Market Overview - Stock futures are modestly higher following the December nonfarm payrolls report and ahead of a Supreme Court decision on President Trump's tariff policy [1] - Major indexes have shown resilience early in 2026 after a strong finish to 2025, but gains have faced headwinds due to cooling tech momentum and uncertainty around labor data affecting Federal Reserve policy expectations [1] Sector Performance - Defensive sectors such as energy and mining have demonstrated relative strength, while value-oriented and cyclical areas are gaining attention amid market rotation [2] - Safe-haven assets like gold have seen increased demand as risk sentiment fluctuates [2] Pre-Market Trading - In pre-market trading, S&P 500 futures rose by 0.33%, Nasdaq futures increased by 0.42%, and Dow futures were up by 0.32% [2] Company Movements - Oklo (OKLO) is up 18% after announcing an agreement with Meta Platforms (META) to develop a 1.2 GW power campus in Pike County, Ohio [5] - Vistra (VST) increased by 17% after entering into 20-year purchase power agreements to provide over 2,600 megawatts of zero-carbon energy from three nuclear plants for Meta's operations [5] - Intel (INTC) rose by 2% following President Trump's positive remarks about a meeting with CEO Lip-Bu Tan [5] - Offerpad Solutions (OPAD) surged by 48%, LoanDepot (LDI) increased by 16%, Opendoor Technologies (OPEN) rose by 11%, Rocket Companies (RKT) was up by 6%, and UWM Holdings (UWMC) also increased by 6% [5] - Conversely, Aquestive Therapeutics (AQST) fell by 37% after the FDA identified deficiencies in its Anaphylm NDA, while AXT Inc. (AXTI) dropped by 14% after cutting its Q4 revenue outlook [5]

Lucigerma / Shutterstock Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. One surprise that might hit you in your first few years of retirement — even after saying goodbye to work expenses and retirement account contributions, you may end up spending more than when you had a job. As you approach retirement, you may hear financial planners cite three retirement phases that dictate spending habits: Go-Go, Slow-Go and No-Go. In the Go-Go years, typically 6 ...

Key Points Stocks did well in 2025, especially overseas in both developed and emerging markets. Several metals -- including gold and silver -- had banner years on safe-haven demand. However, other assets like Bitcoin and crude oil fared poorly last year. 10 stocks we like better than Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF › Investors wondering which asset classes will outperform in 2026 might look back to 2025 for some guidance, since the trends that drove asset prices last year didn't end or rever ...

Core Insights - Newmont Corporation has experienced a 135% year-to-date increase in stock price in 2025, primarily driven by rising gold prices as investors seek safe-haven assets amid macroeconomic uncertainty [2] - The company has strategically refined its portfolio by divesting non-essential assets, which has raised hundreds of millions of dollars and improved operational efficiency, thereby enhancing cash flow and margins [2][3] - Newmont's financial position has significantly improved, with nearly zero net debt and substantial free cash flow, allowing for ongoing dividends, share repurchases, and reinvestment in core assets [3][5] Financial Performance - Revenue growth for Newmont has been robust, increasing by approximately 26.6% over the last twelve months, with an average growth rate of about 23.9% over the past three years [4] - The company's operating cash flow margin is around 32.6%, and its long-term operating margin is near 23.9%, indicating strong operational performance for a mining firm [4] Strategic Positioning - Newmont is well-positioned to benefit from potential upward momentum in gold prices, supported by its minimal debt, strong cash flow, and efficient operations [5] - The focus on core "Tier-1" mines and continuous productivity enhancements suggests potential for steady output and margin strength, even in the face of rising costs [6] Risks and Vulnerabilities - The company remains susceptible to fluctuations in commodity prices, which could impact profitability if gold prices decline due to factors such as a strengthening dollar or changes in global interest rates [6] - Geopolitical, regulatory, and environmental risks associated with global operations could also influence future outcomes, regardless of broader gold market trends [7]

Traders are now watching upcoming reports from CrowdStrike, Marvell Technology, GitLab, and Okta as the sector faces renewed valuation concerns. The macro calendar remained quiet, with no major U.S. economic releases scheduled today. The 10-year Treasury yield eased to 4.08%, signaling steady demand for bonds. Oil futures rose toward $59.51 per barrel, while gold prices dipped near $4,210 per ounce as commodities shifted on global cues. Overseas, European markets opened lower and struggled for direction, m ...

Group 1: French Broadcasting Incident - The Paris headquarters of French news broadcaster BFMTV and RMC BFM TV were evacuated due to a bomb threat, leading to the suspension of live broadcasts [2][7] - Police, including bomb disposal units, were deployed to conduct thorough checks, and the alert was later cleared, allowing some staff to return [2][7] Group 2: Iraqi Sovereignty and External Influence - U.S. Special Envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, emphasized the importance of Iraq asserting its sovereignty by controlling all weapons and eliminating external interference, particularly from Iran [3][7] - Savaya stated that confining weapons to state authority is essential for Iraq to regain its influential role in the region [3][7] Group 3: Gold Prices and China's Jewelry Market - Gold prices surged past $4,000 an ounce in October 2025, driven by geopolitical and economic uncertainties, creating a complex landscape for China's retail jewelry sector [4][7] - High gold prices have negatively impacted sales at major Chinese jewelry retailers, with a reported 52% decline in jewelry purchases during the second quarter of 2024 [5][7] - Despite the decline in jewelry sales, there was a 46% increase in sales of gold bars and coins in the first half of 2024 as consumers sought to hedge against economic uncertainty [5][7]

Gold is beating bitcoin (BTC) this year — not just in price action, but in investor confidence. Since the launch of spot bitcoin ETFs in early 2025, many expected a strong and sustained rally in the digital asset. But nearly two years later, gold has quietly outperformed, raising questions about whether bitcoin is truly ready to rival traditional safe-haven assets. While bitcoin is down about 12% since the launch of the ETFs in January 2024, gold has risen 58% over the same period. For Mark Connors, found ...

Core Viewpoint - Allied Gold Corporation (AAUC) and B2Gold Corp. (BTG) are key players in the gold mining industry, both focusing on growth through exploration, mine expansions, and strategic partnerships [1][2]. Group 1: Allied Gold Corporation (AAUC) - Allied Gold is experiencing strong operational momentum in Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ethiopia, producing 262,077 ounces of gold in the first nine months of 2025, slightly up from 258,459 ounces in the same period last year [3]. - The company anticipates production to exceed 375,000 ounces for the year, with significant contributions expected in the fourth quarter from its Bonikro and Sadiola mines [3]. - Operational improvements include drilling high-grade zones, enhancing mine models, and introducing new equipment to increase efficiency and accuracy [4]. - The surge in gold prices, driven by economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, has created a favorable environment for gold investments [5]. Group 2: B2Gold Corp. (BTG) - B2Gold is focused on maximizing profitable mine production and advancing its development projects, with the Goose mine achieving its first gold pour on June 30, 2025, and reaching commercial production in October 2025 [6]. - The company expects the Goose Project to contribute 50,000-80,000 ounces of gold to its total production in 2025, while also planning to recover lost production at Fekola [7]. - B2Gold's Fekola mine produced 146,883 ounces of gold in the third quarter of 2025, exceeding expectations, and the company is set to benefit from higher-grade ore from Fekola underground [7]. - However, B2Gold is facing cost inflation pressures across its operations, with projected cash operating costs for 2025 ranging from $740 to $800 per ounce for key mines, and significantly higher costs for the Goose Mine at $2,300 to $2,360 per ounce [9][17]. Group 3: Financial Performance and Valuation - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AAUC's 2025 sales indicates an 80.4% year-over-year increase, with earnings per share (EPS) growth of 857.1%, although EPS estimates have been trending downward [10]. - For BTG, the 2025 sales and EPS estimates imply year-over-year growth of 66.3% and 262.5%, respectively, but EPS estimates have also declined [11]. - In the past year, Allied Gold's shares have increased by 7.7%, while B2Gold's stock has risen by 33.6% [12]. - Allied Gold is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 3.81X, below its median of 4.75X, while B2Gold's forward earnings multiple is at 4.97X, lower than its median of 7.21X [14]. Group 4: Investment Outlook - Allied Gold is positioned for strong performance due to its operational strength, rising production, and favorable macroeconomic conditions, making it an attractive investment option [16]. - In contrast, while B2Gold benefits from the Goose ramp-up and Fekola's recovery, cost inflation is impacting its profitability, leading to a less favorable investment outlook compared to AAUC [17].

Group 1 - Gold prices are rising as investors await U.S. private payroll data, indicating potential shifts in Federal Reserve policy, with futures up 0.9% to $3,991.60 per troy ounce [1] - The rebound in gold prices towards $4,000 per ounce is attributed to investors seeking safe-haven assets following a global stock selloff and concerns over high equity valuations [2]

Market Sentiment - The crypto market has entered a state of extreme fear, with Alternative.me's Fear & Greed Index dropping to 22 from 64 in just one week, indicating a significant shift in trader sentiment [3][9] - CoinMarketCap's Crypto Fear and Greed Index also fell to 28 from 54, reflecting widespread caution among traders [3] Bitcoin Performance - Bitcoin is currently hovering just above $110,000, struggling to maintain key support levels amid renewed US–China trade tensions, which have dampened risk appetite [4] - The price of gold has reached new record highs above $4,230 per ounce, indicating a flight to traditional safe-haven assets [4] ETF and Derivatives Data - U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced withdrawals of $94 million on Wednesday, continuing a trend of outflows [5] - Total liquidations in the derivatives market exceeded $418 million over the past 24 hours, with long positions outnumbering shorts by more than 2.4 to 1, suggesting many leveraged traders were caught off guard [5] On-Chain Data - Long-term holders have sold approximately 265,700 BTC in the past month, marking the largest outflow since January, interpreted as profit-taking amid increased volatility [6] - This trend indicates rising caution among veteran investors, contributing to a bearish outlook for the cryptocurrency [6] Future Outlook - Trader Tony "The Bull" Severino suggests that Bitcoin may be at a critical turning point, with the next 100 days potentially determining whether it enters a parabolic rally or ends its current bull cycle [7] - The Bollinger Bands indicator on Bitcoin's weekly chart has tightened significantly, often a precursor to sharp price movements [7] - Severino warns of potential "head fakes," or false breakouts, noting that Bitcoin recently failed to break above the upper band with strength after briefly touching $126,000, indicating a possible dip before any sustained rally [8]