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The US and China agreed on Monday (May 12) to pause the majority of their tariffs for a period of 90 days, marking a significant de-escalation in trade tensions between the two countries.

The US will reduce its tariffs on most Chinese goods from 145 percent to 30 percent; meanwhile, China will lower its tariffs on US goods by a similar amount, dropping them from 125 percent to 10 percent.

In addition to the suspension of tariffs, a number of non-tariff measures will be suspended or reversed. These include removing rare earths export restrictions and taking some US tech and defense firms off trade blacklists.

The US will maintain a 20 percent tariff geared at pressuring China to curb the flow of fentanyl to the US. The other 10 percent is the baseline levy that the US has imposed on imports from most nations.

The Trump administration also said the lower tariff rate won’t apply to automobiles, steel and aluminum.

The deal is expected to bring a resumption of shipments to west coast port cities like Los Angeles and Seattle. Recent data indicates a significant reduction in activity as tariffs have pushed the price of goods beyond what many importers can afford. Port activity has dropped to levels not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains.

Although the tariff pause is only temporary, the 90 day break will give the countries time to negotiate a more permanent deal and mitigate a growing trade war that began shortly after Donald Trump assumed the presidency in January.

‘Now, while the 90-day pause is a big step towards easing tensions, it’s crucial to remember that it doesn’t guarantee a complete resolution of the trade war,’ he explained.

‘Once those 90 days are up, everyone will be keeping a close eye on what happens next, especially the results of ongoing negotiations and whether the tariffs will be permanently cut or brought back.’

Market response was mixed on Tuesday (May 13), with the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:INX) jumping 0.9 percent to reach 5,896 points in morning trading and the Nasdaq-100 (INDEXNASDAQ:NDX) surging 1.75 percent to 21,231 points. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) went the opposite direction, shedding a half percent to 42,216 basis points.

The gold price fell as low as US$3,208.80 per ounce on Monday, a drop of more than US$100 compared to last week’s closing price. It regained some ground on Tuesday and was trading in the US$3,250 range by 1:00 p.m EDT.

The silver price also saw an immediate decline on Monday, but was trading in the US$33 per ounce range on Tuesday.

Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Bitcoin is prone to price volatility, with wide swings to the upside and downside, making it difficult for investors to know when the right time to buy the top crypto is.

There has been renewed interest in cryptocurrencies following the election of US President Donald Trump, leading the Bitcoin price to soar to new heights in late 2024, as investors and other industry insiders speculated on how the Trump administration’s policies could grow the sector and encourage mainstream adoption.

Trump ran on a platform that promised to make the US the Bitcoin capital of the world, vowing to establish a national reserve for the asset, and several states have already introduced legislation to create similar reserves within their borders.

The price of Bitcoin pulled back to under US$100,000 in February 2025 and fell as low as US$75,000 by April 9, marking a strong buying opportunity for crypto investors. Bitcoin has since rebounded, and on May 9 topped US$100,000 for the first time since early February.

Meanwhile, institutions and businesses like Michael Saylor’s Strategy have continued to buy Bitcoin by the millions, and spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) remain popular.

This surge of interest paints a bullish picture of Bitcoin’s continued growth. However, buying Bitcoin isn’t a simple decision. Read on to learn the basics of Bitcoin fundamentals, price forecasts and methods for determining if now’s the right time to buy Bitcoin, including several popular technical trading indicators you should know.

In this article

    What gives Bitcoin its value? 5 factors to know

    Before you decide if Bitcoin is a good investment for you, you need to understand Bitcoin and the wider crypto market.

    Bitcoin was the world’s first cryptocurrency, created in January 2009 by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto.

    Conceived as a virtual alternative to fiat currency, Bitcoin is built atop blockchain technology, which it uses for both validation and security. Blockchain itself is a distributed digital ledger of transactions, operating through a combination of private keys, public keys and network consensus.

    The best analogy to explain how this works in practice involves Google Docs. Imagine a document that’s shared with a group of collaborators. Everyone has access to the same document, and each collaborator can see the edits other collaborators have made. If anyone makes an edit that the other collaborators don’t approve of, they can roll it back.

    Going back to Bitcoin, the virtual currency primarily validates transactions through proof of work. Also known as Bitcoin mining, this competitive and incredibly resource-intensive process is the means by which new Bitcoins are generated.

    How it works is deceptively simple. Each Bitcoin transaction adds a new ‘block’ to the ledger, identified by a 64-digit encrypted hexadecimal number known as a hash. Each block uses the block immediately preceding it to generate its hash, creating a ledger that theoretically cannot be tampered with. Bitcoin miners collectively attempt to guess the encrypted hex code for each new block — whoever correctly identifies the hash then validates the transaction and receives a small amount of Bitcoins as a reward.

    From an investment perspective, Bitcoin toes the line between being a medium of exchange and a speculative digital asset. It also lacks any central governing body to regulate its distribution. As one might expect, these factors together make Bitcoin quite volatile, and therefore somewhat risky as an investment target.

    As for the source of this volatility, Bitcoin’s value is primarily influenced by five factors.

    1. Supply and demand

    It’s widely known that no more than 21 million Bitcoins can be produced, and that’s unlikely to happen before 2140.

    Only a certain number of Bitcoins are released each year, and this rate is reduced every four years by halving the reward for Bitcoin mining. The last of these ‘halvings’ occurred in April 2024 and the next one is due sometime in 2028. When it happens, there may be a significant increase in Bitcoin demand, largely driven by media coverage and investor interest.

    Bitcoin demand is also strengthening in countries experiencing currency devaluation and high inflation.

    It would be remiss not to mention that Bitcoin represents an ideal mechanism for supporting illicit activities — meaning that increasing cybercrime could itself be a demand driver.

    2. Production costs

    It’s said that Bitcoin benefits from minimal production costs. This isn’t exactly true, however. Solving even a single hash requires immense processing power, and it’s believed that crypto mining collectively uses more electricity than some small countries. It’s also believed that miners were largely responsible for the chip shortage experienced throughout the pandemic due to buying and burning out vast quantities of graphics cards.

    These costs together have only a minimal influence on Bitcoin’s overall value. The complexity of Bitcoin’s hashing algorithms and the fact that they can vary wildly in complexity are far more impactful.

    3. Competition

    Bitcoin’s cryptocurrency market share has sharply declined over the years. In 2017, it maintained a market share of over 80 percent. Bitcoin’s current market share is just over 60 percent.

    Despite that fall, Bitcoin remains the dominant force in the cryptocurrency market and is the marker by which many other cryptocurrencies determine their value. However, there is no guarantee that this will always remain the case. There are now scores of Bitcoin alternatives, known collectively as altcoins, which you can learn more about here.

    The most significant alternative to Bitcoin is Ethereum. Currently accounting for roughly 10 percent of the crypto market, Ethereum has long maintained its position as the second largest cryptocurrency. Some experts have suggested that Ethereum may even overtake Bitcoin, but others don’t see that as a possibility in the near future.

    4. Regulations

    Bitcoin may itself be unregulated, but it is not immune to the effects of government legislation. For instance, China’s 2021 ban of the cryptocurrency caused a sharp price drop, though it quickly rallied in the following months. The European Union has also attempted to ban Bitcoin in the past, and Nic Carter, a partner at Castle Venture, accused the US of trying to do the same in February 2023.

    There has been plenty of discussion surrounding the role of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in regulating Bitcoin and other crypto as investment assets. The US made progress in establishing crypto legislation in 2024 when the House passed the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century (FIT21) Act in a bipartisan 279 to 136 vote on May 22 of last year. While that act has yet to make further progress, the new Trump administration has already loosened some crypto regulation with regards to crypto reporting for banks and decentralized finance businesses.

    5. Public interest and media coverage

    As with any speculative commodity, Bitcoin is greatly influenced by the court of public opinion.

    Perhaps the best example of this occurred in 2021. At that time, a tweet from Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) Elon Musk caused Bitcoin’s price to drop by 30 percent in a single day. This also wiped about US$365 billion off the cryptocurrency market.

    A more recent example occurred on January 9, 2024, leading up to the deadline for eight spot Bitcoin ETFs by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In a since-deleted post on X, formerly known as Twitter, a hacker falsely stated that the SEC had approved all eight pending Bitcoin ETFs. This caused the price of Bitcoin to spike to US$48,000, but it quickly dropped back down to around US$46,000 after the SEC confirmed it was a hack, leading some analysts to consider it a ‘sell-the-news’ event.

    Is now a good time to buy Bitcoin?

    The current US administration is crypto friendly, and Bitcoin and altcoins are seeing support in 2025. Could they go even higher, or should you wait for a dip to buy? Bitcoin is notoriously volatile, which can make it difficult to judge where the crypto is going next, but there are several strategies to help investors decide when to invest.

    To determine if it is a good time to invest in Bitcoin, investors should pay attention to the market and listen to the experts, as generally speaking, Bitcoin’s price action is sentiment-driven. To keep on top of big news in the sector, follow our frequent Crypto Market Updates, which drop several times a week.

    There are also different technical indicators that crypto traders use to help them decide if now is the time to buy or sell Bitcoin. We run through some popular indicators below.

    For example, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a technical indicator used to gauge the momentum of a cryptocurrency’s price. It fluctuates on a scale from 0 to 100. By analyzing the magnitude of recent price changes relative to the previous 12-month period, the RSI helps traders identify whether a cryptocurrency is potentially overbought or oversold. An RSI above 70 often signals an overbought market, while an RSI below 30 suggests an oversold market.

    Another metric to consider is the MVRV Z-score, calculated by subtracting the ‘realized’ value of Bitcoin, which is an average of the prices at which each Bitcoin was last moved, from the current market value. This is then divided by the standard deviation of the Bitcoin market cap.

    This indicator helps identify when market value deviates strongly from realized value, which could show the market is at a turning point. A score above 7 likely indicates that Bitcoin is overvalued, meaning it could be due for a correction, while a score below 0 suggests that Bitcoin is undervalued, meaning it could be a good buying opportunity.

    Finally, to gauge the overall market sentiment, investors can look at the Fear & Greed Index. This index provides a snapshot of how optimistic or fearful the market is about Bitcoin, with high readings potentially signaling overenthusiasm and a possible correction.

    While it’s useful to learn these technical indicators to help you trade, it is important to remember that there’s no such thing as a guaranteed investment, especially when it comes to cryptocurrencies. On the one hand, there’s virtually no chance that Bitcoin will experience a crash to zero. On the other hand, we also cannot take for granted that its value will continue to climb.

    What is Bitcoin’s long-term price outlook?

    For those considering Bitcoin as a long-term investment, it’s worth considering experts’ thoughts on Bitcoin in the future.

    Veteran analyst Peter Brandt said in February 2024 that if Bitcoin could break past its previous high, the cryptocurrency could easily reach a new record of US$200,000 by September 2025.

    Only two weeks after the interview, Bitcoin surpassed the US$72,000 mark in the early hours of March 11. On December 4, one month after the US presidential election, Bitcoin reached US$100,000 for the first time, an elusive target it has surpassed a handful of times since.

    Not everyone is so optimistic about Bitcoin’s prospects. Pav Hundal, lead market analyst at Swyftx, has expressed concerns about Bitcoin’s future in the context of continued geopolitical upheaval and economic uncertainty.

    Billionaire investor Warren Buffet, meanwhile, has not minced words regarding his opinion on Bitcoin and its future. According to Buffet, Bitcoin is an unproductive asset with no unique value. He also feels that it doesn’t count as a true currency — in fact, he called it “rat poison.” Moreover, he believes that the crypto market as a whole will end badly.

    Regardless of whether you believe Bitcoin’s proponents or naysayers, it’s clear that it has some incredibly prominent backers in both the investment world and the wider business landscape. Business analytics platform Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) is by far the largest public company in the Bitcoin space, with 568,840 Bitcoin to its name as of May 13, 2025. The next three public companies with the largest Bitcoin holdings are Marathon Digital Holdings (NASDAQ:MARA) with 48,237 Bitcoin, Riot Platforms (NASDAQ:RIOT) with 19,211, Tesla with 11,509 and Hut 8 (NASDAQ:HUT) with 10,264.

    The US, China and the United Kingdom hold the top three spots for countries with the most Bitcoin holdings, with 207,189, 194,000 and 61,000 Bitcoin respectively at that time.

    There are also plenty of individuals with large holdings, the most significant of which is believed to be Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Other prominent names include Michael Saylor, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss and Tim Draper.

    How to smartly invest in Bitcoin?

    To help increase the odds of crypto being a good investment, investors in the Bitcoin market should learn the basics of safely investing in Bitcoin.

    How to buy Bitcoin

    The good news is that investing in Bitcoin is actually quite simple. If you’re purchasing through a stockbroker, it’s a similar process to buying shares of a company. Otherwise, you may need to gather your personal information and bank account details. It’s recommended to secure your network with a VPN prior to performing any Bitcoin transactions.

    The first step in purchasing Bitcoin is to join an exchange. Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) is one of the most popular, but there’s also Kraken and Bybit. If you’re an advanced trader outside the US, you might consider Bitfinex.

    Once you’ve chosen an exchange, you’ll need a crypto wallet. Many first-time investors choose a software-based or ‘hot’ wallet either maintained by their chosen crypto exchange or operated by a service provider. While simpler to set up and more convenient overall, hot wallets tend to be less secure as they can be compromised by data breaches.

    Another option is a ‘cold’ wallet — a specialized piece of hardware specifically designed to store cryptocurrency. It’s basically a purpose-built flash drive. If you plan to invest large amounts in crypto, a cold wallet is the better option.

    Once you’ve acquired and configured your wallet, you may choose to connect either the wallet or your crypto exchange account to your bank account. This is not strictly necessary, and some seasoned investors don’t bother to do this.

    Finally, with your wallet fully configured and your exchange account set up, it’s time to place your order.

    Best practices for investing in Bitcoin

    The most important thing to remember about Bitcoin is that it is a high-risk asset. Treat Bitcoin as a means of slowly growing your existing wealth rather than an all-or-nothing gamble, and never invest money that you aren’t willing to lose..

    As with other investments, it’s important to hedge your portfolio. Alongside Bitcoin, you may want to consider investing in other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, or perhaps an altcoin. You may also want to explore other blockchain-based investments, given that even the most stable cryptocurrencies tend to be fairly volatile.

    It’s also key to ignore the hype surrounding cryptocurrencies. Recall how many people whipped themselves into a frenzy over non-fungible tokens in 2022. More than 95 percent of the NFTs created during that time are now worthless.

    Make decisions based on your own market research and advice from trusted — and more importantly, certified — professionals. If you’re putting up investment capital based on an influencer’s tweets, you are playing with fire.

    You should also start small. A good rule of thumb is not to dedicate more than 10 percent of your overall capital to cryptocurrency. Even that number could be high — again, it’s all about moderation.

    Make sure to prioritize cybersecurity as well. Cryptocurrencies are an immensely popular target for cybercriminals. In addition to maintaining a cold wallet, make sure you practice proper security hygiene. That means using a VPN and a password manager while also exercising mindfulness in how you browse the web and what you download.

    Finally, make an effort to understand what cryptocurrencies are and how they work. One of the reasons Sam Bankman-Fried was able to run FTX as long as he did was because many of his investors didn’t fully understand what they were putting their money into. Don’t let yourself be fooled by buzzwords or lofty promises about Web3 and the metaverse.

    Do your research into the technology behind it all. That way, you’ll be far better equipped to recognize when something is a sound investment versus a bottomless money pit.

    Indirect crypto investing

    Given Bitcoin’s volatility, it’s understandable that you might be leery of making a direct investment. The good news is that you don’t have to. You can indirectly invest into the crypto space through mutual funds, stocks and ETFs.

    ETFs are a popular and flexible portfolio choice that allows investors to benefit from a sector’s performance without the need to directly own individual stocks or assets. They are an especially appealing option in the cryptocurrency market as the technical aspects of purchasing and holding these coins can be confusing and intimidating for the less technologically inclined.

    Bitcoin futures ETFs provide exposure to the cryptocurrency’s price moves using Bitcoin futures contracts, which stipulate that two parties will exchange a specific amount of Bitcoins for a particular price on a predetermined date.

    Conversely, spot Bitcoin ETFs aim to track the price of Bitcoin, and they do so by holding the asset. Spot Bitcoin ETFs have been offered to Canadians since 2021, and there are now 13 Canadian cryptocurrency ETFs you can buy. Spot Bitcoin ETFs began trading in the US on January 11, 2024. For investors interested in blockchain technology, there are also several blockchain ETFs.

    Do a bit of research and touch base with your stockbroker or financial advisor before you go in this direction.

    Investor takeaway

    Bitcoin is a fascinating asset. Simultaneously a transactional tool and a speculative commodity, it’s attracted the attention of investors almost since it first hit the market. Unfortunately, it’s also incredibly volatile.

    For that reason, while current market conditions are favorable for anyone considering buying Bitcoin, it is an asset you should purchase only at your own risk. Because while Bitcoin may have the potential for significant returns, you may also lose most of your investment. If that knowledge doesn’t bother you, then by all means, purchase away.

    Otherwise, there are better — less volatile — options for your capital.

    FAQs for buying Bitcoin

    What does Cathie Wood say about Bitcoin?

    ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood is extremely bullish on Bitcoin, telling Bloomberg in February 2023 that her firm believes the cryptocurrency could reach a value of US$1 million by 2030. A year later, Wood hiked her 2030 bitcoin price prediction astronomically to US$75 trillion.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

    Reach Resources Limited (ASX: RR1 & RR1O) (“Reach” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce the completion of a new Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the Pansy Pit deposit at its Murchison South Gold Project. The estimate, prepared by independent consultants Mining Plus, reported above a cut-off grade of 0.5g/t Au, confirms a near-surface inferred resource of 72kt @ 2.5g/t Au for 5,800 oz. This adds to the existing 61,300 oz gold resource at the nearby Blue Heaven deposit, bringing the total gold resource inventory at Murchison South to approximately 67,100 oz.

    HIGHLIGHTS

    • Pansy Pit: Mining Plus confirms Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the Pansy Pit Deposit at Murchison South:
      From Surface 72kt @ 2.5g/t Au for 5,800 oz Gold (Table 1)
    • Blue Heaven and Pansy Pit MRE, together total ~67,100 oz Gold
    • Pansy Pit MRE is based solely on review by Mining Plus of historical drilling
    • Historical drilling was only to 60m, mineralisation open at depth and along strike north and south (Figure 2)
    • The Pansy Pit has the potential to be a shallow, open pit mining operation, with mineralisation observed from surface
    • The Pansy Pit sits within granted Mining lease M59/662 and is just over 2km from the Company’s Blue Heaven deposit and on the south side of the Great Northern Highway (Figure 3)
    • The Pansy Pit provides evidence of the expansion potential along the Primrose Fault, notably to the south at the Shamrock deposit and to the north at the Pansy North and Jacamar deposits (Figure 3)

    The Pansy Pit MRE is shown in Table 1 on page 3.

    Click here for the full ASX Release

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

    White Cliff Minerals Limited (“WCN” or the “Company”) (ASX: WCN; OTCQB: WCMLF) is pleased to announce further assay results from the recent reverse circulation drilling campaign at the Company’s 100% owned Rae Copper Project in Nunavut, Canada.

    • Further assays from Danvers confirm a shallow, high grade copper system that remains open at depth and along strike
    • Drilling continues to prove, previously unknown and untested, extensions to high grade mineralisation
    • Highlights from DAN25002:
      • 63m @ 2.23% Cu & 7.1g/t silver (Ag) from 9.14m, including a high-grade intercept of 15m @ 5% Cu & 16.9g/t Ag from 18.29m
    • DAN25004 returned two significant copper intervals:
      • 38m @ 1% Cu & 1.89g/t Ag from 7.62m, and
      • 72m @ 1.08% Cu & 4.22g/t Ag from 62.48m, including a high-grade intercept of 14m @ 2.32% Cu from 106.68m
    • Pre collar drilling at Hulk is complete, ready for an upcoming diamond drilling campaign
    • The Company is advancing discussions with its contracting partners to undertake targeted airborne geophysical surveys at Danvers across the 9.1km target fault zone and to also utilise the proven down hole electromagnetic survey across the broader Rae project which will support and help target these future campaigns
    • Further assays to come pending release from the laboratory

    “Assays from Rae continue to exceed expectations: 175m @ 2.5% Cu, 58m @ 3.08% Cu, 52m @ 1.16% Cu and now further significant intercepts of 63m @ 2.23% Cu and 72m @ 1.08%. These high-grade intercepts from surface are rare in the exploration world as explorers over recent times have had to go deeper and deeper to identify additional copper resources.

    Being the first mover into this highly prospective location, after more than a decade of inactivity due to political constraints – securing the licences organically and now having undertaken our first drill program, positions us well both for future work programmes and facilitate further discoveries.

    We are not surprised by the increased attention into the broader region by many players. Infrastructure enhancements at Yellowknife and increased activity along the north-west passage provide far easier access than in previous decades when the last serious exploration was undertaken.

    More recently we have seen increased state and federal conversations around road and port infrastructure development in this area to support regional development. Logistics that will positively impact the Rae Project. Given the project area is less than 80km by road to the deep-water port of Kugluktuk, these results will surely focus the spotlight on the development opportunities and benefits to the local and regional stakeholders.

    The Rae Project area has the potential to help meet the global production void through proper systematic assessment of this underexplored copper landholding and we continue to look forward to updating shareholders with the next round of results as they come to hand over the coming weeks.”

    Troy Whittaker – Managing Director

    Click here for the full ASX Release

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

    This week proved pivotal for the tech and energy sectors as market dynamics and the regulatory landscape shifted.

    Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) made waves by signaling a foray into artificial intelligence (AI) search and challenging app store regulations, while OpenAI underwent a major restructuring amid legal battles with Elon Musk.

    Meanwhile, legislation targeting AI chip tracking gained momentum, and the nuclear energy sector saw increased activity with Ontario Power Generation’s new reactor project and potential White House actions.

    Earnings reports from major players like Palantir (NASDAQ:PLTR), AMD (NASDAQ:AMD), Arm Holdings (NASDAQ:ARM) and Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:SMCI) painted a complex picture of growth and challenges in a turbulent economic environment.

    The interplay of innovation, regulation and market forces played out against a backdrop of trade developments between the US and the UK, with optimism regarding forthcoming negotiations with China boosting sentiment toward the end of the week.

    Read on to dive deeper into this week’s top stories.

    1. Apple’s App Store appeal, AI search plans and chip news

    Apple is formally contesting last week’s judicial ruling mandating a reduction in its App Store commission.

    The company filed an appeal against the order that would compel it to lower the existing 27 percent fee imposed on businesses offering links within their apps to external payment processing alternatives.

    In related news, Apple executive Eddy Cue revealed during federal court testimony that the tech giant is investigating the development of its own AI-powered search engine for the Safari web browser. The news had an immediate impact on Alphabet’s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) shares, resulting in a 9 percent decline on Wednesday (May 7) afternoon.

    In other news, Apple is reportedly making advances in its in-house silicon development.

    The company is designing new proprietary chips intended to serve as the main central processing units for a range of future Apple products. These include anticipated devices such as smart glasses, more powerful iterations of its Mac computer line and specialized AI servers.

    Combined with this week’s macroeconomic and geopolitical developments, Apple’s share price experienced turbulence, ultimately closing 2.25 percent below Monday’s (May 5) opening price on Friday (May 9).

    2. OpenAI announces restructuring, acquisition and leadership changes

    In a notable week for AI giant OpenAI, CEO Sam Altman shared a reorganization strategy on Monday, announcing that its operational arm will transition into a new public benefit corporation, with its non-profit arm acting as the primary shareholder. The decision follows talks with civic leaders and state attorneys general.

    A person familiar with the matter told Business Insider that the new plan will let the company receive the full US$30 billion investment from SoftBank (TSE:9984). Meanwhile, sources told Bloomberg on Monday that Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and OpenAI are still in negotiations regarding a restructuring plan. A later report from the Information reveals that OpenAI plans to slash its 20 percent revenue-sharing agreement with Microsoft to 10 percent by 2030.

    Regarding the ongoing legal dispute between Sam Altman and Tesla (NADAQ:TSLA) CEO Musk, who alleges that the company has strayed from its founding mission, Musk’s attorney, Marc Toberoff, told Reuters on Monday that the team intends to proceed with the lawsuit. Toberoff also called the restructuring a “cosmetic” move that turns charitable assets into private wealth, adding that “the founding mission remains betrayed.”

    In other news, OpenAI made its largest acquisition to date this week, agreeing to buy AI-assisted coding tool Windsurf for about US$3 billion, and named ex-Instacart (NASDAQ:CART) CEO Fidji Simo as its new head of applications.

    According to reports, Simo will manage operations and report directly to Sam Altman, who will retain his title as CEO. Altman will shift his focus to research, safety efforts and advancing artificial general intelligence.

    3. AI chip regulatory developments

    US Representative Bill Foster is preparing to introduce legislation aimed at tracking the location of AI chips, such as those produced by NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), after they are sold.

    The proposed bill, first reported by Reuters on Monday, would task US regulators with developing rules to monitor these chips, ensuring they remain in authorized locations under export control licenses.

    It would also seek to prevent unlicensed chips from being activated outside of authorized locations.

    In other chip-related news, NVIDIA shares rose following news that the Trump administration plans to eliminate the so-called “AI diffusion rule.” However, a spokesperson from the US Department of Commerce clarified upcoming plans in a statement to CNBC’s Kif Leswing on Wednesday, commenting:

    “The Biden AI rule is overly complex, overly bureaucratic, and would stymie American innovation. We will be replacing it with a much simpler rule that unleashes American innovation and ensures American AI dominance.”

    The announcement highlights the Trump administration’s intention to keep some guardrails in place to protect US interests, despite pushback from tech industry executives.

    At a Congressional hearing on Thursday (May 8), OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized the importance of maintaining US leadership in AI development. He cautioned against overregulation, warning that poorly designed rules could hinder America’s competitive edge, particularly against China.

    4. Palantir, AMD, Arm and Super Micro share results

    Palantir’s Q1 revenue rose 39 percent year-on-year to US$884 million, driven by demand for its data analytics software in the US. The company expects demand to continue, forecasting Q2 revenue between US$934 million and US$938 million. Palantir’s share price fell by 8 percent after hours as investors anticipated even stronger results. The company posted a loss of 5.6 percent for the week after a volatile week for tech stocks, as overvaluation concerns persist.

    Advanced Micro Devices’ Q1 earnings report shows quarterly revenue of US$7.4 billion, an annual increase of 36 percent, with adjusted earnings per share of US$0.96. Despite an initial 7 percent stock surge following a positive quarterly report, AMD shares fell following the company’s announcement of a projected US$1.5 billion revenue decrease this year, attributed to US government limitations on the sale of AI chips to China.

    Palantir, Super Micro, AMD and Arm performance, May 6 to 9, 2025.

    Chart via Google Finance.

    For Q4 2024, Arm Holdings reported quarterly revenue of more than US$1 billion for the first time in its history, but forecast revenue and profit for Q1 2025 below Wall Street estimates, resulting in a 4 percent slump on Thursday morning

    Super Micro Computer’s net sales increased from US$3,85 billion in Q3 2024 to US$4.6 billion, while the company’s earnings per share fell year-on-year from US$0.66 to US$0.17.

    The company lowered its full-year revenue guidance from US$23.5 billion to US$25 billion, down to US$21.8 billion to US$22.6 billion, with trade war-induced uncertainty and increasing competition cited as obstacles to growth. The company’s share price opened over 5 percent lower the next day and fell by over 3 percent this week.

    5. Constellation shares jump, White House plans reactor push

    Shares of Constellation Energy (NASDAQ:CEG) rose nearly 10 percent in two days ahead of the Tuesday (May 6) release of its Q1 earnings report, which revealed revenue that exceeded expectations by over 20 percent.

    Later, during an earnings call, CEO Joe Dominguez said the company was close to inking multiple long-term deals to provide nuclear power to meet surging energy demands, further bolstering investors’ optimistic outlook.

    In another significant development within the nuclear energy sector, Ontario Power Generation said it has secured the necessary approvals to commence construction on the first of four small modular reactors (SMR) designed by GE Verona (NYSE:GEV), which will be located at the company’s Darlington site near Toronto.

    The Darlington project is anticipated to be the first deployment of this particular SMR technology within a G7 nation.

    Separately, Axios reported on Tuesday that sources familiar with the matter say the White House is in the final stages of preparing executive actions intended to accelerate the deployment of nuclear reactors. These plans, reportedly under consideration for several weeks, could be officially announced imminently.

    On Friday, NPR said its reporters have seen a draft of such an order. According to the report, the order instructs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to send new reactor safety guidelines to the White House for review and possible amendments. The draft also calls for a reduction of NRC’s staff and a “wholesale revision of its regulation” in coordination with the administration and the Department of Government Efficiency.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

    Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (May 9) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

    Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

    Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

    Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$103,116 as markets closed for the week, up 2 percent in 24 hours.

    The day’s range has seen a low of US$102,526 and a high of US$103,636. After breaking through the US$100,000 threshold on Thursday (May 8), the digital asset has found support.

    Bitcoin performance, May 9, 2025.

    Chart via TradingView.

    The crypto market’s surge is attributed to positive geopolitical developments, particularly surrounding a US-UK trade agreement and optimism over upcoming trade talks with China.

    A better-than-expected jobs report also reignited institutional interest. Meanwhile, the MOVE index has cooled from its late March-early April spike, encouraging broader risk-taking across financial markets.

    On the technical side, Bitcoin’s realized cap has hit an all-time high above US$893 million. Cointelegraph’s Marcel Pechman notes that strong options activity suggests that prices above US$105,000 could fuel further gains. Analyst Egrag Crypto is forecasting a rally to US$170,000, contingent on Bitcoin breaking past its previous all-time high of US$109,000.

    However, with Bitcoin’s relative strength index approaching 70, overbought conditions are emerging, and investors are urged to be cautious of short-term volatility.

    Ethereum’s (ETH) price surge has outperformed that of Bitcoin and can be attributed to an increase in transactions following Wednesday’s (May 7) Pectra upgrade. ETH’s price has increased by over 25 percent from last week and 42 percent month-on-month. It finished the week at US$2,325.35, a 10 percent increase over 24 hours.

    The day’s range saw a low of US$2,288.24 and a high of US$2,372.09.

    Altcoin price update

    • Solana (SOL) closed at US$171.67, up 7.1 percent over 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$168.64 and a high of US$172.75.
    • XRP was trading at US$2.35, reflecting a 3.6 percent increase over 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached a daily low of US$2.33 and a high of US$2.40.
    • Sui (SUI) was priced at US$3.89, showing a decreaseof 0.6 percent over the past 24 hours. It achieved a daily low of US$3.87 and a high of US$4.03.
    • Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.7799, up 5.5 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price of the day was US$0.7763, and it reached a high of US$0.7953.

    Today’s crypto news to know

    Coinbase to acquire Deribit in US$2.9 billion crypto derivatives deal

    Coinbase has announced plans to acquire Deribit, a leading crypto derivatives exchange, for $2.9 billion — the largest deal in the crypto industry to date. This strategic move positions Coinbase to expand its offerings in the crypto options market, catering to the growing demand for advanced trading products.

    The acquisition includes US$700 million in cash and 11 million shares of Coinbase Class A common stock.

    Deribit, which processed US$1.2 trillion in trading volume last year, controls approximately 85 percent of the global crypto options market. This deal is expected to enhance Coinbase’s presence in the international derivatives market and diversify its revenue streams. Analysts view the acquisition as a significant step for Coinbase to compete with other major exchanges like Binance and Kraken in the derivatives space. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is anticipated to close later this year. Until then, Deribit will continue its operations as usual.

    Rumble’s crypto wallet launch and Q1 earnings

    Rumble’s (NASDAQ:RUM) CEO confirmed the firm will launch a Bitcoin and stablecoin wallet to compete with the Coinbase Wallet in Q3. The Rumble Wallet will launch in partnership with Tether.

    “Our goal is to become the most prominent non-custodial Bitcoin and stablecoin wallet, powering the creator economy,” according to a May 9 (Friday) X post by Chris Pavlovski.

    On the earnings front, Rumble reported a net loss of US$2.7 million for Q1 on Thursday, a significant improvement over the US$43 million loss reported in Q1 2024. The company’s revenue of US$23.7 million exceeded analysts’ estimates; however, the firm reported a decrease in monthly active users to 59 million, down from 68 million in Q4 2024.

    Rumble opened 2.44 percent higher on Friday (May 9) and closed the week with a gain of over 17 percent.

    Meta’s potential stablecoin integration

    Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) is reportedly in discussions with cryptocurrency enterprises regarding the potential implementation of stablecoins for select, smaller-scale creator disbursements.

    Five informed sources told Fortune that the corporation has engaged in consultative deliberations with multiple cryptocurrency infrastructure providers, albeit without having yet settled upon a definitive strategic approach.

    An insider suggests that the entity may adopt a multi-token framework, encompassing the integration of established stablecoins such as Tether’s USDt and Circle’s USD Coin, amongst other alternatives.

    This news comes the day after Democratic lawmakers withdrew support for the GENIUS Act after concerns arose over the lucrative crypto dealings of companies tied to US President Donald Trump. The bill stalled on the floor of the Senate, prompting a public statement from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

    “This bill represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to expand dollar dominance and US influence in financial innovation. Without it, stablecoins will be subject to a patchwork of state regulations instead of a streamlined federal framework.’

    Celsius founder sentenced to 12 years for crypto fraud

    Alex Mashinsky, founder and former CEO of Celsius Network, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for defrauding customers and manipulating the price of the company’s CEL token.

    Between 2018 and 2022, Mashinsky misled investors about the safety of their funds, using customer deposits to inflate CEL’s value and personally profiting over US$48 million. Celsius, which once managed over US$25 billion in assets, collapsed in 2022 amid a broader crypto market downturn, leaving thousands of users unable to access their funds.

    SEC considers crypto exemptions

    The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is “considering a potential exemptive order” to let crypto firms bypass requirements to register as a broker-dealer, clearing agency exchange to issue, trade and settle securities. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce made the announcement in a speech published on Thursday.

    Companies would still be expected to comply with rules to prevent fraud and market manipulation and may also need to meet certain disclosure and recordkeeping requirements.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

    Legendary investor Warren Buffett is stepping down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A,NYSE:BRK.B) after six decades at the helm — but he’s still not yet ready to retire.

    In a media release on Monday (May 5), Berkshire said that its board of directors unanimously has voted to appoint Greg Abel, vice chairman, non-insurance operations, as president and CEO come January 2026.

    Buffett will remain the chairman of the board of directors.

    Buffett has held the position of CEO at Berkshire since 1970, with Abel confirmed as his successor in 2021.

    What is Buffett’s strategy?

    Buffett took control of Berkshire in 1965, back when the company was a struggling textile manufacturer.

    In a 2010 letter to shareholders, he recounted his experience in those early days:

    ‘Berkshire was then only intextiles, where it had in the previous decade lost significant money. The dumbest thing I could have done was topursue ‘opportunities’ to improve and expand the existing textile operation – so for years that’s exactly what Idid. And then, in a final burst of brilliance, I went out and bought another textile company. Aaaaaaargh!Eventually I came to my senses, heading first into insurance and then into other industries.’

    Many people have tried to explain Buffett’s success in recent years. One recent Financial Times article titled “How Buffet Did It” notes that his strategy is “more than great stock picks and insurance premiums.”

    An older paper called ‘Buffett’s Alpha’ suggests that his exposure to low-risk, cheap and high-quality stocks is key.

    “(He) has boosted his returns by using leverage, and that he has stuck to a good strategy for a very long time period, surviving rough periods where others might have been forced into a fire sale or a career shift,” states the paper, which was written by Andrea Frazzini, David Kabiller and Lasse Heje Pedersen.

    ‘We estimate that Buffett applies a leverage of about 1.7-to-1, boosting both his risk and excess return in that proportion. Thus, his many accomplishments include having the conviction, wherewithal, and skill to operate with leverage and significant risk over a number of decades,’ the authors also note.

    Who is Buffett’s successor?

    Abel has been with Berkshire since 2000, when Berkshire bought MidAmerican, an energy company he had been running. He joined the board as vice chairman, non-insurance operations, in 2018.

    MidAmerican was renamed Berkshire Hathaway Energy (BHE), with Abel serving as its chief executive officer from 2008 to 2018. He remains the company’s chair as of writing. At both MidAmerican and Berkshire, Abel was mentored by David Sokol, who seemed a likely successor to Warren Buffett until he resigned from Berkshire in 2011.

    Abel was named vice chairman in 2018 along with Ajit Jain. In a 2014 letter to shareholders, Buffett’s longtime right-hand man, Charlie Munger, who passed away in 2023, wrote about the two as potential successors.

    ‘Ajit Jain and Greg Abel are proven performers who would probably be under-described as ‘world-class.’ ‘World-leading’ would be the description I would choose,’ said Munger.

    ‘In some important ways, each is a better business executive than Buffett.’

    Buffett has also spoken highly of Abel, saying in 2023, ‘Greg understands capital allocation as well as I do. That’s lucky for us. He will make those decisions, I think, very much in the same framework as I would make them. We have laid out that framework now for 30 years.’

    Berkshire’s path forward under Abel

    Buffett’s words indicate that he sees Berkshire and Abel following the framework he has laid out.

    Of course, there may be some evolution. Morningstar analyst Gregg Warren notes that the ‘groundwork for a successful transition’ at Berkshire has been in place for decades.

    He also notes that Buffett and Munger were skilled at acquiring businesses that were a good cultural fit.

    “We expect this to continue, believing that Berkshire’s culture of management autonomy and entrepreneurship has become institutionalized,’ Warren explains in a recent article.

    ‘ However, the new managers will probably work with a slightly different opportunity set, and we believe they will evolve Berkshire from what has historically been a reinvestment machine into one that is more focused on returning capital to shareholders, which is what we would expect of a company of this size with limited investment opportunities.”

    Warren also comments that Berkshire currently doesn’t pay a dividend. This principle is because of Buffett’s belief that retained earnings should yield greater value than cash payouts.

    Warren said this may change after Abel takes over, underlining that issuing a dividend could help Berkshire retain shareholders who may consider selling once Buffett is no longer at the helm.

    Berkshire’s recent activities include diversification of its portfolio via strategic acquisitions and investments.

    In January 2025, Forest River Bus & Van, a Berkshire subsidiary, announced its acquisition of L.A. West Coaches to enhance its product portfolio in the luxury transportation market.

    “This partnership represents a shared commitment to excellence and innovation,” said Douglas Wright, group general nanager of Forest River Bus & Van. “L.A. West Coaches’ proven expertise and dedication to quality align with our values, and we look forward to collaborating to expand our product range.”

    BHE is also currently exploring the production of lithium carbonate and other minerals from its geothermal power plants in California’s Imperial Valley, aligning with the company’s interest in renewable energy and sustainability.

    BHE Renewables publicized a joint venture with Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY) in June 2024, saying that this will be useful for the demonstration and deployment of TerraLithium’s direct lithium extraction.

    Occidental is the owner of TerraLithium, a company that provides a technology platform for extracting lithium from geothermal and other brines to produce ultra-pure battery-grade lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate.

    Once the demonstration is successful, BHE Renewables plans to build, own and operate commercial lithium production facilities in California’s Imperial Valley. The joint venture also plans to license the technology and develop commercial lithium production facilities outside the Imperial Valley.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

    Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are one of the fastest-growing investment vehicles, and as uranium’s role in the energy transition grows, investors are becoming increasingly interested in uranium ETFs and related products.

    After years of dormancy, the uranium spot price zoomed past the US$100 per pound level in early 2024 on supply risks and a strong outlook for long-term demand. Although it’s since pulled back, bulls believe it still has room to run.

    Supporting factors include the lack of new uranium mines, Russia’s dominance in conversion and enrichment, rising demand for low-carbon energy sources and the continued development and deployment of small modular reactors.

    There is also increasing demand for uranium from China and India as both of these countries grapple with air pollution in the face of growing electricity demand. China is working to expand its nuclear power capacity, and although it ranks among the top 10 uranium-producing countries, it relies heavily on uranium imports.

    Compounded, these factors are creating a mounting supply deficit.

    “This year, uranium mines will only supply 75 percent of demand, so 25 percent of demand is uncovered,” Amir Adnani, CEO and president of Uranium Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:UEC), said at a January 2025 event.

    Although the fundamentals are promising, the U3O8 spot price has faced pressure in 2025, with prices below US$80 since the start of the year. As supply tightens, incentivizing new projects to come online is becoming imperative.

    “Next year, uranium demand is going up because there are 65 reactors under construction, and we haven’t even started talking about small and advanced modular reactors,” Adnani said. “Small and advanced modular reactors are an additional source of demand that, maybe not next year, but within the next three to four years, can become a reality.”

    As mentioned, that backdrop is helping uranium ETFs and related investment products gain steam. Today there are five uranium ETFs available, as well as four investment vehicles backed by physical uranium — and perhaps more to come.

    Read on to learn about the uranium ETFs and related vehicles on offer. All data was current as of May 5, 2025.

    Uranium ETFs tracking uranium stocks

    1. Global X Uranium ETF (ARCA:URA)

    Total asset value: US$2.7 billion

    The Global X Uranium ETF tracks a basket of uranium miners, as well as nuclear component producers.

    The fund has an expense ratio of 0.69 percent and a yearly return of negative 17.23 percent, a decline that coincides with the recent pullback in the uranium price.

    Uranium companies account for a significant portion of its portfolio, and nearly half of those companies are Canadian. The ETF’s top two uranium company holdings are major uranium producer Cameco (TSX:CCO,NYSE:CCJ) at a weight of 22.31 percent and NexGen Energy (TSX:NXE) at 5.64 percent. Interestingly, one of its top three holdings is the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust (TSX:U.U) at a weight of 8.52 percent.

    2. Sprott Uranium Miners ETF (ARCA:URNM)

    Total asset value: US$1.32 billion

    The Sprott Uranium Miners ETF includes both uranium producers and explorers for broader exposure. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.75 percent and a yearly return of negative 34.69 percent.

    Uranium stocks with market caps under US$2 billion account for 48.7 percent of the ETF’s holdings. Its top three holdings are Cameco at 15.28 percent, the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust at 13.21 percent and Kazatomprom (LSE:59OT,OTC Pink:NATKY) at 12.99 percent.

    3. VanEck Vectors Uranium + Nuclear Energy ETF (ARCA:NLR)

    Total asset value: US$1.02 billion

    The VanEck Vectors Uranium + Nuclear Energy ETF launched in 2007 and tracks a market-cap-weighted index of stocks in the uranium and nuclear energy industries. Its expense ratio is 0.61 percent and its yearly return is negative 0.12 percent.

    This uranium ETF’s top three holdings are Constellation Energy Group (NASDAQ:CEG) at a weight of 8.49 percent, Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE:PEG) at 7.38 percent and Endesa (OTC Pink:ELEZF,SSE:ELE) at 6.95 percent.

    4. Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF (NASDAQ:URNJ)

    Total asset value: US$232.29 million

    The Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF launched in February 2023, making it one of the newest additions to the uranium ETF universe. The ETF has an expense ratio of 0.8 percent and a yearly return of negative 15.51 percent.

    It tracks the NASDAQ Sprott Junior Uranium Miners Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NSURNJ), which follows small-cap uranium companies. The fund’s 33 holdings are all uranium mining, development or exploration companies. Its top three holdings are Paladin Energy (ASX:PDN,OTCQX:PALAF) at 12.46 percent, Uranium Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:UEC) at 10.32 percent and NexGen Energy at 10.25 percent.

    5. Horizons Global Uranium Index ETF (TSX:HURA)

    Total asset value: US$55.08 million

    The Horizons Global Uranium Index ETF was Canada’s first pure-play uranium ETF and provides exposure to uranium industry growth. It has an expense ratio of 1.06 percent and a yearly return of negative 25.2 percent.

    Created in 2019, the fund’s top holdings are Cameco with a weight of 20.68 percent, Kazatomprom at a weight of 17.12 percent and the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust at 15.25 percent.

    Physical uranium investment vehicles

    1. Sprott Physical Uranium Trust (TSX:U.U)

    Total asset value: US$4.09 billion

    Of all the uranium-focused funds, this one has created the most buzz. Launched in July 2021, the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust quickly made its mark on the sector, stoking investor interest and prices for the commodity.

    The fund holds 66.22 million pounds of U3O8, has an expense ratio of 0.64 percent and has a yearly return of negative 34.57 percent.

    2. Yellow Cake (LSE:YCA,OTCQB:YLLXF)

    Total asset value: US$983.66 million

    Founded in 2018, Yellow Cake is a uranium company that provides investment exposure to the uranium spot price through its physical holdings of uranium and uranium-related commercial activities.

    Yellow Cake’s current holdings total 21.68 million pounds of U3O8. Its access to material volumes of uranium at prevailing market prices comes via its long-term partnership with Kazatomprom. Through this partnership, it has the option to purchase up to US$100 million of uranium annually through 2027.

    3. Zuri-Invest Uranium AMC

    Total asset value: US$1.65 billion

    Launched in April 2023, Zuri-Invest’s product is directly linked to physical uranium, and is the first actively managed certificate (AMC) in the sector. According to Zuri-Invest, “an AMC is a security that can be managed on a discretionary basis enabling the active management of a chosen investment strategy.”

    Qualified non-US institutional and professional investors can take part in this physical uranium AMC (Swiss ISIN code CH1214916533) through their bank. The custodian of the product is Cameco, which holds the physical uranium in a secure storage facility in Canada.

    4. xU3O8

    Total asset value: US$5.93 million

    One of the newest ways to gain exposure to physical uranium is through the token xU3O8.

    Using the power of the Tezos blockchain and real-world asset tokenization, the xU3O8 token from uranium.io gives investors the ability to directly own and trade physical uranium. Launched in 2024, xU3O8’s 38,464.62 kilograms of U3O8 are stored at a secure Cameco facility, with Archax acting as trustee.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com