Market Signal Briefing

NEW YORK, Dec. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP announces that a shareholder has filed a securities class action lawsuit on behalf of investors (the “Class”) who purchased or acquired the securities of CarMax, Inc. (“CarMax” or the “Company”) (NYSE: KMX) between June 20, 2025 and November 5, 2025, inclusive.

Should You Join This Class Action Lawsuit?

Do you, or did you, own shares of CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX)?Did you purchase your shares between June 20, 2025 and November 5, 2025, inclusive?Did you lose money in your investment in CarMax, Inc.?
If you purchased or acquired CarMax securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit CarMax, Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Investor Relations Manager Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or [email protected].

According to the lawsuit, Defendants made misrepresentations concerning CarMax’s growth prospects.

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff for the Class, you must file papers by January 2, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on other class members behalf in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn’t require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.

Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal’s “Plaintiffs’ Hot List” thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for sixteen consecutive years.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2025 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information:

Peter Allocco
Investor Relations Manager
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
https://www.bernlieb.com
(212) 951-2030
[email protected]

NEW YORK, Dec. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP announces that a shareholder has filed a securities class action lawsuit on behalf of investors (the “Class”) who purchased or acquired (i) the common stock of Primo Water Corporation (“Primo Water”) between June 17, 2024 through November 8, 2024, inclusive, and/or (ii) the common stock of Primo Brands Corporation (“Primo Brands” or the “Company”) (NYSE: PRMB) between November 11, 2024 through November 6, 2025, inclusive (collectively, the “Class Period”). Following a merger of Primo Water with an affiliate of BlueTriton Brands, Inc., which was announced on June 17, 2024 (the “Merger”), the combined entity operated as Primo Brands.

Should You Join This Class Action Lawsuit?

Do you, or did you, own shares of Primo Brands Corporation (NYSE: PRMB)?Did you purchase your shares between June 17, 2024 and November 6, 2025, inclusive?Did you lose money in your investment in Primo Brands Corporation? If you purchased or acquired Primo Brands common stock, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Primo Brands Corporation Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Investor Relations Manager Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or [email protected].

According to the lawsuit, Defendants made misrepresentations concerning operational efficiencies from the Merger.

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff for the Class, you must file papers by January 12, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on other class members’ behalf in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn’t require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.

Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal’s “Plaintiffs’ Hot List” thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for sixteen consecutive years.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2025 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information:

Peter Allocco
Investor Relations Manager
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
https://www.bernlieb.com
(212) 951-2030
[email protected]

HomeDividends AnalysisREITs Analysis

SummaryDividend growth is a great catalyst for upside in the REIT sector.This is especially true when the dividend growth potential is underappreciated by the market.I highlight 3 such cases that I expect to surge higher over the coming years. designer491/iStock via Getty Images

Most REIT (VNQ) investors are dividend-oriented.

Therefore, it is not surprising that dividend hikes and cuts will often have a significant impact on the share price of REITs.

When a dividend is cut, the share price

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of WSR, VTMX either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

About Angela Harmantas
Angela Harmantas is an Editor at Proactive. She has over 15 years of experience covering the equity markets in North America, with a particular focus on junior resource stocks. Angela has reported from numerous countries around the world, including Canada, the US, Australia, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa for leading trade publications. Previously, she worked in investor relations and led the foreign direct investment program in Canada for the Swedish government. She earned a Bachelor of... Read more

About the publisher
Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the world’s key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology
Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.

December 29, 2025 07:20 ET

 | Source:

Polyrizon Ltd.

Company to Continue Advancing Product Development and Regulatory Progress of Its Core Medical Pipeline

Raanana, Israel, Dec. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Polyrizon Ltd. Polyrizon Ltd. (Nasdaq: PLRZ) (“Polyrizon” or the “Company”), a pre-clinical-stage biotechnology company developing intranasal protective solutions, today announced that its Board of Directors has decided to explore realistic investment opportunities in revenue-generating real assets.

The Company remains fully committed to its core medical device activities, continuing to advance product development, preclinical and clinical studies, and regulatory progress – including products such as PL-14 (allergy blocker), PL-16 (viral blocker), and the Trap & Target platform for intranasal drug delivery.

In parallel, leveraging the Company’s strong cash position, the Board has authorized the exploration of investments in assets that are expected to generate revenues and create additional value for shareholders. This strategic initiative aims to efficiently utilize the Company’s resources to accelerate growth and deliver long-term shareholder value, while maintaining full focus on the primary medical pipeline.

The Company will provide updates on any material developments as they occur.

About Polyrizon

Polyrizon is a development stage biotech company specializing in the development of innovative medical device hydrogels delivered in the form of nasal sprays, which form a thin hydrogel-based shield containment barrier in the nasal cavity that can provide a barrier against viruses and allergens from contacting the nasal epithelial tissue. Polyrizon’s proprietary Capture and Contain TM, or C&C, hydrogel technology, comprised of a mixture of naturally occurring building blocks, is delivered in the form of nasal sprays, and potentially functions as a “biological mask” with a thin shield containment barrier in the nasal cavity. Polyrizon are further developing certain aspects of our C&C hydrogel technology such as the bioadhesion and prolonged retention at the nasal deposition site for intranasal delivery of drugs. Polyrizon refers to its additional technology, which is in an earlier stage of pre-clinical development, that is focused on nasal delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients, or APIs, as Trap and Target ™, or T&T. For more information, please visit https://polyrizon-biotech.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other securities laws. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates” and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. For example, the Company is using forward-looking statements when it discusses exploring investments in assets that are expected to generate revenues, accelerating growth and creating and delivering long-term shareholder value. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based upon management’s current expectations, beliefs and projections, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain. Such expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith. However, there can be no assurance that management’s expectations, beliefs and projections will be achieved, and actual results may differ materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting the Company, reference is made to the Company’s reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including, but not limited to, the risks detailed in the Company’s annual report filed with the SEC on March 11, 2025 and subsequent filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, subsequent events or circumstances, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements. References and links to websites have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release. Polyrizon is not responsible for the contents of third-party websites.

Contacts:

Michal Efraty

Investor Relations

[email protected]

Launched on December 2, 2015, the State Street SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF (ONEY - Free Report) is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to provide a broad exposure to the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market.

The fund is sponsored by State Street Investment Management. It has amassed assets over $841.87 million, making it one of the average sized ETFs attempting to match the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market.

Why Large Cap ValueLarge cap companies typically have a market capitalization above $10 billion. They tend to be stable companies with predictable cash flows and are usually less volatile than mid and small cap companies.

While value stocks have lower than average price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, they also have lower than average sales and earnings growth rates. Looking at their long-term performance, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in almost all markets. They are however likely to underperform growth stocks in strong bull markets.

CostsExpense ratios are an important factor in the return of an ETF and in the long term, cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts, other things remaining the same.

Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.2%, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.

It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 3.12%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsEven though ETFs offer diversified exposure that minimizes single stock risk, investors should also look at the actual holdings inside the fund. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Industrials sector -- about 13.7% of the portfolio. Consumer Staples and Financials round out the top three.

Looking at individual holdings, United Parcel Service Cl B (UPS) accounts for about 2.23% of total assets, followed by Eog Resources Inc (EOG) and Target Corp (TGT).

The top 10 holdings account for about 13.67% of total assets under management.

Performance and RiskONEY seeks to match the performance of the Russell 1000 Yield Focused Factor Index before fees and expenses. The Russell 1000 Yield Focused Factor Index reflects the performance of a segment of large-capitalization U.S. equity securities demonstrating a combination of core factors high value, high quality, and low size characteristics, with a focus factor comprising high yield characteristics.

The ETF has added roughly 8.66% so far this year and was up about 7.51% in the last one year (as of 12/29/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $95.52 and $116.46.

The ETF has a beta of 0.89 and standard deviation of 14.93% for the trailing three-year period. With about 306 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.

AlternativesState Street SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, ONEY is a reasonable option for those seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Value area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.

The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and the Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) track a similar index. While Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has $71.82 billion in assets, Vanguard Value ETF has $157.36 billion. SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% and VTV charges 0.04%.

Bottom-LineAn increasingly popular option among retail and institutional investors, passively managed ETFs offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; they are also excellent vehicles for long term investors.

To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

If you're interested in broad exposure to the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, look no further than the iShares Morningstar Small-Cap ETF (ISCB - Free Report) , a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on June 28, 2004.

The fund is sponsored by Blackrock. It has amassed assets over $258.14 million, making it one of the average sized ETFs attempting to match the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.

Why Small Cap BlendSitting at a market capitalization below $2 billion, small cap companies tend to be high-potential stocks compared to its large and mid cap counterparts, but come with higher risk.

Blend ETFs usually hold a mix of growth and value stocks as well as stocks that exhibit both value and growth characteristics.

CostsInvestors should also pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio. Lower cost products will produce better results than those with a higher cost, assuming all other metrics remain the same.

Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.04%, making it one of the least expensive products in the space.

It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.35%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsIt is important to delve into an ETF's holdings before investing despite the many upsides to these kinds of funds like diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Industrials sector -- about 20.7% of the portfolio. Financials and Information Technology round out the top three.

Looking at individual holdings, Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd (CRDO) accounts for about 0.5% of total assets, followed by Ciena Corp (CIEN) and Coherent Corp (COHR).

The top 10 holdings account for about 4.01% of total assets under management.

Performance and RiskISCB seeks to match the performance of the MORNINGSTAR US SMALL CAP EXTENDED INDEX before fees and expenses. The Morningstar US Small Cap Extended Index comprises of small-capitalization U.S. equities.

The ETF has added about 14.45% so far this year and it's up approximately 11.96% in the last one year (as of 12/29/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $47.12 and $67.40.

The ETF has a beta of 1.09 and standard deviation of 19.88% for the trailing three-year period. With about 1550 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.

AlternativesiShares Morningstar Small-Cap ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, ISCB is a reasonable option for those seeking exposure to the Style Box - Small Cap Blend area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.

The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) track a similar index. While iShares Russell 2000 ETF has $76.01 billion in assets, iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has $90.22 billion. IWM has an expense ratio of 0.19% and IJR charges 0.06%.

Bottom-LineWhile an excellent vehicle for long term investors, passively managed ETFs are a popular choice among institutional and retail investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency.

To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

The Goldman Sachs MarketBeta Russell 1000 Growth Equity ETF (GGUS - Free Report) was launched on November 28, 2023, and is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market.

The fund is sponsored by Goldman Sachs Funds. It has amassed assets over $401.51 million, making it one of the average sized ETFs attempting to match the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market.

Why Large Cap GrowthCompanies that find themselves in the large cap category typically have a market capitalization above $10 billion. Considered a more stable option, large cap companies boast more predictable cash flows and are less volatile than their mid and small cap counterparts.

While growth stocks do boast higher than average sales and earnings growth rates, and they are expected to grow faster than the wider market, investors should note these kinds of stocks have higher valuations. Further, growth stocks have a higher level of volatility associated with them. Even though growth stocks are more likely to outperform their value counterparts in strong bull markets, value stocks have a record of delivering better returns in almost all markets than growth stocks.

CostsExpense ratios are an important factor in the return of an ETF and in the long term, cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts, other things remaining the same.

Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.12%, making it one of the least expensive products in the space.

It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.42%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsWhile ETFs offer diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk, a deep look into a fund's holdings is a valuable exercise. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Information Technology sector -- about 45.2% of the portfolio. Consumer Discretionary and Telecom round out the top three.

Looking at individual holdings, Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) accounts for about 11.22% of total assets, followed by Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Broadcom Inc. (AVGO).

The top 10 holdings account for about 50.69% of total assets under management.

Performance and RiskGGUS seeks to match the performance of the RUSSELL 1000 GROWTH 40 ACT DLY CAPPED ID before fees and expenses. The Russell 1000 Growth 40 Act Daily Capped Index measures the performance of the large and mid-capitalization growth segment of U.S. equity issuers, with a capping methodology.

The ETF has added roughly 19.12% so far this year and it's up approximately 14.97% in the last one year (as of 12/29/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $43.98 and $65.88.

The ETF has a beta of 1.18 and standard deviation of 19.09% for the trailing three-year period. With about 392 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.

AlternativesGoldman Sachs MarketBeta Russell 1000 Growth Equity ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, GGUS is an excellent option for investors seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Growth segment of the market. There are other additional ETFs in the space that investors could consider as well.

The Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and the Invesco QQQ (QQQ) track a similar index. While Vanguard Growth ETF has $205.01 billion in assets, Invesco QQQ has $410.67 billion. VUG has an expense ratio of 0.04% and QQQ charges 0.2%.

Bottom-LineWhile an excellent vehicle for long term investors, passively managed ETFs are a popular choice among institutional and retail investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency.

To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

The First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX ETF (FEX - Free Report) made its debut on 05/08/2007, and is a smart beta exchange traded fund that provides broad exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Blend category of the market.

What Are Smart Beta ETFs?Products that are based on market cap weighted indexes, which are strategies designed to reflect a specific market segment or the market as a whole, have traditionally dominated the ETF industry.

Market cap weighted indexes work great for investors who believe in market efficiency. They provide a low-cost, convenient and transparent way of replicating market returns.

On the other hand, some investors who believe that it is possible to beat the market by superior stock selection opt to invest in another class of funds that track non-cap weighted strategies--popularly known as smart beta.

This kind of index follows this same mindset, as it attempts to pick stocks that have better chances of risk-return performance; non-cap weighted strategies base selection on certain fundamental characteristics, or a mix of such characteristics.

While this space offers a number of choices to investors, including simplest equal-weighting, fundamental weighting and volatility/momentum based weighting methodologies, not all these strategies have been able to deliver superior results.

Fund Sponsor & IndexThe fund is managed by First Trust Advisors, and has been able to amass over $1.39 billion, which makes it one of the larger ETFs in the Style Box - Large Cap Blend. FEX seeks to match the performance of the Nasdaq AlphaDEX Large Cap Core Index before fees and expenses.

The NASDAQ AlphaDEX Large Cap Core Index is an enhanced index which employs the AlphaDEX stock selection methodology to select stocks from the NASDAQ US 500 Large Cap Index.

Cost & Other ExpensesInvestors should also pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio. Lower cost products will produce better results than those with a higher cost, assuming all other metrics remain the same.

Operating expenses on an annual basis are 0.57% for this ETF, which makes it on par with most peer products in the space.

The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.08%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsETFs offer diversified exposure and thus minimize single stock risk, but it is still important to delve into a fund's holdings before investing. Most ETFs are very transparent products and many disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

For FEX, it has heaviest allocation in the Financials sector --about 16.6% of the portfolio --while Industrials and Information Technology round out the top three.

When you look at individual holdings, Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) accounts for about 0.62% of the fund's total assets, followed by Coherent Corp. (COHR) and Illumina, Inc. (ILMN).

The top 10 holdings account for about 5.6% of total assets under management.

Performance and RiskSo far this year, FEX has gained about 16.46%, and is up roughly 14.3% in the last one year (as of 12/29/2025). During this past 52-week period, the fund has traded between $90.17 and $120.87.

FEX has a beta of 0.98 and standard deviation of 14.96% for the trailing three-year period, which makes the fund a medium risk choice in the space. With about 376 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .

AlternativesFirst Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX ETF is an excellent option for investors seeking to outperform the Style Box - Large Cap Blend segment of the market. There are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider as well.

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) tracks S&P 500 Index and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) tracks S&P 500 Index. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has $768.2 billion in assets, Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has $832.27 billion. IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% and VOO changes 0.03%.

Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Style Box - Large Cap Blend

Bottom LineTo learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

Launched on 05/08/2007, the First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX ETF (FAD - Free Report) is a smart beta exchange traded fund offering broad exposure to the Style Box - All Cap Growth category of the market.

What Are Smart Beta ETFs?Products that are based on market cap weighted indexes, which are strategies designed to reflect a specific market segment or the market as a whole, have traditionally dominated the ETF industry.

Investors who believe in market efficiency should consider market cap indexes, as they replicate market returns in a low-cost, convenient, and transparent way.

On the other hand, some investors who believe that it is possible to beat the market by superior stock selection opt to invest in another class of funds that track non-cap weighted strategies--popularly known as smart beta.

These indexes attempt to select stocks that have better chances of risk-return performance, based on certain fundamental characteristics or a combination of such characteristics.

Even though this space provides many choices to investors--think one of the simplest methodologies like equal-weighting and more complicated ones like fundamental and volatility/momentum based weighting--not all have been able to deliver first-rate results.

Fund Sponsor & IndexThe fund is managed by First Trust Advisors, and has been able to amass over $380.37 million, which makes it one of the average sized ETFs in the Style Box - All Cap Growth. This particular fund, before fees and expenses, seeks to match the performance of the Nasdaq AlphaDEX Multi Cap Growth Index.

The NASDAQ AlphaDEX Multi Cap Growth Index is an enhanced which employs the AlphaDEX stock selection methodology to select stocks from the NASDAQ US 500 Large Cap Index, NASDAQ US 600 Mid Cap Index and NASDAQ US 700 Small Cap Index.

Cost & Other ExpensesExpense ratios are an important factor in the return of an ETF and in the long-term, cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive cousins, other things remaining the same.

Operating expenses on an annual basis are 0.63% for FAD, making it on par with most peer products in the space.

It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.09%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsEven though ETFs offer diversified exposure which minimizes single stock risk, it is still important to look into a fund's holdings before investing. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

FAD's heaviest allocation is in the Industrials sector, which is about 23.7% of the portfolio. Its Information Technology and Healthcare round out the top three.

When you look at individual holdings, Coherent Corp. (COHR) accounts for about 0.6% of the fund's total assets, followed by Alphabet Inc. (class A) (GOOGL) and Vertiv Holdings Co (class A) (VRT).

The top 10 holdings account for about 5.4% of total assets under management.

Performance and RiskThe ETF has added roughly 19.74% and it's up approximately 16.39% so far this year and in the past one year (as of 12/29/2025), respectively. FAD has traded between $114.67 and $167.05 during this last 52-week period.

FAD has a beta of 1.15 and standard deviation of 18.35% for the trailing three-year period, which makes the fund a medium risk choice in the space. With about 676 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .

AlternativesFirst Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX ETF is a reasonable option for investors seeking to outperform the Style Box - All Cap Growth segment of the market. However, there are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider.

iShares Morningstar Growth ETF (ILCG) tracks MORNINGSTAR US LARGE-MID CP BRD GRWTH ID and the iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF (IUSG) tracks S&P 900 Growth Index. iShares Morningstar Growth ETF has $2.99 billion in assets, iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF has $26.68 billion. ILCG has an expense ratio of 0.04% and IUSG changes 0.04%.

Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Style Box - All Cap Growth

Bottom LineTo learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Infrastructure Capital announces dividend increase for three ETFs.

The founder's proposal seeks to make boardroom revisions before the athletic-apparel company chooses a new CEO.

December 29, 2025 07:30 ET

 | Source:

illumin

TORONTO, Dec. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- illumin Holdings Inc. (TSX:ILLM) (OTCQB:ILLMF) (“illumin” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has received approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) to renew its normal course issuer bid (“NCIB”).

Under the NCIB, the Company may purchase for cancellation up to 3,858,045 common shares of the Company (the “Shares”). As at December 17, 2025, illumin had 51,573,462 Shares issued and outstanding. As such, the maximum number of shares that may be purchased under the NCIB represents approximately 10% of illumin’s public float as at December 17, 2025, being 3,858,045 Shares. The Company’s average daily trading volume (“ADTV”) between June 1, 2025, and November 30, 2025, was 101,116 Shares and the daily purchase limit, being 25% of ADTV, is 25,279 Shares. The NCIB will commence on December 31, 2025, and may continue to December 30, 2026, or such earlier time as the NCIB is completed or terminated at the option of the Company. The Shares will be purchased on behalf of the Company by a registered broker through the facilities of the TSX and through other alternative Canadian trading systems at the prevailing market price at the time of such transaction.

In connection with the NCIB, illumin has entered into an automatic share purchase plan (the “ASPP”) with its designated broker to allow for the purchase of Shares under the NCIB at times when illumin normally would not be active in the market due to internal trading black-out periods. Such purchases will be determined by the broker at its sole discretion, based on the purchasing parameters set out by the Company in accordance with the rules of the TSX, applicable securities laws and the terms of the ASPP. Purchases of Shares under the ASPP may be made through the facilities of the TSX and alternative trading systems. The ASPP has been pre-cleared by the TSX and will be effective as of December 31, 2025. The ASPP will terminate on the earliest of the date on which: (i) the NCIB expires; (ii) the maximum number of Shares have been purchased under the NCIB; and (iii) the Company terminates the ASPP in accordance with its terms. Concurrent with the establishment of the ASPP, the Company has confirmed to the broker that it was then not aware of any material undisclosed or non-public information with respect to the Company or any securities of the Company. During the term of the ASPP, the Company will not communicate any material undisclosed or non-public information to the trading staff of the broker; accordingly, the broker may make purchases regardless of whether a trading blackout period is in effect or whether there is material undisclosed or non-public information about the Company at the time that purchases are made under the ASPP. In the event that the ASPP is materially varied, suspended or terminated, the Company will issue a news release advising of such variation, suspension or termination, as applicable.

Management of the Company believes that, from time to time, the market price of the Shares may not fully reflect the underlying value of the Shares and that at such times the purchase of Shares would be in the best interests of shareholders. As a result of such purchases, the number of issued Shares will be decreased and, consequently, the proportionate share interest of all remaining shareholders will be increased on a pro rata basis.

Pursuant to a previous normal course issuer bid, illumin sought acceptance of the TSX to purchase up to 3,914,167 common shares and which was accepted by the TSX on December 19, 2024, commenced on December 23, 2025, and expired on December 22, 2025. The Company had, as at December 17, 2025, repurchased and cancelled under that earlier NCIB 1,025,552 Shares on the open market at an average purchase price of $1.53 per share.

About illumin:
illumin is evolving the digital advertising landscape by empowering marketers to achieve transformative results through its customer-centric approach. Featuring a unified canvas built around the open web, illumin lets brands and agencies seamlessly plan, build, and execute campaigns across the entire marketing funnel—connecting programmatic channels, email, and social media within a single platform. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, illumin serves clients across North America, Latin America, and Europe. For more information, visit www.illumin.com.

For further information, please contact:

Steve Hosein
Investor Relations
illumin Holdings Inc.
416-218-9888 x5313
[email protected] Hanover
Investor Relations – U.S.
KCSA Strategic Communications
212-896-1220
[email protected]
Disclaimer in regard to Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements included herein constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information relating to the Company’s belief that the NCIB is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders and that underlying value of the Company may not be reflected in the market price of the Shares. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect, in particular, new information or future events.

For more complete information about the Company, please read our disclosure documents filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

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.

Next-Generation Novasight Hybrid™ System Submitted to U.S. FDA for 510(k) Clearance U.S. and European Class 1A Guidelines Reinforce Growing Adoption of Image-Guided PCIPeer-Reviewed Publications Highlight Clinical Importance of Intravascular ImagingLeadership Team Expanded to Support U.S. Commercial Launch and Operational Scale-UpCompany Advances Manufacturing, Conference Visibility, and Launch Readiness TORONTO, Dec. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Conavi Medical Corp. (TSXV: CNVI) (OTCQB: CNVIF) (“Conavi” or the “Company”), a commercial-stage medical device company focused on designing, manufacturing, and marketing imaging technologies to guide minimally invasive cardiovascular procedures, today reported financial results and provided an operational update for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025.

“Fiscal 2025 was a transformational year for Conavi as we executed across regulatory, clinical, financial, and operational milestones,” said Thomas Looby, President and Chief Executive Officer of Conavi Medical. “We strengthened our balance sheet with meaningful participation from U.S. institutional investors, submitted our next-generation Novasight Hybrid™ system to the FDA, expanded our leadership team, and continued to build a growing body of clinical and academic evidence supporting image-guided therapy. With U.S. and European Class 1A guideline support now in place for intravascular imaging, we believe the timing is right and that Conavi is uniquely positioned with the right device as we prepare for U.S. commercialization.”

Fiscal 2025 Business and Operational Highlights
U.S. FDA 510(k) Submission Completed
In September 2025, Conavi submitted its next-generation Novasight Hybrid™ IVUS/OCT intravascular imaging system to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for 510(k) clearance for coronary applications. The submission followed successful validation testing with leading interventional cardiologists and builds upon the regulatory foundation of Conavi’s first-generation Novasight Hybrid™ system, which previously received FDA clearance.

Peer-Reviewed Publications Reinforce Importance of Image-Guided Therapy
During fiscal 2025, multiple peer-reviewed academic publications highlighted the importance of intravascular imaging in guiding complex coronary interventions. These publications, including case studies featuring hybrid IVUS/OCT imaging, underscore growing clinical momentum behind image-guided PCI and further support the relevance of Conavi’s dual-modality approach.

Participation at Leading Interventional Cardiology Conferences
Conavi participated in key cardiovascular conferences during the year, including Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2025, where the Company featured hybrid IVUS/OCT imaging technology and engaged with interventional cardiologists through educational and training sessions in advance of an anticipated commercial launch.

U.S. Institutional Financing and Non-Dilutive Funding
In April 2025, Conavi completed an upsized public equity financing for gross proceeds of $20 million, led by U.S. institutional investors.

In addition, the Company entered into an agreement with the Province of Ontario under the Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund, providing eligibility for up to $2.5 million in non-dilutive funding to support commercialization activities.

Operational and Manufacturing Readiness Activities Advance
Throughout fiscal 2025, Conavi advanced transfer-to-production efforts, refined manufacturing processes, and continued to build the operational and commercial infrastructure required to support a U.S. launch of the next-generation Novasight Hybrid™ system, pending FDA clearance.

Outlook
With U.S. and European clinical guidelines now recommending the use of IVUS or OCT to guide PCI in complex coronary interventions (Class IA), Conavi believes the intravascular imaging market is entering a new phase of adoption. As the only company offering a fully integrated hybrid IVUS/OCT imaging system with a single catheter, Conavi believes it is well positioned to address growing demand following anticipated FDA clearance and U.S. commercial launch.

Fiscal 2025 Financial Highlights
All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

As previously reported, during fiscal 2025 the Company remained focused on advancing the next-generation Novasight Hybrid™ system through regulatory submission, manufacturing readiness, and commercialization planning. For the year ended September 30, 2025, the Company recorded total revenue of $9.1 million, compared to $2.2 million in the prior year. Revenue during fiscal 2025 primarily reflects licensing and milestone revenue recognized under the Company’s technology transfer and licensing agreement in China, as well as limited product revenue from the first-generation system.

Operating expenses for the year ended September 30, 2025 were $22.5 million, compared to $26.3 million in the prior year. The operating loss for fiscal 2025 was $14.9 million, compared to $26.2 million in fiscal 2024. The year-over-year improvement was primarily driven by lower research and development spending as the Company progressed from intensive development activities toward regulatory submission, partially offset by commercialization and corporate costs.

The net loss for fiscal 2025 was $20.5 million, or $0.36 per common share, compared to a net loss of $43.6 million, or $7.08 per common share, in the prior year. The decrease in net loss was primarily attributable to a gain related to the change in fair value of the Company’s warrant liability, as well as lower operating expenses, partially offset by higher net finance costs and one-time listing expenses.

As of September 30, 2025, Conavi reported cash and cash equivalents of $5.8 million, compared to $0.4 million as of September 30, 2024. During fiscal 2025, the Company completed a $20 million public equity financing and subsequently entered into an agreement with the Province of Ontario providing eligibility for up to $2.5 million in non-dilutive funding to support commercialization activities.

For additional information regarding the Company’s financial performance, including management’s discussion and analysis, readers are encouraged to review Conavi Medical’s filings on SEDAR+ and on the Company’s website at www.conavi.com.

Update on Proposed Public Offering

The Company’s previously announced proposed public offering (the “Offering”) of common shares of the Company (“Common Shares”) and/or pre-funded Common Share purchase warrants of the Company in lieu of Common Shares, is ongoing. The Company is expecting the Offering to be completed in January 2026 and will provide additional information in respect of the Offering once available.

Management Update

Stefano Picone has completed his transitional role as Chief Strategy Officer of the Company, effective December 24, 2025. The Company thanks Mr. Picone for his service and contributions and wishes him well in his future endeavors.

Early Warning Disclosure
A principal shareholder of the Company, Carlyle Services Limited Liability Company (“Carlyle”), as part of a corporate reorganization, has transferred beneficial ownership of its securities of the Company to its affiliate, Ki Investments Europe S.à r.l. (“Ki Investments”) effective as of December 24, 2025, by way of a private agreement. Ki Investments now beneficially owns and controls an aggregate of 21,750,180 Common Shares and warrants exercisable for the purchase of 6,333,132 Common Shares, representing approximately 28.34% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis, and approximately 33.80% on a partially-diluted basis (assuming the exercise of Ki Investments’ convertible securities). Prior to the completion of the Transaction, Ki Investments did not beneficially own, or exercise control or direction over, any securities of the Company. Ki Investments acquired the Company’s securities from its affiliate Carlyle as part of a corporate reorganization and for investment purposes and may, from time to time, acquire additional securities of the Company or dispose of such securities as it may deem appropriate. Pursuant to the transfer, Ki Investments paid its affiliate Carlyle the U.S. dollar equivalent of CA$13,385,061, determined based on the market value of the Conavi securities as at November 14, 2025.

Ki Investments is relying on the private agreement exemption set forth at section 4.2 of National Instrument 62-104 – Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids. Ki Investments completed the acquisition with only one person, its affiliate Carlyle, through a private agreement and there was no bid made generally to holders of Conavi securities. The consideration paid for the Conavi securities, including brokerage fees or commissions, is not greater than 115% of the market price of the securities at the date of the bid as determined in accordance with section 1.11 of National Instrument 62-104 – Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids.

For the purposes of National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues (“NI 62-103”) early warning reporting, the address of Ki Investments is 19, Rue Eugen Ruppert, L-2453, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Early warning reports pursuant to the requirements of applicable securities laws will be issued concerning the foregoing and will be posted to SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca and available on request at the telephone numbers below.

About Conavi Medical
Conavi Medical is focused on designing, manufacturing, and marketing imaging technologies to guide common minimally invasive cardiovascular procedures. Its patented Novasight Hybrid™ System is the first to combine intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) into a single device, enabling simultaneous and co-registered imaging of coronary arteries. The Novasight Hybrid™ System has regulatory clearance in the U.S., Canada, China, and Japan. For more information, visit conavi.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws, which reflect the current expectations of management of Conavi’s future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “potential for” and similar expressions, although these words may not be present in all forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements that appear in this release may include, without limitation, references to Conavi’s plans for the commercialization of its Novasight Hybrid™ System and expected FDA clearance and the commercial launch of next generation Novasight in the U.S (including Conavi’s operational and manufacturing readiness for any such launch), references to potential growing demand for Conavi’s products, and the anticipated completion of the Offering.

These forward-looking statements reflect management’s current beliefs with respect to future events, and are based on information currently available to management that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date on which the statements are made, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies which could result in actions, events, conditions, results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions and many factors could cause Conavi’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to, Conavi’s ability to retain key personnel; its ability to execute on its business plans and strategies; and other factors listed in the “Risk Factors” sections of the joint information circular of Conavi dated August 30, 2024 and in the final short form prospectus of Conavi dated December 18, 2025 (each of which may be viewed at www.sedarplus.com). Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance, or achievements may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors should be considered carefully, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in the news release are based upon what management currently believes to be reasonable assumptions and Conavi has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, conditions, results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, Conavi cannot assure prospective investors that actual results, performance or achievements will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Conavi expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All the forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

CONTACT:
Chief Financial Officer: Mark Quick, 416-483-0100
Investors: Christina Cameron, 416-483-0100 ext.121, [email protected]

Exploring clinical development plan options including a controlled human infection model (CHIM) and a Phase 2/3 adaptive field study

Growing Chinese auto giant BYD stands poised to officially surpass Tesla as the world's biggest electric vehicle company in annual sales.

Bitcoin, a major player in the cryptocurrency market, has seen a rise in physical security concerns as “wrench attacks” become more common. This trend is occurring alongside growing acceptance of digital currencies in the United States.

As expected, the $BTC price has broken out. After pushing through the convergence of the major ascending trendline, and the downtrend, the price emerged to the upside on Monday morning, with a quick rally to $90,000.

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

The current XRP drawdown is accompanied by a notable jump in exchange inflows, a setup CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost (@Darkfost_Coc) says is consistent with rising sell pressure and a market that has not yet transitioned into accumulation.

XRP Selling Pressure Intensifies
In an X post, Darkfost wrote that “recent data point to a clear intensification of selling pressure on XRP,” placing it in the context of a sharp drawdown. “This dynamic comes in the context of a sharp correction, with the price dropping by around 50%, falling from a peak near $3.66 to an area around $1.85,” he said.

Darkfost’s main signal is exchange inflows, with an emphasis on Binance, which he called the venue that “continues to concentrate the largest trading volumes among all exchanges.” The underlying idea is simple but often effective: when inflows ramp up quickly, the market is seeing more coins positioned where they can be sold.

“One way to visualize this selling pressure is by analyzing XRP inflows to exchanges, particularly Binance,” he wrote. “These inflows are generally interpreted as a potential intent to sell, especially when they increase rapidly.”

He described the shift as starting mid-month. “After a relatively calm period marked by moderate and stable inflows, the situation shifted noticeably starting on December 15,” he said. “Since then, XRP inflows to Binance have risen sharply, with daily volumes ranging from 35 million XRP to a significant peak of 116 million XRP recorded on December 19.”

XRP Ledger Exchange Inflow Binance | Source: X @Darkfost_Coc
The implication is less about a single spike and more about the persistence of elevated prints. In that framing, repeated large inflows during a drawdown tend to read like ongoing distribution rather than a clean washout.

Darkfost argued the inflow regime also maps to a behavioral change across cohorts. “This change in dynamics also suggests a shift in investor behavior,” he wrote. “While a large portion of the market had been following a holding strategy since October, the trend over the past two weeks points to a move toward profit taking for older positions, as well as capitulation and loss selling from more recent entrants.”

He was explicit about what would need to change before “accumulation” becomes a defensible label. “As long as these elevated inflows persist or intensify further, it will be difficult for XRP to establish a true accumulation phase,” he said. “If this selling pressure continues, the current correction could not only extend in time but also deepen further.”

The Macro Backdrop
In separate posts, Darkfost tied the XRP signal to a wider market condition he characterized as liquidity constrained. “The crypto market continues to suffer from a lack of liquidity,” he wrote, adding that “the market cap of the main stablecoins has been stagnating for the past few weeks.”

He offered a specific interpretation of what that means for marginal demand. “There is no longer any fresh liquidity entering the market (fiat → crypto),” he said, while also arguing that “liquidity is still present within the market and is not leaving it.” The catch, in his view, is that available liquidity is staying sidelined: “However, this liquidity is not being deployed either, if we look at current stablecoin inflows to exchanges.”

Darkfost quantified the slowdown using exchange inflow averages. “Between September and today, the average monthly inflow to exchanges has been cut in half, dropping from $136B to around $70B,” he wrote, adding that “the annual average has also started to decline over the past few weeks.”

USDC and USDT All Exchange Inflow ERC20 | Source: X @Darkfost_Coc
Sentiment Turning Bearish
Darkfost also said sentiment in the entire crypto market has swung negative, based on a composite he tracks. “The general consensus has turned bearish,” he wrote, saying the indicator is “based on media articles, data from X, and several other sentiment indicators.” He noted that “when a shared consensus forms, the market tends to reverse and prove the majority wrong,” citing similar setups he observed between July and October 2024 and between February and April 2025.

Alpha Crypto Sentiment Gauge | Source: X @Darkfost_Coc
At the same time, he warned against treating the signal as a timing tool, especially if broader conditions deteriorate. “These phases can last for some time, especially when the market enters a prolonged bear market phase,” he wrote. “We have only started to enter this period since early November, so there is no need to rush, but it is probably already a bit late to turn bearish.”

At press time, XRP traded at $1.90.

XRP falls below key support, 1-week chart | Source: XRPUSDT on TradingView.com
Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

Bitcoin reverses early gains, drops below $88,000 as Nasdaq futures wiltBitcoin reversed Asian session gains, dropping below $88,000 and affecting major altcoins. Dec 29, 2025, 10:35 a.m.

Bitcoin BTC$87,573.53 reversed gains made earlier in Asia, puncturing nascent recovery rallies in major alternative cryptocurrencies.

The leading cryptocurrency by market value dropped below $88,000, having peeped above $90,000, CoinDesk data show. Major altcoins including XRP$1.8754, ether ETH$2,961.50, solana SOL$125.12 and DOGE$0.1252 also retraced their adances. The CoinDesk 20 Index (CD20) pulled back to 2,726, roughly where it was in early Asia before it popped to 2,789.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

The decline is consistent with weakness in stock index futures. As of writing, futures tied to Wall Street's tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index traded 0.5% lower on the day, pointing to a cautious start to trading.

BTC and the Nasdaq share a strong positive correlation that becomes more pronounced during Nasdaq downtrends, according to Wintermute.

The pullback led traders to slightly scale back their leveraged bets. Data from Coinglass shows that cumulative open interest in futures listed worldwide declined to around 533,000 BTC from the 540,000 BTC seen earlier today. Open interest had popped from 524,000 BTC as the bitcoin price rose to $90,000.

The cryptocurrency has recently tended to underperform during U.S. hours, according to Laser Digital.

"An interesting trend to take note of has been the distinct underperformance during the US timezone. (both BTC, ETH down 3%+ over US hours [last week] offset by strength during Asian hours) driven most likely by selling pressure coming from the year-end tax harvesting flow as crypto has been a large underperformer among global assets this year," analysts at Laser Digital wrote in an analysis note Monday.

John Glover, an Elliott wave expert and chief investment officer at crypto lender Ledn, signaled a bullish outlook.

"The Bitcoin price chart looks very promising for higher prices in the future, but less certainty in the near term. I continue to look for the market to trade sideways to slightly lower in the coming weeks/months, and look to add to longs between $71k and $84k," Glover told CoinDesk in an email.

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State of the Blockchain 2025

Dec 19, 2025

L1 tokens broadly underperformed in 2025 despite a backdrop of regulatory and institutional wins. Explore the key trends defining ten major blockchains below.

What to know:

2025 was defined by a stark divergence: structural progress collided with stagnant price action. Institutional milestones were reached and TVL increased across most major ecosystems, yet the majority of large-cap Layer-1 tokens finished the year with negative or flat returns.

This report analyzes the structural decoupling between network usage and token performance. We examine 10 major blockchain ecosystems, exploring protocol versus application revenues, key ecosystem narratives, mechanics driving institutional adoption, and the trends to watch as we head into 2026.

View Full Report

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Bitcoin whales have been the main accumulators in the $80,000 range

1 hour ago

While large bitcoin holders accumulate, smaller investors are selling.

What to know:

Glassnode data shows the 1,000 to 10,000 BTC whale cohort has supported sustained bitcoin buying over the past few weeks. The group has a strong Accumulation Trend Score, near 1.Entities holding fewer than 1,000 BTC are net sellers, a pattern consistent with capitulation as the Crypto Fear and Greed Index has remained in "fear" or "extreme fear" for the past month.Read full story

Real World Assets Dominate Crypto Markets in 2025 — A Major Win for the XRP LedgerAccording to CoinGecko data, Real World Assets (RWAs) emerged as the most profitable crypto narrative of 2025, delivering an average gain of 186% and decisively outperforming every other sector in the market. 

This explosive growth signals a structural shift in crypto investing, away from purely speculative use cases and toward blockchain solutions that bridge on-chain innovation with real-world economic value. For the XRP Ledger (XRPL), this trend is particularly bullish.

RWAs involve the tokenization of tangible, off-chain assets, such as bonds, real estate, commodities, and treasury bills, onto blockchain networks. 

The sector’s strong performance signals growing institutional trust in blockchain as credible financial infrastructure. Investors are moving beyond speculation, backing platforms that can support regulated, yield-bearing, enterprise-grade assets at scale.

Closely behind RWAs, Layer 1 blockchains delivered average gains of 80.31%, underscoring the continued importance of core infrastructure in driving the next wave of crypto adoption. Meanwhile, the “Made in USA” crypto sector rose 30.61%, fueled by improving regulatory clarity and a growing investor shift toward U.S.-based blockchain projects.

Why This Matters for the XRP LedgerThe XRP Ledger has spent years purpose-building real-world asset (RWA) tokenization infrastructure, positioning itself as a highly institution-ready blockchain for compliant issuance and trading. 

Unlike many smart-contract networks, XRPL delivers near-instant settlement (3–5 seconds), ultra-low fees, and a native decentralized exchange, making it exceptionally well-suited for high-volume, regulated asset flows.

These features minimize friction for institutional participants, a key priority for Wall Street and traditional finance. In 2025, XRPL saw rapid RWA adoption, posting some of the fastest monthly growth among blockchains and reaching a record market cap for tokenized assets.

Well, XRPL’s built-in compliance features, including permissioned token controls, issuer metadata, and programmable settlement, simplify meeting the strict regulatory standards institutions require for securities and tokenized credit.

ConclusionRWA’s 2025 surge cements XRPL as more than a payments platform, it’s becoming a trusted hub for tokenized asset settlement. With unmatched efficiency, built-in compliance tools, and a growing ecosystem, XRPL is poised to capture significant institutional capital entering on-chain real-world markets.

An attacker exploited a vulnerability in the execution layer and moved roughly 3.9 million dollars in assets off-network before validators coordinated a network halt. Critically, the exploit did not touch existing user balances.
All deposits remained intact, and the Foundation has since mapped the exit path while working closely with exchanges, bridge operators, and forensic teams to contain and remediate the situation.

Immediate Containment and Remediation
This incident highlights the importance of robust security in rapidly growing blockchain networks. Flow, known for hosting applications like NBA Top Shot and other NFT platforms, is integrated with multiple bridges and infrastructure providers. Coordinated responses like these are becoming standard as cross-chain activity expands. For context, cross-chain bridges handled over 20 billion dollars in volume last quarter alone, making rapid incident response essential to maintaining trust.

This is the verified update from the Flow Foundation.

INCIDENT CONFIRMED

On December 27, 2025, an attacker exploited a vulnerability in Flow’s execution layer and moved approximately $3.9M in assets off-network before validators executed a coordinated halt.

Critically, this… https://t.co/KEXzo0w8as

— Flow.com (@flow_blockchain) December 27, 2025

Following the attack, Flow validators halted network activity to sever all exit paths. The Foundation reported that funds primarily moved through bridges such as Celer, Debridge, Relay, and Stargate, with active laundering tracked through Thorchain and Chainflip. Freeze requests were immediately submitted to major stablecoin issuers and exchanges to prevent further unauthorized transfers.

UPDATE: ECOSYSTEM COORDINATION PHASE

The Foundation is coordinating with critical infrastructure partners to finalize the optimal restart pathway.

CURRENT STATUS

→ Remediation plan has been circulated with ecosystem partners and is under evaluation

→ This process includes…

— Flow.com (@flow_blockchain) December 28, 2025

The network fix, dubbed Mainnet 28, has been developed and deployed by validators, restoring the ledger to a checkpoint prior to the exploit. Users who submitted transactions during the window between 11:25 PM PST on December 26 and the network halt at 5:30 AM PST on December 27 may need to resubmit activity. All other user balances and assets remain secure. The phased restoration approach prioritizes safe resumption of operations, starting with a read-only state, followed by full Cadence remediation, and finally EVM re-enablement.

Coordinated Ecosystem Recovery
Flow’s extensive integrations require careful synchronization with ecosystem partners before resuming normal transaction ingestion. Bridges, exchanges, and dApps must align with the restored ledger to prevent inconsistencies. The attack did not affect over 99.9% of accounts. The Flow blockchain team is identifying and destroying fraudulent assets through auditable on-chain transactions. Accounts impacted by the attack will regain access immediately following verification.

We have reviewed the latest recovery plan proposed by the @flow_blockchain Foundation and core protocol team. The revised approach preserves all legitimate user activity—meaning no rollback is required—and provides a clear path to restoring network operations.

Dapper Labs fully… https://t.co/wqBXFtyv09

— Dapper Labs (@dapperlabs) December 29, 2025

This incident highlights a broader trend in blockchain. Networks are becoming increasingly interconnected, so security breaches can create ripple effects across multiple platforms. Similar events, like the 2022 Ronin bridge exploit, which involved 625 million dollars, demonstrate the critical role of rapid coordination and transparent communication. Flow’s transparent updates and phased remediation plan provide a model for other ecosystems to follow.

Disclaimer
The information provided by Altcoin Buzz is not financial advice. It is intended solely for educational, entertainment, and informational purposes. Any opinions or strategies shared are those of the writer/reviewers, and their risk tolerance may differ from yours. We are not liable for any losses you may incur from investments related to the information given. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are high-risk assets; therefore, conduct thorough due diligence. Copyright Altcoin Buzz Pte Ltd.

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The market was not prepared for the uneven message that last week's ETF flow data conveyed. Bitcoin spot ETFs lost $782 million between Dec. 22 and 26 with net outflows reported for all 12 products. With $102 million in weekly withdrawals Ethereum spot ETFs came next. At $13.14 million Solana was slightly up. In the meantime, XRP earned $64 million subtly outperforming all of its significant competitors. 

XRP's bull modeWhen you compare that divergence to the chart, it becomes more significant. XRP does not appear to be an asset in full bull mode in terms of price. It is still below its major moving averages and trading inside a declining channel. The 50-, 100- and 200-day MAs are sloping downward, above which typically indicates that the downtrend is intact.

XRP/USDT Chart by TradingViewHowever, there is a shift in the behavior around the lows. Clearly, there is less pressure to sell. Bounces are held longer, each push lower is smaller and there is insufficient downside follow-through. 

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After a significant decline, BTC is likewise below important averages; however, ETF flows indicate that institutions are actively lowering exposure rather than carefully reallocating. A similar tale is told by Ethereum. Instead of leaning in, capital is taking a step back. The exception is XRP, where investors are increasing their exposure despite the price action appearing weak. 

XRP downtrend slows downThat is the primary contradiction. ETFs do not pursue momentum in the same manner as retail. They start to build up when risk-reward begins to skew asymmetrically, which is typically before charts appear clear. Inflows into XRP point to positioning rather than speculation. In theory, XRP has ceased its downward acceleration. While volume is decreasing on down candles, a classic indication of seller fatigue RSI has stabilized in the low-to-mid-40s and is beginning to curl upward. 

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The market is not dumping into weakness just yet, but it is also not bidding aggressively. Regardless of the narrative's appeal, that is accumulation behavior. This understanding is supported by the ETF data. While Ethereum and Bitcoin ETFs saw widespread withdrawals, XRP steadily increased its capital throughout the week.

Instead of a general cryptocurrency allocation, that suggests a targeted trade. There is no guarantee of an instant breakout. To validate a change in trend, XRP still needs to recover important moving averages and exit the declining structure. However, rather than the other way around, ETF flows frequently follow price.

Pi Coin (PI) trades near $0.205 and is flat over the past 24 hours. The Pi Coin price has moved in a tight range for most of December, up just 0.2% in seven days and still down more than 17% in a month.

The broader trend remains weak, so attention shifts to lower timeframes. A short-term breakout setup has formed, but buyers need more than a breakout to confirm strength.

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Short-Term Breakout Setup Needs ConfirmationOn the four-hour chart, PI is attempting to form an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern, a structure that often appears near potential bottoms. The neckline sits near $0.208. A four-hour close above that level opens room toward $0.216, a mere 3.5% rise. But that probable breakout is only the first step.

Support sits at $0.203. Losing that weakens the pattern. Below $0.200, the short-term setup fails, and momentum turns back to the downside.

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Pi Coin Price Chart 4-Hour: TradingViewThere is a reason this breakout attempt matters. The Chaikin Money Flow (CMF), which tracks capital flow through price and volume, has finally broken its descending trendline. If CMF can hold above zero on the four-hour chart, it supports the idea that fresh demand is entering the market. If CMF falls back under zero, the breakout loses credibility.

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Capital Flows Improve: TradingViewRight now, PI is in a trigger zone, not a confirmed recovery. For more insights on the breakout-led recovery theory, we need to check the daily chart indicators.

Dip Buying Shows Up on the Daily Chart, But Pi Coin Price Range Still HoldsOn the daily timeframe, the PI price backdrop is still neutral to bearish.

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Between December 19 and December 29, PI price trended lower, while the Money Flow Index (MFI), a potential dip-buying metric, reached a higher high. This is a small bullish divergence, which suggests buyers are stepping in on dips. MFI is rising, which supports bounce attempts, but it does not confirm a trend change by itself.

Pi Coin Sees Dip Buying: TradingViewThe daily range is still defined by resistance at $0.213 and support at $0.191.

A daily move above $0.213 would be the first strong sign that buyers are ready to challenge the broader trend. That level matters more than the simple four-hour breakout because it overlaps with range resistance held since early December.

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Pi Coin Price Analysis: TradingViewIf PI clears $0.216 per the 4-hour breakout scenario, it would automatically speed past the first critical daily resistance level of $0.213. This makes $0.216 level (the breakout target per 4-hour chart) the most critical one in the short term.

It can then attempt a move toward $0.248, a level it has failed to reclaim since November 29. That is where bullish momentum starts to mean something.

Below $0.191, all setups break down (even the 4-hour breakout setup), and the market resets to bearish control.