Redator

With a heat dome spreading across much of America this summer, it evokes images of kids running through sprinklers, days at the neighborhood pool, backyard barbecues, and fireflies at dusk. As we hit the halfway mark of 2025, it’s an opportune time to check in on the financial markets, key drivers for precious metals performance, and your portfolio. The first six months of 2025 have been a whirlwind, marked by a fast-paced news cycle that began with the Inauguration of President Donald Trump for his second term in late January. So much has happened that we couldn’t possibly cover it all here, but we’ll touch on key developments impacting the precious metals and stock markets in the first half of the year. Market Performance Since the Start of 2025 Gold +23% Platinum +45% Silver +21% S&P +3.55% International Stocks: MSCI ACWI ex-USA Index +16.28% 1-month Treasury Note Yield: 4.21% 5-year Treasury Note Yield: 3.84% 30-year Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.82% A few things jump right out. Precious metals are the best-performing asset class in 2025. Gold rocketed to a new record high above $3,400 an ounce in April and is trading quietly this summer above the $3,300 level. Foreign stocks are outperforming U.S. stocks by a significant amount. Mortgage rates remain higher than the low rates of the pandemic and the 2020-2021 era. In January 2021, 30-year mortgages hit a low at 2.65%. The high rates have priced many homebuyers out of the market for now. The Big Picture Liberation Day tariffs, geopolitical wars, a U.S. debt downgrade, and climbing national debt have been strong headwinds for the U.S. stock market this year and positive for precious metals. Investors flocked to the safety and security of gold, platinum, and silver amid the mounting uncertainties on many fronts, both military and economic. Geopolitics Sends Investors Rushing to Precious Metals Military action ramped up in June as the United States joined Israel with Operation Midnight Hammer, which involved U.S. Air Force B-2 stealth bombers dropping so-called “bunker buster” bombs on an Iranian nuclear site. Israel continues its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and Russia continues its war in Ukraine. While gold generally led the precious metals complex higher in the first half of the year, in June, both silver and platinum vaulted sharply higher. Precious metals investors saw opportunities to accumulate precious metals at bargain prices, and they swooped in. Silver climbed to a 13-year high, above the $37 an ounce level, while platinum climbed to $1,363. Tariff Uncertainty The stock market is eyeing a July 8 tariff deadline, which ends the 90-day pause on most of the steep Liberation Day tariffs if trade deals haven’t been set. Tariffs could climb as high as 50% against some nations. While the Administration is said to be negotiating with China, the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and more, only one trade deal has been finalized thus far, and that is with the United Kingdom. Investors flooded into precious metals throughout the spring months as uncertainty over the impact of tariffs on the economy sent stocks spiraling lower. America Lost Its Last “AAA” Credit Rating Due to Rising Debt In May, Moody’s stripped the United States of its last “AAA” credit rating. This was another warning signal that Washington D.C. policymakers have failed to address the unsustainable government debt problem our nation faces. Global investors fear that America is getting close to a point where our debt isn’t affordable anymore. The news underscored the stability and security of gold in a world racked with government debt. For gold investors, this confirms that gold is in a long-term structural bull market. Analysts at JP Morgan issued a new research note in late spring outlining a scenario that could take gold 80% higher to $6,000 by 2029. They said this could occur if just 0.5% of U.S. assets held by foreign investors were reallocated to gold. Weak demand at Treasury auctions this spring already revealed tepid demand from foreign investors to buy new Treasuries. Recommendations for Precious Metals Investors In the dog days of summer, financial markets are relatively stable and quiet, for now. That makes it the perfect time to re-evaluate your portfolio, your asset allocations, and how much wealth protection you need for what may lie ahead. It’s a perfect time to trim your allocation to the stock market and funnel those funds to the safety of physical gold, silver, and platinum. There is a step you can take to protect, preserve, and even grow your wealth, and that is to increase your allocation to physical gold. If you aren’t sure what the appropriate amount is for your risk tolerance level, our Blanchard portfolio managers are here to help. Give us a call today at 1-800-880-4653 for a complimentary portfolio review with personalized recommendations to help you protect and grow your wealth. Precious metals are beating everything right now. We are in the midst of a historic gold run. Gold $4,000 will be here faster than you think, and once markets start moving again, you’ll have missed the chance to accumulate physical gold below $3,400 an ounce. It’s easy to add more wealth protection to your life. Why not call us today? The post Mid-Year Precious Metals Market Update appeared first on Blanchard and Company.

Stock markets this week have been on a frenzy, with Nasdaq leading the US Indices to new all-times on Wednesday and the S&P 500 (futures, cash is opening in a few minutes) are joining its tech-focused collegue. Core PCE numbers did not come as good as expected with 2.7% vs 2.6% (Core m/m 0.2% vs +0.15% exp) – The jump is overall not so aggravating but it's one of the first negative surprises that markets are seeing for US Inflation since Trump got elected. Markets are awaiting and getting a few good news on the US trade deals – The latest is the White House announcing that the July 9 is in the end not too important, and Trump mentioning the completion of a Deal with China, however the details are still missing. Read More: Risk-on persists, JPY held firm, Gold extends losses to 4-week low Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © {CURRENT_YEAR} OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

The Japanese yen has edged higher on Friday. In the North American session, USD/JPY is trading at 144.57, up 0.16% on the day. Tokyo Core CPI eases to three-month low Tokyo Core CPI surprised on the downside in June, falling to 3.1% y/y. This was down sharply from the 3.6% gain in May and below the market estimate of 3.3%. This was the the first slowdown in Tokyo core inflation since February. The decline was largely driven by a renewal of fuel subsidies and a reduction in water charges. Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © {CURRENT_YEAR} OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

A company based in the UAE has invested $100 million in the Trump-linked WLFI (World Liberty Financial) Token. On 26 June 2025, WLFI and Aqua1 Foundation, a Web3 native investment fund, jointly announced their collaboration as a strategic manoeuvre to turbocharge the blockchain ecosystem for applications related to real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation, stablecoins and decentralised finance (DeFi). Aqua1 Foundation’s investment in this venture dwarfs the next biggest investment in the token made by Justin Sun, Tron’s founder, who invested $30 million in the Trump-linked WLFI in November last year. Dave Lee, the founding partner at Aqua1, said, “Aqua1 and WLFI will work together to identify and support blockchain projects with transformative potential.” According to Lee, the integration of traditional finance with blockchain protocols is a “trillion-dollar pivot opportunity.” The joint announcement has come in a day after the Trump-backed DeFi project, World Liberty, revealed its team to be working on enabling trading of the WLFI tokens. The WLFI token allows its holders to exercise voting rights, where users can also suggest governance changes, but cannot transfer the tokens. The investment by Aqua1 into WLFI, co-founded by Trump and his three sons, Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump, and Barron Trump, commemorates another high-profile crypto deal of the Trump family, which is already under scrutiny from lawmakers. According to Trump’s recent filings, he holds 15.745 billion WLFI tokens and has disclosed $58 million in earnings tied to the governance tokens. Explore: Top 20 Crypto to Buy in June 2025 Capitalisation of Crypto Market by “Chief Crypto Advocate” The project brands Trump as its “chief crypto advocate,” with his sons helping lead its DeFi expansion. Interestingly, Trump’s financial disclosure of making $58 million, primarily from WLFI sales, only trailed his income from his hospitality business. Analysts project that his earnings from crypto will rise in 2025, driven by a $390 million token sale and meme coin gains. Overlaps between legislative developments and Trump’s family crypto dealings have raised numerous red flags among members of Congress. The alarm was first raised in May this year when Eric Trump disclosed that MGX, a state-owned AI and advanced technology investment firm based in Abu Dhabi, was to use WLFI’s USD1 stablecoin to settle a $2 billion investment in Binance. Additionally, Trump’s involvement in Bitcoin mining, tokenised assets and digital ETFs has raised concerns regarding potential conflict of interest. In a recent Senate Appropriation Committee hearing, Pam Bondi, the US Attorney General, declined to comment directly to Senator Jeff Merkley’s questions about the Trump-linked WLFI Token. “I think it’s important for the leader of the Justice Department of the US to be very concerned about foreign influence,” Merkley stated. He further emphasised, “Americans should make American decisions, not have them bought through crypto coins.” Explore: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in June 2025 WLFI Gold Paper Reveals No Official Ownership In August 2024, Donald Trump Jr promoted the WLFI as a DeFi alternative to traditional banking, advocating for the dollar’s dominance through USD-pegged stablecoins. The project uses Aave v3, the third major upgrade of the Aave Protocol, which DeFi platforms frequently use for lending and borrowing crypto assets. It was launched as an Ethereum ERC-20 token, with WLFI clarifying the nature of the token to be community-backed. The token was made available for sale to the general public on 15 October 2025, with Trump being listed as Chief Crypto Advocate and his sons being termed as Web3 Ambassadors. The project’s Gold Paper (foundational document), however, states that they hold no official ownership or employment roles. Explore: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025 Key Takeaways UAE-based investment firm Aqua1 has invested $100M in WLFI This is now the largest investment in WLFI after Justin Sun’s $30M Trump has made around $58milliimn so far from the sale of WLFI tokens The post UAE Firm Invests $100M in Trump-Linked WLFI Token appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

In the European session, USD/CAD is trading quietly at 1.3653, up 0.10% on the day. On Thursday, the Canadian dollar posted strong gains of 0.63%, its best daily performance in a month. The US dollar has retreated against the major currencies as risk appetite has risen. The Canadian dollar has taken full advantage and has gained 5% against the greenback since April 1. Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © {CURRENT_YEAR} OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Copper for delivery in September fell by more than 1% to a high of $5.0450 per pound or $11,120 per tonne in early trading on the Comex market on Friday as traders take profits after five straight days of gains. Pre-emptive buying in the US ahead of likely tariffs has opened up a massive gap between US and London Metal Exchange prices. Benchmark 3-month copper in London was trading higher at $9,887 per tonne on the LME in morning trading in London on Friday. Reuters reports some Chinese smelters have agreed to process copper from Antofagasta for no charge, but the outcome was better than expected for the smelters, already suffering losses. Shanghai Metals Market reported that the Chilean miner led with an opening bid of –$15 a tonne a record low for term treatment charges and substantially lower than end-2024 rates of $21.25 a tonne. CLICK ON CHART FOR LIVE PRICES The $0 agreement covers half of Antofagasta’s 2026 copper concentrate production and presents a win for China’s smelters given spot charges are hovering around the –$43 mark, which means smelters would have to pay copper miners for processing their concentrate. SP Angel, a mining and metals financing firm based in London, notes that the Chinese government has worked hard to reduce costs for local businesses, particularly electricity costs, which support energy intensive industries like refining, and enables Chinese companies to undercut Western counterparts. In a bid to cover short positions on the London Metal Exchange some Chinese smelters are rapidly ramping up exports. At least 30,000 tonnes of copper from smelters including Jiangxi Copper and Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group are poised to be delivered to LME warehouses in Asia in the coming weeks, anonymous sources told Bloomberg on Wednesday. Reuters, also quoting unnamed persons with knowledge of the matter, reports nearly 10 Chinese smelters were preparing to deliver 40,000–50,000 tonnes to LME inventories. In a note quoted by Bloomberg, investment bank Goldman Sachs said it expected LME prices to rise to a 2025 peak of roughly $10,050 a tonne in August, as supplies outside the US continue to tighten. “The ex-US copper market has tightened, causing fears of a regional copper shortage despite the global market currently being in surplus,” Goldman said, adding that once the expected 25% import levies are implemented in September, copper prices should retreat to under $10,000 again. Ready to ship inventories on the LME have declined about 80% this year to less than a day of global usage, prompting steep backwardation and a surge in exports by Chinese smelters. The premium for the cash copper contract over the three-month forward dropped this week from $280 on Monday as news of the exports filtered through to the market. Like other markets, the copper price has been on a wild ride in 2025, hitting all-time highs at the end of March only to come dangerously close to crashing through $4.00 barely a fortnight later. Year to date the orange metal remains up more than 20%.

Europe is preparing for another round of U.S. trade negotiations, with tariffs looming like the sword of Damocles. Everything is chopping, including BTC USD. While diplomats talk shop, BTC ▲0.16% is pulling capital from hedge funds and pension desks alike but the price action is still muddied. Here’s what’s going on with the EU and its global impact: BitcoinPriceMarket CapBTC$2.13T24h7d30d1yAll time EU Prepares for Tough Talks as Trump’s Tariff Threats Loom This week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen extended an olive branch, declaring the EU prepared for a trade pact with the United States. “All options remain on the table,” she said in a NATO meeting in the Hague. The stakes are monumental, with President Trump threatening toslap 50% tariffs on EU goods, a move that could cripple industries like automotive and steel. Germany, already bearing the brunt of existing tariffs up to 25%, feels the pressure acutely. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever distilled the sentiment, urging, “We must avoid tariffs at all costs.” The European car industry is particularly vulnerable, with EU trade negotiator Maroš Šefčovič warning, “The car industry of Europe is clearly bleeding. Tariffs at this level are unsustainable.” While the bloc considers retaliatory measures worth $95 billion should talks fail, von der Leyen proposed a broader vision of “redesigning” global trade rules, aiming for more balanced rules. BTC USD Strength Amid Institutional Shift and Geopolitical Tensions Behind the noise of trade talks, Bitcoin is quietly shifting hands. Wallets holding 1,000+ BTC have added 507,700 BTC over the past year, nearly 1,460 per day, according to CryptoQuant. With daily issuance now ~450 BTC post-halving, institutions are absorbing more than retail is shedding, setting the stage for a supply squeeze. Moreover, after brief turbulence from U.S.-Iran tensions, BTC bounced back to $107K. “This isn’t just crypto,” said analyst James Toledano. “It’s the weak dollar, falling oil, and rate cut bets driving the rebound.” (X) The EU’s struggle with trade barriers exposes deep vulnerabilities within its core industries, but Bitcoin’s steady performance in turbulent times tells a different story. This widening gap between faltering old-world systems and ascendant digital alternatives speaks volumes about where the meta is trending. EXPLORE: Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino Hopes For Net Positive From US Elections, Says Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Is A Great Idea: 99Bitcoins Exclusive Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates Key Takeaways With tariffs looming like the sword of Damocles. Everything is chopping, including BTC USD. Behind the noise of trade talks, Bitcoin is quietly shifting hands. The post EU Trade Deal Looms Over Trump Tariff War: What’s Next for BTC USD? appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

LDO crypto is stuck below $1, sliding by over 90% from all-time highs. Lido Finance has been shipping major updates, including the release of v3 in testnet-2. The CSM is also live and permissionless. Lido Finance is a critical part of the Ethereum staking infrastructure. Those who cannot raise the required 32 ETH can stake much less via Lido. What’s great about Lido is that even after staking your ETH, you can still use it for other income-generating activities via ETH. EXPLORE: 10 Coins with High Returns: Crypto Forecast 2025 LDO Crypto Tumbles, Down 90% From 2021 Highs With DeFi driving the market in the last bull run from 2020 to 2021, Lido prices spiked to as high as $7.30. However, recent performance shows that LDO ▲1.60% may take years to retest this key level. Currently, LDO crypto is trading below $1, ranging between $0.68 and $0.72 in the past 24 hours. Presently, the LDO price is down 90% from all-time highs, trailing some of the best Solana meme coins. Surprisingly, early adopters are still up 70% from the all-time low of $0.40 posted three years ago, per Coingecko data. From the LDOUSDT daily chart, LDO is more likely to break below April 2025 lows than surpass $1.16 and the May 2025 local resistance. Prices have been steadily declining in recent days after an impressive spike in May 2025. Lido DAO TokenPriceMarket CapLDO$628.58M24h7d30d1yAll time The pace of recovery will ultimately depend on how Ethereum performs. As one of the largest DeFi protocols on Ethereum, managing over $22.3 billion in total value locked (TVL), ETH directly impacts LDO prices. (Source) If ETH overcomes its recent weakness, surging above $2,800 and $3,000, some of the best cryptos to buy, including LDO, could turn around, rewarding patient HODLers. Lido Building: v3 in Testnet as CSM Boosts Decentralization The speed of this recovery, which could lift LDO from its discouraging downward spiral, depends on how quickly their innovations gain traction, further helping the protocol lock in more ETH. Yesterday, Lido developers unveiled Lido v3 testnet-2 on the Hoodi Ethereum testnet. While still in development, the release, once live on the Ethereum mainnet, will introduce an upgraded version of their stVaults system. EXPLORE: 15 New & Upcoming Coinbase Listings to Watch in 2025 In early June, they introduced CSM version 2, introducing a variable reward model for node operators. DISCOVER: 6 Best Meme Coin ICOs & Presales to Invest in 2025 LDO Crypto Stuck Below $1: Lido Finance v3 Testnet, CSM Updates LDO price down 90% from all-time highs Will LDO crypto break $1 and May 2025 highs? Lido v3 testnet-2 is now live on Hoodi Ethereum testnet Lido CSM is live and permissionless, attracts new validators The post Lido Shipping Major Updates: Why Is LDO Crypto Still Stuck Below $1? appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

XCN Crypto (Onyxcoin) just jumped 12% to $0.017, snapping out of a months-long bull flag. Technicals are lining up, and rising network activity adds weight to the breakout. Momentum’s clearly building. The Bull Flag Breakout For XCN Crypto (CoinGecko) XCN’s current surge can be traced back to a bull flag pattern that started forming on April 10. The flagpole was established with a sharp price rise to $0.027, followed by a correction phase that saw prices decline to $0.013. Now, breaking above the flag’s upper trendline, XCN signals an end to its correction and the possibility of further upside. XCN is now trading above its 50-day and 100-day EMAs near $0.0156, pressing against a key resistance trendline. A daily close above $0.01699 would confirm the breakout and put $0.020 in sight. Several metrics confirm the growing bullish momentum for Onyxcoin: MACD Surge: The MACD indicator shows rising signal lines, signaling strong buying interest. RSI at 57: The Relative Strength Index is climbing toward overbought territory, reflecting increasing demand. Bull Bear Power (BBP): BBP trending into positive territory indicates buyers have gained control. Additionally, while the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) hasn’t crossed into positive territory yet, its hovering just below the zero line signals that buying pressure is steadily building. What’s Next for Onyxcoin? Santiment data shows Onyxcoin’s Daily Active Addresses (DAA) remain in positive divergence, signaling real network activity behind the price move. The rally isn’t just hype but backed by usage. If momentum holds, a break above $0.020 could be next. Add in strong CMF and buying pressure, and $0.023 comes into view. EXPLORE: Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino Hopes For Net Positive From US Elections, Says Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Is A Great Idea: 99Bitcoins Exclusive Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates Key Takeaways XCN Crypto (Onyxcoin) just jumped 12% to $0.017, snapping out of a months-long bull flag. Technicals are lining up, and rising network activity adds weight to the breakout. Momentum’s clearly building. The post Can XCN Crypto Hit $0.035 in July 2025: XCN Price Prediction and Key Levels appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

If Jerry Seinfeld invested in the Ethereum price, it would go like this: “You ever buy Ethereum?” *audience chuckles* “You spend all weekend reading whitepapers, learning about gas fees, and you’re like: This is it. This is the future. We’re going to flip Bitcoin any minute now!” *audience bursts out in uncontrollable laughing* [Cue Seinfeld Music] Ethereum’s early lead over Bitcoin this quarter has faded. Now trading under $2,500, ETH faces a key inflection point; here’s where the price is going next: EthereumPriceMarket CapETH$292.25B24h7d30d1yAll time Ethereum’s MVRV Ratio Signals Modest Optimism Ethereum’s market-value-to-realized-value (MVRV) ratio stands at 1.16, slightly above neutral territory. While this indicates holders are in mild profit, ETH remains constrained by a key descending trendline dating back to 2018. The story here is that altcoins don’t perform well unless the Fed cuts rates and turns the money printers on. Adding to the challenge, Ethereum has to conquer a critical resistance level at $2,575. A strong breakout above this threshold could push prices toward $2,850, but without this momentum, a pullback to the $1,750 support zone could be on the horizon. Analyst Burak Kesmeci notes, “The visible range volume profile highlights strong historical interest between $2,100 and $2,300, making this zone critical for Ethereum’s next move.” Unity Wallet COO James Toledano summed it up: “Lower oil, rate cut expectations, and ETF flows are driving this bounce.” What’s Next for Ethereum Price? Two signals will decide whether Ethereum rallies or stalls. First, it needs to crack $2,575 and hold. Then it has to break its long-term MVRV trendline. Do both, and $2,850 comes into view fast. It’s crazy to think that I, like some of you, held Ethereum at $4,000+ and that was nearly four years ago at this point. $ETH holders have to be feeling the pain. [Cue that Seinfeld music one more time, Johnny!] EXPLORE: Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino Hopes For Net Positive From US Elections, Says Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Is A Great Idea: 99Bitcoins Exclusive Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates Key Takeaways Ethereum’s early lead over Bitcoin this quarter has faded. Now trading under $2,500, ETH faces a key inflection point. All eyes are on Jerome Powell next month. As inflation lingers and labor metrics soften. The post Ethereum Price Now Flashes First Death Cross Since 2022: Is Another Crash Coming? appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Overview: The US dollar has steadied today after yesterday's shellacking that saw it fall to new multiyear lows against the euro and sterling and 10-year lows against the Swiss franc. The news stream is somewhat more supportive today, with trade deals said to be in the works, in addition to the confirmation/clarification of an agreement with China. The US got an exemption from the OECD's Pillar 2 corporate tax reform, and the onerous "revenge tax" of Section 899 of the budget proposal will be dropped. There is talk that the postponement of the so-called reciprocal tariff may be extended for the current deadline of July 9. While the greenback has steadied it has found little traction and remains largely pinned near yesterday's lows. Equity markets have responded more favorably. Most of the markets in the Asia Pacific region advanced less by the more than 1% gain in Japanese indices. China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Australia were exceptions. Europe's Stoxx 600 is up nearly 1%, and if today's gains are sustained, it would be the first back-to-back advance in three weeks. US index futures are up 0.2%-0.3%. Benchmark 10-year yields are firmer. The two basis point rise in the JGB put the yield at a new high for the week near 1.43%. European yields are mostly less than one basis point higher, but enough to lift the 10-year German Bund yield to a new high for the week (~2.57%). The 10-year Treasury yield is about three basis points higher at 4.27%. It is off nearly 8 bp this week. Gold has broken down to a new low for the week, near $3282. It is also a new low for the month. August WTI continues to chop inside Tuesday’s range (~$64-$67.85). It is inside yesterday's range as well (~$64.65-$66.40). USD: Neither the US-China deal, the other ten trade deals that the Commerce Secretary, nor the likely dropping of the so-called "revenge tax" in the budget, have been sufficient to give the dollar much of a lift. The Dollar Index is pinned near the three-year low set yesterday around 97.00. It has been as high as about 94.40 today, but it is back hovering by its lows in late European morning turnover. There is much attention on today's PCE deflator, but economists have a good handle on it after the CPI and PPI were released earlier this month. The Fed targets the headline PCE deflator, though many journalists insist on calling the core rate the preferred measure, though it is not clear what that means. In any event, the headline and core measures are seen rising by 0.1%, which would lift the year-over-year rates to 2.3% (from 2.1%) and 2.6% (from 2.5%), respectively. More importantly, we suggest, is the slowing of consumption. Note that in yesterday's Q1 GDP update, consumption growth was chopped to 0.5% from 1.2%. In April, monthly personal consumption rose by 0.2% and the median forecast in Bloomberg's survey is for a 0.1% gain. It follows an erosion of consumer confidence, rising household debt stress levels, and a slowing in job growth. Adjusted for inflation, through May, real consumption is rising at half of the pace seen in the first five months of 2024. Ahead of the data, the Fed funds futures market is discounting about a 21% chance of a July cut. A week ago, there was around a 16% chance. At the end of May, before Governors Waller and Bowman put July on the table and President Trump's public criticism of Chair Powell and indication he could name a successor six months before the end the Chair's term ends, the market was discounting a 28% chance of a July cut. EURO: Talk of option-related demand may have helped explain euro's surge through $1.17 yesterday. Between yesterday and July 1, the DTCC showed nearly six billion euros in options were expiring. The euro peaked in early European trading near $1.1745. It approached in the NY afternoon but stalled. Today it has mostly traded in around a 20-tick range in either side of $1.17. The upper Bollinger Band is near $1.1710 today. A break of $1.1680 could see short-term momentum traders move to the sidelines, which could send the euro back to the $1.1650 area, where there are 2.1 bln euros expiring Monday. Coming into today, according to Bloomberg prices, the euro has not fallen since last Tuesday June 16, its longest advance in nearly a year. France and Spain reported June CPI ahead of next week's estimate of the aggregate figures. France's harmonized measure CPI rose by 0.4%, twice what was expected but the year-over-year rate rose to 0.8% from 0.6%. Spain's rose by 0.6% and the year-over-year rate rose to 2.2% from 2.4%. The eurozone's June CPI is expected to increase by 0.2% for an unchanged year-over-year rate of 1.9%. CNY: Yesterday saw the dollar fall to a new low for the year (~CNH7.1525) and recover slightly above CNH7.17 in early European turnover. The greenback drifted lower and was fraying the CNH7.16 area in late turnover. It has steadied today and has traded within yesterday's range. The PBOC set the dollar's reference rate at CNY7.1627 (CNY7.1620 yesterday and CNY7.1695, a week ago). Squeezing HK liquidity through its intervention to defend the peg, the HKMA may have helped reduce some upside pressure on the yuan by discouraging short HKD/long yuan plays. China reported May industrial profits fell 1.1% in in the first five months of this year compared with the Jan-May 2024 period. Separately China confirmed the trade agreement with the US. The lifting of some US sanctions and renewed supply of ethane will take place after the rare earth and magnet shipments begin, according to reports. JPY: With only shallow bounces, the dollar fell from almost JPY146 on Wednesday to JPY143.75 yesterday. The driver was the general weakness of the greenback and the decline in US rates. The greenback settled below the 20-day moving average (~JPY144.55) for the first time in two weeks. It is trading quietly today in the narrowest range of the week (~JPY144.20-JPY144.80). Tokyo price pressures eased slightly more than expected this month. The headline CPI rose 3.1% year-over-year compared with a 3.4% gain in May. The core measure, which excludes fresh food, eased to 3.1% from 3.6%. Excluding fresh food and energy Tokyo's CPI also slipped to 3.1% from 3.3%. This can be expected to be largely duplicated on the national level. The chances of a rate hike at the end of the July central bank meeting remain negligible, according to the swaps market. Some surveys are beginning to detect a push of the anticipated rate hike into 2026. Japan also reported May retail sales. They unexpectedly fell (-0.2%) compared with expectations for a 0.3% increase. It followed a 0.7% rise in April. The cumulative rise in retail sales in Q1 was 0.4%. In GDP terms, Japanese consumption has been more stable that government spending and private investment. The Japanese economy contracted by 0.2% at an annualized pace in Q1 and looks to have done only slightly better in Q2. Separately, Japan reported a steady unemployment rate in May (2.5%) but a decline in the job-to-applicant ratio to 1.24 from 1.26. This matches the lowest since early 2022. GBP: Sterling's four-day advance is on the line. It rallied four cents off Monday's low that saw it approach $1.3370 on Monday. It settled above the upper Bollinger Band yesterday (~$1.3725 today). Above the $1.3770 seen yesterday, the $1.3840 could be next. It did not trade below $1.3700 in North America yesterday, where GBP560 mln options expired. It is trading mostly between $1.3720 and $1.3750 so far today. A break of $1.3700could spur some position adjusting that takes sterling to $1.3650 and better support. CAD: The Canadian dollar's 0.7% gain yesterday was the largest this month. The US dollar was turned back from almost CAD1.38 on Monday and slipped below CAD1.3620 yesterday. It is holding above CAD1.3625 today and has been capped near CAD1.3650. Options for $875 mln expire at CAD1.3600 today. This year's low was recorded on June 16 near CAD1.3540. Despite the Canadian dollar's gains, it is a laggard. The only G10 currency to do worse this month is the yen, which has fallen by about 0.2%, while the Loonie has risen by around 0.7%. Year-to-date, it is up 5.4%. It is the least of the G10. The Australian dollar is a close second. It has appreciated almost 5.8%. AUD: The Australian dollar reached a seven-month high yesterday, almost $0.6565. It was the culmination of a four-day rally. It surged 3% from Monday's one-month low (~$0.6375) to the new high yesterday. It frayed its upper Bollinger Band, which is found near $0.6550 today. A break of $0.6540 could see $0.6520. Yesterday's low was near $0.6500. The Aussie's rally does not reflect a change in view on monetary policy. The futures market is the most confident of a cut at the July 8 meeting (~95%). Moreover, the market has been boosting the magnitude of this year's rate cut for the past five sessions. It is now anticipating 81 bp of cuts between now and the end of the year, up from 74 bp a week ago. MXN: The peso took yesterday's anticipated rate cut in stride. As widely expected, Banxico delivered its fourth consecutive 50 bp rate cut. The central bank has not finished the easing cycle but signaled a more moderate pace going forward. And for good reason, it has cut the overnight rate target by 200 bp this year and inflation is north of the 2-4% target range, even if it does not appear to be still accelerating. Yesterday's session low for the dollar was recorded in the European morning near MXN18.85. It reached a low after the rate cut of slightly below MXN18.86. Today, the greenback is in a roughly MXN18.86-MXN18.8950 range. The range may be extended a little to the upside today, but peso buying does not appear exhausted. Disclaimer

US equity markets roared back to life on Thursday, 26 June, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 leading the charge, climbing 0.9% to notch another fresh all-time intraday and closing high. The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to close at 6,140—just shy of its all-time intraday high of 6,147 set in February. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.9%, and the small-cap Russell 2000 outperformed with a 1.7% surge. Despite ongoing concerns around slowing US economic growth and the approaching 9 July expiration of the White House’s 90-day pause on global reciprocal tariffs (excluding China), investor sentiment remained firmly risk-on. Markets appear to be positioning for potential additional liquidity from a more dovish Federal Reserve as early as Q3. close Fig 2: USD/JPY minor trend as of 27 June 2025 (Source: TradingView) Fig 2: USD/JPY minor trend as of 27 June 2025 (Source: TradingView) Price actions of the USD/JPY have failed to trade higher above its 20-day moving average, and it is now shaping an impending weekly bearish “Dark Cloud Cover” candlestick pattern that suggests a potential bearish breakdown from its “Ascending Wedge” range support that has been in place since the 22 April 2025 low. In addition, the hourly RSI momentum indicator has continued to flash out bearish momentum conditions as it remains below a parallel descending resistance. Watch the 145.20 key short-term pivotal resistance, and a break below 143.90 (“Ascending Wedge” range support) exposes the next intermediate supports at 143.00 and 142.40 (see Fig 2). On the other hand, a clearance above 145.20 negates the bearish tone for a squeeze up towards the next intermediate resistances at 146.25 and 147.15. Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © {CURRENT_YEAR} OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

The Trump administration is opening the door for cryptocurrency to play a role in the mortgage market. On June 25, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to begin developing systems that allow borrowers to count crypto holdings when applying for a mortgage. If regulated U.S. platforms hold the assets, lenders could factor them into the underwriting process, potentially helping more Americans qualify for home loans. It is a shift that blends digital assets with traditional finance in a way that would have seemed unlikely just a few years ago. Although the new policy is still in the early stages, it sends a clear message: regulators are taking crypto seriously as part of personal finance. Crypto’s Role in Underwriting Is Changing In most cases today, lenders ask borrowers who own crypto to sell it and convert it to cash before using it to show financial strength. The logic is that crypto is too volatile, and lenders prefer assets that are more predictable in value. That may still be true, but the FHFA says it is time to reconsider how digital assets fit into mortgage eligibility. Director William Pulte said the move reflects the administration’s larger strategy to bring crypto into the financial mainstream. The idea is not to ignore the risks but to find a way to factor in crypto holdings while still maintaining responsible lending standards. Under this approach, lenders would apply extra scrutiny to account for price swings and cybersecurity concerns. DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 What Fannie and Freddie Are Being Asked to Do Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do not issue loans directly, but they back a large portion of the U.S. mortgage market. Their role in this plan is to create a new framework that allows lenders to consider crypto as part of a borrower’s financial profile. Lenders must ensure that the assets are held with regulated U.S. exchanges and properly account for how quickly crypto values can change. BitcoinPriceMarket CapBTC$2.13T24h7d30d1yAll time At this point, there is no final timeline for when the rules will be in place. The agencies are being asked to develop the details and submit them for review. Any full rollout would require more steps and formal approval. Reactions Are Mixed Some in the mortgage industry are calling it a necessary update. The Mortgage Bankers Association has said it welcomes efforts to modernize asset verification, especially as more people hold wealth in nontraditional formats. But others are raising questions. Amanda Fischer of Better Markets pointed out that crypto can swing wildly in value, making it risky to include in lending decisions. She also raised concerns about what happens if assets disappear due to fraud or exchange failure. That tension between innovation and caution is likely to define how this process unfolds. DISCOVER: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025 What This Means for Borrowers If the plan moves forward, it could make it easier for crypto holders to access mortgage credit without having to liquidate their assets. That may appeal to borrowers who are reluctant to sell during market dips or who want to keep long-term positions intact. The next few months will be important as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac work through the operational side. Lenders will also need to update their systems, and regulators will watch closely to see how this plays out in practice. If it works, it could prompt one of the most conservative corners of the financial system to change how it views crypto. DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates Key Takeaways The Trump administration has directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to explore counting crypto holdings toward mortgage eligibility. Crypto assets will only qualify if held on regulated U.S. exchanges, with extra rules to address volatility and cybersecurity risks. The new policy aims to integrate crypto into traditional finance without undermining responsible lending standards. Fannie and Freddie must develop the framework, but they have not set a final timeline or rollout date yet. This move may help crypto holders qualify for loans without liquidating assets. It could lead lenders to change how they treat digital wealth. The post Trump Administration Moves to Let Crypto Count Toward Mortgages appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Crypto exchange Kraken has officially received its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) licence from the Central Bank of Ireland, making it one of the first major platforms to gain full approval under the European Union’s new digital asset framework. This licence allows Kraken to offer its services across all 30 countries in the European Economic Area from a single regulatory base. Source: Shutterstock The approval represents a turning point not just for Kraken but for how crypto companies will operate across Europe going forward. Instead of dealing with a patchwork of national rules, the exchange now gets a single, unified path forward. What This Means for Kraken’s Business in Europe With the licence in hand, Kraken can now offer a wide range of services to both individual and institutional clients across the region. That includes crypto trading, custody, payment services, portfolio management, and derivatives. The licence also allows the firm to issue stablecoins, provided they meet MiCA requirements. Until now, Kraken had been operating under several local registrations in countries like France, Italy, and Spain. Those arrangements worked but came with limitations. MiCA was designed to solve that, and Kraken’s Irish licence is the first real test of how well that system works in practice. DISCOVER: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in June2025 Ireland’s Role as a Crypto Gateway Ireland was not chosen at random. Kraken already operates an electronic money business there, which gives it the ability to offer euro payment services and fiat on-ramps. The country has a strong fintech presence and a reputation for consistent, transparent regulation. That combination made it a natural home base for Kraken’s broader European operations. BitcoinPriceMarket CapBTC$2.13T24h7d30d1yAll time The Central Bank of Ireland has been careful about who it approves, and this licence came only after what Kraken described as an in-depth review. With this milestone, Ireland joins the shortlist of countries positioning themselves as key crypto hubs under MiCA, alongside places like Luxembourg, France, and Malta. DISCOVER: Next 1000X Crypto: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x in 2025 MiCA Is Reshaping the Crypto Map The MiCA framework went fully live in December 2024 and aims to provide Europe with a single rulebook for digital asset companies. Before that, crypto businesses had to navigate a mix of national laws that often overlapped or conflicted. Now, once a company gains approval in one country, it can operate throughout the EU without repeating the same process again and again. That is a big step forward for companies like Kraken, which are trying to scale their services across borders. MiCA also sets out rules for consumer protection, reserve requirements for stablecoins, and transparency for asset custody. The goal is to bring crypto closer to the standards seen in traditional finance, while still leaving space for innovation. What Comes Next Kraken’s MiCA licence opens the door to bigger moves in Europe. The company expects to expand its product lineup, roll out new services in more countries. It may also bring more institutions onto its platform. It is also setting a precedent. With several other exchanges applying for licences under the same framework, Kraken’s approval could help define how future applications are handled. For now, the message is clear: MiCA is no longer just policy on paper; it is the rulebook the industry is starting to follow. DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates Key Takeaways Kraken received a MiCA licence from Ireland, giving it legal approval to operate across all 30 EEA countries under one regulatory framework. This marks a shift away from fragmented national crypto laws in Europe, allowing Kraken to scale services like trading, custody, and payments more efficiently. Ireland’s fintech infrastructure and Kraken’s existing presence there made it a strategic choice for the exchange’s EU headquarters. The MiCA framework introduces EU-wide standards for consumer protection, stablecoins, and transparency in digital asset custody. Kraken’s licence sets a precedent for other crypto firms applying under MiCA, potentially shaping how EU crypto regulation is enforced going forward. The post Kraken Wins First EU-Wide Licence Under MiCA via Irish Central Bank appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Atlantic Strategic Minerals (ASM), an emerging critical minerals producer majority owned by Appian Capital Advisory, announced Thursday that its mining and mineral processing operations in Virginia have started commercial operations. ASM’s Virginia project comprises high-grade mining assets and processing facilities, including a concentrator plant and the largest mineral separation plant in North America. Past and current investments into the project and its related facilities are estimated at more than $200 million, including initial construction and refurbishment. With the commercial production milestone, the Virginia operations become the 12th mining project that Appian has brought into production since 2016. ASM said its opening of its Virginia mining and processing facilities marks a significant milestone for US economic security with the production of critical minerals ilmenite, which is a feedstock for titanium and pigment industries, and zircon, essential resources for industries ranging from consumer goods to advanced manufacturing and defense. Titanium and zirconium have been designated by the US government as critical minerals with domestic industries currently heavily relying on international imports to meet demand. ASM said the operation offers capacity to process domestic and imported critical minerals – building more secure US supply chains. The company added that it has already delivered its first shipments of ilmenite and zircon, as part of long-term offtake agreements, to US industrial customers. In the next phase of development at its Virginia operations, ASM plans to produce monazite, a key mineral feedstock used in the production of rare earth oxides. Studies indicate that ASM’s monazite has significant concentrations of praseodymium (Pr) and neodymium (Nd), key materials for magnets used in electric vehicles (EVs), wind turbines and defense applications. With China currently processing approximately 90% of rare earths, the company said the project’s monazite production has the potential to significantly diversify and strengthen the US critical supply chains. “We are proud to officially commence production in Virginia, a project that not only strengthens the domestic supply of critical minerals but also plays a vital role in bolstering US economic and national security,” ASM CEO Chris Wyatt said in a news release. “It is a case study of how to responsibly and successfully bring a strategically important project into production, while also ensuring lasting benefits to local communities.”

Log in to today’s North American session Recap for June 26, 2025 Today was once again about broad US Dollar weakness, with all majors and indexes profiting from the flash sale. US Indices are loving this with the S&P 500 coming real closing at its record highs! The Dollar index broke new lows and pretty much all asset classes except for cryptocurrencies had a positive day – Cryptos seem to still be consolidating, waiting for news to breakout on any side. The fact that Bitcoin is staying above the $100,000 mark still shows strength in the market, however crypto aficionados are still waiting for an ETH and altcoin rally. In commodities, even despite de positive mood, gold is unchanged and trading above its $3,300 key pivot, Oil found some relief after consecutive correction days and most less commonly traded commodities are up on the session except for Orange Juice and Wheat. Alternative precious metals are finding continuous demand with Palladium and Platinum performing well in the past few weeks, with both metals up more than 6% on the session, and even Silver and Copper appreciating beyond 1.5%. Read More: What’s next for Oil after War-induced volatility fades? Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © {CURRENT_YEAR} OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Kodiak Copper (TSXV: KDK) released its first resource figures for the MPD copper-gold project in southern British Columbia. The new estimate, released late Wednesday, covers four of seven zones – Gate, Ketchan Man and Dillard. These deposits underpin 56.4 million tonnes indicated at 0.31% copper, 0.14 gram gold and 1.18 grams silver per tonne for a copper-equivalent grade of 0.42%. That accounts for 385 million lb. of contained copper, 250,000 oz. gold and 2.14 million oz. silver, or 522 million lb. of copper-equivalent. Kodiak estimates MPD’s inferred resources at 240.7 million tonnes grading 0.24% copper, 0.12 gram gold and 0.91 gram silver, or 0.33% copper-equivalent. This would represent 1.3 million lb. copper, 960,000 oz. gold and 7.05 million oz. silver for 1.75 million lb. of copper-equivalent metals, the company said. “I’ve had the vision right from the start that MPD’s rich mineral endowment holds the potential for a major mine in BC and our initial resource estimate clearly demonstrates this,” Kodiak chairman Chris Taylor said in a news release. “We expect to grow this resource substantially with the inclusion of the remaining zones later this year.” Kodiak shares gained about 4.6% to C$0.68 apiece Thursday in Toronto, boosting the stock’s 12-month gain to 55%. Peer valuation Management presented the numbers as proof-point one that MPD deserves to be compared with established BC porphyries. It also offers clear ways to take the asset to a feasibility case. These include cut-off flexibility, zone expansion and step-out drilling. Analysts predict a copper supply shortage by 2027. This is due to limited project pipelines and growing demand from electrification and renewables. Projects of MPD’s size will enter a tight market, positioning Kodiak to capture premium valuations once it converts resources to reserves and advances to economic studies. With a C$58 million ($52.5 million) market capitalization as of Thursday, Kodiak sits well below peers with similar resources. Before Newmont (TSX: NGT; NYSE: NEM) acquired the preliminary economic assessment-stage Tatogga gold-copper project in 2021 for about C$400 million, GT Gold had a market cap of roughly C$304 million. Goldshore Resources (TSXV: GSHR), which is developing the resource-stage Moss Lake gold project in Ontario and has a market cap of C$174 million, is another peer. MPD’s emerging scale could potentially help Kodiak close that valuation gap. Resource flexibility According to Kodiak, even a modest cut-off reduction to 0.12% copper-equivalent would lift indicated tonnage to 82.4 million tonnes and in-situ copper-equivalent to 600 million lb., with inferred tonnage up to 435.6 million tonnes for 2.4 billion lb. copper-equivalent. That sensitivity underlines how incremental drilling can unlock metal with little extra effort, the company said. Confirmation and infill drilling is underway at the West, Adit and South zones as part of the current exploration program. Results are expected later this year for inclusion in the full resource estimate before year-end, the company said. “I consider this initial resource estimate a starting point for future growth, as most of our zones remain open to extension and our work to date has identified more than 20 additional copper and gold occurrences and targets,” Taylor said.

Donald project in Victoria, Australia. Credit: Energy Fuels Energy Fuels (NYSE-A: UUUU; TSX: EFR) has received final regulatory clearance to develop the Donald rare earth elements (REE) and mineral sand project in the Wimmera region of Victoria, southeast Australia. In a press release dated June 25, the Colorado-based uranium-critical minerals developer confirmed that the government of Victoria has approved its work plan for the project’s construction and operation. “The work plan approval for the Donald project is significant as it moves us one step closer to creating an important link between the United States and Australia on rare earths and critical minerals,” Energy Fuels CEO Mark Chalmers said. Donald is part of a joint venture with Australia-based mineral sands miner Astron Corp., under which Energy Fuels has the right to earn a 49% interest in the project by investing a total of A$183 million ($119 million) and issuing $17.5 million worth of shares. The work plan approval now clears the way for the JV partners to make a final investment decision, which, according to Energy Fuels, could be made as early as 2025. Shares of Energy Fuels rose 5.1% by 1:20 p.m. in Toronto for a market capitalization of C$1.7 billion ($1.2 billion). Near-term REE source Energy Fuels regards the Donald project to be one of the world’s “best near-term sources” of rare earth minerals, which it plans to process into “light”, “mid” and “heavy” rare earth oxides at its White Mesa mill in Utah in the US. The Donald orebody is estimated to hold 37 million tonnes of heavy minerals, including approximately 724,000 tonnes of rare earths. The deposit has an estimated mine life of 58 years. White Mesa, one of the largest REE processing facilities outside China, achieved commercial production a year ago, beginning with “on-spec” neodymium-praseodymium — a light rare earth used in magnets. Currently in its first phase, the facility has the capacity to produce 850 to 1,000 tonnes of NdPr per year. The Energy Fuels team is also piloting the production of heavy rare earths dysprosium and terbium. 2026 production According to Energy Fuels, the Donald project would feed the White Mesa mill with approximately 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes of rare earth concentrates per year in its initial phase, commencing as early as 2026. By company estimates, 8,000 tonnes of concentrates from the Donald project would contain approximately 4,700 tonnes of total rare earth oxides, including roughly 990 tonnes of separated NdPr, 84 tonnes of Dy oxide, and 14 tonnes of Tb oxide. Energy Fuels said the White Mesa mill is expected to process the Donald feed into separated NdPr, along with a samarium-plus concentrate that would be stockpiled at the mill for future processing into separated mid and heavy REE oxides. Once the Donald project begins Phase 1 commercial production, the JV partners are expected to evaluate a Phase 2 expansion, which would be expected to increase its REE concentrate production to approximately 13,000 to 14,000 tonnes annually. Energy Fuels also said it is contemplating a Phase 2 expansion of the White Mesa mill that would increase its processing capacity to 60,000 tonnes, outputting roughly 6,000 tonnes of separated NdPr, along with significant quantities of Tb, Dy and potentially Sm and other REE oxides. The increased production at Donald, it said, would provide the White Mesa mill with “a consistent and significant source of REE feedstock” for decades to come.

Oil is known to be a volatile commodity, and hasn't failed to show some movement in the past few weeks. After consolidating in a two month $60.5 to $64 range, increasing tensions in US-Iran nuclear talk led to a breakout to $67 and shortly after, Israel attacked Iran which brought black gold 15% higher again, touching $78.40 – levels not seen since January 2025. There had been a theme of higher supply and fears of a slower global economic activity which had been holding prices down, but amid geopolitical turmoil (particularly in the Middle East), price dynamics have evolved. The question now is: What are the factors that will be moving Oil in the upcoming weeks? There has been a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, which led to a tumble in prices – Is the ceasefire going to hold? How much will Iran be allowed to export to China? Any new tensions in producing countries that would lead to a rebound in prices? – The Ukraine-Russia conflict is still ongoing. Is economic activity going to hold despite a lack of concrete progress in US Trade talks? Stay in touch with the latest macroeconomic news to see any change to Oil fundamentals. In the meantime, let's take a look at an in-depth technical analysis to spot levels of interest for trading. Read More: Pound Surges to 3-year highs amid broad Dollar weakness Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © {CURRENT_YEAR} OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Platinum soared to its highest level since 2014 on Thursday, fueled by supply concerns and a wave of speculative buying. By midday, the precious metal had gained nearly 5% to trade at $1,406 an ounce, after hitting a fresh 11-year high of $1,416 earlier. Palladium also jumped by 4.8% to about $1,111 an ounce. Earlier this month, platinum surged past the $1,200-an-ounce mark for the first time in four years amid signs of growing market tightness. “The recent surge in Chinese investment and jewelry replacement is shining a spotlight on platinum’s supply deficit,” Justin Lin, an analyst at Global X ETFs, told Bloomberg. Commenting on palladium’s rally, Lin said the metals are “intrinsically linked” as they can be substituted for one another for use in autocatalysts depending on relative prices, so “we can expect some positive momentum in palladium off of platinum’s rally.” According to Bloomberg, the dominant platinum spot market in London and Zurich has shown signs of tightness for months, after approximately half a million ounces surged into US warehouses due to tariff concerns. Forward prices for platinum are now trading well below spot, a situation known as backwardation, which indicates tight market conditions. The implied cost of borrowing the metal is also still high, at an annualized rate of roughly 13% for a one-month lease, well above the usual rate of close to zero, Bloomberg reported. (With files from Bloomberg)

Digital asset and blockchain investment company, Galaxy Asset Management’s Galaxy Digital, has announced raising over $175 million in capital commitments. The fund is earmarked for investing in “early-stage companies developing critical infrastructure and applications for the onchain economy.” On 26 June 2025, Galaxy Digital said that the Fund specifically has and will continue to target investments in secular growth areas like stablecoins, payments, and tokenization, plus all the supporting infrastructure that makes such technologies viable. Mike Novogratz, Founder and CEO of Galaxy said, “Galaxy Ventures closing its first fund above the target at a time when raising crypto venture is historically difficult showcases our team’s unique edge in the market.” “With deep roots in onchain markets and blockchain infrastructure, we’re committed to backing founders and startups building real-world use cases that are shaping the next chapter of crypto adoption,” he added. EXPLORE: 15 New & Upcoming Coinbase Listings to Watch in 2025 Galaxy Exceeds Initial Target Of $150 Million The company initially targeted $150 million, but ended up exceeding its target amount, crediting “strong investor demand for access to the growing digital asset venture ecosystem.” “Blockchain infrastructure is poised to revolutionize global financial markets. We’re seeing an acceleration of adoption from both institutions and retail users globally—especially around use cases like payments, capital markets, and financial services more broadly,” said Mike Giampapa, Glaxy Ventures Head. “By investing in the teams that are building these core technologies and supporting their growth directly, we have a front-row seat to the most novel concepts and products in crypto.” EXPLORE: 10 Coins with High Returns: Crypto Forecast 2025 US Dominates Crypto VC Investments: Galaxy Digital Report Reveals 46% Share Nearly half of all venture capital (VC) funding in the crypto sector during the fourth quarter of 2024 went to startups based in the US. This data was revealed by Galaxy Digital’s Crypto and Blockchain Venture Capital through a report filed on 15 January 2025. The report revealed that 46% of all capital invested globally was directed to US-headquartered firms, far outpacing Hong Kong, which took the second spot with 16% of the share. The US also led in the number of deals, accounting for 36% of all VC transactions. Singapore and the UK followed. They captured 9% and 8%, respectively. The findings show the country’s continued dominance in crypto innovation and financing, despite regulatory headwinds. EXPLORE: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025 Key Takeaways galaxy Digital initially targeted $150 million, but ended up exceeding its target amount, crediting “strong investor demand for access to the growing digital asset venture ecosystem.” Company’s CEO said, “Galaxy Ventures closing its first fund above the target at a time when raising crypto venture is historically difficult showcases our team’s unique edge in the market.” The post Galaxy Digital Raises Over $175 Million For Crypto Investments appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Greek authorities have frozen a crypto wallet linked to the record-breaking $1.5 billion hack of the Bybit exchange, marking the country’s first major enforcement action involving stolen digital assets. According to Greek news outlets Proto Thema and Kathimerini, the Hellenic Anti-Money Laundering Authority (HAMLA) acted on intelligence received in May, which identified a significant inflow of Ether (ETH) to a user account on a Greek crypto trading platform. Using forensic blockchain analysis tools, HAMLA confirmed that the funds originated from the massive Bybit breach in February 2025. Despite rising concerns, many exchanges still profit from illicit transactions without intervention. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, North Korea also deploys IT workers abroad under fake identities to funnel funds back home, often in USDT or USDC. The Athens seizure marks a rare success in intercepting this global laundering network. Greek Wallet Tied to The Hack Frozen in Landmark Seizure The attackers reportedly used sophisticated laundering techniques, splitting the stolen ETH across multiple wallets to obscure its origins. The frozen wallet in Greece represents the first time local authorities have successfully traced and blocked digital assets involved in such a high-profile theft. A formal seizure order has also been issued, with the case now in the hands of Greek prosecutors. HAMLA President Charalambos Vourliotis briefed Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis on the agency’s findings, underlining the discovery’s significance. He noted that while the recipient of the illicit ETH hasn’t been officially named, further legal action is underway. This operation reflects a growing ability among European regulators to track crypto crime in real time, with Athens joining a widening global net cast by international agencies, including the FBI, which has already flagged the Bybit case publicly. Forensics revealed that the Greek-linked wallet was not part of a standard commercial transaction. Instead, the ETH followed a pattern previously tagged by U.S. investigators, confirming its association with the Bybit hack. Analysts suspect the Greek account may have acted as a link on a broader laundering chain, though it’s unclear whether the wallet owner was aware of the funds’ illicit origins. With digital asset crime increasingly crossing borders, Greece’s intervention sets a new precedent in crypto enforcement. EXPLORE: Top Analyst Spotlights August For XRP Price Breakout: Will APEX 2025 Start Parabolic Run? Key Takeaways Historic Action in Greece: Greek officials froze a wallet tied to the Bybit exchange hack, their first major crypto-related asset seizure. Lazarus Group Connection: The theft is linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group, known for laundering stolen crypto via OTC brokers and weakly regulated exchanges. Blockchain Forensics at Work: HAMLA used on-chain analysis tools to trace stolen ETH to a Greek exchange, triggering immediate asset freezes and legal action. Global Scrutiny Rising: U.S. DOJ and FBI have intensified efforts, confirming the funds’ freeze and filing forfeiture actions against North Korean-linked laundering operations. The post Greece Just Stopped a $1.5Bn Crypto Heist: This Is How Athens Saved Your Bags appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

The Japanese yen has posted strong gains on Thursday. In the North American session, USD/JPY is trading at 144.14, down 0.55% on the day. Earlier, USD/JPY fell as low as 143.75, its lowest level since June 13. Tokyo Core CPI expected to drop to 3.3% Tokyo Core CPI, a leading indicator of nationwide inflation trends, will be released early Thursday. Tokyo Core CPI hit 3.6% in May, its highest level in over two years. The market estimate for June stands at 3.3%. Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © {CURRENT_YEAR} OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Mali plans to restart operations at Barrick Mining’s (TSX: ABX; NYSE: B) Loulo‑Gounkoto gold complex under a court-appointed temporary administrator after seizing control earlier this month, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. The move follows a Malian court decision to suspend Barrick’s management of Loulo‑Gounkoto, one of the Canadian miner’s most important assets, amid an escalating dispute over new mining code and unpaid taxes. On June 16, Mali’s Tribunal de Commerce ordered that the Loulo‑Gounkoto complex be placed under provisional state control for six months. It also appointed former health minister Soumana Makadji as administrator. Barrick had suspended operations in mid‑January after authorities blocked gold exports, detained staff and seized three tonnes of bullion. On Monday, Malian tax authorities reopened Barrick’s Bamako office under Makadji’s oversight. “The situation cannot remain as it is, because we need to protect the workers, we need to protect the factories,” Mines Minister Amadou Keita said on state-owned broadcaster ORTM. The administrator will “restart operations, produce, pay the workers’ wages, but also produce gold for the national economy,” he said. Dispute drags on Negotiations have been ongoing since Mali implemented a new mining code in 2023, raising royalties and increasing state participation in mines. Barrick disputes these terms, claiming existing agreements protect its rights, and has initiated arbitration through the World Bank’s ICSID. The company also removed the Loulo‑Gounkoto complex from its 2025 production guidance after halting output in January; the asset represented about 14% of its anticipated gold output and was expected to produce around 250,000 oz. Permits are due for renewal by February 2026. Loulo‑Gounkoto is Barrick’s largest operation in Mali, accounting for over 720,000 oz. of gold in 2024.

The Pound wasn't the best performer in the beginning to this month, amid a weakening UK Economy and a still too-high inflation which is forcing the Bank of England to hold higher rates – Cuts are not expected until the end of Summer. Unemployment Rate in the UK ticked up, GDP and Retail Sales ticked down – Only PMIs released last week surprised to the upside. Markets are forward looking, and players are looking ahead at better prospects for the Country which separated from the European Union in 2016. Effectively, British Trade is expected to meet less barriers ahead with historic deals reached between the EU and the US. On the other hand, the US Dollar has found some more weakness as markets are turning the page on the Israel-Iran conflict. Nothing new from the FOMC and a still erratic US President have done enough to give more reasons from market players to shift their positions out of the US compared to the past 20 years, hurting the USD (not even mentioning the recent Credit Downgrades) – Despite the US Economy still largely beating expectations. Let's take a look at the most recent up-move in the Cable and spot levels of interest in the pair. Read More: EUR/USD extends gains to 45-month highs, market eyes US labour data Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © {CURRENT_YEAR} OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.