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Newsletter
Projects
Markets,
Cryptos and Culture
March
2, 2026
Australia
and World
A.I
Newsfeed
The
fast-moving conflict across the Middle East is heightening
investor anxiety and strengthening the case for safe-haven
trades such as Treasuries, gold and the Swiss franc,
while oil prices are set to soar.
Macro
traders said all eyes will be on energy markets when
trading fully re-opens on Monday, with early indications
of volatility also expected when the US dollar and
other currencies start to trade in Australia. The
possibility of prolonged turmoil in the Middle East
and the ripple effects of higher oil prices are giving
money managers fresh reasons to sell equities and
shift into safety.
Futures
are pointing to a fall of 0.2 per cent at the open
for the Australian sharemarket, but this was set before
the US attack on Iran on Saturday (Australian time).
The Australian dollar was trading at US70.65¢
at 5.26am AEDT.
Traders
will be adopting the strategy of “haven first,
ask questions later,” according to John Briggs,
head of US rates strategy at Natixis. “The scale
of the attacks and Iranian retaliation is larger than
what the market expected,” he said.
Briggs
said Treasuries are likely to extend moves from Friday,
when short-term yields sank to levels last seen in
2022. Others are watching energy chokepoints. Roundhill
Financial’s Dave Mazza said he’s closely
tracking what happens to traffic at the Strait of
Hormuz, a narrow waterway handling about a quarter
of the world’s seaborne oil trade.
Futures
are pointing to a fall of 0.2 per cent at the open
for the Australian sharemarket, but this was set before
the US attack on Iran on Saturday (Australian time).
The Australian dollar was trading at US70.65¢
at 5.26am AEDT.
Traders
will be adopting the strategy of “haven first,
ask questions later,” according to John Briggs,
head of US rates strategy at Natixis. “The scale
of the attacks and Iranian retaliation is larger than
what the market expected,” he said.
Briggs
said Treasuries are likely to extend moves from Friday,
when short-term yields sank to levels last seen in
2022. Others are watching energy chokepoints. Roundhill
Financial’s Dave Mazza said he’s closely
tracking what happens to traffic at the Strait of
Hormuz, a narrow waterway handling about a quarter
of the world’s seaborne oil trade.
“This
is about Hormuz risk, not retaliation. If shipping
stays open, stocks can work through it,” he said.
“If it doesn’t, all bets are off.”
Brent
crude jumped 10 per cent to about $US80 a barrel over
the counter on Sunday, oil traders said, while analysts
predicted that prices could climb as high as $US100
after US and Israeli strikes on Iran plunged the Middle
East into a new war.
The
global oil benchmark has rallied this year and reached
$US73 a barrel on Friday for its highest since July,
buoyed by growing concern over the potential attacks
that arrived a day later. Futures trading is closed
over the weekend.
“While
the military attacks are themselves supportive for
oil prices, the key factor here is the closing of
the Strait of Hormuz,” said Ajay Parmar, director
of energy and refining at ICIS.
More
than 20 per cent of global oil is moved through the
Strait of Hormuz.
“We
expect prices to open (after the weekend) much closer
to $US100 a barrel and perhaps exceed that level if
we see a prolonged outage of the Strait,” Parmar
said.
US
stocks sank Friday as Wall Street kept punishing companies
that could become losers in the artificial-intelligence
revolution. A surprisingly discouraging update on
inflation also hurt the market, while oil prices climbed
with worries about tensions between the United States
and Iran.
The
S&P 500 fell 0.4 per cent and staggered to the
finish of just its second losing month in the last
10. The Dow Jones dropped 521 points, or 1.1 per cent,
the Nasdaq composite sank 0.9 per cent.
The
losses came as investors returned to knocking down
software companies and other businesses they suspect
could get supplanted by AI-powered competitors.
Block,
the company behind Cash App, Square and other businesses,
gave a potential signal of what AI could do after
Chair Jack Dorsey said it’s cutting its workforce
by nearly half. That’s even though he said 2025
was a strong year for the company, which is sending
more cash to shareholders through stock buybacks.
“Intelligence
tools have changed what it means to build and run
a company,” Dorsey said in a letter to investors
while announcing Block’s latest profit results.
“We’re already seeing it internally. A significantly
smaller team, using the tools we’re building,
can do more and do it better.”
The
co-founder of Twitter also said, “I don’t
think we’re early to this realisation. I think
most companies are late. Within the next year, I believe
the majority of companies will reach the same conclusion
and make similar structural changes.”
Block
is cutting more than 4000 jobs from its workforce
of over 10,000. Its stock jumped 16.8 per cent after
making the announcement, while announcing its latest
quarterly results.
Capable
AI tools that can replace humans could perhaps replace
entire companies, or at least eat away at their profit
margins. Fears about AI disruption have caused sudden
and swift sell-offs for stocks seen as potentially
under threat, and they’ve rolled through industries
as different as trucking logistics and legal services.
Salesforce,
whose platform helps customers manage their relationships
with clients, fell 2.3 per cent. It gave back much
of its 4 per cent gain from the day before after reporting
a better profit than analysts expected.
The
pain has also hit private-equity companies that have
bought or lent money to software companies, which
need to withstand the AI threat to keep repaying those
loans. Apollo Global Management dropped 8.6 per cent
for the one of the sharpest losses in the S&P
500. Blue Owl Capital, which has been a target for
investors because of the loans to it’s made to
the software industry, fell 6 per cent.
Even
the companies currently seeing their revenue and profit
soar because of AI-related demand are under pressure.
Nvidia fell 4.2 per cent and was the heaviest weight
on the US stock market. A day earlier, it dropped
to its worst loss since last spring even though it
reported a better profit than analysts expected and
forecast more in revenue for the current quarter.
On
the winning side of Wall Street was Netflix, which
climbed 13.8 per cent after walking away from its
bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and
streaming business. That put Skydance-owned Paramount
in a position to take over its Hollywood rival.
Paramount
Skydance shares jumped 20.8 per cent, while Warner
Bros. Discovery fell 2.2 per cent.
Also
hurting the broad market was a report showing that
inflation at the US wholesale level was at 2.9 per
cent last month, much higher than the 1.6 per cent
that economists expected. (A.I Newsfeed)
News
Numbers
Double Check
Aust
$: $0.7041 USD (down $0.0068 USD)
Iron Ore: $98.65 USD (down $0.50 USD)
Oil: $67.02 USD (up $1.64 USD)
Gold: $5,278.10 USD (up $86.25 USD)
Silver 93.817 +5.55
Copper: $6.0610 USD (up $0.0300 USD)
BTC: $65,629.97 -1.71%
Dow Jones: 48,977.92 (down 521.28 points)
News
A.I
News
Firmus
in $600m tech giant deal, with eyes on Facebook owner
Meta
Firmus
Technologies has entered into a deal with US technology
firm Nvidia and Australian data centre operator CDC
Data Centres to deploy 18,400 Nvidia chips on behalf
of an unnamed tech company at a facility in Melbourne.
The facility is part of Project Southgate, which was
announced last year and which will see the three companies
construct 'AI factories' across Australia over a number
of years at a forecast cost of more than $70 billion.
The new deal is valued at around $660 million and
comes as Firmus Technologies gets ready for an IPO
this year. (RMS)
News
A.I
News (Australia)
Canva
to draw line through AI unit
Tech
company Canva has announced a major restructure of
its artificial-intelligence video unit, Leonardo AI,
with a large number of staff there expected to loose
their jobs. The restructure comes only 18 months after
Canva purchased Leonardo in a deal thought to be worth
$370 million, and is in contrast to Canva's 'upbeat'
announcement last week of its purchase of two new
AI ventures, marketing algorithm start-up MangoAI
and animation software business Cavalry. (RMS)
News
Most
workers unaware of AI surveillance by employers
A
report from the UTS Human Technology Institute has
found that 91 per cent of employers surveyed state
that they use software to monitor the location of
remote workers. However, only nine per cent of workers
believe such technology is deployed in their own roles,
and Professor Edward Santow from UTS says "that
gap is alarming". Meanwhile, researchers claim
that tools used explicitly for surveillance are not
the only risk to employee privacy, with wellness and
mental health services and products potentially another
privacy risk.
News
News
Media (Australia)
News
Corp leader's call to arms: 'it's make or break'
News
Corp Australasia's executive chairman Michael Miller
is optimistic about the future of public interest
journalism. However, he contends that factors such
as AI and the regulation of large technology companies
means that 2026 is set to be a "make or break"
year for Australia's media sector. Miller has called
for the federal government to prioritise investment
in the "infrastructure of public discourse",
arguing that a commitment to Australian journalism
is a commitment to a "stronger Australia".
He adds that while media companies should strike deals
with AI companies, Australia's copyright laws should
not be watered down. He has also urged the government
to legislate the much-delayed news bargaining incentive,
noting that many local media groups are struggling
at present. (RMS)
News
The
Lead Up
Feb
27
Branding
stoush: Why Sky's new name is already under fire
Sky
News Australia revealed on Friday that it will be
rebranded as News24. Sources at the ABC have indicated
that the announcement "raised eyebrows"
among senior executives of the public broadcaster,
given that its 24-hour news channel was originally
called ABC News 24 and it owns the trademark rights
to this branding. Intellectual property lawyer Jane
Rawlings says it would be difficult for Sky News Australia
to trademark its new name because it uses generic
terms and is similar to the ABC's trademark. A South
Africa-based news website also uses the News24 branding,
and its logo also has the same colours as Sky News
Australia's proposed new logo. (RMS)
News
Search/News
Media
Google,
Meta take aim at Australian plan for tech giants to
pay for journalism
The
US National Foreign Trade Council has labelled the
federal government's News Bargaining Incentive a tax,
and something that possibly breaches Australia's free
trade agreement with the US. The News Bargaining Incentive
aims to force big tech companies like Google and Meta
to financially support Australian media by what the
government refers to as a "charge and offset
scheme", with the Council's complaints about
the proposal contained in a submission was made to
Treasury in December. News of the submission comes
as the federal government tries to secure exemptions
from US President Donald Trump's tariffs on imports,
which are set to rise for Australia from 10 to 15
per cent. (RMS)
News
Sports
Business
V'landys
forecasts $1b revenue soon for NRL
The
National Rugby League has reported that it had total
revenue of $845.6 million for the year ending 30 September,
an increase of $100.7 million over the previous year.
The NRL's net profit rose from $62.3 million to $64.9
million, while net assets were up 20 per cent to $387.3
million. The release of its latest results comes as
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and Australian Rugby League Commission
chairman Peter V'landys prepare for talks with television
networks and streaming services about a new broadcast
deal, while V'landys says he expects the NRL to surpass
$1 billion in revenue in the next few years. (RMS)
News
Biz/Markets
Reporting
season delivers strongest profit results since 2021,
lifting sharemarket
The
Australian sharemarket has enjoyed its best reporting
season since 2021, which has helped to lift what is
still viewed as an expensive bourse. With 80 per cent
of scheduled companies by market capitalisation having
reported as of last week, aggregate earnings per share
for the 2026 financial year is forecast to rise around
12 per cent after low single-digit falls in the past
three years. Companies that have performed well on
the release of their results have included BHP and
JB Hi-Fi, while those that have been punished include
Wesfarmers and Reliance Worldwide. (RMS)
News
MinRes
turnaround in full swing as flagship iron ore project
performs
West
Australian mining company Mineral Resources released
its results for the first half of the financial year
on Friday, with MinRes reporting an after-tax profit
of $573 million. It represented a big turnaround on
the $807 million loss posted a year ago, which was
announced at a time when MinRes MD and founder Chris
Ellison was under scrutiny over the disclosure of
a decade-long tax evasion scheme and his misuse of
company resources. Ellison says its latest result
was the "the strongest in the company's history",
while it reaffirmed its full-year volume and cost
guidance. (RMS)
News
Simon
Trott awarded Rio Tinto bonus as execs lose out to
Magnificent Seven on TSR award
The
base pay of Rio Tinto CEO Simon Trott will rise from
from Stg1.34m ($2.55m) to Stg1.41m from 1 March after
the mining company's board awarded him a five per
cent pay rise. Trott also received Stg600,000 in relocation
expenses to cover the cost from moving from his home
in Perth to London, along with receiving short term
incentive payments in cash and shares of $1.34m for
his four months as CEO and $1.25m for the eight months
he spent as head of Rio's WA iron ore operations.
(RMS)
News
Rio
Tinto boss lobbied Chalmers to save $11b fuel tax
rebate
The
federal government is under pressure to scrap the
$11 billion fuel tax rebate scheme that is used by
mining companies such as Rio Tinto and BHP. Unions
and environment groups argue that removing the rebate
scheme would force the resources sector to decarbonise
at a faster rate, along with saving taxpayer's money.
However, a letter released under freedom of information
rules has revealed that Rio's then-chief executive
of Australia, Kellie Parker, lobbied Treasurer Jim
Chalmers to maintain the rebate scheme in the May
budget, with Parker claiming Rio would not be in a
position to deploy an electric haul truck fleet until
the early 2030s. (RMS)
News
Landmark
deal commits South Australian gas to home market
Oil
and gas producer Santos has done a deal with the South
Australian government that will see all the gas it
currently exports from that state instead retained
in SA in what Premier Peter Malinauskas has labelled
a "state strategic reserve". Announcing
the deal ahead of his government going into caretaker
mode in the lead-up to the SA state election on 21
March, Malinauskas said the gas that would normally
go to Japan or South Korea to advance their economies,
will now be used to advance the SA economy. The deal
between Santos and the SA government comes amid growing
pressure on Santos's GLNG export venture in Queensland
to end purchases of gas from the domestic market to
meet its export contracts. (RMS)
News
Social
Media/Media
X
Launches Disclosure Tools to Fight Hidden Paid Promotions
Next
week, X rolls out new features to make it easier to
label paid promotions, with account suspensions for
those who skip disclosure. Bier announced this while
warning posters promoting Kalshi to add labels or
face bans, targeting spam in crypto, prediction markets,
and clipping agencies. Reactions range from crypto
users celebrating a spammer purge with memes to concerns
about clear rules, all while creators like Cynthia
joke they're safe since they skip the paychecks.
Pop
Culture/Gaming/Wrestling
WWE
2K26 Reveals Retro Entrances of CM Punk and Randy
Savage
WWE
Games shared first looks at WWE 2K26, recreating classic
entrances like CM Punk's 2003 indie debut and Macho
Man Randy Savage's 1998 WCW Nitro gear with Queen
Sherri by his side. Iyo Sky's feathered entrance drew
a thrilled 'Oh yeah! So cool!' from the champion herself.
The game launches March 13 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S,
PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, with Punk on the cover,
over 400 stars, and new modes like thumbtack Hell
in a Cell. Fans praised the nostalgic details while
hoping for era-specific animations.
News
Pop
Culture/Sports/Boxing
Conor
Benn Signs $15 Million Deal with Dana White's Zuffa
Boxing
Rising
boxer Conor Benn, 29, inked a one-fight deal with
Zuffa Boxing, the January 2026 venture from UFC president
Dana White and Saudi backer Turki Alalshikh, backed
by Riyadh Season and streaming on Paramount+. Fresh
off avenging his loss to Chris Eubank Jr., Benn thanked
Eddie Hearn for a decade of support—including
loans and defense during his 2022 drug test suspension—but
called Zuffa's offer impossible to refuse. Hearn expressed
devastation, saying he misjudged Benn's loyalty after
providing title shots and financial help, while Eubank
Jr. mocked both and White insulted Hearn directly.
News
Flashback
Pop
Culture/Wrestling
Jey
Uso, Bronson Reed, and Original El Grande Americano
Set for Triple Threat Elimination Chamber Qualifier
on WWE Raw
WWE
announced a triple threat match on the next episode
of Raw featuring Jey Uso, Bronson Reed, and Original
El Grande Americano to qualify for the Elimination
Chamber. The card also includes Brock Lesnar's return,
a tribute to AJ Styles, World Champion CM Punk's appearance,
and a women's qualifier with Raquel Rodriguez, Kairi
Sane, and IYO SKY.
News
WWE
Stars Clap Back at Tom Brady's 'Cute' Wrestling Jab
On
Logan Paul's podcast earlier this month, seven-time
NFL champ Tom Brady dismissed pro wrestling as 'cute'
amid Paul's boasts about his WWE feats. Women's World
Champion Liv Morgan, fresh off her 2026 Royal Rumble
win, countered that WWE athletes could handle football
but questioned if football stars could match wrestling's
demands—no offseasons, global travel, and high-flying
action. Randy Orton upped the ante, saying he'd love
to hit Brady with an RKO, while CM Punk embraced the
'cute' label; the banter builds excitement ahead of
Elimination Chamber this weekend and WrestleMania
42 in April.
News
Boxing
Ryan
Garcia Dominates Barrios to Win WBC Welterweight Title
At
T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night, the
27-year-old southpaw outlanded Barrios in every round,
sweeping all 12 on media cards for a unanimous decision
victory with scores of 119-108, 120-107, and 118-109.
It was Garcia's first major world title, coming after
ups and downs like his 2024 win over Devin Haney that
turned into a no-contest due to a positive ostarine
test. Post-fight, he posed backstage mimicking Kobe
Bryant's iconic trophy photo, called out Shakur Stevenson,
and drew shade from Haney over past PED issues despite
passing pre-fight tests.
News
Wrestling/Gaming
Mr.
Iguana's Custom Wrestler Becomes Official in WWE 2K26
with AAA Stars
WWE
Games revealed AAA Lucha Libre stars like Mr. Iguana,
La Yesca, Psycho Clown, and Lady Flammer for Ringside
Pass Season 1 DLC, available with early access on
March 6, 2026. Mr. Iguana, created as a custom persona
back in 2007, joins partners in dynamic poses with
glowing effects and props. The additions blend Mexico's
wrestling heritage with WWE action, alongside staples
like Charlotte Flair and DX-era Shawn Michaels, as
the full game launches March 13 on PS5, Xbox Series
X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
News
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
Bulls
vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
White Light vs Dark Matter
Lexis King vs NIL's (WWE NXT)
Volk vs Naysayers (UFC: Sydney, Australia)
Brock Lesnar vs Everyone! (WWE Royal Rumble)
Zuffa Boxing vs Golden Boy
Zuffa vs Matchroom
Netflix Sports vs The World
Beast vs Flakes
The Vision vs Mr Injury and The Masked Man aka Seth
Rollins
Media
Man
Markets,
Cryptos and Culture
February
24, 2026
Sydney,
Australia to Wall Street, New York
"All
That Glitters"
Gamification
Of News
Wrestling
With Sports Business
WWE/TKO
Edition
Markets
ASX
200 futures up 23 points/0.3% to 9000
AUD
-0.4% to US70.56¢
BTC
$64,309.46 -4.60%
Dow
-1.6%
S&P -1.2%
Nasdaq -1.4%
VIX +2.29 to 21.38
Gold +2.2% to $US5218.66 an oz
Silver 88.726 +4.156
Oil -0.4% to $US71.48 a barrel
Iron ore +0.5% to $US95.85 a ton
News
Numbers
Double Check
Australian
Dollar: $0.7055 USD (down $0.0010 USD) Iron Ore: $95.85
USD (up $0.55 USD)
Oil Price: $66.28 USD (down $0.20 USD)
Gold Price: $5,221.56 USD (up $114.88 USD)
Copper Price): $5.7890 USD (down $0.0810 USD)
Dow Jones: 48,772.74 (down 853.23 points)
News
ASX
drops on Trump tariffs; gold stocks rally
The
Australian sharemarket lost ground on Monday, after
US President Donald Trump revealed plans to impose
a 15 per cent tariff on all imports; the S&P/ASX
200 fell 0.6 per cent to close at 9,026 points. WiseTech
Global shed 5.2 per cent to end the session at $44.63,
the ANZ Bank was down 2.3 per cent at $39.77 and Austal
finished 11 per cent lower at $5.61. However, Ramelius
Resources was up 8.2 per cent at $4.88 and Nuix rose
15.1 per cent to $1.56. (RMS)
Shares
TKO
Group Holdings Inc
$205.95 -5.11 -2.42%
Alphabet
Inc Class A
$311.49 -3.49 -1.11%
Netflix
Inc
$76.02 -2.65 -3.37%
Palantir
Technologies Inc
$130.60 -4.64 -3.43%
Tesla
Inc
$399.83 -11.99 -2.91%
Microsoft
Corp
$384.47 -12.76 -3.21%
Meta
Platforms Inc
$637.25 -18.41 2.81%
Wynn
Resorts Ltd
$107.25 -7.37 6.43%
Caterpillar
Inc
$756.47 -3.27 0.43%
Volvo
ADR (Parent to Mack Trucks)
$38.57 -0.28 -0.71%
Mineral
Resources Ltd
$53.80 +2.55 4.98% (ASX)
BHP
Group Ltd
$54.02 +0.69 +1.29% (ASX)
Rio
Tinto Ltd
$161.10 -2.20 -1.35% (ASX)
Arafura
Rare Earths Ltd
$0.23 -0.0050 2.17% (ASX)
News
Crypto
bears have confirmed their control
Market
Overview
The
crypto market cap has lost about 3.5% over the past
24 hours to $2.25 trillion. At its lowest point at
the start of the day, the price fell to $2.22 trillion,
which is not far from the lows of February 5–6.
It seems that bears have gathered enough strength
to try to complete the consolidation of the last couple
of weeks during the hours of lowest liquidity. Among
the top coins, Solana and Bitcoin Cash are taking
the biggest hit, losing over 7%, while Tron is doing
better than most, losing only 0.3%.
The
sentiment index fell to 5, repeating the lows of February
12 and dropping this low for only the third time in
history. According to the indicator, such a decline
is a good point for long-term purchases. However,
the last time there was a relatively long dip into
single digits was in June 2022, and steady growth
only began at the start of 2023. So, the lows of the
sentiment index do not necessarily coincide with the
lows of the crypto market prices.
Bitcoin
fell to $64.2K at the start of the day on Monday,
recovering to around $66K by the start of active trading
in Europe. Despite an attempt at recovery in the last
few hours, the bears on the chart showed who is in
control, leaving the downward resistance in place
and pushing BTC below the support level. Without a
dramatic change in sentiment, the market may fall
to $60K as early as this week.
News
Background
The
total capitalisation of cryptocurrencies has fallen
by $730 billion in 100 days. CryptoQuant calls this
an “unprecedented rate of capital outflow,”
which is accelerating the contraction of the crypto
market.
Retail
traders are actively buying BTC at every dip, while
institutional investors have sold a “huge amount”
of the asset over the past five weeks, Santiment notes.
The situation is exacerbated by a negative trend in
Bitcoin's on-chain metrics — on-chain transaction
volumes, the number of new addresses, and network
growth rates are steadily declining.
In
the coming weeks, BTC could break through the $60,000
mark and fall to support levels around $50,000–55,000.
By the end of the year, Bitcoin could fall even lower,
warns crypto industry veteran and Ballet CEO Bobby
Lee.
Mining
company Bitdeer sold its entire stock of bitcoins
to support its operations — about 943 BTC. Miners'
revenues have been steadily declining since October
2025.
BNP
Paribas has chosen Ethereum for a pilot project to
explore the possibilities of tokenising money market
funds. (FxPro)
News
Media/Comms
Seven
Network CEO dumped the night before company releases
results
Southern
Cross Media Group has advised that CEO Jeff Howard
will step down, with his depature to be effective
immediaely. The announcement was made after the market
closed on Monday, and a day before the media group
is slated to release its financial results for the
first half of 2025-26. Howard became CEO after Southern
Cross Media completed its merger with Seven West Media
in early January; he was previously the CEO of Seven
West. Southern Cross Media's former CEO John Kelly
will become the interim CEO of the media group's TV
and audio division, and sources have claimed that
he is set to replace Howard permanently. (RMS)
News
Branding
stoush: Why Sky's new name is already under fire
Sky
News Australia revealed on Friday that it will be
rebranded as News24. Sources at the ABC have indicated
that the announcement "raised eyebrows"
among senior executives of the public broadcaster,
given that its 24-hour news channel was originally
called ABC News 24 and it owns the trademark rights
to this branding. Intellectual property lawyer Jane
Rawlings says it would be difficult for Sky News Australia
to trademark its new name because it uses generic
terms and is similar to the ABC's trademark. A South
Africa-based news website also uses the News24 branding,
and its logo also has the same colours as Sky News
Australia's proposed new logo. (RMS)
News
Search/News
Media
Google,
Meta take aim at Australian plan for tech giants to
pay for journalism
The
US National Foreign Trade Council has labelled the
federal government's News Bargaining Incentive a tax,
and something that possibly breaches Australia's free
trade agreement with the US. The News Bargaining Incentive
aims to force big tech companies like Google and Meta
to financially support Australian media by what the
government refers to as a "charge and offset
scheme", with the Council's complaints about
the proposal contained in a submission was made to
Treasury in December. News of the submission comes
as the federal government tries to secure exemptions
from US President Donald Trump's tariffs on imports,
which are set to rise for Australia from 10 to 15
per cent. (RMS)
News
Sports
Business
V'landys
forecasts $1b revenue soon for NRL
The
National Rugby League has reported that it had total
revenue of $845.6 million for the year ending 30 September,
an increase of $100.7 million over the previous year.
The NRL's net profit rose from $62.3 million to $64.9
million, while net assets were up 20 per cent to $387.3
million. The release of its latest results comes as
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and Australian Rugby League Commission
chairman Peter V'landys prepare for talks with television
networks and streaming services about a new broadcast
deal, while V'landys says he expects the NRL to surpass
$1 billion in revenue in the next few years. (RMS)
News
Biz/Markets
Reporting
season delivers strongest profit results since 2021,
lifting sharemarket
The
Australian sharemarket has enjoyed its best reporting
season since 2021, which has helped to lift what is
still viewed as an expensive bourse. With 80 per cent
of scheduled companies by market capitalisation having
reported as of last week, aggregate earnings per share
for the 2026 financial year is forecast to rise around
12 per cent after low single-digit falls in the past
three years. Companies that have performed well on
the release of their results have included BHP and
JB Hi-Fi, while those that have been punished include
Wesfarmers and Reliance Worldwide. (RMS)
News
MinRes
turnaround in full swing as flagship iron ore project
performs
West
Australian mining company Mineral Resources released
its results for the first half of the financial year
on Friday, with MinRes reporting an after-tax profit
of $573 million. It represented a big turnaround on
the $807 million loss posted a year ago, which was
announced at a time when MinRes MD and founder Chris
Ellison was under scrutiny over the disclosure of
a decade-long tax evasion scheme and his misuse of
company resources. Ellison says its latest result
was the "the strongest in the company's history",
while it reaffirmed its full-year volume and cost
guidance. (RMS)
News
Simon
Trott awarded Rio Tinto bonus as execs lose out to
Magnificent Seven on TSR award
The
base pay of Rio Tinto CEO Simon Trott will rise from
from Stg1.34m ($2.55m) to Stg1.41m from 1 March after
the mining company's board awarded him a five per
cent pay rise. Trott also received Stg600,000 in relocation
expenses to cover the cost from moving from his home
in Perth to London, along with receiving short term
incentive payments in cash and shares of $1.34m for
his four months as CEO and $1.25m for the eight months
he spent as head of Rio's WA iron ore operations.
(RMS)
News
Rio
Tinto boss lobbied Chalmers to save $11b fuel tax
rebate
The
federal government is under pressure to scrap the
$11 billion fuel tax rebate scheme that is used by
mining companies such as Rio Tinto and BHP. Unions
and environment groups argue that removing the rebate
scheme would force the resources sector to decarbonise
at a faster rate, along with saving taxpayer's money.
However, a letter released under freedom of information
rules has revealed that Rio's then-chief executive
of Australia, Kellie Parker, lobbied Treasurer Jim
Chalmers to maintain the rebate scheme in the May
budget, with Parker claiming Rio would not be in a
position to deploy an electric haul truck fleet until
the early 2030s. (RMS)
News
Landmark
deal commits South Australian gas to home market
Oil
and gas producer Santos has done a deal with the South
Australian government that will see all the gas it
currently exports from that state instead retained
in SA in what Premier Peter Malinauskas has labelled
a "state strategic reserve". Announcing
the deal ahead of his government going into caretaker
mode in the lead-up to the SA state election on 21
March, Malinauskas said the gas that would normally
go to Japan or South Korea to advance their economies,
will now be used to advance the SA economy. The deal
between Santos and the SA government comes amid growing
pressure on Santos's GLNG export venture in Queensland
to end purchases of gas from the domestic market to
meet its export contracts. (RMS)
News
Social
Media/Media
X
Launches Disclosure Tools to Fight Hidden Paid Promotions
Next
week, X rolls out new features to make it easier to
label paid promotions, with account suspensions for
those who skip disclosure. Bier announced this while
warning posters promoting Kalshi to add labels or
face bans, targeting spam in crypto, prediction markets,
and clipping agencies. Reactions range from crypto
users celebrating a spammer purge with memes to concerns
about clear rules, all while creators like Cynthia
joke they're safe since they skip the paychecks.
Pop
Culture/Gaming/Wrestling
WWE
2K26 Reveals Retro Entrances of CM Punk and Randy
Savage
WWE
Games shared first looks at WWE 2K26, recreating classic
entrances like CM Punk's 2003 indie debut and Macho
Man Randy Savage's 1998 WCW Nitro gear with Queen
Sherri by his side. Iyo Sky's feathered entrance drew
a thrilled 'Oh yeah! So cool!' from the champion herself.
The game launches March 13 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S,
PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, with Punk on the cover,
over 400 stars, and new modes like thumbtack Hell
in a Cell. Fans praised the nostalgic details while
hoping for era-specific animations.
News
Pop
Culture/Sports/Boxing
Conor
Benn Signs $15 Million Deal with Dana White's Zuffa
Boxing
Rising
boxer Conor Benn, 29, inked a one-fight deal with
Zuffa Boxing, the January 2026 venture from UFC president
Dana White and Saudi backer Turki Alalshikh, backed
by Riyadh Season and streaming on Paramount+. Fresh
off avenging his loss to Chris Eubank Jr., Benn thanked
Eddie Hearn for a decade of support—including
loans and defense during his 2022 drug test suspension—but
called Zuffa's offer impossible to refuse. Hearn expressed
devastation, saying he misjudged Benn's loyalty after
providing title shots and financial help, while Eubank
Jr. mocked both and White insulted Hearn directly.
News
Pop
Culture/Wrestling
Jey
Uso, Bronson Reed, and Original El Grande Americano
Set for Triple Threat Elimination Chamber Qualifier
on WWE Raw
WWE
announced a triple threat match on the next episode
of Raw featuring Jey Uso, Bronson Reed, and Original
El Grande Americano to qualify for the Elimination
Chamber. The card also includes Brock Lesnar's return,
a tribute to AJ Styles, World Champion CM Punk's appearance,
and a women's qualifier with Raquel Rodriguez, Kairi
Sane, and IYO SKY.
News
WWE
Stars Clap Back at Tom Brady's 'Cute' Wrestling Jab
On
Logan Paul's podcast earlier this month, seven-time
NFL champ Tom Brady dismissed pro wrestling as 'cute'
amid Paul's boasts about his WWE feats. Women's World
Champion Liv Morgan, fresh off her 2026 Royal Rumble
win, countered that WWE athletes could handle football
but questioned if football stars could match wrestling's
demands—no offseasons, global travel, and high-flying
action. Randy Orton upped the ante, saying he'd love
to hit Brady with an RKO, while CM Punk embraced the
'cute' label; the banter builds excitement ahead of
Elimination Chamber this weekend and WrestleMania
42 in April.
News
Boxing
Ryan
Garcia Dominates Barrios to Win WBC Welterweight Title
At
T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night, the
27-year-old southpaw outlanded Barrios in every round,
sweeping all 12 on media cards for a unanimous decision
victory with scores of 119-108, 120-107, and 118-109.
It was Garcia's first major world title, coming after
ups and downs like his 2024 win over Devin Haney that
turned into a no-contest due to a positive ostarine
test. Post-fight, he posed backstage mimicking Kobe
Bryant's iconic trophy photo, called out Shakur Stevenson,
and drew shade from Haney over past PED issues despite
passing pre-fight tests.
News
Wrestling
Blake
Monroe Shares Playful Speedrun Video Before NXT Tournament
Match
The
NXT star, a former Women's North American Champion
who joined WWE last June after AEW, faces Thea Hail
Tuesday in the Women's Speed #1 contenders tournament
opener. Her montage nods to the three-minute WWE Speed
matches, where Fallon Henley holds the title she won
last November. Fans loved the clip, joking she's 'the
fastest human alive' and calling her a superstar ready
for big things.
News
Wrestling/Gaming
Mr.
Iguana's Custom Wrestler Becomes Official in WWE 2K26
with AAA Stars
WWE
Games revealed AAA Lucha Libre stars like Mr. Iguana,
La Yesca, Psycho Clown, and Lady Flammer for Ringside
Pass Season 1 DLC, available with early access on
March 6, 2026. Mr. Iguana, created as a custom persona
back in 2007, joins partners in dynamic poses with
glowing effects and props. The additions blend Mexico's
wrestling heritage with WWE action, alongside staples
like Charlotte Flair and DX-era Shawn Michaels, as
the full game launches March 13 on PS5, Xbox Series
X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
News
Pop
Culture Flashback
Gold
by Spandau Ballet
Producers:
Steve Jolley & Tony Swain
Music
Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
Spandau
Ballet Official YouTube Channel
https://youtube.com/@spandauballet/
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home Sorry that the chairs are all
worn I left them here I could have sworn
These
are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another
play for today
Oh,
but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you
Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me
standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
After
the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time
Remember
we were partners in crime
It's
only two years ago
The
man with the suit and the face
You
knew that he was there on the case
Now
he's in love with you, he's in love with you
And
love is like a high prison wall And you could leave
me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul You've got the
power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold (gold) Always believe in your soul
You
got the power to know
You're
indestructible, always believing
You
are gold (gold)
Glad
that you're bound to return
Something
I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (You are,
gold) Always believe in your soul
You've
got the power to know
You're
indestructible, always believing
'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home Sorry that the chairs are all
worn I left them here I could have sworn
These are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just
another play for today Oh, but I'm proud of you, but
I'm proud of you
Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me
standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know You're indestructible,
always believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Verse
2]
After
the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time
Remember we were partners in crime
It's
only two years ago The man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now
he's in love with you, he's in love with you
And
love is like a high prison wall
And
you could leave me standing so tall
News/Bio
Spandau
Ballet
Spandau
Ballet are an English new wave band formed in London
in 1979, best known as one of the leading acts of
the Second British Invasion of the early 1980s and
icons of the “New Romantic” movement.
Key
facts
Original
line-up (1979–1990, 2009–2019):
Tony
Hadley (lead vocals) Gary Kemp (guitar, chief songwriter)
Martin Kemp (bass) Steve Norman (saxophone, guitar,
percussion) John Keeble (drums)
Plus
early member Richard Miller (later replaced) and long-time
live/touring keyboardist Toby Chapman.
Biggest
hits
“To
Cut a Long Story Short” (1980) – their debut
single, UK #5
“Chant
No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)” (1981)
“True”
(1983) – worldwide #1 in many countries, UK #1
for 4 weeks, US #4; one of the most iconic ballads
of the 1980s
“Gold”
(1983) – UK #2, became an anthem
“Only
When You Leave” (1984)
“I’ll
Fly for You” (1984)
“Through the Barricades” (1986) – title
track of their most mature album
Career
highlights
Five
studio albums in the 1980s:
Journeys to Glory (1981), Diamond (1982), True (1983),
Parade (1984), Through the Barricades (1986)
Sold over 25 million albums worldwide
Massive success especially in Europe, Australia, and
later in the U.S. with the True album
Split in 1990 after the Heart Like a Sky album underperformed
Highly public legal battle in 1999–2000: Gary
Kemp won a court case against Hadley, Norman, and
Keeble over unpaid royalties (the three had claimed
co-writing credits)
Reunion
Reformed
in 2009 with original line-up for a world tour and
the album Once More (2009, new recordings + acoustic
versions)
Toured
extensively until 2019
Documentary
film Soul Boys of the Western World (2014)
In 2017–2018 Tony Hadley left the band citing
irreconcilable differences
Post-2019
Since 2019 the remaining members have continued as
Spandau Ballet with new singer Ross William Wild (2018–2019),
then briefly with theatre actor/singer Sam Clarkson
Tony
Hadley now tours as a solo artist performing Spandau
hits plus swing and soul material Gary and Martin
Kemp remain active (acting, DJing, podcast “The
Rest Is Entertainment” etc.)
They’re
remembered for their sharp suits, romantic image,
soul-influenced pop, and especially the timeless ballad
“True.” One of the defining bands of the
1980s.
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
Bulls
vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
White Light vs Dark Matter
Lexis King vs NIL's (WWE NXT)
Volk vs Naysayers (UFC: Sydney, Australia)
Brock Lesnar vs Everyone! (WWE Royal Rumble and EC)
Zuffa Boxing vs Golden Boy
Zuffa vs Matchroom
Netflix Sports vs The World
Beast vs Flakes
Markets,
Cryptos and Culture
February
23, 2026
Sydney,
Australia to Wall Street, New York
"All
That Glitters"
Mining
For Intel
Fight
Biz Week
Aust
$: $0.7065 USD (up $0.0017 USD)
Iron Ore: $95.30 USD (down $0.05 USD)
Oil: $66.48 USD (down $0.12 USD)
Gold: $5,106.68 USD (up $116.40 USD)
Silver 87.500 +5.517
Copper: $5.8700 USD (up $0.1170 USD)
BTC: $65,364.18 4.08%
Dow Jones: 49,625.97 (up 230.81 points)
News
Reporting
season delivers strongest profit results since 2021,
lifting sharemarket
The
Australian sharemarket has enjoyed its best reporting
season since 2021, which has helped to lift what is
still viewed as an expensive bourse. With 80 per cent
of scheduled companies by market capitalisation having
reported as of last week, aggregate earnings per share
for the 2026 financial year is forecast to rise around
12 per cent after low single-digit falls in the past
three years. Companies that have performed well on
the release of their results have included BHP and
JB Hi-Fi, while those that have been punished include
Wesfarmers and Reliance Worldwide. (RMS)
News
Miners
MinRes
turnaround in full swing as flagship iron ore project
performs
West
Australian mining company Mineral Resources released
its results for the first half of the financial year
on Friday, with MinRes reporting an after-tax profit
of $573 million. It represented a big turnaround on
the $807 million loss posted a year ago, which was
announced at a time when MinRes MD and founder Chris
Ellison was under scrutiny over the disclosure of
a decade-long tax evasion scheme and his misuse of
company resources. Ellison says its latest result
was the "the strongest in the company's history",
while it reaffirmed its full-year volume and cost
guidance. (RMS)
News
Simon
Trott awarded Rio Tinto bonus as execs lose out to
Magnificent Seven on TSR award
The
base pay of Rio Tinto CEO Simon Trott will rise from
from Stg1.34m ($2.55m) to Stg1.41m from 1 March after
the mining company's board awarded him a five per
cent pay rise. Trott also received Stg600,000 in relocation
expenses to cover the cost from moving from his home
in Perth to London, along with receiving short term
incentive payments in cash and shares of $1.34m for
his four months as CEO and $1.25m for the eight months
he spent as head of Rio's WA iron ore operations.
(RMS)
News
Rio
Tinto boss lobbied Chalmers to save $11b fuel tax
rebate
The
federal government is under pressure to scrap the
$11 billion fuel tax rebate scheme that is used by
mining companies such as Rio Tinto and BHP. Unions
and environment groups argue that removing the rebate
scheme would force the resources sector to decarbonise
at a faster rate, along with saving taxpayer's money.
However, a letter released under freedom of information
rules has revealed that Rio's then-chief executive
of Australia, Kellie Parker, lobbied Treasurer Jim
Chalmers to maintain the rebate scheme in the May
budget, with Parker claiming Rio would not be in a
position to deploy an electric haul truck fleet until
the early 2030s. (RMS)
News
Landmark
deal commits South Australian gas to home market
Oil
and gas producer Santos has done a deal with the South
Australian government that will see all the gas it
currently exports from that state instead retained
in SA in what Premier Peter Malinauskas has labelled
a "state strategic reserve". Announcing
the deal ahead of his government going into caretaker
mode in the lead-up to the SA state election on 21
March, Malinauskas said the gas that would normally
go to Japan or South Korea to advance their economies,
will now be used to advance the SA economy. The deal
between Santos and the SA government comes amid growing
pressure on Santos's GLNG export venture in Queensland
to end purchases of gas from the domestic market to
meet its export contracts. (RMS)
News
Shares
(Before The Bell)
New
York Stock Exchange
TKO
Group Holdings Inc
$211.12 +2.44 +1.17%
Alphabet
Inc Class A
$314.98 +12.13 +4.01%
Netflix
Inc
$78.67 +1.67 +2.17%
News
Social
Media/Media
X
Launches Disclosure Tools to Fight Hidden Paid Promotions
Next
week, X rolls out new features to make it easier to
label paid promotions, with account suspensions for
those who skip disclosure. Bier announced this while
warning posters promoting Kalshi to add labels or
face bans, targeting spam in crypto, prediction markets,
and clipping agencies. Reactions range from crypto
users celebrating a spammer purge with memes to concerns
about clear rules, all while creators like Cynthia
joke they're safe since they skip the paychecks.
Pop
Culture/Gaming/Wrestling
WWE
2K26 Reveals Retro Entrances of CM Punk and Randy
Savage
WWE
Games shared first looks at WWE 2K26, recreating classic
entrances like CM Punk's 2003 indie debut and Macho
Man Randy Savage's 1998 WCW Nitro gear with Queen
Sherri by his side. Iyo Sky's feathered entrance drew
a thrilled 'Oh yeah! So cool!' from the champion herself.
The game launches March 13 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S,
PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, with Punk on the cover,
over 400 stars, and new modes like thumbtack Hell
in a Cell. Fans praised the nostalgic details while
hoping for era-specific animations.
News
Pop
Culture/Sports/Boxing
Conor
Benn Signs $15 Million Deal with Dana White's Zuffa
Boxing
Rising
boxer Conor Benn, 29, inked a one-fight deal with
Zuffa Boxing, the January 2026 venture from UFC president
Dana White and Saudi backer Turki Alalshikh, backed
by Riyadh Season and streaming on Paramount+. Fresh
off avenging his loss to Chris Eubank Jr., Benn thanked
Eddie Hearn for a decade of support—including
loans and defense during his 2022 drug test suspension—but
called Zuffa's offer impossible to refuse. Hearn expressed
devastation, saying he misjudged Benn's loyalty after
providing title shots and financial help, while Eubank
Jr. mocked both and White insulted Hearn directly.
News
Pop
Culture/Wrestling
Jey
Uso, Bronson Reed, and Original El Grande Americano
Set for Triple Threat Elimination Chamber Qualifier
on WWE Raw
WWE
announced a triple threat match on the next episode
of Raw featuring Jey Uso, Bronson Reed, and Original
El Grande Americano to qualify for the Elimination
Chamber. The card also includes Brock Lesnar's return,
a tribute to AJ Styles, World Champion CM Punk's appearance,
and a women's qualifier with Raquel Rodriguez, Kairi
Sane, and IYO SKY.
News
WWE
2K26 Reveals Kabuki Warriors, Nikkita Lyons Entrance,
and DX Shawn Michaels Ahead of Launch
WWE
Games shared first-look images of the Kabuki Warriors
in dramatic purple lighting, Nikkita Lyons' dynamic
63-second entrance with pyros and gold gear, and a
DX-era Shawn Michaels raising his arms under moody
lights with a simple 'Suck it' caption. The game launches
March 13 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo
Switch 2, after early access on March 6 for pre-orders,
featuring over 400 superstars like The Rock, Triple
H, and CM Punk in his showcase story. A massive full
roster reveal comes this week, alongside new modes
like I Quit matches and Inferno, with fans counting
down excitedly.
Pop
Culture
MMA/UFC
Bruce
Buffer Celebrates 30 Years as UFC's Iconic Announcer
At
UFC Houston on Saturday night, the Toyota Center honored
Bruce Buffer for 30 years calling fights, starting
from UFC 8 in 1996 and becoming the full-time voice
by UFC 13. His signature 'It's time! Ladies and gentlemen...'
has introduced 255 pay-per-views and countless events,
defining MMA's energy from early days to today. Buffer
shared his gratitude online, calling it a cherished
lifetime moment, while fans shared paintings, photos,
and praise for the GOAT announcer amid the night's
knockouts.
Pop
Culture
WWE/Gaming/Wrestling
WWE
2K26 Kicks Off Roster Reveal with Stunning Entrances
WWE
2K26 reveal week launched with cinematic videos of
superstar entrances, spotlighting Giulia, Nikkita
Lyons in her lion-logo fur coat, The Kabuki Warriors'
synchronized chaos, Shawn Michaels' DX nod, and Charlotte
Flair's royal poise. The game boasts over 400 superstars
like CM Punk and Stone Cold Steve Austin, launching
March 13, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo
Switch 2, with early access from March 6. Nikkita
Lyons roared her thanks, Roxanne Perez posed with
her title, and more reveals continue this week amid
flying pre-orders.
News
Pop
Culture
Combat
Sports/Boxing
Ryan
Garcia Dominates Barrios to Win First World Title
Garcia
cruised to a unanimous decision victory over the long-reigning
welterweight champion at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas,
earning scores of 119-108, 120-107, and 118-109 to
claim the WBC title and boost his record to 25-2.
He outlanded Barrios 185-106 overall and 103-43 in
power punches, showcasing speed and precision throughout
the 12 rounds. Post-fight, Garcia called out Shakur
Stevenson while rivals like Devin Haney and Conor
Benn weighed in online, fueling talk of superfights
in the division.
News
Pop
Culture/A.I/Hollywood
AI
Video of Robots vs Jets Over Eiffel Tower Rattles
Hollywood
ByteDance's
new Seedance 2.0 tool created the video in minutes
from a text prompt, delivering smooth action with
realistic physics and multi-shot scenes. Hollywood
studios like Disney and Netflix hit back with cease-and-desist
letters, claiming it trains on copyrighted films without
permission, while SAG-AFTRA worries about actors'
jobs. At a February 21 town hall, Matthew McConaughey
warned performers to adapt to AI, and Timothée
Chalamet called for safeguards to protect human creativity,
as reactions split between AI's cost-cutting promise
and its current glitches in storytelling.
News
Pop
Culture Flashback
Gold
by Spandau Ballet
Producers:
Steve Jolley & Tony Swain
Music
Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
Spandau
Ballet Official YouTube Channel
https://youtube.com/@spandauballet/
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home Sorry that the chairs are all
worn I left them here I could have sworn
These
are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another
play for today
Oh,
but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you
Nothing
left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing
so tall
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
After
the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time
Remember
we were partners in crime
It's only two years ago
The
man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you
And love is like a high prison wall And you could
leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul You've got the
power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You
could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You
got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing (You are, gold) Always
believe in your soul
You've
got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home Sorry that the chairs are all
worn I left them here I could have sworn
These
are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another
play for today Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud
of you
Nothing
left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing
so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've
got the power to know You're indestructible, always
believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Verse
2]
After
the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time
Remember we were partners in crime
It's
only two years ago The man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now
he's in love with you, he's in love with you
And
love is like a high prison wall
And
you could leave me standing so tall
News/Bio
Spandau
Ballet
Spandau
Ballet are an English new wave band formed in London
in 1979, best known as one of the leading acts of
the Second British Invasion of the early 1980s and
icons of the “New Romantic” movement.
Key
facts
Original
line-up (1979–1990, 2009–2019):
Tony
Hadley (lead vocals) Gary Kemp (guitar, chief songwriter)
Martin Kemp (bass) Steve Norman (saxophone, guitar,
percussion) John Keeble (drums)
Plus
early member Richard Miller (later replaced) and long-time
live/touring keyboardist Toby Chapman.
Biggest hits
“To
Cut a Long Story Short” (1980) – their debut
single, UK #5
“Chant
No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)” (1981)
“True” (1983) – worldwide #1 in many
countries, UK #1 for 4 weeks, US #4; one of the most
iconic ballads of the 1980s
“Gold” (1983) – UK #2, became an anthem
“Only When You Leave” (1984)
“I’ll Fly for You” (1984)
“Through the Barricades” (1986) – title
track of their most mature album
Career highlights
Five
studio albums in the 1980s:
Journeys
to Glory (1981), Diamond (1982), True (1983), Parade
(1984), Through the Barricades (1986)
Sold
over 25 million albums worldwide
Massive success especially in Europe, Australia, and
later in the U.S. with the True album
Split in 1990 after the Heart Like a Sky album underperformed
Highly public legal battle in 1999–2000: Gary
Kemp won a court case against Hadley, Norman, and
Keeble over unpaid royalties (the three had claimed
co-writing credits)
Reunion
Reformed
in 2009 with original line-up for a world tour and
the album Once More (2009, new recordings + acoustic
versions)
Toured
extensively until 2019
Documentary
film Soul Boys of the Western World (2014)
In
2017–2018 Tony Hadley left the band citing irreconcilable
differences
Post-2019
Since
2019 the remaining members have continued as Spandau
Ballet with new singer Ross William Wild (2018–2019),
then briefly with theatre actor/singer Sam Clarkson
Tony
Hadley now tours as a solo artist performing Spandau
hits plus swing and soul material Gary and Martin
Kemp remain active (acting, DJing, podcast “The
Rest Is Entertainment” etc.)
They’re
remembered for their sharp suits, romantic image,
soul-influenced pop, and especially the timeless ballad
“True.” One of the defining bands of the
1980s.
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
Santa
vs Grinch
Bulls
vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
White Light vs Dark Matter
Lexis King vs NIL's (WWE NXT)
Volk vs Naysayers (UFC: Sydney, Australia)
Brock Lesnar vs Everyone! (WWE Royal Rumble)
Zuffa Boxing vs Golden Boy
Zuffa vs Matchroom
Netflix Sports vs The World
Beast vs Flakes
WWE Crate vs Forklift
Markets,
Cryptos and Culture
February
18, 2026
Mining
For Intel
Sports, Streaming And Headlines Biz
Mid Week Motivation
Biz Disruptors To Step Back Into Cage and Ring
Big Biz Betting On Combat Sport And Pop Culture
Sydney,
Australia to Wall Street, New York
ASX
200 futures up 54 points/0.6%: 8955
AUD +0.2% to US70.89¢
BTC $67,622.29 -1.34%
Dow +0.3%
S&P +0.3%
Nas +0.4%
VIX -1.05 to 20.15
Gold -2% to $US4891.56 an ounce
Silver 73.220 -2.21
Oil -1.7% to $US67.48 a barrel
Iron ore -0.3% to $US96.40 a ton
News
Numbers
Double Check
Australian
Dollar: $0.7080 USD (up $0.0005 USD)
Iron Ore: $96.40 USD (down $0.40 USD)
Oil Price): $62.35 USD (down $1.38 USD)
Gold Price: $4,875.84 USD (down $117.88 USD)
Copper Price: $5.6740 USD (down $0.0855 USD)
Dow Jones: 49,561.88 (up 60.95 points)
News
Mining
rally lifts ASX as BHP beats forecasts
The
Australian sharemarket posted a solid gain on Tuesday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.2 per cent to close
at 8,958.9 points. BHP rose 4.7 per cent to $52.74,
JB Hi-Fi was up 8.1 per cent at $89.10 and Baby Bunting
advanced 8.6 per cent to end the session at $2.39.
However, Reliance Worldwide fell 9.1 per cent to $3.50,
WiseTech Global was down 1.6 per cent at $47.34 and
Seek finished 3.3 per cent lower at $16.54. (RMS)
News
Mining
rally lifts ASX as BHP beats forecasts
The
Australian sharemarket posted a solid gain on Tuesday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.2 per cent to close
at 8,958.9 points. BHP rose 4.7 per cent to $52.74,
JB Hi-Fi was up 8.1 per cent at $89.10 and Baby Bunting
advanced 8.6 per cent to end the session at $2.39.
However, Reliance Worldwide fell 9.1 per cent to $3.50,
WiseTech Global was down 1.6 per cent at $47.34 and
Seek finished 3.3 per cent lower at $16.54. (RMS)
News
Profit
season off to 'unusually strong start'
Banks
and resources stocks have been the key drivers of
a strong earnings performance so far in the February
reporting season. However, there have been mixed earnings
outside of these sectors, which has been reflected
in share prices; Cochlear and Temple & Webster
are the stocks that fell sharply after their latest
financial results were below expectations. Hasan Tevfik
from MST Marquee notes that overall, there has not
been such a strong start to the earnings season since
February 2021, when the market was recovering from
the impact of the pandemic. (RMS)
News
Mining
and gaming to lead wave of debuts
Foreign
companies currently comprise about 10 per cent of
stocks listed on the Australian sharemarket. Sixteen
overseas-based companies debuted on the ASX in 2025,
which is a four-fold increase on the previous year;
they included both IPOs and dual listings. Millie
Horton from Jarden says more international companies
are now recognising the ASX as one of the premium
listing venues; indeed, the ASX itself notes that
its volume of new listings often exceeds that of New
York and London. Resources and gaming companies are
tipped to drive future growth in foreign compamies
listing in Australia. (RMS)
News
Australian
steel tariffs hit China's mills
Industry
data shows that China exported a record 119 million
tonnes of finished steel in 2025, which is 7.5 per
cent higher than previously. Meanwhile, Chinese steel
producers' margins have fallen significantly in recent
years, and some smaller producers are concerned that
the Australian government's move to impose a 10 per
cent tariff on Chinese steel imports will have a major
impact on their profits. Other countries are also
pursuing anti-dumping measures against China's steel
industry. (RMS)
News
Cryptos
Bitcoin
dips below short-term support
Market
Overview
The
crypto market cap stood at $2.35 trillion on Tuesday
morning, roughly the same as it was yesterday and
seven days ago. The leaders in growth among the most
liquid coins over the past week are the anonymous
Zcash and Cosmos, which are widely involved in the
tokenisation of debt assets, adding over 20%. At the
same time, the leaders in decline during this period
are Ethereum (-1.7%), BNB (-1.5%) and Bitcoin (-1.1%).
The decline of the largest coins is an ominous sign
for smaller ones, as it may soon pull them down with
it at an accelerated pace.
Bitcoin
technically fell below the support line that ran through
the extreme lows of the first half of February, as
another attempt to break above $70K on Monday attracted
the interest of sellers, which quickly pushed the
price back to $67K. On Tuesday morning, BTC is trading
near $68K, where it was the day before, but the former
support now looks like local resistance. Confirmation
of this trend reversal will be a fall below the recent
lows of $67K, with subsequent targets at $65K and
$60K. News Background
The
current situation is more reminiscent of a change
in the global BTC trend than a local correction, according
to CryptoQuant. The market has already entered a ‘stress
zone’ but has not yet reached the stage of final
capitulation. To form a ‘true bottom,’ a
peak in loss-taking and a complete exhaustion of selling
pressure are necessary.
Capriole
Investments founder Charles Edwards cited the quantum
threat as one of the reasons for the current BTC correction.
In contrast, Benchmark considers such fears to be
exaggerated, and Blockstream expects supercomputers
to appear only in 20-40 years. Growing attention to
the threat of quantum computing is beginning to reduce
the long-term appeal of Bitcoin compared to gold,
said analyst Willy Woo. In his opinion, about 4 million
‘lost’ coins could be dumped on the market
after a quantum computer hacks Bitcoin.
Blockstream
CEO Adam Back criticised the BIP-110 update aimed
at combating ‘spam’ on the Bitcoin network.
He called the initiative a threat to the reputation
of the first cryptocurrency.
In
the fourth quarter, Harvard University's management
company withdrew more than 20% of its investments
from the Bitcoin ETF, investing in an Ethereum-based
ETF for the first time. Despite the partial sale,
Bitcoin ETF shares remain the most significant public
asset in Harvard's portfolio. (FxPro)
News
Biz/Politics/World
The
dollar is not in a rush
EURUSD
remains prone to consolidation
The
yen is strengthening thanks to capital flows
The
US markets, closed for Presidents' Day, brought calm
to the Forex market. Traders are not forcing events,
awaiting the publication of the January FOMC meeting
minutes. This has resulted in EURUSD moving into a
narrow trading range. The pair showed no interest
in the news that the ECB is ready to offer liquidity
to other central banks to prevent tensions in the
money markets. This involves an increase in repo operations
from the third quarter.
ING believes that the euro's growing global role is
positive for EURUSD. The exchange rate is closely
linked to capital flows, and their movement from the
US to Europe is good news for the regional currency.
Christine Lagarde shares this opinion. According to
the Frenchwoman, the general mood is currently in
favour of the euro, as money is flowing into the region.
The head of the ECB prefers incentives to taxes. Therefore,
cheap liquidity will accelerate rotation.
However,
in the short term, the US dollar has a counterplay.
The longer the Fed pauses in the easing cycle, the
wider the rate differential will be. The high attractiveness
of US assets will prevent investors from rushing to
transfer capital to Europe.
Japan
is also scoring points with international investors.
According to Kazuo Ueda (BoJ Governor), Sanae Takaichi
(Prime Minister) did not make any specific requests
that would restrict the activities of the central
bank. They discussed economic and financial conditions.
If the central bank continues to make decisions independently,
political stability will play into the hands of the
bears on USDJPY. Investors are trying to understand
whether the Prime Minister is pressuring the BoJ to
stop raising rates, which also increases debt servicing
costs.
Gold
is trying to find a balance point, treading water
around $5,000 per ounce. According to Jefferies, two
main macro factors are supporting the precious metal:
the depreciation of the US dollar and high inflation.
This allows the company to raise its forecast for
the end of the year from $4,200 to $5,000. It notes
the high risks of a short-term peak in Gold amid growing
fears among traders concerned about the collapse in
prices at the end of January.
The
situation on the silver market is even worse. Backwardation
is intensifying, and futures contracts with distant
delivery dates are falling in price. This is usually
characteristic of perishable goods such as agricultural
products. (FxPro)
News
Streaming/Australia
2.5
million Young Australians aged 6-13 watch YouTube
The
latest Roy Morgan Young Australian Survey shows that
89% of the 6-13 age group watches YouTube (an estimated
2.5 million people). The leading YouTube video category
is Gaming, watched by 1.33 million children aged 6-13
(53% of YouTube watchers in this age group), ahead
of 930,000 watching the Animation category (37%),
900,000 watching Comedy (36%), and 850,000 watching
the Animals and Music categories (34%). The survey
also shows that 67% of boys aged 6-13 watch YouTube,
compared with 39% of girls. Boys are also far more
likely to watch the Sports category (36% cf. 17%).
In contrast, girls show a strong preference over boys
for categories such as Animals, Music, Fashion, Unboxing,
DIY and Cooking. This research is part of an ongoing
programme of research into Young Australian life experiences,
preferences, priorities and opinions. This programme
has been operating since the early 2000s, with the
latest data collection on YouTube between April and
December 2025, with a nationwide sample of 1,129 Young
Australians aged 6-13. (Roy Morgan)
News
Tech
News
Palantir
Moves Headquarters from Denver to Miami
The
data analytics company, founded in Palo Alto in 2003
by CEO Alex Karp and Peter Thiel, shifted to Denver
in 2020 to step away from Silicon Valley. Now, with
no official reason stated, it has relocated to Florida—a
state without personal income tax that attracts tech
firms with business-friendly policies and quality
of life. Miami leaders hailed the move as a milestone
for the city's tech scene, while critics like Rep.
Maxwell Frost and candidate James Fishback raised
civil liberties concerns tied to Palantir's government
contracts.
News
x
News/AI News
xAI
Launches Grok 4.2 Beta with Multi-Agent Team
The
4.20 beta, available now to X Premium+ and SuperGrok
subscribers on web, iOS, and Android, requires selecting
'Heavy' mode to activate Grok as leader, alongside
Harper for research, Benjamin for fact-checking, and
Lucas for logic and creativity. Demos show it querying
SpaceX-NASA missions and summarizing global news with
transparent steps and sources. Early testers praise
its unbiased research prowess and rapid learning via
weekly updates, though some note glitches like a botched
pelican SVG, as xAI refines it through user feedback.
News
Pop
Culture/Sports
Ronda
Rousey Faces Gina Carano in Netflix MMA Superfight
The
bout headlines Netflix's first live MMA event on May
16 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, as a five-round
pro fight at 145 pounds inside a hexagon cage, promoted
by Jake Paul's MVP. Rousey, absent since her 2016
loss to Amanda Nunes, called it the biggest superfight
in women's combat sports history, while Carano shared
a pumped-up training montage saying she's ready to
make the walk again. Though skeptics note their ages—Rousey
at 39 and Carano at 44—the legacy showdown has
MMA buzzing with excitement ahead of UFC's big card.
News
Pop
Culture/Pro Wrestling/WWE/Brands
WWE
Partners with DUDE Wipes for In-Ring Branding Deal
WWE
announced a multi-year partnership with DUDE Wipes,
making the flushable wipes brand its official hygiene
product, complete with wrestler gear branding, event
sponsorships, and a custom commercial featuring Superstars.
Reigning Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio
debuted the logo on his bandana ribcage t-shirt during
his Monday Night Raw return from injury in a triple-threat
match. WWE's Jesse Tomares praised the disruptive
integrations, while DUDE Wipes' Ryan Meegan called
partnering with 'Dirty Dom' surreal, promising fun
and cleanliness amid fan puns and mixed reactions
on commercialization.
News
Gaming/Casino/Betting
This
29-year-old is worth $15b and wants you to bet on
everything
The
co-founder of America’s biggest predictions market
on the “wisdom of the crowd”, political
polarisation – and the company’s adviser,
Donald Trump jnr.
Tarek
Mansour believes deeply in prediction markets –
or so he tells me again and again. He says they will,
variously, play the role of modern oracle, innovative
asset, public educator, new journalism and political
saviour. At the moment, however, most of the money
flowing through them is gambling on American football.
“We’re
making the world a little bit smarter about the future,
and I think that’s a very valuable thing to build,”
Mansour says. “It’s not something that you
should take as the Holy Grail truth, but it’s
better than the alternatives.”
Mansour
is a co-founder and chief executive of prediction
market Kalshi, the largest such platform operating
in the US. He has chosen to meet me at Serafina, one
of a small chain of Italian restaurants, in Manhattan’s
Meatpacking District because it is close to Kalshi’s
offices and rarely crowded. The sky above New York
is a threatening grey, and Kalshi traders are forecasting
a 74 per cent chance of rain.
Serafina
is empty and, in fact, locked when I arrive at our
appointed 11.30am. The waiter unbolts the heavy door
and shows me to a corner table at a plush banquette.
The walls are of rough brick, and the floors are of
unfinished wood. There are a few other small tables
and a large bar. A radiant portrait of a woman decorates
one wall. The waiter, Angel, turns on dance music
that blares just for the two of us.
Mansour,
29, arrives a couple of minutes later, wearing a cream-coloured
hoodie and thick glasses, lenses slightly tinted.
His hair is dark and curly and falls over one side
of his forehead. He is unshaven and says he has not
been sleeping well.
“When
people talk about, ‘We believe in markets’,
what do they actually believe?” Mansour says.
“What it means is that you believe that they’re
a good way to figure out what the price of something
is … And in this case, we’re pricing the
future.”
The
idea behind prediction markets such as Kalshi is simple
and powerful. Participants trade shares of some future
event (for example, whether it will rain in New York
today). The shares are redeemable for $1 if the event
occurs and $0 if it does not. Beforehand, the price
(74¢, say) can therefore be read as a probability
of the event occurring (74 per cent). Thus, in theory,
if large and liquid, these markets quantify and broadcast
the “wisdom of the crowd”. (AFR) *Full article
and coverage via The Australian Financial Review
Culture
'Welcome
To The Blockchain' aka
The
Bitcoin Song
Intro
We're
now standing on the precipice of a global revolution
Of
economics, of politics, and government
Welcome to the blockchain
verse
Power
corrupts, money is power
The
power to control the money is one that is now
In the hands of those who pretend we can't function
without them
So how can we do something about it? (Huh?)
Working hard to get a raise, lifting that wage up
Inflation takes it like a hidden taxation
Manipulated interest rates to give the banks
A way to create money with the loans that they're
giving out daily (yup)
That means our money is debt
That we gotta pay back more than a hundred percent
No wonder then why the middle class is going under
When the one's above them gotta cover and come to
collect
And many have no access to banking
Making payments, or saving, so more fees are taken
And every day the gatekeepers are trying to stop change
We can not wait, welcome to the blockchain
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things
are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
verse
Bitcoin
is a decentralized ledger
And
the currency is its first enterprise ever
Secured by the worldwide incentivized network
Can't be stolen or controlled by any sized effort
You can send it anywhere and instantly
No one can intervene, no third party in between
There's no counterfeiting
Algorithms control the outer limits of how many coins
can get released
Programmable money, no government can seize it
Payments can be customized by sender and receiver
Contracts can be written cementing your agreements
With terms that can't be bent once you consent then
it completes it
Autonomous businesses are possible
Where profit is distributed amongst those adopting
it
Paradigm shift we must adjust to the ending
With the blockchain, bitcoin is just the beginning
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things
are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
bridge
Now
that we got control
We're
not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
Now that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things
are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
Writer:
Toby Ganger
News
Mining/Energy/Resources/Biz
Rio
Tinto dodges merger bullet
Rio
Tinto has dodged two 'bullets' due to Glencore's rejection
of a merger proposal: a possible BHP takeover bid
and a dangerous acquisition. BHP looked closely at
whether to bid for Rio Tinto if the latter announced
a merger with Glencore. The two companies would make
excellent merger partners; amongst others things,
their staff and senior people have similar cultures,
they are co-operating on future Australian iron ore
projects and they are copper joint venture partners
in Chile and the US. Meanwhile, there are significance
cultural differences between Rio Tinto and Glencore;
there is little doubt that Rio Tinto's CEO Simon Trott
would have had doubts about a merger once he understood
these cultural differences. (RMS)
News/Snapshot
Australian
Mining
Global
Commodity Rankings
Australia
holds some of the world's largest reserves and is
a leading producer of several key minerals.
#1
Producer: Iron Ore, Bauxite, Lithium, Rutile, and
Zircon.
#1
Reserves: Iron Ore, Gold, Lead, Nickel, Rutile, Uranium,
and Zinc.
#2
Producer: Gold, Alumina, and Manganese.
Key
Mining Hubs & Major Projects
Western
Australia: The nation's "engine room," producing
98% of Australia's iron ore and 60% of its gold. Major
sites include the Pilbara (iron ore) and the Super
Pit in Kalgoorlie (gold).
Queensland:
A global leader in metallurgical coal (Bowen Basin)
and silver/lead production (Cannington mine).
South
Australia: Home to Olympic Dam, which contains the
world's largest single uranium deposit and significant
copper and gold reserves.
Major
Players
The
sector is dominated by several multinational giants
and significant domestic players:
BHP:
Often ranked as Australia's most valuable company;
major interests in iron ore, copper, and coal.
Rio
Tinto: A world leader in iron ore (Pilbara) and aluminum.
Fortescue (FMG): Primarily focused on iron ore and
rapidly expanding into green energy.
Hancock
Prospecting: Australia's largest private mining company,
led by Gina Rinehart, the nation's wealthiest person.
South32:
Spun out of BHP; manages a diversified portfolio including
manganese, silver, and nickel.
2026
Trends & Developments
Critical
Minerals Push: The government has introduced a $23
billion package to support domestic processing and
manufacturing of critical minerals to reduce global
reliance on single-country supply chains.
Uranium
Rally: Prices exceeding US$100/lb have sparked renewed
interest in Australian prospects like the Kalkaroo
project.
M&A
Activity: Major merger talks continue between giants
like Rio Tinto and Glencore as they seek to consolidate
copper exposure for the EV market.
Workforce
Challenges: The Minerals Council of Australia is currently
calling for migration reforms to address a significant
"skills crunch" in the sector.
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
The
Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Money INC vs Right To Censor
Santa vs Grinch
Bulls vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
White Light vs Dark Matter
Lexis King vs NIL's (WWE NXT)
Volk vs Naysayers (UFC: Sydney, Australia)
Brock Lesnar vs Everyone! (WWE Royal Rumble)
Roman Reigns vs CM Punk (WWE WrestleMania)
Green vs The Coal Miners Daughter
AC/DC vs Swifties
Triangle v World Bank
Sarah's Oil vs Big Oil
Mr X vs Mr VOX
Mr X vs Mr Platformer
Mr FOX vs Mr Vice
Fox And The Hound vs The View
The Masked Superstar vs Mr Jones
The Undertaker vs Mankind
UFC Legends vs Father Time
Vinnie Vegas and Oz vs Los Americanos
NXT GM vs The Don
Mr Moneymaker vs Mr Regulator
Mr Blockchain vs Mr EU
WWE Unreal vs The Old Guard
Reality TV vs John Pilger Type Journalism and Docos
Mr Real Deal vs Mr Grifter
Mr Truth vs Mr Shock Jock
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky: Rematch
WWE Wrestlers vs NFL Super Bowl Players
Logan Paul and Bad Bunny vs Jake Paul and The Don
- Special ref: Damian Priest
Kelly Gang vs Snow White Clan
BKFC vs PFL vs ONE
Mr Sky vs Mr Vice
Marvel Universe vs DC Universe vs Monster Universe
Logan Paul vs Tom Brady
MMA vs Lucha Libre
Confirmed
Matches To Happen:
Rousey
vs Carano (Netflix) May 16
Tyson
Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov (Netflix) April 11
Media
Man
Roy
Morgan wins Media Man 'Media Services Company Of The
Month' award
X
wins Media Man 'Platform Of The Month' award; Runner-ups:
YouTube and LinkedIn
Netflix
wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Month' award
CAT
wins Media Man 'Heavy Industry Brand Of The Month'
award
Mack
Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Brand Of The Month' award
Logan
Paul wins Media Man 'Pop Culture Disruptor Of The
Month' award
WWE
wins Media Man 'Wrestling Promoter Of The Month' award
'Landman
wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award
WWE2K16
wins Media Man 'Game Of The Month' award
Claudio's
Cafe wins Media Man 'Coffee Brand Of The Month' award
Jim's
Mowing wins Media Man 'Australian Business Of The
Month' award
Barefoot
Investor wins Media Man 'Financial Media Company Of
The Month' award
Mining/Energy/Resources/Biz/Politics/Culture/Media
Australia,
Oceania, U.S and World
Past,
Present And Future
"All
That Glitters"
Media
Man Group Watercooler
February
2026
Feb
14
BHP
exports crash in China stand-off
Shipping
data provider Kpler estimates that BHP exported just
1.18 million tonnes of Jimblebar Fines iron ore from
the Pilbara during January, compared with 5.82 million
tonnes for the same period in 2025. Kpler analyst
Alexis Ellender says the firm believes that iron ore
stockpiles at Chinese ports are now close to capacity,
while Goldman Sachs estimates that Jimblebar Fines
accounts for up to 10 per cent of this stockpile.
The downturn in Jimblebar Fines shipments has coincided
with China's growing pressure on BHP to switch to
using iron ore price reporting agency Fastmarkets
rather than S&P Global Platts. Fortescue and Rio
Tinto have switched a portion of their iron ore sales
to Fastmarkets. (RMS)
News
Feb
16
Lawyers
hit gold from BHP disaster
Britain's
High Court is scheduled to begin hearing a compensation
claim against BHP in April, over the collapse of the
Fundao iron ore tailings dam in Brazil in November
2015. The High Court had ruled in late 2025 that BHP
is liable for the disaster at the Samarco iron ore
mine, which it jointly owns with Vale. The class action
launched by law firm Pogust Goodhead has already generated
more than $600m in legal costs; Pogust Goodhead estimates
that it has spent nearly Stg190m on the long-running
case, while BHP says it has spent more than Stg125m
on legal fees to date. Pogust Goodhead is seeking
up to Stg36bn ($70bn) in compensation for victims
of the disaster. (RMS)
News
Glencore
legend hedged against deal
Glencore
'founding founder' Tor Peterson advised the London
Stock Exchange on 14 January that he still controlled
about 2.4 per cent of the Swiss mining company. It
was his first such disclosure in almost eight years,
but he went to update the LSE on his holdings 11 times
over the next 22 days, at a time when Glencore and
Rio Tinto were discussing a merger. His disclosures
indicate Peterson would maximise his profits if Glencore's
share price fell below the Stg5.31 the stock was fetching
when speculation of a merger deal speculation peaked
in early February; Rio abandoned the merger talks
on 6 February when the two firms could not agree on
a price.. It has been suggested that by betting on
Glencore's shares falling that Peterson was seeking
a compensation prize should bets he had made on on
higher coal prices fail. (RMS)
News
WA
outgunned on lithium costs
US-based
Albemarle has invested about $4bn in its lithium hydroxide
refinery at Kemerton in Western Australia since 2018.
CEO Kent Masters says the cost of processing spodumene
concentrate in WA is about $US5 per kg higher than
in China, where Albemarle operates similar lithium
refineries. Masters notes that labour, energy and
waste disposal costs are much higher in Australia,
which contributed to Albemarle's decision to shut
down the Kemerton plant. The company is now expected
to ship its share of spodumene from the Greenbushes
mine to China for processing; it has not ruled out
resuming production at Kemerton if market conditions
become more favourable. (RMS)
News
Gold
rush pulls in dirt pirates and backpackers
The
price of gold has risen by 70 per cent in the last
year, prompting a new wave of prospectors at historic
goldfields such as Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.
The state accounts for more than 70 per cent of Australia's
gold production, primarily from the Kalgoorlie Goldfields.
The gold boom has attracted a range pf people to the
region, including amateur prospectors and families
that travel there on caravan holidays. It has also
resulted in extra work for Australia's gold stealing
detection unit, with a sharp rise in the theft of
ore from gold mine sites by criminals who process
it in backyards by using a cement mixer and chemicals
to extract the gold. (RMS)
News
Mining
election message to Minns
The
NSW Minerals Council contends that the mining industry
injected $22 billion into the state's economy last
financial year, while the council estimated its members
supported 35,100 full time equivalent jobs. With a
state election due in March next year, NSW Minerals
Council CEO Stephen Galilee contends that the thousands
of workers in the mining sector will be looking to
see which politicians are willing to grant approvals
for new projects; there are currently 37 operating
coalmines across NSW, with 17 approval or extension
proposals awaiting a decision, but the Net Zero Commission
has informed the Minns government that any additional
extensions, expansions or approvals for coal projects
would push NSW off track from its emissions targets
and the Paris Agreement. (Roy Morgan Summary)
Media
Man Int
News
Flashbacks
Victims'
misery a goldmine for chequebook TV - 7th May 2006
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/victims.html
Human
Statue Bodyart does bodypaint, bodyart and makeup
for Diamond VIP event at The Star, Sydney
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/human_statue17.html
Biofuel
flight 'another Branson stunt' - 26th February 2008
https://www.mediaman.com.au/articles/biofuel_flight.html
GenerationOne
ideas forum - 12th August 2010
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/generationone_ideas.html
Markets,
Cryptos (in progress)
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/markets_cryptos.html
All
The Glitters (in progress)
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/all_that.html
Australian
Mining (in progress)
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/australian_mining.html
FiberSense
Technology
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/fibersense_technology.html
Media
Man
News
Heavy
Industry News
Heavy
Industry Awards
Mack
Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Manufacturer Of The Month'
award
Caterpillar
wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The
Month' award
Bingo
Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The
Month' award
Elders
wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award
Landman
wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award
(Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)
News
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://www.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
Streaming
Wars
The
"Streaming Wars" refers to the intense competition
among digital media platforms to dominate the subscription
video-on-demand (SVOD) market by capturing and retaining
global audiences.
As
of early 2026, the landscape has shifted from a period
of rapid expansion into a phase of major consolidation
and a focus on profitability over subscriber volume.
The
"Winner" and Current State (2026)
Netflix
Dominance: Industry analysts increasingly cite Netflix
as the victor. In January 2026, Netflix reported 18%
year-over-year revenue growth and is currently pursuing
a high-stakes $83 billion all-cash acquisition of
Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming
assets (including HBO/Max).
The
"Big 3": Despite fierce competition, the
market is primarily dominated by Netflix, Amazon Prime
Video, and Disney+.
YouTube's
Rise: Some experts argue YouTube is the true winner
of the broader attention economy, surpassing traditional
streaming services in total viewership by pivoting
back to user-generated content.
Key
Strategies in 2026
Consolidation:
Smaller or struggling services are being shuttered
or merged. For example, Disney recently shut down
Hulu as a standalone service.
Monetization
Shifts: Platforms have moved away from "growth
at all costs" to strategies like password-sharing
crackdowns, ad-supported tiers, and price hikes.
Live
Sports & Events: Services are increasingly bidding
on live sports rights (e.g., Netflix hosting WWE's
Raw starting in 2025) to differentiate their offerings.
Bundling:
To combat "subscription fatigue," platforms
are forming strategic partnerships with telecommunications
companies and banks to offer bundled service hubs.
Consumer
Impact
Price
Hikes: Many consumers are canceling services due to
rising costs; over 40% of Americans cited price as
their primary reason for unsubscribing in late 2025.
Resurgence
of Piracy: Fragmented content and high costs have
led to a significant comeback for pirate sites, which
some users now find more comprehensive than paid services.
"South
Park: The Streaming Wars": The term was popularized
in mainstream culture by a 2-part South Park special
released on Paramount+ in 2022, which satirized the
industry's aggressive competition.
News/Profile
Hancock
Prospecting Pty Ltd
Hancock
Prospecting Pty Ltd (HPPL) is a privately owned Australian
mineral exploration and agriculture company headquartered
in Perth, Western Australia. As of 2026, it is recognized
as one of the most successful private companies in
Australian history.
Leadership
and Ownership
Executive
Chairwoman: Gina Rinehart AO, who has led the company
since 1992.
CEO:
Garry Korte.
Ownership:
The company is owned by Gina Rinehart (76.6%) and
the Hope Margaret Hancock Trust (23.4%).
Major
Mining Operations
The
company has transitioned from a prospecting firm into
a major global miner, with primary interests in the
Pilbara region:
Roy
Hill: A flagship mega-project and Australia’s
largest single iron ore mine, producing 60–70
million tonnes annually.
Hope
Downs: A 50/50 joint venture with Rio Tinto, comprising
four open-pit mines with a capacity of approximately
47Mtpa.
Atlas
Iron: Acquired in 2018, it operates the Mount Webber,
Sanjiv Ridge, and Miralga Creek mines.
Hancock
Iron Ore: A new entity formed in July 2025 to consolidate
Roy Hill and Atlas Iron operations.
Diversification
and Strategic Investments
Under
Rinehart’s leadership, the company has expanded
significantly into other sectors:
Agriculture:
Hancock is Australia's second-largest beef producer,
owning over 25 properties including the iconic S.
Kidman & Co. It also owns 50% of Bannister Downs
Dairy.
Critical
Minerals: Major stakes in lithium (Liontown Resources,
Azure Minerals, Vulcan Energy) and rare earths (Arafura
Rare Earths, MP Materials, Lynas Rare Earths).
Energy:
Significant interests in oil and gas through Warrego
Energy and Senex Energy.
International
Ventures: In January 2026, the company signed a gold
exploration license agreement with Saudi Arabia's
state-owned miner, Ma’aden.
Current
Events (January 2026)
Australia
Day Sponsorship: The company is the principal partner
for the 2026 Hancock Prospecting Australia Day celebrations
in Perth.
Helipad
Proposal: In December 2025, the City of Perth refused
the company's proposal to build a helipad at its West
Perth headquarters.
Financial
Performance: For the 2025 fiscal year, the company
reported a profit of AU$3.08 billion.
History
The
company was founded on November 25, 1955, by Lang
Hancock, who is credited with discovering the world's
largest iron ore deposit in 1952. When Gina Rinehart
took over following his death in 1992, the company
was in a precarious financial state with significant
debt.
News
Gold
(1974)
Gold
is a 1974 British action-thriller directed by Peter
R. Hunt, starring Roger Moore and Susannah York. Based
on the 1970 novel Gold Mine by Wilbur Smith, the film
is set in the South African goldfields and follows
a conspiracy by a global syndicate to manipulate the
price of gold by sabotaging a rich mine.
Plot:
Rod Slater (Moore), a newly appointed general manager,
is manipulated by his boss, Manfred Steyner (Bradford
Dillman), into drilling through a protective barrier
into a subterranean lake. This is intended to flood
the mine, causing a global gold shortage and driving
up prices for a greedy cabal.
Production
Controversy: The film was controversially shot on
location in South Africa during the apartheid era.
This led to a "black ban" by British film
unions, though some crew members defied it to work
on the production.
James
Bond Connection: Many crew members were veterans of
the James Bond franchise, including director Peter
Hunt (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), editor John
Glen, and title designer Maurice Binder.
Accolades:
The film received an Academy Award nomination for
Best Original Song for "Wherever Love Takes Me,"
composed by Elmer Bernstein and sung by Maureen McGovern.
Cast
& Crew
Rod
Slater: Roger Moore
Terry Steyner: Susannah York
Hurry Hirschfeld: Ray Milland
Manfred Steyner: Bradford Dillman
Farrell: John Gielgud
Director:
Peter R. Hunt
Music:
Elmer Bernstein
Availability
in 2026
As
of 2026, the film is available through several formats
and platforms:
Streaming:
Accessible on Prime Video, Tubi, and Roku devices.
Physical
Media: High-definition restorations are available
on Blu-ray and DVD from Kino Lorber and 88 Films
News
Pop
Culture
"Gold"
(Spandau Ballet)
"Gold"
is a signature 1983 hit by the British New Romantic
band Spandau Ballet, written by Gary Kemp.
Lyrics
Thank
you for coming home I'm sorry that the chairs are
all worn I left them here, I could have sworn These
are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another
play for today Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud
of you
Nothing
left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing
so tall
Thank
you for coming home I'm sorry that the chairs are
all worn I left them here I could have sworn
These are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just
another play for today Oh but I'm proud of you but
I'm proud of you
Nothing
left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing
so tall
Gold
(gold)
Always believe in your soul You've got the power to
know You're indestructible Always believe in
'Cause you are
Gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return There's something
I could have learned You're indestructible Always
believin'
Oh
after the rush has gone I hope you find a little more
time Remember we were partners in crime It's only
two years ago
The man with the suit and the face You knew that he
was there on the case Now he's in love with you he's
in love with you
My
love is like a high prison wall But you could leave
me standing so tall
Gold
(gold)
Always believe in your soul You've got the power to
know You're indestructible Always believe in 'Cause
you are
Gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return There's something
I could have learned You're indestructible Always
believin'
My
love is like a high prison wall And you could leave
me standing so tall
Gold
(gold)
Oh always believe in your soul You've got the power
to know You're indestructible Always believe in 'Cause
you are
Gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return Something I could
have learned You're indestructible Always believin'
Songwriter: Gary James Kemp
Spandau
Ballet - Gold (HD Remastered)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntG50eXbBtc
Official
video of Spandau Ballet performing 'Gold' from their
1983 third album 'True'.
Gary
Kemp wrote both the music and lyrics; the song was
produced by the partnership of Steve Jolley and Tony
Swain. The music video was filmed on location in Carmona,
Spain and directed by Brian Duffy. The video featured
Sadie Frost as a gold-painted nymph, in one of her
earlier roles. Some parts of the music video were
also filmed in Leighton House, which was also used
in the video for "Golden Brown" by The Stranglers.
Spandau
Ballet are one of Britain’s great iconic bands
having sold over 25 million records, scored numerous
multi-platinum albums and amassed 23 hit singles across
the globe since their humble beginnings as a group
of friends with dreams of stardom in the late 1970s.
It wasn’t long before they became fully-fledged
members of the iconic Blitz Club scene and established
themselves as one of the super-groups of the 80s.
The
band's classic line-up features brothers Gary and
Martin Kemp on guitars, vocalist Tony Hadley, saxophonist
Steve Norman and drummer John Keeble.
Spandau
Ballet’s hits include Gold, True, To Cut A Long
Story Short, Through The Barricades and many more.
News
The
Australian Financial Review wins Media Man 'Newspaper
Of The Month' award
Roy
Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Business Of The
Month' award
Sky
News Australia wins Media Man 'Australian Media Outlet
Of The Month' award
Markets,
Cryptos and Culture
February
11, 2026
Sydney,
Australia to Wall Street, New York
Disrupted
Markets
Mining For Intel
Google It!
ASX
futures up 22 points/0.3%: 8841
AUD -0.3% at US70.69¢
Bitcoin $69,194.88 -2.45%
Dow +0.1% S&P -0.1%
Nasdaq -0.3%
Gold -0.9% to $US5013.72 an ounce
Silver 81,248 -2.215 - 2.63%
Oil -0.3% at $US68.86 a barrel
Iron ore +0.5% at $US100.40 a ton
10-year
yield:
US 4.15%
Australia 4.82%
News
Numbers
Double Check
Australian
Dollar: $0.7080 USD (down $0.0014 USD) Iron Ore (SGX):
$100.40 USD (up $0.60 USD) Oil Price: $64.04 USD (down
$0.19 USD) Gold Price: $5,027.96 USD (down $49.69
USD) Copper Price (CME): $5.9155 USD (down $0.0525
USD) Bitcoin: $68,724.60 USD approx (down 2.54%) Dow
Jones: 50,236.44 (up 100.57 points)
News
CSL
drags ASX lower in late market sell-off
The
Australian sharemarket fell slightly on Tuesday, with
the S&P/ASX 200 easing 0.03 per cent to close
at 8,867.4 points. The bourse was on track to close
in positive territory before CSL announced the retirement
of CEO Paul McKenzie near the end of the trading session;
CSL's shares fell five per cent to $171.39 and weighed
on the broader sharemarket. Amplitude Energy was down
22.1 per cent at $2.50 and G8 Education shed 20.6
per cent to finish at $0.50. However, Deep Yellow
rose seven per cent to $2.55 and NextDC was up 3.4
per cent at $13.78. (RMS)
News
Macquarie's
plan to grab more market share in deposits
Data
from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
shows that Macquarie Bank's household deposits topped
$100bn for the first time in December. Macquarie's
deposits grew by 3.6 per cent in December, outperforming
all other banks. Head of personal banking Ben Perham
says Macquarie aims to increase its market share with
regard to term deposits, which is curently one per
cent; in contrast, its share of transaction and savings
accounts is now seven per cent. Meanwhile, its home
loan market share has risen to 6.8 per cent, and Perham
says it is approving mortgage loans "considerably
faster" than other lenders. (RMS)
News
ASX
chief Lofthouse to exit ahead of latest CHESS fix
attempt
Stock
exchange operator ASX Limited has advised that CEO
Helen Lofthouse will step down in May, after four
years in the role. ASX chairman David Clarke says
Lofthouse had taken on the role at an "exceptionally
challenging time" for the company, with predecessor
Dominic Stevens having stepped down in the wake of
a failed project to replace its CHESS system. Her
departure will coincide with the imminent launch of
the first phase of an upgrade to the ageing platform.
The ASX has hired recruitment firm Korn Ferry to find
a successor to Lofthouse. (RMS)
News
Cryptos
Sam
Bankman-Fried asks for a new trial
FTX
co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried filed a long-shot request
for a new trial on the charges for which he’s
currently serving a 25-year prison sentence, arguing
that new witnesses can refute the prosecution’s
case that he defrauded the cryptocurrency exchange’s
customers. The motion, dated February 5 but docketed
on Tuesday in Manhattan federal court, was filed pro
se, meaning Bankman-Fried, 33, is representing himself.
The filing is separate from a formal appeal of his
2023 conviction. It was sent to the court clerk by
Bankman-Fried’s mother, retired Stanford Law
Professor Barbara Fried. A three-judge appeals panel
is currently considering his appeal, which claims
that rulings by the trial judge tainted the verdict.
The judges appeared sceptical of his lawyer’s
arguments at a November hearing.Alexandra Shapiro,
Bankman-Fried’s appellate lawyer, declined to
comment on his request for a new trial. Fried said
her son’s brief has “been in the works”
for a long time. “He wanted to write it in his
own voice,” she said. A jury found Bankman-Fried
guilty of seven criminal counts including fraud and
conspiracy, agreeing with prosecutors that he illegally
transferred billions of dollars from FTX customer
accounts to an affiliated hedge fund, Alameda Research.
Risky investments by Alameda contributed to FTX’s
collapse amid a broader crypto downturn in 2022. The
trial marked a stunning downfall for a figure who
had once been the public face of cryptocurrency, with
a fortune estimated at $US26 billion. (A.I News)
News
Alphabet
aka Google
Alphabet
sells more than $45b in bonds
Alphabet
raised almost $US32 billion ($45.2 billion) in debt
in less than 24 hours, showing the enormous funding
needs of tech giants competing to build out their
artificial intelligence capabilities — and the
huge appetite from credit markets to fund them. The
Google parent sold sterling and Swiss franc-denominated
offerings, both of which were the biggest-ever corporate
bond sales in their respective markets. Those deals
followed Monday’s $US20 billion dollar debt sale.
The sterling issue included an ultra-rare 100-year
note — the first sale with such an extreme maturity
by a technology firm since the dot-com era, according
to data compiled by Bloomberg. Demand was high across
the deals, at a record overall for the sterling with
the 100-year bond drawing close to 10 times orders
for the £1 billion ($2 billion) for sale. That
bond priced at just 1.2 percentage points above 10-year
UK government bonds, while the shortest tranche —
a three-year note — priced at 45 basis points
over gilts. Such a wide range of maturities in different
markets meant there was something for all kind of
investors — from asset managers and hedge funds
to the pension funds and insurers that favour longer-dated
debt. The deal hit the market less than a week after
Alphabet said its capital expenditures will reach
as much as $US185 billion this year — double
what it spent last year — to finance its AI ambitions.
Software giant Oracle also recently raised $US25 billion
to fund its AI plans, drawing $US129 billion of demand.
(BB/Ai News)
News
Cryptos
Ethereum
stares into the abyss
Market
Overview
The
crypto market cap fell by 1.7% to $2.35T, returning
to the lower end of the range of the last three days.
Cryptocurrencies
remain under pressure with local resistance just above
$2.40T, contrasting with the upward movement of stock
indices. This divergence can be easily explained by
the shift in leadership to the classic broad market
economy instead of tech stocks, with which cryptocurrencies
have a high correlation.
Bitcoin
is losing over 2.2%, trading just below $69K. Intraday
dynamics indicate a loss of recovery momentum. A possible
failure below $68K will signal the end of consolidation
after the rebound. Technically, this will open the
way to local lows of $60-63K. At the same time, we
still assume that the main scenario will be a prolonged
consolidation in the $55-65K range, as this is an
area of multiple extremes.
Ethereum
is performing slightly worse than the market, losing
about 3% and trying to hold on to levels above $2000.
Over the past three weeks, the price has fallen below
the 50- and 200-week moving averages, indicating a
serious bearish sentiment. Last week, the second-largest
cryptocurrency by market capitalisation touched the
long-term support line of the last four years. A break
below this line near $1,600 could trigger a dramatic
capitulation of long-term buyers. News Background
According
to Google Trends, global user interest in cryptocurrencies
has fallen to annual lows. Santiment describes the
crowd sentiment as “fiercely bearish.”
The
Sharpe ratio for Bitcoin fell to minus 10, to its
lowest since March 2023, indicating the final stage
of a bear market, according to CryptoQuant. Similar
values were recorded at the bottom of the cycles at
the end of 2018 and 2022. However, the final phase
could last for several months.
Bitwise
calls the recent drop in Bitcoin a chance for new
investors to buy more coins.
The
current drawdown is the weakest in the history of
the bear market and reflects only a crisis of confidence
among market participants, rather than fundamental
problems with the asset, Bernstein notes. Analysts
have confirmed their long-term forecast for Bitcoin,
with a target price of $150K by the end of 2026.
According
to Jefferies, Tether's gold reserves reached 148 tons,
with an estimated value of $23 billion. The issuer
of the USDT stablecoin entered the top 30 largest
gold owners in the world, purchasing 26 tons of the
precious metal in the fourth quarter and adding another
6 tons in January. (FxPro)
News
The
dollar is losing fans
China
is getting rid of US Treasury bonds
The
president is actively promoting Kevin Warsh
While
the IMF is urging investors not to focus on the dollar's
short-term weakness, EURUSD is posting its best daily
gain since the end of January. According to the International
Monetary Fund, the greenback will retain its power
on the Forex market thanks to the size of the US economy,
entrepreneurial spirit, and the depth and liquidity
of the US capital market. However, confidence in the
latter has been seriously shaken, which makes the
outlook for the USD index bleak.
The
threat to the independence of the Federal Reserve
has not gone away. Donald Trump is so keen to promote
his own candidate for the position of Fed chair that
he is making some surprising statements. According
to the president, Kevin Warsh will help boost the
US economy by 15%. Over the past five decades, US
GDP has grown by an average of 2.8% per year. A 15%
growth rate has been extremely rare since the 1950s.
The last time it happened was during the pandemic
recovery, so he probably just means cumulative growth
over several years. Meanwhile, the strength of the
US economy is no guarantee of a stronger dollar. The
White House intends to accelerate GDP growth through
aggressive rate cuts, which will undoubtedly weaken
the US currency. At the same time, uncertainty surrounding
Donald Trump's policies is prompting some countries
to divest from Treasury bonds. Beijing's recommendation
to Chinese banks not to buy these securities has catalysed
a rally in Treasury yields and the EURUSD.
Even
the extremely vulnerable Pound Sterling took advantage
of the dollar's weakness. The Bank of England could
ease monetary policy as early as March, and a political
scandal has erupted in Britain. As a result, Prime
Minister Keir Starmer's position has once again become
unstable. EURGBP has soared amid this political uncertainty.
However, GBPUSD bulls are going on the offensive thanks
to shaken confidence in the dollar. Unlike the Pound,
Gold has been unable to capitalise on the fall in
the USD index. This is an alarming sign for the precious
metal.
This
is especially true given that so-called smart money
is currently on the side of the bears. Hedge funds
and asset managers have reduced their net long Gold
positions to their lowest since October. (FxPro)
News
Bitcoin
has encountered new resistance
Market
Overview
The
crypto market cap has declined by approximately 10%
over the past seven days to $2.36 trillion. Ironically,
this appears to be positive news, as it represents
a 10% increase from Friday's lows. However, we remain
very sceptical about the near future, as the recovery
momentum lost steam over the weekend, encountering
a sell-off near the $2.4T level. Perhaps we have only
seen a bounce on the way down, which is not yet complete.
The
sentiment index plunged to 6 over the weekend, repeating
the lows of June 18-19 from 2022, and we have only
seen this indicator lower on August 22, 2019. By Monday,
this indicator had recovered to 14, following the
quotes. These are still too low levels for confident
purchases.
Bitcoin
grew steadily on Friday after crashing at the very
beginning of the day, but since Saturday, it has faced
resistance near $71K. There is still a huge supply
in the markets from those who want to exit the first
cryptocurrency on the rebound. In such conditions,
it is worth being prepared for a new test of the 200-week
moving average soon. News Background
The
fall in Bitcoin prices was accompanied by a reduction
in liquidity, a surge in volatility, a decline in
risk appetite, and an increase in correlation with
stock indices. CryptoQuant admits that BTC could fall
to $54,600, where the market could move from a phase
of capitulation to a phase of accumulation.
Against
the backdrop of the crypto market decline, Strategy's
net loss for the fourth quarter was $12.6 billion,
according to the company's quarterly report, and its
operating loss reached $17.4 billion. Strategy CEO
Fong Le assured investors that risks to the company's
debt servicing would only arise in the event of an
extreme drop in BTC to $8,000.
Cardano
founder Charles Hoskinson reported unrealised losses
of more than $3 billion. He stressed that he does
not intend to liquidate positions, even if the market
situation worsens.
Bitcoin
miners are massively shutting down their equipment
due to mounting losses. The BTC mining profitability
indicator has fallen to record lows amid a decline
in the crypto market and rising electricity prices.
JPMorgan estimates the cost of mining to be around
$87K.
As
a result of the latest recalculation, the difficulty
of mining Bitcoin has plummeted by 11.16% to 125.86
T. This is the most significant drop since 2021, when
the Chinese authorities banned cryptocurrency mining.
Despite
the current negativity, JPMorgan is optimistic about
BTC and predicts that in the long term, the first
cryptocurrency could reach $266K. Earlier, the bank
raised its long-term forecast for gold to $8,000–8,500.
(FxPro)
News
48
Hours Ago
The
yen played out the ‘buy the rumour, sell the
fact’
The
LDP's landslide victory in Japan led to a pullback
in USDJPY.
China
has been buying gold for 15 months in a row, supporting
the price.
Improved
global risk appetite undermined the US dollar. The
S&P 500 recorded its best daily rally since May
amid easing fears about the negative impact of artificial
intelligence on technology and other companies' shares.
Bitcoin managed to bottom out and followed the rally
in US stock indices. Gold returned above $5,000 per
ounce, while demand for the greenback as a safe-haven
asset declined.
Traders
are taking profits on long positions in the USD index
after the best week for the US dollar since early
January, as important reports approach. Releases of
data on employment, inflation and retail sales will
clarify the situation with the US economy and allow
conclusions to be drawn about the Fed's monetary policy.
The futures market sees a 70% probability of a rate
cut in June and a 33% chance for April. Growing confidence
in a rate cut, if not undermined by US statistics,
will inspire the EURUSD bulls. USDJPY quotes rose
in anticipation of the vote outcome in the lower house.
However, when the market opened, investors preferred
to take profits, which strengthened the yen by almost
1%.
The
Liberal Democratic Party won a record 316 seats in
the lower house of Parliament. Together with its coalition
partner, the Japan Innovation Party, it holds 354
of the 465 seats, allowing the LDP to pursue its policies
without the approval of other parties. Takaichi contributed
to the Nikkei 225's rise to a historic high. Gold
returned above $5,000 per ounce thanks to support
from central banks. The People's Bank of China reported
its 15th consecutive month of gold bar purchases.
Its precious metal reserves grew by 40,000 ounces
in January. The series began in November 2024 and
has continued without interruption since then, despite
price fluctuations.
The
process of gold acquisition by central banks slowed
down in 2025 to 860 tonnes after 1,000 tonnes over
the previous three years. Nevertheless, regulators'
activity in the precious metals market remains high,
which supports the gold price. (FxPro)
News
Culture
'Welcome
To The Blockchain' aka
The
Bitcoin Song
Intro
We're
now standing on the precipice of a global revolution
Of economics, of politics, and government
Welcome to the blockchain
verse
Power
corrupts, money is power
The power to control the money is one that is now
In the hands of those who pretend we can't function
without them
So how can we do something about it? (Huh?)
Working hard to get a raise, lifting that wage up
Inflation takes it like a hidden taxation
Manipulated interest rates to give the banks
A way to create money with the loans that they're
giving out daily (yup)
That means our money is debt
That we gotta pay back more than a hundred percent
No wonder then why the middle class is going under
When the one's above them gotta cover and come to
collect
And many have no access to banking
Making payments, or saving, so more fees are taken
And every day the gatekeepers are trying to stop change
We can not wait, welcome to the blockchain
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
verse
Bitcoin
is a decentralized ledger
And the currency is its first enterprise ever
Secured by the worldwide incentivized network
Can't be stolen or controlled by any sized effort
You can send it anywhere and instantly
No one can intervene, no third party in between
There's no counterfeiting
Algorithms control the outer limits of how many coins
can get released
Programmable money, no government can seize it
Payments can be customized by sender and receiver
Contracts can be written cementing your agreements
With terms that can't be bent once you consent then
it completes it
Autonomous businesses are possible
Where profit is distributed amongst those adopting
it
Paradigm shift we must adjust to the ending
With the blockchain, bitcoin is just the beginning
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
bridge
Now
that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
Now that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
Writer:
Toby Ganger
News
Mining/Energy/Resources/Biz
Rio
Tinto dodges merger bullet
Rio
Tinto has dodged two 'bullets' due to Glencore's rejection
of a merger proposal: a possible BHP takeover bid
and a dangerous acquisition. BHP looked closely at
whether to bid for Rio Tinto if the latter announced
a merger with Glencore. The two companies would make
excellent merger partners; amongst others things,
their staff and senior people have similar cultures,
they are co-operating on future Australian iron ore
projects and they are copper joint venture partners
in Chile and the US. Meanwhile, there are significance
cultural differences between Rio Tinto and Glencore;
there is little doubt that Rio Tinto's CEO Simon Trott
would have had doubts about a merger once he understood
these cultural differences. (RMS)
News/Snapshot
Australian
Mining
Global
Commodity Rankings
Australia
holds some of the world's largest reserves and is
a leading producer of several key minerals.
#1
Producer: Iron Ore, Bauxite, Lithium, Rutile, and
Zircon.
#1
Reserves: Iron Ore, Gold, Lead, Nickel, Rutile, Uranium,
and Zinc.
#2
Producer: Gold, Alumina, and Manganese.
Key
Mining Hubs & Major Projects
Western
Australia: The nation's "engine room," producing
98% of Australia's iron ore and 60% of its gold. Major
sites include the Pilbara (iron ore) and the Super
Pit in Kalgoorlie (gold).
Queensland:
A global leader in metallurgical coal (Bowen Basin)
and silver/lead production (Cannington mine).
South
Australia: Home to Olympic Dam, which contains the
world's largest single uranium deposit and significant
copper and gold reserves.
Major
Players
The
sector is dominated by several multinational giants
and significant domestic players:
BHP:
Often ranked as Australia's most valuable company;
major interests in iron ore, copper, and coal.
Rio
Tinto: A world leader in iron ore (Pilbara) and aluminum.
Fortescue
(FMG): Primarily focused on iron ore and rapidly expanding
into green energy.
Hancock
Prospecting: Australia's largest private mining company,
led by Gina Rinehart, the nation's wealthiest person.
South32:
Spun out of BHP; manages a diversified portfolio including
manganese, silver, and nickel.
2026
Trends & Developments
Critical
Minerals Push: The government has introduced a $23
billion package to support domestic processing and
manufacturing of critical minerals to reduce global
reliance on single-country supply chains.
Uranium
Rally: Prices exceeding US$100/lb have sparked renewed
interest in Australian prospects like the Kalkaroo
project.
M&A
Activity: Major merger talks continue between giants
like Rio Tinto and Glencore as they seek to consolidate
copper exposure for the EV market.
Workforce
Challenges: The Minerals Council of Australia is currently
calling for migration reforms to address a significant
"skills crunch" in the sector.
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
The
Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Money INC vs Right To Censor
Santa vs Grinch
Bulls vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
White Light vs Dark Matter
Lexis King vs NIL's (WWE NXT)
Volk vs Naysayers (UFC: Sydney, Australia)
Brock Lesnar vs Everyone! (WWE Royal Rumble)
Roman Reigns vs CM Punk (WWE WrestleMania)
Green vs The Coal Miners Daughter
AC/DC vs Swifties
Triangle v World Bank
Sarah's Oil vs Big Oil
Mr X vs Mr VOX
Mr X vs Mr Platformer
Mr FOX vs Mr Vice
Fox And The Hound vs The View
The Masked Superstar vs Mr Jones
The Undertaker vs Mankind
UFC Legends vs Father Time
Vinnie Vegas and Oz vs Los Americanos
NXT GM vs The Don
Mr Moneymaker vs Mr Regulator
Mr Blockchain vs Mr EU
WWE Unreal vs The Old Guard
Reality TV vs John Pilger Type Journalism and Docos
Mr Real Deal vs Mr Grifter
Mr Truth vs Mr Shock Jock
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky: Rematch
WWE Wrestlers vs NFL Super Bowl Players
Logan Paul and Bad Bunny vs Jake Paul and The Don
- Special ref: Damian Priest
Kelly Gang vs Snow White Clan
BKFC vs PFL vs ONE
Mr Sky vs Mr Vice
Marvel Universe vs DC Universe vs Monster Universe
Markets,
Cryptos and Culture
Sydney,
Australia to Wall Street, New York
February
7, 2026
Black
Friday In The USA Sees Some Light Arrive; Crypto True
Believers Rejoince And Regain Some Lost Ground
Australians
See Yanks Regain Some Smiles
"All
That Glitters"
Sorting
Pure Gold From Fools Gold?!
Who
Is Putting The Crypto And Market Strings?
Roller
Coaster Ride Continues Into The Weekend ...
"All
That Glitters" Edition: Part 6
"Gold"
(Spandau Ballet)
"You
Got the Silver" (The Rolling Stones)
"Goldfinger"
(Shirley Bassey)
"Mercy,
Mercy, Mercy" (The Wolf Of Wall Street theme)
Cannonball Adderley
"Stretch
Your Face" (TOBACCO). Silicon Valley theme
"Diamonds"
(Rihanna)
"Falling
Down" (1993). (James Newton Howard)
"Every
1's a Winner" (Hot Chocolate)
"Still
Humble" (def rebel)
"Clubbed
to Death". (The Matrix theme). Kurayamino Mix.
(Rob D)
"Bulls
on Parade" (Rage Against the Machine)
Markets
ASX
200 futures up 102 points/1.2% to 8749
AUD +1.4% to US70.21¢
BTC $71,212.23 +11.54%
Wall St:
Dow +2.5%
S&P +2%
NAS +2.2%
VIX -4.01 to 17.76
Gold +3.9% to $US4963.65 an ounce
Silver 77.978 +7.14 +10.08%
Oil +0.6% to $US67.93 a barrel
Iron ore -1.6% to $US99.00 a ton
News
Crypto:
too early to be greedy
Market
Overview
The
crypto market cap has lost more than 8% in the last
24 hours to $2.22T, dropping to $2.09T at its lowest
point. The Crypto fell below last April's lows and
rolled back to levels last seen in September 2024.
The market did not hold on to the strong line that
had served as support and resistance for more than
two years. Either this is a switch to panic mode,
or we saw a short-term overreaction during a period
of reduced liquidity, and cryptocurrencies will partially
rebound in the coming days.
The
sentiment index fell to 9, where it was last seen
in June 2022. In general, reaching single-digit levels
is a very rare occurrence. At the same time, we warn
again that such oversold conditions may be followed
by months of consolidation or bottoming out. Thus,
in 2022, the market only bottomed out in November,
falling by about a quarter, and the momentum for growth
only appeared in January.
Bitcoin,
at its lowest point at the start of trading on Friday,
fell to $60K, ending up just one step away from its
200-week moving average, which is just below $58K.
Bitcoin only fell below this line in 2022 and the
following year, 2023. Before that, in 2015, 2019,
and 2020, touching this line effectively stopped the
sell-off, attracting buyers.
News
Background
The
collapse of the crypto market reflects a decline in
interest in digital assets at the institutional and
regulatory levels, according to Deutsche Bank. Three
factors are putting pressure on Bitcoin: a steady
outflow of institutional investor funds, changes in
traditional Bitcoin market relationships, and the
loss of regulatory momentum that previously supported
liquidity and reduced volatility.
The
collapse of Bitcoin was caused by the actions of large
market participants, not panic among private investors,
said technical analyst Peter Brandt. In his opinion,
the nature of the movement, when BTC updated its lows
for eight days in a row, has all the signs of a “planned
sell-off.”
Tension
was heightened by unconfirmed rumours of a $9 billion
sale of bitcoins by a Galaxy Digital client.
Stifel
admits that bitcoin could collapse to $38K due to
the high correlation of cryptocurrencies with the
falling US tech sector.
According
to DeFiLlama, the net inflow of funds to Binance over
the past 24 hours amounted to almost $700 million.
The data refuted rumours circulating on social media
about mass withdrawals and account closures after
Binance reported technical problems with withdrawals
on February 3rd.
According
to Bloomberg, there is still disagreement in the US
over the Clarity Act. The current version of the document
prohibits the accrual of interest for staking. Crypto
companies are making new concessions to US banks,
but the parties have not yet reached an agreement.
(FxPro)
News
Gold
News
Gold
tries to prove that the bull trend is not yet broken
After the most significant sell-off since 1980, gold
is attempting to stabilise. Bears argue that the bubble
has burst and events will unfold as they did in 2011.
Back then, after falling from record highs, the precious
metal entered a multi-year downtrend. Bank of America
notes that volatility remains elevated. This allows
us to talk about gold as a speculative asset and reduces
central banks' demand for bullion. This is especially
true given some recovery of confidence in the US dollar.
Bulls
argue that the fundamentals of the gold market remain
intact. US government debt is growing rapidly, which
devalues Treasuries and the greenback. Political and
geopolitical risks remain high. The Fed will resume
its cycle of policy easing. Also, precious metals
do not seem expensive at these levels. The Dow Jones
index exceeded its value by 1.3 times in 1980, and
during the dot-com crisis, its ratio soared above
40. Currently, it is just over 10.
Events
at the end of last week unfolded too quickly. By the
close of last week, the collapse had reached historic
proportions, leaving scars on the market at the start
of February. Formally, we see the week closing in
positive territory and an impressive rebound of $550
from Monday's lows. It is also worth mentioning that
the price reached these levels for the first time
just two weeks ago. Nevertheless, we remain in the
bear camp, assuming that the three-year bull market
has already been broken. We may see attempts to grow
and even break through $5000, but we expect that too
many will sell gold at these levels/ (FxPro)
News
UK/Europe
News
The
Bank of England sank the pound
Markets
now pricing the BoE will cut its rate in March.
Neither
slowing inflation nor the strength of the euro scared
the ECB.
While
the ECB decided to support its currency, the Bank
of England deliberately sank the pound. Both regulators
left rates unchanged, but this is a dovish pause.
Four out of nine MPC members voted to cut the repo
rate from 3.75% to 3.5%, while markets had expected
only two.
Andrew
Bailey noted that there is an even chance of the next
rate cut next month, as inflation is sure to fall
significantly. As a result, the futures market raised
the probability of such an outcome from 20% to 60%,
pressuring GBPUSD.
The
ECB showed much more mercy to the euro. On the eve
of the Governing Council meeting, investors were concerned
that the slowdown in inflation in the eurozone to
1.7% in January and the 13% strengthening of the euro
against the USD over the past year would provoke ‘dovish’
rhetoric from Christine Lagarde.
But
eventually, she noted that the ECB would not make
decisions based on a single data point and that the
strengthening of the euro was already factored into
its forecasts. EURUSD bulls breathed a sigh of relief.
They were helped by disappointing data on the US economy.
In 2025, it created 1 million fewer jobs than in 2024.
According
to Challenger, layoffs are occurring at the fastest
pace since the global economic crisis of 2008-2009.
ADP is signalling a slowdown in employment, and unemployment
claims are exceeding forecasts. The Fed has already
cut rates three times pre-emptively in response to
signs of a cooling jobs market. If the negative trends
continue, the monetary easing will resume earlier
than expected. After a series of disappointing reports,
derivatives have raised the odds of an April rate
cut to 40%. If the BLS employment statistics bring
an unpleasant surprise, they could rise to 50%, which
is bearish for the US dollar.
It
is hard to say how the greenback will react to the
armed conflict in the Middle East. The erosion of
confidence in it due to Donald Trump's policies has
led to the loss of its status as the main safe-haven
asset. Gold has taken its place. However, the January-February
sell-off of the precious metal and rumours of a burst
bubble could change everything. Will the US dollar
regain its former glory? (FxPro)
News
The
Lead Up
24
Hours Ago
ASX
snaps two-day winning run as silver tumbles
The
Australian sharemarket snapped a two-day winning streak
on Thursday, with the S&P/ASX 200 closing down
38.60 points to 8889.20, while the price of silver
tumbled by 15 per cent. Silver miner South32 declined
4 per cent to $4.60, while BHP fell 3.9 per cent to
$50.36. Gold miner Genesis Materials declined by six
per cent to $6.87 and uranium miner Paladin Energy
slumped nine per cent to $12.36, while stocks to rise
included the Commonwealth Bank, which rose 1.4 per
cent to $159.28, and Regal Partners, up 5.1 per cent
to $3.07. (RMS)
News
Lead Up
ASX
rises as miners rally; Yancoal soars 9pc
The
Australian sharemarket posted a strong gain on Wednesday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.8 per cent to close
at 8,927.8 points. BHP rose 4.5 per cent to $52.40,
Northern Star Resources was up 6.2 per cent at $28.55
and Woodside Energy advanced 3.1 per cent to $25.84.
However, Origin Energy was down 3.6 per cent at $11.12
and Synlait Milk shed 13.5 per cent to end the session
at $0.45.
News
Lead Up
24
Hours + Ago
Miners
Glencore
soothes Rio concerns with US deal
Glencore
has secured a preliminary, non-binding agreement to
sell a 40 per cent stake in its Mutanda and Kamoto
copper mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The deal was struck just days before the expiry of
a deadline for Rio Tinto and Glencore to finalise
their proposed merger or extend the negotiations.
The consortium that will buy a minority stake in the
two copper mines is headed by Orion Resource Partners,
in which the US government has a stake. Rio Tinto
has concerns about the two mines' links to Israeli
businessman Dan Gertler, who was sanctioned by the
US government in late 2017.
News
NYSE
The
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) saw mixed performance
during the latest trading session on February 4, 2026.
While the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.52%
to close at 49,501.30, the broader NYSE Composite
Index edged up just 0.41% to finish at 22,975.59.
In contrast, tech-heavy indices like the Nasdaq and
S&P 500 faced pressure, sliding 1.5% and 0.5%
respectively as investors rotated out of major software
and semiconductor names.
Recent
Market Trends (February 2026)
Rotation
out of Tech: Investors are increasingly moving capital
from high-valuation AI and software companies into
"real economy" Dow components.
Active
IPO Market: Veradermics Inc (MANE) made a massive
debut on the NYSE on February 5, 2026, with shares
soaring 118% from their $17.00 IPO price.
Semiconductor
Consolidation: Texas Instruments announced the acquisition
of Silicon Laboratories for $7.5 billion, causing
SLAB shares to surge nearly 50%.
Healthcare
Volatility: Eli Lilly shares jumped 10% after strong
Q4 results, helping the company reclaim a $1 trillion
market cap, even as other healthcare firms like Novo
Nordisk slumped on cautious outlooks.
Market
Outlook and Valuations
As
of early February 2026, major Wall Street analysts
remain generally optimistic for the year, projecting
total returns for the S&P 500 of approximately
6% to 11% by year-end.
Current
valuations suggest that the U.S. equity market is
trading at roughly a 5% discount to fair value estimates,
with small-cap and late-cycle technology stocks identified
as especially attractive. However, experts warn that
elevated volatility is likely to persist due to shifting
government policies and potential risks in the AI
sector.
News
Lead Up
24
Hours Ago +
Crypto
market updates local lows
Market
Overview
The
crypto market cap fell 2.2% to $2.59 trillion, briefly
touching $2.49 trillion, and is continuing its descent
to last April's lows. Solana was hit particularly
hard by the sell-off among the top coins, losing 6.8%
compared to 2.9% for Bitcoin and 1.6% for Ethereum.
Tron outperformed the market, gaining 1% on the day
and losing only 2.3% over 7 days and 2.8% over 30
days, compared to a 14.5% and 18.1% decline in total
cap, respectively.
Bitcoin
broke through its 2025 lows on Tuesday and briefly
fell below $73,000, back to its early November 2024
lows. Although there has been some rebound since the
start of Wednesday, the sequence of lower local highs
and lows indicates that selling on the rise prevails
in the markets. Bulls, for their part, may point to
oversold conditions on the RSI and divergence, where
a lower local price low corresponds to a higher local
low on the relative strength index. There were two
such instances in 2024 and 2025, followed by gains
of more than 20% and 60%, respectively. However, during
the 2020 bear market, such signals did not work. News
Background
Demand
in the BTC spot market is drying up, with additional
pressure from stablecoin outflows from trading platforms.
Uncertainty surrounding the Fed's policy and the possible
appointment of Kevin Warsh threaten to strengthen
the dollar. This has a negative impact on risky assets,
according to Arctic Digital.
There
are no catalysts for growth in the crypto market,
and selling pressure remains. In such conditions,
Bitcoin risks falling to $56,000-58,000, according
to Galaxy Digital.
The
current crypto winter is closer to its end than its
beginning, according to Bitwise. The crypto market
is nearing the end of its decline phase, according
to Compass Point. The base scenario assumes that BTC
will bottom out in the $60,000-68,000 range.
According
to a JPMorgan survey, asset managers from 30 countries
around the world are betting on artificial intelligence,
leaving cryptocurrencies out of the picture. Only
17% of respondents consider digital assets to be a
key topic.
The
German division of ING Bank has opened access to exchange-traded
notes (ETNs) focused on cryptocurrencies to retail
clients. The instruments allow investors to invest
in Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana through the familiar
banking interface. (FxPro)
News
Gold
Gold
inflates a new bubble
The
US dollar may suffer because of Kevin Warsh
Gold
volatility remains elevated
The
drop of US stock indices amid new developments in
artificial intelligence has caused the US dollar to
retreat. Software stocks have been hit hardest by
Anthropic's innovations. The US market no longer looks
as exceptional as it once did, with investors tending
to diversify their portfolios and sell off American
stocks. Coupled with a reassessment of Kevin Warsh's
views as Fed chairman, this brings back interest in
buying EURUSD. The futures market gives a 59% probability
of a federal funds rate cut in June and expects two
acts of monetary expansion before the end of the year.
MUFG Bank notes that Kevin Warsh is respected by the
markets. Donald Trump's choice in his favour has eased
concerns about the Fed losing its independence and
boosted confidence in the US dollar. However, the
former FOMC official intends to cut rates. Rumours
are growing on Forex that they will fall by 100-125
basis points. The Fed is not a one-man show. It will
require a change in the economic outlook of the majority
of the Open Market Committee, and this process is
already underway. According to Richmond Fed President
Thomas Barkin, companies are not raising prices due
to customer resistance. They are absorbing the tariffs.
This is good news for inflation. The US economy is
growing thanks to the artificial intelligence ecosystem
and serving wealthy customers. The retreat of the
US dollar has strengthened investors' desire to buy
gold after the slump. Political and geopolitical tensions
remain high, fuelling interest in gold as a safe-haven
asset. In percentage terms, the precious metal recorded
its largest daily gain since March 2009. At that time,
investors were actively buying it due to the global
economic crisis. However, Bank of America warns that
there was no decline in volatility after gold collapsed
on Black Friday, 30 January. The indicator continues
to remain at high levels, increasing the risks of
a new bubble forming. As the parliamentary elections
approach, hedge funds are increasing their sales of
the yen. If the Liberal Democratic Party strengthens
its position in the lower house, interest in ‘Takaichi
trade’ will return, inspiring USDJPY bulls. (FxPro)
News
The
Lead Up
24
+ Hours Ago ...
Cryptos
Very
limited rebound in crypto
Market
Overview
The
crypto market capitalisation grew by 1.7% in 24 hours
to $2.65 trillion. Once again, the positive sentiment
in global financial markets came to the rescue of
crypto. BNB is leading the rebound, benefiting from
the support of the founder of Binance and Doge, which
was mentioned again by Musk. At the same time, local
resistance has formed in the market at $2.65-2.68
trillion, where the rebound has been losing momentum
since the beginning of the month.
Bitcoin
is trading above $78K, about 5% higher than Monday's
lows, but hitting resistance from 1 February. This
limited rebound is causing bearish sentiment about
the immediate prospects for Bitcoin and the whole
crypto market. News Background
According
to CoinShares, global investment in crypto funds fell
by $1.696 billion last week, following an outflow
of $1.732 billion the week before. Investments in
Bitcoin fell by $1.321 billion, in Ethereum by $308
million, in XRP by $44 million, in Solana by $32 million,
and in multi-asset funds by $14 million.
The
options market indicates that investors are beginning
to form positions in anticipation of a local bottom.
Long-term Bitcoin investors have moved into unrealised
losses, which allows the market to transition into
an ‘extremely bearish’ phase, according
to CryptoQuant. The market has also been negatively
affected by a persistent lack of liquidity for several
months.
Bernstein
expects the crypto market decline to end when Bitcoin
reaches the highs of the previous cycle in the $60,000
range. The subsequent reversal will lay the foundation
for the ‘most significant cycle’ for BTC.
Meanwhile,
Bloomberg Intelligence strategist Mike McGlone reiterated
his forecast for the current year, according to which
Bitcoin could fall to $10,000. In his opinion, the
current year may resemble the crisis years of 2008
and 2000-2001.
Corporate
Ethereum holders suffered a major loss after the asset's
value fell. According to BitMineTracker, the ‘paper’
losses of BitMine, the largest holder of the second-largest
cryptocurrency, amounted to $6.95 billion. Investor
Ross Gerber called this ETH purchase potentially ‘the
worst deal in history.’
Hong
Kong-based Trend Research has already begun to reduce
its positions, selling 33,589 ETH ($79 million) at
a loss. Japanese financial holding company Nomura
is also reducing its investments in cryptocurrencies.
However, Strategy continues to buy, acquiring another
855 BTC ($75.3 million) over the past week at an average
price of $87,974. (FxPro)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
The
Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Money
INC vs Right To Censor
Santa
vs Grinch
Bulls
vs Bears
Crypto
King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens
vs NWO
Neo
vs Agent Smith
John
McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO
vs Naysayers
Jake
Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
White Light vs Dark Matter
Lexis King vs NIL's (WWE NXT)
Volk vs Naysayers (UFC: Sydney, Australia)
Brock Lesnar vs Everyone! (WWE Royal Rumble)
Roman Reigns vs CM Punk (WWE WrestleMania)
Green vs The Coal Miners Daughter
AC/DC vs Swifties
Triangle v World Bank
Sarah's Oil vs Big Oil
Mr X vs Mr VOX
Mr X vs Mr Platformer
Mr FOX vs Mr Vice
Fox And The Hound vs The View
The Masked Superstar vs Mr Jones
The Undertaker vs Mankind
UFC Legends vs Father Time
Vinnie Vegas and Oz vs Los Americanos
NXT GM vs The Don
Mr Moneymaker vs Mr Regulator
Mr Blockchain vs Mr EU
WWE Unreal vs The Old Guard
Reality TV vs John Pilger Type Journalism and Docos
Mr Real Deal vs Mr Grifter
Mr Truth vs Mr Shock Jock
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky: Rematch
Markets,
Cryptos And Culture
February
2, 2026
Sydney,
Australia to Wall Street, New York
"All
That Glitters" Edition
"Gold"
(Spandau Ballet)
"You Got the Silver" (The Rolling Stones)
"Goldfinger" (Shirley Bassey)
"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" (The Wolf Of Wall
Street theme) Cannonball Adderley
"Stretch Your Face" (TOBACCO). Silicon Valley
theme
"Diamonds" (Rihanna)
"Falling Down" (1993). (James Newton Howard)
"Every 1's a Winner" (Hot Chocolate)
"Still Humble" (def rebel)
"Clubbed to Death". (The Matrix theme).
Kurayamino Mix. (Rob D)
Markets
ASX
futures down 60 points/0.7% to 8809
AUD +0.2% at US69.71¢
Bitcoin $78,107.72 -0.94%
Dow -0.4%
S&P -0.4%
Nasdaq -0.9%
Gold -8.9% to $US4894.23 an ounce
Silver 84.634 -31.16 -26.91%
Brent oil +0.1% at $US68.38 a barrel
Iron ore -0.9% at $US103.85 a ton
Numbers
Double Check
Australian
Dollar: $0.6949 USD (down $0.0076 USD) Iron Ore: $103.55
USD (down $0.95 USD)
Iron Ore: $103.85 USD (down $0.93 USD)
Oil Price (WTI): $65.21 USD (down $0.26 USD)
Gold Price: $4,893.20 USD (down $405.49 USD)
Copper Price: $5.9670 USD (down $0.2165 USD)
Dow Jones: 48,892.47 (down 179.09 points)
News
ASX
set to fall as investors expect RBA to raise rates
Futures
pricing suggests that Australian equities will shed
about 0.7 per cent when the market opens on Monday,
following a negative lead from Wall Street. The Reserve
Bank's monetary policy board meeting on Tuesday will
be the key focus for local investors in the coming
week, with financial markets now pricing in a 74 per
cent chance of an interest rate rise. Investors will
also be closely watching movements in the price of
gold and silver; both precious metals fell sharply
on Friday, as the Trump administration confirmed that
it will nominate Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell
as the chairman of the Federal Reserve. The S&P/ASX
200 shed 0.6 per cent to close at 8,869.1 points on
Friday, although it gained 1.8 per cent in January.
(RMS)
News
Crypto
News
Feb
2
The
cryptocurrency market is experiencing significant
downward pressure as of early February 2026. Bitcoin
(BTC) has seen sharp declines, trading around $77,000–$78,000
(down roughly 1.5–2% in the last 24 hours and
more over the past week), following a weekend sell-off
that triggered liquidations and erased recent gains.
This extends from highs earlier in the cycle, with
analysts warning of potential further downside, possibly
testing $75,000 or lower in a corrective phase, amid
cooling institutional demand and macro factors like
Fed policy speculation and commodity sell-offs (e.g.,
silver).Major altcoins are also hit hard: Ethereum
(ETH) is down around 10% recently, hovering near $2,300–$2
,400.
XRP has dropped about 11%.
Other
assets like Solana, Litecoin, and Cardano are seeing
similar 9–12% declines in recent sessions.
Overall
crypto liquidations have exceeded $2.5 billion in
short periods, with leverage unwinds contributing
to the volatility. Bitcoin ETFs have recorded substantial
outflows (around $6 billion cited in reports), signaling
reduced institutional enthusiasm temporarily.
News
Miners
Energy/Resources
Australia
and World
Cracks
in Glencore, Rio merger plans
Rio
Tinto investors are contemplating a potential $340
billion merger with Glencore that is motivated by
a wish to own Glencore's copper assets. With financial
information firm S&P Global having recently predicted
that copper demand will jump from 28 million tonnes
last year to 42 million tonnes by 2040, big mining
companies like Rio and BHP are all trying to get access
to copper resources. Glencore has pledged to almost
double its copper production by 2035 to 1.6 million
tonnes, but the discovery of an ancient ceramic pot
in a remote part of the Argentinian Andes last year
could potentially harm that forecast. It was discovered
at the site of a $US9.4 billion ($13.4 billion) copper
mine known as El Pachon that Glencore is hoping to
develop, and it serves as a timely reminder that mines
such as it will need to be approved, funded and built
rapidly if Glencore is to meet its targets. (RMS)
News
Rio,
Chinalco team up on $1.3b Brazil deal
Rio
Tinto and the Aluminium Corporation of China (Chinalco)
have acquired a 68.6 per cent stake in Companhia Brasileira
de Aluminio for almost $US902.1 million ($1.3 billion).
The Brazilian company owns electricity generators,
bauxite mines, alumina refineries and aluminium smelters,
with Rio and Chinalco also partners in Guinea's Simandou
iron ore project. The deal comes a week before Rio
is due to consummate or extend merger discussions
with Glencore, whose aluminium division includes bauxite
mining and alumina refining assets in Brazil. (RMS)
News
Glencore
courted Blair's key man
The
latest release of the Jeffrey Epstein files by the
US Department of Justice have revealed interesting
emails in the lead-up to Glencore's 2011 public listing
on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges. The emails
show that ex-UK cabinet minister Peter Mandelson touted
his potential as a possible chairman of Glencore to
the mining company's then CEO Ivan Glasenberg, and
that Glasenberg appeared to lobby for Mandelson to
get the job. Mandelson did not end up succeeding in
his bid to become Glencore chairman, but his lobbying
firm Global Counsel reportedly won lucrative work
advising Glencore on international political issues.
(RMS)
News
Teammates
still kicking the big goals
Sierra
Nevada Gold was recently awarded an exploration permits
in Saudi Arabia, as was Australia's richest person,
Gina Rinehart. She has an estimated fortune of about
$46.3bn, while Sierra Nevada Gold has a market capitalisation
of just $16m. It is run by former VFL champion Peter
Moore, who won two Brownlow medals during his career,
along with playing in four losing grand finals for
Collingwood; he said Sierra Nevada Gold's success
in securing an exploration permit indicated that the
Saudis were not as worried about a firm's bank balance
as they were about its expertise. (RMS)
News
Inside
WA Police's elite gold squad
Western
Australia is home to the world's only specialised
gold-stealing detection unit, although the Kalgoorlie-based
police section is more commonly referred to as "The
Gold Squad". Its $390,000 annual operating expenses
are funded by 15 gold mining companies and the Perth
Mint, with gold squad Detective Sergeant Graham Baylor
saying a lot of its work is intelligence-based. At
a current price of around $7,620 per ounce, stealing
even a small amount of gold can mean a big windfall
for thieves, so he says it is surprising that the
record price of gold has not led to a jump in gold-related
crime, (RMS)
News
Latimore
to hit Nasdaq with minerals venture
Billionaire
Brisbaned-based businessman Matt Latimore will list
his coal trading business M Resources on the US Nasdaq
after raising $US270 million ($386 million). M Resources'
main asset is Illawarra Metallurgical Coal, which
operates two mines south of Sydney, while it also
trades in materials such as graphite and lithium.
Latimore founded M Resources in 2011, with its revenue
rising from $1.3 billion in 2024 to $1.5 billion last
year, boosting its profit by almost 15 per cent to
$109 million, while he expects strong demand for metallurgical
coal for decades to come, with steel makers so far
unable to find a cost-effective lower carbon alternative.
(RMS)
News
Kambalda's
future unclear on 60th anniversary of nickel discovery
It
was 60 years ago this week that nickel was discovered
on the edge of a salt lake at Kambalda in Western
Australia. However, the future of nickel mining at
Kambalda remains very uncertain, after the WA nickel
sector collapsed in 2024, with three underground mines
at Kambalda being among the casualties. More than
1.6 million tonnes of nickel has been mined from Kambalda
over its history, while 24 nickel mines have operated
in the Kambalda district in the past 60 years. Mining
magnate Andrew Forrest will have a big say in Kambalda's
future prosperity, with his private company Wyloo
completed a $760 million takeover of Kambalda nickel
miner Mincor Resources in 2023, but barely six months
later its mines were shut. Dewatering operations are
continuing around the clock so the mines do not flood,
enabling a future restart, though Zoran Seat from
Wyloo could not say when that might be. (RMS)
News
Gas
crisis on horizon if no intervention
State
and federal energy ministers are assessing whether
to give new "last resort" powers to the
Australian Energy Market Operator in an attempt to
avoid gas supply shortfalls set to hit southern states
from 2028. Modelling undertaken by Acil Allen has
found wholesale spot gas prices would double to over
$20 a gigajoule across the east coast gas market if
no changes are made to current market settings, but
Australian Energy Producers, which represents major
oil and gas suppliers, said the proposal to give AEMO
new powers risks undermining the objectives of the
Gas Market Review. (RMS)
News
Roy
Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Outlet Of The
Month' award
Sky
News Australia wins Media Man 'News Company Of The
Month' award
The
Australian Financial Review wins Media Man 'Newspaper
Of The Month' award
Netflix
wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of the Month' award
WWE
wins Media Man 'Wrestling Promotion Of The Month'
award
Mack
Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Brand Of The Month' award
Caterpillar
wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Company Of The Month'
award
RAM
wins Media Man 'Light Truck Of The Month' award
Gina
Rinehart wins Media Man 'Mining Disruptor Of The Month'
award
Jim's
Mowing wins Media Man 'Australian Business Of The
Month' award
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
The
Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Santa vs Grinch
Bulls vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
White Light vs Dark Matter
Lexis King vs NIL's (WWE NXT)
Volk vs Naysayers (UFC: Sydney, Australia)
Brock Lesnar vs Everyone! (WWE Royal Rumble)
Money Inc vs Right To Censor
Mad Men vs Queer Eye
Sky News Australia vs Woke Media
FOX vs The Hound
Polymarket vs Underground Bookies
Markets,
Cryptos and Culture
January
2026
Jan
27
Sydney,
Australia re-opens
to
Wall Street, New York
Media
Man's X Returns With A Bang
Gold
Glitters And Crypto's Start To Shine Edition
"Ruby
Tuesday" In Sin City Sydney
"Tuesday's Gone" Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Gold" Spandau Ballet
"Stretch Your Face" Silicon_Valley theme
(Tobacco. Composer)
"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"(Cannonball Adderley).
The Wolf of Wall Street theme
Markets
ASX
200 futures up 52 points/0.6% to 8880
AUD +0.4% to US69.18¢
BTC $88,344.02 +0.64%
Wall
St:
Dow +0.8%
S&P +0.6%
NAS +0.5%
VIX -0.26 to 15.83
Gold +1.1% to $US5043.71 oz
Oil -0.4% to $US65.61 a barrel
Iron -1% to $US103.55 a ton
10-year
yield: US 4.21% Aust 4.81%
Cryptos
The
crypto market rose due to dollar weakness
Market
Overview
The
crypto market cap has fallen by 5% over the past seven
days. The decline resumed at the start of the new
week, with total capitalisation falling to $2.9T amid
slippage in an illiquid market. In recent hours, however,
positive momentum has prevailed, bringing the market
back to $2.97T due to the weakness of the US dollar
and global purchases of risky assets. But even now,
cryptocurrencies remain a lagging class of risk-sensitive
assets, falling short of metals and the strongest
global currencies.
Bitcoin
hit a low for the day near $86K, its lowest level
since December. After that, the market received support
from the weak dollar, which, like a tide, lifted all
boats at once. The technical bearish picture remains
relevant, despite the gains in recent hours. BTC remains
below its key moving average lines and has not attempted
to break through the support of the last two months.
News Background
Outflows
from spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US over the past shortened
week nearly offset the previous week's inflows, reaching
their highest level in almost 11 months. According
to SoSoValue, net outflows from spot BTC ETFs amounted
to $1.33 billion. Net weekly outflows from spot Ethereum
ETFs in the US exceeded $611 million.
Bitcoin
holders began to record net losses for the first time
since October 2023, signalling the asset's entry into
an ‘early bear market.’ Bitcoin is now trading
below the acquisition price of 75% of the total supply,
signalling growing pressure from sellers, Glassnode
notes.
The
main reason for BTC's weakness is large-scale sales
by long-term holders, rather than concerns about quantum
computing, according to Checkonchain.
Activity
on the Ethereum mainnet has exceeded that of layer
2 (L2) solutions since the Fusaka upgrade. Token Terminal
has called this trend a ‘return to the mainnet.’
At the same time, there has been an outflow of liquidity
from ‘add-ons.’
The
adoption of cryptocurrencies by banks, large corporations
and investment companies is no longer an ‘optional
or peripheral’ process, notes auditing firm PwC
in its report on global cryptocurrency regulation
for 2026. ‘Institutional participation has passed
the point of no return.’
DAT
companies accumulating cryptocurrencies on their balance
sheets will face ‘severe consolidation’
in the coming year — only a few of the largest
players with Bitcoin and Ethereum on their balance
sheets will survive, warns Pantera Capital. (FxPro)
News
Interventions
spooked the dollar
Rumours
of coordinated intervention caused the USD index to
plummet.
The
risk of a new shutdown is putting pressure on the
greenback.
The
US dollar started in the last week of January with
a down gap amid investor fears of coordinated currency
intervention. Japan's Deputy Finance Minister Atsushi
Mimura said that the authorities would respond to
speculative actions on the Forex in close cooperation
with the US. In 1985, such cooperation ended in a
spectacular collapse of the USD. Will we see history
repeat itself?
Politics
is encroaching on the economy. Donald Trump intends
to use non-market methods to lower the key policy
rate by replacing the Fed chair and filling the FOMC
with doves. The US president has repeatedly spoken
out in favour of a weaker currency, which would increase
the competitiveness of American manufacturers. Tokyo's
interest in strengthening the yen to lower import
prices and slow inflation is being exploited by Washington
for its own purposes.
Countries
are forced to respond to the uncertainty of Donald
Trump's policies and the associated slowdown in economic
growth with fiscal stimulus measures. According to
Apollo Global Management estimates, government support
measures will accelerate GDP growth in the US and
Germany by 1 percentage point in 2026 and in Japan
by 0.5 percentage points. This leads to an increase
in public debt. The Germans can afford this, which
has a positive effect on the EURUSD.
Pressure
on the US dollar has intensified due to the growing
risks of another shutdown. Dissatisfied with the shootings
in Minneapolis, Democrats are not going to vote for
the government funding package without serious changes
to the national security system. The government risks
being sidelined again, which will negatively affect
GDP growth. The same goes for the devastating winter
storm, which could bring hardship to nearly 200 million
Americans. Already, 11,900 flights have been cancelled
at airports from Dallas to Boston, and about 900,000
consumers are without power.
In
2025, the US economy managed to withstand tariffs
and the shutdown thanks to investments in artificial
intelligence, productivity growth and the wealth effect.
However, will it be resilient in 2026? If not, the
US dollar risks weakening.
Gold
was the main beneficiary of the fall in the USD index.
Its price rose by 17% so far this year and is approaching
$5,100 per ounce. (FxPro)
News
Jan
27
Gold
and silver mania lifts ASX to 3-month peak
The
Australian sharemarket climbed to a three-month high
on Tuesday as investors returned from the long weekend
to surging precious metal prices, looking past the
noise of shifting US trade policies.
President
Donald Trump said in a social media post that he will
increase tariffs on South Korean goods, including
autos, from 15 per cent to 25 per cent as he accused
the ally’s legislature of “not living up”
to its trade deal with Washington.
The
S&P/ASX 200 Index gained 85.3 points, or 1 per
cent, to 8945.40, rebounding from last week’s
0.5 per cent loss. If sustained, it would be the index’s
biggest one-day rise this year.
Of
the 11 sectors, nine were in the green, led by materials
and energy.BHP leapt 2.9 per cent, regaining its position
as Australia’s most valuable listed company for
the first time in 18 months, unseating the Commonwealth
Bank, which managed a modest 0.6 per cent gain.
Miners
led the charge as gold and silver set fresh records.
Bullion hit $US5100 an ounce, and silver topped $US114
on Monday. As a result, Horizon Minerals jumped nearly
8 per cent, Alkane Resources leapt 3.9 per cent, and
Newmont rose 1.8 per cent.
Among
silver mines, Investigator Silver and Silver Mines
advanced 8.3 per cent each, while, Sun Silver pushed
up 6 per cent.Elsewhere, Rio Tinto gained 2.2 per
cent, and Capstone Copper was the biggest index gainer,
up 8 per cent.
In
the index-heavy financial area, all the big banks
were in the green, led by Macquarie Group, up 2 per
cent. National Australia Bank rose 1.3 per cent.
Family
app Life360 and mining group Alcoa were the two biggest
laggards, down more than 8 per cent.
In
currencies, the Australian dollar climbed to US69.40¢,
nearing its strongest level in three years, on growing
expectations the Reserve Bank will lift the cash rate
next month.
Higher
borrowing costs would boost the appeal of Australian-denominated
assets such as government bonds.
Also
supporting the Aussie was a broadly weaker greenback
on fears of a partial US government shutdown this
week.
Republicans
and Democrats are at odds over funding for the Department
of Homeland Security after the fatal shooting of a
second US citizen by federal immigration officers
in Minnesota. (AFR) *full coverage via subscription
to The Australian Financial Review
News
Jan
27
Stocks
Shares
in DroneShield cratered 6 per cent despite doubling
revenue in the December quarter, from a year ago.
Iron
ore giant Fortescue Metals rose 1.3 per cent after
sweeping up all remaining shares of dual-listed Alta
Copper at $C1.40 ($1.47) per share, as the mining
giant expands into the red metal.
Wholesaler
company Metcash rallied 1.2 per cent following the
appointment of Bruce Sabatta as the new chief executive
of its food service and convenience business, from
next month.
Brazil-focused
explorer and producer Karoon Energy trimmed early
gains and was trading flat despite posting a lower
output in the December quarter, from the September
period.
Jewellery
retailer Michael Hill International jumped 4 per cent
after reporting a stronger half-year profit than a
year ago despite record gold prices.
Insurer
group AUB was placed on a trading halt after launching
a $400 million institutional placement to finance
a UK acquisition.
Santos
leapt 3.1 per cent on news it had finally shipped
its first liquefied natural gas cargo from a delayed
Barossa project in the Timor Sea.
Health
tech group Cyclopharm soared 18 per cent after its
lung imaging technology received a major endorsement
from America’s top medical professionals.
News
Numbers
Double Check
Australian
Dollar: $0.6918 USD (up $0.0080 USD)
Iron Ore Feb Spot Price: $103.55 USD (down $0.10 USD)
Oil Price): $60.58 USD (up $1.25 USD)
Gold Price: $5,036.89 USD (up $117.01 USD)
Copper Price: $5.9240 USD (up $0.1240 USD)
Dow Jones: 49,446.27 (up 347.56 points on Friday's
close)
News/Profile
Wall
Street
Physical
Street and Landmark
Wall
Street is an eight-block-long street in the Financial
District of Lower Manhattan.
Location:
It runs between Broadway and South Street, ending
at the East River.
Key
Landmarks: It is home to the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) and Federal Hall National Memorial, where George
Washington was inaugurated.
History:
The name originates from a 17th-century defensive
wall built by Dutch settlers to protect New Amsterdam
from potential British or Native American attacks.
Financial
Industry Metonym
The
term is a metonym for the U.S. financial markets,
including stock exchanges, investment banks, and brokerage
firms.
Institutions:
Major firms associated with Wall Street include JPMorgan
Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley.
Current
Activity (January 2026):
As
of January 24, 2026, markets have seen volatility
following a week of "policy whiplash" related
to international tariff threats. Recent trading shows
the S&P 500 flat, while the Nasdaq has risen 0.3%
despite a 17% tumble in Intel stock.
Media
and Publications
The
Wall Street Journal: A premier business-focused international
newspaper headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.
Pop
Culture: The street’s high-stakes culture has
been immortalized in films like Oliver Stone’s
Wall Street (1987) and Martin Scorsese’s The
Wolf of Wall Street (2013).
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
Santa
vs Grinch
Bulls
vs Bears
Crypto
King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens
vs NWO
Neo
vs Agent Smith
John
McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO
vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
White Light vs Dark Matter
News
Pop
Culture
It’s
All About the Money [”The Million Dollar Man”
Ted DiBiase]
By
Jimmy Hart & J.J. Maguire
Intro
(Money,
money, money, money, money...)
[Verse
1]
(Money, money, money, money, money...)
Everybody's got a price
Everybody's gonna pay
(Money, money, money, money, money...)
Because the Million Dollar Man...
Always get his way
(Money, money, money, money, money...)
[Verse
2]
(Money, money, money, money, money...)
Some might cost a little
Some might cost a lot
(Money, money, money, money, money...)
But I'm the Million Dollar Man...
And you will be bought
(Money, money, money, money, money...)
[Outro]
(Money, money, money, money, money...)
News/Profile
Flashback
Vinnie
Vegas was a professional wrestling persona used by
the actor and retired professional wrestler Kevin
Nash from 1992 to 1993 in World Championship Wrestling
(WCW). This gimmick was a wisecracking pseudo-mobster
character, inspired by Steve Martin's character in
the 1990 film My Blue Heaven.
Career
Overview
WCW
Debut: Kevin Nash was repackaged as Vinnie Vegas on
January 21, 1992, at the event Clash of the Champions
XVIII.
Stables
and Tag Teams: He was initially part of a stable of
large wrestlers called "A Half-Ton of Holy Hell,"
managed by Harley Race. Later, he joined the "Diamond
Mine" stable led by Diamond Dallas Page, forming
a tag team known as the Vegas Connection. Other stablemates
included the future Scott Hall (Diamond Studd) and
Raven (Scotty Flamingo).
Departure
to WWF: The Vinnie Vegas character was not considered
successful due to a lack of character development
and inconsistent booking. Nash left WCW for the World
Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in June 1993,
where he achieved superstardom under the ring name
Diesel.
Later
Success: Nash later returned to WCW in 1996 and was
a founding member of the influential New World Order
(nWo) faction under his real name, Kevin Nash, and
the nickname "Big Sexy".
News/Profile
Flashback
Michael
Wall Street
"Michael
Wall Street" most commonly refers to Michael
Wallstreet, a ring name used by professional wrestler
Mike Rotunda (born 1958). It can also refer to Michael
Douglas, the actor famous for portraying the corporate
raider Gordon Gekko in the film Wall Street.
Professional
Wrestling (Mike Rotunda)
Mike
Rotunda adopted the persona of Michael Wallstreet
(and later V.K. Wallstreet) in World Championship
Wrestling (WCW) starting in 1990.
The
Gimmick: A wealthy "financial wizard" from
Lower Manhattan who used a computer (managed by Alexandra
York) to predict the length and outcome of his matches.
Signature
Moves: His finishing move was often called the "Stock
Market Crash".
Notable
Teams: He is also well-known for his time in the WWF
as Irwin R. Schyster (I.R.S.), where he teamed with
Ted DiBiase to form Money Inc..
Legacy:
Rotunda was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class
of 2024 as part of The U.S. Express.
Film
and Finance (Michael Douglas)
Gordon
Gekko: Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best
Actor for his role as Gordon Gekko in the 1987 film
Wall Street.
Cultural
Impact: The character became the archetypal symbol
of 1980s corporate greed, famous for the line "Greed,
for lack of a better word, is good".
Sequel:
Douglas reprised the role in the 2010 sequel, Wall
Street: Money Never Sleeps.
Current
Status (2026)
Mike
Rotunda: As of early 2026, Rotunda remains a respected
veteran in the wrestling industry. Recent reports
from late 2025 indicated he had been hospitalized
for a serious heart condition but was moved to a rehabilitation
center for recovery.
Michael
Douglas: He continues to be active in the entertainment
industry as an actor and producer.
Miners
Hancock
Prospecting
Hancock
Prospecting Pty Ltd is a privately owned Australian
company primarily involved in the mining of iron ore
and, increasingly, the agriculture sector. It is led
by Executive Chairwoman Gina Rinehart, Australia's
richest person.
Company
Overview
Founded:
25 November 1955 by Lang Hancock.
Headquarters: Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Ownership:
The company is privately held, with Gina Rinehart
owning the majority stake (76.6%).
Core
Business: Hancock Prospecting has evolved from purely
mineral exploration into a major producer, primarily
in iron ore and agriculture, and is considered one
of the most successful private mining companies in
the world.
Major
Projects and Investments
Hancock
Prospecting has a diverse portfolio of major projects
and strategic investments.
Roy
Hill: This is a mega integrated iron ore mine, rail,
and port project in the Pilbara region of Western
Australia, which is Australia's largest single iron
ore mine.
Hope
Downs: A significant iron ore project operated as
a 50/50 joint venture with Rio Tinto Iron Ore, which
includes four open-pit mines.
Atlas
Iron: Hancock Prospecting acquired Atlas Iron in 2018,
which operates several iron ore mines including Mount
Webber, Sanjiv Ridge, and Miralga Creek.
Agriculture:
Through its agribusiness division, Hancock Prospecting
is Australia's second-largest producer of beef with
ownership interests in numerous cattle stations and
a majority stake in S. Kidman & Co. It is also
a 50% partner in the award-winning Bannister Downs
Dairy.
Critical
Minerals and Energy: The company has diversified its
investments into other strategic commodities necessary
for the "green transition", including stakes
in publicly traded companies involved in:
Lithium:
Investments in Australian firms like Liontown Resources
and Azure Minerals, as well as Germany's Vulcan Energy
Resources.
Rare
Earths: Significant shareholdings in global rare earths
producers such as US-based MP Materials and Australia's
Lynas Rare Earths, as well as exploration-stage companies.
Copper,
Coal, Oil and Gas: Exploration and production interests
in these commodities across Australia and internationally,
including projects in Ecuador, Canada, and the UK.
Pop
Culture Flashback
Heart
Of Gold
Song by Neil Young ? 1972
Lyrics
I
want to live
I want to give
I've been a miner
For a heart of gold
It's
these expressions
I never give
That keep me searching
For a heart of gold
And I'm getting old
Keep me searching
For a heart of gold
And I'm getting old
I've
been to Hollywood
I've been to Redwood
I crossed the ocean
For a heart of gold
I've
been in my mind
It's such a fine line
That keeps me searching
For a heart of gold
And I'm getting old
Keeps me searching
For a heart of gold
And I'm getting old
Keep me searching
For a heart of gold
You
keep me searching
And I'm growing old
Keep me searching
For a heart of gold
I've been a miner
For a heart of gold
Markets,
Cryptos And Culture
January
2026
Digital
Bush Telegraph
Wrestling
With Numbers And Showbiz Edition; Mining For Intel!
Sin
City Sydney, Australia
Wednesday January 14
Past
High Noon Update
to
Wall
Street, New York
Lucky/Unlucky Tuesday January 13
ASX
futures up 5 points or 0.1% to 8789 near 6am AEST
AUD -0.4% at US66.85¢
Bitcoin $95,297.29 +4.38%
Dow -0.7% S&P -0.3% Nasdaq -0.3%
Gold +0.1% to $US4599.68 an ounce
Brent oil +2.9% at $US65.70 a barrel
Iron ore -0.9% at $US108.20 a ton
Numbers
Double Check
Australian
Dollar: $0.6680 USD (down $0.0033 USD) Iron Ore Feb
Spot Price: $108.20 USD (down $0.85 USD)
Oil Price: $61.11 USD (up $1.60 USD)
Gold Price: $4,582.10 USD (down $26.34 USD)
Copper Price: $6.0015 USD (down 0.0210 USD)
Dow Jones: 49,082.27 (down 507.93 points)
News
Shares
BHP
Group Ltd $48.02 +0.44 +0.91%
Elders
Ltd $7.49 +0.16 +2.11% (ASX)
Rio
Tinto plc ADR Common Stock $83.59 +0.71 +0.86%
Mineral
Resources ADR $39.49
TKO
Group Holdings Inc $208.89 +9.82 +4.94%
Tesla
Inc $447.20 -1.76 -0.39%
Trump
Media & Technology Group Corp
$13.99 +0.070 +0.50%
Palantir
Technologies Inc $178.96 -0.45 -0.25%
NVIDIA
Corp $185.81 +0.87 +0.47%
Netflix
Inc $90.32 +0.91+1.02%
Paramount
Skydance Corp $12.14 -0.0100 -0.082%
Alphabet
Inc Class A $335.97 +4.11 +1.24%
Microsoft
Corp $470.67 -6.51 -1.36%
Porsche
Automobile Holding SE Unsponsored Germany ADR $4.37
-0.026 -0.59%
Volvo
ADR $33.38 -0.51 -1.50% (Parent company of Mack Trucks)
Bally's
Corp $16.64 -0.0100 -0.060%
Wynn
Resorts Ltd $116.40 -0.44 -0.38%
MGM
Resorts International $34.65 -0.17 -0.49%
Red
Rock Resorts Inc $62.38 +0.51 +0.82%
News
Australia
ASX
rallies as copper surge boosts BHP, Rio
The
Australian sharemarket posted a solid gain on Tuesday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.6 per cent to close
at 8,808.5 points. The rising price of copper and
gold boosted the resources sector, with BHP up 2.3
per cent at $47.58 and Northern Star Resources ending
the session 3.6 per cent higher at $26.35. Suncorp
Group in turn finished one per cent higher at $17.26
and Austral advanced 6.7 per cent to $8.73. However,
Woodside Energy fell 1.7 per cent to $23.31 and GQG
Partners was down 8.6 per cent at $1.64. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
News
Mining
(Australia and World)
Rio
may finally land its Glencore megamerger
The
prospects of a merger between Rio Tinto and Glencore
may have been boosted by the former's appointment
of Simon Trott as CEO last year. He is like to be
more amenable to a deal than his predecessor, Jakob
Stausholm, who is said to have objected to Glencore's
proposal in previous merger talks that its CEO Gary
Nagle rather than himself should head the combined
group. Meanwhile, Rio Tinto's dual listing in Australia
and the UK may be a challenge in sealing a merger.
Glencore's coal mines are also likely to be problematic,
given that Rio Tinto has exited the sector and these
assets would conflict with its environmental, social
and governance policy. (RMS)
News
Crypto:
sell-the-growth continues
Market
Overview
The
crypto market capitalisation grew by 1% over the past
day and is down 1% from a week ago. Bitcoin received
a boost from reports of a criminal investigation against
the head of the Federal Reserve, which created momentum
for a flight from US assets. In our view, this precedent
is negative for risk appetite.
Bitcoin
jumped to $92,500 but saw a significant influx of
sellers, returning to $90,300 at the time of writing.
Testing of the 50-day moving average as support continues.
A slip below $90K could have a strong psychological
effect, quickly taking the price to $87K and then
sending it lower below $80K.
XRP
is losing for the seventh day in a row, like Bitcoin,
rolling back to the 50-day MA and close to the round
level of $2.0. The coin is still up 10% since the
beginning of the year, but the initial momentum has
clearly lost steam, as there are too many people in
the markets willing to sell on the rise. Most likely,
this change in strategy for all cryptocurrencies will
characterise the market in the coming months.
News
Background
The
total open interest in Bitcoin derivatives has fallen
to its lowest level since the end of 2022, according
to CryptoQuant. Historically, reaching such levels
has preceded periods of consolidation or even bullish
reversals.
Bitcoin
could reach $2.9 million by 2050 in a base case scenario,
according to VanEck's forecast. This will happen if
the first cryptocurrency becomes a currency for international
settlements and enters the reserves of central banks.
The main obstacle to mass adoption remains the scalability
of the network. VanEck emphasised the importance of
developing second-level solutions that will speed
up transactions and reduce commissions.
Monero
(XMR) is regaining its status as the leading anonymous
coin amid the crisis in the Zcash ecosystem following
the departure of its development team. The asset has
been growing steadily for several weeks, outperforming
most of its competitors in the sector.
There
are more and more signs in the crypto market pointing
to the end of the sell-off. Among them are the stabilisation
of outflows from ETFs, the situation with perpetual
futures and positions on the CME, according to JPMorgan.
MSCI's
decision on 6 January regarding companies accumulating
cryptocurrencies is also favourable for cryptocurrencies.
The global provider of stock indices has decided not
to exclude them from its indices during the review
in February 2026. (FxPro)
News
Crypto
market grows with risk appetite in stocks
Market
Overview
The
crypto market gained 0.75% over the past 24 hours
to $3.13T in another attempt to turn towards growth,
pushing off the 50-day moving average. Appetite for
crypto grew amid a rebound in US financial markets
during Monday’s trading and continued growth
in Japanese stocks on Tuesday morning. Steady risk
appetite began to spread to cryptocurrencies, which
had underperformed the market for many weeks.
Bitcoin
has exceeded $92K since Monday evening, attempting
to climb above levels seen a week ago. There were
wide fluctuations on Monday, with an impressive increase
in sales when the price rose above $92K, but this
did not deter the bulls from continuing their attempts.
It would be too hasty to conclude sustained risk appetite
while the price remains below previous local highs
of $95K. An optimistic view of the situation considers
a series of rising local lows since November.
Ethereum
is holding above $3,000, carefully forming a bottom
at this level over the past five days. At the end
of last month, a similar support level was near $2,920.
As with Bitcoin, ETH is trading above the 50-day MA,
but still below the local peak on 6 January.
News
Background
Retail
investors continue to offload loss-making assets due
to fears of volatility, which is increasing selling
pressure, according to CryptoQuant.
Profit-taking
and shifting expectations in the options market indicate
that investors are postponing bullish expectations
to a later date, not believing in a quick rally. Optimism
about a breakout in the first quarter is fading, QCP
Capital notes.
Views
of cryptocurrency content on YouTube have fallen to
their lowest levels since 2021, ITC Crypto notes.
A similar decline in social interest has also been
recorded on social network X.
According to Arkham Intelligence, the DAT company
BitMine has increased the amount of locked assets
on the Ethereum network to 1.08 million coins. The
value of the portfolio exceeded $3 billion.
The
theory of Ethereum’s ‘demise,’ based
on its prolonged decline against Bitcoin, is untenable,
said MN Trading founder Michael van de Poppe. In his
opinion, the ETH/BTC rate has already bottomed out.
The key argument in favour of growth is the increase
in the volume of stablecoins on the Ethereum network.
South
Korea has lifted its ban on corporate investment in
cryptocurrencies. Legal entities will be able to allocate
up to 5% of their share capital to coins from the
top 20 by market capitalisation, excluding stablecoins.
(FxPro)
News
The
yen returned to the Takaichi trade
The
dollar resumed its growth after the lawsuit against
the Fed chairman
Rumours
of early elections in Japan drove up USDJPY quotes.
‘We’re screwed!’ -- that’s how
Donald Trump described the possible Supreme Court’s
ruling against his tariffs. The US will have to return
hundreds of billions of dollars, not to mention the
cancellation of investments that other countries intended
to make in exchange for lower import duties. In fact,
the White House screwed up a little earlier when the
Justice Department informed Jerome Powell about the
lawsuit. The Fed chairman and the markets perceive
this event as a factor putting pressure on the central
bank. Lowering rates under pressure from the president
could lead to uncontrolled inflation, as has occurred
in several emerging market countries in the past.
Investors will demand a higher risk premium on bonds.
Higher Treasury yields will weigh on the economy.
The
greenback is poised to benefit from both the Supreme
Court’s repeal of tariffs and the lawsuit against
Jerome Powell. The latter led to a rise in EURUSD
and allowed the euro to be sold at a higher price.
The refund of previously paid fees could be seen as
a fiscal stimulus that will boost the US economy.
The strength of the dollar was one of the reasons
for the USDJPY’s surge to its highest level since
July 2024. The second factor was rumours of early
elections in Japan. The new prime minister’s
ratings are high, and she intends to strengthen the
Liberal Democratic Party’s position in parliament.
As a result, investors are returning to a so-called
‘Takaichi trade’ with stocks rising while
the yen is weakening.
The
USDJPY rally is forcing the government to return to
verbal interventions. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki
Katayama expressed concern about the speculative nature
of the yen’s weakening at a meeting with her
American counterpart. She said that Scott Bessent
is also unhappy with what is happening on Forex.
Now
the markets are trying to determine the levels of
Tokyo’s potential intervention in the international
currency market. In 2024, it resorted to currency
interventions four times near the 160 level, a very
close call with 159 now.
Gold
took advantage of the growing distrust of fiat currencies.
It reached a new record high. As a result, CME changed
its margin calculation methodology to reduce volatility.
Its increase at the end of 2025 caused precious metals
to retreat. (FxPro)
News
Crude
Oil counteracts
While
developments in Venezuela acted as a headwind for
oil prices, events surrounding Iran provided clear
support. Expectations of an influx of cheaper supply
from Latin America pushed Brent crude to its lowest
level in eight months. However, escalating tensions
in the Middle East helped North Sea crude find a floor
and rebound. The four-day rally in black gold highlights
a renewed rise in geopolitical risk premiums.
According
to Capital Economics, mass protests, oil workers'
strikes, the blockade of the shadow fleet, and Tehran's
threats to close the Strait of Hormuz could push Brent
prices up by $15-20 per barrel. Iran is a much larger
oil producer than Venezuela, ranking fourth in OPEC.
It accounts for about 3% of global production, or
3.3 million barrels per day. Exports are estimated
at 2 million barrels per day, with about 90% going
to China. The country's share of China's black gold
imports is estimated at 15%. Venezuela's share is
only 2%. Western sanctions have significantly undermined
Tehran's potential. At the peak of its glory in the
1970s, Iran's share of global production was 10%.
Investors are hedging against the risks of Brent's
rally continuing at its fastest pace since the joint
US-Israeli attack on Iran last summer. At the same
time, the market is considering two key scenarios
for further developments. Either there will be a supply
crisis, or the resumption of the trade war between
the United States and China will deal a blow to the
world economy and global demand for oil. Following
Donald Trump's announcement of additional 25% tariffs
on countries doing business with Tehran, such a scenario
is quite likely. Such a rapid rally in Brent would
not have happened if speculators had not built up
huge short positions in North Sea crude against the
backdrop of events in Venezuela. Their unwinding is
leading to a rebound. Demand for oil call options
has jumped to its highest level since October. A significant
share of them are trading with strike prices at $80
per barrel. (FxPro)
News
Sports
Culture
NRL
broadcast deal focus for game changes
The
Australian Rugby League Commission's chairman Peter
V'landys still hopes the NRL's next broadcasting rights
deal will be worth at least $5bn. He contends that
in order to achieve a record rights deal the NRL must
evolve by making rule changes that will make the sport
more exciting and attract new viewers. The ARLC and
the NRL are currently consulting with the league's
17 clubs regarding a number of proposed rule changes
for the 2026 season; they include giving the team
that concedes a try the option of either kicking off
or receiving the ball. V'Landys notes that previous
rule changes have boosted NRL viewership from just
137 million in 2019 to 224 million in 2025. (RMS)
News
Jan
12
Tech/A.I
Joint
statement from Google and Apple
Apple
and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration
under which the next generation of Apple Foundation
Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and
cloud technology. These models will help power future
Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized
Siri coming this year.
After
careful evaluation, Apple determined that Google's
Al technology provides the most capable foundation
for Apple Foundation Models and is excited about the
innovative new experiences it will unlock for Apple
users. Apple Intelligence will continue to run on
Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, while maintaining
Apple's industry-leading privacy standards. (Source:
Google/Alphabet)
https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/joint-statement-google-apple/
News
Pop
Culture
NETFLIX
BECOMES OFFICIAL HOME OF WWE LIBRARY IN UNITED STATES
January
6, 2026 – Netflix and WWE today announced an
expansion to their long-term partnership that will
see the world’s leading entertainment service
become the home of WWE’s library in the U.S.
Beginning
immediately, Netflix is the new U.S. home for WWE’s
library of Premium Live Events (prior to September
2025) including WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal
Rumble, as well as award-winning documentaries and
original programming.
This
follows the January 2025 launch of WWE on Netflix,
where Monday Night Raw has become a weekly staple
in the global English Top 10. Past episodes of Monday
Night Raw are also available as part of the WWE library
on Netflix.
The
arrival of WWE’s library on Netflix also comes
ahead of Season 2 of original behind-the-scenes documentary
series WWE: Unreal on January 20.
News
Pop
Culture
Pro
Wrestling
AJ
Styles Returns to TNA Wrestling LIVE January 15 on
Premiere of Thursday Night iMPACT! on AMC
Jan
9, 2026
The
premiere of Thursday Night iMPACT! on AMC will be
PHENOMENAL.
For
the first time since Slammiversary, AJ Styles makes
his jaw-dropping return to TNA Wrestling as a new
era begins LIVE January 15 from the Curtis Culwell
Center in Dallas, Texas.
What
will "The Phenomenal One" have in store
as TNA Wrestling makes history once again?
Also
on the loaded lineup:
Frankie
Kazarian vs. Mike Santana for the TNA World Championship
The
IInspiration vs. The Elegance Brand for the TNA Knockouts
World Tag Team Championship
Elijah
and The Hardys vs. Order 4
Plus
more!
Thursday
Night iMPACT! on AMC debuts January 15, 2026 at 9/8c
LIVE from the Curtis Culwell Center in Dallas, Texas.
News
Pop
Culture
Pro
Wrestling: WWE - Studio/Production News
WWE
is set to be an important part of a new initiative
that Fanatics is launching.
It
was announced today that Fanatics and production company
OBB Media have linked up to launch Fanatics Studios,
which will see Fanatics produce its own feature films
and documentaries, unscripted and scripted original
programming, live event specials, premium digital
series, and more. WWE is listed among the partners
— with a “multi-project commitment across
unscripted and digital content.”
"YEE(A)T
with The Usos: Fanatics Studios will debut an unscripted
culinary series with WWE Superstars Jimmy and Jey
Uso, who will take their tag team efforts on the road
with a BBQ travel show featuring fellow WWE superstars
and celebrity friends distributed across WWE’s
social and YouTube channels"
News
Jan
12
Netflix
- WWE News
“Netflix
members welcomed WWE with a bang (but thankfully,
no permanent injuries). In 2025, our members watched
525M hours of WWE content”... “Of this total,
Raw accounted for nearly 340M views and 185M views
for Premium Live Events broadcast outside of the US
like SmackDown, WrestleMania, Elimination Chamber,
Money in the Bank, Night of Champions and Royal Rumble.”
...
Netflix
scribed that Raw ranked in the top 10 of its category
most weeks, with it only falling outside of the rankings
in December when “Stranger Things” took
up much of the top 10.
“Since
Raw’s official Netflix debut on January 6, 2025,
the show has made the Global English TV Top 10 nearly
every week it’s been on service (47 out of a
possible 52 weeks),” Netflix wrote. “Over
52 shows, Raw has averaged more than 3M views per
week.
“And
it’s not just in the US, the birthplace of the
WWE. Raw has made the Top 10 in 34 countries, including
the US (51 weeks), Bolivia (49 weeks), Canada (48
weeks), the UK (40 weeks) and Mexico (38 weeks).”
Media/TV
Biz
Research:
Netflix leads growth in streaming ad-tiers
Jan
13
Global
usage of ad-supported subscription tiers increased
across Netflix, Disney+ and HBO Max between Q4 2024
and Q3 2025, according to research from Digital i.
The
highest growth in adoption was on Netflix, with 40
per cent of active accounts using its Standard with
Ads plan in Q3 2025, in the 20 countries measured
by Digital i.
This
was up by 14 per cent from the 26 per cent of subscribers
on that tier in Q4 2024 that were recorded in Digital
i’s trend report, Evolving Streamer Strategies,
in 2025.
Ad-supported
tier usage rose from 35 per cent to 44 per cent on
Disney+ during that period and from 22 per cent to
28 per cent on HBO Max. Prime Video remained the service
with the highest ad-supported tier usage, but this
fell from 88 per cent of subscribers in Q4 2024 to
82 per cent in Q3 2025.
Digital
i measures streaming audience data in the UK, the
US, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, France,
Italy, Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Poland, Denmark,
Finland, Sweden, Norway, Australia, South Korea and
Japan. (Wires)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
Media
Man
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
Santa
vs Grinch
Bulls vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
Google Deepmind and Gemini vs X
Paul Bros vs Lucha Bros
Office Workers vs Field Workers
Markets,
Cryptos and Biz
December
2025
Dec
30
Sydney,
Australia to Wall St, New York
Digital
Bush Telegraph
Markets
ASX
200 futures pointing down 6 points/0.1% to 8711
AUD
-0.3% to US66.93¢
Bitcoin
$87,218.84 -0.73%
Wall
St:
Dow -0.5%
S&P -0.4%
Nasdaq -0.5%
VIX +0.59 to 14.19
Gold
-4.4% to $US4335.01 an ounce
Silver -6.8% to $US71.94/oz
Platinum -13.8% to $US2118.03/oz
Brent oil +1.8% to $US61.75 a barrel
Iron ore +1.3% to $US106.05 a tonne
10-year
yield: US 4.11% Australia 4.75%
Cryptos
Bitcoin
$87,218.84 -0.73%
XRP $1.8529 -0.70%
BNB $852.81 -0.71%
Dogecoin $0.1231 -0.64%
Stockmarket
US
Stock Market Overview (as of late December 2025)
The
US stock market is in a strong bull run heading into
the final days of 2025, with major indices near all-time
highs and on track for a robust year-end close. Trading
volume has been light post-holidays, but sentiment
remains positive amid resilient economic growth, AI-driven
gains, and expectations of a "Santa Claus rally"
(the seasonal uptrend in the last five trading days
of the year and first two of the next).
Key
Index Levels (from the most recent close on December
26, 2025)
S&P
500 — Closed at approximately 6,930 (down slightly
that day but hit an intraday high near 6,946). Up
nearly 18% year-to-date, with the index eyeing the
psychological 7,000 milestone in the coming sessions.
Dow
Jones Industrial Average — Closed at around 48,711
(fractionally lower), up solidly for the year.
Nasdaq
Composite — Closed near 23,593, up about 22%
YTD, led by tech and AI stocks
Markets
were closed on December 27 (weekend) and reopen on
December 29 for the last few trading days of 2025.
Expect thin liquidity and potential for modest moves
as investors position for 2026.
Broader
Context
2025
has been a resilient year despite challenges like
early tariff impacts, AI spending concerns, and Fed
rate adjustments (benchmark now at 3.50%-3.75%). Tech
and AI names (e.g., Nvidia crossing $5T market cap)
have dominated, but there's been rotation into cyclicals,
materials, and foreign equities. Precious metals like
gold and silver are at historic highs amid safe-haven
demand.
Wall
Street forecasts for 2026 are bullish, with many targeting
S&P 500 levels between 7,100–8,100. However,
history suggests potential pullbacks after strong
years, so caution on overvaluation is advised. (Grok)
News
Dec
24
Precious
metals rewarded for success
The
US dollar is falling as a safe-haven asset amid growing
risk appetite.
Gold
is performing well, but other assets in the sector
are looking even better.
GDP
growth of 4.3% in the third quarter did not help the
US dollar. It would seem that the strength of the
economy, the rise in Treasury bond yields and the
decline in the likelihood of the Fed easing monetary
policy in March to less than 50% should have cooled
the hot heads of the EURUSD bulls. However, greed
reigns supreme in the financial markets.
The
S&P 500 closed at a record high, which had a negative
impact on the USD index.
Donald
Trump was encouraged by the success of the US economy,
citing tariffs as the main reason. The president said
that the new Fed chairman would cut rates if the market
was performing well. Investors should be rewarded
for their success. Support from the White House is
helping US stock indices, improving global risk appetite
and reducing demand for the dollar as a safe-haven
asset. In such conditions, high-yield currencies feel
most at home.
The
British pound reached a three-month high against the
greenback, and the Australian dollar reached a 14-month
high. After the Reserve Bank signalled the end of
the monetary policy easing cycle, the futures market
began to price in expectations of a cash rate hike
in 2026.
By
Christmas, the start date for monetary tightening
had shifted to June, which created a tailwind for
AUDUSD.
Investors
in a Bloomberg survey see the Bank of England's neutral
rate at 3.25% and estimate the chances of it falling
to 3% in 2026 as fifty-fifty. They are more dovish
than the BoE. At their December meeting, Andrew Bailey
and his colleagues opted for caution, which supported
GBPUSD. Meanwhile, gold has broken through the psychologically
important level of $4,500 per ounce.
JP
Morgan forecasts XAUUSD to rise to 5,000 by the end
of 2026 and estimates the scale of bullion purchases
by central banks and retail investors at 585 tonnes
per quarter. According to the bank, every 100 tonnes
above the base 350 tonnes leads to a 2% increase in
precious metal prices.
Gold
has already gained more than 70% in value in 2025
and is heading for its best performance since 1979.
Other
assets in the precious metals sector are growing even
faster. Prices for silver, platinum and palladium
have more than doubled this year. Along with strong
investment demand, fears about the introduction of
US import duties are playing into their hands. (FxPro)
News
Dec
29
A
confident Euro and a vulnerable Yen
Rapid GDP growth in the eurozone has helped EURUSD.
USDJPY
risks rising to 164. Christmas week turned out to
be the worst for the US dollar since June. Falling
Treasury yields and new S&P 500 records caused
the USD index to retreat. The chances of the Fed easing
monetary policy in March rose above 50% again, and
there is active discussion in Forex about the new
Fed chair. Historically, central bank chiefs have
had a significant influence on the FOMC. Donald Trump's
man could bring down interest rates and the greenback.
However, the Fed is not a one-man show. Decisions
are made collectively based on incoming data. The
longer the pause in the monetary expansion cycle lasts,
the higher the chances of a correction in the EURUSD
to an upward trend. In this case, the yield differential
between US and German bonds will remain wide. Money
will flow from Europe to the United States, strengthening
the dollar. In the medium term, monetary policy divergence
and a narrowing gap in GDP growth could play in favour
of the euro. Financial Times experts expect the eurozone
economy to expand by 1.2% in 2026 and 1.4% in 2027.
In 2025, it will grow by 1.4%, significantly more
than the 0.9% forecast at the end of 2024. Faster
economic growth in the currency bloc has been one
of the key drivers of the EURUSD's 13.5% rally this
year. Another trump card for the euro has been the
divergence in monetary policy. Financial Times experts
believe that the ECB's deposit rate will remain at
2% until the end of 2026 and rise to 2.25% in 2027.
The futures market expects two acts of monetary expansion
from the Fed next year. The narrowing of the spread
between US and German bond yields is a strong argument
in favour of maintaining the upward trend in EURUSD.
Meanwhile, the number of yen bears is growing after
the Bank of Japan failed to bring about a serious
correction in USDJPY by raising the overnight rate
in December. BNP Paribas forecasts the pair to rise
to 160 by the end of 2026, while JP Morgan forecasts
164. The strengthening of the greenback has caused
gold to retreat from record highs. The precious metal
is heading for its best annual performance since 1979.
Since the beginning of the year, it has risen by more
than 70%, partly due to capital inflows into ETFs.
The reserves of the largest specialised exchange-traded
fund, SPDR Gold Shares, have increased by more than
20%.
News
Dec
29
Miners
and Metals
Nickel
price jumps as Indonesia signals big production cut
Nickel
prices are at a seven-month high after Indonesia,
the world’s biggest producer, signalled plans
to cut supply of the metal in a Christmas gift for
struggling Australian miners who have been shuttering
projects.
The
rising prices came after Indonesian media reported
Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia had confirmed
plans for unspecified production cuts. A group representing
Indonesian nickel miners this month said it expected
Jakarta to enforce a 34 per cent cut in volumes next
year.
While
the size of the cuts has not been finalised, the comments
suggest the worst could be over for miners after a
two-and-a-half year period in which prices for the
metal were crushed by excess production in Indonesia.
Nickel
was a fashionable commodity for investors between
2017 and 2022 on expectations that demand would rise
in line with the metal’s use in the batteries
used in electric vehicles. Prices reached $US30,000
a tonne in late 2022, but a wave of Indonesian supply
emerged in 2023 as new technology allowed low-grade
material to be cheaply processed into top quality
metal.
The
extra supply pushed nickel prices below $US20,000
since mid-2023, forcing Australian miners like BHP
and Panoramic Resources to mothball their Western
Australian mines, refineries and smelters.
The
price had slumped to $US14,110 a tonne at the London
Metal Exchange on December 16, but has rallied to
$US15,430 after reports of Indonesian production cuts.
The price had not been above $US15,400 since May.
The
recovery could help BHP’s nickel assets just
14 months before a self-imposed deadline to decide
whether they should be permanently closed. BHP mothballed
the assets last year in the belief the supply surge
was a structural change to nickel markets, and not
merely a cyclical one.
BHP
announced at its August half-year results that it
would attempt to sell the assets, but finding a buyer
has proved difficult given the enormous rehabilitation
obligations attached to them. If a buyer cannot be
found, BHP will permanently shut the nickel division
in February 2027.
Another
potential winner from a nickel price recovery would
be businessman Duncan Saville, whose companies control
the mothballed Savannah mine in WA. The mine closures
have seen Australian exports slump from about 180,000
tonnes in 2017 to 81,000 tonnes this year.
The
Industry Department provided a gloomy outlook for
the sector in a report published on December 19, predicting
prices would stay low, and export volumes would fall
further as IGO Limited prepared for the Nova-Bollinger
nickel mine in WA to reach the end of its working
life.
Closure
of Nova would leave Glencore’s Murrin Murrin
operation as the last remaining major nickel mine
in the country.
Industry
Department economists predicted Australia will ship
just 49,000 tonnes of nickel in 2027; down 73 per
cent in a decade.
Batteries
account for about 16 per cent of global nickel demand,
with the stainless-steel sector still buying about
63 per cent of the world’s nickel.
Fitch
predicts nickel prices will average $US16,000 a tonne
in 2026.
Silver
continues to soar
Signs
of recovery in nickel prices come as silver prices
have soared. The precious metal was fetching $US28.83
an ounce on the final trading day of 2024, but soared
to a record high $US79.27 on Boxing Day 2025.
Financial
markets have traditionally used gold prices to determine
an appropriate price for silver, and the rally in
silver prices is partly linked to the earlier rally
in gold prices over the last 12 months.
Very
few mines are primarily focused on silver production,
with the metal typically occurring as a byproduct
at mines that are focused on copper, zinc or lead.
Australia’s biggest silver producers include
South32’s Cannington mine in Queensland, Glencore’s
Mount Isa hub and BHP’s Olympic Dam.
Iltani
Resources, an ASX-listed miner exploring for silver,
zinc, lead and indium near Herberton in Queensland,
is one producer that has seen its share price jump
more than 200 per cent alongside the silver rally.
“It
puts us in a really good position to hit 2026 with
a really aggressive drill program,” said Iltani
managing director Donald Garner. (AFR). *Full article
and coverage via The Australian Financial Review
News
VC/Sports
Biz/Tech News
Jake
& Logan Paul Announce $30M Venture Fund Backing
AI, Robotics Startups
Anti
Fund, co-founded by YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul
and entrepreneur Geoffrey Woo, closed its oversubscribed
$30 million Anti Fund I on December 3, bringing the
firm’s total assets under management to more
than $65 million. The firm named influencer and WWE
star Logan Paul as a general partner, marking the
first time the Paul brothers have become business
partners.
According
to a press release, the venture capital firm concentrates
its investments in artificial intelligence and robotics
companies. Anti Fund focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage
ventures, as well as select growth-stage industry
leaders. The portfolio includes OpenAI, Anduril, Ramp,
Cognition, Polymarket, Flock Safety, and Physical
Intelligence.
Investment
Strategy
Anti
Fund employs what it calls an “extreme barbell
strategy,” making first checks of $100,000 to
$500,000 for 10% ownership in technical founders,
while also deploying $10 million or more in growth
investments into industry leaders.
The
fund’s limited partners include institutional
investors Aquarian Holdings and Autilus Partners,
as well as individual investors Marc Andreessen and
Chris Dixon. Focuspoint Private Capital Group served
as the exclusive placement agent for the fund.
Founder
Background
Woo holds a bachelor’s degree with honors and
distinction in computer science from Stanford and
has co-authored numerous U.S. patents and peer-reviewed
scientific papers.
Jake
Paul built his career as a professional boxer and
entrepreneur. Logan Paul founded PRIME, a beverage
brand, and performs as a professional wrestler.
“Jake,
what I realized is that he is essentially an avatar
of the American dream, and I think Logan, in a very
similar parallel sense, also represents that,”
Woo said in an interview with FOX Business.
“When
Jake named Anti Fund, I think we all share the same
belief, that the people that create the future are
the crazy ones that believe they can do it.”
Business
Philosophy
The firm positions itself as founder-friendly, emphasizing
what it calls the intersection of capital and attention.
While capital remains a commodity, Anti Fund leverages
the Paul brothers’ cultural influence to source
founders and accelerate portfolio company growth.
Jake
Paul discussed his long-standing interest in venture
capital, noting he met with companies including Google,
Uber, and Twitter in Silicon Valley as a teenager.“
Not
only are we investors, but we can disrupt Logan with
PRIME, me with W, Betr is always in the top five in
the App Store is absolutely crushing it,” Paul
told FOX.
“And
these are companies that we’ve incubated ourselves,
because if no one else is building it and we see a
hole in the market, we can hire the best teams and
grow and scale these companies in a major way.”
Anti
Fund has incubated and funded several of Jake Paul’s
business ventures, including W and Betr Media.
Rudy
Sahay, founder and managing partner of Aquarian Holdings,
said the fund closing “validates the confidence
investors have in their strategy” and noted the
firm “carved out a unique position at the intersection
of frontier technologies and culture.”
Best Quotes
Cryptocurrency,
Finance and World
"Volatility
is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael
Saylor
"Bitcoin
is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and
tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme."
— Naval Ravikant
"We
have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical
framework that is free of politics and human error."
— Tyler Winklevoss
"You
can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere,
and the world will have to readjust. World governments
will have to readjust." — John McAfee
"Bitcoin
is the most important invention in the history of
the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver
"Cryptocurrency
is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn
governments." — Charles Lee
"In
the future, national currencies will become obsolete.
Bitcoin will become the single global currency."
— Jack Dorsey
"The
future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in
payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng
Zhao
"Crypto
offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged."
— Elizabeth Stark
"The
new frontier of innovation is in decentralization.
Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott
"Digital
currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter
of how long before governments embrace it." —
Brad Garlinghouse
Pop
Culture
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking
Santa
vs Grinch
Bulls vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
News
Media
Man Favs
TKO
$216.11 -1.33 -0.61%
Alphabet Inc Class A $313.56 +0.050 +0.016%
Netflix Inc $94.15 -0.32 -0.34%
Paramount Skydance Corp $13.50 -0.090 -0.66%
Porsche Automobile Holding SE Unsponsored Germany
ADR $4.60 -0.040 +0.86%
Mercedes Benz Group ADR $17.54 +0.11 +0.63%
Markets,
Cryptos and Pop Culture
Culture
In Biz Edition
December
To Remember
Dec
10
Cryptos
Struggling; All That Glitters. TKO To Naysayers!
World Streaming Wars
Online Media vs Legacy Media: Disruptors
Media Pop Culture Theme: "Another Brick In The
Wall" aka "We Don't Need No Education"
(Pink Floyd)
"Schools Out" (Alice Cooper)
Silicon Valley theme: "Stretch Your Face"
(Tobacco)
"The Social Network" (score album for film)
"Hall of Fame" (The Script)
"Eight Days a Week" (The Beatles)
"The Wolf of Wall Street" ("Mercy,
Mercy, Mercy" (Cannonball Adderley)
December
10, 2025
Sin
City Sydney, Australia
Australian
dollar +0.21% to 66.39 US cents
Wall
Street:
S&P 500 +0.04%
Dow Jones -0.26%
Nasdaq +.28%
Europe:
Stoxx 50 -0.13%
FTSE -0.03%
DAX -1.1%
CAC +0.49%
Bitcoin
$92,341.80 +2.12%
Gold
+0.42% to $US4208.41 per ounce
US oil -1.12 to $US58.22 a barrel
Brent crude oil -0.9% to $US61.93 a barrel
Iron ore -0.79% to $US106.42 per ton
10-year
yield:
US 4.18%
Australia 4.75%
Germany 2.85%
Bitcoin
Bitcoin:
(Near Live) $92,341.80 +2.12%
Ethereum
$3,317.79 +6.32%
XRP
$2.0989 +1.18%
News
Update: (Near Live)
News
New
York/Wall St via Mr Wolf!
December To Remember!
Dec
9
After The Bell; Bells To Be Rung
NYC!
Cryptos
Today: (Near Live)
Cryptos
shining up a little!
Bitcoin
$92,572.31 +2.38%
Market
ups and downs! Mood: Medium: Still picking up. Play
the long game?! Hardcores keep dream, as always!
Media
Man Favs:
(Near
Live)
Bells
Rung by Mr Wolf! TKO hulks up! Christmas Grinch vs
Santa. Miners on hunt. Gamers full speed instead of
socials.. Tech heads grapplers watch streaming wars!
NYSE Bell Ringers With Trees! Prep for new Season's
Beatings! TKO kicks out heading towards Saturday Night's
Main Event
Wall
St, New York
TKO
Group Holdings Inc $197.11 -6.71 -3.29%
NVIDIA Corp $184.97 -0.60 -0.33%
Formula One Group Series $85.13 +1.63 +1.95%
Alphabet Inc Class A $317.08 +3.36 +1.07%
News Corp Class A $25.95 +0.22 +0.86%
Netflix Inc $96.71 -0.11 -0.11%
Caterpillar Inc $594.36 -2.14 -0.36%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp $11.30 +0.20
+1.80%
Tesla Inc $445.26 +5.68 +1.29%
Walt Disney Co $107.02 -0.61 -0.57%
Wynn Resorts Ltd $124.22 -2.91 -2.29%
Meta Platforms Inc $656.96 -9.84 -1.48%
Elders ADR $19.73 (US) (NYSE)
Mercedes Benz Group ADR $17.71 -0.100 -0.56%
Rio Tinto Ltd $90.58 (US)
Paramount Skydance Corp $14.64 +0.070 +0.48%
Red Light Holland Corp $0.018 -0.00028 -1.53%
Volvo ADR (parent/owner of Muck Trucks) $30.89 -0.53
-1.69%
Porsche Automobile Holding SE Unsponsored Germany
ADR $4.72 +0.020 +0.43%
Microsoft $492.02 +1.00 +0.20%
News
Crypto
market awaits the final battle of the year
Market
Overview
The
crypto market lost just over 1% in 24 hours to $3.08T,
falling back to the consolidation levels of late November.
Attempts to shake up the market at the beginning of
this month were unsuccessful for both bulls and bears.
Excluding this impulse, the market has been treading
water for almost two weeks, hovering around the 23.6%
correction rebound line from the October-November
decline. Such a shallow rebound could be a sign of
a strong bear market, but this will only be confirmed
if November's lows of $2.73T are updated.
Bitcoin
is trading near $90K, having crossed this level for
the fifth consecutive day. An upward trend line can
be drawn through the lows of late November, but BTC
is now trading dangerously close to this line. At
the same time, horizontal resistance has formed in
the $92K area, bringing the positions of bulls and
bears closer together over time and promising a decisive
battle by the end of this week. It could not only
be the last significant battle of the year but also
determine the trend for the coming months.
News
Background
Short
positions on Bitcoin have recorded their largest outflow
since March 2025, when the price of BTC was near its
lows. Investors likely believe that the current surge
in negative sentiment has bottomed out, according
to CoinShares.
According
to Glassnode, the reserves of long-term Bitcoin holders
fell to a cyclical low in November. This marks the
end of the spot sell-offs that have hindered market
growth throughout 2025.
Ethereum
exchange reserves have fallen to record lows, which
could signal an imminent supply crisis, according
to CryptoQuant. Since July 2025, the indicator has
fallen by about 20%.
The
largest American investment company, BlackRock, has
applied with the SEC to register an ETF that will
allow investors to earn income from staking Ethereum
without directly owning the cryptocurrency.
Strategy
has increased its weekly Bitcoin purchases to their
highest level since July. The company bought 10,624
BTC ($963 million) last week at an average price of
$90,615 per coin. Strategy now owns 660,624 BTC, purchased
for $49.3 billion at an average price of $74,696 per
Bitcoin. (FxPro)
News
Streaming
Wars: Netflix vs Paramount (for Warner Bros) aka WBD.
What's Up Doc?!
Paramount
makes hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
Dec
9
Paramount
Skydance has directly approached Warner Bros Discovery's
shareholders with a takeover offer; it has opted to
bypass the rival media group's board, contending that
Warner's directors have backed an "inferior proposal".
Paramount has proposed a cash offer of $US30 per share,
valuing its bid for the entire company at about $US108bn.
It is seeking to trump Netflix's deal to acquire some
of Warner's assets for around $US83bn, which has been
approved by the boards of both companies. Warner has
rejected Paramount's claims that its sale process
had favoured a single bidder.
*Developing news story "The Streaming Wars"
News
Australia
- USA Connection
Praise
for Trump's review of AUKUS
Defence
Minister Richard Marles says the federal government
is currently "working through" the Trump
administration's now-completed review of the AUKUS
alliance. He adds that the US is "completely
supportive" of the deal to sell nuclear-powered
submarines to Australia. The review was headed by
US defence official Elbridge Colby, who has been a
notable critic of AUKUS in the past. The AUKUS alliance
is likely to be a key focus when Marles and Foreign
Minister Penny Wong hold the annual AUSMIN talks with
US counterparts Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio in Washington
DC next week.
News
24
hours ago
The
crypto market tries to form an uptrend
Market
Overview
The
crypto market soared by almost 7% over the past day,
reaching a capitalisation of $3.15T and forming a
higher local peak compared to Sunday. The mood on
the crypto market was buoyed by moves from institutional
giants Vanguard and Bank of America to open access
to digital assets for their clients. Combined with
the fact that the low point on December 1st is higher
than the lows on November 21st, we are seeing a series
of vital signs of an upward trend forming. However,
a conservative view suggests that fluctuations below
$3.38T are a correction from the previous decline.
Bitcoin
approached $94K on Wednesday morning, recovering half
of its losses from the sell-off between November 11th
and 21st. Considering the entire decline from its
October peak, BTCUSD remains trading below $ 98K as
part of the correction. The $98-100K range contains
three psychologically significant levels: the 50-day
average, early November support, and 61.8% of the
decline from the peak. Consolidation above this level
could convince buyers that crypto winter has not arrived.
News
Background
Vanguard,
the world's second-largest investment company by assets,
will open access to crypto ETF trading for its clients
on December 2nd. The company had previously stated
that it would avoid Bitcoin funds because cryptocurrency
is an “immature asset class” and does not
fit with the company's philosophy.
Bank
of America, one of the largest banks in the United
States, has recommended that its institutional clients
allocate 1% to 4% of their portfolios to cryptocurrencies.
Previously, investors were unable to access cryptocurrencies
because advisors were prohibited from recommending
such instruments.
The
four-year cycle theory has ceased to work, so Bitcoin
has a chance to reach new highs in 2026, according
to Grayscale. Analysts believe there are already some
signs that Bitcoin has likely bottomed out.
News
(from Friday: Sydney)
ASX
up as tech stocks rally, WiseTech gains
The
Australian sharemarket posted a modest gain on Thursday,
with lower trading volumes ahead of Wall Street's
closure for Thanksgiving Day; the S&P/ASX 200
added 0.1 per cent to close at 8,617.3 points. WiseTech
Global was up 6.9 per cent at $69.72, Bellevue Gold
rose 3.2 per cent to $1.29 and Reece advanced four
per cent to $12.73. However, DroneShield was down
7.8 per cent at $2 and Santos fell 1.8 per cent to
end the session at $6.44. (RMS)
News
The
Dollar's new edge: from shield to sword
The
dollar is losing its safe-haven status. • The
scale of the Fed's rate cuts has been overestimated.
• The yen is the main favourite for 2026.
BoJ
may not raise rates until March. If the US dollar
was previously a shield, it is now turning into a
sword. (FxPro)
News
Pop
Culture News
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking/Sports; Media Man Group Dream
Match Series; Crack The Code!
Million
Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
VKM vs Easy E
Vinnie Vegas vs Mr Corbin
Mr Corp Merch vs Mr Freelance
Masked Superstar vs John McAfee
Sid Justice vs Mr Blood Diamond
Mr Bluey Chipper vs Street Fighter - King Of The Streets
Mr Dotcom vs Mr Wiki
Mr Gold vs Mr Green - Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Khan vs Khan - Winner Take All Match
Mr Wolff vs The Cleaner
Mr News vs Mr Vice - U.S Market Footprint Stipulation
Mr Paramount vs Mr Netflix
Mr ESPN vs Mr Fox
Mr Kross vs Mr Cardona
Cesaro vs Rollins
Dirty Dom vs Mr AAA
Punks vs Egos
Kross vs H
Murdoch Title vs Title
Mr Black Coffee vs Mr Claudio's Cafe Blend
Mr Warner vs Mr Netflix: Broadway draw thus far! Re-match!
Winner take all?!
TMZ vs Riddle
UFC vs PFL
The Oracle vs Cincinnati, Ohio
Mr X vs Hollyweird
Succession vs Billions
Mouse House vs Art House
NFL vs UFL
ABC vs Mainstream Aussies
Reigns vs Blanka
Cody Rhodes vs Joe
E. Honda vs NJPW
Capcom vs Warner
Cena vs ACME
Combat Sports Players vs Father Time
NXT vs TNA Wrestling (Showdown, not Invasion)!
Alpha vs Meta
TED X vs The Others
WWE's Solo vs NYC and Western Australia
UFC Predator vs MMA Predator
UFC Legal vs UFC Bad Egg Betting Disruptors
Bulls vs Bears
Logan Paul vs WWE babyfaces
Santa's Helper vs Grinch
John McAfee vs FBI + + +, Running .... Netflix Wins
again!
Killer Kross vs Matt Riddle - Shoot Fight/Wrestling
(MLW)! Holliday working web?! Most Marketable?!
VKM vs Numerous!
MLW vs The World
The Big Event vs US Promoters
Storm vs WWE Locker Room. Lash Legend on side!
NXT Gold Rush: Page & Green vs Hendry & Hail
Baszler vs Itoh - HOG Superclash - Nov 15
MSG, NY winning with WWE and UFC in Nov
The Vision vs WWE Lockerroom
John Cena vs Dirty Dom
Miz vs Management
Jericho vs Internet Marks
Mr Gold vs Mr Fool's Gold
Neo vs Mr Smith
PBR vs Others. No Bull?!
Aus Gvt vs Big Tech
Banks vs Cryptos
NVIDIA vs World
White House vs Wokes
Packer vs Devil D
Lucha Bros vs AAA Heels
WWE Black Scorpion/Masked Man vs Babyfaces
CM Punk vs The Hood
Starks vs Oba Femi - NXT Deadline
TNA Wrestling vs Dirtsheets
TKO vs Naysayers
John Cena vs Gunther: SNME
Chris Jericho and Mr X vs IWC
Mr Netflix vs Mr Paramount
News
Crypto
Movies/Docos
The
Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)
Follows early Bitcoin adopter Daniel Mross, exploring
Bitcoin’s origins, its volatile rise, and the
community behind it. Great for understanding Bitcoin’s
early days and its potential to disrupt finance.
Banking
on Bitcoin (2016)
Examines Bitcoin’s history, ideological roots,
and impact on global financial systems through interviews
with pioneers and experts. A solid primer for newcomers.
Cryptopia:
Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet
(2020)
Directed by Torsten Hoffmann, this documentary dives
into blockchain’s broader applications beyond
cryptocurrency, addressing scalability and regulatory
challenges. Ideal for those interested in blockchain’s
transformative potential.
Trust
Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) Narrated by
Rosario Dawson, it explores blockchain’s societal
impact, from financial inclusion to voting systems.
A comprehensive look at real-world applications.
Bitcoin:
The End of Money as We Know It (2015)
Traces the history of money and introduces Bitcoin
as a decentralized alternative, critiquing centralized
financial systems. Features interviews with crypto
experts.
Deep
Web (2015) Narrated by Keanu Reeves, this documentary
focuses on the Silk Road marketplace and its creator,
Ross Ulbricht, highlighting Bitcoin’s role in
dark web transactions.
Bitconned
(2024) Explores the Centra Tech crypto scam, detailing
how three individuals defrauded investors during the
2010s crypto boom. A cautionary tale about unregulated
markets.
Feature
Films
Crypto
(2019)
A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth,
and Kurt Russell. It follows a young anti-money laundering
agent investigating corruption and cryptocurrency
in his hometown. Critics note its exaggerated portrayal
but praise its entertainment value.
Silk
Road (2021)
A dramatization of Ross Ulbricht’s creation of
the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace using Bitcoin.
It explores his rise and fall, blending crime and
drama.
Dope
(2015) A coming-of-age comedy-drama featuring Bitcoin
as a plot device. High schooler Malcolm uses Bitcoin
for a dark web transaction, reflecting its early association
with illicit activities.
Bonus
Mentions
Life
on Bitcoin (2014): Follows a couple attempting to
live solely on Bitcoin for 100 days, showcasing early
adoption challenges.
Bitcoin
Heist (2016): A Vietnamese action-comedy about hackers
chasing a crypto criminal, blending humor and thrills.
Notes
Documentaries are generally more educational, focusing
on Bitcoin’s history, blockchain technology,
and real-world implications. They’re great for
beginners and enthusiasts alike.
Feature
films often dramatize crypto’s association with
crime or scams, sometimes oversimplifying or exaggerating
for effect. They prioritize entertainment over accuracy.
For a deeper dive, check streaming platforms like
Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or YouTube, where many
of these are available.
News
Wall
Street (Movie)
Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a
drama about ambition and greed in the 1980s financial
world. It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young
stockbroker desperate to succeed, who gets entangled
with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate
raider. Gekko’s mantra, “Greed is good,”
drives the story as Bud is lured into insider trading
and unethical deals, compromising his morals for wealth
and power.
The
film explores themes of capitalism, loyalty, and betrayal,
with Bud navigating pressures from Gekko, his father
(Martin Sheen), and his own conscience.
Key
Details: Cast: Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko), Charlie
Sheen (Bud Fox), Daryl Hannah (Darien Taylor), Martin
Sheen (Carl Fox).
Runtime: 2h 6m.
Genre: Drama/Crime.
Rating: R. Box Office: ~$44 million (US).
Awards:
Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Notable
Aspects:
Gekko’s
“Greed is good” speech is iconic, reflecting
1980s excess. Inspired by real-life figures like Ivan
Boesky and Michael Milken.
A
sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), continued
the story.
Where
to Watch (as of 2025):
Streaming: Available on platforms like Peacock or
rentable on Amazon, YouTube, or Apple TV (check current
availability).
Physical: DVD/Blu-ray via retailers like Amazon.
News
Best
Quotes
An
investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
— Benjamin Franklin
"Bottoms
in the investment world don't end with four-year lows;
they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim
Rogers
Be
fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when
others are fearful." — Warren Buffett
Media
Man "Bullish is a mindset"
Markets,
Cryptos, Culture And Brands
Alpha
TKO Edition
Survivor
Series Market: WarGames (pop culture reference); Monday
Friendly Biz Wars
December
2, 2025
Sydney, Australia
December
1
(New York)
ASX
futures up 18 points/0.2% to 8601
Wall
Street:
S&P 500 -0.4%
Dow Jones: -0.7%
Nasdaq -0.4%
Europe:
Stoxx 50 flat
FTSE -0.2%
DAX -1%
CAC -0.3%
Australian
dollar: US65.43 cents
Bitcoin
Gold
+2% to $US4231.90 per ounce
Oil +1.5% to $US59.41 a barrel
Brent crude oil +1.4% to $US63.22 a barrel
Iron ore +1.6% to $US103.85 per ton
10-year
yield:
US 4.09%
Australia 4.55%
Germany 2.75%
News
Crypto:
Winter began with a sell-off
Market
Overview
The
crypto market took a painful hit at the start of trading
on Monday, marking the beginning of winter and the
new month with a 5% drop in 24 hours and a return
below $3 trillion.
This
seems to be part of the Bears' plan to create the
most emotional pressure, as the beginning of the month
is considered an emotional precursor for the weeks
to come. The market also slipped during the period
of lowest liquidity, which added drama in the form
of a downward swing. Still, before the start of active
trading in Europe, the market is showing signs of
stabilisation and rebound.
Bitcoin
fell to $85.5K on the strategy day but rebounded to
$86.7K at the time of writing. Technically, a bearish
picture is emerging, with the first cryptocurrency
falling sharply after four days of consolidation at
the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement line. Strictly speaking,
we can only say that a quick rebound did not happen,
but the signal for a decline to $64K (161.8%) will
only be given on a drop below $80.5K.
Bitcoin
fell 17.5% in November to $91.3K, marking the first
decline in three years and defying the seasonal trend
of one of the best months of the year. From a seasonal
perspective, December is considered a relatively successful
month for BTC with an average 8.7% increase. Over
the past 14 years, Bitcoin has ended the month with
growth on seven occasions. The average increase was
29.7%, and the average decline was 12.3%.
News
Background
The
inflow into the recently launched Solana ETFs in the
US has continued for five consecutive weeks. Investors
have poured more than $108 million into SOL ETFs in
a week and nearly $620 million since the funds launched
on October 28th. Inflows into spot XRP ETFs launched
on 14 November in the US exceeded $666 million.
CryptoQuant
points to several key on-chain indicators that are
creating fertile ground for Bitcoin's resumption of
growth. One of the most significant signals is the
reduction of leverage.
Bitcoin
is still in the ‘high risk zone.’ Still,
the situation is stabilising: selling pressure is
easing, and spot demand is ‘finally beginning
to shift the balance of power,’ according to
Bitcoin Vector.
To
continue its growth, Bitcoin needs to overcome ‘clusters
of large buyer supply’ in the $93,000-96,000
and $100,000-108,000 ranges, according to Glassnode.
Bitwise
points out that the last time such an ‘asymmetrical
ratio’ of risk and potential return was observed
in Bitcoin was during the COVID-19 pandemic, when
BTC fell below $4,000. (FxPro)
News
The
euro is betting on divergence
•
ECB rates are in the right place while German inflation
is accelerating.
•
The Bank of Japan may raise rates in December &
capital flight will pressure the pound.
Attempts
by the US dollar to counterattack are being thwarted.
The euro is rising due to accelerating German inflation,
the pound is rising following the debt market's approval
of Rachel Reeves' draft budget, and the yen is growing
in anticipation of a rate hike by the Bank of Japan
in December. Donald Trump's comments on the selection
of a new Fed chair, as well as expectations for speeches
by Jerome Powell and Michelle Bowman, are weighing
on the dollar.
Christine
Lagarde said that the ECB's interest rates are at
the right level. With inflation under control, the
European Central Bank is well-positioned. Indeed,
there are risks of both acceleration and deceleration
in consumer prices. The former includes Germany's
fiscal stimulus and rising expectations of higher
industrial and service prices. The latter include
the strong euro, lower energy prices and imports from
China.
The
acceleration of inflation in Germany to 2.6% in November
is reinforcing the ECB's caution. The central bank
has most likely ended its cycle of rate cuts. There
are scenarios in which the deposit rate will rise.
The federal funds rate, on the other hand, risks falling
significantly. The divergence in monetary policy creates
an excellent opportunity for the EURUSD to resume
its upward trend. However, to start with, the bulls
need to hold on to 1.16.
Meanwhile,
the yen strengthened thanks to Kazuo Ueda's hawkish
speech. He stated that the Bank of Japan would weigh
all the pros and cons of raising the overnight rate.
At the same time, any increase should be seen as an
adjustment to the ultra-soft monetary policy. On these
words, the probability of a rate hike in December
rose to 76%, allowing bears to develop a decline in
USDJPY.
The
pound is trying to stabilise after the presentation
of the draft budget. According to Eurizon SLJ Capital,
the pound will fall against the euro, yen, and Swiss
franc amid capital flight by the wealthy following
tax increases. (FxPro)
News
Cryptos
Cryptos
Today: (Near Live)
Bitcoin
$86,488.39 - 5.16%
Ethereum $2,790.39 - 7.67%
Tether $1.0001 +0.01%
Binance Coin $822.49 -7.48%
XRP $2.0292 -7.41%
Solana $125.89 -8.18%
TRON $0.2781 -1.48%
Dogecoin $0.1352 -9.22%
Cardano $0.3825 -9.77%
News
Wall
Street via Mr Wolf
Media
Man Favs:
(Near
Live)
Bells
Rung by Mr Wolf! TKO kicks out. Comeback! Christmas
Grinch Comes Early for some! Santa gives little for
miners, gamers, some tech heads and grapplers!
Wall
St, New York
TKO
Group Holdings Inc $193.98 +0.090 +0.046%
NVIDIA Corp $179.92 +2.92 +1.65%
Formula One Group Series $86.79 -1.09 -1.25%
Alphabet Inc Class A $314.89 -5.29 -1.65%
News Corp Class A $25.52 -0.16 -0.62%
Netflix Inc $109.13 +1.56 +1.45%
Caterpillar Inc $568.06 -7.70 -1.34%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp $10.95 -0.59
-5 .11%
Tesla Inc $430.14 -0.030 -0.0070%
Walt Disney Co $106.77 +2.30 +2.20%
Wynn Resorts Ltd $132.77 +4.09 +3.18%
Meta Platforms Inc $640.87 -7.08 -1.09%
Paramount Skydance Corp $15.71 -0.31 -1.94%
Elders ADR $19.73 (US) (NYSE)
Mercedes Benz Group ADR $17.09 +0.24 +1.42%
Rio Tinto Ltd $84 (US)
Warner Bros. Discovery Inc $23.87 -0.13 -0.54%
Red Light Holland Corp $0.019 +0.00050 +2.70%
News
Spotlight
Wynn
Analysts
at Goldman Sachs just added Wynn to its conviction
buy list. The firm is confident with Wynn’s “Wynn
Al Marjan in the UAE in 1Q27, plus WYNN’s best-in-class
Las Vegas assets, leverage to a higher-income consumers,
a strong 2026 Las Vegas event calendar, and an improving
backdrop in Macau should drive transformative upside
at WYNN,” as quoted by CNBC.
Nvidia
Analysts
at Morgan Stanley just reiterated an overweight rating
on Nvidia, with a $250 price target. The firm says
NVDA will maintain a dominant market share and that
threats are becoming overstated.
“We
continue to see NVIDIA maintaining dominant market
share, as threats are becoming overstated, though
we aren’t sure exactly what will turn sentiment
around,” they said, as quoted by CNBC. “Customers’
biggest anxiety for the next 12 months is their ability
to procure enough NVIDIA product generally, and Vera
Rubin specifically.”
Alphabet
Analysts
at Guggenheim say Alphabet could run even higher.
The firm raised its price target on GOOG to $375 from
$330 with a buy rating.
The
firm is confident in Alphabet because of strong cloud
backlog growth, which is being supported by enterprise
AI demand. It’s also confidence with Google Gemini’s
rise as a leading AI platform with rapidly growing
adoption metrics, as noted by CNBC.
News
Polymarket
Partnership Could Be a Game Changer for TKO Group
Holdings (TKO)
Nov
17
(In
Case You Missed It)
Polymarket/UFC/TKO
Polymarket
recently announced a multi-year partnership making
it the Official and Exclusive Prediction Market Partner
for UFC and Zuffa Boxing, introducing real-time fan
prediction metrics directly into UFC broadcasts and
social media experiences.
This
collaboration marks the first time major sports organizations
have integrated prediction market technology into
the live fan experience, creating new ways for audiences
to interact and for TKO's sports brands to differentiate
themselves.
We'll
explore how this innovative fan engagement initiative
could strengthen TKO Group Holdings' investment narrative
by deepening audience connection and content value.
What
Is TKO Group Holdings' Investment Narrative?
To
see the value in TKO Group Holdings as a shareholder,
you really have to believe in its ability to keep
building out top sports entertainment brands like
UFC and WWE into global, multi-platform franchises.
A lot of the story is about continuing to grow earnings
and revenue faster than the overall market, attract
loyal audiences, and evolve with changes in media
rights, streaming, and digital fan engagement. Recent
announcements, such as the multi-year partnership
with Polymarket, reflect TKO’s push to unlock
new monetization avenues and deepen fan involvement.
However,
it’s unlikely this news will materially change
the core short-term catalysts, which are still dominated
by performance in key international deals, broadcast
partnerships, and the rollout of new events. The biggest
risks remain legal challenges, compression of media
rights value, and questions about board experience.
The new fan engagement efforts add differentiation,
but don’t directly reduce these core risks for
now. On the flip side, investors should pay close
attention to ongoing legal proceedings against TKO
and UFC.
TKO
Group Holdings' shares have been on the rise but are
still potentially undervalued by 15%.
Ten
retail investors in the Simply Wall St Community produced
fair value estimates for TKO ranging from US$63.92
to a very large US$37,618.47. While community views
can be widely split, ongoing legal challenges remain
a topic several market participants keep circling
back to as a concern for TKO’s future performance.
Explore these diverse perspectives and see how the
risks and opportunities stack up.
News
Best
Quotes
An
investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
— Benjamin Franklin
"Bottoms
in the investment world don't end with four-year lows;
they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim
Rogers
Be
fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when
others are fearful." — Warren Buffett
Media
Man "Bullish is a mindset"
News,
Markets, Biz, Politics, Mining, Media, Marketing,
Culture: Australia and World
December
2025
December
2
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6540 USD (flat)
Iron Ore: $103.85 USD (up $1.65 USD)
Oil: $59.48 USD (up $0.93 USD)
Gold: $4,237.89 USD (up $18.66 USD)
Copper: $5.2730 USD (down $0.0050 USD)
Bitcoin: $86,640.57 -0.14%
Dow Jones: 47,396.45 (down 319.97 points close)
News
Minerals
partner to help take on China
The
Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation's
pilot rare earth processing facility at Lucas Heights
in Sydney is slated to commence operating in early
2026. The federal government has advised that Australian
Rare Earths will be the first industry partner fro
the new ANSTO facility. Resources Minister Madeleine
King says the appointment of the program's first partner
will enhance national security initiatives and support
the governments Future Made in Australia strategy.
It will also enable Australian Rare Earths to accelerate
the development of its Koppamurra ionic-clay project
in South Australia. (RMS)
News
New
Eraring extension on cards
Origin
Energy's Eraring coal-fired power station was originally
slated to close this year, but the company struck
a deal with the NSW government in 2024 to keep the
plant operational until August 2027. However, a report
from the Australian Energy Market Operator has prompted
speculation that Eraring's operating life may need
to be extended again. The AEMO has warned that NSW
could potentially face power blackouts if Eraring
is closed on schedule, noting that grid-stabilising
synchronous condensors are unlikely to be installed
before then. Premier Chris Minns says his government
is open to further delaying Eraring's closure. (RMS)
News
Critical
minerals boom yet to take off as gold hogs investment
PwC's
2025 Aussie Mine report notes that 124 critical minerals
projects nationwide are stuck in a 'holding pattern'
between discovery and production, with investor preferring
the safe haven of gold. Few of these critical minerals
projects have a publicly disclosed net present value
of at least $1bn. The PwC report also notes that the
'investable universe' - critical minerals projects
that are considered to be attractive by commercial
investors - has increased by a net seven projects
in the last year. These are dominated by copper, nickel
and lithium. However, copper remains excluded from
Australia's critical minerals list and is therefore
not eligible for production tax credits. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
Dec
1
ASX
tipped for solid start ahead of GDP data
Futures
pricing suggests that Australian equities will gain
about 0.1 per cent when the market opens on Monday,
following a positive lead from Wall Street. The release
of GDP data for the September quarter is set to be
a key focus for local investors in the coming week,
as they seek guidance on the outlook for official
interest rates. Inflation data released last week
has heightened speculation that the next rate move
may be up rather than down. The S&P/ASX 200 shed
0.37 per cent to close at 8,614.1 points on Friday,
and it fell by three per cent in November. (RMS)
News
Nov
28
Gold
may have doubled, but miners a gamble
Factors
such as its 'safe haven' staus and record buying by
central banks have seen the price of gold rise by
more than 50 per cent so far in 2025. The share prices
of Australian-listed gold producers have also rallied
during 2025, and some have posted solid returns over
the last decade. However, analysis shows that just
100 of the 172 listed gold miners in 2015 are still
in business now. Meanwhile, about 40 per cent of the
survivors have posted a negative return over the last
10 years. (RMS)
News
'Bloodbath':
Black Friday deals pose a dilemma for small business
Australians
are expected to spend nearly $7bn over the four days
of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, and up
to $39bn over the month of November. Indeed, Black
Friday has evolved to essentially become a one-month
sales event, and there is a growing expectation among
consumers that every store will offer big discounts.
However, Black Friday is challenging for many small
businesses, which simply cannot match the deep discounts
of large retailers. This is highlighted by research
from the Council of Small Business Organisations;
it found that 60 per cent of small business owners
do not pay themselves at least occasionally, while
25 per cent have used their personal savings to stay
afloat. (RMS)
News
Australia's
Most Trusted and Distrusted Brands + The Retail Landscape
Join
Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine to discover Australia's
most Trusted and Distrusted brands; how traditional
retail brands are being impacted by Temu, Shein, and
AliExpress; how the dramatic shift to low prices is
affecting discount department stores like Kmart and
Big W; whether Amazon has finally become the digital
category killer, impacting Myer, JB Hi-Fi and Harvey
Norman; whether Coles and Woolworths are finally showing
real signs of reputational recovery; and whether the
retail sector seeing a rise in distrust amid all the
upheaval. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Media
and Marketing
Sport
keeps TV afloat as Seven pips Nine
The
Seven Network has become Australia's top-rating commercial
free-to-air broadcaster for a fifth consecutive year.
Seven's national audience share across the 2025 rating
year was 41.6 per cent, ahead of the Nine Network
on 40.5 per cent. Seven's total audience share across
all five free-to-air networks was 29.4 per cent, followed
by Nine (28.7 per cent), the ABC (21.5 per cent),
Ten (12.6 per cent) and SBS (7.7 per cent). Nine's
live coverage of the NRL Grand Final was the highest-rating
program for the year, with a record 4.56 million viewers;
the AFL Grand Final attracted a total audience of
4.18 million. (RMS)
News
The
Age misses mark on AFL deal
A
spokesman for DAZN says the UK-based sports-focused
streaming company "categorically refutes"
a recent media report which suggested that it could
seek to renegotiate Foxtel's current seven-year AFL
broadcasting rights deal. The Age reported last week
that unnamed sources had claimed that DAZN believes
it is paying too much for the AFL rights. Foxtel was
acquired by DAZN earlier in 2025, in a deal that is
said to have been worth about $3.4bn. (RMS)
News
News
media eyes $600m yearly boost
Google,
Meta, Microsoft, TikTok and Apple are estimated to
have had combined revenue of $41bn in Australia during
fiscal 2024. They could potentially pay local news
publishers about $610m a year via the federal government's
News Bargaining Incentive, which will penalise technology
companies that fail to secure content deals with the
nation's news publishers; based on the revenue of
the 'big five', the financial penalty for not striking
such deals could be around $920m a year. The NBI would
apply to all digital platforms that operate "significant"
social media or search services, even if they do not
feature any news content. (RMS)
News
Magazine
stable faces carve-up
Private
equity firm Mercury Capital still hopes to sell the
whole of Are Media to a single buyer. However, sources
at Are have said there is speculation within the publisher
that several potential suitors have expressed interest
in selectively buying some magazine titles, and shunning
the less profitable ones. Mining magnate Andrew Forrest
is said to have been approached about buying the flagship
Australian Women's Weekly via his family company,
Tattarang, which already owns the RM Williams magazine.
(Roy Morgan Summary)
News
AI
threat slashes billions from classifieds giants
Jarden
analyst Tom Beadle has downplayed the risks that online
classified advertising groups are facing due to the
growing use of artificial intelligence platforms.
He contends that AI companies are unlikely to develop
a 'killer application' that will disrupt the business
of Real Estate Dotcom Dot Au http://realestate.com.au
owner REA Group in the near term. However, REA Group's
market capitalisation has fallen by nearly $9bn since
August, while CAR Group - which owns Car Sales http://carsales.com.au
- has shed 16 per cent of its value. Nevertheless,
there are fears that AI platforms will be increasingly
used to directly search for jobs, homes or cars. (RMS)
News
Nov
28
Free
entry gets museum record-breaking visitors
Analysis
of the annual reports of museums in Australia shows
that consumers continued to embrace the nation's cultural
institutions in 2024-25. Museums Victoria had the
highest patronage, with 1.93 million visitors during
the financial year; however, this was 13 per cent
lower than previously. Meanwhile, Western Australia
Museum was the nation's second-most-visited museum,
with visits to its three sites rising by 21 per cent
year-on-year to 1.2 million. WA Museum chair Sheila
McHale notes that visitor numbers were boosted by
the state government's decision to waive entry fees
during the 2024-25 summer. (RMS)
News
Mining/Resources/Energy
Nov
28
Inside
the battle for BHP's future
There
is growing speculation that BHP's CEO Mike Henry is
preparing to step down after six years in the role.
However, BHP's merger talks with Anglo American last
week showed that Henry is still deeply engaged in
high-stakes strategic endeavours, rather than easing
into retirement. Potential internal candidates to
succeed Henry when he eventually steps down include
Geraldine Slattery, Rag Udd, Vandita Pant and Catherine
Raw. Meanwhile, some BHP directors believe that the
resources group should simplify its commodities portfolio
by exiting the coal sector and focusing on copper;
indeed, analysis shows that both BHP and Rio Tinto
have underperformed those of pure-play copper mines
in recent years. (RMS)
News
Nov
28
Bitcoin
stalled at a critical resistance
Market
Overview
The crypto market cap corrected by 0.4% to $3.10T,
pausing the cautious rebound from last Friday. Yet
we can’t talk about the rebound running out of
steam, as there was strong growth the day before.
But we do not see any increase in optimism, as just
about one in seven coins has gained in the last 24
hours, compared to a decline for most.
The
sentiment index rose to 25, the threshold for exiting
the territory of extreme fear, despite the latest
round of weakness. The index’s dynamics are likely
to attract buyers who were eager to enter the market
but were waiting for a discount after the highs were
set in early October.
Bitcoin
has fallen below $ 91K, stabilising near the 61.8%
Fibonacci retracement level of the decline since November
11th. The area near $90K was significant for the market
about a year ago, serving as support for the correction
after the growth momentum in early November. There
is some risk that it will now act as resistance, reinforcing
the bearish signal of a possible end to the rebound.
A rise above $95K would signal a victory for the bulls
and a return to a bull market, while a decline below
$87K could open the way to $80K, driving the market
into a depression.
News
Background
Kronos
Research describes the current dynamics as a classic
rebound from oversold conditions. The market has cleared
out excess long positions, creating room for growth,
according to Presto Research.
Futures
and options data point to a return of bullish sentiment.
The market is ‘ready for growth’ after speculative
longs were closed over the past two weeks, according
to GSR.
According
to CryptoQuant, in November, the Binance crypto exchange
increased its stablecoin reserves to a record $51.1
billion. The growth of this indicator can be seen
as a positive factor for the crypto market.
The
potential exclusion of Strategy from the S&P 500
index and continued outflows from spot crypto ETFs
could bring back bearish sentiment and trigger sell-offs,
warns QCP Capital.
Bolivia
will include cryptocurrencies and stablecoins in its
national financial system to modernise it.
Cryptocurrencies
will be allowed to be used as a means of payment,
savings accounts, credit products and loans. The authorities’
decision is a result of the country’s challenging
economic situation. (FxPro)
News
Heavy
Industry News
Mack
Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Manufacturer Of The Month'
award
Caterpillar
wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The
Month' award
Bingo
Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The
Month' award
Elders
wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award
Landman
wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award
(Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)
Jim's
Mowing wins Media Man 'Franchise Of The Month' award
News
Pop
Culture Flashback
Citizen
Kane (1941)
Directed
by Orson Welles | Written by Orson Welles & Herman
J. Mankiewicz | Cinematography by Gregg Toland
Why it’s considered one of the greatest films
ever made:
Revolutionary storytelling: Non-linear structure jumping
through multiple perspectives and timelines —
decades before it became common.
Iconic
moments/lines:
“Rosebud…”
The
campaign speech with the giant Kane poster
The
slow push-in on young Charlie playing in the snow
as his future is decided
“Old
age… it’s the only disease, Mr. Thompson,
that you don’t look forward to being cured of.”
(Bernstein)
News
Salt
of the Earth (1954)
Mexican
workers at a zinc mine call a general strike. It is
only through the solidarity of the workers, and importantly
the indomitable resolve of their wives, mothers, and
daughters, that they eventually triumph.
News
Sarah's
Oil
Sarah's
Oil is a 2025 American biographical drama film inspired
by the true story of Sarah Rector, an African American
girl born in 1902 in Oklahoma Indian Territory. At
just 11 years old, Rector inherited 160 acres of seemingly
barren land from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation allotment.
Believing—through faith and intuition—that
oil lay beneath it, she fought off greedy speculators
and corrupt oil magnates to develop the property,
which turned out to be rich in resources. This made
her one of the first female African American millionaires
in U.S. history, earning her the nickname "the
richest colored girl in the world." The film
draws from the 2014 book Searching for Sarah Rector:
The Richest Black Girl in America by Tonya Bolden
and highlights themes of faith, perseverance, family,
and resilience amid racial injustice during the early
20th-century oil boom.
Filming:
Principal photography took place in Oklahoma starting
in July 2024.
Release:
Premiered in U.S. theaters on November 7, 2025, distributed
by Amazon MGM Studios (moved up from a planned Christmas
Day slot).
Runtime:
1 hour 43 minutes.
Best
Quotes
The
best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."
"You
are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig
to find it and make it real."
"Your
mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will
find something golden."
"Don't
die without mining the gold in your mind."
"We're
like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's
inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."
"If
you want to find gold, you've got to love the process
of digging."
"Even
if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to
dig."
"Develop
men the same way gold is mined"
"Don't
go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in
looking for the gold."
"A
prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"
"A
prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't
find much gold"
"The
world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not."
"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are
silver, these are gold."
"All
that is gold does not glitter."
"Gold
is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears
out"
"Gold
is the money of kings"
"Mining
is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit.
An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher
of a dead mule."
"Anyone
can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds
the gold."
"True
gold fears no fire."
"The
desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means
of freedom and benefit."
"Make
new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these
are gold."
"When
taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes
considered like cheap copper – so are people."
Media
Man
Roy
Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Provider Of The
Month' award; Runner-ups: X, Google News, Yahoo! Finance
News,
Markets, Biz, Politics, Mining, Media, Marketing,
Culture: Australia and World
December
2025
December
1
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6540 USD (up 0.0011 USD)
Iron Ore: $105.40 USD (down $1.30 USD)
Oil: $58.55 USD (down $0.55 USD)
Gold: $4,219.23 USD (up $61.79 USD)
Copper: $5.2780 USD (up $0.1155 USD)
Bitcoin: $87,321.17 -3.98%
Dow Jones: 47,716.42 (up 289.30 points)
News
ASX
tipped for solid start ahead of GDP data
Futures
pricing suggests that Australian equities will gain
about 0.1 per cent when the market opens on Monday,
following a positive lead from Wall Street. The release
of GDP data for the September quarter is set to be
a key focus for local investors in the coming week,
as they seek guidance on the outlook for official
interest rates. Inflation data released last week
has heightened speculation that the next rate move
may be up rather than down. The S&P/ASX 200 shed
0.37 per cent to close at 8,614.1 points on Friday,
and it fell by three per cent in November. (RMS)
News
Nov
28
Gold
may have doubled, but miners a gamble
Factors
such as its 'safe haven' staus and record buying by
central banks have seen the price of gold rise by
more than 50 per cent so far in 2025. The share prices
of Australian-listed gold producers have also rallied
during 2025, and some have posted solid returns over
the last decade. However, analysis shows that just
100 of the 172 listed gold miners in 2015 are still
in business now. Meanwhile, about 40 per cent of the
survivors have posted a negative return over the last
10 years. (RMS)
News
'Bloodbath':
Black Friday deals pose a dilemma for small business
Australians
are expected to spend nearly $7bn over the four days
of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, and up
to $39bn over the month of November. Indeed, Black
Friday has evolved to essentially become a one-month
sales event, and there is a growing expectation among
consumers that every store will offer big discounts.
However, Black Friday is challenging for many small
businesses, which simply cannot match the deep discounts
of large retailers. This is highlighted by research
from the Council of Small Business Organisations;
it found that 60 per cent of small business owners
do not pay themselves at least occasionally, while
25 per cent have used their personal savings to stay
afloat. (RMS)
News
Australia's
Most Trusted and Distrusted Brands + The Retail Landscape
Join
Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine to discover Australia's
most Trusted and Distrusted brands; how traditional
retail brands are being impacted by Temu, Shein, and
AliExpress; how the dramatic shift to low prices is
affecting discount department stores like Kmart and
Big W; whether Amazon has finally become the digital
category killer, impacting Myer, JB Hi-Fi and Harvey
Norman; whether Coles and Woolworths are finally showing
real signs of reputational recovery; and whether the
retail sector seeing a rise in distrust amid all the
upheaval. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Media
and Marketing
Sport
keeps TV afloat as Seven pips Nine
The
Seven Network has become Australia's top-rating commercial
free-to-air broadcaster for a fifth consecutive year.
Seven's national audience share across the 2025 rating
year was 41.6 per cent, ahead of the Nine Network
on 40.5 per cent. Seven's total audience share across
all five free-to-air networks was 29.4 per cent, followed
by Nine (28.7 per cent), the ABC (21.5 per cent),
Ten (12.6 per cent) and SBS (7.7 per cent). Nine's
live coverage of the NRL Grand Final was the highest-rating
program for the year, with a record 4.56 million viewers;
the AFL Grand Final attracted a total audience of
4.18 million. (RMS)
News
The
Age misses mark on AFL deal
A
spokesman for DAZN says the UK-based sports-focused
streaming company "categorically refutes"
a recent media report which suggested that it could
seek to renegotiate Foxtel's current seven-year AFL
broadcasting rights deal. The Age reported last week
that unnamed sources had claimed that DAZN believes
it is paying too much for the AFL rights. Foxtel was
acquired by DAZN earlier in 2025, in a deal that is
said to have been worth about $3.4bn. (RMS)
News
News
media eyes $600m yearly boost
Google,
Meta, Microsoft, TikTok and Apple are estimated to
have had combined revenue of $41bn in Australia during
fiscal 2024. They could potentially pay local news
publishers about $610m a year via the federal government's
News Bargaining Incentive, which will penalise technology
companies that fail to secure content deals with the
nation's news publishers; based on the revenue of
the 'big five', the financial penalty for not striking
such deals could be around $920m a year. The NBI would
apply to all digital platforms that operate "significant"
social media or search services, even if they do not
feature any news content. (RMS)
News
Magazine
stable faces carve-up
Private
equity firm Mercury Capital still hopes to sell the
whole of Are Media to a single buyer. However, sources
at Are have said there is speculation within the publisher
that several potential suitors have expressed interest
in selectively buying some magazine titles, and shunning
the less profitable ones. Mining magnate Andrew Forrest
is said to have been approached about buying the flagship
Australian Women's Weekly via his family company,
Tattarang, which already owns the RM Williams magazine.
(Roy Morgan Summary)
News
AI
threat slashes billions from classifieds giants
Jarden
analyst Tom Beadle has downplayed the risks that online
classified advertising groups are facing due to the
growing use of artificial intelligence platforms.
He contends that AI companies are unlikely to develop
a 'killer application' that will disrupt the business
of Real Estate Dotcom Dot Au http://realestate.com.au
owner REA Group in the near term. However, REA Group's
market capitalisation has fallen by nearly $9bn since
August, while CAR Group - which owns Car Sales http://carsales.com.au
- has shed 16 per cent of its value. Nevertheless,
there are fears that AI platforms will be increasingly
used to directly search for jobs, homes or cars. (RMS)
News
Nov
28
Free
entry gets museum record-breaking visitors
Analysis
of the annual reports of museums in Australia shows
that consumers continued to embrace the nation's cultural
institutions in 2024-25. Museums Victoria had the
highest patronage, with 1.93 million visitors during
the financial year; however, this was 13 per cent
lower than previously. Meanwhile, Western Australia
Museum was the nation's second-most-visited museum,
with visits to its three sites rising by 21 per cent
year-on-year to 1.2 million. WA Museum chair Sheila
McHale notes that visitor numbers were boosted by
the state government's decision to waive entry fees
during the 2024-25 summer. (RMS)
News
Mining/Resources/Energy
Nov
28
Inside
the battle for BHP's future
There
is growing speculation that BHP's CEO Mike Henry is
preparing to step down after six years in the role.
However, BHP's merger talks with Anglo American last
week showed that Henry is still deeply engaged in
high-stakes strategic endeavours, rather than easing
into retirement. Potential internal candidates to
succeed Henry when he eventually steps down include
Geraldine Slattery, Rag Udd, Vandita Pant and Catherine
Raw. Meanwhile, some BHP directors believe that the
resources group should simplify its commodities portfolio
by exiting the coal sector and focusing on copper;
indeed, analysis shows that both BHP and Rio Tinto
have underperformed those of pure-play copper mines
in recent years. (RMS)
News
Nov
28
Bitcoin
stalled at a critical resistance
Market
Overview
The
crypto market cap corrected by 0.4% to $3.10T, pausing
the cautious rebound from last Friday. Yet we can’t
talk about the rebound running out of steam, as there
was strong growth the day before. But we do not see
any increase in optimism, as just about one in seven
coins has gained in the last 24 hours, compared to
a decline for most.
The
sentiment index rose to 25, the threshold for exiting
the territory of extreme fear, despite the latest
round of weakness. The index’s dynamics are likely
to attract buyers who were eager to enter the market
but were waiting for a discount after the highs were
set in early October.
Bitcoin
has fallen below $ 91K, stabilising near the 61.8%
Fibonacci retracement level of the decline since November
11th. The area near $90K was significant for the market
about a year ago, serving as support for the correction
after the growth momentum in early November. There
is some risk that it will now act as resistance, reinforcing
the bearish signal of a possible end to the rebound.
A rise above $95K would signal a victory for the bulls
and a return to a bull market, while a decline below
$87K could open the way to $80K, driving the market
into a depression.
News
Background
Kronos
Research describes the current dynamics as a classic
rebound from oversold conditions. The market has cleared
out excess long positions, creating room for growth,
according to Presto Research.
Futures
and options data point to a return of bullish sentiment.
The market is ‘ready for growth’ after speculative
longs were closed over the past two weeks, according
to GSR.
According
to CryptoQuant, in November, the Binance crypto exchange
increased its stablecoin reserves to a record $51.1
billion. The growth of this indicator can be seen
as a positive factor for the crypto market.
The
potential exclusion of Strategy from the S&P 500
index and continued outflows from spot crypto ETFs
could bring back bearish sentiment and trigger sell-offs,
warns QCP Capital.
Bolivia
will include cryptocurrencies and stablecoins in its
national financial system to modernise it.
Cryptocurrencies
will be allowed to be used as a means of payment,
savings accounts, credit products and loans. The authorities’
decision is a result of the country’s challenging
economic situation. (FxPro)
News
Heavy
Industry News
Mack
Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Manufacturer Of The Month'
award
Caterpillar
wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The
Month' award
Bingo
Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The
Month' award
Elders
wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award
Landman
wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award
(Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)
Jim's
Mowing wins Media Man 'Franchise Of The Month' award
News
Pop
Culture Flashback
Citizen
Kane (1941)
Directed
by Orson Welles | Written by Orson Welles & Herman
J. Mankiewicz | Cinematography by Gregg Toland
Why
it’s considered one of the greatest films ever
made:
Revolutionary
storytelling: Non-linear structure jumping through
multiple perspectives and timelines — decades
before it became common.
Iconic
moments/lines:
“Rosebud…”
The
campaign speech with the giant Kane poster
The
slow push-in on young Charlie playing in the snow
as his future is decided
“Old
age… it’s the only disease, Mr. Thompson,
that you don’t look forward to being cured of.”
(Bernstein)
News
Salt
of the Earth (1954
Mexican
workers at a zinc mine call a general strike. It is
only through the solidarity of the workers, and importantly
the indomitable resolve of their wives, mothers, and
daughters, that they eventually triumph.
Best
Quotes
The
best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."
"You
are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig
to find it and make it real."
"Your
mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will
find something golden."
"Don't
die without mining the gold in your mind."
"We're
like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's
inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."
"If
you want to find gold, you've got to love the process
of digging."
"Even
if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to
dig."
"Develop
men the same way gold is mined"
"Don't
go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in
looking for the gold."
"A
prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"
"A
prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't
find much gold"
"The
world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not."
"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are
silver, these are gold."
"All
that is gold does not glitter."
"Gold
is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears
out"
"Gold
is the money of kings"
"Mining
is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit.
An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher
of a dead mule."
"Anyone
can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds
the gold."
"True
gold fears no fire."
"The
desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means
of freedom and benefit."
"Make
new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these
are gold."
"When
taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes
considered like cheap copper – so are people."
Media
Man
Roy
Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Provider Of The
Month' award; Runner-ups: X, Google News, Yahoo! Finance
Markets,
News, Biz, Mining, Energy, Politics: Australia and
World
November
2025
Nov
28
Heavy
Industry News
Mack
Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Manufacturer Of The Month'
award
Caterpillar
wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The
Month' award
Bingo
Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The
Month' award
Elders
wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award
Landman
wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award
(Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)
Jim's
Mowing wins Media Man 'Franchise Of The Month' award
News
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6529 USD (up 0.0009 USD)
Iron Ore: $106.70 USD (up $0.10 USD)
Oil: $59.10 USD (up $0.40 USD)
Gold: $4,157.44 USD (down $8.15 USD)
Copper: $5.1625 USD (down $0.0410 USD)
Bitcoin: $91,056.34 -0.12%
Dow Jones: 47,427.12 (closed for Turkey Day)
News
Labor
urged to bite the bullet on energy bills
Treasurer
Jim Chalmers recently indicated that the federal government
has yet to decide whether to extend its electricity
bill rebates beyond December 2025. The rebate was
introduced in 2023 and extended by six months in the
March budget. The expiry of state energy rebates contributed
to the higher-than-expected 3.8 per cent headline
inflation rate in the year to October. Economists
have urged the government to end the rebates, contending
that they have a distortionary impact on inflation
and have cost the federal budget about $6.8bn to date.
Challenger's chief economist Jonathan Kearns notes
that rebates also risk lifting expectations of higher
inflation; indeed, ANZ-Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations
have risen to a two-year high. (RMS)
News
ASX
up as tech stocks rally, WiseTech gains
The
Australian sharemarket posted a modest gain on Thursday,
with lower trading volumes ahead of Wall Street's
closure for Thanksgiving Day; the S&P/ASX 200
added 0.1 per cent to close at 8,617.3 points. WiseTech
Global was up 6.9 per cent at $69.72, Bellevue Gold
rose 3.2 per cent to $1.29 and Reece advanced four
per cent to $12.73. However, DroneShield was down
7.8 per cent at $2 and Santos fell 1.8 per cent to
end the session at $6.44. (RMS)
News
What
bubble? AI investors double down
Australian
technology investors have used a slump on the US Nasdaq
earlier in the month to boost their exposure to the
artificial intelligence sector. Those investors included
Munro Partners, which has topped up its exposure to
Nvidia, Alphabet and Taiwan Semiconductor, while Loftus
Peak's holdings of US tech stocks include Amazon,
Microsoft, Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor. For his
part, Joseph Ziller from Ziller Funds Management says
he avoids AI stocks that are not creating value today
from their huge capital expenditure. (RMS)
News
Snowy
Hydro signs renewable power deals
Snowy
Hydro will announce today that it has signed a 15-year
deal to purchase power from a wind farm in South Australia
that is being developed by Aula Energy, and which
Rystad Energy says could cost between $810 million
and $945 million. In addition to the deal with Aula
Energy, Snowy Hydro will also announce that it has
entered into a 15-year contract with French-backed
TagEnergy to access 105 megawatts of capacity at the
Golden Plains storage battery, which will be located
alongside a large wind farm site near Geelong in Victoria.
(RMS)
News
Tech
giants target roadblocks to AI spending
Australian
Bureau of Statistics figures shows that investment
in machinery and equipment by IT firms in the September
quarter came in at $2.8 billion, which was double
the previous record of $1.4 billion set in the previous
quarter. The figure includes investment in routers,
cooling towers and servers used to construct data
centres, and technology companies such as Microsoft
and TikTok, along with data centre operators such
as NextDC and AirTrunk, have got together to form
Data Centres Australia. It will lobby for reforms
to energy, water and planning approval and copyright
laws, so as to encourage investment in AI-linked investment.
(RMS)
News
Atlassians
resist Allan's crusade
Atlassian
is expanding its operations in Victoria, where Premier
Jacinta Allan wants to legislate the right to work
from home two days a week for private and public sector
employees. Although he is an advocate of hybrid work
arrangements and once stated that his employees can
work from anywhere, Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes
is against the idea of work-from-home mandates, believing
that flexible work arrangements should be up to business
to decide. As to the future of the Australian tech
sector, Cannon-Brooke is very optimistic, even though
the federal government seems set to fail in its target
for the nation to employ 1.2 million tech workers
by the end of the decade. (RMS)
News
Online
out to pasture as Tabcorp bets big on pub and club
punters
Tabcorp
CEO Gillon McLachlan announced a major shakeup of
its retail wagering operations earlier in the yea
with McLachlan ditching a strategy by his predecessor
that was heavily focused on internet betting growth.
McLachlan instead plans to focus on punters in clubs
and pubs, where it has an advantage over rivals such
as Sportsbet and Ladbrokes. Its new strategy will
see it pay pubs and clubs hundreds of thousands of
dollars to help entice punters to gamble in their
venues, while it will allocate $50 million to pay
for bonus bets and other inducements for gamblers
in pubs and clubs. (RMS)
News
High
Court challengers of teen social media ban want Musk,
Google to fund case
A
group called the Digital Freedom Project is challenging
the federal government's under-16 social media ban
in the High Court, with the plaintiffs in the challenge
being teenage children of members of the group. The
group's president is NSW Libertarian Party MP John
Ruddick, who is encouraging the big tech companies
to fund its challenge, while he says it should be
the responsibility of parents to be aware of what
their children are doing online and to educate them
about the harms of social media. Minister for Communications
Anika Wells told parliament on Wednesday the government
was committed to the ban, and that it will not be
intimidated by legal challenges. (RMS)
News
Cricket's
shot at $1.2bn Big Bash prize
Cricket
Australia is aiming to partially privatise the Big
Bash League, although it will need the consent of
the various state cricket bodies. There are currently
eight teams in the BBL, with Cricket Australia hoping
to expand it to 10 teams; it has placed a value of
$1.2 billion on a 10-team BBL, meaning that it stands
to make a $600 million windfall if its plans go ahead.
Most potential bidders are likely to come from India,
with Cricket Australia not optimistic that local buyers
would be able to meet its asking price. (RMS)
News
Critical
minerals rise from waste ashes
Latrobe
Magnesium recently received a letter of interest from
the US Export-Import Bank, which offered to provide
up to $US122m ($187m) to help build a magnesium plant
in Victoria. Latrobe CEO David Paterson says China
accounts for about 90 per cent of the global supply
of magnesium, which is vital to the manufacture of
electric vehicles and military aircraft. Latrobe's
technology can convert the fly ash produced by coal-fired
power stations into magnesium oxide. It has built
a demonstration plant near the site of the defunct
Hazelwood power station, and the funding from the
US export credit agency will be used to build a commercial
plant. (RMS)
News
Mineral
explorers bounce on 81pc funding surge
Data
from advisory firm BDO shows that the 739 pre-revenue
minerals exploration companies on the ASX raised more
than $3.49bn in total during the September quarter.
This is 81 per cent higher than the June quarter,
and Sherif Andrawes from BDO expects this growth to
continue. Meanwhile, total exploration expenditure
by pre-revenue companies rose by 16 per cent to a
two-year high of $843.6m in the September quarter,
while the average cash balance of mineral explorers
increased by 20 per cent to $11m. Andrawes anticipates
strong IPO activity among pre-revenue explorers in
the December quarter. (RMS)
News
Palmer's
Covid drug donation behind tax dispute
Clive
Palmer is in a dispute with the Australian Taxation
Office over a purchase he made of a shipment of the
antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine during the COVID-19
pandemic. He is seeking a tax deduction of almost
$13m for his purchase, which was made at a time when
US President Donald Trump was promoting hydroxychloroquine
as a way of combatting COVID-19, with Palmer claiming
his deduction as a donation for defending Australia,
although the drug was never distributed. (RMS)
News
'How
far is it going to escalate?' Fear Santos gas plan
in Beetaloo basin could be start of NT fracking rush
Gas
and oil company Santos has announced plans to drill
12 fracking wells at Tanumbirini Station, which is
a large cattle station in the Northern Territory's
Beetaloo basin. Environment Centre NT executive director
Dr Kirsty Howey is worried that if Santos's plans
lead to to full-scale production, that over 6,000
wells could be drilled through "our precious
aquifers, polluting our groundwater with toxic chemicals",
with ninety percent of the NT's water supply coming
from groundwater. Howey says Santos should be a "good
corporate citizen" and refer its proposal to
be assessed under federal environment laws.
News
LNG
levy proposal scared producers
The
federal government is reviewing Australia's east coast
gas market, with it being understood that it was considering
a levy on east coast LNG exporters at one stage. However,
while that idea appears to have been shelved and the
government looks set to have settled on a gas reservation-style
scheme, the fact that the government was even considering
a levy has sparked concern among the gas industry
about the extent to which the government is prepared
to intervene in the sector. (RMS)
News
Smelters
become a test case for bailouts
Glencore
and Nyrstar are among the companies that have received
financial assistance from federal and state governments
to keep their ageing Australian smelters operating.
China's dominance of the critical minerals sector
has underlined the importance of continuing to produce
metals such as copper and zinc in Australia. Nyrstar's
lead smelter at Port Pirie and its zinc smelter in
Hobart can potentially be upgraded to produce critical
minerals such as antimony, bismuth, tellurium, germanium
and indium; these metals are crucial to Australia's
economic and security equation, particularly in the
wake of the recent critical minerals agreement with
the US. (RMS)
News
Crisafulli
denies favouritism amid mine deals
Harmony
Gold's Eva Copper Mine has received an undislosed
financial incentive from the Queensland government's
Northwest Energy Fund. However, two coal projects
in the state have received no financial assistance
from the government. Premier David Crisafulli has
rejected suggestions that the government is favouring
critical minerals over coal, arguing that it is providing
the coal industry with certainty with regard to regulation
and taxation; the government has previously been criticised
for retaining its Labor predecessor's controversial
coal royalty regime. Crisafulli adds that the Eva
Copper Mine will help ensure that Glencore's Mount
Isa smelter remains viable. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
ASX
rally tempers on CPI shock; miners rise
The
Australian sharemarket posted a sold gain on Wednesday,
despite a pullback in response to data showing that
inflation rose to a higher-than-expected 3.8 per cent
in the year to October. The S&P/ASX 200 added
0.8 per cent to close at 8,606.5 points, having risen
by about 1.2 per cent before the monthly CPI data
was released. BHP was up two per cent at $41.80, Pilbara
Minerals rose 7.2 per cent to $4.04 and Ramsay Health
Care advanced 3.8 per cent to $37.32. However, Temple
& Webster shed 32.3 per cent to end the session
at $13.83. (RMS)
News
Fortescue,
former execs settle with each side to pay costs
The
terms of a settlement between Fortescue and three
former executives will remain confidential, after
all parties to the legal dispute agreed to take no
further action. Michael Masterman, Bart Kolodziejczyk
and Bjorn Winther-Jensen had been accused of using
Fortescue's proprietary information when they left
to establish a rival 'green' iron company called Element
Zero in 2022. Fortescue commenced legal action in
April 2024, and attracted criticism for hiring private
detectives to undertake surveillance on the three
former employees and their families. Element Zero's
green iron plant in Perth will be formally opened
by Premier Roger Cook today. (RMS)
News
The
rare earths race is on
China
has spent unlimited money to develop the world's best
technology to produce heavy rare earths, while the
French have developed rival technology that is not
as good and is far more expensive. Meanwhile, Sinosteel's
$100m pilot plant in Western Australia to process
ore from Northern Minerals' Browns Range rare earth
project is likely to remain idle, as Northern Minerals
intends to build a new plant at Browns Range with
financial support from the US Export-Import Bank.
Haoma Mining's Bamboo Creek heavy rare earths deposit
is also a threat to China's dominance of the sector;
its Elazac process is now being used to extract gold
and platinum from the Bamboo Creek material, and it
could become a rival to the Chinese and French technology
for extracting heavy rare earths such as terbium.
(RMS)
Nov
26
News
Haoma
Mining: Chairman's Presentation to shareholders
Haoma
Mining NL Announcements
Haoma
Mining held its Annual General Meeting at Tonic House
in Melbourne on 26 November. Chairman Gary Morgan
updated shareholders on Haoma's major activities in
the Pilbara region of Western Australia, including
the use of the Elazac process to produce gold bullion
at the Bamboo Creek Pilot Plant, as well as its Pilbara
Heavy Rare Earth discovery. Shareholders were also
updated on progress at the Pirra Lithium exploration
joint venture between Haoma and SQM Australia, as
well as activities at Haoma's Top Camp Roadhouse and
Caravan Park at Ravenswood in Queensland. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
Lead
Up
Nov
25
Big
super's $110m stake in 'blood oil'
Australian
Federation of Ukrainian Organisations chair Kateryna
Argyrou says Australia's superannuation funds should
divest their stakes in companies such as India's Reliance
Industries. Argyrou's comments follow the revelation
that Reliance has profited from refining sanctioned
Russian crude oil and exporting the resulting fuels
into markets such as Australia. The nation's four
largest super funds have invested nearly $110 million
in Reliance; they include AustralianSuper and the
Australian Retirement Trust. (RMS)
Nov
25
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6462 USD (up 0.0009 USD)
Iron Ore: $105.00 USD (up $0.75 USD)
Oil: $58.84 USD (up $0.78 USD)
Gold: $4,123.68 USD (up $58.41 USD)
Copper: $4.9890 USD (down $0.0070 USD)
Dow Jones: 46,478.79 (up 233.38 points)
Bitcoin: $88,103.67 +1.47%
News
Force
miners to sell local: smelter owner
Nyrstar
Australia's CEO Matt Howell says the federal government
should consider implementing a domestic minerals reservation
scheme. It would work in much the same way as the
proposed domestic gas reservation scheme, and require
mining companies to sell a portion of their mineral
ore to Australian refinery operators. The future of
facilities such as Nyrstar's Port Pirie lead smelter
and its Hobart zinc smelter have been under scrutiny,
prompting federal and state government assistance.
However, Howell's proposal has been dismissed by Minerals
Council of Australia CEO Tania Constable, who has
cautioned against government intervention in the minerals
market. (RMS)
News
'Our
gas, our prices': Ed Husic breaks ranks with Labor
to demand an end to 'profiteering' by exporters
Former
Labor industry minister Ed Husic has backed a motion
by independent MP Nicolette Boele regarding east coast
gas prices. The motion calls on the federal government
to "only allow uncontracted gas to be exported
after it has been offered to the domestic market at
a reasonable price", with Boele saying Australia
does not have a gas supply problem, but rather a gas
export problem. Calling for stronger action against
what he labels 'profiteering' gas exporters, Husic
contends that "our gas, our prices: that should
be the bedrock of our thinking. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
ASX
to rally in 2026 on mining bounce: UBS
The
benchmark S&P/ASX 200 has retreated from the record
high of 9,904 points in recent weeks, having closed
at 8,525.1 yesterday. However, Richard Schellbach
from UBS is upbeat about the outlook for the local
bourse, forecasting that the ASX 200 will top 8,900
points again by the end of 2026. Schellbach says there
are expectations that earning growth will exceed 10
per cent in 2026; he adds that although this will
be driven by the resources sector, there will be earnings
growth across the broader sharemarket. (RMS/AFR)
News
BHP
drops second tilt at rival Anglo
BHP
has advised that it has held preliminary discussions
with Anglo American's board regarding a potential
merger, but says it is no longer considering a bid
for its London-based rival. BHP abandoned a previous
takeover bid for Anglo American in 2024, and the company
says it is still of the view that a merger would have
"strong strategic merits" and create significant
value for all stakeholders. BHP has indicated that
it will instead focus on its organic growth strategy.
Meanwhile, the latest aborted bid for Anglo has prompted
speculation that Rio Tinto could pursue growth via
acquisitions. (RMS)
News
Rinehart
puts blowtorch on Rio Tinto, BHP over net zero spending
Hancock
Prospecting's executive chair Gina Rinehart has criticised
major resources groups for spending billions of dollars
on reducing carbon emissions. Rinehart singled out
BHP and Rio Tinto in her speech to mark National Mining
Day; BHP is expected to spend up to $500m on reducing
emissions over the next five years, while Rio Tinto
has committed to halving its emissions by 2030 at
a cost of $US5bn over 10 years. Rinehart contended
that the dividends of BHP and Rio Tinto shareholders
are being "sacrificed on the green altar".
The speech was written by Rinehart but delivered by
Hancock Iron Ore's CEO Gerhard Veldsman via a video
message. (RMS)
News
Lithium
prices slide on Chinese mine restart
The
price of lithium fell sharply on Friday, in response
to media reports that China-based Contemporary Amperex
Technology could potentially resume production at
its Jianxiawo mine in early December. Data from S&P
Global Platts shows that the price of spodumene -
the type of lithium that is mined in Australia - fell
by 8.3 per cent to $US1,135 a tonne; the price of
lithium carbonate in turn fell by nine per cent to
91,020 yuan on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange. The
downturn prompted a fall in the share prices of Australian
lithium producers on Monday. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Santos
hit by delay on Narrabri gas ruling
Santos
has received another setback in its long-running bid
to proceed with the Narrabri gas project in NSW. A
two-day hearing on the Gomeroi people's appeal against
a Native Title Tribunal ruling on the project had
been scheduled to begin in the Federal Court this
week; however, Justice Natalie Charlesworth recused
herself from the case because an associate had worked
for Santos on secondment on two separate occasions.
Another judge is not available to hear the case, so
the traditional owners' appeal has been pushed back
to March 2026. (RMS)
News
Nov
24
UK
launches critical minerals strategy to reduce dependency
on China
British
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a critical
minerals and rare earths strategy, with the strategy
aimed at reducing the UK's dependency on China. It
includes a Stg50 million fund to boost production
at tungsten and lithium mines in Cornwall. Europe's
largest deposits of lithium are in Cornwall, while
the EU has previously singled out the county's tungsten
mine for potential financial support. The strategy
follows a six-week standoff between China and the
EU over the supply of chips used in the car sector,
while it seeks to ensure no more than 60% of any one
critical mineral comes from a single partner country
by 2035; the British government also wants to produce
at least 50,000 tonnes of lithium in the UK by the
same year. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Pop
Culture
Gold
Movie
Gold
is a 2016 American epic crime drama film directed
by Stephen Gaghan and written by Patrick Massett and
John Zinman. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Édgar
Ramírez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll,
Toby Kebbell, Craig T. Nelson, Stacy Keach and Bruce
Greenwood. The film is loosely based on the true story
of the 1997 Bre-X mining scandal, when a massive gold
deposit was supposedly discovered in the jungles of
Indonesia; however, for legal reasons and to enhance
the appeal of the film, character names and story
details were changed.
Trailer
Gold
(YouTube Movies and TV)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=yc0S96OZhi0
Gold
is the epic tale of one man's pursuit of the American
dream, to discover gold. Starring Oscar® winner
Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club,
The Wolf Of Wall Street) as Kenny Wells, a modern
day prospector desperate for a lucky break, he teams
up with a similarly eager geologist and sets off on
an amazing journey to find gold in the uncharted jungle
of Indonesia. Getting the gold was hard, but keeping
it would be even harder, sparking an adventure through
the most powerful boardrooms of Wall Street. The film
is inspired by a true story.
News
Citizen
Kane (1941)
Directed
by Orson Welles | Written by Orson Welles & Herman
J. Mankiewicz | Cinematography by Gregg TolandWhy
it’s considered one of the greatest films ever
made:
Revolutionary
storytelling: Non-linear structure jumping through
multiple perspectives and timelines — decades
before it became common.
Iconic
moments/lines:
“Rosebud…”
The
campaign speech with the giant Kane poster
The
slow push-in on young Charlie playing in the snow
as his future is decided
“Old
age… it’s the only disease, Mr. Thompson,
that you don’t look forward to being cured of.”
(Bernstein)
News
Salt
of the Earth (1954
Mexican
workers at a zinc mine call a general strike. It is
only through the solidarity of the workers, and importantly
the indomitable resolve of their wives, mothers, and
daughters, that they eventually triumph.
Best
Quotes
The
best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."
"You
are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig
to find it and make it real."
"Your
mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will
find something golden."
"Don't
die without mining the gold in your mind."
"We're
like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's
inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."
"If
you want to find gold, you've got to love the process
of digging."
"Even
if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to
dig."
"Develop
men the same way gold is mined"
"Don't
go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in
looking for the gold."
"A
prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"
"A
prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't
find much gold"
"The
world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not."
"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are
silver, these are gold."
"All
that is gold does not glitter."
"Gold
is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears
out"
"Gold
is the money of kings"
"Mining
is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit.
An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher
of a dead mule."
"Anyone
can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds
the gold."
"True
gold fears no fire."
"The
desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means
of freedom and benefit."
"Make
new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these
are gold."
"When
taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes
considered like cheap copper – so are people."
Media
Man
Roy
Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Provider Of The
Month' award; Runner-ups: X, Google News, Yahoo! Finance
Markets,
Crypto and Culture
Cryptos
Struggle again, Medium Bull Update: Round 1! Bloody
Noses and Black Eyes Cont! Red And Black Attack! All
That Glitters. Bells To Be Rung! Aussie - US Connection
November
24, 2025
Sin
City Sydney, Australia
Mad Monday Aussie
ASX
futures up 92 points/1.1% to 8519
Wall
Street:
S&P 500 +1%
Dow Jones: +1.1%
Nasdaq +0.9%
Europe: Stoxx 50 -1%
FTSE +0.1%
DAX -0.8%
CAC flat
Australian
dollar at US64.59 cents
Bitcoin +3.3% to $US87,532
Gold
-0.3% to $US4065.14
Oil -1.6% to $US58.06 a barrel
Brent crude oil -1.3% to $US62.56 a barrel
Iron ore +0.3% to $US104.25 per ton
10-year
yield:
US 4.06%
Australia 4.46%
Germany 2.70%
Bitcoin:
(Near Live) $87,749.31 +3.95%
News
Update: (Near Live)
News
New
York/Wall St via Mr Wolf!
The November Man!
23 Nov
NYC!
Cryptos
Today: (Near Live)
Moody:
Cryptos lost shine!
Bitcoin
$87,749.31 +3.95%
Ethereum $2,833.20 +3.10%
Tether $1.0005 +0.06%
Binance Coin $853.96 +2.91%
XRP $2.0762 +6.95%
Solana $133.00 +4.96%
TRON $0.2755 +0.52%
Dogecoin $0.1470 +4.85%
Cardano $0.4158 +3.49%
Market
scares! Mood: Medium:; Picking up for some in traditional
sectors! Hardcores keep dream! Many bears selling
out!
Media
Man Favs:
(Near
Live)
Bells
Rung by Mr Wolf! TKO kicks out. Comeback! Christmas
Grinch Comes Early for some! Santa gives little for
miners, gamers, some tech heads and grapplers!
Wall
St, New York
TKO
Group Holdings Inc $178.17 +1.680.95%
NVIDIA Corp $178.88 -1.76 -0.97%
Formula One Group Series A $85.18 -0.72 -0.84%
Alphabet Inc Class A $299.66 +10.21 +3.53%
News Corp Class A $25.69 +0.89 +3.59%
Netflix Inc $104.31 -1.36 -1.29%
Caterpillar Inc $550.43 +4.30 +0.79%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp $10.33
-0.020 -0.19%
Tesla Inc $391.09 -3.96 -1.00%
Walt Disney Co $104.28 +1.58 +1.54%
Wynn Resorts Ltd $119.60 +2.46 +2.10%
Meta Platforms Inc $594.25 +5.03 +0.85%
Elders ADR $19.73 (US) 53.08 +0.50 +0.95% (NYSE)
Mercedes Benz Group ADR $16.45 +0.32 +1.98%
Elders ADR $19.73 (US)
Rio Tinto Ltd $84.00 -1.00 - 1.18% (US)
Paramount Skydance Corp $15.89 +0.21 +1.34%
Red Light Holland Corp $0.018 -0.0013 -6.84%
News
The
Dollar's new edge: from shield to sword
•
The dollar is losing its safe-haven status. •
The scale of the Fed's rate cuts has been overestimated.
• The yen is the main favourite for 2026. •
BoJ may not raise rates until March. If the US dollar
was previously a shield, it is now turning into a
sword. (FxPro)
News
Crypto
market accelerates decline
Market
Overview
The
crypto market is experiencing a sharp decline, losing
another 4% over the past 24 hours and falling back
to $3.07 trillion, its lowest level since early May.
The decline is accelerating relative to the trend
observed since 10 October. At this stage, the market
is being dragged down by major coins — Bitcoin,
Ethereum, XRP — which are losing more than 5%,
while some altcoins remain in the shadows. It is unlikely
that this should be considered a sign of strength
for coins such as Monero (+2.7%), Tron (-1.8%) or
Bitcoin Cash (-2.4%). It would be more accurate to
say that the bears have not yet reached them.
Bitcoin
fell below $90K, trading at its lowest levels since
the end of April. As expected, the dip below the 50-week
moving average at the end of last week triggered sellers,
confirming the breakdown of the bullish trend that
had lasted for the previous two years. Now, the working
scenario appears to be a chance for BTC to dip to
its 200-week moving average. In 2022, this path took
9 weeks, and over 30 weeks to form the bottom.
Ethereum
fell below $3,000, following Bitcoin, which rolled
back below its 50-week moving average. In this case,
the 200-week average (approximately $2,300) will deter
sellers, and we are considering a decline to $1,700
as a working pessimistic scenario.
News
Background
According
to CoinShares, global investment in crypto funds declined
by $2.036 billion last week, marking the third consecutive
week of outflows. Investments in Bitcoin fell by $1.378
billion, in Ethereum by $689 million, in XRP by $16
million, and in Solana by $8 million. Investments
in Sui rose by $6 million, in Litecoin by $3 million,
and in ETFs with multiple crypto assets by $31 million.
The
fall of Bitcoin from its record highs in October was
triggered by the capitulation of short-term holders,
rather than the distribution of coins by long-term
investors, according to XWIN Research.
Ethereum
is entering a Supercycle phase like the one that brought
Bitcoin a hundredfold increase since 2017, said BitMine
CEO Tom Lee. In his opinion, the market decline is
attributed to issues with several large market makers
attempting to provoke liquidations in Bitcoin.
The
inflow of stablecoins to Binance reached $9 billion
in 30 days. The indicator is close to historical peaks,
which previously preceded strong market movements,
notes CryptoOnchain analyst. In his opinion, capital
in standby mode can quickly change the market dynamics
in favour of the ‘bulls’.
Strategy's
business model is entirely dependent on funds buying
its shares and is built on ‘fraud,’ said
Peter Schiff, a well-known cryptocurrency critic and
gold advocate. Since July, Strategy's shares have
fallen by more than 50%, and recently, its capitalisation
has fallen below the value of its assets. (FxPro)
News
The
crypto is set for a short-term rebound, not a full
recovery
Market
Overview
The
crypto market cap has lost 9.5% over the past seven
days. The decline took place on weekdays last week,
with the level stabilising around $3.25 trillion over
the weekend. Among altcoins, the standout is the unsinkable
Zcash at $700, nearing its highs, and weak Solana
and Ethereum, which have lost 45% and 40% from their
August and September highs, respectively.
The
crypto sentiment index recorded values of 10 on Saturday
and Sunday, marking a return to the lows of late February
this year. Although this was a good point to buy on
the rebound in the following days, the downward trend
continued for almost a month and a half. Market dynamics
since the beginning of October have been reminiscent
of those seen at the end of January. This is good
news for short-term buyers but may cause medium-term
buyers to stay on the sidelines for a while.
Bitcoin
slipped below $93K during illiquid trading early in
the day, but found impressive buyer interest there,
rising to $95.6K. Whether this is a short-term rebound
or the beginning of a recovery can only be determined
after it consolidates above $100,000. There is a high
chance that the strategy of selling on rebounds will
remain prevalent.
News
Background
Outflows
from spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US continue for the
third week in a row. According to SoSoValue, net outflows
from spot BTC ETFs totalled $1.11 billion last week,
slightly lower than the previous week's outflows,
resulting in a total inflow of $58.85 billion into
these products since January 2024.
Net
outflows from spot Ethereum ETFs in the US continue
for the second week in a row, amounting to $728.6
million. The cumulative net inflow since the launch
of ETFs in July 2024 has fallen to $13.13 billion.
Inflows
into the recently launched Solana spot ETFs in the
US have continued for the third consecutive week,
totalling $382.1 million. However, during this time,
the price has fallen by a third, reinforcing the idea
that entering traditional financial markets does not
necessarily promise price growth.
Long-term
Ethereum holders have increased their sales to 45,000
ETH per day, the highest level since February 2021,
according to Glassnode. Long-term Bitcoin holders
are also actively selling their holdings. According
to CryptoQuant, they have dumped 815,000 BTC on the
market over the past month.
Miner
Bitfarms has announced a gradual phase-out of Bitcoin
mining and a transition to developing infrastructure
for artificial intelligence. The company reported
a net loss of $46 million in its third-quarter report.
(FxPro)
News
Gold
stabilised at $4,000, but the upward trend has already
broken down Gold has stabilised around the $4,000
mark over the last ten days, ending the week at roughly
the same level as it started. Attempts by sellers
to push the price below $3,900 are meeting with impressive
buying interest.
This
is facilitated by the Supreme Court, which is considering
the illegality of US tariffs. If Donald Trump is defeated,
the money will have to be returned. As a result, the
budget deficit and public debt will increase, leading
to chaos in the financial markets. Concerns about
this are prompting investors to seek refuge in safe-haven
assets. However, this all appears to be an attempt
to play the old card, which can only delay the inevitable.
According
to estimates by the World Gold Council, central bank
purchases of bullion in 2025 are expected to amount
to 750-900 tonnes. In each of the previous three years,
the figure exceeded 1,000 tonnes. China's cancellation
of VAT credits for precious metal retailers will increase
prices for the jewellery industry and lead to a decline
in demand. ETF stocks are falling.
HSBC,
Bank of America and Societe Generale continue to stick
to their forecasts of $5,000 per ounce. However, the
gold rally has broken down. Selling on the rise is
becoming relevant. (FxPro)
News
Crypto
bulls fail to maintain momentum
Market
Overview
The
crypto market has gained 1% over the past 24 hours,
the first increase after four days of decline. The
market is stabilising at levels just above $3.4 trillion,
close to May's local highs. The situation currently
resembles a pause in the decline rather than a serious
reversal, due to somewhat cautious sentiment in the
stock markets and the strengthening of the dollar
since the second half of September. Ironically, this
reversal coincides with the resumption of the easing
cycle of monetary policy. The sentiment index has
emerged from the zone of extreme fear, which also
coincided with a market rebound. According to the
creators of such an index, now is the right time for
bulls. Still, traders should be cautious with such
an interpretation, as the previous rebound from extreme
fear was not long-lasting, and the market is now 5%
below the local low of 17 Oct, when sentiment last
recovered from extreme anxiety. Bitcoin is trading
near $103,000, pausing its rebound but remaining far
from its recent lows. The bulls managed to bring the
coin back above the 50-week moving average, but there
is still a lot of time left until the end of the week,
and for now, time is on the bears' side. On intraday
charts, it looks as if the rebound has run out of
steam and sellers are ready to seize the initiative
again.
News
Background
Cryptocurrencies
are under pressure from general risk aversion in global
markets. Among the factors are concerns about the
Fed's interest rate and the situation in the credit
sector, according to Hashdex. Wintermute attributes
the worst performance of cryptocurrencies among all
other asset classes to the redistribution of cash
flows to other markets. Short-term Bitcoin holders
continue to sell cryptocurrencies at a loss, using
any rebound as an opportunity to sell, notes analyst
Darkfost. However, accumulator addresses — wallets
that only buy and never sell — have acquired
a record 375,000 BTC over the past month. Amid the
asset's decline, French company Sequans Communications,
which accumulates Bitcoin, was forced to sell 970
BTC to partially repay its convertible debt. The company's
reserves fell from 3,234 to 2,264 BTC. Japanese company
Metaplanet, on the other hand, is raising funds to
purchase bitcoins. On 31 October, the company received
a $100 million loan secured by its reserves. Ripple
announced that it had raised $500 million in strategic
investments (with a valuation of $40 billion) from
major institutional players. Zcash (ZEC) could become
an alternative to Bitcoin among those who fear the
centralisation of BTC due to Wall Street and are concerned
about the tracking of on-chain transactions, according
to Galaxy Digital. Supporters of the private coin
refer to it as ‘encrypted Bitcoin’ and a
return to the principles of the cypherpunks. (FxPro)
News
Lead Up
Price
Movements and Market Outlook
Spot
Gold Dips Slightly: Gold traded at $4,068.70 per troy
ounce on November 17, down 0.36% from the previous
day. This extends a two-day losing streak amid fading
bets for a December Fed rate cut, with the probability
dropping below 50%. However, the metal remains up
55.75% year-over-year, supported by broader safe-haven
demand.
Recent
Rally: Prices surged nearly 3% earlier in the week
to a two-week high, driven by soft U.S. economic indicators
that bolstered rate-cut hopes and lifted non-yielding
assets like gold.
Forecast:
Analysts see potential upside if gold sustains above
$4,100, targeting $4,140–$4,145, and possibly
$4,200. A break below $4,000 could accelerate declines
toward $3,900. A weaker USD and softer risk sentiment
are keeping a floor under prices, amid concerns over
the ongoing U.S. government shutdown impacting economic
momentum.
Global
Demand and Regional Updates
India
and China Cooling: Physical demand in India stayed
subdued due to volatile prices, leading to steep discounts
for the first time in seven weeks post-festivals.
In China, a state bank halted new retail gold accounts
after tax exemptions were tweaked, likely curbing
demand in the world's top consumer market. Premiums
rose in other Asian hubs as global rates eased.
Investment
Trends: First-time gold investing hit its strongest
levels since the Global Financial Crisis, per recent
surveys, signaling renewed interest amid uncertainty.
Buzz
on X (Recent Posts) Social discussions highlight gold's
role as a hedge against crypto volatility and inflation:
Users are buying gold amid Bitcoin's dip into the
$80Ks, viewing it as a tangible alternative to "digital
tulips."
News
Gold:
correction is not over yet
The
strengthening of the US dollar and higher Treasury
yields have brought the gold price back below $4000.
Yellow
metal is gradually losing its wild cards. It managed
to reach a record high thanks to devaluation trading,
expectations of aggressive monetary expansion by the
Fed, Donald Trump's threats of 100% tariffs against
China, geopolitics, pessimistic forecasts for the
global economy, and active purchases of bullion by
central banks.
However,
the White House is no longer attacking the Fed as
aggressively as before. The US and China have found
common ground. The Middle East conflict has been resolved,
and the global economy is proving resilient in the
face of tariffs. The Fed is cautious about lowering
rates, and central bank activity in the bullion market
is declining.
The
other two examples of similar velocity of gold rose
were 1979 and 2011. The experience of those years
shows that the surge and collapse were followed by
long periods of consolidation. In other words, after
a period of retreat from the top, the precious metal
will find its trading range and settle within it.
But for the weeks ahead, we continue to see more risks
of further decline. (FxPro)
News
Flashback
Oil
Holds Strong Despite Bearish Fundamentals
Weekly
data from the EIA noted that the US returned to record
oil production rates last week, supplying an average
of 13.6 million barrels per day to the market, according
to the latest EIA data. The trend towards increased
supply began in August, but producers have only now
returned to the peak levels recorded at the end of
last year. Despite a 5.5-million-barrel increase in
US commercial inventories over the past two weeks,
inventories stay at the lower end of the range seen
over the past decade, leaving considerable room for
growth. The same can be said for the strategic reserve,
which holds nearly 40% less oil than it did five years
ago, before the start of the active sell-off. It is
an interesting game in which, on the one hand, the
US (the largest oil producer) is increasing supplies,
while OPEC+ is increasing quotas on a monthly basis.
This extremely bearish combination of factors did
not cause oil prices to collapse; it was only because
of global trade in currency depreciation that caused
precious metals, stock indices, and cryptocurrencies
to rise. Oil prices have not peaked in recent weeks
.. To be cont .. (FxPro)
News
Gold
hits new highs due to political turmoil
Gold
is outside the realm of politics.
While
currencies and securities depend on the actions of
presidents and governments, precious metals do not.
Therefore, political turmoil forces investors to use
them as safe-haven assets.
The
impressive 52% rally in gold started in April with
the introduction of tariffs on America's Liberation
Day. It continued due to the US government shutdown,
the political crisis in France, and the change of
leadership in Japan. he rise of gold above 4,000 dollars
per ounce is not only the result of the weakness of
fiat currencies. There are tectonic shifts in the
structure of investment portfolios and fears of financial
crises due to government recklessness.
The
share of precious metals is growing both in speculators'
assets and in the gold and foreign exchange reserves
of central banks. The indicator has already exceeded
the share of the euro. According to Eurizon Capital,
if it equals the share of the US dollar, the price
per ounce will soar to 8,500 dollars. The Supreme
Court's abolition of tariffs will inflate the US budget
deficit. France does not intend to reduce it, and
Japan plans to increase bond issuance. All this creates
a tailwind for commodity assets. (FxPro)
News
Pop
Culture News
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking/Sports; Media Man Group Dream
Match Series; Crack The Code!
Million
Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
VKM vs Easy E
Vinnie Vegas vs Mr Corbin
Mr Corp Merch vs Mr Freelance
Masked Superstar vs John McAfee
Sid Justice vs Mr Blood Diamond
Mr Bluey Chipper vs Street Fighter - King Of The Streets
Mr Dotcom vs Mr Wiki
Mr Gold vs Mr Green - Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Khan vs Khan - Winner Take All Match
Mr Wolff vs The Cleaner
Mr News vs Mr Vice - U.S Market Footprint Stipulation
Mr Paramount vs Mr Netflix
Mr ESPN vs Mr Fox
Mr Kross vs Mr H
Cesaro vs Rollins
Dirty Dom vs Mr AAA
Punks vs Egos
Kross vs H
Murdoch Title vs Title
Mr Black Coffee vs Mr Claudio's Cafe Blend
Mr Warner vs Mr Netflix: Broadway draw thus far! Re-match!
Winner take all?!
TMZ vs Riddle UFC vs PFL
The Oracle vs Cincinnati, Ohio
Mr X vs Hollyweird
Succession vs Billions
Mouse House vs Art House
NFL vs UFL
ABC vs Mainstream Aussies
Reigns vs Blanka
Cody Rhodes vs Joe
E. Honda vs NJPW
Capcom vs Warner
Cena vs ACME
Combat Sports Players vs Father Time
NXT vs TNA Wrestling (Showdown, not Invasion)!
Alpha vs Meta
TED X vs The Others
WWE's Solo vs NYC and Western Australia
UFC Predator vs MMA Predator
UFC Legal vs UFC Bad Egg Betting Disruptors
Bulls vs Bears
Logan Paul vs WWE babyfaces
Santa's Helper vs Grinch
John McAfee vs FBI + + +, Running .... Netflix Wins
again!
Killer Kross vs Matt Riddle - Shoot Fight/Wrestling
(MLW)!
VKM vs Numerous!
MLW vs The World
The Big Event vs US Promoters
Storm vs WWE Locker Room. Lash Legend on side!
NXT Gold Rush: Page & Green vs Hendry & Hail
Baszler vs Itoh - HOG Superclash - Nov 15
MSG, NY winning with WWE and UFC in Nov
The Vision vs WWE Lockerroom
John Cena vs Dirty Dom
Miz vs Management
Jericho vs Internet Marks
Mr Gold vs Mr Fool's Gold
Neo vs Mr Smith
PBR vs Others. No Bull?!
Aus Gvt vs Big Tech
Banks vs Cryptos
NVIDIA vs World
White House vs Wokes
Packer vs Devil D
Lucha Bros vs AAA Heels
News
Cryptocurrency
Movies
Docos
The
Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)
Follows early Bitcoin adopter Daniel Mross, exploring
Bitcoin’s origins, its volatile rise, and the
community behind it. Great for understanding Bitcoin’s
early days and its potential to disrupt finance.
Banking
on Bitcoin (2016)
Examines Bitcoin’s history, ideological roots,
and impact on global financial systems through interviews
with pioneers and experts. A solid primer for newcomers.
Cryptopia:
Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet
(2020)
Directed by Torsten Hoffmann, this documentary dives
into blockchain’s broader applications beyond
cryptocurrency, addressing scalability and regulatory
challenges. Ideal for those interested in blockchain’s
transformative potential.
Trust
Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) Narrated by
Rosario Dawson, it explores blockchain’s societal
impact, from financial inclusion to voting systems.
A comprehensive look at real-world applications.
Bitcoin:
The End of Money as We Know It (2015)
Traces the history of money and introduces Bitcoin
as a decentralized alternative, critiquing centralized
financial systems. Features interviews with crypto
experts.
Deep
Web (2015) Narrated by Keanu Reeves, this documentary
focuses on the Silk Road marketplace and its creator,
Ross Ulbricht, highlighting Bitcoin’s role in
dark web transactions.
Bitconned
(2024) Explores the Centra Tech crypto scam, detailing
how three individuals defrauded investors during the
2010s crypto boom. A cautionary tale about unregulated
markets.
Feature
Films
Crypto
(2019)
A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth,
and Kurt Russell. It follows a young anti-money laundering
agent investigating corruption and cryptocurrency
in his hometown. Critics note its exaggerated portrayal
but praise its entertainment value.
Silk
Road (2021)
A dramatization of Ross Ulbricht’s creation of
the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace using Bitcoin.
It explores his rise and fall, blending crime and
drama.
Dope
(2015) A coming-of-age comedy-drama featuring Bitcoin
as a plot device. High schooler Malcolm uses Bitcoin
for a dark web transaction, reflecting its early association
with illicit activities.
Bonus
Mentions
Life
on Bitcoin (2014): Follows a couple attempting to
live solely on Bitcoin for 100 days, showcasing early
adoption challenges.
Bitcoin
Heist (2016): A Vietnamese action-comedy about hackers
chasing a crypto criminal, blending humor and thrills.
Notes
Documentaries are generally more educational, focusing
on Bitcoin’s history, blockchain technology,
and real-world implications. They’re great for
beginners and enthusiasts alike.
Feature
films often dramatize crypto’s association with
crime or scams, sometimes oversimplifying or exaggerating
for effect. They prioritize entertainment over accuracy.
For a deeper dive, check streaming platforms like
Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or YouTube, where many
of these are available.
News
Wall
Street (Movie)
Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a
drama about ambition and greed in the 1980s financial
world. It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young
stockbroker desperate to succeed, who gets entangled
with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate
raider. Gekko’s mantra, “Greed is good,”
drives the story as Bud is lured into insider trading
and unethical deals, compromising his morals for wealth
and power.
The
film explores themes of capitalism, loyalty, and betrayal,
with Bud navigating pressures from Gekko, his father
(Martin Sheen), and his own conscience.
Key
Details: Cast: Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko), Charlie
Sheen (Bud Fox), Daryl Hannah (Darien Taylor), Martin
Sheen (Carl Fox).
Runtime: 2h 6m.
Genre: Drama/Crime.
Rating: R. Box Office: ~$44 million (US).
Awards:
Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Notable
Aspects:
Gekko’s
“Greed is good” speech is iconic, reflecting
1980s excess. Inspired by real-life figures like Ivan
Boesky and Michael Milken.
A
sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), continued
the story.
Where
to Watch (as of 2025):
Streaming: Available on platforms like Peacock or
rentable on Amazon, YouTube, or Apple TV (check current
availability).
Physical: DVD/Blu-ray via retailers like Amazon.
News
Best
Quotes
An
investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
— Benjamin Franklin
"Bottoms
in the investment world don't end with four-year lows;
they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim
Rogers
Be
fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when
others are fearful." — Warren Buffett
Media
Man "Bullish is a mindset"
Markets,
Crypto and Culture
Super
Bulls Running Show; Cryptos Still Hurting; Medium
Bull Update: Round 3! Bloody Noses and Black Eyes!
All That Glitters ... Elon Smiles Again?!
November
5, 2025
Sin
City Sydney, Australia
ASX
futures up 0.2% at 8832
Wall
Street:
S&P 500 -1.1%
Dow Jones: -0.5%
Nasdaq -2%
Europe:
Stoxx 50 -0.3%
FTSE +0.1%
DAX -0.8%
CAC -0.5%
Australian
dollar -0.8% at US64.86 cents
Bitcoin
-6% to $US100,548
Gold
-1.6% to $US3938.33 per ounce
Oil -1% to $US60.41 a barrel
Brent crude oil -0.8% to $US64.36 a barrel
Iron ore -1.3% to $US104.52 per ton
10-year
yield:
US 4.09%
Australia 4.34%
Germany 2.65%
News
Update: (Near Live)
Bitcoin:
$99,422.32 -7.19%
New
York/Wall St via Mr Wolf!
Cryptos
Today: (Near Live) Moody: Part Corrective! Downhill.
Salt Into The Wound Again?! Or Salt Of The Earth In
Metals Right Chess Move?! All That Glitters Not Digital
Gold?!
Bitcoin
$99,422.32 -7.19%
Ethereum $3,182.97 -12.75%
Tether $1.0002 flat
Binance Coin $903.69 -9.58%
XRP $2.1179 -10.08%
Solana $148.07 -11.98%
TRON $0.2817 -0.78%
Dogecoin $0.1558 -8.63%
Cardano $0.5009 -10.60%
Market
part corrective?! Mood: Still somber-like for many
but picking up! Suspicious! Regaining smiles in selected
cases! Hardcores keep the dream!
Media
Man Favs:
(Near
Live). Bells Rung by Mr Wolf!
Wall
St, New York
TKO
Group Holdings Inc $187.35 -0.36 -0.19%
NVIDIA Corp $198.69 -8.19 -3.96%
Formula One Group Series A $91.43 +0.80 +0.88%
Alphabet Inc Class A $277.54 -6.18 -2.18%
News Corp Class A $25.80 -0.19 -0.73%
Netflix Inc $1,092.96 -7.13 -0.65%
Caterpillar Inc $547.58 -23.01 -4.03%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp $13.82
-0.70 -4.82%
Tesla Inc $444.26 -24.11 -5.15%
Walt Disney Co $111.47 -0.65 -0.58%
Wynn Resorts Ltd $121.34 -4.39 -3.49%
Meta Platforms Inc $627.32 -10.39 -1.63%
BHP Group Ltd (NYSE) $54.44 -1.71 -3.05%
Mercedes Benz Group ADR $16.06 -0.43 -2.58%
Elders Ltd $6.74 -0.055 -0.81%
Rio Tinto Ltd $125.91 -3.50 -2.70%
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
Politics
remains the main driver of FX
The
US government shutdown did not have a noticeable impact
on the dollar's performance last week. However, it
did help the stock market to grow slightly by strengthening
expectations of monetary policy easing. However, these
events pale in comparison to the change in Japan's
ruling elite and the resignation of the French prime
minister less than a day after the formation of the
government in terms of their impact on the currency
market. In Japan, Sanae Takaichi was chosen head of
the Liberal Democratic Party over the weekend and
is on track to become the country's first female prime
minister. This event caused the yen to fall 2% to
150.49 from Friday's level before correcting to 149.80
at the time of writing. Takaichi is considered a supporter
of aggressive government spending, structural reforms,
and soft monetary policy, echoing the basic principles
of Shinzo Abe. Overall, she has a more right-wing
approach to national policy and is also a supporter
of revising Japan's pacifist constitution. The market
reaction clearly shows that they are considering Takaichi
to be the new prime minister. If she does not change
her political views (and she has softened them recently
to win the party elections), we should be prepared
for a further weakening of the yen, which reached
its highest level since 1991 in the EURJPY pair, exceeding
176. However, the single currency is also facing uncertainty
today due to a new political crisis in France. Prime
Minister Lecornu, who had been trying to form a government
for a month, resigned the day after he finally presented
his new cabinet. His appointments drew criticism from
both left-wing and right-wing allies. The EURUSD fell
to 1.1650 at its lowest point on Monday, losing a
full cent against Friday's levels. Unlike Japan, where
a 2% drop in the JPY was accompanied by a 5% jump
in the Nikkei225 index, France's CAC40 lost more than
2% intraday, paring its losses to 1.2% towards the
end of the trading day in Europe. The EURUSD stopped
its climb in July and has been hovering around 1.1700
all this time, not least because of the political
crisis in France. Without it, the single currency
would have had a much better chance of exploiting
political divisions in the US to its advantage. It
would be an exaggeration to call the situation in
Japan and France a drama. Still, these events once
again emphasise that as soon as the dollar's throne
begin.
News
Pop
Culture News
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking/Sports; Media Man Group Dream
Match Series; Crack The Code!
Million
Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
VKM vs Easy E
Vinnie Vegas vs Mr Corbin
Mr Corp Merch vs Mr Freelance
Masked Superstar vs John McAfee
Sid Justice vs Mr Blood Diamond
Mr Bluey Chipper vs Street Fighter - King Of The Streets
Mr Dotcom vs Mr Wiki
Mr Gold vs Mr Green - Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Khan vs Khan - Winner Take All Match
Mr Wolff vs The Cleaner
Mr News vs Mr Vice - U.S Market Footprint Stipulation
Mr Paramount vs Mr Netflix
Mr ESPN vs Mr Fox
Mr Kross vs Mr H
Cesaro vs Rollins
Dirty Dom vs Mr AAA
Punks vs Egos
Kross vs H
Murdoch Title vs Title
Mr Black Coffee vs Mr Claudio's Cafe Blend
Mr Warner vs Mr Netflix: Broadway draw thus far! Re-match!
Winner take all?!
TMZ vs Riddle UFC vs PFL
The Oracle vs Cincinnati, Ohio
Mr X vs Hollyweird
Succession vs Billions
Mouse House vs Art House
NFL vs UFL
ABC vs Mainstream Aussies
Reigns vs Blanka
Cody Rhodes vs Joe
E. Honda vs NJPW
Capcom vs Warner
Cena vs ACME
Combat Sports Players vs Father Time
NXT vs TNA Wrestling (Showdown, not Invasion)!
Alpha vs Meta
TED X vs The Others
WWE's Solo vs Western Australia
UFC Predator vs MMA Predator
UFC Legal vs UFC Bad Egg Betting Disruptors
Bulls vs Bears
Logan Paul vs WWE babyfaces
Santa's Helper vs Grinch
News
Cryptocurrency
Movies
Documentaries
The
Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)
Follows early Bitcoin adopter Daniel Mross, exploring
Bitcoin’s origins, its volatile rise, and the
community behind it. Great for understanding Bitcoin’s
early days and its potential to disrupt finance.
Banking
on Bitcoin (2016)
Examines Bitcoin’s history, ideological roots,
and impact on global financial systems through interviews
with pioneers and experts. A solid primer for newcomers.
Cryptopia:
Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet
(2020)
Directed by Torsten Hoffmann, this documentary dives
into blockchain’s broader applications beyond
cryptocurrency, addressing scalability and regulatory
challenges. Ideal for those interested in blockchain’s
transformative potential.
Trust
Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) Narrated by
Rosario Dawson, it explores blockchain’s societal
impact, from financial inclusion to voting systems.
A comprehensive look at real-world applications.
Bitcoin:
The End of Money as We Know It (2015)
Traces the history of money and introduces Bitcoin
as a decentralized alternative, critiquing centralized
financial systems. Features interviews with crypto
experts.
Deep
Web (2015) Narrated by Keanu Reeves, this documentary
focuses on the Silk Road marketplace and its creator,
Ross Ulbricht, highlighting Bitcoin’s role in
dark web transactions.
Bitconned
(2024) Explores the Centra Tech crypto scam, detailing
how three individuals defrauded investors during the
2010s crypto boom. A cautionary tale about unregulated
markets.
Feature
Films
Crypto
(2019)
A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth,
and Kurt Russell. It follows a young anti-money laundering
agent investigating corruption and cryptocurrency
in his hometown. Critics note its exaggerated portrayal
but praise its entertainment value.
Silk
Road (2021)
A dramatization of Ross Ulbricht’s creation of
the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace using Bitcoin.
It explores his rise and fall, blending crime and
drama.
Dope
(2015) A coming-of-age comedy-drama featuring Bitcoin
as a plot device. High schooler Malcolm uses Bitcoin
for a dark web transaction, reflecting its early association
with illicit activities.
Bonus
Mentions
Life
on Bitcoin (2014): Follows a couple attempting to
live solely on Bitcoin for 100 days, showcasing early
adoption challenges.
Bitcoin
Heist (2016): A Vietnamese action-comedy about hackers
chasing a crypto criminal, blending humor and thrills.
Notes
Documentaries are generally more educational, focusing
on Bitcoin’s history, blockchain technology,
and real-world implications. They’re great for
beginners and enthusiasts alike.
Feature
films often dramatize crypto’s association with
crime or scams, sometimes oversimplifying or exaggerating
for effect. They prioritize entertainment over accuracy.
For a deeper dive, check streaming platforms like
Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or YouTube, where many
of these are available.
News
Wall
Street (Movie)
Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a
drama about ambition and greed in the 1980s financial
world. It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young
stockbroker desperate to succeed, who gets entangled
with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate
raider. Gekko’s mantra, “Greed is good,”
drives the story as Bud is lured into insider trading
and unethical deals, compromising his morals for wealth
and power.
The
film explores themes of capitalism, loyalty, and betrayal,
with Bud navigating pressures from Gekko, his father
(Martin Sheen), and his own conscience.
Key
Details: Cast: Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko), Charlie
Sheen (Bud Fox), Daryl Hannah (Darien Taylor), Martin
Sheen (Carl Fox).
Runtime: 2h 6m.
Genre: Drama/Crime.
Rating: R. Box Office: ~$44 million (US).
Awards:
Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Notable
Aspects:
Gekko’s
“Greed is good” speech is iconic, reflecting
1980s excess. Inspired by real-life figures like Ivan
Boesky and Michael Milken.
A
sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), continued
the story.
Where
to Watch (as of 2025):
Streaming: Available on platforms like Peacock or
rentable on Amazon, YouTube, or Apple TV (check current
availability).
Physical: DVD/Blu-ray via retailers like Amazon.
News
Flashback
Gold,
copper, & silver:
How
metals are moving this year
Metal
futures have made some pretty dramatic moves lately
from safe haven gold to tariff sensitive copper. So
let's take a look at the longer term trends. I'm Jared
Blikre, host of Stocks in Translation. And I'm going
to start by charting some of the moves in Dr. Copper
because this is where we have the most zig and zags
over the last 25 years. So this goes back to the beginning
of the century and we can see right now, we're at
$5.51 per pound. That is a record high. But if we
go back to the beginning of the century, guess what?
Uh we had a little bit of a slump in the wake of the
dot com boom and then bust, but starting in 2003,
we saw a big rise there. And that was as China actually
joined the World Trade Organization or the WTO. That
lasted into the global financial crisis. Then we had
a pretty big bust in in Dr. Copper, and then we had
another rise. And that rise was due to unprecedented
stimulus, not only from the Chinese government, but
also from the United States government, QE was in
force, and then we saw kind of a strong dollar play.
That weighed on this metal all the way into the beginning
of 2016. The entire world, most of the world indices
went through a bear market in 2015, and then 2016,
we found the footing. And that was actually the year
that Trump won, began his first presidency. And from
there, we saw some zig and zags, and then we saw a
shock into the pandemic. A couple of, a couple of
years of deflation or a semi-deflation, disinflation,
that caught up with it in 2022, but then it was off
to the races again. And especially with the Trump
tariffs now on copper, threatening to be threatening
to be 50% on August 1st, we're seeing a lot of front
running in this trade. Now, I also want to show you
gold futures and I'm going to show you silver as well.
And they follow a very similar pattern. We're not
seeing the dramatic zig and zags that we did in copper,
but we did see the same pattern of China joining the
WTO, contributing to that huge rise in price to 1800,
almost $2,000 an ounce by the beginning of the global
financial crisis. So a little bit of a meltdown there.
But in 2016 into 2018, we saw a bit of a rise into
the pandemic, a little bit of a whipsaw there, and
consolidation over a few years. Again, that 2022 bare
market in US stocks that contributed to some deflation
and disinflation globally, supply chain chain shocks
came into force again, and then we saw this huge rise
beginning in late 2023, and we are now at 3353. We've
seen a high of as much as $3,500 per ounce. And gold
is kind of unique among the precious metals and also
the industrial metals, and this is because central
banks have been a huge determining force in their
buying of it. This is a bar chart that shows central
bank buying in tons going back all the way to 2010.
And what you notice here is the last three years,
2022, 2023, 2024, all of those had gold being bought
by central banks of in the amount of over 1,000 tons.
And so that's a pretty big dramatic increase from
the prior years. And this has to do with the ongoing
dedollarization in China, as well as Russia, but also
a host of other countries, even some in western and
eastern Europe. So this is a trend that we want to
follow. Uh, I want to close out here with silver,
and I'm going to just chart the price action. Again,
very similar chart to gold and copper in terms of
the big movements here. We saw a big price spike into
almost $50 per ounce, and that was just as the global
financial crisis was getting underway. And then the
QE area in 2011, that's when we saw that high. Then
we saw a dramatic, dramatic crash into 2016, kind
of found its footing, saw a big squeeze in the early
pandemic, 2020 was a great year for silver, but then
we saw a little bit of a fallout. And again, silver
is on the rise here at $38. It's still off of that
$50 record high, but it is increasing very quickly.
To round out the conversation, I want to just put
on a table here. I have all three medals and just
kind of grouping them together. I want to display
how they are moving with their specific patterns with
a trigger, and then to tell you which one of these
is featured in these specific criteria. So here, under
the pattern, we have acceleration. So that would be
an economic acceleration. The trigger would be liquidity.
And when that happens, we see all metals benefiting
from that. And then when there's a safe haven scare,
and that trigger would be a crisis of some sorts,
you're going to see gold and silver outperforming
the most, kind of leaving Dr. Copper behind. And then
here's a bearish one, industrial drags, that affects
copper disproportionately here, and the trigger there
is typically a stronger US dollar because the US dollar
surges when global global industrials tend to drag,
and that's because the US is the least dirty shirt
in the laundry basket of the world. And then finally
here, we have a policy shock. This will affect all
three medals, but especially copper and gold here.
Um, arguably, the biggest reason is tariffs and debt,
and we've seen both of those contribute to silver
rising. So we could put all three in that basket as
well. But when you put it all together, we have the
perfect explosive mix for all three of these metals,
including palladium and also platinum, which we didn't
get to have time for, but all of these are experiencing
huge thrust in 2025. And we'll have to see how these
tariffs play out, especially on Dr. Copper with respect
to that August 1st deadline. Remember, 50% there.
So tune into Stocks in Translation for more jargon
busting deep dives, new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays
on Yahoo Finances website, or wherever you find your
podcast. (Transcript from Yahoo! Finance podcast)
News
Best
Quotes
An
investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
— Benjamin Franklin
"Bottoms
in the investment world don't end with four-year lows;
they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim
Rogers
Be
fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when
others are fearful." — Warren Buffett
Media
Man "Bullish is a mindset"
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.
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
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"
Media/Marketing/Comms/Brands/News/Culture/
Streaming/Events: Australia and World
October
2025
Media/Entertainment
Stocks
Oct
15
Netflix
$1,203.29 -12.06 -0.99%
TKO Group $191.21 +1.24 +0.65%
Google Class A $251.03 +5.58 +2.27%
Apple $249.34 +1.57 +0.63%
Warner Bros. Discovery $18.45 +0.47 +2.61%
Paramount Skydance Corp $17.43 +0.14 +0.81%
Walt Disney Co $111.71 +0.54 +0.49%
News Corp Class A $26.57 -0.070 -0.26%
Meta Platforms $717.55 +8.90 +1.26%
Amazon $215.57 -0.82 -0.38%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp $16.27
-0.010 -0.061%
News
SNL
Sabrina
Carpenter channelled her inner Carrie Bradshaw on
Wednesday in a promo for an upcoming episode of Saturday
Night Live.
Carpenter
will both host and appear as musical guest on the
show's Oct. 18 episode, marking her first time hosting
and second time performing.
Sits
down to a computer to type:
"The
woman wondered what she'd gotten herself into. Having
won over the cast and crew, the only thing left to
do was ... ."
Brennan
interrupts, asking what Carpenter is writing.
"No
idea. The computer's not even on," Sherman responds.
News
(Australia)
Oct
15
Bunnings,
Kmart and Samsung are the Most Trusted Brands in Retail
and Consumer Products for 2025
(Market Research Update)
Roy
Morgan has presented the Roy Morgan Trusted Brand
Awards for 2025 for Retail and Consumer Products industries.
The broader Retail category (not including Supermarkets)
was again topped by leading home hardware brand Bunnings,
with a seventh consecutive victory as the 'Most Trusted
Retail Brand' in Australia. Bunnings recorded a clean
sweep at the awards, picking up the 'Best of the Best'
Most Trusted Brand in Australia award for a second
straight year. The 'Most Trusted Brand in Department
& Discount Department Stores' award has been won
by Kmart for the seventh year in a row. The winner
of the 'Most Trusted Consumer Products Brand' was
South Korea-based Samsung, also for a seventh straight
year. Meanwhile, Apple is the 'Most Trusted Technology
Brand' for a fifth consecutive year, and Aldi has
retained the title of the 'Most Trusted Supermarket
Brand' for 2025.
Sports
News/Marketing
Sydney
FC is again the most widely supported A-League club
ahead of the new 2025-26 A-League season
Research
from Roy Morgan shows Sydney FC topping the 2025 Roy
Morgan A-League club supporter ladder with 686,000
fans; this is over 100,000 more fans than any other
club in the league. Sydney FC has been the most successful
club in the A-League Men, winning 5 Championships
and 4 Premiers Plates since the league began in 2005.
There is a close contest for second place between
the Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory. The Roar
has 556,000 supporters, just ahead of the Melbourne
Victory with 531,000 supporters. In fourth place overall
are Adelaide United with 404,000 supporters, followed
by Perth Glory with 360,000 supporters and current
A-League Men's Champions Melbourne City with 292,000
supporters. Meanwhile, 16.1% of Australians (3.7 million
people), now support an A-League club, and 6.8% (almost
1.6 million) watch the A-League on TV. However, a
much larger 5.6 million (24.5%) Australian have watched
any soccer match on TV, which includes overseas leagues
and international tournaments. (RMS)
News
Talkback
revival a boost for Nine sale
GfK's
latest radio ratings survey shows that Nine Entertainment's
2GB has increased its audience share across all timeslots.
Its breakfast show's audience share rose to 16.8 per
cent, overtaking KIIS FM's popular Kyle and Jackie
O show; 2GB's morning show also reclaimed top spot
in its timeslot, with audience share growth of 3.6
per cent compared with the previous survey. Nine's
3AW in 4BC talkback stations also performed well overall
in the latest ratings, with the company seeking a
buyer for its radio stations. Meanwhile, the ABC has
increased its audience share in every timeslot in
Sydney and Melbourne. (RMS)
News
Pro
Wrestling
WWE:
Oct 13
World
Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins proclaimed The Vision's
dominance after he triumphed over Cody Rhodes to win
the WWE Crown Jewel Championship and Bronson Reed
posted a huge victory against Roman Reigns.
Vision
Members Breakker and Reed Turn On Rollins!
News
Flashback
October
9, 2025
Free-to-air
TV ad slump deepens as digital media eats bigger share
Data
from Guideline SMI shows that advertising revenue
in Australia's free-to-air TV market fell nearly 10
per cent in the first eight months of 2025. Ad revenue
also declined by 18 per cent year-on-year in August,
and by 17 per cent over the last three months. The
figures do not include ad revenue from the networks'
increasingly popular broadcast video-on-demand platforms,
such as 7plus and 9Now. However, the advertising market
has grown by about one per cent overall since the
start of the year. (RMS)
News
Why
Australia needs to protect its identity
Data
from the Public Interest Journalism Initiative shows
that 161 news outlets across Australia closed in the
five years to March 2023; this is a threefold increase
compared with the previous decade. The future of the
nation's media industry and content creators are at
risk due to technology companies' use of copyrighted
works to train their AI models. The federal government
must rule out ever changing Australia's copyright
laws to include a proposed 'text and data mining exception'
for AI companies. Australian journalism, Australian
creativity and Australian voices must be protected
before it is too late. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
'AI
is here to stay and change things': Mad Max director
George Miller on why he is taking part in an AI film
festival
Legendary
Australian film director George Miller will head the
judging panel for Australia's inaugural awards festival
for films that have been generated entirely via artificial
intelligence. Miller says he joined the judging panel
for the Omni 1.0 AI film festival out of "intense
curiosity" about the evolving role of AI in storytelling.
Miller also contends that art has to evolve, and likens
the impact of AI on the film industry to previous
innovations in the arts sector such as the introduction
the use of oil paint by artists and the advent of
photography. Miller argues that AI will make film-making
more egalitarian. (RMS)
News
(Australia)
Supercheap
Auto, Red Bull and Repco are the brands most firmly
associated with the V8 Supercars and Bathurst 1000
(Roy Morgan Summary)
Research
from Roy Morgan shows that three key brands -Supercheap
Auto, Red Bull and Repco - stand out as associated
most strongly with the V8 Supercars Championship,
which includes the Bathurst 1000. Supercheap Auto,
which was the naming rights sponsor for the Bathurst
1000 from 2005 to 2020, is still associated with V8
Supercars by 13% of Australians (3.1 million). Red
Bull, the naming rights sponsor of the most successful
V8 Supercars team since 2013, is associated with the
V8 Supercars by 11% of Australians (2.6 million).
Repco, which has been the naming rights sponsor of
the Bathurst 1000 since 2021, is associated with the
V8 Supercars by 9% of Australians (equivalent to 2.1
million people). Other brands associated with V8 Supercars
include Ampol, Dunlop and Mobil (6% of Australians
for each), Beaurepaires (5%), Boost Mobile (4%), and
Armor All, BP, Coca Cola, Coates Hire and Jim Beam
(all 3%). Meanwhile, almost 2.6 million Australians
aged 14+ said they watched the Bathurst 1000 in the
year to June 2025; this is equivalent to 11.3% of
Australians. (RMS)
News
Free
TV's dire state on show (Australia)
Free-to-air
television has been both a dominating force in Australian
media and one of the nation's great profit power houses
for nearly 70 years. However, the terms of the proposed
merger between Seven West Media and Southern Cross
Media Group confirm that the days of free-to-air media
dominance and its profit bonanza are over. Evans &
Partners estimates that the Seven Network is priced
in the merger at just four times forecast 2025-26
earnings, while the Southern Cross radio network is
priced at more than twice that level at nine times.
The decimation of free-to-air TV follows the same
pattern to that of major newspapers, where the so
called "rivers of gold" classified advertising
were decimated by online classifieds. When an industry
suffers the sort of fall that FTA is experiencing
there is normally pressure from the major players
to merge. Politicians in Canberra have very little
understanding of the fundamental change taking place,
so this is politically impossible. (RMS)
News
Commonwealth
Bank, AustralianSuper, PayPal, HCF and NRMA Insurance
are Australia's most trusted finance and insurance
brands
(Roy Morgan Summary)
The
Roy Morgan Trusted Brand Awards bring together outstanding
companies and brands from across a range of industries
to celebrate and recognise the unmatched levels of
trust these organisations hold when compared to their
competitors in their respective categories. All 22
winners for the 12 months to June 2025 have displayed
market-leading levels of trust, and exceedingly low
or negligible levels of distrust, to outstrip their
rivals on the key metric of 'Net Trust'. The Commonwealth
Bank has been rated as the 'Most Trusted Bank Brand'
in Australia for the first time, while AustralianSuper
has emerged as the 'Most Trusted Superannuation Brand'
for a fifth straight year. The other winners in the
key finance and insurance categories are PayPal (Most
Trusted Brand for Payments, Cards & Loans), NRMA
Insurance (Most Trusted Brand in Insurance) and HCF
(Most Trusted Brand in Private Health Insurance).
(RMS)
News
(Australia)
ANZ,
Seven West write down View Media
Roy
Morgan Summary
Sources
have indicated that the ANZ Bank has written down
the value of its stake in View Media Group. The bank
acquired an initial stake of 20 per cent in early
2023, at a cost of $50m; it subsequently invested
a further $2m in the property listings group, which
was founded by Antony Catalano and Alex Waislitz.
ANZ is expected to disclose the extent of the writedown
in its upcoming annual report. Meanwhile, Seven West's
2025 annual report showed that View Media Group accounted
for the bulk of the $29.1m writedown in the value
of its ventures portfolio. Catalano is also one of
the biggest shareholders in Southern Cross Media Group,
which has proposed merging with Seven West Media.
(RMS)
News
October
7, 2025
LG
and Ten plotting return of linear TV
The
Ten Network's free-to-air channels will become accessible
via LG's connected TVs via a new alliance with the
South Korean electronics giant. Owners of LG smart
TVs will be be able to watch live streams of Ten's
linear channels without the need for a terrestrial
antenna. Lachlan Roach from Ten's parent company Paramount
Australia believes that free-to-air broadcasting still
has a future, despite the growing shift to streaming
video platforms. (RMS)
News
Australia
Oct
6
Seven
weighs new bid for next NRL rights
There
is speculation that Seven West Media could pursue
new talks with US-based NBCUniversal regarding a joint
venture streaming service if the proposed merger with
Southern Cross Media Group proceeds. Industry sources
have indicated that NBCUniversal's requirement for
the Stokes family to reduce their stake in Seven West
to just 20 per cent had been a 'deal breaker' when
the talks were held in 2022. The Stokes family's stake
will fall to 20 per cent if the merger with Southern
Cross goes ahead. Seven insiders have also suggested
that having its own streaming service could also Seven
to bid for the NRL broadcasting rights; Seven has
limited options at present given that its holds the
AFL rights. (RMS)
News
ARN
chief flags further local consolidation
ARN
Media's CEO Ciaran Davis contends that more consolidation
in Australia's media sector is inevitable. He notes
that the sector must compete with global companies
that are not subject to local content quotas and do
not face the same regulatory constraints. Davis is
also upbeat about the outlook for Australia's radio
and digital audio sector, with ARN owning radio stations
such as KIIS and the iHeart digital platform. Davis
recently advised that he will step down in January
after 16 years as CEO: Davis says his departure had
been planned for nearly a year, and he believes that
ARN is in better shape than it was when he took on
the role. (RMS)
News
News
boss slams AI copyright 'theft'
News
Corp Australasia's executive chairman Michael Miller
will use a Melbourne Press Club speech on Wednesday
to caution against relaxing Australia's copyright
laws. He will contend that technology companies must
not be allowed to use Australian content to train
their artificial intelligence platforms without adequately
compensating the producers of that content. The Productivity
Commission recently proposed adding a 'fair dealing
exception' to the Copyright Act for AI platforms.
(RMS)
News
'Future
of journalism is bright'
Media
industry veteran Campbell Reid says the digital age
has been positive for news publishers because the
rise of citizen journalism has resulted in greater
scrutiny of traditional media; it has also provided
the industry with more sources of information about
things that happen in public, including video footage.
Reid will step down as News Corp Australia's head
of corporate affairs in November, after 11 years in
the role. His five-decade career in the media industry
began as a cadet journalist in New Zealand; he eventually
moved into editorial, becoming the editor of The Australian
in 2000 and later The Daily Telegraph. (RMS)
News
Netflix,
Disney+, Amazon Prime Video extend lead over local
streamers
Data
from technology analyst firm Telsyte shows that Netflix
now has 6.4 million subscribers in Australia, which
is three per cent higher than a year ago. Amazon Prime
Video has in turn recorded year-on-year growth of
six per cent, and it now has 5.1 million local subscribers.
In contrast, the subscriber base of home-grown streaming
video platform Stan was steady at 2.6 million. Foad
Fadaghi from Telsyte says factors such as strong population
growth and the launch of more lower-cost advertising-supported
plans have contributed to growth in streaming video
subscriptions. (RMS)
News
Flashback
(In Case You Missed It)
News
Lachlan's
win means his mates Down Under can breathe easily
Andrew
Bolt is perhaps the News Corp Australia employee most
relieved that Lachlan Murdoch has won the succession
battle regarding control of the Murdoch family media
empire. Bolt had stated last year that he would quit
if James Murdoch and the other siblings of Lachlan
Murdoch involved in the battle had won control of
the empire. Lachlan Murdoch is also a big supporter
of News Corp Australia boss Michael Miller, who retains
his role despite ongoing rumblings that Sky News boss
Paul Whittaker is after his job, while Daily Telegraph
editor Ben English is said to be Lachlan Murdoch's
favourite editor. (RMS)
News
Paramount/Warner
deal could buck merger trend (RMS)
Peter
Supino from Wolfe Research estimates that a merger
between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery
would generate initial cost synergies of about $US3bn.
He says it would create the world's biggest film and
TV studio and one of the top five streaming video
companies. Shares in both companies have rallied in
response to media reports that Paramount is preparing
an all-cash takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery.
The merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media
was completed in August. (RMS)
News
September
12, 2025
Fox's
path now clear, says Lachlan
Fox
Corporation's executive chairman and CEO Lachlan Murdoch
says the deal to resolve a long-running family trust
dispute will ensure clarity about the media company's
future strategy. The $US3.3bn deal will give Lachlan
Murdoch full control of the family's stakes in both
Fox and News Corporation. Murdoch says the deal with
his siblings will allow Fox to continue on the path
that it set in 2019 when the Murdoch family sold its
entertainment assets to Disney. He notes that Fox's
revenue has increased by $US5bn since the sale to
Disney. (RMS)
News
Flashback
September
10
Siblings
paid to exit Murdoch media empire
Sources
have indicated that the Murdoch family has settled
the long-running dispute over future control over
its media empire in a deal worth $US3.3bn ($5bn).
Rupert Murdoch's eldest son Lachlan is set to assume
full control of the family's stakes in News Corp and
Fox Corporation, ending the dispute with his siblings.
Prudence MacLeod, Elisabeth Murdoch and James Murdoch
will each receive $US1.1bn, while they have also agreed
to sell all of their shares in the two companies over
the next six months. The family trust that was at
the centre of the legal dispute between the Murdochs
will be dissolved as part of the deal. (RMS)
News
Kayo,
Binge remain key pillars of Foxtel
Foxtel
Group executive Mark Frain has emphasised that the
pay-TV company remains committed to the Binge streaming
service under its new owner, the sports-focused DAZN.
The CEO of Foxtel Media says the entertainment-focused
Binge is a key part of the group's future plans; he
argues that Binge provides DAZN with an opportunity
to bolster and complement sport. Meanwhile, Frain
expects demand for Kayo Sports to continue growing
amongst both from advertisers and subscribers. Foxtel
will hold its 2006 'upfronts' event ths week. (Roy
Morgan Summary)
News
Antitrust
suit against Fox News dismissed
US
District Court judge Aileen Cannon has ruled in favour
of Fox News in an antitrust case launched by cable
news rival Newsmax. The latter had alleged that Fox
News had used its market power to coerce distributors
into unfair terms that bar them from carrying its
competitors' broadcasts. Cannon essentially found
that the complaint against Fox News had been poorly
drafted, but she ruled that Newsmax can lodge a revised
complaint by 11 September. (RMS)
News
Netflix:
October 2025
Movies
A
House of Dynamite (Oct 24): A political thriller directed
by Kathryn Bigelow, starring Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson,
and others. It centers on a nuclear threat to the
U.S., touted as a potential Best Picture nominee.
The
Woman in Cabin 10 (Oct 10): A psychological thriller
starring Keira Knightley as a journalist uncovering
a mystery on a luxury yacht, based on Ruth Ware’s
novel.
Steve
(Oct 3): Cillian Murphy stars as a headteacher at
a reform school facing personal and professional struggles,
based on Max Porter’s novella Shy.
About
My Father (2023, Oct 1): A comedy with Sebastian Maniscalco
and Robert De Niro, focusing on a clash between an
Italian father and his fiancée’s family.
Blue
Crush (2002, Oct 1): A sports drama starring Kate
Bosworth about a woman pursuing her dream of becoming
a pro surfer.
Casper
(1995, Oct 1): A family-friendly supernatural comedy
with Christina Ricci about a kind-hearted ghost.
Elysium
(2013, Oct 1): A sci-fi action film by Neill Blomkamp
starring Matt Damon, exploring class struggles between
Earth and a luxurious space station.
Hacksaw
Ridge (2016, Oct 1): Mel Gibson’s WWII drama
about medic Desmond Doss, starring Andrew Garfield.
Dirty
Dancing (1987, Oct 1): The iconic romantic dance film
with Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.
Austin
Powers Trilogy (Oct 1): All three films (International
Man of Mystery, The Spy Who Shagged Me, Goldmember)
bring Mike Myers’ comedic spy antics.
Series:
Nobody
Wants This Season 2 (Oct 23): The rom-com starring
Kristen Bell and Adam Brody returns, following Joanne
and Noah’s chaotic relationship.
The
Diplomat Season 3 (Oct 16): Keri Russell and Rufus
Sewell navigate political intrigue, with Bradley Whitford
joining as the First Gentleman.
The
Witcher Season 4 (Oct 30): Liam Hemsworth takes over
as Geralt of Rivia, adapting the final novels of Andrzej
Sapkowski’s series. A Rats special may accompany
it.
Love
Is Blind Season 9 (Oct 1): Set in Denver, this reality
dating show explores love without physical attraction.
Monster:
The Ed Gein Story (Oct 3): Ryan Murphy’s anthology
series continues with Charlie Hunnam as the infamous
serial killer Ed Gein, joined by Laurie Metcalf and
Addison Rae.
Splinter
Cell: Deathwatch (TBD): An animated espionage series
based on the video game, following Sam Fisher.
The
Resurrected (TBD): A Taiwanese series about two mothers
resurrecting a criminal to avenge their daughters.
Genie,
Make a Wish Season 1 (Oct 1): A Korean rom-com starring
Kim Woo Bin as a genie and Bae Suzy as a stoic woman.
Dudes
Season 1 (Oct 1): A German comedy spinoff of Alpha
Males.
The
New Force Season 1 (Oct 1): A Swedish drama about
Stockholm’s first female police officers.
Documentaries
Victoria
Beckham (Oct 9): A three-part series tracing her journey
from Spice Girls fame to fashion mogul.
The
Perfect Neighbor (Oct 17): A Sundance award-winning
documentary on the 2023 Ajike Owens murder and Florida’s
stand-your-ground laws.
Starting
5 Season 2 (Oct 16): Follows NBA stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
and Kevin Durant during the 2024-2025 season.
Who
Killed the Montreal Expos? (Oct 21): Explores the
demise of the Canadian baseball team.
The
White House Effect (Oct 1): Examines climate policy
under George H.W. Bush and its lasting impact.
Rockstar:
Duki From the End of the World (Oct 1): An Argentine
documentary on trap star Duki.
Specials
and Animation
Dr.
Seuss’s Horton! (Oct 1): An animated adaptation
from Brown Bag Films.
Ranma
1/2 Season 2 (Oct 1): Weekly anime episodes continue
the classic series.
Rurouni
Kenshin Season 2 (Oct 1): A Japanese anime about a
samurai seeking redemption.
Six
Kings Slam 2025 (Oct 15): A live tennis showcase featuring
top players.
Matt
McCusker: A Humble Offering (Oct 1): A stand-up comedy
special.
News
Netflix:
October 2025
Highlights
include:
WWE
RAW
Sacramento, CA
October 20
Golden 1 Center
WWE
SmackDown (numerous international markets. Not US)
Friday Night SmackDown
San Jose, CA
October 17
Sap Center
WWE
SmackDown
Tempe, AZ
October 24
Mullett Arena
WWE
NXT
NXT Halloween Havoc
October 25
Prescott, AZ
Findlay Toyota Center
WWE
RAW
October 27
Anaheim, CA
Honda Center
IP
Man (complete series at time of publication)
Wingwomen
News
Netflix:
November 2025
Boxing:
Jake Paul vs Tank Davis - Nov 14
WWE:
Survivor Series (Netflix for Aussies) - Nov 29
Petco Park
San Diego, California
Stranger
Things S5 - Nov 27
News
Media
Man
Netflix
wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Month' award
Google
Finance wins Media Man 'Business News Website Of The
Month' award
Runner-ups:
Yahoo! Finance, The Australian Financial Review, FOX
Business and Sky News Australia
Yahoo!
Finance Sports Report wins Media Man 'Sports Business
Podcast Of The Month' award
News
Brand
News via Media Man
Netflix
wins Media Man 'Brand Of The Month'; Runner-up: MAX
WWE
wins Media Man 'Wrestling Promotion Of The Month'
award
UFC
wins Media Man 'MMA Promotion Of The Month' award
TKO
Group wins Media Man 'Entertainment Promoter Of The
Month' award
AEW
wins Media Man 'Challenger Brand Of The Month' award
Prime
wins Media Man 'Beverage Of The Month' award
Claudio's
Cafe wins Media Man 'Coffee Brand Of The Month' award;
Runner-up: Nespresso
Markets,
Crypto and Culture
Running
Of The Bulls To Normal; Cryptos Hurting; All That
Glitters ...
October
15/16, 2025
Sin
City Sydney, Australia
ASX
futures up 5 points/0.1%, at 9024
Wall
Street:
S&P 500 +0.4%
Dow Jones: flat
Nasdaq +0.7%
Europe:
Stoxx 50 +1%
FTSE -0.3%
DAX -0.2%
CAC +2%
Australian
dollar: US65.06 cents
Bitcoin
-1.6% to $US111,106
Gold
+1.5% to $US4227.10 per ounce
Oil
+0.1% to $US58.78 a barrel
Brent
crude oil +0.1% to $US62.45 a barrel
Iron
ore -0.3% to $US104.90 per ton
10-year
yield:
US 4.03%
Australia 4.21%
Germany 2.57%
News
Update: (Near Live)
Bitcoin:
New
York/Wall St
Cryptos
Today: (Near Live) Mood: Corrective! Salt Into The
Wound In Checkers?! Or Salt Of The Earth In Metals
Right Chess Move?! All That Glitters Not Digital Gold?!
Bitcoin
$111,291.65 -1.77%
Ethereum $3,980.33 -3.44%
Tether $1.0005 -0.03%
Binance Coin $1,161.17 -3.98%
XRP $2.4129 -3.48%
Solana $194.13 -3.71%
TRON $0.3194 +0.85%
Dogecoin -$0.1961 -4.15%
Cardano $0.6677 -4.14%
Market
corrective. Mood: Somber-like for many! Suspicious!
Regaining smiles! Hardcores keep the dream!
Media
Man Favs:
October
15, 2025 (Near Live)
Wall St, New York
TKO
Group Holdings Inc $191.21 +1.18 +0.62%
NVIDIA Corp $179.83 -0.18 -0.099%
Formula One Group Series C $103.57 -0.15 -0.14%
Alphabet Inc Class A $251.03 +5.58 +2.27%
News Corp Class A $26.57 -0.070 -0.26%
Netflix Inc $1,203.29 -12.06 -0.99%
Caterpillar Inc $534.05 +6.58 +1.25%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp $16.27
-0.010 -0.061%
Tesla Inc $435.15 +5.91 +1.38%
Walt Disney Co $111.71 +0.54 +0.49%
Wynn Resorts Ltd $118.07 +1.96 +1.69%
Meta Platforms Inc $717.55 +8.90 +1.26%
BHP Group Ltd $43.54
Mercedes Benz Group ADR $15.15 +0.040 +0.26%
Elders Ltd $7.50
Rio Tinto Ltd $129.69
News
The
dollar prefers to stay within the range for now
The
US dollar turned downward at the end of the day on
Tuesday and continues to move downward in the first
half of Wednesday. The dollar is being weighed down
by the recovery of positive momentum in the stock
markets. Pressure on the dollar can also be linked
to Powell's latest comments yesterday evening. The
Fed chairman confirmed the path to further rate cuts
and said asset sales from the balance sheet could
be halted soon, ending the quantitative tightening
phase. To be cont ..
(FxPro)
News
The
US stock market rebound may falter
US
stock index futures are rising after a disastrous
Friday, when Trump's aggressive response to China's
tariffs shook the markets. The US president's announcements
were carefully timed, with the most aggressive measures
(additional 100% tariffs on Chinese goods) announced
after the market closed.
Over
the weekend, US and Chinese leaders appeared to reach
out to each other, offering opportunities for further
discussion and a deal. Market sentiment was close
to extreme fear, with the Fear and Greed Index falling
to 29 on Friday and recovering to 30 on Monday. These
are the lowest values since the end of April, when
the market was recovering from the “liberation
day” effect on Trump's tariffs. In the last couple
of years, this index has entered the extreme fear
zone before we saw a reversal in the indices. This
means that bears may exert another round of pressure
on the markets. It is easy to link this to further
toughening of mutual rhetoric between China and the
US, albeit with the possibility of dialogue remaining
open. In other words, in this case, it is worth talking
about a decrease in the intensity of mutual recriminations,
but not about a reversal in relations. From this,
we can conclude that the risks that caused the markets
to collapse on Friday remain. We also note that the
S&P 500 is trading at a significant distance from
its 200-week moving average, near which the market
has ended its declines over the past 14 years since
2011, touching it or turning around within 2-5% of
it. This contrasts sharply with the current situation,
where the S&P 500 is almost 25% above this line.
If we talk about a correction within a bull market,
then the target for bears seems to be the 6100–6150
range, where the 50-week moving average and last winter's
highs are concentrated. Movement in this direction
looks like a viable strategy for the final quarter
of the year, unless there is a real reversal in the
rapprochement between China and the US, which we highly
doubt. In addition, seasonal factors are also temporarily
on the side of the bears, given the more than 40%
growth from the lows of the year in early April, the
suppressed volatility of the last month and a half,
and the tendency to look for new patterns in the markets
in the final months of the year. If that's not enough,
add to this the fact that the economy is beginning
to feel the effects of tariff wars and a deteriorating
labour market, and AI is no longer a novelty. In these
conditions, it will be increasingly difficult for
traders to find reasons for local purchases. (FxPro)
News
Crypto
market recovers from tariff shock
Market
Overview
The
crypto market capitalisation stood at $3.9 trillion
on Monday, up 4.4% from the previous day but down
6% from pre-Friday crash levels. On Friday, the US
stock market saw its biggest drop since April but
recovered some of its losses on Monday. Since Sunday,
the crypto market has been attempting to rebound after
a sell-off that began as an emotional reaction to
tariff initiatives by China and the US but escalated
into massive margin calls and stop orders being triggered.
The
sentiment index stood at 38 (fear) on Monday morning,
down from 24 (extreme fear) the day before. The level
of sentiment we saw over the weekend was last seen
in April under similar circumstances — when tough
trade tariffs were announced.
Bitcoin
approached $115K on Monday, while Ethereum exceeded
$4,200. Cryptocurrencies are recovering after Friday's
sharp decline. The movement on Friday and in the early
hours of Saturday swept the ‘weak hands’
out of the market, taking the price of BTC below the
50—and 200-day moving averages and below the
August and September lows.
Such
sweeping liquidations often set the bottom of the
market, but it may take time for the wounds to heal.
In 2020, 2021 and 2024, it took a couple of weeks
for the rally to start, although the market did not
rewrite the lows. But in 2022, the turnaround to growth
after the crash began after about six months. Relying
on these statistics is encouraging for bargain hunters
in crypto. Still, it would be too hasty to say that
the recovery will be just as quick and will begin
immediately.
News
Background
Wall
Street crashed on Friday after US President Donald
Trump escalated the trade conflict with China following
Beijing's tightening of restrictions on trade in rare
earth metals, Reuters reports. Cryptocurrencies and
stock indices fell sharply on Friday. Some softening
of tone from Trump and Xi has led to the probability
of 100% tariffs against China by 1 November being
estimated at 8% on Polymarket, down from 26% at the
end of Friday. Santiment notes that bitcoin remains
extremely sensitive to risk appetite and behaves more
like a risky asset than a safe haven.
The
Kobeissi Letter notes that the collapse of cryptocurrencies
on 11 October will not have long-term fundamental
consequences and was caused by a combination of technical
factors. The market crash triggered a record cascade
of liquidations worth $19.3 billion. Analyst Frank
Fetter, citing technical indicators, said the cryptocurrency
market is still far from overbought, which means there
is still potential for the rally to continue.
News
Flashback
Oil
Holds Strong Despite Bearish Fundamentals
Weekly
data from the EIA noted that the US returned to record
oil production rates last week, supplying an average
of 13.6 million barrels per day to the market, according
to the latest EIA data. The trend towards increased
supply began in August, but producers have only now
returned to the peak levels recorded at the end of
last year. Despite a 5.5-million-barrel increase in
US commercial inventories over the past two weeks,
inventories stay at the lower end of the range seen
over the past decade, leaving considerable room for
growth. The same can be said for the strategic reserve,
which holds nearly 40% less oil than it did five years
ago, before the start of the active sell-off. It is
an interesting game in which, on the one hand, the
US (the largest oil producer) is increasing supplies,
while OPEC+ is increasing quotas on a monthly basis.
This extremely bearish combination of factors did
not cause oil prices to collapse; it was only because
of global trade in currency depreciation that caused
precious metals, stock indices, and cryptocurrencies
to rise. Oil prices have not peaked in recent weeks
.. To be cont .. (FxPro)
News
Gold
hits new highs due to political turmoil
Gold
is outside the realm of politics.
While
currencies and securities depend on the actions of
presidents and governments, precious metals do not.
Therefore, political turmoil forces investors to use
them as safe-haven assets.
The
impressive 52% rally in gold started in April with
the introduction of tariffs on America's Liberation
Day. It continued due to the US government shutdown,
the political crisis in France, and the change of
leadership in Japan. he rise of gold above 4,000 dollars
per ounce is not only the result of the weakness of
fiat currencies. There are tectonic shifts in the
structure of investment portfolios and fears of financial
crises due to government recklessness.
The
share of precious metals is growing both in speculators'
assets and in the gold and foreign exchange reserves
of central banks. The indicator has already exceeded
the share of the euro. According to Eurizon Capital,
if it equals the share of the US dollar, the price
per ounce will soar to 8,500 dollars. The Supreme
Court's abolition of tariffs will inflate the US budget
deficit. France does not intend to reduce it, and
Japan plans to increase bond issuance. All this creates
a tailwind for commodity assets. (FxPro)
News
Politics
remains the main driver of FX
The
US government shutdown did not have a noticeable impact
on the dollar's performance last week. However, it
did help the stock market to grow slightly by strengthening
expectations of monetary policy easing. However, these
events pale in comparison to the change in Japan's
ruling elite and the resignation of the French prime
minister less than a day after the formation of the
government in terms of their impact on the currency
market. In Japan, Sanae Takaichi was chosen head of
the Liberal Democratic Party over the weekend and
is on track to become the country's first female prime
minister. This event caused the yen to fall 2% to
150.49 from Friday's level before correcting to 149.80
at the time of writing. Takaichi is considered a supporter
of aggressive government spending, structural reforms,
and soft monetary policy, echoing the basic principles
of Shinzo Abe. Overall, she has a more right-wing
approach to national policy and is also a supporter
of revising Japan's pacifist constitution. The market
reaction clearly shows that they are considering Takaichi
to be the new prime minister. If she does not change
her political views (and she has softened them recently
to win the party elections), we should be prepared
for a further weakening of the yen, which reached
its highest level since 1991 in the EURJPY pair, exceeding
176. However, the single currency is also facing uncertainty
today due to a new political crisis in France. Prime
Minister Lecornu, who had been trying to form a government
for a month, resigned the day after he finally presented
his new cabinet. His appointments drew criticism from
both left-wing and right-wing allies. The EURUSD fell
to 1.1650 at its lowest point on Monday, losing a
full cent against Friday's levels. Unlike Japan, where
a 2% drop in the JPY was accompanied by a 5% jump
in the Nikkei225 index, France's CAC40 lost more than
2% intraday, paring its losses to 1.2% towards the
end of the trading day in Europe. The EURUSD stopped
its climb in July and has been hovering around 1.1700
all this time, not least because of the political
crisis in France. Without it, the single currency
would have had a much better chance of exploiting
political divisions in the US to its advantage. It
would be an exaggeration to call the situation in
Japan and France a drama. Still, these events once
again emphasise that as soon as the dollar's throne
begin.
News
Pop
Culture News
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking/Sports; Media Man Group Dream
Match Series; Crack The Code!
Million
Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
VKM vs Easy E
Vinnie Vegas vs Mr Corbin
Mr Corp Merch vs Mr Freelance
Masked Superstar vs John McAfee
Sid Justice vs Mr Blood Diamond
Mr Bluey Chipper vs Street Fighter - King Of The Streets
Mr Dotcom vs Mr Wiki
Mr Gold vs Mr Green - Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Khan vs Khan - Winner Take All Match
Mr Wolff vs The Cleaner
Mr News vs Mr Vice - U.S Market Footprint Stipulation
Mr Paramount vs Mr Netflix
Mr ESPN vs Mr Fox
Mr Kross vs Mr H
Cesaro vs Rollins
Dirty Dom vs Mr AAA
Punks vs Egos
Kross vs H
Murdoch Title vs Title
Mr Black Coffee vs Mr Claudio's Cafe Blend
Mr Warner vs Mr Netflix: Broadway draw thus far! Re-match!
Winner take all?!
TMZ vs Riddle UFC vs PFL
The Oracle vs Cincinnati, Ohio
Mr X vs Hollyweird
Succession vs Billions
Mouse House vs Art House
NFL vs UFL
ABC vs Mainstream Aussies
Reigns vs Blanka
Cody Rhodes vs Joe
E. Honda vs NJPW
Capcom vs Warner
Cena vs ACME
Combat Sports Players vs Father Time
NXT vs TNA Wrestling (Showdown, not Invasion)!
Alpha vs Meta
TED X vs The Others
WWE's Solo vs Western Australia
UFC Predator vs MMA Predator
Bulls vs Bears
News
Cryptocurrency
Movies
Documentaries
The
Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)
Follows early Bitcoin adopter Daniel Mross, exploring
Bitcoin’s origins, its volatile rise, and the
community behind it. Great for understanding Bitcoin’s
early days and its potential to disrupt finance.
Banking
on Bitcoin (2016)
Examines Bitcoin’s history, ideological roots,
and impact on global financial systems through interviews
with pioneers and experts. A solid primer for newcomers.
Cryptopia:
Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet
(2020)
Directed by Torsten Hoffmann, this documentary dives
into blockchain’s broader applications beyond
cryptocurrency, addressing scalability and regulatory
challenges. Ideal for those interested in blockchain’s
transformative potential.
Trust
Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) Narrated by
Rosario Dawson, it explores blockchain’s societal
impact, from financial inclusion to voting systems.
A comprehensive look at real-world applications.
Bitcoin:
The End of Money as We Know It (2015)
Traces the history of money and introduces Bitcoin
as a decentralized alternative, critiquing centralized
financial systems. Features interviews with crypto
experts.
Deep
Web (2015) Narrated by Keanu Reeves, this documentary
focuses on the Silk Road marketplace and its creator,
Ross Ulbricht, highlighting Bitcoin’s role in
dark web transactions.
Bitconned
(2024) Explores the Centra Tech crypto scam, detailing
how three individuals defrauded investors during the
2010s crypto boom. A cautionary tale about unregulated
markets.
Feature
Films
Crypto
(2019)
A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth,
and Kurt Russell. It follows a young anti-money laundering
agent investigating corruption and cryptocurrency
in his hometown. Critics note its exaggerated portrayal
but praise its entertainment value.
Silk
Road (2021)
A dramatization of Ross Ulbricht’s creation of
the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace using Bitcoin.
It explores his rise and fall, blending crime and
drama.
Dope
(2015) A coming-of-age comedy-drama featuring Bitcoin
as a plot device. High schooler Malcolm uses Bitcoin
for a dark web transaction, reflecting its early association
with illicit activities.
Bonus
Mentions
Life
on Bitcoin (2014): Follows a couple attempting to
live solely on Bitcoin for 100 days, showcasing early
adoption challenges.
Bitcoin
Heist (2016): A Vietnamese action-comedy about hackers
chasing a crypto criminal, blending humor and thrills.
Notes
Documentaries are generally more educational, focusing
on Bitcoin’s history, blockchain technology,
and real-world implications. They’re great for
beginners and enthusiasts alike.
Feature
films often dramatize crypto’s association with
crime or scams, sometimes oversimplifying or exaggerating
for effect. They prioritize entertainment over accuracy.
For a deeper dive, check streaming platforms like
Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or YouTube, where many
of these are available.
News
Wall
Street (Movie)
Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a
drama about ambition and greed in the 1980s financial
world. It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young
stockbroker desperate to succeed, who gets entangled
with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate
raider. Gekko’s mantra, “Greed is good,”
drives the story as Bud is lured into insider trading
and unethical deals, compromising his morals for wealth
and power.
The
film explores themes of capitalism, loyalty, and betrayal,
with Bud navigating pressures from Gekko, his father
(Martin Sheen), and his own conscience.
Key
Details: Cast: Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko), Charlie
Sheen (Bud Fox), Daryl Hannah (Darien Taylor), Martin
Sheen (Carl Fox).
Runtime: 2h 6m.
Genre: Drama/Crime.
Rating: R. Box Office: ~$44 million (US).
Awards:
Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Notable
Aspects:
Gekko’s
“Greed is good” speech is iconic, reflecting
1980s excess. Inspired by real-life figures like Ivan
Boesky and Michael Milken.
A
sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), continued
the story.
Where
to Watch (as of 2025):
Streaming: Available on platforms like Peacock or
rentable on Amazon, YouTube, or Apple TV (check current
availability).
Physical: DVD/Blu-ray via retailers like Amazon.
News
Flashback
Gold,
copper, & silver:
How
metals are moving this year
Metal
futures have made some pretty dramatic moves lately
from safe haven gold to tariff sensitive copper. So
let's take a look at the longer term trends. I'm Jared
Blikre, host of Stocks in Translation. And I'm going
to start by charting some of the moves in Dr. Copper
because this is where we have the most zig and zags
over the last 25 years. So this goes back to the beginning
of the century and we can see right now, we're at
$5.51 per pound. That is a record high. But if we
go back to the beginning of the century, guess what?
Uh we had a little bit of a slump in the wake of the
dot com boom and then bust, but starting in 2003,
we saw a big rise there. And that was as China actually
joined the World Trade Organization or the WTO. That
lasted into the global financial crisis. Then we had
a pretty big bust in in Dr. Copper, and then we had
another rise. And that rise was due to unprecedented
stimulus, not only from the Chinese government, but
also from the United States government, QE was in
force, and then we saw kind of a strong dollar play.
That weighed on this metal all the way into the beginning
of 2016. The entire world, most of the world indices
went through a bear market in 2015, and then 2016,
we found the footing. And that was actually the year
that Trump won, began his first presidency. And from
there, we saw some zig and zags, and then we saw a
shock into the pandemic. A couple of, a couple of
years of deflation or a semi-deflation, disinflation,
that caught up with it in 2022, but then it was off
to the races again. And especially with the Trump
tariffs now on copper, threatening to be threatening
to be 50% on August 1st, we're seeing a lot of front
running in this trade. Now, I also want to show you
gold futures and I'm going to show you silver as well.
And they follow a very similar pattern. We're not
seeing the dramatic zig and zags that we did in copper,
but we did see the same pattern of China joining the
WTO, contributing to that huge rise in price to 1800,
almost $2,000 an ounce by the beginning of the global
financial crisis. So a little bit of a meltdown there.
But in 2016 into 2018, we saw a bit of a rise into
the pandemic, a little bit of a whipsaw there, and
consolidation over a few years. Again, that 2022 bare
market in US stocks that contributed to some deflation
and disinflation globally, supply chain chain shocks
came into force again, and then we saw this huge rise
beginning in late 2023, and we are now at 3353. We've
seen a high of as much as $3,500 per ounce. And gold
is kind of unique among the precious metals and also
the industrial metals, and this is because central
banks have been a huge determining force in their
buying of it. This is a bar chart that shows central
bank buying in tons going back all the way to 2010.
And what you notice here is the last three years,
2022, 2023, 2024, all of those had gold being bought
by central banks of in the amount of over 1,000 tons.
And so that's a pretty big dramatic increase from
the prior years. And this has to do with the ongoing
dedollarization in China, as well as Russia, but also
a host of other countries, even some in western and
eastern Europe. So this is a trend that we want to
follow. Uh, I want to close out here with silver,
and I'm going to just chart the price action. Again,
very similar chart to gold and copper in terms of
the big movements here. We saw a big price spike into
almost $50 per ounce, and that was just as the global
financial crisis was getting underway. And then the
QE area in 2011, that's when we saw that high. Then
we saw a dramatic, dramatic crash into 2016, kind
of found its footing, saw a big squeeze in the early
pandemic, 2020 was a great year for silver, but then
we saw a little bit of a fallout. And again, silver
is on the rise here at $38. It's still off of that
$50 record high, but it is increasing very quickly.
To round out the conversation, I want to just put
on a table here. I have all three medals and just
kind of grouping them together. I want to display
how they are moving with their specific patterns with
a trigger, and then to tell you which one of these
is featured in these specific criteria. So here, under
the pattern, we have acceleration. So that would be
an economic acceleration. The trigger would be liquidity.
And when that happens, we see all metals benefiting
from that. And then when there's a safe haven scare,
and that trigger would be a crisis of some sorts,
you're going to see gold and silver outperforming
the most, kind of leaving Dr. Copper behind. And then
here's a bearish one, industrial drags, that affects
copper disproportionately here, and the trigger there
is typically a stronger US dollar because the US dollar
surges when global global industrials tend to drag,
and that's because the US is the least dirty shirt
in the laundry basket of the world. And then finally
here, we have a policy shock. This will affect all
three medals, but especially copper and gold here.
Um, arguably, the biggest reason is tariffs and debt,
and we've seen both of those contribute to silver
rising. So we could put all three in that basket as
well. But when you put it all together, we have the
perfect explosive mix for all three of these metals,
including palladium and also platinum, which we didn't
get to have time for, but all of these are experiencing
huge thrust in 2025. And we'll have to see how these
tariffs play out, especially on Dr. Copper with respect
to that August 1st deadline. Remember, 50% there.
So tune into Stocks in Translation for more jargon
busting deep dives, new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays
on Yahoo Finances website, or wherever you find your
podcast. (Transcript from Yahoo! Finance podcast)
News
Best
Quotes
An
investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
— Benjamin Franklin
"Bottoms
in the investment world don't end with four-year lows;
they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim
Rogers
Be
fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when
others are fearful." — Warren Buffett
Media
Man "Bullish is a mindset"
Markets,
Crypto and Culture
Wednesday
Wonderings: Running Of The Bulls Weekend To Weak-ist
Start; Bulls Downhill Continue To Climb Back Up The
Mountain (Mainly) Mid Week Edition!
October
14/15, 2025
Sin
City Sydney, Australia
ASX
futures up 74 points/0.8%, at 8994
Wall
Street:
S&P 500 -0.2%
Dow Jones +0.4%
Nasdaq -0.8%
Europe:
Stoxx 50 -0.3%
FTSE +0.1%
DAX -0.6%
CAC -0.2%
Australian
dollar flat at US64.84¢
Bitcoin
-2.6% to $US112,817
Spot
gold +0.8% to $US4142.94 per ounce
US
oil -1.3% to $US58.70 a barrel
Brent
crude oil -1.1% to $US62.26 a barrel
Iron
ore -1.2% to $US105.25 per ton
10-year
yield:
US 4.03%
Australia 4.23%
Germany 2.61%
News Update: (Near Live)
Bitcoin:
New
York/Wall St
Cryptos
Today: (Near Live) Mood: Corrective! Moody!
Bitcoin
$113,474.79 -1.60%
Ethereum $4,138.04 -2.59%
Tether $1.0007 -0.02%
Binance Coin $1,219.35 -5.90%
XRP $2.5241 -3.55%
Solana $203.57 -2.72%
TRON $0.3175 -1.76%
Dogecoin $0.2058 -4.07%
Cardano $0.7011 - 4.02%
Market
corrective. Mood: Somber-like for many! Suspicious!
Regaining smiles! Hardcores keep the dream!
Media
Man Favs:
October
14, 2025 (Near Live)
Wall St, New York
TKO
Group Holdings Inc $189.97 +1.37 +0.73%
NVIDIA Corp $180.03 -8.29 -4.40%
Formula One Group Series C $103.72 -0.31 -0.30%
Alphabet Inc Class A $245.45 +1.30 +0.53%
News Corp Class A $26.64 +0.55 +2.11%
Netflix Inc $1,215.35 -3.68 -0.30%
Caterpillar Inc $527.47 +22.71 +4.50%
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp $16.28
-0.28 -1.69%
Tesla Inc $429.24 -6.66 -1.53%
Walt Disney Co $111.17 +0.90 +0.82%
Wynn Resorts Ltd $116.11 +3.59 +3.19%
Meta Platforms Inc $708.65 -7.05 -0.99%
BHP Group Ltd $43.18 +0.38 +0.90%
Mercedes Benz Group ADR $15.11 -0.28 -1.82%
Elders Ltd $7.57 -0.030 -0.39%
Rio Tinto Ltd $127.91 +0.48 +0.38%
News
The
US stock market rebound may falter
US
stock index futures are rising after a disastrous
Friday, when Trump's aggressive response to China's
tariffs shook the markets. The US president's announcements
were carefully timed, with the most aggressive measures
(additional 100% tariffs on Chinese goods) announced
after the market closed.
Over
the weekend, US and Chinese leaders appeared to reach
out to each other, offering opportunities for further
discussion and a deal. Market sentiment was close
to extreme fear, with the Fear and Greed Index falling
to 29 on Friday and recovering to 30 on Monday. These
are the lowest values since the end of April, when
the market was recovering from the “liberation
day” effect on Trump's tariffs. In the last couple
of years, this index has entered the extreme fear
zone before we saw a reversal in the indices. This
means that bears may exert another round of pressure
on the markets. It is easy to link this to further
toughening of mutual rhetoric between China and the
US, albeit with the possibility of dialogue remaining
open. In other words, in this case, it is worth talking
about a decrease in the intensity of mutual recriminations,
but not about a reversal in relations. From this,
we can conclude that the risks that caused the markets
to collapse on Friday remain. We also note that the
S&P 500 is trading at a significant distance from
its 200-week moving average, near which the market
has ended its declines over the past 14 years since
2011, touching it or turning around within 2-5% of
it. This contrasts sharply with the current situation,
where the S&P 500 is almost 25% above this line.
If we talk about a correction within a bull market,
then the target for bears seems to be the 6100–6150
range, where the 50-week moving average and last winter's
highs are concentrated. Movement in this direction
looks like a viable strategy for the final quarter
of the year, unless there is a real reversal in the
rapprochement between China and the US, which we highly
doubt. In addition, seasonal factors are also temporarily
on the side of the bears, given the more than 40%
growth from the lows of the year in early April, the
suppressed volatility of the last month and a half,
and the tendency to look for new patterns in the markets
in the final months of the year. If that's not enough,
add to this the fact that the economy is beginning
to feel the effects of tariff wars and a deteriorating
labour market, and AI is no longer a novelty. In these
conditions, it will be increasingly difficult for
traders to find reasons for local purchases. (FxPro)
News
Crypto
market recovers from tariff shock
Market
Overview
The
crypto market capitalisation stood at $3.9 trillion
on Monday, up 4.4% from the previous day but down
6% from pre-Friday crash levels. On Friday, the US
stock market saw its biggest drop since April but
recovered some of its losses on Monday. Since Sunday,
the crypto market has been attempting to rebound after
a sell-off that began as an emotional reaction to
tariff initiatives by China and the US but escalated
into massive margin calls and stop orders being triggered.
The
sentiment index stood at 38 (fear) on Monday morning,
down from 24 (extreme fear) the day before. The level
of sentiment we saw over the weekend was last seen
in April under similar circumstances — when tough
trade tariffs were announced.
Bitcoin
approached $115K on Monday, while Ethereum exceeded
$4,200. Cryptocurrencies are recovering after Friday's
sharp decline. The movement on Friday and in the early
hours of Saturday swept the ‘weak hands’
out of the market, taking the price of BTC below the
50—and 200-day moving averages and below the
August and September lows.
Such
sweeping liquidations often set the bottom of the
market, but it may take time for the wounds to heal.
In 2020, 2021 and 2024, it took a couple of weeks
for the rally to start, although the market did not
rewrite the lows. But in 2022, the turnaround to growth
after the crash began after about six months. Relying
on these statistics is encouraging for bargain hunters
in crypto. Still, it would be too hasty to say that
the recovery will be just as quick and will begin
immediately.
News
Background
Wall
Street crashed on Friday after US President Donald
Trump escalated the trade conflict with China following
Beijing's tightening of restrictions on trade in rare
earth metals, Reuters reports. Cryptocurrencies and
stock indices fell sharply on Friday. Some softening
of tone from Trump and Xi has led to the probability
of 100% tariffs against China by 1 November being
estimated at 8% on Polymarket, down from 26% at the
end of Friday. Santiment notes that bitcoin remains
extremely sensitive to risk appetite and behaves more
like a risky asset than a safe haven.
The
Kobeissi Letter notes that the collapse of cryptocurrencies
on 11 October will not have long-term fundamental
consequences and was caused by a combination of technical
factors. The market crash triggered a record cascade
of liquidations worth $19.3 billion. Analyst Frank
Fetter, citing technical indicators, said the cryptocurrency
market is still far from overbought, which means there
is still potential for the rally to continue.
News
Flashback
Oil
Holds Strong Despite Bearish Fundamentals
Weekly
data from the EIA noted that the US returned to record
oil production rates last week, supplying an average
of 13.6 million barrels per day to the market, according
to the latest EIA data. The trend towards increased
supply began in August, but producers have only now
returned to the peak levels recorded at the end of
last year. Despite a 5.5-million-barrel increase in
US commercial inventories over the past two weeks,
inventories stay at the lower end of the range seen
over the past decade, leaving considerable room for
growth. The same can be said for the strategic reserve,
which holds nearly 40% less oil than it did five years
ago, before the start of the active sell-off. It is
an interesting game in which, on the one hand, the
US (the largest oil producer) is increasing supplies,
while OPEC+ is increasing quotas on a monthly basis.
This extremely bearish combination of factors did
not cause oil prices to collapse; it was only because
of global trade in currency depreciation that caused
precious metals, stock indices, and cryptocurrencies
to rise. Oil prices have not peaked in recent weeks
.. To be cont .. (FxPro)
News
Gold
hits new highs due to political turmoil
Gold
is outside the realm of politics.
While
currencies and securities depend on the actions of
presidents and governments, precious metals do not.
Therefore, political turmoil forces investors to use
them as safe-haven assets.
The
impressive 52% rally in gold started in April with
the introduction of tariffs on America's Liberation
Day. It continued due to the US government shutdown,
the political crisis in France, and the change of
leadership in Japan. he rise of gold above 4,000 dollars
per ounce is not only the result of the weakness of
fiat currencies. There are tectonic shifts in the
structure of investment portfolios and fears of financial
crises due to government recklessness.
The
share of precious metals is growing both in speculators'
assets and in the gold and foreign exchange reserves
of central banks. The indicator has already exceeded
the share of the euro. According to Eurizon Capital,
if it equals the share of the US dollar, the price
per ounce will soar to 8,500 dollars. The Supreme
Court's abolition of tariffs will inflate the US budget
deficit. France does not intend to reduce it, and
Japan plans to increase bond issuance. All this creates
a tailwind for commodity assets. (FxPro)
News
Politics
remains the main driver of FX
The
US government shutdown did not have a noticeable impact
on the dollar's performance last week. However, it
did help the stock market to grow slightly by strengthening
expectations of monetary policy easing. However, these
events pale in comparison to the change in Japan's
ruling elite and the resignation of the French prime
minister less than a day after the formation of the
government in terms of their impact on the currency
market. In Japan, Sanae Takaichi was chosen head of
the Liberal Democratic Party over the weekend and
is on track to become the country's first female prime
minister. This event caused the yen to fall 2% to
150.49 from Friday's level before correcting to 149.80
at the time of writing. Takaichi is considered a supporter
of aggressive government spending, structural reforms,
and soft monetary policy, echoing the basic principles
of Shinzo Abe. Overall, she has a more right-wing
approach to national policy and is also a supporter
of revising Japan's pacifist constitution. The market
reaction clearly shows that they are considering Takaichi
to be the new prime minister. If she does not change
her political views (and she has softened them recently
to win the party elections), we should be prepared
for a further weakening of the yen, which reached
its highest level since 1991 in the EURJPY pair, exceeding
176. However, the single currency is also facing uncertainty
today due to a new political crisis in France. Prime
Minister Lecornu, who had been trying to form a government
for a month, resigned the day after he finally presented
his new cabinet. His appointments drew criticism from
both left-wing and right-wing allies. The EURUSD fell
to 1.1650 at its lowest point on Monday, losing a
full cent against Friday's levels. Unlike Japan, where
a 2% drop in the JPY was accompanied by a 5% jump
in the Nikkei225 index, France's CAC40 lost more than
2% intraday, paring its losses to 1.2% towards the
end of the trading day in Europe. The EURUSD stopped
its climb in July and has been hovering around 1.1700
all this time, not least because of the political
crisis in France. Without it, the single currency
would have had a much better chance of exploiting
political divisions in the US to its advantage. It
would be an exaggeration to call the situation in
Japan and France a drama. Still, these events once
again emphasise that as soon as the dollar's throne
begin.
News
Pop
Culture News
Dream
Matches: Fantasy Booking/Sports; Media Man Group Dream
Match Series; Crack The Code!
Million
Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
VKM vs Easy E
Vinnie Vegas vs Mr Corbin
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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
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Combat Sports Players vs Father Time
NXT vs TNA Wrestling (Showdown, not Invasion)!
Alpha vs Meta
TED X vs The Others
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Bulls vs Bears
News
Cryptocurrency
Movies
Documentaries
The
Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)
Follows early Bitcoin adopter Daniel Mross, exploring
Bitcoin’s origins, its volatile rise, and the
community behind it. Great for understanding Bitcoin’s
early days and its potential to disrupt finance.
Banking
on Bitcoin (2016)
Examines Bitcoin’s history, ideological roots,
and impact on global financial systems through interviews
with pioneers and experts. A solid primer for newcomers.
Cryptopia:
Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet
(2020)
Directed by Torsten Hoffmann, this documentary dives
into blockchain’s broader applications beyond
cryptocurrency, addressing scalability and regulatory
challenges. Ideal for those interested in blockchain’s
transformative potential.
Trust
Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) Narrated by
Rosario Dawson, it explores blockchain’s societal
impact, from financial inclusion to voting systems.
A comprehensive look at real-world applications.
Bitcoin:
The End of Money as We Know It (2015)
Traces the history of money and introduces Bitcoin
as a decentralized alternative, critiquing centralized
financial systems. Features interviews with crypto
experts.
Deep
Web (2015) Narrated by Keanu Reeves, this documentary
focuses on the Silk Road marketplace and its creator,
Ross Ulbricht, highlighting Bitcoin’s role in
dark web transactions.
Bitconned
(2024) Explores the Centra Tech crypto scam, detailing
how three individuals defrauded investors during the
2010s crypto boom. A cautionary tale about unregulated
markets.
Feature
Films
Crypto
(2019)
A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth,
and Kurt Russell. It follows a young anti-money laundering
agent investigating corruption and cryptocurrency
in his hometown. Critics note its exaggerated portrayal
but praise its entertainment value.
Silk
Road (2021)
A dramatization of Ross Ulbricht’s creation of
the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace using Bitcoin.
It explores his rise and fall, blending crime and
drama.
Dope
(2015) A coming-of-age comedy-drama featuring Bitcoin
as a plot device. High schooler Malcolm uses Bitcoin
for a dark web transaction, reflecting its early association
with illicit activities.
Bonus
Mentions
Life
on Bitcoin (2014): Follows a couple attempting to
live solely on Bitcoin for 100 days, showcasing early
adoption challenges.
Bitcoin
Heist (2016): A Vietnamese action-comedy about hackers
chasing a crypto criminal, blending humor and thrills.
Notes
Documentaries are generally more educational, focusing
on Bitcoin’s history, blockchain technology,
and real-world implications. They’re great for
beginners and enthusiasts alike.
Feature
films often dramatize crypto’s association with
crime or scams, sometimes oversimplifying or exaggerating
for effect. They prioritize entertainment over accuracy.
For a deeper dive, check streaming platforms like
Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or YouTube, where many
of these are available.
News
Wall
Street (Movie)
Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a
drama about ambition and greed in the 1980s financial
world. It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young
stockbroker desperate to succeed, who gets entangled
with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate
raider. Gekko’s mantra, “Greed is good,”
drives the story as Bud is lured into insider trading
and unethical deals, compromising his morals for wealth
and power.
The
film explores themes of capitalism, loyalty, and betrayal,
with Bud navigating pressures from Gekko, his father
(Martin Sheen), and his own conscience.
Key
Details: Cast: Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko), Charlie
Sheen (Bud Fox), Daryl Hannah (Darien Taylor), Martin
Sheen (Carl Fox).
Runtime: 2h 6m.
Genre: Drama/Crime.
Rating: R. Box Office: ~$44 million (US).
Awards:
Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Notable
Aspects:
Gekko’s
“Greed is good” speech is iconic, reflecting
1980s excess. Inspired by real-life figures like Ivan
Boesky and Michael Milken.
A
sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), continued
the story.
Where
to Watch (as of 2025):
Streaming: Available on platforms like Peacock or
rentable on Amazon, YouTube, or Apple TV (check current
availability).
Physical: DVD/Blu-ray via retailers like Amazon.
News
Flashback
Gold,
copper, & silver:
How
metals are moving this year
Metal
futures have made some pretty dramatic moves lately
from safe haven gold to tariff sensitive copper. So
let's take a look at the longer term trends. I'm Jared
Blikre, host of Stocks in Translation. And I'm going
to start by charting some of the moves in Dr. Copper
because this is where we have the most zig and zags
over the last 25 years. So this goes back to the beginning
of the century and we can see right now, we're at
$5.51 per pound. That is a record high. But if we
go back to the beginning of the century, guess what?
Uh we had a little bit of a slump in the wake of the
dot com boom and then bust, but starting in 2003,
we saw a big rise there. And that was as China actually
joined the World Trade Organization or the WTO. That
lasted into the global financial crisis. Then we had
a pretty big bust in in Dr. Copper, and then we had
another rise. And that rise was due to unprecedented
stimulus, not only from the Chinese government, but
also from the United States government, QE was in
force, and then we saw kind of a strong dollar play.
That weighed on this metal all the way into the beginning
of 2016. The entire world, most of the world indices
went through a bear market in 2015, and then 2016,
we found the footing. And that was actually the year
that Trump won, began his first presidency. And from
there, we saw some zig and zags, and then we saw a
shock into the pandemic. A couple of, a couple of
years of deflation or a semi-deflation, disinflation,
that caught up with it in 2022, but then it was off
to the races again. And especially with the Trump
tariffs now on copper, threatening to be threatening
to be 50% on August 1st, we're seeing a lot of front
running in this trade. Now, I also want to show you
gold futures and I'm going to show you silver as well.
And they follow a very similar pattern. We're not
seeing the dramatic zig and zags that we did in copper,
but we did see the same pattern of China joining the
WTO, contributing to that huge rise in price to 1800,
almost $2,000 an ounce by the beginning of the global
financial crisis. So a little bit of a meltdown there.
But in 2016 into 2018, we saw a bit of a rise into
the pandemic, a little bit of a whipsaw there, and
consolidation over a few years. Again, that 2022 bare
market in US stocks that contributed to some deflation
and disinflation globally, supply chain chain shocks
came into force again, and then we saw this huge rise
beginning in late 2023, and we are now at 3353. We've
seen a high of as much as $3,500 per ounce. And gold
is kind of unique among the precious metals and also
the industrial metals, and this is because central
banks have been a huge determining force in their
buying of it. This is a bar chart that shows central
bank buying in tons going back all the way to 2010.
And what you notice here is the last three years,
2022, 2023, 2024, all of those had gold being bought
by central banks of in the amount of over 1,000 tons.
And so that's a pretty big dramatic increase from
the prior years. And this has to do with the ongoing
dedollarization in China, as well as Russia, but also
a host of other countries, even some in western and
eastern Europe. So this is a trend that we want to
follow. Uh, I want to close out here with silver,
and I'm going to just chart the price action. Again,
very similar chart to gold and copper in terms of
the big movements here. We saw a big price spike into
almost $50 per ounce, and that was just as the global
financial crisis was getting underway. And then the
QE area in 2011, that's when we saw that high. Then
we saw a dramatic, dramatic crash into 2016, kind
of found its footing, saw a big squeeze in the early
pandemic, 2020 was a great year for silver, but then
we saw a little bit of a fallout. And again, silver
is on the rise here at $38. It's still off of that
$50 record high, but it is increasing very quickly.
To round out the conversation, I want to just put
on a table here. I have all three medals and just
kind of grouping them together. I want to display
how they are moving with their specific patterns with
a trigger, and then to tell you which one of these
is featured in these specific criteria. So here, under
the pattern, we have acceleration. So that would be
an economic acceleration. The trigger would be liquidity.
And when that happens, we see all metals benefiting
from that. And then when there's a safe haven scare,
and that trigger would be a crisis of some sorts,
you're going to see gold and silver outperforming
the most, kind of leaving Dr. Copper behind. And then
here's a bearish one, industrial drags, that affects
copper disproportionately here, and the trigger there
is typically a stronger US dollar because the US dollar
surges when global global industrials tend to drag,
and that's because the US is the least dirty shirt
in the laundry basket of the world. And then finally
here, we have a policy shock. This will affect all
three medals, but especially copper and gold here.
Um, arguably, the biggest reason is tariffs and debt,
and we've seen both of those contribute to silver
rising. So we could put all three in that basket as
well. But when you put it all together, we have the
perfect explosive mix for all three of these metals,
including palladium and also platinum, which we didn't
get to have time for, but all of these are experiencing
huge thrust in 2025. And we'll have to see how these
tariffs play out, especially on Dr. Copper with respect
to that August 1st deadline. Remember, 50% there.
So tune into Stocks in Translation for more jargon
busting deep dives, new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays
on Yahoo Finances website, or wherever you find your
podcast. (Transcript from Yahoo! Finance podcast)
News
Best
Quotes
An
investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
— Benjamin Franklin
"Bottoms
in the investment world don't end with four-year lows;
they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim
Rogers
Be
fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when
others are fearful." — Warren Buffett
Media
Man "Bullish is a mindset"
Markets,
Crypto and Culture
August
13, 2025
Sydney,
Australia
Markets
ASX
futures up 20 points/0.2% to 8858
Australian
dollar -0.1% to 65.27 US cents
Wall
Street:
S&P 500 +1.1%
Dow Jones +1.1%
Nasdaq +1.4%
Europe:
Stoxx 50 +0.1%
FTSE +0.2%
DAX -0.2%
CAC +0.7%
Bitcoin
+1% to $US120,008
Gold
+0.2% to $US3348.26 per ounce
US
oil -1.3% to $US63.11 a barrel
Brent
crude oil -0.8% to $US66.12 a barrel
Iron
ore +0.9% to $US104.40 per ton
10-year
yield:
US 4.29%
Australia 4.24%
Germany 2.74%
News
Cryptos
Today: (Near Live)
Bitcoin
$119,583.76 USD +0.87%
Ethereum $4,564.07 USD +8.51%
Tether $0.9993 USD -0.03%
XRP $3.26 USD +4.27%
BNB $832.17 USD +4.08%
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