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The Best Five Sectors, #18

Stock 5 Mins Read

Communication Services Drops to #5

The composition of the top five sectors remains largely stable this week, with only slight adjustments in positioning. Consumer staples continue to lead the pack, followed by utilities, financials, real estate (moving up one spot), and communication services (dropping to fifth). This defensive lineup persists despite a rallying market, presenting an interesting dilemma for sector rotation strategies.

  1. (1) Consumer Staples – (XLP)
  2. (2) Utilities – (XLU)
  3. (3) Financials – (XLF)
  4. (5) Real-Estate – (XLRE)*
  5. (4) Communication Services – (XLC)*
  6. (6) Healthcare – (XLV)
  7. (7) Industrials – (XLI)
  8. (8) Materials – (XLB)
  9. (11) Technology – (XLK)*
  10. (10) Energy – (XLE)
  11. (9) Consumer Discretionary – (XLY)*

Weekly RRG

The weekly Relative Rotation Graph (RRG) paints a picture of potential change on the horizon.

While staples, utilities, real estate, and financials maintain their positions in the leading quadrant, they show signs of losing relative momentum over the past few weeks.

Financials, particularly, are teetering on the edge of rolling into the weakening quadrant.

Communication services have already shifted, now firmly in the weakening quadrant and traveling on a negative RRG heading. This movement explains its drop to the fifth position in our sector rankings.

Daily RRG

Switching to the daily RRG, we see a slightly different picture for our top sectors.

Staples, utilities, real estate, and financials are all positioned in the weakening quadrant, traveling on negative RRG headings.

This short-term view indicates that we must closely monitor these sectors to determine if they can regain momentum before potentially dropping out of the top five.

Interestingly, communication services is showing signs of life on the daily chart. Despite falling to the fifth position overall, its tail is now in the improving quadrant and moving toward leading.

The caveat? It’s a very short tail, close to the benchmark—essentially moving in line with the market. This makes communication services the sector most at risk of losing its top-five status in the near term.

Consumer Staples

Consumer staples is bumping up against overhead resistance between $82.50 and $83.

This hesitation in upward price movement is causing weakness in the RS line, which has started to dip.

Consequently, the RS momentum line is rolling over. However, the high RS ratio—indicating a strong relative trend—is keeping staples at the top of our list for now.

Utilities

Utilities has been flirting with a breakout since the start of 2025, pushing against overhead resistance around $80 about four times already.

When it breaks, we’ll likely see an acceleration towards the all-time high just above $82.50.

Like staples, the inability to break resistance is causing a stall in the RS line and a rollover in relative momentum.

Financials

After a strong rally off the $42 support level, previously resistance (the old technical adage holds true), financials is now facing a challenge.

The rally is approaching the former rising support level that marked the uptrend channel. This could cause some hesitation in both price and relative strength.

The RS line remains within its rising channel, but momentum has waned, causing the green RS momentum line to roll over.

Real-Estate

Real estate moved up one position to fourth and is still emerging from a long relative downtrend that began in April 2022.

The RS ratio line has picked up the relative strength rally that started in early 2025 but is now stalling.

This has resulted in the green RS momentum line rolling over. On the price chart, real estate is mid-range with room to move higher.

Communication Services

Communication services have dropped to the fifth position, but the price chart has an interesting development.

Last week, the price broke back above the old neckline of a small head-and-shoulders pattern. The fact that we’re now rallying above this neckline could indicate a failed head-and-shoulders pattern—usually a very strong bullish sign.

However, recent weakness in relative strength has pushed the sector deeper into the weakening quadrant on the RRG.

This sector must pick up rapidly in the coming weeks to maintain its position in the top five.

Portfolio Performance

The defensive positioning of our top five sectors is leading to underperformance as the broader market rallies.

Currently, we remain at approximately a 3% underperformance compared to SPY just like last week.

However, from the perspective of sector rotation, we must still consider this rally in the S&P 500 to be temporary.

The underlying message continues to emphasize defense.

It’s important to remember that there is always a lagging element in RRGs and this strategy.

If the market has truly turned, we will see that shift reflected in our sectors, and at some point, we will start to make up the difference.

These performance gaps can change very rapidly in favor of the RRG portfolio when the market comes under pressure and our defensive sectors start to lead again.

#StayAlert and have a great week — Julius

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Investing

How to Invest in Rare Earth Metals

Investing 8 Mins Read

Investing in rare earth minerals can seem tricky, but there are a variety of rare earth stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) available for metals investors.

The rare earth sector may seem daunting, as many elements fall under the umbrella, and the 17 rare earth elements (REEs) are as diverse as they are challenging to pronounce.

The group is made up of 15 lanthanides, plus yttrium and scandium, and each element has different applications, pricing and supply and demand dynamics. Sound complicated? While the REE space is undeniably complex, many investors find it compelling and are interested in finding ways to get a foot in the door.

Read on for a more in-depth look at the rare earth metals market and the many different types of rare earth minerals, plus rare earth stocks and ETFs you can invest in.

In this article

    What are the types of rare earth minerals?

    There are a number of ways to categorize and better understand rare earths, which will help you know which companies to invest in based on what they’re targeting.

    For example, they are often divided into “heavy” and “light” categories based on atomic weight. Heavy rare earths are generally more sought after, but light REEs are important too.

    Rare earths can also be grouped together according to how they are used. Rare earth magnets include praseodymium, neodymium, samarium and dysprosium, while phosphor rare earths — those used in lighting — include europium, terbium and yttrium. Cerium, lanthanum and gadolinium are sometimes included in the phosphor category as well. For a detailed breakdown of rare earth uses, check out our guide.

    One aspect that is common to all the rare earths is that price information is not readily available — like other critical metals, rare earth materials are not traded on a public exchange. That said, some research firms do make pricing details available, usually for a fee, including Strategic Metals Invest, Fastmarkets and SMM.

    What factors affect supply and demand for rare earths?

    As mentioned, each REE has different pricing and supply and demand dynamics.

    However, there are definitely overarching supply and demand trends in the sector. Most notably, China accounts for the vast majority of the world’s supply of rare earth metals. As the world’s leading producer, the Asian nation accounted for roughly 70 percent of rare earths production in 2024, or 270,000 metric tons (MT), with the US coming in a very distant second at 45,000 MT. After the US, Myanmar is the third largest rare earths producer with total output of 31,000 MT last year. On top of that, China is also responsible for 90 percent of refined rare earths output.

    The strong Chinese monopoly on rare earths production has created problems in the sector in the past. For instance, prices in the global market spiked in 2010 and 2011 when the country imposed export quotas.

    The move sparked a boom in global rare earth metals exploration outside of China, but many companies that entered the space at that time fell off the radar when rare earths prices eventually sank again. Molycorp, once North America’s only producer of rare earths, is a notable example of how hard it is for companies to set up shop outside China. It filed for bankruptcy in 2015. But the story didn’t end there — MP Materials (NYSE:MP), the company that now owns Molycorp’s assets, went public in mid-2020 in a US$1.47 billion deal, and a year later was a US$6 billion company.

    MP Materials is now the western hemisphere’s largest rare earths miner, putting out high-purity separated neodymium and praseodymium oxide; a heavy rare earths concentrate; and lanthanum and cerium oxides and carbonates.

    Concerns about China’s dominance are ongoing as the US/China trade war continues and as supply chain stability grows in importance. The Asian nation has tightly controlled how much of its rare earths products make it into global markets through a quota system initiated in 2006.

    US President Donald Trump’s high tariffs targeting Chinese goods has resulted in China enacting further rare earth export restrictions. In April 2025, the Government of China placed strict export controls on samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium — all crucial for the production of electric vehicles, smartphones, fighter jets, missiles and satellites.

    Sharing a border with China, Myanmar is the source of at least 70 percent of its neighbor’s medium to heavy rare earths feedstock. With that in mind, it’s not surprising that a temporary halt in Myanmar’s production in late summer of 2023 sent rare earths prices to their highest level in 20 months, as per OilPrice.com.

    Myanmar’s rare earths production experienced further disruptions in late 2024 as the Kachin Independence Army seized two towns in Kachin state, near China’s Yunnan province, that are critical suppliers of rare earth oxides to China.

    Outside of China, one of the world’s leading rare earths producers is Australian company Lynas (ASX:LYC,OTC Pink:LYSCF), which sends mined material for refining and processing at its plant in Malaysia. In 2023, Japan Australia Rare Earths, a joint venture between the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security and Sojitz (TSE:2768), inked an agreement to invest AU$200 million in the production and supply of heavy rare earths from Lynas.

    This has allowed the mining company to expand its light rare earths production and begin production of heavy rare earths. Lynas brought its large-scale downstream Kalgoorlie rare earths processing facility online in November 2024. According to its H1 2025 fiscal year results, the company’s neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) production volume increased by 22 percent.

    In the US, MP Materials is making good use of US$58.5 million awarded in April to support construction of the first fully integrated rare earth magnet manufacturing facility in the US. The funding is part of the Section 48C Advanced Energy Project tax credit granted by the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Treasury and Department of Energy.

    The Fort Worth, Texas, magnet facility began producing the NdFeB magnets crucial for EVs, wind turbines and defense systems at the start of 2025. First commercial deliveries are expected by the end of the year.

    Looking at demand, many analysts believe the need for rare earths is set to boom on accelerating growth from top end-use categories, including the electric vehicle market and other high-tech applications.

    As an example, demand for dysprosium, a key material in steel manufacturing and the production of lasers, has grown as countries increase their steel standards. Aside from that, rare earths have long been used in televisions and rechargeable batteries, two industries that accounted for much demand before the proliferation of new technologies. Other rare earth metals can be found in wind turbines, aluminum production, catalytic converters and many high-tech products.

    As can be seen, securing rare earths supply is an increasingly important issue. In addition to traditional rare earths mining, there has been growth in the rare earths recycling industry, which aims to recover REE raw materials from electronics and high-tech products in order to reuse them in new ways.

    Exploring and extracting rare earth materials from deep-sea mud is one of the newest recovery methods, although deep sea mining of mud and nodules comes with significant environmental concerns. However, it is gaining traction as more mining companies look offshore for resources and US President Trump pushes for fast tracking of deep-sea mining permits.

    How to invest in rare earth minerals

    Investors are increasingly wondering how they can invest in rare earth metals as demand ramps up and the US-China trade war has caused further concerns about rare earth supply chains. The possibility of higher rare earth prices in the coming years is one of the catalysts for investors wondering how they can invest in rare earths. As it’s not possible to buy physical rare earth metals, the most direct way to invest in the rare earth market is through mining and exploration companies.

    Investing in rare earth stocks

    While many rare earth minerals companies are located in China and are not publicly traded, there are a variety of rare earth companies listed on US, Canadian and Australian stock exchanges.

    Below is a selection of companies with rare earths assets or operations trading on the NYSE, NASDAQ, TSX and ASX; all had market caps of over $500 million as of April 22, 2025.

      Small-cap REE companies are also listed on those exchanges.

      Here’s a hefty list of junior rare earths stock and companies with rare earths projects. The rare earths stocks on this list had market caps between $5 million and $500 million as of April 22, 2025:

        To learn more about investing in rare earths, check out our stocks lists on the 9 Biggest Rare Earth Stocks in the US, Canada and Australia, Top Canadian Rare Earths Stocks, and the 5 Biggest ASX Rare Earth Stocks.

        Investing in rare earth ETFs

        Rare earth exchange-trade funds (ETFs) offer investors a diversified position in this market space, mitigating the risks of investing in specific companies.

              Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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              This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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              175m @ 2.5% Copper from 7.6m, Hole Ends in 4.46% Copper & Open at Depth Danvers Drilling Delivers a Globally Significant Copper Intersection

              Investing 3 Mins Read

              White Cliff Minerals Limited (“WCN” or the “Company”) (ASX: WCN; OTCQB: WCMLF) is pleased to announce further assay results from the reverse circulation drilling campaign at the Company’s 100% owned Rae Copper Project in Nunavut, Canada.

              • Further assay results confirm and validate the strategy to explore previously untested high-grade zones and vertical depth extension of mineralisation at Danvers
              • Highlights from DAN25008:
                • 175m @ 2.5% Cu & 8.66g/t silver (Ag) from 7.6m, including 14m @ 7.55% Cu & 25.8g/t Ag from 138m
                • the last 60m of the hole averaged 3.9% Cu & 14.96g/t Ag to final depth of 182.88m
                • hole ended in mineralisation with the last 1.5m sample recording 4.46% Cu & 11.58g/t Ag, open at depth
              • DAN25001 returned 52m @ 1.16% Cu & 3.43g/t Ag from surface, including 7.6m at 3% Cu & 9.5g/t Ag from 18.28m
              • Drilling demonstrates potential for significant expansion to historic non-compliant resource. With the initial objectives of Danvers drilling achieved, to begin to understand the significance of this discovery, new drilling data will feed into a maiden JORC compliant mineral resource
              • Mineralisation remains open in all directions. Follow up diamond drilling now being planned to drill out the mineralisation boundaries at Danvers and begin testing of the massive sedimentary structure at Hulk
              • The next five (5) assays along strike from DAN25008 are due in the coming weeks

              “DAN25008 was prioritised for assay due to the abundance of visual sulphides observed during drilling, and these results have underpinned our confidence in those visuals prevalent in the Company’s prior work. We believe this drill hole ranks among the most significant copper intersections globally within the last 50 years and comfortably sits within the top 10 globally reported “grade-metre” copper results.

              This discovery and outstanding results from Danvers is a clear testament to our technical team’s expertise and geological understanding, in particular the professionalism and persistence of Olga Solovieva and Sam Vaughan.

              Our improved geological understanding of the Danvers area indicates a mineralised system that extends from surface over more than 175m vertically and potentially 7km in strike length – both to the northeast and southwest, providing scope for further high-impact intercepts from upcoming drilling. With our work updating the geological understanding at Danvers, we adapted our drill targets and DAN25008 resulted in mineralisation at least 30 metres below historical limits, with the hole terminating in high-grade copper mineralisation – suggesting considerable additional potential at depth. The increase in grade toward the bottom of the hole is encouraging and is validation of our methodology.

              To illustrate the magnitude of this result, the DAN25001 intercept of 52m at 1.2% Cu – a strong result in its own right – now appears modest when viewed alongside the 175m @ 2.5% Cu from DAN25008. In the context of global copper supply constraints, the Company is well positioned to leverage these results with mineralisation from surface, supporting potential open pit mining activities and an open water port less than 80km from the deposit.

              Troy Whittaker – Managing Director

              FURTHER INFORMATION

              Drillhole DAN25008 is an important step in the development of the Danvers copper deposit. An intercept of 175.26m at 2.5% copper is an outstanding result illustrating the continuous mineralisation which commences just below surface at 7.62m downhole. The final 30m of DAN25008 which averages 2.37% Cu and 10.51g/t Ag exists below the trace of historic drilling, effectively extending the known high-grade mineralisation.

              Click here for the full ASX Release

              This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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              Riverside Resources and Questcorp Mining Execute Definitive Option Agreement for La Union Project, Sonora, Mexico

              Investing 7 Mins Read

              Riverside Resources Inc. (TSXV: RRI) (OTCQB: RVSDF) (FSE: 5YY) (‘Riverside’ or the ‘Company’), is pleased to announce that further to its press release dated September 6, 2024, Riverside’s wholly-owned subsidiary, RRM Exploracion, S.A.P.I. DE C.V. (the ‘Vendor’) has entered into a definitive option agreement (the ‘Option Agreement’) with Questcorp Mining Inc. (‘Questcorp’) dated May 5, 2025, for the 2,520.2 hectare La Union carbonate replacement gold- polymetallic project (the ‘Project’ or ‘La Union’) located in Sonora, Mexico (the ‘Transaction’).

              ‘We are thrilled to finalize this agreement for the La Union Project, which is a strong asset in Riverside’s portfolio. Securing up to C$5,500,000 in exploration funding from Questcorp is an excellent step forward in advancing this larger Carbonate Replacement Deposit (‘CRD‘) project,’ said John-Mark Staude, CEO of Riverside Resources. ‘Riverside is pleased to have the updated NI 43-101 Technical Report completed and we see an active exploration program launching in the coming weeks with Riverside as the Operator of the exploration program. Riverside is expected to become a shareholder of Questcorp with an initial 9.9% equity interest, subject to final approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange or confirmation that such approval is not required. The first-year work program of C$1,000,000 in exploration expenditures will launch the first round of exploration at the project.’

              The La Union Project

              The Project is summarized on the Riverside website and is a project that Riverside acquired and further consolidated additional inlier mineral claims. The Project initially identified from Riverside’s work in the western Sonora gold belt through work with AngloGold Ashanti Limited, Centerra Gold Inc., and Hochshild Mining Plc, among others as partners and funding relationships for gold exploration. Initial work by members of the Riverside team, drawing on more than two decades of geological compilation and analysis, identified this region as highly prospective. At the Project, historical mining by the Penoles Mining Company focused on chimney and manto replacement bodies within the upper oxide zones. As a result, the underlying sulfide zones present immediate drill targets for further exploration.

              Riverside has spent the past five years consolidating this highly prospective land package, which totals over 22 square kilometers. The Project features favorable limestone host rocks, an extensive alteration footprint, and multiple small-scale historical workings, providing more than eight drill-ready target areas. Key immediate targets include the central Union Mine and the nearby Famosa Mine. With drive-up access, private ranch surface rights, and strong geologic similarities to other major CRDs in Arizona and eastern Mexico, La Union is well positioned for near-term exploration success targeting both oxide and deeper sulfide mineralization.

              The Option Agreement

              In accordance with the terms of the Transaction, Questcorp can acquire a one-hundred percent (100%) interest in the Project in consideration for completion of a series of cash payments totaling $100,000 CAD, making staged issuances of common shares of Questcorp totaling 19.9%, and incurring $5,500,000 CAD of exploration expenditures on the Project as outlined immediately below:

              Deadline Cash Payment Share Issuance Exploration Expenditures
              Within two (2) business days of the date of the Option Agreement $25,000 N/A N/A
              On the Effective Date(1) N/A 9.9%(2) N/A
              On or before the first anniversary of the Effective Date N/A 14.9%(2)(3) $1,000,000
              On or before the second anniversary of the Effective Date $25,000 19.9%(2)(3) $1,250,000
              On or before the third anniversary of the Effective Date $25,000 19.9%(2)(3) $1,500,000
              On or before the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date $25,000 19.9%(2)(3) $1,750,000
              Total $100,000 19.9%(2)(3) $5,500,000
              Notes:

              1. ‘Effective Date’ means the date on which Questcorp delivers to the Vendor a copy of the written approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange in respect of the transactions contemplated by the Option Agreement.
              2. Issuable within the fifth business day after the applicable date.
              3. Expressed as a cumulative total percentage of the undiluted issued and outstanding common shares of Questcorp as of the applicable payment date, and assuming Riverside has not previously disposed of any common shares.

               

              During the term of the Option Agreement, Riverside, through the Vendor, will remain the program operator for the Project using its local team based in Hermosillo, Sonora. Following exercise of the option under the Option Agreement, Questcorp will grant Riverside a two-and-one half percent (2.5%) net smelter return royalty on commercial production from the Project.

              Figure 1. Geologic map with the tenure of the Union internal concession shown in pink. Manto and chimney type CRD targets are shown as red polygons. Riverside now controls all mineral tenures on this map.

              To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
              https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6101/250896_df59d6431499eba6_002full.jpg

              Figure 2. Cross section looking west with proposed drill sites and drillhole traces. Assays from Riverside’s sampling of rock dump materials from the two mine areas are labeled in black. Red areas are interpreted as manto and chimney target bodies that are now well defined and drill ready. Assays shown on figures 1 and 2 have been previously released and disclosed as summarized below the geochemical QA/QC. 

              To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
              https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6101/250896_df59d6431499eba6_003full.jpg

              Qualified Person & QA/QC:

              The scientific and technical data contained in this news release pertaining to the Project was reviewed and approved by Freeman Smith, P.Geo, VP Exploration, a non-independent qualified person to Riverside Resources Inc., who is responsible for ensuring that the information provided in this news release is accurate and who acts as a ‘qualified person’ under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

              Rock samples from previous exploration programs discussed above at the Project were taken to the Bureau Veritas Laboratories in Hermosillo, Mexico for fire assaying for gold. The rejects remained with Bureau Veritas in Mexico while the pulps were transported to Bureau Veritas laboratory in Vancouver, BC, Canada for 45 element ICP/ES-MS analysis using 4-acid digestion methods. A QA/QC program was implemented as part of the sampling procedures for the exploration program. Standards were randomly inserted into the sample stream prior to being sent to the laboratory.

              About Riverside Resources Inc.:

              Riverside is a well-funded exploration company driven by value generation and discovery. The Company has over $4M in cash, no debt and less than 75M shares outstanding with a strong portfolio of gold-silver and copper assets and royalties in North America. Riverside has extensive experience and knowledge operating in Mexico and Canada and leverages its large database to generate a portfolio of prospective mineral properties. Riverside has properties available for option, with information available on the Company’s website at www.rivres.com.

              ON BEHALF OF Riverside Resources Inc.

              ‘John-Mark Staude’

              Dr. John-Mark Staude, President & CEO

              For additional information contact:

              John-Mark Staude
              President, CEO
              Riverside Resources Inc. 
              info@rivres.com
              Phone: (778) 327-6671
              Fax: (778) 327-6675
              Web: www.rivres.com              		 Eric Negraeff
              Corporate Communications
              Riverside Resources Inc.
              Eric@rivres.com
              Phone: (778) 327-6671
              TF: (877) RIV-RES1
              Web: www.rivres.com

               

              Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking information. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology (e.g., ‘expect’,’ estimates’, ‘intends’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘plans’). Such information involves known and unknown risks — including the risk that the Transaction will not be completed as contemplates, or at all, availability of funds, the results of financing and exploration activities, the interpretation of exploration results and other geological data, or unanticipated costs and expenses and other risks identified by Riverside in its public securities filings that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

              Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

              To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250896

              News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

              This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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              Crypto Market Recap: Strategy Buys US$180 Million Worth of Bitcoin, GENIUS Act Stalls

              Investing 7 Mins Read

              Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Monday (May 5) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

              Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

              Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

              Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$94,808.21 as markets wrapped for the day, down 1.2 percent in 24 hours. The day’s range has seen a low of US$93,704.12 and a high of US$94,838.85.

              Bitcoin performance, May 5, 2025.

              Chart via TradingView.

              Bitcoin’s price has been stuck in a range of US$93,000 to US$97,900 since late April, failing to break above the US$98,000 resistance level. Profit-taking volume above statistical norms suggests strong selling pressure despite a large portion of Bitcoin’s supply being in profit, creating potential for volatile price swings.

              Analysts are waiting to see if Bitcoin can break above US$95,000 and then US$98,000 to aim for higher prices, while failure could lead to a drop toward US$92,000 or even lower targets between US$85,000 and US$75,000. Positive exchange-traded fund inflows and the upcoming US Federal Reserve meeting could provide bullish catalysts.

              Ethereum (ETH) ended the day at US$1,824.90, a 0.7 percent decline over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$1,798.96 and saw a daily high of US$1,825.38.

              Altcoin price update

              • Solana (SOL) reached its peak at the end of the day, hitting a value of US$146.95, up 0.2 percent over 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$143.72.
              • XRP is trading at US$2.16, reflecting a 1.5 percent decrease over 24 hours and its highest point of the day. The cryptocurrency recorded an intraday low of US$2.11.
              • Sui (SUI) is priced at US$3.47, showing an increaseof 5.4 percent over the past 24 hours. It achieved a daily low of US$3.40 and a high of US$3.48.
              • Cardano (ADA) is trading at US$0.6716, down 3.3 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price of the day was US$0.6566, and it reached a high of US$0.6717.

              Today’s crypto news to know

              Saylor’s Strategy buys US$180 million worth of Bitcoin

              Michael Saylor’s Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) has acquired another 1,895 BTC at an average price of US$95,167, bringing its total Bitcoin holdings to a staggering 555,450 BTC worth over US$38 billion.

              The latest US$180.3 million purchase, funded through proceeds from 2024 common and STRK at-the-market offerings, signals the firm’s unwavering commitment to a Bitcoin-centric treasury strategy.

              As of Sunday (May 4), Strategy’s average purchase price across all of its holdings stood at US$68,550 per coin, showing the company’s profitable long-term conviction. The market is watching closely as Strategy continues to be one of the largest institutional holders pushing Bitcoin as a macro asset.

              Australia’s path forward on crypto regulation

              The Australian Labor Party secured a landslide victory in Saturday’s (May 3) election, garnering 54.9 percent of the two-party-preferred vote compared to 45.1 percent for the coalition of the Liberal and National parties.

              While both major groups committed to cryptocurrency reform during their campaigns, the opposition specifically promised to release draft legislation within 100 days of the election.

              The burgeoning Australian cryptocurrency industry has been actively advocating for the government to prioritize the development and implementation of clear and supportive regulations. In a Monday statement, the government said a draft of digital asset legislation is slated to be released next month.

              Bipartisan concerns stall GENIUS Act

              A group of bipartisan lawmakers set back progress on the GENIUS Act on Saturday, issuing a joint statement regarding an updated version of the text released last week. This story was first reported by Politico.

              These lawmakers, who voted in March to advance the bill, have indicated they would not support the legislation if it proceeds through Congress in its current form, highlighting the contentious nature of the proposed legislation and the need for potential amendments to garner broader support in the Senate.

              The group is calling for “stronger provisions on anti-money laundering, foreign issuers, national security, preserving the safety and soundness of our financial system and accountability for those who don’t meet the act’s requirements.’

              “We must advance legislation that enshrines American leadership in the digital asset space and protects the US dollar for centuries to come. That time is now,’ Senator Bill Haggerty, one of the bill’s authors, posted on X.

              “We have a choice here. Move forward and make any remaining changes needed in a bipartisan way, or show that digital asset and crypto legislation remains a solely Republican issue.”

              The Senate is expected to begin considering the stablecoin bill in the coming days, with the first procedural vote anticipated as soon as next week. The bill needs support from at least seven Democrats to pass.

              Arizona governor vetoes Bitcoin Reserve bill, labels crypto ‘untested investment’

              In a decisive move against digital asset adoption at the state level, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed a controversial bill that would have allowed the state to invest in Bitcoin using seized funds.

              Senate Bill 1025 narrowly passed state legislature and aimed to establish a crypto reserve managed by the state, a first-of-its-kind initiative in the US. However, Hobbs dismissed the proposal, saying Arizona’s retirement and treasury systems should avoid “untested investments like virtual currency,” and emphasizing fiscal conservatism and a cautious approach to emerging financial instruments, even as crypto assets gain traction globally.

              The veto effectively halts what could have been a landmark experiment in state-level Bitcoin adoption.

              Maldives courts crypto billions in bid to become a blockchain finance hub

              The Maldives, traditionally known for luxury tourism, is pivoting toward digital finance with a massive US$8.8 billion crypto investment deal led by MBS Global Investments, the family office of Sheikh Nayef bin Eid Al Thani.

              The deal, which dwarfs the island nation’s US$7 billion GDP, involves building a massive blockchain-focused financial hub spanning 830,000 square meters and employing up to 16,000 people.

              Maldives Finance Minister Moosa Zameer called the initiative crucial for economic diversification and a potential solution to mounting foreign debt obligations due over the next two years. Early financing commitments have already surpassed US$4 billion, with the remainder to be raised via equity and debt.

              The proposed Maldives International Financial Center would transform the country into a key player in the global digital asset space. If realized, it could mark the most aggressive national pivot to crypto infrastructure in the Global South.

              Binance to roll out crypto payments in Kyrgyzstan

              Binance has signed a landmark partnership with Kyrgyzstan’s National Agency for Investments, aiming to introduce crypto payments and blockchain education as part of a broader national tech initiative. Through a memorandum of understanding, Binance Pay will soon enable crypto transactions for local residents and tourists, while Binance Academy will collaborate with Kyrgyz financial regulators and institutions to build out educational infrastructure.

              The agreement was announced during Kyrgyzstan’s first Council for the Development of Digital Assets, with President Sadyr Japarov in attendance, highlighting high-level state support for crypto integration.

              Binance’s regional head, Kyrylo Khomiakov, stressed the importance of the partnership in shaping regulatory clarity and fostering innovation in the country. Kyrgyzstan also committed to launching a central bank digital currency, the “digital som,” after a law granting it legal tender status was signed on April 18.

              Tether teases launch of new AI platform

              After announcing it was developing a website for an artificial intelligence (AI) tool in December 2024, Tether is teasing the upcoming launch of Tether AI, a new platform designed to offer “personal infinite intelligence.’

              The platform, originally slated to launch by the end of Q1 2025, will be able to directly interact with and facilitate payments made using USDt and Bitcoin through a peer-to-peer network.

              It will not use API keys or depend on a single point of control. Instead, Tether AI will feature a fully open-source AI runtime operating on an intentionally resilient and censorship-resistant peer-to-peer network deeply integrated with Tether’s open-source Wallet Development Kit (WDK), which was released in November 2024. By leveraging the WDK, Tether aims to facilitate self-custodial (or non-custodial) management of USDt and Bitcoin.

              Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

              Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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              This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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              Winners, losers as longshot moves to first in NHL draft lottery

              Sport 4 Mins Read

              The NHL draft lottery had a new look and a vastly different result.

              The 23rd-place New York Islanders earned the right to pick first overall in the June 27-28 draft by winning the first live draft lottery in league history on Monday. The 19th-place Utah Hockey Club won the other drawing and moved up the maximum allowed 10 spots to fourth place.

              The Islanders, currently between general managers, had 3.5% odds of winning the No. 1 overall pick. They will select first for the first time since drafting John Tavares in 2009.

              The top-ranked North American prospect is Matthew Schaefer, though NHL Central Scouting said it’s close. The Erie (Pennsylvania) Otters defenseman missed the rest of the season after breaking his collarbone during the winter while playing for Team Canada at the world junior hockey championship. He had 22 points in 17 games.

              Last year, the last-place San Jose Sharks and the 31st-place Chicago Blackhawks held onto their current spots and picked first and second, respectively. They will pick second and third this year.

              Previously, the draw was conducted off camera, and deputy commissioner Bill Daly would turn over cards with team logos on them until the winner was revealed. But everyone got to watch the draw of the lottery balls live, and commissioner Gary Bettman was in the room, too.

              NHL draft order after the lottery

              1. New York Islanders
              2. San Jose Sharks
              3. Chicago Blackhawks
              4. Utah Hockey Club
              5. Nashville Predators
              6. Philadelphia Flyers
              7. Boston Bruins
              8. Seattle Kraken
              9. Buffalo Sabres
              10. Anaheim Ducks
              11. Pittsburgh Penguins
              12. New York Rangers
              13. Detroit Red Wings
              14. Columbus Blue Jackets
              15. Vancouver Canucks
              16. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary Flames)

              Draft lottery winners

              Next Islanders general manager

              Nice perk for whoever lands the job to replace Lou Lamoriello. The Islanders didn’t have much of a chance to win the draft lottery, but they now will land a solid prospect. Dan Marr, vice president of NHL Central Scouting, said, ‘Schaefer easily projects as a future All-Star in the NHL.”

              Utah Hockey Club

              They were competitive in their first season in Salt Lake City and missed the playoffs by nine points. By winning the second drawing, they’ll pick fourth this year after choosing sixth in 2024.

              Sharks and Blackhawks

              Because Utah could only move up to fourth, the Sharks and Blackhawks move back only one spot each. If Schaefer goes first, these teams could end up with Michael Misa, James Hagens or Anton Frondell.

              Draft lottery losers

              Nashville Predators

              They had a surprisingly bad season despite adding free agents Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault. Despite having the third-best odds to win, they drop to fifth.

              The live drawing

              There’s probably a reason this is done off camera. ESPN did a great job of explaining, but it was a little tedious to watch, starting with the deliberate loading of the lottery balls. Then we watch them bounce around for 30 seconds before one was drawn, then the process was repeated twice. Before the fourth and deciding ball was drawn, they cut to commercial, followed by another 30 seconds of bouncing.

              Calgary Flames

              After three balls in the second drawing, the Flames were in the mix to move from 16th to sixth. If that happened, under trade terms with Montreal, they would have held onto that pick and instead sent the Canadiens the pick that Calgary had acquired in a trade with the Panthers. But Utah won. So no sixth pick, no 16th pick (heading to Montreal). They’ll pick wherever the Panthers land, which could be much later.

              Top North American skaters

              1. Erie (OHL) defenseman Matthew Schaefer
              2. Saginaw (OHL) center Michael Misa
              3. Boston College center James Hagens
              4. Brantford (OHL) center Jake O’Brien
              5. Seattle (WHL) defenseman Radim Mrtka
              6. Brampton (OHL) right wing Porter Martone
              7. Moncton (QMJHL) center Caleb Desnoyers
              8. Brandon (WHL) center Roger McQueen
              9. Barrie (OHL) defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson
              10. Everett (WHL) left wing Carter Bear

              Top international skaters

              1. Djurgarden (Sweden) center Anton Frondell
              2. Djurgarden (Sweden) right wing Victor Eklund
              3. Modo Jr. (Sweden) Milton Gastrin
              4. Karlovy Vary (Czechia) left wing Vojtech Cihar
              5. Ufa Jr. (Russia) right wing Alexander Zharovsky

              When is the NHL draft?

              The 2025 NHL Draft will be held June 27-28. The first round will be on June 27 and rounds 2-7 will be held the next day. The times haven’t been announced yet. It will be held in Los Angeles at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater. Top prospects will be there, but not team representatives, who will take part virtually.

              This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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              Nuggets win Game 1 vs. Thunder on Gordon 3-pointer

              Sport 3 Mins Read

              Aaron Gordon hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to score 22 points and lift the Denver Nuggets to a 121-119 road victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their second-round Western Conference playoff series.

              ‘I never felt like anybody wavered,’ Nuggets interim coach David Adelman said. ‘That doesn’t mean you’re going to win the game. … In the NBA, playoffs, these games are so long. You’ve got to give yourself a chance.’

              With 9.5 seconds remaining and the Thunder up by one, the Nuggets’ Russell Westbrook fouled Chet Holmgren.

              Holmgren missed both free throws, giving Denver an opening to finish off the comeback.

              Christian Braun grabbed the rebound, fed it to Westbrook, who barreled down the floor before finding Gordon for the game-winning three.

              ‘(Gordon) is a Denver Nugget, man,’ Adelman said. ‘He is the soul of our team.’

              The Nuggets hadn’t led since the first quarter, trailing by as many as 13 in the fourth quarter.

              But the Nuggets ended the game with a 19-6 run to knock off the top seed in the Western Conference.

              ‘I didn’t think our execution was as clean as it can be,’ Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. ‘But we’ll learn from it. It’s a series.’

              Nikola Jokic scored 18 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and eight free throws.

              Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points to lead the Thunder, who had not played in nine days.

              Oklahoma City didn’t make it easy on Jokic, using several different players to defend him.

              Jokic showed frustration multiple times with the way he was being guarded.

              With less than seven minutes to play, Jokic elbowed Luguentz Dort in the jaw while Dort was guarding Jokic in the lane.

              Dort remained down for several moments, and after a lengthy review, Jokic was called for a Flagrant 1 foul. It was Jokic’s fifth foul of the game.

              But Jokic never picked up his sixth, and scored 16 points from that point on to help the Nuggets stay in it for Westbrook and Gordon to team up for the final play.

              Jokic also added 22 rebounds, tying his career playoff high.

              ‘He had some unbelievable finishes around the basket,’ Adelman said.

              Westbrook, who was a longtime star with the Thunder, helped keep Denver in it.

              With less than five minutes left in the third quarter, Oklahoma City led by 14 points.

              But the Nuggets ended the quarter on a 17-8 run to cut the deficit to five before the end of the quarter.

              Westbrook scored eight of his 10 third-quarter points during the stretch.

              Oklahoma City missed its first 10 3-pointers before Alex Caruso’s 3-pointer early in the second quarter.

              Caruso added 20 points for the Thunder, who will host the Nuggets in Game 2 Wednesday, eager to get back in the win column.

              ‘No one just walks their way through a series at this point in the season,’ Daigneault said.

              Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder highlights

              This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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              Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens make fashion splash at 2025 Met Gala

              Sport 1 Min Read

              Whether she’s winning gold at the Olympics or on the sidelines at Soldier Field, cheering on husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, Simone Biles dazzles spectators with her outfit wherever she goes.

              Thusly, the 2025 Met Gala provided her an opportunity to really go all-out and show the sports world what she’s made of from a fashion perspective. Owens, too, got decked out for fashion’s big night in New York.

              Biles, alongside several other athletes was part of the host committee this year that plans the event, so the pressure was really on the seven-time gold medalist to shine. And shine she did. Here’s what Biles wore at the 2025 Met Gala.

              Simone Biles’ 2025 Met Gala look

              Simone Biles career accomplishments

              • 30 World Gymnastics Championship Medals (23 gold, most in gymnastics history)
              • 11 Olympic Gymnastics Medals (7 gold)
              • 32 overall U.S. national titles (most in history)
              • 9 all-around U.S. titles
              • 7 vault titles
              • 7 balance beam titles
              • 7 floor exercise titles

              The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

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              Late 20’s man with poor fashion sense rates sports fits at Met Gala

              Sport 8 Mins Read

              I am a 28-year-old unmarried man with very poor fashion sense. I have never watched the Met Gala before. In the last year, three of my female friends have asked to take me on shopping sprees in order to improve my fashion. I have not taken any of them up on that offer.

              Despite these beaming qualifications, USA TODAY determined it fit for me to judge the outfits of the sports stars at the 2025 Met Gala.

              Why? I’ve no idea, but I have seen how my boss dresses and I’m definitely more qualified than him.

              Regardless, the Met Gala is an annual event that gives celebrities the opportunity to dress their best, strut their stuff, and put their best foot forward all while facing massive criticism from experts everywhere. Having never seen the Met Gala before, I haven’t the slightest idea what to expect, but I will be handing out harsh grades for everyone.

              I know that the theme is ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,’ but I am white and, in case I hadn’t made it clear already, have no style. Therefore, forewarning, that theme is getting thrown out the window in my assessments.

              So, buckle up, you may have seen opinions from people with fashion degrees and years of experience with this type of event, but have you ever heard opinions from a man with Cheeto dust on more than half of the shirts in his closet? I doubt it.

              Sports figure fit checks at 2025 Met Gala

              Noah Lyles

              The fastest man alive, Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles was one of the first sports figures to show at the 2025 Met Gala. Lyles wore Thom Browne, and I have no idea if that is good or not, but I do know that is not how Tom is typically spelled, making the fit seem that much more high-class.

              As for the fit itself, I believe I can speak for all men when I say we appreciate a good jacket. This is a nice jacket with a solid cane to boot. The rings and jewelry look outstanding as well. That said, shorts and a jacket is a bold choice. While you certainly can’t blame a track star for wanting to show off his stems, he covers most of them up with tube socks.

              Venus Williams

              Fur coat? Fantastic. The short skirt feels like a subtle tennis homage, and paired with the dark green, this fit fits the elder Williams incredibly well. Her hair almost looks angelic too. It all looks great, but I can’t for the life of me understand who decided that shirt needed a pocket.

              Everything about the outfit sparkles, but then there’s just a basic envelope or Game of Thrones-banner looking pocket that draws away from the entire thing. Am I missing something? Probably. Do I care? No.

              Simone Biles

              Incredible. That is all I have to say. Everything feels like it flows together extremely well. My only gripe would be that the train flowing in the back seems bulky and heavy. Might be tough to drag that around for an entire night.

              Sabrina Ionescu

              When in doubt, go with the basics. No one will ever criticize a nice jacket, a slender black skirt, and a well-fitting top. That said, compared to the rest of the outfits we’ve seen tonight, this can’t help but feel a bit underwhelming. Where are the extravagant sparkles? Diamonds only on the wrists and fingers? This feels like an outfit I’d see at a nice dinner. Albeit, she’d be far and away the best-dressed person at said dinner, but for the Met Gala, this feels rather tame.

              Lewis Hamilton

              Europeans love to claim that they have better fashion sense than Americans, and dad gummit, it’s hard to argue that point after seeing Hamilton’s outfit. Does he look like a stereotypical foreign dictator in a superhero film? Absolutely, but that attires goes dangerously hard in every one of those films.

              Dwyane Wade

              The vest here is immaculate. It’s eye-catching, yet subtle. It’s the first thing you see, but it’s hidden behind the jacket, which looks great as well. The pants are pretty basic, but you can never go wrong with black slacks.

              Unfortunately, this outfit falls apart with the undershirt. What even is that? A tuxedo T-shirt? Why even have an undershirt at that point? Wade is a former NBA All-Pro. He could have just had some of his pecs showing and it would’ve been great, instead, he’s sitting there with a fake tie plastered looking like it was painted. It takes away from the rest of the outfit, which is fantastic, and for that, it is unforgivable.

              Serena Williams

              Now, this, I can get behind. The tail is certainly giving off ‘king-sized comforter’ vibes, but the rest of the outfit seems godly. You could put Serena Williams in any Broadway play about the Greek, Roman, Egyptian, or Norse pantheons and she would fit right in. The transparent streak across the thigh as well –*chef’s kiss,* brilliant.

              Saquon Barkley

              Hey, Saquon Barkley looks pretty good … for a man attending junior prom. While the shoes are certainly shined enough for the Met Gala, the rest of the outfit seems pretty bland. I don’t know if Barkley has a wedding to attend after this, but given how well everyone else is dressed, Barkley’s fit is too basic for me to be impressed. Anyone can look good in a fitted black suit with a pocket square.

              Joe Burrow

              Now here’s a suit I can appreciate. Top button undone to reveal a nice necklace, no pocket square but instead a fancy broach, square sunglasses. It all screams ‘I know how to dress well and you don’t.’ That subtle arrogance is what makes Joe Burrow an elite quarterback, and it’s clear he’s not going anywhere any time soon.

              Breanna Stewart

              I don’t know what’s going on with her hair. It looks like a mix of Cruela de Vil, Brandon Routh’s Superman, and the poster for A Nightmare Before Christmas. Keep in mind, I could never get my hair to look that good.

              The rest of the ensemble is great though. The necklace hangs somewhat low, which looks nice, and while all-white can sometimes be too much, it isn’t overwhelming for Stewart. The hat tilt is also a nice touch. All in all though, this feels like something that would be better suited for the Kentucky Derby instead of the Met Gala.

              Angel Reese

              I don’t know which outfit I like more, Simone Biles’ or Angel Reese’s. This fit goes incredibly hard, mixing what I believe is both a traditional sleek look with a more modern design as well. The more I look at this outfit, the more I love it. I genuinely can’t find one thing wrong with it. She looks remarkable.

              Colin Kaepernick

              Suits are always an easy choice, but a checkered red suit with a cloth over the back can be risky, yet Kaepernick pulls this off flawlessly. From the pin to the rings, to the singular button on the suit, it all works tremendously.

              If I did have one gripe with this outfit, it’d have to be the collar. Why are the tips not pointed? I’ve never seen a squared off collar, and I’m not sure I ever want to see one again after this. Otherwise though, perfect.

              Gabby Thomas

              While I do love the beads dangling from whatever those sleeves are, the sleeves themselves are too wide. I (a man with no fashion sense) believe they would look better as soft fabric dangling on her elbow or lower tricep. Instead, they are out wide and probably make it tough for her to fit through doorways without scuffing the outfit.

              It’s a shame because the vest and outfit both look tremendous and she looks incredible in bright red, but I cannot get over those sleeves (or whatever they are called).

              Sha’Carri Richardson

              Given what we’ve seen Richardson wear in the past, this seems almost tame. But that doesn’t mean it’s bad. She looks the most elegant she ever has, and while pink and yellow can be tough to match, the colors match effortlessly here. The long, dark hair is also an incredible look that contrasts with the outfit extremely well. No complaints, just praise.

              Justin Jefferson

              I have not seen Sinners in theaters yet, but based on the few clips on TikTok I’ve received, I believe Justin Jefferson modeled his entire look off Michael B. Jordan. He looks like he runs a speak easy in the bayou. It’s not bad, and it’s certainly not bland, but I don’t think Jefferson pulls off the baggy suit look as well as someone like Kaepernick did this year.

              That said, the no-belt and high-waisted look on the pants are certainly working well for Jettas. I don’t even mind the tie tucked into the pants which would normally give me an aneurysm. None of this outfit seems particularly bad, but none of it stands out either. I will give his outfit the edge over Saquon Barkley though, given its many non-traditional aspects.

              This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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