Group 1: Market Overview - The year 2025 is notable for gold and silver reaching new highs, marking one of their best years on record [1] - Industrial metals such as copper, aluminum, steel, and lithium have also seen significant price increases driven by the AI build-out and energy transition [2] Group 2: Price Movements - Copper prices have increased by over 34% year to date, while hot-rolled coil steel and aluminum have risen by 27% and 14%, respectively; lithium prices have also surged by 30% [4] Group 3: Supply and Demand Dynamics - The demand for industrial metals is being driven by the AI revolution and energy transition, while supply pressures have also contributed to rising prices [5] - Environmental disasters have hampered global copper supply, including flooding at Ivanhoe's Kamoa-Kakula complex and incidents in Chile and Indonesia [6] - In the lithium market, a suspension of operations by the Chinese government at a major mining site has led to soaring prices [7] Group 4: Geopolitical Factors - Geopolitical risks and government actions, such as export bans, can directly benefit price appreciation in the metals market [8]

Maplebear’s Instacart (CART) has been on shaky ground this year as competition in grocery delivery intensifies. Well-funded rivals like Amazon (AMZN), Walmart (WMT), and other delivery platforms are leveraging their scale, logistics networks, and partnerships to squeeze Instacart’s market share. At the same time, mounting business and regulatory challenges have dented investor confidence. That pressure intensified on Dec. 18, when CART shares slipped about 1.5% following reports that Instacart agreed to ...

In bitcoin mining news this week, market volatility shook the industry as authorities in China resumed scrutiny of Bitcoin mining operations in Xinjiang, potentially shaking out gigawatts worth of bitcoin mining in the region. While hashrate faces pressure abroad, North American infrastructure continues to pivot toward AI, headlined by a massive hosting deal from Hut 8 (Nasdaq: HUT) and ongoing project developments for Core Scientific (Nasdaq: CORZ). Meanwhile, market economics remain strained with hashp ...

The uptake of utility-scale battery storage has grown significantly in recent years as more countries switch to renewables. Battery storage ensures that grids powered by less reliable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, can continue to deliver a stable supply of clean energy through the day and night. The battery storage boom of recent years has been driven largely by the falling costs of lithium-ion batteries, which have made it possible for utilities worldwide to invest in more batteries. The ...

Core Points - Amazon warehouse workers at the DJT6 facility in Riverside have successfully unionized with Teamsters Local 1932, marking the fifth Amazon facility in Southern California to do so [1][4] - The unionization efforts began with a midnight walkout during the holiday peak season, highlighting increased workloads and dangerous working conditions [2][3] - Workers are demanding better pay, healthcare, and safer working conditions, citing Amazon's neglect of workplace injuries and threats against injured workers [3][4] Summary by Sections Unionization Efforts - Workers at DJT6 initiated their unionization with Teamsters by staging a midnight walkout [2] - This facility is now part of a growing movement among Amazon workers, with nearly 10,000 workers nationwide demanding recognition of the Teamsters Union [4] Worker Demands - The primary demands include an industry-standard minimum salary, healthcare, and improved safety measures [3] - Workers express frustration over Amazon's profits while they struggle to afford housing near their workplace [3][4] Teamsters' Role - Teamsters Local 1932 is actively supporting the workers' efforts, emphasizing the need for collective action to ensure their rights are recognized [4] - The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents over 1.3 million workers across North America [5]

Core Viewpoint - A securities class action lawsuit has been filed against StubHub Holdings, Inc. for allegedly making false and misleading statements in its Offering Documents related to its September 2025 initial public offering [1]. Group 1: Allegations Against StubHub - The lawsuit claims that StubHub failed to disclose significant changes in the timing of payments to vendors, which adversely affected its free cash flow [3]. - It is alleged that these undisclosed changes rendered StubHub's free cash flow reports materially misleading [3]. - The complaint asserts that the positive statements made by StubHub regarding its business operations and prospects were materially false and lacked a reasonable basis due to the undisclosed issues [3]. Group 2: Legal Process and Participation - Investors who suffered losses from StubHub can seek to be appointed as lead plaintiffs by January 23, 2026, or may choose to remain absent class members [4]. - The lead plaintiff will represent the interests of all class members and select counsel to direct the litigation [4]. - Participation as a lead plaintiff does not affect an investor's ability to share in any recovery from the lawsuit [4]. Group 3: Law Firm Background - Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP is a prominent U.S. law firm specializing in securities-fraud class actions and investor protection [5]. - The firm has a history of leading significant recoveries in securities litigation and has received numerous accolades for its work [5].

In Brazil, cryptocurrency adoption isn’t being led by traders betting big on volatile tokens. It’s being shaped by younger, more cautious investors, often using stablecoins and tokenized bonds as a way to protect their wealth. According to new data from local cryptocurrency exchange Mercado Bitcoin, shared with CoinDesk via a report titled “Raio-X do Investidor em Ativos Digitais,” the fastest-growing cohort of the investor base this year was under 24. Participation among that age group increased 56% fr ...

Core Insights - Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (SOXL) and ProShares - UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) are both leveraged ETFs with 3x daily returns but differ in sector focus and risk profiles [2] Cost & Size - SOXL has an expense ratio of 0.89% and AUM of $13.9 billion, while TQQQ has a slightly higher expense ratio of 0.97% and AUM of $29.3 billion [3] - The 1-year return for SOXL is 46.6%, compared to TQQQ's 20.7% [3] - SOXL has a dividend yield of 0.5%, while TQQQ offers a higher yield of 1.4% [4] Performance & Risk Comparison - SOXL has a maximum drawdown of 90.51% over five years, while TQQQ's drawdown is 81.76% [5] - An investment of $1,000 in SOXL would grow to $1,427 over five years, whereas the same investment in TQQQ would grow to $2,564 [5] Sector Exposure - TQQQ provides exposure to the Nasdaq-100, with significant holdings in technology (54%), communication services (17%), and consumer cyclicals (13%), including major companies like Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft [6] - SOXL focuses exclusively on the semiconductor industry, with top holdings in Broadcom, Advanced Micro Devices, and Micron Technology [7] Volatility and Investment Implications - SOXL is more volatile with a higher beta of 5.32 compared to TQQQ's beta of 3.47, indicating greater price fluctuations [3][8] - The concentrated nature of SOXL can lead to amplified gains and losses, particularly in volatile markets, while TQQQ's diversification may mitigate single-industry risks [8][9] - Both ETFs carry inherent volatility, but their differing approaches to sector exposure and risk management are crucial for investors to consider [10]

In this article, we will take a look at the best fundamentally strong penny stocks to buy according to analysts.Penny stocks often have a reputation for being volatile and risky, but some of these stocks are actually supported by strong fundamentals and growth potential. For investors willing to take the risk, such stocks represent a combination of valuation appeal and improving quality.The broader macro backdrop remains an important consideration in the current market. In his December 18 article “Economic ...

Core Insights - Dividend income is a valuable source of cash flow for investors, useful for various financial needs [1] - Investing approximately $13,000 in high-yielding stocks like Verizon, UPS, and Enbridge can generate around $2,500 in annual dividends, significantly exceeding the S&P 500 average yield of 1.1% [2] Verizon Communications - Verizon offers a dividend yield of 6.8%, with a potential annual dividend income of about $884 from a $13,000 investment [4] - Despite a stock price decline of over 30% in the past five years, Verizon has increased its dividend for 19 consecutive years, indicating potential future growth in dividend income [4][5] - The company is undergoing restructuring under new CEO Dan Schulman, which includes laying off over 13,000 employees, aiming to revitalize operations and customer engagement [5][6] United Parcel Service (UPS) - UPS has a dividend yield of 6.6%, but its stock price has decreased by more than 40% over the past five years due to economic challenges and tariffs affecting global trade [7] - The company's payout ratio exceeds 100%, raising concerns, but it is expected to improve as UPS focuses on cost reduction and efficiency, including laying off 48,000 workers [8] - UPS has maintained or increased its dividend every year since going public in 1999, emphasizing its commitment to dividend payouts as a core principle [8] Investment Diversification - The mentioned stocks are from different sectors, providing diversification opportunities for investors while offering reliable dividend yields [9]