Breaking
Principle Isa Promise
Archive

October 2025

Browsing
Investing

Tech Weekly: Tech Stocks Brush Off US Government Shutdown, Nasdaq Hits Intraday Records

Global equities climbed this week as investors weighed looming risks from the US government shutdown, which delayed the release of essential jobs data on Friday (October 3).

Macro headlines emphasized the possible economic impact. However, despite uncertainty, both the S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) and Wall Street advanced this week, with the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) and Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) touching multiple record intraday highs.

The strength of the technology sector was a key driver behind these gains.

Chipmakers, tech infrastructure companies and artificial intelligence (AI) stocks led the rally, with gains to NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) and other semiconductor stocks underpinning broader market optimism.

The Nasdaq rose about 1.36 percent over the week’s five sessions.

Nasdaq Composite performance, September 29 to October 3, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

3 tech stocks that moved markets this week

1. CoreWeave (NASDAQ:CRWV)

CoreWeave landed up to US$14.2 billion in new business from Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) on the heels of a US$6.5 billion deal with OpenAI. Investors view this as affirmation of CoreWeave’s rising importance in the rapidly growing AI hardware market. CoreWeave climbed 11.6 percent, from US$120.71 to US$134.79, this week.

2. Shopify (NYSE:SHOP)

This Canadian e-commerce company’s shares soared after it received a price target upgrade this week.

TD Securities reinstated its ‘hold’ rating for Shopify and raised its price target from US$130 to US$156, citing strong revenue growth prospects and a strategic partnership with OpenAI to enable merchants to sell products directly through ChatGPT. Shopify’s share price climbed 13.68 percent this week, rising from US$141.75 to US$161.14.

3. Intel (NASDAQ:INTC)

Reports of a major chip-manufacturing agreement between Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) surfaced on Friday. The deal reportedly involves Intel producing AMD-designed chips at its foundries.

The report was well received by investors, contributing to Intel’s strong share price performance and reflecting positive momentum for Intel’s manufacturing capabilities and growth strategy. AMD’s official response was a brief acknowledgment of the ongoing speculation, with no explicit denial. Shares of Intel saw a 6.69 percent increase this week, climbing from US$34.52 to US$36.83. AMD advanced by 2.84 percent.

Shopify, CoreWeave and Intel performance, September 29 to October 3, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

ETF performance

This week, the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SMH) gained 3.68 percent, while the Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXQ) increased by approximately 3.39 percent.

For its part, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) advanced about 3.06 percent.

These gains reflect ongoing investor optimism for AI innovation and infrastructure buildup.

Other tech market news

            Tech news to watch next week

            Despite political wrangling and macro uncertainty, the technology sector has entered the fourth quarter showing positive momentum. AI hardware remains a pivotal theme, while landmark deals and investment rounds underscore bullish sentiment among both corporate insiders and institutional investors.

            Careful navigation of evolving US policy, global supply chain challenges and shifting capital flows will be critical for tech sector leadership as the final quarter of 2025 progresses.

            Next week, investors will await commentary following a planned meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump in Washington on October 6 to negotiate a deal to reduce US tariffs.

            Their meeting precedes a scheduled review of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

            US Federal Reserve discussions and related market updates will continue shaping investor sentiment as markets await more clarity on monetary policy and inflation dynamics. The likelihood of delays in key economic data releases remains high due to the ongoing US government shutdown.

            Q3 earnings from Applied Digital (NASDAQ:APLD), set for release on October 9, will provide insights into the company’s progress on its AI-focused data center expansions. The report could be a key indicator of trends and demand in the rapidly growing AI infrastructure market, potentially influencing broader industry sentiment.

            Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

            This post appeared first on investingnews.com

            Keep Reading
            Investing

            Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Prospector Metals Gains 356 Percent

            The big news impacting markets this week is the shutdown of the US government.

            While lawmakers were trying to find a funding solution, Democratic and Republican lawmakers were at loggerheads over maintaining funding for Medicaid programs. It marks the first time in seven years that the government has been shut down — the last time came during negotiations over the disputed US-Mexico border wall in December 2018.

            President Donald Trump has resolved to use the closure to push through the firing of thousands of federal government employees and cut funding to projects promised by Democrats.

            Additionally, the jobs report, scheduled for release on Friday (October 3), was delayed, causing greater uncertainty for analysts and investors who were trying to gauge the strength of the economy in September.

            Despite the lack of official government data, payroll processor ADP reported a loss of 32,000 jobs in September. The decline represents a significant difference from the 45,000 jobs analysts had expected to be added.

            Lawmakers aren’t scheduled to return to the negotiating tables until early next week.

            For more on what’s moving markets this week, check out our top market news round-up.

            Markets and commodities react

            Canadian equity markets were in positive territory this week by the end of trading Friday.

            The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) continued its record breaking performance this week, gaining 2.33 percent on the week to close Friday at 30,471.68.

            The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) performed even better, ending the week up 4.38 percent to 964.04. The CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) was up 3.3 percent on to close out the week at 180.03.

            The gold price continued to climb this week, setting another new record, as it achieved an intraday high of US$3,893.82 per ounce on Thursday (October 2). It was still up 3.63 percent on the week at US$3,884.19 by Friday’s close.

            The silver price saw more significant gains, rising 6.31 percent to set a year-to-date high of US$48.30 per ounce during trading on Friday before settling at US$47.95 per ounce by 4:00 p.m. EDT.

            The silver price is trading at 14 year highs and has been closing in on records set in April of that year.

            Copper had sizable gains this week as the fallout from the closure of Freeport’s Grasberg mine continued to ripple through the market. The copper price was up 7.13 percent this week to US$5.11 per pound.

            The S&P Goldman Sachs Commodities Index (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) fell 2.12 percent to end Friday at 546.27.

            Top Canadian mining stocks this week

            How did mining stocks perform against this backdrop?

            Take a look at this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.

            Stocks data for this article was retrieved at 4:00 p.m. EDT on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market caps greater than C$10 million are included. Mineral companies within the non-energy minerals, energy minerals, process industry and producer manufacturing sectors were considered.

            1. Prospector Metals (TSXV:PPP)

            Weekly gain: 355.56 percent
            Market cap: C$128.18 million
            Share price: C$1.23

            Prospector Metals is a gold explorer working to advance its flagship ML project in the Yukon, Canada.

            The 10,869 hectare property, situated near Dawson City, is located within the Tintina Gold Belt, which is home to significant historic mining operations and current exploration and development projects.

            Exploration at the site has led to the discovery of more than two dozen high-grade gold surface occurrences, including the Bueno target, which has delivered samples with grades of up to 156 grams per metric ton (g/t).

            Shares of Prospector surged following the release of assay results on Wednesday (October 1). In its announcement, the company reported significant near-surface, high-grade assays, with one highlighted sample returning grades of 13.79 g/t gold over 44 meters, and another showing 21.93 g/t gold over 24.65 meters, including 288 g/t gold over 1 meter.

            2. Sokoman Minerals (TSXV:SIC)

            Weekly gain: 200 percent
            Market cap: C$45.92 million
            Share price: C$0.165

            Sokoman Minerals bills itself as a discovery-oriented company with a portfolio of gold projects and one of the largest land positions in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It also owns a 40 percent stake in the Killick lithium project, a 40/40/20 joint venture with Benton Resources (TSXV:BEX) and Piedmont Lithium (ASX:PLL).

            Its primary focus is its flagship Moosehead gold project, located in Central Newfoundland. The project consists of 98 claims covering 2,450 hectares and hosts an orogenic Fosterville-style gold system, according to Sokoman. The company has defined seven zones with high-grade mineralization through over 130,000 meters of drilling.

            Sokomon reported on September 12 that it planned to start diamond drilling at the site with a focus on testing the Eastern and Western Trend zones for depth extensions, as well as undiscovered parallel zones. Additionally, the company said on September 2 that it had expanded its land position at the Crippleback Lake gold-copper property to 13,000 hectares and planned to mobilize for induced-polarization surveys, sampling and mapping of the site.

            The most recent news from the company came on Monday (September 29), when it announced that Denis Laviolette was appointed to the roles of director, executive chair and CEO. Laviolette joins the company with over two decades of experience in the mining industry, including roles in geology and production, and as an industry analyst.

            The company also announced that Timothy Froude will be transitioning to the role of company president, having previously held both the president and CEO roles. Additionally, Gary Nassif, former senior vice president of Lode Gold Resources (TSXV:LOD,OTCQB:LODFF), was appointed as a director, and Greg Matheson, former COO of New Found Gold (TSXV:NFG,NYSEAMERICAN:NFGC), was named vice president of exploration.

            3. Kesselrun Resources (TSXV:KES)

            Weekly gain: 118.18 percent
            Market cap: C$10.82 million
            Share price: C$0.12

            Kesselrun Resources is an explorer working to advance the Huronian gold project in Ontario, Canada.

            The project is located in a region with significant exploration and mining assets, including Agnico Eagle Mines’ (TSX:AEM,NYSE:AEM) Hammond Reef project and New Gold’s (NYSE:NGD,TSX:NGD) Rainy River mine. Historic indicated resources at Huronian are 45,000 ounces of gold, with inferred quantities of 501,000 ounces or gold.

            Shares of Kesselrun surged this week after Gold X2 Mining (TSXV:AUXX,OTCQB:GSHRF) announced on Wednesday that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Kesselrun. Gold X2 said the transaction will give it a 100 percent interest in the Huronian project, which is located adjacent to its own Moss gold project.

            4. Royal Road Minerals (TSXV:RYR)

            Weekly gain: 104.35 percent
            Market cap: C$55.80 million
            Share price: C$0.235

            Royal Road is an exploration company working to advance its Güintar and Margaritas projects and the El Aleman mining concession in Colombia. The company acquired the adjacent Güintar and Margaritas properties, located near Medellin, from major miner AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU,JSE:ANG) in 2019. Since that time, Royal Road has drilled a total of 13,700 meters across 45 drill holes at Güintar, while Margaritas remains untested.

            Assays have produced a highlighted intersection of 1 g/t gold equivalent over 303.7 meters, which includes 2.1 g/t gold, 12.4 parts per million silver and 0.6 percent copper over 62 meters.

            Shares of Royal Road gained this week alongside a pair of news releases. On Monday, the company announced that Rio2 (TSXV:RIO,OTCQX:RIOFF) has acquired approximately 15 percent of Royal Road’s issued and outstanding shares as part of a block trade; they were previously held by a single investor.

            The other release came on Tuesday (September 30), when Royal Road reported that it has engaged with state and local authorities, as well as the local community, to restart work at Güintar and Margaritas.

            5. StrikePoint Gold (TSXV:SKP)

            Weekly gain: 103.85 percent
            Market cap: C$12.06 million
            Share price: C$0.265

            StrikePoint Gold is an explorer with a focus on its Hercules gold project in Nevada, US.

            The 100 square kilometer site, located within the Walker Lane Trend, hosts five drill-tested targets, with over 300 holes. The company acquired the property in August 2024 from Elevation Gold Mining for a total consideration of C$250,000, along with a 3 percent royalty on certain claims. On April 28, the company released results from its spring drilling program, with one highlighted assay returning values of 0.54 g/t gold and 4.62 g/t silver from 32.04 meters below surface; that includes an interval of 1.14 g/t gold and 10.53 g/t silver over 4.57 meters.

            The most recent news from the project was announced on September 23, when StrikePoint said it had received drill permits for the Pony Meadows target. The company noted that it is permitted to mobilize up to three rigs, and will focus on a 2.6 kilometer structure that was revealed during surface exploration.

            StrikePoint said it has two additional permits for the Sirens and Como Comet targets.

            FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

            What is the difference between the TSX and TSXV?

            The TSX, or Toronto Stock Exchange, is used by senior companies with larger market caps, and the TSXV, or TSX Venture Exchange, is used by smaller-cap companies. Companies listed on the TSXV can graduate to the senior exchange.

            How many mining companies are listed on the TSX and TSXV?

            As of May 2025, there were 1,565 companies listed on the TSXV, 910 of which were mining companies. Comparatively, the TSX was home to 1,899 companies, with 181 of those being mining companies.

            Together, the TSX and TSXV host around 40 percent of the world’s public mining companies.

            How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?

            There are a variety of different fees that companies must pay to list on the TSXV, and according to the exchange, they can vary based on the transaction’s nature and complexity. The listing fee alone will most likely cost between C$10,000 to C$70,000. Accounting and auditing fees could rack up between C$25,000 and C$100,000, while legal fees are expected to be over C$75,000 and an underwriters’ commission may hit up to 12 percent.

            The exchange lists a handful of other fees and expenses companies can expect, including but not limited to security commission and transfer agency fees, investor relations costs and director and officer liability insurance.

            These are all just for the initial listing, of course. There are ongoing expenses once companies are trading, such as sustaining fees and additional listing fees, plus the costs associated with filing regular reports.

            How do you trade on the TSXV?

            Investors can trade on the TSXV the way they would trade stocks on any exchange. This means they can use a stock broker or an individual investment account to buy and sell shares of TSXV-listed companies during the exchange’s trading hours.

            Article by Dean Belder; FAQs by Lauren Kelly.

            Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

            Securities Disclosure: I, Lauren Kelly, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

            This post appeared first on investingnews.com

            Keep Reading
            Investing

            Editor’s Picks: Gold Price Sets Sights on US$3,900, Silver Breaks US$48

            The gold price continued to move this week, approaching the US$3,900 per ounce level and setting a fresh all-time high on the back of a US government shutdown.

            The closure came after Congress failed to reach an agreement on a spending bill ahead of the new American fiscal year, which began on Wednesday (October 1).

            Democrats and Republicans are at odds as Democrats push for changes to the bill, including an extension to billions of dollars in Obamacare subsidies; meanwhile, President Donald Trump has threatened thousands of permanent layoffs, not just temporary furloughs.

            This shutdown is the 15th since 1981, and according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, it could continue on until next week as the two sides negotiate. The longest government shutdown happened between 2018 and 2019, during Trump’s first presidency, and lasted for 35 days.

            Part of the reason market watchers see this shutdown as significant is that it will delay the release of the latest nonfarm payrolls report, which was set to come out on Friday (October 3).

            Depending on how long the shutdown lasts, September consumer price index data, which is scheduled for publication on October 15, may also not be on time.

            The US Federal Reserve is due to meet later this month, from October 28 to 29, and normally would use this and other data to help make its decision on interest rates. The central bank cut rates by 25 basis points at its September meeting, and CME Group’s (NASDAQ:CME) FedWatch tool currently shows strong expectations for another 25 basis point reduction at the next gathering.

            Although gold took a breather after nearing US$3,900, it remains historically high, with many market watchers suggesting US$4,000 is in the cards in the near term.

            In the longer term, some experts have even loftier expectations — for example, Adam Rozencwajg of Goehring & Rozenwajg sees a path to a five-figure gold price.

            ‘It’s not going to happen under normal circumstances — it’s not going to happen when everything’s going great. But by the end of this cycle, will we get there? I think we probably will,’ he said.

            It’s also worth touching on silver, which pushed past the US$48 per ounce mark this week. Unlike gold, silver has not yet broken its all-time high during this bull run — it’s pushing up against uncharted territory, raising questions about how high it can go this time.

            On that note, David Morgan of the Morgan Report shared several factors that would tell him the market is reaching a top. Here’s what he said:

            ‘You want to look at exchange-traded fund flows like the GDX, GDXJ, SIL and SILJ. At the same time, more important than almost anything is trading volume at the stock level. When mid-tier and smaller producers suddenly trade three, four or five times their normal daily volume, and prices are rising, that isn’t random. That’s retail money coming back into the market, and fund buying and probably institutions.

            ‘One more layer of confirmation is relative to performance. When the mining sector starts to outperform the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX), which it has, and the Nasdaq (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC), which it has, it’s a telltale sign that the generalist money, not just the hard money crowd, is beginning to rotate in.’

            Bullet briefing — CEO shakeup at Barrick, Newmont

            Barrick Mining (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B) and Newmont (NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM) both announced major executive changes this week, with the CEOs of both companies departing.

            Barrick’s Mark Bristow unexpectedly stepped down from his position on Monday (September 29) after nearly seven years at the helm of the firn. His exit, which was effective immediately, comes after big changes at the firm, including a shift toward copper and an asset divestment program designed to hone the company’s focus on tier-one assets.

            It also follows persistent issues in Mali, where Barrick lost control of its gold-mining complex and had 3 metric tons of the yellow metal seized by the government.

            According to Reuters, Bristow’s handling of that ongoing situation was the final straw that prompted the company’s board to push for a change in leadership.

            Newmont announced the retirement of Tom Palmer the same day. He had held the position since 2019, and will be succeeded by the company’s president and COO. Analysts note that Newmont had been signaling that a succession plan was in the works.

            Similar to Barrick, the company has been in the midst of an extensive program geared at streamlining its portfolio. Newmont acquired Newcrest Mining in 2023, and in February 2024 announced a program to sell non-core assets. It completed the program in April of this year, but has continued to make portfolio adjustments, and to pursue other cost-saving measures.

            Market watchers note that despite efforts to boost efficiency, Barrick and Newmont have both failed to match the performance of their peers during today’s bull market.

            Year-on-year share price performance of major gold miners.

            Chart via Google Finance.

            With gold-mining companies conscious of not repeating missteps made during the precious metal’s last runup, investors will no doubt be keen to see how they perform under new management.

            Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

            This post appeared first on investingnews.com

            Keep Reading
            Politics

            Hawley blasts FDA approval of new abortion drug, cites safety and trust concerns

            Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., accused the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of endangering women’s health, saying the agency approved another chemical abortion drug without the thorough safety review it had promised.

            Hawley argued the move shows both regulatory failure and the influence of a company that refuses to define ‘woman’ in its materials.

            ‘This is shocking. FDA has just approved ANOTHER chemical abortion drug, when the evidence shows chemical abortion drugs are dangerous and even deadly for the mother. And of course 100% lethal to the child,’ he wrote on X on Thursday afternoon.

            Hawley added, ‘FDA had promised to do a top-to-bottom safety review of the chemical abortion drug, but instead they’ve just greenlighted new versions of it for distribution. I have lost confidence in the leadership at FDA.’

            Evita Solutions describes its mission as to ‘normalize abortion’ and make it ‘accessible to all.’ On its website, the company says it ‘believes that all people should have access to safe, affordable, high-quality, effective, and compassionate abortion care, regardless of their race, sex, gender, age, sexuality, income, or where they live.’

            It adds, ‘We know that you can make the best choice for your body.’

            According to the FDA, Evita received approval in a Sept. 30 letter obtained by Reuters.

            In an interview with Fox News Digital, Hawley said the FDA’s decision was even more troubling given that its promised safety review has barely begun.

            ‘I just, I can’t figure out what’s happening at the FDA. I’m totally baffled by it,’ Hawley said.

            Fox News Digital has reached out to the FDA and Evita Solutions for comment on the matter.

            In another post, Hawley blasted the FDA for partnering with a company that ‘doesn’t even believe there is such a thing as a ‘woman.’’

            Evita Solutions now joins GenBioPro in producing the generic version of Mifepristone, the abortion pill originally made by Danco Laboratories. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, a hormone needed to sustain pregnancy, and is followed by misoprostol to complete the process.

            The approval comes as abortion drugs face mounting opposition from conservative lawmakers, religious organizations, and pro-life groups.

            Religious groups like Inspire Investing and Alliance Defending Freedom have campaigned against the drug, while the Restoration of America Foundation (ROAF) has pressed lawmakers for accountability.

            Last month, ROAF called on the Senate Finance Committee to hold Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accountable at a hearing, demanding answers about the removal of safety protocols for the abortion pill Mifepristone.

            In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, ROAF warned that the rollback leaves women more vulnerable and shifts costs to taxpayers. The group said the Biden-era changes endanger women by allowing abortion pills to be prescribed via telehealth and sent through the mail.

            Hawley said the FDA should restore the safeguards put in place under the Trump administration.

            ‘What needs to happen is the FDA needs to get in line with the president’s policy and put back into place the safety regulations President Trump had. Ditch the Biden approach and go back to President Trump’s approach,’ Hawley said.

            Under the Biden administration, the FDA for the first time allowed telehealth prescribing and mail-order delivery of abortion pills. Previously, the agency required Mifepristone to be dispensed in person to screen for complications such as ectopic pregnancy.

            Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr and Reuters contributed to this report.

            This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

            Keep Reading
            Politics

            Federal judge to sentence Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s attempted assassin

            A judge is set to sentence Nicholas Roske on Friday for attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in the weeks leading up to the high court’s landmark Dobbs decision.

            The Department of Justice has asked for 30 years in prison, while Roske’s attorneys have asked for eight years.

            In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors said Roske showed up at Kavanaugh’s house on June 8, 2022, armed with a pistol, ammunition, a knife, a crowbar and tactical gear, intending to kill the conservative justice and three other justices.

            The potential impact of Roske’s conduct was ‘immeasurable and staggering,’ prosecutors said.

            ‘By targeting and planning to kill ‘at least one,’ but ‘shooting for 3’ justices of the Supreme Court, the defendant sought single-handedly and irrevocably to alter an entire branch of the United States government through violence,’ they wrote.

            Roske’s attorneys argued in their own memorandum that three decades in prison, which included terrorism and other enhancements, did not fit the crime.

            Roske pleaded guilty in April to one count of attempting to murder a Supreme Court justice, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

            The defense attorneys noted how Roske called 911 soon after arriving at Kavanaugh’s house and ‘self-reported her plans, intentions, and actions’ instead of moving forward with attacking Kavanaugh.

            Roske’s lawyers also said Roske suffered severe depression and that their client’s ominous online searches about mass shootings and various justices, which the DOJ factored into its sentencing recommendation, were not indicative of an intent to murder multiple justices.

            ‘As any internet user knows, Googling and doom-scrolling, even in dark corners of the internet, does not equate to criminal intent,’ the defense attorneys wrote. ‘A user’s internet content is voluminous, intensely personal, and can easily be taken out of context.’

            Two weeks prior to the sentencing hearing, Roske’s attorneys also notified the court that while their client’s name had not formally changed, Roske wanted to begin going by the name ‘Sophie’ and female pronouns. 

            ‘Out of respect for Ms. Roske, the balance of this pleading and counsel’s in-court argument will refer to her as Sophie and use female pronouns,’ the footnote stated.

            Roske’s sentencing comes at a time when judges have repeatedly raised alarms about threats they have received from ideologically-driven suspects across the political spectrum.

            The attempted assassination in 2022 occurred just two weeks before the Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision overturning Roe v. Wade, an expected decision that had drawn protesters to the Supreme Court building and conservative justices’ houses for weeks leading up to it.

            Last year, an Alaska man named Panos Anastasiou was indicted on charges of sending hundreds of messages to Supreme Court justices that included threats to murder them. 

            Anastasiou stands accused of making specific threats toward six justices of shooting, strangling, ‘lynching’ and beheading them.

            This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

            This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

            Keep Reading
            Politics

            GOP rising star exposes how Biden admin was targeting him through controversial surveillance program

            Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., revealed to Fox News Digital that he is one of three Republicans in Congress who was surveilled by the Biden administration’s ‘Quiet Skies’ program, a program that has been shut down due to overreach concerns.

            Earlier this week, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chair Rand Paul, R-Ky., convened a hearing examining alleged Biden administration abuse of the program, which was terminated by DHS in June, and revealed that three current Republican members of Congress were surveilled or monitored either as a sitting member or while seeking elected office.

            GOP Rep. Abe Hamadeh tells Fox News Digital he was informed that he was one of those members of Congress and was surveilled in December 2022.

            ‘It sadly doesn’t surprise me,’ Hamadeh explained. ‘At the time, if you remember, I mean banks were shutting down accounts if they promoted conservative viewpoints, if they were selling ammo or guns and the banks were being pressured by the Biden administration. You had social media companies censoring political voices that they didn’t agree with. So it shows you the depths that the federal government, how much sway they have, not just within the bureaucracy of the government, but also with private organizations and private actors as well.‘

            Hamadeh called the timing of his surveillance ‘interesting’ because ‘during the time period that I was challenging the results of my election in 2022 when I was running for attorney general, where that race was decided by 280 votes out of 2.5 million.’

            Hamadeh continued, ‘You know, this is a very legitimate challenge. This is something that both sides of the aisle have done routinely. So you don’t know if that was a factor. And I would assume so, because at the time it was such a hostile environment with President Biden when he was in power. I mean, my God, they were calling MAGA fascists. They were calling us threats to democracy constantly.’

            Hamadeh also called it ‘peculiar’ that he is a former U.S. Army Reserve intelligence officer with top secret clearance who traveled overseas both on deployment and in his personal capacity. 

            The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced in June it would be ending the Quiet Skies program, which left some Americans subject to additional screenings at airport security.

            The department says the agency was overly politicized to either benefit or hurt specific people and ran a bill of roughly $200 million annually. According to DHS, the program kept a watchlist as well as a list of people exempted. The department says Quiet Skies has not prevented any terrorist attacks but will continue to use other methods to assure safe air travel.

            ‘It is clear that the Quiet Skies program was used as a political rolodex of the Biden Administration — weaponized against its political foes and exploited to benefit their well-heeled friends. I am calling for a Congressional investigation to unearth further corruption at the expense of the American people and the undermining of US national security,’ DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.

            The TSA’s ‘Quiet Skies’ program was established in 2010 to identify passengers for enhanced screening on some domestic and outbound international flights.

            Paul said earlier this year that he received records confirming that federal air marshals surveilled now-Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard during domestic flights last year, ‘reporting back information related to her appearance and even how many electronics she was observed using.’ 

            ‘I’m glad to see that the Senate, Senator Rand Paul got to the bottom of it and also that Department of Homeland Security has now effectively terminated the Quiet Skies program as well,’ Hamadeh told Fox News Digital. 

            ‘Also, it’s odd that there’s only three Republican members of Congress that were targeted. I mean, I’m assuming, there’s Democrats who have a lot of interesting travel here that I serve with as well. I’m sure that there are things that would flag them. So it makes you question what the Biden administration, who they were focusing on, who they were targeting specifically. I mean look at Tulsi Gabbard. I mean what? What a complete 180 for now to have her be running the intelligence agencies as the director of national intelligence. And it goes to show you what we were fighting.’

            In a press release earlier this week, Paul commended Noem for ending the program but said the work is ‘not done.’

            ‘We must make sure that this program does not come back under another name. Every official who directed or approved surveillance of Americans for protected speech must be removed from office. Full transparency must become the rule rather than requiring a year of investigation,’ Paul said. ‘The result will be a process that respects the Constitution, ends real life shadow bans against Americans and gives all of us the assurance that our government is focused on protecting us, not on chasing political ghosts.’

            Fox News Digital reached out to Biden’s office for comment.

            Fox News Digital’s Cameron Arcand contributed to this report

            This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

            Keep Reading
            Politics

            Government shutdown enters 3rd day as Senate stalemate over Obamacare subsidies drags on

            The federal government entered its third day of a shutdown without a clear off-ramp in sight as the Senate gears up to once again vote on a short-term funding extension Friday.

            Lawmakers will again vote on the GOP’s continuing resolution (CR) and congressional Democrats’ counter-proposal on Friday. There’s been little movement on Capitol Hill since the last failed vote, given that some either left Washington, D.C., or did not come to the Hill, in observance of Yom Kippur.

            In fact, the Senate floor was open for less than three hours on Thursday, with only a handful of lawmakers giving remarks to a mostly empty chamber.

            Republicans hope that more Senate Democrats will peel off and vote for their bill, but it’s unlikely. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and most of his caucus are firmly rooted in their position that expiring Obamacare tax credits must be dealt with now.

            And Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said he isn’t planning on keeping lawmakers in town over the weekend if the House GOP’s bill fails for a fourth time. Still, bipartisan talks are happening among the rank-and-file members to find some way to reopen the government.

            ‘I’m glad that people are talking,’ Thune said. ‘I think there are a lot of Democrats who want out of this, you know, grapple that Schumer is running now, so I’m hoping that perhaps that will lead somewhere. But it all starts with what I’ve said before, reopen the government, and I think that’s what we got to have … happen first.’

            There are some ideas being tossed back and forth among Senate Republicans and Democrats, like agreeing to work on the subsidies until Nov. 21 under the GOP plan, or compromising on a shorter CR that lasts until Nov. 1 to coincide with the beginning of open-enrollment for Obamacare.

            ‘We’re not asking for a full repair of a broken system,’ Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said. ‘We understand how badly the healthcare system is working, but it’s going to be so much worse if the Republicans continue on this path of cutting healthcare for millions of Americans.’

            Thune threw cold water on the latter idea.

            ‘Well, and what’s the House going to come back and vote on, a one-month as opposed to seven weeks? I mean, think about this right now. We’re really kind of quibbling over pretty, pretty small stuff,’ he said.

            Schumer made clear over the last several days that he wants bipartisan negotiations to craft a funding extension with Democratic and Republican input, but the GOP argues that their bill, which is backed by President Donald Trump, would unlock future bipartisan negotiations on spending bills.

            But Republicans argue that his insistence on negotiating is more about political optics than actually finding a path out of the shutdown.

            ‘This Democrat shutdown is nothing but a cynical political shutdown, with Senator Schumer kowtowing to his radical left-wing extremists,’ Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said on the Senate floor. ‘He’s desperately recoiling, fighting to stave off a primary and to save his party from the piranhas in their own midst.’

            And while talks at the lower level are ongoing, some contend that ultimately it will be Trump’s decision on what happens next.

            Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said on the Senate floor, ‘Unfortunately, right now, our Republican colleagues are not working with us to find a bipartisan agreement to prevent the government shutdown and address the healthcare crisis.’

            ‘We know that even when they float ideas, which we surely do appreciate, in the end, the president appears to make the call,’ Klobuchar said. 

            This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

            Keep Reading
            Politics

            Government shutdown sparks GOP plan to penalize lawmakers with new salary tax

            A Senate Republican wants to ensure that lawmakers feel the pain in their wallets as the federal government shutdown drags on.

            Members of Congress, unlike other federal employees, are guaranteed to get paid during a government shutdown. But Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, wants to impose a tax on lawmakers that would eat away at their paychecks.

            Moreno plans to introduce the Stop Holding Up Taxpayers, Deny Wages On Washington’s Negligence (SHUTDOWN) Act, which would create a new tax specifically for lawmakers.

            The shutdown has trudged on to a third day with no clear off-ramp in sight. The Senate is again set to vote on the GOP’s short-term funding extension on Friday, but Senate Democrats are again expected to block it.

            ‘Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries want to get paid for shutting the government down,’ Moreno said in a statement to Fox News Digital. ‘That’s ridiculous. If Congress can’t do the bare minimum, we don’t deserve a paycheck.’

            Members of Congress on average make $174,000 a year. That number can fluctuate depending on whether a lawmaker is in a leadership position. Preventing lawmakers from getting paid during a shutdown is tricky, however, given that the U.S. Constitution requires them to receive a paycheck even if the government is closed.

            Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution requires that ‘Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.’

            Then there is the 27th Amendment, which was ratified in the 1992, that prevents Congress from passing a law affecting its pay during the current congressional term.

            Moreno’s bill could circumvent those guardrails by imposing a daily tax on lawmakers that would rise each day that members are in session and that a shutdown continues.

            Meanwhile, the likelihood that the shutdown ends this week is low. Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., are firmly rooted in their position that unless a deal is struck on expiring Obamacare tax credits, they’ll continue to block the GOP’s continuing resolution (CR).

            Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., plans to keep bringing the same bill, which the House passed last week, in a bid to chip away at Senate Democrats. So far, only three members of the Democratic caucus — Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, joined Republicans to vote for the bill. 

            This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

            Keep Reading
            Investing

            Minera Alamos Closes Nevada Mine Acquisition, Expands US Gold Footprint

            Minera Alamos (TSXV:MAI,OTCQX:MAIFF) announced that it has completed its purchase of the Pan gold mine and two development-stage projects in Nevada from Equinox Gold (TSX:EQX,NYSEAMERICAN:EQX).

            The Toronto-based company said Wednesday (October 1) that it closed the previously announced transaction to acquire the Pan mine, along with the Gold Rock and Illipah projects in White Pine County.

            Under the terms, Minera Alamos paid Equinox Gold roughly US$88 million in cash and issued nearly 97 million shares, leaving Equinox with a 9.15 percent stake in the company.

            The company also secured a US$25 million gold prepayment facility with Auramet International, structured as a 24-month loan repayable in 7,830 ounces of gold.

            Minera Alamos Chief Executive Darren Koningen said the acquisition provides both immediate production and a pipeline of late-stage assets.

            “We are excited to close this transformational acquisition for Minera Alamos,” Koningen said. “The addition of the Pan gold mine, along with the Gold Rock and Illipah projects, provides immediate production and cash flow while significantly expanding our late-stage project development pipeline.”

            Pan is a heap leach operation that has been producing around 40,000 ounces of gold annually. Combined with development plans at Copperstone, Cerro de Oro, and Gold Rock, Minera Alamos expects to eventually scale production to more than 175,000 ounces a year, according to earlier preliminary assessments.

            Meanwhile, the sale allows Equinox Gold to retain exposure to the Nevada assets through its minority equity stake in Minera Alamos.

            Equinox, which operates multiple mines across the Americas, said earlier it was looking to streamline its portfolio and recycle capital into core projects.

            For Minera Alamos, the addition of the Pan mine provides steady cash flow, while Gold Rock and Illipah add long-term optionality. Both development projects are in Nevada’s Battle Mountain–Eureka trend, a region known for its high concentration of producing gold mines.

            The Nevada acquisition represents the second major financing effort for Minera Alamos in less than two months.

            The company expects near-term contributions from Pan while advancing development work at Gold Rock and Illipah. Construction and permitting activities are underway, with timelines tied to gold market conditions and project economics.

            Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

            This post appeared first on investingnews.com

            Keep Reading
            Investing

            Crypto Market Update: Stablecoin Market Passes US$300 Billion in Fastest Growth Since 2021

            Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (October 3) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.

            Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

            Bitcoin and Ether price update

            Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$120,724, trading 13 percent higher over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$118,777, while its highest was US$121,044.

            Bitcoin price performance, October 3, 2025.

            Chart via TradingView

            Over the next five years, Bitcoin could realistically reach US$200,000 to US$500,000 per coin, according to an emailed note from Bitget Chief Analyst Ryan Lee. Lee sees sustained institutional inflows and broader mainstream adoption as key drivers, with more than 20 percent of global financial institutions expected to integrate Bitcoin exposure.

            Emerging markets, in addition, may increasingly use it as a hedge against inflation, although risks such as geopolitical tensions or technological vulnerabilities could still trigger sharp 30 to 50 percent drawdowns.

            Lee also stressed that, ‘regulatory clarity, particularly from bodies like the SEC and EU’s MiCA framework, will be pivotal in reducing uncertainty and encouraging wider participation, potentially unlocking trillions in sidelined capital if frameworks remain innovation-friendly.’

            Bitcoin dominance in the crypto market is at 56.53 percent, showing a slight week-on-week dip.

            Ether (ETH) is also performing well, up 2.8 percent over 24 hours to US$4,469.84. Ether’s lowest valuation on Friday was US$4,358.45, and its highest was US$4,549.77.

            Momentum indicators are reinforcing the bullish case for ETH. Both the 25-day and 50-day moving averages are acting as resistance, and analysts see a decisive close above US$4,500 as the next trigger. From there, projections point to an 80–100 percent rally into 2026, with Ether’s recent low now looking like a confirmed floor.

            Altcoin price update

            • Solana (SOL) was priced at US$220.16, an increase of 5.4 percent over the last 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Wednesday was US$217.81, and its highest valuation was US$220.69.
            • XRP was trading for US$2.96, up by 3.2 percent over the last 24 hours, and its highest valuation of the day. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$2.92.

            ETF data and derivatives trends

            Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continued to see institutional demand this week. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded roughly US$2.25 billion in weekly inflows, led by BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) (NASDAQ:IBIT), which accounted for the largest single-fund purchases (IBIT bought roughly US$400–470 million on heavy flow days).

            Total assets under management across US Bitcoin spot ETFs are now estimated at about US$155 billion, up from roughly US$100 billion earlier in the year, with major funds such as Fidelity’s (TSX:FBTC) and ARK 21Shares (BATS:ARKB) also posting notable inflows during the same stretch.

            Today’s crypto news to know

            Stablecoin market passes US$300 billion

            The stablecoin market has climbed past US$300 billion for the first time, but analysts caution that current momentum may not be enough to meet future targets.

            Coinbase projects the market will reach US$1.2 trillion by 2028, while Standard Chartered pegs it closer to US$2 trillion and Citi expects more than US$4 trillion by 2030.

            Growth this year has averaged about US$10 billion in new issuance each month — a pace that would take over five years to meet the lower end of forecasts. Tether’s USDT remains the clear leader, holding 58 percent of supply and adding USD$2.6 billion in circulation this week.

            Circle’s USDC and Ethena’s USDe also expanded, while BlackRock’s USD and PayPal’s PYUSD posted some of the strongest percentage gains.

            The growth streak marks the fastest since early 2021, when the sector ballooned nearly 300 percent in half a year.

            Sanctioned rouble stablecoin draws attention at Token2049

            A rouble-pegged stablecoin, already under US and UK sanctions, surfaced as a sponsor of the Token2049 conference in Singapore, according to a Reuters report.

            The token, known as A7A5, was launched in January by a Russian defense-linked lender and a Kyrgyz payments firm, and has been flagged by Western officials as a tool for sanctions evasion.

            Despite this, the company behind A7A5 held a booth at the conference, was listed as a platinum sponsor, and even saw one of its executives speak on stage before references were removed following media inquiries.

            Trading in the token has surged, reflecting rising demand from Russian users locked out of traditional banking systems.

            Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings reach record US$77.4 billion

            Corporate Bitcoin pioneer Strategy has disclosed that its BTC holdings are now worth US$77.4 billion, the highest in its history.

            The company first began buying Bitcoin in 2020, when its position was worth about US$2.1 billion, a move initially seen as radical.

            Since then, its treasury has ridden multiple market cycles, growing to US$5.7 billion by 2021, falling back to US$2.2 billion during the 2022 crash, and then steadily building through consistent purchases.

            By 2023, Strategy’s holdings were valued at US$8 billion, and by 2024 they had reached US$41.8 billion. The 2025 rally, which has pushed Bitcoin above US$124,000, has nearly doubled the value of its stack in less than a year.

            Separately, Strategy secured relief from a looming tax liability after the IRS ruled that unrealized crypto gains will not count toward the 15 percent corporate minimum tax.

            Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

            Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

            This post appeared first on investingnews.com

            Keep Reading