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News, Markets, Biz, Politics, Mining, Media, Marketing, Culture: Australia and World

December 2025

December 1

Markets

Australian Dollar: $0.6540 USD (up 0.0011 USD)
Iron Ore: $105.40 USD (down $1.30 USD)
Oil: $58.55 USD (down $0.55 USD)
Gold: $4,219.23 USD (up $61.79 USD)
Copper: $5.2780 USD (up $0.1155 USD)
Bitcoin: $87,321.17 -3.98%
Dow Jones: 47,716.42 (up 289.30 points)

News

ASX tipped for solid start ahead of GDP data

Futures pricing suggests that Australian equities will gain about 0.1 per cent when the market opens on Monday, following a positive lead from Wall Street. The release of GDP data for the September quarter is set to be a key focus for local investors in the coming week, as they seek guidance on the outlook for official interest rates. Inflation data released last week has heightened speculation that the next rate move may be up rather than down. The S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.37 per cent to close at 8,614.1 points on Friday, and it fell by three per cent in November. (RMS)

News

Nov 28

Gold may have doubled, but miners a gamble

Factors such as its 'safe haven' staus and record buying by central banks have seen the price of gold rise by more than 50 per cent so far in 2025. The share prices of Australian-listed gold producers have also rallied during 2025, and some have posted solid returns over the last decade. However, analysis shows that just 100 of the 172 listed gold miners in 2015 are still in business now. Meanwhile, about 40 per cent of the survivors have posted a negative return over the last 10 years. (RMS)

News

'Bloodbath': Black Friday deals pose a dilemma for small business

Australians are expected to spend nearly $7bn over the four days of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, and up to $39bn over the month of November. Indeed, Black Friday has evolved to essentially become a one-month sales event, and there is a growing expectation among consumers that every store will offer big discounts. However, Black Friday is challenging for many small businesses, which simply cannot match the deep discounts of large retailers. This is highlighted by research from the Council of Small Business Organisations; it found that 60 per cent of small business owners do not pay themselves at least occasionally, while 25 per cent have used their personal savings to stay afloat. (RMS)

News

Australia's Most Trusted and Distrusted Brands + The Retail Landscape

Join Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine to discover Australia's most Trusted and Distrusted brands; how traditional retail brands are being impacted by Temu, Shein, and AliExpress; how the dramatic shift to low prices is affecting discount department stores like Kmart and Big W; whether Amazon has finally become the digital category killer, impacting Myer, JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman; whether Coles and Woolworths are finally showing real signs of reputational recovery; and whether the retail sector seeing a rise in distrust amid all the upheaval. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Media and Marketing

Sport keeps TV afloat as Seven pips Nine

The Seven Network has become Australia's top-rating commercial free-to-air broadcaster for a fifth consecutive year. Seven's national audience share across the 2025 rating year was 41.6 per cent, ahead of the Nine Network on 40.5 per cent. Seven's total audience share across all five free-to-air networks was 29.4 per cent, followed by Nine (28.7 per cent), the ABC (21.5 per cent), Ten (12.6 per cent) and SBS (7.7 per cent). Nine's live coverage of the NRL Grand Final was the highest-rating program for the year, with a record 4.56 million viewers; the AFL Grand Final attracted a total audience of 4.18 million. (RMS)

News

The Age misses mark on AFL deal

A spokesman for DAZN says the UK-based sports-focused streaming company "categorically refutes" a recent media report which suggested that it could seek to renegotiate Foxtel's current seven-year AFL broadcasting rights deal. The Age reported last week that unnamed sources had claimed that DAZN believes it is paying too much for the AFL rights. Foxtel was acquired by DAZN earlier in 2025, in a deal that is said to have been worth about $3.4bn. (RMS)

News

News media eyes $600m yearly boost

Google, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok and Apple are estimated to have had combined revenue of $41bn in Australia during fiscal 2024. They could potentially pay local news publishers about $610m a year via the federal government's News Bargaining Incentive, which will penalise technology companies that fail to secure content deals with the nation's news publishers; based on the revenue of the 'big five', the financial penalty for not striking such deals could be around $920m a year. The NBI would apply to all digital platforms that operate "significant" social media or search services, even if they do not feature any news content. (RMS)

News

Magazine stable faces carve-up

Private equity firm Mercury Capital still hopes to sell the whole of Are Media to a single buyer. However, sources at Are have said there is speculation within the publisher that several potential suitors have expressed interest in selectively buying some magazine titles, and shunning the less profitable ones. Mining magnate Andrew Forrest is said to have been approached about buying the flagship Australian Women's Weekly via his family company, Tattarang, which already owns the RM Williams magazine. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

AI threat slashes billions from classifieds giants

Jarden analyst Tom Beadle has downplayed the risks that online classified advertising groups are facing due to the growing use of artificial intelligence platforms. He contends that AI companies are unlikely to develop a 'killer application' that will disrupt the business of Real Estate Dotcom Dot Au http://realestate.com.au owner REA Group in the near term. However, REA Group's market capitalisation has fallen by nearly $9bn since August, while CAR Group - which owns Car Sales http://carsales.com.au - has shed 16 per cent of its value. Nevertheless, there are fears that AI platforms will be increasingly used to directly search for jobs, homes or cars. (RMS)

News

Nov 28

Free entry gets museum record-breaking visitors

Analysis of the annual reports of museums in Australia shows that consumers continued to embrace the nation's cultural institutions in 2024-25. Museums Victoria had the highest patronage, with 1.93 million visitors during the financial year; however, this was 13 per cent lower than previously. Meanwhile, Western Australia Museum was the nation's second-most-visited museum, with visits to its three sites rising by 21 per cent year-on-year to 1.2 million. WA Museum chair Sheila McHale notes that visitor numbers were boosted by the state government's decision to waive entry fees during the 2024-25 summer. (RMS)

News

Mining/Resources/Energy

Nov 28

Inside the battle for BHP's future

There is growing speculation that BHP's CEO Mike Henry is preparing to step down after six years in the role. However, BHP's merger talks with Anglo American last week showed that Henry is still deeply engaged in high-stakes strategic endeavours, rather than easing into retirement. Potential internal candidates to succeed Henry when he eventually steps down include Geraldine Slattery, Rag Udd, Vandita Pant and Catherine Raw. Meanwhile, some BHP directors believe that the resources group should simplify its commodities portfolio by exiting the coal sector and focusing on copper; indeed, analysis shows that both BHP and Rio Tinto have underperformed those of pure-play copper mines in recent years. (RMS)

News

Nov 28

Bitcoin stalled at a critical resistance

Market Overview

The crypto market cap corrected by 0.4% to $3.10T, pausing the cautious rebound from last Friday. Yet we can’t talk about the rebound running out of steam, as there was strong growth the day before. But we do not see any increase in optimism, as just about one in seven coins has gained in the last 24 hours, compared to a decline for most.

The sentiment index rose to 25, the threshold for exiting the territory of extreme fear, despite the latest round of weakness. The index’s dynamics are likely to attract buyers who were eager to enter the market but were waiting for a discount after the highs were set in early October.

Bitcoin has fallen below $ 91K, stabilising near the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level of the decline since November 11th. The area near $90K was significant for the market about a year ago, serving as support for the correction after the growth momentum in early November. There is some risk that it will now act as resistance, reinforcing the bearish signal of a possible end to the rebound. A rise above $95K would signal a victory for the bulls and a return to a bull market, while a decline below $87K could open the way to $80K, driving the market into a depression.

News Background

Kronos Research describes the current dynamics as a classic rebound from oversold conditions. The market has cleared out excess long positions, creating room for growth, according to Presto Research.

Futures and options data point to a return of bullish sentiment. The market is ‘ready for growth’ after speculative longs were closed over the past two weeks, according to GSR.

According to CryptoQuant, in November, the Binance crypto exchange increased its stablecoin reserves to a record $51.1 billion. The growth of this indicator can be seen as a positive factor for the crypto market.

The potential exclusion of Strategy from the S&P 500 index and continued outflows from spot crypto ETFs could bring back bearish sentiment and trigger sell-offs, warns QCP Capital.

Bolivia will include cryptocurrencies and stablecoins in its national financial system to modernise it.

Cryptocurrencies will be allowed to be used as a means of payment, savings accounts, credit products and loans. The authorities’ decision is a result of the country’s challenging economic situation. (FxPro)

News

Heavy Industry News

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

Caterpillar wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The Month' award

Bingo Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The Month' award

Elders wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award

Landman wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award (Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)

Jim's Mowing wins Media Man 'Franchise Of The Month' award

News

Pop Culture Flashback

Citizen Kane (1941)

Directed by Orson Welles | Written by Orson Welles & Herman J. Mankiewicz | Cinematography by Gregg Toland

Why it’s considered one of the greatest films ever made:

Revolutionary storytelling: Non-linear structure jumping through multiple perspectives and timelines — decades before it became common.

Iconic moments/lines:

“Rosebud…”

The campaign speech with the giant Kane poster

The slow push-in on young Charlie playing in the snow as his future is decided

“Old age… it’s the only disease, Mr. Thompson, that you don’t look forward to being cured of.” (Bernstein)

News

Salt of the Earth (1954

Mexican workers at a zinc mine call a general strike. It is only through the solidarity of the workers, and importantly the indomitable resolve of their wives, mothers, and daughters, that they eventually triumph.

Best Quotes

The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."

"Develop men the same way gold is mined"

"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."

"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"

"A prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't find much gold"

"The world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not." "Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"All that is gold does not glitter."

"Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out"

"Gold is the money of kings"

"Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule."

"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."

"True gold fears no fire."

"The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"When taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper – so are people."

Media Man

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Provider Of The Month' award; Runner-ups: X, Google News, Yahoo! Finance

Markets, News, Biz, Mining, Energy, Politics: Australia and World

November 2025

Nov 28

Heavy Industry News

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

Caterpillar wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The Month' award

Bingo Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The Month' award

Elders wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award

Landman wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award (Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)

Jim's Mowing wins Media Man 'Franchise Of The Month' award

News

Markets

Australian Dollar: $0.6529 USD (up 0.0009 USD)
Iron Ore: $106.70 USD (up $0.10 USD)
Oil: $59.10 USD (up $0.40 USD)
Gold: $4,157.44 USD (down $8.15 USD)
Copper: $5.1625 USD (down $0.0410 USD)
Bitcoin: $91,056.34 -0.12%
Dow Jones: 47,427.12 (closed for Turkey Day)

News

Labor urged to bite the bullet on energy bills

Treasurer Jim Chalmers recently indicated that the federal government has yet to decide whether to extend its electricity bill rebates beyond December 2025. The rebate was introduced in 2023 and extended by six months in the March budget. The expiry of state energy rebates contributed to the higher-than-expected 3.8 per cent headline inflation rate in the year to October. Economists have urged the government to end the rebates, contending that they have a distortionary impact on inflation and have cost the federal budget about $6.8bn to date. Challenger's chief economist Jonathan Kearns notes that rebates also risk lifting expectations of higher inflation; indeed, ANZ-Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations have risen to a two-year high. (RMS)

News

ASX up as tech stocks rally, WiseTech gains

The Australian sharemarket posted a modest gain on Thursday, with lower trading volumes ahead of Wall Street's closure for Thanksgiving Day; the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.1 per cent to close at 8,617.3 points. WiseTech Global was up 6.9 per cent at $69.72, Bellevue Gold rose 3.2 per cent to $1.29 and Reece advanced four per cent to $12.73. However, DroneShield was down 7.8 per cent at $2 and Santos fell 1.8 per cent to end the session at $6.44. (RMS)

News

What bubble? AI investors double down

Australian technology investors have used a slump on the US Nasdaq earlier in the month to boost their exposure to the artificial intelligence sector. Those investors included Munro Partners, which has topped up its exposure to Nvidia, Alphabet and Taiwan Semiconductor, while Loftus Peak's holdings of US tech stocks include Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor. For his part, Joseph Ziller from Ziller Funds Management says he avoids AI stocks that are not creating value today from their huge capital expenditure. (RMS)

News

Snowy Hydro signs renewable power deals

Snowy Hydro will announce today that it has signed a 15-year deal to purchase power from a wind farm in South Australia that is being developed by Aula Energy, and which Rystad Energy says could cost between $810 million and $945 million. In addition to the deal with Aula Energy, Snowy Hydro will also announce that it has entered into a 15-year contract with French-backed TagEnergy to access 105 megawatts of capacity at the Golden Plains storage battery, which will be located alongside a large wind farm site near Geelong in Victoria. (RMS)

News

Tech giants target roadblocks to AI spending

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures shows that investment in machinery and equipment by IT firms in the September quarter came in at $2.8 billion, which was double the previous record of $1.4 billion set in the previous quarter. The figure includes investment in routers, cooling towers and servers used to construct data centres, and technology companies such as Microsoft and TikTok, along with data centre operators such as NextDC and AirTrunk, have got together to form Data Centres Australia. It will lobby for reforms to energy, water and planning approval and copyright laws, so as to encourage investment in AI-linked investment. (RMS)

News

Atlassians resist Allan's crusade

Atlassian is expanding its operations in Victoria, where Premier Jacinta Allan wants to legislate the right to work from home two days a week for private and public sector employees. Although he is an advocate of hybrid work arrangements and once stated that his employees can work from anywhere, Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes is against the idea of work-from-home mandates, believing that flexible work arrangements should be up to business to decide. As to the future of the Australian tech sector, Cannon-Brooke is very optimistic, even though the federal government seems set to fail in its target for the nation to employ 1.2 million tech workers by the end of the decade. (RMS)

News

Online out to pasture as Tabcorp bets big on pub and club punters

Tabcorp CEO Gillon McLachlan announced a major shakeup of its retail wagering operations earlier in the yea with McLachlan ditching a strategy by his predecessor that was heavily focused on internet betting growth. McLachlan instead plans to focus on punters in clubs and pubs, where it has an advantage over rivals such as Sportsbet and Ladbrokes. Its new strategy will see it pay pubs and clubs hundreds of thousands of dollars to help entice punters to gamble in their venues, while it will allocate $50 million to pay for bonus bets and other inducements for gamblers in pubs and clubs. (RMS)

News

High Court challengers of teen social media ban want Musk, Google to fund case

A group called the Digital Freedom Project is challenging the federal government's under-16 social media ban in the High Court, with the plaintiffs in the challenge being teenage children of members of the group. The group's president is NSW Libertarian Party MP John Ruddick, who is encouraging the big tech companies to fund its challenge, while he says it should be the responsibility of parents to be aware of what their children are doing online and to educate them about the harms of social media. Minister for Communications Anika Wells told parliament on Wednesday the government was committed to the ban, and that it will not be intimidated by legal challenges. (RMS)

News

Cricket's shot at $1.2bn Big Bash prize

Cricket Australia is aiming to partially privatise the Big Bash League, although it will need the consent of the various state cricket bodies. There are currently eight teams in the BBL, with Cricket Australia hoping to expand it to 10 teams; it has placed a value of $1.2 billion on a 10-team BBL, meaning that it stands to make a $600 million windfall if its plans go ahead. Most potential bidders are likely to come from India, with Cricket Australia not optimistic that local buyers would be able to meet its asking price. (RMS)

News

Critical minerals rise from waste ashes

Latrobe Magnesium recently received a letter of interest from the US Export-Import Bank, which offered to provide up to $US122m ($187m) to help build a magnesium plant in Victoria. Latrobe CEO David Paterson says China accounts for about 90 per cent of the global supply of magnesium, which is vital to the manufacture of electric vehicles and military aircraft. Latrobe's technology can convert the fly ash produced by coal-fired power stations into magnesium oxide. It has built a demonstration plant near the site of the defunct Hazelwood power station, and the funding from the US export credit agency will be used to build a commercial plant. (RMS)

News

Mineral explorers bounce on 81pc funding surge

Data from advisory firm BDO shows that the 739 pre-revenue minerals exploration companies on the ASX raised more than $3.49bn in total during the September quarter. This is 81 per cent higher than the June quarter, and Sherif Andrawes from BDO expects this growth to continue. Meanwhile, total exploration expenditure by pre-revenue companies rose by 16 per cent to a two-year high of $843.6m in the September quarter, while the average cash balance of mineral explorers increased by 20 per cent to $11m. Andrawes anticipates strong IPO activity among pre-revenue explorers in the December quarter. (RMS)

News

Palmer's Covid drug donation behind tax dispute

Clive Palmer is in a dispute with the Australian Taxation Office over a purchase he made of a shipment of the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is seeking a tax deduction of almost $13m for his purchase, which was made at a time when US President Don­ald Trump was promoting hydroxychloroquine as a way of combatting COVID-19, with Palmer claiming his deduction as a donation for defending Australia, although the drug was never distributed. (RMS)

News

'How far is it going to escalate?' Fear Santos gas plan in Beetaloo basin could be start of NT fracking rush

Gas and oil company Santos has announced plans to drill 12 fracking wells at Tanumbirini Station, which is a large cattle station in the Northern Territory's Beetaloo basin. Environment Centre NT executive director Dr Kirsty Howey is worried that if Santos's plans lead to to full-scale production, that over 6,000 wells could be drilled through "our precious aquifers, polluting our groundwater with toxic chemicals", with ninety percent of the NT's water supply coming from groundwater. Howey says Santos should be a "good corporate citizen" and refer its proposal to be assessed under federal environment laws.

News

LNG levy proposal scared producers

The federal government is reviewing Australia's east coast gas market, with it being understood that it was considering a levy on east coast LNG exporters at one stage. However, while that idea appears to have been shelved and the government looks set to have settled on a gas reservation-style scheme, the fact that the government was even considering a levy has sparked concern among the gas industry about the extent to which the government is prepared to intervene in the sector. (RMS)

News

Smelters become a test case for bailouts

Glencore and Nyrstar are among the companies that have received financial assistance from federal and state governments to keep their ageing Australian smelters operating. China's dominance of the critical minerals sector has underlined the importance of continuing to produce metals such as copper and zinc in Australia. Nyrstar's lead smelter at Port Pirie and its zinc smelter in Hobart can potentially be upgraded to produce critical minerals such as antimony, bismuth, tellurium, germanium and indium; these metals are crucial to Australia's economic and security equation, particularly in the wake of the recent critical minerals agreement with the US. (RMS)

News

Crisafulli denies favouritism amid mine deals

Harmony Gold's Eva Copper Mine has received an undislosed financial incentive from the Queensland government's Northwest ­Energy Fund. However, two coal projects in the state have received no financial assistance from the government. Premier David Crisafulli has rejected suggestions that the government is favouring critical minerals over coal, arguing that it is providing the coal industry with certainty with regard to regulation and taxation; the government has previously been criticised for retaining its Labor predecessor's controversial coal royalty regime. Crisafulli adds that the Eva Copper Mine will help ensure that Glencore's Mount Isa smelter remains viable. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

ASX rally tempers on CPI shock; miners rise

The Australian sharemarket posted a sold gain on Wednesday, despite a pullback in response to data showing that inflation rose to a higher-than-expected 3.8 per cent in the year to October. The S&P/ASX 200 added 0.8 per cent to close at 8,606.5 points, having risen by about 1.2 per cent before the monthly CPI data was released. BHP was up two per cent at $41.80, Pilbara Minerals rose 7.2 per cent to $4.04 and Ramsay Health Care advanced 3.8 per cent to $37.32. However, Temple & Webster shed 32.3 per cent to end the session at $13.83. (RMS)

News

Fortescue, former execs settle with each side to pay costs

The terms of a settlement between Fortescue and three former executives will remain confidential, after all parties to the legal dispute agreed to take no further action. Michael Masterman, Bart Kolodziejczyk and Bjorn Winther-Jensen had been accused of using Fortescue's proprietary information when they left to establish a rival 'green' iron company called Element Zero in 2022. Fortescue commenced legal action in April 2024, and attracted criticism for hiring private detectives to undertake surveillance on the three former employees and their families. Element Zero's green iron plant in Perth will be formally opened by Premier Roger Cook today. (RMS)

News

The rare earths race is on

China has spent unlimited money to develop the world's best technology to produce heavy rare earths, while the French have developed rival technology that is not as good and is far more expensive. Meanwhile, Sinosteel's $100m pilot plant in Western Australia to process ore from Northern Minerals' Browns Range rare earth project is likely to remain idle, as Northern Minerals intends to build a new plant at Browns Range with financial support from the US Export-Import Bank. Haoma Mining's Bamboo Creek heavy rare earths deposit is also a threat to China's dominance of the sector; its Elazac process is now being used to extract gold and platinum from the Bamboo Creek material, and it could become a rival to the Chinese and French technology for extracting heavy rare earths such as terbium. (RMS)

Nov 26

News

Haoma Mining: Chairman's Presentation to shareholders

Haoma Mining NL Announcements

Haoma Mining held its Annual General Meeting at Tonic House in Melbourne on 26 November. Chairman Gary Morgan updated shareholders on Haoma's major activities in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, including the use of the Elazac process to produce gold bullion at the Bamboo Creek Pilot Plant, as well as its Pilbara Heavy Rare Earth discovery. Shareholders were also updated on progress at the Pirra Lithium exploration joint venture between Haoma and SQM Australia, as well as activities at Haoma's Top Camp Roadhouse and Caravan Park at Ravenswood in Queensland. (Roy Morgan Summary)

Lead Up

Nov 25

Big super's $110m stake in 'blood oil'

Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations chair Kateryna Argyrou says Australia's superannuation funds should divest their stakes in companies such as India's Reliance Industries. Argyrou's comments follow the revelation that Reliance has profited from refining sanctioned Russian crude oil and exporting the resulting fuels into markets such as Australia. The nation's four largest super funds have invested nearly $110 million in Reliance; they include AustralianSuper and the Australian Retirement Trust. (RMS)

Nov 25

Markets

Australian Dollar: $0.6462 USD (up 0.0009 USD)
Iron Ore: $105.00 USD (up $0.75 USD)
Oil: $58.84 USD (up $0.78 USD)
Gold: $4,123.68 USD (up $58.41 USD)
Copper: $4.9890 USD (down $0.0070 USD)
Dow Jones: 46,478.79 (up 233.38 points)
Bitcoin: $88,103.67 +1.47%

News

Force miners to sell local: smelter owner

Nyrstar Australia's CEO Matt Howell says the federal government should consider implementing a domestic minerals reservation scheme. It would work in much the same way as the proposed domestic gas reservation scheme, and require mining companies to sell a portion of their mineral ore to Australian refinery operators. The future of facilities such as Nyrstar's Port Pirie lead smelter and its Hobart zinc smelter have been under scrutiny, prompting federal and state government assistance. However, Howell's proposal has been dismissed by Minerals Council of Australia CEO Tania Constable, who has cautioned against government intervention in the minerals market. (RMS)

News

'Our gas, our prices': Ed Husic breaks ranks with Labor to demand an end to 'profiteering' by exporters

Former Labor industry minister Ed Husic has backed a motion by independent MP Nicolette Boele regarding east coast gas prices. The motion calls on the federal government to "only allow uncontracted gas to be exported after it has been offered to the domestic market at a reasonable price", with Boele saying Australia does not have a gas supply problem, but rather a gas export problem. Calling for stronger action against what he labels 'profiteering' gas exporters, Husic contends that "our gas, our prices: that should be the bedrock of our thinking. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

ASX to rally in 2026 on mining bounce: UBS

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 has retreated from the record high of 9,904 points in recent weeks, having closed at 8,525.1 yesterday. However, Richard Schellbach from UBS is upbeat about the outlook for the local bourse, forecasting that the ASX 200 will top 8,900 points again by the end of 2026. Schellbach says there are expectations that earning growth will exceed 10 per cent in 2026; he adds that although this will be driven by the resources sector, there will be earnings growth across the broader sharemarket. (RMS/AFR)

News

BHP drops second tilt at rival Anglo

BHP has advised that it has held preliminary discussions with Anglo American's board regarding a potential merger, but says it is no longer considering a bid for its London-based rival. BHP abandoned a previous takeover bid for Anglo American in 2024, and the company says it is still of the view that a merger would have "strong strategic merits" and create significant value for all stakeholders. BHP has indicated that it will instead focus on its organic growth strategy. Meanwhile, the latest aborted bid for Anglo has prompted speculation that Rio Tinto could pursue growth via acquisitions. (RMS)

News

Rinehart puts blowtorch on Rio Tinto, BHP over net zero spending

Hancock Prospecting's executive chair Gina Rinehart has criticised major resources groups for spending billions of dollars on reducing carbon emissions. Rinehart singled out BHP and Rio Tinto in her speech to mark National Mining Day; BHP is expected to spend up to $500m on reducing emissions over the next five years, while Rio Tinto has committed to halving its emissions by 2030 at a cost of $US5bn over 10 years. Rinehart contended that the dividends of BHP and Rio Tinto shareholders are being "sacrificed on the green altar". The speech was written by Rinehart but delivered by Hancock Iron Ore's CEO Gerhard Veldsman via a video message. (RMS)

News

Lithium prices slide on Chinese mine restart

The price of lithium fell sharply on Friday, in response to media reports that China-based Contemporary Amperex Technology could potentially resume production at its Jianxiawo mine in early December. Data from S&P Global Platts shows that the price of spodumene - the type of lithium that is mined in Australia - fell by 8.3 per cent to $US1,135 a tonne; the price of lithium carbonate in turn fell by nine per cent to 91,020 yuan on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange. The downturn prompted a fall in the share prices of Australian lithium producers on Monday. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Santos hit by delay on Narrabri gas ruling

Santos has received another setback in its long-running bid to proceed with the Narrabri gas project in NSW. A two-day hearing on the Gomeroi people's appeal against a Native Title Tribunal ruling on the project had been scheduled to begin in the Federal Court this week; however, Justice Natalie Charlesworth recused herself from the case because an associate had worked for Santos on secondment on two separate occasions. Another judge is not available to hear the case, so the traditional owners' appeal has been pushed back to March 2026. (RMS)

News

Nov 24

UK launches critical minerals strategy to reduce dependency on China

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a critical minerals and rare earths strategy, with the strategy aimed at reducing the UK's dependency on China. It includes a Stg50 million fund to boost production at tungsten and lithium mines in Cornwall. Europe's largest deposits of lithium are in Cornwall, while the EU has previously singled out the county's tungsten mine for potential financial support. The strategy follows a six-week standoff between China and the EU over the supply of chips used in the car sector, while it seeks to ensure no more than 60% of any one critical mineral comes from a single partner country by 2035; the British government also wants to produce at least 50,000 tonnes of lithium in the UK by the same year. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Pop Culture

Gold Movie

Gold is a 2016 American epic crime drama film directed by Stephen Gaghan and written by Patrick Massett and John Zinman. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Édgar Ramírez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll, Toby Kebbell, Craig T. Nelson, Stacy Keach and Bruce Greenwood. The film is loosely based on the true story of the 1997 Bre-X mining scandal, when a massive gold deposit was supposedly discovered in the jungles of Indonesia; however, for legal reasons and to enhance the appeal of the film, character names and story details were changed.

Trailer

Gold (YouTube Movies and TV)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=yc0S96OZhi0

Gold is the epic tale of one man's pursuit of the American dream, to discover gold. Starring Oscar® winner Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club, The Wolf Of Wall Street) as Kenny Wells, a modern day prospector desperate for a lucky break, he teams up with a similarly eager geologist and sets off on an amazing journey to find gold in the uncharted jungle of Indonesia. Getting the gold was hard, but keeping it would be even harder, sparking an adventure through the most powerful boardrooms of Wall Street. The film is inspired by a true story.

News

Citizen Kane (1941)

Directed by Orson Welles | Written by Orson Welles & Herman J. Mankiewicz | Cinematography by Gregg TolandWhy it’s considered one of the greatest films ever made:

Revolutionary storytelling: Non-linear structure jumping through multiple perspectives and timelines — decades before it became common.

Iconic moments/lines:

“Rosebud…”

The campaign speech with the giant Kane poster

The slow push-in on young Charlie playing in the snow as his future is decided

“Old age… it’s the only disease, Mr. Thompson, that you don’t look forward to being cured of.” (Bernstein)

News

Salt of the Earth (1954

Mexican workers at a zinc mine call a general strike. It is only through the solidarity of the workers, and importantly the indomitable resolve of their wives, mothers, and daughters, that they eventually triumph.

Best Quotes

The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."

"Develop men the same way gold is mined"

"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."

"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"

"A prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't find much gold"

"The world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not." "Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"All that is gold does not glitter."

"Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out"

"Gold is the money of kings"

"Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule."

"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."

"True gold fears no fire."

"The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"When taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper – so are people."

Media Man

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Provider Of The Month' award; Runner-ups: X, Google News, Yahoo! Finance

Pop Culture/Entertainment News

WWE/TKO Is Hollywood Edition

November 2025 and beyond

Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes In Street Fighter
The Rock Will Return To Movies For Jumanji Franchise
Stranger Things 5 Trends On Netflix
UFC Themed 'Brawler' with Zack, Turki Alalshikh And Saudi Connections Project Continues
WWE Games Hits Netflix Games

News

Nov 25

TV and Streaming Premieres

Stranger Things Season 5 Drops First Volume on Netflix: The penultimate chapter of the final season premieres November 27, promising epic Upside Down action. Fans are already theorizing about Eleven's fate in this split-season rollout, with Volumes 2 and 3 slated for December 25 and 31.

Good Sports Debuts on Prime Video: Today marks the launch of this new sports talk series, hosted by a lineup of athletes and comedians. It's a fresh take on ESPN-style banter with a comedic twist, perfect for Thanksgiving watch parties.

Other Must-Watch This Week: Catch Bel-Air Season 4 on JioHotstar (family drama with Will Smith's fresh prince vibes), Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari (Bollywood rom-com on Prime Video), and Kantara: Chapter 1 (Hindi prequel thriller). For docs, The Stringer: The Man Who Took The Photo uncovers a WWII mystery on Netflix.

Film Buzz: Colleen Hoover's Regretting You Hits Digital

The second big-screen adaptation of Hoover's romance novels arrives on PVOD platforms tomorrow (November 26). Starring Tanner Buchanan and Peyton List, this $30M Paramount pickup explores mother-daughter drama amid a short 32-day theatrical run. Critics are calling it a tearjerker for book club nights.

Beauty and Celeb Spotlight: Mexico Claims Miss Universe Crown

Fátima Bosch Fernández from Mexico was crowned Miss Universe 2025 in Bangkok last night, sparking national celebrations led by President Claudia Sheinbaum. The pageant highlighted themes of empowerment and sustainability, with Fernández's platform focusing on indigenous rights.

Gaming Galore: November's Packed Release Slate

Gamers have 51 titles to dive into this month, including Fallout 4 next-gen updates, Deadpool action romp, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 on PS5, and roguelikes like Demonschool. Switch 2 exclusives such as Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment are stealing the show for Zelda fans. Expect strategy hits like Age of Empires IV expansions too.

Celeb Bites

Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Rare Date Night: The power couple turned heads at the 2025 F1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas, channeling high-octane glamour on the track.

SAG-AFTRA Rebrands: The Screen Actors Guild Awards are now "The Actor Awards" for 2025, aiming for broader inclusivity across performers.

News

Pop Culture Buzz

1. Miss Universe 2025: Drama in Bangkok The pageant, held in Thailand, crowned Mexico's Fátima Bosch as the winner amid chaos: a contestant livestreamed a walkout, and a judge resigned over rigging allegations. Fans are calling it the most "unhinged" crowning ever, with viral clips flooding X. It's sparked debates on inclusivity and fairness in global beauty contests.

2. Reggae Icon Jimmy Cliff Passes at 81 The legendary singer behind "I Can See Clearly Now" died suddenly, leaving fans mourning a pioneer of reggae and ska. Tributes are pouring in from artists like Bob Marley heirs and modern acts like Post Malone, who sampled his work. BBC reports highlight his influence on everything from film soundtracks to protest anthems. A fitting end-of-year loss for music lovers.

3. Wicked: For Good Sequel Drops This Week

The highly anticipated follow-up to the smash-hit Wicked hits theaters on November 21, promising even bigger spectacle with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande returning. Early buzz predicts it could shatter box office records, especially after the first film's cultural takeover. Theatre kids (and everyone else) are already streaming the soundtrack on repeat.

4. TV Pilots and Adaptations Heating Up

FX greenlights a Far Cry series from Fargo creator Noah Hawley—expect chaotic open-world vibes on the small screen.

Netflix's One Piece Season 3 starts filming, promoting stars like Joe Manganiello to regulars. Pirate fans, assemble!

Bonus:

Amazon Prime is testing AI-generated recaps for shows, which could change binge-watching forever (or annoy purists). ABC orders a The Rookie spinoff pilot starring Jay Ellis—cop drama just got a fresh squad.

5. Quick Hits from the Celeb Sphere

Cardi B's Wild Night: She "lost her cookies" (yep, that) during a public meltdown, while Post Malone settles a custody battle quietly. (TMZ)

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!: UK fans freak over an "abrupt ending" teased by hosts Ant & Dec—cliffhanger alert!

Timothée Chalamet Rap Rumors: Whispers of him dropping bars under a pseudonym, plus Dune sequel hype. Enigmatic king strikes again.

Selena Gomez fires back at critics, Britney Spears reunites with Kim K for nostalgic hangs, and Tom Cruise 4 an honorary Oscar.

News

Movie Box Office (North America)

November 2025

Nov 23

1. Wicked: For Good - $150m

2. Now You See Me: Now You Don't - $9.1m

3. Predator: Badlands - $6.3m

4. The Running Man - $5.8m

5. Rental Family - $3.3m

6. Sisu: Road to Revenge - $2.6m

7. Regretting You - $1.5m

8. Nuremberg - $1.2m

9. Black Phone 2 - $1m

10. Sarah's Oil - $772,000

others ...

Chainsaw Man

Bugonia

Combat Sports

WWE Survivor Series: WarGames
November 29, 2025
Petco Park
San Diego, California

Matches:

CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso), and Roman Reigns vs. The Vision (Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed), Logan Paul, Drew McIntyre, and Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman)

Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, and AJ Lee vs. Nia Jax, Lash Legend, The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane), and Becky Lynch

John Cena (c) vs. Dominik Mysterio - WWE Intercontinental Championship

Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Nikki Bella

and more!

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
December 13, 2025
John Cena's Last Month: The Last Time Is Now
Washington, DC
NBC for U.S)
YouTube for Australia and numerous international markets

Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua
Judgement Day
December 19th
Miami, Florida
(Netflix globally)

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

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Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
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Mr Corp Merch vs Mr Freelance
Masked Superstar vs John McAfee
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Mr Bluey Chipper vs Street Fighter - King Of The Streets Mr Dotcom vs Mr Wiki
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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"

Markets, Crypto and Culture

Super Bulls Running Show; Cryptos Still Hurting; Medium Bull Update: Round 5! Bloody Noses and Black Eyes! Red And Black Attack! Black Friday! All That Glitters ... Elon Smiles Again!

November 10, 2025

Sin City Sydney, Australia
Mad Monday!

ASX futures up 23 points or 0.3% to 8794
Wall Street:
S&P 500 +0.1%
Dow Jones: +0.2%
Nasdaq -0.2%

Europe:
Stoxx 50 -0.8%
FTSE -0.6%
DAX -0.7%
CAC -0.2%

Australian dollar at US64.88 cents

Bitcoin +3% to $US104,999

Gold +0.6% to $US4001.26 per ounce
Oil +0.5% to $US59.75 a barrel
Brent crude oil +0.4% to $US63.63 a barrel
Iron ore -2.4% to $US101.45 per ton

10-year yield:
US 4.10%
Australia 4.35%
Germany 2.66%

News Update: (Near Live)

Bitcoin: $104,464.32 +2.11%

New York/Wall St via Mr Wolf!

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Moody: Part Corrective agub! Mainly uphill. Salt Into The Wound Again?! Or Salt Of The Earth. Red turns to green?

Bitcoin $104,464.32 +2.11%
Ethereum $3,577.97 +5.00%
Tether $0.9999 -0.01%
Binance Coin $996.71 -0.13%
XRP $2.3401 +2.08%
Solana $165.15 +4.40%
TRON $0.2914 -0.16%
Dogecoin $0.1799 +2.26%
Cardano $0.5800 +2.27%

Market part corrective! Mood: Still somber-like for many but picking up! Upswing again! Suspicious! Regaining smiles in selected cases! Hardcores keep the dream!

Media Man Favs:

(Near Live). Bells Rung by Mr Wolf! TKO kicks out and winning again today! Christmas Grinch Comes Early for some!

Wall St, New York

TKO Group Holdings Inc $182.56 +1.59 +0.88%
NVIDIA Corp $188.15 +0.070 +0.037%
Formula One Group Series A $92.25 -1.46 -1.56%
Alphabet Inc Class A $278.83 -5.92 -2.08%
News Corp Class A $26.72 +1.64 +6.54%
Netflix Inc $1,103.66 +6.64 +0.61%
Caterpillar Inc $563.10 -6.68 -1.17%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp $13.10 -0.23 -1.73%
Tesla Inc $429.52 -16.39 -3.68%
Walt Disney Co $110.74 +0.25 +0.23%
Wynn Resorts Ltd $126.14 +3.60 +2.94%
Meta Platforms Inc $621.71 +2.77 +0.45%
BHP Group Ltd (NYSE) $55.16 -0.45 - 0.81% (NYSE)
Mercedes Benz Group ADR $16.92 +0.22 +1.32%
Elders Ltd $6.69 -0.100 -1.47%
Rio Tinto Ltd $82.03 -2.012.39% (US)

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 October, 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 October.

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 Sunday.

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 January.

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!

News

Cryptocurrency Movies
Documentaries

The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)
Follows early Bitcoin adopter Daniel Mross, exploring Bitcoin’s origins, its volatile rise, and the community behind it. Great for understanding Bitcoin’s early days and its potential to disrupt finance.

Banking on Bitcoin (2016)
Examines Bitcoin’s history, ideological roots, and impact on global financial systems through interviews with pioneers and experts. A solid primer for newcomers.

Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet (2020)
Directed by Torsten Hoffmann, this documentary dives into blockchain’s broader applications beyond cryptocurrency, addressing scalability and regulatory challenges. Ideal for those interested in blockchain’s transformative potential.

Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) Narrated by Rosario Dawson, it explores blockchain’s societal impact, from financial inclusion to voting systems. A comprehensive look at real-world applications.

Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (2015)
Traces the history of money and introduces Bitcoin as a decentralized alternative, critiquing centralized financial systems. Features interviews with crypto experts.

Deep Web (2015) Narrated by Keanu Reeves, this documentary focuses on the Silk Road marketplace and its creator, Ross Ulbricht, highlighting Bitcoin’s role in dark web transactions.

Bitconned (2024) Explores the Centra Tech crypto scam, detailing how three individuals defrauded investors during the 2010s crypto boom. A cautionary tale about unregulated markets.

Feature Films

Crypto (2019)
A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth, and Kurt Russell. It follows a young anti-money laundering agent investigating corruption and cryptocurrency in his hometown. Critics note its exaggerated portrayal but praise its entertainment value.

Silk Road (2021)
A dramatization of Ross Ulbricht’s creation of the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace using Bitcoin. It explores his rise and fall, blending crime and drama.

Dope (2015) A coming-of-age comedy-drama featuring Bitcoin as a plot device. High schooler Malcolm uses Bitcoin for a dark web transaction, reflecting its early association with illicit activities.

Bonus Mentions

Life on Bitcoin (2014): Follows a couple attempting to live solely on Bitcoin for 100 days, showcasing early adoption challenges.

Bitcoin Heist (2016): A Vietnamese action-comedy about hackers chasing a crypto criminal, blending humor and thrills.

Notes Documentaries are generally more educational, focusing on Bitcoin’s history, blockchain technology, and real-world implications. They’re great for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Feature films often dramatize crypto’s association with crime or scams, sometimes oversimplifying or exaggerating for effect. They prioritize entertainment over accuracy. For a deeper dive, check streaming platforms like Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or YouTube, where many of these are available.

News

Wall Street (Movie)
Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a drama about ambition and greed in the 1980s financial world. It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young stockbroker desperate to succeed, who gets entangled with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate raider. Gekko’s mantra, “Greed is good,” drives the story as Bud is lured into insider trading and unethical deals, compromising his morals for wealth and power.

The film explores themes of capitalism, loyalty, and betrayal, with Bud navigating pressures from Gekko, his father (Martin Sheen), and his own conscience.

Key Details: Cast: Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko), Charlie Sheen (Bud Fox), Daryl Hannah (Darien Taylor), Martin Sheen (Carl Fox).
Runtime: 2h 6m.
Genre: Drama/Crime.
Rating: R. Box Office: ~$44 million (US).

Awards: Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Notable Aspects:

Gekko’s “Greed is good” speech is iconic, reflecting 1980s excess. Inspired by real-life figures like Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken.

A sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), continued the story.

Where to Watch (as of 2025):
Streaming: Available on platforms like Peacock or rentable on Amazon, YouTube, or Apple TV (check current availability).
Physical: DVD/Blu-ray via retailers like Amazon.

News

Best Quotes

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." — Benjamin Franklin

"Bottoms in the investment world don't end with four-year lows; they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim Rogers

Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful." — Warren Buffett

Media Man "Bullish is a mindset"

News

Google Top 10 Stories Today

November 8, 2025

Top Stories on Google News

As of today, Google News is highlighting a mix of ongoing U.S. political crises, international developments, entertainment announcements, and environmental concerns. Here's a curated summary of the top 10 stories across categories, drawn from major sources:

U.S. Politics & Government

U.S. Government Shutdown Enters Record-Breaking 38th Day

Americans face widespread disruptions including flight cancellations, unpaid federal workers, and lapses in SNAP benefits for millions amid the prolonged shutdown. Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, are pushing for resolution as the crisis surpasses previous records.

Trump Administration Intensifies Immigration Crackdown with Record ICE Detentions

The detainee population at ICE facilities has hit an all-time high, with over half lacking criminal charges, as President Trump's policies escalate border enforcement.

Supreme Court to Review Trump's IEEPA Tariffs Amid Trade Tensions

Experts anticipate some U.S. tariffs will persist even if the court strikes down the president's emergency levies under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Elise Stefanik Announces Bid for New York Governor
Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik launched her campaign shortly after democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani's upset win in the New York City mayoral race, signaling a heated 2026 state contest.

World & Environment

Homes Collapsing Along North Carolina Coast Raise Alarms for U.S. Shorelines

Erosion and rising seas are causing structural failures in coastal properties, prompting warnings that similar risks could affect other vulnerable areas nationwide.

Kazakhstan Joins Abraham Accords in Symbolic Boost to Trump Initiative

The Central Asian nation signed on to normalize ties with Israel, advancing the U.S.-brokered peace framework despite regional tensions.

Business & Tech

Starbucks Unveils 2025 Holiday Menu with 'Bearista' Mug

The coffee giant launches seasonal items including a new glass bear-themed mug, alongside merchandise, starting November 6 to kick off holiday shopping.

Norway's Wealth Fund Opposes Disney CEO Pay Package

A key shareholder voted against the executive compensation amid aggressive studio deals with top talent, highlighting governance debates in Hollywood.

Entertainment & Sports

Kendrick Lamar Leads 2026 Grammy Nominations
The rapper tops the list with the most nods for music's biggest night, setting the stage for a competitive awards season.

Fox Sports Replaces Mark Sanchez with Drew Brees as NFL Analyst

The network made the high-profile hire to bolster its football coverage, drawing mixed reactions from fans and analysts.

Markets

Nov 5, 2025

ASX futures up 0.2% at 8832 as of 7.57am AEDT
Wall Street: S&P 500 -1.1%, Dow Jones: -0.5%, Nasdaq -2%
Europe: Stoxx 50 -0.3%, FTSE +0.1%, DAX -0.8%, CAC -0.5%
Australian dollar -0.8% at US64.86 cents at 7.57am AEDT
Bitcoin -6% to $US100,548 on Bitstamp at 8am AEDT
Spot gold -1.6% to $US3938.33 per ounce at 8.01am AEDT
US oil -1% to $US60.41 a barrel at 7.49am AEDT
Brent crude -0.8% to $US64.36 a barrel at 7.49am AEDT
Iron ore -1.3% to $US104.52 per tonne (Singapore 62% grade)
10-year yield: US 4.09% Australia 4.34% Germany 2.65%

Mining/Energy/Resources/Markets/Politics/Culture: Australia, US and World

October 2025

Thirsty Thursday Media Watercooler: All That Glitters? Drill, Baby Drill!
Search For Industry Culture and Beyond The Harsh Earth Surface; Wealth Found In Dirty Jobs

Oct 30

Pop Culture News

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

Oct 30

Markets

Australian Dollar: $0.6570 USD (down $0.0010 USD)
Iron Ore: $107.75 USD (up $1.35 USD)
Oil: $60.40 USD (up $0.48 USD)
Gold: $3,933.57 USD (down $20.40 USD)
Copper: $5.2030 USD (up $0.0320 USD)
Bitcoin: $111,274.01 USD (down 1.22%)
Dow: 47,632.00 (down 74.37 points)

News

Fading Roy Hill seeks new riches

Iron ore miner Roy Hill has posted a net profit of $1.8bn for 2024-25, compared with $3.2bn in the previous financial year; it is the Gina Rinehart-backed company's lowest profit since 2019-20. Roy Hill's iron ore shipments totalled 61.6 million tonnes in 2024-25, compared with 64 million tonnes previously. The company's latest results were marred by factors such as lower iron ore prices and production disruptions caused by Cyclone Zelia in early 2025. Roy Hill's flagship mine is estimated to have a remaining production life of about seven years, but Rinehart says the new McPhee mine will extend the operating life of the Roy Hill mine. (RMS)

News

Northern Minerals faces battle for board

A spokesman for Northern Minerals says its four directors take their role of acting in the best interests of all shareholders very seriously. They add that the board supports the re-election of executive chairman Adam Handley at the upcoming AGM in order to maintain a "stable, united and effective board", while it opposes the election of non-endorsed nominees for the same reasons. Chinese businessman Enping Fu and Sydney-based businesswoman Joanna Yanis are seeking to be elected to the board of the heavy rare earths miner; the former narrowly failed to do so in 2024. The federal government ordered companies with Chinese links to divest shares in Northern Minerals last year, due to the strategic importance of its Browns Range project. (RMS)

News

Trunp's $121b nuclear deal fresh blow to uranium short-sellers

The share prices of Australian-listed uranium producers rallied on Wednesday after the Trump administration revealed plans to spend US80bn ($121.4bn) on new nuclear reactors across the US. The deal with Westinghouse Electric is aimed at ensuring a reliable electricity supply for the power-hungry data centres that will drive the artificial intelligence revolution. Westinghouse is owned by private equity firm Brookfield and uranium miner Cameco; the latter's shares rose by 23 per cent in response to the deal. Meanwhile, the proportion of Australian uranium stocks that are held by short-sellers has fallen sharply in recent weeks. (RMS)

Oct 29

BHP-backed firm adds value to US-Australia deal

Innovative technology that can extract critical minerals from mining waste is being trialled at Rio Tinto's Kennecott copper mine in the US. SiTration is seeking to commercialise its silicon membrane filter, and BHP's ventures arm participated in its second round of fundraising from seed investors in 2024. SiTration's co-founder and CEO Brendan Smith says its filter is being used to process acid mine drainage at Kennecott to extract "market-ready" copper. Recent academic research from the Colorado School of Mines suggested that waste by-products stored at 54 hard-rock metal mines may contain at least $US10bn worth of copper and more than $US1bon of rare earths. SiTration was spun off by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2020. (RMS)

News

Gold below $US4000, 'deeper' losses ahead

The gold price has fallen 9.1 per cent since reaching a record high of $US4,381 an ounce last week. Tony Sycamore from IG Markets says the gold price's fall below $US4,000/ounce indicates that a deeper pullback to around the $US3,500 level is likely. Ole Hansen from Saxo Bank says the price of bullion could take some time to rebound if there is a deep pullback, and suggests that any recovery may not occur until next year. The prospect of a US-China trade deal may also weigh on the gold price, given that economic concerns and geopolitical tensions have been a key driver of demand for the traditional 'safe haven' asset. (RMS)

News

Rinehart weathers the storm as Atlas profits plunge from weaker prices

Hancock Propecting-owned Atlas Iron has posted a $260m profit for 2024-25, which is nearly 41 per cent lower than previously. The result was marred by lower iron ore prices and the impact of Cyclone Zelia on production at its Mount Webber, Sanjiv Ridge and Miralga iron oire mines in the Pilbara; Atlas achieved annual sales totalled $10m for the financial year. Mining magnate Gina Rinehart amalgamated Atlas and Roy Hill in mid-2025 to form Hancock Iron Ore. The group's new McPhee iron ore mine is slated to commence production in the current financial year. (RMS)

News

Gina Rinehart backs Arafura's $475m raise in rare earths stampede

Hancock Prospecting will increase its stake in Arafura Rare Earths from 9.4 per cent to 15.7 per cent after agreeing to buy $125m worth of shares in the rare earths group's proposed $475m placement. Arafura intends to issue new shares at $0.28 apiece, which is a 28 per cent discount to its most recent trading price. The share placement will provide nearly all of the remaining capital Arafura needs for its Nolans rare earths project in the Northern Territory. Arafura aims to make a final investment decision on Nolans in early 2026. (RMS)

News

Taxpayer-backed Liontown burns through cash after $363m raise

Liontown Resources has advised that it produced 87,172 tonnes of lithium concentrate in the September quarter, which is one per cent higher than the previous quarter. However, sales volumes were 20 per cent lower at 77,474 tonnes and revenue fell 29 per cent to $68m. Meanwhile, its cost of production was $US715 per tonne, while it received an average of $US700 per tonne from buyers. Liontown raised $363m from investors in August, while it spent $44m during the September quarter. The federal government's National Reconstruction Fund recently invested $50m in Liontown. (RMS)

News

Glencore walks away from taxpayer-funded clean energy pivot

Anglo-Swiss miner Glencore has advised that it will not proceed with a proposed renewable energy and battery hub at its Murrin Murrin nickel mine and refinery in Western Australia. Glencore had received a $35m grant from the federal government's Powering the Regions Fund to help finance the development of an 849-hectare renewables hub at Murrin Murrin, which currently operates its own gas-fired power station. A spokesman for Glencore says it decided to cancel the onsite hybrid renewable energy project due to a range of macroeconomic and cost factors. Glencore and the government have agreed to mutually terminate the grant. (RMS)

News

Markets

Australian Dollar: $0.6580 USD (up $0.0020 USD) Iron Ore: $106.40 USD (up $0.70 USD) Oil Price: $59.92 USD (down $1.64 USD) Gold: $3,953.97 USD (down $45.33 USD) Copper (CME): $5.1710 USD (up $0.0125 USD) Bitcoin: $112,972.09 USD (down 1.57%) Dow: 47,706.37 (up 161.78 points)

News

Oct 28

US expects China to shelve restrictions on rare earths

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says that staving off China's rare earth restrictions was one of the major objectives of the talks between the US and China during the ASEAN summit in Malaysia. A Chinese official has indicated that the two sides reached a preliminary consensus on a number of issues, including export controls on rare earths, shipping levies and fentanyl. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in turn believes that China will delay its rare earth restrictions for 12 months, while it re-examines the policy. (RMS)

News

PM reassures Beijing over US minerals deal

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur. Xi urged Australia to deepen its co-operation with China amid growing global instability and uncertainty, while Albanese said he is committed to maintaining a stable relationship with China. Albanese also contended that the $13bn critical minerals and rare earths deal with the US should not affect Australia's bilateral relationship with China. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in South Korea on Thursday, with hopes that they will be able to secure a trade deal. (RMS)

News

Trump's critical minerals advisor jets to Perth for talks with leaders after Albanese's deal

Anita Logiudice from the Chamber of Minerals & Energy of Western Australia says the state is "ground zero" for America's interest in critical minerals. She notes that WA accounts for half of Australia's critical minerals reserves, and it is the world's fourth biggest producer of rare earths. The importance of WA has been underlined by the Trump administration's decision to send its deputy assistant secretary for critical minerals and metals to Perth in the wake of the landmark critical minerals deal between Australia and the US. A state government spokesperson says Assistant Secretary Joshua Kroon will hold talks with mining industry executives on growing links and investment in WA's resources sector. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Australia's plan to challenge China's dominance in critical minerals and rare earths

About 90 per cent of all rare earths are refined in China, but the nation has a complete monopoly when it comes to heavy rare earths. Companies or countries that produce rare earths ship their raw material to China for processing, giving it almost complete control over marketing and pricing. The ABC's chief business correspondent Ian Verrender explains to The Business host, Kirsten Aiken, that to maintain its monopoly, China has never been afraid of using its market power. Verrender says it has alternatively flooded markets with material to make it uneconomic for others to establish rival industries, or denied access to refined product to others as punishment. Such overwhelming supply domination, and the pricing power that comes with it, has raised questions over whether governments should continue to allow market forces to determine the supply of materials vital for national security and development in an increasingly divided world. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Bowen told: electricity bills will jump

The unredacted version of the incoming government brief to Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen shows that his department had warned that there is likely to be a "further significant increase" in retail electricity prices during 2025-26. The Department of ­Climate Change, Energy, ­Environment & Water also advised that emissions reductions will need to ­accelerate rapidly for the federal government to achieve its 2030 climate targets, and that "full and timely" implementation of Bowen's first-term reforms will be essential. The brief was prepared by Bowen's department following the election in May, but it initially resisted requests to release the document in full. (RMS)

News

Mining billionaire's economic warning

Fortescue's founder and executive chairman Andrew Forrest says Australia has a "fantastic" future in manufacturing. Forrest adds that Australia can compete against the best of the world, but he contends that the nation must target areas where it is the best rather than simply trying to prop up "old industries". He also says Australia must avoid trying to compete with industrial powerhouses like China and the US in these industries. Meanwhile, Forrest says governments are underestimating Australians by propping up struggling or failing businesses such as the Mount Isa copper smelter in Queensland and the Port Pirie lead smelter in South Australia. (RMS)

News

ASX rises in broad rally; rare earths tumble

The Australian sharemarket posted a solid gain on Monday, with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.4 per cent to close at 9,055.6 points. Investor sentiment was boosted by growing expectations of further monetary policy easing in the US and hopes that the US and China will negotiate a trade deal. Life360 was up 4.7 per cent at $50.14, Woodside Energy rose 1.2 per cent to $24.69 and Qantas ended the session 3.4 per cent higher at $10.87. However, Arafura Rare Earths fell 9.6 per cent to $0.37 and Ramelius Resources was down 5.7 per cent at $3.30. (RMS)

News

Commodities boom boosts ASX profits by $4b

Analysts are upbeat about the earnings outlook for companies in the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index. The rise in commodity prices over the last two months have prompted analysts to forecast earnings growth of 7.1 per cent for top-200 stocks in 2025-26; this compares with forecasts of just 3.1 per cent at the end of the August reporting season. The resources sector is now forecast to post earnings growth of 11 per cent in the current financial year, compared with expectations in August that earnings would fall by one per cent. Analysts are also upbeat regarding some non-resources stocks, including the ANZ Bank, CSL and James Hardie Industries. (RMS)

News

Major Tomago investor writes off smelter in gloomy update

Norsk Hydro has written down the value of its 12.4 per cent stake in the Tomago aluminium smelter in NSW to zero. The Oslo-based company has progressively written down its stake over recent years, and it has warned that the smelter faces an uncertain future when AGL Energy's electricity supply contract ends in 2028; Norsk Hydro adds that it has been difficult to find an affordable renewable supply for Tomago. The smelter's biggest shareholder, Rio Tinto, has previously indicated that it will not continue to operate smelters in Australia beyond 2030 unless they can be converted to use clean energy. (RMS)

News

Going where the profit is

For most of the first 130 years of BHP's existence, the focus of successive CEOs was increasing and developing the company's resources base, rather than profits. With BHP recently celebrating its 140th anniversary, profits and returns on capital now take precedence. Likewise, during BHP's first 130 years Australia knew that its prosperity would depend on exports of agriculture and mining products, which would in turn require cheap energy and strong agricultural support. However, the nation now makes mining and agricultural development harder, and it has abandoned low-cost energy. Meanwhile, BHP's South Australian copper project has been pushed back to the 2030s, and the company will use its iron ore cash flows to develop copper mines in countries where returns and energy costs are competitive. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Antimony miner shoots down US takeover bid

Critical minerals producer Larvotto Resources has formally rejected a takeover offer from the United States Antimony Corporation. Larvotto's directors have concluded that the $723m all-scrip bid materially undervalues the company, which is set to resume production at the mothballed Hillgrove gold and antimony mine in NSW in 2026; Larvotto bought the mine from administrators in late 2023. Meanwhile, Northern Minerals has completed a $60.5m share placement to new investors; its Browns Range project in Western Australia includes heavy rare earths such as terbium and dysprosium. (RMS)

News

Long haul, but it's a win for MinRes

Mineral Resources has advised that 8.75 million tonnes of iron ore were transported via its 150km private haulage road between 1 August and 27 October. This lifted the Onslow Iron venture's annualised haulage rate to 35 million tonnes; this in turn triggered a $200m contingency payment from Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, which acquired a 49 per cent stake in the private road in 2024. Mineral Resources' MD Chris Ellison says that achieving the haul-road's performance target so early in Onslow Iron's ramp-up phase demonstrates the quality of the company's people, partners and infrastructure. The private road has been the subject of safety concerns amid a number of truck rollovers and costly resurfacing work. (RMS)

News

Haoma Mining Shareholder Update

Haoma Mining NL Announcements

28 October 2025

(Roy Morgan Summary)

The 2025 Annual General Meeting of Haoma Mining NL will be held at 9.30am on 26 November at Tonic House, 386 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. A formal Notice of Meeting will be sent to all shareholders. Meanwhile, the Haoma Rare Earths Overview has brought together an overview of the company's Pilbara assets and their geological status; test-work undertaken over several years on those assets by BHP, Anglo America, SQM and Haoma; and their potential for Heavy Rare Earths as well as gold. Haoma's shareholder update also includes progress on Bamboo Creek Test-work from July to October 2025, including physical gold recovered from recent Elazac Process test-work conducted in Haoma's Bamboo Creek Laboratory. Haoma's Board in turn resolved on 22 October to allocate performance rights to a number of employees, consultants and contractors who are associated with Haoma. (RMS)

News

$US50m deal for development of Ravensthorpe gold project

Medallion Metals has advised that it has secured a deal for Trafigura to arrange and provide a $US50m ($77m) senior secured prepayment facility. Medallion says the debt financing facility will underpin the funding required for the development of its Ravensthorpe Gold Project in Western Australia, as well as the processing operations at the Forrestania nickel assets that it has agreed to buy from IGO. The deal with Trafigura also includes an offtake agreement for gold dore, copper and precious metal concentrate. (RMS)

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, Cryptos and Culture

October 29, 2025

Sin City Sydney, Australia
Gold lost more shine!

ASX futures up 11 points or 0.1% to 9049
Wall Street:
S&P 500 +0.3%
Dow Jones +0.3%
Nasdaq +0.8%

Europe:
Stoxx 50 -0.1%
FTSE +0.4%
DAX -0.1%
CAC -0.3%

Australian dollar +0.4% to US65.85 cents

Bitcoin -1.7% to $US112,870

Gold -0.7% to $US3953.27 per ounce
Oil -2.2% to $US59.94 a barrel
Brent crude oil -2.2% to $US64.20 a barrel
Iron ore +0.8% to $US106.00 per ton

10-year yield:
US 3.97%
Australia 4.17%
Germany 2.62%

News Update: (Near Live)

Bitcoin:

New York/Wall St via Mr Wolf!
Oct 28

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Moody: Part Corrective! Up Again! Salty. Smiles returning again! Right Chess Move?! Trump Trade Done solid! All That Glitters Not Digital Gold?!

Bitcoin $113,258.08 -0.78%
Ethereum $3,999.09 -3.07%
Tether $1.0002 +0.01%
Binance Coin $1,106.27 -2.66%
XRP $2.6210 +1.07%
Solana $195.14 -1.71%
TRON $0.2957 -0.93%
Dogecoin $0.1945 -3.49%
Cardano $0.6852 -$0.6491 -2.76%

Market part corrective again! Mood: Suspicious! Losing smiles again! Hardcores keep the dream! Never give up! Pivot if required!

Media Man Favs:

(Near Live)
Wall St, New York

TKO Group Holdings Inc $187.45 -0.060 -0.032%
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News

Oct 28

The crypto market is confused about who to follow

Market Overview

The crypto market cap fell by 1.7% to $3.85 trillion in 24 hours. External conditions are a mixture of new highs in stock indices and a rapid sell-off of gold, confusing cryptocurrency investors. The Trump coin is up about 10% daily, likely fuelled by negotiations in Asia. Zcash, among the day's outsiders, is down 9% but still showing 500% growth over 30 days.

Bitcoin has fallen back to $114K, remaining stuck to the 50-day moving average. At the start of the week, there was an attempt to break out of the range defined by the 50- and 200-day moving averages. The price pullback at the end of Monday does not allow us to declare victory for the bulls. If Bitcoin is still digital gold, this is bad news for buyers.

Ethereum is trading near $4,100. Attempts to break above $4,200 and overcome resistance in the form of the 50-day average on Monday were unsuccessful. Since August, ETHUSD has been on a downward trend with lower local lows and highs. We can only discuss a break in this trend after it consolidates above $4,300.

News Background

According to CoinShares, global investment in crypto funds rose by $921 million last week after an outflow the week before. Investments in Bitcoin increased by $931 million, XRP by $84 million, and Solana by $29 million. Investments in Ethereum decreased by $169 million, and Sui by $9 million.

Bitcoin has returned above the short-term holders' cost basis (STH-Cost Basis), which is a constructive signal for a bull market, according to Checkonchain.

Since mid-October, long-term investors have withdrawn about 62,000 BTC from their wallets. The growth in market supply could hinder Bitcoin's rally in the absence of intense demand, according to Glassnode.

BitMine increased its reserves to 3.3 million ETH, buying 77,055 ETH over the past week. BitMine's total cryptocurrency reserves reached $14.2 billion.
Strategy bought 390 BTC over the past week. The company now has 640,808 BTC on its balance sheet, with a total value of $47.44 billion at an average purchase price of $74,032.

The bankrupt crypto exchange Mt.Gox has postponed the deadline for payments to creditors from 31 October 2025 to 31 October 2026. This is the third postponement of payments, which were initially planned to be completed by 31 October 2023. (FxPro)

News Flashback

Oil prices could fall another 15% by the end of the year

Crude oil prices fell 0.7% on Monday after three consecutive weeks of decline. Global production is growing while global economic growth is slowing, putting pressure on prices. In addition, the risk premium on signing the gas agreement and intensifying efforts to resolve the Ukrainian conflict has begun to decline. At the same time, oil prices are far from oversold, leaving room for further decline in the coming months. Baker Hughes reported on Friday that 418 oil rigs are operating in the US, the same as a week earlier, undermining the recovery trend seen since August. However, America is increasing production efficiency, extracting more oil from each well.

Bloomberg noted that there are now nearly 1.2 billion barrels of oil at sea, a record since the peak in 2020, when US production was at historic highs and Saudi Arabia and Russia were fighting for market share, boasting of their potential.

The current situation strongly resonates with what happened more than five years ago. The latest weekly data showed a record high in daily production in the US, with supplies of 13.64 million barrels per day.

Inventory figures are a stabilising factor. Commercial inventories in the US are at the lower end of the range for the last decade, but they were about the same in January 2020, and six months later, this figure set a new record. However, without a collapse in consumption, such rapid growth should not be expected. The US government may also move to more actively rebuild the strategic petroleum reserve sold off in 2022.

The price of oil has been in a downward channel for just over three years, and at the end of September, it accelerated its decline as it approached the 50-week moving average and the upper limit of the range. The lower limit of this range is now close to $53 per barrel of Brent, with a decline towards the end of the year closer to $50.50 against the current $61.00.

The main scenario for oil is a decline towards $50 in the next 2-4 months. At the same time, the potential for an increase in US inventories is a potential stabilising factor. We assume that the situation with inventories is roughly similar worldwide, excluding the abundance of oil at sea. (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

Politics remains the main driver of FX

The US government shutdown did not have a noticeable impact on the dollar's performance last week. However, it did help the stock market to grow slightly by strengthening expectations of monetary policy easing. However, these events pale in comparison to the change in Japan's ruling elite and the resignation of the French prime minister less than a day after the formation of the government in terms of their impact on the currency market. In Japan, Sanae Takaichi was chosen head of the Liberal Democratic Party over the weekend and is on track to become the country's first female prime minister. This event caused the yen to fall 2% to 150.49 from Friday's level before correcting to 149.80 at the time of writing. Takaichi is considered a supporter of aggressive government spending, structural reforms, and soft monetary policy, echoing the basic principles of Shinzo Abe. Overall, she has a more right-wing approach to national policy and is also a supporter of revising Japan's pacifist constitution. The market reaction clearly shows that they are considering Takaichi to be the new prime minister. If she does not change her political views (and she has softened them recently to win the party elections), we should be prepared for a further weakening of the yen, which reached its highest level since 1991 in the EURJPY pair, exceeding 176. However, the single currency is also facing uncertainty today due to a new political crisis in France. Prime Minister Lecornu, who had been trying to form a government for a month, resigned the day after he finally presented his new cabinet. His appointments drew criticism from both left-wing and right-wing allies. The EURUSD fell to 1.1650 at its lowest point on Monday, losing a full cent against Friday's levels. Unlike Japan, where a 2% drop in the JPY was accompanied by a 5% jump in the Nikkei225 index, France's CAC40 lost more than 2% intraday, paring its losses to 1.2% towards the end of the trading day in Europe. The EURUSD stopped its climb in July and has been hovering around 1.1700 all this time, not least because of the political crisis in France. Without it, the single currency would have had a much better chance of exploiting political divisions in the US to its advantage. It would be an exaggeration to call the situation in Japan and France a drama. Still, these events once again emphasise that as soon as the dollar's throne begin.

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
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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
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Mr X vs Hollyweird
Succession vs Billions
Mouse House vs Art House
NFL vs UFL
ABC vs Mainstream Aussies
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MLW vs everyone
Bulls vs Bears

News

Cryptocurrency Movies
Documentaries

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 Flashback

Gold, copper, & silver:

How metals are moving this year

Metal futures have made some pretty dramatic moves lately from safe haven gold to tariff sensitive copper. So let's take a look at the longer term trends. I'm Jared Blikre, host of Stocks in Translation. And I'm going to start by charting some of the moves in Dr. Copper because this is where we have the most zig and zags over the last 25 years. So this goes back to the beginning of the century and we can see right now, we're at $5.51 per pound. That is a record high. But if we go back to the beginning of the century, guess what? Uh we had a little bit of a slump in the wake of the dot com boom and then bust, but starting in 2003, we saw a big rise there. And that was as China actually joined the World Trade Organization or the WTO. That lasted into the global financial crisis. Then we had a pretty big bust in in Dr. Copper, and then we had another rise. And that rise was due to unprecedented stimulus, not only from the Chinese government, but also from the United States government, QE was in force, and then we saw kind of a strong dollar play. That weighed on this metal all the way into the beginning of 2016. The entire world, most of the world indices went through a bear market in 2015, and then 2016, we found the footing. And that was actually the year that Trump won, began his first presidency. And from there, we saw some zig and zags, and then we saw a shock into the pandemic. A couple of, a couple of years of deflation or a semi-deflation, disinflation, that caught up with it in 2022, but then it was off to the races again. And especially with the Trump tariffs now on copper, threatening to be threatening to be 50% on August 1st, we're seeing a lot of front running in this trade. Now, I also want to show you gold futures and I'm going to show you silver as well. And they follow a very similar pattern. We're not seeing the dramatic zig and zags that we did in copper, but we did see the same pattern of China joining the WTO, contributing to that huge rise in price to 1800, almost $2,000 an ounce by the beginning of the global financial crisis. So a little bit of a meltdown there. But in 2016 into 2018, we saw a bit of a rise into the pandemic, a little bit of a whipsaw there, and consolidation over a few years. Again, that 2022 bare market in US stocks that contributed to some deflation and disinflation globally, supply chain chain shocks came into force again, and then we saw this huge rise beginning in late 2023, and we are now at 3353. We've seen a high of as much as $3,500 per ounce. And gold is kind of unique among the precious metals and also the industrial metals, and this is because central banks have been a huge determining force in their buying of it. This is a bar chart that shows central bank buying in tons going back all the way to 2010. And what you notice here is the last three years, 2022, 2023, 2024, all of those had gold being bought by central banks of in the amount of over 1,000 tons. And so that's a pretty big dramatic increase from the prior years. And this has to do with the ongoing dedollarization in China, as well as Russia, but also a host of other countries, even some in western and eastern Europe. So this is a trend that we want to follow. Uh, I want to close out here with silver, and I'm going to just chart the price action. Again, very similar chart to gold and copper in terms of the big movements here. We saw a big price spike into almost $50 per ounce, and that was just as the global financial crisis was getting underway. And then the QE area in 2011, that's when we saw that high. Then we saw a dramatic, dramatic crash into 2016, kind of found its footing, saw a big squeeze in the early pandemic, 2020 was a great year for silver, but then we saw a little bit of a fallout. And again, silver is on the rise here at $38. It's still off of that $50 record high, but it is increasing very quickly. To round out the conversation, I want to just put on a table here. I have all three medals and just kind of grouping them together. I want to display how they are moving with their specific patterns with a trigger, and then to tell you which one of these is featured in these specific criteria. So here, under the pattern, we have acceleration. So that would be an economic acceleration. The trigger would be liquidity. And when that happens, we see all metals benefiting from that. And then when there's a safe haven scare, and that trigger would be a crisis of some sorts, you're going to see gold and silver outperforming the most, kind of leaving Dr. Copper behind. And then here's a bearish one, industrial drags, that affects copper disproportionately here, and the trigger there is typically a stronger US dollar because the US dollar surges when global global industrials tend to drag, and that's because the US is the least dirty shirt in the laundry basket of the world. And then finally here, we have a policy shock. This will affect all three medals, but especially copper and gold here. Um, arguably, the biggest reason is tariffs and debt, and we've seen both of those contribute to silver rising. So we could put all three in that basket as well. But when you put it all together, we have the perfect explosive mix for all three of these metals, including palladium and also platinum, which we didn't get to have time for, but all of these are experiencing huge thrust in 2025. And we'll have to see how these tariffs play out, especially on Dr. Copper with respect to that August 1st deadline. Remember, 50% there. So tune into Stocks in Translation for more jargon busting deep dives, new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays on Yahoo Finances website, or wherever you find your podcast. (Transcript from Yahoo! Finance podcast)

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"

Markets, Cryptos and Culture

October 27, 2025

Sin City Sydney, Australia
Gold lost more shine!

ASX futures up 26 points, or 0.3%, at 9061

Wall Street:
S&P 500 +0.8%
Dow Jones: +1%
Nasdaq +1.2%

Europe:
Stoxx 50 +0.1%
FTSE +0.7%
DAX +0.1%
CAC flat

Australian dollar at US65.44 cents

Bitcoin +1.7% to $US113,583

Gold -0.3% to $US4113.05 per ounce
US oil -0.5% to $US61.50 a barrel
Brent crude -0.1% to $US65.94 a barrel
Iron ore -0.2% to $US104.45 per ton

10-year yield:
US 4.00%
Australia 4.14%
Germany 2.62%

News Update: (Near Live)

Bitcoin:

New York/Wall St via Mr Wolf!
Oct 26

Cryptos Today:
(Near Live) Moody: Part Corrective! Up Again! Salty. Smiles returning again! Right Chess Move?! Trump Trade Done solid! All That Glitters Not Digital Gold?!

Bitcoin $114,868.99 +2.81%
Ethereum $4,169.01 +5.52%
Tether $1.0000 -0.01%
Binance Coin $1,141.20 +2.12%
XRP $2.6655 +1.80%
Solana $202.18 +4.58%
TRON $0.3013 +1.69%
Dogecoin $0.2074 +5.63%
Cardano $0.6852 +4.79%

Market part corrective again! Mood: Suspicious! Regaining smiles a little! Hardcores keep the dream! Never give up! Pivot if required!

Media Man Favs:

(Near Live)
Wall St, New York

TKO Group Holdings Inc $186.85
NVIDIA Corp $186.26 +4.10 +2.25%
Formula One Group Series C $94.65 -2.37 -2.44%
Alphabet Inc Class A $259.92 +6.84 +2.70%
News Corp Class A $26.32 -0.080 -0.30%
Netflix Inc $1,094.69 -18.90 -1.70%
Caterpillar Inc $522.73 +2.23 +0.43%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp
$26.32 -0.080 -0.30% Tesla Inc $433.72
-15.26 +3.40%
Walt Disney Co $111.68 -1.35 -1.19%
Wynn Resorts Ltd $125.57 +0.17 +0.14%
Meta Platforms Inc $738.36 +4.36 +0.59%
BHP Group Ltd $43.34 +0.095 +0.22%
Mercedes Benz Group ADR $15.51 +0.094 +0.61%
Elders Ltd $7.43
Rio Tinto Ltd $132.43 +0.61 0.46%

News Lead Up

Oct 21

Crypto’s sell-the-growth mode

Market Overview

The crypto market cap changed slightly over the past day, remaining at $3.65 trillion, completing a full circle with a 5% increase and a return. Relatively small coins such as Zcash (+6.6%), Dash (+3%) and Tezos (+2.7%) performed slightly better than the market, remaining unaffected by the fluctuations in risk appetite among large institutions selling top coins on the rise. Such fluctuations do not contribute to improving the mood of crypto investors. On the contrary, the corresponding index fell to 25, on the verge of extreme fear territory. At current levels, the rule of ‘buy when everyone is afraid’ may work, or there may be a switch to a more intense sell-off after three months of stagnation.
Bitcoin rose to $114K on Tuesday, touching the 50-day moving average, but this only fuelled sellers. Bitcoin has been balancing the 50- and 200-day MA for the last eleven days. The latter curve is pointing upwards, reducing the space for free fluctuations and bringing the moment when the market will have to choose a direction closer.

News Background

Bitcoin's bullish phase is not over yet, according to the creator of the S2F model and analyst Plan B. The fundamentals point to continued growth, and there are no key technical signals indicating a final bull market phase. According to BTSE COO Jeff May, market volatility will continue. TD Cowen remains positive about BTC and forecasts the asset to grow to $141,000 by December. Analyst Willy Woo believes that the next bear market in the crypto cycle will differ from previous ones. It could be triggered by economic crises, such as those in 2001 and 2008, which the crypto market has not yet experienced. Polygon co-founder Sandip Nailwal criticised the Ethereum network's leadership and emphasised that its community has ‘turned into a circus.’ The success of projects on the ETH network depends on a few venture capital funds and proximity to a small circle of people around Vitalik Buterin, said Geth client developer Peter Szilagyi. According to Lookonchain, Elon Musk's company SpaceX has moved $257 million worth of Bitcoin for the first time since July. The company did not comment on the reasons for the transfers. According to Arkham, SpaceX owns 5,790 BTC.

News

Japanese bulls went to recharge

For the first time in Japan, a woman has become prime minister. Although this result was largely anticipated, lingering risks led to a noticeable market response. However, the overall effect so far has been to sell Japanese assets, from the yen to stocks.

Takaichi’s position (stimulating the economy and lowering interest rates) has led to speculative buying in Japanese stocks. From its lows in early October, the Nikkei 225 has risen by almost 13% and on Tuesday morning was on the verge of reaching 50,000. As it approached this psychologically important round level, a wave of profit-taking pushed the index down to 49,000 during the day. However, this technical sell-off has not yet changed the long-term positive outlook for the market. Takaichi is expected to intensify efforts to stimulate economic growth, focusing less on the budget balance and accumulated public debt.

On weekly timeframes, the Nikkei225 is close to, but has not yet entered, the overbought zone on the RSI. Over the past 10 years, powerful corrections after rallies have occurred when the index was close to 80, and now it is at 75. Overall, these are relatively high values, but in such cases, rallies often become extreme, knocking out the positions of early sellers. To be cont (FxPro)

News

Oil prices could fall another 15% by the end of the year

Crude oil prices fell 0.7% on Monday after three consecutive weeks of decline. Global production is growing while global economic growth is slowing, putting pressure on prices. In addition, the risk premium on signing the gas agreement and intensifying efforts to resolve the Ukrainian conflict has begun to decline. At the same time, oil prices are far from oversold, leaving room for further decline in the coming months. Baker Hughes reported on Friday that 418 oil rigs are operating in the US, the same as a week earlier, undermining the recovery trend seen since August. However, America is increasing production efficiency, extracting more oil from each well.

Bloomberg noted that there are now nearly 1.2 billion barrels of oil at sea, a record since the peak in 2020, when US production was at historic highs and Saudi Arabia and Russia were fighting for market share, boasting of their potential.

The current situation strongly resonates with what happened more than five years ago. The latest weekly data showed a record high in daily production in the US, with supplies of 13.64 million barrels per day.

Inventory figures are a stabilising factor. Commercial inventories in the US are at the lower end of the range for the last decade, but they were about the same in January 2020, and six months later, this figure set a new record. However, without a collapse in consumption, such rapid growth should not be expected. The US government may also move to more actively rebuild the strategic petroleum reserve sold off in 2022.

The price of oil has been in a downward channel for just over three years, and at the end of September, it accelerated its decline as it approached the 50-week moving average and the upper limit of the range. The lower limit of this range is now close to $53 per barrel of Brent, with a decline towards the end of the year closer to $50.50 against the current $61.00.

The main scenario for oil is a decline towards $50 in the next 2-4 months. At the same time, the potential for an increase in US inventories is a potential stabilising factor. We assume that the situation with inventories is roughly similar worldwide, excluding the abundance of oil at sea. (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

Politics remains the main driver of FX

The US government shutdown did not have a noticeable impact on the dollar's performance last week. However, it did help the stock market to grow slightly by strengthening expectations of monetary policy easing. However, these events pale in comparison to the change in Japan's ruling elite and the resignation of the French prime minister less than a day after the formation of the government in terms of their impact on the currency market. In Japan, Sanae Takaichi was chosen head of the Liberal Democratic Party over the weekend and is on track to become the country's first female prime minister. This event caused the yen to fall 2% to 150.49 from Friday's level before correcting to 149.80 at the time of writing. Takaichi is considered a supporter of aggressive government spending, structural reforms, and soft monetary policy, echoing the basic principles of Shinzo Abe. Overall, she has a more right-wing approach to national policy and is also a supporter of revising Japan's pacifist constitution. The market reaction clearly shows that they are considering Takaichi to be the new prime minister. If she does not change her political views (and she has softened them recently to win the party elections), we should be prepared for a further weakening of the yen, which reached its highest level since 1991 in the EURJPY pair, exceeding 176. However, the single currency is also facing uncertainty today due to a new political crisis in France. Prime Minister Lecornu, who had been trying to form a government for a month, resigned the day after he finally presented his new cabinet. His appointments drew criticism from both left-wing and right-wing allies. The EURUSD fell to 1.1650 at its lowest point on Monday, losing a full cent against Friday's levels. Unlike Japan, where a 2% drop in the JPY was accompanied by a 5% jump in the Nikkei225 index, France's CAC40 lost more than 2% intraday, paring its losses to 1.2% towards the end of the trading day in Europe. The EURUSD stopped its climb in July and has been hovering around 1.1700 all this time, not least because of the political crisis in France. Without it, the single currency would have had a much better chance of exploiting political divisions in the US to its advantage. It would be an exaggeration to call the situation in Japan and France a drama. Still, these events once again emphasise that as soon as the dollar's throne begin.

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
Bulls vs Bears

News

Cryptocurrency Movies
Documentaries

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 Flashback

Gold, copper, & silver:

How metals are moving this year

Metal futures have made some pretty dramatic moves lately from safe haven gold to tariff sensitive copper. So let's take a look at the longer term trends. I'm Jared Blikre, host of Stocks in Translation. And I'm going to start by charting some of the moves in Dr. Copper because this is where we have the most zig and zags over the last 25 years. So this goes back to the beginning of the century and we can see right now, we're at $5.51 per pound. That is a record high. But if we go back to the beginning of the century, guess what? Uh we had a little bit of a slump in the wake of the dot com boom and then bust, but starting in 2003, we saw a big rise there. And that was as China actually joined the World Trade Organization or the WTO. That lasted into the global financial crisis. Then we had a pretty big bust in in Dr. Copper, and then we had another rise. And that rise was due to unprecedented stimulus, not only from the Chinese government, but also from the United States government, QE was in force, and then we saw kind of a strong dollar play. That weighed on this metal all the way into the beginning of 2016. The entire world, most of the world indices went through a bear market in 2015, and then 2016, we found the footing. And that was actually the year that Trump won, began his first presidency. And from there, we saw some zig and zags, and then we saw a shock into the pandemic. A couple of, a couple of years of deflation or a semi-deflation, disinflation, that caught up with it in 2022, but then it was off to the races again. And especially with the Trump tariffs now on copper, threatening to be threatening to be 50% on August 1st, we're seeing a lot of front running in this trade. Now, I also want to show you gold futures and I'm going to show you silver as well. And they follow a very similar pattern. We're not seeing the dramatic zig and zags that we did in copper, but we did see the same pattern of China joining the WTO, contributing to that huge rise in price to 1800, almost $2,000 an ounce by the beginning of the global financial crisis. So a little bit of a meltdown there. But in 2016 into 2018, we saw a bit of a rise into the pandemic, a little bit of a whipsaw there, and consolidation over a few years. Again, that 2022 bare market in US stocks that contributed to some deflation and disinflation globally, supply chain chain shocks came into force again, and then we saw this huge rise beginning in late 2023, and we are now at 3353. We've seen a high of as much as $3,500 per ounce. And gold is kind of unique among the precious metals and also the industrial metals, and this is because central banks have been a huge determining force in their buying of it. This is a bar chart that shows central bank buying in tons going back all the way to 2010. And what you notice here is the last three years, 2022, 2023, 2024, all of those had gold being bought by central banks of in the amount of over 1,000 tons. And so that's a pretty big dramatic increase from the prior years. And this has to do with the ongoing dedollarization in China, as well as Russia, but also a host of other countries, even some in western and eastern Europe. So this is a trend that we want to follow. Uh, I want to close out here with silver, and I'm going to just chart the price action. Again, very similar chart to gold and copper in terms of the big movements here. We saw a big price spike into almost $50 per ounce, and that was just as the global financial crisis was getting underway. And then the QE area in 2011, that's when we saw that high. Then we saw a dramatic, dramatic crash into 2016, kind of found its footing, saw a big squeeze in the early pandemic, 2020 was a great year for silver, but then we saw a little bit of a fallout. And again, silver is on the rise here at $38. It's still off of that $50 record high, but it is increasing very quickly. To round out the conversation, I want to just put on a table here. I have all three medals and just kind of grouping them together. I want to display how they are moving with their specific patterns with a trigger, and then to tell you which one of these is featured in these specific criteria. So here, under the pattern, we have acceleration. So that would be an economic acceleration. The trigger would be liquidity. And when that happens, we see all metals benefiting from that. And then when there's a safe haven scare, and that trigger would be a crisis of some sorts, you're going to see gold and silver outperforming the most, kind of leaving Dr. Copper behind. And then here's a bearish one, industrial drags, that affects copper disproportionately here, and the trigger there is typically a stronger US dollar because the US dollar surges when global global industrials tend to drag, and that's because the US is the least dirty shirt in the laundry basket of the world. And then finally here, we have a policy shock. This will affect all three medals, but especially copper and gold here. Um, arguably, the biggest reason is tariffs and debt, and we've seen both of those contribute to silver rising. So we could put all three in that basket as well. But when you put it all together, we have the perfect explosive mix for all three of these metals, including palladium and also platinum, which we didn't get to have time for, but all of these are experiencing huge thrust in 2025. And we'll have to see how these tariffs play out, especially on Dr. Copper with respect to that August 1st deadline. Remember, 50% there. So tune into Stocks in Translation for more jargon busting deep dives, new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays on Yahoo Finances website, or wherever you find your podcast. (Transcript from Yahoo! Finance podcast)

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"

Markets, Crypto and Culture

Mad Monday Edition!

October 6, 2025

Sydney, Australia

ASX futures up 29 points/0.3% to 9045

Wall Street:
S&P 500 flat
Dow Jones +0.5%
Nasdaq -0.3%

Europe:
Stoxx 50 +0.1%
FTSE +0.7%
DAX -0.2%
CAC +0.3%

Bitcoin +0.6% to $US122,744

Gold +0.8% to $US3886.54 per ounce
Oil +0.7% to $US60.88 a barrel
Brent crude oil +0.7% to $US64.53 a barrel
Iron ore +0.2% to $US104.00 per ton

10-year yield:
US 4.12%
Australia 4.33%
Germany 2.70%

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Bitcoin $122,719.44 +0.41%
Ethereum $4,503.65 +0.40%
Tether $1.0001 -0.01%
Binance Coin $1,160.20 +0.67%
XRP $2.9813 +0.66%
Solana $228.76 +0.62%
USDC $0.9996 flat
TRON $0.3418 +0.26%
Dogecoin $0.2530 +1.15%
Cardano $0.8371 +0.40%

Market bullish! Mood joyful

Stocks (After Hours); Countdown to Wall St opening!

Media Man Favs:

TKO Group $197.35 -0.65 -0.33%
Formula One Group Series C $104.83 +0.68 +0.65%
NVIDIA Corp $187.62 -1.32 -0.70%
Alphabet Inc Class A $245.35 -0.34 -0.14%
News Corp Class A $28.38 -0.17 -0.60%
Netflix Inc $1,153.32 -9.21 -0.79%
Caterpillar Inc $497.85 +7.28 +1.48%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp $17.34 +0.14 +0.81%
Tesla Inc $429.83 -6.17 -1.42%
Walt Disney Co $112.47 +0.33 +0.29%
Wynn Resorts Ltd $123.66 -9.68 -7.26%
Meta Platforms Inc $710.56 -16.49 -2.27%
BHP Group Ltd $42.08 +0.14 +0.33%
Mercedes Benz Group ADR $16.24 +0.18 +1.11%

News

Oct 3

The US government shutdown is pressing dollar

The shutdown came as a bolt from the blue for the US dollar. The greenback was confident that Democrats and Republicans would reach a last-minute agreement. That did not happen. During previous government shutdowns, the dollar index typically fell on expectations of slowing GDP and mass layoffs. In 2025, the situation will worsen because the labour market is already cooling down.

Due to the shutdown, the publication of important data will be postponed. Therefore, the importance of the ADP report increases. Over the last two months, there has been a decline in private sector employment. This increased the chances of a federal funds rate cut in October to 99% and in December to 87%. Treasury bond yields and the US dollar fell.

There is increased demand for safe-haven assets in the markets. Gold continues to break records, Treasury yields are falling, and the yen has moved away from the political crisis in Japan and is growing steadily. In contrast, European currencies are not yet able to take full advantage of the weakness of the US dollar. The euro is hampered by geopolitics and events in France.
S&P 500 shrugged off the shutdown

The S&P 500 shrugged off the shutdown and marked its 29th record high since the beginning of the year. Pharmaceutical and technology companies, which received a tariff deferral, led the rally. The market was pleased by the news that OpenAI had become the largest startup in history, with a valuation of over 500 billion dollars.

Jerome Powell's comments about the high valuation of US stocks led only to a temporary pullback in the S&P 500. Investors immediately bought up the dip. History shows that since 1996, similar rhetoric from the Fed chairman has led to an average 13% increase in the broad stock index over the next 12 months. There is a view in the market that high Price-to-Earnings ratios are the new reality. Corporate reporting is improving, the US economy has shifted its focus from manufacturing to technology, and artificial intelligence makes the US stock market unique and attractive.

The ADP report on private sector employment did not deter the S&P 500. It finally convinced investors that the Fed would cut the federal funds rate twice more in 2025. (FxPro)

News

Crypto

October 2

The cryptocurrency market soared to extremes

Market Overview

The cryptocurrency market capitalisation soared by 4% over the past day to $4.07 trillion. The capitalisation has soared into the extreme zone, above which it was only briefly in mid-August and mid-September.

Cryptocurrency investors are convinced that the US government shutdown is not dampening risk appetite, and macroeconomic data is pushing the Fed to ease its policy further.

The sentiment index rose to 64 (greed), reaching its highest level in the last six weeks. However, the index is far from extreme greed, leaving significant potential for further strengthening.

On Thursday morning, Bitcoin exceeded $118K, surpassing the previous highs, which indicates an important technical breakthrough of the established range. The next step could well be an attempt to update historical highs approaching $125K. At the same time, it is worth paying attention to the activity of long-term sellers, who have been actively selling near these levels since July: we may see a new episode of selling on the rise.

News Background

The total supply of stablecoins grew by a record $45 billion in the third quarter, according to http://CEX.io. At the same time, 69% of the ‘printed’ volume was issued on the main Ethereum network.

According to CryptoQuant, the growth in the supply of stablecoins creates a powerful foundation for a bull market. Historically, Bitcoin has rallied not only in October but throughout the last quarter of the year.

The main factors that could trigger a crypto market rally in the fourth quarter could be changes in digital asset regulation in the US and expanded access to the crypto market through products on stock exchanges, according to Grayscale.

The total Bitcoin reserves of Japanese company Metaplanet reached 30,823 coins, placing it in fourth place among all corporate BTC holders.

According to Onchain Lens, Tether, the issuer of USDT, has replenished its Bitcoin reserve with 8,889 BTC worth $1 billion. Since May 2023, the company has been allocating 15% of its net profit to the purchase of BTC as part of its long-term asset diversification strategy.

Stani Kulechov, founder of leading lending platform Aave, said lower interest rates by global central banks will create favourable conditions for yield growth in the DeFi sector and may drive renewed interest in decentralised finance. (FxPro)

News

Oct 3

ASX rallies 1.1pc as miners and CBA jump

The Australian sharemarket posted a strong gain on Thursday, with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 1.1 per cent to close at 8,945.9 points. BHP rose 1.1 per cent to $41.94, Westgold Resources was up 8.3 per cent at $5.37 and the Commonwealth Bank finished 1.7 per cent higher at $169.82. However, profit-taking saw DroneShield fall 9.8 per cent to $5.18 following a rally in recent days, while REA Group was down 1.9 per cent at $224.99. (RMS)

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
L. 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

News

Cryptocurrency Movies

Documentaries

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 Flashback

Gold, copper, & silver: How metals are moving this year

Metal futures have made some pretty dramatic moves lately from safe haven gold to tariff sensitive copper. So let's take a look at the longer term trends. I'm Jared Blikre, host of Stocks in Translation. And I'm going to start by charting some of the moves in Dr. Copper because this is where we have the most zig and zags over the last 25 years. So this goes back to the beginning of the century and we can see right now, we're at $5.51 per pound. That is a record high. But if we go back to the beginning of the century, guess what? Uh we had a little bit of a slump in the wake of the dot com boom and then bust, but starting in 2003, we saw a big rise there. And that was as China actually joined the World Trade Organization or the WTO. That lasted into the global financial crisis. Then we had a pretty big bust in in Dr. Copper, and then we had another rise. And that rise was due to unprecedented stimulus, not only from the Chinese government, but also from the United States government, QE was in force, and then we saw kind of a strong dollar play. That weighed on this metal all the way into the beginning of 2016. The entire world, most of the world indices went through a bear market in 2015, and then 2016, we found the footing. And that was actually the year that Trump won, began his first presidency. And from there, we saw some zig and zags, and then we saw a shock into the pandemic. A couple of, a couple of years of deflation or a semi-deflation, disinflation, that caught up with it in 2022, but then it was off to the races again. And especially with the Trump tariffs now on copper, threatening to be threatening to be 50% on August 1st, we're seeing a lot of front running in this trade. Now, I also want to show you gold futures and I'm going to show you silver as well. And they follow a very similar pattern. We're not seeing the dramatic zig and zags that we did in copper, but we did see the same pattern of China joining the WTO, contributing to that huge rise in price to 1800, almost $2,000 an ounce by the beginning of the global financial crisis. So a little bit of a meltdown there. But in 2016 into 2018, we saw a bit of a rise into the pandemic, a little bit of a whipsaw there, and consolidation over a few years. Again, that 2022 bare market in US stocks that contributed to some deflation and disinflation globally, supply chain chain shocks came into force again, and then we saw this huge rise beginning in late 2023, and we are now at 3353. We've seen a high of as much as $3,500 per ounce. And gold is kind of unique among the precious metals and also the industrial metals, and this is because central banks have been a huge determining force in their buying of it. This is a bar chart that shows central bank buying in tons going back all the way to 2010. And what you notice here is the last three years, 2022, 2023, 2024, all of those had gold being bought by central banks of in the amount of over 1,000 tons. And so that's a pretty big dramatic increase from the prior years. And this has to do with the ongoing dedollarization in China, as well as Russia, but also a host of other countries, even some in western and eastern Europe. So this is a trend that we want to follow. Uh, I want to close out here with silver, and I'm going to just chart the price action. Again, very similar chart to gold and copper in terms of the big movements here. We saw a big price spike into almost $50 per ounce, and that was just as the global financial crisis was getting underway. And then the QE area in 2011, that's when we saw that high. Then we saw a dramatic, dramatic crash into 2016, kind of found its footing, saw a big squeeze in the early pandemic, 2020 was a great year for silver, but then we saw a little bit of a fallout. And again, silver is on the rise here at $38. It's still off of that $50 record high, but it is increasing very quickly. To round out the conversation, I want to just put on a table here. I have all three medals and just kind of grouping them together. I want to display how they are moving with their specific patterns with a trigger, and then to tell you which one of these is featured in these specific criteria. So here, under the pattern, we have acceleration. So that would be an economic acceleration. The trigger would be liquidity. And when that happens, we see all metals benefiting from that. And then when there's a safe haven scare, and that trigger would be a crisis of some sorts, you're going to see gold and silver outperforming the most, kind of leaving Dr. Copper behind. And then here's a bearish one, industrial drags, that affects copper disproportionately here, and the trigger there is typically a stronger US dollar because the US dollar surges when global global industrials tend to drag, and that's because the US is the least dirty shirt in the laundry basket of the world. And then finally here, we have a policy shock. This will affect all three medals, but especially copper and gold here. Um, arguably, the biggest reason is tariffs and debt, and we've seen both of those contribute to silver rising. So we could put all three in that basket as well. But when you put it all together, we have the perfect explosive mix for all three of these metals, including palladium and also platinum, which we didn't get to have time for, but all of these are experiencing huge thrust in 2025. And we'll have to see how these tariffs play out, especially on Dr. Copper with respect to that August 1st deadline. Remember, 50% there. So tune into Stocks in Translation for more jargon busting deep dives, new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays on Yahoo Finances website, or wherever you find your podcast. (Transcript from Yahoo! Finance podcast)

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"

Media Man Int

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Sports Brand News Under The Media Man Watercooler

The world's top sports brands include Nike, Adidas, Lululemon, Puma, and Under Armour.

These brands dominate the market in terms of revenue, brand value, and global recognition. Nike consistently ranks as the most valuable sports brand, followed by Adidas, with a significant gap in brand value.

The List

Nike: A global leader in athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment, known for its iconic swoosh logo and strong brand recognition.

Adidas: A major competitor to Nike, offering a wide range of sports apparel, footwear, and accessories.

Lululemon: Specializing in athletic apparel, particularly yoga wear, but expanding into other areas like running shoes and personal care.

Puma: A well-known sportswear brand with a strong presence in football and other sports.

Under Armour: A prominent brand known for its performance apparel and innovative technologies.

Other notable brands: ASICS, Fila, New Balance, Skechers, Decathlon, and more, each with their own niche in the market.

News

Sports Brands: News

Nike: Nike has launched a new soccer campaign, “Scary Good,” focusing on talented players redefining the sport. This aligns with their “Sport Offense” strategy, emphasizing performance wear and storytelling in key sports like running and basketball, following a quarter of underwhelming financial results. CEO Elliott Hill aims to differentiate Nike, Jordan Brand, and Converse by sport for sharper brand distinction. Additionally, tennis player Carlos Alcaraz debuted Nike’s retro-inspired 2025 London Collection cardigan at Wimbledon, blending classic tennis tradition with modern flair.

New Balance: The 119-year-old brand is making waves by signing young superstars like Cooper Flagg, Shohei Ohtani, and Coco Gauff, aiming to redefine its position in the sports hierarchy. This move has shifted its image from “dad shoe” to a top contender, notably with Flagg as the No. 1 NBA Draft prospect.

Adidas: Adidas unveiled the new Team India T20 jersey, available since May 2024, ahead of the T20 World Cup, reinforcing its presence in cricket sponsorships.

JD Sports Fashion: As a global omnichannel retailer, JD Sports continues to expand its portfolio, including brands like Nike, Adidas, and The North Face, alongside private labels like Pink Soda. Its segments include DTLR, Shoe Palace, and Sizeer, focusing on athletic footwear and apparel with strong community ties.

Grassroots Sports Marketing: Brands are increasingly investing in grassroots sports for deeper emotional connections. In India, non-cricket sports sponsorships surpassed ?2,000 crore in 2023, with platforms like SportVot boosting grassroots athletes’ visibility through digital identities and streaming lesser-known sports.

Other Developments: Athleta, a Gap-owned brand, has partnered with female athletes like Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles, pioneering sports marketing in women’s sports. Sephora’s sponsorship of the WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries signals growing brand interest in women’s sports. Meanwhile, brands like Red Lobster and Ram are leveraging CEOs in campaigns tied to smaller sports markets for affordable, intimate marketing.

News

Combat Sports Brands

Several well-known brands dominate the combat sports market, offering a wide range of equipment and apparel for various disciplines. Some of the most popular brands include Venum, Adidas, Everlast, Fairtex, Hayabusa, Rival, and Ringside. These brands are recognized for their quality, innovation, and unique designs, catering to both professional athletes and enthusiasts.

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Combat Sports Brands

These brands cater to various combat sports, offering specialized gear for different disciplines and skill levels. For beginners, brands like Everlast and RDX Sports are budget-friendly, while Hayabusa and Fairtex appeal to advanced practitioners seeking premium quality. Always consider your discipline, budget, and needs (e.g., durability, fit) when choosing gear. Here’s a concise overview of notable combat sports brands, focusing on those specializing in gear and apparel for disciplines like MMA, boxing, Muay Thai, BJJ, and more, based on available information:

Venum: A leading brand since 2006, known for durable, stylish gear for MMA, boxing, BJJ, and karate. Became the UFC’s exclusive outfitting partner in 2021, offering gloves, shorts, and rashguards. Popular for innovative designs and high-quality materials.

Hayabusa: A premium brand specializing in MMA, boxing, and BJJ gear. Known for advanced technology, ergonomic designs, and durable gloves, shin guards, and training equipment. Highly regarded for performance and comfort.

Fairtex: A renowned Thai brand focused on Muay Thai and MMA gear, particularly gloves and shin guards. Trusted for durability and quality, widely used by Muay Thai practitioners.

Combat Sports International: Offers affordable, high-quality MMA gear, including gloves, grappling dummies, and heavy bags. Based in Kansas City, known for innovation and catering to all skill levels.

Everlast: A household name in boxing, also offering MMA and fitness gear. Known for reliable, durable equipment like gloves and protective gear, suitable for beginners and pros.

Adidas Combat Sports: Brings the iconic athletic brand into martial arts, offering gear for judo, taekwondo, and MMA. Known for quality and versatility, with a focus on fitness enthusiasts.

RDX Sports: Provides affordable gear for MMA, boxing, and fitness. Popular for reliable gloves, shin guards, and training equipment, ideal for budget-conscious athletes.

Fuji Sports: A top choice for BJJ and judo, known for high-quality gis that prioritize comfort and fit. Favored by grapplers for durability and performance.

Twins Special: Another Thai brand excelling in Muay Thai and MMA gear, particularly gloves and shin guards. Renowned for durability and quality, a go-to for striking arts.

Leone 1947: An Italian brand specializing in boxing and kickboxing gear, offering affordable, high-quality gloves, shin guards, and accessories. Popular among professional fighters.

Elite Sports: Offers affordable, premium-quality fight wear for BJJ, MMA, boxing, and more. Known for stylish gis, rashguards, and gloves, catering to men, women, and kids.

Revgear: A California-based brand since 1996, recognized for innovative, durable equipment for boxing, MMA, Muay Thai, and BJJ. Trusted by athletes for high-performance gear. (Grok)

News

Sports Promoters: Brands

Sports promoters are critical in bridging brands like Nike, Adidas, Red Bull, and emerging players like YouTube with sports ecosystems. They craft partnerships that resonate with fans, leveraging events, athletes, and digital platforms to drive engagement and revenue. For brands seeking to enter or expand in sports, working with agencies like Octagon, SPORTFIVE, or rEvolution ensures strategic alignment and impactful campaigns.

Sports promoters are key players in connecting brands with sports events, athletes, and fans to create mutually beneficial partnerships. They facilitate sponsorships, endorsements, and marketing campaigns that amplify brand visibility while enhancing the sports experience. Below is an overview of notable brands involved in sports promotion, based on their prominence in the industry and partnerships, as well as the role of sports promoters in these collaborations.

Key Brands in Sports Promotion

Sports promoters often work with global brands across various industries, leveraging the emotional and cultural appeal of sports to drive engagement. Some prominent brands include:

Nike: A leader in sports marketing, Nike partners with athletes and teams worldwide, using campaigns like #BetterForIt to promote inclusivity and fitness through influencer and athlete endorsements.

Example: Nike’s campaigns often feature athletes as brand ambassadors, such as their work with social media influencers and everyday athletes to motivate active lifestyles.

Adidas: Known for high-profile collaborations with teams, athletes, and designers, adidas merges sports and lifestyle through partnerships like those with Ivy Park, Bad Bunny, and Gucci.

Promoters facilitate these deals, ensuring alignment with events like soccer tournaments or fashion-driven campaigns.

Red Bull: Specializes in extreme sports and high-energy branding, Red Bull works with promoters to create visually stunning campaigns, such as those featuring snowboarder Travis Rice, aligning with their adventurous brand image.

Promoters manage event sponsorships and athlete endorsements to maximize Red Bull’s reach.

Gatorade: A staple in sports hydration, Gatorade signs college athletes like Cooper Flagg, Paige Bueckers, and JuJu Watkins for endorsement deals, expanding its influence in youth markets.

Promoters negotiate these contracts to ensure brand alignment with emerging talent.

Reebok: Recently extended a multiyear endorsement with Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese, including a signature shoe release planned for 2026.

Promoters handle such deals to integrate Reebok’s branding into WNBA events and fan engagement.

Under Armour, Puma, and New Balance: These brands compete in the athleisure and performance markets, often collaborating with promoters to secure sponsorships for events like marathons or partnerships with rising stars.

Example: New Balance’s revival through collaborations with designers and athletes highlights promoter-driven strategies.

Non-Traditional Brands: Companies like YouTube (partnering with Mr. Beast for NBA jersey patches) and luxury brands like Hugo Boss and Gucci (F1 and tennis sponsorships) are increasingly entering sports through innovative partnerships.

Promoters bridge these brands with sports audiences, crafting campaigns that appeal to diverse demographics.

Role of Sports Promoters
Sports promoters act as intermediaries, orchestrating partnerships that benefit brands, athletes, and events.

Their roles include:

Event Promotion: Organizing and marketing events like tournaments, matches, or festivals, ensuring brands gain visibility through sponsorships (e.g., Sports Marketing Australia’s work with AusTriathlon).

Athlete Endorsements: Negotiating deals between brands and athletes, such as Jannik Sinner’s partnerships with Gucci, Nike, and Rolex.

Sponsorship Activation: Creating campaigns that integrate brands into sports culture, like Starbucks and Seattle Seahawks’ co-branded merchandise.

Digital and Social Media Campaigns: Leveraging platforms for influencer-driven marketing, as seen with Nike’s #BetterForIt or Red Bull’s extreme sports content.

Global Reach: Connecting brands with international markets, such as Allsport Promotion’s campaigns for global brands across Europe and beyond.

Notable Sports Promotion

Agencies

Several agencies specialize in facilitating these brand partnerships:

Octagon: A global leader in sports and entertainment, representing talent and brands across multiple sports.

SPORTFIVE: Creates value for brands through partnerships with rights holders and media platforms.

rEvolution: Focuses on authentic campaigns that connect brands with passionate fans.

Excel Sports Management: Manages high-value contracts for athletes in basketball, baseball, and golf, with $3.4 billion in contracts.

IMG: Specializes in rights, data, and digital strategies for sports organizations and brands.

CSM: Known for creating memorable experiences through partnerships, like Red Bull Racing’s F1 activations.

Trends in Sports Promotion:

Influencer Marketing: Brands like Nike and Red Bull use athletes and influencers to create authentic, engaging content.

Sustainability and Social Causes: Over 80% of consumers prefer brands supporting environmental or diversity initiatives, prompting promoters to align brands with such values.

Non-Traditional Partnerships: Luxury and tech brands (e.g., Gucci, YouTube) are entering sports, expanding promoter opportunities.

Data-Driven Marketing: Agencies like TwoCircles use data to enhance campaign effectiveness, a growing trend in sports promotion. (Grok)

News

UFC Brand: News

These developments show UFC’s aggressive brand expansion through strategic partnerships, rebranding efforts, and global market penetration, solidifying its position as a dominant force in combat sports and beyond.

Pacsun Partnership at UFC International Fight Week 2025: Pacsun made its debut at UFC X during International Fight Week (June 25–29, 2025) with a branded booth and a custom Pacsun-branded step-and-repeat for fan and fighter interactions. They also had a major brand integration on the UFC X mainstage, including two athlete Q&A sessions presented by Pacsun with prominent LED logo displays. The Pacsun x UFC International Fight Week 2025 collection is available in select Pacsun stores and online.

UFC BJJ Rebrand: The UFC has rebranded its grappling events from “UFC Fight Pass Invitational” to “UFC BJJ,” adopting a Craig Jones Invitational-style pit and rules. This move signals UFC’s intent to expand its influence in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu scene, with a new reality show and a focus on high-profile grappling matches.

Phorm Energy Drink Partnership: UFC President Dana White, alongside Anheuser-Busch and St. Louis-based 1st Phorm, launched Phorm Energy, a new energy drink with natural flavors and caffeine. This partnership leverages Anheuser-Busch’s distribution network to enhance UFC’s brand reach.

Hpnotiq Marketing Deal: UFC announced a multiyear partnership with Hpnotiq, making the liqueur an Official Partner. Hpnotiq will have prominent branding inside the Octagon during all U.S.-based UFC Fight Nights, tapping into UFC’s global audience of over 700 million fans across 170 countries.

UFC’s Global Growth Recognition: UFC was named one of TIME’s 2025 Most Influential Companies, highlighting its global expansion, including a first-ever event in Azerbaijan and a record-breaking $1.4 billion in revenue in 2024. Dana White emphasized UFC’s universal appeal, stating, “Fighting is in our DNA.”

Drake’s OVO Collaboration: Posts on X indicate that Drake’s OVO brand teased a collaboration with UFC, set to release on June 27, 2025, aligning with International Fight Week. This adds to UFC’s growing list of high-profile brand partnerships.

UFC Fitness Equipment: Dyaco, holding the global license for UFC-branded fitness equipment, is promoting “UFC Zones” in gyms worldwide, capitalizing on UFC’s reputation for elite performance and its 300 million-strong fanbase. (Grok)

News

Sports Quotes

"The fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights." Muhammad Ali

"I thank God for my talents but, it took many years to achieve some of my goals. I work hard on a daily basis trying to maintain a certain fitness level, run two businesses, and teach classes in the fight game and pro wrestling." Dan Severn

"Don't let people make you afraid of taking chances in life. And if you fail, it's no big deal. Get back up and fight through it and be successful again. If you did it once, you can do it again." Ken Shamrock

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Media/Marketing/Arts: Australia

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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)

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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)

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

Crypto, Fintech, Markets, News and Politics via Media Man

March 12/13, 2025

The crypto bounces back from extreme fear

Market picture

The cryptocurrency market bounced 2% in the last 24 hours to $2.67 trillion. So far, the situation looks like a small rebound after the collapse. We should not talk about the beginning of recovery as long as the market is below its 200-day moving average of $2.83 trillion.

Sentiment in the crypto market has shifted from dread to fear at 34. The indicator was last higher more than three weeks ago, indicating that now is a good time to buy. However, it's worth paying attention to the nervous stock market before considering investments in more volatile cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin was climbing above $83,000 on Tuesday, hitting resistance in the form of the 200-day moving average. If a long-term trend line is repurposed as resistance, that's a worrisome bearish fact.

Ethereum ended Tuesday with growth and was trading near $1900 at the start of Wednesday, but this is a timid rebound within the steep peak the coin has been in since February 24th and the broader downtrend of the past three months.

News Background

CryptoQuant states a sharp drop in open interest in Bitcoin and Ethereum futures, suggesting a ‘leverage washout’ and a chance of market stabilisation. The Kobeissi Letter admits a wave of short position unwinding in risk assets after extreme fear levels are reached.

Clearstream, the post-trading arm of Deutsche Börse, will offer cryptocurrency settlement and custody services to institutional clients as early as next month, starting with Bitcoin and Ethereum. It then plans to add support for other cryptocurrencies and services for staking, lending and brokerage.

Glassnode notes that Solana fell below its realised price of $134 for the first time in three years. The metrics show the average cost for investors to purchase the coin.

According to Arkham Intelligence, on 11 March, bankrupt exchange Mt. Gox transferred 11,501 BTC (~$905 million) to an unknown address. Mt. Gox-related addresses hold a total of 35,915 BTC worth $2.89bn. (FxPro)

News

SEC vs Ripple Case: Negotiations Underway for Settlement

Recent developments indicate that the legal dispute between Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could be nearing a conclusion. Reports suggest that Ripple's legal team is currently negotiating more favorable terms related to a $125 million fine and an injunction on XRP sales to institutional investors. The anticipation of a settlement has led to increased interest and speculation within the cryptocurrency community regarding the outcome and its potential impact on XRP. (Grok)

News

U.S. Plans Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Acquisition

Senator Cynthia Lummis has reintroduced the BITCOIN Act, which proposes that the United States government purchase one million Bitcoins over five years to create a strategic reserve. This legislative move reflects a growing acknowledgment of Bitcoin as a digital asset for national economic strategy, garnering support from both traditional financial sectors and cryptocurrency advocates. Alongside this, there is an ongoing debate about the implications, risks, and potential benefits of such a reserve. (Grok)

News

Trump's Crypto Banking Deregulation

President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to sign an executive order that would reverse regulations set by the Biden administration aimed at restricting banking activities for cryptocurrency firms. This move could impact how crypto companies interact with the Federal Reserve, potentially leading to greater integration of cryptocurrencies within the traditional financial system. (Grok)

News

Rumble's Strategic Bitcoin Acquisition

Rumble, a video platform and competitor to YouTube, has announced the purchase of 188 Bitcoins for approximately $17.1 million. This acquisition is part of Rumble's strategy to integrate Bitcoin into its treasury management, aiming to hedge against inflation and participate in the growing trend of corporate cryptocurrency adoption. The move reflects a broader acceptance of Bitcoin as a legitimate financial asset among companies. (Grok)

News

Trump Predicts Market Surge Amid Economic Indicators

President Trump has publicly stated his belief that the U.S. financial markets are poised for significant growth, making his comments at an event with business leaders. This optimistic forecast follows recent economic indicators showing inflation cooling to levels not seen in years, despite mixed responses from markets regarding Trump's economic policies including tariffs. (Grok)

News

Ethereum's Lowest BTC Ratio Since 2020 Triggers Liquidation Risk

The Ethereum Foundation faces potential liquidation of over $100 million in assets if Ethereum's price drops to $1,100, amidst a historic low in the ETH/BTC trading ratio not seen since May 2020. This financial maneuver is part of Ethereum's strategy to manage its treasury through decentralized finance (DeFi), highlighting both the risks and innovative approaches to crypto-asset management in a volatile market. (Grok)

News

Gold funds burst out of the blocks in 2025 as returns rocket

Australian gold funds are shaping up for a bumper year as mining companies start to capitalise on record prices, helping the stocks to finally catch up to the performance of the precious metal.

Portfolio managers were left frustrated last year after a jump in production costs held back ASX-listed gold producers from riding the rally in the spot prices to record levels. The VanEck Gold Miners exchange-traded fund climbed nearly 20 per cent in 2024 versus a 38 per cent rally for the gold price in Australian dollars.

But easing cost inflation that has plagued the mining sector for the last three years and an ongoing surge in prices has seen the trend reverse course. VanEck’s Gold Miners ETF is up 17 per cent already this year while the Aussie dollar spot price has climbed 6.3 per cent.

Local fund managers are bullish that gold has much further to run after the US dollar price climbed above $US2942 an ounce for the first time and the Australian dollar gold price breached $4500 an ounce.

Victor Smorgon Partners’ Resource Gold Fund returned a chunky 13.3 per cent in January and portfolio manager Cameron Judd believes the valuations of ASX gold stocks still don’t reflect the outlook for the yellow metal.

“Gold’s performance in times of uncertainty or crisis could see it push towards $US3600,” Mr Judd said. “Despite the strong gold price performance and fundamentals supporting further appreciation, gold miners are trading at discounted valuations on the ASX.”

Wall Street’s biggest banks believe a $US3000 price tag is imminent. Citi said it was possible within the next three months, while JPMorgan has a year-end target of $US3150. Bank of America said on Thursday that gold could reach $US3500 an ounce if investment demand rises 10 per cent this year.

The unprecedented surge in the gold price has been fuelled by investors seeking safe haven assets as US President Donald Trump unleashes aggressive trade and geopolitical policies. There are fears the president will accelerate inflation, forcing central banks to raise rates in a way that damages global growth.

Victor Smorgon’s top holdings include ASX-listed Vault Minerals and the world’s largest gold miner, US-based Newmont, which recently acquired Newcrest. The fund also owns Australia’s biggest gold miner Northern Star, which agreed to buy rival De Grey in a $5 billion deal. (AFR) *Full article and coverag via subscription to The Australian Financial Review.

News

Australia

Northern Star paying top dollar for gold rival

Northern Star has offered $5 billion to buy De Grey Mining, with De Grey shareholders to vote on the offer on 16 April. De Grey is the company behind the Hemi gold prospect in Western Australia, which is thought to hold at least 11 million ounces of gold and which is slated to produce 530,000 ounces annually in its first decade of operation. KPMG, which was engaged to provide an independent assessment of Northern Star's offer, has valued DeGrey at between $4 billion and $4.79 billion, inclusive of a premium for control. It concludes that the offer is "fair and reasonable and therefore is in the best interests of De Grey shareholders, in the absence of a superior proposal". (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

March 12, 2025

Crypto market tumbles after stocks

Market picture

Crypto market capitalisation has been falling to $2.5 trillion following the rumbling fall of the US stock market. It is dipping below the peaks of early 2024 and late 2021. Previously, a similar decline would complete a corrective pullback, attracting buyers. However, the chances of such an outcome are now lower than in previous years due to the powerful influence of traditional financial companies, which has strengthened the link between the crypto market and stock dynamics.

For now, though, we can argue that there is less terror in crypto. The Fear and Greed Index is at 24 (+4 points for the day), while the low point was a week earlier at 10.

Bitcoin slipped towards $76.5K in the early hours of Tuesday but has popped above $80K at the time of writing, approaching Monday’s consolidation levels. A bearish pattern persists on the daily timeframes, which suggests a strengthening sell-off after a failure under the 200-day moving average. The scenario of a pullback to the $70-74K area still looks the most probable for us. This is all the truer as the consolidation and rebound in early March has taken the short-term oversold stance out of the market.

Ethereum is trying to find a pivot point after falling towards $1750 at the start of Tuesday. These were the lowest values in the last 17 months. On weekly timeframes, the RSI oscillator hit its lowest point since mid-2022 - near the bottom of the bear market. Does this signify an opportunity for the recklessly bold or a breakdown in the leading altcoin? We will find out in the coming days.

News Background

According to CoinShares, global crypto fund investments fell by $876 million last week after record outflows of $2.911 billion a week earlier. Investments in Bitcoin fell by $756 million; in Ethereum, by $89 million. Investments in Solana rose by $16 million, in XRP by $6 million, and in Sui by $3 million.

As a result of another recalculation, Bitcoin mining difficulty increased by 1.43% to 112.15T. The growth did not compensate for a 3.15% drop two weeks ago. However, the figure came close to the all-time high of 114.17T reached in January.

Strategy (former MicroStrategy) intends to raise $21bn through the sale of preferred shares as part of its At-The-Market program. The proceeds will be used to buy Bitcoin and other corporate purposes. (FxPro)

News

March 11, 2025

US Senator And Congressman Introduce Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bills To Buy One Million BTC

Speaking at the “Bitcoin for America” summit, lawmakers announced their plans to create a federal bitcoin reserve that would see the U.S. buy one million BTC.

Today at the Bitcoin Policy Institute’s “Bitcoin for America” summit in Washington DC, U.S. Senator from Wyoming Cynthia Lummis announced that she is going to reintroduce her strategic Bitcoin reserve legislation in the Senate today.

“I am so pleased to announce that today I will be reintroducing The Bitcoin Act,” Senator Lummis stated. “And I’ll be joined here shortly by Senator Justice of West Virginia, who is one of the cosponsors. And we have several other additional cosponsors. And a lot of it is a result of the excitement that’s been building.” (Bitcoin Magazine). *Full article via Bitcoin Magazine

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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)

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

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Australia

Peter Dutton More Crypto Friendly And Switched On Than Albanese (Media Man Group)

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"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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Media Man

American, European and Australian Sports News via Grok; Elon Musk Grok Takes The Sports Fan And Sports News Publisher Around The Globe In Seconds Ala Virtual News Time Travel Machine: Media Man

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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.