Market Signal Briefing

NEW YORK and NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (“KSF”) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors with substantial losses that they have until February 17, 2026 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against F5, Inc. (NasdaqGS: FFIV), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company’s securities between October 28, 2024, and October 27, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.

What You May Do

If you purchased securities of F5 and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nasdaqgs-ffiv/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by February 17, 2026.

About the Lawsuit

F5 and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On October 27, 2025, the Company announced its fourth quarter fiscal year 2025 results, disclosing significantly below-market growth expectations for fiscal 2026 including expected reductions to sales and renewals, elongated sales cycles, terminated projections, and increased expenses due in significant part to a security breach involving BIG-IP, the Company’s highest revenue product.

On this news, the price of F5’s shares fell from a closing market price of $290.41 per share on October 27, 2025 to $258.76 per share on October 28, 2025, a decline of an additional 10.9% in the span of two days.

The case is Smith v. F5, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-02619.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, and a representative office in Luxembourg.

TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action Services

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner
[email protected]
1-877-515-1850
1100 Poydras St., Suite 960
New Orleans, LA 70163

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CNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos reporting on how bitcoin miners tied to AI infrastructure deals outperformed this year, while crypto-treasury names sank under dilution and financing costs.

NEW YORK and NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (“KSF”) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., notifies investors in Jayud Global Logistics Limited (“Jayud” or the “Company”) (NasdaqCM: JYD) of a class action securities lawsuit.

CLASS DEFINITION: The lawsuit seeks to recover losses on behalf of investors of Jayud Global who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud between April 21, 2023 and April 30, 2025. Follow the link below to get more information and be contacted by a member of our team:

https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nasdaqcm-jyd/

Jayud Global investors should contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nasdaqcm-jyd/ to learn more.

CASE DETAILS: According to the Complaint, the alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) the Company was the subject of a fraudulent stock promotion “pump-and-dump” scheme involving social media-based misinformation and impersonated financial professionals; (ii) insiders and/or affiliates used offshore or nominee accounts to facilitate the coordinated dumping of shares during a price inflation campaign; (iii) the Company’s public statements and risk disclosures omitted any mention of the false rumors and artificial trading activity elevating the stock price; and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, defendants’ positive statements about Jayud’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

The case is Lindstrom v. Jayud Global Logistics Limited, et al., Case No. 25-cv-09662.

WHAT TO DO? If you invested in Jayud Global and suffered a loss during the relevant time frame, you have until January 19, 2026 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff; however, your ability to share in any recovery does not require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, and a representative office in Luxembourg.

TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action Services

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner
[email protected]
1-877-515-1850
1100 Poydras St., Suite 960
New Orleans, LA 70163

CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedIn

NEW YORK CITY and NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (“KSF”) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors with substantial losses that they have until January 26, 2026 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (“Alexandria” or the “Company”) (NYSE: ARE), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company’s securities between January 27, 2025 to October 27, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

What You May Do

If you purchased securities of Alexandria and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-are/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by January 26, 2026.

About the Lawsuit

Alexandria and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On October 27, 2025, post-market, the Company disclosed financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 that were below expectations, including cuts to its FFO guidance for the full-year 2025, due to lower occupancy rates, slower leasing activity and most notably, a real estate impairment charge of $323.9 million with $206 million attributed to its LIC property.

On this news, the price of Alexandria’s shares fell from a closing market price of $77.87 per share on October 27, 2025 to $62.94 per share on October 28, 2025, a decline of about 19% in the span of just a single day.

The case is Warren Hern v. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-11319.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, and a representative office in Luxembourg.

TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action Services

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner
[email protected]
1-877-515-1850
1100 Poydras St., Suite 960
New Orleans, LA 70163

CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedIn

Indian Oil Corp purchased its first Colombian oil under an optional supply deal with state oil company Ecopetrol, two people familiar with the matter said, as India's top refiner seek to diversify from Russian oil.

BEIJING — China is set to tighten controls on silver exports from Thursday, expanding restrictions on the once-ordinary metal critical to the U.S. industry and defense supply chains.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk criticized the move over the weekend on his social media platform X, responding to a post about the upcoming restrictions.

"This is not good. Silver is needed in many industrial processes," Musk wrote.

But the rules are not new. China's Commerce Ministry first announced the new measures in October to strengthen oversight of rare metals, on the same day that U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in South Korea. At the time, Beijing agreed to a one-year pause on certain rare earth export controls, while the U.S. rolled back tariffs.

Earlier this month, China released a list of 44 companies approved to export silver under the new measures in 2026 and 2027. The new rules in 2026 also restrict exports of tungsten and antimony, materials dominated by China's supply chain and widely used in defense and advanced technologies.

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While China hasn't explicitly announced a blanket ban on silver exports, the state-run Securities Times on Tuesday cited an unnamed industry insider, who said the new policy formally elevates the metal from an ordinary commodity to a strategic material, placing its export controls on the same regulatory footing as rare earths.

The EU Chamber of Commerce in China found in a flash survey of members in November that a majority of respondents have been or expect to be affected by those Chinese export controls.

The U.S. added silver to its nationally designated list of critical minerals in November, citing its use in electrical circuits, batteries, solar cells, and anti-bacterial medical instruments. A separate U.S. analysis said China was one of the world's largest producers of silver in 2024, and also home to one of the largest reserves.

China exported more than 4,600 tons of silver in the first 11 months of the year, far more than the roughly 220 tons of imports during that time, according to Wind Information, citing official figures.

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The restrictions on silver come just as interest in the metal has increased in recent weeks.

Two Chinese companies contacted Canada-based Kuya Silver on Friday, offering to buy physical silver at about $8 more than the market price at the time, CEO David Stein confirmed to CNBC. He said one company was a manufacturer, and the other was a large trading firm.

An Indian buyer approached Kuya on Monday with an offer $10 above the market price, he added.

Conservative digital media outlet The Free Press ran a column Tuesday by George Mason University economics professor Tyler Cowen, who said the surge in silver and gold prices reflects investors shifting away from the U.S. dollar.

He called the surge in prices "a flashing warning for the [U.S.] economy."

The U.S. dollar index has fallen by nearly 9.5% in 2025, its worst performance since 2017.

In contrast, silver has more than doubled in price, on track for its best year since 1979 when the metal surged by nearly 470%. Silver prices retreated on Wednesday after touching a record peak above $80 an ounce at the start of the week, with spot prices last trading at around $73.

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Gold has gained more than 60% so far this year and is also on pace for its best year since 1979.

Bitcoin, sometimes promoted as an alternative to gold as a store of value, was trading near $88,000 Wednesday morning Beijing time, down by more than 5% for the year.

— CNBC's Chris Hayes contributed to this report.

LIT serves as the core asset for its DEX and broader financial infrastructure roadmap.

Key Takeaways

Lighter achieved a major milestone by reaching $200 billion in a 30-day trading volume, surpassing its rival, Hyperliquid.
The trading volume highlight aligns with the launch of Lighter's LIT utility token.

Lighter, a DEX focused on perpetual futures trading, recorded roughly $200 billion in 30-day trading volume, surpassing Aster and Hyperliquid as activity accelerated around the launch of its LIT token, according to data from DefiLlama.

Over the same period, Aster recorded about $173 billion in trading volume, while Hyperliquid saw roughly $165 billion. On a 7-day basis, Lighter also led with $29 billion, ahead of Hyperliquid and Aster.

Hyperliquid still dominated 24-hour perpetuals activity with $6.8 billion in volume, compared with $4.3 billion on Lighter.

An Ethereum-based perpetuals DEX, Lighter runs on its own ZK-powered app chain, offering fast, low-cost trading with self-custody and a CEX-style order book.

The Lighter Infrastructure Token (LIT) went live today as the project’s main economic and functional token. The token will be used for staking and platform utilities such as access, execution, and data services, with additional plans for fee payments and market-data verification.

We are announcing the Lighter Infrastructure Token (LIT)! Lighter is building infrastructure for the future of finance and the native token is key to aligning incentives. In this thread, we will describe the structure of the token, broader vision, and roadmap of use cases.

— Lighter (@Lighter_xyz) December 30, 2025

Lighter distributed 25% of the total LIT supply to early users in Points Season 1 and 2 as part of its ecosystem allocation.

In total, 50% of the supply is reserved for the community and future growth programs, while the remaining 50% goes to the team and investors, subject to a one-year lockup and three-year vesting schedule.

The team says value generated by Lighter products will ultimately accrue to LIT holders, with revenues directed toward growth or token buybacks depending on conditions.

LIT is currently trading at approximately $2.6, according to CoinGecko. The token secured its first major centralized exchange spot listing on Coinbase.

LIT is also available on Bybit’s perpetual futures platform, expanding trading options for derivatives traders.

Disclaimer

Bitcoin hovered near $88,000 as lingering caution from October's $19B leverage wipeout kept year end trading subdued.

Key fundamentals, including legal and regulatory clarity, XRP-spot ETF inflows, and increased utility, support the positive price outlook.

Below, I will explore the key drivers behind recent price trends, the medium-term (4-8 weeks) outlook, and the key technical levels traders should watch.

Standard Chartered Bank Predicts $8 by the End of Year 2026
Geoffrey Kendrick, Global Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered Bank, ignited the crypto news wires on December 30, projecting a year-end 2026 price of $8. At the current price of $1.8723, an $8 price target would translate into a 327% return.

The Global Head of Digital Assets cited regulatory clarity, following the resolution of the SEC vs. Ripple case, robust demand for XRP-spot ETFs, and increased utility as key factors.

Notably, Kendrick projected a $12.5 price target for 2028 with increased adoption and institutional demand likely to tilt the supply-demand balance firmly in XRP’s favor.

Kendrick is among a growing number of high-ranking members of the crypto community, predicting a bullish outlook. Grayscale Head of Research Zach Pandl and Canary Funds CEO Steven McClurg recently painted a rosy outlook.

Last week, Steven McClurg spoke about Bitcoin, XRP, and a potential decoupling on a broadcast with Token Relations, stating:

“XRP, I believe, is going to be a divergent asset, actually. […] Altcoins typically follow Bitcoin, but there are a handful of assets that I do believe will diverge in this manner and just watching XRP perform as everything’s going straight down and we continue to get inflows everyday and continue to hold up, I believe that it could look like another peak in XRP in 2026, when most of other crypto assets are going to be down.”

Grayscale’s Zach Pandl discussed a positive price outlook on Paul Barron’s podcast on December 26, citing strong institutional demand, tokenization, legislation, and Fed rate cuts.

XRP-Spot ETFs vs. BTC-Spot ETFs – Is a Decoupling Imminent?
The US XRP-spot ETF market saw $15.55 million in inflows on Tuesday, December 30. According to SoSoValue, issuers reported total volume traded of $50.16 million, setting the stage for an 8-week inflow streak. The US XRP-spot ETF market has yet to report an outflow to date, since launching on November 14, 2025, with total net inflows rising to $1.16 billion.

SOSOValue – XRP-Spot ETF Market Weekly Inflows – 311225
By contrast, the US BTC-spot ETF market saw total net outflows of $2.74 billion since November 14, 2025, supporting the decoupling theory. Crucially, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) had net outflows of $2.2 billion, potentially incentivizing the ETF issuer to consider an iShares XRP Trust.

An iShares XRP Trust launch would be another price catalyst, given IBIT’s dominant $62 billion of inflows since launching in January 2024.

Spot ETF flow trends reflect sentiment and the supply-demand trajectory, supporting a decoupling from BTC.

Steven McClurg believed BTC entered a bear cycle, contrasting with the bullish view on XRP, stating:

“There’s been a lot of talk about the four-year cycle, and I know Matt, and I have different opinions of the four-year cycle of Bitcoin. But I’m in the camp of, yeah, a four-year cycle is still in effect. Mining activity still very much drives price, even though it’s becoming more and more muted in every four years, it will become more muted. But my belief is that Bitcoin peaked in October and it’s already going into its bear cycle.”

XRP Outlook Increasingly Bullish
Progress toward crypto-friendly legislation and strong demand for XRP-spot ETFs support the cautiously bullish short-term (1-4 weeks) outlook, with a $2.0 price target. Meanwhile, increased utility, Fed rate cuts, and the Senate passing the Market Structure Bill would reinforce the positive longer-term price trajectories:

Medium-term (4-8 weeks): $2.5.
Longer-term (8-12 weeks) $3.0.

Key Downside Risks Challenge Bullish Outlook
Several events could derail the positive outlook. These include:

The Bank of Japan announces a neutral interest rate of between 1.5% and 2.5%, indicating aggressive rate hikes.
US economic indicators and the Fed are dampening bets on a March rate cut.
The MSCI delists digital asset treasury companies (DATs). Delistings would likely dampen interest in XRP as a treasury reserve asset.
Lawmakers challenge the Market Structure Bill.
XRP-spot ETFs report outflows.

These events would likely push the token toward $1.75, signaling a bearish trend reversal.

Technical Indicators Continue to Signal Caution
XRP rose 1.45% on Tuesday, December 30, reversing the previous day’s 0.77% loss to close at $1.8762. The token outperformed the broader crypto market, which gained 1.16%.

Despite Tuesday’s rally, XRP remained below the 50-day and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), indicating a bearish bias. While technicals remain bearish, bullish fundamentals are developing, outweighing the technical structure.

Key technical levels to watch include:

Support levels: $1.75, and then $1.50.
50-day EMA resistance: $2.0512.
200-day EMA resistance: $2.3624.
Resistance levels: $2, $2.5, $3.0, and $3.66.

Looking at the daily chart, a breakout above the $2.0 psychological level would pave the way to the 50-day EMA. A sustained move through the 50-day EMA would indicate a near-term bullish trend reversal, bringing the 200-day EMA and the $2.5 resistance level into play.

A sustained move through the EMAs would affirm the bullish medium-term outlook and the longer-term (8-12 weeks) $3.0 price target.

TLDR

XRP balance on exchange platforms plummeted from 3.76 billion to nearly 1.6 billion in just two months.
The $1.78 technical support is identified as the zone of highest accumulation according to Glassnode data.
Analysts suggest that ETF demand is draining liquidity, setting the stage for a potential rally.

The Ripple ecosystem is closing the year with a signal that has sparked optimism among long-term investors. While the price remained stable near $1.87, on-chain data indicated a massive trend of asset withdrawals.

Currently, the XRP supply on exchanges has fallen to levels not recorded since August 2018, suggesting a drastic reduction in immediate selling intent and a coordinated movement toward cold storage.

Glassnode indicates that exchange balances have decreased by approximately 2.16 billion tokens since October. This phenomenon usually precedes periods of low sell-side liquidity, which facilitates upward price discovery if institutional demand maintains its current pace.

Critical Supports and Recovery Projections for 2026
Technically, the market has established a very clear “line in the sand.” Throughout 2025, the demand zone located between $1.60 and $1.84 has functioned as a reliable floor. However, the UTXO realized price level highlights $1.78 as the most robust support point, where nearly 1.87 billion XRP changed hands.

Staying above this value is vital for the XRP supply on exchanges to continue decreasing without generating panic in the retail market.

Industry analysts, such as LeviRietveld, consider this setup to be markedly bullish. The record outflow of 1.4 billion tokens in a single day (last October 19) reinforces the thesis that large holders or “whales” are accumulating aggressively.

In summary, if XRP manages to defend this support and confirm a triple bottom structure on the weekly chart, the path toward $3.79 could open in 2026. Nevertheless, caution persists: without new macroeconomic catalysts, the asset could remain in a sideways range before starting its next major expansion.

ByteDance plans to spend about 100 billion yuan ($14.29 billion) on artificial intelligence chips from Nvidia in 2026, a hefty increase from roughly 85 billion yuan in 2025, if the U.S. company is allowed to sell its H200 graphic processing units in China, the South China Morning Post reported on Wednesday.

NEW YORK & NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (“KSF”) and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until January 2, 2026 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between June 20, 2025 and November 5, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”). These actions are pending in the United S.

Pasadena, Calif., Dec. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Pasadena Tournament of Roses® is celebrating the fantastic performances audiences will experience during the 137th Rose Parade® presented by Honda on Thursday, January 1, 2026, 8 a.m. PST. Inspired by this year’s theme, “The Magic in Teamwork,” each performance brings together extraordinary artists and dancers to deliver a high-energy start to the new year.

The celebration begins with the Opening Spectacular presented by Honda, featuring acclaimed artist Bishop Briggs and 24 world-class dancers performing her platinum-selling anthem “River” and empowering hit “Champion.” The music of Bishop Briggs transcends the limitations of singular genres, blending alternative, pop and electronic music into a wholly unique sound. The performance will deliver a thrilling celebration of teamwork and set the perfect tone for the Parade.

In the Mid-Parade Performance presented by Visit Mississippi, audiences will be treated to a visual symphony honoring Mississippi’s artistic icons, literary legends and homegrown talent. Adding to the creative flair of Visit Mississippi’s float, “Mississippi: Where Creativity Blooms,” Mississippi native and country music star Charlie Worsham will perform live on the float, accompanied by dancers, bringing the state’s artistic excellence to life.

Explore Louisiana will once again present the Mid-Parade Performance, as the state’s float “Gulf to Gumbo” showcases its signature spirit and storytelling featuring rising country singer and American Idol runner-up, John Foster. Originally from Addis, Louisiana, Foster has already made his Grand Ole Opry debut and was invited back for three additional dates.

The Parade concludes with a spectacular Grand Finale performance featuring the Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling artist, Capital Cities, joined by Nashville-based pop country trio DEK of Hearts. America’s just-voted vocal powerhouse and newly crowned Mic Drop winner on NBC’s “The Voice.”

With 24 explosive dancers performing a range of styles – from flappers to hip-hop – against a trio of era-spanning classic cars, the Grand Finale bursts into a celebration of joy and nostalgia. This is the unforgettable, replay-for-months moment that sends the Rose Parade out on the highest possible note.

The 2026 Parade will be streamed in its entirety on eight platforms — Christmas Plus, Dooya, FanDuel Sports Network, Fubo, GFam+, Great American Pure Flix, Pluto TV and Samsung TV Plus — making it easier than ever for audiences around the world to enjoy the visually stunning and festive Rose Parade. The the Parade will be televised live nationwide on ABC, CNN, Fox, Great American Family, KTLA, NBC, Telemundo and Univision.

From start to spectacular finish, the Rose Parade once again brings the world together with music in the timeless New Year’s Day tradition.

About the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® and Rose Parade® presented by Honda
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses® is a volunteer organization that hosts America’s New Year Celebration® with the Rose Parade® presented by Honda, the Rose Bowl Game® presented by Prudential and a variety of accompanying events. The Association’s 935 Members supply more than 80,000 volunteer hours, which will drive the success of the 137th Rose Parade, themed “The Magic in Teamwork” on Thursday, January 1, 2026, followed by the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential. Visit www.tournamentofroses.com, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X and like us on Facebook. 

2026 Rose Parade presented by Honda

2026 Rose Parade presented by Honda
Pasadena Tournament of Roses logo

Oil edged lower. The broad geopolitical instability in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine conflict typically would sustain a risk premium on crude oil prices, XS.com said.

This "Magnificent Seven" company's growth could accelerate in 2026, which could be enough for it to achieve a $5 trillion market capitalization.

Nvidia (NVDA 0.36%) officially became the first company in the world to hit a $5 trillion market cap in 2025. The chip giant's rise to this milestone has been deserved, as its business has been growing at a remarkable pace on the back of the fast-growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator chips deployed in data centers.

However, a few factors have weighed on Nvidia stock since it hit that mark a couple of months ago. The chip designer has lost 8% of its value after hitting a 52-week high on Oct. 29. Investors have been worried about the viability of debt-fueled AI infrastructure investments, as well as the returns that the huge spending on AI could deliver for the key names in this space.

The good news is that Nvidia could overcome these headwinds in 2026 and jump significantly. The stock's 12-month median price target of $250 suggests that it can rise 31% from current levels by next year, which will be enough for it to reclaim the $5 trillion market-cap level once again (it currently has a market cap of $4.64 trillion).

Investors, however, would do well to take a closer look at another "Magnificent Seven" stock that looks all set to achieve a $5 trillion market cap in 2026 -- Alphabet (GOOG +0.05%) (GOOGL +0.15%). Below, I'll look at the reasons this technology giant is capable of hitting that target in the new year.

Image source: Alphabet.

AI is going to be a bigger catalyst for Alphabet in 2026
Alphabet is the third-largest company in the world, as of this writing, with a market cap of $3.8 trillion. The stock, therefore, needs to appreciate by another 32% to reach a $5 trillion market cap. It could easily jump by that much in the new year when you consider its full-stack approach to delivering AI tools and services to customers.

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While Nvidia is primarily in the business of selling AI chip systems powered by its graphics processing units (GPUs), Alphabet offers multiple customer-facing AI apps and tools. These include chatbots, AI-equipped search features, advertising solutions, and AI-focused cloud computing tools, powered by both in-house chips and external processors -- such as those from Nvidia.

Alphabet's diversified presence across multiple AI niches means it's better positioned to capitalize on the proliferation of AI. For instance, the adoption of AI in the advertising space is anticipated to grow at 28% a year through 2033, generating almost $82 billion in revenue at the end of the forecast period. Additionally, the overall digital-advertising market that Alphabet serves is likely to cross $1.1 trillion in size by the end of the decade.

Alphabet's AI-focused ad tools should allow it to corner a sizable chunk of this massive addressable market. That's because AI-powered advertising is helping advertisers and brands enjoy higher returns on investment. According to media audience measurement firm Nielsen, AI-enabled video ad campaigns on YouTube are driving a 17% increase in advertisers' returns.

Other AI-enabled advertising tools from Alphabet, such as Performance Max, Broad Match, and Demand Gen, are also driving double-digit growth in advertisers' returns, apart from driving higher conversion rates when compared to manual ad campaigns. As a result, there's a strong possibility of an acceleration in Alphabet's advertising growth in the future.

At the same time, the Google Cloud business is gaining solid traction. That's not surprising, as Alphabet points out that customers using its Google Cloud AI solutions are witnessing a terrific average return of 727% in just three years. Businesses using its cloud AI tools can expect a payback on their investment in around eight months and witness a significant increase in employee productivity.

All this explains why Alphabet's Google Cloud revenue jumped by 34% year over year in the third quarter to $15.2 billion. That was faster than the 28% year-over-year increase in the overall cloud market's revenue in Q3, indicating that the tech giant is now gaining market share. What's more, Google Cloud's backlog increased by a whopping $49 billion on a sequential basis in the previous quarter to $155 billion.

As such, there's a solid chance of Alphabet's growth rate accelerating in 2026, and that should be enough for it to enter the $5 trillion club.

Why a $5 trillion market-cap milestone looks like a possibility
Analysts are expecting a 14% increase in Alphabet's top line in 2025 to $400 billion. That's almost in line with what it reported in 2024. It's worth noting that Alphabet's revenue estimates for 2025 and 2026 have jumped higher of late.

GOOG Revenue Estimates for Current Fiscal Year data by YCharts.

Consensus estimates are projecting another 14% jump in the company's top line in 2026, as evident from the chart above. However, the improving backlog in the cloud business, the growing adoption of its AI offerings such as Gemini, and the boost that advertisers are getting from Alphabet's AI tools could help it grow at a faster pace.

Let's assume Alphabet's revenue growth accelerates to 20% in 2026; its top line could jump to $480 billion. If it maintains its price-to-sales ratio of 10 after a year, its market cap could get close to $5 trillion.

Of course, you may think that Alphabet is falling slightly short of that mark. However, the market could reward it with a higher sales multiple owing to its accelerating growth, which should be enough for it to achieve the $5 trillion milestone.

China's official gauges of factory and construction activity unexpectedly moved back into expansion territory in December, helping Beijing anchor its growth target for 2025.

NEW YORK, Dec. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds persons who invested in securities of SLM Corporation a/k/a Sallie Mae (NASDAQ: SLM) between July 25, 2025 and August 14, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important February 17, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased SLM securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the SLM class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=49601 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 17, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) SLM was experiencing a significant increase in early stage delinquencies; (2) accordingly, defendants overstated the effectiveness of SLM’s loss mitigation and/or loan modification programs, as well as the overall stability of SLM’s private education loan (“PEL”) delinquency rates; and (3) as a result, defendants’ public statements made a materially false and misleading impression regarding SLM’s business, operations, and prospects at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the SLM class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=49601 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
        Phillip Kim, Esq.
        The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
        275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
        New York, NY 10016
        Tel: (212) 686-1060
        Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
        Fax: (212) 202-3827
        [email protected]
        www.rosenlegal.com

Oil prices slipped more than 10% in 2025, with Brent heading for its longest stretch of annual losses ever, as supply outpaced demand in a year marked by wars, higher tariffs and OPEC+ output and sanctions on Russia, Iran and Venezuela.

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.

NEW YORK, Dec. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX) between February 15, 2022 and September 24, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important January 12, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Freeport-McMoRan securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Freeport class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=45553 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 12, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Freeport-McMoRan did not adequately ensure safety at the Grasberg Block Cave mine in Indonesia; (2) the lack of proper safety precautions constituted a heightened risk that could foreseeably lead to the death of Freeport’s workers; (3) this constituted an undisclosed heightened risk of regulatory, litigation, and reputational risk; and (4) as a result, defendants’ statements about Freeport-McMoRan’s business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Freeport class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=45553 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
        Phillip Kim, Esq.
        The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
        275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
        New York, NY 10016
        Tel: (212) 686-1060
        Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
        Fax: (212) 202-3827
        [email protected]
        www.rosenlegal.com

, /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE) between January 27, 2025 and October 27, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period") of the important January 26, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

So what: If you purchased Alexandria Real Estate Equities securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

What to do next: To join the Alexandria Real Estate Equities class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=48531 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 26, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Details of the case: According to the lawsuit, defendants provided investors with material information concerning Alexandria Real Estate's expected revenue and funds from operations ("FFO") growth for the 2025 fiscal year, particularly as it related to the growth of Alexandria Real Estate's real estate operations. The defendants' statements included, among other things, confidence in Alexandria Real Estate Equities' lease activity, occupancy stability, and ability to develop its tenant pipeline.

According to the lawsuit, defendants provided these overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of its Long Island City ("LIC") property. In particular, Alexandria Real Estate's claims and confidence about the leasing value of the LIC property as a life-science destination. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Alexandria Real Estate Equities class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=48531 call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

      Laurence Rosen, Esq.
      Phillip Kim, Esq.
      The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
      275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
      New York, NY 10016
      Tel: (212) 686-1060
      Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
      Fax: (212) 202-3827
      [email protected]
      www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.

At this stage of 2025, Solana (SOL) is trading at one of its most important technical levels, drawing heightened attention from traders and long-term investors alike. After months of volatile price action and repeated failed breakout attempts, SOL has retraced back into the $120 zone. This area aligns closely with long-term weekly support and has historically acted as a launchpad rather than a breakdown point, making it a key level to watch.

From a broader market structure perspective, Solana’s correction from its recent local highs has been firm but notably orderly. Unlike panic-driven sell-offs, this decline has unfolded in a controlled manner, with volatility gradually compressing as price approached the rising weekly moving average. This behavior is significant because strong assets often consolidate and slow down at major support levels before making a decisive move, rather than collapsing outright.

The $120 price level is particularly critical because it coincides with Solana’s long-term weekly moving average, a technical indicator that has absorbed selling pressure during previous market cycles. Historically, downside momentum tends to weaken when SOL reaches this region. As sellers lose conviction, buyers often step in earlier, shifting liquidity dynamics and triggering sharp reversals. These bounces do not require extended consolidation, as price reactions at major support can happen swiftly.

Momentum indicators further support this outlook, suggesting that selling pressure is losing strength. Volume has declined as SOL moved lower, signaling that the bearish move is running out of steam rather than accelerating. This creates room for a rebound without immediately pushing the asset into overbought conditions.

If the $120 support holds, Solana could stage a rapid recovery. Even simple price stabilization followed by a reclaim of short-term resistance may be enough to attract sidelined capital seeking confirmation that the worst of the correction has passed. Given the compressed price action, upside moves could develop quickly, making this level a pivotal moment for SOL’s next trend direction.

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Geopolitical tensions are once again intensifying across multiple regions, raising concerns about increased volatility in the crypto market. Historically, Bitcoin and other crypto assets have shown sensitivity to global conflicts, and recent developments involving Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and other major players are adding uncertainty to market sentiment.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict remains a key risk factor. Hopes for a ceasefire have weakened after Russia accused Ukraine of launching drone attacks targeting President Vladimir Putin’s residence in Novgorod. Moscow has warned of retaliation and confirmed it is reassessing its position on peace talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has rejected the claims, calling them fabricated and politically motivated. This setback comes shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that peace negotiations were making progress, news that initially supported risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Despite that optimism, market expectations have shifted sharply. Polymarket data indicates that traders are overwhelmingly betting against a near-term ceasefire, with the probability of an agreement by late January sitting at just 6%, down significantly in a single day. Odds for a ceasefire by March also remain low, reflecting persistent skepticism among crypto traders.

At the same time, Bitcoin prices remain under pressure, leading a broader market decline. The total crypto market capitalization is hovering just below $3 trillion, a level last seen during the 2021 bull market peak, reinforcing concerns about downside risk amid global instability.

Beyond Eastern Europe, other geopolitical flashpoints are also weighing on the crypto outlook. Tensions between the United States and Venezuela have escalated following reports of a U.S. land strike on a Venezuelan port facility and the seizure of oil tankers near the country’s coast. Prediction markets currently suggest a high likelihood of further seizures, although the probability of direct military conflict remains relatively low.

Meanwhile, China-Taiwan tensions continue to rise after China conducted military drills around Taiwan and imposed sanctions on U.S. firms following a major arms sale to the island. Adding to global uncertainty, renewed instability in the Middle East, including Saudi airstrikes in Yemen and shifting Gulf alliances, is further unsettling investor confidence.

With multiple geopolitical risks converging, the crypto market remains on edge, and Bitcoin’s near-term direction may depend heavily on how these global conflicts unfold.

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Pi Coin has struggled to gain meaningful traction since its launch, reflecting fragile investor confidence and persistent selling pressure. Throughout 2025, the altcoin faced a challenging environment marked by weak demand, limited recovery attempts, and an inability to establish a sustained bullish trend. As Pi Coin moves into 2026, expectations for a strong recovery remain uncertain, with market sentiment still highly cautious.

Monthly performance data underscores the token’s difficulties. Since debuting in February, Pi Coin has recorded losses in most months, with only two periods showing positive returns. The sharpest decline came early, when the price plunged by more than 66% in March, wiping out initial optimism around the mobile mining project. This steep drop set a bearish tone that has largely defined Pi Coin’s price action since, highlighting the dominance of downside risks over upside potential.

Investor behavior further explains the prolonged weakness. Capital flows have fluctuated between inflows and outflows without forming a clear accumulation trend. The Chaikin Money Flow indicator consistently points to stronger selling pressure, reaching oversold levels multiple times while rarely sustaining overbought conditions. Historically, Pi Coin has only shown meaningful reversals when CMF moved decisively above bullish thresholds, something that has yet to occur for an extended period.

From a broader technical perspective, Pi Coin faces a long road to recovery. The price would need to rise more than 1,300% to revisit its all-time high near $3, a move that would require a significant resurgence in demand and confidence. Early recovery signs would include flipping the $0.273 Fibonacci level into support, while a stronger bullish structure would depend on reclaiming the $0.662 zone.

In the near term, Pi Coin is holding above the critical $0.199 support level, which has been defended multiple times. As long as this level holds, short-term momentum remains cautiously constructive. A rally of around 34% could help offset recent losses and push the price toward the $0.27 range. However, without stronger volume and renewed investor conviction, upside moves may remain limited. A breakdown below $0.199 could trigger renewed selling pressure, increasing the risk of further declines.

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Bitcoin is heading into 2026 under a familiar but potent macro threat: President Donald Trump’s tariff agenda. Throughout 2025, crypto markets repeatedly reacted to tariff headlines as sharply as they did to ETF inflows, reinforcing Bitcoin’s sensitivity to global trade policy and risk sentiment. As several tariff mechanisms move closer to potential activation in 2026, traders are bracing for renewed volatility that could quickly flip markets from risk-on to risk-off.

In 2025, tariff escalations consistently triggered sell-offs across digital assets. Early in the year, announcements of new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China sent Bitcoin sliding to multi-week lows near $91,400, while Ethereum plunged roughly 25% in just three days. Many major altcoins lost over 20% in a single session as leveraged traders rushed to de-risk. Similar patterns emerged again in April during the so-called “Liberation Day” tariff shock and the renewed US–China trade clash, when Bitcoin briefly dipped below $82,000 alongside declines in crypto-linked equities.

Relief rallies followed when the White House hinted at tariff pauses or negotiations. By May, a temporary US–China tariff truce helped Bitcoin reclaim the $100,000 level, with ETH and digital asset funds also seeing strong rebounds and fresh inflows. However, the most severe stress arrived in October after Trump floated a potential 100% tariff on Chinese imports linked to rare-earth disputes. Bitcoin dropped more than 16% in hours, liquidations surged, and an estimated $19 billion in forced positions were wiped out in a single day. By December 2025, the crypto market had yet to fully recover from that shock.

Looking ahead, several tariff risks loom over 2026. A deferred 100% China tariff could resurface, raising fears of weaker growth and stickier inflation. There is also the possibility of a higher global baseline tariff beyond the current 10%, which would act as ongoing pressure on risk assets, including Bitcoin. Retaliatory tariffs tied to digital services taxes in Europe, steep pharmaceutical import duties that could approach 200%, and expanded secondary tariffs linked to sanctioned trade all add layers of uncertainty. Historically, such uncertainty has translated into higher crypto volatility, faster liquidations, and slower recoveries unless global liquidity conditions improve.

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