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Top 5 Canadian Biotech Stocks in 2025

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Biotech is a dynamic industry that is driving scientific advances and innovation in healthcare. In Canada, the biotech sector is home to companies pursuing cutting-edge therapies and medical technologies.

According to Grandview Research, the global biotech market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13.96 percent between 2024 and 2030 to reach a value of US$3.08 trillion.

Read on to learn what’s been driving these Canadian biotech firms.

1. Bright Minds Biosciences (CSE:DRUG)

Year-on-year gain: 2,681.82 percent
Market cap: C$322.61 million
Share price: C$45.90

Bright Minds Biosciences is focused on developing novel treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders and pain.

Its portfolio consists of serotonin agonists designed to target neurocircuit abnormalities that make disorders like epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression difficult to treat. The company’s drugs have been designed to potentially retain the powerful therapeutic aspects of psychedelic and other serotonergic compounds, while minimizing their side effects, thereby creating superior drugs to first-generation compounds such as psilocybin.

In October 2024, the company’s share price surged nearly 1,500 percent in a single session after global pharmaceutical company H. Lundbeck announced its intention to acquire Longboard Pharmaceuticals. Both Longboard and Bright Minds have agonists targeting the 5-HT2C receptorin their pipelines.

Bright Minds’ 5-HT2C agonist candidate, BMB-101, will target classic absence epilepsy and developmental epileptic encephalopathy. The company is currently evaluating Phase II trials in collaboration with Firefly Neuroscience (NASDAQ:AIFF).

In March of this year, Bright Minds added five world-renowned leaders in epilepsy research to its scientific advisory board.

2. ME Therapeutics Holdings (CSE:METX)

Year-on-year gain: 145.9 percent
Market cap: C$235.71 million
Share price: C$9.00

ME Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing cancer-fighting drug candidates that can increase the efficacy of current immuno-oncology drugs by targeting suppressive myeloid cells, which have been found to hinder the effectiveness of existing immuno-oncology treatments. Immuno-oncology is a relatively new area of cancer drug research and has shown promising results when used to treat cancer with low survival rates.

In December 2023, the company shared research done in collaboration with Dr. Kenneth Harder at the University of British Columbia. The work suggests that ME Therapeutics’ antibody, h1B11-12, successfully blocks a protein that fuels breast and colon cancer growth (G-CSF). Trial planning efforts are ongoing, and the company expects development of a cell line for future production of the drug to be finished in the latter half of 2025.

In addition, the company is part of an ongoing collaborative effort to develop therapeutic MRNA delivery methods to myeloid cells with NanoVation Therapeutics, a privately owned biotech company that develops customized nucleic acid and lipid nanoparticle technologies to empower genetic medicine.

The collaboration has already resulted in two new MRNA formulations, for which testing began on October 4, and has demonstrated encouraging anti-cancer activity in a preclinical model of colorectal cancer.

On March 3, ME Therapeutics shared that it is exploring a listing on the Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange.

3. Hemostemix (TSXV:HEM)

Year-on-year gain: 80 percent
Market cap: C$13.36 million
Share price: C$0.09

Hemostemix is a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing autologous stem cell therapies, an approach that uses a patient’s own cells to theoretically enhance safety and efficacy. Its main product, ACP-01, is a cell therapy derived from a patient’s blood to promote tissue repair and regeneration in areas affected by disease.

The company announced its first sales orders for ACP-01 on January 29 and has been working to expand internationally and attract new investment.

Hemostemix is currently collaborating with Firefly Neuroscience on a Phase 1 clinical trial of ACP-01 for vascular dementia. As of writing, efforts to fully enroll the trial to its target size are underway.

4. Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals (TSX:EPRX)

Year-on-year gain: 17.07 percent
Market cap: C$173.51 million
Share price: C$5.28

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals focuses on developing locally delivered therapeutics for patients with unmet medical needs. Its primary focus has been orthopedics and oncology. Eupraxia acquired EpiPharma Therapeutics in late 2023, absorbing the company’s lead candidate EP-104GI.

In February, the company released positive data from the sixth cohort of its Phase 1b/2a trial for EP-104GI in eosinophilic esophagitis. It plans to release additional data periodically, with 12 week data for the trial’s seventh cohort expected in late Q2 2025.

5. Microbix Biosystems (TSX:MBX)

Year-on-year gain: 4.48 percent
Market cap: C$48.17 million
Share price: C$0.35

Microbix Biosystems manufactures antigens and quality control products used in the development of diagnostic tests. They also develop products to ensure test accuracy.

In January, Microbix partnered with the American Proficiency Institute to launch a pilot program to validate the accuracy of molecular assays in testing the H5N1 strain of the influenza A virus.

In March, the company joined the EPICC HPV Elimination Partnership to support test accuracy by supplying materials to support the accuracy of HPV testing efforts. These strategic collaborations highlight the company’s commitment to ensuring reliable and accurate diagnostic testing worldwide.

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

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Nickel Price Update: Q1 2025 in Review

Investing 6 Mins Read

Nickel prices have largely trended down since breaking US$20,000 per metric ton in May 2024.

The decline has been attributed to refined nickel oversupply, driven by high output from Indonesia, which mined an estimated 2.2 million metric tons of nickel in 2024 and accounted for more than 50 percent of global output.

The threat of US tariffs has also weighed heavily on markets that are reliant on nickel and its downstream products, such as the stainless steel and electric vehicle battery industries.

These factors pushed nickel to five year lows in the US$15,000 range in Q1.

What happened to the nickel price in Q1?

Nickel price, January 2 to April 22, 2025.

Chart via Trading Economics.

While nickel has trended down for the past year, 2025 began with upward momentum. It opened the year at US$15,040 on January 2 and rose to US$16,080 before declining to close out the month at US$15,230.

Nickel prices started to gain briefly at the beginning of February, increasing to US$15,875 on February 6 before experiencing volatility until the end of the month, finishing at US$15,590 on February 28.

The start of March saw upward movement, and nickel hit a year-to-date high of US$16,720 on March 12.

Prices for the base metal remained above the US$16,000 mark until the end of March, when substantial pressures caused levels to plunge to US$14,150 on April 8.

What factors impacted nickel in Q1?

Over the past several years, oversupply has presented a significant headwind for nickel prices.

Due to heavy investment from China, Indonesia has emerged as the world’s dominant nickel supplier. However, even though its refined output has remained high, Indonesia has faced a tight nickel ore market because of reduced quotas, which have compelled smelters to import record volumes from the Philippines.

A recent Filipino government proposal to follow Indonesia’s lead in banning exports of raw nickel products could disrupt the situation and introduce further challenges for refiners, impacting global supply chains.

The proposal arose amid rumors of higher mining royalties that have circulated since the start of the year. This speculation boosted nickel prices as higher production costs started to be factored into prices.

The royalty hikes were approved on April 11, and will raise the current 10 percent rate to between 14 and 19 percent, depending on the nickel price. Lower-quality nickel mattes used in battery production will incur a 2 percent royalty.

Jason Sappor, senior analyst for metals and mining research at data provider S&P Global Commodity Insights, noted that the increase will pose another challenge for the industry.

Indonesian nickel miners previously asked the government to reconsider the change.

In a letter to government officials, industry stakeholders stated that the increases to mining royalty levels in the country are “unrealistic and do not reflect the current state of the industry.”

Another factor that impacted the nickel industry during the first quarter of the year was the threat and eventual implementation of US tariffs against China, the world’s largest consumer of nickel.

Ewa Manthy, commodities strategist with ING, suggested tariffs will further impact a beleaguered nickel market.

“London Metal Exchange (LME) nickel has been mostly rangebound amid heightened trade tensions,’ she said.

Manthy’s prediction has held true so far, with nickel prices plummeting 11.5 percent in the week following US President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement on April 2. The move has sparked fears among investors who worry that the escalating trade war will push the world into a global recession.

Even though nickel rebounded after Trump put a pause on larger reciprocal tariffs, there is still a high level of uncertainty regarding nickel demand, especially as the effective tariff rates on China have grown to 145 percent.

Tariffs set to weigh on weak nickel demand

Tariffs are unlikely to affect nickel supply in the short term; however, they could significantly impact demand. The effects will be more pronounced in the US, as tariffs will more than double the costs of goods from China for importers.

The primary destination for nickel is the production of stainless steel.

While long-term global demand is expected to remain robust, with refined nickel projected to see a 4.6 percent compound annual growth rate between 2023 and 2035, there are more immediate headwinds.

Demand for stainless steel in China’s housing sector and slower growth in home appliances has dragged down overall nickel demand in the Asian nation. Although the overall effects could be worse, government policy and stimulus have only provided marginal support. Chinese stainless steel markets were also affected as new carbon tariffs and anti-dumping duties from Europe’s carbon border adjustment mechanism came into effect.

This has led analysts to predict another year of surpluses in China’s stainless steel market, with production increasing by 10.6 percent year-on-year in the first quarter and March output coming to 3.58 million metric tons. Even so, stockpiles stand at 155,000 metric tons, down significantly from 333,000 metric tons in Q1 2024.

The size of the stainless steel market may help moderate a decline in demand from the electric vehicle battery market, which is another significant destination for nickel. According to an April 14 report from S&P Global, the fall in battery demand comes despite growing demand for electric vehicles in both China and Europe; this has been attributed to producers transitioning to nickel-free battery chemistries, particularly lithium-iron-phosphate.

Producers see a greater cost advantage in this composition, and the switch has caused demand for nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries to shrink by 19 percent from January to February.

Due to this fallout, battery precursor producer CNGR Advanced Material (SZSE:300919) said it would be pausing investment in its South Korean nickel smelting project.

The battery sector represented 11.5 percent of total nickel demand in 2024.

Nickel price forecast for 2025

The short term for nickel could very well hinge on how Trump’s tariffs affect the global economy.

“A slowdown in global economic activity would have a detrimental impact on China’s exports of nickel-containing consumer goods, denting global primary nickel demand in a market already grappling with oversupply due to expanding production in top primary nickel producers Indonesia and China,” Sappor said.

He added that weaker fundamentals will likely increase bearishness in the nickel market and ultimately work to further depress prices for the base metal on the LME.

“Considering these potential dynamics as well as further evolutions in the Trump administration’s trade tariff policies, we expect nickel prices to remain volatile in the near term,” Sappor stated.

Manthy is also pessimistic about a market turnaround in the near to medium term.

“The main downside risk to our supply and demand outlook is further downgrades to nickel demand from the electric vehicle sector, but this could be offset by no growth in Indonesian supply. The medium-term supply and demand balance is not supportive of a significant rise in nickel prices,” she said.

For investors, a bear market might provide opportunities, but the risk is that nickel prices may still have a ways to go before they bottom out. The next quarter could offer more certainty in global financial markets.

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

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MicroStrategy 2.0 : All you Need to Know About New Crypto Venture Firm

Crypto news 4 Mins Read

MicroStrategy 2.0:- Bitcoin’s significance as a strategic asset has grown significantly. Today only it surpassed Google’s market cap to become the fifth-largest asset with $1.862 trillion in market value.

As it continues to rally and push further, major investment firms are continuing to scale their Bitcoin Acquisition strategy.

Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy, now rebranded as Michael Saylor, has been accumulating Bitcoin since 2020. As of April 2024, the company holds 214,400 Bitcoins. It has now become the world’s largest corporate holders of Bitcoin, its primary treasury reserve asset.

In a move attempting to create its alternative,US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s son has also jumped into it. His son, Brandon Lutnick, has partnered with Tether, Bitfinex and SoftBank to form a MicroStrategy rival – 21 Capital.

Lutnick’s New Crypto Venture with SoftBank and Tether

The influential wall street figure, Brandon Lutnick, currently serves as the Chairman of Cantor Fitzgeral, LP. As per the Financial Times report, Lutnick’s new SPAC venture, 21 Capital, will be sponsored by Cantor only.

Cantor, the investment banking firm, has created a black check company, Cantor Equity Partners, to drive the operations of this new crypto venture.

It had reportedly raised $200 million in January and plans to recieve $3 bn in Bitcoin from its partners. The trio consortium of its partner includes Tether and Bitfinex, SoftBank. Each will contribute:

1. 1.5 bn of BTC – Tether
2. ⁠$900 mn of BTC – SoftBank
3. $600mn of BTC – Bitfinex

On Tuesday, Bitcoin Price surpassed $91,000 – for the first time since March 2. Going by its current price, number of Bitcoins 21 Capital will see in contributions will be roughly around;

1. Tether: $1.5 billion / $91,000 – 16,484 BTC

2. SoftBank: $900 million / $91,000 – 9,890 BTC

3. Bitfinex: $600 million / $91,000 – 6,593 BTC

BTC Price Today | Source: Coingecko

Once merged, 21 Capital will convert its bitcoin holdings into publicly traded shares priced at $10 each. In the share-issuance calculation, it will value Bitcoin at $85,000 per coin for public investors.

According to 21 Capital, this will lower the barrier to large-scale bitcoin exposure without direct crypto custody unlike MicoStrategy. Its share-pricing formula does highlights the vehicle’s bullish long-term outlook on bitcoin’s price trajectory.

Can it Become MicroStrategy 2.0

Lutnick’s investment vehicle, 21 Capital, has been dubbed as “MicroStrategy 2.0”. This is because of its aim to replicate MicroStrategy’s treasury-bitcoin accumulation strategy at institutional scale.

MicroStrategy pioneered the corporate-treasury-bitcoin model in 2020. It raised capital via debt and equity to amass over 528,000 bitcoins at an average cost of $66,385 each.

21 Capital seeks to replicate and scale this playbook. It aims to use convertible bonds and private-placement equity alongside its SPAC proceeds. As per the information available, it is expecting to raise $350 million in convertible bonds and a separate $200 million private equity for its BTC purchase. placement

However, this is mirroring MicroStrategy’s own “21/21 Plan”. It targets $42 billion in combined equity and fixed-income raises over three years. On the surface, “Strategy” seems same but in the long-term, the implemented operations can only decide the fate.

21 Capital’s Mammoth Task – Market Volatility

Executing bitcoin acquisition strategy on a large-scale comes with certain financial risks. Despite booming Bitcoin gains, MicoStrategy has reported four consecutive quarterly net losses, including a $1.17 billion loss in fiscal 2024,

Though its bold strategy has earned the firm NASDAQ-100 inclusion, success of such firms is subject to market volatility.

There’s a growing spree in the development of such firms. Recently, Kraken Executives acquired Janover to push their acquisition strategy but for Solana.

Thus, the fortune of 21 Capital will be directly tied to the long-term price trajectory of Bitcoin. If bullish, its boon. But if bearish for long-term, it can doom.

The post MicroStrategy 2.0 : All you Need to Know About New Crypto Venture Firm appeared first on CoinGape.

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XRP News Update: Teucrium CEO Calls Ripple Coin the Most Useful Crypto After ETF Launch

Crypto news 2 Mins Read

In the latest XRP news update, Teucrium CEO Sal Gilbertie addressed the Ripple token as the cryptocurrency with the highest utility. After launching the first-ever XRP ETF, the investment firm’s CEO remains vocal about the token’s utility and real-world use cases.

While hailing XRP as the most useful crypto asset, Gilbertie underscored its unique value proposition and strong development backing. Let’s explore the token’s unique use cases through the lens of the Teucrium CEO.

XRP News: Why Did Teucrium Choose Ripple Token? CEO Explains

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Teucrium CEO Sal Gilbertie praised the XRP token for its real-world utility. For him, XRP stands unique among other cryptocurrencies due to its dual strengths: a tradable asset with a clear function and robust development support. Gilbertie cited,

We chose XRP because we believe it’s the coin with the most utility. It’s not just speculation; it facilitates real transactions. Ripple is a team of true professionals.

Bitcoin or XRP?

Furthermore, the Teucrium CEO shared a comparative study on XRP and Bitcoin. Contrasting XRP with BTC, the CEO described the former as a practical tool for transferring value. He posited, “Bitcoin is a store of value, and that’s valid. But XRP has a real use case.”

Teucrium CEO Praises Ripple Team

Investment giant Teucrium recently launched the first-ever XRP ETF, sparking optimism within the Ripple community. After a week, the CEO came forward, expressing the platform’s enthusiasm for the project.
In addition, CEO Gilbertie praised Ripple and its team for their endeavors over the past years. He hailed the Ripple team as “professional people working really hard.”

According to Gilbertie, both Ripple and XRP are paving the way for a significant shift in the financial landscape. He added that the platform envisions a future where everything is tokenized.

Further bolstering his statements, he addressed Ripple’s recent acquisition of the broker-dealer Hidden Road. He acknowledged it as a phenomenal development towards the integration of traditional finance with decentralized finance (DeFi).

The post XRP News Update: Teucrium CEO Calls Ripple Coin the Most Useful Crypto After ETF Launch appeared first on CoinGape.

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Analyst Explains Perfect Storm For Altcoins to Explode as Bitcoin Nears $95K: Alt Season Soon

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With Bitcoin (BTC) approaching $95K after a 10% rally in two days, hopes of a sustained uptrend have caused investors to speculate on an alt season for the crypto market. If true, as one analyst explains, this could result in a perfect storm that propels altcoins higher.

Pundit Explains When Altcoin Will Explode as Bitcoin Approaches $95K

One analyst, Dom’s Market Flow, noted what needs to happen for cryptocurrencies to explode. Bitcoin’s ascent from low-$80K to $95K in just two days has caused investors to speculate decoupling from the US stock market amid Trump’s tariff tensions. With the crypto market showing signs of optimism, the next logical step is for altcoins to explode. But will this outcome occur?

Bitcoin Needs to Cool for Altcoins to Explode

Dom’s Market Flow added that for altcoins to go higher, Bitcoin needs to slip into a rangebound or retrace slowly. This move will allow capital and profits to flow into other cryptocurrencies, kickstarting a bull run.

“As for alts, we need to see a cool off on $BTC dominance. As we speak, it is trying to break the local uptrend since April. This would allow alts to catch up.”

According to analyst a coll-off on Bitcoin dominance will triggers this alt season.

When Will Altseason Begin?

Based on the altcoin market, the recent crash in Bitcoin below $80K caused a death cross between the 50-day and 200-day Simple Moving Averages. While a golden cross hasn’t been spotted yet, the altcoin market cap has recovered above the 50-day SMA, suggesting the start of an uptrend.

Altcoin Market Capitalization

CoinGlass’ alt season index hovers around 18, which shows that Bitcoin dominance is too high. This takes us back to the analyst’s quote about how BTC rally needs to cool off and so does BTC dominance for altcoins to start rallying.

Altseason Index

To conclude, investors must note that there is still time for altcoins to rally. The recent uptick is just the start of the uptrend due Bitcoin’s front-running. Hence, patient investors who accumulated or accumulate now could stand to gain a lot if patient.

The post Analyst Explains Perfect Storm For Altcoins to Explode as Bitcoin Nears $95K: Alt Season Soon appeared first on CoinGape.

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Solana Price Analysis: SOL Meme Coins Explode Amid Meteora DEX Lawsuit

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Solana price has been one of the top performers this week after bouncing from $134 to trade at $151 at press time. This rally has coincided with a surge in SOL meme coin prices, as their market cap surged by 23% in the last 24 hours to $8.7 billion. These meme coins are gaining after several investors filed a class-action lawsuit against Solana-based DEX Meteora for allegedly orchestrating a $69M pump and dump scheme.

Solana Price in Focus as Meteora DEX Lawsuit Fuels SOL Meme Coins Rally

Solana price tends to rally whenever meme coins created on the blockchain are recording gains, and this is currently the case. At press time, most of the top meme coins on Solana had registered double-digit gains, with popular ones such as BONK and dogwifhat (WIF) surging by more than 20%.

Top 10 Solana Meme Coins

These gains come amid a lawsuit filed on April 21 that accuses Meteora DEX of giving misleading information about a SOL-based meme token known as M3M3, which launched in 2024. Data from CoinGecko shows that the M3M3 meme coin is trading at 98% below its December all-time high.

The plaintiffs claim to have lost more than $69 million within three months of investing in this token. They also accuse the developers of insider trading, fraud, and violating the US securities laws.

This development is fuelling interest in Solana meme coins, which are leading the ongoing price recovery across the crypto market. The rising demand for these meme coins is also driving gains for the SOL value today and causing a spike in blockchain activity.

Meme Coin Frenzy Boosts SOL Network Activity

The meme coin frenzy on Solana has not only caused a spike in price but also network activity. Data from DeFiLlama shows that SOL’s TVL has increased by more than $500M in the last two days alone, and it is approaching a two-month high. Meanwhile, DeX volumes have soared to $2.94 billion, which is the highest since early March.

DeFiLlama

The spike in meme coin trading activity is likely behind these rising volumes, suggesting that as long as SOL-based meme coins record an uptick in demand, the Solana price is poised to continue with its upward trajectory.

Solana Price Analysis Amid Bullish Pattern Formation

Solana price has confirmed a double bottom pattern on its daily price chart and broken past resistance at the neckline, hinting towards a continuation of the current uptrend. SOL confirmed this pattern when it moved above the resistance level of $147. If it can flip this resistance level into support, it will confirm this bullish thesis.

The first target price in this double-bottom pattern is $180, which SOL will attain if it rallies by 20% from its current price. Once it flips the $180 resistance, it will kickstart a strong uptrend towards record highs. The MACD line has crossed above the zero line, confirming the bullish Solana price forecast.

SOL/USDT: 1-day Chart

To sum up, Solana price is surrounded by a myriad of bullish catalysts, including surging meme coin activity, network growth, and a strong technical outlook. As long as these catalysts are present, SOL can hit resistance at $180 before continuing with its rally.

The post Solana Price Analysis: SOL Meme Coins Explode Amid Meteora DEX Lawsuit appeared first on CoinGape.

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Will XRP ETF Spark A Price Surge? Here’s What to Watch If SEC Says Yes

Crypto news 3 Mins Read

The discussions on a potential XRP ETF approval by the US SEC are mounting among the market participants which could drive the crypto price higher. Besides, with the recent leadership change in the US SEC and the pro-crypto sentiment hovering, the discussions have further peaked recently. Amid this, experts have cited the approval as a potential catalyst to drive the XRP price to a new high in the coming days.

XRP ETF Approval: Will It Spark A Price Rally?

The XRP ETF approval discussions are now the talk of the town with the pro-crypto regulatory shift in the US. Besides, experts have said that Ripple’s coin and Solana are now leading the altcoin ETF race, citing key reasons.

Notably, nine firms have already submitted ETF applications for Ripple’s native asset with the US SEC. Though still under review, rumors hint that BlackRock may join the race, a move that could dramatically accelerate momentum.

Meanwhile, the asset management giant controls over $11 trillion in AUM, and its entry could send a strong signal to the market. However, an XRP enthusiast has recently shared why BlackRock has still not moved ahead with such a plan.

Expert Predicts Robust Surge

In a recent podcast, crypto analyst “Good Morning Crypto” said that an XRP ETF could act like a “giant vacuum,” pulling the coin out of circulation. Every ETF investment would move Ripple’s native asset into custodial holdings, tightening supply and sparking demand pressure.

Besides, the analyst highlighted that once these ETFs go live, they could lead to scarcity-driven price growth. With fewer coins circulating and more investors locking in their tokens, the market could experience a classic demand shock.

XRP ETF To Trigger ‘A Perfect Storm’?

Meanwhile, in a bullish scenario, regulatory clarity might arrive by August. If US lawmakers pass new legislation on crypto tax, infrastructure, and stablecoins, it would likely clear the path for businesses to use XRP in daily operations. Once that happens, the analyst suggested, institutional adoption would take off.

Besides, the discussions have further soared with pro-crypto Paul Atkins’ entry as the new US SEC chair. Furthermore, if ETFs start hoarding XRP and companies expect prices to rise, they might start stockpiling tokens early. This kind of behavior mirrors a “front-loading effect” in commodity markets, where future price gains trigger large-scale early buying.

Considering that, the experts have deemed the potential XRP ETF launch as the “perfect storm” for Ripple’s native asset.

What’s Next For XRP Price?

XRP price has recorded strong gains of over 9% today, soaring to the $2.28 mark, with its one-day volume rocketing 131% to $5.56 billion. Notably, this surge also comes amid a broader crypto market recovery, with BTC price soaring past the $93K mark.

Amid this, Sistine Research said that Ripple’s coin is poised to hit between $33 and $50 in the coming days. However, the analyst has cited his target as “conservative” and said that it is based on the historical pattern from 2017.

Source: Sistine Research, X

However, the analyst also noted that a “cup and handle” analysis points towards a massive breakout ahead. According to him, this analysis indicates that XRP price is poised to hit between $77 and $100 in the coming days. Having said that, if XRP ETF gets the green light from the US SEC, the future of the asset’s price might hit new heights.

The post Will XRP ETF Spark A Price Surge? Here’s What to Watch If SEC Says Yes appeared first on CoinGape.

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RTX, GE Aerospace expect more than $1 billion tariff impact

Business 2 Mins Read

RTX and GE Aerospace expect a more than $1 billion impact combined from President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imported goods and materials, the latest sign of higher prices for major U.S. manufacturers that rely on a global supply chain.

Neil Mitchill, chief financial officer of defense contractor and commercial aerospace supplier RTX, said on an earnings call Tuesday that the company will likely take a $850 million hit this year from tariffs, including the sweeping 10% levies that Trump imposed earlier this month alongside higher duties on countries like China and separate taxes on imported steel and aluminum.

That estimate doesn’t include RTX’s own tariff mitigation measures, Mitchill said.

GE Aerospace, which makes engines for popular Boeing and Airbus planes, kept its 2025 earnings outlook in place during its quarterly report Tuesday and said it would seek to save about $500 million by cutting costs and raising prices.

GE Aerospace CEO Larry Culp said on Tuesday’s analyst call that he recently met with Trump and discussed the U.S. aerospace sector’s trade surplus. GE has a joint venture with France’s Safran to make popular airplane engines.

The new tariffs are a shift for a global industry that has enjoyed mostly duty-free trade for decades.

“All we have suggested is the administration works through a myriad of issues, is they can consider the position of strength that the country enjoys as a result of this tariff-free regime,” Culp said.

The White House didn’t immediately comment.

Boeing, a major customer of both companies and the top U.S. exporter, is scheduled to report quarterly results before the market opens on Wednesday.

Airlines have recently announced cuts to U.S. domestic capacity plans this year because of softer demand, but executives have emphasized it is hard to predict the direction of the economy or future trade policies. United last week provided two earnings outlooks for 2025, one in the event of a recession, one assuming status quo.

“There is uncertainty,” Culp said Tuesday. “None of us, I think, know for sure how this plays out.”

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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’60 Minutes’ producer leaves show, citing a loss of journalistic independence

Business 4 Mins Read

The top producer at CBS’ “60 Minutes” announced Tuesday he would step down from the newsmagazine because he had lost his journalistic independence.  

“Over the past months, it has … become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it,” Bill Owens said in a memo to staff members, which was obtained by NBC News. “To make independent decisions based on what was right for ‘60 Minutes,’ right for the audience.” 

“So, having defended this show — and what we stand for — from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward,” Owens added.  

Owens’ departure comes during a tumultuous chapter for “60 Minutes.” President Donald Trump has sued CBS for $10 billion over an October interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris that the president claims was deceptively edited. The network has denied that claim. 

Trump amended the lawsuit earlier this year, upping his damages claim to $20 billion.

“Former President Donald Trump’s repeated claims against ‘60 Minutes’ are false,” CBS News said in a statement in October. “The interview was not doctored” and the show “did not hide any part of Vice President Kamala Harris’s answer to the question at issue.”  

In a separate statement, “60 Minutes” said it gave an excerpt from its interview with Harris to the Sunday morning program “Face the Nation,” which used a longer section of the former Democratic presidential candidate’s answer to a question.

“Same question. Same answer. But a different portion of the response. When we edit any interview, whether a politician, an athlete, or movie star, we strive to be clear, accurate and on point,” the statement said. “The portion of her answer on 60 Minutes was more succinct, which allows time for other subjects in a wide ranging 21-minute-long segment.”  

Bill Owens, Executive Producer of 60 Minutes, CBS News, in Toronto on June 22, 2022.Piaras Ó Mídheach / Sportsfile via Getty Images file

Trump has repeatedly lambasted the venerable newsmagazine over its reporting on him and his administration.  

In a post on Truth Social on April 13, for example, Trump wrote: “Almost every week, 60 Minutes … mentions the name ‘TRUMP’ in a derogatory and defamatory way, but this Weekend’s ‘BROADCAST’ tops them all.” He appeared to take issue with segments about the war in Ukraine and his interest in acquiring Greenland.  

Trump added that he believed CBS should lose its broadcast license and “pay a big price.” He said he hoped Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr would “impose the maximum fines and punishment.”   

Owens’ exit, first reported by The New York Times, also comes at a pivotal moment for CBS’ parent company, Paramount. Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, reportedly needs the Trump administration to approve her media conglomerate’s sale to Skydance Media, a production and finance company run by David Ellison, the son of tech mogul Larry Ellison. 

The New York Times reported in late January that Paramount was in settlement talks with Trump. The Times later reported that Owens told staff members he would not apologize for the Harris interview as part of any prospective settlement. NBC News has not independently verified either report. 

In his memo to staff, Owens said “60 Minutes” would “continue to cover the new administration, as we will report on future administrations. We will report from war zones, investigate injustices and educate our audience. In short, ‘60 Minutes’ will do what it has done for 57 years.”  

“Thank you all, remain focused on the moment, our audience deserves it,” Owens said in closing.  

Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS News, notified company employees by email that Owens would be leaving and touted his work at the company.

“Tom and I are committed to 60 Minutes and to ensuring that the mission and the work remain our priority,” McMahon said, referring to CBS News president and executive editor Tom Cibrowski. 

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Stock

The Best Five Sectors, #16

Stock 4 Mins Read

Top 5 Remains Unchanged

The latest sector rotation analysis reveals a market that’s still playing defense. Despite some minor shuffling in the lower ranks, the top five sectors remain unchanged this week—a sign that the current defensive positioning is settling into a more stable pattern.

Consumer staples is holding its ground at the number one spot, followed by utilities, financials, communication services, and health care. This lineup underscores the market’s continued preference for defensive plays.

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

Weekly RRG

The weekly Relative Rotation Graph (RRG) paints a clear picture of the defensive sectors’ strength. Consumer staples and utilities are continuing to move further into the leading quadrant, solidifying their dominant positions. Healthcare, while ranked fifth, is located within the leading quadrant, but has lost some relative momentum over the past two weeks — something to keep an eye on.

Interestingly, financials and communication services, ranked third and fourth respectively, are showing signs of momentum loss, despite maintaining elevated RS ratio levels. Communication services have actually crossed into the weakening quadrant this week. At current RS-Ratio levels, this is not too concerning yet.

Daily RRG: Staples and Utilities Slightly Losing Relative Momentum

Zooming in on the daily RRG provides some nuanced insights. Staples and utilities, while still disconnected from other sectors at high RS ratio levels, have lost some relative momentum in the last week. Utilities have dipped into the weakening quadrant on this timeframe, but, given its high relative strength (RS) ratio, it’s not a major concern, at least not yet.

Financials and health care are also in the weakening quadrant on the daily RRG, but they’re flirting with the 100 level on the RS ratio scale. We haven’t seen a crossover yet, but it’s definitely a situation to be aware of.

One bright spot: communication services, despite being in the lagging quadrant, is showing signs of rolling back up. This aligns with its positive heading on the weekly RRG, suggesting potential improvement ahead.

Consumer Staples (XLP)

XLP is flexing its muscles, pushing against overhead resistance—a show of strength, given the S&P 500’s weakness. A break above the 83 area could unlock more upside potential, further cementing Staples’ defensive appeal. The relative strength line is attempting to break above horizontal resistance, dragging both RRG lines higher and pushing XLP deeper into the leading quadrant.

Utilities (XLU)

Utilities are showing a similar pattern to staples, though not quite as robust. XLU has retreated into its trading range, between roughly 73 and 80, currently sitting in the mid-range. Given the broader market weakness, this is still a positive setup for utilities. The sector is attempting to break above its relative resistance, which is propelling the RRG lines above 100 and deeper into the leading quadrant.

Financials (XLF)

Financials took a hit but found support around 42, bouncing strongly back towards the 47-47.50 resistance area. This sets up a limited upside potential, but the downside seems well-protected for now. The raw relative strength uptrend remains intact, keeping XLF in the leading quadrant, despite some leveling off of the RRG lines.

Communication Services (XLC)

XLC has been the biggest loser among the top sectors, breaking support around 95 and declining rapidly to support near 82.50. We’re currently seeing a bounce off that support. Relative strength is maintaining its rising channel, keeping the RS ratio well above 100. However, the momentum line has dipped below 100, temporarily pushing XLC into the weakening quadrant. The uptrend in relative strength is still in play, though — something to watch closely.

Health Care (XLV)

Healthcare is struggling, grappling with support between $132.50 and $135. A potential head-and-shoulders top formation is developing — a pattern we’re seeing in several sectors, to be honest. XLV is clearly the weakest of the top five, explaining its fifth-place ranking. Relative strength is struggling to maintain its upward trajectory. While both RRG lines remain above 100, we need to see a clear break in relative strength and the formation of an uptrend in order for healthcare to maintain its top-five status.

RRG Portfolio Performance

An update on our RRG portfolio of top five sectors: As of Friday’s close, the portfolio is down 10.2% year-to-date, compared to the S&P 500’s (using SPY as the benchmark) decline of 9.96%. This has resulted in a slight underperformance of 0.2%. However, it’s worth noting that we’re catching up to the benchmark after last week’s more significant underperformance — we’re on the rise again.

#StayAlert –Julius

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