Bitcoin and Ethereum have gained 2.1% and 3.5% respectively, as investors await the Federal Reserve's next interest rate decision Wednesday afternoon. Bitcoin is changing hands for $89,842, about level with where it was a week ago, according to data from crypto price aggregator CoinGecko. And Ethereum regained $3,000 for the first time since last week, trading for around $3,026 after having risen 2.1% in the past seven days. With just hours to go before the Fed's first interest rate decision of the year, ...

Market Overview - The cryptocurrency market capitalization is largely unchanged, currently at $3.05 trillion, with a slight increase of 0.1% over the past 24 hours [5] - 77 of the top 100 coins have posted price increases, indicating a mixed performance across the market [5][4] - Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at $87,702, having decreased by 0.1%, while Ethereum (ETH) rose by 0.3% to $2,901 [4][10] Price Movements - River (RIVER) experienced a significant drop of 32.6%, reverting nearly all gains from the previous day, now priced at $58.14 [2] - Provenance Blockchain (HASH) saw a notable increase of 19.3%, reaching $0.02739, while Hyperliquid (HYPE) rose by 22.6% to $27.28 [2] - Among the top 10 coins, Solana (SOL) had the highest increase at 1%, currently priced at $123, while Tron (TRX) fell by 0.3% to $0.2942 [3] Investor Sentiment - The crypto market sentiment remains in the fear zone, with the fear and greed index at 29, unchanged from the previous day [12][13] - Investors are currently favoring traditional safe-haven assets due to rising geopolitical risks, leading to a defensive stance among both retail and institutional crypto investors [6][4] ETF Activity - US BTC spot ETFs broke a five-day outflow streak, recording inflows of $6.84 million, bringing total net inflows to $56.5 billion [13][14] - In contrast, US ETH ETFs outperformed BTC ETFs with inflows of $116.99 million, breaking a four-day red streak, resulting in total net inflows of $12.42 billion [15][16] Technical Analysis - The $90,000 level for Bitcoin is identified as a psychological battleground, with resistance now at the $90,500-$91,200 zone [11][9] - If Bitcoin falls below $86,400, it could drop to $84,400, while a move above $90,500 could lead to prices reaching $89,500, $90,500, $93,300, and $95,500 [11] - Ethereum's price movements indicate that a rise above $2,950 could push it back above $3,000, while a drop could lead to levels between $2,750 and $2,850 [12]

Core Insights - Major cryptocurrency holders are strategically accumulating positions in Ethereum, Chainlink, and Bitcoin, contrasting with retail-driven selling pressure [1] - Ethereum's staking ratio has reached a new milestone of 30%, locking over $120 billion worth of ETH, indicating growing institutional confidence [1] - Bitmine Immersion staked an additional 86,848 ETH, bringing its total to 1.77 million ETH valued at $5.65 billion, signaling high-conviction accumulation [2] Institutional Accumulation - Institutions are locking funds to reduce liquidity on exchanges, altering the supply-demand balance and amplifying market impact [3] - Acquiring significant stakes allows institutions to participate in network governance, securing influence over future protocol upgrades [3] - Bitcoin has seen a significant uptick in institutional demand, with 577,000 Bitcoin worth $53 billion added over the past year [7] Altcoin Trends - The accumulation trend extends to altcoins, with the top 100 Chainlink whales accumulating 16.1 million LINK since mid-November 2025 [4] - Retail selling due to impatience and fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) contrasts with smart money accumulating LINK in preparation for potential price increases [5] - Whale activity has dominated spot market average order sizes, while retail traders maintain dominance in the futures market [5][6]

Silver ETFs - Silver ETFs gained attention in 2025 due to significant price increases in India, driven by local shortages that inflated prices above global benchmarks [1][2] - The supply deficit in the physical silver market is expected to persist, potentially impacting new investments in Silver ETFs [1] - The strong performance of silver is attributed to its dual role as a precious metal and an industrial commodity, with high industrial demand contributing to price increases [2] Gold ETFs - Gold ETFs reached new all-time highs in 2025, with returns up to 78.76%, led by Axis Gold ETF [5] - Investors turned to gold as a hedge against uncertainty and equity volatility, appreciating the liquidity and transparency of gold ETFs [4] - The outlook for gold in 2026 is influenced by real yields, the US dollar, and central bank demand, with forecasts suggesting prices could stabilize around $4,500–$5,000 [6] Consumption Funds - Consumption funds attracted interest following the restructuring of the goods and services tax (GST) in September 2025, which aimed to improve household disposable incomes [7][8] - Despite the potential for recovery, consumption funds have faced losses since the implementation of GST 2.0, with significant declines observed in specific funds [9] - A gradual recovery in consumption growth is anticipated in 2026, driven by improved consumer confidence and discretionary spending [10] International Funds - International funds outperformed domestic funds in 2025, with average returns of 27.06%, bolstered by the depreciation of the Indian rupee [11][12] - Notable performances included the NASDAQ 100 and S&P 500, which delivered returns of 23.18% and 20.60%, respectively [12][23] - The recommendation for investors is to allocate 10–20% to international funds, focusing primarily on US markets [14] Auto Sector Funds - Auto sector funds experienced significant growth in 2025, supported by strong domestic consumption and lower input costs [15] - Average returns for auto sector funds were 17.15% in the current calendar year, although future performance may be more selective due to higher valuations [16][17] - The sector is expected to be suitable for tactical allocations rather than core holdings in 2026 [17] Technology Sector Funds - Technology sector funds were among the worst performers in 2025, with the Nifty IT index declining by 9% year-to-date [18][20] - Factors impacting performance included delayed tech projects due to macroeconomic uncertainties and policy issues, leading to a negative average return of 3.10% for tech funds [19][20] - There is cautious optimism for a rebound in the tech sector as demand improves and AI opportunities become clearer, although recovery is expected to be gradual [21][22]

👀 Top Crypto Fundraising Last Week1️ CoinMENA ( @CoinMENA) - $240M; CEX2️ Canton Network ( @CantonNetwork) - $50M; L13️ Gonka ( @gonka_ai) - $50M; AI, DePIN4️ Portal ( @PortaltoBitcoin) - $25M; Cross-Chain, DEX5️ Ostium ( @ostiumlabs) - $20M; RWA Perps6️ Fin ( @fin) - $17M; Payments7️ BitStack ( @bitstack) - $15M; Portfolio Management8️ Zoo Finance ( @ZooFinanceIO) - $8M; Yield Marketplace9️ Axis ( @AxisFDN) - $5M; Delta neutral, Stablecoin10 AIAV ( @aiav_ai) - $4M; AI Agents ...

Core Insights - Bitcoin has rebounded above $90,000 after a significant drop that erased nearly $1 billion in new leveraged bets, providing a brief respite from months of decline, although market sentiment remains fragile [1][4] - Bitcoin's price increased by 6.8% to $92,323, while Ethereum rose over 8% to above $3,000, with smaller tokens like Cardano, Solana, and Chainlink seeing gains exceeding 10% [1][4] - There are concerns regarding Bitcoin's valuation, as it has dropped approximately 16% over the past six months, leading to questions about its speculative nature [5] Market Sentiment - Despite the recent rebound, market participants are adopting conservative liquidity measures, reducing the likelihood of extreme negative outcomes [5][6] - Bitcoin funding rates have turned negative, indicating greater demand for short positions than long positions in the perpetual futures market, reflecting cautious sentiment [6] - The "Fear and Greed Index" from CoinMarketCap indicates "extreme fear," highlighting the cautious mindset of investors [7] Institutional Developments - Positive signs include comments from SEC Chairman Paul Atkins about plans to introduce "innovation exemptions" for digital asset companies, and Vanguard Group's announcement to allow trading of cryptocurrency ETFs and mutual funds on its platform [5] - Strategy Inc. announced a $1.4 billion reserve to ensure liquidity, following concerns about potential asset sales to cover debts [5] Related Tokens - Tokens associated with Donald Trump's family have also experienced significant declines, with the TRUMP meme coin dropping from a peak of approximately $73.40 to around $6 [6] - The WLFI token related to a decentralized finance platform has fallen about 30% from its September highs, while Melania Trump's meme coin has lost nearly all its value since its peak [6]

Core Insights - Indian investors are primarily focused on domestic stocks but are increasingly interested in investing in US companies like Google, Tesla, NVIDIA, and Meta, as highlighted during the 'Mint Horizons' event [1] Investment Methods - **Domestic Brokers**: Investors can open accounts with platforms that partner with US brokers, allowing for convenient access to US stocks, though this often incurs high currency conversion fees from INR to USD [2] - **Foreign Brokers**: Direct investment through international platforms like TD Ameritrade and Interactive Brokers is available, but typically requires a high minimum investment, making it suitable for affluent investors [3] - **GIFT City Platforms**: GIFT brokers are emerging as a popular option for retail investors seeking US market access, with recent offerings like a NASDAQ ETF launched by Marcellus Investment Managers to cater to this demand [4] - **Mutual Funds**: Indian mutual funds, including ETFs and Fund of Funds that invest in US stocks or indices such as NASDAQ or S&P 500, provide a more accessible investment route for Indian investors [4] Examples of Indian US-Focused Funds - Notable funds include: - Motilal Oswal Nasdaq 100 ETF - Aditya Birla Sun Life NASDAQ 100 Fund of Funds - Axis NASDAQ 100 Fund of Funds - Edelweiss US Technology Equity Fund of Funds - Mirae Asset S&P 500 Top 50 ETF Fund of Funds - Kotak Nasdaq 100 Fund of Funds [5]

Market Performance - In October, Nifty50 and BSE Sensex increased by 4.90% and 4.95% respectively, indicating a strong market performance [1] - A total of 578 equity mutual funds were analyzed, with 568 funds providing positive returns and only 10 funds showing negative returns [1][12] Top Performing Funds - The top-performing fund, Motilal Oswal Nasdaq 100 FOF, achieved a return of 9.02% in October, followed by WOC Digital Bharat Fund and HDFC Technology Fund with returns of 7.58% and 7.05% respectively [1][19] - Other notable technology sector funds included Kotak Technology Fund, ICICI Pru Technology Fund, and Edelweiss Technology Fund, which delivered returns of 6.54%, 6.52%, and 6.42% respectively [5][19] Sector Analysis - The technology sector was a significant contributor to the positive performance of equity mutual funds, with multiple funds in this category ranking among the top performers [1][19] - Funds from Mirae Asset Mutual Fund, such as Mirae Asset Global Electric & Autonomous Vehicles Equity Passive FOF and Mirae Asset Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF FOF, also performed well with returns of 6.71% and 6.68% respectively [19] Negative Performers - The worst-performing fund was ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF, which lost approximately 5.07% in October [10][19] - Other negative performers included PGIM India Global Select Real Estate Securities FoF with a loss of 1.73% and two funds from ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, which lost 0.53% and 0.34% respectively [10][19] Earnings Growth Expectations - For FY26, Nifty 50 is expected to post an earnings growth of 8%, with mid and small caps projected to grow by 16% and 10% respectively [16] - The ongoing earnings season indicates steady growth, with large-cap companies expected to achieve 6-7% earnings growth, while mid- and small-cap segments are projected to deliver 14-16% year-on-year earnings growth [15][16] Investment Strategy Recommendations - Experts recommend maintaining a diversified portfolio across various categories, including a market cap mix of 55:23:22 for large, mid, and small caps to ensure stability and liquidity [17] - The supportive macroeconomic factors, such as GDP growth of 7.8% in Q1 FY26 and revised inflation of 2.6% for FY26, are expected to enhance corporate profitability and market sentiment [16]

Core Insights - International funds outperformed domestic funds in September, driven by a strong performance in the US tech sector and NASDAQ 100 [16][19] - Overall, equity mutual funds showed stable but subdued performance amid global challenges such as tariff concerns and geopolitical tensions [16][19] Fund Performance - The top-performing fund was DSP World Mining Overseas Equity Omni FoF, which delivered a return of 13.15% in September, followed by Mirae Asset Global Electric & Autonomous Vehicles Equity Passive FOF with 11.88% [1][19] - Other notable performers included Invesco Global Consumer Trends FoF at 11.27%, Mirae Asset Hang Seng TECH ETF FoF at 11.22%, and Mirae Asset Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF FoF at 10.68% [19] - A total of 577 funds were analyzed, with 268 providing positive returns and 305 yielding negative returns [19] Negative Performers - The worst-performing funds included Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund (-5.59%), Motilal Oswal Multi Cap Fund (-4.88%), and Motilal Oswal Business Cycle Fund (-4.79%) [10][19] - Technology sector funds also faced losses, with Kotak Technology Fund and others losing between 3.20% to 4.41% [11][19] Market Outlook - The market outlook remains positive entering the final quarter of CY25, supported by strong GDP growth of 7.8% in Q1 FY26 and revised inflation forecasts of 3.1% for FY26 [17][19] - Rate cuts from the RBI and recent GST cuts are expected to enhance corporate profitability and consumption [17][19] Investment Strategy - For SIP investors, it is advised to continue existing investments and consider using festive bonuses to enhance contributions [17][19] - New lump-sum investors are recommended to adopt a staggered approach over 3-4 weeks, transitioning from debt to equity to manage volatility [17][19]

Core Insights - The analysis indicates that nearly 12 equity mutual funds have delivered over 30% returns since last Dussehra, with a total of around 631 equity and equity-oriented funds evaluated [16] - The top 49 funds identified were international funds, showcasing their superior performance compared to domestic offerings [16] Fund Performance - Mirae Asset NYSE FANG+ ETF FoF achieved the highest return of approximately 73.48% since last Dussehra, followed by Invesco India – Invesco Global Consumer Trends FoF with a return of 62.84% since October 12, 2024 [16] - Other notable performers include Mirae Asset S&P 500 Top 50 ETF FoF (52.74%), Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund (40.81%), and ICICI Prudential Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF (39.06%) [16] - Additional funds from Mirae Asset Mutual Fund, such as Mirae Asset Hang Seng TECH ETF FoF (38.63%) and Mirae Asset Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF FoF (36.94%), also made the list [16] Returns Below 30% - Edelweiss US Technology Equity FoF delivered a return of 34.35%, while Motilal Oswal Nasdaq 100 FoF returned 33.21% [16] - Other funds like Edelweiss Gr China Equity Off-Shore Fund (31.51%) and DSP World Mining Overseas Equity Omni FoF (31.11%) also performed well since October 12, 2024 [16] - Axis Greater China Equity FoF and Edelweiss Europe Dynamic Equity Off-shore Fund returned 29.08% and 28.44%, respectively [16] Lower Performing Funds - Motilal Oswal S&P 500 Index Fund offered a return of 21.09%, while Edelweiss ASEAN Equity Off-Shore Fund and Axis US Specific Treasury Dynamic Debt Passive FoF both delivered 10% [16] - HDFC Defence Fund, the only actively managed fund in the defence sector, returned 8.77% [8] - Several funds recorded negative returns, with Samco Flexi Cap Fund facing the steepest loss at -20.24% [10] Overall Fund Analysis - The analysis covered all equity and equity-oriented funds, including sectoral, thematic, and equity-oriented hybrid funds, focusing on regular growth options [13]