFs have attracted $148 million
in inflows so far this year – more than double
compared to the same period in 2024.
And
unlike the US, Australian investors have been consistent
buyers throughout this year. Local bitcoin ETFs experienced
$6.9 million of inflows in March and $20.5 million
in new flows in April, according to Global X.
Trump
gala
The
second-largest digital token, ethereum, has also been
swept up in last week’s rally, surging as much
as 33 per cent in its steepest weekly gain since 2021,
when low interest rates fuelled the pandemic-era crypto
boom.
While
ether has benefited from easing global trade tensions,
the token was boosted by a network upgrade designed
to reduce fees, improve network efficiency and enable
more complex wallet functionalities – moves seen
as necessary to fend off competition from faster-growing
rivals like solana.
Trump
has become an advocate of digital assets during his
second term by rolling back legal actions against
many companies in the sector, establishing a bitcoin
reserve, easing regulation and even launching his
own memecoin.
The
president is due to host a private gala dinner on
May 22 with the top 220 holders of the Trump memecoin,
an event that could mark a “turning point”
for the broader cryptocurrency market, according to
Global X’s Lin.
“[The
event’s] symbolic value is significant,”
he said. “It could serve as a launchpad for broader
crypto-friendly rhetoric and possibly renewed regulatory
commitments. Any such pivot would inject momentum
into the sector.” (AFR) *Full article and coverage
via subscription to The Australian Financial Review.
News
Cryptocurrency
Movies
Here’s
a concise rundown of notable cryptocurrency-themed
movies and documentaries, blending education and entertainment,
based on their relevance to blockchain, Bitcoin, and
digital currencies:
Documentaries
The
Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)
Follows early Bitcoin adopters like Daniel Mross,
exploring Bitcoin’s origins, volatility, and
potential to disrupt finance. Insightful for understanding
the early crypto community. Available on various streaming
platforms.
Banking
on Bitcoin (2016)
Chronicles Bitcoin’s ideological roots and its
impact on financial systems, featuring interviews
with key crypto figures. Great for grasping Bitcoin’s
societal implications. Available on Netflix and other
platforms.
Trust
Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018)
Explores blockchain’s broader applications beyond
cryptocurrency, demystifying the technology’s
potential. Funded and distributed via blockchain,
it’s a unique watch. Available on Prime Video.
Bitcoin:
The End of Money as We Know It (2015)
A 60-minute dive into the history of money and Bitcoin’s
role in challenging centralized finance. Features
experts like Vitalik Buterin. Streamable on platforms
like YouTube.
Trust
No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King (2022)
A Netflix documentary investigating the mysterious
death of QuadrigaCX CEO Gerry Cotten and the $250
million in missing investor funds. Gripping for scam
enthusiasts.
Biggest
Heist Ever (2025)
A Netflix documentary detailing the 2016 Bitfinex
hack, where 120,000 Bitcoin (worth over $4 billion)
were stolen. Focuses on Heather Morgan (aka Razzlekhan)
and Ilya Lichtenstein. A fresh take on crypto crime.
Feature
Films
Crypto
(2019)
A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth,
and Kurt Russell. Follows a Wall Street banker uncovering
a cryptocurrency-fueled money laundering scheme in
his hometown. Critically mixed but engaging for drama
fans. Available on Google Play and Prime Video.
Silk
Road (2021)
A crime drama about Ross Ulbricht and the dark web
marketplace Silk Road, where Bitcoin was the primary
currency. Explores the legal and ethical complexities
of crypto in illicit markets. Available on streaming
services like Fandango.
Dope
(2015)
A coming-of-age comedy-drama where high schoolers
use Bitcoin for a dark web drug transaction. Not crypto-centric
but an early mainstream nod to Bitcoin’s cultural
presence. Streamable on Netflix.
Bitcoin
Heist (2016)
A Vietnamese action-comedy about undercover agents
chasing a crypto hacker, “The Ghost.” Blends
suspense and humor, offering a lighthearted take on
crypto crime. Available on Prime Video.
Why
Watch These?
These films range from educational documentaries to
thrilling fictional tales, reflecting crypto’s
rise, scandals, and societal impact. Documentaries
like Banking on Bitcoin and Trust Machine are ideal
for learning about blockchain’s mechanics and
potential, while thrillers like Crypto and Silk Road
dramatize the risks and allure of digital currencies.
For 2025, Biggest Heist Ever is a must-watch for its
fresh perspective on a massive crypto theft.
Where
to Watch
Most
are available on Netflix, Prime Video, Google Play,
or Fandango. Check specific platforms for availability
in your region. (Grok)
News
Bitcoin
Movies On Netflix
Netflix
currently offers a few movies and documentaries focused
on Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. Here are the most notable
ones available as of my last update:
Bitconned
(2024) - A true-crime documentary about three individuals
who exploited the cryptocurrency market, scamming
millions from investors to fund lavish lifestyles.
It dives into the darker side of crypto with a focus
on the Centra Tech scam. [IMDb: 6.5]
Trust
No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King (2022) - This
documentary explores the mysterious death of Gerald
Cotten, founder of the QuadrigaCX exchange, and the
$250 million in investor funds that vanished. It follows
investors turned amateur detectives unraveling the
scandal. [IMDb: 6.3]
Hotel
Bitcoin (2024) - A Spanish comedy film where four
friends discover a fortune in lost bitcoins, sparking
a chaotic adventure to protect their windfall and
friendships. It’s a lighter, fictional take on
Bitcoin’s allure.
Biggest
Heist Ever (2024) - A documentary covering the Bitfinex
hack, where a couple, dubbed the "Bitcoin Bonnie
and Clyde," allegedly laundered nearly 120,000
bitcoins. It’s a deep dive into one of crypto’s
most infamous crimes.
Crypto
Boy (2023) - A Dutch drama about a young man drawn
into the world of cryptocurrency after a fallout with
his father, exploring themes of ambition and deception.
It’s more character-driven than educational.
Notes:
Availability
may vary by region, so check Netflix in your area.
Some
older Bitcoin documentaries, like Banking on Bitcoin
or The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin, are not currently
on Netflix but may be available on other platforms
like Amazon Prime or YouTube.
For
a broader list, posts on X also mention Bitcoin: The
End of Money as We Know It and The Blockchain and
Us, but these are not confirmed on Netflix at this
time. (Grok)
News
Memecoins
Today:
Memecoins
are seeing significant activity today, May 13, 2025,
with several coins rallying and ongoing controversies
shaping market sentiment. Here's a concise overview
based on recent developments:
Market
Performance:
Dogwifhat
(WIF), Book of Meme (BOME), and FLOKI are extending
double-digit rallies, driven by a risk-on sentiment
in crypto markets following US-China tariff reductions.
Technical indicators suggest potential for further
gains.
Moo
Deng, a Solana-based memecoin, surged 153% in the
past 24 hours, fueled by institutional demand for
SOL and retail interest after Bitcoin’s rally
above $103,000.
FLOKI
is highlighted on X as a top performer, with posts
suggesting it could lead the memecoin rally alongside
DOGE, SHIB, and PEPE.
Political
and Controversial Developments:
Trump’s
$TRUMP Memecoin: The coin remains in the spotlight
due to a May 22 dinner for top holders at Trump’s
Virginia golf club, sparking ethical concerns and
political backlash. The coin surged over 50% after
the announcement, reaching a $2.7 billion market value,
though 764,000 investors have lost money compared
to 58 wallets profiting significantly.
Melania’s
$MELANIA Memecoin: Launched January 19, it saw sniper
traders earn $99.6 million by buying minutes before
its public announcement. The team recently sold $1.5
million in tokens, amid a weakening memecoin market.
Legislative
Pushback: Senate Democrats blocked stablecoin legislation
due to controversies surrounding Trump’s crypto
ventures. Proposed bills, like the End Crypto Corruption
Act, aim to ban presidents and officials from issuing
digital assets to curb potential conflicts of interest.
Market
Sentiment:
X posts reflect active interest in memecoins, with
users seeking recommendations and shilling coins like
FLOKI and letsBONK. However, some posts highlight
the speculative nature, describing pump-and-dump cycles.
Discussions
on memecoins hit a year-to-date high, shifting focus
from Bitcoin and layer-1 protocols, though some argue
the memecoin frenzy is cooling as stablecoins gain
traction on Solana.
Broader
Context:
Memecoins
face criticism for lacking intrinsic value, with some
viewing them as celebrity-driven schemes. However,
advocates suggest AI agents could drive a “memecoin
renaissance” by adding utility.
The
$TRUMP token’s performance has been lackluster
compared to its peak, with onchain activity spiking
after the dinner announcement but still down 79% from
its all-time high.
Critical
Note: While memecoins are rallying, their volatility
and speculative nature carry significant risks. The
political ties to certain coins, especially $TRUMP,
raise ethical and legal questions, potentially influencing
market stability. Always verify information, as X
posts can contain unverified claims, and memecoin
investments are highly speculative. (Grok)
Bull
Market: Def
"Bull
market" describes a financial market where prices
are rising or are expected to rise. It commonly refers
to the stock market but can be applied to anything
that is traded, such as bonds, real estate, currencies,
and commodities.
Markets
and Cryptos
May
10, 2025
Sydney, Australia
Markets:
ASX
futures up 12 points/0.2% to 8261
AUD +0.1% at US64.09¢
Bitcoin +1.8% to $US103,152
Dow -0.3%
S&P -0.1%
Nasdaq -0.00%
Gold +0.6% to $US3326.57 an ounce
Oil +1.7% at $US63.92 a barrel
Iron ore +0.5% at $US97.00 a tonne
Cryptos
Today: (Near Live)
Bitcoin.
$102,887.02 USD. - 0.18%
Ethereum. $2,331.30. +6.50%
Tether $1 USD -0.10%
XRP. $2.35. +1.83. +2.4%
BNB. $638.149. +2.35%
Solana. $172.18. +6.56%
USD Coin. $1 USD -0.17%
Dogecoin: $0.2045 USD +5.52%
TRON. $0.2562 USD +3.06%
Cardano $0.7801 USD +2.20%
Wrapped Bitcoin $102,930.51 -0.28%
News
Crypto
News
Bitcoin
Surges Past $100,000: Bitcoin reclaimed the $100,000
mark for the first time since February, driven by
optimism around a U.S.-UK trade deal announced by
President Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The deal, which includes a 10% U.S. tariff on UK goods
and reduced UK tariffs, has fueled a broader market
rally. Bitcoin was trading at $102,700 late Thursday,
with analysts noting potential support at $100,000
and resistance near $107,000.
Other
Cryptocurrencies Rally: Ether surged over 14% to $2,050.46,
its highest since late March, while Solana and Dogecoin
gained 10% and 12%, respectively. The total crypto
market cap rose 2.5% to $3.09 trillion.
Stablecoin
Bill Blocked: The GENIUS Act of 2025, aimed at regulating
stablecoins, was stalled in the U.S. Senate on May
8 by Democratic lawmakers, citing concerns over President
Trump’s ties to the crypto industry, including
his family’s World Liberty Financial stablecoin
venture.
German
Seizure of Crypto Assets: German authorities seized
€34 million ($38 million) in cryptocurrencies,
including Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, and Dash, from
the eXch platform, linked to laundering funds from
Bybit’s $1.4 billion hack in February 2025.
SEC
and Ripple Settlement: The SEC and Ripple filed a
joint letter on May 8 to dissolve an August 2024 injunction
against Ripple and return $75 million of $125 million
in penalties held in escrow.
Trump’s
Crypto Ventures: World Liberty Financial, a Trump-affiliated
firm, unveiled a stablecoin and secured a $2 billion
deposit deal with an Emirati fund. However, Democratic
senators, including Elizabeth Warren, are pushing
back against crypto legislation, alleging corruption
tied to Trump’s crypto ventures.
Bitcoin
Investment Moves: Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy)
announced a $180 million Bitcoin purchase, adding
1,895 BTC, while a new whale withdrew $50 million
in Bitcoin from Binance.
Ethereum
Upgrades: Ethereum’s Pectra protocol upgrade
went live on May 7, boosting investor interest. Analysts
predict ETH could hit $5,925 in 2025, with long-term
forecasts up to $15,575 by 2030.
Market
Sentiment: The crypto market is in a transitional
phase, with Bitcoin down 14% from its January 2025
high of $109,079. Analysts like Standard Chartered’s
Geoff Kendrick forecast Bitcoin reaching $120,000
by Q2 2025 and $200,000 by year-end. (Grok)
News
A
sharp crypto market awakening
Market
Picture
TThe
crypto market has added about 5.8% to its capitalisation
over the past 24 hours, bringing it to $3.24 trillion.
This is roughly the area where the market has been
consolidating for most of February. A pause halfway
to the area of historical highs above 3.50 looks like
a logical respite. Back in November, the market surged
without major pauses—but this time, the momentum
appears more measured, with less of the earlier excitement.
The
crypto market sentiment index reached 73, which is
only a couple of steps away from extreme greed and
is the highest since late January. Often, this is
a working sentiment for continued growth.
Bitcoin
has been reaching levels above 104000 this morning,
adding an impressive 5% in the last 24 hours and 33%
in 30 days. At current highs, all eyes are on how
soon it will reach the all-time highs, which are less
than 6% away, and whether or not it can overcome them
outright. While similar rallies have broken records
in the past, we still expect some consolidation near
the highs before any decisive move higher.
The
rocket of the last few days has certainly been Ethereum,
which soared 23% in the last 24 hours, strengthening
twice as fast as Bitcoin over the month. The technique
worked perfectly. ETHUSD stomped around the 50-day
moving average for a long time and rose in value by
a third in less than two days to $2380. The rise to
2700 looks like an ‘easy part’ of the growth.
Further upside will already have to be fought for.
News
Background
On
May 8, bitcoin's realised capitalisation reached a
record $890.74 billion, which could indicate that
BTC is poised for significant growth, CryptoQuant
noted. The metric is the aggregate value of all coins
in circulation based on the quotes at which they were
last transferred.
Ethereum
shows the best weekly performance in the top 20 cryptocurrencies.
Nansen notes the accumulation of ‘smart money’
by institutions like Wintermute.
U.S.
banks can perform crypto transactions on customer
requests, provide custodial services through third
parties, and generate tax returns on digital assets.
This is stated in a clarification from the US Office
of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
Payments
company Stripe has launched a product called Stablecoin
Financial Accounts. It will allow businesses in 101
countries to hold balances in dollar-denominated Stablecoins
and receive and send fiat and cryptocurrencies. (FxPro)
Best
Quotes Of The Day
An
investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
— Benjamin Franklin
"Bottoms
in the investment world don't end with four-year lows;
they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim
Rogers
"Be
fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when
others are fearful." — Warren Buffett
Markets
and Cryptos
Markets:
April
23, 2025
ASX
futures up 103 points/1.3% to 7939
AUD -0.7% at US63.68¢
BTC +4.5% to $US91,358
Dow +2.7%
S&P +2.1%
NAS +2.5%
Gold -1.5% to $US3371.27 an ounce
Oil +1.5% at $US67.22 a barrel
Iron ore -0.7% at $US98.65 a ton
Cryptos
Today:
Bitcoin
$91,075.31 USD +4.29%
ETH $1,695.23 USD +7.53%
Tether $1.00 USD -0.02%
XRP $2.16 USD +3.57%
BNB $607.70 USD +1.95%
Solana $144.34 USD +5.47%
USD Coin $0.9994 USD -0.08%
Dogecoin $0.1728 USD +9.13%
Crypto,
Fintech, Markets, News and Politics via Media Man
March
12/13, 2025
The
crypto bounces back from extreme fear
Market
picture
The
cryptocurrency market bounced 2% in the last 24 hours
to $2.67 trillion. So far, the situation looks like
a small rebound after the collapse. We should not
talk about the beginning of recovery as long as the
market is below its 200-day moving average of $2.83
trillion.
Sentiment
in the crypto market has shifted from dread to fear
at 34. The indicator was last higher more than three
weeks ago, indicating that now is a good time to buy.
However, it's worth paying attention to the nervous
stock market before considering investments in more
volatile cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin
was climbing above $83,000 on Tuesday, hitting resistance
in the form of the 200-day moving average. If a long-term
trend line is repurposed as resistance, that's a worrisome
bearish fact.
Ethereum
ended Tuesday with growth and was trading near $1900
at the start of Wednesday, but this is a timid rebound
within the steep peak the coin has been in since February
24th and the broader downtrend of the past three months.
News
Background
CryptoQuant
states a sharp drop in open interest in Bitcoin and
Ethereum futures, suggesting a ‘leverage washout’
and a chance of market stabilisation. The Kobeissi
Letter admits a wave of short position unwinding in
risk assets after extreme fear levels are reached.
Clearstream,
the post-trading arm of Deutsche Börse, will
offer cryptocurrency settlement and custody services
to institutional clients as early as next month, starting
with Bitcoin and Ethereum. It then plans to add support
for other cryptocurrencies and services for staking,
lending and brokerage.
Glassnode
notes that Solana fell below its realised price of
$134 for the first time in three years. The metrics
show the average cost for investors to purchase the
coin.
According
to Arkham Intelligence, on 11 March, bankrupt exchange
Mt. Gox transferred 11,501 BTC (~$905 million) to
an unknown address. Mt. Gox-related addresses hold
a total of 35,915 BTC worth $2.89bn. (FxPro)
News
SEC
vs Ripple Case: Negotiations Underway for Settlement
Recent
developments indicate that the legal dispute between
Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) could be nearing a conclusion. Reports suggest
that Ripple's legal team is currently negotiating
more favorable terms related to a $125 million fine
and an injunction on XRP sales to institutional investors.
The anticipation of a settlement has led to increased
interest and speculation within the cryptocurrency
community regarding the outcome and its potential
impact on XRP. (Grok)
News
U.S.
Plans Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Acquisition
Senator
Cynthia Lummis has reintroduced the BITCOIN Act, which
proposes that the United States government purchase
one million Bitcoins over five years to create a strategic
reserve. This legislative move reflects a growing
acknowledgment of Bitcoin as a digital asset for national
economic strategy, garnering support from both traditional
financial sectors and cryptocurrency advocates. Alongside
this, there is an ongoing debate about the implications,
risks, and potential benefits of such a reserve. (Grok)
News
Trump's
Crypto Banking Deregulation
President
Donald Trump is reportedly planning to sign an executive
order that would reverse regulations set by the Biden
administration aimed at restricting banking activities
for cryptocurrency firms. This move could impact how
crypto companies interact with the Federal Reserve,
potentially leading to greater integration of cryptocurrencies
within the traditional financial system. (Grok)
News
Rumble's
Strategic Bitcoin Acquisition
Rumble,
a video platform and competitor to YouTube, has announced
the purchase of 188 Bitcoins for approximately $17.1
million. This acquisition is part of Rumble's strategy
to integrate Bitcoin into its treasury management,
aiming to hedge against inflation and participate
in the growing trend of corporate cryptocurrency adoption.
The move reflects a broader acceptance of Bitcoin
as a legitimate financial asset among companies. (Grok)
News
Trump
Predicts Market Surge Amid Economic Indicators
President
Trump has publicly stated his belief that the U.S.
financial markets are poised for significant growth,
making his comments at an event with business leaders.
This optimistic forecast follows recent economic indicators
showing inflation cooling to levels not seen in years,
despite mixed responses from markets regarding Trump's
economic policies including tariffs. (Grok)
News
Ethereum's
Lowest BTC Ratio Since 2020 Triggers Liquidation Risk
The
Ethereum Foundation faces potential liquidation of
over $100 million in assets if Ethereum's price drops
to $1,100, amidst a historic low in the ETH/BTC trading
ratio not seen since May 2020. This financial maneuver
is part of Ethereum's strategy to manage its treasury
through decentralized finance (DeFi), highlighting
both the risks and innovative approaches to crypto-asset
management in a volatile market. (Grok)
News
Gold
funds burst out of the blocks in 2025 as returns rocket
Australian
gold funds are shaping up for a bumper year as mining
companies start to capitalise on record prices, helping
the stocks to finally catch up to the performance
of the precious metal.
Portfolio
managers were left frustrated last year after a jump
in production costs held back ASX-listed gold producers
from riding the rally in the spot prices to record
levels. The VanEck Gold Miners exchange-traded fund
climbed nearly 20 per cent in 2024 versus a 38 per
cent rally for the gold price in Australian dollars.
But
easing cost inflation that has plagued the mining
sector for the last three years and an ongoing surge
in prices has seen the trend reverse course. VanEck’s
Gold Miners ETF is up 17 per cent already this year
while the Aussie dollar spot price has climbed 6.3
per cent.
Local
fund managers are bullish that gold has much further
to run after the US dollar price climbed above $US2942
an ounce for the first time and the Australian dollar
gold price breached $4500 an ounce.
Victor
Smorgon Partners’ Resource Gold Fund returned
a chunky 13.3 per cent in January and portfolio manager
Cameron Judd believes the valuations of ASX gold stocks
still don’t reflect the outlook for the yellow
metal.
“Gold’s
performance in times of uncertainty or crisis could
see it push towards $US3600,” Mr Judd said. “Despite
the strong gold price performance and fundamentals
supporting further appreciation, gold miners are trading
at discounted valuations on the ASX.”
Wall
Street’s biggest banks believe a $US3000 price
tag is imminent. Citi said it was possible within
the next three months, while JPMorgan has a year-end
target of $US3150. Bank of America said on Thursday
that gold could reach $US3500 an ounce if investment
demand rises 10 per cent this year.
The
unprecedented surge in the gold price has been fuelled
by investors seeking safe haven assets as US President
Donald Trump unleashes aggressive trade and geopolitical
policies. There are fears the president will accelerate
inflation, forcing central banks to raise rates in
a way that damages global growth.
Victor
Smorgon’s top holdings include ASX-listed Vault
Minerals and the world’s largest gold miner,
US-based Newmont, which recently acquired Newcrest.
The fund also owns Australia’s biggest gold miner
Northern Star, which agreed to buy rival De Grey in
a $5 billion deal. (AFR) *Full article and coverag
via subscription to The Australian Financial Review.
News
Australia
Northern
Star paying top dollar for gold rival
Northern
Star has offered $5 billion to buy De Grey Mining,
with De Grey shareholders to vote on the offer on
16 April. De Grey is the company behind the Hemi gold
prospect in Western Australia, which is thought to
hold at least 11 million ounces of gold and which
is slated to produce 530,000 ounces annually in its
first decade of operation. KPMG, which was engaged
to provide an independent assessment of Northern Star's
offer, has valued DeGrey at between $4 billion and
$4.79 billion, inclusive of a premium for control.
It concludes that the offer is "fair and reasonable
and therefore is in the best interests of De Grey
shareholders, in the absence of a superior proposal".
(Roy Morgan Summary)
News
March
12, 2025
Crypto
market tumbles after stocks
Market
picture
Crypto
market capitalisation has been falling to $2.5 trillion
following the rumbling fall of the US stock market.
It is dipping below the peaks of early 2024 and late
2021. Previously, a similar decline would complete
a corrective pullback, attracting buyers. However,
the chances of such an outcome are now lower than
in previous years due to the powerful influence of
traditional financial companies, which has strengthened
the link between the crypto market and stock dynamics.
For
now, though, we can argue that there is less terror
in crypto. The Fear and Greed Index is at 24 (+4 points
for the day), while the low point was a week earlier
at 10.
Bitcoin
slipped towards $76.5K in the early hours of Tuesday
but has popped above $80K at the time of writing,
approaching Monday’s consolidation levels. A
bearish pattern persists on the daily timeframes,
which suggests a strengthening sell-off after a failure
under the 200-day moving average. The scenario of
a pullback to the $70-74K area still looks the most
probable for us. This is all the truer as the consolidation
and rebound in early March has taken the short-term
oversold stance out of the market.
Ethereum
is trying to find a pivot point after falling towards
$1750 at the start of Tuesday. These were the lowest
values in the last 17 months. On weekly timeframes,
the RSI oscillator hit its lowest point since mid-2022
- near the bottom of the bear market. Does this signify
an opportunity for the recklessly bold or a breakdown
in the leading altcoin? We will find out in the coming
days.
News
Background
According
to CoinShares, global crypto fund investments fell
by $876 million last week after record outflows of
$2.911 billion a week earlier. Investments in Bitcoin
fell by $756 million; in Ethereum, by $89 million.
Investments in Solana rose by $16 million, in XRP
by $6 million, and in Sui by $3 million.
As
a result of another recalculation, Bitcoin mining
difficulty increased by 1.43% to 112.15T. The growth
did not compensate for a 3.15% drop two weeks ago.
However, the figure came close to the all-time high
of 114.17T reached in January.
Strategy
(former MicroStrategy) intends to raise $21bn through
the sale of preferred shares as part of its At-The-Market
program. The proceeds will be used to buy Bitcoin
and other corporate purposes. (FxPro)
News
March
11, 2025
US
Senator And Congressman Introduce Strategic Bitcoin
Reserve Bills To Buy One Million BTC
Speaking
at the “Bitcoin for America” summit, lawmakers
announced their plans to create a federal bitcoin
reserve that would see the U.S. buy one million BTC.
Today
at the Bitcoin Policy Institute’s “Bitcoin
for America” summit in Washington DC, U.S. Senator
from Wyoming Cynthia Lummis announced that she is
going to reintroduce her strategic Bitcoin reserve
legislation in the Senate today.
“I
am so pleased to announce that today I will be reintroducing
The Bitcoin Act,” Senator Lummis stated. “And
I’ll be joined here shortly by Senator Justice
of West Virginia, who is one of the cosponsors. And
we have several other additional cosponsors. And a
lot of it is a result of the excitement that’s
been building.” (Bitcoin Magazine). *Full article
via Bitcoin Magazine
News
XRP
wins Media Man 'Crypto Of The Month' award
News
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6317 USD (up $0.0020 USD)
Iron Ore Apr Spot Price (SGX): $100.60 USD (up $0.15
USD)
Oil (WTI): $67.70 USD (up $1.14 USD)
Gold: $2,931.74 USD (up $13.03 USD)
Copper (CME): $4.8425 USD (up $0.0500 USD)
Bitcoin: $82,880.91USD (up 0.32% in last 24 hours)
Dow Jones: 41,350.93 (down 82.55 points)
News
Roy
Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Company Of The
Month' award
News
Media
Australia
Peter
Dutton More Crypto Friendly And Switched On Than Albanese
(Media Man Group)
News
"Dutton
A Genuine Contender" (Sky News Australia)
March
10, 2025
ASX
futures are pointing up 69 points, or by 0.9 per cent,
to 8011.
All
US prices are as of 4.15pm Sunday in New York:
Bitcoin
-3.7% to $US83,138
On
Wall St: Dow +0.5% S&P +0.6% Nasdaq +0.7%
VIX -1.5 to 23.37
Gold -0.1% to $US2909.10 an ounce
Brent oil +1.3% to $US70.36 a barrel
Iron ore +0.3% to $US100.70 a tonne
10-year yield: US 4.3% Australia 4.4%
January
10, 2025
ASX
futures up 33 points or 0.4%
AUD
-0.3% to 61.98 US cents
UK pound -0.4% to $US1.2309
Bitcoin -2.9% to $US91,275 at 7.23am AEDT
US markets closed for Jimmy Carter’s funeral
Stoxx 50 +0.4% FTSE +0.8% DAX -0.1% CAC +0.5%
Spot gold +0.3% to $US2671.00/oz at 1.55pm in New
York
Brent crude +1.2% to $US77.08 a barrel
Iron ore +1% to $US97.40 a tonne
10-year yield: US 4.69% Australia 4.48% Germany 2.56%
US prices as of 1.59pm in New York
The
Star Entertainment Group
Website
The
Star Entertainment Group
The
Star, Sydney, Australia
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Gaming,
Hotel And Casino News: U.S
September
2024
New
Jersey Internet gambling sets new record at $198M
in revenue, but land casinos lag
Internet
gambling in New Jersey had its best month ever in
August, bringing in over $198 million in revenue even
as most of Atlantic City’s land-based casinos
continued to win less than they did before the COVID-19
pandemic. Figures released Monday by the New Jersey
Division of Gaming Enforcement show that internet
gambling brought in $198.4 million, the highest monthly
total ever recorded in the state and an increase of
nearly 28% from a year earlier. That was the good
news for Atlantic City’s gambling industry.
News
BetMGM
impresses in NFL Week One, Jefferies analyst says
BetMGM
handily outperformed the field in New York state in
the first week of NFL wagering, according to data
published September 15 in a Jefferies Equity Research
investor note penned by analyst James Wheatcroft.
According to Wheatcroft’s analysis, BetMGM grew
its handle 54 percent from last year, revenue 24 percent,
and winning margins 8.2 percent. For the market overall,
the handle grew by 14 percent, but revenue dropped
43 percent and margin was down 6.8 percent. FanDuel
recorded a seven percent decrease in handle and 54
percent lower revenue.
News
llinois:
Casino revenue shoots up 3.1% in August after a slow
summer
Illinois
casinos posted positive monthly revenue for the first
time since the spring. The state’s 15 casinos
combined for a win of $140 million in August, up 3.1%
from July’s total of $135.8 million. Revenue
totals do not include online casinos because iGaming
is illegal in the Prairie State. Illinois is a leading
earner for land-based revenue and sports betting handle
(total amount bet). But, is nowhere to be found in
the world of online casinos. The state’s legislators
made two attempts to legalize IL online gaming this
year, but both fell short.
News
F1
not moving the Vegas needle, Truist analyst says
“F1
stuck in neutral for now,” wrote Truist Securities
analyst Barry Jonas, leading off a September 16 investor
note on the subject of Las Vegas room rates. He deemed
them “fairly stable but soft” into the fourth
quarter. A Truist survey of Las Vegas hotel-room prices
had shown growth in August followed by slowness throughout
the fall. Jonas said these findings were congruent
with MGM Resorts International’s forward-looking
commentary during its second-quarter earnings call.
Wrote Jonas, “While our survey is just one facet
of the market and can change, we note continuing investor
concerns around slowing growth amidst tough comparisons.”
News
August
casino revenue $63 million
Virginia
(results) - Lottery Commission - The Virginia Lottery
released its report on casino gaming activity for
the month of August 2024. There are three operating
casinos in Virginia: HR Bristol, Rivers Casino Portsmouth,
and Caesars Virginia. During August, gaming revenues
from Virginia casinos totaled $63.1 million. Hard
Rock Bristol $15.9 million, Rivers Casino Portsmouth
$26.6 million, and Caesars Virginia $20.4 million.
Virginia law assesses a graduated tax on a casino’s
AGR, or wagers minus winnings, and $11.8 million in
taxes were paid to the Gaming Proceeds Fund.
News
MGM
getting more solar energy with rural Nevada solar
farm
Nevada
(Las Vegas) - A solar farm in the remote Nevada desert
will double MGM International’s capacity to use
solar energy. It entered a power purchase agreement
with a utility-scale solar company to use its forthcoming
facility in Lincoln County. The company is expected
to begin using that boost in green energy in 2026.
MGM uses 90 percent renewable energy for 11 of its
Las Vegas resorts’ daytime needs, the company
said, but the new solar farm and battery storage facility
will power 100 percent of daytime needs and some of
what’s needed for nighttime.
News
Three
Strip casinos get new top exec
Nevada
(Las Vegas) - Three casino properties on the Las Vegas
Strip will soon have a new boss following the company
departure of the trio’s former top executive.
Ken Ostempowski will be assuming the role of senior
vice president and general manager of Paris Las Vegas,
Planet Hollywood and Horseshoe. Ostempowski currently
holds similar roles overseeing The ROW Reno, a three-casino
resort destination in Northern Nevada operated by
Caesars. According to Ostempowski’s LinkedIn
profile, he has held executive-level positions in
multiple gaming markets, including Las Vegas, the
Gulf Coast, the Midwest and Colorado.
News
Strip
resort reveals rare tier-match offer
Nevada
(Las Vegas) - For the first time since introducing
a new player rewards program, a Las Vegas Strip casino
is offering to upgrade gamblers’ loyalty cards
to a comparable level from other casinos. The Venetian
casino-hotel is launching a tier-match promotion that
will allow customers to receive a Venetian Rewards
card status that is on par with or better than what
they currently have with another casino operator.
The Venetian Resort Las Vegas’ tier-match event
begins Oct. 1, according to a recent email, and will
run through Jan. 1.
News
Boyd
bets big on large sportsbooks even as mobile betting
flourishes
Nevada
(Las Vegas) - The largest sportsbook operated by Boyd
Gaming Corp. may not be the place “where everybody
knows your name.” But that sentiment is the reason
the company (with its nine Las Vegas casinos) and
other gaming operators continue to invest millions
of dollars into expanding or modernizing large sportsbooks
with massive viewing screens, comfortable seating
areas and food and beverage options. Those expenditures
happen even as more than 65 percent of Nevada’s
$8 billion sports gaming industry come through mobile
wagering accounts — bets made anywhere outside
the casino. “A sportsbook is more than just a
place to make wagers,” said Boyd Gaming Vice
President of Race & Sports Bob Scucci. “At
our properties, the sportsbook is the place where
people come four or five times a week. It’s where
they go to meet their friends and congregate.”
News
Opening
sportsbook with Jay-Z at Ocean Casino, Fanatics CEO
Michael Rubin explains Atlantic City’s appeal
Michael
Rubin’s love for Atlantic City goes back to when
he was about 12 years old. “The gambling age
was 18 when I was a kid,” the once-small kid
from Philadelphia recalled. “I remember when
I was 12 years old, I went to an Atlantic City casino,
to Caesars. It was 40 years ago. I won $2,500. I called
my mom from a pay phone and said, ‘Mom, I got
great news! I just won $2,500!’ She asked how,
and I said, ‘I’m in a casino in Atlantic
City,’ and she goes, ‘You’re grounded,
get home.’ That’s my favorite story.”
News
A
jobs boon from a casino at Manhattan’s Hudson
Yards? Experts aren’t betting on it.
When
casino giant Wynn showed off plans for its Hudson
Yards West casino proposal last month, it enlisted
progressive heavyweights to make the case that the
venture would be a jobs bonanza for poor and working-class
New Yorkers. The endorsements were full-throated and
infused with hope and promise. Leaders from the NAACP,
National Urban League and Win, New York City’s
largest provider of family shelter and permanent supportive
housing, were among the groups that said the proposal
would bring significant career opportunities.
News
Maine’s
first in-person sports betting bar opens in Portland
Maine’s
first, in-person sports-betting bar is officially
open. “Oddfellahs” opened on Market Street
on Friday… The bar has partnered with Caesars
Sportsbook, one of two sportsbooks authorized under
Maine’s new law to run sports betting, the other
being DraftKings. The founder of “Oddfellahs”
says there’s more to the bar than just sports
betting.
News
IIlinois
Gaming Board renews Rivers Casino’s license
The
Illinois Gaming Board on Thursday renewed Rivers Casino’s
gaming license as well as Hawthorne Race Course’s
master sports wagering license. Both renewals by the
state agency came via unanimous 4-0 votes and are
good for four years, with Rivers now licensed through
August 2028 and Hawthorne through September of that
year.
News
Bellagio
removing trees as F1 prep begins on the Las Vegas
Strip
The
Las Vegas Grand Prix is around the corner and the
Bellagio casino-hotel is days away from starting race
preparations. On Monday, work crews will begin removing
the trees in front of the Fountains of Bellagio along
Las Vegas Boulevard to make room for the construction
of the Bellagio Fountain Club (an F1 spectator area
for VIPs). (Wires, A.I News)
News
Human
Statue Bodyart supplies bodypainted models and roving
performers for The Star: Marquee and Cherry Bar -
25th July 2013
Human
Statue Bodyart supplies bodypainted models and statue
performers for The Star; Marquee Sydney; Johnnie Walker
promotion and Block Party
Human
Statue Bodyart provides bodypainted entertainment
for drinks industry night at The Event Centre, The
Star; Sydney, Australia - 4th September 2013
The
Star: New Years Eve reports from Sydney, Australia
News
Media/Entertainment:
Australia
TV
Week Logie Awards 2024
August
18, 2024
The
Star, Sydney, Australia
Winners
Gold
Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian
Television - Larry Emdur
Best
Drama Program - RFDS, Seven Network
Best
News or Public Affairs Presenter - Ally Langon, A
Current Affair, Nine Network
Best
Comedy Entertainment Program - Have You Been Paying
Attention?, Network Ten
Best
Lead Actor in a Drama - Felix Cameron, Boy Swallows
Universe, Netflix
Beat
Scripted Comedy Program - Utopia, ABC
Best
Current Affairs Program - Australian Story, ABC
Best
Lead Actress in a Drama - Deborah Mailman, Total Control,
ABC
Best
Sports Coverage - FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, Seven
Network
Best
Competition Reality Program - MasterChef Australia,
Network 10
Best
Factual or Documentary Program - John Farnham: Finding
The Voice, Seven Network
Best
Miniseries or Telemovie - Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix
Best
News Coverage or Public Affairs Report - Ben Roberts-Smith:
The Truth, 60 Minutes, Nine Network
Best
Structured Program - Gogglebox Australia, Foxtel and
Network 10
Best
Lifestyle Program - Travel Guides, Nine Network
Bert
Newtown Award for Most Popular Presenter - Larry Emdur,
The Chase Australia and The Morning Show, Seven Network
Best
Supporting Actor - Bryan Brown, Boy Swallows Universe
Best
Lead Actor in a Comedy - Rob Sitch, Utopia, ABC
Graham
Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent - Felix
Cameron, Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix
Best
Supporting Actress - Sophie Wilde, Boy Swallows Universe,
Netflix
Best
Children's Program - Bluey, ABC
Best
Entertainment Program - The Voice Australia, Seven
Network
Best
Lead Actress in a Comedy - Kitty Flanagan, Utopia,
ABC
Entertainment
for The Star, Sydney. Creative: Human Statue Bodyart
Media
Man
American,
European and Australian Sports News via Grok; Elon
Musk Grok Takes The Sports Fan And Sports News Publisher
Around The Globe In Seconds Ala Virtual News Time
Travel Machine: Media Man
News
Joshua
vs Dubois at Wembley
August
31, 2024
The
upcoming boxing event, #RiyadhSeasonCard: Wembley
Edition, features a highly anticipated heavyweight
match between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, set
for September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium. This fight
is highlighted by Joshua's undefeated record against
British fighters, which he aims to maintain. The event
has been described as potentially historic, with expectations
to break attendance records. Additional tickets have
been released due to high demand, indicating significant
public interest in what is being promoted as an unmissable
event in the boxing calendar. (Grok)
News
Joshua
vs. Dubois Tickets Released
Additional
tickets are now available for the highly anticipated
heavyweight boxing match between Anthony Joshua and
Daniel Dubois, scheduled for September 21, 2024, at
Wembley Stadium. This event, part of the Riyadh Season
Card: Wembley Edition, is expected to set an attendance
record with the stadium's capacity increased to 96,000.
The fight is being promoted as a historic occasion,
with significant interest from boxing fans and includes
a special performance by Liam Gallagher. Promotional
efforts by various boxing organizations and figures
have urged fans to secure tickets for what is described
as a potential heavyweight classic. (Grok)
News
Hamilton
Leads FP2 at Italian GP
During
the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Lewis Hamilton of
Mercedes set the fastest lap in the second free practice
session (FP2), followed closely by Lando Norris of
McLaren and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari. Ferrari demonstrated
strong performance with both cars in the top five.
George Russell, also from Mercedes, faced delays due
to an earlier crash by Andrea Kimi Antonelli but managed
to place sixth. McLaren also showed promising pace
with Norris in second and Piastri in fourth. Red Bull
Racing encountered issues, with Max Verstappen experiencing
a lock-up and the team addressing concerns about top
speed. The session highlighted intense competition
among Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari, setting up an
anticipated close qualifying session. Despite his
crash, Antonelli provided valuable data to his team.
(Grok)
News
Antonelli
Crash Halts FP1 at Italian GP
During
the first practice session (FP1) at the Italian Grand
Prix in Monza, rookie driver Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes
experienced a significant crash at the Parabolica
corner, leading to a red flag. Despite initially setting
the fastest lap, Antonelli's session ended prematurely
with his car heavily damaged, though he was reported
to be unharmed. Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing
set the fastest time of the session, demonstrating
strong performance. The incident also impacted Antonelli's
teammate George Russell, who had to wait for repairs
before participating in FP2. Other teams like McLaren
and Ferrari also reported on their performances, with
McLaren's drivers in the top five and Ferrari's drivers
finishing second and fourth. (Grok)
News
COTA
Hosts First Hypercar and LMGT3 Practice
The
FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is currently
hosting the 6 Hours of COTA, also known as Lone Star
Le Mans, at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin,
Texas. This event marks the first time Hypercars and
LMGT3 cars are racing together at this track. Notable
participants include teams from Porsche, Toyota Gazoo
Racing, Ferrari, Jota Sport, and Aston Martin. During
the first practice session (FP1), Porsche Penske Motorsport's
#5 car, driven by Matt Campbell, set the fastest lap
time of 1:53.574. The event also introduced specially
equipped safety cars, including a Porsche 911 Turbo
S with lightweight wheels. This race is significant
for its competitive field and its strategic importance
in the championship standings. (Grok)
News
WEC's
Historic Hypercar Race at COTA
The
FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is currently
hosting the 6 Hours of COTA race at the Circuit of
the Americas in Austin, Texas, marking a significant
event as it features both Hypercars and LMGT3 cars
racing together for the first time at this venue.
Prominent teams like Toyota GAZOO Racing, Porsche
Motorsport, Ferrari Hypercar, and Peugeot Sport are
participating, showcasing new models such as the Peugeot
9X8. The event highlights include experienced drivers
like Andre Lotterer, who is aiming for another podium
finish with an impressive track record at COTA, and
the debut of new car models. Activities during the
practice sessions involved teams adjusting setups,
changing drivers, and adapting to track conditions,
drawing considerable attention to the competitive
spirit of endurance racing. (Grok)
News
Rhea
Ripley Showcases Ink in WWE Tattooed Series
Rhea
Ripley, a prominent WWE wrestler, was featured in
a special segment titled 'WWE Tattooed,' where she
showcased her extensive tattoo collection. This episode
included a photoshoot and discussions about her tattoos,
engaging fans with insights into her personal style
and past rivalries, notably with Charlotte Flair.
Ripley also shared stories about her fans' enthusiasm
for her tattoos, particularly highlighting their reaction
to a recent addition to her scorpion tattoo. The segment
received positive feedback, enhancing Ripley's popularity
within the WWE community. Additionally, Ripley discussed
a time she got a matching tattoo with fellow wrestler
Toni Storm, further personalizing her connection with
fans and colleagues. (Grok)
News
WWE
vs. AEW: Talent Pay Debate
The
professional wrestling industry is currently embroiled
in a debate over wrestler compensation, sparked by
AEW's high-paying contracts to Swerve Strickland and
Daniel Garcia. WWE has criticized these contracts,
suggesting they exceed market value and could inflate
salary expectations industry-wide, potentially harming
the sport. Conversely, many fans and industry figures
support AEW's approach, arguing that wrestlers deserve
higher compensation due to the physical demands of
their job. This perspective sees AEW's strategy as
fostering a competitive market that might lead to
better overall compensation in wrestling. Critics
of WWE's stance argue that their reluctance to match
AEW's offers undervalues talent and could impact WWE's
ability to retain or attract top wrestlers. The discussion
reflects broader issues about wrestler worth, the
economics of wrestling promotions, and the effects
of competition on talent contracts. (Grok)
News
WWE
Criticizes AEW Contracts as Overspending
Professional
wrestlers Swerve Strickland and Daniel Garcia have
signed lucrative contracts with All Elite Wrestling
(AEW), which WWE views as detrimental to the wrestling
industry, claiming the salaries exceed market value.
This perspective has ignited a debate about compensation
in wrestling. Supporters of higher pay argue that
wrestlers, who endure significant physical tolls,
deserve substantial compensation, akin to athletes
in other major sports. Critics of WWE's stance believe
the company's opposition stems from a reluctance to
increase their own payroll, potentially driven by
profit considerations rather than the welfare of the
performers. The situation underscores broader issues
of pay equity and the impact of competition on industry
standards, with some seeing AEW's strategy as beneficial
for raising overall compensation levels in wrestling.
(Grok)
News
Swerve
Strickland's Lucrative AEW Deal
Swerve
Strickland has signed a lucrative contract with AEW,
placing him among the highest-paid wrestlers alongside
stars like Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Moné.
This deal has stirred debate within the wrestling
community, particularly from WWE, which considers
the contract to exceed the perceived market value
significantly. Critics from WWE argue that such high
compensation could inflate industry salary expectations,
potentially forcing WWE to increase its own wrestlers'
pay. However, supporters of the deal highlight the
physical demands and lack of off-season in wrestling,
suggesting that wrestlers deserve substantial compensation.
This situation underscores broader issues regarding
talent compensation, market value assessments, and
the competitive dynamics between AEW and WWE in the
professional wrestling landscape. (Grok)
News
Swerve's
AEW Deal: Highest in Pro Wrestling
Swerve
Strickland has recently signed a lucrative contract
with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), reportedly placing
him among the highest-paid wrestlers in the industry,
comparable to stars like Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes
Moné. This deal, extending through September
2029, has drawn criticism from WWE officials, who
argue that the financial terms are excessively high
and could set an unsustainable precedent for wrestler
salaries. Despite WWE's contention that Strickland's
market value does not justify such compensation, many
fans and industry observers believe his performances
and popularity warrant his high salary. Additionally,
WWE's critique coincides with their unsuccessful attempts
to reacquire Strickland and recruit other talents
like Daniel Garcia, who chose to remain with AEW.
This situation highlights a competitive landscape
where wrestler contracts are becoming more financially
rewarding. (Grok)
News
Strickland's
AEW Deal Stirs Market Controversy
Swerve
Strickland has signed a lucrative contract with AEW,
placing him among the highest-paid wrestlers alongside
stars like Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Moné.
This deal has sparked controversy within the wrestling
industry, particularly from WWE, who argue that such
high compensation sets an unsustainable market value
for wrestlers. Critics suggest WWE's stance might
stem from their own financial interests, particularly
after releasing Strickland only to see him succeed
elsewhere. Supporters of high-value contracts highlight
the physical toll on wrestlers and argue they deserve
substantial pay. This situation underscores ongoing
debates about wrestler compensation, market dynamics,
and the competitive landscape between WWE and AEW.
(Grok)
News
Jon
Jones Defiant on Aspinall Fight
Jon
Jones, the UFC heavyweight champion, has publicly
expressed confidence in defeating Tom Aspinall, the
interim champion, but has chosen to fight Stipe Miocic
instead. This decision has sparked debates about Jones's
legacy and his avoidance of Aspinall, with critics
arguing that Jones should defend his title against
the interim champion who has actively defended his
belt. Jones, however, insists that his legacy is secure
regardless of the fight outcome, highlighting his
long-term dominance in the sport. Discussions also
touch on Jones's past, including his performances
and controversies like failed drug tests, questioning
whether his refusal to fight Aspinall might affect
his reputation or if his established record justifies
his choices. (Grok)
News
McAfee
Donates $1M to WVU NIL Collective
Pat
McAfee, a former NFL player and West Virginia University
alumnus, hosted a live broadcast of his show in Morgantown,
West Virginia, creating significant local excitement.
The event was so anticipated that local schools closed
due to expected traffic congestion, and a large crowd
gathered. During the show, McAfee announced a $1 million
donation to West Virginia's Name, Image, and Likeness
(NIL) collective, the Country Roads Trust, to support
student-athletes. The event featured appearances by
notable figures including Nick Saban and highlighted
the enthusiasm of WVU fans, particularly for quarterback
Garrett Greene. This live show not only boosted local
spirit but also emphasized McAfee's ongoing influence
and connection to his alma mater. (Grok)
News
McAfee
Hosts Massive WVU Live Show
Pat
McAfee, a former NFL kicker and West Virginia University
alum, hosted a live broadcast of his show in Morgantown,
creating significant local excitement. The event was
so anticipated that local schools closed due to expected
traffic congestion. McAfee's show attracted a crowd
reportedly larger than those seen at major college
football events like College GameDay. During the broadcast,
McAfee announced a $1 million donation to West Virginia's
NIL collective, the Country Roads Trust, to support
student-athletes. The event featured appearances by
notable figures including Nick Saban, who discussed
the challenges West Virginia faces in their upcoming
game against Penn State. The atmosphere in Morgantown
was described as electric, reflecting high expectations
for the football season opener. (Grok)
News
College
Football Season Kickoff
The
2024 College Football Season is kicking off with significant
attention on several fronts:
New
Kickoff Rule: College football is studying the new
NFL kickoff rule during the 2024 season, aiming to
make the play safer while maintaining its excitement.
This rule, inspired by the XFL, adjusts where players
line up and when they can move, promoting more returns
but with reduced high-speed collisions.
Marquee
Matchups: The season starts with several high-profile
games. Notably, LSU faces USC in the Vegas Kickoff
Classic on September 1, a game that's drawing considerable
betting interest. Other early games include Georgia
vs. Clemson and Florida vs. Miami, setting the stage
for what's expected to be a competitive season.
Team
Preparations and Expectations:
Penn
State is entering the season with new coordinators
and high hopes for making the College Football Playoff,
focusing on the progression in their quarterback room.
Michigan
State under new leadership with head coach Jonathan
Smith, looks to redefine its play.
Colorado,
led by Deion Sanders, has already begun its season
against North Dakota State, unveiling new uniforms
and showcasing key players like Travis Hunter.
Player
Spotlight:
Players
like Oregon's Dillon Gabriel are on the watch for
breaking records, with expectations high for quarterbacks
returning from injuries like Cam Rising of Utah and
Riley Leonard, now at Notre Dame.
Game
Day Insights: From X posts, there's a buzz about the
start of the season with live updates, game previews,
and fan reactions, indicating high excitement and
engagement from the community.
Cultural
Impact and Media: The season's kickoff is not just
about the games but also the cultural phenomenon,
with extensive media coverage, fan events in places
like Las Vegas, and discussions around team strategies,
player health, and the future of college football
formats.
This
season promises to be intriguing with new rules, team
dynamics, and the ever-present quest for the College
Football Playoff, capturing the attention of fans
and bettors alike as teams and players aim to make
their mark. (Grok)
News
Sea
Eagles Triumph Over Bulldogs
The
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles achieved a significant
victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with
a final score of 34-22 at Accor Stadium. This win
marked Manly's 10th victory in their last 11 encounters
against the Bulldogs. The match was notable for Manly's
strong performance, highlighted by plays from Haumole
Olakau'atu and a late try by Mahoney, despite a concerning
injury to Tom Trbojevic who left the field with a
bleeding right arm. Bulldogs fans and players, while
disappointed, remain optimistic, pointing to their
team's overall successful season and their standing
in the finals. Discussions following the game focused
on player performances, the impact of the result on
team standings, and strategies moving forward in the
NRL season. (Grok)
News
Bulldogs
Slip, Sea Eagles Soar
The
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs suffered a significant
loss against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the
NRL, with the final score at 34-22 favoring Manly.
This match was pivotal as it highlighted various aspects
of both teams' performances and strategies. Manly's
victory was marked by strong individual performances,
notably by Haumole Olakau'atu, and strategic plays
that capitalized on controversial referee decisions,
including a non-enforced sin bin for Manly's Tom Trbojevic.
The Bulldogs, on the other hand, faced challenges
including fatigue from extensive travel and a reshuffled
backline, which might have contributed to their subpar
performance. Despite the loss, Bulldogs' fans and
commentators remained optimistic, viewing the game
as a learning opportunity and a chance for the team
to regroup. Manly's win has significant implications
for their pursuit of a home final, while the Bulldogs'
chances of securing a top-four position were impacted.(Grok)
News
All-Australian
Team 2024 Selection Controversy
The
2024 AFL All-Australian team selection has ignited
significant debate among fans and analysts, focusing
on the criteria and composition of the team. Traditionally
comprising 22 players, this year's selection faced
scrutiny for its inclusion of players from underperforming
teams like the West Coast Eagles, and the exclusion
of others who had standout seasons. Critics argued
over the balance between positional requirements and
individual merit, suggesting a shift towards selecting
purely the best 22 players regardless of their position.
Notable controversies included the omission of players
like Charlie Curnow and Tom Papley, while players
like Nick Daicos and Marcus Bontempelli were celebrated
for their performances, with Daicos being named the
AFL Coaches Association Champion Player. The selection
process was criticized for potential biases, prompting
discussions on how the All-Australian team could better
reflect the season's top performers. Despite the controversies,
the team's announcement highlighted achievements like
Ollie Dempsey winning the Rising Star award and Marcus
Bontempelli receiving the Leigh Matthews Trophy for
the Most Valuable Player. (Grok)
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Hotel,
Casino and Resort News: UAE
June
- July 2024
Wynn
positioning itself as ‘best-in-class’ in
free cash flow margin as it funds UAE project, analyst
says
Wynn
Resorts is well positioned to fund its integrated
resort project in the United Arab Emirates and position
itself as the “best-in-class” in free cash
flow margin in global gaming, according to note to
investors from CBRE Credit Research Director Colin
Mansfield. CBRE estimates Wynn Al Marjan Island will
be de-leveraging to Wynn on a pro forma basis relative
to its 2026 estimates, declining to about 4.2x gross
lease-adjusted leverage at project maturity.
News
Feature
The
First Casino Near Dubai Sparks a New Gold Rush
Four
artificial islands in the Persian Gulf sat mostly
empty for the past decade. Now, every lot is sold
and cranes are everywhere.
Barely
a year after Las Vegas casino operator Wynn Resorts
Ltd. announced plans for a $4 billion resort in the
United Arab Emirates, the area is crawling with construction
workers erecting five-star resorts, shops and $7 million
villas in what developers expect will become a major
tourist hotspot.
Before
that deal, the artificial Marjan islands off the emirate
of Ras Al Khaimah, or RAK, had spent most of the past
decade as a lost opportunity, a 2.7 square-kilometer
(1 square mile) white elephant largely unused after
a $1 billion football-themed resort and related Real
Madrid academy was scrapped for the site.
These
days, every lot is sold and cranes are rising faster
than the morning desert heat. Hoardings around construction
sites are plastered with signs advertising the coming
homes. At least 20 developers have projects in various
stages of design and construction on the islands,
said Abdulla Al Abdouli, chief executive officer of
the state entity that developed them. He expects most
projects to be completed within just six years.
The
new construction will cost billions of dollars, he
says. But even he’s not sure exactly how many.
Anticipating
the rush of new visitors, the emirate’s small
international airport is planning to build a new terminal
to boost capacity to 2 million passengers a year by
2027, almost triple the some 700,000 travellers anticipated
this year. About one-third of the world’s population
lives within a four-hour flight.
Ras
Al Khaimah, which means the head of the tent in Arabic,
has a 40 mile coastline on the Persian Gulf and until
now has largely catered to Russian tourists looking
for a cheaper alternative to Dubai. The Marjan islands,
roughly half the size of Dubai’s famous Palm
Jumeirah, were completed in 2013.
On
the island where Wynn is building its planned casino
and resort, activity is going full speed. A dozen
cranes hover over what’s to be among the company’s
largest developments, at 1,500 rooms. Access to the
island is restricted only to workers until the site
opens to the public in 2027.
“The
Wynn casino and resort has been a game changer for
Marjan,” said Khalid Bin Kalban, the CEO of Dubai
Investments PJSC, which is building a hotel and a
residential community there. “Everyone is there
in anticipation that RAK’s tourism will grow
rapidly with the casino. It’s about the gaming,
the shows, the hotels. You’re essentially bringing
a mini-Vegas to Ras Al Khaimah.”
The
introduction of casinos would be a step change for
the UAE, where gambling is prohibited under Islam
and is illegal in the country: Offenders can be fined
or sentenced to two years in prison — or both.
No casinos exist in the six Gulf Cooperation Council
countries, although they can be found in Lebanon and
Egypt. The UAE has created an authority to provide
a framework for legalized gaming, although no laws
legalizing it have been passed so far.
It
took decades to make Las Vegas what it is today, but
officials here are thinking more ambitiously.
Marjan,
the owner of the islands, is looking to build about
9,000 hotel rooms and a similar number of homes to
add to the existing properties. The islands currently
host six hotels with a total of 3,052 rooms along
with around 3,000 apartments, many of which are serviced,
including JW Marriott and Rixos. Las Vegas has almost
155,000 hotel rooms; some 10% of that total will exist
here within a generation.
But
for the emirate, which welcomed 1.2 million visitors
last year, the existing supply sharply lags demand,
said Al Abdouli, the CEO of Marjan. With about 8,000
rooms, the opportunity for developers is there to
grow the market and attract new visitors, he added.
“Marjan
Island is different from the daily hustle and bustle
of being in downtown Dubai or Abu Dhabi,” said
Al Abdouli. “It’s a getaway. Many of the
visitors come from other parts of the UAE for staycations.
There are mountainous areas for hiking, biking, triathlons
and beaches. But the Wynn resort will be a catalyst
like no other in the UAE.”
Prices
have exploded, and for the lucky few who bought early
the returns have been spectacular. Bin Kalban said
prices per square foot not long ago were 300 dirhams
($82), but now you can’t find anything below
800 dirhams.
At
the moment Ras Al Khaimah has 12 hotels in the planning
stage along with seven in construction, according
to CoStar, a London-based provider of real estate
data and analytics.
The
broader emirate of Ras Al Khaimah today has an old
Arabia vibe, mainly a vast expanse of red sand dunes
with sparse vegetation. It’s a far cry from Dubai’s
skyscrapers and traffic jams some 70 miles down the
road.
In
the race to develop tourism destinations, Ras Al Khaimah
has an advantage over Saudi Arabia. Alcohol is legal,
and scores of Russian and Chinese tourists already
visit the emirate, despite the limited number of hotels.
The casino will help attract the gamblers but will
also lure families looking for a slice of Vegas in
the desert — without the trans-Atlantic flight.
Still,
for Ras Al Khaimah to become a sustainable destination,
more investment is needed in the area’s infrastructure,
along with restaurants and retail, to support a steady
stream of visitors.
“There’s
a plethora of different things that are required,”
said Philip Barnes, chief executive officer of Abu
Dhabi-based Rotana Hotels & Resorts. “That’s
why I think when people are looking at tourism or
hotels, you’ve got to look at big picture. Where
do you want to be and where do you have the infrastructure?
It’s great to get into a destination that is
developing because it allows you to get a foothold.
But you’ve got to be cognizant of the development”
of facilities and supporting infrastructure, he added.
There
are no public transport options, for example, to visit
the Marjan islands from Dubai.
“Las
Vegas, contrary to what most people think, is not
about gambling, it’s about conventions,”
he said. “The Sphere, this new concert arena
that they’ve opened, drives traffic into that
city because they bring big names in with big impact
on the economy. It’s not just about the people
coming in for the concert, it’s the hotels, it’s
the restaurants, it’s the retail. When you’re
looking at tourism as a whole you have to understand
the whole picture.”
Even
without that, developers are racing to complete property
as soon as they can. A typical four-bed villa on the
island costs 6 million dirhams ($1.6 million), while
top-end luxury houses here can reach 40 million.
Emaar
Properties PJSC, developer of the world’s tallest
tower in Dubai, is building luxury apartments and
townhouses, with its marketing touting its site near
the upcoming casino. The Address Residences, starting
at 1.8 million dirhams, will include apartments ranging
from one to four bedrooms and the community will include
gyms, pools and restaurants on the island’s sandy
white beaches.
Abu
Dhabi’s largest developer tied up with international
luxury beach club, Nikki Beach, to develop three branded
residential buildings, and the first batch of 570
homes was sold within hours amid strong demand from
overseas and expatriate residents. Another development,
Rosso Bay Residences, has also been sold in an emirate
that’s trying to lure the wealthy with various
plans.
Abu
Dhabi National Hotels last year started building a
1,000-room luxury resort on 1 million square feet
of land that’s set to be completed next year.
A US-based private developer, WOW Properties, has
broken ground on 474 homes to be serviced by JW Marriott,
along with a 264-room hotel at a total cost of 4.8
billion dirhams. And Britain’s Aston Martin has
partnered with Saudi Arabian developer Dar Global
to design the interiors of luxury homes that are part
of a $250 million beachfront residential community
to be completed by 2028.
The
momentum of so many developers building at once is
going to “create more and more synergies,”
Bhupender Patel, co-CEO of WOW Resorts, said in an
interview. “The whole market’s about to
take off like you’ve never seen a market take
off in this part of the world.” (Wires, AI News)
U.S
Casino, Gaming And Sports Business News
April
2024 casino, igaming, sports and VLT revenue
Arkansas
GGR rose 10.7% to $61.6 million. Gaming Commission,
6-24
Colorado
casino revenue rose 9.5% to $144.0 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Connecticut
gaming rose 24.6% to $133.5 million. Gaming Commission,
6-24
Delaware
gaming revenue rose 11.9% to $43.1 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Illinois
gaming revenue rose 10.3% to $402.0 million. Gaming
Board, 6-24
Indiana
gaming revenue rose 10.3% to $254.0 million. Gaming/Racing
Commission, 6-24
Iowa
casino revenue rose 3.4% to $165.6 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Kansas
GGR rose 13.4% to $53.1 million. Gaming Commission,
6-24
Kentucky
HHR win rose 19.5% to $66.6 million. Racing Commission,
6-24
Louisiana
gaming revenue rose 1.7% to $303.0 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Maine
gaming revenue rose 22.2% to $16.5 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Maryland
gaming revenue ros e 5.6% to $224.1 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Massachusetts
gaming revenue fell 2.8% to $155.0 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Michigan
gaming revenue rose 21.0% to $352.5 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Mississippi
gaming revenue fell 0.7% to $211.6 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Missouri
gaming revenue rose 1.2% to $162.9 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Nebraska
casino revenue rose 50.0% to $9.5 million. Racing/Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Nevada
gaming revenue rose 2.4% to $1.320 billion. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
New
Jersey gaming revenue rose 8.3% to $510.0 million.
Gaming Commission, 6-24
New
York gaming revenue rose 15.1% to $473.0 million.
Gaming Commission, 6-24
Ohio
gaming revenue rose 7.1% to $271.5 million. Gaming/Lottery
Commission, 6-24
Pennsylvania
gaming revenue rose 8.6% to $520.9 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Rhode
Island gaming revenue rose 3.3% to $61.3 million.
Gaming Commission, 6-24
South
Dakota gaming revenue rose 4.2% to $41.8 million.
Gaming/Lottery Commission, 6-24
Virginia
gaming revenue rose 33.9% to $161.7 million. Lottery
Commission, 6-24
Total
national gaming revenue rose 8.7% to $6.118 billion.
CDC Gaming Reports, 6-24
Year-to-date
gaming revenue rose 7.6% to $30.064 billion. CDC Gaming
Reports, 6-24
The
other categories:
Macau
gaming revenue rose 29.7% to $2.5 billion. Reuters,
6-1-24
Igaming
revenue rose 20.2% to $634.5 million. CDC Gaming Reports,
6-24
Sports
betting revenue rose 24.8% to $971.4 million. CDC
Gaming Reports, 6-24
Horse
racing handle rose 0.5% to $1.4 billion. Racing Biz,
6-24
Dow
Jones Industrials rose 2.3% to 38,686.32. Yahoo Finance,
5-31-24
Adams
Index rose 3.2% to 942.22. CDC Gaming Report, 4-30-24
News
The
results by jurisdiction
Arkansas
had a total of $61.6 million in GGR in May 2024, up
from $55.6 million in 2023. From the three reporting
casinos, casino revenue was $58.1 million as compared
to $53.4 million in 2023. Sports GGR was $3.5 million
in 2024 and $2.2 million in 2023. Sports handle for
the month was $39.8 million, up from $22.7 million
a year ago.
Colorado
casino and sports revenue in May was $144.0 million
compared to $124.1 million in 2023. Casino win for
May 2024 was $99.1 million and $92.7 million in 2023;
slot GGR was $84.9 million versus $79.4 million in
2023. Black Hawk reported $75.8 million, Cripple Creek
$16.1 million, and Central City $7.1 million. Sports
GGR was $44.9 million versus $31.4 million. Handle
was $447.5 million compared to $360.3 million.
Connecticut
total gaming revenue for May was $133.5 million, up
from $107.1 million in 2023. Slot revenue in May was
$70.1 million compared to $65.6 million in 2023; igaming
revenue was $46.3 million compared to $26.4 million
in 2023, while sports betting generated $17.1 million
on a handle of $163.6 million compared to GGR of $15.1
million and handle of $109.4 million in May 2023.
Illinois
combined casino and VLT revenue in May was $402.0
million as compared to $364.2 million in 2023. The
state’s 15 casinos reported $143.8 million in
win compared to 13 casinos reporting $122.0 million
in 2023. Slot revenue in 2024 was $107.2 million,
up from $92.3 million; table games generated $36.5
million as compared to $29.6 million. In 2024, 1,058,189
people were admitted to the casinos as compared to
872,629 in 2023. The May VLT win was $258.2 million
compared to $242.2 million in 2023. There were 47,985
units in 2024 and 45,890 in May 2023.
Indiana
sports and casino combined revenue was $254.0 million
in May as compared to $230.1 million in 2023. The
state’s 12 casinos generated $215.1 million in
casino win as compared to $196.4 million in 2023.
The 14,804 slot machines generated $176.9 million
as compared 14,208 slot machines generated $162.1
million in 2023. Table-game win from 610 games was
$38.2 million as compared to 610 games and $34.2 million
in 2023. Sports win was $38.9 million on a handle
of $361.5 million. In 2023, the sports win was $33.7
million on a handle of $283.4 million.
Iowa
combined casino and sports revenue in May was $165.6
million as compared to $160.1 million in 2023. Casino
win was $148.7 million, down from $143.6 million;
slot coin-in was $1.350 billion and GGR was $135.1
million. Table-game GGR was $13.6 million. There were
1,451,817 admissions in May as compared to 1,399,662
in 2023. Sports win was $16.6 million on a handle
of $182.4 million as compared to a GGR was $16.5 million
on a handle of $147.7 million in 2023.
Louisiana
combined sports, casino, and VLT revenue in May was
$303.0 million as compared to $297.5 million in 2023.
Riverboat revenue was $154.7 million as compared to
$153.4 million in 2023. Land-based Harrah’s New
Orleans reported a win of $19.9 million, slot machine
win at the racetracks was $29.0 million, and VLT win
from the state’s 11,959 machines was $64.8 million
as compared to $65.1 million from 12,080 slots in
2023. Admissions to the riverboats, racinos, and Harrah’s
New Orleans were 1,676,538 compared to 1,700,132 in
2023. The Shreveport/Bossier market reported $45.3
million in win, down from $46.3 million in 2023; Lake
Charles had $64.1 million compared to $64.7 million.
The New Orleans region had $21.6 million in win versus
$20.3 million and Baton Rouge had $23.5 million as
compared to $21.9 million in 2023. The GGR from sports
betting was $34.6 million on a handle of $256.6 million
as compared GGR of $29.6 million on a handle of $193.5
million in May 2023.
Maryland
combined casino and sports revenue was $212.1 million
in May as compared to $212.1 million in May 2023.
Slot revenue was $121.1 million, table games generated
$51.9 million, and sports GGR was $51.0 million on
a handle of $431.5 million as compared to $111.9 million
from slots, $57.45 million from tables, and $42.7
million from sports on a handle of $328.4 million
in 2023.
For
May 2024, MGM National Harbor generated $71.7 million,
$44.2 million from slots and $27.9 million from table
games; in 2023, MGM generated $72.2 million in total
GGR. Live! Casino GGR was $65.0 million, $47.6 million
from slots and $17.3 million from tables; in 2023,
the total win was $58.9 million. The Horseshoe Baltimore
had $14.7 million in win, a slot win of $10.2 million
and tables $4.4 million; in 2023, the total win was
$17.5 million. Hollywood had $7.8 million, $6.5 million
from slots. Ocean Downs generated $8.3 million, $6.8
million from slots, and Rocky Gap had a win of $4.9
million.
Massachusetts
gaming revenue in May was $155.0 million as compared
to $159.6 million in 2023. Casino revenue was $97.9
million as compared to $98.7 million in 2023. Sports
generated $57.0 million with $587.4 million in handle
versus $60.9 million on a $554.9 million handle in
2023. Encore Boston Harbor generated $61.1 million
as compared to $62.5 million in 2023. Encore slot
revenue was $35.7 million and table games $25.3 million.
MGM had a gaming win of $22.4 million and $23.3 million
in 2023. MGM table-game win was $3.8 million, while
slots contributed $18.5 million. Slots-only Plainridge
Park had revenue of $14.3 million as compared to $12.8
million in May 2023.
Michigan
gaming revenue from casinos, sports, and igaming in
May 2024 was $352.5 million as compared to $291.3
million in 2023. Casino revenue was $111.3 million
as compared to $104.7 million. Igaming revenue was
$198.5 million as compared to $150.5 million in 2023.
Sports wagering revenue was $42.7 million on a handle
of $354.8 million as compared to $36.1 million in
GGR on a handle of $305.2 million in 2023. Mobile
sports generated $40.8 million in revenue from a handle
of $343.6 million.
Missouri
casino revenue in May was $162.9 million as compared
to $160.9 million in 2023. The slot win was $140.2
million from a coin-in of $1.460 billion; table games
won $22.7 million. Admissions were 2,384,136, and
2,376,622 in 2023. By market, the win in May 2024
in the Kansas City region was $57.8 million, up 3.3%
from 2023 and St. Louis $80.1 million, down 1.3 percent.
The Out of State market reported $24.7 million in
win as compared to $24.2 million in 2023.
Mississippi
casino and sports betting revenue in May was $211.6
million as compared to $213.1 million in 2023. Casino
revenue was $209.6 million as compared to $210.2 million
in 2023. Sports win was $2.0 million on a handle of
$27.0 million as compared to GGR of $3.1 million and
$26.7 million in handle. Slot coin-in was $2.239 billion,
with a win of $175.7 million, a 7.8 percent win, as
compared to coin-in of $2.203 billion and a win of
$171.9 million, 7.8 percent. Table-game drop was $161.0
million with a win of $29.0 million and a hold of
19.5 percent, as compared to a table drop of $161.5
million and a win of $31.5 million, 19.5 percent in
May 2023. By region, the coastal casino win was $136.4
million, the northern casinos reported $45.5 million,
and the central casinos won $27.5 million.
New
Jersey casinos and racetracks reported a combined
GGR of $510.0 million in May from casinos, igaming,
and sports betting. The GGR was up 8.3 percent from
$470.9 million in 2023. Casino revenue for the month
was $239.1 million, up 5.2 percent. Slots won $181.2
million, up 4.8 percent, and table game win was $57.8
million, up 6.4 percent. The igaming win was $192.1
million as compared to $161.4 million in 2023. Sports
win was $78.8 million as compared to $82.2 million.
The 2024 sports handle was $838.9 million, as compared
to $788.8 million in May 2023.
Borgata
had a total win of $110.9 million, a casino win of
$61.3 million, internet $43.9 million, and sports
$5.5 million as compared to $111.2 million in total
win last year; casino GGR was $60.5 million, igaming
$44.0 million, and sports $6.7 million. Resorts and
Resorts Digital had a combined win of $84.8 million
with casino revenue of $13.5 million and digital revenue
$71.3 million ($49.2 million from igaming and $22.0
million from sports). Golden Nugget had a win of $68.1
million; casino win was $13.5 million and internet
$54.5 million. Hard Rock won $63.8 million; online
and sports revenue was $16.1 million and casino revenue
$49.8 million. Caesars and Caesars Interactive combined
for $17.8 million. Tropicana posted $39.3 million
and Harrah’s $19.8 million. Bally’s generated
$23.0 million in GGR as compared to $20.1 million
in May 2023.
New
York gaming revenue from sports, VLT, and casinos
was $473.0 million in May as compared to $410.6 million
in 2023. The sports win was $203.7 million; the handle
was $1.978 billion. The mobile books won $203.3 million
from a handle of $1.972 billion. In May 2023, the
sports GGR was $152.6 million with $1.363 billion
in handle. The VLT revenue was $212.2 million, as
compared to $202.2 million in 2023. Resorts World
reported $62.2 million in gaming revenue, Nassau OTB
$22.3 million, Empire City at Yonkers $53.6 million,
Saratoga Casino $12.6 million, Finger Lakes Gaming
$10.7 million, Hamburg Gaming $6.9 million, Vernon
Downs $3.1 million, Batavia Downs $6.9 million, Jake’s
58 $25.5 million, and Resorts World Hudson Valley
$7.4 million. The four casinos reported a win of $57.1
million as compared to $55.3 million in 2023. Resorts
World had a win of $17.0 million, Tioga Downs $9.3
million, del Lago Resort $12.9 million, and Rivers
Casino $17.6 million.
Nevada
casinos reported $1.320 billion in May 2024 as compared
to $1.288 billion in 2023, an increase of 2.4 percent.
The Las Vegas Strip reported $742.8 million in gaming
revenue as compared to $715.9 million in 2023. Las
Vegas welcomed an estimated 3.6 million visitors in
May as compared to 3.5 million in 2023. Harry Reid
International Airport reported 5.2 million passengers
in May as compared to 4.9 million in 2023. There were
461,900 conventioneers as compared to 453,900 in 2023.
Hotel occupancy was 86.1 percent as compared to 84.4
percent in 2023. The average daily room rate was $200.01
as compared to $183.40 in 2023. Las Vegas had 4,109,400
occupied room nights as compared to 3,971,400. Highway
daily vehicle count averaged 137,000.
For
May 2024, downtown Vegas had casino revenue of $74.8
million, the Boulder Strip $84.9 million, North Las
Vegas $24.7 million, and Laughlin $36.9 million. Reno
reported $65.2 million in GGR as compared to $65.9
million in 2023. Sparks casinos won $15.3 million
versus $15.0 million in 2023. The North Lake Tahoe
win was $2.0 million and South Lake Tahoe $17.6 million
as compared to $19.4 million in 2023. The Elko County
win was $33.6 million, Carson Valley area reported
$11.9 million, and the “other” reported
$18.5 million versus $18.9 million in 2023.
By
game type, the April win in Nevada was: twenty-one
$116.7 million, baccarat $126.3 million, craps $37.7
million, and roulette $44.1 million. Slot machine
win was $886.0 million as compared to $877.8 million
in 2023. In May 2024, Nevada’s sports books won
$36.0 million on a handle of $515.2 million; in 2023,
the sports win was $30.0 million on a handle of $527.2
million
Ohio
casinos, racinos, and sports generated $271.5 million
in GGR in May 2024 as compared to $253.65 million
in 2023. In May, the sports GGR was $67.3 million
on a handle of $606.5 million as compared to GGR of
$57.9 million on a handle of $447.4 million in 2023.
Casino revenue in May was $84.5 million compared with
$80.5 million in 2023. The slot win was $62.4 million
and table games $22.1 million. By property, the results
for the four casinos were: Jack Cleveland $21.2 million,
Hollywood Columbus $23.6 million, Hard Rock Cincinnati
$20.4 million, and Hollywood Toledo $19.1 million.
Ohio
racino revenue was $119.7 million, up from $115.2
million in 2023. Belterra Park reported a win of $7.6
million, Eldorado Scioto Downs $19.9 million, MGM
Northfield $26.8 million, Hollywood Dayton $13.3 million,
Hollywood Mahoning Valley $15.0 million, Jack Thistledown
$15.4 million, and Miami Valley $21.5 million.
Pennsylvania
reported total gaming revenue of $520.9 million in
May 2024 as compared to $479.3 million in 2023. By
category, the win from retail slots was $214.1 million,
retail table games $83.1 million, online slots $126.8
million, online tables $44.9 million, and sports $44.2
million in taxable revenue; total sports GGR was $61.85
million, the handle $591.9 million. Online poker GGR
was $2.2 million, retail VLT $3.6 million, and fantasy
sports $1.1 million.
By
property, including retail and online gaming, the
total revenue was Hollywood at Penn $81.6 million;
Parx $56.6 million; Valley Forge $79.5 million; Wind
Creek $46.2 million; Rivers Philadelphia $50.9 million;
Rivers Pittsburgh $32.4 million; Hollywood at the
Meadows $22.3 million; Mount Airy $20.7 million; Mohegan
Sun $19.0 million; Live! Philadelphia $27.2 million;
Harrah’s $22.6 million; Presque Isle $9.6 million;
Live! Pittsburgh $9.8 million; Hollywood York $8.8
million; Hollywood Morgantown $8.3 million; Casino
at Nemacolin $2.3 million, Golden Nugget $4.0 million,
Bally’s $4.2 million, and Parx Shippenburg $3.2
million.
South
Dakota casino, VLT, and sports revenues were $41.8
million in May as compared to $40.1 million in 2023.
Casino revenue was $13.1 million as compared to $13.0
million in 2023. VLT won $28.4 million and $27.1 million
in 2023 million. In May, South Dakota sports betting
recorded $51,486 in win and $495,491 in handle.
Virginia
reported $161.7 million in GGR in May as compared
to $124.5 million in 2023. Casino GGR was $62.7 million
versus $45.4 million in 2023. Hard Rock Bristol generated
$15.4 million, Rivers Portsmouth $26.9 million, and
Caesars Virginia in Danville $20.2 million. The sports-betting
handle for May was $505.5 handle with a win of $59.9
million. The handle for May 2023 was $403.7 million
with a win of $48.1 million. Historic racing machines
reported $39.1 million in GGR from 2,791 units compared
to $31.0 million in GGR from 2,608 units in 2023.
Igaming
revenue from seven states in May was $634.5 million
as compared to $528.0 million for six states in 2023.
New Jersey reported $192.1 million versus $161.4 million
in 2023, Michigan $198.6 million versus $150.5 million,
Pennsylvania $174.1 million versus $170.4 million,
Connecticut $46.3 million versus $26.4, West Virginia
$17.9 million versus $18.0 million, Delaware $3.9
million versus $1.2 million, and Rhode Island $1.6
million.
Thirty-one
states reported sports betting handle and revenue
for May 2024. The handle was $9.28 billion with a
win of $771.4 million (10.4%) as compared to 27 states
reporting a handle of $6.478 billion with a win of
$742.3 million (11.4%). Ranked by handle, the top
five states were New York $1.978 billion, New Jersey
$838.9 million, Ohio $606.5 million, Pennsylvania
$591.9 million, and Massachusetts $587.4 million.
By win, the top five were New York $203.7 million,
New Jersey $78.7 million, Ohio $67.3 million, North
Carolina $63.0 million, and Pennsylvania $61.8 million.
With Illinois included, the adjusted handle for April
was $11.884 billion and GGR was $1.238 billion. In
April, Illinois reported $1.103 billion in handle
and $169.3 million in GGR. Arizona reported a handle
of $656.3 million and GGR of $64.4 million.
This
May, the gaming industry benefited from a full quota
of extra weekend days and the growth of sports and
igaming. Four new states, Maine, Nebraska, North Carolina,
and Vermont, boosted sports betting handle and win
to $9.2 billion and GGR of $771 million. In 2021,
17 states produced a handle of $3.677 billion and
a win of $268.3 million.
Igaming
had one additional state, Rhode Island. But the real
igaming story is the strength of the organic growth
in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Those three
generated $568 million in GGR, an 86 percent increase
from 2021. The $568 million is more than any single
state except Nevada.
Year
to date, the total GGR is $30.0 billion versus $27.9
billion in 2023; igaming GGR is $3.2 billion, up 29
percent, and sports $5.7 billion, up 28.7 percent.
The year-over-year growth rate for the total GGR has
slowed from 20 percent last year to 7.6 percent in
2024. It is still exceptional, better than nearly
any other industry. There are headwinds for the industry
in 2024, but if sports and igaming continue to grow,
gaming is on solid ground. (Credit: CDC, Adams, AI
News)
Gaming,
Hotel, Casino and Sports News: USA
July
2024
American
Gaming Association announces 2024 Gaming Hall of Fame
inductees
The
American Gaming Association Wednesday announced the
Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2024, honoring three
individuals for their contributions to the industry.
The new members are: Jim Allen, Hard Rock International
Chairman, Seminole Gaming CEO, and former chairman
of the AGA. Alan Feldman, UNLV International Gaming
Institute Director of Strategic Initiatives and Distinguished
Fellow in Responsible Gaming, and a former executive
with MGM Resorts International. Debi Nutton, Everi
Holdings Board Member, executive coach-consultant,
and former casino operations executive. (CDC, AI News,
Wires)
News
Las
Vegas: Downtown Grand hotel-casino seeks buyer
A
downtown Las Vegas hotel-casino is looking for a buyer.
Downtown Grand, the 1,124-room property one block
north of the Fremont Street pedestrian mall, is on
the market, multiple industry sources confirmed. The
property is owned by real estate investment firm CIM
Group and operated by Fifth Street Gaming, a Las Vegas-based
operator whose portfolio includes the Silver Nugget
and Ojos Locos Sports Cantina and Casino in North
Las Vegas and the Golden Tiki restaurant in Chinatown.
Fifth Street Gaming and the property’s agent...did
not respond to multiple requests for comment Tuesday.
News
New
Jersey fines DraftKings $100K for reporting inaccurate
sports betting data to the state
In
one of the most sternly worded rebukes they have ever
issued, New Jersey gambling regulators have fined
DraftKings $100,000 for reporting inaccurate sports
betting data to the state, which it called “unacceptable
conduct” that demonstrated weaknesses in the
company’s business abilities. The errors resulted
in regulators having to post corrected financial data
for several months, something that had not happened
in 13 years. The mistakes involved overstating the
amount of money wagered on multi-tiered bets, or parlays,
and understating other categories of wagers.
News
Golden
Nugget Lake Tahoe hotel renovations set to begin
The
Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe Hotel and Casino is moving
ahead with major renovations under its new owner,
billionaire Tilman Fertitta. Last August, Feritta’s
Golden Landry’s LLC and GN NV Holdings acquired
the Hard Rock Lake Tahoe from Paragon Gaming with
cash, then rebranded it. Fertitta’s attorney
Sonia Vermeys with Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
told the Nevada Gaming Control Board Wednesday that
the her client had always intended to finance the
transaction. In December, the owner of the land entered
into a term-loan agreement with Deutsche Bank.
News
Bermuda
regulator’s reports show efforts to resolve casino
industry roadblock
Failed
efforts by the Bermuda Gaming Commission to solve
the banking issues that have held up the launch of
a casino industry are described in newly released
annual reports. David Burt, the Premier, finally tabled
the publicly funded regulator’s reports for 2020
to 2023 in the House of Assembly last Friday, after
falling behind in sharing them with taxpayers. They
shed some light on how the commission has tried to
get banks to handle casino transactions — a necessity
for the sector to get up and running — but even
the most recent report, for 2022-23, is out of date.
News
Bally’s
Chicago secures casino financing, unveils new hotel
design
One
week after taking possession of the Freedom Center
printing plant, Bally’s has secured the needed
financing to supplant it with a $1.7 billion Chicago
casino complex on the 30-acre site in River West.
Bally’s announced a deal Friday with Gaming and
Leisure Properties, a Pennsylvania-based real estate
investment trust, to provide $940 million to fund
the construction of the permanent casino. In addition,
Bally’s has also finalized redesign of its planned
500-room hotel tower, which has been shifted from
north of the casino to the south to avoid damaging
city water pipes along the Chicago River, pending
approval from the city’s planning department.
News
Walmart
is preparing major push into lottery sector
At
its annual summit in early April, retail giant Walmart
convened various lottery industry vendors and suppliers
and revealed, more or less: Walmart is preparing a
push from lottery bystander to active participant
and competitor, with plans to launch an app that it
may eventually equip with iLottery capabilities. The
message was conveyed in meetings with the likes of
IGT, Scientific Games, NeoPollard, and others currently
working with the retail behemoth. Walmart representatives
unveiled a slogan aimed at the lottery industry, “Be
in it to Win it,” according to presentation materials
from the Bentonville, Arkansas summit that were reviewed
by Lottery Geeks.
News
Colorado:
RCI Hospitality pulls casino license applications
in Colorado
Entertainment
company RCI Hospitality Holdings has withdrawn its
applications to operate casinos from the Colorado
Division of Gaming. The company, known for operating
strip clubs and nightclubs like Rick’s Cabaret
and restaurants like Bombshells Restaurant and Bar,
also disclosed its intention to develop its share
buyback program. The decision follows the NASDAQ-listed
company’s acquisition of three properties in
Central City for potential casino developments, which
will not proceed as planned. The company also intends
to sell other properties that are no longer required,
including a 20,000-square-foot building and another
site initially intended for a 30,000- to 40,000-square-foot
development.
News
Las
Vegas: Tropicana operators take the next step toward
implosion
The
Tropicana is one step closer to coming down, after
property operators submitted a commercial implosion
permit application with Clark County officials on
Thursday. A permit application shows Bally’s
Corp., operators of the former Rat Pack-era resort,
want to implode a 22-story concrete tower and a 22-story
steel tower in a “single explosive event.”
A spokesperson for Bally’s said the company is
still expecting an October implosion. No other details
were available. The company tasked with the implosion
will be Controlled Demolition Inc., according to the
application. (CDC, AI News, Wires)
News
Gaming,
Casino and Property News
Nevada
sets May gaming revenue record
In
Case You Missed It
June
27, 2024
Nevada
set a May record with $1.32 billion in gaming revenue.
It was also the eighth highest total in history as
the Strip continues to benefit from a strong events
calendar that boosted hotel occupancy and room rates.
The
$1.32 billion rose 2.5% or $31.6 million versus May
2023. For the year, total win is up 3.2% or $202 million,
according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Of
that, the combined total for the Las Vegas Strip and
the balance of Clark County are up $207.2 million
or 4.9% for the year. The Strip alone is up 3.5% for
the year.
The
Strip’s gaming win of $742.5 million increased
3.7% or $26.6 million and accounted for 84.1% of the
statewide increase in May. Statewide win excluding
the Strip increased $5 million or 0.9%, according
Michael Lawton, senior economic analyst for the Gaming
Control Board.
Lawton
said the Strip benefited from a very robust event
calendar in May. Harry Reid International Airport
recorded its second highest month in passenger count
in history in May.
The
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported
3.65 million visitors in May, a 4.6% increase over
May 2023’s 3.49 million. The LVCVA cited the
Electric Daisy Carnival, which typically attracts
hundreds of thousands of attendees, and convention
attendance of 461,900, up 1.8%.
Lawton
said special events or other items of note included
Canelo Alvarez fighting Jaime Munguia at the T-Mobile
Arena on May 4 for the undisputed Super Middleweight
world title. Justin Timberlake performed at the T-Mobile
Arena for his “Forget Tomorrow” world tour
on May 10. The Rolling Stones played Allegiant Stadium
on May 11. The MGM Grand Garden Arena featured Pearl
Jam for two nights on May 17-18. Maroon 5 returned
to Dolby Live at Park MGM May 17-31. Garth Brooks
and Adele were both in town for their residencies
at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace for multiple dates
during the month of May. Carrie Underwood returned
to the Resorts World Theatre from May 22-31.
The
strong event schedule helped fill hotel rooms; overall
occupancy was 86.1%, up from 84.4% a year ago. Weekend
occupancy was 93.4%, up from 93.2%. Strip occupancy
hit 88.5%, up from 87%. The average daily room rate
on the Strip was $212, up 9% from $194 a year ago,
according to the LVCVA.
The
Strip’s slot win totaled $402.9 million and increased
2.6% or $10.1 million with a 6.5% or $306.3 million
increase in coin-in. Slot hold was 7.99% versus 8.29%
last year, Lawton said.
The
Strip’s games win totaled $339.5 million and
increased 5.1% or $16.4 million and drop increased
4.9% or $100 million. Games hold percentage was 15.8%
versus 15.7% last year.
Strip
baccarat win totaled $122.1 million, but was down
$8.7 million or 6.6%. Volume totaled $758.1 million,
down 2.4% or $18.2 million. Hold was 16.1% versus
16.9%. Total win excluding baccarat increased by 6%
or $35.2 million.
Strip
twenty-one win of $93.2 million increased 17.6% or
$13.9 million. Volumes totaled $615.3 million and
increased 10.43% or $58.1 million. Hold percentage
was 15.15% versus 14.23% last year.
Strip
roulette win of $37.4 million increased 55.5% or $13.3
million. Volumes totaled $185.9 million and increased
28.7% or $41.5 million. Hold percentage was 20.09%
versus 16.63% last year.
Locals
casinos generate $277.7 million in revenue in May,
up 5.1% year over year. Revenue is up 10.3% for the
second quarter compared to a year ago.
Downtown
casinos had $74.8 million, up 1.6% over $73.6 million
in May 2023. North Las Vegas had $24.7 million, up
2.1% over last year. Downtown’s occupancy reached
76.1% in May, up from 71.4% a year ago. Room rates
were up 15.4% to $124.92
Elsewhere,
Laughlin had $36.9 million, down 21.4% from $46.9
million a year ago. Mesquite had $16.3 million, up
8.5%. Reno had $65.2 million, down 1.1%. Sparks had
$15.3 million, up 2%. South Lake Tahoe had $17.6 million,
down 9.4%.
Lawton
said Laughlin was impacted by slot-revenue timing
in May 2023, as April 2023 ended on a Sunday and revenue
was subsequently reported in May 2023. Laughlin casinos
also experienced some softness in slot volume, down
5.7% even with an additional weekend day. Total win
of $36.9 million was down 21.4% or $10.1 million.
For the year, Laughlin is down 6.2%. Slot win was
down 23.4% or $10.2 million. Slot coin-in was down
5.7% ($27.9 million), while the hold was 7.2% versus
8.9%.
Statewide,
Nevada sportsbooks won $36 million, up 19.8% or $6
million compared to May 2023 on a hold percentage
of 7% versus 5.7% last year. Sportsbook wagers totaled
$515.1 million, down 2.3% or $12 million compared
to last May, when $527 million was wagered statewide.
Mobile wagers totaled $351.2 million, down 1.9% or
$6.7 million and accounted for 68.2% of total wagers,
Lawton said.
Statewide
slot win of $886.1 million increased 1% or $8.5 million
and coin-in of $12.3 billion was up $501.2 million
or 4.2%. Slot hold percentage was 7.19% versus 7.43%
last year.
Statewide
table, counter, and card games win of $434.3 million
increased 5.6% or $23.1 million and games drop of
$2.9 billion, increased 4.8% or $132.6 million from
May 2023. Games hold percentage was 15.13% versus
15.01% last year.
Statewide
baccarat win of $126.4 million decreased 5.5% or $7.4
million and baccarat drop of $780.3 million decreased
1.8% or $14 million. Baccarat’s hold percentage
was 16.20% versus 16.84% last year. Statewide total
win excluding baccarat increased 3.4% or $39 million.
This is the first decrease in monthly baccarat win
since June 2023, ending a streak of 10 consecutive
increases.
Statewide
twenty-one win of $116.8 million increased 11.4% or
$12 million. Volumes totaled $788.1 million and increased
12.9% or $90.2 million. Hold percentage was 14.82%
versus 15.02% last year.
Statewide
roulette win of $44.1 million increased 45.9% or $13.9
million. Volumes totaled $217.6 million and increased
24.9% or $43.3 million. Hold percentage was 20.29%
versus 17.37% last year. (CDC, AI News, Wires)
Finance
/ World Business News
Euro,
Gold, Crypto and more via Media Man and FX Pro
A
strong current account surplus may not help euro
The
eurozone's current account surplus climbed to a six-month
high of 31.9bn in December. Analysts, on average,
had expected a decline to 20.3 bn from 22.5 bn the
previous month. The current level was seen in the
eurozone during the relatively benign pre-Covid period
and sometime before Natural Gas prices spiked in the
second half of 2021.
The
normalisation of the surplus is good news for the
single currency, as it means more net capital inflows
into the region. But this growth has been fuelled
by falling imports, which can be the result of lower
commodity and energy prices (which is a very good
thing), but also partly indicative of a slowdown in
domestic demand. This threatens to translate into
economic contraction in the coming months.
The
euro area experienced periods of severe import contraction
in late 2008 and early 2010, and in both cases, the
economy experienced a severe downturn. Back in 2008,
all this was accompanied by the collapse of the euro.
Gold
Gold
rises but within a downward channel
Gold
rallied for the fourth consecutive session to reach
$2023, recovering almost all the losses suffered the
week before on the back of the inflation report. Gold's
ability to rally suggests continued domestic demand,
as some investors are clearly rushing to buy back
any losses.
At
the same time, however, we note that since the beginning
of the year, gold has been characterised by solid
selloffs on the news, forming a smooth downtrend.
In the context of this downtrend, a rise to $2040-2045,
which is the upper boundary of the bearish range,
looks quite acceptable.
The
area around $2035 - the highs of two weeks ago - also
appears to be a crucial intermediate level. Confident
buying from this level would be the first important
signal that the recent correction is over and that
gold is ready to make a fresh assault on the highs.
Much
more important, however, will be the behaviour of
gold as it approaches the $2050 level, where the reversal
of the decline in late January took place.
Consolidation
at this level would confirm the breakdown of the downtrend
and set the stage for a move towards $2100 and the
subsequent renewal of historic highs.
However,
as long as gold is trading within the downtrend, there
is a greater chance of a breakdown or even an acceleration
of the downtrend.
Among
the fundamental factors, the potential for growth
could be provided by the fall in the dollar if Fed
officials show a softening of their position, bringing
the start of interest rate cuts closer.
On
the bearish side, equities could come under pressure
following the optimistic rally in the tech giants
and the news of a sharp slowdown in economic activity.
We also do not rule out the possibility that the recent
support measures for the Chinese stock market and
property sector will cool demand for gold as a safe-haven
for investors from that part of the world.
Cryptocurrency
Crypto
market growth halted amid capital inflows
Market
picture
The
crypto market has corrected 0.46% in the last 24 hours,
fluctuating within a narrow range without a clear
direction. Bitcoin is down 1% but up 3.7% over seven
days, Ethereum is flat for the day but up 10.6% over
the week. The top coins are mixed with BNB +2% and
Solana -2.5%.
Bitcoin
is currently drawing its fourth daily candle with
opening and closing levels close to each other. Such
sideways consolidations are characteristic of strong
bull markets, as opposed to corrective pullbacks on
smoother rallies.
Ethereum
hit local highs on rumours of a positive regulatory
decision before the end of March. Bloomberg analyst
James Seyffarth bet 4 ETH that the SEC will not approve
a spot Ethereum ETF next month.
According
to data from CoinShares, investment in crypto funds
rose by a record $2.452 billion last week, following
inflows of $1.116 billion the previous week.
Bitcoin investments increased by $2.424 billion, Ethereum
by $21 million, Cardano lost $6 million, and Solana
lost $1.6 million.
Since
the beginning of the year, crypto funds have seen
inflows of an impressive $5.2 billion, with total
AUM rising to $67 billion, the highest since December
2021.
News
background
Bitcoin
will see institutional support in the next three to
six months, according to Coinbase. Bitcoin ETFs could
eventually become a major competitor to gold funds.
According to IntoTheBlock, there is an 85% chance
that Bitcoin will reach a new all-time high within
the next six months. Five factors could contribute
to this: the halving of the price, ETFs, monetary
easing, the US election, and companies accumulating
BTC as part of their treasuries.
Former
CIA contractor Edward Snowden, who has been living
in Russia since 2013, called bitcoin the most significant
achievement of the financial system in the entire
existence of money and means of exchange.
Amberdata
admitted that Ethereum will outpace Bitcoin in terms
of growth due to more constructive deflationary policies.
The supply of ETH has been decreasing since September
2022, thanks to the update of The Merge, as well as
the implementation of a mechanism to burn part of
the commissions. During this time, around 0.36 million
ETH, or 0.3% of the total supply of 120 million coins,
have been removed from circulation.
Via
Roy Morgan Research and Media Man social media
Copper,
gold, and Bitcoin rise; Iron ore and oil fall; ASX
to fall in response to selling on Wall Street; US
vetoes Arab-backed UN resolution demanding ceasefire
in Gaza; Assange's lawyers warn that he risks 'flagrant
denial of justice' if he is tried in US
Latest
updates on Key Economic Indicators
21
February 2024
Roy
Morgan Summary
Australian
Dollar: $0.6550 USD (up 0.0011 USD)
Iron Ore Mar Spot Price (SGX): $120.85 USD (down $6.40
USD)
Oil
Price (WTI): $78.27 USD (down $1.02 USD)
Gold
Price: $2,024.37 USD (up $6.43 USD)
Copper
Price (CME): $3.8595 (up $0.0465 USD)
Bitcoin:
$52,059.35 (up 0.35% in last 24 hours)
New
report reveals Roy Morgan is one of Australia's leading
data companies - with in-depth information on millions
of Australians based on their Helix Personas
Market
Research Update
20
February 2024
Roy
Morgan Summary
Roy
Morgan leads the way as one of Australia's leading
data companies. A special in-depth report into Australia's
leading data companies interviewed Roy Morgan CEO
Michele Levine and Executive Chairman Gary Morgan
about the role the company plays in compiling data
and building profiles of different Australians. One
of Roy Morgan's key products is 'Helix Personas' which
profiles people under headings such as "young
and platinum", "smart money", "cautious
conservatives", "fair go", "working
hard" and nearly 50 other personas. For example,
the "young and platinum" group love their
mobile devices and are "always on the hunt for
the shiny, new and cool" and "making the
rent". Their income is around the $64,000 a year
mark and they can often be found "living a conventional
life centred around family".
Roy
Morgan CEO Michele Levine confirmed that the Helix
Personas market segments are based on statistical
information, not data from individual people. "It's
totally ethical. Unlike Facebook or any of these things,
it's not any particular individual", Roy Morgan's
chief executive Michele Levine, said.: 38,582.12 at
3.22pm NY time (down 45.87 points on Friday's close)
Roy
Morgan wins three-year contract to deliver domestic
tourism statistics for Austrade
21
February 2024
Roy
Morgan Summary
From
2025, Roy Morgan will provide Austrade with the world's
best practice survey methodology, big data integration
and modelling techniques to deliver accurate domestic
tourism statistics. Roy Morgan has reimagined the
future of domestic tourism statistics to move Austrade
and its stakeholders to the forefront of tourism intelligence
with a new platform that will drive the future of
Australia's tourism industry, which is estimated to
be worth in excess of $160 billion. Portia Morgan,
the Head of Client Services at Roy Morgan, says that
using face-to-face interviewing, which is the gold-standard
for surveying the population, enhanced with big data
and cutting-edge data science techniques, Roy Morgan
will be delivering a future-proofed system that will
be cost effective, reliable, and accurate. She adds
that Roy Morgan has been delivering survey-based tourism
insights via its Holiday Tracking Survey for 20+ years
and the company is thrilled to be working with Austrade
and the broader industry to provide a deeper of understanding
of how many people are travelling, where they go,
what they do and how they spend their valuable tourism
dollars.
Anti-mining
PM pushes BHP's cash offshore
Roy
Morgan Summary
It
is somewhat hypocritical of the federal government
to flag possible support for Australia's nickel industry,
given that Labor's anti-mining legislation may jeopardise
the expansion of BHP's copper operations in South
Australia. BHP is still likely to proceed with an
expansion, but the previously touted investment of
between $10bn and $15bn is now only a 50 per cent
chance. The new labour laws in the government's industrial
relations reforms mean that BHP is now more likely
to redirect much of this capital investment to its
criticals minerals projects in other countries; rival
miner Rio Tinto is already doing this.
More
than 2.7 million New Zealanders now read newspapers
and magazine audiences surge to over 1.7 million
21
February 2024
Roy
Morgan has released its readership results for New
Zealand's newspapers and magazines for the 12 months
to December 2023. The data shows that 2.73 million
New Zealanders aged 14+ (64.4%) now read or access
newspapers in an average 7-day period via print or
online (website or app) platforms. In addition, 1.71
million New Zealanders aged 14+ (40.3%) read magazines,
whether in print or online either via the web or an
app. The New Zealand Herald is still the nation's
most widely-read publication, with a total cross-platform
audience of 1,720,000 in the 12 months to June 2023
- almost five times as many as the second placed Dominion
Post with a readership of 341,000. Meanwhile, New
Zealand's most widely read magazine is still the driving
magazine AA Directions, which had an average issue
readership of 379,000 during the year to December
(an increase of 63,000 on a year ago).
These
are the latest findings from the Roy Morgan New Zealand
Single Source survey of 6,254 New Zealanders aged
14+ over the 12 months to December 2023.
New
report reveals Roy Morgan is one of Australia's leading
data companies - with in-depth information on millions
of Australians based on their Helix Personas
Market
Research Update
20
February 2024
Roy
Morgan Summary
Roy
Morgan leads the way as one of Australia's leading
data companies. A special in-depth report into Australia's
leading data companies interviewed Roy Morgan CEO
Michele Levine and Executive Chairman Gary Morgan
about the role the company plays in compiling data
and building profiles of different Australians. One
of Roy Morgan's key products is 'Helix Personas' which
profiles people under headings such as "young
and platinum", "smart money", "cautious
conservatives", "fair go", "working
hard" and nearly 50 other personas. For example,
the "young and platinum" group love their
mobile devices and are "always on the hunt for
the shiny, new and cool" and "making the
rent". Their income is around the $64,000 a year
mark and they can often be found "living a conventional
life centred around family". Roy Morgan CEO Michele
Levine confirmed that the Helix Personas market segments
are based on statistical information, not data from
individual people. "It's totally ethical. Unlike
Facebook or any of these things, it's not any particular
individual", Roy Morgan's chief executive Michele
Levine, said.
(Credit:
Roy Morgan Research)
Roy
Morgan Summary
Roy
Morgan leads the way as one of Australia's leading
data companies. A special in-depth report into Australia's
leading data companies interviewed Roy Morgan CEO
Michele Levine and Executive Chairman Gary Morgan
about the role the company plays in compiling data
and building profiles of different Australians.
One
of Roy Morgan's key products is 'Helix Personas' which
profiles people under headings such as "young
and platinum", "smart money", "cautious
conservatives", "fair go", "working
hard" and nearly 50 other personas. For example,
the "young and platinum" group love their
mobile devices and are "always on the hunt for
the shiny, new and cool" and "making the
rent". Their income is around the $64,000 a year
mark and they can often be found "living a conventional
life centred around family". Roy Morgan CEO Michele
Levine confirmed that the Helix Personas market segments
are based on statistical information, not data from
individual people. "It's totally ethical. Unlike
Facebook or any of these things, it's not any particular
individual", Roy Morgan's chief executive Michele
Levine, said.
(Credit:
Roy Morgan Research)
Media
Man
Warrner
Bros
Profile
In
2010, the Warner Bros. Pictures Group broke the all-time
industry worldwide box office record with receipts
of $4.814 billion, which surpassed the prior record
of $4.010 billion (set by the Studio in 2009). Warner
Bros. also established a new industry benchmark for
the international box office with a total of $2.93
billion (marking a record third time of crossing the
$2 billion threshold) and retained its leading domestic
box office ranking with receipts of $1.884 billion.
2010 also marked the 10th consecutive year Warner
Bros. Pictures passed the billion dollar mark at both
the domestic and international box offices. Warner
Home Video was, once again, the industry’s leader,
with an overall 20.6 percent marketshare in total
DVD and Blu-ray sales. The companies comprising the
Warner Bros. Television Group and Warner Bros. Home
Entertainment Group remain category leaders, working
across all platforms and outlets, and are trendsetters
in the digital realm with video-on-demand (transaction
and ad-supported), branded channels, original content,
anti-piracy technology and broadband and wireless
destinations.
The
Warner Bros. Pictures Group brings together the Studio’s
motion picture production, marketing and distribution
operations into a single entity. The Group, which
includes Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures
International, was formed to streamline the Studio’s
film production process and bring those businesses’
organizational structures in line with Warner Bros.’
television and home entertainment operations.
Warner
Bros. Pictures produces and distributes a wide-ranging
slate of some 18-22 films each year, employing a business
paradigm that mitigates risk while maximizing productivity
and capital. Warner Bros. Pictures either fully finances
or co-finances the films it produces and maintains
worldwide distribution rights. It also monetizes its
distribution and marketing operations by distributing
films that are totally financed and produced by third-parties.
The Studio’s 2011 slate includes “Sucker
Punch,” “The Hangover Part II,” “Green
Lantern,” “Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows – Part 2,” “Happy Feet 2”
and “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.”
Warner
Bros. Pictures International is a global leader in
the marketing and distribution of feature films, operating
offices in more than 30 countries and releasing films
in over 120 international territories, either directly
to theaters or in conjunction with partner companies
and co-ventures.
New
Line Cinema, part of Warner Bros. Entertainment since
2008, coordinates its development, production, marketing,
distribution and business affairs activities with
Warner Bros. Pictures to maximize film performance
and operating efficiencies. Highlights of New Line’s
2011 release slate, distributed by Warner Bros., include
“Horrible Bosses,” “Final Destination
5,” “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas”
and “New Year’s Eve.”
The
Warner Bros. Television Group oversees and grows the
entire portfolio of Warner Bros.’ television
businesses, including worldwide production, traditional
and digital distribution, and broadcasting. In the
traditional television arena, WBTVG produces primetime
and cable (Warner Bros. Television and Warner Horizon
Television), first-run syndication (Telepictures Productions)
and animated (Warner Bros. Animation) programming,
which is distributed worldwide by two category-leading
distribution arms/operations (Warner Bros. Domestic
Television Distribution and Warner Bros. International
Television Distribution).
Among
the primetime series produced by divisions of the
Warner Bros. Television Group are “Two and a
Half Men,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “The
Mentalist,” “Mike & Molly,” “Fringe,”
“Gossip Girl,” “The Vampire Diaries,”
“Nikita,” “The Middle,” “Southland,”
“The Closer,” “Rizzoli & Isles,”
“Supernatural,” “The Bachelor,”
“Pretty Little Liars,” “Randy Jackson
Presents America’s Best Dance Crew” and
many more. Also produced by the company are first-run
syndicated programs such as “The Ellen DeGeneres
Show,” “TMZ” and “Extra,”
among others, as well as animated shows “Scooby-Doo!
Mystery Incorporated” and “Young Justice.”
WBTVG
is an innovative leader in developing new business
models for the evolving television landscape, including
ad-supported video-on-demand, broadband and wireless,
and has digital distribution agreements in place with
all of the broadcast networks. Internationally, the
Studio is one of the world’s largest distributors
of feature films, television programs and animation
to the worldwide television marketplace, licensing
some 50,000 hours of television programming, including
more than 6,000 feature films and 50 current series,
dubbed or subtitled in more than 40 languages, to
telecasters and cablecasters in more than 175 countries.
WBTVG
provides original shortform programming for the broadband
and wireless marketplace through its Studio 2.0 digital
venture, and its digital media sales unit is devoted
specifically to multiplatform domestic advertiser
sales for both broadband and wireless. WBTVG continues
its strategic expansion into digital production and
distribution with the launch of several advertiser-supported
entertainment destinations, including TheWB.com, a
premium, video-on-demand interactive and personalized
network and KidsWB.com, a premium destination built
around youth-oriented immersive entertainment.
The
final component of WBTVG is broadcasting: The CW Television
Network, launched (in partnership with CBS) in September
2006 with quality, diverse programming, is targeted
to the 18–34 audience.
Warner
Bros. Animation’s combined classic and contemporary
library currently boasts 14,000 animated episodes
and shorts which air on domestic broadcast networks,
as well as cable networks and in direct-to-video releases
around the world. The classic library includes such
brands as Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, Hanna-Barbera
and Ruby-Spears as well as such beloved characters
as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Tweety, Taz,
Tom and Jerry, Popeye, Batman, Superman, the Flintstones,
the Jetsons and Scooby-Doo.
Warner
Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner
Bros. Entertainment’s home video (Warner Home
Video), digital distribution (Warner Bros. Digital
Distribution), interactive entertainment/videogames
(Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment), direct-to-consumer
production (Warner Premiere), technical operations
(Warner Bros. Technical Operations) and anti-piracy
(Warner Bros. Anti-Piracy Operations) businesses in
order to maximize current and next-generation distribution
scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution
of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and
transactional VOD, and delivery of theatrical content
to wireless and online channels. It is also a significant
worldwide publisher for both internal and third party
videogame titles.
In
2010, Warner Home Video dominated the U.S. market
as the number one company in total sell-through video
(DVD and Blu-ray combined) with 20.6% marketshare,
theatrical catalog, TV on DVD, non-theatrical family
and animation, Blu-ray and VOD. WHV has been the number
one studio in overall DVD sales 14 consecutive years,
and is also the leading studio in the international
home video space.
With
more than 3,700 active licensees worldwide, Warner
Bros. Consumer Products licenses the rights to names,
likenesses and logos for all of the intellectual properties
in Warner Bros. Entertainment’s vast film and
television library. With a global network of offices
and agents in key regions throughout the world, including
North America, Latin America, Asia and Europe, WBCP
maintains an ongoing commitment to expand and build
the power of its core brands’ recognition in
the international marketplace through strong and creative
merchandising, promotional marketing and retail programs.
DC
Entertainment’s DC Comics has been in continuous
publication for more than 60 years, and is the leading
comic book publisher in the industry and the creator
of some of the world’s most recognized icons.
DC’s characters continue to headline blockbuster
feature films, live-action and animated television
series, direct-to-video releases, collectors’
books, online entertainment, digital publishing, countless
licensing and marketing arrangements and, most recently,
graphic novels. DC continues to attract new readers
and fans all over the world with its signature characters
Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Justice League
leading the way.
Warner
Bros. International Cinemas provides a true state-of-the-art
movie experience to audiences in Japan with more than
60 multiplex cinemas and more than 600 screens internationally.
One of the pioneers in multiplex development for the
international marketplace, WBIC is continually exploring
new markets for expansion. (Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment)
Press
Release
09
August 2010
MICROGAMING SET TO LAUNCH THE LORD OF THE RINGS™:
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING ONLINE VIDEO SLOT GAME
First Title to Utilize Proprietary Cinematic Spins™
Technology Allowing Players to Experience the Film
with Every Spin
ISLE
OF MAN – Microgaming today announced the imminent
launch of a new flagship game, The Lord of the Rings:
The Fellowship of the Ring Online Video Slot Game.
This slot game is the first to utilise Microgaming’s
new Cinematic Spins™ technology, allowing gamers
to see clips from the films with every spin.
The
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a
new online slot game that is part of a multi-year
licensing agreement Microgaming signed with Warner
Bros. Digital Distribution in 2009. The company is
developing a series of cutting-edge, graphic rich
video slots based on this popular movie trilogy and
will use animation material, themes, and characters,
from the trilogy of The Lord of the Rings™ motion
pictures that include The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship
of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
These online slot games will be available to adults
only in countries where online gaming is permitted.
The
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the
first online video slot to use Microgaming’s
Cinematic Spins™ state-of-the-art gaming technology.
This allows movie clips to act as moving backgrounds
behind the reels during spins providing players an
unprecedented level of excitement and immersion.
Win sequences and expanding wilds also use cinematic
clips, instead of traditional animated graphics. The
slots feature famous scenes from the film including
Ringwraiths during the attack at Weathertop, Balrog
in the Mines of Moria, and Uruk-hai in the woods of
Middle-earth. Players will also enjoy seeing characters
from the films that include Frodo, Aragorn, Saruman
and the deadly Black Riders.
Roger
Raatgever, CEO Microgaming comments: “Microgaming
has always been ahead of the curve with innovative
offerings, but this game really does push the boundaries
of what an online slot can do. The Lord of the Rings:
The Fellowship of the Ring looks and feels like an
extension of the big screen film experience and we’re
confident that our operators will see a great deal
of demand from their players, when the game is released.
This is an important deal for Microgaming and highlights
our commitment to partner with the right brands, at
the right time. The Lord of the Rings is one of the
most successful and well loved brands on the planet
and we are excited about combining this widespread
appeal with Microgaming’s groundbreaking software.”
The
Lord of the Rings Trilogy generated $3 billion in
worldwide box office receipts and was nominated for
a total of 30 Academy Awards®; of which they won
17, including Best Picture.
-
Ends -
Notes to editors:
*Cinematic Spins is a trademark held by Microgaming
©
2010 New Line Productions, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of
the Rings: The Return of the King and the names of
the characters, items, events and places therein are
trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth
Enterprises under license to New Line Productions,
Inc.
For
further information please contact:
Duncan Skehens / Laura Moss/ Lyndsay Haywood
Lansons Communications
020 7490 8828
DuncanS@lansons.com / LauraM@lansons.com / LyndsayH@lansons.com
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Peter
Binazeski
818-977-5701
peter.binazeski@warnerbros.com
About Microgaming (www.microgaming.com)
Since the company developed the first true online
Casino software over a decade ago, it has led the
industry in providing innovative, reliable gaming
solutions. Thanks to an unrivalled R&D programme,
that averages 60 games per year and a unique ‘partnership’
approach to working with operators; Microgaming software
powers over 160 market-leading online gaming sites.
The company’s front and back-end software supports
multi-player, multi-language games - over 500 of them,
all uniquely branded and provides platforms for land-based
and wireless gaming. Microgaming powers the world’s
largest Progressive Jackpot Network and has paid out
over €265million. In May 2009 it created the
biggest ever online jackpot winner with a single payment
win of €6.37m.
As
a founding member of eCOGRA, Microgaming is at the
forefront of an initiative focused on setting the
highest standards in the gaming industry, and leads
in the areas of fair gaming, responsible operator
conduct and player protection. Microgaming has been
awarded eCOGRA’s Certified Software Seal following
a rigorous onsite assessment to ensure that the development,
implementation and maintenance of the software is
representative of industry best practice standards
Microgaming licensees are therefore eligible to apply
for the eCOGRA Safe & Fair Seal.
About
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) manages Warner
Bros. Home Entertainment Group's (WBHEG) electronic
distribution over existing, new and emerging digital
platforms, including pay-per-view, electronic sell-through,
video-on-demand, wireless and more. WBDD also oversees
the WBHEG's worldwide digital strategy, partnerships
in digital services and emerging new clients and business
activities in the digital space.
News
2009
With
Time Warner sitting on $7 billion in cash, the Marvel
deal has ignited rumours of a second wave of consolidation
in the media industry. Dream Works Animation, home
of Shrek, is seen as a potential takeover candidate,
as is MGM with its huge library of classic films.
The games firms Electronic Arts and Take Two Interactive,
with its Grand Theft Auto franchise, are also being
touted as potential buys.
Profile
Warner
Bros. Entertainment, Inc. (also known as Warner Bros.
Pictures, or simply Warner Bros.) is one of the world's
largest producers of film and television entertainment.
It is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters
in Burbank, California and New York City. Warner Bros.
has several subsidiary companies, including Warner
Bros. Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros.
Interactive Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television,
Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Home Video, TheWB.com
and DC Comics. Warner owns half of The CW Television
Network.
Founded in 1918 by Jewish immigrants from Poland,
Warner Bros. is the third-oldest American movie studio
in continuous operation, after Paramount Pictures,
founded in 1912 as Famous Players, and Universal Studios,
also founded in 1912.
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