Biz News

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, News, Biz, Australia and World

November 25, 2025

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 22

The dollar is capitalising on its competitors' weakness

• The US labour market is sending mixed signals, and the Fed remains cautious.

• The Bank of Japan is moving at a snail's pace, while the pound may surge. The US employment report slowed the dollar. After five days of growth, the DXY froze at its highest level since May. Investors considered the rise in unemployment to a four-year high of 4.4% to be a more significant factor than the acceleration of non-farm payrolls to 119,000.

As a result, the chances of the Fed cutting rates in December rose from 28% to 33%, and in January from 65% to 70%. This allowed the EURUSD to find its footing.

FOMC officials continue to talk about caution. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee is concerned that inflation is accelerating rather than slowing down. Cleveland Fed President Beth M. Hammack believes that easing monetary policy to support the labour market will prolong the period of prices above target. Her colleague from Philadelphia, Anna Paulson, warns that every rate change could trigger an acceleration in CPI.

Most likely, the Fed has outlined a scenario of maintaining borrowing costs in December, followed by a reduction in January. Data is needed to change this, and there is a catastrophic lack of it. Under such conditions, the US dollar is likely to remain stable or even strengthen in the short term.

The greenback's competitors are not shining. The acceleration of consumer prices in October from 2.9% to 3% and inflation remaining above the 2% target for 43 consecutive months does not impress the Bank of Japan. Amid political pressure from the government, it intends to normalise monetary policy at a snail's pace. As a result, the yield spread between US and Japanese bonds will remain wide. This allows carry traders to sell the yen as a funding currency, causing the USDJPY to rise.

The pound has seen glimmers of light through the clouds. There are rumours that Labour will not raise income tax due to improved economic forecasts for the UK. GBPUSD quotes could surge significantly if Rachel Reeves' draft budget does not disappoint but instead pleases investors. In this case, the principle of ‘buy the rumour, sell the fact’ will work for the pound growth. (FxPro)

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

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

Cryptos Struggle again, Medium Bull Update: Round 1! Bloody Noses and Black Eyes Cont! Red And Black Attack! All That Glitters. Bells To Be Rung! Aussie - US Connection

November 24, 2025

Sin City Sydney, Australia
Mad Monday Aussie

ASX futures up 92 points/1.1% to 8519

Wall Street:
S&P 500 +1%
Dow Jones: +1.1%
Nasdaq +0.9%
Europe: Stoxx 50 -1%
FTSE +0.1%
DAX -0.8%
CAC flat

Australian dollar at US64.59 cents

Bitcoin +3.3% to $US87,532

Gold -0.3% to $US4065.14
Oil -1.6% to $US58.06 a barrel
Brent crude oil -1.3% to $US62.56 a barrel
Iron ore +0.3% to $US104.25 per ton

10-year yield:
US 4.06%
Australia 4.46%
Germany 2.70%

Bitcoin: (Near Live) $87,749.31 +3.95%

News Update: (Near Live)

News

New York/Wall St via Mr Wolf!
The November Man!
23 Nov
NYC!

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Moody: Cryptos lost shine!

Bitcoin $87,749.31 +3.95%
Ethereum $2,833.20 +3.10%
Tether $1.0005 +0.06%
Binance Coin $853.96 +2.91%
XRP $2.0762 +6.95%
Solana $133.00 +4.96%
TRON $0.2755 +0.52%
Dogecoin $0.1470 +4.85%
Cardano $0.4158 +3.49%

Market scares! Mood: Medium:; Picking up for some in traditional sectors! Hardcores keep dream! Many bears selling out!

Media Man Favs:

(Near Live)

Bells Rung by Mr Wolf! TKO kicks out. Comeback! Christmas Grinch Comes Early for some! Santa gives little for miners, gamers, some tech heads and grapplers!

Wall St, New York

TKO Group Holdings Inc $178.17 +1.680.95%
NVIDIA Corp $178.88 -1.76 -0.97%
Formula One Group Series A $85.18 -0.72 -0.84%
Alphabet Inc Class A $299.66 +10.21 +3.53%
News Corp Class A $25.69 +0.89 +3.59%
Netflix Inc $104.31 -1.36 -1.29%
Caterpillar Inc $550.43 +4.30 +0.79%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp $10.33
-0.020 -0.19%
Tesla Inc $391.09 -3.96 -1.00%
Walt Disney Co $104.28 +1.58 +1.54%
Wynn Resorts Ltd $119.60 +2.46 +2.10%
Meta Platforms Inc $594.25 +5.03 +0.85%
Elders ADR $19.73 (US) 53.08 +0.50 +0.95% (NYSE)
Mercedes Benz Group ADR $16.45 +0.32 +1.98%
Elders ADR $19.73 (US)
Rio Tinto Ltd $84.00 -1.00 - 1.18% (US)
Paramount Skydance Corp $15.89 +0.21 +1.34%
Red Light Holland Corp $0.018 -0.0013 -6.84%

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

Crypto market accelerates decline

Market Overview

The crypto market is experiencing a sharp decline, losing another 4% over the past 24 hours and falling back to $3.07 trillion, its lowest level since early May. The decline is accelerating relative to the trend observed since 10 October. At this stage, the market is being dragged down by major coins — Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP — which are losing more than 5%, while some altcoins remain in the shadows. It is unlikely that this should be considered a sign of strength for coins such as Monero (+2.7%), Tron (-1.8%) or Bitcoin Cash (-2.4%). It would be more accurate to say that the bears have not yet reached them.

Bitcoin fell below $90K, trading at its lowest levels since the end of April. As expected, the dip below the 50-week moving average at the end of last week triggered sellers, confirming the breakdown of the bullish trend that had lasted for the previous two years. Now, the working scenario appears to be a chance for BTC to dip to its 200-week moving average. In 2022, this path took 9 weeks, and over 30 weeks to form the bottom.

Ethereum fell below $3,000, following Bitcoin, which rolled back below its 50-week moving average. In this case, the 200-week average (approximately $2,300) will deter sellers, and we are considering a decline to $1,700 as a working pessimistic scenario.

News Background

According to CoinShares, global investment in crypto funds declined by $2.036 billion last week, marking the third consecutive week of outflows. Investments in Bitcoin fell by $1.378 billion, in Ethereum by $689 million, in XRP by $16 million, and in Solana by $8 million. Investments in Sui rose by $6 million, in Litecoin by $3 million, and in ETFs with multiple crypto assets by $31 million.

The fall of Bitcoin from its record highs in October was triggered by the capitulation of short-term holders, rather than the distribution of coins by long-term investors, according to XWIN Research.

Ethereum is entering a Supercycle phase like the one that brought Bitcoin a hundredfold increase since 2017, said BitMine CEO Tom Lee. In his opinion, the market decline is attributed to issues with several large market makers attempting to provoke liquidations in Bitcoin.

The inflow of stablecoins to Binance reached $9 billion in 30 days. The indicator is close to historical peaks, which previously preceded strong market movements, notes CryptoOnchain analyst. In his opinion, capital in standby mode can quickly change the market dynamics in favour of the ‘bulls’.

Strategy's business model is entirely dependent on funds buying its shares and is built on ‘fraud,’ said Peter Schiff, a well-known cryptocurrency critic and gold advocate. Since July, Strategy's shares have fallen by more than 50%, and recently, its capitalisation has fallen below the value of its assets. (FxPro)

News

The crypto is set for a short-term rebound, not a full recovery

Market Overview

The crypto market cap has lost 9.5% over the past seven days. The decline took place on weekdays last week, with the level stabilising around $3.25 trillion over the weekend. Among altcoins, the standout is the unsinkable Zcash at $700, nearing its highs, and weak Solana and Ethereum, which have lost 45% and 40% from their August and September highs, respectively.

The crypto sentiment index recorded values of 10 on Saturday and Sunday, marking a return to the lows of late February this year. Although this was a good point to buy on the rebound in the following days, the downward trend continued for almost a month and a half. Market dynamics since the beginning of October have been reminiscent of those seen at the end of January. This is good news for short-term buyers but may cause medium-term buyers to stay on the sidelines for a while.

Bitcoin slipped below $93K during illiquid trading early in the day, but found impressive buyer interest there, rising to $95.6K. Whether this is a short-term rebound or the beginning of a recovery can only be determined after it consolidates above $100,000. There is a high chance that the strategy of selling on rebounds will remain prevalent.

News Background

Outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US continue for the third week in a row. According to SoSoValue, net outflows from spot BTC ETFs totalled $1.11 billion last week, slightly lower than the previous week's outflows, resulting in a total inflow of $58.85 billion into these products since January 2024.

Net outflows from spot Ethereum ETFs in the US continue for the second week in a row, amounting to $728.6 million. The cumulative net inflow since the launch of ETFs in July 2024 has fallen to $13.13 billion.

Inflows into the recently launched Solana spot ETFs in the US have continued for the third consecutive week, totalling $382.1 million. However, during this time, the price has fallen by a third, reinforcing the idea that entering traditional financial markets does not necessarily promise price growth.

Long-term Ethereum holders have increased their sales to 45,000 ETH per day, the highest level since February 2021, according to Glassnode. Long-term Bitcoin holders are also actively selling their holdings. According to CryptoQuant, they have dumped 815,000 BTC on the market over the past month.

Miner Bitfarms has announced a gradual phase-out of Bitcoin mining and a transition to developing infrastructure for artificial intelligence. The company reported a net loss of $46 million in its third-quarter report. (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)

News Lead Up

Price Movements and Market Outlook

Spot Gold Dips Slightly: Gold traded at $4,068.70 per troy ounce on November 17, down 0.36% from the previous day. This extends a two-day losing streak amid fading bets for a December Fed rate cut, with the probability dropping below 50%. However, the metal remains up 55.75% year-over-year, supported by broader safe-haven demand.

Recent Rally: Prices surged nearly 3% earlier in the week to a two-week high, driven by soft U.S. economic indicators that bolstered rate-cut hopes and lifted non-yielding assets like gold.

Forecast: Analysts see potential upside if gold sustains above $4,100, targeting $4,140–$4,145, and possibly $4,200. A break below $4,000 could accelerate declines toward $3,900. A weaker USD and softer risk sentiment are keeping a floor under prices, amid concerns over the ongoing U.S. government shutdown impacting economic momentum.

Global Demand and Regional Updates

India and China Cooling: Physical demand in India stayed subdued due to volatile prices, leading to steep discounts for the first time in seven weeks post-festivals. In China, a state bank halted new retail gold accounts after tax exemptions were tweaked, likely curbing demand in the world's top consumer market. Premiums rose in other Asian hubs as global rates eased.

Investment Trends: First-time gold investing hit its strongest levels since the Global Financial Crisis, per recent surveys, signaling renewed interest amid uncertainty.

Buzz on X (Recent Posts) Social discussions highlight gold's role as a hedge against crypto volatility and inflation: Users are buying gold amid Bitcoin's dip into the $80Ks, viewing it as a tangible alternative to "digital tulips."

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 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 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)!
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

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"

Mining/Energy/Rare Earths/Biz/Culture/Politics: Australia, U.S and World

News

November 2025

Markets

Nov 20

Australian Dollar: $0.6470 USD (down 0.0050 USD)
Iron Ore: $104.10 USD (down $0.35 USD)
Oil: $59.40 USD (down $1.47 USD)
Gold: $4,078.16 USD (up $8.39 USD)
Copper: $5.0240 USD (up $0.0465 USD)
Bitcoin: $89,094.29 USD (down 4.18%)
Dow Jones: 46,152.05 (up 60.31 points)

Bitcoin: (Near Live) $92,515.21 +0.05%

News

Miners

Mineral Resources Ltd $49.88 +1.28 +2.64%

Rio Tinto $85.65 +1.90 2.27% (U.S)

BHP Group Ltd $53.47 -0.24 -0.45% (U.S)

Fortescue Ltd $13.55 +0.45 +3.40% (U.S)

Evolution Mining $11.43 +3.53% (Australia ASX)

Newmont Corporation $87.51 +0.91 +1.05% (U.S)

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

Deep yellow braces for showdown

Shares in uranium miner Deep Yellow have fallen by more than 30 per cent since the resignation of long-serving CEO John Borshoff on 20 October. The company's market capitalisation rose from just $50m to about $2bn during Borshoff's tenure, although it was actively targeted by short sellers earlier in 2025. Deep Yellow will hold its AGM today, and Paradice Investment Management will lead a push by fund managers for the company to encourage Borshoff to reverse his decision to leave. Deep Yellow had advised in October that Borshoff will remain at the company as an adviser until the end of this month. (RMS)

News

Trade/Politics

Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Unveil Nearly $1 Trillion U.S. Investment Commitments

During Oval Office talks, a White House dinner, and the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman elevated Saudi investment pledges from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion, targeting infrastructure, AI, critical minerals, and nuclear energy. Agreements totaled $270 billion, including Saudi Aramco's $30 billion deals and Nvidia projects, while defense pacts designated Saudi Arabia a major non-NATO ally with F-35 jets and tanks. Trump also pledged U.S. collaboration with Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt to end Sudan's atrocities at bin Salman's request. (Grok)

News

Entertainment/Pop Culture

Sarah's Oil (2025)

The remarkable true story of eleven year old Sarah Rector, an African American girl born in Oklahoma Indian Territory in the early 1900s, who believes there is oil beneath the barren land she's allotted and whose faith is proven right.

Sarah's Oil is a 2025 American biographical drama film regarding Sarah Rector, being directed, co-produced, and co-written by Cyrus Nowrasteh. It is inspired by the 2014 book Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America by Tonya Bolden. It stars Zachary Levi, Naya Desir-Johnson, Sonequa Martin-Green, and Garret Dillahunt.

Released theatrically by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer through Amazon MGM Studios on November 7, 2025, Sarah's Oil received generally positive reviews from critics.

News

Lithium giant's forecast hikes mining stocks

Chinese media outlet Cailian recently reported that Ganfeng Lithium chairman Li Liangbin has forecast that demand for lithium could rise by 30 per cent in 2026 and boost the price of the battery metal to around 200,000 yuan ($43,000) per tonne. Li's comments at an industry event have prompted a rally in the price of both lithium and the share prices of lithium producers; indeed, Australian lithium miners defied the downward trend on Tuesday, which saw the local bourse shed 1.9 per cent. (RMS)

News

Australian Mining News

Recent Developments (November 2025)

Market Debuts and Conferences: Red Mountain Mining (ASX: RMX) saw shares rise 36% on its OTCQB listing, highlighting US-Australia critical minerals ties. The company presents at the Virtual Investor Conference on November 19, focusing on antimony and rare earths projects.

Tech Advancements: Southern LiDAR's underground mapping tech is gaining traction for safety and efficiency in Australian mines.

Policy and Investment: A global mining giant committed AU$35M to NSW's zero-emissions steel demonstration plant, amid debates on taxpayer funding versus competitiveness against Chinese imports. Meanwhile, the Australian Mines and Services Handbook 2026 booking rush signals optimism.

Broader Discussions: Social media buzz includes critiques of environmental impacts (e.g., highway projects versus mining) and state rivalries, with Western Australia's mineral dominance contrasting Victoria's challenges.

News

Wyloo bets on nickel future as part of critical minerals boom

Wyloo's financial accounts show that it booked a $377.6m profit in 2024-25, after a massive impairment charge on its nickel assets resulted in a $352.8m loss for the previous financial year. The private company of Andrew and Nicola Forrest is continuing to explore for nickel near its mothballed mines in Western Australia, while it is also considering the construction of a nickel concentrator near Kambalda. Wyloo's CEO Luca Giacovazzi stated in its latest annual report that its future growth is likely to be on mining and selling nickel, while this focus is expected to be expanded to include rare earths. (RMS)

News Lead Up

Nov 19

US fears, Nvidia nerves wipe $60b from ASX

The Australian sharemarket retreated on Tuesday, recording its biggest one-day fall since the Trump administration's 'liberation day' tariffs in April; the S&P/ASX 200 shed 1.9 per cent to close at 8,469.1 points. Tony Sycamore from IG says the local bourse was hit by a "perfect storm", with investors awaiting the release of Nvidia's latest financial results and US jobs data for September. BHP was down 3.7 per cent at $40.90, TechnologyOne ended the session 17.2 per cent lower at $29.26 and DroneShield fell 5.8 per cent to $2.45. Pilbara Minerals bucked the trend, rising 3.3 per cent to close at $4.09. (RMS)

Nov 18

ASX wipes out $60b in second-worst day this year

The Australian sharemarket suffered its second-biggest drop this year on Tuesday as investors erased $60 billion in value on growing anxiety about chip giant Nvidia’s upcoming results and concerns that interest rates in the US won’t fall soon. Losses accelerated in afternoon trading with the S&P/ASX 200 Index closing down 167.3 points, or 1.9 per cent, to 8469.1, the lowest level since late June. It was the worst session since US President Donald Trump unleashed hefty tariffs early April.

Ownership of 'Solar Energy Systems' is on the rise

(Roy Morgan Summary)

New data from Roy Morgan shows that 32% of Australian households (more than 3.3 million) now have some form of solar energy system, such as a solar hot water system, a solar heated swimming pool or rooftop solar panels with or without battery systems. These figures include 27% of households with solar panels and 5% with both solar panels and storage batteries. Western Australians are leading the way in solar panel ownership (37%) along with South Australian households (also 37%), followed by Queensland (33%). Households in these States are more likely to have solar panels than an average Australian household. Meawhile, households in South Australia and the Northern Territory (Darwin and Alice Springs) have a higher take-up of solar batteries (9% and 7% of households, respectively) compared to the national average (5%). While ownership of solar power storage batteries is at a much lower rate compared to solar panels, the federal government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program is set to boost the future take-up of storage batteries nationwide. (RMS)

Nov 15

Make coal great again or China gets your data: Hanson

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson will release details of the party's energy policy during the last parliamentary sitting week for 2025. However, Hanson contends that amongst other things Australia must withdraw from the Paris climate agreement and extend the operating lives of the nation's existing fleet of coal-fired power stations. Hansen has emphasised the importance of coal-fired power generation to data centres in Australia, warning that they will not be able to compete with China. Hanson adds that it "frightens the hell out of me" that China will dominate global data storage due to its lower electricity prices, which will be at least partly due to coal imported from Australia. (RMS)

News

Former Rio boss called to Mongolian probe

A Mongolian parliamentary inquiry into cost blowouts at the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine was announced in September, with public hearings due to be held between December 8 and 12. Slated to be one of the world's top-five producers of copper by the end of the decade, the Oyu Tolgoi mine cost almost $US1.7 billion more than planned and took almost two years longer than expected to build. Former Rio Tinto CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques is one of close to 300 witnesses called to appear before the inquiry, with Jacques having been CEO of Rio from 2016 to 2020. (Roy Morgan Summary)

Nov 14

BHP to learn class action fate for $72b Brazil dam disaster

The UK's High Court will shortly issue a ruling on whether BHP is legally for an iron ore tailings dam disaster in Brazil which killed 19 people and caused massive environmental damage in November 2015. The tailing dam was owned by the Samarco joint venture between BHP and iron ore rival Vale. Should BHP be found to be legally liable, individual claimants' eligibility for compensation and the size of any payouts will be determined in the next stage of the long-running case. BHP and Vale have already paid billions in compensation to people who were affected by the disaster. (RMS)

News

Fresh probe launched into MinRes, Ellison

It has been revealed that the Australian Taxation Office has launched a new investigation into Mineral Resources and its billionaire founder Chris Ellison. News of the investigation was revealed in a request sent by the ATO to the Federal Court in October for access to previously sealed documents that had been filed in the unfair dismissal case brought by MinRes' former procurement manager Steve Pigozzo in 2022. The new investigation will focus on how MinRes and Ellison calculated income and fringe benefit taxes, with the revelation regarding the new probe coming as MinRes prepares to hold its AGM next week, at which shareholders will be asked to approve a lucrative share options package for new chairman Malcolm Bundey. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Rio ends two-decade Serbia lithium mining dream as cost cuts bite

Rio Tinto has advised that its Jadar lithium project in Serbia has put in 'care and maintenance' mode. The company will cease undertaking environmental, heritage and geological surveys at the site in the Jadar Valley, four years after revealing plans to invest $US2.4bn ($3.7bn) on developing what it claimed would be the biggest lithium mine in Europe. There is growing competition for capital within Rio Tinto's lithium division, and its $10bn deal to acquire Arcadium Lithium earlier in 2025 added several mines that are already in production to its lithium portfolio. (RMS)

News

American activist claims IperionX more dud than minerals gem

Trading in the shares of Australian-listed IperionX were halted on Thursday, following the release of a report into the company by New York hedge fund Spruce Point Capital Management, which specialises in short-selling. With the US-based IperionX seeking to develop titanium extraction technology and having been backed by the Trump administration as part of its bid to secure domestic production of critical minerals, Spruce Point's report sought to raise doubt about IperionX's prospects. (RMS)

News

Biotech gets $20m in critical minerals push

US-based biotechnology firm Endolith has raised $US13.5m ($20.6m) via its initial round of venture funding, while it aims to raise an additional $3m in a second tranche. The start-up is developing technology that can be used to extract critical minerals such as copper from low-grade ore and waste rock that would be unprofitable to process using traditional methods. Endolith's technology uses microbes and artifical intelligence, and the company aims to commence real-world trials at a mine site within 6-12 months. (RMS)

News

Oversupply of oil could create glut of 4m barrels a day, says energy watchdog

The International Energy Agency has stated in its latest monthly report that the world is producing more oil than it needs, and that there could be a glut of 4m excess barrels a day entering the market by 2026. The IEA's warning has come in the same week that it issued its latest energy outlook report, which included a controversial scenario in which global oil demand would continue to grow until 2050. It had dropped the scenario in 2020 after it was accused of repeatedly criticised for underestimating the growth of renewable energy in its annual report, but returned the scenario to its outlook this year after calls from the White House to present a more optimistic view for the future of oil. (RMS)

News Lead Up

News

The cryptocurrency market is stagnating, lagging its competitors

Market Overview

The cryptocurrency market capitalisation has changed little over the past day, fluctuating around $3.5 trillion. The cryptocurrency fear index has fallen to 15, its lowest level since 4 March. Notably, the cryptocurrency market has been left out of the recent rally in precious metals and stock indices. If this is not an attempt by whales to lock in profits from the rally since April or even from the growth of the last two years, then it is an alarming signal of deep-seated risk aversion that is about to manifest itself in larger markets.

Bitcoin continues to struggle to remain within the bull market on weekly timeframes, trying to stay above the 50-week moving average. Last week's close was on the edge and attempts to develop an offensive this week are running into sell-offs, despite the favourable external backdrop. The previous such transition occurred at the end of 2021, and so far, everything aligns with the 4-year halving cycles that many were quick to dismiss.

News Background

Over the past three months, a clear break has occurred in the correlation between Bitcoin and the stock market. The S&P 500 stock index has risen 7% during this time, while BTC has lost 15%. Judging by four years of close correlation, it can be argued that Bitcoin is currently undervalued, according to Santiment.

Jan3 founder Samson Mow attributes Bitcoin's decline to a massive sell-off by investors who bought it over the past 12 to 18 months. They are rushing to lock in profits amid rumours of an imminent bearish trend in the crypto market.

The crypto market's growth phase is nearing its end, so it is time for investors to consider locking in profits and reducing the share of crypto assets in their portfolios, according to Morgan Stanley, which cites a four-year cycle that the cryptocurrency market has consistently followed since 2009.

The bitcoin mining industry is facing a difficult period due to growing competition and declining profitability, said MARA CEO Fred Thiel. According to him, only those miners who have access to cheap energy or new business models will survive.

According to SoSoValue, spot Solana ETFs in the US have attracted more than $350 million in 11 trading sessions. The steady inflow of funds into new SOL ETFs came as a surprise to the market. The results significantly exceeded initial conservative forecasts, according to LVRG Research.

Visa has unveiled a pilot project called Visa Direct, which allows US customers to make direct cross-border payments in USDC stablecoin to recipients' wallets. The initiative is aimed at content creators and freelancers.

The crypto industry is entering a new phase of capital raising. The launch of Coinbase's ICO platform is expected to be a key event in this trend, according to Bitwise. The exchange will select and launch one verified project per month. (FxPro)

News

The dollar emerging from the data fog

• The US government shutdown is over.
• Central bank policy convergence helps EURUSD.
• Political scandal causes the pound to fall.
• Japan's currency interventions are ineffective

The House of Representatives voted 222 to 209 to resume government operations. The president immediately signed the document. The record-long shutdown is over. This fact promises that the Fed and investors will soon begin to exit their positions. The president immediately signed the document. The record-breaking shutdown is over. This fact suggests that the Fed and investors will quickly start to emerge from the fog once statistics are published again, allowing them to make data-driven decisions. But will they like what they see when the picture becomes clearer?

Alternative sources show a slowdown in the US GDP. The IMF forecasts a decline in its growth rate from 2.8% to 2% in 2025. The eurozone, on the other hand, is expected to accelerate from 0.9% to 1.2%. At the same time, the Bank of France plans to raise its estimates for the country, despite the ongoing political turmoil. The narrowing divergence in economic growth argues in favour of maintaining the upward trend for EURUSD. The same can be said about monetary policy. The ECB has most likely ended its easing cycle, barring any major shocks. The federal funds rate is likely to continue falling amid a cooling US labour market and economy. The euro has advantages over the dollar. However, in the short term, mixed data could lead to mixed movements in EURUSD.

The conflict on Downing Street has allowed GBPUSD bears to launch a new attack. When Labour came to power in Britain in 2024, the pound gained preference thanks to hopes for political stability after constant ministerial changes under the Conservatives. However, since then, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's ratings have been falling. Rumours of a plot to replace the leader have made investors nervous and prompted them to sell sterling. Doubts about the effectiveness of potential currency interventions continue to push the USDJPY pair higher. The current conditions differ from those of last year. Back then, Tokyo intervened in the FOREX market before raising the overnight rate. Now, Sanae Takaichi is sticking to a policy of fiscal and monetary stimulus. Any purchase of the yen will only have short-term success. In addition, it will require the expenditure of foreign exchange reserves. These are needed to make the investments in the US economy promised to Donald Trump. (FxPro)

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

Media

Google Finance wins Media Man 'Business News Website Of The Month' award; Runner-up: Yahoo! Finance

Netflix wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Month' award; YouTube and Paramount Plus are runner-ups! Strong mention: Tubi

News

Pop Culture News

Landman (Paramount Plus)

Plot

Set against the backdrop of the booming West Texas oilfields, Landman follows Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton), a crisis manager and landman for an independent oil company. Tommy navigates cutthroat deals, family tensions, and moral dilemmas while trying to keep his business afloat. The story kicks off with an investigation into a fatal accident involving an out-of-town lawyer, weaving in elements of drug cartels.

Landman is an American drama television series created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, inspired by Wallace's podcast Boomtown. It explores the high-stakes world of the oil industry in West Texas, blending themes of fortune-seeking, corporate intrigue, and personal drama amid roughnecks, billionaires, and geopolitical shifts.

The series premiered on Paramount+ on November 17, 2024, and has been renewed for a second season.

Landman: Season 2. Trailer (Paramount Plus)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=mhzQawESdqg

"You think you understand how this business works, but you don't." Things are heating up in the final Landman trailer. Season 2 premieres November 16, 2025, only on Paramount+.

"Death and a Sunset"
November 16, 2025

"Sins of the Father"
November 23, 2025

"Almost a Home"
November 30, 2025

"Dancing Rainbows"
December 7, 2025

"The Pirate Dinner"
December 14, 2025

"Dark Night of the Soul"
December 21, 2025

"Forever Is an Instant"
December 28, 2025

"Handsome Touched Me"
January 4, 2026

"Plans, Tears and Sirens"
January 11, 2026

"Tragedy and Flies"
January 18, 2026

News

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

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.

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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

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XRP wins Media Man 'Crypto Of The Month' award

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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.