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President Donald Trump said Wednesday it was ‘highly unlikely’ he would fire Jerome Powell as chair of the Federal Reserve.

His statements, made in the Oval Office, come less than 24 hours after telling a room full of Republican lawmakers that he was considering doing so.

“No, we’re not planning on doing anything,” Trump told reporters in response to a question about whether he wanted to fire Powell.

“I don’t rule out anything but I think it’s highly unlikely unless he has to leave for fraud,” Trump said, while criticizing Powell’s management of a Fed renovation project that the White House had recently floated as a pretext for removing the Fed chair.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell testifies before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on June 25. Kent Nishimura / Getty Images

The president had asked GOP lawmakers late Tuesday how they felt about firing the Fed chair, according to a senior White House official. They expressed approval for firing him. The president then indicated he likely would soon but that no final decision had been made.

Still, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., posted on X on Tuesday night that Powell’s firing was ‘imminent,’ something that prompted a sell-off in stock futures before Wednesday’s market open. By noon Wednesday, major stock indexes had recovered to trade almost flat on the day.

CBS News first reported the meeting. A Fed official declined comment to CNBC on the report about the Trump meeting Tuesday, which came after Republicans blocked a procedural vote on crypto legislation that the president favors.

Trump and other White House figures have launched a multipronged attack on Powell to push the central bank to lower its key borrowing rate. Most recently, they have blasted Powell over renovations to the Fed’s Washington headquarters, raising suspicion that Trump could try to remove him for cause.

A recent Supreme Court decision indicated that the president does not have the authority to remove Fed officials at will.

In a CNBC interview Wednesday, Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., the chair of the House Financial Services Committee, repeated that “I don’t see” Trump firing Powell. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also told Bloomberg News on Tuesday that he didn’t expect Trump to move in that direction.

However, Luna, who on Tuesday joined with other party members in blocking the crypto initiative, said on X that a move against Powell is forthcoming.

“Hearing Jerome Powell is getting fired! From a very serious source,” she said, later adding, “I’m 99% sure firing is imminent.”

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (July 16) 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$119,299, up by 2.4 percent in the last 24 hours. The day’s range for the cryptocurrency brought a low of US$118,433 and a high of US$119,676.

Bitcoin price performance, July 16, 2025.

Chart via TradingView

Institutional demand also fueled the rally, as Bitcoin spot ETFs continued to attract significant capital, marking sustained interest from both large and retail investors alike.

21Shares strategist Matt Mena says Bitcoin is unlikely to see a prolonged pullback thanks to surging demand and historically low supply, as spot ETFs have absorbed more BTC than will be mined this year, while exchange and OTC balances are at all-time lows. Despite seasonal weakness, Bitcoin is setting new highs during the most illiquid part of the year, signaling strong momentum. Short-term corrections are possible, but the broader outlook remains bullish.

The ETH/BTC ratio has also hit a four-month high of 0.0267 BTC, breaking out of a bull flag pattern and supported by its 200-day EMA. Analyst Michaël van de Poppe noted the 0.02425 breakout’s significance for altcoin momentum. Holding above the EMA could see Ether rally 30 percent to 0.035 BTC by August/September, driven by increased ETP inflows.

Ethereum (ETH) was priced at US$3,369.15, up by 10.7 percent over the past 24 hours and its highest valuation today. Its lowest valuation on Wednesday was US$3,173.01.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) was priced at US$173.62, up by 8.4 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Wednesday was US$166.40, and its highest was US$174.52.
  • XRP was trading for US$3.04, up 6.4 percent in the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency’s lowest valuation was US$2.96, and its highest was US$3.06.
  • Sui (SUI) is trading at US$4.01, up by 1.1 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation was US$3.99, and its highest was US$4.06.
  • Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.7614, up by 5.6 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest violation was US$0.7462 while its highest was US$0.7693.

Today’s crypto news to know

US lawmakers advance crypto legislation

In a 215-211 vote, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution to move three crypto bills towards a full floor vote. This development occurred after an earlier vote on Tuesday was delayed due to lawmaker concerns about the GENIUS Act and its lack of CBDC provisions.

Regarding this, Przemysław Kral, CEO of zondacrypto, stated in an email, “‘People deserve to know if their government plans to track how they spend their money. Even if you support digital currencies, this debate needs to happen.’”

House Republican leaders later passed resolutions on the crypto bills after a record-long procedural vote, ending a nine-hour stalemate with a 217-212 vote late Wednesday. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise stated that Republicans will now add a CBDC ban to the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).This legislative progress is anticipated to foster greater confidence and participation among investors. The push for clarity extends to specific areas, with Rep. Max Miller announcing during an earlier House Ways and Means subcommittee hearing today that he would soon introduce draft legislation to clarify the taxation of staking and rules for digital asset contributions to charities, retirement plans, and loan.

Miller emphasized the need for a tax code that ‘keeps up with innovation’ and provides ‘long overdue clarity for consumers, innovators and investors alike.’

He noted that ‘The CLARITY and GENIUS Acts have the potential to electrify the US digital assets industry, driving the sort of investment that will supercharge demand for workers with crypto proficiency, similar to what we are currently seeing with AI.’

Palomera also suggested it could ‘tempt greater numbers of top-tier traditional finance and tech talent to enter the Web3 space.’ However, he cautioned that overly burdensome regulations resulting from this process could lead to a ‘brain drain of US talent’ to other jurisdictions.

Liquid Collective expands with Solana staking token

Liquid Collective has expanded its offerings by introducing Liquid Staked SOL (LsSOL), a new liquid staking token on the Solana blockchain. This strategic move builds upon their established success within the Ethereum ecosystem, where their Liquid Staked ETH (LsETH) has already achieved substantial traction, boasting over US$1 billion in total value locked.

The launch of LsSOL is supported by a robust consortium of prominent industry players, including Coinbase, Kraken, Galaxy, Anchorage Digital and Fireblocks. These partnerships are crucial for facilitating broad institutional access to LsSOL, ensuring that a diverse range of professional investors can seamlessly participate in Solana’s staking opportunities while maintaining liquidity.

The collaborative efforts with key industry participants are expected to drive significant adoption and further solidify Liquid Collective’s position as a leading provider of liquid staking infrastructure.

Bitlayer launches smart contract bridge BitVM on Mainnet

Bitlayer, a Bitcoin decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure startup backed by Franklin Templeton, launched its smart contract bridge, called BitVM, on the mainnet. The bridge enables users to deposit Bitcoin into a smart contract, where it is held in escrow and converted into Peg-BTC (YBTC), a tokenized version of Bitcoin that can interact with smart contract platforms.

The company describes the bridge as a trust-minimized bridging solution for Bitcoin holders. According to Bitlayer, Peg-BTC is designed to facilitate programmability and cross-chain compatibility. The company has already secured partnerships to integrate the bridge with networks including Sui, Base, and Arbitrum.

Taproot, a Bitcoin upgrade activated in 2021, enhances Bitcoin’s scripting capabilities and privacy, which is crucial for BitVM as it allows for more complex, off-chain computations and multi-party interactions to be anchored and verified on the Bitcoin blockchain more efficiently and privately.

Tether’s acquires US$600 million farmland in Stablecoin push

Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, has acquired 70 percent of Adecoagro, a major South American agricultural producer, for around US$600 million.

Reuters reported that the move represents a new strategy to connect stablecoin payments with physical commodities like rice, sugar, and ethanol. Tether aims to embed its dollar-pegged digital currency into global trade flows, allowing cross-border payments to settle in seconds instead of days and at significantly lower costs.

The company believes controlling hard assets can provide inflation-resistant revenue and bolster confidence in USDT’s reserve backing. Adecoagro operates across Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil, producing food and energy-related commodities critical to trade in the region.

Tether’s broader plan appears to be building a vertically integrated ecosystem where crypto finance and traditional supply chains converge. With US$149 billion in reserves and US$143 billion in USDT in circulation, the company is using its financial heft to push deeper into real-world infrastructure.

Executives say the long-term goal is for USDT to become a settlement layer in markets traditionally dominated by fiat and slow payment rails.

Citigroup CEO says bank exploring launch of its own Stablecoin

Citigroup is weighing the launch of a proprietary stablecoin as part of its broader push into blockchain infrastructure, CEO Jane Fraser confirmed during the bank’s Q2 2025 earnings call.

While tokenized deposits remain the bank’s immediate priority, Fraser said a Citi-backed digital dollar could play a key role in future client solutions for cross-border transactions. The bank’s digital asset strategy centers on four pillars: tokenized fiat deposits, reserve management for stablecoins, custodial services for digital assets, and fiat-to-crypto on- and off-ramps.

Citi’s interest comes amid broader momentum for stablecoins in 2025, with the market expected to reach US$3.7 trillion by 2030 according to internal projections.

Fraser emphasized that these innovations aim to modernize banking infrastructure and serve client demand for 24/7, multi-currency, compliant payment systems. The potential Citi stablecoin would likely be dollar-pegged and integrated into corporate treasury services.

Citi joins a list of traditional finance heavyweights, even rival and formerly crypto skeptic JPMorgan, now exploring blockchain-based products as regulation for stablecoins gains clarity.

Polymarket cleared by DOJ and CFTC after years of scrutiny

Federal authorities have ended their investigations into Polymarket, a blockchain-based prediction market platform, effectively closing a multi-year regulatory saga.

The US Department of Justice and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) notified the company this week that it will face no further enforcement actions. This follows a dramatic period in late 2024 when FBI agents raided the Manhattan penthouse of Polymarket’s CEO, Shayne Coplan, seizing devices amid suspicions of continued US user access.

The company had previously settled with the CFTC in 2022 for US$1.4 million after being accused of offering unregistered event-based options.

Despite the settlement, regulators remained concerned Polymarket had violated terms by still allowing US residents to place bets.

The closure of the case comes amid shifting regulatory winds, as the White House advances more structured digital asset legislation under President Trump’s administration.

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.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Relatively healthy earnings reports from the big banks and a June inflation report that came in line with analyst expectations didn’t give the stock market much of a lift, as the S&P 500 ($SPX) and Dow Jones Industrial Average ($INDU) both ended the day lower. The only major index to shine was the Nasdaq Composite ($COMPQ), which closed at a record high.

Technology stocks were the stars of the show. It wasn’t a blowout rally, but the sector still managed to finish in the green. Why? There were a couple of key developments that gave tech a nice boost.

First, semiconductors got some breathing room. Restrictions on chip sales to China were relaxed, and that gave big names like NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) a reason to rally. 

Second, there’s a push from the government to invest in AI and energy initiatives in Pennsylvania. One of the biggest winners was Super Micro Computer, Inc. (SMCI), which jumped 6.9% — the biggest percentage gain in the S&P 500. You can see from the StockCharts MarketCarpet for the S&P 500 stocks that, besides the top-weighted stocks in the index, it was mostly a sea of red.

FIGURE 1. MARKETCARPET FOR TUESDAY, JULY 15. Technology was the clear leader, with the largest cap-weighted stocks leading the sector higher.Image source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

Semiconductors Show Strength

If you’ve been watching semiconductors, you may have noticed that the SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) has been on a roll. Since April, the ETF has stayed above its 20-day exponential moving average (EMA). The relative performance of XSD against the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) has been improving, and its relative strength index (RSI) is at around 62, an indication that momentum is at healthy levels (see chart below). It’s important to note that since May, the RSI has remained above 50, which is supportive of XSD’s upside movement.

Note: StockCharts members can access this chart from the Market Summary page or the Market Summary ChartPack (under US Industries > Bellwether Industries).

FIGURE 2. DAILY CHART OF XSD. Since April, XSD has been trending higher and is now trading above its 21-day EMA.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

How to Track Semiconductor Stocks

If the environment for semiconductors remains strong, there could be more upside for stocks in that space. A simple way to keep tabs on the stocks using StockCharts tools is to create a ChartList of semiconductor stocks you’re interested in owning.

  • Begin by heading to the US Sectors panel in the Market Summary page or the Sector Summary page on your Dashboard.
  • Click Sector Drill-Down > Technology Sector Fund > Semiconductors.
  • You’ll see the list of semiconductor stocks that make up the industry group.

From there, I prefer to sort the data by the Universe (U) column, starting with the large caps and then the StockCharts Technical Rank (SCTR) score to find large-cap technically strong stocks. You can then view the charts on the list. If you see a chart that appears to have a favorable risk-to-reward ratio, you can save it to your Semiconductor ChartList.

FIGURE 3. SEMICONDUCTOR STOCKS TO REVIEW. The sector drill-down will uncover stocks in leading sectors or industry groups. Scroll down the list to identify charts that meet your investment or trading criteria. Image source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

As you review the charts in your ChartList, you can identify potential support and resistance levels and set alerts to notify you when prices reach your key levels. It’s a great way to stay proactive.

The Bottom Line

This type of top-down analysis helps you stay one step ahead of the market. Start with the broad market, then narrow down to sectors, then industry groups, and then individual stocks. By taking a proactive approach to managing your investments, you’re always preparing for the stock market’s next move.


Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

 

‘Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.’

 

Forte Minerals Corp . (‘ Forte ‘ or the ‘ Company ‘) ( CSE: CUAU ) ( OTCQB: FOMNF ) ( Frankfurt: 2OA ) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement with a strategic investor (the ‘ Investor ‘), who will acquire 6,326,066 common shares at a price of C$0.90 per share for gross proceeds of approximately C$5,693,459 (the ‘ Strategic Placement ‘). Upon closing of the Strategic Placement, the Investor will own 9.99% of Forte’s issued and outstanding common shares on a non-diluted basis, establishing a meaningful long-term position in Forte’s growth and exploration strategy.

 

The C$0.90 offering price reflects a premium to Forte’s current market value, underscoring the Investor’s conviction in the Company’s long-term potential.

 

Patrick Elliott, President and CEO of Forte, commented: ‘This strategic investment marks a significant milestone for the company. It reflects strong conviction in the long-term value of our portfolio and validates the quality of our exploration pipeline. We’re excited to begin what we see as a long-term, collaborative relationship that supports our vision to unlock meaningful copper and gold discoveries in Perú.

 

The proceeds from the Strategic Placement will be primarily used to advance Forte’s Alto Ruri high-sulfidation epithermal gold project in Perú (‘ Alto Ruri ‘), with at least 80% of the funds dedicated to exploration activities at Alto Ruri. The remaining funds will support general working capital and corporate purposes.

 

In connection with the Strategic Placement, Forte and the Investor will enter into an Investor Rights Agreement whereby the Investor is entitled to certain rights, subject to the Investor maintaining certain ownership thresholds in the Company, including technical information sharing rights and the right to participate in future equity financings and top-up its holdings in relation to dilutive issuances in order to maintain its percentage ownership interest in the Company. The Investor has also agreed to voting support and standstill covenants.

 

In addition, under the Investor Rights Agreement the Investor and Forte will:

 

  • form a joint technical advisory committee; and
  •  

  • collaborate on community engagement and long-term access strategies.
  •  

The closing of the Strategic Placement is expected to occur on or around July 23, 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. All shares issued pursuant to the Strategic Placement will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the closing date.

 

This investment signals a firm belief in Forte’s vision, technical leadership and the significant long-term value potential of Alto Ruri. This collaboration marks a major step in executing the strategy Forte has been actively advancing; to deliver pipeline projects that fuel the major developers and producers.

 

  ABOUT Forte Minerals CORP.  

 

 Forte Minerals Corp. is an exploration company with a strong portfolio of high-quality copper (Cu) and gold assets (Au) in Perú. Through a strategic partnership with GlobeTrotters Resources Perú S.A.C. , the Company gains access to a rich pipeline of historically drilled, high-impact targets across key mineral belts.

 

Forte is committed to responsible resource development, creating long-term value, and fostering lasting partnerships with stakeholders and communities.

 

  On behalf of   Forte Minerals CORP.  

 

(signed) ‘ Patrick Elliott’  
Chief Executive Officer

 

  For further information, please contact:  
Forte Minerals Corp.
office: (604) 983-8847
info@forteminerals.com  
www.forteminerals.com  

 

   Follow Us On Social Media   : LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Meta | The Drill Down; Newsletter  

 

  Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, ‘forward-looking statements’), including those identified by the expressions ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘plan’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’, ‘may’, ‘should’ and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This press release contains forward looking statements relating to the terms of the Strategic Placement, the timing for completion of the Strategic Placement and the intended use of proceeds of the Strategic Placement. These forward-looking statements and information reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company with respect to the matter described in this press release. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are based on current expectations as of the date of this release and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained under ‘Risk Factors and Uncertainties’ in the Company’s latest management’s discussion and analysis, which is available under the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and in other filings that the Company has made and may make with applicable securities authorities in the future.  

 

  Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management’s reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the statements will prove to be accurate or that management’s expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information or statements to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements.  

 

  Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the ‘CSE’) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.  

 

   

 

 

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

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Surface Metals (CSE:SUR,OTCQB:SURMF) is a diversified exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of lithium and precious metals assets aligned with the global push for electrification and gold as a strategic hedge.

The company’s flagship Cimarron Gold Project in Nevada is a high-grade, underexplored oxide gold system with historic drilling by major operators including Newmont and Echo Bay. Located at the north end of the San Antonio Mountains, approximately 18 miles north of Tonopah, Cimarron hosts shallow, structurally controlled, low-sulfidation epithermal gold mineralization. Surface Metals holds a 90% interest in the project through its U.S. subsidiary, Surface Metals US Inc. The project consists of 31 lode claims in the historic San Antonio (Cimarron) mining district.

Through its subsidiary ACME Lithium US, Surface Metals is developing a suite of lithium projects in Nevada and Manitoba, Canada. These include:

  • Clayton Valley: a lithium brine asset with a defined resource,
  • Fish Lake Valley: a claystone-hosted lithium project,
  • Shatford and Cat-Euclid claims: pegmatite-rich assets in Manitoba, developed in partnership with Snow Lake Resources.

With exposure to both critical battery metals and gold, Surface Metals is strategically positioned to capitalize on dual macroeconomic trends—electrification and financial resilience.

Company Highlights

  • Dual Focus Portfolio: Combines precious metals and energy transition minerals, including a 90 percent stake in the Cimarron gold project and multiple lithium assets in Nevada and Manitoba.
  • Gold Asset with Legacy Database: Cimarron contains over 190 historical drill holes with high-grade intercepts and a non-compliant historic resource of 50,000+ oz gold, open in multiple directions.
  • NI 43-101 Lithium Resource: The Clayton Valley project hosts an inferred lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) resource of 302,900 tonnes, backed by geophysics, drilling and pumping test data.
  • Strategic Lithium Locations: Lithium claims are adjacent to Albemarle’s Silver Peak mine and Ioneer’s Rhyolite Ridge development in Nevada, and contiguous to the Tanco mine in Manitoba.
  • Experienced Leadership: Led by resource sector veterans with a track record of successful exits, technical development and public company management.
  • Energy Transition Strategy: Well-positioned to benefit from macro tailwinds in lithium demand and US domestic critical minerals supply chain policies.

This Surface Metals profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*

Click here to connect with Surface Metals (CSE:SUR) to receive an Investor Presentation

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Empire Metals Limited (LON:EEE), the AIM-quoted and OTCQB-traded resource exploration and development company, is pleased to announce several strategic technical appointments and partnerships that strengthen the in-house project development team and support the advancement of the Pitfield Titanium Project (‘Pitfield’ or the ‘Project’) in Western Australia.

These appointments coincide with the commencement of bulk-scale metallurgical testing, a critical step in progressing Pitfield toward commercial development.

Highlights

  • Mr. Alan Rubio, an engineer and seasoned Study and Project Manager with over 28 years’ experience working within the resources sector developing and evaluating mining projects, will lead the assessment of mining, infrastructure and oversee key economic studies to deliver a robust project development plan.
  • Mr. Pocholo Aviso, an experienced hydro-metallurgist with a background in the TiO₂ pigment industry (including roles at Tronox and BHP’s Kwinana Nickel Refinery), will manage the titanium product development programme, focusing on product optimisation, process flowsheet designs and evaluating market pathways.
  • Partnership with Strategic Metallurgy Pty Ltd:
    Empire has also partnered with Strategic Metallurgy, a highly respected, Perth-based metallurgical consultancy. The firm will provide oversight of the metallurgical testwork programme and technical guidance to the Company’s internal metallurgists and process design engineers, helping transition from bench-scale process development to pilot-scale testing.
  • Bulk-Scale Testwork:
    The Company has commenced bulk metallurgical testwork that will produce significant quantities of mineral concentrate to support large-scale beneficiation testing and, for the first time, enable the supply of bulk product samples to prospective end users. In addition, this testwork will provide critical technical information for the development of a commercial process flowsheet.

These key appointments advance the Company toward confirming project economics and assessing mine design, process flowsheets and product options-critical steps in the development pathway to commercial mine production.

Commenting on the announcement, Shaun Bunn, Managing Director, said:

‘I am delighted to welcome Alan and Pocholo to our team. Their technical expertise will be invaluable as we move toward defining the economic potential and product strategy for Pitfield. Building a strong in-house team has been key to our progress so far, and these appointments mark an important next step.

‘We are also very pleased to be working with Strategic Metallurgy, whose reputation and experience in process development will significantly strengthen our metallurgical programme. The timing is ideal, with large-scale metallurgical testing now underway, including ore scrubbing and spiral gravity separation, using bulk samples collected earlier this year.’

Process Development Update

A large-scale metallurgical testwork programme, involving mineral separation techniques that require bulk feed samples, between approximately 0.5 to 1.5 tonnes each, has commenced using the material collected from the February 2025 Air Core drilling. The programme includes ore scrubbing, desliming and gravity spiral testwork. Alternative gravity separation unit processes, such as jigs and up-current classifiers, are also being evaluated.

Flotation testwork is also being carried out on the fines fraction, separated in the desliming step. As part of this programme, bulk mineral concentrates will be produced for downstream processing, testing both hydrometallurgical and product finishing flowsheet concepts. This will allow a consistent, common mineral concentrate stream to be assessed across the range of flowsheet options that are being considered downstream of the mineral separation step.

 

This bulk testwork programme will produce significant volumes of concentrates which will feed into beneficiation testwork and result in larger product samples which can be delivered to potential end users for assessment for the first time.

In addition, this programme is designed to assess different types of process equipment and analyse a variety of flowsheet options, resulting in technical information necessary for developing a commercial process flowsheet.

About Strategic Metallurgy

Strategic Metallurgy Pty Ltd, established in 2010, is a metallurgical consulting company whose business model is to work with mining companies to develop their metallurgical strategy and ensure that it fits into their overall business plan. With a proven track record of providing expert consulting, process development, testwork management, feasibilities and strategic reviews Strategic Metallurgy has the extensive hands-on experience that Empire requires to progress the Pitfield Project through the metallurgical testing, process modelling, flowsheet design stages to pilot plant design and operation.

The Pitfield Titanium Project

Located within the Mid-West region of Western Australia, near the northern wheatbelt town of Three Springs, the Pitfield titanium project lies 313km north of Perth and 156km southeast of Geraldton, the Mid West region’s capital and major port. Western Australia is ranked as one of the top mining jurisdictions in the world according to the Fraser Institute’s Investment Attractiveness Index published in 2023, and has mining-friendly policies, stable government, transparency, and advanced technology expertise. Pitfield has existing connections to port (both road & rail), HV power substations, and is nearby to natural gas pipelines (refer Figure 2).

 

Competent Person Statement

The scientific and technical information in this report that relates to process metallurgy is based on information reviewed by Ms Narelle Marriott, an employee of Empire Metals Australia Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Empire. Ms Marriott is a member of the AusIMM and has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012. Ms. Marriott consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears.

The technical information in this report that relates to the geology and exploration of the Pitfield Project has been compiled by Mr Andrew Faragher, an employee of Empire Metals Australia Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Empire. Mr. Faragher is a member of the AusIMM and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012. Mr Faragher consents to the inclusion in this release of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, as incorporated into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, until the release of this announcement.

**ENDS**

For further information please visit www.empiremetals.co.uk or contact:

 

About Empire Metals Limited

Empire Metals is an AIM-listed and OTCQB-traded exploration and resource development company (LON:EEE)(OTCQB:EPMLF) with a primary focus on developing Pitfield, an emerging giant titanium project in Western Australia.

The high-grade titanium discovery at Pitfield is of unprecedented scale, with airborne surveys identifying a massive, coincident gravity and magnetics anomaly extending over 40km by 8km by 5km deep. Drill results have indicated excellent continuity in grades and consistency of the in-situ mineralised beds and confirm that the sandstone beds hold the higher-grade titanium dioxide (TiO₂) values within the interbedded succession of sandstones, siltstones and conglomerates. The Company is focused on two key prospects (Cosgrove and Thomas), which have been identified as having thick, high-grade, near-surface, in-situ bedded TiO₂ mineralisation, each being over 7km in strike length.

An Exploration Target* for Pitfield was declared in 2024, covering the Thomas and Cosgrove mineral prospects, and was estimated to contain between 26.4 to 32.2 billion tonnes with a grade range of 4.5 to 5.5% TiO2. Included within the total Exploration Target* is a subset that covers the in-situ weathered sandstone zone, which extends from surface to an average vertical depth of 30m to 40m and is estimated to contain between 4.0 to 4.9 billion tonnes with a grade range of 4.8 to 5.9% TiO2.

The Exploration Target* covers an area less than 20% of the overall mineral system at Pitfield which demonstrates the potential for significant further upside.

Empire is now accelerating the economic development of Pitfield, with a vision to produce a high-value titanium metal or pigment quality product at Pitfield, to realise the full value potential of this exceptional deposit.

The Company also has two further exploration projects in Australia; the Eclipse Project and the Walton Project in Western Australia, in addition to three precious metals projects located in a historically high-grade gold producing region of Austria.

*The potential quantity and grade of the Exploration Target is conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource. See RNS dated 12 June 2024 for full details.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

Source

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Saga Metals Corp. (‘SAGA’ or the ‘Company’) (TSXV: SAGA,OTC:SAGMF) (OTCQB: SAGMF) (FSE: 20H) a North American exploration company focused on critical mineral discovery, is pleased to report a significant breakthrough in its 2025 exploration campaign at the wholly-owned Radar Project in Labrador, Canada. Emerging technical results suggest that the project bears geological similarities to Panzhihua, the world’s leading vanadiferous titanomagnetite (VTM) operation, located in China, which contributes over 40% of global vanadium (V 2 O 5 ) production 1 .

 

With a large oxide layering thickness, a near-monomineralic VTM composition, and extensive mineral tenures, the Radar Project shows the potential to become a globally meaningful VTM project. We use Panzhihua as our deposit model target, however, note that comparable Labradorite-type AMCG deposits are not necessarily indicative of the grades and tonnes of the mineralization within the Dykes River intrusion.

 

  ‘The Radar Project’s mineralogy appears cleaner and more coarse-grained than most VTM deposits, and its vanadium content is similar to Panzhihua. This is a rare combination,’   said Paul McGuigan, P. Geo.  

 

The Company requested that Paul McGuigan, P. Geo., review the results of the 2024-25 drilling program, which comprised 2,209 m of drilling, core logging, and 2,943 assay samples from the Hawkeye zone of the Radar Project. Additionally, the Company engaged Allan R. Miller, PhD, P. Geo., to investigate the petrography and ore microscopy of a preliminary suite of specimens, primarily from the Hawkeye zone.

 

Metallurgical testing is pending. Meanwhile, sufficient core logging, assaying, and petrography have been completed to identify a highly prospective Lower Cumulate Layer with a 100-200 m thick vanadium-rich basal layer within the drilled 600 m thick layered gabbronorite suite.

 

  Radar Ti-V-Fe Project: A Rare Geological Setting  

 

Located just 10 km from Cartwright, Labrador, the 24,175-hectare Radar Property is supported by existing infrastructure including road access, a deep-water port, airstrip, and nearby hydroelectric power. The property completely encompasses the Dykes River Intrusive Complex, a previously underexplored layered mafic body.

 

The Dykes River intrusion is an early, pre-collisional part of the Grenville Province. The Grenville, and its equivalent in Norway, is globally recognized for hosting some of the largest titanium–vanadium–iron oxide-bearing anorthosite massifs, including Lac Tio in Quebec and Tellnes in Norway 2 . This province has long been recognized as a powerhouse for strategic critical minerals, particularly Ti, V, Fe, and P 3 .

 

 

 

   Figure 1:    Radar Property map, depicting aeromagnetic anomalies, oxide layering and the site of the 2025 drill program. The Property is well serviced by road access and is conveniently located near the town of Cartwright, Labrador. A compilation of historical aeromagnetic anomalies is shown. SAGA has demonstrated    the reliability of the regional airborne magnetic surveys after ground-truthing and drilling    in the 2024 and 2025 field programs.  

 

  Radar’s Lower Cumulate Layer is similar to Panzhihua’s Main VTM Zones  

 

Using the data from 2,943 assay samples, plots of TiO 2 vs. Fe/Ti (like those used by Charlier on other Grenville intrusions) tracked the evolution of the parent magmas of the Dykes River Fe–Ti–V oxide system. Similarities in ratios of TiO 2 and V 2 O 5 vs Fe 3 O 4 across multiple drill holes serve to identify the stratiform oxide ore layers. Within the 600 m tested thickness of layered gabbronorite, the chemistry delineates a very promising 300-400 m thickness, called the Lower Cumulate Layer. The highest V 2 O 5 assays are located in the lower 100-200 m, coinciding with the highest-grade intervals of VTMs. The layer is comprised of interlayered gabbronorite and bands of semi-massive to massive VTM.

 

Drill holes R25-HEZ-01, -07, -04, and -05 intersect this Lower Cumulate Layer. The chemistry indicates that the layer was deposited from a single, large-volume pulse of Ti-V-Fe-enriched magma (as shown in the consistency in the graphs plotted in Figure 2 below).

 

  ‘The remarkable aspect is that 80% of the samples are of the same species of VTM, which is quite rare and due to the simple mineralogy,’   stated   Paul McGuigan, P.Geo.  

 

SAGA’s Technical Consultant, Paul McGuigan, P.Geo., further identified that the lower 200–400 m of Hawkeye’s mafic sequence comprises high-grade, rhythmically-layered VTM, with consistent TiO 2 , Fe 3 O 4 and V 2 O 5 ratios. Like Panzhihua 4 , the best grades at Hawkeye occur where individual VTM layers coalesce in the lower layers of a labradorite-AMCG type intrusion.

 

  •   Host Rock : Gabbronorite with layered massive and disseminated titanomagnetite
  •  

  •   Mineralogy : Coarse-grained titanomagnetite is pronounced in the massive cumulate VTM
  •  

  •   Oxide Textures : Immiscible magnetite–ilmenite indicating primary magmatic segregation
  •  

  •   Stratigraphy : Cumulate layering dipping inward, similar to a lopolith intrusion
  •  

 
  Figure 2:    TiO    2   vs Fe/Ti for Lower Cumulate Layer showing similar magmatic differentiation trends.  

 

The Lower Cumulate Layer at Radar, drilled in Holes R25-HEZ-01, -04, -05, and -07, features:

 

 

 

   Table 1:    Lower Cumulate Layer highlighting the length of VTM intersections.  

 

At the heart of SAGA’s breakthrough is the Hawkeye Zone, part of the Dykes River Complex. Recent petrographic work by Dr. Allan R. Miller confirms the presence of semi-massive to massive titanomagnetite hosted in gabbronorite cumulate layers. The mineralogy and assays in the lower Hawkeye zone are strikingly similar to those at Panzhihua 5 , where multiple layers of VTM mineralization—ranging from 1 to 30 meters in thickness and aggregating up to 100 m thick—are extracted for pig iron and vanadium.

 

  Drilling Confirms High-Grade Intervals Across Large Stratigraphy  

 

To summarize the 2,209 m drill program results, assays were grouped with core logging and a calculated VTM content to conform to the interpreted magmatic layering, as follows:

 

  •   Semi-massive to massive VTM (> 35% VTM) is logged as intercumulus VTM with layers of massive VTM and mostly logged as ‘Magnetite Layering.’
  •  

  •   Heavily disseminated VTM (> 20% VTM) is mostly intercumulus to coarse-grained gabbronorite.
  •  

Notwithstanding the ‘heavily disseminated VTM’ characterization, significant length-weighted averages at Hawkeye are in the range of 20 to 35% VTM. In other mafic layered intrusions, that tenor of mineralization lies within an economic range. Herein, we focus on the semi-massive to massive intervals only.

 

 

 

   Table 2:    SAGA’s 2024/2025 winter drilling program completed 2,209 m of drilling over 7 holes and collected 2,943 samples.  

 

 

 

   Table 3:    Summary of Saga Metals Radar Project 2025 drill results with   VTM calculation & classification.  

 

Key findings from Table 2 above include:

 

  • Intersections ranging from 187 m to 311 m of VTM-bearing cumulates.
  •  

  • Length-weighted average grades of 22.95% to 29.59% VTM over these intervals.
  •  

  • Peak intervals exceed 10 m of 41.3% VTM.
  •  

  • Vanadium concentrations are highest in the lowermost stratigraphy, double that in the upper layers.
  •  

  Radar Project’s Exploration Guidance – Strategic Significance  

 

Review of this recent assay and petrography data highlights the exceptional potential of Saga Metals’ Radar property. The Dykes River mafic intrusion is a Labradorite-type AMCG layered intrusion , of the same composition and setting as intrusions hosting both titanomagnetite- and ilmenite-dominated deposits, such as the largest hard-rock titanium deposits worldwide, as follows:

 

  • Lac Tio, Quebec (Rio Tinto), a 154 million tonne, massive ilmenite deposit 6 .
  •  

  • Tellnes (Norway) (Titania AS, a subsidiary of Kronos Worldwide), a 380 million tonne, semi-massive ilmenite-titanomagnetite deposit 7 .
  •  

  • Panzhihua, China (Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group), a 1,333 million tonne deposit of VTM, with lesser ilmenite 8 .
  •  

Worldwide, most Labradorite-type AMCG deposits, dominated by VTM, are mined only for their V 2 O 5 content.

 

Notably, the Panzhihua mine produces both a VTM and an ilmenite concentrate, which are used to produce pig iron, V 2 O 5 , and TiO 2 . From the VTM concentrates only, the mine produces high-purity pig iron and over 42,000 tonnes/year of V 2 O 5 , which accounts for approximately 40% of the yearly world vanadium production 9 .

 

Modelling of the VTM contents at the Hawkeye zone Lower Cumulate Layer returns a targeted VTM concentrate very similar to Panzhihua VTM concentrates. Despite an abundance of world resources for Ti ores, the industry continues to prospect for better quality concentrates, principally because of processing costs and waste disposal problems associated with the high iron and trace-element contents of ilmenite and titanomagnetite. The simple, coarse-grained VTM mineralization at Saga Metals’ Radar Project has the potential for a clean VTM concentrate with high recovery.

 

   The deposits within comparable Labradorite-type AMCG deposits are not necessarily indicative of the grades and tonnes of the mineralization within the Dykes River intrusion.   

 

  The Hawkeye Zone at Saga Metals Radar Project:  

 

Hawkeye is the first return of data from a very extensive gabbronorite Ti-V-Fe oxide layer in the Dykes River intrusion. The exploration focus is now significantly improved by the new data:

 

  • About 24 km of strike length of the Ti-V-Fe oxide layer is indicated by mapping and aeromagnetic data.
  •  

  • 2025 drilling has defined the Lower Cumulate Layer, but drilling did not fully test the lower levels.
  •  

  • The tremendous size of the exploration target will require a combination of surface trench sampling and detailed aeromagnetic surveys to test the full width and strike length of the newly identified Lower Cumulate Layer.
  •  

Dr. Miller’s petrographic work revealed coarse-grained vanadiferous titanomagnetite (VTM) as the dominant mineral phase. Ilmenite, while present, exists primarily to date as intercumulus individual grains and minor inclusions (exsolution lamellae with trellis texture) within VTM, meaning processing flowsheets could theoretically prioritize VTM concentrate production for recovery of pig iron, V 2 O 5 and TiO 2 —similar to Panzhihua’s strategy. Processing options open the door for the recovery of TiO 2 .

 

  Q3 and Q4 2025 Initiatives Planned at the Radar Project:  

 

 Saga Metals intends to complete further delineation drilling in 2025 and initiate metallurgical testing focused on concentrate recoverability and DRI-EAF furnace compatibility. Saga plans to:

 

  • Expand drilling across the priority targets within the Dykes River Complex
  •  

  • Conduct an aeromagnetic survey and 3D magnetic inversion to target the highest-grade portions of the Lower Cumulate Layer
  •  

  • Commence metallurgical bench-scale testing
  •  

  • Initiate preliminary engineering for concentrate recovery and smelting
  •  

With its proximity to infrastructure and strong mineralogy, the Company’s goal is to establish Radar as a strategic candidate for domestic titanium, vanadium, and pig iron production, particularly as North America pursues secure supplies of energy storage metals.

 

  ‘This isn’t just another VTM project,’   said   Saga Metals Corp. CEO, Mike Stier.   ‘We aim to prove that Radar could be one of the most significant North American VTM discoveries in a generation, with the goal of competing with global titans like Panzhihua.’  

 

  Qualified Person  

 

Paul J. McGuigan, P. Geo., is an Independent Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information related to the Radar Ti-V-Fe Project disclosed in this news release.

 

  About Saga Metals Corp.  

 

 Saga Metals Corp. is a North American mining company focused on the exploration and discovery of a diversified suite of critical minerals that support the global transition to green energy. The Radar Titanium Project comprises 24,175 hectares and entirely encloses the Dykes River intrusive complex, mapped at 160 km² on the surface near Cartwright, Labrador. Exploration to date, including a 2,200 m drill program, has confirmed a large and mineralized layered mafic intrusion hosting vanadiferous titanomagnetite (VTM) with strong grades of titanium and vanadium.

 

The Double Mer Uranium Project, also in Labrador, covers 25,600 hectares featuring uranium radiometrics that highlight an 18 km east-west trend, with a confirmed 14 km section producing samples as high as 0.428% U 3 O 8 and uranium uranophane was identified in several areas of highest radiometric response (2024 Double Mer Technical Report).

 

Additionally, SAGA owns the Legacy Lithium Property in Quebec’s Eeyou Istchee James Bay region. This project, developed in partnership with Rio Tinto, has been expanded through the acquisition of the Amirault Lithium Project. Together, these properties cover 65,849 hectares and share significant geological continuity with other major players in the area, including Rio Tinto, Winsome Resources, Azimut Exploration, and Loyal Metals.

 

With a portfolio that spans key minerals crucial to the green energy transition, SAGA is strategically positioned to play an essential role in the clean energy future.

 

  On Behalf of the Board of Directors  

 

  Mike Stier, Chief Executive Officer  

 

For more information, contact:

 

Rob Guzman, Investor Relations
Saga Metals Corp.
Tel: +1 (844) 724-2638
Email: rob@sagametals.com
www.sagametals.com

 

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

 

  Cautionary Disclaimer  

 

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as ‘will’, ‘may’, ‘should’, ‘anticipates’, ‘expects’, ‘believes’, and similar expressions or the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the exploration of the Company’s Radar Project. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, environmental risks, limitations on insurance coverage, inherent risks and uncertainties involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, particularly given the early-stage nature of the Company’s assets, and the risks detailed in the Company’s continuous disclosure filings with securities regulations from time to time, available under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only as expressly required by applicable law.

 

___________________________________
1
Panzhihua, China  
2 Lac Tio & Tellnes  
3 Grenville Province (1) , Grenville Province (2)  
4 Panzhihua, China  
5 Panzhihua, China  
6 Rio Tinto Annual Report, 2021  
7 Tellnes  
8 Hong Zhong and Weiguang Zhu (2006): Geochronology of layered mafic intrusions from the Pan–Xi area in the Emeishan large igneous province, SW China. Mineralium Deposita 41, 599-606.
9 Panzhihua, China & Mineral Commodity Study 2020  

 

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0d7c6293-1647-4992-b5da-cef2026792aa   
  https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/958d6e6a-6d77-460a-aa53-8c9d83b7a54e   
  https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ca41a582-f2ae-4284-843a-a1227acedc87   
  https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/54a65049-4b87-46db-ae87-f6319a933345   
  https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c77766be-bb66-4c57-b8cb-5b882fc9c425  

 

   

 

 

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

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Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (July 16) as of 9:00 a.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$118,712, up by 0.8 percent in the last 24 hours. The day’s range for the cryptocurrency brought a low of US$116,094 and a high of US$119,248.

Bitcoin price performance, July 16, 2025.

Chart via TradingView

Bitcoin’s price resurgence came after US lawmakers faced a setback in passing key ‘Crypto Week’ bills, but renewed hope emerged when President Trump signaled support, suggesting the GENIUS Act could pass imminently

Institutional demand also fueled the rally, as Bitcoin spot ETFs continued to attract significant capital, marking sustained interest from both large and retail investors alike.

Ethereum (ETH) was priced at US$3,163.97, up by 5.2 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Wednesday was US$2,979.70 and its highest was US$3,179.69.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) was priced at US$165.29, up by 3.9 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Wednesday was US$157.97, and its highest was US$167.37.
  • XRP was trading for US$2.96, up 2.3 percent in the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency’s lowest valuation was US$2.85, and its highest was US$2.98.
  • Sui (SUI) is trading at US$4.03, up by 1.0 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation was US$3.91, and its highest was US$4.10.
  • Cardano (ADA) deviated from the trend, up by 2.3 percent to US$0.7516. Its lowest violation sits at US$0.7151 while its highest valuation as of Wednesday was US$0.7536.

Today’s crypto news to know

Tether’s acquires US$600 million farmland in Stablecoin push

Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, has acquired 70 percent of Adecoagro, a major South American agricultural producer, for around US$600 million.

Reuters reported that the move represents a new strategy to connect stablecoin payments with physical commodities like rice, sugar, and ethanol. Tether aims to embed its dollar-pegged digital currency into global trade flows, allowing cross-border payments to settle in seconds instead of days and at significantly lower costs.

The company believes controlling hard assets can provide inflation-resistant revenue and bolster confidence in USDT’s reserve backing. Adecoagro operates across Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil, producing food and energy-related commodities critical to trade in the region.

Tether’s broader plan appears to be building a vertically integrated ecosystem where crypto finance and traditional supply chains converge. With US$149 billion in reserves and US$143 billion in USDT in circulation, the company is using its financial heft to push deeper into real-world infrastructure.

Executives say the long-term goal is for USDT to become a settlement layer in markets traditionally dominated by fiat and slow payment rails.

Citigroup CEO says bank exploring launch of its own Stablecoin

Citigroup is weighing the launch of a proprietary stablecoin as part of its broader push into blockchain infrastructure, CEO Jane Fraser confirmed during the bank’s Q2 2025 earnings call.

While tokenized deposits remain the bank’s immediate priority, Fraser said a Citi-backed digital dollar could play a key role in future client solutions for cross-border transactions. The bank’s digital asset strategy centers on four pillars: tokenized fiat deposits, reserve management for stablecoins, custodial services for digital assets, and fiat-to-crypto on- and off-ramps.

Citi’s interest comes amid broader momentum for stablecoins in 2025, with the market expected to reach US$3.7 trillion by 2030 according to internal projections.

Fraser emphasized that these innovations aim to modernize banking infrastructure and serve client demand for 24/7, multi-currency, compliant payment systems. The potential Citi stablecoin would likely be dollar-pegged and integrated into corporate treasury services.

Citi joins a list of traditional finance heavyweights, even rival and formerly crypto skeptic JPMorgan, now exploring blockchain-based products as regulation for stablecoins gains clarity.

Polymarket cleared by DOJ and CFTC after years of scrutiny

Federal authorities have ended their investigations into Polymarket, a blockchain-based prediction market platform, effectively closing a multi-year regulatory saga.

The US Department of Justice and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) notified the company this week that it will face no further enforcement actions. This follows a dramatic period in late 2024 when FBI agents raided the Manhattan penthouse of Polymarket’s CEO, Shayne Coplan, seizing devices amid suspicions of continued US user access.

The company had previously settled with the CFTC in 2022 for US$1.4 million after being accused of offering unregistered event-based options.

Despite the settlement, regulators remained concerned Polymarket had violated terms by still allowing US residents to place bets.

The closure of the case comes amid shifting regulatory winds, as the White House advances more structured digital asset legislation under President Trump’s administration.

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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Consumer prices rose in June as President Donald Trump’s tariffs began to slowly work their way through the U.S. economy.

The consumer price index, a broad-based measure of goods and services costs, increased 0.3% on the month, putting the 12-month inflation rate at 2.7%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday. The numbers were right in line with the Dow Jones consensus, though the annual rate is the highest since February.

Excluding volatile food and energy prices, core inflation picked up 0.2% on the month, with the annual rate moving to 2.9%, with the annual rate in line with estimates. The monthly level was slightly below the outlook for a 0.3% gain.

A worker prices produce at a grocery store in San Francisco, California, US, on Friday, June 7, 2024.David Paul Morris / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Prior to June, inflation had been on a generally downward slope for the year, with headline CPI at a 3% annual rate back in January and progressing gradually slower in the subsequent months despite fears that Trump’s trade war would drive prices higher.

While the evidence in June was mixed on how much influence tariffs had over prices, there were signs that the duties are having an impact.

Vehicle prices fell on the month, with prices on new vehicles down 0.3% and used car and trucks tumbling 0.7%. However, tariff-sensitive apparel prices increased 0.4%. Household furnishings, which also are influenced by tariffs, increased 1% for the month.

Shelter prices increased just 0.2% for the month, but the BLS said the category was still the largest contributor to the overall CPI gain. The index rose 3.8% from a year ago. Within the category, a measurement of what homeowners feel they could receive if they rented their properties increased 0.3%. However, lodging away from home slipped 2.9%.

Elsewhere, food prices increased 0.3% for the month, putting the annual gain at 3%, while energy prices reversed a loss in May and rose 0.9%, though they are still down marginally from a year ago. Medical care services were up 0.6% while transportation services edged higher by 0.2%.

With the rise in prices, inflation-adjusted hourly earnings fell 0.1% in June, the BLS said in a separate release. Real earnings increased 1% on an annual basis.

Markets largely took the inflation report in stride. Stock market indexes were mixed while Treasury yields were mostly negative.

Amid the previously muted inflation ratings, Trump has been urging the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, which it has not done since December. The president has insisted that tariffs are not aggravating inflation, and has contended that the Fed’s refusal to ease is raising the costs the U.S. has to pay on its burgeoning debt and deficit problem.

Central bankers, led by Chair Jerome Powell, have refused to budge. They insist that the U.S. economy is in a strong enough position now that the Fed can afford to wait to see the impact tariffs will have on inflation. Trump in turn has called on Powell to resign and is certain to name someone else to the job when the chair’s term expires in May 2026.

Markets expect the Fed to stay on hold when it meets at the end of July and then cut by a quarter percentage point in September.

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After a relatively quiet week for the S&P 500, we’re seeing some interesting shifts in sector dynamics. Let’s dive into the latest rankings, RRG analysis, and what it means for our portfolio strategy.

Sector Shifts and RRG Insights: Materials on the Move

The big news this week is the ascent of the Materials sector, which has muscled its way into the top five at the expense of the Utilities sector.

The rest of the top five remained steady, but we’re seeing some movement in the lower ranks as well. Consumer Discretionary made a notable jump from #9 to #7, pushing Consumer Staples and Real Estate down a notch each. Energy and Health Care continue to bring up the rear at #10 and #11, respectively.

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

Weekly RRG

The weekly Relative Rotation Graph (RRG) gives us a broader perspective on sector trends. Technology continues to dominate, firmly entrenched in the leading quadrant, no surprises there. Industrials is showing stability with a short tail in the leading quadrant, indicating a consistent relative uptrend.

Communication Services, however, is raising some eyebrows. It’s lurking in the weakening quadrant with a short tail, suggesting a stable relative uptrend but with negative momentum. Financials are teetering on the edge of the lagging quadrant, a move that demands attention. Materials, despite its rise in the rankings, is actually in the lagging quadrant on the weekly RRG. You will see why it made its way into the top 5 on the daily RRG.

Daily RRG

On the daily RRG, we get a more nuanced picture of short-term sector movements:

  • Materials (XLB) is the star of the show, crossing into the leading quadrant and standing alone in that coveted space.
  • Financials (XLF) is showing weakness, rolling over and heading back towards the lagging quadrant — confirming what we saw on the weekly chart.
  • Communication Services is on the verge of crossing into the lagging quadrant, a sign that is not great for its current #3 ranking.
  • Industrials is flexing its muscles, approaching the leading quadrant with a positive heading.
  • Technology, while rotating into the weakening quadrant, still has ample room to bounce back into leading territory.

Technology

The tech train continues to roll, breaking through resistance around 240 and maintaining its upward trajectory in both price and relative strength. The RS line is pushing higher after a clean breakout from its falling trend, a bullish sign for the sector leader.

Industrials

XLI is following through nicely on both price and relative strength charts. The raw RS line has established a new higher low, dragging the RS ratio higher. In my opinion, this sector looks rock-solid.

Communication Services

Here’s where things get dicey. XLC is clinging to its breakout above 105, but last week’s decline is testing that former resistance as new support. The raw RS line breaking below rising support is a warning sign that this sector could be in for a bumpy ride.

Financials

Similar to Communications Services, Financials has retreated to test old resistance as support. The raw RS line looks even worse here, having broken out of its rising channel weeks ago. Both RRG lines are flirting with the 100 level; a further push into the lagging quadrant seems likely.

Materials

XLB is showing some muscle, breaking out of its falling channel and taking out recent highs. The raw RS line is pushing against falling resistance — if it can break through, we could see a significant turnaround in the RRG lines, confirming the sector’s newfound strength.

Portfolio Performance

Now, for the part that might sting a bit, the portfolio drawdown is ongoing. It’s something trend followers need to learn to live with. Currently, the portfolio is down about 2% for the year, while the S&P 500 is up over 6%. That puts us roughly 8% behind the benchmark YTD.

It’s not a comfortable position, but it’s part of the game. Trend-following strategies often lag in choppy or rapidly changing markets. The key is to stay disciplined and trust in the long-term efficacy of our approach.

#StayAlert and have a great week, Julius