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The Invesco QQQ ETF has plunged and moved below the 200-day moving average as concerns about the equities market rose. The fund, which tracks the popular Nasdaq 100 index, dropped to a low of $480, down by almost 10% from its highest level this year. So, what next for the blue-chip tech ETF?

QQQ ETF technical analysis

The daily chart shows that the QQQ ETF surged to a record high of $540 in February and then suffered a harsh reversal to the current $490. It formed a double-top chart pattern at around $540, and has now retreated below the neckline at $499. A double top is one of the most bearish patterns in the market. 

The QQQ stock has crashed below the important support at $500, the highest swing in July 2024. Most importantly, it has moved below the 200-day Weighted Moving Average (WMA) and is now attempting the 200-day Weighted Moving Average (WMA).

The WMA indicator is seen as a more accurate moving average because it focuses mostly on the most recent period. Moving below that level is usually a bearish sign in the market. 

Further, the Relative Vigor Index (RVI), Percentage Price Oscillator (PPO), and the Awesome Oscillator (PPO) have all pointed downwards. 

The index will likely continue falling as sellers target the extreme oversold level of the Murrey Math Lines point at $453. That price action would point to about 7.5% decline from the current level.

On the flip side, a move above the crucial resistance level at $515 will invalidate the bearish thesis in the market. 

QQQ ETF stock chart | Source: TradingView

Why the Nasdaq 100 index has crashed

There are three main reasons why the Nasdaq 100 index has crashed in the past few weeks. First, the most obvious reason is that Donald Trump has decided to go full-throttle with implementing tariffs against key allies like Canada and Mexico and foes like China. These 25% tariffs will likely lead to substantial challenges for companies and individuals. 

Trump is not backing down as he has promised to implement reciprocal tariffs in April. These tariffs involve implementing similar tariffs to those other countries levy on the United States. While some tariffs may drop in this case, there is a likelihood that many others will go up.

US GDP growth concerns

Second, the QQQ ETF has crashed as concerns about the US economy remain, with a model by the Atlanta Fed estimating that the economy will contract by 2.4% in the first quarter. This model uses data from the Census Bureau, the Institute of Supply Management (ISM), and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to predict the economic growth in a period. 

A weak economic growth is, in theory, bullish for the Nasdaq 100 index because it signals that the Federal Reserve will need to act and start cutting interest rates. Indeed, the falling bond yields and the US dollar index signal that most analysts anticipate that the Federal Reserve will deliver more cuts this year. 

The risk this time is that the economy is contracting as inflation remains elevated. Recent data showed that the headline consumer price index (CPI) rose to 3% in January.

AI bubble starting to burst?

The other main concern is that the AI industry that has boosted US tech stocks in the past few years is starting to burst as growth slows. One key issue is that Chinese companies like DeepSeek, Tencent, and Alibaba are using fairly cheap technology to build highly advanced AI models. 

These fears explain why the top AI stocks have started to plunge. Palantir stock price has crashed by about 35% from its highest level this year, while NVIDIA is down by 26%. Other smaller AI stocks like SoundHound and C3.ai have plunged by double digits. Therefore, the market will likely need a new catalyst to continue doing well.

The post QQQ ETF stock forecast as Nasdaq 100 index crashes below 200 EMA appeared first on Invezz

The artificial intelligence (AI) industry has propelled the US equities market in the past few years. Its strong growth has helped to propel many companies higher, with NVIDIA’s market cap jumping to over $3 trillion. 

Recently, however, there are signs that the AI bubble is bursting, which will affect some of the top performers. This article highlights the top AI stocks to sell to avoid long-term losses.

AI stocks to sell now to avoid losses

Investors are typically driven by fear and greed. As such, these investors tend to crowd sectors showing substantial promise. In the late 1990s, the theme was dot-com companies that were doing well. This ended in early 2000s as the dot com bubble burst. 

Most recently, cannabis stocks like Tilray Brands, Cronos, and Canopy Growth surged as investors anticipated that the indusry would boom after the US legalization. All these stocks have tanked, with the MSOS ETF that tracks the biggest American companies in the industry, falling by over 94% from its all-time high.

Read more: Whatever happened the cannabis stock bubble? What next?

The electric vehicle industry is another one that boomed as many companies sought to mirror Tesla’s performance. Today, most EV stocks like Rivian and Lucid have imploded, while companies like Canoo and Fisker have filed for bankruptcy. 

This view can also be explained in terms of the Wyckoff Theory, which identifies the four phases that stocks go through. Stocks initially go through the accumulation phase, followed by the markup where stocks surge as the fear of missing out (FOMO) intensifies. They then go through the distribution and the markup. 

Some of the top AI stocks to sell to avoid huge losses in the future are Palantir Technologies (PLTR), SoundHound AI (SOUN), and CrowdStrike (CRWD).

Palantir Technologies (PLTR)

Palantir Technologies is one of the top AI stocks to sell to avoid losses in the long term. It has already crashed by over 30% since our last warning on the company. 

The main issue with Palantir is its valuation considering that its market cap surged to over $230 billion recently. It has now retreated to about $200 billion but remains highly overvalued. 

While Palantir Technology’s business is booming its forward PE ratio of 147 is much higher than the S&P 500 index average of 22. It is also much higher than other companies in the index that are doing well. 

Palantir is still growing, with analysts expecting that the revenue will grow by 37% in Q1 and 32% in 2025. Even with this growth, it is hard to justify this valuation. There are also signs that the stock has moved into the distribution phase of the Wyckoff Theory.

CrowdStrike (CRWD)

CrowdStrike is one of the top AI stocks to sell before it drops further. It has already plunged by over 27% from its highest level this year, and is hovering at its lowest level since November last year.

CrowdStrike’s business is doing well, with its revenue rising by 25% to $1.06 billion in the fourth quarter. Its annual recurring rate rose by 23% to $4.24 billion. Analysts expect that the revenue will grow by 21% this year and 21.85% in 2026. However, its valuation is still high since it has a forward PE ratio of 97, much higher than the S&P 500 average of 21.

Read more: Why CrowdStrike’s weaker guidance could be a smart buying signal

SoundHound AI (SOUN)

SoundHound is another top AI stock to sell even as it plunged by over 60% from its all-time high. The most recent results showed that the company’s business was still doing well as its revenue rose by 101% to $34.5 million. 

This revenue growth brought its annual figure to over $84 million. Analysts expect that its revenue will grow by 96% this year to $166 million, followed by $215 million next year.

The challenge, however, is whether the company can continue its momentum profitably now that competition is rising.

The post AI bubble is bursting: top AI stocks to sell to avoid long-term losses appeared first on Invezz

Several Republican senators have taken issue with the American Bar Association (ABA) and are calling for President Donald Trump to take drastic action against the group. In a letter to ABA President William Bay, lawmakers said the group, which plays a key role in judicial nominations, had become ‘biased and ideologically captured.’ Now, those lawmakers want President Trump to ‘remove the ABA from the judicial nomination process entirely.’

Sen. Eric Schmitt, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Sen. Josh Hawley, Sen. Bernie Moreno and Sen. Mike Lee are also calling on their fellow senators to ‘disregard the ABA’s recommendations.’

In the explosive letter there are allegations, including that the ABA has taken political stances against the Trump administration and that the group has been quiet about its taking funds from USAID. The federal aid group has been a target of the Trump administration, something the ABA has criticized.

‘The ABA states, ‘Americans expect better.’ But President Trump won both electoral and popular votes. It seems Americans expect — and want — the Trump administration,’ the senators’ letter reads.

Sen. Schmitt tweeted out the letter along with several criticisms of the ABA’s recent actions and statements. In particular, Schmitt took issue with statements the ABA published on Feb. 10 and March 3, both of which were critical of the Trump administration.

‘It has been three weeks since Inauguration Day. Most Americans recognize that newly elected leaders bring change. That is expected. But most Americans also expect that changes will take place in accordance with the rule of law,’ the ABA wrote in its Feb. 10 statement. Additionally, the Feb. 10 statement condemns the ‘dismantling of USAID.’

The senators reference this statement in their letter, saying that the ABA made ‘inflammatory claims’ against the Trump administration ‘without citing legal reasoning for those arguments.’  One of these claims is that the ‘dismantling of USAID’ is illegal, but the senators note that the ABA does not explain why these actions are not permitted under the law.

‘It is questionable whether the ABA is committed to defending liberty or its own sources of funding,’ the senators wrote, referring to the organization’s defense of USAID.

The lawmakers also criticized the ABA’s March 3 statement in which the group slams purported ‘efforts to undermine the courts.’ In their letter, the lawmakers note that the association did not issue any statements against former President Joe Biden when he defied the Supreme Court on student loan forgiveness.

In their letter, the senators call out the ABA’s implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion policies, which the Trump administration has been working to root out of the government.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s warning of a terrorist takeover in Syria looks to be coming true amid reports that al Qaeda-linked terror forces aligned with Syria’s interim new president—a former al Qaeda terrorist—are being accused of massacring Alawites as well as members of the country’s dwindling Christian community. 

Syrian security forces and affiliated gunmen have killed more than 340 civilians, the vast majority of them from the Alawite minority, over the last two days, Rami Abdulrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told Reuters on Saturday.

At Gabbard’s Senate confirmation hearing she said ‘I have no love for Assad or any dictator. I just hate al-Qaeda. I hate that our leaders cozy up to Islamist extremists, calling them ‘rebels’, as Jake Sullivan said to Hillary Clinton, ‘al Qaeda is on our side in Syria.’ Syria is now controlled by al-Qaeda offshoot HTS, led by an Islamist Jihadist who danced in the streets on 9/11, and who was responsible for the killing of many American soldiers.’

An Alawite woman from the region of Al-Ghab plain, where there is a majority Alawite population, told Fox News Digital that the forces said, ‘Alawites are pigs, and they have to execute all of them and the small children before the elderly people.’ 

The witness spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal from the authorities. She said that two militias had entered her house on Thursday and searched her residence for weapons. One of the members ‘put a gun to my head and asked for all my money. They took all the money and took money from our neighbors.’

She confirmed reports that the Islamist forces murdered the prominent Alawite 86-year-old cleric Shaaban Mansour and his son Hussein Shaaban. Reuters reported that Mansour was killed on Friday with his son in the village of Sahlab in western Syria. Residents there accused fighters aligned with Damascus of killing them.

A sizable Christian population living in the area has also reportedly been under attack. Greco-Levantines Worldwide media reported that a young family, including their infant child, was killed on Friday.  A father and son, Tony and Fadi Petrus, were also executed by Islamists.

The witness said that in other Alawite towns—Nahr al-Bared and Deir Shamil—the Islamist militias ‘are entering houses and killing people and stealing everything. They are covering their faces.’ 

‘I feel there is no safety. There is no homeland. There is nowhere to escape to, and no one to defend us. I feel fear and horrifying feelings.’

The witness added that the Islamists are Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other such groups affiliated with HTS, who stormed her region. She said HTS terrorists were Syrian Arabs, because of their spoken Arabic.

Ahmed al-Sharaa and his group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a U.S.-designated Sunni terrorist organization, toppled the former Syrian President Bashar Assad in December. Assad is a member of the Alawite minority, an offshoot of Shiite Islam. The Alawites comprise roughly 10% of the Syrian population.

The Alawite source told Fox News Digital that the community is seeking support from the U.S., noting that the Islamists ‘want to kill all of us. They don’t want us in Syria. We have to flee Syria. They are seeking revenge from the former regime. I am asking for protection and to live in dignity, because we can be killed at any moment.’ 

One Alawite, who asked to remain anonymous, and who lives in Europe and is in constant contact with her community in Syria, claimed that in the coastal region and Alawite, more than 4,000 people are estimated to have been killed. She claimed to have received lists of people from Alawites who have documented the mass murder.

She and her group wrote on Telegram that al-Sharaa’s ‘fighters have unleashed a wave of terror against civilians in Syria’s coastal cities. Reports from Alawite community sources indicate hundreds of casualties, with Christians also among the victims.’

In his first comments on the violence, interim President al-Sharaa said that government forces would pursue ‘remnants’ of the ousted Bashar Assad government.

‘We will continue to pursue the remnants of the fallen regime. . . . We will bring them to a fair court, and we will continue to restrict weapons to the state, and no loose weapons will remain in Syria,’ Sharaa added in a pre-recorded speech.

The U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, European politicians and diplomats from the former Biden administration have sought to woo Sharaa with sanctions relief and diplomatic relations since December. Critics argue that a former Islamic State and al-Qaeda terrorist, Sharra, can’t simply sport a suit and pretend he has abandoned his terrorist ideology and methods.

Just two days before the slaughter of Alawites, Guterres met with Sharaa on Tuesday in Cairo where they discussed views about a new course for Syria.

While an official statement has yet to come from the U.N. chief, his special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said he was ‘deeply concerned’ by the reports of killings.

A group of Alawite clerics, the Alawite Islamic Council, blamed the violence on the government, saying that fighters had been sent to the coast ‘with the pretext of (combating) ‘regime remnants,’ to terrorize and kill Syrians.’ It called for the region to be put under U.N. protection.

Syrian authorities said the violence began when remnants loyal to Assad launched a deadly and well-planned attack on their forces on Thursday.

The violence has shaken Sharaa’s efforts to consolidate control as his administration struggles to get U.S. sanctions lifted and grapples with wider security challenges, notably in the southwest, where Israel has said it will prevent Damascus from deploying forces.

The violence spiraled on Thursday when the authorities said groups of Assad-aligned militias had targeted security patrols and checkpoints in the Jableh area and surrounding countryside, before spreading.

Moussa al-Omar, a Syrian media figure close to the country’s new leadership, told Reuters that tens of thousands of fighters in Syria’s newly constituted security forces had been deployed to the coast in the operation and that order had been largely restored as of Friday night.

He said the crackdown was ‘a message to anyone in the south or east of Syria that the state . . . is capable of a military resolution at any time, even as it seeks peaceful solutions.’

Alawite activists say their community has been subjected to violence and attacks, particularly in rural Homs and Latakia, since Assad was overthrown in December after decades of repressive family rule and civil war.

Saudi Arabia condemned ‘crimes being undertaken by outlaw groups’ in Syria and their targeting of security forces.

Turkey, a close ally of Syria’s new government, also stated its support for Damascus, saying, ‘The tension in and around Latakia, as well as the targeting of security forces, could undermine the efforts to lead Syria into the future in unity and solidarity.’

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz blasted Syria’s Islamist rulers on Friday for their campaign to smash a nascent insurgency by fighters from ousted President Assad’s Alawite group.

‘[Abu Mohammed] al-Julani switched his robe for a suit and presented a moderate face,’ Katz said in a statement on X, using the nom de guerre of Ahmed al-Sharaa. ‘Now he’s taken off the mask and exposed his true face: A jihadist terrorist of the al-Qaeda school who is committing horrifying acts against a civilian population.’

Katz added, ‘Israel will defend itself against any threat from Syria. We will remain in the security zones and Mount Hermon and protect the communities of the Golan and Galilee. We will ensure that southern Syria remains demilitarized and free of threats, and we will protect the local Druze population—anyone who harms them will face our response.’

The Syrian Alawite source in Europe told Fox News Digital that the Alawites want Israel to protect them like Israel’s offer of aid to the Syrian Druze population, who are also being targeted by the Islamist government in Damascus.

Reuters contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Congressional negotiators have released a bill that, if passed, will avert a partial government shutdown during the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s term.

The 99-page legislation would roughly maintain current government funding levels through the beginning of fiscal year (FY) 2026, which begins Oct. 1. The current deadline to avert a shutdown is Friday, March 14.

House GOP leaders are confident that they can pass a bill to keep the government funded with Republican votes alone, something that has not been achieved since they took over the chamber majority in January 2023.

But on a call with reporters on Saturday morning, House Republican leadership aides emphasized that the bill was ‘closely coordinated’ with the White House – while stopping short of saying Trump backed the measure completely, noting he has not reviewed the specific pages yet.

It includes an additional $8 billion in defense dollars in an apparent bid to ease national security hawks’ concerns, while non-defense spending that Congress annually appropriates would decrease by about $13 billion.

There’s also an added $6 billion for healthcare for veterans.

The White House has requested additional spending in areas that were not present in the last government funding extension, known as ‘anomalies.’

Among the anomalies requested by Trump and being fulfilled by the bill is added funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Aides said the funding is meant to meet ‘an operations shortfall that goes back to the Biden administration.’

‘That money, most of that, has already been obligated prior to the start of this administration. So that request reflects an existing hole,’ a source said.

The bill also ensures that spending caps placed under a prior bipartisan agreement, the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), are followed. The FRA mandated no more than a 1% federal spending increase in FY 2025. 

Cuts to non-defense discretionary spending would be found by eliminating some ‘side deals’ made during FRA negotiations, House GOP leadership aides said. Lawmakers would also not be given an opportunity to request funding for special pet projects in their districts known as earmarks, another area that Republicans are classifying as savings.

Overall, it provides for $892.5 billion in discretionary federal defense spending, and $708 billion in non-defense discretionary spending.

‘Discretionary spending’ refers to dollars allocated by Congress on an annual basis, rather than mandatory spending obligations like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

The bill is what’s known as a continuing resolution (CR), which differs from Congress’ annual appropriations bills in that it just extends the previous fiscal year’s government funding levels and priorities.

It would be the third and final CR extending FY 2024 numbers, through the remainder of FY 2025. Republicans believe it will put them in the best possible position to negotiate conservative government funding priorities in time for Oct. 1.

The previous two extensions were passed under the Biden administration, when Democrats controlled the Senate.

And while some Democratic support is needed to reach the Senate’s 60-vote threshold, it’s very possible Republicans will have to carry it through the House alone with their razor-thin majority.

House Democrats traditionally vote to avoid government shutdowns. Now, however, Democratic leaders are directing lawmakers in the lower chamber to oppose the Republican CR.

In a joint letter to colleagues sent on Friday, House Democratic leaders accused Republicans of trying to cut Medicare and Medicaid through their CR – despite it being the wrong mechanism to alter such funds.

‘Republicans have decided to introduce a partisan continuing resolution that threatens to cut funding for healthcare, nutritional assistance and veterans benefits through the end of the current fiscal year,’ the statement said. ‘House Democrats would enthusiastically support a bill that protects Social Security, Medicare, veterans health and Medicaid, but Republicans have chosen to put them on the chopping block to pay for billionaire tax cuts.’

But House GOP leaders will need to work to convince nearly all Republican lawmakers to support the bill – despite a history of dozens of conservative defections on CRs over the last two years.

At least one Republican has already signaled he will oppose it. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who has voted against CRs previously, wrote on X last week, ‘I am a NO on the CR. Congress needs to do its job and pass a conservative budget! CR’s are code for Continued Rubberstamp of fraud, waste, and abuse.’

GOP leaders are hoping their close coordination with the White House and a blessing from Trump, however, will be enough to sway remaining holdouts. 

While he has not weighed in on the specific bill, Trump posted on Truth Social this week, ‘I am working with the GREAT House Republicans on a Continuing Resolution to fund the Government until September to give us some needed time to work on our Agenda.’

‘Conservatives will love this Bill, because it sets us up to cut Taxes and Spending in Reconciliation, all while effectively FREEZING Spending this year,’ Trump wrote.

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Several Republican senators have taken issue with the American Bar Association (ABA) and are calling for President Donald Trump to take drastic action against the group. In a letter to ABA President William Bay, lawmakers said the group, which plays a key role in judicial nominations, had become ‘biased and ideologically captured.’ Now, those lawmakers want President Trump to ‘remove the ABA from the judicial nomination process entirely.’

Sen. Eric Schmitt, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Sen. Josh Hawley, Sen. Bernie Moreno and Sen. Mike Lee are also calling on their fellow senators to ‘disregard the ABA’s recommendations.’

In the explosive letter there are allegations, including that the ABA has taken political stances against the Trump administration and that the group has been quiet about its taking funds from USAID. The federal aid group has been a target of the Trump administration, something the ABA has criticized.

‘The ABA states, ‘Americans expect better.’ But President Trump won both electoral and popular votes. It seems Americans expect — and want — the Trump administration,’ the senators’ letter reads.

Sen. Schmitt tweeted out the letter along with several criticisms of the ABA’s recent actions and statements. In particular, Schmitt took issue with statements the ABA published on Feb. 10 and March 3, both of which were critical of the Trump administration.

‘It has been three weeks since Inauguration Day. Most Americans recognize that newly elected leaders bring change. That is expected. But most Americans also expect that changes will take place in accordance with the rule of law,’ the ABA wrote in its Feb. 10 statement. Additionally, the Feb. 10 statement condemns the ‘dismantling of USAID.’

The senators reference this statement in their letter, saying that the ABA made ‘inflammatory claims’ against the Trump administration ‘without citing legal reasoning for those arguments.’  One of these claims is that the ‘dismantling of USAID’ is illegal, but the senators note that the ABA does not explain why these actions are not permitted under the law.

‘It is questionable whether the ABA is committed to defending liberty or its own sources of funding,’ the senators wrote, referring to the organization’s defense of USAID.

The lawmakers also criticized the ABA’s March 3 statement in which the group slams purported ‘efforts to undermine the courts.’ In their letter, the lawmakers note that the association did not issue any statements against former President Joe Biden when he defied the Supreme Court on student loan forgiveness.

In their letter, the senators call out the ABA’s implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion policies, which the Trump administration has been working to root out of the government.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Vice President JD Vance said Saturday he was confronted by pro-Ukrainian protesters while he was out walking with his 3-year-old daughter. 

‘Today while walking my 3 year old daughter a group of ‘Slava Ukraini’ protesters followed us around and shouted as my daughter grew increasingly anxious and scared,’ Vance posted Saturday afternoon on X. 

‘I decided to speak with the protesters in the hopes that I could trade a few minutes of conversation for them leaving my toddler alone,’ he continued. ‘Nearly all of them agreed.’ 

Vance said it was a ‘mostly respectful conversation, but if you’re chasing a 3-year-old as part of a political protest, you’re a s— person.’ 

‘Slava Ukraini’ is a battle cry for the Ukrainian armed forces, meaning ‘Glory to Ukraine.’ 

While the vice president didn’t specify what he talked to the protesters about, the Trump administration has cut off funding in the last week for Ukraine and stopped intelligence sharing with the country after a tense Oval Office exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump and Vance. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to the vice president’s office for comment.

Tensions rose during the Oval Office meeting Feb. 28 over a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine after Zelenskyy said Russian President Vladimir Putin couldn’t be trusted and had breached other agreements.

Trump and Vance then accused Zelenskyy of not being grateful for the support the U.S. has provided over the years and said the Ukrainian leader was in a ‘bad position’ at the negotiating table. 

‘You’re playing cards,’ Trump said. ‘You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III. You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country.’

After Vance told Zelenskyy Ukraine had manpower and military recruiting problems, Zelenskyy said war means ‘everybody has problems, even you,’ adding the U.S. would feel the war ‘in the future.’

‘Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel,’ Trump responded. ‘We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.’

Zelenskyy was asked to leave the White House after the exchange, a scheduled news conference was canceled and a deal for Ukraine to give the U.S. its rare earth minerals was left unsigned. 

The White House has said Zelenskyy must publicly apologize for the Oval Office meeting or the minerals deal won’t be considered. 

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy called the meeting ‘regrettable’ and said he is ready to pursue peace with Trump’s help. 

Vance was also met by protesters last weekend, when his family went on a ski vacation in Vermont a day after the Feb. 28 exchange. 

The protesters called him a ‘traitor’ and told him to ‘go ski in Russia.’ 

Liberal commentator Tim Miller criticized Vance over his X post Saturday, writing, ‘Dozens are dead in Ukraine because you stopped giving them the intelligence that protected the country from bombs so you can probably handle some yelling in a free country boss.’ 

On Friday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was considering ‘large-scale’ sanctions on Russia ‘until a ceasefire and final settlement agreement on peace is reached.’

 ‘Get to the table right now, before it is too late,’ he wrote of Russia and Ukraine.

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XRP price has pulled back in the past few days, and is at risk of further downside after forming a head and shoulders pattern on the daily chart. Ripple was trading at $2.3515 on Saturday, down by over 30% from its highest level this year. This article looks at some of the best XRP rivals under $1 that may soon surge ane help you convert $100 to $1,000.

XRP price prediction

The daily chart shows that the XRP price peaked at $3.4292 in November last year, and has now crashed to $2.3580. It has retreated below the 50-week Weighted Moving Average (WMA), a sign that bears are in control for now.

The most important risk is that the price of Ripple has formed a head and shoulders pattern. Its head is at $3.4292, while the right and left shoulders are around the resistance at $3. XRP’s neckline is at $2. 

Therefore, a crash below the neckline at $2 will signal that there are more sellers left in the market and lead to a strong sell-off. It will be a signal that it has moved into the markdown phase of the Wyckoff Theory.

That drop will likely lead to further downside, with the next point to watch being at $1, which is about $1, which is about 57% below the current level. This outlook will become invalid if the XRP price surges above the shoulders section at $3.

XRP price chart by TradingView

Best XRP rivals under $1 to buy

The best XRP rivals under $1 to consider are the likes of Ethena (ENA), Shiba Inu (SHIB), and Sonic (S).

Ethena (ENA)

Ethena is one of the best XRP rival under $1 to buy and hold this year. It is trading at $0.4440, down by about 67% from its highest level in 2024, making it a bargain at the current level.

To some extent, Ethena is a fairly risky asset to buy because of its similarity with Terra, which imploded in 2022. It offers an algorithmic stablecoin Ethena USDe that gives users a substantial yield. This stablecoin has now accumulated a market cap of $5.4 billion. 

Ethena price will likely bounce back now that it has formed a falling wedge pattern, pointing to a 200% surge to the highest point in January.

Shiba Inu (SHIB)

SHIB price chart by TradingView

Shiba Inu is another popular XRP rival to buy. It is the second-biggest meme coin in crypto and has numerous catalysts. The burn rate is increasing, which is reducing the number of SHIB coins in circulation. 

Shiba Inu, as shown above, has numerous bullish catalysts. It has formed a falling wedge chart pattern, which often leads to a strong bullish breakout. 

Also, the coin has formed a bullish divergence pattern, which forms when oscillators like the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is rising as the price falls. The Average Directional Index (ADX) has fallen, meaning that the downward trend is fading. Therefore, there is a likelihood that the SHIB price will bounce back soon. 

Sonic (S)

Sonic is another good quality XRP rival under $1 to buy and hold. It is a newly launched token that rebranded from Fantom. Sonic’s transition has been received well by developers as the total value locked (TVL) in the ecosystem has jumped to over $700 million. 

Some of the biggest players in the network are Silo Finance, Beets, Avalon Labs, Aave, and Shadow Exchange. Sonic’s stablecoin market cap has continued rising in the past few months and currently stands at over $200 million

Therefore, the S token price will likely keep rising as demand from investors and traders remain elevated. 

Other Ripple rivals under $1 to buy

The other top XRP rivals under $1 to buy and hold are Pepe, VeChain, Cronos, Algorand, and Kaspa. These tokens have strong fundamentals and technicals and have a chance of generating strong returns in the longer term.

The post Best XRP rivals under $1 to buy and turn $100 to $1,000 appeared first on Invezz

Gap Inc (NYSE: GAP) was struggling with sales declines, profitability concerns, and loss of cultural relevance amidst an ever-increasing competition in the retail market up until the first half of 2023.

Then it named Richard Dickson its chief executive, hoping the market veteran could revitalise its brands just as he did with Barbie at Mattel.

And the clothing and accessories retailer’s Q4 results last night suggest it was the right decision to onboard Dickson as he’s seeing incredible success in turning around Gap.  

Gap earned 54 cents a share in its recently concluded quarter – up significantly versus 36 cents per share that analysts had forecast.

Gap saw market share gains across all four brands

Gap currently owns three notable names other than its namesake brand: Athleta, Banana Republic, and Old Navy.

Its shares are being rewarded this morning (up 18% in premarket) as all of those brands “gained market share against a backdrop of a declining apparel industry,” chief executive Richard Dickson revealed in an interview on Friday.

Plus, the New York listed firm saw an uptick across all income cohorts as well, with lower income groups contributing the most to overall market share gains in Q4.

Despite today’s rally, Gap stock is down some 7.0% versus its year-to-date high in late January.

Gap chief executive downplays tariffs impact

Speaking with Jim Cramer, the company’s chief executive also downplayed the potential impact of higher tariffs the Trump administration has announced on Canada, Mexico, and China.

The apparel and accessories retailer relies on China for nearly 10% of its products while it sources less than 1.0% of the assortments from Canada and Mexico combined.

Richard Dickson also confirmed that Gap will continue to diversify its supply chain to further minimise the effect of tariffs on its customers.

“We’re going to be working hard to continue the momentum that we have. Tariffs cost inputs, these are all the day-to-day of doing business,” he added.

Gap stock rallies on upbeat future guidance

Investors are cheering Gap’s quarterly report also because its management offered upbeat full year guidance despite the broader concerns of higher tariffs.

The company based out of San Francisco, California, now sees its sales climbing as much as 2.0% this year. Analysts, in comparison, had called for the revenue to remain flat in 2025.

“The brand campaigns and collaborations are attracting a new generation to Gap while reinforcing the brand to those who loved us for years,” said CEO Dickson in the earnings release.  

Wall Street seems to share his optimism on what the future holds for Gap shares, considering the consensus rating currently sits at “overweight”.

Analysts see upside in the retail stock to nearly $29 on average, which indicates potential for more than 20% upside on top of today’s gains.

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The global coffee trade is facing an unprecedented crisis as soaring prices disrupt supply chains and force roasters to scale back purchases.

A 70% surge in Arabica coffee futures since November has left traders, roasters, and retailers grappling with uncertainty, with buyers unwilling to commit to large orders.

The situation has prompted major players to rethink their strategies as coffee warehouses remain understocked, and negotiations with retailers stall.

At the US National Coffee Association’s annual convention in Houston this week, traders and roasters warned that the supply crunch could have lasting consequences for the industry.

While higher prices typically indicate profitability for coffee producers, this time, buyers are reluctant to absorb costs, limiting the flow of coffee through supply chains.

Industry leaders now face difficult choices as they weigh the impact of prolonged volatility on global coffee markets.

Retailers push back as roasters cut purchases

Coffee roasters worldwide are reducing their purchasing volumes, with some unable to sell their expected annual production.

Renan Chueiri, director general at Ecuador’s ELCAFE C.A., noted that his company has only sold 30% of its projected output this year—an unprecedented situation.

Many buyers, he said, are struggling with liquidity and cannot afford to buy at current prices.

Retailers are also resisting price increases, making it difficult for roasters to pass on higher costs. Some supermarkets and grocery stores are delaying negotiations, leading to shortages on shelves.

A US-based roasting executive said some of his clients fear they will be unable to sell coffee at the new prices, forcing them to reconsider their business models.

In response to the crisis, traders are adopting cautious strategies.

Deals in Brazil, the world’s top coffee producer, are now conducted under stricter terms.

Buyers only pay after verifying the quality of the beans on-site, a shift that underscores the heightened risk in the market.

This conservative approach has slowed transactions and further strained cash flows across the supply chain.

Supply shortages force warehouse closures

The supply squeeze is evident at major coffee storage hubs in the US, where warehouses near ports are operating at half their usual capacity.

An executive from one of the largest storage firms noted that some companies are returning silos to their owners and terminating leasing agreements early due to the lack of stock. This signals a severe supply crunch that could persist unless production rebounds significantly.

As smaller traders struggle with financing constraints, industry consolidation is accelerating. Larger firms with deeper capital reserves are poised to expand their market share, while smaller businesses may be forced out of the industry.

Michael Von Luehrte, owner of broker MVLcoffee, expects trading firms with greater financial resources to increase their volumes, while those with limited access to credit could struggle to stay afloat.

Brazil’s harvest could end the price rally

Despite the current crisis, some analysts predict that Arabica prices may fall by 30% by the end of the year.

A recent Reuters poll suggests that demand destruction due to high prices and a potentially strong Brazilian harvest in 2025 could stabilise the market.

The expansion of coffee plantations in Brazil, India, Uganda, and Ethiopia may further contribute to a supply recovery, potentially reversing the price surge.

Commodities trader Louis Dreyfus highlighted that an abundant harvest in Brazil, combined with new planting efforts, could lead to a price collapse.

However, this depends on favourable weather conditions and sustained investment in coffee-growing regions.

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