Market Signal Briefing

XRP price started a recovery wave above $1.90. The price is now consolidating and might struggle to clear the $2.00 resistance.

XRP price started a recovery wave above the $1.9050 zone.
The price is now trading below $2.00 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average.
There is a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $1.9520 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair (data source from Kraken).
The pair could continue to move up if it settles above $2.00.

XRP Price Faces Resistance
XRP price remained supported above $1.850 and started a recovery wave, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The price was able to climb above $1.880 and $1.90 to enter a short-term positive zone.

There was also a move above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $2.047 swing high to the $1.850 low. The bears defended a close above the $1.950 level and the price reacted to the downside. There is also a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $1.9520 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair.

The price is now trading below $1.950 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. If there is a fresh upward move, the price might face resistance near the $1.950 level and the trend line. It coincides with the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $2.047 swing high to the $1.850 low.

Source: XRPUSD on TradingView.com
The first major resistance is near the $2.00 level. A close above $2.00 could send the price to $2.050. The next hurdle sits at $2.120. A clear move above the $2.120 resistance might send the price toward the $2.20 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $2.220 resistance. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be near $2.250.

Another Drop?
If XRP fails to clear the $2.00 resistance zone, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $1.90 level. The next major support is near the $1.850 level.

If there is a downside break and a close below the $1.850 level, the price might continue to decline toward $1.820. The next major support sits near the $1.80 zone, below which the price could continue lower toward $1.7650.

Technical Indicators

Hourly MACD – The MACD for XRP/USD is now losing pace in the bearish zone.

Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for XRP/USD is now above the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $1.90 and $1.850.

Major Resistance Levels – $1.950 and $2.00.

Bitcoin price declined further and traded below the $87,000 support zone. BTC is now consolidating and might struggle to clear the $89,350 zone.

Bitcoin started a fresh decline below the $87,500 zone.
The price is trading below $88,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average.
There is a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $88,500 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken).
The pair might continue to move up if it settles above the $89,350 zone.

Bitcoin Price Consolidates Losses
Bitcoin price struggled to stay above the $89,000 and $88,500 levels. BTC started a fresh decline and traded below the $88,000 support.

The price even spiked below the $86,500 support. However, the bulls were active near the $85,000 zone. A low was formed at $85,151 and the price recently started an upside correction. There was a move above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $93,560 swing high to the $85,151 low.

The bears are active near $89,000. Bitcoin is now trading below $88,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. If the bulls remain in action, the price could attempt more gains. Immediate resistance is near the $88,000 level. The first key resistance is near the $88,500 level. There is also a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $88,500 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair.

Source: BTCUSD on TradingView.com
The next resistance could be $89,350 or the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $93,560 swing high to the $85,151 low. A close above the $89,350 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $90,000 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $91,200 level. The next barrier for the bulls could be $92,000 and $92,500.

Another Drop In BTC?
If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $88,500 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support is near the $87,000 level. The first major support is near the $86,500 level.

The next support is now near the $85,500 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $85,000 support in the near term. The main support sits at $83,500, below which BTC might accelerate lower in the near term.

Technical indicators:

Hourly MACD – The MACD is now losing pace in the bearish zone.

Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now near the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $85,500, followed by $85,500.

Major Resistance Levels – $88,500 and $89,350.

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Bitcoin has lost the critical $90,000 level and is now hovering near the $86,000 area, a zone that is quickly becoming the last meaningful support in the current structure. The recent decline has unfolded with little resistance from buyers, as bullish participation has largely disappeared from the market. Momentum-driven demand has faded, spot buying remains weak, and rallies are consistently being sold. As a result, a growing number of analysts are openly shifting their outlook toward a bear market scenario.

According to a recent report by on-chain analyst Axel Adler, conditions beneath the surface reinforce this pessimistic view. Derivatives positioning remains firmly negative, indicating that short sellers continue to dominate short-term market dynamics.

At the same time, market sentiment metrics have fallen to levels historically associated with major capitulation phases. Fear is widespread, confidence is fragile, and risk appetite across crypto markets is clearly deteriorating.

The combination of negative futures positioning and extreme investor fear creates a challenging environment for Bitcoin. Rather than signaling an immediate bottom, these conditions suggest that selling pressure remains structurally embedded in the market.

Futures Positioning And Sentiment Signal Deep Stress
Adler explains that the Bitcoin Positioning Index provides a clear view of who controls the derivatives market. The indicator aggregates changes in open interest and funding rates to identify the dominant direction of futures positioning.

At present, the index sits at -4, firmly in negative territory. This reading corresponds to a bearish regime and aligns with an active downtrend signal. Visually, the chart is dominated by purple bars over the past four weeks, highlighting sustained pressure from short positions and a lack of bullish conviction in derivatives markets.

Bitcoin Positioning Index | Source: Axel Adler
Negative positioning combined with falling prices confirms that bears remain in control of short-term market dynamics. According to Adler, a meaningful regime shift will only occur if the index returns above zero and the price consolidates above local resistance levels. Without that confirmation, downside risk remains elevated.

The Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index reinforces this bearish backdrop. The index, which tracks market sentiment from extreme fear to extreme greed, has fallen deep into the extreme fear zone and well below the 25th percentile.

The 30-day SMA has dropped to 20, while the 90-day SMA sits near 32, signaling persistent sentiment deterioration since September. While extreme fear alone does not guarantee a reversal, its alignment with negative futures positioning suggests that selling pressure is structural rather than purely emotional.

Bitcoin Tests Critical Support As Downtrend Persists
The chart shows Bitcoin trading under sustained technical pressure after failing to reclaim higher levels. Price has decisively broken below the medium-term moving averages and is now consolidating around the $87,000–$88,000 zone, a level that previously acted as support during the mid-cycle advance. The rejection from the blue moving average signals that bullish momentum has weakened significantly, while the downward slope confirms a loss of trend strength.

BTC testing critical demand | Source: BTCUSDT chart on TradingView
More importantly, Bitcoin is now hovering just above the red long-term moving average, a level that historically acts as a key structural support during broader corrections. The recent bounce from the $85,000–$86,000 area suggests that buyers are still present, but the response lacks conviction. Volume remains muted compared to earlier distribution phases, indicating hesitation rather than aggressive accumulation.

Structurally, the sequence of lower highs since the $120,000 peak remains intact. Until Bitcoin can reclaim the $92,000–$95,000 range and hold above the declining mid-term average, downside risks persist. A clean loss of the long-term support could expose deeper retracement levels toward the low $80,000s.

In the short term, this price behavior reflects a market in repair mode. Bitcoin is no longer trending, but it has not yet shown the strength required to invalidate the corrective structure.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

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Sebastian's journey into the world of crypto began four years ago, driven by a fascination with the potential of blockchain technology to revolutionize financial systems. His initial exploration focused on understanding the intricacies of various crypto projects, particularly those focused on building innovative financial solutions. Through countless hours of research and learning, Sebastian developed a deep understanding of the underlying technologies, market dynamics, and potential applications of cryptocurrencies.
As his knowledge grew, Sebastian felt compelled to share his insights with others. He began actively contributing to online discussions on platforms like X and LinkedIn, focusing on fintech and crypto-related content. His goal was to expose valuable trends and insights to a wider audience, fostering a deeper understanding of the rapidly evolving crypto landscape. Sebastian's contributions quickly gained recognition, and he became a trusted voice in the online crypto community.
To further enhance his expertise, Sebastian pursued a UC Berkeley Fintech: Frameworks, Applications, and Strategies certification. This rigorous program equipped him with valuable skills and knowledge regarding Financial Technology, bridging the gap between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). The certification deepened his understanding of the broader financial landscape and its intersection with blockchain technology.
Sebastian's passion for finance and writing is evident in his work. He enjoys delving into financial research, analyzing market trends, and exploring the latest developments in the crypto space. In his spare time, Sebastian can often be found immersed in charts, studying 10-K forms, or engaging in thought-provoking discussions about the future of finance.
Sebastian's journey as a crypto analyst and investor has been marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and a dedication to sharing his insights. His ability to navigate the complex world of crypto, combined with his passion for financial research and communication, makes him a valuable asset to the industry. As the crypto landscape continues to evolve, Sebastian remains at the forefront, providing valuable insights and contributing to the growth of this revolutionary technology.

Cantor Fitzgerald, one of the world’s leading asset management firms, has released an in-depth report highlighting the promising future of the decentralized exchange (DEX) Hyperliquid (HYPE). 

The 62-page analysis predicts significant growth for both the platform and its native token over the next decade, painting a bullish outlook for investors. 

Hyperliquid As ‘The Exchange Of All Exchanges’
As detailed in the report, Hyperliquid operates as a decentralized exchange specializing in trading perpetual futures and is built on a custom layer-1 blockchain. Currently, HYPE has a fully diluted market cap of approximately $15.8 billion. 

Year-to-date (YTD) 2025, the platform has generated an impressive $874 million in fees from a staggering $2.947 trillion in trading volume. 

A key feature that makes HYPE particularly attractive, and highlighted in the report, is its unique fee structure: approximately 99% of all fees generated by the protocol are allocated to repurchasing and burning the underlying token. 

This mechanism not only supports the value of HYPE but also reduces its circulating supply. In early 2025 alone, about 2.6% of all HYPE tokens expected to be in circulation, or roughly 5% of the current supply, were repurchased and burned. 

With the anticipation of new product launches, Cantor Fitzgerald views HYPE as “the exchange of all exchanges” and believes there’s a realistic path for annual fees to soar to $5 billion within the next decade.

Why Market Dynamics Favor HYPE
When it comes to the platform’s native token, HYPE has successfully captured considerable market share and emerged as one of the standout products in the cryptocurrency space over the past year. 

In addition to perpetual trading, Hyperliquid has launched spot trading and HIP-3 markets, enabling users to create new markets for a variety of assets including stocks and commodities.

Cantor Fitzgerald’s report emphasizes that the immediate determinant of HYPE’s market price will hinge on industry sentiment regarding competition. The ability of emerging rivals to challenge HYPE and affect its fee-generating capacity is paramount. 

However, the report argues that current fears surrounding competition may be overstated. It posits that “point tourists”—those who shift from platform to platform seeking incentives—are likely to return to the platform offering the deepest liquidity and best execution, which, according to Cantor Fitzgerald, is Hyperliquid.

A mere 1% increase in market share from CEX competitors in the perpetuals sector could translate to approximately $600 billion in trading volume. Based on existing perpetual fee rates, this could result in an additional $272 million in annual fees. 

By applying a conservative 25x valuation multiple to these fees, the potential market capitalization would rise to $6.8 billion.

HYPE Price To Reach $271?
Assuming moderate share gains over the next decade—projecting around 17% in perpetual trades and 18% in spot trading—Hyperliquid’s annual fees could surpass the $5 billion mark. 

A conservative valuation multiple of 25x, this would suggest a future market capitalization of approximately $125 billion. Given that nearly all generated fees will be used to repurchase HYPE tokens, a large portion of the circulating supply could potentially be bought back by the time the platform reaches these fee levels.

With a forecasted expansion of the fully diluted market cap from roughly $15.8 billion today to $125 billion in the future, combined with a declining supply of HYPE tokens, the projected share price is poised to increase at an even faster pace. 

If 20% of the Hyperliquid token float is repurchased—valued at around $3.5 billion today—the report suggests that the HYPE price could reach $271 at a fully diluted valuation of $125 billion.

The projections suggest that if HYPE captures just 1% of the market share annually and maintains consistent trading volumes from CEXs, the price of HYPE could grow substantially. 

By year 10, the asset manager believes that circulating supply could decrease from 577.2 million to approximately 144.9 million, while the market cap could remain around $16.1 billion based on conservative fee estimates excluding spot and HIP-3 revenues.

The daily chart shows HYPE’s price trending downwards. Source: HYPEUSDT on TradingView.com
At the time of writing, Hyperliquid’s native token is trading at $26.49, having recorded major losses of almost 32% over the past month. This represents a 55% gap from the current trading levels and the all-time high of $59.30.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Wormhole is positioning Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin for rapid multichain expansion, enabling native issuance across major Ethereum Layer 2 networks as Ripple targets scalable, compliant growth beyond single-blockchain limits. Wormhole Sharpens Multichain Breakout Setup With Ripple and RLUSD Targeting Layer 2 Scale Cross-chain infrastructure is gaining prominence as stablecoins scale beyond single networks.

Robinhood is stepping up the capabilities of its fastest growing product — prediction markets — by giving users the ability to place what are essential parlay bets on multiple NFL games, putting it into direct competition with traditional sports books.

Starting Tuesday, users are able to trade preset combinations of the outcome, totals and spreads of individual NFL games, and starting in early 2026, users will have the ability to create custom combos of up to 10 outcomes across NFL games. Those will have "a structural look or feel as a parlay," JB Mackenzie, vice president and general manager of futures and international at Robinhood, told CNBC.

Even more, the company is allowing users to wager on the performances of individual NFL players in real time. For example, they can place prop bets on a certain player scoring a touchdown at any point during a game as well as the passing, receiving and rushing yards for a player.

"This was a great opportunity for us to really be able to become the leader in the space, and that's what we're working to do," Mackenzie said. "The enhancements here are another example of it, where we're trying to build new customer experiences that make it easier and, in some cases, provide them more advanced order types and trading capabilities to meet the needs that they're asking us for."

The new features were unveiled at the company's "Robinhood Presents: YES/NO" keynote event at the Summit Skywalker Ranch in Nicasio, Calif., right outside San Francisco.

The parlay capability may even extend beyond the NFL in the future, according to Robinhood. The broker is also looking at opportunities to allow combos across different event categories, including those outside of sports like economic data.

Parlaying non-sports events"Over time, the question is going to be, 'Is there interest to pair assets from different classes together?'" Mackenzie said, noting "something that's associated with climate and an election" as an example. "All sporting events are definitely on the radar. I also think that domestic and international economic data is going to be on there as well, as well as domestic and international policy."

Robinhood's involvement with prediction markets began just before the 2024 presidential election, where it gave users the ability to trade a contract of former Vice President Kamala Harris or President Donald Trump.

In a little more than a year since it partnered with ForecastEx for election trading, the company has only expanded its presence in the prediction markets ecosystem. It has partnered with prediction market operator Kalshi this year. More recently, it announced a joint venture with Susquehanna International Group in November.

Robinhood has been seeing the fruits of its labor. Prediction markets as a business has already brought in $100 million in annualized revenue with 11 billion contracts traded by more than 1 million customers. Based on October figures, it's on pace to become a $300 million business.

November was the business's biggest month to date at more than 3 billion contracts traded, signifying an approximately 20% increase from October. That month saw 2.5 billion contracts traded, which is more than the entirety of the year's third-quarter performance at 2.3 billion contracts.

"I actually think we're at the beginning of where this is really going to go," Mackenzie said. "I think that we're going to continue to see the expansion of new not only events but also asset classes, where people can continue to trade in."

Gen-Z's SchwabEarlier this year, Piper Sandler said that Robinhood's prediction markets business posed a "significant" growth opportunity for the company, and they're not the only ones that are optimistic.

Mizuho analyst Dan Dolev said the strong desire among Robinhood users to interact with prediction markets presents "lots of upside." In a recent survey, he found that users of Robinhood and Coinbase – another platform – are about nine times more likely than non-users to partake in prediction markets.

"They're going after a user base that's already predisposed to engaging with prediction markets," he said in an interview with CNBC. "Over time, they're going to become sort of a hub for prediction markets."

Dolev said Robinhood's move into prediction markets is a main reason the stock has soared a monstrous 220% in 2025.

Stock Chart IconStock chart icon

HOOD, 1-day

However, the analyst underscored that prediction markets isn't the only thing to watch for the company. With its involvement in other areas like retirement, he forecasts that Robinhood will eventually become "the new Schwab for Gen Z."

To put that into perspective, Robinhood's assets under custody for the full 2024 year stood at $193 billion. Charles Schwab's total client assets were at $10.10 trillion in the same period.

"Prediction marks is one aspect," he continued. "They're circling around every aspect of someone's financial life."

KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Alex Markgraff concurs. He said that a number of the company's other endeavors, including its advisory business and its highly in-demand gold card, are in the "early stages of scaling."

"In the short term, [prediction markets is] certainly an area where you might have sort of an outsized growth contribution just based on the apparent appetite for event contracts across the landscape of consumer retail trading," he said to CNBC. "Nonetheless, [there are] multiple sources of growth, in our opinion."

Warner Bros is reportedly set to reject a hostile $108bn (£81bn) takeover bid from Paramount, with one of the prospective buyer's financing partners confirming it's pulled out of the offer.

A spokesman for investment firm Affinity, owned by Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, told Sky News' US partner network NBC News "the dynamics of investment have changed significantly".

It had backed Paramount's bid, along with funds from Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries.

Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal report the Warner Bros Discovery board are set to advise shareholders to reject Paramount's bid - paving the way for Netflix, which had struck a $72bn (£54bn) deal.

If the takeover goes through, it would give the streaming giant the rights to hit Warner franchises like Harry Potter, Batman, and Game Of Thrones, as well an extensive back catalogue of classic films.

Money latest: Oil prices fall to lowest level since 2021

Image:
Pic: iStock

It is the latest twist in a takeover saga where the winner will acquire a huge advantage in the streaming wars.

In June, Warner announced its plan to split into two companies - one for its TV, film studios and HBO Max streaming services, and one for the Discovery element of the business, which primarily comprises legacy TV channels that show cartoons, news, and sports.

Netflix agreed a $27.75 per-share price with the firm, which equates to the $72bn purchase figure deal to secure its film and TV studios, with the deal giving the assets a total value of $82.7bn.

However, Paramount said its offer would pay $30 (£22.50) cash per share, representing $18bn (£13.5bn) more in cash than its rival offered. The offer was made directly to shareholders, asking them to reject Netflix's deal, in what is known as a hostile takeover.

The Paramount deal would involve rival US news channels CBS and CNN being brought under the same parent company.

Read more:
Why is Warner Bros for sale and how is Trump involved?

The US government will have a big say on the final deal, with the winning company likely facing the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Antitrust Division, a federal agency which scrutinises business deals to ensure fair competition.

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kioxia Corporation announces that its KIOXIA AiSAQ™ has been integrated into the open-source vector database Milvus beginning with version 2.6.4.

Sanofi (SAN:CA) Discusses Year-End Late-Stage Pipeline Review With Focus on Clinical and Regulatory Developments December 16, 2025 11:15 AM EST

Company Participants

Thomas Larsen - Head of Investor Relations
Houman Ashrafian - Executive VP & Head of Research Development
Jean-Francois Toussaint - Global Head of Research & Development Vaccines - Sanofi Pasteur

Conference Call Participants

Peter Verdult - BNP Paribas, Research Division
Luisa Hector - Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG, Research Division
Richard Vosser - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Sachin Jain - BofA Securities, Research Division
Simon Baker - Rothschild & Co Redburn, Research Division
James Quigley - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Sarita Kapila - Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Graham Glyn Parry - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Christopher LoBianco - TD Cowen, Research Division
Emmanuel Papadakis - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

Presentation

Thomas Larsen
Head of Investor Relations

Good afternoon and good morning, depending on where you are, and welcome to the Sanofi's first year-end late-stage pipeline review. I'm Thomas Kudsk Larsen from the Investor Relations team and I'm pleased to see so many people on the call today.

Before we get started, I want to thank Alizé in the IR team for leading the work on today's call. I also want to remind everyone that our focus is on the clinical and regulatory aspects of the mid- and late-stage pipeline. So we will aim at keeping any commercial or finance questions for another day. We want science and patience to take center stage.

During the call, we'll highlight the most important events in 2025 across our pipeline in immunology, rare diseases, hemato-oncology, neurology and vaccines and provide the key news flow items for the first half and the second half of next year and 2027. Because a couple of 2025 news items deflated expectations, we believe that next year's news flow comes with lower anticipation in general. The presentation will

DBV Technologies S.A. (DBVT) Discusses Positive Phase III VITESSE Trial Results for Peanut Allergy Patch in Young Children December 16, 2025 5:00 PM EST

Company Participants

Jonathan Neely
Daniel Tassé - CEO & Director
Pharis Mohideen - Chief Medical Officer
Kevin Trapp - Chief Commercial Officer

Conference Call Participants

Samuel Slutsky - LifeSci Capital, LLC
Jonathan Wolleben - Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, Research Division
Yatin Suneja - Guggenheim Securities, LLC, Research Division
Kristen Kluska - Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Research Division
Sushila Hernandez

Presentation

Operator

Welcome to the DBV Technologies Update Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please note this event is being recorded.

I would now like to turn the conference over to Jonathan Neely. Please go ahead, sir.

Jonathan Neely

Thank you, operator. This afternoon, DBV Technologies issued a press release announcing positive top line results from its Phase III VITESSE clinical trial of the VIASKIN Peanut patch in children aged 4 to 7 years old. This press release is available in the Press Releases section of the DBV Technologies website.

Before we begin, please note that today's call may include a number of forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, comments regarding the therapeutic potential of VIASKIN Peanut and EPIT, our clinical and regulatory development plans, the design of our anticipated clinical trials, the timing and results of interactions with regulatory agencies, plans and expectations with respect to the submission of BLAs to FDA, expectations around the BLA's potential eligibility for priority review, anticipated support for the BLA submission, the exercise by investors of certain warrants issued as part of the financing announced on March 27, 2025, and the anticipated use of proceeds. Our forecast of our cash runway and the ability of any of our product candidates, if approved, to improve the lives of patients with food allergies.

These forward-looking statements are

Treasury Wine Estates Limited (TSRYY) Shareholder/Analyst Call December 16, 2025 6:00 PM EST

Company Participants

Samuel Andrew Fischer - MD, CEO & Director
Stuart Boxer - Chief Financial & Strategy Officer

Conference Call Participants

Craig Woolford - MST Financial Services Pty Limited, Research Division
Shaun Cousins - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Michael Simotas - Jefferies LLC, Research Division
David Errington - BofA Securities, Research Division
Caleb Wheatley - Macquarie Research
Phillip Kimber - E&P, Research Division
Thomas Kierath - Barrenjoey Markets Pty Limited, Research Division
Ben Gilbert - Jarden Limited, Research Division
Mark Southwell-Keely - Select Equities Pty Ltd.
Sam Teeger - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Jason Palmer - Taylor Collison Limited, Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Thank you for standing by, and welcome to the Treasury Wine Estates Investor Update. [Operator Instructions]

I would now like to hand the conference over to Mr. Sam Fischer, Chief Executive Officer. Please go ahead.

Samuel Andrew Fischer
MD, CEO & Director

Thank you, operator. And good morning to you all, and thank you for joining today's call. My name is Sam Fischer, and I'm the CEO of Treasury Wine Estates, having officially assumed this position on the 27th of October. Also joining me today on the call is Stuart Boxer, TWE's Chief Financial and Strategy Officer.

This morning, we provided the market with an update on our performance expectations, including the decision to take deliberate strategic action to ensure we remain positioned for future sustainable growth.

To be honest, this is not the first market update I thought I'd be making as TWE's incoming CEO. It is, however, one that is critical to ensure that we maintain the ongoing strength of our brands and the health of our sales channels as we navigate what is a challenging environment for the global alcohol category and the wine industry more specifically. Despite these conditions, it's important to note that

Apple is in preliminary talks with some Indian chip manufacturers for the assembly and packaging of iPhone component, local newspaper Economic Times reported on Thursday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

An administrative law judge has ruled that Tesla engaged in deceptive marketing that gave customers a false impression of the capabilities of its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving driver assistance software, a pivotal development in a years-long case initiated by California’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

The judge agreed with the state DMV’s request to suspend Tesla sales for 30 days as a penalty for its actions, but the DMV stayed the order and is giving Tesla 60 days to modify or remove any deceptive language before implementing the suspension, according to multiple outlets. The judge also recommended suspending Tesla’s manufacturing license for 30 days, but the DMV stayed that order, too, according to Bloomberg News.

“The DMV’s decision today confirms that the department will hold every vehicle manufacturer to the highest safety standards to keep California’s drivers, passengers and pedestrians protected,” DMV director Steve Gordon said in a statement. “Tesla can take simple steps to pause this decision and permanently resolve this issue — steps autonomous vehicle companies and other automakers have been able to achieve in California’s nation-leading and supportive innovation marketplace.”

After the 60-day window, Tesla can appeal the decision and should Tesla comply, the suspensions will be dropped. But it’s not immediately clear what steps the DMV wants Tesla to take, beyond telling the company to “take action regarding its use of the term ‘autopilot.’” The DMV did not immediately respond to a request for clarification. Tesla no longer has a public relations department.

Tesla has faced multiple investigations from the California Attorney General, the Department of Justice, and the Securities and Exchange Commission over similar allegations that its marketing around partial autonomy systems was misleading. The company has also faced (and now settled) a number of personal civil lawsuits over crashes involving its Autopilot technology.

The case brought by the CA DMV has been winding through the state’s Office of Administrative Hearings for years. The agency essentially accused Tesla of making customers believe that its advanced driver assistance systems were capable of high levels of autonomy. This led to overconfidence in the systems, the DMV alleged, which has contributed to dozens of crashes and multiple deaths. Tesla refuted these claims by saying its marketing was protected speech.

A shutdown of sales in California, even temporary, could have a major impact on Tesla’s business as it remains the company’s largest market in the United States. A manufacturing suspension could also hurt Tesla’s business. While the company has constructed a massive factory in Austin, Texas (and moved its official headquarters to the same location), it still relies on its Fremont, California factory to make hundreds of thousands of vehicles, including all North American-bound Model 3 sedans.

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The judge’s decision comes at a moment when Tesla is advancing its Robotaxi service test in Austin. Over the weekend, the company removed the safety monitors from its small fleet in the city. It had been offering rides to customers in the city for the last six months, but with a safety monitor either in the driver’s or passenger’s seat. Those vehicles are running a different version of Tesla’s driving software than what the automaker’s customers have in their cars, CEO Elon Musk has said.

This story has been updated to include information from the DMV’s press release.

Sean O’Kane is a reporter who has spent a decade covering the rapidly-evolving business and technology of the transportation industry, including Tesla and the many startups chasing Elon Musk. Most recently, he was a reporter at Bloomberg News where he helped break stories about some of the most notorious EV SPAC flops. He previously worked at The Verge, where he also covered consumer technology, hosted many short- and long-form videos, performed product and editorial photography, and once nearly passed out in a Red Bull Air Race plane.

You can contact or verify outreach from Sean by emailing [email protected] or via encrypted message at okane.01 on Signal.

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Key Points:

Warren seeks security probe into PancakeSwap and WLFI tokens.Focus on alleged political influence, token inflation.Investigation could impact regulatory stance on cryptocurrencies.
US Senator Elizabeth Warren has called for a national security investigation into PancakeSwap, citing concerns over token inflation by World Liberty Financial and potential political influences.

The move raises questions about the intersection of politics and cryptocurrency, potentially impacting market trust in decentralized exchanges like PancakeSwap and related tokens such as WLFI and CAKE.

Warren Targets PancakeSwap in National Security Inquiry
Senator Elizabeth Warren has formally requested a national security investigation into the decentralized exchange PancakeSwap. The concern involves alleged inflation of WLFI tokens, linked to former President Trump. Warren has highlighted PancakeSwap’s prominent role on the Binance Chain, asserting its importance in the investigation. The focus on potential undue political influence marks a significant step in governmental scrutiny of crypto markets.

Immediate implications include heightened regulatory interest, affecting PancakeSwap’s operations. Potential investigations could expand to encompass broader cryptocurrency activities associated with political entities. Such governmental actions may set significant precedents for future crypto legislative measures.

“I urge the Treasury and Attorney General to thoroughly investigate the potential national security risks posed by unfair practices in DeFi exchanges like PancakeSwap.” – Elizabeth Warren, US Senator (D-MA), sourceMarket reactions remain mixed, with some stakeholders demonstrating concern over increased regulatory scrutiny. While PancakeSwap leadership has yet to make a public statement, Warren’s letter indicates rising political and legal discourse surrounding the crypto industry.

WLFI Tokens Under Spotlight: Price and Market Analysis
Did you know? Elizabeth Warren’s call for an investigation is part of an ongoing scrutiny of political figures’ involvement in financial systems, adding a layer of complexity to cryptocurrency regulation discussions.

World Liberty Financial’s WLFI tokens are priced at $0.14, reflecting a market cap of approximately $3.61 billion and a 0.12% dominance. WLFI’s trading volume over 24 hours is $81.02 million, with notable fluctuations, including a 1.01% gain within the last 24 hours and a 10.93% decline over seven days, as reported by CoinMarketCap.

World Liberty Financial(WLFI), daily chart, screenshot on CoinMarketCap at 00:13 UTC on December 17, 2025. Source: CoinMarketCap

Insights from the Coincu research team suggest that regulatory outcomes following this probe could influence PancakeSwap and potentially reshape digital asset oversight. Historically, similar investigations have led to increased security measures and compliance initiatives within the cryptocurrency industry.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.

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Robust demand for XRP-spot ETFs and rising bets on a March Fed rate cut support a medium-term price outlook. However, the shorter-term outlook remains cautiously bearish as Friday’s Bank of Japan interest rate decision looms.

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.

US Labor Market Cools, Raising Q1 Fed Rate Cut Bets
While the Bank of Japan’s interest rate decision will be the main event this week, US data-fueled bets on a March Fed rate cut.

Unemployment increased from 4.4% in October to 4.6% in November, while wage growth slowed from 3.7% year-on-year in October to 3.5% YoY in November.

Rising unemployment could further curb wage growth and cool consumer spending. A pullback in consumer spending would dampen demand-driven inflation, supporting a more dovish Fed policy stance. Last week’s Fed Dot Plot projected a median one rate cut in 2026, the base case for markets.

A March rate cut would allow further rate cuts in H2 2026, if the data allows. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, the chances of a March rate cut increased from 51% on December 15 to 53.3% on December 16, lifting sentiment.

XRPUSD – 30 Minute Chart – 171225
XRP-Spot ETF Market Sees Inflows Hit $1 Billion
While US labor market data lifted sentiment, the US XRP-spot ETF market reflected robust institutional demand, a crucial tailwind for XRP. XRP-spot ETF issuers reported net inflows of $10.89 million on Monday, December 15, taking the since-launch inflow haul to $1 billion.

Notably, Canary XRP ETF (XRPC) continued to top the inflow table, with since-launch net inflows of $376.5 million. Meanwhile, Franklin XRP ETF (XRPZ) trailed with net inflows of $193 million, reflecting Canary Fund’s first-to-market advantage.

Bank of Japan in the Spotlight as JGB Yields Dip
A more dovish Fed rate path and robust demand for spot ETFs support a bullish medium-term outlook. However, the upcoming Bank of Japan monetary policy decision on Friday, December 19, exposes XRP to near-term downside risks.

Economists expect the BoJ to raise interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.75%, narrowing the US-Japan rate differential. Japanese Government Bond (JGB) yields have been on an upswing since August, raising fears of a yen carry trade unwind, weighing on demand for XRP.

Crucially, the BoJ may also announce its neutral rate, where monetary policy is neither accommodative nor restrictive. A 1.5% to 2.0% neutral rate would signal multiple BoJ rate hikes and a sharp narrowing in rate differentials, making yen carry trades into US assets less profitable. A yen carry trade unwind would tighten liquidity, impacting XRP and the broader crypto market.

The inverse correlation between 10-year JGB yields and XRP/USD has underscored market sensitivity to the BoJ’s policy stance. 10-year JGB yields pulled back on Tuesday, December 16, bolstering XRP demand.

JGB – XRP – Daily Chart – 171225
For context, the BoJ raised interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.5% and cut JGB purchases on July 31, 2024. The hawkish rate hike coincided with a dovish Fed policy stance, triggering a yen carry trade unwind. XRP tumbled from $0.6591 on July 31, 2024, to $0.4320 on August 5, 2024, marking a 34.5% loss.

Given the market concerns over the BoJ’s monetary policy decision, 10-year JGB yields will require monitoring.

Bullish Medium-Term Outlook Faces Headwinds
The threat of market disruption from a hawkish BoJ rate hike and delays to the Market Structure Bill support a cautiously bearish short-term outlook (1-4 weeks).

Meanwhile, rising expectations of a March Fed rate cut, strong spot ETF inflows, and hopes for the Senate passing crypto-friendly legislation are likely to bolster XRP demand.

Given market sensitivity to the Fed rate path, incoming economic data will also influence sentiment. The US CPI Report, due out on Thursday, December 18, will affect the Fed’s policy stance.

In my view, the market dynamics support a cautiously bearish short-term (1-4 weeks) outlook, exposing the November 21 low of $1.8239. However, the medium-term (4-8 weeks) and longer-term (8-12 weeks) outlooks remain bullish, with price targets of $2.35 and $2.5, respectively.

Downside Risks to Bullish Medium-Term Outlook
While the medium-term outlook remains bullish, several scenarios could derail it. These include:

The Bank of Japan raises interest rates and indicates multiple rate hikes.
US inflation rises, signaling a more hawkish Fed rate path.
The MSCI delists digital asset treasury companies (DATs). Delistings would likely reduce interest in XRP as a treasury reserve asset.
US Senate opposes the Market Structure Bill.
XRP-spot ETFs report outflows.

These events would likely send XRP toward the November low of $1.82, supporting the bearish short-term outlook.

Nevertheless, XRP-spot ETF demand, a broadening investor base, increased XRP utility, and progress toward crypto-friendly legislation support a longer-term move toward $3.

In summary, the short-term outlook remains cautiously bearish as fundamentals and the technicals align. Meanwhile, the medium- to longer-term outlooks are constructive.

Financial Analysis
Technical Outlook: EMAs Signal Caution
XRP gained 1.64% on Tuesday, December 16, partially reversing the previous day’s 3.95% loss to close at $1.9304. The token outperformed the broader crypto market, which advanced 1.07%.

Despite Tuesday’s gains, XRP remained below the 50-day and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), signaling a bearish bias.

Key technical levels to watch include:

Support levels: $1.9112, $1.8239, and then, $1.75.
50-day EMA resistance: $2.1886.
200-day EMA resistance: $2.4366.
Resistance levels: $2, $2.2, $2.35, $2.5, $2.62, $2.8, $3.0, and $3.66.

Looking at the daily chart, a break below the $1.9112 support level would expose the November 21 low of $1.8239. A sustained fall through $1.8239 would bring the $1.75 support level into play, reinforcing the bearish short-term outlook.

However, a break above the $2 psychological level would open the door to retesting the 50-day EMA and the $2.2 resistance level. A sustained move through the 50-day EMA would indicate a near-term bullish trend reversal.

A bullish trend reversal would suggest a medium-term (4-8 weeks) climb toward $2.35 and the 200-day EMA. A break above the EMAs supports the medium-term outlook, and a longer-term (8-12 weeks) $2.5.

Journalist

Posted: December 17, 2025

Since its launch nearly two months ago, Aster DEX has aggressively pursued significant developments to improve its capabilities.

In its latest move, the team announced the launch of Shield Mode for perpetual traders. 

Aster DEX launches Shield Mode
On the 15th of December, the Aster DEX launched a new trading mode for high-leverage perps, marking a significant milestone.

The new Shield Mode will support up to 1001x leverage, instant execution, zero slippage, and no gas costs. 

All these capabilities will be available through a single seamless interface. This Shield Mode will support one tap long/short, orders will stay off books, and zero slippage on shield pairs, among others. 

This is an early building block for the privacy features expected under the Aster Chain. 

Aster whale losses hit $35 billion!
Surprisingly, despite the Shield Mode getting activated, Aster’s [ASTER] holders have continued to count their losses. 

According to Lookonchain, an Aster whale, famed for a history of buying at higher prices and selling at lows, made another loss-making sale.

The whale sold 13.44 million tokens for $11.67 million after holding them for only six days. Previously, the tokens were purchased for $13.04 million.

Thus, the whale realized $1.37 million after the sale, with the total losses now exceeding $35.8 million. 

Source: Lookonchain

Historically, whale loss realization has signaled a lack of confidence in the market, as they anticipate further market dips. Interestingly, this sale is not an isolated case, as sellers have largely dominated the market. 

According to Coinalyze, ASTER recorded negative buy and sell for three consecutive days. Over the period, the altcoin saw 150.82 million in Sell Volume compared to 123.77 million in Buy Volume. 

Source: Coinalyze

As a result, the total Buy Sell Delta dropped to negative -27.05 million, a clear sign of aggressive spot selling. Often, increased selling pressure has accelerated downward momentum, a precursor to lower prices.

What’s next for ASTER?
ASTER has traded within a descending channel since it reached $1.5 a few weeks ago, hitting a low of $0.76. At press time, the altcoin traded at $0.815, down 10.8% on the daily charts, reflecting intense bearish pressure.

Additionally, the altcoin’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) dropped to 33, nearing oversold territory, further validating the earlier observation on intense sell pressure.

Source: TradingView

At the same time, its MACD also dropped further into negative territory, indicating strong downward momentum. These market conditions point towards the continuation of the trend.

Thus, if selling persists, the altcoin could drop to $0.76 again, with $0.70 as the critical support. However, if the dip creates a discount accumulation opportunity, ASTER could bounce back to $0.95.

Final Thoughts

The Aster DEX launched a new trading mode for high-leverage perps.
An ASTER whale realized $1.37 million, with total losses exceeding $35 million.

Leading cryptocurrencies bounced back, while stocks fell on Tuesday, as the U.S. unemployment rate hit levels not seen since September 2021.

CryptocurrencyGains +/-Price (Recorded at 8:20 p.m. ET)Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC)+1.71%$87,615.03Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH)
               -0.10%$2,954.33XRP (CRYPTO: XRP)                         +2.11%$1.92Solana (CRYPTO: SOL)                         +1.87%$128.93Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE)                         +1.81%$0.1318Bitcoin, Crypto Stocks RallyBitcoin climbed back to an intraday peak of $88,170 before easing off a bit overnight.

Ethereum, on the other hand, failed to break over the critical $3,000 resistance, with trading volume down 22% in the last 24 hours. XRP and Dogecoin also saw a relief rally.

Shares of cryptocurrency-linked stocks Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR) and Bitmine Immersion Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) closed up 3.34% and 1.42%, respectively, during the regular trading session.

Benzinga Edge delivers real-time stock alerts, trade ideas, and professional investing tools to help you navigate the market. Find out more about MSTR and BMNR here.

Roughly $260 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market over the last 24 hours, according to Coinglass, with long liquidations accounting for more than 50% of the total.

Bitcoin's open interest fell 3.5% in the last 24 hours. An increase in spot price coming alongside a drop in open interest may indicate short covering i.e, buying back to close an open short position.

Top Gainers (24 Hours) 

Cryptocurrency (Market Cap>$100 M)Gains +/-Price (Recorded at 8:20 p.m. ET)Fasttoken (FTN )   +240.47%    $1.57Four (FORM )                 +40.13%      $0.4253Zeebu (ZBU )          +14.78%      $0.6806The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.97 trillion, following an increase of 0.71% in the last 24 hours.

Stocks Edge Lower After Unemployment Rate ClimbsMajor indexes closed lower on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 302.30 points, or 0.62%, to end at 48,114.26. The S&P 500 slid 0.24% to end at 6,800.26. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite was the silver lining, as it closed up 0.23% at 23,111.46.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November, higher than economists’ expectations of 50,000 jobs. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate climbed to 4.6%, the highest since September 2021 and up from 4.4% in September.

Notably, the odds of a 25 basis point rate cut in the Federal Reserve's January meeting rose slightly from 24.4 to 25.5% in the past 24 hours, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

Ethereum Can Plunge To $2,000 If…In a note shared with Benzinga, analysts at cryptocurrency payment company B2BINPAY tied Bitcoin's ongoing struggles to a "renewed turn toward risk aversion" and greater correlation with technology stocks.

"Given the picture, our base case is a test of the $80,000–$82,000 range if risk aversion persists," the analysts said. "A more stable recovery would likely require calmer conditions in U.S. equity markets, a slowdown in ETF outflows, and a move back toward the $95,000 area."

Ali Martinez, a widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader, projected Ethereum's decline to $2,000 or even $1,100 if the second-largest cryptocurrency closed December closed below $2,930

Photo Courtesy: Alexandru Nika on Shutterstock.com

Read Next:    

Crypto’s 2026 Playbook: What Web3 Founders Expect From Regulators, Wall Street, And The Next Market Cycle
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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.

Oil rose in Asia's morning session on a likely technical recovery after oil futures fell to almost five-year lows overnight.

One of these funds has been outpacing the S&P 500 while sporting a much bigger dividend yield.

It's hard to beat dividend-paying stocks, as they offer three ways to make money. As the companies grow, so will their share price, benefiting shareholders. They will also be paying those shareholders a cash dividend -- typically every quarter. And best of all, healthy and growing dividend payers tend to increase their payouts over time. So, if you're collecting $300 in dividends this year, that might turn into $600 or more a decade from now.

Here's a look at three solid dividend-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) from the folks at Fidelity. (Remember that an ETF is essentially a fund that trades like a stock, making it easy to get in and out of.)

Image source: Getty Images.

In the table below, you'll find the three Fidelity ETFs, along with a good S&P 500 index fund, for comparison.

ETF

Recent dividend yield

5-Year Avg. Annual Return

10-Year Avg. Annual Return

Fidelity High Dividend ETF (FDVV 0.65%)

3.02%

16.34%

N/A

Fidelity International High Dividend ETF (FIDI 0.61%)

4.30%

12.37%

N/A

Fidelity Total Bond ETF

(FBND +0.20%)

4.60%

0.50%

2.99%

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO 0.17%)

1.12%

15.15%

15.07%

Source: Morningstar.com, as of December 11, 2025.

Let's take a closer look at each.

1. Fidelity High Dividend ETF
This ETF hasn't been around long enough to have a 10-year track record, but its five-year results are very solid, even outperforming the S&P 500. It tracks the Fidelity High Dividend Index, which is "designed to reflect the performance of stocks of large- and mid-capitalization dividend-paying companies that are expected to continue to pay and grow their dividends."

NYSEMKT: FDVVFidelity Covington Trust - Fidelity High Dividend ETF

Today's Change

(

-0.65

%) $

-0.37

Current Price

$

56.62

The ETF holds 103 stocks, with top holdings including Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, and Broadcom. Those are not payers of fat dividends, but they've been fast growers, and their inclusion shows that the ETF is aiming for growth as well as income.

With its recent dividend yield of 3.02%, you'd need to have about $3,125,000 invested in the ETF in order to collect $100,000 in annual dividends. That's probably a tall order, but even having just, say, $30,000 in it can yield $960.

2. Fidelity International High Dividend ETF
While the ETF above will hold some stocks with significant international exposure, this international ETF is focused on companies based outside the U.S. It can thus be particularly attractive if you're worried about the U.S. economy's near-term prospects and/or a possible recession. It, too, has been performing well in its relatively short life -- in part thanks to a weakening dollar.

NYSEMKT: FIDIFidelity Covington Trust - Fidelity International High Dividend ETF

Today's Change

(

-0.61

%) $

-0.16

Current Price

$

25.90

It holds 96 stocks, with top holdings including National Grid, British American Tobacco, and Nestlé.

With its recent dividend yield of 4.30%, you'd need to have about $2.3 million invested in the ETF in order to collect $100,000 in annual dividends.

3. Fidelity Total Bond ETF
Over most long periods, stocks outperform bonds, but many people still like to include some bonds in their portfolios for diversification purposes.

NYSEMKT: FBNDFidelity Merrimack Street Trust - Fidelity Total Bond ETF

Today's Change

(

0.20

%) $

0.09

Current Price

$

46.28

The bond ETF was recently invested in more than 4,400 securities, with top holdings being U.S Treasury notes and bonds. With its recent dividend yield of 4.60%, you'd need to have about $2.18 million invested in the ETF in order to collect $100,000 in annual dividends.

4. Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
I'm including this S&P 500 ETF because, while Fidelity has an S&P 500 index fund, it doesn't offer it in ETF form. Still, Fidelity account holders can typically invest in other securities, such as this one.

It's always worth considering an S&P 500 index fund for your portfolio, but perhaps not if you want to collect $100,000 in annual dividend income, because you'd need more than $8 million invested in the ETF for that.

However you go about it, make sure that you have a solid retirement plan and that you're acting on it. Don't assume Social Security will be enough to support you in the future, because it's facing potential cuts to benefits.

You might want to invest in one or more of the ETFs above, or in some other solid dividend-focused funds. And don't worry if you're not immediately collecting $100,000 in income. If you keep adding to your portfolio and investing in more dividend payers, you may well get to that $100,000.

Selena Maranjian has positions in Apple, Broadcom, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool recommends British American Tobacco P.l.c., Broadcom, National Grid Plc, and Nestlé and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, long January 2026 $40 calls on British American Tobacco, short January 2026 $40 puts on British American Tobacco, and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Partner Reed Kathrein Investigating Potential False Financial Reporting Amid CEO Suspension, Auditor Resignation & Nasdaq Non-Compliance

December 16, 2025 20:39 ET

 | Source:

Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National shareholder rights law firm Hagens Berman has commenced an investigation into ALT5 Sigma Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTS) following a series of new disclosures that point to a potential crisis of governance and regulatory non-compliance, which led to the stock cratering nearly 80%. The firm urges investors in ALT5 who suffered significant losses to contact the firm now.

The investigation focuses on whether ALT5 misled investors about the stability of its financial reporting and internal controls—specifically in the context of its August 2025 $1.5 billion registered offering. The failure to timely file its Q3 report has now resulted in a Nasdaq Non-Compliance Notice (Dec. 2, 2025), compounding issues that include a subsidiary’s criminal judgment for illicit enrichment and money laundering and management purge.

Read Hagens Berman's detailed analysis on the alleged ALT5 governance collapse here.

“Among the most concerning developments is the potential discrepancy in the reporting timelines for the auditor resignation and the CEO’s suspension,” said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm’s proprietary investigation. “Alleged failures to timely disclose these events, coupled with a full management purge and a money laundering conviction of its subsidiary, are suggestive of systemic failure in corporate governance.”

ALT5 Sigma (ALTS) Investigation: Potential Untimely Disclosures of Executive Changes and Auditor Resignation

The investigation’s focus has intensified to include possible violations of federal disclosure rules, potentially providing further red flags of a breakdown of the company’s internal controls immediately following the massive capital raise.

Potential Auditor Disclosure Discrepancy: Under Form 8-K, Item 4.01, a company must disclose the resignation, dismissal, or refusal of an independent accountant (auditor) to stand for re-appointment within four business days of the event. The "event" is typically triggered when the company receives notice. ALT5 Sigma reported to the SEC that the auditor, William Hudgens, resigned effective November 21, 2025, and it filed the related 8-K shortly thereafter (November 28, 2025). But as reported by Forbes, Hudgens said he informed the company before June 30 that he would step away from auditing public companies and would complete no work beyond the second quarter, which was filed on Aug. 12. If the company received formal notice or confirmation of the auditor’s resignation intention months before the November 21 date—potentially before the end of June 2025—then why did the company wait until the November 28, 2025, 8-K filing to disclose this development?Potential CEO Suspension Concealment: Under Form 8-K, Item 5.02(b), if an executive officer (like the CEO) retires, resigns, is terminated, or is placed on leave where they lose their executive functions, the company must disclose this change within four business days. ALT5 Sigma's official SEC filing stated that CEO Peter Tassiopoulos was suspended effective October 16, 2025. Media reports indicate an internal company email or memo sent to staff stated the CEO was already on "temporary leave" as early as September 4, 2025. If the CEO effectively had truly lost his executive duties on September 4th, then why did the company wait nearly six weeks to disclose this development to investors?Complete Governance Collapse: The CEO and CFO have since been terminated, and the Audit Committee Chair resigned effective November 25, 2025, followed by the formal Nasdaq Non-Compliance Notice (Dec. 2, 2025) for the late Q3 filing.Criminal Liability and Financial Reporting: The central issue remains the failure to disclose the subsidiary’s money laundering and illicit enrichment judgment against a former principal and the company’s admission that it is reviewing “potential misstatements or omissions in the financial statements of the Company and omissions of material information by certain members of management and personnel of the Company,” which call into question the integrity of the company's internal controls and adherence to GAAP.

Next Steps: Contact Partner Reed Kathrein Today

Hagens Berman is a leading plaintiff litigation firm recognized for prosecuting complex securities fraud cases. We are uniquely positioned to represent sophisticated investors who require expertise in corporate governance and regulatory violations.

Mr. Kathrein is actively advising investors who purchased ALTS shares and suffered substantial losses due to the company’s potential financial reporting failures and the resulting stock crash.
We urge investors to contact the firm immediately as this is an active investigation.

TO SUBMIT YOUR ALT5 (ALTS) INVESTMENT LOSSES NOW, PLEASE USE THE SECURE FORM BELOW:

Submit Your ALT5 LossesContact: Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected]: www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4qAPizCnxA For information on the investigation, visit: https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/alt5-sigma-corporation-alts-investigation

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding ALT5 should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].

About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman’s team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. 

Contact:
Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d149052e-9072-44e4-8299-3a61ca97a59e

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/00639cea-779e-42ec-bb48-9a8c0fa1496d

ALT5 Investor Alert: ALT5 Sigma Investigated for Auditor Resignation & Potentially False Financials
National shareholder rights law firm Hagens Berman has opened an investigation into ALT5 Sigma Corpo...

Hagens Berman ALTS Alert

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global plaintiffs' rights firm Hagens Berman reminds investors that the Lead Plaintiff Deadline in the securities class action lawsuit against James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE: JHX) is rapidly approaching: December 23, 2025.

The lawsuit alleges that James Hardie and certain executives made materially false and misleading statements about the health of its crucial North America Fiber Cement segment. The stock subsequently crashed over 34% when the company was allegedly forced to disclose a sharp decline in sales due to the very customer weakness it had allegedly concealed. Hagens Berman urges investors with substantial losses to submit their information now.

The Lawsuit’s Core Allegation: Concealed Inventory Destocking

The lawsuit centers on the claim that James Hardie executives made assurances that the North America segment remained strong and that distributor inventory levels were normal. The complaint alleges that management knew by April and early May 2025 that distributors were aggressively destocking (reducing) inventory, yet continued to mislead investors by touting sales that were allegedly inflated by inventory loading rather than genuine demand.

“The complaint alleges that James Hardie repeatedly used terms like robust and normal to describe demand and inventory, while allegedly knowing the channel was overloaded and struggling,” said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm’s investigation. “Our investigation is sharply focused on management’s knowledge and decision-making during that critical period. With the December 23 deadline only two weeks away, we urge investors with significant losses to contact the firm now to discuss the investigation and their rights.”

Timeline and Key Details:

IssuerJames Hardie Industries plc (JHX)Class PeriodMay 20, 2025 – August 18, 2025Lead Plaintiff DeadlineDecember 23, 2025Stock Drop EventStock fell over 34% on August 20, 2025, after the company disclosed a 12% decline in North America sales due to customer destocking.   Next Steps for James Hardie (JHX) Investors:

Investors who purchased James Hardie stock (JHX) between May 20, 2025, and August 18, 2025, and suffered substantial losses, are encouraged to contact Hagens Berman immediately to discuss their legal options and potential appointment as Lead Plaintiff.

TO SUBMIT YOUR JAMES HARDIE (JHX) LOSSES NOW, PLEASE USE THE SECURE FORM BELOW:

Submit your JHX losses nowContact: Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected]: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hXU4zX9asY
To read more about the issue facing JHX investors, Alleged Inventory Deception: Investors Claim James Hardie Concealed Weak Demand, or visit, https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-plc-jhx-securities-class-action

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding James Hardie should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].

About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman’s team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.

Contact:
Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895

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.

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JAKARTA, Indonesia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE HealthCare (Nasdaq: GEHC) today announced it will supply more than 300 CT (computed tomography) scanners under Indonesia's Strengthening Indonesia's Health Referral Network (SIHREN) program to deliver equitable, high-quality care to more than 280 million Indonesians. As part of a competitively awarded, multi-year contract, GE HealthCare will supply the advanced CT scanners to public hospitals across all 38 provinces, including urban and remote areas. The.

Investors liked what the CFO had to share.

Buy-now/pay-later (BNPL) leader Affirm (AFRM +11.73%) is on the move again, jumping 10.2% on Tuesday as the company benefited from a broad upswing in BNPL and fintech stocks, in part on a weaker-than-expected jobs report, which could persuade the Federal Reserve to continue to lower interest rates.

However, Affirm also provided some details on its business, including its five-year partnership extension with Amazon in a fireside chat with CFO Rob O'Hare that seemed to please investors.

Image source: Getty Images.

What's behind Affirm's pop
The gains in Affirm stock came in two stages on Tuesday. The stock surged at the open, seemingly in response to a downbeat jobs report, and then jumped again after noon, which appeared to be prompted by comments from the fireside chat today.

Other BNPL and fintech stocks, including Sezzle and Lemonade, also jumped today, benefiting from a share buyback announcement and an upgrade, respectively. Investors may see the jobs report as a boon for the BNPL sector as it could lower interest rates, which tends to encourage borrowing, and a challenging job market could spur demand for BNPL loans, which is good for Affirm as long as its credit model holds up.

CFO O'Hare said that the business is performing in line with expectations and he was bullish on continued share gains even as the company faces difficult comparisons in the e-commerce market. He also called the Amazon renewal a "win-win," saying that terms would remain mostly the same and that the partnership has driven new customers for both businesses.

Affirm originally announced the five-year extension with Amazon in its third-quarter earnings report in November. O'Hare also dismissed third-party data that led to a 7% decline last week as having "significant tracking errors," and said the company is delivering healthy quarter-to-date trends.

In response to the update, the BNPL stock got a bullish note from Evercore ISI, which reiterated its outperform rating and maintained a price target of $95.

Today's Change

(

11.73

%) $

7.70

Current Price

$

73.36

Is Affirm a buy?
The BNPL sector is still risky, and there's a reason why investors have treated these stocks cautiously. Despite their growth rates, credit risk is likely to rise if the labor market continues to struggle, and there are signs of weakness in the credit market, including rising auto delinquencies.

Overall, Affirm is delivering strong growth, with revenue up 34%, and it is profitable with a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) operating margin of 7% in its most recent quarter. The Amazon extension also reaffirms its industry leadership.

Credit trends remained steady in the quarter as well, and delinquency rates are in line with previous years. Overall, getting some exposure to Affirm isn't a bad idea for growth stock investors, but they should also be mindful of the credit risk facing the company, given the volatility in the economy.