Company Overview - Proactive provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The news team operates from key finance and investing hubs including London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney, and Perth [2] Expertise and Focus Areas - The company specializes in medium and small-cap markets while also covering blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - Proactive delivers news and insights across various sectors including biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging digital and EV technologies [3] Technology Adoption - Proactive is recognized for its forward-looking approach and enthusiastic adoption of technology to enhance workflows [4] - The company utilizes automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring all content is edited and authored by humans [5]

The first news of the week had to do with charges levied against US Fed Chairman Jerome Powell for the crime of not lowering interest rates fast enough for the US president. The US dollar index was under pressure overnight while the Metals sector rocketed higher once again. More News from Barchart Stop Missing Market Moves: Get the FREE Barchart Brief – your midday dose of stock movers, trending sectors, and actionable trade ideas, delivered right to your inbox. Sign Up Now! The Grains sector awai ...

(Bloomberg) — “Sell America” sentiment rippled through markets on Monday after the Trump administration escalated its attacks on the Federal Reserve, fanning concerns over the central bank’s autonomy in setting interest rates. The dollar, Treasuries and US equities futures slid after Chair Jerome Powell said the threat of a US criminal indictment was a consequence of a disagreement over monetary policy. While the declines were relatively small, the hot-button issue of the Fed’s independence and the implic ...

Group 1: US Monetary Policy - Concerns exist that a potential replacement of Jerome Powell as Fed Chair by a more dovish candidate could lead to significant rate cuts for political reasons, potentially steepening the yield curve and causing inflation to spike [5][8] - The current Fed Funds target range is 3.50-3.75%, with an Effective Fed Funds Rate of 3.64%, and there are expectations for further cuts, possibly down to 1% [7][8] - The average maturity of US government debt is about six years, and significant rate cuts could provoke negative reactions from bond investors, complicating the situation [12] Group 2: AI Bubble - There are concerns that the AI bubble may burst, leading to a widespread selloff similar to the dotcom bust, with the combined market cap of the ten largest US stocks exceeding the GDP of several major economies [15][16] - US equities, even excluding Big Tech, are trading at high valuations compared to other regions, raising concerns about a potential global impact if a selloff occurs [19][20] - The performance of stocks with no revenues and unprofitable companies indicates a trend of hyped investor behavior, which could signal an impending correction [21] Group 3: Climate Change - There is a worry that increased political control over climate change agendas could lead to irrational government policies that may harm the economy [25][26] - The rising average temperature is expected to exacerbate economic damage, prompting political leaders to make decisions that may not be economically sound [25][30] - The concept of Energy Return On Investment (EROI) is highlighted as crucial for understanding the economic viability of energy sources, with current political narratives potentially misrepresenting the costs and benefits of renewable energy [27][28]

Core Argument - The amicus brief filed in the Supreme Court supports Lisa Cook's position at the Federal Reserve, arguing against her immediate removal while an investigation is ongoing [2][3][5]. Group 1: Signatories and Support - The brief is signed by every living former Fed chair and several former Treasury secretaries from both parties, indicating strong bipartisan support for Cook [2][4]. - Notably absent are economic officials from the first Trump administration, highlighting a potential political divide [4]. Group 2: Implications of Removal - The argument emphasizes that removing Cook would undermine the Federal Reserve's independence and expose it to political influences, which could damage public confidence in its operations [3][6]. - The signatories assert that the Federal Reserve's independence is crucial for maintaining control over the fiat currency and ensuring effective monetary policy [6][7]. Group 3: Nature of the Argument - The brief's focus is narrow, advocating for Cook to remain on the board during the investigation rather than dismissing the allegations against her [5][7]. - The signatories argue that a politically influenced Fed could lead to manipulation of the currency, threatening the stability of U.S. economic policy and global reliance on the dollar [7].

Market Overview - Crypto market is experiencing a downturn, with Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana all declining [1][3] - The overall crypto market value has fallen below $4 trillion [3] Factors Influencing the Downturn - Massive liquidations, with $1.7 billion in positions liquidated in 24 hours, 1.6 billion of which were long positions [4] - Renewed anxiety over potential government shutdown ahead of next week's deadline [4] - Fading momentum from the digital asset treasury (DAT) trade [5] Impact on Crypto-Related Stocks - Crypto-related stocks, including exchanges like Gemini, Coinbase, Micro Strategy, and Merrow Holdings, are also down [1] - Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMR) is down almost 10% due to selling 5.2 million shares at $70 per share along with warrants to buy up to 10.4 million shares [2] Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) Trade - The DAT trade, involving reverse mergers and companies going public as proxy trades for Ether, Bitcoin, or Solana, has seen less activity and declining prices in public markets [5][6]