Loopring, one of the earliest projects to bring zero-knowledge rollup technology to Ethereum, has announced the immediate closure of its decentralized exchange and automated market maker (AMM). The decision, shared publicly on June 28, 2026, ends all crypto trading activity on the platform and takes the supporting relayer offline without delay.
The project originated in 2017 from a vision focused on using zero-knowledge proofs to dramatically improve Ethereum’s scalability and reduce costs for trading and payments.
It became the first zkRollup deployed on Ethereum mainnet around 2019–2020 and once supported significant activity.
However, usage has declined sharply in recent years.
According to on-chain data trackers, Loopring’s total value locked fell to roughly $8 million, representing a drop of nearly 99% from its peak above $760 million in late 2021.
In their statement, the team explained that Loopring never achieved broad adoption.
The original design lacked a full virtual machine, which prevented easy composability with other Ethereum applications and limited real-world uses such as seamless payments.
https://t.co/beXdvEBGru
— Loopring💙 (@loopringorg) June 28, 2026
The core contributors described themselves primarily as engineers rather than business developers, noting they struggled to build the partnerships and marketing needed for wider growth.
Additional pressures, including the delisting of the project’s native LRC token from major centralized exchanges in 2026, hastened the outcome.
Newer zkEVM-based rollups, which offer full compatibility with Ethereum smart contracts, have also rendered Loopring’s specialized architecture increasingly outdated.
Rather than continue operating a service with minimal activity, the team chose to conclude operations in an orderly manner.
This marks the latest step in a gradual wind-down. Loopring had already discontinued its smart wallet services in mid-2025.
User funds held on the Loopring Layer 2 remain secure, the team confirmed.
To simplify the process, the project will handle asset distribution directly instead of requiring users to perform self-custody exits via Merkle proofs.
In the coming days, a complete list of final balances—including spot holdings in ETH and ERC-20 tokens plus liquidity positions that will be automatically converted—will be published and linked from the project’s X account.
Users will have a two-week review window to check their figures and report any discrepancies.
After the review period, the team will upgrade the relevant smart contract to enable batch withdrawals controlled by whitelisted addresses.
Funds valued at $10 or more will then be sent in batches directly to users’ Ethereum Layer 1 wallets.
The crypto focused project will cover all gas fees associated with these transfers. Balances below the $10 threshold will be excluded to keep the process manageable.
The entire distribution is expected to wrap up within a few weeks once it begins.
Support inquiries can be directed to [email protected] once the balance list appears.
The closure underscores the intense competition in Ethereum’s Layer 2 landscape, where projects offering greater flexibility and developer tooling have gained stronger traction. Loopring expressed gratitude to its users and hope that the zero-knowledge advancements it helped enable during the early days will now continue to benefit the crypto ecosystem through other initiatives.
Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX +7.15%) completed the world's biggest initial public offering earlier this month and exploded onto the market with a trillion-dollar valuation. The operation was well oversubscribed as investors rushed to get in on shares of the industrial and tech giant at the $135 IPO price. The stock went on to climb nearly 20% from that level on its first day of trading.
But, in recent days, SpaceX stock has retreated from its peak and finished last week only three dollars above its IPO opening price of $150. It's important to keep in mind that, though SpaceX is delivering growth, it still involves plenty of risk. So it may not be the best bet for every investor right now.
The good news is there's another stock out there that also offers tremendous growth -- and comes with a lot less risk. And that's pharma giant Eli Lilly (LLY +1.53%), the leader in the exciting weight loss drug market. Let's check out five reasons Lilly is a better stock to buy now than SpaceX.
Image source: Getty Images.
1. Lilly's technology is ready now Over the years, Lilly has won approval for a wide variety of drugs across treatment areas, proving its technology works -- and the area of great focus right now and likely into the future is the company's weight loss drug portfolio. Lilly operates in the GLP-1 space and dominates the U.S. market, holding more than 60% share.
Though SpaceX has made accomplishments across its space, connectivity, and artificial intelligence (AI) businesses, it notes in its prospectus that certain goals depend on technology that hasn't yet been proven. This presents a risk for investors.
2. Lilly's pipeline may keep the growth going Lilly's weight loss drugs are generating double- and triple-digit growth right now, with Mounjaro and Zepbound together bringing in more than $12 billion in the latest quarter. The company recently launched Foundayo, an oral weight loss drug, and has a candidate in late-stage trials. And the company has candidates in earlier-stage trials too.
If even only a couple of the candidates make it to commercialization, this could drive significant revenue growth for Lilly.
Today's Change
(
1.53
%) $
18.43
Current Price
$
1226.55
3. Lilly's track record of profitability Lilly offers investors a long history of earnings and revenue growth, so investors don't have to worry about whether the company has what it takes to generate a profit. It also has a portfolio of products that ensures a certain level of revenue year after year.
SpaceX last year reported a $4.9 billion loss, and considering the research and development needed to support its ambitions, costs may increase, and losses could continue. Capital expenditures in the AI business alone last year totaled more than $12 billion. So investors seeking a company that's likely to deliver profitability year after year clearly are better off choosing Lilly today.
Today's Change
(
7.15
%) $
10.96
Current Price
$
164.19
4. Lilly's valuation looks reasonable Lilly stock isn't dirt cheap, but considering the company's earnings track record and future prospects, it looks reasonable at 33x forward earnings estimates -- and it's less expensive than it was earlier this year when it traded at more than 40x estimates.
Meanwhile, SpaceX, trading at more than 100x sales, looks pricey. The company's total capex of $20 billion exceeded its sales of $18 billion last year. And, as mentioned above, this trend probably is far from over.
5. Lilly offers passive income SpaceX doesn't offer a dividend, of course, and that's to be expected -- the company is closely focused on growth at this stage of its story. So, if you invest in SpaceX, you can benefit if the company reaches certain milestones and the stock price takes off. But you aren't guaranteed returns from this stock on an annual basis.
With Lilly, you could benefit from both stock performance and passive income. Lilly pays a dividend of $6.92, representing a dividend yield of 0.5%, and has the free cash flow to support ongoing payments.
LLY Free Cash Flow data by YCharts
It's true that SpaceX may deliver a greater short-term gain than Lilly if it meets a certain goal or announces good news, but it still comes with a lot of risk. Lilly, thanks to its strength in the weight loss drug market and all of the points I've mentioned above, offers investors a clearer path to fantastic returns. And that's why it's a better stock to buy now.
SummaryEli Lilly is leveraging its exceptional cash flow to build an AI-native drug discovery and manufacturing platform, transforming its equity narrative beyond weight loss drugs.LLY's financial momentum is extraordinary, with 2026 revenue guidance of $82–85 billion and non-GAAP EPS of $35.50–37.00, driven by Mounjaro and Zepbound.I view Lilly as an emerging AI company, with proprietary data, AI compute infrastructure, and manufacturing scale creating a compounding R&D ecosystem and operational leverage.Modest AI-driven improvements in R&D productivity or manufacturing throughput could yield outsized financial impact, potentially making LLY's premium valuation appear cheap. imaginima/iStock via Getty Images
I am bullish on Eli Lilly (LLY); not because of the company's opportunity in weight loss, but because of how AI can change the equity narrative: Lilly is using one of the strongest pharmaceutical cash flow
9.69K Followers
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Not financial advice.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
June 2026 witnessed an increase in insider trading activity across the technology sector and, in keeping with the trend, Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) saw three massive such sales in the last two weeks.
The first and smallest of these was executed by Mark Brazeal, the company’s Chief Legal Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary of the Board of Directors, on June 16.
According to the filing made two days after the trade, the Broadcom insider dumped 8,152 AVGO shares at an average price of $389.59 for a total of $3.17 million.
Receive Signals on SEC-verified Insider Stock Trades
Stocks
This signal is triggered upon the reporting of the trade to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Furthermore, the Chief Legal Officer was also responsible for the most recent insider sale – reported on June 29 and made four days earlier – which involved 25,000 shares and raised $9.67 million. This trade was executed at a slightly lower average price of $387.
Meanwhile, the second insider trade of the month was simultaneously the biggest. Specifically, on June 24, CEO Henry Samueli sold 654,241 Broadcom shares at an average price of $382.13 for a total of $250 million.
Despite the scale of the trade made by the firm’s most senior employee, it was not unusual. Indeed, CEO Samueli dumped 781,967 shares in March, raising almost the exact same amount, as part of an apparent strategy to double the money made per sale compared to 2025, when he tended to aim for $125 million.
Receive Signals on SEC-verified Insider Stock Trades
Stocks
This signal is triggered upon the reporting of the trade to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Elsewhere, Broadcom insider activity was somewhat peculiar in June as, along with the large stock sales, it also featured a significant buy.
According to a filing made in the middle of the month, director Harry You purchased 1,000 AVGO shares for a total of $373,570 as his average buying price stood at $373.57.
The trade, made on June 11, increased the director’s Broadcom stock holdings by roughly 2.7%, taking his total position to 38,466 shares.
Receive Signals on SEC-verified Insider Stock Trades
Stocks
This signal is triggered upon the reporting of the trade to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Notably, the latest series of trades came after AVGO stock largely completed the severe market pullback from the early June highs.
Specifically, after a slow start to 2026, the equity soared approximately 65% between late March and early June but then retraced nearly 23% to its latest closing price of $372.45.
Broadcom stock price YTD chart. Source: Google Year-to-date (YTD), Broadcom stock is up a modest 7.14%, though Wall Street analysts appear to estimate AVGO will enter a more decisive rally in the coming months and soar more than 30% during the first half (H1) of 2027 at the latest.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
The latest Primerica Household Budget Index⢠(HBIâ¢) data, a monthly economic metric that examines how inflation and wage trends impact the ability of middl
Nearly half of travellers (45%) abandon purchases due to payment issues as 50% prioritise experiences over shopping
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New research from Paysafe (NYSE:PSFE) reveals that the 2026 summer travel season is being defined by strong demand and a decisive shift toward experience-led spending, with payments playing an increasingly central role in shaping how consumers plan, book, and spend while travelling.
The Experience Economy Report 2026 – Summer Travel surveyed 4,500 consumers across the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain who are planning leisure travel this summer, uncovering how travel behaviours and payment preferences are evolving in an experience-focused economy.
Half (50%) of travellers say they plan to spend more on experiences during their trips, compared to just 19% who expect to increase spending on shopping, highlighting a clear shift toward activity-led travel. This reflects a broader transformation in the travel economy, as consumers increasingly prioritise meaningful activities, dining, and in-destination experiences over material purchases.
Demand remains strong, but travellers are more flexible than ever
Travel demand continues to be robust, with 91% of consumers planning or considering a leisure trip this summer. However, behaviour is becoming more dynamic. Over a third (37%) have not yet booked key parts of their trip, indicating a growing tendency to delay decisions and book closer to departure. This shift toward flexibility is enabling more spontaneous, experience-led travel, with consumers balancing advance planning with in-the-moment decisions.
Payment friction risks lost revenue for travel providers
Despite the growth in travel demand, payment challenges remain a significant barrier. More than four in ten (44%) travellers report experiencing payment issues while travelling, and 45% say they have abandoned a purchase due to payment difficulties.
“Travel is increasingly shaped by the experiences people have in the moment, and that shift is changing how consumers plan, spend, and pay,” said Bob Legters, Chief Product Officer at Paysafe. “Our research shows that travellers are prioritising flexibility and meaningful experiences, while expecting payments to be fast, seamless, and reliable wherever they are. For businesses, this creates both an opportunity and a challenge. Those that remove friction, support multiple payment options, and deliver seamless experiences at checkout will be best positioned to capture in-the-moment spending and build long-term customer loyalty.”
Seamless, flexible payments are now essential
Expectations for payments are rising, with 80% of travellers saying a seamless digital payment experience is important while travelling. At the same time, 70% of consumers plan to use multiple payment methods to ensure successful transactions, underscoring the importance of flexibility and reliability across payment options. As travel increasingly converges with the experience economy, payments are becoming a defining part of the overall journey rather than a background function.
To explore the full findings from the Experience Economy Report 2026 – Summer Travel, including regional insights and detailed payment trends, download the report here: http://paysafe.com/en/experience-economy-report-travel-2026/
Notes to editors
The research was conducted by Sapio Research on behalf of Paysafe in May 2026, surveying 4,500 consumers across the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain who are planning leisure travel this summer.
About Paysafe
Paysafe is a global payments platform powering the experience economy, with a strong focus on the iGaming, video gaming, e-commerce, online trading, retail, travel and hospitality sectors. With 30 years of expertise in payment technology, Paysafe helps businesses and consumers lift every experience through seamless, secure payment solutions, including card payments, digital wallets such as Skrill, eCash solutions like PaysafeCard, and a suite of local payment methods. With approximately 2,800 employees across 12 countries and annualized transactional volume of $167 billion in 2025, Paysafe connects people and businesses worldwide through innovative digital payment experiences. Further information is available at www.paysafe.com.
Circle just pulled a quarter-billion dollars worth of USDC off Ethereum and stamped out $910 million in fresh tokens on Solana. Think of it as moving cash between registers at a store, except the registers are blockchains and the cash is the second-largest stablecoin in crypto.
The net effect: a $660 million liquidity swing toward Solana.
How the burn-and-mint machine works Circle manages USDC supply through what it calls the Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol, or CCTP. The mechanics are straightforward: burn tokens on one chain, mint an equivalent amount on another. Every USDC in circulation is supposed to be backed 1:1 by cash and cash equivalents, so these operations don’t change the total supply. They just change where the tokens live.
Advertisement
The $250 million Ethereum burn and $910 million Solana issuance fit a pattern that’s been accelerating throughout 2026. Earlier in June, Circle minted $1 billion USDC on Solana in a single day. Days before that, there was a $500 million Solana mint. The cumulative gross issuance on Solana has been approaching $57 billion for the year.
USDC’s total circulation sits at approximately $73.6 billion as of late June 2026. The stablecoin is now native on over 30 networks.
Why the migration matters The institutional angle has gotten more concrete this month. Circle expanded its partnership with BNY Mellon in June 2026, enabling direct mint and burn capabilities through the bank’s custody services. That means institutional clients can now create and destroy USDC without going through Circle’s standard pipeline.
What this means for investors For Solana, more USDC on the network means deeper liquidity pools, tighter spreads on decentralized exchanges, and more attractive conditions for both traders and protocol developers.
The BNY Mellon partnership adds another layer to consider. Institutional access to direct minting and burning means that large players can respond to market conditions faster than ever.
Tether’s USDT still dominates overall stablecoin market share, but USDC’s multi-chain expansion and emphasis on full reserve transparency have carved out a distinct institutional niche. The $73.6 billion in circulation represents significant ground gained.
The risk worth flagging: concentrated minting on any single chain creates dependency. If Solana experienced a significant outage or security event, having tens of billions of USDC sitting on the network would create redemption pressure that could test Circle’s operational capacity.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
The broader cryptocurrency market remains under pressure with Bitcoin (BTC) below $60,000 on Tuesday, while Solana (SOL), Zcash (ZEC) and Hyperliquid (HYPE) emerge as top performers over the last 24 hours. Retail sentiment remains bearish with the Fear and Greed Index around 17 on Tuesday, during early Asian hours, maintaining an “Extreme Fear” signal.
Fear and Greed Index. Source: CoinMarketCapBitcoin remains muted near $60,000Bitcoin edges below $60,000 at press time on Tuesday amid a broader bearish bias, with price waiting for the next catalyst for a directional push. The 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) is at $66,698, and the 200-day EMA is at $77,512, reaffirming the prevailing downtrend.
BTC is also pinned just under the horizontal barrier at $60,000, while the earlier upward support trendline now acts as a broken structural reference near $74,131. That said, momentum is stabilizing on the daily chart as price consolidates near $60,000. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is turning marginally positive above its signal line, and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is recovering toward 33, which hints at fading selling pressure but not yet a decisive shift in trend.
On the topside, immediate resistance appears at the $60,000 horizontal level, followed by the 50-day EMA at about $66,698, which reinforces the broader cap on recovery attempts. Above that, the prior trendline break area around $74,131 and the 200-day EMA near $77,512 mark deeper layers of overhead supply that would need to be reclaimed to weaken the prevailing bearish structure.
BTC/USDT daily price chart.Looking down, a slip below the June 25 low at $58,115 could drop BTC toward the $53,485 support level, marked by the July 5, 2024 low.
SOL, ZEC and HYPE post mild recovery gainsSolana is trading around $75 on Tuesday, following a 5% rebound the previous day. The recovery aligns with an inflow of $5.52 million into SOL-focused Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) on Monday, suggesting fresh institutional support this week.
SOL ETFs data. Source: SosovalueFrom a technical perspective, the 50-day and 200-day EMAs at around $75.23 and $98.03, respectively, reaffirm the capped long-term trend. A decisive push above the 50-day EMA around $75.23 could further extend gains toward the broader trend barrier at the 200-day EMA near $98.03.
Solana has bounced off recent lows, pushing the MACD and signal line higher toward the zero line, while the RSI at 55 crosses above the midline, hinting at a recovery phase. Yet these positive signals remain constrained by the overhead moving average structure.
SOL/USDT daily price chart.Zcash hovers around $400 on Tuesday, after an 8% rise on Monday, crossing above its 200-day EMA at $380. The privacy coin projects a possible double-bottom reversal from the 20-day EMA, near the 50% retracement level at $356, measured from the $184 to $690 upswing.
Momentum shows a decline in bearish pressure, with RSI at 42 indicating an uptick while the MACD prepares for a potential bullish crossover above its signal line.
If ZEC clears the 50-day EMA at $454, it could target the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $520.
ZEC/USDT daily price chart.On the downside, immediate support is seen around $356, guarding the $300 round figure, followed by the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $251.
Finally, Hyperliquid shows steady behavior around $66 on Tuesday, following a nearly 9% rebound from the 50-day EMA at $60.08 on Monday. Similar to SOL, the rebound in HYPE coincides with a $2.23 million inflow into US spot HYPE ETFs on Monday.
HYPE ETFs data. Source: SosovalueMomentum indicators on the daily chart suggest the broader uptrend is intact, with the RSI at 53 holding above the midline while the negative MACD histogram contracts, hinting at waning downside momentum.
The 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $66.22 serves as the immediate resistance, measured over the upswing from $38.17 to $76.93. A decisive close above this resistance zone could target the all-time high level of $76.93, followed by the 127.2% Fibonacci extension level at $93.08.
HYPE/USD daily price chart.Looking to the downside, the 50-day EMA at $60.08 emerges as immediate support, followed by the 50% retracement level at $54.19.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)
The battle for dominance in real asset tokenisation intensifies day by day. While Solana seemed untouchable thanks to its speed and minimal fees, its historical rival orchestrated a brilliant turnaround. By asserting itself in the segment of traditional company stocks transferred onto the blockchain, BNB Chain is completely reshuffling the DeFi cards. For some crypto analysts, this is just the beginning!
In brief BNB Chain officially surpasses Solana in total volume of tokenized stock transactions. More than 709 available assets: US stocks, ETFs and pre-IPO positions Tokenisation establishes itself as a major new competition axis between blockchains. The explosive growth of RWAs on BNB Chain The Binance blockchain announced it has crossed the $5.2 billion mark in cumulative volume of tokenized stocks. It thus surpasses Solana which shows about $4.5 billion. The market capitalization of tokenized stocks and ETFs on BNB Chain also now exceeds one billion dollars. The data report over 709 assets available on the ecosystem.
Ondo Global Markets dominates the chart. It alone represents $5.12 billion of Ondo’s $6 billion cumulative DEX volume, with more than 430 tokenized stocks and ETFs. bStocks offers BEP-20 tokens backed 1:1 by real US stocks held by a regulated custodian. Recently launched, xStocks already covers more than 50 US stocks with over 100 additional titles planned. According to experts, this massive acceleration of BNB Chain is largely explained by the deployment of key institutional infrastructures and strategic partnerships. This allows trading of Tech giants (such as Tesla or Apple) 24/7.
Another asset of BNB Chain in the tokenisation market: the diversity of its offer. Users do not access a single issuer, but multiple competing platforms. These offer their own versions of the same underlying asset.
The next frontier? The private tokenisation market Colb Finance has deployed over $60 million in pre-IPO tokenized positions on BNB Chain. It targets companies in the AI, space, and fintech sectors. Paimon Finance provides in turn tokenized exposure to SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI.
That’s not all! On June 23, the only tokenized positions on SpaceX generated $6.5 million in volume in a single day.
BNB Chain’s value proposition rests on three points:
24/7 trading fees under 1 cent per transaction finality in 650 milliseconds In any case, BNB Chain’s current performance confirms that the blockchain battle is no longer limited to the crypto’s historical usages. As tokenisation gains ground, infrastructures able to attract issuers and investors could play a decisive role in the next phase of sector development. It remains to be seen if BNB Chain will keep this lead!
Maximize your Cointribune experience with our "Read to Earn" program! For every article you read, earn points and access exclusive rewards. Sign up now and start earning benefits.
Join the program
A
A
Lien copié
Ariela R.
My name is Ariela, and I am 31 years old. I have been working in the field of web writing for 7 years now. I only discovered trading and cryptocurrency a few years ago, but it is a universe that greatly interests me. The topics covered on the platform allow me to learn more. A singer in my spare time, I also cultivate a great passion for music and reading (and animals!)
DISCLAIMER
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren has cited a Wall Street Journal investigation into CoinEx as evidence that the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act would make illicit crypto finance worse, not better. The Solana Policy Institute's general counsel disagrees, and says the bill already contains the tools to address exactly that kind of problem.
The CoinEx Allegations at the Centre of the Debate The dispute traces back to a WSJ report, published June 25, that drew on blockchain intelligence from TRM Labs. TRM Labs traced $3.84 billion in flows from wallets linked to more than 60 sanctioned Iranian entities through CoinEx since 2019, identifying the exchange as the primary external conduit for Iran-linked capital moving into global crypto markets. Of that total, $2.7 billion flowed specifically between CoinEx and Nobitex, Iran's largest domestic exchange, at an average rate of approximately $1 million per day since 2018.
Blockchain analysis reveals the Seychelles-based exchange became a critical financial conduit for Iranian entities after Binance tightened controls. Seychelles-registered CoinEx rejected the report's findings, saying it has "never established any commercial relationship with Iranian government-related entities, Iranian domestic exchanges," or provided active assistance to sanctioned parties.
Warren used the report to argue that the CLARITY Act, as currently written, would create new loopholes rather than close existing ones. She has called for Congress to tighten illicit finance rules before advancing any broad crypto market structure legislation. Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, have argued the bill's anti-money laundering provisions remain too weak.
Solana Institute: The Bill Already Has an Answer Patrick Wilson, General Counsel at the Solana Policy Institute, has been an active voice in the CLARITY Act debate. Wilson responded directly to Warren's framing, arguing that the WSJ report concerns sanctioned entities routing funds through an offshore exchange, and that the CLARITY Act already addresses that risk in detail. He pointed specifically to Sections 507 and 508 of the bill, which would require a Treasury-led international strategy and mandate annual reporting on sanctions gaps and high-risk jurisdictions.
His position is that Warren's critique conflates the actions of a non-compliant offshore exchange with a systemic failure of the proposed legislation. In Wilson's view, the CoinEx situation is precisely the kind of scenario the bill's sanctions provisions are designed to capture and deter.
The CLARITY Act cleared the Senate Banking Committee in May and has since been placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar, setting the stage for a potential floor vote later this summer. Whether the bill reaches a floor vote before the August recess remains uncertain, but the exchange between Warren and the Solana Policy Institute reflects a broader fault line in the debate: how to balance a workable regulatory framework for domestic crypto innovation against the enforcement tools needed to curb illicit activity flowing through offshore platforms.
Sources:
CoinEx Denies Claims It Served as $3.84 Billion Gateway to Sanctioned Iranian Crypto Firms (CoinDesk)
Iran Moved $3.84 Billion Through CoinEx to Bypass US Sanctions, WSJ Reports (Crypto Briefing)
The CLARITY Act Hits a Critical Juncture: Where Things Stand Going Into Senate Markup (Fortune)
Solana (SOL) dropped as low as $71.37 in the last 24 hours, paralleling a broader market correction led by Bitcoin. The price movement has prompted investors to focus closely on the $65 to $71 range, which is now viewed as a critical area for short-term support and resistance. This concentration suggests that many traders see these levels as pivotal for Solana’s next direction.
Key support zone attracts attentionOn-chain data reveals that more than 60 million SOL tokens have changed hands in the $65 to $71 range, making this band one of the strongest nearby support areas for Solana. Significant trading activity in such regions often serves as a defensive line, with many investors holding positions that can bolster the price during pullbacks.
Analyst Ali Charts has highlighted that over 60 million SOL were traded within the $65 to $71 range, underscoring this area as one of the most robust support zones. According to Ali, as long as this demand cluster is protected, Solana’s uptrend structure may not be fully compromised.
Should SOL remain above $70, the price may consolidate sideways before attempting to challenge resistance at $73. Conversely, a drop below $70 would draw attention to the $64 level as the next key support. If that level fails, the focus would likely shift to $53.10 as a potential short-term floor.
Mixed signals from technical indicatorsThe recent weakness is not the result of Solana-specific developments but rather reflects a wider crypto market downturn. During the same period, Bitcoin declined by 1.43%, while the total cryptocurrency market capitalization dropped by 1.18%, emphasizing Solana’s place among the more volatile digital assets.
The Fear and Greed Index currently stands at 16, indicating risk-averse sentiment. SOL is trading below its 30-day exponential moving average of approximately $72.48. While some technical indicators suggest weak momentum on daily charts, others show relative strength index (RSI) climbing to 51.60 and a positive crossover in the MACD. This divergence implies that while selling pressure may be easing, a decisive reversal will require stronger volume and closes above resistance levels.
World Xyz disclosure draws renewed interestA long-awaited announcement from World Xyz, a notable project within the Solana ecosystem, revealed its identity. The project previously made headlines by purchasing the “world xyz” domain for $80,000. Following this disclosure, SOL’s price rose 2.86% in a single day, reigniting attention around the initiative.
Mini glossary: x402 refers to a technical payment standard designed to allow software agents and applications to pay for services online. The tokenization of real-world assets means creating digital versions of traditional assets such as bonds, real estate, or funds on a blockchain.
Vibhu, a representative from the Solana Foundation, described World as an intent-focused consensus infrastructure built on the x402 protocol. The platform aims to provide a decentralized framework for the tokenization of real-world assets.
Analysts broaden their watch levelsSjuul, an analyst at AltCryptoGems, observed that while SOL has shown some strength on shorter-term charts, there is continued pressure on higher timeframes. According to Sjuul, a meaningful recovery would require reclaiming the $78 level to reestablish support.
Sjuul emphasized that although strength is visible in lower timeframes, broader challenges remain. The analyst believes that a sustained rebound would depend on $78 becoming a support level once more.
Other market analysts warn that losing the $65 to $75 zone could trigger renewed pressure toward the $50 to $55 area. In the second quarter, Solana’s trading volume reached $67 billion, while net outflows from SOL ETFs totaled $5.8 million in June. Meanwhile, a $15 million short position has raised market questions about whether the downturn could deepen further.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Key Takeaways Bitcoin’s limited supply of 21 million coins and expanding institutional adoption make it the most stable long-term cryptocurrency investment. Ethereum maintains dominance in smart contract platforms, hosting the largest DeFi ecosystem and billions in stablecoin volume. Solana’s high-speed transactions and minimal fees have driven significant growth in stablecoin usage and decentralized applications. Chainlink serves as critical blockchain infrastructure, enabling smart contracts to access external data through its oracle network. Sui represents a high-potential mid-cap opportunity with advanced technology and expanding ecosystem adoption. Investors seeking sustainable cryptocurrency positions are being advised to prioritize fundamental strength over market volatility. A comprehensive analysis identifies five digital assets demonstrating robust adoption metrics, active development communities, and significant institutional backing.
Bitcoin (BTC) Bitcoin secures the top position as the premier long-term cryptocurrency investment. As the pioneering digital asset, its supply is permanently limited to 21 million units.
Bitcoin (BTC) Price The introduction of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds alongside increasing corporate treasury allocations has accelerated institutional participation significantly. Analysts characterize Bitcoin as delivering the most favorable risk-adjusted returns within the digital asset sector.
Ethereum (ETH) Ethereum serves as the backbone infrastructure for a substantial portion of the cryptocurrency marketplace. The platform hosts thousands of decentralized applications and commands the industry’s most extensive decentralized finance infrastructure.
Ethereum (ETH) Price Multi-billion dollar stablecoin operations execute primarily on Ethereum’s network. The platform is increasingly central to the tokenization of traditional financial assets.
While facing competition from emerging blockchain platforms, Ethereum consistently attracts developer talent at an unmatched rate. This sustained development activity represents a primary factor supporting its position as a compelling long-term asset.
Solana (SOL) Solana distinguishes itself through exceptional processing speeds and minimal transaction costs. These technical advantages have enabled the network to capture market share across DeFi protocols, non-fungible tokens, payment systems, and consumer-facing applications.
The blockchain has recorded substantial increases in both stablecoin transaction volume and decentralized exchange activity. Institutional capital allocation toward Solana has similarly accelerated, according to market data.
Chainlink (LINK) Chainlink operates within a distinct category compared to traditional blockchain platforms. Rather than processing transactions directly, it delivers essential infrastructure enabling smart contracts to interact with external information sources.
Its decentralized oracle network is considered fundamental to DeFi operations. The Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol has gained particular traction among institutions exploring tokenized asset applications.
Sui Sui emerges as a compelling growth-oriented selection within the mid-capitalization segment. Built using the Move programming language, the platform prioritizes transaction throughput and network scalability.
The ecosystem has demonstrated expansion across gaming platforms, DeFi protocols, and mainstream consumer applications. While analysts acknowledge higher volatility compared to established cryptocurrencies, Sui presents substantial upside potential contingent on continued adoption.
Constructing a Balanced Crypto Portfolio The analysis proposes a strategic allocation framework for investors pursuing long-term positioning. The suggested distribution designates 35 percent to Bitcoin, 25 percent to Ethereum, 20 percent to Solana, 10 percent to Chainlink, and 10 percent to Sui.
This allocation strategy seeks to balance the stability characteristics of established cryptocurrencies with the expansion potential of emerging platforms. The framework acknowledges that no individual asset guarantees positive returns.
Each selected cryptocurrency addresses a distinct market function. Bitcoin provides store-of-value stability, Ethereum delivers smart contract infrastructure dominance, and Solana offers exposure to high-performance blockchain technology.
Chainlink furnishes the data connectivity layer between blockchain networks and external information sources. Sui provides access to an emerging high-performance network with accelerating growth metrics.
The analysis concludes by emphasizing that cryptocurrency investments inherently involve substantial risk and price fluctuation. Concentrating on assets demonstrating strong fundamental characteristics and tangible real-world applications may enhance long-term portfolio performance.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Chainlink, and Sui represent the core components of this fundamentals-focused investment strategy for July 2026.
The FIFA World Cup has entered its third week, with packed stadiums, soaring television audiences, and fans closely following every twist in the tournament.
But while the football has dominated headlines, equity analysts have been studying another competition unfolding off the pitch: which listed companies stand to benefit most from the world's biggest sporting event.
Based on early indicators, analysts have pointed to stronger-than-expected trading volumes at Robinhood Markets, increased customer traffic at SHAK restaurants located near World Cup venues, and accelerating apparel sales at Adidas.
Robinhood has emerged as one of the biggest corporate beneficiaries of the FIFA World Cup, with analysts pointing to a sharp jump in activity on its fast-growing prediction markets business.
Much of the company's strong June performance has been driven by trading in event contracts linked to the tournament.
Robinhood routes these contracts through Rothera, its CFTC-licensed exchange and clearing house, allowing it to retain the full economics of trades rather than sharing revenue with third-party exchanges.
Truist Securities said trading volumes in Robinhood's prediction markets accelerated sharply over the past week and are now tracking nearly 40% above the brokerage's second-quarter forecasts.
The firm said the World Cup is likely to provide an even bigger revenue boost than implied by higher volumes because the activity is occurring on Robinhood's proprietary exchange.
The brokerage said Robinhood is on course for its strongest June on record across equities, options, and prediction markets, describing the performance as a "hat trick, unassisted by crypto."
The optimism has been echoed across Wall Street.
Goldman Sachs on Monday raised its price target on Robinhood to $121 from $108 while maintaining a Buy rating, citing record trading activity during June.
The stock currently trades at $101.83.
Analyst James Yaro said preliminary data pointed to record volumes in event contracts, options and equities, alongside a sharp increase in cryptocurrency trading, reinforcing the view that Robinhood's expanding product suite and rising retail participation are driving growth across multiple asset classes.
The new target implies roughly 23% upside from Friday's closing price of $98.
The upgrade came shortly after BTIG initiated coverage of Robinhood with a Buy rating and a $125 price target.
Analyst Andrew Harte said the company had evolved well beyond its commission-free trading roots into a diversified platform spanning cryptocurrencies, prediction markets and wealth management, adding that it was well positioned to compound assets at more than 20% annually over the next decade through product expansion, demographic tailwinds and international growth.
Earlier this month, Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani wrote that prediction markets were likely to become Robinhood's largest incremental revenue driver this year, helping lift the company's shares by 7%.
The analysts estimated that prediction market revenue could surge 286% this year to $586 million.
"We believe as we head deeper into the World Cup, we can expect Robinhood to gain share," Chhugani wrote, adding that interest surrounding the upcoming US midterm elections and growing institutional participation in prediction markets should provide additional momentum.
Restaurant chain Shake Shack is also expected to receive a modest boost from the tournament.
Analysts at DA Davidson said more than 35% of the company's US-owned restaurants are located within a 30-mile radius of World Cup venues, positioning the chain to benefit from higher footfall as fans gather around host cities.
News reports from several tournament locations have already pointed to increased spending at restaurants and bars, supporting expectations that same-store sales could finish near the upper end of the company's updated guidance issued earlier this month.
"The guidance reset appears all the wiser given our lower World Cup lift estimate vs mgmt's initial implied assumption," DA Davidson analysts wrote.
They added that stronger execution under new Chief Financial Officer Michelle Hook could help restore investor confidence.
"As a result, we are increasingly confident that new CFO Michelle Hook's oversight & target-setting discipline will help SHAK regain investor credibility and potentially exit the penalty box as soon as its next earnings release."
The brokerage reiterated its Buy rating on Shake Shack with a $70 price target, representing nearly 30% upside from the stock's previous close of $54.79.
The World Cup also appears to be widening the gap between Adidas and Nike, according to early retail and consumer spending data.
Jefferies expects Adidas to continue generating World Cup-related sales momentum throughout the second quarter, with an even stronger contribution expected in the second half of the year.
As an official tournament sponsor, Adidas supplies the official match ball and sponsors 14 national teams.
Nike outfits 12 teams while supporting the tournament through merchandise launches and collaborations across more than 5,000 stores worldwide.
Although both companies are benefiting from football-related demand, analysts believe Adidas has gained the stronger advantage.
Drake MacFarlane, research analyst at M Science, said Adidas was benefiting "to a greater degree thus far."
Consumer spending data showed purchases of Adidas apparel climbed 70% year over year in May and remained elevated through June, largely driven by jersey demand ahead of the tournament.
Nike's apparel business has also expanded, but MacFarlane said the company was being outpaced because Adidas currently has "the right set of products for the consumer."
Foot traffic trends reinforce that view.
According to Placer.ai data shared with Reuters, visits to Adidas stores in the United States jumped 47% during the tournament's opening week compared with average 2026 levels.
Nike's factory outlet stores recorded an 11% increase over the same period.
Compared with last year, Adidas posted a 16% increase in store visits, while Nike experienced a decline.
Although the Nike figures only reflect outlet locations, Placer.ai Director of Research Elizabeth Lafontaine said the data still suggested Adidas "has been top of mind for shoppers and may have done a good job in its store activation around the event."
Adidas generated 250 million euros of World Cup-related revenue during the first quarter alone.
Jefferies expects the tournament's commercial impact to extend beyond traditional football merchandise, arguing that World Cup-inspired lifestyle collections are resonating strongly with female consumers.
"The halo effect should extend beyond football fans as WC-inspired lifestyle ranges seem to resonate strongly with female consumers," the brokerage said while reiterating its Buy rating and 190-euro price target on the stock.
Digital Realty fell in premarket trading after it announced its buying a $3.5 billion stake in three data centers from asset manager Blackstone on Tuesday.
The Austin-based global data center firm will pay $1.2 billion in cash and $2.3 billion in shares for data centers in Northern Virginia, valued at $7.8 billion. The transaction is expected to be completed on Tuesday.
Digital Realty will purchase Blackstone's 80% interest in two 96-megawatt data centers in Manassas, Virginia, and a 50% interest in one 96-megawatt data center in Sterling, Virginia.
It was last trading down 3.7% before the market opened.
Digital Realty shares over the past year.
This is a breaking news story. Please refresh for updates.
Systematic long-short equity managers, the algorithmic strategies that parse mountains of market data to find statistical edges, just posted their worst multi-day run since 2023.
According to Goldman Sachs prime brokerage data, the first half of January 2026 was the weakest period for systematic long-short equity managers since October 2025, with the cohort losing approximately 1% over a critical 10-day stretch. UBS went further, estimating that US-focused quant funds were down around 2.8% in the first two weeks of 2026 alone.
Advertisement
Who got hit and how hard Renaissance Technologies saw its strategy down roughly 4% by early January. Schonfeld’s quant operation dropped approximately 3.9% through mid-month. Engineers Gate fell around 6%.
UBS identified one-day deleveraging events as a key driver, describing the unwinding as the sharpest seen since December 22, 2025.
This has happened before, recently In the summer of 2025, quant equity managers suffered their worst run since the end of 2023, with average losses approximating 4.2%. That episode was driven by momentum unwinds and a sharp rally in lower-quality stocks.
Crowded trades and violent reversals in factor-based positioning were cited repeatedly across the recent reports as the primary mechanics behind the losses.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
LONDON, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, today announced the newest version of RiskAgility Financial Modeller (FM), its flagship platform for life and health insurers. The release adds advanced graphics processing unit (GPU) execution as a complementary technology that further extends the market-leading performance of RiskAgility FM, enabling insurers to generate insights faster, more cost-effectively and with greater flexibility.
WTW has enhanced RiskAgility FM’s proven Gen-2 engine with GPU execution across RiskAgility FM and vGrid, its fully scalable on-demand computing resource. This gives insurers the flexibility to unlock the best performance for each model.
Mark Brown, Global Life Lead, Insurance Consulting and Technology, WTW, said: “RiskAgility FM has already transformed the economics of actuarial modelling through our Gen-2 engine. GPU capabilities now take that further, helping insurers optimise each model and accelerate high-volume projections with greater efficiency. Early testing has implied up to 100x cost savings in some situations.
“Crucially, this is about more than speed. By combining GPU acceleration with our first-to-market AI capabilities, we are enabling a fundamentally different way of working. Pricing teams can develop products in near real time, while executives can directly interrogate models to explore the business outcomes of their decisions."
Aligning GPU acceleration, Gen-2 efficiency, and advanced AI capabilities within a governed modelling and reporting solution, RiskAgility FM provides a unified platform that adapts to different modelling needs, reduces cost and turnaround time, and makes financial and capital modelling more interactive and accessible. Users can now choose between GPU and CPU execution, selecting the approach that best fits their modelling requirements.
Brown said: “This marks an important step towards a more accessible, insight-driven future for financial and capital modelling - where performance, intelligence and usability come together to help insurers respond faster and make better decisions.”
About WTW
At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organisations sharpen their strategy, enhance organisational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximise performance.
Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success - and provide perspective that moves you.
Few would argue that Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA 0.22%) (BRKB 0.53%) isn't a solid investment choice. But millionaire-making potential with a meager starting position of only $10,000? That's just a bridge too far.
Or maybe it isn't.
Incredible historical returns Warren Buffett produced market-beating returns from Berkshire Hathaway shares over the long term. His ultra-patient, deep-value style of stock picking clearly works and will likely continue to work under current CEO Greg Abel's leadership.
But can the stock turn a $10,000 investment into a $1 million position in a single lifetime? That's precisely what happened with the company's initial public offering of its A shares at $290 in March of 1980; its current price is near $733,000. So a $10,000 investment in its initial public offering (IPO) would be worth a little more than $25 million today.
Image source: Getty Images.
But it's a gain that comes with a major footnote: The stock got off to a fantastic start well before Warren Buffett became known as the Oracle of Omaha for his investing prowess.
Probably, few people would have actually been willing to make such a bet early on. For perspective, a more plausible $10,000 investment in the same ticker made just 30 years ago -- after Buffett became an investing legend -- would only be worth a much lower $230,000, give or take.
Still, that's more than the S&P 500 would have dished out during that stretch, even when reinvesting its dividends (which Berkshire doesn't pay). It's a testament to the power of compounding good returns year in and year out, which Berkshire essentially does by reinvesting its profits rather than immediately passing them along to shareholders.
It's possible, but... So the question remains: Could investing $10,000 in Berkshire Hathaway today make you a millionaire?
It's possible, although it largely depends on the amount of time you're able to stick with it. If you're looking to do it in 30 years, it would require average annual returns of nearly 17%, which, even by Berkshire's typical yearly returns these days, is unusually high. If you have 40 years to wait, however, it can be accomplished with average annual returns of just over 12%, which isn't out of the company's reach, even if some of those years are off years.
Today's Change
(
-0.53
%) $
-2.66
Current Price
$
496.00
Just remember that -- as is the case with any investment -- most of whatever net gains you're going to achieve by owning this stock will only materialize during the final one-third of whatever your savings period is, when the compounding of previously accumulated gains kicks into high gear. If you look closely at any long-term chart of this ticker, you'll see its ascension is constantly accelerating.
So you'll want to make whatever trade you're going to step into as soon as you can possibly do so, since time still does most of the work here -- even for Berkshire Hathaway.
Universities Gearing Up for Clearing in August with More than 80,000 Pupils Expected to Blitz Phonelines in an Eight-Hour Window
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Secondary school exam season has come to an end, but for one group exam-related stress is just beginning to ramp up: university IT departments counting down to Clearing in August.
Last year, more than 77,000 students entered Clearing looking for a university place - and with each student representing an average of £27,000 in tuition fees, there is approximately £2 billion on the table. For universities, a missed call isn't just a poor experience - it's a direct hit to the bottom line.
Last year's Clearing exposed a stark divide in how universities handled one of the most high-stakes contact days in the academic calendar. When A-level results dropped, students scrambled to secure places - and many were forced to wait for long periods of time on hold to do so, according to data from 8x8, Inc. (NASDAQ: EGHT), a leading global business communications platform provider.
While Clearing technically runs until October, the first few days are critical, with places awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. People who called certain 8x8-supported universities were able to speak to university staff within 8 seconds. Not everyone was so fortunate.
The cost of delay
"The number of applications through Clearing has been growing year on year for some time and it’s likely to top above 80,000 people this year - it’s an utterly stressful time for applicants,” said James Starvella, UK University Lead at 8x8, Inc. “When they are trying to get through they have no idea if they are going to be on the phone for three seconds, three minutes, or three hours in trying to secure the course that could determine the rest of their life. But beyond this, it’s a stressful time for the university teams because they want the calls to get through quickly and for people to have a positive experience. Financially though, every dropped call is a costly failure - and one that’s utterly preventable.”
Helping people achieve their dreams
“It’s a tough period, possibly the most intense part of the year, and universities train and plan months in advance,” said Ged Attwood, Head of Operations at University of Worcester. “It’s worth it in the end though because you want people to get in and be on the course of their dreams. We work hard on this because we don’t want to have people being stressed. Last year during the Clearing period, 3,325 calls were taken with an average wait time of 32 seconds. Even more impressively, on the first - and busiest - day, the average wait time was no longer than ten seconds.”
The difference across the universities
Based on information available online, including conversations in online newsgroups, social media forums, comment from Newcastle University, the story is of potential long waits and call handling times, depending on the university or education establishment.
Non-8x8 Clearing supported universities saw waits of more than 18 minutes while call handling times could be similar.8x8 Clearing supported universities saw wait times of less than eight seconds for a call to be answered and total call handling times of around two-eight minutes.8x8 and Education
More information about how 8x8 helps universities and other educational institutions can be found on the company's customer success page: https://www.8x8.com/resources/customer-stories
8x8, Inc. is committed to the responsible use of artificial intelligence and the protection of customer data. The 8x8 Platform for CX is developed and operated in accordance with established security standards, applicable compliance frameworks, and internal governance policies, including privacy-by-design principles that safeguard personal data on the 8x8 platform. Full details are available at trust.8x8.com.
Footnote:
1 - The £2bn figure is derived from the following: UCAS numbers state the 2026/2027 tuition fee per student per year is a maximum of £9,790 per year. When multiplied by three years to reflect a degree-length course, the sum comes to £29,370. When this is multiplied by 80,000 - an estimate of the number of pupils who will apply via Clearing based on publicly available information - the number comes to £2.34Bn.
About 8x8, Inc.
8x8, Inc. (NASDAQ: EGHT) connects people and organizations through seamless communication on one of the industry's most integrated platforms for Customer Experience – combining Contact Center, Unified Communications, and CPaaS solutions. The 8x8® Platform for CX integrates AI to enable personalized customer journeys, drive operational excellence and insights, and facilitate team collaboration. As a business communications leader, the company helps customer experience and IT leaders around the world become the heartbeat of their organizations, empowering them to unlock the potential of every interaction. For additional information, visit www.8x8.com, or follow 8x8 on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expected capabilities and availability of 8x8 and its products and services, including, but not limited to performance and ability to handle large call volumes in a timely manner. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please refer to 8x8’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. 8x8 assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.
Copyright 2026 8x8, Inc. 8x8 and associated brand assets are trademarks of 8x8, Inc. All rights reserved.
Constellation Brands reports earnings Tuesday, with investors focused on whether Modelo and Corona can keep beer sales growing while offsetting pressure on margins.
The crypto market is sitting at extreme fear. Bitcoin is hovering low, down significantly from its previous all-time high. But beneath the surface, smart money is moving. Today's Alpha Drop highlights three tokens where the signal cuts through the noise.
Ethereum ($ETH): The Corporate Treasury SignalSharpLink Gaming, one of the most aggressive corporate Ethereum treasury companies in the market, just broke a multi-month buying silence. In a recent short window, the company acquired a massive amount of ETH, marking its largest single purchase window in over a year. This substantially increases SharpLink's total ETH holdings to a multi-billion dollar valuation.The timing is deliberate. SharpLink paused accumulation for several months while the market corrected. It resumed buying with conviction precisely when retail sentiment hit extreme fear levels—a classic institutional accumulation pattern.
Real-Time Momentum Catalyst: Corporate treasury plays on crypto assets remain one of the clearest on-chain signals available to retail traders. When a company that has been watching the market for months decides to deploy heavy capital in a matter of days, it is making a directional bet on where prices are headed—not where they are today.This move also coincides with a broader institutional narrative around Ethereum. BitMine, another ETH treasury company, is simultaneously approaching a significant percentage of Ethereum's total supply. Joe Lubin, Ethereum co-founder, recently backed a new Ethereum nonprofit called ETHLabs alongside both companies. The institutional conviction in ETH at current prices is building quietly while retail attention is elsewhere.
Synapse ($SYN): The Derivatives DisruptorBitMEX co-founder and renowned crypto trader Arthur Hayes publicly disclosed a multi-million dollar investment in SYN, the native token of the Synapse protocol. Hayes purchased a substantial allocation of SYN tokens via Flowdesk, backing Hypercall, a new on-chain options decentralized exchange (DEX) built on top of Synapse that is positioning itself as a direct challenger to Deribit, the dominant centralized options exchange in crypto.Hayes described SYN as part of what he called the "holy trinity" alongside HYPE and ZEC, three tokens he believes are positioned to capture significant market share in the derivatives and privacy sectors. The announcement drove SYN up exponentially within hours.
Real-Time Momentum Catalyst: Arthur Hayes has one of the strongest track records for public token calls in the crypto industry. His endorsements carry significant weight not just because of his personal brand, but because he tends to back projects with genuine structural theses rather than pure speculation.The Hypercall thesis is straightforward: Deribit processes massive options volume daily, but it is a centralized exchange with counterparty risk, KYC requirements, and geographic restrictions. An on-chain alternative that replicates this functionality with Hyperliquid-style performance and Synapse's cross-chain infrastructure could capture a meaningful share of that market. Hayes is betting that Hypercall is that alternative and he is putting real money behind it. The next catalyst will be the platform's actual launch and early volume metrics.
Ethena ($ENA): The Enterprise System IntegrationEthena announced a milestone collaboration involving the integration of USDe—its synthetic dollar stablecoin—into BlackRock's Aladdin platform. Aladdin is the portfolio management and risk analytics system used by institutional asset managers overseeing tens of trillions of dollars in assets. As part of the arrangement, BlackRock's BUIDL tokenized money market fund becomes the primary backing asset for Ethena's white-label institutional product.The market reacted with a modest intraday gain—a muted response that many analysts believe significantly underestimates the long-term implications of this integration.
Real-Time Momentum Catalyst: Aladdin is not a consumer product. It is the operational backbone of some of the largest asset managers, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds in the world. Getting USDe integrated into this system means that institutional portfolio managers can now interact with Ethena's synthetic dollar infrastructure as part of their standard workflow—without needing to navigate crypto-native interfaces or custody solutions.This is the kind of distribution that DeFi protocols have been trying to achieve for years. Most fail because institutional adoption requires regulatory clarity, audit trails, and integration with existing systems. Ethena has achieved all three with this announcement. The restrained price reaction reflects the market's short-term focus during a period of extreme fear. Traders who understand the long-term significance of massive institutional capital gaining access to USDe may find the current price an attractive entry point.
Market ContextToday's broader market is operating under extreme fear conditions. Bitcoin is trading down from its previous all-time high, and the Fear & Greed Index sits deep in the fear zone. The current quarter is on track to close as Bitcoin's second consecutive red quarter, a historically rare occurrence.However, history also shows that periods of extreme fear are often when the most asymmetric opportunities emerge. The three tokens highlighted today share a common thread: each has a specific, verifiable catalyst that is independent of broader market sentiment. SharpLink's treasury accumulation, Arthur Hayes' public investment, and Ethena's BlackRock integration are all real events with real implications—regardless of where Bitcoin trades this week.
Final Thoughts: Own the Future, Trade SmartThis WOO X Daily Alpha Drop provides actionable intelligence on where smart money is moving, powered by wooxpro.com. By focusing on fundamental institutional utility, enterprise scaling, and strategic venture positioning, we aim to provide you with the tools to navigate short-term volatility with a systematic perspective.Utilize WOO X's deep, consolidated order book depth across these pairs to execute your trades with minimal market impact and optimize your portfolio for alpha.
Trade Smart, Own the Future.
Disclaimer: This deep dive is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always conduct your own research before trading.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland & SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Logitech G announced today that it is the Official PC Peripheral Partner for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. The partnership is crafted for those who want more out of their gaming experience: more performance, more intensity, and more ways to elevate every match. As the Official PC Peripheral Provider, Logitech G delivers trusted performance in mice, keyboards, headsets, and gear that help players elevate their game, from everyday gamin.
Predict.fun World Cup knockout stage: Norway's advancement probability stands at 65%, Ivory Coast secures over 30% of market support
According to data from prediction market platform Predict.fun, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match between Ivory Coast and Norway, the implied probability of Norway advancing is approximately 65%, while that of Ivory Coast stands at 36%. The market overall favors the Norwegian side led by Erling Haaland and Martin ?degaard to progress to the next round. In terms of playing style, Ivory Coast has multiple players competing in top European leagues, with strong counterattack and individual dribbling capabilities; Norway, meanwhile, showed solid competitiveness in the group stage thanks to its tight defensive system, set-piece proficiency and aerial dominance. Although the market currently leans toward Norway advancing, it still retains over a 30% expectation for the "African Elephants" (Ivory Coast's nickname), indicating traders are monitoring the underdog's potential to pull off an upset.
25 minutes ago
Bernstein sharply raises SNDK's target price to $3,000.
Bernstein analyst Mark Newman has raised SanDisk (SNDK)’s stock price target from $1,700 to $3,000, while retaining an “Outperform” rating on the stock. The firm explained that new Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) differ from their predecessors: older LTAs were customer-biased, while the new ones come with fixed or range-bound prices, include advance payment commitments to lock in clients and protect against downside risk, and feature longer terms. Per data from the company, SanDisk’s recently signed LTAs have a floor price of $0.29 per GB, which is significantly lower than Micron’s second-quarter floor price, the analyst noted in a research report for investors.
25 minutes ago
Sources: At least one sovereign wealth fund is adding to its spot Bitcoin holdings on the dip.
MidChains CEO Basil Al Askari stated that "at least one" sovereign wealth fund is adding to its spot Bitcoin holdings amid the price downturn, while another sovereign wealth fund may begin buying in the coming weeks. He noted this sends a very clear signal to other institutions that might still be on the sidelines, as they view these large funds as leaders in the asset class. MidChains is a regulated cryptocurrency trading platform based in Abu Dhabi, backed by sovereign wealth fund Mubadala. Prior to founding MidChains, Askari worked in the private equity team of Mubadala Capital, the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, and held roles in GE Capital’s commercial finance teams across the US, UK, and UAE, with extensive experience in financial investment and operations.
25 minutes ago
Spanish coffee chain Vanadi Coffee adds 10 Bitcoin to its holdings, bringing its total Bitcoin position to 223.
According to monitoring by BitcoinTreasuries.NET, Spanish coffee chain Vanadi Coffee has added 10 Bitcoin, bringing its total holdings to 223 Bitcoin.
25 minutes ago
Binance Japan Appoints New General Manager
Binance Japan announced that it will appoint Arisa Toyosaki as its new General Manager (Representative Director) effective July 1, 2026. Outgoing head Tsuyoshi Chino will be reassigned to the roles of Honorary Chairman and Director, and will continue to provide strategic guidance. According to a public statement, Toyosaki holds a degree in Computer Science and Economics from Northwestern University in the U.S. Her professional background includes stints as a derivatives trader at UBS Hong Kong, leading Search and AR business operations at Google Japan, founding DeFi project Cega in 2022, and selling the project in 2025. She has also been recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list.
25 minutes ago
Binance Alpha will distribute an airdrop at 18:00 today, with a point threshold of 224.
Per an official announcement, Binance Alpha will conduct an airdrop distribution at 18:00 today. Users holding at least 224 Binance Alpha points can claim the tokens on a first-come, first-served basis until the airdrop pool is fully allocated or the event expires. More details will be announced shortly.
Leading UK specialist bank selects Freshservice to simplify operations, improve colleague experience and support its digital-first transformation June 30, 2026 03:00 ET | Source: Freshworks Inc
LONDON, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freshworks (NASDAQ: FRSH) today announced that Vanquis, a leading UK specialist bank, has selected Freshservice as its AI-powered service operations platform to support the next phase of its digital transformation.
The selection is a key milestone in Vanquis’ broader Gateway programme, the bank’s flagship technology modernization initiative designed to create a simpler, more scalable and digital-first organization.
As Gateway nears completion, Vanquis is strengthening the operational foundations needed to scale efficiently, improve governance and deliver faster, more consistent service experiences across the organization. Freshservice will help Vanquis bring service management, asset visibility and workflow automation onto a single platform, reducing legacy complexity and enabling greater agility.
Freshservice was selected for its ease of use, rapid time to value and AI-powered capabilities. The platform is designed to give Vanquis greater flexibility to automate workflows, streamline service delivery and continuously adapt to evolving business needs without the constraints of legacy systems.
“As part of our Gateway transformation, we are simplifying the technology and processes that support colleagues across the bank,” said Jem Walters, CTO at Vanquis. “Freshservice gives us a more intuitive and flexible platform to manage service delivery, automate critical workflows and improve the colleague experience as we continue building a more agile, digital-first organization.”
Freshservice will enable Vanquis to manage service operations through a single platform, supporting faster incident resolution, more efficient request fulfillment and improved employee self-service. Built-in AI capabilities will help automate repetitive tasks, accelerate issue triage and provide insights to improve service performance.
“Financial institutions are under increasing pressure to modernize service delivery while maintaining resilience, governance, and operational efficiency,” said Musidora Jorgensen, UKI Country Lead for Freshworks. “Vanquis’ selection of Freshservice demonstrates how organizations can advance service transformation through a unified, AI-powered platform that enables faster service delivery, greater efficiency and measurable business outcomes.”
Vanquis joins a growing number of enterprises choosing Freshworks to modernize service management with solutions designed to deliver simplicity at scale, helping organizations reduce operational friction and unlock faster business outcomes.
To learn more about Freshservice, visit freshworks.com/freshservice.
About Freshservice
Freshservice by Freshworks is an AI-powered ServiceOps platform that unifies IT Service (ITSM), Asset (ITAM), Operations (ITOM) and Enterprise Service Management (ESM) on a single platform with a shared data layer. It gives IT, HR, finance, and facilities teams full visibility across services and infrastructure without the complexity of stitched-together tools. Freshservice comes with a natively embedded AI layer called Freddy AI that helps agents resolve issues faster, automates employee service requests, and gives leaders the insights they need to make better decisions. The result is resilient, proactive service delivery that scales across the entire organization.
About Freshworks Inc.
Freshworks Inc. provides service software that delivers exceptional employee and customer experiences. Its enterprise-grade solutions are powerful yet intuitive, and quick to deliver value. With a people-first approach to AI, Freshworks helps teams be more effective and organizations more productive. Companies including Bridgestone, New Balance, S&P Global, and Sony Music trust Freshworks to improve service efficiency and fuel long-term loyalty. For the latest updates, visit freshworks.com and follow Freshworks on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.
SummaryRegency Centers Corporation maintains a robust, sustainable, retail-focused portfolio with over 480 properties and a $14.3 billion market cap.REG demonstrates strong credit metrics: investment-grade ratings (Moody's A3, S&P A-) and a 249% asset coverage ratio.Preferred stocks REGCP and REGCO yield above 6.7%, trade below par, and offer structural advantages over common shares in a restrictive monetary environment.Development activity accelerates with $800 million in recent projects and a $635 million pipeline, supporting sustainable growth and stable financial performance.Looking for a portfolio of ideas like this one? Members of Trade With Beta get exclusive access to our subscriber-only portfolios. Learn More »Sitewide Sale 2026: Get 20% Off Kanokwan Plandee/iStock via Getty Images
Regency Centers Corporation (REG) is a company we've been following closely. With the release of its first quarter 2026 results, it's a good time to take a deeper look at what, if anything, has changed. Currently, the common stock
15.81K Followers
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in REGCP over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
It's hard to avoid the "soaring like a small aircraft" metaphors when writing about AeroVironment's (Nasdaq:AVAV) fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter and full-year results. These, plus the investor reaction to them, were very impressive, and in after-hours trading as of early Tuesday morning, the stock of the drone and defense systems specialist was up by more than 20%.
Almost needless to say, the company crushed analyst estimates, thanks to monster growth in key fundamentals. Let's dig into how it performed so well.
Image source: Getty Images.
Lifting off, and how AeroVironment published those financials just after market close on Monday. They revealed that the company's quarterly revenue doubled and then some, cruising to $641.6 million from the same period of 2025's $275 million. Breaking that down further, product sales leaped to just under $499 million from a bit over $242 million, while contract services more than quadrupled to $142.7 million.
As for net income under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), that also saw a surge. AeroVironment netted over $63 million in profit, well higher than the year-ago result of under $17 million. On a non-GAAP (adjusted) and per-share basis, profitability rose to $1.84 from $1.61.
Those headline numbers significantly exceeded the consensus analyst estimates. On average, pundits tracking AeroVironment's stock were modeling slightly over $557 million in revenue and only $1.48 per share in non-GAAP (adjusted) profitability.
While the company posted encouraging organic growth from its legacy businesses, it was helped to no small degree by recent acquisitions.
The company wrote in its earnings release that next-generation defense company BlueHalo and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM) platform specialist Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero) were together responsible for over $282 million in revenue during the quarter.
Today's Change
(
0.94
%) $
1.30
Current Price
$
139.25
Looking past the key fundamentals a little, another impressive figure AeroVironment published was its backlog. As of the end of April, this had ballooned to $1.2 billion from under $727 million at the same point in 2025.
AeroVironment defines backlog as "remaining performance obligations under firm orders for which funding is currently appropriated to us under a customer contract," so this is basically revenue already booked that only has to land in the company's coffers to count as that line item. Much of this comes from the U.S. Army, as reliable a paying customer as there is in this country.
Management also proffered guidance for the entirety of its new fiscal year (2027). It believes that revenue will hover between nearly $2.13 billion and just under $2.23 billion, and adjusted net income will be $3.02 to $3.34 per share.
That top-line range compares favorably to the just under $2 billion in revenue for all of fiscal 2026, while the $3.31 per share in adjusted net income the company earned last fiscal year is within the provided bottom-line range. Profitability is sure to be impacted by the company's efforts to build out production infrastructure and international sales capacity to capture more of its hot market.
Multiple flight paths I'm not seeing much to dislike or worry about in AeroVironment's results, even though the company's guidance suggests a cooling off from the torpid performance of fiscal 2026. I feel management is wisely conducting a "make hay while the sun shines" strategy with its busy build-outs, and the company operates at the center of current aerial technology -- and very effectively, at that.
I'm excited to see where AeroVironment will go next, and I'd even bet that those guidance numbers will prove to be conservative. There's plenty of organic growth to be had and small, clever peers to acquire to further bulk up the company.
Sign Of Good Things To Come?Bull Theory interpreted the rally of MSTR stock and Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock (NASDAQ:STRC) as evidence that Strategy is about to execute buybacks on both, not just leave the authorization unused.
“This is optimism building around active capital management rather than just Bitcoin accumulation, the market is betting Strategy can actually defend STRC’s price this time,” the market commentator said.
Khing Oei, Founder and CEO of Treasury, praised the framework, adding,” That is how a Bitcoin-backed credit business is supposed to operate. And these are the types of strong actions by management that are required in times of market stress.”
Will The Rally Stall?Popular cryptocurrency analyst Crypto Rover, however, questioned the new framework, noting that a company that is increasing payouts merely to keep the structure intact may not be as robust as it appears.
The analyst also wondered if the latest spike is a “dead cat bounce dressed as a comeback.”
Ali Martinez, a widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader, turned bearish on MSTR after confirming a head-and-shoulders pattern on the stock’s weekly chart
The head and shoulders chart pattern depicts a bullish-to-bearish trend reversal, signaling that an upward trend is nearing its end.
The analyst set a downside target of $28, marking a 70% drop from current levels.
More Bitcoin Sales On The Horizon?The sweeping new framework is designed to strengthen Strategy’s preferred securities, enhance liquidity and preserve long-term Bitcoin exposure.
The key aspect is a new Bitcoin monetization program that lets the company sell BTC to raise up to $1.25 billion for cash reserves, pay preferred dividends and interest on debt, and support repurchases of preferred and common stock.
However, the new framework drew sharp criticism from longtime Bitcoin critic Peter Schiff, who said that the Michael Saylor-founded firm is transitioning from being Bitcoin’s largest corporate buyer to a Bitcoin seller.
Price Action: At the time of writing, BTC was exchanging hands at $59,639.58, down 0.61% over the last 24 hours, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
Strategy shares rose 0.73% in after-hours trading after closing 12.60% higher at $92.68 during Monday’s regular trading session.
Benzinga’s Edge Stock Rankings indicate that MSTR has underperformed with a weaker price trend across short-, medium-, and long-term timeframes.
Photo: PJ McDonnell / Shutterstock.com
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Item 1 of 5 Vintage Polo Ralph Lauren T-shirts are displayed at Neng Vintage, a store specializing in Polo Ralph Lauren vintage clothing in Shanghai, China, June 23, 2026. REUTERS/Go Nakamura
[1/5]Vintage Polo Ralph Lauren T-shirts are displayed at Neng Vintage, a store specializing in Polo Ralph Lauren vintage clothing in Shanghai, China, June 23, 2026. REUTERS/Go Nakamura Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
SummaryCompaniesRalph Lauren reported a 50% sales jump in China last quarterThe company operates around 250 stores in ChinaAnalysts say shoppers shifted from top-tier luxury to brands offering stronger valueExecutives say China momentum reflects a multi-year brand overhaul, not a short-term reboundSHANGHAI, June 30 (Reuters) - Collector Xiao Neng says he has spent at least $1 million on Ralph Lauren (RL.N), opens new tab clothing over the past four to five years, building a wardrobe so large that he now sells pieces of it in two vintage stores that he opened in downtown Shanghai.
The 23-year-old is part of a growing group of Chinese superfans helping fuel a resurgence for the American brand, which reported a 50% sales jump in the country last quarter, even as the broader luxury market remains subdued by weak consumer confidence, a prolonged property downturn and concerns about jobs and income growth. China's luxury sector is "slowly recovering" in 2026 after several years of contraction and flat sales, according to Bain.
The Reuters Inside Track newsletter is your essential guide during the World Cup. Sign up here.
“Ralph Lauren, through clothing, provides people with a way to achieve this American Dream," Neng said. "What he makes is clothing with an American Dream feel to it.” He added that the American Dream is not unique to people from the U.S.; it is an aspirational lifestyle that can be shared by consumers in China.
The company’s recent strength in China, where it has around 250 stores, is the bounty of a multi-year overhaul rather than a short-term rebound, executives and analysts say. Chief Executive Patrice Louvet said in a post-earnings call last month the gains were “not a one-off” but stemmed from years of work to strengthen brand positioning and local relevance.
“We're in China not just to win this year, but we're in China trying to win for the next 10 and 20 years and really make sure we're building the right foundations for the long term,” he added. Ralph Lauren declined to comment further for this story.
'THEY OFFER GREAT VALUE'Ralph Lauren's brand elevation strategy has coincided with a shift in Chinese consumer behaviour away from ultra-high-end luxury toward labels viewed as offering stronger value.
Ralph Lauren’s pricing positions it below European luxury houses, many of which have pushed steep price increases in recent years. According to figures from Bernstein, luxury brands as a whole raised prices 36% between 2020 and 2023, led by top-tier players like Chanel and LVMH Group's (LVMH.PA), opens new tab Dior and Louis Vuitton.
Dresses at Ralph Lauren boutiques in China typically cost a few thousand yuan, with shirts often under 2,000 yuan ($294.24), compared with more than 20,000 yuan for dresses and over 6,000 yuan for shirts at brands like Dior.
“Another advantage is that they offer great value,” Neng said. “The brand's positioning and style are very high-end, meaning you're getting a high-class item for a smaller price.”
According to Jacques Roizen, co-founder of Shanghai-based Foresight Performance Partners, a large group of Chinese luxury shoppers has pulled back from top-tier brands as confidence weakened.
“She looks at Hermès and the like, and she says this is above my needs," he said. "The value proposition doesn't match my current confidence in the economy. And you've seen brands like Coach and Ralph Lauren do very, very well as a result."
Roizen said the brand’s recent performance reflects both this shift and years of strategic changes.
“You don't overperform the market by 50% because you got lucky," he said. "They've done a lot of things right."
Among those changes was a move away from heavy discounting.
“They’ve walked away from being, first and foremost, a brand that generated revenue on discounts during shopping festivals and all that stuff,” Roizen added.
The company has also invested heavily in upgrading stores and marketing, while adopting a city-by-city strategy that focuses resources on key urban markets like Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu to deepen customer engagement rather than expanding uniformly nationwide, said Yann Bozec, a former APAC president at Coach-owner Tapestry (TPR.N), opens new tab and founder of consultancy YB Stratis.
"When it comes to media spend, stores, events, targeted digital marketing, they will do it in those cities," he said. "It is a sound strategy to be very focused on some cities where they can achieve the reach and the frequency that they need in order to create impressions."
($1 = 6.7971 yuan)
Reporting by Casey Hall in Shanghai, additional reporting by Chenxi Yang; Editing by Lisa Jucca and Thomas Derpinghaus
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Casey is the Shanghai bureau chief and a senior correspondent covering companies in China, reporting on the biggest issues facing local and global businesses operating in the world's second largest economy. The Australian-born journalist has been based in Shanghai since 2007.
CompaniesJune 30 (Reuters) - Hong Kong-listed drug design tech firm Metis TechBio (7666.HK), opens new tab said on Tuesday it has granted U.S.-based biotechnology firm Boulevard Bio exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise its experimental autoimmune drug MTS-128 in a deal that could be worth up to $1.6 billion.
The deal marks an advancement for U.S.-China tech collaboration as Beijing ramps up scrutiny of cross-border deals involving sensitive technologies.
Jumpstart your morning with the latest legal news delivered straight to your inbox from The Daily Docket newsletter. Sign up here.
Under the terms, Boulevard will secure worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise MTS-128
Metis TechBio is eligible to receive $20 million as an upfront payment and up to $1.6 billion in additional payments tied to development, regulatory and commercial-related milestones.
Metis TechBio said in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange that MTS-128's successful development demonstrated the firm's capability to "deeply integrate artificial intelligence with protein drug design".
MTS-128 is for the autoimmune indication, according to Metis TechBio's website.
Metis TechBio did not immediately respond to a request for comment on which disease area MTS-128 targeted.
Beijing has tightened scrutiny of U.S. investment in domestic firms developing frontier technologies.
This year, China ordered U.S. tech giant Meta (META.O), opens new tab to unwind its $2 billion-plus acquisition of AI startup Manus.
Reporting by Andrew Silver in Shanghai; Additional reporting from Rajasik Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane Venkatraman and Lincoln Feast.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of TEM either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Sezzle remains a buy as robust Q1 results and raised guidance showcase accelerating growth, profitability, and cash generation. SEZL's disciplined underwriting, high user engagement, and new subscription-based offerings drive superior margins and operating leverage versus BNPL peers. Management's evolution strategy aims to diversify revenue with new financial products and a rewards-driven ecosystem, boosting engagement and long-term monetization.
Please see below information about transactions made under the second tranche of the 2026 share buy-back programme for Equinor ASA (OSE:EQNR, NYSE:EQNR, CEUX:EQNRO, TQEX:EQNRO).
Date on which the buy-back tranche was announced: 6 May 2026.
The duration of the buy-back tranche: 19 May to no later than 20 July 2026.
Further information on the tranche can be found in the stock market announcement on its commencement dated 6 May 2026, available here: https://newsweb.oslobors.no/message/672447
From 22 June to 26 June 2026, Equinor ASA has purchased a total of 476,100 own shares at an average price of NOK 312.8869 per share.
Overview of transactions:
DateTrading venueAggregated daily volume (number of shares)Daily weighted average share price (NOK)Total daily transaction value (NOK) 22 JuneOSE92,000318.161129,270,821.20 CEUX TQEX 23 JuneOSE92,000317.868629,243,911.20 CEUX TQEX 24 JuneOSE92,100315.206829,030,546.28 CEUX TQEX 25 JuneOSE100,000307.001730,700,170.00 CEUX TQEX 26 JuneOSE100,000307.20030,720,000.00 CEUX TQEX Total for the periodOSE476,100312.8869148,965,448.68 CEUX TQEX Previously disclosed buy-backs under the trancheOSE1,838,368346.9043637,737,682.27CEUX TQEX Total1,838,368346.9043637,737,682.27 Total buy-backs under the tranche (accumulated)OSE2,314,468339.9067786,703,130.95CEUX TQEX Total2,314,468339.9067786,703,130.95 Following completion of the above transactions, Equinor ASA owns a total of 67,619,649 own shares, corresponding to 2.64% of Equinor ASA’s share capital, including shares under Equinor’s share savings programme (excluding shares under Equinor’s share savings programme, Equinor owns a total of 57,113,764 own shares, corresponding to 2.23% of the share capital).
This is information that Equinor ASA is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and that is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
Appendix: A overview of all transactions made under the buy-back tranche that have been carried out during the above-mentioned time period is attached to this report and available at www.newsweb.no.
June 29, 2026 16:30 ET | Source: Dime Commercial Bancshares, Inc.
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., June 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dime Commercial Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company” or “Dime”) (NYSE: DCOM), announced today that it continued to support the annual fundraising event Sunrise Walk-A-Thon that benefits children with cancer and their siblings who attend Sunrise Day Camp.
ABOUT DIME COMMERCIAL BANCSHARES, INC.
Dime Commercial Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company for Dime Commercial Bank, a New York State-charted trust company with approximately $15 billion in assets and the number one deposit market share on Greater Long Island(1).
¹ Aggregate deposit market share for Kings, Queens, Nassau & Suffolk counties for commercial banks with less than $20 billion in assets.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated.
Tesla (TSLA +8.49%) has faced several challenges this year. Between macroeconomic issues that have affected broader equities -- the electric vehicle (EV) maker hasn't escaped this -- runaway capex spending that isn't yet paying off, and mixed financial results, the stock is down 6% to date, while the S&P 500 has climbed 8%. However, there are some reasons to think Tesla's shares could jump after July 2 and perform well through the rest of the year, although, of course, we can't be absolutely certain. Still, let's consider some reasons to be bullish on Tesla's short-term outlook.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Can deliveries surprise the market? Tesla's financial results haven't been that strong partly because of a slowdown in the EV market. In the first quarter, EV sales in the U.S. dropped by 27% year over year. But what if Tesla's second-quarter EV deliveries and sales surprise Wall Street? Some people think that's what may happen. Mark Delaney, an analyst at Goldman Sachs (GS +0.06%), recently argued that Tesla's Q2 deliveries may exceed expectations, based on sales data from several regions including China and Europe. The analyst raised his second-quarter Tesla delivery projection to 420,000, up from 405,000.
Note that this would represent a solid 9% increase from its Q2 2025 deliveries. True, the company also saw deliveries increase year over year in the first quarter. They rose 6% compared to the year-ago period. However, during the first period, Tesla deliveries came in below expectations. Delaney's forecast of 420,000 is well ahead of the consensus estimate of between about 396,466 and 406,024, depending on the source. Provided Tesla can exceed expectations when it releases its second quarter delivery numbers, probably around July 2, the company's shares might jump.
Today's Change
(
8.49
%) $
32.23
Current Price
$
411.94
Other important updates on the horizon? Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, said that the company would reveal Optimus 3, the next generation of its humanoid robot, in late July or early August. This might provide yet another boost to the company's share price. There could be significant demand for humanoid robots -- especially from businesses -- provided they can perform certain tasks well and be manufactured cost-effectively at scale. Optimus 3's reveal might tell us at least one of those things. And if it is nearly as impressive as Musk claimed it would be, that could jolt the company's stock. Several other developments may help Tesla maintain strong momentum through the end of the year, including its work on self-driving vehicle capabilities. Tesla's robotaxi ambitions are a key part of the company's long-term vision. That's why the market may reward meaningful progress on that front.
Is Tesla stock a buy? Investors should avoid focusing on short-term gains. So, even if Tesla's stock performs well over the next six months, the more important question is whether the company is a good long-term investment. There certainly are good reasons to think so. The company is still a leader in the EV space and may establish itself as a top player in the humanoid robot market in the future, while scaling its potentially lucrative robotaxi business. However, there are significant risks as well. One of the biggest may come from regulators. Tesla has already encountered some challenges in this department. The federal EV tax credit expired in the U.S. last year, which may lead to lower demand in the medium term.
There are other potential regulatory roadblocks the company might encounter, including challenges in obtaining approval for its self-driving software. And so far, we are only considering Tesla's EV business. It will likely face similar problems with its humanoid robot project, especially if some lawmakers think it could harm the labor market. Meanwhile, Tesla is facing increasing competition from companies like Rivian (RIVN +7.55%), which recently launched the R2, a competitor to the Model Y. And amid all that, Tesla's valuation remains eye-popping. The company is trading at 196x forward earnings. The market is expecting a lot from Tesla, and the company's shares might move sideways (or worse) over the next few years if it fails to make significant progress with various endeavors. So, is the stock worth investing in right now?
For those comfortable with significant volatility and who intend to hold Tesla's shares for a while, it may be worth initiating a small position.
SummaryCompaniesChina leads substitution push, with government support and EV makersAnalysts say substitution is gradual, limited by efficiency and emissionsSee Factbox on substitution and companies involved read more LONDON/SHANGHAI/BEIJING/DETROIT, June 30 (Reuters) - Ferrari and BMW are rolling out new models featuring lightweight, cost-effective aluminium wiring, accelerating a shift away from copper, the dominant material in electric wiring since the invention of the electric battery two centuries ago.
The decisions follow similar moves by Tesla and Chinese EV makers and reflect a broader industry trend forecast to affect around 2% of global copper demand this year, according to JPMorgan.
Stay up to date with the latest news, trends and innovations that are driving the global automotive industry with the Reuters Auto File newsletter. Sign up here.
Even more copper could be switched to aluminium in the coming years because of a structural rise in copper prices, driven by shortages of the metal and with increased demand from the green-energy sector and data centres.
Companies across several sectors are migrating to aluminium because of far lower prices and comparable performance, according to Reuters interviews with 18 carmakers, cable and air conditioning companies, metals producers and consultants. Ferrari and BMW said they chose aluminium in part because of its lighter weight.
Substitution of aluminium for copper has come in waves over two decades, but record copper prices in late January, peaking close to $15,000 per metric ton, added weight to the case for switching to aluminium. Forecasts for global supply fall short of those for demand for more than the next decade.
LIGHTER AND FASTERFerrari (RACE.MI), opens new tab, which already uses aluminium for its bodies, engines and chassis, told Reuters it started using the lightweight metal for power cables on its 296 hybrid sports car last year. Ferrari has since introduced aluminium wiring into other models, including the Luce, its first ever EV launched last month.
The move saves up to 20% of the total wiring weight, said Ferrari communications executive Dario Esposito.
"We are not choosing aluminium because it's cheaper, we choose the material that has better performance," he said.
But the metal is, in fact, much cheaper — currently about $3,100 a ton, or about a quarter the price of copper.
Germany's BMW (BMWG.DE), opens new tab said it first used aluminium conductors in 2011 in its subcompact 1 series and progressively expanded substitution in hybrids and EVs. Currently, it uses a large number of aluminium cables in both high and low-voltage systems in its latest eDrive EV technology, launched last year.
The world’s fourth-biggest automaker, Stellantis <STLAM.MI, opens new tab>, also recently started swapping copper wiring for aluminium, according to an industry source familiar with the matter. Stellantis declined to comment.
PRICE VERSUS PERFORMANCEChinese EV parts supplier JONVER has seen sales of aluminium wiring products jump this year to about 30% of its sales from about 20% in 2023, said sales director Feng Lu.
Norwegian aluminium producer Hydro (NHY.OL), opens new tab said sales of aluminium heating-and-air tubing as a copper substitute have steadily grown in recent years. Hydro CFO Trond Olaf Christophersen said the company expects to gain market share as aluminium rapidly replaces copper in the sector in future years.
Xavier Mathieu at France-based Nexans (NEXS.PA), opens new tab, the world's second-biggest cable manufacturer, said manufacturers will still buy copper at higher prices because it performs better in certain applications — but they start buying aluminium when copper prices reach about 3.5 times higher.
Copper prices currently stand at more than 4.2 times the price of aluminium.
Several issues complicate firms' decisions to swap, including U.S. tariffs and the huge amount of energy needed to produce aluminium , which means more greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, aluminium is cheap but less efficient: It requires more aluminium to conduct the same amount of electricity.
Still, JPMorgan outlined a scenario in which about 6% of annual demand for copper might be replaced by aluminium by 2030, compared to 2% this year.
CHINA EV MAKERS TAKE THE LEADThe government in the world's biggest metals consumer, China, encouraged companies to make the switch to aluminium in a March 2025 policy paper seen by Reuters, and many have heeded the call.
Analysts at consultancy Zhuochuang forecast that about 25% to 30% of components currently made from copper, by metal volume, could be switched to aluminium in the power, automotive and home-appliance sectors by 2030.
Chinese EV makers that have switched to aluminium wiring include AVATR, XPeng (9868.HK), opens new tab and Xiaomi (1810.HK), opens new tab, said Terry Woychowski, president at engineering consultancy Caresoft Global, which takes apart vehicles and examines their components.
The three Chinese EV makers and Tesla did not respond to requests for comment.
Lightweight aluminium is especially attractive to EV makers because cutting weight allows for longer driving ranges. And saving money is crucial for EV firms in China, where a price war has left margins razor-thin. And aluminium has ample room to gain ground in autos, where about 85% of electrical wiring busbars, which connect an EV's battery to its systems, are still copper, according to Hydro.
The Chinese auto industry has benchmarked Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab, a pioneer in using aluminium for wiring when it introduced its Model Y in 2019, and more recently in its Cybertruck, Woychowski added.
Reporting by Eric Onstad in London, Amy Lv in Shanghai, Ju-min Park in Beijing, Kalea Hall in Detroit; Editing by Veronica Brown, Claudia Parsons
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Ju-min Park is a senior correspondent for Reuters based in Beijing, covering the automobile industry. She began her career at Reuters since 2010 and previously reported on the Korean peninsula and Japan.
Kalea Hall reports on the automotive industry, focusing on the Detroit Three automakers, from Detroit. Kalea was previously an automotive reporter at The Detroit News daily newspaper where she covered the auto industry and General Motors for more than five years. She’s been a professional reporter since 2013, when she started at The Vindicator, a daily newspaper in Youngstown, Ohio and her hometown paper. Growing up in an auto plant town inspired Kalea to deeply understand the industry, and helped her report award-winning stories for The Vindicator. At The Detroit News, she worked collaboratively with a team to break news and write comprehensive pieces. Kalea has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Point Park University in Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in journalism from Michigan State University.
Just as I predicted, Honeywell International's aerospace spinoff on June 29 was the catalyst for Alphabet to join the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI +0.59%).
With Alphabet replacing Verizon Communications, Nike (NKE +1.74%) is now by far the lowest-priced Dow stock. Here's why that matters, and why it could spell trouble for Nike's seat in the Dow.
Image source: Getty Images.
Nike is in the same boat as Verizon In its June 23 press release, S&P Dow Jones indexes specifically called attention to Verizon's lower share price as the reason for its removal, stating that it made up less than one-half of one percentage point. "The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index, and thus, persistently lower-priced stocks have an immaterial impact on the index," read the press release.
Nike also makes up just 0.5% of the Dow. The stock is hovering around a 12-year low. And even when factoring in dividends, Nike has given shareholders a total return (capital gains plus dividends) of just 39.6% in its time as a Dow stock.
^DJI data by YCharts
As the chart shows, Nike outperformed the Dow until recently.
Today's Change
(
1.74
%) $
0.71
Current Price
$
41.46
Nike's turnaround has been anything but smooth Nike's turnaround has taken far longer than expected. The company overestimated the staying power of pandemic-driven consumer demand, which is also when Nike stock hit an all-time high. Nike aggressively shifted to a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model through Nike Direct and Nike Digital, reducing its business with wholesalers in the process. But that backfired when wholesale relationships proved more valuable than Nike had anticipated, as its DTC model wasn't growing nearly as quickly as expected. Throw in strained consumer spending, inflationary pressures, and tariffs, and it's easy to see why Nike has continued to tread water.
Nike has shown signs of recovery and gained momentum after its new CEO, Elliott Hill, took over in October 2024. But in Nike's latest earnings call in March, Hill said the turnaround is taking longer than he would have liked, and that spring 2027 will be the first time Nike realizes the fruits of its reorganization efforts. However, he remains optimistic that Nike's efforts will pay off in the long run.
Nike remains a footwear and apparel powerhouse. And to its credit, it has paid and raised its dividend for 24 consecutive years and is one of the higher-yielding Dow stocks at 4%. But even if Nike doubled, it would still be the lowest-priced stock in the Dow. And with the turnaround far from over, it wouldn't be surprising if Nike was booted from the Dow.
However, there have been recent cases of Dow stocks that were deleted and went on to crush the stocks that replaced them. Intel has outperformed Nvidia by a wide margin since it was replaced in November 2024. Similarly, RTX has crushed Honeywell. Meanwhile, ExxonMobil has run laps around Salesforce.
So even if Nike gets removed from the Dow, patient investors who still believe in its brand power and turnaround potential may want to buy and hold the high-yield dividend stock.
The stock that could replace Nike When S&P Dow Jones swaps out a Dow stock, it's typically for another stock in the same sector or with industry overlap. However, that's not always the case, as Salesforce replaced ExxonMobil. And Alphabet's replacement of Verizon and Amazon's replacement of Walgreens Boots Alliance are technically sector replacements in communications and consumer discretionary, respectively, although Alphabet and Amazon are both tech powerhouses in their own right.
With Nvidia now in the Dow, I don't think Broadcom or Micron Technology would replace Nike. Tesla has a shot, although if it merged with Space Exploration Technologies, that would complicate things.
My best guess is that if Nike is kicked from the Dow, the most logical replacement is Meta Platforms (META +2.27%). Since the Dow already has considerable exposure to consumer discretionary and consumer staples, it could make sense to replace Nike with a stock from a different sector. Meta and Alphabet overlap in that they both have massive advertising businesses. But Meta is in a league of its own with social media. And it began paying a dividend in 2024, which helps its blue-chip case if it builds on that payout.
Daniel Foelber has positions in Nike and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Broadcom, Honeywell International, Intel, Meta Platforms, Micron Technology, Nike, Nvidia, RTX, S&P Global, Salesforce, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Visa introduced new ways to help small businesses manage payments via smartphone.
The capabilities are for the company’s Visa Pay, Visa Accept and Visa Direct offerings and are designed for small businesses in emerging markets, according to a Tuesday (June 30) press release provided to PYMNTS.
“Financial institutions, wallet providers and platform partners play a critical role in helping small businesses participate in the digital economy,” Rubail Birwadker, senior vice president and head of growth products and partnerships at Visa, said in the release. “With Visa Pay, Visa Accept and Visa Direct, we’re helping partners expand acceptance, speed up payouts and deliver trusted payment experiences for their business customers all through their smartphone.”
Visa research showed that 99% of small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) use at least one digital finance tool, and 85% said it has helped their business. With around half of the world’s 1.3 billion unbanked adults using smartphones, “the opportunity to expand digital access is significant,” the release said.
With Visa Accept, small businesses can turn “a smartphone into a card terminal, allowing microsellers to accept card payments through a Visa debit or prepaid account, no extra hardware needed,” according to the release.
Visa Pay links wallet providers and payment apps to the Visa network, letting users pay with credentials and solutions they already use, the release said.
“Visa is also using smartphones to make it easier for small businesses to pay others through Visa Direct, its real-time money movement platform for payouts,” per the release. “With Visa Direct embedded in banking, FinTech and business platforms, an SMB owner can use their phone to send fast payouts to staff, contractors or drivers, issue customer refunds or incentives, and move funds across borders to eligible cards, bank accounts or digital wallets, often in minutes, using the same simple experience they rely on to get paid.”
The launch of the new offerings comes as retail moves from “a brick-and-mortar storefront to an anywhere, anytime experience,” PYMNTS reported last month, citing research showing that 48% of consumers worldwide make purchases via smartphone.
But while big-box giants race to lock customers into walled app ecosystems at huge expense, SMBs can win the mobile game without huge IT budgets.
“Not only are mobile websites cheaper than apps, they also allow SMBs greater opportunities to gain new customers and avoid excluding large customer segments that are unable or unwilling to download apps,” the report said.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 30, 2026) - Rokmaster Resources Corp. (TSXV: RKR) (OTCQB: RKMSF) (FSE: 1RR1) ("Rokmaster" or "the Company") is pleased to announce results from diamond drilling on the Hanson Property completed in April 2026.
The Hanson Property is a part of the Company's Nechako Project, which totals 28,238 hectares (282 km2) across four properties located in west-central British Columbia. The Nechako Project features multiple exploration targets for significant porphyry Cu-(Mo±Au) mineralization and high-grade Au-Ag vein systems in the southern portion of the productive Stikine terrane (Figure 1).
A small inaugural drill program, totalling 393.0 m in two drillholes, tested the Wilson Target within the Hanson Property. This program represents essentially the first drill test of a strong and broad soil molybdenum anomaly and coincident IP anomaly initially detected by Endako Mines in 1973. Endako Mines did complete two shallow drillholes in 1978 after a five-year hiatus in exploration. Drillholes H9 and H10 were completed to depths of only 62.5 m and 37.8 m, respectively, and were directed away from the central high resistivity anomaly. (Figure 2).
Field work completed in 2025 found that the Stern Creek granodiorite underlying the Wilson Zone hosts potassic secondary biotite alteration related to narrow mm-scale vein-hosted molybdenite mineralization on surface. An outcrop was found near the center of the Wilson Zone geochemical and geophysical anomaly, with brecciated clasts of Stern Creek granodiorite and porphyritic quartz monzonite, the primary target for this drill program.
Drillhole H26-02 intersected intrusive breccia with meter-scale intervals of foliated granodiorite and non-foliated porphyritic quartz monzonite from top of the hole until a larger stock of quartz monzonite was encountered between 30.6 and 44.0 m. Below the lower contact of that unit, the remainder of the drillhole consisted of foliated granodiorite with varying degrees of chlorite alteration, persistent potassic alteration, and molybdenite mineralization hosted in quartz B-veins down to the end of the drillhole.
Notable molybdenite mineralization in dense cm-scale quartz veins was intersected in drillhole H26-02 with an assay of 0.518% Mo (0.864% MoS2(1)) over 1.20 m (59.0-60.2 m). The surrounding interval near the lower contact of the quartz monzonite also hosted cm-scale quartz-molybdenite veins and elevated assays with a weighted average of 0.051% Mo (0.085% MoS2) over 18.2 m (42.0-60.2 m).
For comparison, the average grade in the 2025 mineral resource estimate(2) on the currently inactive Endako Mine (Canada's largest Mo Mine), located 23 km south of the Hanson Property, is 0.072% MoS2 for 335.6 Mt in the measured and indicated category. This estimate used a cut-off grade of 0.040% MoS2 and a price of USD$22.50/lb Mo. Rokmaster also intersected a larger interval of 0.023% Mo (0.038% MoS2) over 71.0 m (42.0-113.0 m) cored in drillhole H26-02. This interval is close to the projected restart cut-off grade used in the Endako Mine PEA.
Drillhole H26-01 was collared approximately 900 m west of drillhole H26-02 and intersected Hanson Phase porphyritic tonalite hosting ~5% disseminated pyrite mineralization. This drillhole tested a circular magnetic low feature, elevated gold in surface samples, and the less exposed western portion of high chargeability anomaly. Drillhole H26-01 returned elevated copper results of 500-1,600 ppm Cu over meter-scale intervals throughout the hole, further confirming the pyrite halo around the core of the Wilson Zone.
There is potential for porphyry-style mineralization on the Hanson Property, at the Wilson Zone and at the Cyr Zone 2.5 km to the north. The Cyr Zone has similar geology with strongly sericite-altered and pyritic Stern Creek granodiorite hosting elevated gold, silver, copper, and zinc as indicated in historical sampling and drilling, which may indicate a less eroded porphyry system. The Buckley Zone, approximately 4.0 km west of the Wilson Zone, is defined by a large, strong molybdenum anomaly in soil samples taken over the Hanson Phase tonalite.
A new 1,534 hectare mineral claim called the Chaplin Property was recently approved 8 km south of the Hanson Property. The Chaplin Property is bisected by the mainline Trout Road and characterized by moderate overburden cover over mapped Stern Creek granodiorite. A 1969 induced polarization survey identified a strong IP anomaly(3) that is coincident with a magnetic low that remains undrilled (Figure 3).
John Mirko, President and CEO, comments:
"This first-pass, low-cost drill program at the Wilson Zone has added good value to the Hanson Property by intersecting notable porphyry-style molybdenite mineralization. The high-grade interval of 0.518% Mo over 1.20 m in drillhole H26-02 demonstrates that the system's ability to locally concentrate mineralization in higher-grade vein corridors within a broader envelope of lower-grade mineralization is similar to what has been described at the Endako Mine. The location of the 18.2 m interval returning 0.051% Mo, which exceeds the average grade at the Endako Mine, also supports further exploration potential in the geological context of the Wilson Zone. With extensive road access and nearby infrastructure we can continue advancing the Wilson Zone and the other underexplored Hanson Property targets efficiently. We thank all our contractors, including Hy-Tech Drilling, for safely and efficiently completing this small drill program. Intersecting this porphyry-style mineralization in the Wilson Zone is an excellent start and we look forward to additional drilling on prospective porphyry targets on the Nechako Project later this year."
Footnote 1: Conversion of (% Mo) to (% MoS2) uses a factor of 1.668
Footnote 2: National Instrument NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Endako Mine Restart. Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). November 21, 2025. Completed by A-Z Mining Professionals Limited for Moon River Moly Ltd. Sourced from SEDAR filings.
Footnote 3: Chaplin. R. E. 1969. Geophysical Assessment Report on the TAT mineral claims. ARIS Report #2283
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Eric Titley, P.Geo., who is independent of Rokmaster and who acts as Rokmaster's Qualified Person.
For more information please contact
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of
Rokmaster Resources Corp.
John Mirko,
President & Chief Executive Officer.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term in defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," 'projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: receipt of regulatory approval with respect to the Hanson Property transaction; risks related to fluctuations in metal prices; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from weather, logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company's properties; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work program; the risk of environmental contamination or damage resulting from Rokmaster's operations and other risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/303435
Source: Rokmaster Resources Corp.
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
Positive Pre-Feasibility Study Results for the Pilot Mountain Tungsten Project
PFS Completion marks a critical step toward restoring domestically mined tungsten production in support of the U.S. defense industrial base and national security priorities
At Base Case, Study Shows After-Tax NPV of US$660.3M and IRR of 59.6%
LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / June 30, 2026 / Guardian Metal Resources plc (NYSE.A:GMTL)(LON:GMET)(OTCQB:GMTLF), a strategic exploration company focused on tungsten in Nevada, USA, is pleased to announce the results of the Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS" or the "Study") for the Pilot Mountain tungsten project ("Pilot Mountain" or the "Project"). The completion of the PFS marks a critical step in the Company's path towards the potential development of the first new United States ("U.S.") based tungsten mining operation in over a decade.
The Study results indicate that utilizing a conventional open-pit mining method and base case tungsten pricing*, the Project is planned to produce 15,916 tonnes of WO3 over an 8-year mine life, generating after-tax free cash flow of US$1.058 billion, with a capital payback period of 1 year from first commercial production. On an after-tax basis at base case tungsten pricing*, this translates to a net present value ("NPV8") of US$660.3 million at an 8% discount rate and an internal rate of return ("IRR") of 59.6%. At the 12 June 2026 tungsten spot price, the Project would generate after-tax free cash flow of US$2.088 billion, with an IRR of 101.6%, an NPV8 of US$1.366 billion and a capital payback of 6 months from first commercial production.
The PFS was completed in accordance with S-K 1300 standards by a team of U.S.-based specialist firms, led by Samuel Engineering, Inc. of Denver, Colorado and RESPEC Company LLC ("RESPEC") of Reno, Nevada. The PFS includes an updated Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") covering two Project zones, Garnet and Desert Scheelite, as well a Mineral Reserve Statement ("MRS") for the Project. The supporting technical analyses relating to the updated MRE and MRS will be included in a S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary currently being prepared by the Company.
The Pilot Mountain PFS was made possible by a U.S. Department of War $6.2M Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III investment in Guardian Metal's wholly-owned subsidiary, Golden Metal Resources (USA) LLC in July 2025. The Company sincerely thanks the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, the Honorable Michael P. Cadenazzi, who oversees the Department's execution of its DPA authorities, for their valued support of this milestone study, which marks a critical step toward restoring domestic tungsten mine production in support of the nation's defense industrial base and national security priorities.
Currency values are stated in U.S. dollars and are presented on a 100% project basis. All tonnages are stated in metric tonnes.
*Base case utilizes a tungsten price of US$197,300 per tonne of WO3, representing a ~35% discount to the mid-price for ammonium paratungstate ("APT") as quoted by Fastmarkets MB-W-0001 of US$304,000 per tonne of WO3 as of 12 June 2026. The mid-price as of 26 June 2026 was US$307,500 per tonne of WO3. All prices are for APT with the study assuming a payable factor of 82% for tungsten concentrate.
Oliver Friesen, Chief Executive Officer of Guardian Metal, commented:
"We are delivering this Study at an inflection point: we believe that the global tungsten market is undergoing an unprecedented structural reset, and the world is waking up to the immense importance of securing reliable, home-grown critical mineral supply. The importance of tungsten for defense, technology, aerospace, and national security has never been more apparent. We believe that Pilot Mountain is the only tungsten Project in the United States with a recently completed S-K 1300 compliant PFS, positioning it as a unique opportunity for near-term U.S. mined tungsten production.
"Against this backdrop, the Pilot Mountain PFS supports the Project's development potential to support U.S. critical mineral and defense independence. We believe this firmly establishes the Project as one of the more compelling tungsten development opportunities in the Western world. The Study demonstrates robust economics using conservative pricing assumptions, with considerable upside at current tungsten prices and from the Project's exploration potential.
"The completed PFS is a testament to years of diligent work by our fantastic operations and development team, and gives us and our stakeholders great confidence as we advance the Project through further engineering, permitting and development toward a future construction decision. We look forward to sharing further updates as we progress toward establishing the first new domestically mined U.S. tungsten operation in over a decade, with production targeted for Q4 2028."
Marc Leduc, P.Eng., Operations Manager of Guardian Metal, commented:
"This PFS represents the culmination of years of detailed technical work, and I am very proud of what our team has delivered. Tungsten is a metal critically important to U.S. defense, national security and reindustrialization, yet there has been no domestic production in the country for over a decade. Pilot Mountain is a high-margin Project that is uniquely positioned to fill a critical gap in the U.S. tungsten supply chain.
"We are particularly encouraged by the simplicity of the Project. We are proposing the use of conventional mining and processing methods throughout, producing what we believe will be a high-quality concentrate capable of being processed entirely within the U.S.
"The Study outlines a robust operation with a payback period of one year. Beyond the current resource base, we believe there is meaningful exploration upside across a number of the Project's other target areas, including but not limited to, the Tremor Zone, Gunmetal, and Good Hope. We look forward to continuing to advance those targets alongside the important permitting and development work progressing on the Project's Desert Scheelite and Garnet deposits. We believe that we are well positioned to file our Mine Plan of Operations in the near-term as we advance through the National Environmental Policy Act permitting process."
PFS Highlights:
Economics, Pricing and Capex
•
After-tax NPV8 of US$660.3 million and Project IRR of 59.6%, with a capital payback period of 1 year generating after-tax free cash flow of US$1.058 billion*.
•
Expected low initial Project capital expenditure ("capex") of US$288.7 million, with sustaining capital of US$33.9 million and closure costs of US$22.3 million. Capex includes 15.7% contingency (US$39.1 million) and US$34.3 million of preproduction mining.
•
In its first full year of operations, the Project is modeled to generate US$348 million in Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization ("EBITDA") at the base case*.
•
As of the 12 June 2026 tungsten spot price of US$304,000 per tonne, first year EBITDA is modeled to increase to US$569 million, representing an uplift of approximately 64% from the EBITDA base case price.
•
Also at the 12 June 2026 tungsten spot price, the Project generates after-tax free cash flow of US$2.088 billion with a 101.6% IRR and NPV8 of US$1.366 billion and has a capital payback period of 6 months from first commercial production.
•
Expected adjusted operating cost of US$54,622 per tonne of WO3 in concentrate (including royalties, transportation, refining along with zinc and silver credits), with a targeted concentrate grade of 60% WO3.
*Base case utilizes a tungsten price of US$197,300 per tonne of WO3, representing a ~35% discount to the mid-price for APT as quoted by Fastmarkets MB-W-0001 of US$304,000 per tonne of WO3 as of 12 June 2026. The mid-price as of 26 June 2026 was US$307,500 per tonne of WO3. All prices are for APT with the study assuming a payable factor of 82% for tungsten concentrate.
Resource, Reserve and Production
•
Mineral Resources increased to 21,600 tonnes of WO3 Indicated, with Probable Mineral Reserves of 20,275 tonnes of WO3 (11,822,000 tonnes @ 0.171% WO3).
•
The operation plan calls for the construction of a 4,000 tonne per day processing plant using flotation recovery methods to produce a tungsten concentrate.
•
The ore will be mined from a conventional open-pit mine using 92-tonne haul trucks and large wheel loaders.
•
The operation plan calls for the construction of a conventional lined tailings storage facility which will meet the U.S. and international standards for tailings management, including the Nevada Administrative Code requirements and Canadian Dam Association guidelines.
Timelines, Life of Mine, Permitting and Utilities
•
The Project timelines contemplate an open-pit mining operation with first ore through the mill in Q4 2028, with initial commissioning tonnes marking the start of processing operations.
•
Expected initial 8-year Life of Mine ("LoM") producing 15,916 tonnes of recovered WO3, with significant opportunity to extend through ongoing exploration at the Tremor Zone, Gunmetal, Good Hope, plus other unnamed target areas across the Project.
•
Work completed for the PFS supports the near-term filing of the Mine Plan of Operations ("POO") with the Bureau of Land Management as part of federal National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA") permitting process.
Investor Presentation:
As previously announced, Guardian Metal will host a live investor presentation via 6ix on 01 July 2026 at 11:00 ET / 16:00 BST to discuss the PFS results and provide an update on the Company's outlook, including next steps for the Pilot Mountain Project.
The presentation is open to all existing and potential shareholders. Questions may be submitted ahead of the event via the registration form or at any time during the event.
Investors can sign up to 6ix for free and register for Guardian Metal's presentation here: https://6ix.com/event/guardian-metal-resources-presents-pilot-mountain-pfs
PFS Summary Results with Price Sensitivities:
Item (all after tax)
NPV8
IRR
After tax
Cash Flow
Payback
(US$M)
(%)
(US$M)
(years)
Base Case US$197,300/t WO3
$660
59.6%
$1,058
1.00
Spot US$304,000/t WO31
$1,366
101.6%
$2,088
0.51
Base -20% US$157,840/t WO3
$395
41.3%
$671
1.31
Base +20% US$236,760/t WO3
$922
76.0%
$1,440
0.71
Notes:
1. APT mid-price as of 12 June 2026 as quoted by Fastmarkets MB-W-0001. Latest price as of 26 June 2026 was US$307,500/t.
Further Details:
The following information is derived from the PFS. The PFS reflects a pre-feasibility level assessment of the Project, with the accuracy being plus 20% and minus 15% and is based on the assumptions and parameters described herein. References to "will" or "expected" reflect the planned development scenario, subject to a positive construction decision and successful Project financing.
The PFS envisages initial capital expenditure of US$288.7 million to construct a fully integrated mine, mill complex and associated infrastructure, with a mill feed capacity of 1.4 million tonnes per annum. The operation is designed to produce ~2,000 tonnes of WO₃ in concentrate per annum, with the targeted concentrate grade of greater than 60% WO₃ over the life of mine.
Adjusted operating costs are projected at US$54,622 per tonne of WO₃ contained in concentrate; AISC of US$58,151 per tonne of WO₃ contained in concentrate.
The economic analysis presented in the PFS is based on the assumptions and parameters used in the Study and should be read together with the qualifications, assumptions, and risk factors described elsewhere in this announcement.
The Desert Scheelite and Garnet tungsten deposits are located approximately 2 kilometers apart within a large land package hosting multiple areas of tungsten mineralization. Known tungsten intercepts proximal to the current resource areas provide meaningful potential for further resource expansion.
The PFS estimates first production in late 2028, subject to approval of the POO and a NEPA analysis in mid-2027. The Study utilizes conventional open-pit mining and processing methods, with mine design incorporating environmental protection measures across all phases of construction, operations, and closure. Grid power connection is anticipated via a potential self-build powerline option, with water supply to be sourced from wells, subject to receipt of the required water rights.
Combined production from two concurrent open pits is estimated at 15,916 tonnes of WO₃ in concentrate over the mine life, with a life-of-mine stripping ratio of 12.6, a head grade of 0.171% WO₃, and tungsten recovery from milling and flotation estimated at 78.5%. Mining will utilize 92-tonne haul trucks, with both contractor and owner fleet options evaluated in the PFS. The base case assumes a contractor mining model with an owner's team management structure.
Initial mining of the Desert Scheelite pit will facilitate construction of a modern, zero discharge lined tailings storage facility with a rock embankment. Processing infrastructure will comprise primary and secondary crushing, a two-stage grinding circuit, and a flotation recovery plant. Tungsten will be recovered using an industry-standard fatty acid flotation circuit, with sulfide minerals, including silver, recovered ahead of the tungsten recovery stage. Silver will be produced as part of a base metal concentrate and marketed separately from the primary tungsten product.
PFS Detailed Technical Results:
Desert Scheelite
Garnet Tungsten
Total Pilot Mountain
Study Production Statistics
Units
Mine
Mine
Project
Total Ore Mined
million tonnes
9.738
2.085
11.822
Total Material Mined
million tonnes
144.013
16.337
160.350
Stripping Ratio
waste: ore
13.8:1
6.8:1
12.6:1
Processing Rate
tonnes per day
4,000
Tungsten Head Grade
%
0.182
0.120
0.171
Silver Head Grade
Ag g/t
10.68
2.78
9.28
Contained Tungsten
Tonnes WO3
17,768
2,507
20,275
Contained Silver
kOz
3,343
186
3,529
Tungsten Recovery
%
78.5%
78.5%
78.5%
Silver Recovery
%
60%
60%
60%
Total Recoverable Tungsten 1
Tonnes WO3
13,948
1,968
15,916
Total Recoverable Silver
kOz
2,006
112
2,117
Average Annual Tungsten Production
Tonnes WO3
1,744
246
1,990
Average Annual Silver Production 2
kOz
251
14
265
Capital
Initial Capital
US$ million
$288.7
Sustaining Capital
US$ million
$33.9
Life of Mine Capital
US$ million
322.6
Contingency (included)
US$ million
$39.1
Contingency (included)
%
15.7%
Operating Costs
Adjusted Operating Cost per Tonne of Ore 3
US$/t ore
$73.54
Mining
US$/t ore
$48.16
Processing
US$/t ore
$24.86
G&A
US$/t ore
$6.23
Other 4
US$/t ore
$(5.71)
Adjusted Operating Cost per tonne of WO3 3
US$/t WO3 net of by-products
$54,622
AISC per Tonne of WO35
US$/t WO3 net of by-products
$58,151
Mine Life (LoM)
years
8
Project Economics6
Base Case Pricing
Post-tax NPV (8%)
US$ million
$660.3
Pre-tax NPV (8%)
US$ million
$856.7
Post-tax NPV (10%)
US$ million
$589.6
Pre-tax NPV (10%)
US$ million
$767.5
Post-tax NPV (15%)
US$ million
$446.6
Pre-tax NPV (15%)
US$ million
$587.4
Post-tax IRR
%
59.6%
Pre-tax IRR
%
67.8%
Payback Period
years
1.00
Notes:
1. WO3 calculations are made assuming a saleable good quality tungsten concentrate at >50% WO3 concentrate grade for the U.S. market.
2. Silver production is averaged over the Desert Scheelite mine life only.
3. Adjusted Operating Costs Include: On-site mining, processing and general and administrative expenses ("G&A"), royalties and production/excise taxes, permitting and community cost related to current operations, third party smelting, refining and transport costs, stockpiles and inventory write-downs, site-based non-cash remuneration, and by-product credits.
4. Other category includes royalties, transport, production/excise taxes, refining, and by-product credit.
5. AISC includes: Adjusted Operating Costs (above) plus closure costs, and sustaining capital.
6. Project economics are presented for 100% of the project.
Figure 1: PFS Production Profile (Produced WO3 Contained in Concentrate)
Figure 2: PFS Post-tax Annual and Cumulative Cashflow Profile (grey line cumulative after tax cashflow - right axis)
Figure 3: Project Sensitivity Analysis (Post-tax Base case NPV8 with 10% Sensitivities)
Figure 4: Project Sensitivity Analysis (Post-tax Base Case IRR with 10% Sensitivities)
EBITDA Calculation at Base Case Price
Metric
Unit
US$
Production
Sold WO3
tonnes
15,916
Sold Zn
tonnes
20,037
Sold Ag
ounces
2,117,414
Revenue
Total Gross Revenue
$000
2,702,949
Total Deductions
$000
(6,335)
Total Receipts less deductions
$000
2,696,614
Private Royalty (2%)
$000
(54,059)
Total Net Revenues
$000
2,642,555
Project Operating Costs
Mining Cost
$000
(569,318)
Processing Cost
$000
(293,902)
SG&A Cost
$000
(73,282)
Total Operating Costs
$000
(936,902)
Project Capital Costs
Project Development Capital
$000
(288,701)
Sustaining Capital
$000
(33,929)
Closure
$000
(22,250)
Total Capital Cost and Closure
$000
(344,880)
EBITDA, Capital, Tax and Cashflow
EBITDA
$000
1,705,654
EBITDA-Capital
$000
1,360,773
Total Taxes
$000
(302,684)
After Tax Total Cashflow
$000
1,058,090
The Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates summarized below are derived from the PFS. The supporting technical analyses, assumptions, and disclosures relating to such estimates are expected to be included in a forthcoming Technical Report Summary being prepared in accordance with S-K 1300.
Pilot Mountain Project Mineral Reserve Statement:
Probable Reserves total 11.8 million tonnes containing 20,275 tonnes of WO3 and 3.5 million ounces silver as detailed below:
Average Grade
Contained Metal
Pit
Classif-ication
k Tonnes
WO3%
Ag g/t
Zn %
WO3 t
K oz Ag
Zn t
Desert Scheelite
Probable
9,738
0.182
10.68
0.30
17,768
3,343
28,813
Garnet
Probable
2,085
0.120
2.78
0.22
2,507
186
4,583
Total
Probable
11,822
0.171
9.28
0.28
20,275
3,529
33,396
Mineral Reserve Statement Notes:
1. The effective date of Desert Scheelite and Garnet Mineral Reserve Statement is 15 June 2026.
2. The point of reference for Mineral Reserves is at the crusher.
3. Resource blocks were diluted to the selective mining unit (SMU) and additional dilution was added for reporting of Reserves. The QP, RESPEC, who is responsible for the statement of reserves believes that the blocks can be reasonably mined at the SMU size. Desert Scheelite SMU blocks were 5m by 2.5m by 5m in the X, Y, and Z directions respectively. Garnet SMU blocks were 5m by 5m by 2.5m in the X, Y, and Z directions respectively.
4. Reserves are reported based on a 0.040% WO3 cutoff grade. The cutoff grade was applied only to the WO3 grades. Silver and tungsten are reported as the contained metal within the Probable material processed.
5. Rounding may result in apparent discrepancies between tonnages and contained metal totals.
6. Indicated material has been converted to Probable Reserves. The resources do not contain any Measured material, so no Proven reserves are reported. All Inferred resources are considered as waste material.
7. Reserves are reported by RESPEC.
8. Reserves are reported based on US$115,000/t WO3, US$38.00/oz Ag, and US$2,700/t Zn metal prices. Note that the final cashflow analysis uses a higher WO3 price. The lower price is reasonable with the reporting of reserves as RESPEC considers material below the reporting cutoff grade to be immaterial.
Pilot Mountain Project Mineral Resource Estimate:
Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves. Indicated total 12.1 million tonnes containing 21,600 tonnes of WO3 and 3.9 million ounces silver as detailed below:
Average Grade
Contained Metal
Pit
Classif-ication
k Tonnes
WO3 %
Ag g/t
Zn %
WO3 t
k oz Ag
Zn t
Desert Scheelite
Indicated
9,978
0.189
11.39
0.30
18,900
3,656
29,900
Inferred
1,933
0.158
11.48
0.29
3,000
713
5,500
Garnet
Indicated
2,158
0.127
3.18
0.23
2,700
221
5,000
Inferred
364
0.110
1.87
0.11
400
22
400
Total
Indicated
12,136
0.178
9.93
0.29
21,600
3,877
34,900
Inferred
2,297
0.150
9.96
0.26
3,400
735
5,900
Mineral Resource Estimate Notes:
1. The effective date of Desert Scheelite and Garnet mineral resources is 26 May 2026.
2. The Mineral Resource estimate was calculated by RESPEC in metric tonnes.
3. The point of reference is in situ mineralization prior to extraction by open pit mining methods.
4. The average grades of the tabulations are comprised of the weighted average of block-diluted grades within optimized pits.
5. The Desert Scheelite and Garnet Mineral Resource cut‑off grade of 0.04% WO₃ was selected by the authors. Operating assumptions were applied to establish a theoretical pit limit, including a WO₃ price of US$115,000/t, an average recovery of 75% WO₃, a processing rate of 4,000 tonnes/day, US$3.50/t mining cost for open pit, US$23.00/t processing cost, US$5.17/t processed for G&A, and an 82% payability. Blocks outside the pit limit are considered not economic at this time.
6. The accessory metals Ag and Zn shown in the above table are the quantities contained within the Mineral Resource envelope using the cut-off grade established for the primary commodity (WO3). No independent cut-off grade has been applied to these accessory metals. Reported quantities of accessory metals are therefore considered by-products of the primary metal resource and their value is contingent upon the ability to economically extract the by-products along with the primary commodity.
7. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by geology, environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical events, marketing, or other relevant issues.
8. Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent discrepancies between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content.
9. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than an Indicated Mineral Resource and cannot be converted to a Mineral Reserve. RESPEC reasonably expects that continued exploration and delineation will upgrade the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated Mineral Resources.
Outlook:
The tungsten market has been fundamentally reshaped by the absence of domestic U.S. primary mined supply and China's decision in February 2025 to control exports of tungsten raw materials, having historically accounted for approximately 80% of global primary supply.
Guardian Metal is committed to advancing Pilot Mountain as rapidly as possible, progressing detailed engineering and permitting activities in parallel as it works towards a construction decision. The Company is actively engaged with relevant government agencies and participants across the tungsten value chain, reflecting its view that the United States is facing a material near- and medium-term tungsten supply shortage. In addition, the Company will consider the best value of the Project for all stakeholders including local, state and national communities through the permitting and final designs.
Given the severity of the current supply deficit, the prevailing price environment, and strong modeled operating margin, the Company may elect to make a construction decision based on the 2026 PFS, potentially proceeding to production without completion of a full feasibility study. However, no such decision has been made at this time and further technical, permitting, financing, and development work remains ongoing. Readers are cautioned to consider this possibility when evaluating the Project and its associated risks.
Project Ownership:
Guardian Metal owns a 100% interest in Pilot Mountain through its U.S. wholly-owned subsidiaries Pilot Metals Inc. and BFM Resources Inc.
References
1 Company announcement, U.S. Department of Defense Awards US$6.2M to Golden Metal Resources for the Pilot Mountain Project, dated 23 July 2025
( https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/guardian_metal_resources/news/rns/story/wvm0n3w )
Qualified Person
Scientific and technical disclosure contained herein has been reviewed and approved by independent third-party consulting firms-RESPEC, Samuel Engineering, Inc., and NewFields Mining Design & Technical Services, LLC ("NewFields") -each a 'qualified person' under Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K. RESPEC has reviewed and approved the disclosures relating to exploration results, and Mineral Resource and Reserve estimations. Samuel Engineering, Inc. has reviewed and approved the disclosures relating to metallurgical testing, processing design, and economic analysis. NewFields has reviewed and approved the disclosure related to the Tailings Storage Facility. The findings and conclusions of the Study have not yet been formalized and summarized into a Technical Report Summary prepared in accordance with Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K. The Company is currently preparing an updated Technical Report Summary reflecting the results of the Study and expects to file such Technical Report Summary with the SEC in the near-term. This announcement summarizes the principal findings and conclusions of the PFS. Additional technical information, assumptions, qualifications, and supporting analyses relating to the Mineral Resource estimates, Mineral Reserve estimates and economic analysis summarized herein are expected to be included in the forthcoming Technical Report Summary.
Independent Review Statements
The technical information contained in this disclosure has been read and approved by the U.S. Department of War and by Mr Nicholas O'Reilly (MSc, DIC, MIMMM QMR, MAusIMM, FGS), who is a qualified geologist and acts as the Competent Person under the AIM Rules - Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies. Mr O'Reilly is a Principal consultant working for Mining Analyst Consulting Ltd which has been retained by Guardian Metal Resources plc to provide technical support.
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014 (which forms part of domestic UK law pursuant to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018).
Cautionary Note to Investors: Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements relating to expected or anticipated future events and anticipated results that are forward-looking in nature, and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including general economic, market and business conditions, competition for qualified staff, the regulatory process and actions, technical issues, new legislation, potential delays or changes in plans, uncertainties resulting from operating in a new political jurisdiction, uncertainties regarding the results of exploration, the timing and granting of prospecting rights, the timing and granting of regulatory and other third party consents and approvals, Guardian Metal's or any third party's ability to execute and implement future plans, and the occurrence of unexpected events.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's filings with the SEC. There can be no assurance that the Project will be developed on the timetable contemplated by the PFS, or at all, or that the economic outcomes described in the PFS will ultimately be realized. Guardian Metal undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
This announcement does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may or should be placed by any person for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy, fairness or completeness. The information in this announcement is subject to change. For further information visit www.guardianmetalresources.comor contact the following:
Guardian Metal Resources PLC (NYSE.A:GMTL)(LON:GMET)(OTCQB:GMTLF) is a strategic mineral exploration company driving the revival of U.S. mined tungsten production and strengthening America's defense metal independence. The Company is advancing two co-flagship tungsten projects, Pilot Mountain, one of the largest undeveloped tungsten deposits in the United States and Tempiute, formerly America's largest producing tungsten operation, both located in Nevada, one of the top-rated mining jurisdictions in the United States.
In July 2025, the U.S. Department of War (DoW) under Title III of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, invested US$6.2M in Golden Metal Resources (USA) LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Guardian Metal Resources PLC, to support the Pilot Mountain PFS. The Company completed a U.S. listing on the NYSE American on 20 March 2026.
Tungsten is a strategic metal critical to the defense, energy transition, technology, and industrial sectors. In the context of shifting geopolitical dynamics and tightening Chinese export restrictions, Guardian Metal is well positioned to play a leading role in re-establishing a secure, domestically mined US supply chain for this vital defense metal.
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 [email protected] or visit www.rns.com.
HANOI, Vietnam--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $FPT #FPT--FPT announced today that it has achieved SAP silver partner status in the SAP® PartnerEdge® program, recognizing the company's proven customer success, differentiated SAP offerings, and ongoing commitment to SAP certifications. The recognition reflects FPT's growing presence in Europe for SAP technology ecosystems and its experience supporting leading enterprises, including E.ON, RWE, and IONITY, across SAP transformation, application management, and integration.
There's no denying that one of the biggest trends over the past several years has been the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). Most experts view AI as the most important technological development since the dawn of the internet. Businesses and governments have only begun to scratch the surface of productivity improvements and are scrambling to deploy these next-generation systems to secure their share of the expected financial windfall.
To that end, AI chipmaker Nvidia (NVDA +1.30%) and AI systems pioneer Palantir (PLTR +2.53%) are expanding their existing partnership to build the foundation for sovereign AI within the U.S. government.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Critical infrastructure When it comes to AI, Nvidia and Palantir are arguably among the most important players in the field.
This week, Palantir announced a new open-source AI engine -- based on Nvidia's Nemotron models -- to deliver secure, sovereign AI to U.S. government agencies. The pair highlighted the importance of open-source software to the development of the internet, which resulted from a collaboration between the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and four top-ranked universities.
In that spirit, the pair will adapt these open-source models for use in air-gapped environments -- ultra-secure computer systems not connected to the internet -- allowing government users to reap the rewards of AI while maintaining control over sensitive data. These Nemotron models will serve as the foundation for custom frontier models to support the U.S. government and its agencies. Running these models on agency-specific data can yield more data-driven insights, boosting productivity.
A pairing of AI titans Nvidia's state-of-the-art graphics processing units (GPUs) are the gold standard for AI, controlling between 85% and 92% of the data center GPU market, where most AI processing occurs. The company's secret weapon is CUDA, a library of software tools that helps developers harness the raw, number-crunching power of GPUs for computationally intensive applications -- giving Nvidia a vast competitive advantage.
Today's Change
(
1.30
%) $
2.50
Current Price
$
195.03
For its part, Palantir pioneered the concept of ontology, or overlaying an AI-centric dashboard across company information systems, allowing management to make data-driven decisions based on company-centric information in real time. Ontology sits at the heart of Palantir's wildly successful Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP), which is behind the company's blistering growth.
Earlier this year, the companies announced the availability of a Palantir AI OS Reference Architecture (AIOS-RA) -- a turnkey AI datacenter for governments to develop their own internal AI capabilities. The system combined the blazing speed of Nvidia's Blackwell Ultra platform, Blackwell GPUs, and Spectrum-X Ethernet, along with the company's CUDA library and Nemotron models. The systems were integrated with Palantir's Foundry, Apollo, and AIP systems.
An AI winning streak Both Nvidia and Palantir have capitalized on the growing demand for AI.
In the first quarter, Palantir generated revenue of $1.63 billion, up 85% year over year, the company's highest-ever year-over-year growth rate and the 11th consecutive quarter of accelerating revenue growth. Its profitability was equally impressive, as adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.33 surged 154%.
Perhaps more telling, Palantir's remaining performance obligation (RPO) -- commonly called backlog -- surged 134% year over year to $4.45 billion. Moreover, its net dollar retention rose to 150%. Put another way, current customers are spending 50% more than this time last year. This is clearly a stock that is going places.
Today's Change
(
2.53
%) $
2.85
Current Price
$
115.78
For its fiscal 2027 first quarter (ended April 26), Nvidia generated record revenue that surged 85% year over year to $81.6 billion, which drove adjusted earnings per share (EPS) that soared 140% to $1.87, marking the 14th consecutive quarter of sequential revenue growth.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has stated that the company has "visibility" to $1 trillion in revenue from the company's Blackwell and Vera Rubin chips over the next couple of years.
There are clear advantages to partnerships of this magnitude. First, they capitalize on both companies' individual strengths to their mutual benefit. Additionally, each expands its total market opportunity to its partner's customer base. Palantir has its finger on the pulse of enterprise and government AI demand, and Nvidia supplies the bleeding-edge processors needed to accelerate AI solutions.
Palantir is selling for 131 times earnings, compared to Nvidia's more reasonable multiple of 30. However, the price-to-earnings ratio isn't ideal for valuing high-growth stocks. Using the more appropriate price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio returns a multiple of 0.45 for Palantir and 0.27 for Nvidia, when any number less than 1 is the standard for an undervalued stock. So they're both attractively priced.
It's certain these companies stand to benefit from the collaboration, particularly since Palantir and Nvidia are both at the top of their game. However, I wouldn't say the deal rises to the level of "game changer." I would say that both Nvidia and Palantir are worth a look, especially at these prices.
The logo of Lilly is seen on a wall of the Lilly France company unit, part of the Eli Lilly and Co drugmaker group, in Fegersheim near Strasbourg, France, February 1, 2018. Picture taken... Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Read more
CompaniesSHANGHAI, June 30 (Reuters) - Innovent Biologics (1801.HK), opens new tab has entered into an agreement that grants it sole commercialization rights for Eli Lilly's (LLY.N), opens new tab breast cancer drug Verzenios in mainland China, the Chinese drugmaker said Tuesday.
Lilly will continue manufacturing, supplying and developing the drug, it said in a statement.
Jumpstart your morning with the latest legal news delivered straight to your inbox from The Daily Docket newsletter. Sign up here.
Reporting by Andrew Silver in Shanghai; Editing by Christian Schmollinger
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Accenture plc has experienced a >50% YTD share price decline amid AI-driven obsolescence fears. I now focus on ACN's shareholder returns, highlighting robust buybacks and consistent dividend growth. Despite recent challenges, ACN's strong cash flow and capital return policies enhance its appeal as a dividend stock.
