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Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Euro Sun Gains 54% as Copper Hits New High

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The US Bureau of Economic Analysis released February personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index data on Friday (March 28). The figures show inflation increased 2.5 percent on an annualized basis in February, aligning with analyst expectations and reflecting no change from the 2.5 percent recorded in January. On a monthly basis, inflation rose by 0.3 percent, also matching January’s increase.

However, core PCE, which excludes the volatile food and energy prices, increased 2.8 percent year-over-year and 0.4 percent month-over-month. Both came in above analyst expectations of 2.7 and 0.3 percent, respectively.

The PCE is the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure for tracking inflation and will be significant when it meets next in May. Combined with recent consumer price index figures, the data indicates progress has stalled in bringing inflation to the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target rate.

To the north, Statistics Canada released January gross domestic product (GDP) numbers on Friday. The report shows that GDP grew by 0.4 percent in January, up from a 0.3 percent increase in December.

The largest gain was observed in goods-producing industries, which rose 1.1 percent, marking the highest increase since October 2021. As for Canada’s resources, the mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction sector increased by 1.8 percent during the first month of the year. This increase was driven by a 2.6 percent rise in the oil and gas extraction subsector. However, metal ore mining declined by 1.2 percent.

The agency also provided a brief estimate of February’s GDP numbers, as well as a look at Canada and the US’s metal manufacturing trade. Tariff threats from the United States appear to have kept numbers flat, as preliminary real GDP data is “essentially unchanged in February.” Official data for February will be released on April 30.

Markets and commodities react

In Canada, markets were in the red this week. The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) fell 1.2 percent during the week to close at 24,759.15 on Friday, the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) decreased 1.04 percent to 633.63 and the CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) dropped 2.43 percent to 121.13.

US equity markets fell even further this week. The S&P 500 (INDEXSP:INX) lost 2.4 percent to close at 5,5680.95, the Nasdaq 100 (INDEXNASDAQ:NDX) dropped 3.79 percent to 19,281.40 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) shed 1.41 percent to 41,583.91.

The gold price climbed to fresh all time highs this week gaining 2.02 percent to US$3,084.48 per ounce at 5:00 p.m. EDT Friday. The silver price rose higher with a 3.29 percent increase during the period to US$34.10.

In base metals, the copper price set an all time high of US$5.32 per pound on Wednesday before finishing the week flat to close out Friday at US$5.13 per pound on the COMEX. Meanwhile, the S&P GSCI (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) was up 0.41 percent to close at 560.50.

Top Canadian mining stocks this week

So how did mining stocks perform against this backdrop? We break down this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.

Stock data for this article was retrieved at 2:00 p.m. EDT on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market capitalizations greater than C$10 million are included. Companies within the non-energy minerals and energy minerals sectors were considered.

1. Euro Sun Mining (TSX:ESM)

Company Profile

Weekly gain: 53.85 percent
Market cap: C$30.94 million
Share price: C$0.10

Euro Sun Mining is a copper and gold development company focused on advancing its Rovina Valley project in Romania.

The project’s mining license received full approval for 20 years in 2018, with the option to renew it in five-year increments.

An updated feasibility study from March 2022 demonstrated the project’s economics, showing a post-tax net present value of US$512 million and an internal rate of return of 20.5 percent, assuming a base case gold price of US$1,675 per ounce and a copper price of US$3.75 per pound.

Proven and probable mineral reserve estimates for the site show contained quantities of 197,522 metric tons of copper with an average grade of 0.16 percent, along with 1.84 million ounces of gold with an average grade of 0.47 grams per metric ton (g/t) from 123.3 million metric tons of ore.

Although Euro Sun did not release news this week, shares increased alongside a rising copper price.

2. Rackla Metals (TSXV:RAK)

Company Profile

Weekly gain: 50 percent
Market cap: C$22.58 million
Share price: C$0.225

Rackla Metals is a gold exploration company with a significant land package covering 59,000 hectares in the Eastern Yukon and Western Northwest Territories, Canada. The firm is specifically targeting properties within the Tombstone Gold Belt, which hosts a gold system that tends to produce deposits in clusters.

Among its key projects is the Astro plutonic complex in the Northwest Territories, which is in close proximity to significant discoveries at Snowline Gold’s (TSXV:SGD,OTCQB:SNWGF) Rogue plutonic complex and Fireweed Metals’ (TSXV:FWZ,OTCQX:FWEDF) Macmillan Pass project.

Besides Astro, Rackla has been exploring its Grad property, which it initially staked in August 2024. Work at the 4,000 hectare site has focused on anomalies identified in a government regional geochemical survey. In October 2024, the company reported that grab samples from the BiTe zone yielded grades of up to 92 g/t gold in its season-end exploration update.

The company’s latest release came on Tuesday (March 24), when it announced a non-brokered private placement to raise total gross proceeds of C$2.45 million. The company intends to use proceeds to advance work at its Tombstone gold belt properties.

3. Tidewater Renewables (TSX:LCFS)

Company Profile

Weekly gain: 49.55 percent
Market cap: C$112.45 million
Share price: C$3.35

Tidewater Resources is focused on the production of low-carbon fuels from facilities in British Columbia, Canada.

Its sole operation is a renewable diesel and hydrogen complex located near Prince George. The project has a nameplate capacity of 3,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel and 23.7 metric tons per day of hydrogen. The plant began production during Q4 2023 using feedstock that included soybean and canola oil.

The company is expanding the site to produce sustainable aviation fuel, which it plans to start producing in 2028.

On March 6, Tidewater announced that it had advised the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) to initiate an anti-subsidy and anti-dumping duty investigation into imports of renewable diesel from the US. The release indicated that the CBSA confirmed that Tidewater had provided sufficient evidence to support the allegations.

Tidewater expects that additional duties of between C$0.50 and C$0.80 will be applied to renewable diesel imports originating from the US, which would provide increased market stability for Tidewater products.

The company released its financial results for 2024 on Thursday, March 27. In the announcement, the company stated that its renewable diesel and hydrogen complex achieved an average daily throughput of 2,677 barrels per day in the fourth quarter, marking a significant increase from the 1,700 barrels per day throughput in Q4 2023.

4. Titan Mining (TSX:TI)

Company Profile

Weekly gain: 48.28 percent
Market cap: C$57.27 million
Share price: C$0.43

Titan Mining is a critical mineral mining and development company focused on advancing and exploring its zinc and graphite assets in New York, US.

Its Empire State Mines (ESM) zinc operations include ESM 4, which restarted production in January 2018, along with six past-producing mines capable of supplying additional feedstock for its onsite mill.

On January 7, Titan released an updated life of mine plan for its ESM properties, which projected a 35 percent increase in production compared to its previous plan released in 2021. The new plan extends the mine’s operational life to nine years, up from seven, and anticipates the production of 636 million pounds of zinc, increased from 470 million pounds in the prior plan.

In addition to zinc, the company also owns the Kilbourne graphite deposit located 4,000 feet from the existing mill at its Empire Mines operation.

A December 2024 maiden mineral resource estimate demonstrated an open pit inferred resource of 653,000 short tons of contained graphite from 22.42 million short tons of ore with an average grade of 2.91 percent copper.

Titan’s most recent news came on March 20, when it released its full-year 2024 results. In the announcement, the company stated it had achieved the upper end of production guidance with 59.5 million pounds of payable zinc. It also reported C1 cash costs of US$0.91 per payable pound sold, which was below the guidance range of US$0.98 to US$1.02.

5. Supernova Metals (CSE:SUPR)

Weekly gain: 39.71 percent
Market cap: C$14.1 million
Share price: C$0.475

Supernova Metals is an exploration company with rare earth mineral claims in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, as well as petroleum interests in Namibia.

Its TT rare earth claims comprise two licenses spanning 825 hectares in central Labrador and are adjacent to Canada Rare Earth’s (TSXV:LL,OTC Pink:RAREF) Two Tom project. The company shared plans to begin exploration in February.

In addition to its TT Claims, the company announced on January 31 that it had successfully completed its acquisition of NamLith Resources. The purchase provides Supernova with an 8.75 percent indirect ownership interest in Block 2712A and petroleum exploration license 107 in Namibia’s offshore Orange Basin.

In a follow-up on February 6, Supernova reported that a NI51-101 technical report is being prepared for the block. The company has since added two senior strategic advisors with experience in the energy industry.

The company has not released any project updates in the past week.

FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

What is the difference between the TSX and TSXV?

The TSX, or Toronto Stock Exchange, is used by senior companies with larger market caps, and the TSXV, or TSX Venture Exchange, is used by smaller-cap companies. Companies listed on the TSXV can graduate to the senior exchange.

How many companies are listed on the TSXV?

As of June 2024, there were 1,630 companies listed on the TSXV, 925 of which were mining companies. Comparatively, the TSX was home to 1,806 companies, with 188 of those being mining companies.

Together the TSX and TSXV host around 40 percent of the world’s public mining companies.

How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?

There are a variety of different fees that companies must pay to list on the TSXV, and according to the exchange, they can vary based on the transaction’s nature and complexity. The listing fee alone will most likely cost between C$10,000 to C$70,000. Accounting and auditing fees could rack up between C$25,000 and C$100,000, while legal fees are expected to be over C$75,000 and an underwriters’ commission may hit up to 12 percent.

The exchange lists a handful of other fees and expenses companies can expect, including but not limited to security commission and transfer agency fees, investor relations costs and director and officer liability insurance.

These are all just for the initial listing, of course. There are ongoing expenses once companies are trading, such as sustaining fees and additional listing fees, plus the costs associated with filing regular reports.

How do you trade on the TSXV?

Investors can trade on the TSXV the way they would trade stocks on any exchange. This means they can use a stock broker or an individual investment account to buy and sell shares of TSXV-listed companies during the exchange’s trading hours.

Article by Dean Belder; FAQs by Lauren Kelly.

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

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Trump signs executive order to end collective bargaining at agencies involved with national security

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President Donald Trump moved Thursday to end collective bargaining with federal labor unions in agencies with national security missions across the federal government, citing authority granted him under a 1978 law.

The order, signed without public fanfare and announced late Thursday, appears to touch most of the federal government. Affected agencies include the Departments of State, Defense, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Health and Human Services, Treasury, Justice and Commerce and the part of Homeland Security responsible for border security.

Police and firefighters will continue to collectively bargain.

Trump said the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 gives him the authority to end collective bargaining with federal unions in these agencies because of their role in safeguarding national security.

The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers, said late Thursday that it is “preparing immediate legal action and will fight relentlessly to protect our rights, our members, and all working Americans from these unprecedented attacks.”

“President Trump’s latest executive order is a disgraceful and retaliatory attack on the rights of hundreds of thousands of patriotic American civil servants — nearly one-third of whom are veterans — simply because they are members of a union that stands up to his harmful policies,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said.

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said in a statement, “It’s clear that this order is punishment for unions who are leading the fight against the administration’s illegal actions in court — and a blatant attempt to silence us.” She also vowed, “We will fight this outrageous attack on our members with every fiber of our collective being.”

The announcement builds on previous moves by the Trump administration to erode collective bargaining rights in the government.

Earlier this month, DHS said it was ending the collective bargaining agreement with the tens of thousands of frontline employees at the Transportation Security Administration. The TSA union called it an “unprovoked attack” and vowed to fight it.

A White House fact sheet on Thursday’s announcement says that “Certain Federal unions have declared war on President Trump’s agenda” and that Trump “refuses to let union obstruction interfere with his efforts to protect Americans and our national interests.”

“President Trump supports constructive partnerships with unions who work with him; he will not tolerate mass obstruction that jeopardizes his ability to manage agencies with vital national security missions,” the White House said.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Trump cautions ‘bad things’ in store if Iran won’t negotiate as Islamic Republic touts ‘Missile City’

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President Donald Trump promised that ‘bad things’ would happen to Iran if the regime does not come to the table for nuclear negotiations. 

‘My big preference is that we work it out with Iran, but if we don’t work it out, bad things are gonna happen to Iran,’ the president said Friday. 

Iran is enriching uranium to 60%, just shy of the 90% weapons-grade. Experts say it could have a nuclear weapon within weeks if it were to take the final steps to building one. 

In response to U.S. sanctions threats, Iran showed off a sprawling underground tunnel system replete with missiles, launchers, engines and other advanced weapons. 

A video released this week by state media shows two Iranian military leaders, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri and IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh, riding in a vehicle through long, weapons-packed tunnels that Tehran has dubbed ‘Missile City.’ 

The 85-second clip, which has not been independently verified, is set to menacing music and suggests that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps stands ready to respond to threats of an attack from the U.S. and Israel. 

‘Iran’s ballistic missile force remains the largest in the Middle East,’ said Behnam Taleblu, fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. ‘This is all part of the regime’s deterrent strategy to cement the idea of any conflict with Tehran being a costly and protracted one.’ 

The move comes as U.S. is bolstering its forces in the Middle East. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently sent a second aircraft carrier, the U.S. Navy’s USS Carl Vinson, to join the USS Harry S. Truman‘s carrier strike group, whose deployment was also extended. 

The U.S. also recently deployed two B-2 stealth bombers to the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean, a warning to Iran and Yemen’s Houthi militia. The planes are capable of carrying 30,000-pound ‘bunker buster’ bombs and are now situated within range of Iran. 

Weeks ago, Trump wrote a letter to Iran urging the regime to engage in talks on its nuclear program. 

Kamal Kharazi, the top foreign policy adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Thursday that the regime would engage in ‘indirect’ talks, according to local news reports.

‘The Islamic Republic has not closed all the doors and is willing to begin indirect negotiations with the United States.’ 

‘Our policy is to not negotiate directly while there is maximum pressure policy and threats of military strikes,’ foreign minister Abbas Aragchi explained. ‘But indirect negotiations can take place as they have in the past.’

If talks falter, the U.S. and Israel have floated the possibility of targeted strikes on underground nuclear facilities. 

In recent weeks, the Trump administration launched a series of offensive attacks on the Houthis in Yemen to send a message to Tehran, which supports them. 

‘Let nobody be fooled! The hundreds of attacks being made by Houthi, the sinister mobsters and thugs based in Yemen, who are hated by the Yemeni people, all emanate from, and are created by, IRAN,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time. 

‘Iran has played ‘the innocent victim’ of rogue terrorists from which they’ve lost control, but they haven’t lost control,’ he continued. ‘They’re dictating every move, giving them the weapons, supplying them with money and highly sophisticated Military equipment, and even, so-called, ‘Intelligence.” 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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Here’s why Nifty 50 index could surge despite rising risks

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The Nifty 50 index has bounced back this week even as the Indian rupee surged and the risks to the economy rose. The index soared to a high of ₹23,778, its highest swing since January and higher than the year-to-date low of ₹21,988. This report explores why Indian stocks are bouncing back.

Indian companies could be hurt by US tariffs and slowdown

There are signs that Indian companies will be affected by the happenings in the United States. For example, IT consulting firms like Infosys, Wipro, and Tata Consultancy Services have retreated as they reel from the ongoing government spending cuts in the United States.

Elon Musk is aiming to cut government spending by $1 trillion in the next few months. One of the low-hanging fruits has been to cancel contracts with companies that provide IT consultancy to the government.

The other major catalyst that may hurt Nifty 50 companies is the upcoming reciprocal tariffs by Donald Trump. While India has pledged to slash some of its tariffs, there is a risk that Trump will not buy it. That’s because the US maintains a $50 billion trade deficit with India, which he sees as being problematic. 

At the same time, Indian exporters will be hurt by the soaring Indian rupee, which has jumped by over 5% in the past few weeks. An expensive local currency makes goods more expensive to importers. 

On the positive side, there are hopes that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will implement more interest rate cuts later this year. Stocks benefit from low interest rates by making returns in the fixed incom lower. 

Top Nifty 50 index stocks in 2025

Many companies in the Nifty 50 index are doing well this year. The best performers are Bajaj Finance and Bajaj Finserv, whose shares have surged by 38% and 28%, respectively. These companies have done well as their revenue and demand surges.

Kotak Mahindra’s stock price has soared by 21% this year as its private banking division, which caters to the wealthy, booms. Data shows that it added 2,280 new families in the last 12 months, much higher than the 711 that it added a year earlier. This growth means that it now provides wealth solutions to about 60% of all Indian wealthiest families. 

Kotak’s private bank’s clients must have at least $1 million in investable assets, with most of its customers having a net worth of over $30 million. However, the wealth management industry is now contending with competition from companies like UBS, HSBC, Julius Baer, and Standard Chartered.

The other top companies in the Nifty 50 index are firms like JSW Steel,  Shriram Finance, Hindalco Industries, Tata Steel, Eicher Motors, and Tata Consumer. 

On the other hand, IndusInd Bank stock has crashed by over 32% this year, making it the top laggard. The company has dropped because of the substantial bad loans tied to its cooperatives business. Other top laggards are firms like Trent, Dr. Reddy’s, HCL Technologies, Infosys, and Wipro.

Nifty 50 index analysis

Nifty 50 chart by TradingView

The recent Nifty index rebound is part of our recent forecast. In that report, we noted that the index was forming a bullish flag pattern, which is characterized by a tall vertical line and a flag-like pattern. The flag section also has a close resemblance to a falling wedge, a popular bullish pattern. 

Therefore, the Nifty 50 index will likely have a strong bullish breakout, with the next key level to watch being at ₹26,300, up by almost 12% from the current level. A drop below the support at ₹22,000 will invalidate the bullish outlook. 

The post Here’s why Nifty 50 index could surge despite rising risks appeared first on Invezz

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Fury Gold Mines Advances Québec Precious Metals Acquisition

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Fury Gold Mines (TSX:FURY,NYSEAMERICAN:FURY) announced that its acquisition of Québec Precious Metals (QPM) (TSXV:QPM,OTCQB:CJCFF) is advancing on schedule, on track to reach completion before April 30.

The deal, announced in February, aims to consolidate a 157,000 hectare portfolio of gold and critical minerals projects in Québec, positioning the combined company for enhanced exploration and growth.

QPM has obtained both a no-objection letter from Corporations Canada and an interim order from the Québec Superior Court. These allow it to proceed with an April 22 meeting where shareholders will vote on the proposed acquisition.

For its part, Fury has secured conditional approvals from the Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American.

QPM’s shareholder circular, which is now available on SEDAR+, outlines the details of the merger and includes updated financial disclosures from Fury. Notably, Fury expects to record a non-cash impairment charge as of December 31, 2024, to align the carrying value of its mineral properties with its market capitalization.

Under the terms of the agreement, QPM shareholders will receive 0.0741 Fury shares for each QPM share, valuing QPM at approximately C$0.04 per share — a 33 percent premium based on closing prices as of February 25.

Upon completion of the deal, Fury shareholders will own approximately 95 percent of the combined company, while QPM shareholders will hold the remaining 5 percent.

“This transaction is an exciting opportunity given it doubles Fury’s land package in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Region of Quebec and unites complementary assets, teams, and investor bases, which should ultimately increase shareholder value at both companies,’ Fury CEO Tim Clark said, describing the transaction as a transformational step.

Normand Champigny, CEO of QPM, echoed this sentiment, commenting, ‘By combining with Fury, QPM’s shareholders will benefit from the synergies and cost savings of leveraging the combined company’s excellent management team for funding and obtaining required permits to continue drilling at Sakami.”

The merger will significantly expand Fury’s footprint in Québec’s resource-rich Eeyou Istchee James Bay region.

QPM’s flagship Sakami project, a 70,900 hectare gold and lithium property, has demonstrated strong exploration potential, with drilling identifying gold mineralization across widths of up to 75 meters and depths of up to 500 meters.

Its Elmer East project contains a 4.2 kilometer gold- and base metals-bearing structure, where grab samples have returned gold values as high as 68.1 grams per metric ton, alongside significant zinc and copper concentrations.

Beyond gold and lithium, QPM brings a strategic rare earths asset into the combined portfolio.

The Kipawa heavy rare earth elements project, in which QPM holds a 68 percent interest, hosts a historically defined 2013 reserve estimate of 19.8 million metric tons. It has road access and is in proximity to infrastructure.

While the transaction is moving forward as planned, it remains subject to various conditions, including approval from at least two-thirds of QPM shareholders, and final court and regulatory approvals.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Dollar Tree says it’s winning over higher-income shoppers and may offset tariffs with price hikes

3 Mins Read

Dollar Tree said Wednesday that it’s gaining market share with higher-income consumers and could raise prices on some products to offset President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The discount retailer’s CEO, Michael Creedon, said the company is seeing “value-seeking behavior across all income groups.” While Dollar Tree has always relied on lower-income shoppers and gets about 50% of its business from middle-income consumers, sustained inflation has led to “stronger demand from higher-income customers,” Creedon said.

Dollar Tree’s success with higher-income shoppers follows similar gains from Walmart, which has made inroads with the cohort following the prolonged period of high prices.

Trump’s tariffs on certain goods from China, Mexico and Canada — and the potential for broad duties on trading partners around the world — have only added to concerns about stretched household budgets. While Dollar Tree will use tactics like negotiating with suppliers and moving manufacturing to mitigate the effect of the duties, it could also hike the prices of some items, Creedon said.

Dollar Tree has rolled out prices higher than its standard $1.25 products at about 2,900 so-called multi-price stores. Certain products can cost anywhere from $1.50 to $7 at those locations.

The retailer weighed in on higher-income customers and the potential effect of tariffs as it announced its fourth-quarter earnings. Dollar Tree also said it will sell its struggling Family Dollar chain for about $1 billion to a consortium of private-equity investors.

Dollar Tree said its net sales for continuing operations — its namesake brand — totaled $5 billion for the quarter, while same-stores sales climbed 2%. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $2.11 for the period.

It is unclear how the figures compare to Wall Street estimates.

For fiscal 2025, Dollar Tree expects net sales of $18.5 billion to $19.1 billion from continuing operations, with same-store sales growth of 3% to 5%. It anticipates it will post adjusted earnings of $5 to $5.50 per share for the year.

Creedon said the expected hit from the first round of 10% tariffs Trump levied on China in February would have been $15 million to $20 million per month, but the company has mitigated about 90% of that effect.

Additional 10% duties on China imposed this month, along with 25% levies on Mexico and Canada that have only partly taken effect, would hit Dollar Tree by another $20 million per month, Creedon said. The company is working to offset those duties, but did not include them in its financial guidance due to the confusion over which tariffs will take effect and when.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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In Politics

Trump pushes to ‘restore truth in American History,’ end DEI at Smithsonian

2 Mins Read

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aimed at restoring what he calls ‘truth and sanity’ in American history by reforming the Smithsonian Institution, protecting national monuments, and countering divisive ideology in public institutions.

Trump’s order directs Vice President Vance to work on eliminating ‘improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology’ from Smithsonian museums, research centers, as well as the National Zoo. 

It also pushes Congress to ensure taxpayer dollars do not fund exhibits or programs that ‘degrade shared American values’ or promote ideologies which divide Americans by race.

‘Americans have witnessed a concerted effort to rewrite history and force our nation to adopt a factually baseless ideology aimed at diminishing American achievement,’ the order states. 

The Smithsonian is criticized in the EO for promoting narratives that claim American and Western values are harmful. Trump specifically calls out exhibits that suggest sculpture has been used to ‘promote scientific racism’ and that the United States has maintained power through racial systems.

The order also takes issue with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which previously suggested that ‘hard work,’ ‘individualism,’ and ‘the nuclear family’ are aspects of ‘White culture.’

Additionally, the EO declares that the Smithsonian ‘celebrate women’s achievements in the American Women’s History Museum and do not recognize men as women.’

The Executive Order also directs the Secretary of the Interior to restore national parks, monuments, and statues that have been ‘improperly removed or changed’ in recent years to fit what it calls a false revision of history. 

Under the Executive Order, agencies must complete restorations and improvements to Independence Hall before our nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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USDT issuer Tether eyes investment in Italian media firm Be Water amid global expansion

3 Mins Read

Stablecoin issuer Tether is reportedly set to acquire a significant stake in Italian media company Be Water as it cements its presence in the European Union.

According to a report citing unnamed sources familiar with the decision, Tether plans to invest around €10 million ($10.8 million) into Be Water.

The move has not yet been confirmed by either Tether or Be Water at the time of publication.

Tether strengthens Italian footing

Be Water is a Milan-based media group that owns podcast production companies Chora Media and Will Media, as well as Be Water Film, which focuses on film production and distribution. 

The company is known for producing narrative-driven content, including a podcast series in collaboration with Bloomberg titled “Quello che i soldi non dicono” (“What Money Doesn’t Say”).

While the exact motivation behind the deal is still unclear, the investment appears to be part of Tether’s ongoing push into Italy.

Earlier this year, Tether made headlines with its investment in Juventus Football Club, one of Italy’s most iconic sports brands.

The company acquired a minority stake as part of a broader plan to move beyond its core business of stablecoins and digital payments. 

At the time, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said the investment would be a “pioneer in merging new technologies, such as digital assets, AI, and biotech, with the well-established sports industry to drive change globally.”

European expansion challenges

Tether’s journey through the broader European market hasn’t been entirely smooth. 

The company has faced mounting pressure from the EU’s new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.

A number of major exchanges, including Coinbase, Kraken, and Crypto.com, have pulled USDT from their platforms for European users.

As regulatory expectations tighten, Tether has yet to fully align with the bloc’s evolving compliance standards.

Expanding beyond crypto

Nevertheless, the recent developments follow a profitable year for Tether, with the company reporting $13 billion in profits for 2024. 

With returns from holdings in US Treasuries, Bitcoin, and other assets, the stablecoin issuer has been channeling excess capital, reportedly over $7 billion as of January 2025, into strategic investments beyond crypto and global expansion plans.

One area of focus for the company has been the artificial intelligence sector.

Last month, CEO Ardoino teased previews of several new AI-based products that the firm was currently developing.

Among the projects in the pipeline are a local AI voice assistant, a translator, and a Bitcoin wallet agent, which will all be a part of Tether’s upcoming AI SDK platform.

According to Ardoino, these tools would be bundled into something called Tether Data, the firm’s in-house AI toolkit built on the Bare runtime.

In terms of its global expansion progress, Tether has secured regulatory approvals in several jurisdictions, including Thailand and El Salvador, since the start of 2025.

The post USDT issuer Tether eyes investment in Italian media firm Be Water amid global expansion appeared first on Invezz

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Crypto Market Recap: GameStop Bets on Bitcoin, USDC Launches in Japan

4 Mins Read

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (March 26) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) is currently trading at US$86,622.95, a 1.7 percent decrease over the past 24 hours. The day’s trading range has seen a low of US$85,862.55 and a high of US$87,812.64.

The crypto market is under pressure following an executive order from US President Donald Trump to issue “secondary tariffs” of 25 percent on countries that purchase oil from Venezuela.

Bitcoin performance, March 26, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Ethereum (ETH) is priced at US$2,002.36, a 3.6 percent decrease over 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$1.985.69 and a high of US$2,058.49.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) is currently valued at US$137.76, down 5.2 percent over the past 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$136.39 and a high of US$144.21 on Wednesday.
  • XRP is trading at US$2.38, reflecting a 3.3 percent decrease over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency recorded an intraday low of US$2.36 and a high of US$2.45.
  • Sui (SUI) is priced at US$2.58, showing a 4.6 percent increase over the past 24 hours. It achieved a daily low of US$2.52 and a high of US$2.64.
  • Cardano (ADA) is trading at US$0.7285, reflecting a 2.7 percent decrease over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price on Wednesday was US$0.722, with a high of US$0.7632.

Crypto news to know

GameStop’s Bitcoin bet sparks meme stock rally

GameStop (NYSE:GME) shares surged close to 20 percent on Wednesday after the company announced plans to add Bitcoin to its treasury reserve assets, mirroring Michael Saylor’s Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR). The move comes as GameStop struggles with declining brick-and-mortar sales, having pivoted toward e-commerce under CEO Ryan Cohen.

Speculation around the retailer’s crypto ambitions grew after Cohen was seen with Saylor on social media last month. Analysts warn that GameStop’s exposure to Bitcoin could introduce more volatility to its stock.

The company, however, has been aggressive in cutting costs, doubling its fourth quarter net income to US$131.3 million despite a 30 percent revenue drop.

Microsoft declines after data center news

Shares of crypto miners and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) closed down after TD Cowen alleged that the tech conglomerate has abandoned plans for new data centers in the US and Europe.

Share prices for Bitcoin miners, including Bitfarms (NASDAQ:BITF), CleanSpark (NASDAQ:CLSK), Core Scientific (NASDAQ:CORZ), Hut 8 (NASDAQ:HUT) and Riot Platforms (NASDAQ:RIOT), dropped between 4 and 12 percent. Microsoft closed down 1.31 percent, while daily losses for the miners fell between 7 and 12 percent.

According to Bloomberg, Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) have picked up some of the leases Microsoft has allegedly canceled or deferred over the last six months, although neither company has confirmed. In a statement from Microsoft obtained by the publication, the company said “significant investments” have left it “well positioned to meet (its) current and increasing customer demand.”

“While we may strategically pace or adjust our infrastructure in some areas, we will continue to grow strongly in all regions,” the spokesperson said. “This allows us to invest and allocate resources to growth areas for our future.”

Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade launches on testnet

Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade launched on the Hoodi testnet on Wednesday after a series of technical issues delayed the mainnet launch, which was originally slated for sometime in March.

If the launch is successful, Pectra could hit the mainnet by April 25. The Pectra upgrade aims to improve Ethereum’s scalability, staking efficiency and developer capabilities.

USDC launches in Japan

Circle launched its stablecoin, USDC, in Japan on Wednesday. The launch was made possible through a strategic partnership with SBI Holdings (TSE:8473), a Japanese financial firm.

The launch comes after Circle and SBI received regulatory approval from Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) earlier this month. The FSA’s green light paved the way for the companies to introduce USDC to the Japanese market, marking a significant step in the adoption of stablecoins in the country.

Following the regulatory approval, a launch date was announced on Monday (March 24).

At the time of this writing, USDC’s market capitalization was US$60.15 billion.

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

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Berkshire Hathaway employee wins $1 million in Warren Buffett’s March Madness bracket challenge

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For the first time in nearly 10 years, a Berkshire Hathaway employee claimed Warren Buffett’s $1 million grand prize for his company’s NCAA bracket contest.

An anonymous employee from aviation training company FlightSafety International, a subsidiary of Buffett’s Berkshire, won the annual internal bracket contest after correctly calling 31 of the 32 games in the first round of the men’s basketball tournament dubbed March Madness, according to a statement.

The 94-year-old Oracle of Omaha was finally able to give out the big prize after relaxing the rules multiple times since the competition’s inception in 2016. Originally, Buffett, a Creighton basketball fan, set out to award anyone who could perfectly predict the Sweet 16.

Then, in 2024, after the $1 million jackpot remained unclaimed, participants were given the advantage of waiving the results of the eight games among the No.1 and No. 2 seeds. Still, nobody cracked the code.

This year, the rules were changed again so anyone who picks the winners of at least 30 of the tournament’s 32 first-round games would be eligible to win the prize.

In fact, 12 Berkshire employees guessed 31 of the 32 first-round games correctly. The $1 million prize went to the person from that group that picked 29 games consecutively before a loss. That winner went on to pick 44 of the 45 games correctly.

The other 11 contestants are getting $100,000 each.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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