Market Signal Briefing

Global fintech and capital-markets veteran to drive Zeta Network's institutional expansion and digital-asset treasury strategy

, /PRNewswire/ -- Zeta Network (Nasdaq: ZNB), today announced the appointment of Patrick Ngan as Chief Investment Officer (CIO), effective on October 8, 2025. In this role, Mr. Ngan will oversee Zeta Network's global investment and institutional digital-asset treasury strategy, with a mandate to enhance compliance, institutional governance, risk management, and transparency consistent with U.S. public-company standards.

Mr. Ngan is a seasoned executive with more than two decades of cross-border experience in investment banking, corporate finance, fintech, and blockchain infrastructure. Earlier in his career, he held senior positions in equity capital markets at UBS, ABN AMRO, and Huatai International, advising on IPOs, capital-markets transactions and M&A financings across Asia and the United States.

As an entrepreneur, Mr. Ngan co-founded Nova Vision Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: NOVVU) and successfully led its IPO on Nasdaq, culminating in a landmark business combination in 2024. He also co-founded and served as CEO of Alchemy Pay, a cryptocurrency payment platform bridging fiat and digital payments globally, and co-founded QFPay International, a leading digital-payment solutions provider with operations across Asia and the Middle East. Mr. Ngan holds an Executive Management diploma from the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, an MSc. in Accounting and Finance from the University of Southampton, UK, and a BA (Hons.) in Accounting and Finance from the University of Plymouth, UK.

"Patrick brings the ideal combination of capital-markets discipline, fintech innovation, and global execution experience to Zeta Network," said Samantha Huang, Chief Executive Officer of Zeta Network. "His appointment is expected to strengthen our treasury framework, accelerate our institutional growth and reinforce our commitment to transparency, governance, and long-term value creation."

"Our goal is to build a resilient, transparent, and institutionally credible digital-asset treasury," said Patrick Ngan, Chief Investment Officer of Zeta Network. "We will apply rigorous governance, conservative risk frameworks, and robust disclosure practices to uphold the trust and confidence of investors, regulators and partners."

As Chief Investment Officer, Mr. Ngan will lead key initiatives including:

Governance & Compliance — establishing board-approved investment policies, valuation frameworks, and disclosure standards aligned with U.S. regulatory public-company requirements;
Institutional Partnerships — expanding relationships with asset managers, custodians, and execution venues to enhance transparency, liquidity and scalability;
Strategic Capital Formation — driving cross-border financing, M&A, and capital-markets initiatives to support Zeta Network's long-term growth and integration strategy.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as "may," "will," "intend," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate" or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development; risks associated with managing and investing in digital assets; changes in technology; economic conditions; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; the ability of Zeta Network Group to meet NASDAQ listing standards in connection with the consummation of the transaction contemplated therein; and other risks and uncertainties described herein, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed from time to time in other reports and other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Zeta Network Group. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward–looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof unless required by applicable laws, regulations or rules.

SOURCE Zeta Network Group

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Nutriband initiates commercial worldwide brand name development for its lead product, an abuse deterrent transdermal system.

Nutriband has partnered with Brand Institute, Inc, the global leader in pharmaceutical and healthcare-related brand name and identity development.

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nutriband Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRB)(NASDAQ:NTRBW), a company engaged in the development of prescription transdermal pharmaceutical products, today announced that through its 4P Therapeutics subsidiary, it has signed an agreement with Brand Institute, Inc, the global leader in pharmaceutical and healthcare-related brand name and identity development services to develop the worldwide commercial brand name and visual identity for its lead product, an abuse deterrent fentanyl transdermal system. This product utilizes Nutriband’s AVERSA™ abuse deterrent transdermal technology and has the development name AVERSA™ FENTANYL.

AVERSA™ FENTANYL has the potential to be the world’s first abuse-deterrent opioid patch designed to deter abuse and misuse and reduce the risk of accidental exposure of opioids such as fentanyl.

Developing a proprietary brand name for a prescription drug product is a critical element in drug product development because the end users (doctors, pharmacists, patients) must be able to easily distinguish a proprietary name from other drug names that are phonetically similar (sound-alike names) or similar in their spelling or appearance (look-alike names). In addition, if the drug name is otherwise confusing or misleading, the patient might receive the wrong product and the subsequent medication error could lead to significant harm to the patient.

Brand Institute has been leading the market for over 20 years with a 75% share of drug name approvals globally, including 87% of FDA approved names in 2024. BI has been responsible for many of the opioid chronic pain product brand names approved by FDA, and a majority of the abuse deterrent opioid product brand names approved in the United States.

Drug Safety Institute (DSI), a wholly owned regulatory subsidiary of Brand Institute, will provide regulatory services, solutions and support on the project. DSI is led by former officials from US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), Health Canada (HC), United States Adopted Name Council (USAN), and World Health Organization (WHO) who co-authored the naming guidance documents while with their former respective agencies.

Nutriband’s AVERSA™ abuse-deterrent technology is utilized to incorporate aversive agents into transdermal patches to prevent the abuse, diversion, misuse, and accidental exposure of drugs with abuse potential including opioids and stimulants. The AVERSA™ abuse deterrent technology is protected by a broad international intellectual property portfolio with patents issued in 46 countries including the United States, Europe, Japan, Korea, Russia, China, Canada, Mexico, and Australia.

About AVERSA™ Abuse-Deterrent Transdermal Technology

Nutriband's AVERSA™ abuse-deterrent transdermal technology incorporates aversive agents into transdermal patches to prevent the abuse, diversion, misuse, and accidental exposure of drugs with abuse potential. The AVERSA™ abuse-deterrent technology has the potential to improve the safety profile of transdermal drugs susceptible to abuse, such as fentanyl, while making sure that these drugs remain accessible to those patients who really need them. The technology is covered by a broad intellectual property portfolio with patents granted in the United States, Europe, Japan, Korea, Russia, China, Canada, Mexico, and Australia.

About Nutriband, Inc.

We are primarily engaged in the development of a portfolio of transdermal pharmaceutical products. Our lead product under development is an abuse-deterrent fentanyl patch incorporating our AVERSA™ abuse-deterrent technology. AVERSA™ technology can be incorporated into any transdermal patch to prevent the abuse, misuse, diversion, and accidental exposure of drugs with abuse potential.

The Company's website is www.nutriband.com. Any material contained in or derived from the Company's websites or any other website is not part of this press release.

About Brand Institute, Inc., and wholly owned regulatory subsidiary, Drug Safety Institute

Brand Institute is the global leader in pharmaceutical and healthcare-related name development, with a portfolio of over 5,000 marketed healthcare brand names and 1,800 USAN/INN nonproprietary names for nearly 1,600 clients. The company partners on over 75% of pharmaceutical brand and nonproprietary name approvals globally every year with healthcare manufacturers. Drug Safety Institute is composed of former naming regulatory officials from global government health agencies, including Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), Health Canada (HC), American Medical Association (AMA), and the World Health Organization (WHO). These regulatory experts co-authored the name review guidelines while with their former respective agencies, with many responsible for ultimately approving (or rejecting) brand name applications to ensure safety and prevent medication errors. To learn more about Brand Institute's capabilities and experience, please visit www.brandinstitute.com and contact your local Brand Institute representative.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, statements containing the words ‘'believes," "anticipates," "expects" and words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve both known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in its forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those including the Company's ability to develop its proposed abuse-deterrent fentanyl transdermal system and other proposed products, its ability to obtain patent protection for its abuse technology, its ability to obtain the necessary financing to develop products and conduct the necessary clinical testing, its ability to obtain Federal Food and Drug Administration approval to market any product it may develop in the United States and to obtain any other regulatory approval necessary to market any product in other countries, including countries in Europe, its ability to market any product it may develop, its ability to create, sustain, manage or forecast its growth; its ability to attract and retain key personnel; changes in the Company's business strategy or development plans; competition; business disruptions; adverse publicity and international, national and local general economic and market conditions and risks generally associated with an undercapitalized developing company, as well as the risks contained under "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company's Form S-1, Forms 10-K’s and Forms 10-Q’s, and the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date hereof.

Contact Information:

Nutriband Inc.
Phone: 407-377-6695
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Nutriband Inc.

TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / October 10, 2025 / McFarlane Lake Mining Limited (CSE:MLM)(OTCQB:MLMLF) ("McFarlane Lake" or the "Company"), a Canadian gold exploration and development company, is pleased to announce that it closed the final tranche (the "Final Tranche") of its previously announced non-brokered private placement offering of units (the "Units") at a price of $0.15 per Unit and flow-through shares (the "FT Shares") of the Company at a price of $0.15 per FT Share (the "Offering"). The Company closed the first tranche of the Offering on September 26, 2025.

The year 2025 can easily be remembered for a gold rally. Gold bullion ETF SPDR Gold Trust (GLD - Free Report) is up 51.7% so far this year (as of Oct. 8, 2025). Over the past month, the ETF has surged more than 11%. In comparison, the S&P 500 is up 15% this year and 3.7% in the past month.

In an environment marked with global instability, geopolitical tensions and the strong likelihood of Fed rate cuts, investors are flocking to gold as a reliable safe-haven asset. The current U.S. government shutdown has sparked demand for this safe-haven metal even more.

Dalio Recommends 15% Gold AllocationBridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio advised investors to allocate up to 15% of their portfolios to gold, even as the precious metal surged past $4,000 an ounce, as quoted on CNBC. Dalio stressed on gold’s unique role as a hedge against monetary debasement and geopolitical uncertainty.

“Gold is a very excellent diversifier in the portfolio,” Dalio said Tuesday at the Greenwich Economic Forum in Connecticut. “If you look at it from a strategic asset allocation perspective, you would probably have something like 15% of your portfolio in gold… because it is one asset that does very well when the typical parts of the portfolio go down.”

Meanwhile, DoubleLine Capital CEO Jeffrey Gundlach has also advocated a high gold allocation — up to 25% of a portfolio — referring to inflationary pressures and a weaker dollar as reasons to favor the metal, as quoted on the same CNBC article.

Is History of 1970s Back?Dalio compared today’s market environment to the early 1970s, a period of high inflation, heavy government spending, and growing debt, which hurt confidence in paper assets and fiat currencies.

While Fed rate cuts could cut the value of the greenback now, the strong supply of debt also makes debt instruments unappealing.

Central Banks’ DemandA key driver has been surging central bank demand, especially from BRICS nations and emerging economies that are actively working to diversify away from the U.S. dollar. This global de-dollarization trend has resulted in record levels of sovereign gold purchases.

Central banks added a net 19t to global gold reserves in August, as quoted on the World Gold Council.China’s central bank pushed its buying streak to an 11th consecutive month in September. Per a report from Reuters, investment bank Goldman Sachs boosted its gold price forecast for December 2026 to US$4,900 per ounce from US$4,300 on Monday, due to inflows from Western exchange-traded funds and the likelihood of further central bank purchases, as quoted on the South China Morning Post.

Gold to Hit $10,000 by 2030?Gold could reach $10,000 an ounce by 2030, per market expert Ed Yardeni, as quoted on Business Insider. That price target implies the precious metal rising about 151% in the next five years. President Trump's tariffs, his attempts to pressure the Fed to lower interest rates, and China's real estate woes are expected to push gold higher, per Yardeni.

Bitcoin’s recent price decline has drawn major attention after a veteran crypto trader—often called an “OG” in the Bitcoin community—placed a massive leveraged short worth $438 million on the decentralized exchange Hyperliquid. The position involved 3,600 BTC and was executed overnight as Bitcoin’s price briefly fell below $120,000, according to on-chain data from blockchain analyst LookOnChain.

The liquidation point for the trade sits at $139,900, meaning the position would face forced closure if Bitcoin’s price rebounds to that level. The term “OG” refers to early adopters of Bitcoin who have typically held large amounts of BTC since its inception, giving this move additional weight in the market.

This same whale reportedly sold 3,000 BTC on the spot market earlier in the week and offloaded nearly 36,000 BTC a month ago to diversify into Ethereum (ETH), signaling a possible strategic reallocation of holdings.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading around $121,700—recovering slightly from its overnight low. Despite the whale’s short position, overall market sentiment remains positive. Data from crypto analytics firm Velo shows annualized funding rates for BTC perpetuals hovering near 5%, suggesting traders still maintain a bullish outlook.

The move has stirred debate among analysts. Some interpret the short as a hedge by a long-term holder seeking to protect profits, while others see it as a potential signal of incoming volatility. Nevertheless, Bitcoin continues to display resilience amid heavy whale activity and ongoing institutional interest.

With growing speculation and leveraged bets shaping market sentiment, traders and investors are keeping a close eye on Bitcoin’s next move as it consolidates near the $120,000 mark.

<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

The cryptocurrency market is buzzing with optimism as Canary Capital, a prominent asset manager, recently amended its S-1 filings for proposed Litecoin (LTC) and Hedera (HBAR) spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This final round of amendments signals the approach of SEC review, and market participants are increasingly anticipating approval.

Crypto markets got hammered Thursday night as the never-ending US government shutdown spooked investors away from anything risky.

AI and high-performance computing demand fuel fresh gains, with miners eyeing a potential $100 billion market cap by year-end 10 de out. de 2025, 9:24 a.m.

Traduzido por IABitcoin BTC$121,828.67 miners are extending gains in pre-market trading as the artificial intelligence and high-performance computing (AI/HPC) boom accelerates, particularly benefiting those pivoting their operations toward AI infrastructure.

IREN (IREN) is up 4% at $66 after a 6% rise on Thursday, now up more than 520% year-to-date. TerraWulf (WULF) is 5% higher pre-market after a 10% surge on Thursday, bringing its YTD gain to 150%. Other notable movers include Cipher Mining (CIFR) CleanSpark (CLSK) and Bitfarms (BITF), which all trade 2%-4% higher in pre-market.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

The total market capitalization of the miners is nearing $90 billion, according to Farside data, and on this current trend could surpass $100 billion by year-end if current momentum continues.

The sector is also benefiting from broader trends, with Bloomberg reporting that Microsoft’s (MSFT) data center shortages will persist into 2026 due to soaring cloud and AI demand.

Despite adding as much as two gigawatts of new capacity, Microsoft is still struggling to scale infrastructure quickly enough to meet demand. As the growing demand for high-performance infrastructure continues, this is boosting optimism around bitcoin miners expanding into AI and data centers.

AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.

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Bitcoin is not the only cryptocurrency that's surging right now.

Bitcoin (BTC -0.36%) set another all-time high on Monday, Oct. 6, breaking the $125,000 barrier and leading to a surge in cryptocurrency prices. The cryptocurrency market cap -- the total value represented by cryptocurrencies -- also topped a record $4.38 trillion, up more than 12% in 30 days.

There was already a lot of optimism in crypto markets about what's been dubbed "Uptober," a month that's often ended up in the green. Then came the federal government shutdown, which fueled gains in assets such as crypto, gold, and silver as investors sought alternatives and ways to hedge against uncertainty. In contrast, the U.S. dollar index (DXY) is down about 9% year to date.

Image source: Getty Images.

As I write this (Oct. 7), every single non-stablecoin cryptocurrency in the top 20 by market cap has risen during the past seven days. Here are three to keep on your radar.

1. Ethereum
Ethereum (ETH -0.34%) has surged more than 9% in the past week, though it fell short of setting a new all-time high. Ethereum -- the first ever smart-contract crypto -- continues to dominate decentralized finance (DeFi) and stablecoins. More than half the total $300 billion of stablecoins was issued on Ethereum.

On Oct. 6, Grayscale announced a U.S. first: Two of its spot Ethereum exchange-traded products would enable staking. Staking is a way that investors can generate yield by tying up their assets and contributing to network security. Investors can now earn returns on staked Ethereum through the Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE -4.20%) and Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF (ETH -4.21%).

2. BNB
More than riding on Bitcoin's coattails, BNB (BNB -1.71%) is making its own waves this month. The multi-faceted token is up about 30% in the past week, having just set its own high of more than $1,300. BNB is being driven higher by multiple tailwinds, including growth in decentralized finance and institutional adoption.

Originally called Binance Coin, BNB has evolved far beyond its original use as a token for the Binance crypto exchange. BNB is the native coin for the BNB Smart Chain, a popular smart-contract ecosystem that accounts for 6% of the total value locked (TVL) across all DeFi protocols. Its TVL is up 24% during the past month, according to DefiLlama.

BNB is surging on the back of several pieces of news, including that it was the first purchase made by Kazakhstan's government-backed Alem Crypto Fund. The fund -- created in strategic partnership with Binance Kazakhstan -- aims to create a financial reserve by investing in digital assets.

It's worth noting that in 2023, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to violating money laundering laws. He served four months in prison and the new chief executive officer, Richard Teng, has since faced the task of giving Binance a more regulatory-friendly face. Even so, in 2024, Forbes estimated that Zhao owned more than 60% of the BNB in circulation.

3. Solana
Although Solana (SOL -0.59%) has benefited from surging crypto prices this year, it has lagged a little as institutional funds favored Bitcoin and Ethereum. That may change if (or when) various spot Solana ETFs get the green light. Unfortunately, the government shutdown could delay that process. It isn't clear if the Securities and Exchange Commission will approve any crypto ETFs while operating a skeleton crew.

Nonetheless, Solana is up 9% during the past week. It seems to be taking a growing share of the real-world asset tokenization market, which allows ownership of anything from real estate to equities and art to be recorded on the blockchain. This could prove transformative for cryptocurrencies.

According to RWA.xyz, Solana is in seventh place in terms of the value of tokenized assets on its chain. However, with an increase of almost 40% in the past month, it's also growing faster than any of the top-10 networks. If Solana, with its reputation for speedy transactions and low fees, can show financial institutions it is also secure, its chain may have another day in the sun.

Look beyond the wave
Faced with economic uncertainty, government shutdowns, and a falling dollar, it's understandable for investors to look for alternatives. And as cryptocurrencies become more mainstream with an influx of institutional and corporate capital alongside real-world use cases, they become more viable.

However, these are still high-risk investments. It's only a few years since the industry's last dramatic crash that saw the collapse of popular exchanges and platforms. And transparency and reporting in crypto markets is a long way from publicly listed stocks.

There are lots of good reasons to add cryptocurrency to your portfolio, particularly if you manage the risk by ensuring it only makes up a small percentage of your overall investments. When prices are surging as they are now, one way to avoid making emotional financial decisions is to be clear on your long-term investment thesis before you hit the buy button.

Emma Newbery has positions in BNB, Ethereum, and Solana. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Ethereum is hovering around the $4.3K range. The ETH market has seen liquidations totalling $152.91M.

Key NotesFollowing a healthy pullback, SOL price is showing signs of a bullish pattern, eyeing a strong breakout past $240.Grayscale’s proposed Solana ETF (GSOL) awaits SEC approval and will come with a 0.35% management fee.JPMorgan estimates the ETF could attract $1.5 billion in first-year inflows, reflecting growing institutional interest in Solana.
SOL

SOL
$220.3

24h volatility:
0.5%

Market cap:
$120.24 B

Vol. 24h:
$7.05 B

, the native cryptocurrency of Solana, is once again under the grip of broader market volatility. SOL price is now testing a crucial support at $220, and faces a make-or-break situation. On the other hand, optimism around the Solana ETF is growing as digital asset manager Grayscale files for an S-1 amendment for its Grayscale Solana Trust (GSOL).

SOL Price Tests a Crucial Support, Will a Rebound Follow?
Over the past month, SOL price has seen strong volatility and has oscillated in the range of $190 and $250. With almost nil returns over the past month, Solana is once again trading at a crucial support level at $220.

Crypto analyst Ali Martinez said that the $217 level will be a key pivot point for Solana. This will determine whether the cryptocurrency rebounds higher or faces a potential breakdown. Martinez noted that price action around this zone will likely set the tone for Solana’s next major move.

$217 will decide whether Solana $SOL rebounds or breaks down! pic.twitter.com/woo51tGpYy

— Ali (@ali_charts) October 10, 2025

Crypto analyst BitGuru noted that SOL price is showing a bullish pattern formation following a healthy pullback, signaling potential upside momentum. The analyst highlighted that SOL is holding firm around the $220 level, adding that a breakout above the $240 resistance zone could open the door for a move toward $253. However, as per the image below, if SOL slips under $200, the next stop could be at $190.

$SOL showing a change of pattern as it forms a bullish structure after a healthy pullback.

Price is holding strong around $226, and if it breaks above the $240 resistance zone, we could see a move toward $253 next. Momentum is building. pic.twitter.com/hMp1RZgjb4

— BitGuru 🔶 (@bitgu_ru) October 9, 2025

Grayscale Solana ETF Awaits Approval
The US Securities and Exchange Commission will take a final call on the Grayscale Solana ETF (GSOL) expected on Oct. 10. The crypto asset manager has disclosed plans to charge a 0.35% management fee for the proposed fund, according the SEC filing.

Grayscale is awaiting SEC approval to list GSOL on NYSE Arca, though the process has been delayed amid the ongoing US government shutdown. Earlier this week, Grayscale also partnered with Figment for institutional staking for Solana.

Banking giant JPMorgan estimates that Solana exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could attract approximately $1.5 billion in inflows within their first year of trading. Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise, said traditional finance (TradFi) investors are becoming increasingly bullish not only on Bitcoin but also on Solana.

Hougan added that Solana ETFs are expected to launch within the next few weeks, with expectations of strong investor demand and inflows once trading begins.

Pepenode (PEPENODE) Gains Traction for Meme Coin Mining
Pepenode (PEPENODE) is making waves in the crypto space, offering users a platform to engage in virtual mining of memecoins. Pepenode’s gamified mining system allows participants to rig, earn rewards, and burn supply, positioning the project as one of the best crypto presales of 2025.

The project has seen a sharp increase in funding, growing from $544,648.31 a month ago to $1,781,485.88 raised to date. The current token price stands at $0.0010962.

Presale Stats:

Current price: $0.0010962.
Amount raised: $1.78 million.
Ticker: PEPENODE.

Pepenode promises up to 3,022% in staking rewards, making it highly attractive for early participants. Purchases can be made using credit or debit cards as well as cryptocurrencies, broadening accessibility for a diverse range of investors. Want to learn more? Read our article about how to buy PEPENODE.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

Solana (SOL) News, Market News

Bhushan is a FinTech enthusiast and holds a good flair in understanding financial markets. His interest in economics and finance draw his attention towards the new emerging Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrency markets. He is continuously in a learning process and keeps himself motivated by sharing his acquired knowledge. In free time he reads thriller fictions novels and sometimes explore his culinary skills.

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The Cardano price has drawn renewed attention as recent technical patterns and network updates converge to signal a potential turning point. The ADA price has displayed steady compression within a narrowing structure, suggesting that a decisive move could soon emerge. Meanwhile, the release of Hydra 1.0 has amplified bullish sentiment around Cardano’s long-term growth narrative.

Cardano Price Action: Can ADA Break the Symmetrical Triangle for a 165% Rally?
The Cardano price has been consolidating within a symmetrical triangle pattern for nearly a year, reflecting a balance between sell pressure and buyer resilience. 

The structure shows that ADA has consistently formed higher lows since November 2024, with each rebound tightening the price range toward a potential breakout. The current Cardano market price trades at $0.81, sitting just above the $0.75 support zone that could serve as a launch point if buying interest intensifies.

Meanwhile, the upper resistance level at $0.96 remains the first critical barrier for bulls to overcome. A clear weekly close above it could open the path toward $1.30 and possibly $2.00, as projected by the triangle’s measured move. 

The DMI indicator highlights growing bullish control, with the +DI line trending higher at 23 than –DI at 14, reflecting increasing strength from buyers. 

However, mild sell pressure persists near the upper range, hinting that consolidation may continue before a clean breakout occurs. Overall, if ADA sustains higher lows, the long-term Cardano price prediction leans toward a bullish continuation.

ADA/USDT 1-Week Chart (Source: TradingView)
Hydra 1.0 Ignites Cardano’s Scalability Race—A New Chapter for ADA
Hydra 1.0’s release marks a defining moment for Cardano, introducing lightning-fast and low-cost transactions that could elevate its blockchain capabilities. 

During testing, Hydra achieved over one million transactions per second, setting a new performance benchmark for the network. This upgrade enhances Cardano’s scalability and positions it among the most efficient Layer-1 platforms in the market.

Notably, the rollout has triggered renewed excitement within the Cardano community, reflecting confidence in ADA’s long-term prospects. 

In addition, REX Shares and Osprey Funds recently filed for 21 crypto ETFs—including one tied to Cardano —signaling institutional confidence in its ecosystem. Developers have also confirmed plans to expand Hydra’s features, ensuring smoother integration across decentralized applications.

Therefore, with improved scalability, regulatory interest, and a strengthening technical outlook, Hydra 1.0 could act as a key catalyst propelling the Cardano price higher as network adoption accelerates.

Summary
Cardano’s technical chart and Hydra 1.0 fundamentals point toward an encouraging convergence of signals for the coming months. A sustained close above $0.96 could confirm bullish control, while support at $0.75 remains the key defense zone. If both levels hold in favor of buyers, ADA may target the $2 mark in the mid-term. Backed by a robust upgrade and improving on-chain utility, the Cardano price appears well-positioned for a strong recovery phase.

Published
23 seconds ago on
October 10, 2025

After making its new all-time high on Monday the Bitcoin price has continued to retrace back to lower levels, albeit slowly. Already having dipped just below $120,000, could this have been the bottom? The next horizontal support is at $118,000, but will the price get there?

Break of trend is awaited

Source: TradingView

After making that all-time high at the beginning of the week, the $BTC price has kept the market salivating at the thought of a return to it, and a surge up to the next price level. In that vein of thought, this current retracement does look like a pause before the bulls are let loose again.

In the 4-hour chart above, it can be seen that the price has been following a downward trend, with a decent-length candle wick to the downside that almost tagged the 0.382 Fibonacci level. It may be that this was indeed the local bottom. 

The first signs that this trend is about to change would be a break of the descending trendline in the price action with a confirmation above. This would likely be validated by the indicator lines in the Stochastic RSI crossing back up, and the indicator line in the RSI crossing up above its own downtrend line.

Pros and cons of current inverse head and shoulders pattern 

Source: TradingView

In the daily time frame it’s still all about the formation of an inverse head and shoulders pattern. The right shoulder looks relatively small, but this does not invalidate the pattern. In fact, this could just suggest that buyers are not allowing the price to fall further before they step in - a very bullish scenario. What will be important is to see a decisive close above the neckline with increased volume to validate the pattern. 

Just one point of concern to take note of is that generally the left and right shoulders should take a roughly similar amount of time to form. As it stands, if the $BTC price goes up to the neckline from here, this would mean that the right shoulder would have completely formed in the space of a week or so, while the left shoulder took over 4 weeks. This potentially much shorter formation period could suggest that there hasn’t been sufficient consolidation, possibly leading to a weaker breakout or an invalidation of the pattern.

It’s now or never for Bitcoin

Source: TradingView

The above weekly chart for the $BTC price illustrates the whole of the bull market. It can be seen that higher highs and higher lows have continued throughout. The green arc shows the smooth parabolic movement of the price as the increase becomes steeper.

Four touches of the 8-year ascending trendline have now been made in quick succession. This compares with the first touch at the top of the 2017 bull market, and one more touch during the 2021 bull market. The curve is rising into the trendline, and the space for the price action is narrowing. Yes, there could conceivably be a further slide in the price from here, but with the $BTC price resetting after becoming overbought, an oversold condition is now approaching.

It’s now or never. There are only two ways for the price to go. To fall down through the parabolic curve and enter a bear market, or to break up beyond the ascending trendline and go into a potentially huge blow-off top, and final stage of the bull market. Which will it be?

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

On-chain data shows the Bitcoin mega whales are still in a phase of distribution despite the other cohorts shifting to buying.

Bitcoin Mega Whales Have Continued To Sell During This Rally
According to the latest weekly report from Glassnode, the Bitcoin Accumulation Trend Score suggests a resurgence in buying among the investors. This on-chain indicator basically tells us whether the BTC holders are buying or selling.

The metric calculates its value by not only looking at the balance changes happening in the wallets of the investors, but also accounting for the size of the wallets themselves. This means that the behavior of the larger entities has a larger influence on the score.

When the value of the indicator is above 0.5, it implies the large investors (or alternatively, a large number of small hands) are participating in accumulation. The closer is the indicator to 1, the stronger is this behavior.

On the other hand, the metric being under the threshold suggests distribution is the dominant behavior among BTC holders. The zero mark serves as the extreme level for this side of the scale.

Now, here’s the chart shared by Glassnode in the report that shows the trend in the Bitcoin Accumulation Trend Score separately for the various investor cohorts:

The value of the metric seems to be the highest for the sharks | Source: Glassnode’s The Week Onchain – Week 40, 2025
As displayed in the above graph, the Bitcoin Accumulation Trend Score assumed a neutral-distribution value across the market in mid-September, but a shift has occurred recently.

The sharks, investors holding between 100 to 1,000 BTC, were the first to pivot to buying. And it wasn’t just any degree of accumulation, but a strong one, with the metric sitting close to 1.

The 10 to 100 BTC cohort followed soon after, though its Accumulation Trend Score has still not achieved a value as high as the sharks’. Together, the buying from these mid-sized holders appears to be what backed the recent price surge to a new all-time high (ATH).

Very recently, the retail investors (below 1 BTC and 1 to 10 BTC groups) have also embraced accumulation, potentially attracted by the hype of the Bitcoin bull run.

While sharks and smaller entities have been accumulating, the top end of the scale has shown a different behavior. The whales (1,000 to 10,000 BTC) have continued to hold a neutral behavior, neither buying nor selling, while the largest of entities on the network, those holding above 10,000 BTC, have been in stark contrast to the sharks with their Accumulation Trend Score sitting deep in the distribution zone.

It now remains to be seen how long these Bitcoin holders, popularly called the mega whales, will continue their selloff, and whether they will provide impedance to the run.

BTC Price
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is floating around $120,900, down 2.5% over the last 24 hours.

The trend in the price of the coin over the last five days | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView
Featured image from Dall-E, Glassnode.com, chart from TradingView.com

Shorts stack, liquidity piles - BTC's weekly drama unfolds.

Cardano forms a key triangle pattern as analysts mark $0.69 as a potential buy zone before a possible breakout toward $2.

Cardano (ADA) is trading near $0.81 at press time, with a daily volume of $1.4 billion. It has slipped slightly in the past 24 hours and is down about 5% over the past week.

Consequently, traders are watching a chart pattern that may set up a larger move. If the price pulls back, $0.69 is being marked as a possible buy zone.

Triangle Pattern Signals Potential Move
Crypto analyst Ali Martinez shared a 12-hour chart showing ADA compressing inside a symmetrical triangle. The formation began in late 2024 and is approaching a point where a clear move is likely. Martinez pointed to $0.69 as a possible support level, also aligned with the 62% Fibonacci retracement zone.

Everything’s lining up for Cardano $ADA! $0.69 is the dip to buy before $2. pic.twitter.com/3xQGEN3xWT

— Ali (@ali_charts) October 10, 2025

Interestingly, upside predictions are illustrated in the chart as $1.28, $1.58, and $1.86, with each amount being equal to Fibonacci extensions. The formation is indicative of a gradual rise in trading, and the construction is supporting the idea of further levels if the support is maintained.

Key Levels in Focus as Price Compresses
Jonathan Carter also posted a daily chart showing ADA forming higher lows and lower highs, creating a symmetrical triangle. He noted that the 50-day moving average (MA 50) is acting as resistance. The price is hovering just below this level, near $0.80. A break above could open room toward $0.96, $1.15, and $1.50.

Carter highlighted consistency in price movements close to $0.76 as a confirmation that the trendline is still valid. His recommendation was to wait for a closing above the MA 50 before considering the possibility of upward movement. The RSI is still among the neutral levels, indicating there is space for both ways, based on momentum and volume.

You may also like:

Cardano Hits 1M Transactions but is ADA’s Price Finally About to Break $1?

$0.84 Barrier Crushed: Experts Say Cardano (ADA) Could Be Just Getting Started

Cardano (ADA) News Today: September 4th

Source: Jonathan Carter/X
Market Sentiment and Wallet Activity
Data from CoinGlass shows ADA’s long-to-short ratio at 0.93. The figure suggests short positions still outnumber longs, showing a cautious stance among traders on futures platforms.

Source: Coinglass
Meanwhile, ADA Orca, a core developer in the Cardano ecosystem, flagged a drop in active wallets. They posted that unique wallets have fallen to about 1,000 from over 8,000 in late 2024. “Most heartbreaking Cardano chart of all,” they wrote, referring to a visible drop in network participation.

In technical development, the team behind Cardano introduced the Hydra Node version 1.0.0. This upgrade signifies the transition from testing to complete readiness for the Layer-2 protocol. Scalability and performance of the network are the main advantages the Hydra solution offers, which will be particularly useful as the activity on the network increases over time.

Diversified end markets could make this AI stock popular in the long run, and that could send its shares soaring.

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has brought several companies into the limelight in the past few years. For instance, Nvidia, which is in the business of designing semiconductors, became an instantly recognizable name thanks to the role it plays in the proliferation of AI.

But AI adoption is still in its early phases. There are likely to be more companies that will become famous thanks to this technology, and buying them before they become household names could be rewarding for investors in the long run. 

Let's take a closer look at a company that isn't as famous as Nvidia yet but has the potential to follow in the chip giant's footsteps to become a household name in the next five years.

This AI company has the potential to be a household name by 2030
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD -1.25%) has been playing second fiddle to Nvidia so far in the market for AI chips. However, investors would do well to note that the former could become a bigger AI name thanks to its diversified businesses.

Nvidia's AI chips are primarily deployed in data centers for running AI workloads in the cloud. The company also sells consumer-oriented graphics processing units (GPUs) that are used in personal computers (PCs) and workstations for tackling graphics-intensive workloads. AMD also caters to both these markets. It sells central processing units (CPUs) and GPUs that power PCs, and is also trying to cut its teeth in the AI data center market.

But then, the scope of its business goes beyond data centers and PCs. AMD also sells semi-custom processors that are deployed in two popular gaming consoles, along with embedded processors that go into various applications such as automotive, healthcare, robotics, and industrial markets. AMD, therefore, is likely to have a bigger reach as its chips are capable of powering a wider range of devices in the future.

For instance, reports suggest that AMD has already been selected to make the semi-custom processors for the next generation of gaming consoles from Sony and Microsoft. These consoles, which are expected to hit the market within the next three years, are expected to pack AI-powered features. AMD's console processor is likely to enhance the resolution of the games that will run in the next generation of gaming consoles to deliver a more immersive gameplay experience.

Meanwhile, AMD is already reaching more customers with the help of its AI-centric PC CPUs. The company offers CPUs capable of running AI workloads locally on PCs, which is one of the reasons why it grabs a bigger share of this market. Specifically, AMD's client CPU market share stood at 23.9% in the second quarter of 2025 as compared to 21.1% in the same period last year.

Its revenue share increased by a much more handsome 9.8 percentage points from the year-ago period to 27.8%. This is an indicator of AMD's robust pricing power and the fact that customers are willing to pay more for its AI-focused Ryzen processors. As such, don't be surprised to see AMD reaching more customers with the help of its AI-capable CPUs.

In all, AMD's solid presence in consoles, which are expected to get an AI-powered boost when the next generation arrives, along with its rising share of the AI PC market, could help it become a household AI stock by the end of the decade.

Throw in the fact that AMD can win more business in the data center GPU market thanks to its aggressive product roadmap and partnerships with the likes of Oracle, which is rapidly deploying more data centers across the globe, and there is a good chance that it could come out of Nvidia's shadow and become a popular AI stock in the long run.

In fact, AMD just received a major boost in the AI data center market thanks to OpenAI. The ChatGPT maker will buy AMD's Instinct data center GPUs to build 6 gigawatts of compute capacity starting next year. AMD stock rocketed higher following this announcement, and there is a good chance that it can sustain this momentum in the long run.

AMD's valuation makes it a solid buy right now
AMD has a price/earnings-to-growth ratio (PEG ratio) of just 0.52 based on its projected annual earnings growth rate for the next five years, as per Yahoo! Finance. The PEG ratio is a forward-looking valuation metric that takes a company's future earnings growth into account, and a reading of less than 1 means that the company is undervalued with respect to the growth that it is anticipated to deliver.

AMD's PEG ratio clearly tells us that it is undervalued based on the potential growth that it could clock through 2030. So, buying AMD right now could be a smart thing to do for the long run, as its presence in consumer-facing markets that are embracing AI (such as gaming consoles and PCs), along with a potential improvement in its data center market share, is likely to bump up its growth rate in the future.

All this could contribute toward making AMD more popular and send this semiconductor stock soaring in the long run.

Harsh Chauhan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Oracle. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

A special perk for Costco Wholesale's highest tier of cardholders has some members in an uproar -- but it's put smiles on the faces of management and investors.

For the last three years, the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has captivated the attention of Wall Street and investors. In Sizing the Prize, the analysts at PwC pegged the potential global impact of AI at $15.7 trillion by the turn of the decade. Numbers this large are bound to garner the attention of investors.

But this sky-high estimate from PwC still significantly lags the worldwide addressable opportunity for the retail industry by 2035. Market Business Insights is projecting a 4.44% compound annual growth rate for the global retail industry through 2035, which would peg its addressable market at $52.7 trillion in 10 years.

Although retail is a generally low-margin and highly competitive arena, the few companies that do stand out tend to become superstars on Wall Street. Think Amazon, Walmart, and Costco Wholesale (COST 3.05%), for example.

Image source: Costco Wholesale.

Though all three of these retail goliaths possesses well-defined competitive advantages, their operating approach is anything but static. The ability to change and adapt to meet the needs of consumers is a necessity of the retail landscape -- and arguably no company knows this better than warehouse club Costco.

Costco's value approach has won over shoppers
In some instances, size isn't everything in corporate America. But for retailers, size tends to provide a meaningful competitive edge. In Costco's case, it's used its size and deep pockets to deliver deals that drive members into its stores.

Being able to buy products in bulk can lower the per-unit cost for each item, which in turns allows Costco to consistently undercut local stores and even national grocery chains on price. Though the margins on basic need goods (e.g., produce and toiletries) are often razor-thin, Costco's management team understands that these necessity items are what drive traffic into its stores on a regular basis.

This value proposition can also be found in Costco's food court. The cost of the company's famous hot dog combo has been pinned at $1.50 for more than four decades due to the cult-like attraction of this deal. In 2009, the company transitioned to its in-house Kirkland Signature brand to supply hot dogs for its combo deal in an effort to keep costs down and its members happy.

But the biggest edge of all for Costco is its membership-driven operating model. Depending on the tier, members are paying $65 or $130 each year to shop in its warehouses. This is high-margin revenue that flows almost directly to Costco's bottom line, and it also provides an added margin buffer when the company is undercutting its rivals on price.

If consumers are spending $65 or $130 annually for the right to shop at a warehouse, you can rest assured they're going to be making most or all of their big-dollar purchases there to get as much out of their membership as possible.

However, changes have been commonplace for Costco Wholesale in its more than four decades of operation -- and they're not always well-received by its members.

Image source: Getty Images.

A controversial new policy has some members in an uproar and management thrilled
Over the last year or so, Costco has made a handful of meaningful changes. It increased annual membership fees for Gold Star/Business and Executive cardholders from $60 to $65 and $120 to $130, respectively, as well as required members to scan their card or a QR code when entering its stores. Seeing as how this was the first membership fee increase in seven years, cardholders didn't put up much of a fuss.

But changes made to Costco's shopping hours, which affords special treatment to Executive members, has definitely created an uproar.

In June, the company announced plans to introduce special early shopping hours for Executive cardholders seven days a week. On weekdays and Sundays, Costco would open its doors for Executive members from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. On Saturdays, a 30-minute window of 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. exists for these top-tier cardholders to shop.

Though Costco doesn't offer a U.S. breakdown of its Gold Star/Business vs. Executive memberships, it does do so globally. It closed out its fiscal year (Aug. 31, 2025) with 81 million paying members, 38.7 million of which were Executive cardholders. This means tens of millions of Gold Star members can't shop in the company's U.S. warehouses during these special hours.

What's more, Costco introduced a $10 monthly credit on qualifying Instacart orders of $150 or more for its top class of cardholders. This is in addition to the 2% back they can receive each year (up to $1,250) on purchases.

While some Gold Star/Business members aren't happy with these new perks (specifically the special shopping hours) for Executive cardholders, Costco's management team and Wall Street are all smiles.

During the company's fiscal fourth-quarter conference call with Wall Street analysts, CEO Ron Vachris directly addressed this controversial new policy, as well as the decision to extend hours for all members on Saturday evenings in U.S. warehouses:

To increase value and convenience for our members, on June 30, we added Executive Member exclusive operating hours in the morning and an additional hour on Saturday evenings for all members in our U.S. warehouses. We estimate these incremental hours have added about 1% to weekly U.S. sales since implementation.

A 1% bump in sales might not sound like much, until you realize that a 1% boost in sales can generate close to $3 billion in added annual revenue for the company. That's not chump change!

Furthermore, even though Executive cardholders account for "just" 47.8% of worldwide memberships, they were responsible for 74.2% of net sales during the fiscal fourth quarter. It's in Costco's financial interest to keep its highest tier of cardholders happy, even if newly implemented policies annoy entry-level members.

With management seeing evidence of membership upgrades a little over a month after firmly implementing its special shopping hours policy, there's little question that this controversial policy change is here to stay.

Sean Williams has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Costco Wholesale, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Instacart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Papa John's International is placing India among its priority markets globally and tailoring its offerings to local tastes with its maiden majority-vegetarian menu, executives said, in a move the U.S. pizza chain expects will fuel long-term growth.

Growing energy needs, a beaten-down valuation, and clean energy solutions have made Plug Power a hot stock to own this year.

A couple of years ago, things looked dire for Plug Power (PLUG 3.69%) stock. It was plunging in value and it even issued a going concern warning, which means that the business was concerned about its finances and that there were significant doubts about its ability to continue operating.

The company says that risk no longer exists. And not only are its financials stronger, but the energy stock has also been red hot of late. This year, share prices of the hydrogen company are up an incredible 95%. In just the past six months, its stock price has more than tripled in value.

Has this once-risky stock become a good, safe option for investors?

Image source: Getty Images.

Why is there so much hype around Plug Power?
Energy has been a big investing theme this year, largely due to artificial intelligence (AI) and the need to power up large data centers. Plug Power has positioned itself as one of the leading companies in offering clean energy solutions with hydrogen fuel cells. Many investors likely see the zero-emission energy options that Plug Power offers as one of several potential solutions to rising energy needs in AI.

The more that tech companies invest in AI data centers, the greater the need may be for energy in the future. And it's that potential growth that has many investors willing to look past Plug Power's lack of profitability and shortcomings today -- but doing so could be a perilous mistake.

Plug Power's financials remain problematic
Plug Power may have removed the near-term going concern warning last year, but I have doubts about the company's ability to survive in the long run. This is, after all, still a massive, cash-burning business. In the past six months, it has incurred net losses totaling $425.6 million, which was more than the revenue it generated over that time frame ($307.6 million). The business's cost of sales was even higher at $435 million, resulting in negative margins and a loss before even factoring in overhead and other operating expenses.

It also burned through $297 million in cash over the course of its day-to-day operating activities during the past two quarters. Without a path to profitability or positive cash flow in the foreseeable future, there is plenty of risk for dilution and frequent share offerings in the stock's future.

I'd stay away from Plug Power stock
Investing in hydrogen energy is a long-term play, and it's one that's full of risks. While hydrogen can play an important role in addressing the world's global energy needs, not everyone is convinced that it will be the case. Some critics point to the inefficiency and high costs that come with hydrogen energy production. And there are alternative energy sources that may be cleaner and better options in the long run.

It's easy to get swept up in the AI-driver energy hype, and that's what may be happening with Plug Power. But that doesn't mean this is a safe stock to invest in. For a while, this stock was going nowhere but down; it declined by more than 50% in each of the past three years. Then, the energy stock craze took off, and so did Plug Power's valuation.

While it may look like a cheap stock to own given its massive decline in recent years and the fact that it's trading at just 4 times its trailing revenue, this is still a highly risky investment to hold in your portfolio. Until and unless its fundamentals drastically improve, you're likely better off avoiding Plug Power as this is a speculative stock to own, with plenty of downside risk.

David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Last week, Carnival Corp. (CCL -1.64%) beat on revenue and earnings when it reported results for the most recent quarter. Oddly enough, however, this did not lead to the sort of market reaction one would expect.

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.

A Lufthansa plane moves on the tarmac at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Fiumicino, near Rome, Italy, September 23, 2024. REUTERS/Remo Casilli Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesFRANKFURT, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Lufthansa

(LHAG.DE), opens new tab will continue talks with German pilots' union VC over a pension dispute, both parties said on Friday, averting a possible strike at its core airline for the time being.

The union's members had previously

voted in favour, opens new tab of a walkout to pressure Lufthansa into agreeing a more generous pension deal.

Sign up here.

After constructive talks on Thursday, both parties said they are exploring the option of further negotiations and new dates.

While Lufthansa has not submitted a new offer, there have been indications that a solution can be found, said a spokesperson for VC, or Vereinigung Cockpit.

"We are still committed to finding a solution without strikes," said a Lufthansa spokesperson.

The union is demanding higher employer contributions to company pension plans for the 4,800 cockpit employees of the core airline brand Lufthansa and the cargo subsidiary Lufthansa Cargo.

Lufthansa sees no financial leeway for this, as its core brand has excessive costs and hasn't been earning any money since last year, and has threatened to move more jobs to its cheaper subsidiaries, Discover and City Airlines.

Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach, Writing by Miranda Murray
Editing by Ludwig Burger

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

This company aims to win in the AI race.

All of the Magnificent Seven stocks -- except one -- have this in common: They've each completed at least one stock split at some point in time. These are operations that allow a company to lower the price of its stock -- and they've come in handy as Magnificent Seven players have seen their shares skyrocket in recent years.

In a stock split, a company issues more shares to current holders, but the value of their overall investment -- and the market value of the company -- remain the same. So, a stock split doesn't change anything fundamental, but it does help bring a soaring stock price back down to Earth. And that may make it easier for a broader range of investors to buy it.

Though a stock split on its own isn't a reason to buy a particular player, investors still keep a close eye on potential stock split candidates. After all, when a company decides on a split, it suggests management is confident about the future and the stock's chances of climbing once again. And that's why, right now, it's logical to wonder if the one Magnificent Seven company that's never done a split might be next on the list... Let's consider the possibility.

Leading S&P 500 gains
First, though, a quick look at the Magnificent Seven. They are a group of technology companies, many involved in the hot area of artificial intelligence (AI), that have seen revenue climb and have led gains in the S&P 500 over the past few years. They are: Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms (META 2.16%), Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla.

Following this stock price momentum, and some of these players have chosen to complete a stock split. Nvidia was the most recent of the bunch, completing a 10-for-1 split last year, bringing its stock down from about $1,000 to the $100 range.

But the one player that hasn't yet harnessed the power of a stock split is Meta. The company's stock has climbed more than 400% over the past three years, and it now trades for more than $700 a share. This is amid surging earnings and a focus on winning in the AI space.

You may know Meta best as a social media company, as it owns the popular apps Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp -- and advertising across these platforms drives revenue at the company. But over the past few years, Meta has invested heavily in AI and aims to use this technology to keep users on its apps longer, revolutionize the creation and performance of ads across its platforms, and develop new products. All of this has stirred up excitement among investors, as they see the potential for this to supercharge Meta's growth over the long term.

Double-digit earnings growth
In the latest quarter, Meta reported double-digit growth in revenue and net income, and in recent years, the company even started to pay a dividend to shareholders. So, Meta has been able to balance growth with rewarding its investors.

Now, let's consider why Meta might decide on a stock split at this point. As mentioned, most companies do this when the stock has soared to a level that makes it difficult for some investors to access. Companies also may consider that certain price levels represent a psychological barrier for investors. For example, some investors may consider stocks priced above $1,000 expensive even if valuation measures say they aren't.

Today, as mentioned, Meta stock trades for around $700, and though it's gained over the past few years, it has fallen from a record high of more than $780.

A stock split could be a smart move for Meta as it would reinforce the idea that management is confident about the company's future and its decision to go all in on the high-stakes field of AI. And it could make it easier for more investors to get in on the stock too; some might not have the investing budget to cover the purchase of Meta at today's level and may not have access to fractional shares.

Will Meta make the move? That's impossible to predict, but as the one Magnificent Seven stocks that hasn't yet completed a split, and with the shares close to their record high, this tech giant could be next on the list.

Adria Cimino has positions in Amazon and Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.