2025 was a disappointing year for Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) bulls. The world's top cryptocurrency saw wild swings, but it ultimately fell more than 5% for the whole year. That drop can be attributed to Treasury yields, which remained high even as the Fed cut its benchmark rate, to messy macro headwinds, and to a rotation toward more conservative investments. Bitcoin is off to a better start in 2026. It's only risen about 1% year-to-date as of this writing, but a few catalysts might stabilize its price and dr ...

Investor appetite for gold, which is considered a safe haven during times of volatility, continues to be strong. The price of the gold has nearly doubled over the past year as many investors have turned to the precious metal as a store of value amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty. The seeming resolution, or at least a path toward one, of affairs involving the U.S., Greenland and mainland Europe appeared last week to have marked a cooling of geopolitical fears. Some analysts though, have said a broade ...

Earnings Focus - Major companies reporting earnings this week include Tesla, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple, all of which are currently trading below their recent all-time highs, indicating potential investment opportunities [2][3] - Other significant earnings reports will come from US consumer stocks such as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, providing insights into the US consumer market [2][3] Federal Reserve Meeting - The Federal Reserve meeting is anticipated to have a 97% chance of maintaining current interest rates, with the press conference expected to cover various topics including Fed independence and future interest rate outlooks [4][5][6] - Market reactions may be influenced by discussions surrounding the dollar and Japanese yen, particularly in relation to potential interventions by the Japanese bank [7][9] Precious Metals Market - Gold prices have surged above $5,000, with a notable increase of $85, reflecting its status as a safe haven asset amid a declining US dollar [8][10] - The relationship between a lower US dollar and higher precious metals prices is highlighted, with the Japanese yen also showing a 1.2% increase [9][10] Weather Impact - Severe winter weather is affecting various regions, including record low temperatures and power outages impacting hundreds of thousands of people, which may have economic implications [11][12][13]

Core Insights - Bitcoin (BTC) experienced a 3% decline, dropping below $90,000, influenced by turmoil in Japan's government bond market and U.S. President Trump's tariff threats against Europe [1] - Ether (ETH) saw a more significant drop of over 7%, falling below the $3,000 mark for the first time since January 2 [1] Market Dynamics - Bitcoin's dominance in the cryptocurrency market has increased, reaching 59.8% of the overall digital asset market capitalization, indicating a growing grip over altcoins [2] - The volatility in the market suggests that Bitcoin may continue to trade lower, with altcoins likely to be more adversely affected in the short term [2] Broader Market Trends - The Nasdaq index fell nearly 2%, while the Nikkei and Germany's DAX also experienced declines of 2.5% and 1%, respectively [3] - In contrast, precious metals have gained popularity as safe havens, with gold rising 3% and silver increasing by 7%, both reaching new record highs [3] - Bitcoin's current trading level is just 3% above its value at the beginning of the year, indicating a significant loss of its 2026 gains [3]

Core Viewpoint - Gold and silver prices are experiencing a decline as investors prepare for an annual rebalancing of commodity indexes, which will involve the sale of futures contracts worth billions of dollars [1][2]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - Spot gold has fallen below $4,450 an ounce, losing nearly 1% in the previous session, as passive tracking funds begin selling precious metals futures to align with new index weightings [2]. - Silver has seen a more significant drop, falling over 3% on Thursday, and is particularly susceptible to a sharp selloff, with Citigroup estimating that approximately $6.8 billion in silver futures could be sold, representing about 12% of open interest on Comex [3][4]. - Outflows from gold futures are expected to be similar in magnitude to those in silver, as estimated by Citigroup based on funds tracking the Bloomberg Commodity Index and the S&P Goldman Sachs Commodity Index [4]. Group 2: Historical Context and Future Outlook - The rebalancing process is routine but has gained importance due to the significant rise in the weighting of precious metals in commodity benchmarks, with last year's index selloff not causing a noticeable market drag [5]. - Analysts remain broadly bullish on gold despite short-term price pressures, citing its best annual performance since 1979, driven by central bank buying and inflows into bullion-backed exchange-traded funds [7]. - HSBC's chief precious metals analyst predicts gold could reach $5,000 an ounce in the first half of 2026, supported by increasing geopolitical risks and rising fiscal debts [8].

Plus, Mackenzie Sagalas is [music] watching the volatility in crypto. Jar Jabosa is here with what is driving the moves in Uber and Lyft. Mac [music] to you first and crypto.>> Scott, Bitcoin and altcoins like XRP and Salana are in the red. Ether slipping below that 3K mark and Bitcoin trading under 89,000. It's about 30% off its October all-time high.Spot bitcoin ETFs still aren't offering much support. Institutional flows remain soft. And even with the Fed now cutting rates, risk appetite is cautious in t ...

Cryptocurrency Market Overview - Bitcoin and altcoins like XRP and Solana are experiencing declines, with Bitcoin trading under $89,000, approximately 30% off its October all-time high [1] - Ether has slipped below the $3,000 mark, indicating a broader downturn in the cryptocurrency market [1] Institutional Investment and Market Sentiment - Spot bitcoin ETFs are not providing significant support, and institutional flows remain soft, reflecting a cautious risk appetite in the crypto markets despite the Federal Reserve cutting rates [2] - The narrative of Bitcoin as "digital gold" is not materializing, as safe-haven investments are shifting towards metals, with gold reaching another record high [2] Company Performance and Strategic Moves - Companies like Circle, Bullish, Coinbase, and eToro are trading higher, indicating some resilience in crypto-linked equities despite the downturn in tokens [2] - Strategy, a major player in Bitcoin treasury, sold a batch of shares last week and added $750 million to its US dollar cash reserve, suggesting a strategy to build a financial cushion in anticipation of a prolonged downturn in the crypto market [3]

Group 1 - Gold and silver prices reached record highs due to various political and economic factors, including U.S. tensions with Venezuela, speculation on Federal Reserve rate cuts, and overall economic insecurity [1][2] - Gold prices surged nearly 70% in 2025, while silver is increasingly in demand for industrial uses, particularly in data centers, solar panels, and electric vehicles [2] - As of December 22, gold was priced at $4,472.20, up over 1.9%, and silver was approaching $70 an ounce, marking the highest levels since 1979 [3] Group 2 - The Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut of 25 basis points, the third cut in 2025, has historically led to increases in gold prices, with notable gains following previous cuts [4][5] - Gold is viewed as a safe haven during economic uncertainty, especially as yields on bonds and fixed-income investments decline [5] - Goldman Sachs predicts gold could reach $4,900 an ounce by December 2026, with a structural shift in demand for both gold and silver potentially sustaining price strength [6]

Group 1: Gold Market Dynamics - The price of gold reached a record high of $4,462.10 per troy ounce, marking a 69% increase year to date, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 17% rise [1] - Factors driving gold's rise include political instability, low interest rates, and the decline of Bitcoin, reinforcing gold's position as a safe haven asset [1][5] - Analysts suggest that the current economic environment, characterized by a weakening labor market and potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, is favorable for gold [3][7] Group 2: Bitcoin's Decline - Bitcoin's narrative as a reliable store of value has faltered, with its price dropping from a high of approximately $125K to a low of $84.2K, a decline of 34% [4] - The collapse of Bitcoin has led anxious investors to seek refuge in gold, further boosting its demand [5] Group 3: Economic Policies Impacting Gold - The potential for a $2,000 "free money" giveaway by the Trump administration is expected to devalue existing currency, making gold more attractive [6] - The ongoing fiscal deficits projected at $1.8 trillion to $1.9 trillion over the coming years, combined with existing national debt of $38 trillion, contribute to the depreciation of the dollar, which is beneficial for gold [7]

Core Viewpoint - Gold prices are rising due to expectations of looser U.S. monetary policy in the coming year and ongoing geopolitical risks [1][2] Group 1: U.S. Monetary Policy - The rise in gold prices is attributed to expectations of additional interest rate cuts in 2026 following a recent rate reduction by the Federal Reserve [1] - Fed Chair Jerome Powell's less hawkish tone than anticipated has also contributed to the positive sentiment towards gold [1] Group 2: Geopolitical Risks - Ongoing uncertainty regarding peace talks in Eastern Europe is enhancing gold's appeal as a safe haven asset [2] - Tensions in the Middle East and Latin America are further reinforcing the demand for gold amid geopolitical instability [2]