Stockmarket News Markets and Commodities Media Man

Australian Dollar: $0.6529 USD (up 0.0001 USD)
Iron Ore: $102.50 USD (down 0.35 USD)
Oil: $60.09 USD (up $1.34 USD)
Gold: $4,080.78 USD (down $82.66 USD)
Copper: $5.0500 USD (up $0.0015 USD)
Bitcoin: $94,324.41USD (down 1.62%)
Dow: 47,147.48 (down 309.74 points)

Bitcoin: (Near Live) $95,096.48 -0.79%

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

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)

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

Markets

Australian Dollar: $0.6528 USD (down $0.0012 USD) Iron Ore: $102.85 USD (up $0.20 USD) Oil: $58.75 USD (up $0.33 USD) Gold: $4,163.44 USD (down $33.38 USD) Copper: $5.0485 USD (down $0.0345 USD) Bitcoin: $98,332.56 USD (down 3.01%) Dow Jones: 47,460.49m (down 794.33 points)

Bitcoin: (Near Live) $97,618.71 =5.38%

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

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"

Entertainment/Media: Stocks

November 2025

Nov 7

Wall Street
New York

TKO Group $182.56 +1.59 +0.88%
Netflix $1,103.66 +6.64 +0.61%
Walt Disney Co $110.74 +0.25 +0.23%
Paramount Skydance Corp $15.10 +0.30 +2.03%
Warner Bros Discovery Inc $22.67 +0.25 +1.12%
News Corp Class A $26.72 +1.64 +6.54%
Amazon Dotcom Inc $244.41 +1.37 +0.56%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp $13.10
-0.23 +1.73%

Bonus!

Fox Corporation (FOXA) $65.97 +0.26 +0.40%

Formula One Group (FWONA) $92.25 -1.46 -1.56%

Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) $77.08 +4.00 +5.47%

News

Nov 8, 2025

Warner Bros. Is For Sale, Who’s Buying?

A cheat sheet on the state of play and some odds on who the leading contenders are now.

The battle for Warner Bros. Discovery is officially underway. Offers are being made. Banks have been hired. Who will wind up with the treasure trove of IP, HBO, and abundant cable TV cashflow? Will it sell as one piece? Or will it be broken up into studios and networks? The clock is ticking.

Here’s an early read on the state of play (and some odds on favorites):

Paramount: 2 to 1 odds: CEO David Ellison really, really, really wants Warner Bros. Discovery, as evidenced by multiple offers over the past month or so. Ellison’s pitch, that his company would have fewer regulatory hurdles owing to the Ellison family relationship with Donald Trump, is worth considering by the WBD board, but if a bidding war ensues, he is also positioned to sweeten the pot for the whole thing. (THR)
*Full article and coverage via The Hollywood Reporter

News

Oct 8, 2026

Ari Emanuel Launches New Holding Company MARI, With Deal for Tennis Events, Frieze and Barrett-Jackson

The new company is funded by a who's who of boldface name backers, with Mark Shapiro also serving as an investor and board member.

Ari Emanuel has officially launched his new holding company, which will house many of the assets that used to be a part of Endeavor Group Holdings.

The new company is called MARI, and will house a number of significant tennis tournaments, including the Miami Open presented by Itaú and Mutua Madrid Open, as well as the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, Mubadala Citi DC Open, SP Open, and a number of other exhibition tennis events.

It also includes Frieze, the arts organization that Emanuel agreed to buy earlier this year, as well as a majority stake in Barrett-Jackson, the automotive auction house and lifestyle brand. The deals closed Wednesday in conjunction with MARI’s launch. (THR)
*Full article and coverage via The Hollywood Reporter

News Lead Up

October 2025

October 27

Wall Street
New York

TKO Group $187.51 +0.66 +0.35%
Netflix $1,094.56 -0.13 -0.012%
Walt Disney Co $112.34 +0.65 +0.58%
Paramount Skydance Corp $16.57 -0.15 -0.93%
Warner Bros Discovery Inc $21.04 -0.11 -0.52%
News Corp Class A $26.75 +0.43 +1.63%
Amazon Dotcom Inc $226.97 +2.76 +1.23%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp $16.03
+0.19 +1.20%

Bonus!

Fox Corporation (FOXA) $61.27 +1.89 +3.18%

Formula One Group (FWONA) $87.62 +0.12 +0.14%

Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) $68.04 +0.80 +1.19%

News Flashback

WBD

WBD: Warner Bros Discovery Inc

The Story as of late ...

Warner Bros Discovery rejects Paramount offer, considers full sale amid media shakeup

WASHINGTON: Warner Bros Discovery said on Tuesday (Oct 21) that its board had rejected a buyout offer from Paramount Skydance valued at nearly US$60 billion, as the media giant weighs a possible full sale following unsolicited interest from several potential suitors.

A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the Paramount Skydance bid, worth close to US$24 a share and mostly in cash, was turned down by the board earlier in the day. The offer would have included Warner Bros’ film and television studios, cable networks such as CNN and the HBO Max streaming platform.

Neither Warner Bros Discovery nor Paramount commented on the proposal. Shares of Warner Bros Discovery were up around 10 per cent in afternoon trading.

COMPANIES EYE WARNER BROS ASSETS

Comcast is likely to examine Warner Bros Discovery’s assets, a source told Reuters, while Netflix is also among those showing interest, according to CNBC.

Earlier reports indicated that Paramount Skydance chief executive David Ellison had been in talks to acquire the entire company.

Warner Bros Discovery, which owns franchises such as Harry Potter and Game of Thrones, announced in June that it would split its operations next year into studio-centric and cable-focused units — a move intended to separate its growing streaming business from its struggling traditional networks.

The board is considering several options, including maintaining its planned separation, selling the company in full, or pursuing separate transactions for its Warner Bros or Discovery Global businesses. It is also reviewing an alternative structure that would merge Warner Bros and spin off Discovery Global.

SALE COULD RESHAPE MEDIA LANDSCAPE

A sale or breakup would mark one of the most significant restructurings in the entertainment industry in years, potentially prompting other legacy media firms to revisit their own business models. Streaming competition has left traditional broadcasters burdened with debt, rising content costs and fragmented audiences.

Any deal for Warner Bros Discovery would give the buyer control of a major Hollywood studio and a leading streaming platform but also inherit roughly US$35 billion in debt.

The company’s shares, now valued at about US$45 billion, have risen more than 46 per cent since early September, when reports first surfaced of Paramount’s interest.

VALUATION AND SUITOR STRATEGIES

“Paramount is the most likely to purchase the company. For Netflix, a purchase would make more sense after the planned split, because the studio would be very valuable to Netflix but the TV networks not as much,” said eMarketer senior analyst Ross Benes.

Bank of America research analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich estimated the company’s total value at about US$30 a share, noting that Warner Bros Discovery has not publicly commented on the offers.

“Given the company’s wealth of premium IP — Harry Potter, DC, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones — we continue to believe Warner Bros is an extremely attractive potential acquisition target,” she said in an investor note.

Comcast, meanwhile, is preparing to spin off its NBC Universal cable channels, including CNBC and USA Network, into a new company called Versant later this year.

Seth Shafer, a principal analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan, said potential buyers including Paramount, Comcast, Netflix, Amazon and Apple “could see value in moving sooner rather than later to acquire the entirety of WBD versus waiting to purchase just the streaming and studio assets.”

ELLISON FAMILY’S GROWING MEDIA INFLUENCE

Skydance’s approach comes soon after its takeover of Paramount, underscoring the Ellison family’s ambition to expand their influence in global media amid a favourable US regulatory climate.

Analysts say David Ellison’s access to deep financial backing from his father, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, the world’s second-richest person, gives him the capital to pursue major acquisitions.

They also noted that the elder Ellison’s close ties with US President Donald Trump could ease regulatory scrutiny that would typically accompany such a merger.

News

Lead Up News

October 20

Wall Street
New York

TKO Group $186.82 -2.35 -1.24%
Netflix $1,238.56 +39.20 +3.27%
Walt Disney Co $111.96 +1.29 +1.17%
Paramount Skydance Corp $16.99 +0.22 +1.31%
Warner Bros Discovery Inc $18.32 +0.13 +0.71%
News Corp Class A $26.44 +0.42 +1.61%
Amazon Dotcom Inc $216.48 +3.44 +1.61%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp $15.99 -0.19 -1.17%

Bonus!

Fox Corporation (FOXA) $58.18 +0.11 +0.19%

Formula One Group (FWONA) $90.36 -0.73 -0.80%

Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) $63.09 +4.39 +7.48%

News

Australian Sports Media News

Panthers, Pies spring to top of money ladder

Data from consulting firm Brand Finance Australia shows that the combined value of the NRL and AFL has risen to $2.6bn in 2025, compared with $2.3bn last year. Brand Finance Australia's rankings show that the NRL's Penrith Panthers is now the nation's most valuable sports club, with a brand value of $129.2m; it is followed by 2025 premiers the Brisbane Broncos, with a brand value of $119.7m. Collingwood has retained its top ranking in the AFL, with an estimated brand value of $127m; the Brisbane Lions have risen from ninth to second place after winning a second successive premiership, with a brand value of $116m. (RMS)

News

Australian Social Media News

Tech giants introduce ratings for teens

Meta and Google have unveiled new safety measures for teenagers who use some of their social media platforms. Meta has announced that changes to Instagram's Teen Accounts feature will restrict teenagers to accessing images and videos that are rated PG-13; Meta says the new default setting cannot be changed without the permission of a parent. Google in turn has advised that YouTube's search bar will be upgraded to automatically display mental health videos from trusted organisations when teenage users search for specific topics, such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders. The changes are being made ahead of the federal government's landmark social media age restrictions. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

October 2025

A Paramount Skydance Buy Of Warner Bros Would Create A Media Powerhouse

Sprawling array of streaming, cable and film properties could position a combined company to better compete with traditional media and tech giants, as well as any others!

Will the price be right? Developing story! (Media Man Group)

News

Entertainment/Media: Stocks

The Led Up

October 2025

October 2

Wall Street
New York

TKO Group $198.00 -0.76 -0.38%
Netflix $1,162.53 -8.37 -0.71%
Walt Disney Co $112.14 -0.81 -0.72%
Paramount Skydance Corp $18.62 -0.27 -1.43%
Warner Bros Discovery Inc $19.24 -0.11 -0.57%
News Corp Class A $28.55 -0.40 -1.38%
Amazon Dotcom Inc $222.41 +1.78 +0.81%

Bonus!

Fox Corporation (FOXA) 62.06 +0.17+(0.27%)

Formula One Group (FWONA) 95.41 +1.72+(1.84%)

Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) 65.72 +2.00 +(3.14%)

News

Lead Up News

Historical Data! (Media Man Group)

September 2025

TKO Start To New Week; Paramount Inks Zuffa Boxing For Win-Win-Win; Beancounters Rejoice (Mainly); Netflix Remains Moderately Bullish; Netflix Observes Paramount Deal; TKO Solid +

Warner Moderate dip for today following Streaming/Broadcasting Industry Shake-ups

September 29, 2025

Wall Street
New York

TKO Group $205.33 +6.32 +3.18%
Netflix $1,206.41 -4.20 -0.35%
Walt Disney Co $114.78 +1.31 +1.15%
Paramount Skydance Corp $19.50 +0.58 +3.07%
Warner Bros Discovery Inc $18.86 -0.65 -3.31%
News Corp Class A $31.03 +0.581.90%
Amazon Dotcom Inc $222.17 +2.39 +1.09%

News Lead Up

Entertainment/Media: Stocks

Netflix Bullish Heading Into Weekend; TKO Solid +

September 26, 2025

TKO Group $199.04 +3.25 +1.66%
Netflix $1,210.61 +2.37 +0.20%
Walt Disney Co $113.47 +0.48 +0.42%
Paramount Skydance Corp $18.92 -0.0100 -0.053%
Warner Bros Discovery Inc $19.51 -0.27 -1.37%
News Corp Class A $30.45 +0.27 +0.91%

News Flashback

Sept 26

Netflix

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) is among the Renaissance Technologies Portfolio: Loop Capital analyst Alan Gould upgraded the stock’s rating to Buy from Hold, and also lifted his price target to $1,350 per share from $1,150.

The revised forecast represents a further 11% upside potential for the stock, which has already gained 37% year-to-date, as of the close of business on September 23.

Gould acknowledged that his prior downgrade of Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) was a mistake and noted a strong fundamental backdrop for the company in his recent adjustment:

“We are upgrading our rating back to Buy based on exceptional 3Q engagement, a strong 4Q content slate, higher long-term margin assumptions as each dollar of content is generating more revenue, which leads to higher earnings and free cash flow. Our NFLX downgrade in mid-December with the stock in the low $900s was wrong, but after a strong first half, the stock has tread water the past quarter. At the time of our downgrade management was guiding to 11-13% revenue growth in 2025; it is now 16-17%.”

The Loop Capital analyst credited the latest seasons of Squid Games, Wednesday, and KPop Demon Hunters for Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)’s growing engagement.

Moreover, he raised his third-quarter estimates for the streaming giant and also highlighted its dominant position in the entertainment industry despite stiff competition. (Wires)

News

Lead Up

September 25, 2025

TKO Group $195.79 flat
Netflix $1,208.24 +4.29 0.36%
Walt Disney Co $112.99 -0.44 -0.39%
Paramount Skydance Corp $18.93 -0.19 -0.99%
Warner Bros Discovery Inc $19.78 -0.040 -0.20%
News Corp Class A $30.18 -0.055 -0.18%

News

Lead Up

September 24, 2025

TKO Group $196.66 -5.63 -2.78%
Netflix Inc $1,202.42 -16.05 -1.32%
Walt Disney Co $113.59 +1.34 +1.19%
Paramount Skydance Corp $19.11 -0.62 -3.12%
Warner Bros Discovery Inc $19.81 +0.25 +1.25%
News Corp Class A $30.35 -0.23 -0.75%

News

Lead Up

Entertainment/Media: Stocks

September 19, 2025

TKO Group $201.11 -1.69 -0.83%
Walt Disney Co $113.76 -1.10 -0.96%
Paramount Skydance Corp $18.92 +1.05 +5.85%
Warner Bros Discovery Inc $19.33 +0.63 +3.37%
News Corp Class A $30.62 +0.17 +0.56%

October 30, 2025

Facebook (now Meta Platforms)
Apple
Amazon
Netflix
Google (now Alphabet Inc.)

Note: Variations exist, such as FAAMG (replacing Netflix with Microsoft) or the broader "Magnificent 7" (adding Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla). However, the original FAANG remains the most common reference.Current Snapshot (as of October 31, 2025)Here's a quick overview of the FAANG companies, including their stock tickers and approximate latest closing prices (sourced from real-time market data via Polygon API). Prices fluctuate, so check a live source for the most up-to-date values.Company

Meta Platforms
META
Social Media & Metaverse
670.96

pple
AAPL
Consumer Electronics & Services
282.73

Amazon
AMZN
E-Commerce & Cloud Computing
249.20

Netflix
NFLX
Streaming Entertainment
1,121.63

Alphabet
GOOGL
Search, Advertising & AI
281.55

World News, Markets: Australia and New York, Biz, Culture, News

October 2025

Freaky Friday Further Spooks Market, Investors Of All Nature; Did You Survive October?!

Numbers: (Near Live)

Sharemarket

Gold 4,002.93 +0.32 +0.01%

Bitcoin $109,675.25 +1.61%

Ethereum $3,861.37 +2.34%

Alphabet Inc Class A $281.19 -0.29 -0.10%

TKO Group Holdings Inc $188.40 +0.62 +0.33%

Netflix Inc $1,118.86 +29.86 +2.74%

Microsoft Corp $517.81 -7.95 -1.51%

BHP Group Ltd $43.45 -0.43 -0.98%

Rio Tinto Ltd $132.87 -0.56 - 0.42%

Oct 31

Gold: correction is not over yet

The strengthening of the US dollar and higher Treasury yields have brought the gold price back below $4000.

News

Verbal interventions do not help yen

The Fed will make things clear
The ECB may lower rates in the future.

• The truce between the US and China is fragile.
• The Bank of Japan has not given any signals.
• Interventions did not scare USDJPY.

The Bank of Japan's passivity and the ECB's reluctance to spring surprises weakened the yen and the euro, adding fuel to the USD index rally.

The market continues to reassess its views on the fate of the federal funds rate and is buying the US dollar. At the same time, growing uncertainty is boosting demand for the greenback as a safe-haven currency. The trade deal between the US and Beijing is being compared to a truce with hidden risks of escalation. The Supreme Court's cancellation of tariffs in November could even trigger chaos in the financial markets.

The ECB has no reason to complain about the eurozone economy. In the third quarter, it accelerated from 0.5% to 0.9% year-over-year, thanks to the gradual adjustment of exports to US tariffs, a strong labour market, solid household balance sheets, and a prolonged cycle of rate cuts.

However, risks remain. The Governing Council's doves warn of a slowdown in GDP and inflation under the influence of high US tariffs and a strong euro. The futures market gives a 40% probability of a deposit rate cut by mid-2026. This puts pressure on EURUSD. The euro could stumble at any moment and fall off the cliff near the 1.1550 mark.

On the contrary, the chances of a Fed rate cut in December fell from more than 90% at the start of the week to 67%. At the same time, Treasury bond yields are rising, which is supporting the US dollar.

USDJPY managed to restore its upward trend due to the Bank of Japan's reluctance to signal an increase in the overnight rate in the future. Kazuo Ueda cited uncertainty in the US economy and the need for new wage data, saying he was not afraid of a situation where sluggishness could trigger a surge in inflation.

The yen was not helped by the acceleration of consumer prices in Tokyo from 2.5% to 2.8% and verbal interventions. According to Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, the government is closely monitoring speculative movements on Forex and is ready to intervene. However, such statements only temporarily cooled the bulls' enthusiasm for USDJPY. Moreover, hedge funds are positioned for the US dollar to rise towards 160 yen. (FxPro)

News

With no help from Powell, Crypto is again hoping for technical support

Market Overview

The crypto market cap continues to fall, dropping to $3.58 at the end of the day on Thursday, but stabilising near $3.7 trillion at the beginning of the day on Friday. In other words, we are seeing a local rebound, but each time, lower local highs are being recorded. On the other hand, since July, there have been enough buyers on dips in the $3.5 trillion range.

Bitcoin fell to $106K at the end of the day on Thursday. Attempts to recover on Friday with a return to $110K now look like a rebound. The first cryptocurrency has clearly fallen under stronger gravity in recent days. Perhaps the start of a new month will give buyers a boost. However, the aura of a historically positive month, so-called Uptober, lasted only for the first few days, followed by an impressive decline.

News Background

In recent months, long-term investors have increased their sales of BTC, tripling them from June to October, according to Glassnode. The primary buyers of the asset were investors who purchased Bitcoin at an average price of $93K.

The inability to consolidate above $113K after six months of steady trading at high levels indicates a weakening of buying activity. If the trend continues, a pullback to the next significant support level around $88K is possible, Glassnode warns.

In October, the volume of spot trading in Bitcoin on the largest exchanges reached a record high, exceeding $300 billion, according to CryptoQuant. This indicates an increase in liquidity and market stability.

Strategy founder Michael Saylor said that Bitcoin will reach $150K by the end of the year. His long-term forecast for the next 20 years assumes an average annual growth rate of approximately 30% for BTC.

According to Nansen, on-chain activity on the Ethereum network has risen to a monthly high. Despite this, fees on the ETH network remain near historic lows. The surge in on-chain activity comes amid a deterioration in other indicators. For example, the number of active addresses has been steadily declining since May.

The anonymous cryptocurrency Zcash has grown by 700% in a month due to a surge in ‘demand for privacy.’ The volume of secure transactions in Zcash reached a record 4.9 million ZEC. However, the ZEC price is still 89.2% below its historic high, reached in October 2016 at just under $3,200. (FxPro)

News Lead Up

Oct 28

The Fed will make things clear

Strong statistics are helping the dollar.

The Fed may spring a surprise.

The US asks the Bank of Japan to loosen its grip.

The Aussie becomes the favourite.

The de-escalation of the US-China trade conflict has shifted market attention to central bank monetary policy. Finance Minister Scott Bessent said that the negotiations had created a successful framework for the two countries' leaders to sign a deal. Beijing says a preliminary consensus has been reached. The risks of a trade war have receded, US stock indices have hit new highs, global risk appetite has increased, and the EURUSD has risen.

The futures market gives a 98% probability of a cut in the federal funds rate to 4% in October and a 95% chance of a cut to 3.75% in December. Derivatives expect a further cut in March. The ECB is expected to pause rate cuts until 2027. The deposit rate last fell to 2% in June. Since the summer, Christine Lagarde said the European Central Bank feels comfortable.

Some Bloomberg experts predict a rate hike in 2026. This would require an improvement in the European economy. Pleasant surprises from eurozone business activity and German business sentiment indicate positive GDP growth in the fourth quarter. In July-September, gross domestic product most likely grew by 0.1%.

The divergence in monetary policy between the ECB and the Fed, coupled with positive signals from the European economy, gives EURUSD bulls hope for a recovery in the uptrend. However, events in France continue to dampen the euro. The Socialists do not rule out a new vote of no confidence in the government if parliament do not accept their proposal to raise taxes on the rich to reduce the budget deficit.

While EURUSD awaits the results of the Fed and ECB meetings, the yen is strengthening thanks to verbal interventions. Government officials have stated that they will continue to closely monitor the dynamics of the yen on the international currency market. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama noted that monetary policy issues were not directly discussed at the meeting with Scott Bessent. If they were discussed indirectly, the risks of currency intervention may increase. Investors preferred to play it safe and close some of their long positions on USDJPY. (FxPro)

News

The Land Down Under including ...

Sin City, Sydney, Australia ... and

The Bush Telegraph including Outback Australia

Oct 31

ASX finishes flat after Wall Street losses; ANZ unveils $1.1b profit hit

The Australian sharemarket spent most of the session in the green but ultimately finished flat, after a negative lead from Wall Street as investors digested a raft of corporate news and the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The S&P/ASX 200 closed the session 3.6 points, or 0.04 per cent, lower to 8881.9, dragged down by consumer discretionary (-1.7 per cent) and utilities (-1.1 per cent).

“Australian shares are down over the week after high September quarter inflation data signalled no chance of a rate cut at next week’s RBA meeting and raised doubt about future cuts,” said AMP Capital deputy chief economist Diana Mousina.

“There were large falls in healthcare, tech, consumer discretionary and real estate. European equities are up over the week and Chinese shares have had another strong rally and are outperforming.”

The Reserve Bank will be meeting next Tuesday, on Melbourne Cup Day, and is widely expected to keep rates on hold. Hopes of a cut were dashed after higher than expected inflation figures were released earlier this week.

“The [RBA] board is likely to be unanimous in its decision to keep rates steady,” said Mousina.

“Financial markets are pricing in some chance of another rate cut and pricing is unlikely to change after the meeting.”

Finishing at the top of the bourse was Healius, gaining 6 per cent. Vault Minerals rose 5.8 per cent and Westgold Resources lifted 5.4 per cent.

Financial stocks were mixed. Commonwealth Bank and Westpac both closed 1 per cent higher, while National Australia Bank declined 0.1 per cent and ANZ lost 0.6 per cent after it revealed a $1.1 billion hit to its profits due to a range of significant items, including costs relating to job cuts.

Mining stocks are also mixed. Among iron ore heavyweights, Rio Tinto added 0.4 per cent, BHP shed 1 per cent and Fortescue slid 0.9 per cent. Gold miners jumped as the price of the safe haven climbed back over $US4000. Evolution Mining gained 3.5 per cent, Newmont rose 3.2 per cent and Northern Star rose 3.5 per cent.

At the bottom of the index was insurance broker Steadfast Group, shedding 9.7 per cent. Alcoa Corporation fell 4.9 per cent and Lovisa fell 4.8 per cent.

In the energy sector, Santos fell 0.9 per cent while Woodside Energy rose 1.2 per cent. Origin Energy slumped 2.8 per cent, while AGL closed 1.3 per cent higher. Late on Friday, AGL said it had begun consultations with its workforce about job cuts as it reviews costs and proposes changes to its organisational structure. No decisions on redundancies have been made yet, but it is expected that about 200 employees will be affected.

Endeavour Group, the operator of Dan Murphy’s and BWS finished unchanged after a first-quarter update that showed retail liquor sales had fallen by 1.4 per cent. Meanwhile, the group’s pubs, clubs and hotels business grew sales by 4.4 per cent, driven by strength across all four pillars of food sales, bars, gambling and accommodation. Overall, total sales declined 0.3 per cent for the quarter.

The Australian dollar was trading at US65.46¢ at 4:17pm AEDT.

Overnight, the US sharemarket sank from its record heights as Wall Street sifted through mixed developments on everything from the US-China trade war to profits for big tech behemoths.

The S&P 500 fell 1 per cent and pulled further from its all-time high set on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 109 points, or 0.2 per cent, and the Nasdaq composite dropped 1.6 per cent from its record set the day before.

Stocks were also mixed in Europe and Asia, coming off a much-anticipated meeting between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies. Trump hailed his talk with China’s Xi as a “12” on a scale of zero to 10, and Trump said he would cut tariffs on China. But while the talks may offer some stability for the near term, major tensions remain between the two countries.

Plus, stocks had already run to records earlier this week on expectations for potentially big improvements coming out of the Trump-Xi talks.

“The result was fine but fine isn’t good enough, given the expectations going in,” said Annex Wealth Management chief economist Brian Jacobsen. “The results were more like small gestures, instead of a grand bargain.”

Also feeling the burden of high expectations were some of Wall Street’s most influential stocks.

Meta Platforms dropped 11.3 per cent, cutting into what had been a 28.4 per cent jump for the year so far, and was the heaviest weight on the S&P 500. Analysts said investors were likely perturbed by how much Facebook’s parent company said it’s planning to spend in 2026. Companies across the industry have been on an investment spree to build out their artificial-intelligence capabilities, and the concern is whether it will all pay off.

Microsoft sank 2.9 per cent, even though it reported stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Analysts pointed to how it also expects to spend more on investments in 2026 than in 2025, while growth for its Azure business may have fallen a bit short of some investors’ expectations.

On the winning side of big tech was Alphabet. Shares of Google’s parent company climbed 2.5 per cent after its profit and revenue for the latest quarter easily topped analysts’ expectations.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury held at 4.08 per cent, where it was late Wednesday, up from 3.99 per cent the day before Fed Reserve chair Jerome Powell’s warning of a looming end to quantitative tightening.

In sharemarkets abroad, indexes dipped by 0.5 per cent in France and by less than 0.1 per cent in Germany after the European Central Bank decided not to move its main interest rate.

News

Media (Global)

ESPN, ABC and more than a dozen other Disney-owned channels have disappeared from YouTube TV after the two companies failed to renew their content deal before expiration.

The blackout cuts off major sports programming, including NFL games and college football, for more than 8 million subscribers.

Google contends that Disney is demanding "costly economic terms" that would drive up prices for YouTube TV subscribers.

Disney says YouTube is refusing to "pay fair rates" for its channels and is "using its market dominance to eliminate competition".

YouTube TV — which has become one of the largest TV providers in the country as linear cable fades — has increasingly found itself in carriage disputes as it tries to set new payment standards for the streaming era.

Because virtual pay-TV providers are not regulated in the same way as their traditional pay-TV peers, these disputes give companies like YouTube TV an opportunity to reshape agreements in the digital era in a way that better suits their objectives.

YouTube TV is reportedly looking for Disney to make its streaming content — like Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ — available to YouTube TV subscribers.

Disney, which is trying to build its own streaming services, has little incentive to do that!

News

Markets via Sydney, Australia

October 31, 2025

Roy Morgan Summary

Australian Dollar: $0.6549 USD (down $0.0021 USD)

Iron Ore: $106.95 USD (down $0.80 USD)

Oil Price (WTI): $60.22 USD (down $0.18 USD)

Gold Price: $4,022.53 USD (up $73.21 USD)

Copper Price: $5.1005 USD (down $0.1025 USD)

Bitcoin: $106,919.01 USD (down 3.29% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 47,522.12 (down 109.88 points on yesterday's close)

News

Media (Australia/World)

'Irreplaceable' Murdoch confidante cuts News Corp ties after 20 years

News Corp Australia veteran Siobhan McKenna will step down as the media group's head of broadcasting at the end of this year. She was appointed to the role in 2017, and had responsibility for Foxtel and Sky News Australia; there has been speculation about her future at News Corp since the sale of Foxtel to sports streaming group DAZN earlier this year. McKenna will also retire as the chair of Lachlan Murdoch's Nova Entertainment and his private investment vehicle, Ilyria. She had been Murdoch's closest advisers, and media reports earlier in 2025 revealed that she had been the 'architect' of a plan to change the Murdoch family trust in favour of Lachlan. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Oct 31

Mining/Resources

MinRes downplays lithium firesale talk, hits iron ore record

Mineral Resources has advised that it shipped a record 11.4 million tonnes of iron ore in the September quarter; its average realised price was 14 per cent higher quarter-on-quarter at $US90 ($137) per tonne. The average realised price for its lithium was in turn up 31 per cent at $US849 per tonne. The company has hired JPMorgan to help sell parts of its lithium portfolio, but chief financial officer Mark Wilson says a stronger balance sheet means it does not need to divest lithium assets and will only consider deals that are good value. (RMS)

News

China will squeeze rare earths projects: Lynas MD

Lynas Rare Earths has posted revenue of $200.2m for the September quarter, which is 66 per cent higher than previously. Meanwhile, CEO Amanda Lacaze says the companymade a deliberate choice to buy equipment for its cracking and leaching plant near Kalgoorlie in Western Australia from non-Chinese suppliers, which has increased the cost of the refinery by about 30 per cent. She has warned that new rare earths projects in Australia and the US will also incur higher construction costs because Chinese suppliers will restrict access to equipment and consumables. Iluka will also source most of the equipment for its Eneabba rare earths refinery from non-Chinese suppliers. (RMS)

News

Industry push to end WA ban on uranium mining

An inquiry into Western Australia's role in assisting the global decarbonisation effort has prompted calls from many mining companies for the state to lift its ban on new uranium projects. The WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy contends permitting four proposed uranium projects to proceed would produce more than $1 billion in annual exports, create 9,000 jobs and generate $50 million in royalties, but Australian Manufacturing Workers Union WA general secretary Steve McCartney says it would run a campaign against the Cook Labor government if it moves to change its policy on uranium mining. (RMS)

News

Santos calls AFP over fake email

Santos has asked the Australian Federal Police and cyber authorities to investigate the use of a fake email address to seek confidential documents and other information about the company. A number of Santos employees had received an email purporting to have been sent by chief strategy officer Tracy Winters at various times, including during the recent failed merger talks between Santos and an Abu Dhabi-led consortium. The same email account had been used in October 2023, when Santos director Yasmin Allen received an email that was highly critical of Winters and CEO Kevin Gallagher. (RMS)

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

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.

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.

Markets, Crypto and Culture

Running Of The Bulls Continue Edition!

October 8, 2025

Sydney, Australia

ASX futures down 1 point at 8986

Wall Street:
S&P 500 -0.4%
Dow Jones -0.2%
Nasdaq -0.7%

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

Australian dollar at US65.81¢

Bitcoin -2.5% to $US122,168

Gold +0.6% to $US3986.49 per ounce

Oil +0.6% to $US62.06 a barrel

Brent crude oil +0.4% to $US65.76 a barrel

Iron ore +0.1% to $US104.10 per ton

10-year yield:
US 4.13%
Australia 4.38%
Germany 2.71%

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Mood: Bullish, Moderate dip from yesterday!

Bitcoin $122,051.02 -2.45%
Ethereum $4,496.07 -4.20%
Tether $1.0003 +0.02%
Binance Coin $1,319.43 +7.51%
XRP $2.8782 -4.30%
Solana $223.63 -4.56%
USDC $0.9996 flat
TRON $0.3387 -2.20%
Dogecoin $0.2505 - 6.88%
Cardano $0.8259 -5.77%

Market bullish! Mood upbeat, moderate dip overnight after yesterdays bump!

Media Man Favs:

October 7/8, 2025 (Near Live)

Wall St, New York

TKO Group Holdings Inc $197.96 -0.19 -0.096%
NVIDIA Corp $185.04 -0.47 -0.25%
Formula One Group Series C $106.72 -1.611.49%
Alphabet Inc Class A $245.76 -4.67 -1.86%
News Corp Class A $27.38 -0.68 -2.42%
Netflix Inc $1,191.06 +27.75 +2.39%
Caterpillar Inc $486.71 -8.67 -1.75%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp $17.02
-0.60 -3.41%
Tesla Inc $433.09 -20.16 -4.45%
Walt Disney Co $112.53 -0.22 -0.20%
Wynn Resorts Ltd $122.91 -1.68 -1.35%
Meta Platforms Inc $713.08 -2.58 -0.36%
BHP Group Ltd $41.96 +0.060 +0.14%
Mercedes Benz Group ADR $15.59 -0.61 -3.77%
Elders Ltd $7.40 +0.020 +0.27%
Rio Tinto Ltd $124.18 +0.60 +0.49%

News

Politics remains the main driver of FX

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 begins to shake, the ground beneath other currencies begins to tremble. (FxPro)

News

Miners offset ASX retreat from record high

The Australian sharemarket fell slightly on Monday, with the S&P/ASX 200 easing 0.1 per cent to close at 8,981.4 points after briefly reaching a new intra-day high. Rio Tinto was down 1.2 per cent at $123.58, WiseTech Global fell 2.2 per cent to end the session at $88.30 and the Commonwealth Bank finished 0.3 per cent lower at $169.96. However, Evolution Mining rose 2.6 per cent to $11.26 and Woodside Energy was up 0.2 per cent at $23.15. (RMS)

News Flashback

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 Flashback

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 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
TED X vs The Others

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.

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

Cryptos, Markets and Culture

Friday Into The Weekend Edition!

October 3/4, 2025

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Bitcoin $122,667.92 +2.23%
Ethereum $4,506.29 +0.60%
Tether $1.0005 flat
Binance Coin $1,177.34 +7.54%
XRP $3.0270 +0.11%
Solana $230.17 -0.54%
USDC $0.9996 flat
TRON $0.3408 -0.88%
Dogecoin $0.2542 - 1.31%
Cardano $0.8572 -0.14%

Market bullish! Mood joyful

News

October 3, 2025

Markets (Sydney to New York)

Australian Dollar: $0.6590 USD (down $0.0020 USD)
Iron Ore: $103.40 USD (down $0.20 USD)
Oil: $60.68 USD (down $1.12 USD)
Gold: $3,856.37 USD (down $9.29 USD)
Copper: $4.9540 USD (up 0.0595 USD)
Bitcoin: $120,564.31 USD (up 2.56%)
Dow Jones: 46,519.72 (up 78.62 points)

Stocks

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

Crypto

October 2

The cryptocurrency market soared to extremes

Market Overview

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.

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.

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

News

Oct 3

ASX rallies 1.1pc as miners and CBA jump

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)!

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)

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)

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

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

October 1, 2025

Sydney, Australia

ASX futures down 5 points or 0.1% to 8868

Wall Street: S&P 500 +0.4%, Dow Jones +0.2%, Nasdaq +0.3%

Europe: Stoxx 50 +0.4%, FTSE +0.5%, DAX +0.6%, CAC +0.2%

Bitcoin +0.3% to $US114,743

Gold +0.7% to $US3858.98 per ounce

US oil -1.6% to $US62.46 a barrel

Brent crude -1.4% to $US67.02 a barrel

Iron ore +0.5% to $US103.55 per tonne

10-year yield: US 4.15% Australia 4.29% Germany 2.71%

Markets, Crypto and Culture

September 15, 2025

Sydney, Australia

Markets

ASX futures down 59 points/0.7% to 8804
Wall Street:
S&P 500 -0.1%
Dow Jones -0.6%
Nasdaq +0.4%
Europe:
Stoxx 50 +0.1%
FTSE -0.2%
DAX flat
CAC flat

Bitcoin -0.1% to $US115,849

Gold +0.3% to $US3643.14 per ounce
Oil +0.5% to $US62.69 a barrel
Brent crude oil +0.9% to $US66.99 a barrel
Iron ore +0.4% to $US105.90 per ton
10-year yield:
US 4.06%
Australia 4.21%
Germany 2.71%

News

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Bitcoin $116,036.73 USD +0.28%
Ethereum $4,624.75 USD -0.60%
Tether $0.9998 USD +0.14%
XRP $3.04 USD -2.20%
BNB $933.05 USD +0.18%
Solana $243.15 USD +1.40%
TRON $0.3491 USD +0.06%
Dogecoin $0.2799 USD -3.15%

Market Cautious, Mood/vibe rising!

Markets and Cryptos

June 13, 2025

Markets

ASX futures up 48 points/0.6 per cent to 8607
AUD +0.5% to US65.30¢
Bitcoin -1.9% to $US106,805
Wall St:
Dow +0.2% S&P +0.4% Nasdaq +0.2%
VIX +0.73 to 17.99
Gold +1% to $US3388.31 an ounce
Oil +0.4% to $US70.06 a barrel
Iron ore -0.7% to $US94.45 a ton
10-yr yield: US 4.36% Australia 4.23%

Cryptos

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Bitcoin $106,586.75 USD -2.33%
Ethereum $2,662.28 USD -5.95%
Tether $1.00 USD +0.07%
XRP $2.21 USD -3.99%
BNB $657.30 USD -1.68%
Solana $153.75 USD -5.97%
USD Coin $0.9999 USD +0.05%
Dogecoin $0.1828 USD -6.65%
TRON $0.2722 USD -2.28%
Cardano $0.6651 USD -5.68%
Wrapped Bitcoin $106,528.01 USD -2.20%

News

Bitcoin fails to consolidate above $110K

Market Picture

The crypto market has lost 1.6% of its capitalisation over the past 24 hours to $3.39 trillion. Technically, this is a retreat from previous highs, which provided resistance. The sell-off was triggered by pressure on risky assets due to renewed tensions in the Middle East. However, this should be seen as a temporary setback.

Bitcoin fell below $108K, once again encountering a sell-off after touching $110K. This downward move caused a broad group of altcoins to give back some of their recent gains. Nevertheless, the sell-off appears to be limited and technical for now. The dollar's proximity to multi-year lows reinforces the bullish sentiment for the near term.

News Background

Bitcoin Core developers will remove the default limit on the amount of OP_RETURN data published in the v30 client release scheduled for October. The actual limit will be a block size of 4 MB.

The Ethereum Foundation team has published its first report as part of the Trillion Dollar Security initiative. Researchers have identified six key areas that require significant improvements to ensure the security of the network in the future.

The value of tokenised RWA assets has grown 245 times over the past five years to $21 billion, according to Coinbase. Private loans on the blockchain (61%) and US government bonds (30%) accounted for more than 90% of the RWA market share.

Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal has taken full control of the Polygon Foundation (PF) as its first CEO and presented changes to the project's strategic priorities.

According to Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas, the SEC could approve spot ETFs based on a basket of cryptocurrencies as early as July and then decide on Solana-based funds. Another Bloomberg analyst, James Seyffart, does not expect a decision from the SEC before early October. (FxPro)

News

Oil jumps amid a bear market

Several pieces of bullish news converged on oil on Wednesday, causing prices to jump more than 6% during the day, but a 3% pullback on Thursday shows that bears are still in charge.

Among the important drivers for oil at the end of the day on Wednesday were reports of the evacuation of part of the US embassy in Iraq due to instability in the region. This is a reaction to Israel's intensified preparations for an attack on Iran, which sharply increases the risks of retaliatory measures and a reduction in oil supplies from the region.

In addition, news of a trade agreement between China and the US is positively impacting oil, potentially increasing energy demand and overall risk appetite.
Soft US inflation data also contributed to the dollar's weakening, facilitating oil price growth.

However, important industry indicators also emerged. Commercial crude oil inventories fell by 3.6 million barrels last week after declining by 4.3 million and 2.8 million barrels in the previous two weeks.

Earlier reports from Baker Hughes pointed to a significant reduction in active oil rigs to 442 (the lowest in almost four years) compared to an average of approximately 486 in March-April. This is a clear shift towards reduction after a period of stabilisation, which promises a decline in production in the coming quarters.

It appears that America will return to Saudi Arabia or OPEC+, which is the market share gained after 2020.

In its rise, the price of WTI crude oil approached the 200-day average, as we saw at the beginning of April. The impressive sell-off as it approached this level suggests that bears remain in control of the market, regardless of the news. Except for a couple of weeks at the beginning of the year, this downward trend line has acted as effective resistance since August last year. The bears' territory extends all the way to the $70 level, which, if broken, would be an important signal of a change in sentiment. Until then, the rise of oil may remain an opportunity to sell at a higher price. (FxPro)

News

Gold News

Gold Price Movements:

Gold prices have been volatile due to global economic uncertainties and trade tensions. On June 11, 2025, gold August contracts on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) in India opened at ?97,249 per 10 grams, reflecting a rebound amid global uncertainties.

In the U.S., spot gold prices fell 1.1% to $3,316.13 per ounce on June 6, after a stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs report (139K jobs added in May) reduced expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts. U.S. gold futures settled 0.8% lower at $3,346.60.

On June 12, gold prices in Chennai were reported at ?97,234 per 10 grams for 24-carat gold, with silver at ?1,06,900 per kg.

Gold has risen approximately 28-30% year-to-date in 2025, driven by geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, though it faced selling pressure after the U.S. jobs data.

Central Bank Gold Purchases:
Central banks globally are projected to buy 1,000 metric tons of gold in 2025, marking the fourth consecutive year of significant purchases as they diversify reserves away from U.S. dollar-denominated assets.

The European Central Bank noted that gold has surpassed the euro as the world’s second-most important reserve asset for central banks, signaling a shift in global financial strategies.

China’s Gold Strategy:
China is pursuing a strategy to weaken the U.S. dollar’s dominance by increasing gold reserves and promoting gold-based trade, including through the Shanghai Gold Exchange. In March 2025, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission mandated insurance firms to allocate at least 1% of their assets (worth over $4.5 trillion) to physical gold.

India’s Gold Market:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has tightened rules for gold loan collaterals, impacting the gold loan market. India also maintains high import duties on gold, though the RBI continues to accumulate gold reserves.

On June 3, 2025, 24-carat gold in India increased by ?282 to ?96,962 per 10 grams, while silver rose by ?2,178 to ?99,939 per kg. Gold remains ?2,138 below its April 22 peak of ?99,100 per 10 grams.

Silver Outperformance:
Silver prices have surged, reaching above $36.06 per ounce on June 6, the highest since February 2012, driven by technical momentum and investor interest in precious metals as safe-haven assets. Silver has gained over 20-25% in 2025 but trails gold’s 28-30% rise.

U.S. Gold Reserves Audit:
U.S. Congressman Thomas Massie introduced legislation to audit America’s gold reserves at Fort Knox, the first comprehensive audit since 1953. Posts on X suggest controversy, with some claiming U.S. Treasury officials resisted the audit, raising speculation about the reserves’ status. However, these claims are unverified and inconclusive.

Investment Trends:
Gold funds saw their first outflow in 15 months ($678 million in May), as investors shifted toward crypto and other assets for diversification amid easing trade tensions.

Experts recommend holding 5-20% of portfolios in gold to hedge against inflation and volatility, with some predicting further price increases due to potential trade tariffs and economic policies.

Other Developments:
Tanzania plans to mandate that large-scale miners refine and trade at least 20% of their gold output domestically.

Concerns about illegal gold mining in South Africa persist, with a focus on a fugitive alleged kingpin linked to a disused mine where 78 corpses were found.

Note: Gold prices are influenced by factors like U.S. dollar strength, Federal Reserve policies, geopolitical tensions (e.g., U.S.-China trade disputes), and potential tariff impacts. Investors are advised to consult certified experts before making investment decisions. (Grok)

News

Best Quotes

“Gold is the money of kings.” – Anonymous.

“He who has the gold makes the rules.” – Unknown.

“Gold is a living god and rules in scorn, all earthly things but virtue.” – Percy Bysshe Shelley.

“Gold is a deep and liquid subject.” – Anonymous.

“Gold is forever.” – Anonymous

News

Best Quotes

"Journalism allows its readers to witness history; fiction gives its readers an opportunity to live it." - John Hersey

"In America, the president reigns for four years, and journalism governs forever and ever." - Oscar Wilde

"The world is changing very fast. Big will not beat small anymore. It will be the fast beating the slow" Rupert Murdoch

Cryptocurrency News

Cryptos (Near live)

Bitcoin $109,704.32 USD +2.504%
ETH $2,558.37 USD +1.27%
Tether $0.9999 USD -0.11%
XRP $2.39 USD +1.66%
BNB $673.18 USD +3.52%
Solana $173.67 USD +3.43%
USD Coin $164.36 USD -0.05%
Dogecoin $0.2364 USD +4.67%
Cardano $0.7729 USD +3.94%
TRON $0.2678 USD -0.57%
Wrapped Bitcoin $109,317.98 USD +2.46%

News

Bitcoin close to the top

Market Picture

Market capitalisation has risen 2% in the last 24 hours to $3.37 trillion, 8.5% below January's all-time peaks. However, Bitcoin buyers are showing more confidence, trading above the $107k area (+2.9%). Ethereum and many other altcoins saw stronger intraday gains but still have a lot to recover after retreating significantly following the broader market pullback after Trump’s inauguration.

Bitcoin is forming its fourth consecutive daily growth candle. Bulls continue their attempts to secure a foothold above the $107K level. While the first cryptocurrency has briefly reached higher levels, it has yet to establish a sustained hold above them.

Last week, there was a stabilisation around $103k, which now looks like a foundation for further growth. The realistic near-term target for the bulls looks to be the area of $113K, which would be an extension to 161.8% of the growth impulse from early May and the subsequent mini correction at the beginning of last week.

Bitcoin's upward move is gradually waking up altcoins, although they still have considerable room to rise to previous highs, making them increasingly attractive to retail traders. The trend of a weakening dollar can also be seen as a breeding ground for growth.

News Background

On-chain signals and market data for Bitcoin remain constructive. Buying sentiment continues to support further growth, indicating that it may not yet be time to cash in, according to CryptoQuant.

Strategy bought an additional 7,390 BTC ($764.9 million) last week at an average price of $103,498 per coin. The company now owns 576,230 BTC bought at an average price of $69,726. The total investment is valued at $40.18 billion.

Major players via options have bet on Ethereum's significant growth, said CoinDesk analyst Omkar Godbole. The strategy will yield the biggest profits if ETH rises to $6,000 or higher by 26 December.

The Binance exchange has filed a motion to dismiss FTX's $1.76 bn lawsuit. The company's lawyers called the claims ‘legally untenable’ and asked for the case to be dismissed.

According to Fortune, Circle's IPO may not take place as the USDC issuer is in talks with Coinbase and Ripple to sell the business for at least $5bn. (FxPro)

News

Cryptocurrency News

Bitcoin Price Surge: Bitcoin has risen from $94,000 to over $106,000 in May, a 13% increase, driven by strong institutional interest and ETF inflows ($3.3 billion this month). Analysts predict it could hit $110,000 by month's end, with some forecasting $220,000-$250,000 by year-end due to regulatory tailwinds and reduced volatility.

Regulatory Developments: The U.S. Senate advanced the GENIUS Act on May 20 with a 66-32 vote, aiming to regulate stablecoins and establish a federal framework for digital currencies. A final vote is pending post the May 26 holiday. Texas may become the second U.S. state to allow a Bitcoin reserve if SB 21 is signed, following New Hampshire’s lead.

XRP Momentum: XRP briefly overtook Tether as the third-largest cryptocurrency. Its price surged 15% in 2025, trading at $2.40, with South Korean investors driving demand. The launch of XRP futures ETFs by CME Group on May 19 is seen as a pivotal moment. Predictions suggest XRP could reach $3-$20 by 2030.

Cybersecurity Concerns: Coinbase reported a cyberattack costing $180-$400 million, affecting a small subset of users’ data. Bybit faced a $1.5 billion heist in February, the largest ever. In France, crypto-related kidnappings targeting wealthy investors have raised alarms.

Institutional Adoption: Blackstone disclosed holding 23,094 shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust, marking its first public bitcoin position. JPMorgan, Ondo, and Chainlink announced a $100 billion blockchain platform for tokenizing real-world assets.

Market Trends: The crypto market cap rose 1.2% to $3.46 trillion, with $124 billion in trading volume. However, concerns about overconfidence and potential corrections persist. Galaxy’s Nasdaq listing ($GLXY) has sparked enthusiasm, with potential to rival other crypto stocks. (Grok)

News

Blockchain News

Regulatory Moves in the U.S.: The U.S. Senate advanced the GENIUS Act, a bipartisan bill to regulate stablecoins, with new consumer protections and limits on tech companies issuing them. This follows a previous Democratic block, signaling growing acceptance of blockchain’s role in finance, though concerns about oversight and corruption persist.

Coinbase Joins S&P 500: Crypto exchange Coinbase was added to the S&P 500, a milestone for the crypto industry, though it faced a cyberattack compromising customer data, with remediation costs estimated at $180–400 million.

New Hampshire’s Crypto Push: New Hampshire became the first U.S. state to allow its treasury to invest in cryptocurrency. Proposed bills aim to prevent discrimination against digital assets and establish blockchain-specific legal frameworks, though their fate remains uncertain.

Cardano Embezzlement Allegations: Cardano faces claims of $600 million in ADA embezzlement. Founder Charles Hoskinson promised an audit to restore trust, potentially setting a precedent for blockchain self-governance.

Ripple and XRP Developments: Ripple warned XRP holders about scams amid a market uptick. XRP is expanding into multichain interoperability with Cosmos and EVM sidechains, positioning it as a key player in blockchain connectivity.

Chainlink and Stablecoin Integration: World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin, backed by U.S. treasuries, hit $2 billion in market cap and is now cross-chain with Chainlink’s CCIP, enabling secure transfers across Ethereum and BNB Chain.

Security Concerns: French crypto entrepreneurs, including Paymium’s CEO, face rising targeted attacks, prompting enhanced security measures. Global threats to crypto executives are increasing, with organized crime targeting digital wealth.

Blockchain in Gaming: Blockchain gaming saw a 10% drop in user activity in April, but the ecosystem is maturing. Mainstream companies like Ubisoft and Sega are experimenting with NFTs and play-to-earn mechanics.

JP Morgan’s Blockchain Milestone: JP Morgan used Ondo and Chainlink for its first public blockchain deal, a historic step for institutional crypto adoption.

Ethereum Node Storage Solution: Vitalik Buterin proposed a local-first design to reduce Ethereum node storage requirements from 1.3TB, aiming to lower barriers for users. (Grok)

News

XRP News

Latest XRP News Summary (as of May 22, 2025)

Price Movement: XRP is currently trading around $2.31-$2.55, experiencing a 4% weekly drop but holding key support levels. Analysts suggest a potential rebound to $3.40, with some optimistic predictions targeting $11.34 by year-end or even $123 based on historical patterns, though short-term forecasts indicate limited gains until October 2025. A critical support level is at $2.30; a drop below could lead to a crash to $2.00.

SEC Lawsuit Developments: Ripple and the SEC are nearing a settlement in their long-standing legal battle, with the SEC filing a motion to lift the injunction on XRP sales to institutional investors and reduce a $125 million penalty. A recent court ruling on May 18 rejected the SEC’s request for an indicative ruling, but Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer downplayed it as procedural. The outcome could clear the path for XRP-spot ETF approval, a significant bullish catalyst.

XRP Futures and ETF Speculation: The CME Group launched cash-settled XRP futures on May 19, boosting institutional interest and speculation about spot ETF approvals. Firms like 21Shares, Bitwise, and Grayscale have filed for XRP ETFs, with Polymarket bettors giving an 83% chance of approval. However, BlackRock’s silence and a recent court decision have delayed ETF momentum, causing some bearish pressure.

Technological Advancements: Ripple is integrating XRP with Cosmos and developing EVM sidechains for better blockchain interoperability. Its custody service now supports shared MPC wallets, and the XRP Ledger is seeing growth in tokenization and DeFi, with rising Total Value Locked (TVL). StraitsX launched a Singapore-dollar stablecoin (XSGD) on the XRP Ledger, enhancing its utility.

Market Sentiment and Political Support: XRP sentiment remains mixed but leans bullish due to legal optimism and endorsements, notably from President Donald Trump, who suggested XRP as a potential strategic reserve currency. Posts on X highlight community excitement, with Ripple announcing an XRP Rewards Event to engage holders. However, some analysts warn of regulatory scrutiny and market volatility impacting short-term performance.

Ripple IPO Speculation: Market speculation suggests a Ripple IPO could value the company at over $100 billion, potentially boosting XRP’s price, though XRP in Ripple’s escrow won’t count toward valuation until the IPO.

Critical Note: While bullish catalysts like ETF prospects and legal clarity exist, ongoing regulatory uncertainty and market dynamics could pose risks. Some community predictions (e.g., $250 by 2026) appear speculative and lack robust evidence. Always conduct thorough research before making investment decisions, as market conditions are volatile. (Grok)

News

Best Quotes Of The Day

"Banking now is like sending a letter: you send it, you don't know if it reached there. Ripple is more like sending an iMessage: you send it, and you immediately know" Chris Larsen

"Bitcoin is a swarm of cyber hornets serving the goddess of wisdom, feeding on the fire of truth, exponentially growing ever smarter, faster, and stronger behind a wall of encrypted energy" Michael J. Saylor

News

Elon Musk quotes

“Fundamentally, bitcoin is not a good substitute for transactional currency,” Musk told Time Magazine after being named Time’s 2021 Person of the Year. “Even though it was created as a silly joke, dogecoin is better suited for transactions.”

"The transaction volume of bitcoin is low, and the cost per transaction is high,” he said. Musk added that bitcoin is more suitable as a store of value, which is why its investors want to hold onto it and not sell it or use it for transactions.

Dogecoin, on the other hand, is a currency that “encourages people to spend, rather than sort of hoard as a store of value” Elon Musk

News/Intel

What Is A Cryptocurrency ETF? A Guide For Crypto Investors Looking To Diversify

A cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund (ETF) is an investment vehicle that allows investors to gain exposure to digital assets without directly holding them. Crypto ETFs can be a simpler, highly regulated way to invest in the volatile crypto world, offering diversification and ease of trading.

This guide will explain what crypto ETFs are, how they work, their advantages and the potential risks investors should consider.

What Is A Crypto ETF?

A crypto ETF is a financial product that provides investors with indirect exposure to digital assets like bitcoin and ether. Instead of directly purchasing and storing these cryptos, investors can buy shares of a crypto ETF, which tracks the value of one or more digital currencies. These ETFs trade on traditional stock exchanges, making them accessible through regular brokerage accounts.

Crypto ETFs are available in two main forms: spot ETFs and futures ETFs.

Spot ETFs directly hold the underlying crypto, while futures ETFs rely on contracts that speculate on future crypto prices. This difference can impact an ETF’s performance, with spot ETFs offering more direct price exposure and futures ETFs providing a way to trade on expected price movements.

Investing in crypto ETFs offers simplified access to digital assets. However, these funds are not without risks. Investors should know potential issues, including counterparty risks, management fees and limited control over the underlying digital assets. Understanding these factors can help investors make informed decisions.

How Does A Cryptocurrency ETF Work?
A cryptocurrency ETF functions like a traditional exchange-traded fund, trading on major stock exchanges. Investors can buy and sell shares of a crypto ETF throughout the trading day, with prices fluctuating based on the value of the underlying crypto it tracks. Crypto ETFs offer real-time pricing, which provides greater flexibility for investors.

Crypto ETFs are structured to hold either the actual crypto in the case of spot ETFs or derivative contracts, as in futures ETFs, that reflect crypto prices. The fund’s manager ensures the ETF maintains its target exposure by buying or selling assets as needed. This allows investors to gain exposure to digital assets without directly managing crypto wallets or navigating complex exchanges.

Types Of Cryptocurrency ETFs
Crypto ETFs come in several forms, offering different ways to invest in the digital asset market. Bitcoin ETFs focus solely on bitcoin, providing direct exposure to its price. Ethereum ETFs are dedicated to tracking the value of Ethereum. Blockchain ETFs invest in companies involved in blockchain technology rather than holding crypto directly. Multi-Crypto ETFs provide access to a mix of several cryptos within a single fund.

These options allow investors to choose between a single-asset focus or a diversified approach that reduces the risk of relying on one asset.

Bitcoin ETFs: Spot Vs. Futures
There are two kinds of Bitcoin ETFs, spot and futures. Spot bitcoin ETFs hold actual bitcoin reserves, with each share backed by actual crypto. This means investors gain direct exposure to bitcoin’s price movements without needing to manage or store bitcoin themselves. Spot ETFs are regulated financial instruments, with custodians securely storing the underlying bitcoin to protect against risks like hacking or theft.

In contrast, bitcoin futures ETFs do not hold actual bitcoin. Instead, they invest in futures contracts speculating on bitcoin’s future price. These contracts are agreements to buy or sell bitcoin at a set price on a future date. While this approach offers bitcoin exposure, it introduces added complexity. Costs like roll premiums – expenses an ETF is required to pay when replacing expiring futures contracts with new ones – can reduce investor returns. Futures contracts may not perfectly track bitcoin’s spot price, causing price differences between the ETF and the actual bitcoin market.

Ethereum ETFs
Similar to bitcoin ETFs, ether ETFs come in two main types, spot and futures-based. Spot ether ETFs hold actual ETH in a secure, regulated custody account, giving investors direct exposure to the cryptocurrency's price. When purchasing ether ETFs, investors buy shares representing a portion of the ETF's Ethereum holdings.

Futures-based ether ETFs do not hold ETH directly. Instead, they invest in futures contracts speculating on Ethereum's future price. These ETFs are easier to regulate and avoid custody risks, but may experience tracking errors and higher costs due to frequent contract rollovers.

Blockchain ETFs
Blockchain ETFs invest in companies using blockchain technology instead of holding cryptocurrencies directly. These funds provide exposure to industries like supply chain management, cybersecurity and digital identity. Unlike crypto ETFs, which focus on digital assets like bitcoin or ether, blockchain ETFs diversify across multiple sectors.

Examples include Robinhood, which offers crypto trading and blockchain services; Metaplanet, an investor in blockchain startups; and Cleanspark, a bitcoin mining company operating energy-efficient mining facilities. Blockchain ETFs let investors benefit from blockchain’s growth without direct ownership.

Multi-Crypto ETFs
Multi-Crypto ETFs expose a range of digital assets rather than focusing on a single one. These funds offer investors a balanced approach, allowing them to invest in multiple coins, such as bitcoin, ethereum, and solana, all within one investment product.

Grayscale's Digital Large Cap Fund is a notable example, holding a mix of major digital assets. Roughly 75% of the fund is allocated to bitcoin, 19% to ether, and the remainder to solana, ripple and avalanche. This approach helps spread risk and gives investors broader exposure to the evolving crypto market.

Why Are Investors Interested In Crypto ETFs?
Investors are drawn to crypto ETFs because they provide a straightforward method to gain exposure to digital assets without directly owning them. Through crypto ETFs, investors can access crypto through traditional brokerage accounts, avoiding the complexities of managing digital wallets, private keys or secure storage. Crypto ETFs also offer the security of institutional-grade funds, which are managed by professional fund managers and operate under regulatory guidance.

One of crypto ETFs' most appealing aspects is their portfolio diversification. Instead of investing in a single cryptocurrency, investors can choose multi-asset ETFs that spread risk across the crypto market.

Pros And Cons Of Crypto ETFs
Crypto ETFs offer a convenient way to gain exposure to digital assets without directly managing cryptocurrency. However, like any investment, they come with benefits and drawbacks. Understanding these pros and cons can help investors make informed decisions.

Pros Of Cryptocurrency ETFs
Accessibility: Crypto ETFs can be traded through traditional brokerage accounts, making it easy for investors to gain exposure without using crypto exchanges.

Diversification: Investors can choose multi-crypto ETFs, spreading their risk across multiple digital assets instead of relying on a single cryptocurrency.

Regulatory Oversight: Crypto ETFs are managed by regulated financial institutions, providing regulated security compared to direct crypto ownership, which can be challenging.

Cons Of Cryptocurrency ETFs
Limited Control: Investors do not own actual crypto, meaning they cannot use it for transactions or transfer it to a private wallet.

Management Fees: Crypto ETFs often have management fees that can reduce returns over time, especially futures-based ETFs with frequent contract rollovers.

Tracking Errors: Futures-based crypto ETFs may not perfectly mirror the spot price of cryptocurrencies due to price differences between futures and actual assets.

Cryptocurrency ETFs Vs. Direct Crypto Investments
Crypto ETFs offer investors a way to gain exposure to digital assets without direct ownership. Investors do not need to manage private keys or secure digital wallets, making ETFs a simpler option for those who want crypto exposure without the technical complexities.

In contrast, direct crypto investments allow investors to buy, hold and control actual digital assets. This approach provides complete ownership, enabling investors to transfer, spend or stake their crypto as they see fit. Direct investments also avoid management fees but come with responsibilities like wallet security, exposure to hacking risks and the need to manage transactions on crypto exchanges.

Who Are Crypto ETFs Right For?
Crypto ETFs are ideal for beginner investors who want exposure to digital assets without the complexity of directly buying, storing or managing cryptocurrencies. These funds offer a simple, regulated way to invest, making them suitable for those new to the crypto market who are more comfortable with traditional financial products.

They are also well-suited for traditional investors familiar with stock markets but wanting to explore crypto. By trading on exchanges like the NYSE or Nasdaq, crypto ETFs provide a convenient option for those who prefer to avoid the security risks of crypto exchanges.

The Future Outlook Of Cryptocurrency ETFs
The future of cryptocurrency ETFs looks bright, with BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF posting $356 million in inflows, the longest streak of 2025, and bitcoin flirting with new highs. As regulatory clarity improves, driven by bullish sentiment from SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins, more funds are launching, providing investors with greater choice and confidence.

Bottom Line

Crypto ETFs make it easier to invest in digital assets without directly buying and managing cryptocurrencies. They are a good option for beginners, traditional investors and those looking for diversified exposure. With choices like bitcoin, ether, multi-crypto and blockchain ETFs, investors can find a fund that fits their goals while reducing some risks of direct ownership.

The future of crypto ETFs looks promising as more funds emerge and regulatory clarity improves. BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF is seeing record inflows, showing strong investor interest. As the market grows, crypto ETFs offer a straightforward way to participate in the digital asset space.

Markets and Cryptos

May 10, 2025
Sydney, Australia

Markets:

ASX futures up 12 points/0.2% to 8261
AUD +0.1% at US64.09¢
Bitcoin +1.8% to $US103,152
Dow -0.3%
S&P -0.1%
Nasdaq -0.00%
Gold +0.6% to $US3326.57 an ounce
Oil +1.7% at $US63.92 a barrel
Iron ore +0.5% at $US97.00 a tonne

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Bitcoin. $102,887.02 USD. - 0.18%
Ethereum. $2,331.30. +6.50%
Tether $1 USD -0.10%
XRP. $2.35. +1.83. +2.4%
BNB. $638.149. +2.35%
Solana. $172.18. +6.56%
USD Coin. $1 USD -0.17%
Dogecoin: $0.2045 USD +5.52%
TRON. $0.2562 USD +3.06%
Cardano $0.7801 USD +2.20%
Wrapped Bitcoin $102,930.51 -0.28%

News

Crypto News

Bitcoin Surges Past $100,000: Bitcoin reclaimed the $100,000 mark for the first time since February, driven by optimism around a U.S.-UK trade deal announced by President Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The deal, which includes a 10% U.S. tariff on UK goods and reduced UK tariffs, has fueled a broader market rally. Bitcoin was trading at $102,700 late Thursday, with analysts noting potential support at $100,000 and resistance near $107,000.

Other Cryptocurrencies Rally: Ether surged over 14% to $2,050.46, its highest since late March, while Solana and Dogecoin gained 10% and 12%, respectively. The total crypto market cap rose 2.5% to $3.09 trillion.

Stablecoin Bill Blocked: The GENIUS Act of 2025, aimed at regulating stablecoins, was stalled in the U.S. Senate on May 8 by Democratic lawmakers, citing concerns over President Trump’s ties to the crypto industry, including his family’s World Liberty Financial stablecoin venture.

German Seizure of Crypto Assets: German authorities seized €34 million ($38 million) in cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, and Dash, from the eXch platform, linked to laundering funds from Bybit’s $1.4 billion hack in February 2025.

SEC and Ripple Settlement: The SEC and Ripple filed a joint letter on May 8 to dissolve an August 2024 injunction against Ripple and return $75 million of $125 million in penalties held in escrow.

Trump’s Crypto Ventures: World Liberty Financial, a Trump-affiliated firm, unveiled a stablecoin and secured a $2 billion deposit deal with an Emirati fund. However, Democratic senators, including Elizabeth Warren, are pushing back against crypto legislation, alleging corruption tied to Trump’s crypto ventures.

Bitcoin Investment Moves: Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) announced a $180 million Bitcoin purchase, adding 1,895 BTC, while a new whale withdrew $50 million in Bitcoin from Binance.

Ethereum Upgrades: Ethereum’s Pectra protocol upgrade went live on May 7, boosting investor interest. Analysts predict ETH could hit $5,925 in 2025, with long-term forecasts up to $15,575 by 2030.

Market Sentiment: The crypto market is in a transitional phase, with Bitcoin down 14% from its January 2025 high of $109,079. Analysts like Standard Chartered’s Geoff Kendrick forecast Bitcoin reaching $120,000 by Q2 2025 and $200,000 by year-end. (Grok)

News

A sharp crypto market awakening

Market Picture

TThe crypto market has added about 5.8% to its capitalisation over the past 24 hours, bringing it to $3.24 trillion. This is roughly the area where the market has been consolidating for most of February. A pause halfway to the area of historical highs above 3.50 looks like a logical respite. Back in November, the market surged without major pauses—but this time, the momentum appears more measured, with less of the earlier excitement.

The crypto market sentiment index reached 73, which is only a couple of steps away from extreme greed and is the highest since late January. Often, this is a working sentiment for continued growth.

Bitcoin has been reaching levels above 104000 this morning, adding an impressive 5% in the last 24 hours and 33% in 30 days. At current highs, all eyes are on how soon it will reach the all-time highs, which are less than 6% away, and whether or not it can overcome them outright. While similar rallies have broken records in the past, we still expect some consolidation near the highs before any decisive move higher.

The rocket of the last few days has certainly been Ethereum, which soared 23% in the last 24 hours, strengthening twice as fast as Bitcoin over the month. The technique worked perfectly. ETHUSD stomped around the 50-day moving average for a long time and rose in value by a third in less than two days to $2380. The rise to 2700 looks like an ‘easy part’ of the growth. Further upside will already have to be fought for.

News Background

On May 8, bitcoin's realised capitalisation reached a record $890.74 billion, which could indicate that BTC is poised for significant growth, CryptoQuant noted. The metric is the aggregate value of all coins in circulation based on the quotes at which they were last transferred.

Ethereum shows the best weekly performance in the top 20 cryptocurrencies. Nansen notes the accumulation of ‘smart money’ by institutions like Wintermute.

U.S. banks can perform crypto transactions on customer requests, provide custodial services through third parties, and generate tax returns on digital assets. This is stated in a clarification from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

Payments company Stripe has launched a product called Stablecoin Financial Accounts. It will allow businesses in 101 countries to hold balances in dollar-denominated Stablecoins and receive and send fiat and cryptocurrencies. (FxPro)

Best Quotes Of The Day

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

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

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

Markets and Cryptos

May 7, 2025
Sydney, Australia

Markets

ASX futures down 23 points/0.3% to 8146

AUD +0.3% to US64.87¢

Bitcoin flat at $US94,534

Wall St:
Dow -1.0%
S&P -0.7%
Nasdaq -0.9%
VIX +1.18 to 24.82
Gold +2.4% to $US3414.77 an ounce
Oil +3.4% to $US62.26 a barrel
Iron ore +1.2% to $US97.70 a tonne
10-year yield: US 4.31% Australia 4.33%

News

Bitcoin. $95,096. 2.41%
Ethereum. $1,789.65. 1.60%
Tether. $1.99. +0.16%
XRP. $2.14. -0.46%
BNB. $599.88. 0.05%
Solana. $144.79. 1.351%

News

Crypto News Today

Bitcoin Price Outlook: Binance founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao predicts Bitcoin could reach $500,000 to $1 million this market cycle, citing institutional adoption, government accumulation, and pro-crypto U.S. policies. Bitcoin is currently trading around $94,376, with some analysts forecasting a 2025 high of ~$168,000.

Florida Bitcoin Reserve Bills Withdrawn: Florida’s House Bill 487 and Senate Bill 550, which aimed to establish a state Bitcoin reserve, were withdrawn from consideration on May 3, marking a setback for state-level crypto initiatives.

Trump Family Crypto Ventures: The Trump-affiliated World Liberty Financial (WLFI) is gaining traction. Its stablecoin, USD1, is being used for a $2 billion investment by Abu Dhabi’s MGX into Binance. The Trump family’s crypto activities, including a $TRUMP meme coin, have sparked Senate backlash, with Democrats raising concerns over conflicts of interest and pushing for stricter stablecoin regulations.

BNB ETF Filing: VanEck has filed for the first U.S. BNB exchange-traded fund, which could stake BNB tokens, signaling growing institutional interest in Binance’s native token.

Crypto Market Trends: Bitcoin remains steady at ~$93,831, while Ethereum (ETH) and XRP are seeing slight declines. Analysts suggest ETH may outperform XRP in May due to stronger technical setups. The broader crypto market cap dipped slightly, with mixed altcoin performance.

Regulatory and Institutional Moves: Morgan Stanley plans to offer crypto trading on its E*Trade platform by 2026. U.S. banks no longer need Federal Reserve notification for crypto activities, a significant regulatory win.

Crypto-Related Crime: French police rescued the father of a crypto entrepreneur kidnapped for ransom, highlighting a rise in crypto-related abductions in France. (Grok)

News

Blockchain News Today

Ethereum Pectra Upgrade: Ethereum’s mainnet is undergoing the Pectra upgrade today, marking its most significant code change since the Merge in 2022. This upgrade includes 11 Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) aimed at enhancing user-friendliness, staking experiences, wallet features, and overall blockchain efficiency. Originally planned for 2024, the upgrade was delayed due to its complexity.

Crypto Market Trends: As of May 6, Bitcoin remains stable at around $93,831, while Ethereum and XRP have seen slight declines. Analysts are watching for potential bigger moves in 2025, with Bitcoin predicted to possibly hit $167,598.22 this year and surpass $900,000 by 2030, driven by increased adoption and whale activity.

Maldives Blockchain Hub: A $9 billion blockchain hub project in the Maldives is gaining attention as a transformative initiative for the region’s crypto ecosystem, highlighting blockchain’s growing global infrastructure.

Tether’s AI Platform: Tether’s CEO, Paolo Ardoino, has unveiled a new AI platform with crypto payment support, building on their December 2024 announcement. This move signals further integration of blockchain with AI technologies.

Regulatory Shifts: Recent U.S. policy changes allow banks to offer Bitcoin and crypto services without Federal Reserve notification, a significant win for crypto adoption. This has sparked bullish sentiment, particularly for Ethereum, which is seen as a hub for stablecoin and onchain services.

Worldcoin’s U.S. Expansion: Sam Altman’s Worldcoin is deploying biometric “orbs” in U.S. cities to streamline crypto wallet security, aiming to make transactions more user-friendly and secure. (Grok)

News

The US ran a record trade deficit in March. It will be worse in April

In March, the US trade deficit with other countries reached unprecedented levels, driven by a rush to purchase goods ahead of anticipated tariffs. This surge comes amidst the backdrop of the US President’s striking ‘America’s Liberation Day’ tariff announcement, with retaliatory tariffs following in April.

The trade deficit is an important fundamental pressure factor on the dollar, and it promises to become even stronger in April’s data. As a result, we are seeing temporary anomalies in the import numbers, which have been on a tear since December, adding over 27% to March last year.

Exports, on the other hand, are still within the trend of the last three years, adding 6.7% YoY to $278.5bn. Still, it doesn’t quite match the record-breaking $140.5 billion deficit and $419 billion in imports.

These alarming numbers are likely just a preview, with a downturn expected in the coming months—though it will probably be less dramatic. This will give the illusion that tariffs are working. However, it’s more accurate to take a long-term view, factoring in both the unusual spike in imports and the potential drop that may follow. It would not be surprising if the net effect is very controversial. (FxPro)

News

Gold News Today

Gold prices rose to a two-week high on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, driven by post-holiday buying from China and concerns over potential U.S. tariffs on pharmaceutical imports. Spot gold gained over 2%, reaching around $3,317 per ounce, supported by a weaker U.S. dollar and safe-haven demand. Investors are focused on the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting outcome on May 7, as higher interest rates typically reduce the appeal of non-yielding gold. In India, 24-carat gold prices climbed to ?95,740 per 10 grams, while silver saw a slight decline to ?96,900 per kilogram. Geopolitical tensions, including Middle East conflicts, and uncertainty over U.S.-China trade talks continue to bolster gold’s appeal.

Markets and Cryptos

May 2, 2025

Sydney, Australia

Markets:

ASX futures down 9 points/0.1% to 8153
AUD -0.3% at US63.86¢
Bitcoin +2.6% to $US96,560
Dow +0.7% S&P +1.2% Nasdaq +2.1%
Gold -1.9% to $US3227.23 an ounce
Oil +1.5% at $US61.95 a barrel
Iron ore -1.2% at $US95.20 a ton

Crypto Today:

Bitcoin. $96,857.23. 2.30%
Ethereum. $1,848.94. 2.43%
XRP. $2.2249. 0.71%
BNB. $599.84 USD +0.01%
Solana. $150.61 USD +2.64%
USD Coin. $1.00 USD -0.01%
Dogecoin. $0.1816 USD +4.87%

Crypto News

Ripple’s Regulatory Milestone: Ripple became the first blockchain-powered payments provider licensed by Dubai’s DFSA, enabling regulated cross-border crypto payments in the UAE, a key global trade hub.

XRP Market Dynamics: Despite a 30% price drop, XRP analysts highlight strong fundamentals and institutional integration, suggesting the dip may be a strategic shakeout before a potential rally to $3.

SoFi’s Crypto Push: Fintech SoFi plans to reintroduce crypto investing by year-end, leveraging new U.S. regulatory guidance. They aim to integrate blockchain across lending, savings, and payments within 24 months.

UK and US Regulatory Alignment: The UK announced draft rules to regulate crypto exchanges and dealers, aiming to align with the U.S. under Trump’s pro-crypto policies, despite EU concerns.

Stablecoin Developments: Visa and Bridge partnered to launch stablecoin-linked cards in Latin America, while Abu Dhabi’s ADQ, IHC, and First Abu Dhabi Bank plan a dirham-backed stablecoin.

Worldcoin’s U.S. Entry: Sam Altman’s Worldcoin (now World) will debut in U.S. cities like Atlanta and San Francisco, offering its WLD token for identity verification via Orb scans.

Security Concerns: North Korea’s Lazarus Group is targeting crypto developers with malware through fake U.S. companies, escalating cyber threats.

SPY Performance (S&P 500 Proxy)

Current Price (as of April 8 close): $496.48 USD

Previous Day Close (April 7): $504.38 USD

1-Day Change: Down $7.90 (-1.57%)

Metrics from April 8:
Open: $521.86

High: $524.79

Low: $487.8821-Month Trend: Down from $557.001 on March 31, a decline of approximately 10.85%

Context: The S&P 500 has been under pressure, with a significant drop in early April, including a reported 4.8% plunge on April 3 due to Trump’s tariff announcements (per Investopedia). The April 8 close of $496.48 reflects continued volatility.Top 10 Stocks in the S&P 500 (General Context)
Since I don’t have real-time intraday data for April 9 or a specific "Top 10" list for today (e.g., gainers or most active), I’ll highlight the top 10 S&P 500 constituents by index weight as of recent data (typically dominated by tech and large-cap firms). These are often key market movers and may align with what you’re seeking. Their performance would influence SPY and the broader market:

Apple (AAPL) - A major S&P 500 component, recently hit by tariff concerns (down nearly 8% on April 3 per CNBC).

Microsoft (MSFT) - Cloud and AI leader, volatile amid tech sell-offs.

Nvidia (NVDA) - AI darling, heavily impacted by market swings (noted as “horrendous” on April 3 by CNBC).

Amazon (AMZN) - E-commerce and cloud strength, seen as a safer bet by some analysts (Motley Fool).

Alphabet (GOOGL) - Search giant, cautious outlook from Wells Fargo (price target cut to $167).

Meta Platforms (META) - Social media titan, sensitive to ad revenue shifts.

Tesla (TSLA) - High trading volume stock, often trending (Yahoo Finance).

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) - Buffett’s conglomerate, more stable amid turmoil.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) - Financial giant, down with banking sector fears (e.g., BAC fell 11% on April 3).

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) - Healthcare leader, defensive play in a shaky market.Observations from April 8 Data

SPY 1-Day Movement: The intraday data shows SPY peaked at $524.79 but closed at $496.48, indicating late-day selling pressure. By 19:30 on April 8, it hit $488.105, suggesting a rocky session.

Market Mood: Recent reports (e.g., Reuters, Investopedia) highlight tariff-driven uncertainty, with tech and discretionary stocks hit hardest, while consumer staples (e.g., Procter & Gamble) gained.What’s Happening Today (April 9)?
Without real-time intraday data for April 9, I can’t pinpoint today’s top 10 performers yet. However:
Futures data from Yahoo Finance (April 7) showed S&P Futures at 5,013.75, down 1.89%, suggesting a weak open on April 8, consistent with the eventual close of $496.48.

Given the ongoing tariff fallout and recession fears (Bloomberg, Reuters), expect continued volatility. Tech stocks like Nvidia and Apple, and high-volume names like Tesla and Palantir (Yahoo Finance), are likely focal points.

Markets

April 8, 2025

Australian Dollar: $0.5990 USD (down $0.0004 USD)
Iron Ore May Spot Price (SGX): $98.15 USD (down $1.30 USD)
Oil Price (WTI): $60.96 USD (down $1.03 USD)
Gold: $2,983.20 USD (down $54.45 USD)
Copper (CME): $4.3050 USD (down $0.0830 USD)
Bitcoin: $78,993.34 USD (down 0.56%)
Dow Jones: 37,965.60 (down 349.26 points from Friday)

Cryptos Today:

BTC. $79,852.35. 3.70%
ETH. $1,590.17. 3.02.
USDT. $0.9997. 0.03%
XRP. $1.8972. 6.93%
BNB. $563.53. 3.41%
USDC. $1.0001. - 0.00%
SOL. $110.52. 8.19%
DOGE. $0.1509. 6.66%

Stock Market News

April 9, 2025

As of today, April 9, 2025, the stock market is experiencing significant turbulence due to ongoing developments surrounding President Donald Trump's tariff policies. Here's a summary of the latest stock market news based on available information:

Global markets have been reeling since Trump announced sweeping tariffs on imports last week, with a minimum 10% tariff on all U.S. imports and higher rates on goods from countries like China (set to face a 104% tariff starting at midnight EDT tonight). This escalation has triggered widespread sell-offs, with the S&P 500 nearing bear market territory—defined as a 20% drop from its recent peak—after briefly dipping into it earlier this week. The index is currently down nearly 18% from its mid-February high, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average has shed over 1,600 points in recent days, and the Nasdaq Composite has entered a bear market with a decline exceeding 20% from its peak.

Yesterday, April 8, U.S. stocks saw volatile trading. The Dow closed down 349 points (0.91%) at 37,965.60 after falling as much as 1,700 points intraday, while the S&P 500 ended 0.2% lower, and the Nasdaq eked out a slight 0.1% gain, buoyed by some buying in megacap tech stocks like Nvidia and Palantir. Trading volume hit an 18-year high with approximately 29 billion shares exchanged, reflecting intense market activity.

Internationally, the fallout has been severe. Asian markets posted their worst session since 2008 on Monday, with Hong Kong’s main index plunging 13% and Taiwan’s tech-heavy market dropping 10%. European indices also saw sharp declines, with Germany’s DAX falling 10% and the UK’s FTSE 100 down 6%. Oil prices have slid to four-year lows, exacerbating recession fears.

Investor sentiment is shaky, with hopes of tariff delays dashed after Trump reiterated his commitment to the policy, dismissing a rumored 90-day pause as "fake news." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated negotiations with over 50 countries are underway, but no immediate relief is expected. Analysts warn of potential further declines—some predict another 20% drop in stock values—citing risks of inflation, disrupted supply chains, and a global recession. The market’s reaction reflects deep concern over the economic impact of these tariffs, with more volatility anticipated as corporate earnings season begins this week. (Grok)

Cryptocurrency, Fintech, Markets, Comms, Biz, Politics

April 7, 2025

Markets

ASX futures down 331 points/4.3% to 7388
AUD -0.3% at US60.21¢
Bitcoin -4.3% to $US79,283
Dow -5.5%
S&P -6.0%
Nasdaq -5.8%
Gold -2.5% to $US3038.24 an ounce
Brent oil -6.5% at $US65.58 a barrel
Iron ore flat at $US98.00 a tonne

News

April 7, 2025

Crypto Today:

BTC. $78,820.93. 4.67%
ETH. $1,577.20. 10.02.
USDT. $0.9998. 0.03%
XRP. $1.9566. 7.10%
BNB. $552.66. 6.00%
USDC. $1.0002. 0.03%
SOL. $106.55. 9.74%
DOGE. $0.1499. 9.96%

News

Countries Respond to U.S. Tariffs with Negotiation Offers

Following President Trump's announcement of new tariff policies, Vietnam and Taiwan have both offered to eliminate all tariffs on U.S. goods. Additionally, over 50 countries have reached out to the U.S. to begin trade negotiations, as stated by U.S. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett. These actions are in response to the U.S. imposing tariffs, with countries seeking to negotiate new trade deals to mitigate the impact of these tariffs. (Grok)

News

Bitcoin Dips Below $80,000, Hits $78,000 Amid Market Liquidation

On April 6, 2025, Bitcoin experienced a significant price drop, falling below $80,000 and reaching as low as approximately $78,000. This decline was accompanied by a $200 million liquidation from the cryptocurrency market within the past hour. Ethereum also saw a decrease, falling below $1,700, marking a notable downturn in the broader crypto market. (Grok)

News

Trump's Tariffs Prompt Global Trade Shifts

President Trump has recently imposed tariffs on several countries, prompting a variety of responses globally. Vietnam has proposed eliminating tariffs on U.S. goods following discussions with Trump, with plans to send diplomats to Mar-a-Lago to finalize the agreement. In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has acknowledged the failure of globalization and expressed understanding of Trump's tariff strategy. Meanwhile, business leaders like Elon Musk have advocated for a zero-tariff system between the U.S. and Europe to establish a free trade zone. Public opinion on these tariffs is divided, with some seeing an increase in Trump's approval ratings, while others, including investors, express concerns over economic impacts. (Grok)

World News, Biz, Markets, Resources, Politics, Media

April 4, 2025

Tariff wars made the dollar a risky asset

Gold

Movements in metals have been monumental. A 3% rise deep into the region of all-time highs for Gold was followed by a collapse of more than $100 from $3,170 to $3,050 an ounce. On Friday, trading stabilised near $3100, minimally adding to levels at the opening of the week.

Tactically, this is a good time for the bulls to exhale and lock in profits. This is confirmed by the fulfilment of an important growth target and the entry into extreme overbought on weekly timeframes on RSI. Multi-week corrections started in similar conditions in 2024.

Oil

Oil took a double hit in the week in less than 24 hours when it came under pressure from the macroeconomy due to tariffs and OPEC+ actions. Tired of waiting for the global economy to accelerate, the Cartel switched gears in the battle for market share, pledging to ramp up production faster than the previously announced plan.

Similar moments occurred in March 2020 and December 2014. On both occasions, oil dipped below $30 a barrel before finding support in the form of coordinated action by global producers. In theory, coordination is now at a higher level, but that doesn't negate the powerful pressures expected due to the trade shock and supply expansion.

Technically, oil is breaking through the bottom of the three-year range, and the 50-week moving average worked as resistance for the third time since September. (FxPro)

News

Cryptos Today

BTC. $83,789.09. 0.70%
ETH. $1,812.44. 0.36.
USDT. $0.9997. 0.00%
XRP. $2.1330. 2.61%
BNB. $596.22. 0.09%
SOL. $120.95. 3.74%
USDC. $1.0000. 0.01%
DOGE. $0.1696. 3.20%

News

Markets

ASX 200 futures are pointing down 93 points/1.2 per cent to 7786

AUD +0.4% to US63.22¢

Bitcoin -4.7% to $US82,018

Wall St:
Dow -4%
S&P -4.8%
Nasdaq -6%
VIX +8.26 to 29.77
Gold -0.9% to $US3108.38 an ounce
Brent oil -6.7% to $US69.91 a barrel
Iron ore -1.5% to $US101.25 a tonne
10-year yield: US 4.04% Australia 4.26%

News

Germany Considers Gold Withdrawal from U.S. Vault

Germany is contemplating the withdrawal of approximately 1,200 tons of gold, valued at around $124 billion, from a U.S. Federal Reserve vault in New York. This consideration comes in the context of recent U.S. tariffs imposed by President Trump. The decision-making process involves senior officials from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Party, who are set to lead the next German government in the Bundestag. The potential repatriation of gold has not occurred since World War II, highlighting the significance of the current deliberations. (Grok)

News

Bitcoin Holds Steady Amid Stock Market Turmoil

On April 4, 2025, the US stock market experienced a significant drop, with over $1.5 trillion in value being erased. Amidst this turmoil, Bitcoin has shown resilience, maintaining its value around $80,000. Some observers and investors view this as a sign of Bitcoin decoupling from traditional financial markets and emerging as a potential safe haven asset, similar to gold. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has publicly stated that 'Bitcoin is becoming a store of value,' reflecting a viewpoint that is gaining traction among some in the financial community. (Grok)

News

Coffee Tariffs Prompt Debate on U.S. Production

The United States is currently facing a discussion around proposed tariffs on imported coffee, which could impact consumer prices. While coffee is grown in the U.S., primarily in Hawaii, the production volume is significantly less than the national demand. Increasing domestic production to meet this demand presents logistical and time-related challenges, as coffee plants require several years to mature and produce a full crop. Opinions vary on the feasibility and desirability of relying more heavily on American-grown coffee to circumvent the potential tariff-induced price increases.

Markets

April 4, 2025

ASX futures down 74 points or 0.9% to 7805

AUD +0.6% to US63.35¢

Bitcoin -4.6% to $US82,296

Wall St:

Dow -3.3%
S&P -4.1%
Nasdaq -5.2%
VIX +6.02 to 27.53
Gold -0.7% to $US3112.12 an ounce
Brent oil -6.5% to $US70.09 a barrel
Iron ore -1.5% to $US101.25 a tonne
10-year yield: US 4.05% Australia 4.26%

Cryptos Today:

BTC. $81,846.87. 5.49%
ETH. $1,774.30. 6.24.
USDT. $0.9997. 0.02%
XRP. $2.0101. 6.23%
BNB. $587.77. 2.64%
USDC. $1.0000. 0.01%
SOL. $113.95. 12.19%
DOGE. $0.1581. 8.06%

Markets

April 4, 2025

ASX futures down 74 points or 0.9% to 7805

AUD +0.6% to US63.35¢

Bitcoin -4.6% to $US82,296

Wall St:

Dow -3.3%
S&P -4.1%
Nasdaq -5.2%
VIX +6.02 to 27.53
Gold -0.7% to $US3112.12 an ounce
Brent oil -6.5% to $US70.09 a barrel
Iron ore -1.5% to $US101.25 a tonne
10-year yield: US 4.05% Australia 4.26%

Cryptos Today:

BTC. $81,846.87. 5.49%
ETH. $1,774.30. 6.24.
USDT. $0.9997. 0.02%
XRP. $2.0101. 6.23%
BNB. $587.77. 2.64%
USDC. $1.0000. 0.01%
SOL. $113.95. 12.19%
DOGE. $0.1581. 8.06%

Markets

March 24, 2025

ASX futuresdown 0.5 per cent or 41 points to 7945

AUD flat at US62.73¢

Bitcoin +1.2% to $US85,147

Wall St:
Dow +0.1%

S&P +0.1%

Nasdaq +0.5%

VIX -0.52 points to 19.28

Gold -0.8% to $US3022.15 an ounce

Brent oil +0.2% to $US72.16 a barrel

Iron ore -0.5% to $US100 a tonne

10-year yield: US 4.25% Australia 4.39%

Crypto Today

BTC. $85,293.57. 1.15%
ETH. $2,001.72. 0.75.
USDT. $1.0001. 0.03%
XRP. $2.4026. 0.56%
BNB. $622.52. 0.78%
SOL. $132.21. 2.11%
USDC. $1.0003. 0.02%
ADA. $0.7082. 0.59%

Markets

March 24, 2025

ASX futuresdown 0.5 per cent or 41 points to 7945

AUD flat at US62.73¢

Bitcoin +1.2% to $US85,147

Wall St:
Dow +0.1%

S&P +0.1%

Nasdaq +0.5%

VIX -0.52 points to 19.28

Gold -0.8% to $US3022.15 an ounce

Brent oil +0.2% to $US72.16 a barrel

Iron ore -0.5% to $US100 a tonne

10-year yield: US 4.25% Australia 4.39%

Crypto Today

BTC. $85,293.57. 1.15%
ETH. $2,001.72. 0.75.
USDT. $1.0001. 0.03%
XRP. $2.4026. 0.56%
BNB. $622.52. 0.78%
SOL. $132.21. 2.11%
USDC. $1.0003. 0.02%
ADA. $0.7082. 0.59%

News

Media Man Group Market Feed

News, Crypto, Markets, Biz, Politics, Media

March 13/14, 2025

Crypto: just a bumpy downtrend

Market picture

The crypto market declined during the week to a total capitalisation of $2.5 trillion, a third lower than the peaks in December last year. However, towards the end of the week, we could see attempts to stabilise the market, with a rebound of $2.67 trillion.

Despite the growth attempts, only if the market breaks above its 200-day moving average will we be able to take it as a signal of a return to growth. For now, the market dynamics resemble no more than just a bumpy downtrend.

The story is similar in Bitcoin, where the bears are regaining control of the market on bounces to the $83,500 area. A 200-day moving average is near this level.

Ethereum is in a steep decline, having pulled back below $1900. At its low point, it was below $1750. It hasn't been this cheap since October 2023, losing over half of its price since its peak in mid-December.

News Background

Outflows from spot bitcoin-ETFs in the US continue for the seventh day in a row, with 19 trading sessions out of 21 already.

CryptoQuant calls the range of $75,000 - 78,000 as support, which coincides with the lower boundary of the realised price. If the quotes are fixed below this zone, the $63,000 mark may become a benchmark.

Senator Cynthia Lummis introduced an updated Bitcoin Act bill in the US Senate that would allow the government to store more than 1 million bitcoins as part of a newly created crypto reserve. The US can buy 200,000 BTC each year for five years, reallocating funds from the Fed and Treasury Department.

The US SEC has extended the deadlines for several applications to launch spot ETFs based on XRP, Solana, Litecoin and Dogecoin. Bloomberg called the regulator's move ‘expected’ and in line with standard procedures. (FxPro)

News

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

Gold hits fresh record

March 14, 2025

Spot gold hit a fresh record high on Friday after the US threatened higher tariffs on the EU, adding to growing concerns that levies could hamper economic growth.Prices rose as high as $US2990.02. It came after spot gold notched its biggest intraday gain this year on Thursday, rising 1.9 per cent. US President Donald Trump overnight threatened to impose 200 per cent tariffs on alcohol from the European Union, after the block set a 50 per cent tariff on American whisky.

News

Trump crypto venture has talked to Binance about doing business

March 14, 2025

World Liberty Financial, one of the Trump family’s crypto ventures, has discussed doing business with the world’s largest digital-asset exchange, Binance Holdings, according to four people with knowledge of the talks.

The exchange’s founder pleaded guilty to failing to take required measures to prevent terrorists, child abusers and entities in sanctioned nations from using its services.

It’s not clear what stage the discussions have reached or whether they’ll result in any transactions or ventures, said the people, who asked not to be named because the talks are private.

Two of the people who spoke said conversations have included the possibility of Binance developing a stablecoin – a dollar-backed cryptocurrency – with World Liberty, which President Donald Trump and his sons began promoting in September. The Trumps receive three-quarters of World Liberty’s net revenue, according to its founding documents.

In addition, representatives of the Trump family have held talks with Binance about taking a stake in its US arm, Binance US, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday (Friday AEDT), citing people familiar with the matter. In a post on X, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao said he has not held discussions about a Binance US deal with anyone.

Zhao pleaded guilty in 2023 to anti-money laundering failures that allowed Binance to be used by criminal groups and terrorist organisations, including Hamas.

Zhao, known as “CZ”, was released from a halfway house in Long Beach, California, in September after serving a four-month sentence. Binance paid a $US4.3 billion fine. Zhao has been pushing for the Trump administration to grant him a pardon, according to the Wall Street Journal’s report.

Three months after leaving the halfway house, Zhao met with Steve Witkoff, a co-founder of World Liberty, in Abu Dhabi at the Bitcoin MENA 2024 conference, two of the people said. Witkoff is the president’s Middle East envoy. He is slated to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to halt the fighting that began when Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago.

The substance of Witkoff’s meeting with Zhao in December is not clear. Talks between the crypto companies they founded have taken place since then, according to the four people with knowledge of the matter.

Witkoff did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did a White House spokesperson. Witkoff has said he’s in the process of divesting from his crypto assets as well as his holdings in real estate, transferring holdings to his sons to manage potential conflicts of interest.

A representative for Binance US declined to comment on Thursday, and representatives for World Liberty did not respond to requests for comment.

Zhao is still Binance’s controlling shareholder, with a net worth of $US36.9 billion ($58.7 billion), according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He stepped down as its chief executive officer in November 2023, when he pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an anti-money laundering program.

Richard Teng, who replaced Zhao, said in February that he sees an opportunity for a “fresh reset and a restart” under Trump, though he did not specify any plans. (Full article and coverage via subscription to The Australian Financial Review)

News

SEC Proposes XRP as Key U.S. Financial Asset

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released a document titled 'Comprehensive Proposal: XRP as a Strategic Financial Asset for the U.S.' This proposal explores the potential for XRP to become a key financial asset, discussing the replacement of the SWIFT system, legal clarity for XRP, and economic benefits like unlocking $1.5 trillion in banking liquidity. Discussions are also underway regarding whether XRP should be classified as a commodity, similar to Ethereum, which could influence its regulatory and market future.

News

Rumble's Strategic Bitcoin Acquisition

March 13, 2025

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.

March 11, 2025

Bitcoin Plunge and U.S. Crypto Reserve Plan

Bitcoin experienced a significant price drop, falling below $80,000 after reaching a high of over $84,000. This decline contributed to a market cap loss of $100 billion in the cryptocurrency sector. Concurrently, the U.S. government has announced plans for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, intended to hold cryptocurrency forfeited through legal actions, sparking discussions on market stability and government involvement in crypto. (Grok)

News

US confirms its critical minerals agenda as fallen miner AVZ chases an improbable African prize

A spokesman for the US State Department has confirmed that the Trump administration is interested in entering into a critical minerals partnership with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). DRC President Felix Tshisekedi is said to want to strike a deal with the US to help resolve a conflict with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, while any deal between the DRC and the US could help Australian company AVZ Minerals. AVZ is seeking to regain control of the Manono lithium deposit, which it contends was illegally seized from it by Chinese company Zijin, and it is understood that the Trump administration would want to see AVZ regain control of at least some part of Manono as part of any deal with the DRC. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Markets

Australian Dollar: $0.6282 USD (down $0.0035 USD)
Iron Ore Apr Spot Price (SGX): $102.20 USD (up $1.60 USD)
Oil: (WTI): $66.61 USD (down $1.09 USD)
Gold: $2,983.88 USD (up $52.14 USD)
Copper (CME): $4.9240 USD (up $0.0815 USD)
Bitcoin: $80,472.06 USD (down 2.82% in last 24 hours)
Dow Jones: 40,813.57 (down 537.35 points)

News

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

News Media

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

News

"Dutton A Genuine Contender" (Sky News Australia)

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

March 12/13, 2025

The crypto bounces back from extreme fear

Market picture

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.

News Background

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.

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

News

Trump Predicts Market Surge Amid Economic Indicators

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

News

Ethereum's Lowest BTC Ratio Since 2020 Triggers Liquidation Risk

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

News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

News

Australia

Northern Star paying top dollar for gold rival

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

News

March 12, 2025

Crypto market tumbles after stocks

Market picture

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

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

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

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

News Background

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

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

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

News

March 11, 2025

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

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

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

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

News

XRP wins Media Man 'Crypto Of The Month' award

News

Markets

Australian Dollar: $0.6317 USD (up $0.0020 USD)
Iron Ore Apr Spot Price (SGX): $100.60 USD (up $0.15 USD)
Oil (WTI): $67.70 USD (up $1.14 USD)
Gold: $2,931.74 USD (up $13.03 USD)
Copper (CME): $4.8425 USD (up $0.0500 USD)
Bitcoin: $82,880.91USD (up 0.32% in last 24 hours)
Dow Jones: 41,350.93 (down 82.55 points)

News

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

News Media

Australia

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

News

"Dutton A Genuine Contender" (Sky News Australia)

March 10, 2025

ASX futures are pointing up 69 points, or by 0.9 per cent, to 8011.

All US prices are as of 4.15pm Sunday in New York:

Bitcoin -3.7% to $US83,138
On Wall St: Dow +0.5% S&P +0.6% Nasdaq +0.7%
VIX -1.5 to 23.37
Gold -0.1% to $US2909.10 an ounce
Brent oil +1.3% to $US70.36 a barrel
Iron ore +0.3% to $US100.70 a tonne
10-year yield: US 4.3% Australia 4.4%

January 10, 2025

ASX futures up 33 points or 0.4%

AUD -0.3% to 61.98 US cents
UK pound -0.4% to $US1.2309
Bitcoin -2.9% to $US91,275 at 7.23am AEDT
US markets closed for Jimmy Carter’s funeral
Stoxx 50 +0.4% FTSE +0.8% DAX -0.1% CAC +0.5%
Spot gold +0.3% to $US2671.00/oz at 1.55pm in New York
Brent crude +1.2% to $US77.08 a barrel
Iron ore +1% to $US97.40 a tonne
10-year yield: US 4.69% Australia 4.48% Germany 2.56%
US prices as of 1.59pm in New York

Media Man Group Market Feed

Markets

March 12, 2025

ASX futures down 72 points/0.9% to 7812
AUD +0.5% at US63.08¢
Bitcoin +7.1% to $US83,122
Dow -0.5%
S&P -0.5%
Nasdaq +0.8%
Gold +1.1% to $US2919.09 an ounce
Oil +0.6% at $US69.66 a barrel
Iron ore +0.6% at $US100.45 a tonne

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:

Markets

March 1, 2025

ASX futures down 12 points or 0.2% to 8120
AUD -0.6% at US61.96¢
Bitcoin +0.4% to $US84,447
Dow flat
S&P -0.1%
Nasdaq -0.2%
Gold -1.1% to $US2845.82 an ounce
Oil -1% at $US73.3o a barrel
Iron ore -2.2% at $US102.00 a tonne

The Australian Financial Review - Markets

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The Australian Financial Review wins Media Man 'Newspaper Of the Month' award

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News.com.au - Business

Media Man Group Market Feed

January 10, 2025

ASX futures up 33 points or 0.4%

News

Stock Market News via Grok

Stock Market Overview:

Recent Market Movements: The U.S. stock market saw significant volatility recently. The Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a notable decline, marking its longest losing streak since 1974, primarily triggered by a Federal Reserve interest rate decision that was more hawkish than anticipated. This led to a spike in bond yields and a surge in the dollar value, affecting global markets.

ASX Performance: In Australia, the ASX 200 has been subject to various influences. There was a recovery in trading, with gains noted after a period of losses, particularly highlighted by a $3.4 billion sale of Foxtel to a British streaming company. The market has been navigating through economic growth expectations, potential impacts from international politics, and local economic indicators.

Global Market Trends: European markets have seen elevated bond yields impacting share openings, while the Swiss central bank reported a significant profit due to rising gold and stock prices. The global economic growth is projected at 2.8% for 2025 by the UN, indicating a stable but cautious market environment.

Sector and Company News: Inari Medical's acquisition by Stryker for $80 per share has been a significant event, setting a tone for potential M&A activities in the medical technology sector. This deal reflects strategic moves to tap into high-growth markets.

Tech and AI Influence: There's a growing trend of misinformation in AI-generated news, with Apple's AI news alerts being a recent example. This issue is becoming a focal point for investors, especially in tech stocks, as accuracy in information impacts market sentiment.

Economic Indicators and Fed Policy: The Federal Reserve's latest rate decisions continue to influence market dynamics. After lowering the overnight borrowing rate by a quarter point, the Fed's outlook on future rate cuts has led to market adjustments, showing increased uncertainty and volatility.

Investor Sentiment: There's a mix of optimism and caution among investors, with some sectors like tech and semiconductors experiencing significant movements based on company-specific news like partnerships or product launches. The market's reaction to Fed policies and global economic news is closely watched.

Current Trends on X:

Discussions on X highlight notable pre-market movements, record trading volumes, and significant corporate announcements that are driving stock market discussions. The interaction between individual stock performances and broader market trends is a key focus for the community on X.

This snapshot provides a view into the current state of the stock market, driven by economic policies, corporate news, and investor reactions to global and local events. (Grok)

Media Man: Traditional type investments in Gold and Silver looking good. Word on the street is that BTC is looking good for the next few months but may be in for a dive or crash in approx Mid March - April 2025. Lithium and Iron Ore looking good as Australian political season heats up. *Not financial advice. Op based on speaking to numerous people in and around the industry and researching dozens of papers and industry journals.

Markets

January 7, 2025

Under The Media Man Watercooler And On The Floor

ASX futures up 12 points or 0.2%

AUD +0.5% to 62.46 US cents
Bitcoin +3.7% to $US102,068 at 8.33am AEDT
On Wall St: Dow -0.1% S&P +0.6% Nasdaq +1.2%
In New York: BHP -0.7% Rio -0.4% Atlassian +1.7%
Tesla +0.2% Apple +0.7% Nvidia +3.4% Microsoft +1.1%
Alphabet +2.5% Amazon +1.5% Meta +4.2%
VIX -0.09 to 16.04 QQQ +1.2% TLT -0.5%
Stoxx 50 +2.4% FTSE +0.3% DAX +1.6% CAC +2.2%
Spot gold -0.2% to $US2635.63/oz at 1.53pm in New York
Brent crude -0.7% to $US76.00 a barrel
Iron ore -1.2% to $US97.00 a tonne
10-year yield: US 4.61% Australia 4.47% Germany 2.44%
US prices as of 4.29pm in New York

Markets

January 4, 2025

ASX futures up 23 points or 0.3% near 8am AEDT

AUD +0.2% to 62.16 US cents

Bitcoin +1.2% to $US98,195 at 8.27am AEDT

On Wall St at 4pm: Dow +0.8% S&P +1.3% Nasdaq +1.8%

In New York: BHP -0.8% Rio -0.3% Atlassian +3.3%

Tesla +8.2% Apple -0.2% Nvidia +4.7% Microsoft +1.1%

Alphabet +1.3% Amazon +1.8% Meta +0.9%

Mara +14.1% MicroStrategy +13.2% Iren +8.4%

VIX -1.8 to 16.13 QQQ +1.6% TLT -0.3%

Stoxx 50 -0.9% FTSE -0.4% DAX -0.6% CAC -1.5%

Spot gold -0.7% to $US2639.37oz at 4.51pm in New York

Brent crude +0.9% to $US76.58 a barrel

Iron ore -2.6% to $US98.30 a tonne

10-year yield: US 4.60% Australia 4.38% Germany 2.42%

US prices as of 4.54pm in New York

Market Highlights

Under The Media Man Watercooler

November 26, 2024

ASX futures up 18 points or 0.2% near 8am AEDT

AUD +0.03% to 65.03 US cents

Bitcoin -2.5% to $US94,320 at 8.40am AEDT

On Wall St at 4pm: Dow +1% S&P +0.3% Nasdaq +0.3%

In New York: BHP +0.2% Rio +1% Atlassian +0.2%

Tesla -4% Apple +1.3% Nvidia -4.2% Microsoft +0.4%

Alphabet +1.7% Amazon +2.2% Meta +1.1%

VIX -0.64 to 14.60 QQQ +0.2% TLT +2.6%

Stoxx 50 +0.2% FTSE +0.4% DAX +0.4% CAC +0.03%

Spot gold -3.4% to $US2623.72/oz at 2.31pm in New York

Brent crude -2.8% to $US73.05 a barrel

US oil -3.2% to $US68.96 a barrel

Iron ore +2% to $US102.55 a tonne

10-year yield: US 4.27% Australia 4.48% Germany 2.21%

US prices as of 4.38pm in New York

News via Grok

Financial Markets via Grok

Financial markets are broad arenas where buyers and sellers engage in trading securities such as stocks, bonds, currencies, and derivatives. Here's an overview:

Definition and Function:

Financial markets are platforms or systems where the trading of financial assets occurs. They facilitate the flow of capital between those who have it and those who need it. This interaction aids in capital raising, risk management through derivatives, and promotes commerce. Financial markets can be physical (like stock exchanges) or electronic.

Types of Financial Markets:

Stock Markets: Where shares of publicly traded companies are bought and sold, allowing companies to raise money and investors to gain equity in businesses.

Bond Markets: Companies, municipalities, and governments issue bonds to borrow funds, with investors lending money in exchange for interest over time.

Money Markets: Deals in short-term, high-liquidity financial instruments like Treasury bills, commercial paper, and certificates of deposit.

Derivatives Markets: Instruments like futures, options, and swaps that derive value from underlying assets, used for hedging or speculation.

Foreign Exchange (Forex) Markets: The marketplace for trading different currencies, known for high liquidity.

Commodities Markets: For trading raw materials like gold, oil, or agricultural products.

Importance:

Capital Allocation: Financial markets help in efficiently directing savings towards productive investments, fostering economic growth.

Price Discovery: They provide a mechanism to determine the price of securities based on supply and demand, reflecting the perceived value of assets.

Liquidity Provision: They offer liquidity, allowing investors to convert assets into cash quickly.

Risk Management: Through mechanisms like derivatives, markets help in managing financial risks.

Current Trends (as of November 2024):

Market Volatility: There's been observed volatility in stock markets, with some indicators suggesting frothy valuations and market reactions to policy changes.

Yield Spreads: Unusual movements in bond yields, like high-yield corporate bonds having wider spreads than fixed-rate mortgages, indicate market distortions.

Economic Policy Expectations: Markets are pricing in expected economic policies, with mixed signals on the impact of new administrative policies on growth and inflation.

Understanding financial markets involves recognizing their complexity and their role in the global economy, where they serve as mechanisms for both investment and risk management. (Grok)

News

Markets News via Grok

Here's a concise update on markets news, reflecting recent trends and events:

U.S. Markets: The U.S. stock markets recently closed with mixed results. The S&P 500 saw a slight increase, while the NASDAQ rose more significantly, but the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a small decline. Tesla and Alphabet were among the gainers, whereas NVIDIA faced some pressure ahead of its earnings report. There's cautious optimism in the market, with sectors like technology leading the gains.

Global Trends: India: The Indian stock market staged a notable recovery with the Sensex and Nifty indices showing significant gains, surpassing 78,000 and 23,700 respectively. This surge affected all sectoral indices, particularly IT and Realty, amidst discussions about the potential influences of political events on market dynamics.

ASX 200: The Australian market saw an uptick, driven by commodity prices with uranium and iron ore stocks leading due to external factors like Russia's uranium export limits.

Commodities and Currencies: Gold and Silver: Precious metals like gold and silver have seen price increases, reflecting investor interest in safe-haven assets.

Iranian Rial: Iran's currency hit an all-time low due to economic pressures from international sanctions.

Policy and Economic News: U.S. Federal Reserve: There have been adjustments in interest rates with a quarter-point cut amid post-election uncertainties, indicating a response to economic conditions but also concerns about inflation control.

Energy Sector: Decisions affecting gas allocation in India have impacted city gas distribution companies, leading to significant drops in their stock prices due to fears of rising CNG prices and broader economic implications.

Market Sentiment: The market is navigating through a phase where recovery signs are visible, yet there's a careful watch on how long these trends will last, especially with upcoming economic data and corporate earnings influencing investor behavior.

These insights are drawn from recent market movements and discussions, highlighting the dynamic nature of global financial markets and the various factors influencing them. (Grok)

Markets and Commodities

November 1, 2024

Australian Dollar: $0.6579 USD (up $0.0009 USD)

Iron Ore Nov Spot Price (SGX): $104.10 USD (up $0.30 USD)

Iron Ore Dec Spot Price (SGX): $103.80 USD (up $0.28 USD)

Oil Price (WTI): $70.51 USD (up $1.57 USD)

Gold Price: $2,746.76 USD (down $38.62 USD)

Copper Price (CME): $4.3600 USD (up $0.0030 USD)

Bitcoin: $69,991.53 USD (down 2.58% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 41,763.46 at 4.09pm NY time (down378.08 points on yesterday's close)

Markets and Commodities

October 24, 2024

Australian Dollar: $0.6630 USD (down $0.0050 USD)

Iron Ore Nov Spot Price (SGX): $98.80 USD (down $1.90 USD)

Oil Price (WTI): $70.99 USD (down $1.25 USD)

Gold Price: $2,716.17 USD (down $31.21 USD)

Copper Price (CME): $4.3330 USD (down $0.0520 USD)

Bitcoin: $66,436.33 USD (down 1.50% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 42,514.95 at 4.20pm NY time (down 409.94 points on yesterday's close)

Markets and Commodities

October 17, 2024

Australian Dollar: $0.6670 USD (down $0.0030 USD)

Iron Ore Nov Spot Price (SGX): $104.55 USD (down $1.85 USD)

Oil Price (WTI): $70.52 USD (down $0.39 USD)

Gold Price: $2,673.95 USD (up $12.93 USD)

Copper Price (CME): $4.3665 USD (up 0.0270 USD)

Bitcoin: $67,856.42 USD (up 1.50% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 43,077.70 at 4.20pm NY time (up 337.28 points on yesterday's close)

Markets and Commodities

October 10, 2024

Australian Dollar: $0.6710 USD (down $0.0040 USD)

Iron Ore Nov Spot Price (SGX): $105.15 USD (unchanged - public holiday)

Oil Price (WTI): $73.36 USD (down $0.55 USD)

Gold Price: $2,607.14 USD (down $15.75 USD)

Copper Price (CME): $4.4080 USD (down 0.0605 USD)

Bitcoin: $60,908.07 USD (down 2.11% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 42,512.00 at 4.20pm NY time (up 431.63 points on yesterday's close)

Market, Commodities and Financial News Snapshot via Media Man

October 7, 2024

ASX futures up 26 points or 0.3% to 8215 near 6am AEST

AUD +0.1% to US68.01¢

Bitcoin +1.3% to $US62,692

US 10-year yield +13bp to 3.97%

Dow +0.8% S&P +0.9% Nasdaq +1.2%

FTSE flat DAX +0.6% CAC +0.9%

Gold -0.1% to $US2653.60 an ounce

Brent oil +0.6% to $US78.05 a barrel

Iron ore -0.3% to $US108.70 a tonne

Markets and Commodities

October 7, 2024

Australian Dollar: $0.6786 USD (down $.0054 USD)

Iron Ore Nov Spot Price (SGX): $108.70 USD (down $0.05 USD)

Oil Price (WTI): $74.38 USD (up $0.67 USD)

Gold Price: $2,653.25 USD (down $2.79 USD)

Copper Price (CME): $4.5675 USD (up 0.0240 USD)

Bitcoin: $62,679.21USD (up 1.48% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 42,352.75 (up 341.16 points on Thursday's close)

Markets and Commodities

October 4, 2024

Australian Dollar: $0.6840 USD (down $.0040 USD)

Iron Ore Nov Spot Price (SGX): $108.75 USD (down $0.20 USD)

Oil Price (WTI): $73.71 USD (up $2.70 USD)

Gold Price: $2,656.04 USD (down $2.97 USD)

Copper Price (CME): $4.5435 USD (down 0.1195 USD)

Bitcoin: $60,801.67 USD (up 0.09% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 42,011.59 (down 184.93 points on yesterday's close)

Market, Commodities and Financial News

Snapshot via Media Man

October 4, 2024

ASX futures down 33 points or 0.4% to 8209 near 6am AEST

AUD -0.6% to $US68.44¢

Bitcoin +1.3% to $US60,954

Dow -0.6%

S&P -0.4%

Nasdaq -0.3%

FTSE -0.1%

DAX -0.8%

CAC -1.3%

Gold -0.1% to $US2657.32 an ounce

Brent oil +5.2% to $US77.77 a barrel

Iron ore +0.6% to $US108.75 a tonne

Markets and Commodities

September 11, 2024

Australian Dollar: $0.6650 USD (down $0.0010 USD)

Iron Ore Oct Spot Price (SGX): $91.00 USD (down $1.35 USD)

Oil Price (WTI): $66.31 USD (down $2.49 USD)

Gold Price: $2,516.51 USD (up $11.13 USD

Copper Price (CME): $4.1050 USD (down 0.0365 USD)

Bitcoin: $57,669.72 USD (down 0.38% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 40,736.96 at 4.59pm NY time (down 92.63 points on yesterday's close)

Market, Commodities and Financial News

Snapshot via Media Man

September 11, 2024

ASX futures down 3 points or 0.04% to 7997 near 6am AEST

AUD -0.1% to 66.58 US cents

Bitcoin +1.4% to $US57,885

Dow -0.3%

S&P +0.4%

Nasdaq +0.8%

FTSE -0.8%

DAX -1.0%

CAC -0.2%

Gold +0.3% to $US2514.88 an ounce

Brent oil -3.2% to $US69.52 a barrel

Iron ore -0.8% to $US91.00 a tonne

Markets And Commodities

August 20, 2024

Australian Dollar: $0.6728 USD (up $0.0063 USD)

Iron Ore Sep Spot Price (SGX): $95.00 USD (up $2.70 USD)

Oil Price (WTI): $74.43 USD (down $2.22 USD)

Gold Price: $2,504.11 USD (down $4.07 USD)

Copper Price (CME): $4.1975 USD (up $0.0470 USD)

Bitcoin: $59,144.75 USD (down 1.09% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 40,896.53 (up 236.77 points on Friday's close)

Markets And Commodities

August 19, 2024

Australian Dollar: $0.6665 USD (up $0.0055 USD)

Iron Ore Sep Spot Price (SGX): $92.30 USD (down $1.25 USD)

Oil Price (WTI): $76.65 USD (down $1.46 USD)

Gold Price: $2,508.18 USD (up $51.88 USD)

Copper Price (CME): $4.1505 USD (up $0.0100 USD)

Bitcoin: $59,792.97 USD (up 0.64% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 440,659.76 (up 96.70 points on Thursday's close)

Market, Commodities and Financial News

Snapshot via Media Man

July 29, 2024

ASX futures up 60 points or 0.8% to 7938 near 3am AEST

AUD +0.2% to 65.48 US cents

Bitcoin -0.6% to $US67,636

Dow +1.6%

S&P +1.1%

Nasdaq +1%

FTSE +1.2%

DAX +0.7%

CAC +1.2%

Gold +1.0% to $US2387.19 an ounce

Brent oil -1.5% to $US81.13 a barrel

Iron ore +2.5% to $US102.40 a tonne

Markets and Commodities

July 18, 2024

Australian Dollar: $0.6730 USD (unchanged)

Iron Ore Aug Spot Price (SGX): $105.05 USD (down $2.10 USD)

Oil Price (WTI): $83.10 USD (up $2.28 USD)

Gold Price: $2,458.69 USD (down $10.15 USD)

Copper Price (CME): $4.4165 USD (down $0.0405 USD)

Bitcoin: $64,196.81 USD (down 0.80% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 41,198.08 at 4.20pm NY time (up 243.60 points on yesterday's close)

(Roy Morgan Summary)

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Cryptocurrency News via Media Man and FxPro

July 8, 2024

Crypto Bargain-hunters are back

Market picture

Bargain hunters are showing themselves in full force in crypto. Cryptocurrency market capitalisation rose 3.6% in 24 hours to $2.11 trillion, climbing back to the top of the range of the past five days. It will take the market to rise another 2% before we can say that the bear attack has been repelled. Until then, we can only talk about consolidation after the sell-off.

Bitcoin rebounded to $57.3K after a couple of dips to $54K, sticking to its descending channel that has been in force since March, but the price is very dangerously stuck at the bottom of this corridor. This situation makes us fear an acceleration of the sell-off with a potential target in the $50-51K area, where the crypto market was stagnant in February.

Ethereum trades at $3050 and remains below the 200-day moving average but has not given up trying to climb higher. Here, ETH has a strong support line, which also attracted buyers in April and May. More on the bulls' side is that the RSI on daily timeframes rises from oversold territory. These are promising technical signals, but the sustained sell-off from the US and German governments and the overhang of selling from Mt Gox lenders is clearly undermining the confidence of too many buyers.

News background

According to CoinShares, investments in crypto funds rose by $441 million last week for the first time after three weeks of outflows. Bitcoin investments increased by $398 million, Solana by $16 million, Ethereum by $10 million.

Recent price declines, driven by potential selling pressure from Mt Gox and the German government, were probably seen as a buying opportunity. Inflows into BTC accounted for only 90% of the total inflows, as investors chose to invest in a much broader set of altcoins. The most notable of these was Solana, which has received $57 million in investments since the beginning of the year, making it the most efficient altcoin in terms of flows, CoinShares noted.

German authorities continue to transfer Bitcoins to exchanges. On 8 July, two 250 BTC transfers were made to Coinbase and Bitstamp platforms. Transactions of 700 BTC and 500 BTC followed to unidentified Arkham numbers.

The Bitstamp exchange promised to distribute the payments from Mt Gox "as soon as possible," despite having a 60-day deadline. So far, only Japanese BitBank and SBI VC Trade addresses have been distributed coins. The three remaining recipients - Bitstamp, Kraken and BitGo - are still awaiting their turn. The trustee has 94,771 BTC (~$5.4bn) left to send.

Bitfinex points out signs of a potential end to the market correction. Short-term investor selling is potentially close to exhaustion. Meanwhile, the funding rate for perpetual BTC contracts has turned negative for the first time since 1 May.

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Donald Trump to Headline Bitcoin 2024 Conference in Nashville

July 11, 2024

Former President Donald Trump has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at the upcoming Bitcoin 2024 conference set to take place in Nashville, Tennessee.

This news comes as a significant development for the event, known for its major industry announcements and influential speakers. The conference, which has previously been hosted in Miami, has established itself as a platform for groundbreaking news within the cryptocurrency space.

Bitcoin 2021, the inaugural conference, made headlines when El Salvador officially declared Bitcoin as legal tender. The subsequent Bitcoin 2022 and Bitcoin 2023 conferences continued the trend of notable moments, including a powerful speech by U.S. Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in support of the Bitcoin industry.

This year, the shift of the conference location from Miami to Nashville signifies its increasing prominence on the global stage. With two former U.S. Presidential candidates, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump, slated to speak, Bitcoin 2024 is anticipated to be a pivotal event that could potentially impact the future trajectory of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency policies in the United States.

Donald Trump’s participation in the conference is especially noteworthy considering his recent engagements with the Bitcoin community. Earlier this year, Trump met with prominent U.S. Bitcoin miners, including representatives from CleanSpark, where he reiterated his support for Bitcoin mining both domestically and internationally. In a statement, Trump pledged to prioritize the development of Bitcoin and crypto initiatives in the United States and safeguard the rights of the nation’s 50 million crypto holders if re-elected as president.

As Trump embarks on his presidential campaign, his alignment with the Bitcoin industry stands in contrast to the position of his potential rival, President Joe Biden, who has shown less enthusiasm towards the cryptocurrency sector. While Biden’s participation in Bitcoin 2024 remains unconfirmed, the event could underscore the divergent approaches of the two candidates towards Bitcoin and its implications for U.S. policies.

For additional details on the Bitcoin 2024 conference and to secure a discounted ticket using a promotional code, interested individuals can visit the official event website. Bitcoin Magazine, a subsidiary of BTC Inc, the organizer of the largest Bitcoin conference, The Bitcoin Conference, will be overseeing the event.

Websites

Bitcoin 2024
https://b.tc/conference/2024

Bitcoin Magazine
https://bitcoinmagazine.com

July 1, 2024

Buyers failed to pick up on the crypto market

Market picture

The crypto market has been enjoying an influx of buyers since Saturday, with a visible acceleration on Monday. Over the past 24 hours, capitalisation has risen 3.6% to $2.33 trillion. Last week’s drop in the crypto sentiment index to 30 (fear zone) reversed the price twice, showing that the market is dominated by a ‘buy the dip’ pattern.

Bitcoin is trading near $63.3K, adding 5% since Saturday morning and reaffirming the importance of support at 61.8% of the Jan-March rally. From another perspective, Bitcoin is adding and bouncing off the lower boundary of the downward channel. Likely, the price is now moving towards the upper boundary at $67K. However, cautious buyers may prefer to wait for confirmation with the price rising above $72-73K - the pivot area of the last four months - which would be confirmation of the start of a new impulsive wave of growth.

Bitcoin ended June down 8.5% to $61.9K. In terms of seasonality, July is considered quite successful for BTC, adding eight times (22.3% on average) out of the last 13 and declining on five occasions (-7.8% on average).

News background

In terms of on-chain analysis, quotes have crossed the realised price level of short-term holders at $62,000, which historically can act as support during corrections in bull markets.

According to Arkham data, German authorities sent another 595 BTC worth ~$36.6 million to crypto exchanges on 26 June. Authorities began actively moving the cryptocurrency on 19 June, when some of it first hit the Kraken and Bitstamp exchanges.

Bitwise forecasts net inflows into spot ETH-ETFs in the US of $15bn in the first 18 months. Bloomberg expects trading in the new product to start on 2 July.

Solana Foundation has launched tools that enable it to turn any website or app into a gateway for cryptocurrency payments and other blockchain transactions.

On 26 June, the Blast development team completed the first phase of an airdrop, distributing 17 billion BLAST tokens (17% of the total issuance). Blast is an Ethereum-based layer 2 (L2) network that was launched in November 2023 by Blur founder under the pseudonym Pacman. In terms of blockchain value locked (TVL), the Blast ecosystem is ranked sixth in the DeFi Llama ranking with a value of $1.58bn.

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News

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

(Credit: Roy Morgan Research)

Roy Morgan Summary

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)

The Saudi National Manual for Assets and Facilities Management Released by EXPRO

It will serve as a comprehensive reference enhancing quality, efficiency, and sustainability in Saudi Arabia Government entities.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA, June 5, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The National Manual for Assets and Facilities Management (NMA&FM) represents a comprehensive reference that enhances quality, efficiency, and sustainability in the management of assets and facilities in Saudi government entities. This reflects the value of the citizens’ combined efforts to establish a unified reference in this field, which is considered the first of its kind on the national and regional levels.

The manual, which is prepared by the Government Expenditure & Projects Efficiency Authority “EXPRO” combined effort with success partners from the concerned government entities, aims to unify the different procedures for managing assets and public facilities, ensuring compliance with local legislation, and building asset management systems by registering and evaluating them to support optimal decision-making. The goal is to extend the life cycle of assets, manage public facilities effectively and efficiently based on the principle of cost and quality and relying on continuous improvement, and preserve resources by activating the concept of financial planning for asset and facility management and effective management of supply chains and contracts.

The manual serves as a technical reference for public entities on how to utilize each entity’s asset and facility management resources impeccably and manage them efficiently. It also covers the entire business life cycle of assets and facilities, starting with planning, constructing, and receiving the project, through contracting and purchasing stages, to operating and maintaining and ending with the decision to stop using and dispose of the facility or asset.

The implementation of this manual has documented success stories in various government entities, Including the Hygiene Performance Contracts transformation Initiative For Riyadh City in cooperation with Riyadh Region Municipality. This initiative resulted in the preparation and development of 16 integrated performance contract brochures for the hygiene of Riyadh city, with an estimated value of over 6 billion riyals, and the development of 11 performance indicators to improve service implementation and quality.

To increase operational efficiency and service quality at the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, a system for facilities management was established according to best practices. This included automating assets and facilities management processes, creating an indicator board with over 10 indicators, and setting a standard for classifying dams based on urgency and risk levels according to the global best practices. Additionally, a complete asset registry for dams was built, and the computerized operations and maintenance system was activated.

The collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development led to an increase in operating efficiency and improvement in the quality of service by establishing a facilities management system based on best practices and automating five main and supportive processes for managing assets and facilities. This reduced operational and maintenance costs and increased beneficiary satisfaction rates.

Furthermore, the cooperation with King Saud University has improved operational efficiency and service quality. The university’s assets were counted and inventoried, the effectiveness of the computerized asset management program system was enhanced, and it was linked to other systems at the university in line with the requirements of the national manual. Additionally, an occupational health and safety policy was developed and approved, measurement indicators were identified, and seven procedures for operation and maintenance were implemented. These measures contributed to accelerating and facilitating the operation and field maintenance processes, as well as merging with inventory management to raise the efficiency of purchasing operations.

In addition, Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University has succeeded in developing and launching a computerized system for managing assets and facilities. This system includes the operation automation and maintenance processes and ordering spare parts through computerised systems, increasing spending efficiency on annual operation and maintenance costs. It also accelerated service provision, monitored implementation, and provided data and technical and financial indicator panels to support decision-makers. This cooperation resulted in a qualitative leap in the satisfaction rate of users of university facilities, as well as the complete automation of the inventory and spare parts management process.

The Riyadh Region Municipality developed 13 integrated performance contract brochures for the operation and maintenance of Riyadh’s roads, with an estimated value of 2 billion riyals, and established nine performance indicators to measure the service performance, implementation, and quality.

EXPRO has made the manual available to its partners from public entities, their asset and facility departments, and specialized contractors and consulting offices via the website. EXPRO is committed to providing partners with all necessary knowledge for the manual's application through a training package for each volume, on-the-job training, and experiential learning.

The manual consists of 17 volumes upon which the asset and facilities management methodology is based. Each volume addresses a specific function of asset and facilities management and takes into account the best global practices for accomplishing these functions. It is reviewed and updated periodically based on accumulated experiences and the contributions of a committee of government entities’ representatives, as well as global developments in the field of asset and facilities management.

The first volume includes an introduction to the manual, covering the calibres and guidelines necessary for management. The second volume is devoted to managing assets and the business requirements while achieving a balance between risks, performance and cost to ensure the proper use of assets. It also focuses on effectively monitoring assets during their life cycle to guarantee proper utilization, as well as relying on specialized asset management systems and software.

The third volume explains how assessment, as an organizational process, is useful in determining an asset's condition and establishing an appropriate life cycle. This supports the proper direction of the asset and subsequent maintenance activities, ultimately achieving the required value.

The fourth volume includes guidelines for defining the financial policy framework, including planning the asset’s life cycle with regard to the necessary funding to maintain its operation at the required service level. It also covers the integration of strategic asset management with financial planning procedures, which helps in making decisions between investment and funding options and determining the achievable service level.

The fifth volume focuses on managing the processes of planning, organizing, and work control, as well as maximizing the use of resources to manage facilities and assets. This is based on written procedures that support the preservation of resources and limit any shortcomings or inconsistencies in the services provided, thus helping to avoid a negative impact on the entity’s reputation. It also emphasizes aspects that must be taken into account in future planning and development.

The sixth volume is concerned with managing maintenance by applying best practices to develop tools for planning maintenance and applying methodologies in their management. This contributes to determining the design life of the assets and the continuity of their services to maintain the safe and reliable operation of the assets. Additionally, it focuses on optimizing the benefits of its operational processes.

The seventh volume guides the procedures for adjusting the work and managing the requests related to maintenance activities. It prioritizes and plans these activities, fixes malfunctions, estimates costs, schedules work, and oversees testing and closure.

The supply chain management volume focuses on the strategic planning, implementation, control, and monitoring of supply chain activities, such as warehouse and inventory management. Effective supply chain management contributes to achieving optimal value and promotes competitive infrastructure as well as logistics services worldwide while measuring performance and linking supply to demand.

The Contract Management volume focuses on planning, implementing, managing and supplying asset and facility contracts that ensure legal compliance, meet required service levels, maximize financial and operational performance, and reduce potential risks.

The tenth volume focuses on safety, health, and the environment by providing a guideline to the procedures and controls relied upon to protect employees, visitors, public property, and the environment. It includes procedures for monitoring compliance, risk assessment, safety reviews, and safety training.

The eleventh volume presents the core pillars of quality management, which include monitoring daily work, conducting audits to measure the service provider’s compliance with its contractual obligations, and addressing inconsistencies. The effective application of quality management promotes strategies, policies, procedures, and plans.

The manual makers devoted a volume to managing risks and reducing the potential impact of events that may hinder the stakeholder or user from achieving asset and facilities management objectives, with the possibility of applying risk management to all comprehensive management procedures.

The thirteenth volume guides and directs users on the procedures and principles that must be applied to establish effective document management. Document and records management services are useful for obtaining, circulating and retrieving approved information when needed.

Volume Fourteen pays attention to emergency management, strategic organization of personnel, and allocation of resources to reduce the impact of emergencies and restore operations effectively.

The performance control volume explains the foundations of operating and managing operations and activities in accordance with the entity’s mission, vision, goals and requirements. This allows changes to be made when needed in order to maintain the consistency and effectiveness of performance to achieve the desired business objectives.

The asset and facility management of construction project volume identifies the procedures required during the construction stages to ensure the best results of operation and maintenance throughout the life cycle of the asset’s construction or restoration project.

The Energy Management and Sustainability Guideline outlines the optimal means for the strategic application of energy efficiency in buildings, in addition to sustainability, which represents an approach to integrating the environment, human needs, and costs.

EXPRO has recently launched the “Evolution of Tradition” awareness campaign to publicize the importance of the National Manual for Assets and Facilities Management. This includes a series of multimedia explaining the importance of following the manual’s guidelines to organize and facilitate the work of government entities, achieving many benefits on the national level in terms of efficiency and quality. These have a direct impact on performance of the entity and citizens. The campaign presents some government entities’ success stories following the implementation of Manual. Expenditure efficiency teams within government entities also organize activities to publicize the importance and content of the manual.

For more details, contact Turki Bukhari, Executive vice president, A&FM at media@expro.gov.sa.

Learn more at: https://expro.gov.sa

Turki Bukhari
Expenditure & Projects Efficiency Authority (EXPRO)

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.

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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.