Commodity Markets - Cocoa prices have plummeted to a 20-month low, signaling the end of a record rally and marking a significant shift in commodity markets [2][9] - Gold surged by 1%, reaching $4,021.22 per ounce, indicating strong investor demand for safe-haven assets amidst market uncertainties [3][9] Artificial Intelligence Risks - Companies are grappling with the challenge of assessing the financial risks posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI), even as OpenAI has secured up to $300 million in AI risk coverage [4][9] Economic Concerns in the UK - Big bond investors are urging UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves to establish a larger fiscal buffer, highlighting concerns over the nation's economic resilience [5][9] Analyst Target Price Adjustments - Analyst target price adjustments were notable for several major companies, including Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and Shell (SHEL) seeing increases, while Lennox International (LII) and McCormick & Co. (MKC) faced reductions [6][9]

Group 1: Bitcoin ETF Inflows - Bitcoin ETFs recorded their highest single day of inflows since mid-September, attracting $675.8 million on Wednesday, with BlackRock's IBIT fund leading with $405.5 million [1] - The inflows marked a three-day streak of over $100 million, with $518 million on Monday and $429.9 million on Tuesday [2] - A significant turnaround was noted from the previous week, where $418.3 million left Bitcoin ETFs on September 26, including a loss of $300.4 million from Fidelity's FBTC [2] Group 2: Ethereum ETF Performance - Ethereum ETFs also showed strong performance, attracting $80.9 million on Wednesday, following $127.5 million on Tuesday and $546.9 million on Monday [3] Group 3: Market Drivers - Increased inflows are attributed to macroeconomic factors, including predictions of imminent interest rate cuts in the US, with a nearly 100% chance of a rate cut in October [4] - The ADP private payrolls report indicated labor market weakness, reinforcing expectations for further Federal Reserve cuts [4] - Speculators on the Myriad prediction market place a 75% chance on two Fed rate changes by year-end, with potential for a 0.25% cut this month if macro data supports it [5] Group 4: Bitcoin's Market Perception - Bitcoin is currently trading at $119,288, perceived as a store-of-value similar to gold amid risks like dollar debasement and de-dollarization trends in countries like Russia and China [6] - Bitcoin is noted to capture both store-of-value flows and growth-asset upside, effectively straddling both narratives [7]

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes fell at the start of Wednesday’s trading session as Wall Street pondered the long-term implications of a federal government shutdown and its impact on the US economy.The S&P shed 0.2% while the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.3%, falling more than 70 points just after the opening bell on Wednesday.The Dow Jones Industrial Average hovered near flat after an early 52-point decline. 3 The major stock indexes fell on Wall Street on Wednesday as investors digested the news of a federal g ...

Robert Kiyosaki, the financial educator and "Rich Dad" author, is making headlines again—but this time, it's all about silver. In a bold social media post, Kiyosaki asked, "IF I HAD $100 WHAT WOULD I INVEST IN?" His answer: silver coins. Track silver by tracking SLV here.According to Kiyosaki, the precious metal has been manipulated for years and is now poised for a massive surge. He predicts that a $100 investment in silver today could balloon to $500 within a year.At the US exchanges, silver is typically ...

Despite the recent pullback, gold prices have gained roughly 27% this year. The aggressive trade policies, including sweeping new import tariffs announced by President Donald Trump, intensified global trade tensions and heightened investor anxiety, prompting the price rally. Also, central banks worldwide have been accumulating gold reserves, led by risks arising from Trump's policies. Prices of the yellow metal catapulted to a record high of $3,500 per ounce on April 22. Increased purchases by central banks ...

Performance Overview - In June 2025, Volta Finance achieved a net performance of +0.4%, bringing the cumulative performance from August 2024 to +11.2% [4] - The portfolio's CLO Debt and CLO Equity assets delivered positive returns amid a favorable credit market environment following previous volatility [4] Market Context - June saw a "risk on" environment with strong gains in U.S. equity markets and a significant weakening of the US Dollar, driven by easing trade tensions and moderating inflation [5] - The Federal Reserve maintained interest rates at 4.25%-4.50% during their June meeting, despite inflation nearing target levels [5] - In Europe, major indices ended the month flat, with the ECB cutting rates by 25 basis points and signaling a likely pause in future cuts as eurozone inflation returned to 2% [5] Credit Market Activity - Credit markets remained resilient, with the European High Yield index (Xover) settling at 283bps, down from 300bps, indicating a tight market [7] - US High Yield returned +1.9% for the month, while Euro Loans and US Loans returned +0.13% and +0.80%, respectively [7] Portfolio Composition - The median CCC assets exposure in CLO portfolios was stable at 4.5% in the US, slightly above the 4.1% exposure in European CLOs [8] - Loan maturity walls are transitioning towards 2030 and beyond, with significant refinancing deadlines in 2028 and 2031 in the US [8] Investment Activity - The month was active with CLO debt redemptions of €4.8 million, and the company replaced risk to maintain overall exposure [9] - Cash stood at 11% at the end of June, with cashflow generation slightly up at €28.3 million over the last six months, representing close to 21% of June's NAV on an annualized basis [9] Performance of Asset Classes - Volta's CLO Equity tranches returned +1.6%, while CLO Debt tranches returned +1.0% [10] - The EUR/USD exchange rate move to 1.18 impacted long dollar exposure performance by 0.4% [10] Net Asset Value - As of the end of June 2025, Volta's NAV was €273.0 million, equating to €7.46 per share [10]

Core Viewpoint - The global capital markets are experiencing significant volatility, with traditional safe-haven assets like gold and foreign currencies gaining strength amidst geopolitical risks and inflation concerns Group 1: Safe-Haven Assets - Gold is gaining prominence due to central bank purchases and a trend towards de-dollarization, highlighting its value retention properties [2] - The Japanese yen is expected to appreciate as the Bank of Japan signals tightening, making it an attractive option for short-term forex arbitrage [2] - The Swiss franc is viewed as a safe haven amid European instability, bolstered by the recovery of trust in the Swiss banking sector [3] Group 2: Alternative Assets - Bitcoin is being recognized for its anti-inflation properties following the approval of Bitcoin futures ETFs, although its volatility remains a concern [4] - Rare earth resources are becoming strategic assets due to supply constraints and rising prices, making them suitable for long-term investment [4] Group 3: Pitfalls of Pseudo-Safe Assets - Oil is facing demand weakness despite OPEC+ production cuts, leading to a return to its commodity nature [5] - Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are losing appeal due to rising interest rates, increasing liquidity risks [5] - Emerging market bonds are under pressure from a strong dollar, with heightened default risks in countries like Turkey and Argentina [5] Group 4: Investment Strategies - Conservative strategy suggests a portfolio of 60% gold ETFs, 30% yen cash, and 10% government bond reverse repos [6] - Aggressive strategy includes 50% Bitcoin, 30% rare earth stocks, and 20% Swiss franc deposits [6] - Balanced strategy recommends dollar-cost averaging in gold, holding Bitcoin, and hedging with yen forex options [6] Group 5: Future Outlook - The search for the next "gold" is ongoing, with potential shifts in value driven by blockchain technology and green energy [7] - The core principles of scarcity and consensus value remain central to identifying safe-haven assets [7]