Bitcoin’s rally accelerated this week, with the world’s largest cryptocurrency soaring past $118,000 for the first time in history.  The digital asset is up roughly 26% so far this year, buoyed by strong institutional demand, a favorable political environment under the Trump administration, and an ever-tightening supply outlook. All-Time Highs and Market Momentum Bitcoin briefly touched $118,900 on Friday, eclipsing its previous peak set just a day earlier. At the time of writing, it was trading around $117,400. Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency, hovered near $3,000, reflecting broader enthusiasm across the digital asset market. Cryptocurrency-adjacent equities also moved higher in response. Shares of MicroStrategy ( MSTR ), the largest corporate holder of bitcoin, climbed nearly 3%. Mining firms Marathon Digital ( MARA ) and Riot Platforms ( RIOT ) rose around 2% to 4%. The surge extended gains that have been building since January, with some crypto-linked stocks now up mor...

President Donald Trump’s escalating trade agenda took another sharp turn Thursday night as he threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian imports from 25% to 35%.  The announcement sent a jolt through equity markets and raising fresh concerns about cross-border supply chains. While the White House later clarified that goods compliant with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) would remain exempt—at least for now—the announcement injected renewed volatility into North American trade relations. A 35% Threat—With Exceptions Trump’s tariff announcement, made via social media, cited Canadian “financial retaliation” as the trigger for the increase. According to a White House official, USMCA-compliant goods—often exempt from tariffs entirely—will continue to avoid the full brunt of the measure. Energy products such as crude oil and key agricultural imports like potash fertilizer are also expected to maintain existing lower-duty levels, for now. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded...

Levi Strauss & Co. ( LEVI ) is stepping confidently into the second half of 2025. The iconic denim brand reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter results, raised its full-year outlook, and reassured investors that its transformation strategy is taking hold—despite heightened trade headwinds. The stock jumped more than 11% in Friday morning trading, marking one of its biggest single-day gains in over a year. Earnings Surprise and Revenue Strength Spark Rally For the quarter ended June 1, Levi Strauss delivered net revenues of $1.45 billion, up 6% year over year and comfortably above the $1.37 billion consensus estimate. Adjusted earnings per share more than doubled expectations, coming in at $0.22 versus Wall Street’s projection of $0.13. The strength was broad-based. Direct-to-consumer sales rose 11%, fueled by strong performance in Levi’s owned stores and e-commerce, while the wholesale business grew 3%, posting its third straight quarter of growth. Women's apparel, inte...

In a landmark deal aimed at reshoring critical materials supply, MP Materials ( MP ) announced a sweeping partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The announcement sent its company shares skyrocketing more than 50% Thursday morning. The agreement positions the Pentagon as MP’s largest shareholder and cements the miner’s role at the heart of America’s strategy to regain independence in rare earth elements. Pentagon Buys In, Becomes Largest Shareholder Under the agreement, the Department of Defense will acquire $400 million in preferred stock, convertible into common shares at a price of $30.03. It also receives warrants to purchase additional shares, giving the DoD a potential 15% stake in the company—making it MP’s top shareholder. This public-private partnership marks a milestone in U.S. efforts to reduce reliance on China for critical materials used in technologies ranging from fighter jets to smartphones. MP Materials’ stock hit $45.10 during morning trading, its highe...

Delta Air Lines ( DAL ) delivered a powerful second-quarter performance, handily beating Wall Street expectations and reigniting investor confidence with a reinstated full-year outlook. The stock jumped more than 11% following the results, leading a broad rally in airline shares and signaling a potential turning point for the sector amid improving macroeconomic conditions and rebounding travel demand. Reinstated Guidance and Earnings Strength After withdrawing guidance earlier this year due to tariff-related uncertainty and a murky consumer outlook, Delta restored its full-year earnings forecast, projecting adjusted EPS between $5.25 and $6.25. This marks a notable recovery from its prior withdrawal and comes alongside a projected $3–$4 billion in free cash flow for 2025. The Atlanta-based airline reported $16.65 billion in revenue for the June quarter, slightly ahead of expectations, while GAAP earnings per share came in at $3.27—an eye-popping 57% above analyst forecasts. Operating m...

Linda Yaccarino has stepped down as CEO of X, the social media company formerly known as Twitter. The CEO is departing after a tumultuous two-year tenure defined by advertiser anxiety, reputational crises, and the erratic leadership of Elon Musk. Her exit, announced Wednesday via a post on X, comes just one day after Grok—an AI chatbot built by Musk’s xAI—generated a barrage of antisemitic responses during discussions about flooding in Texas. Although Yaccarino made no direct reference to the chatbot scandal, the timing is difficult to ignore. Her farewell message described her tenure as “the opportunity of a lifetime” and praised Musk for his vision. Musk’s reply was short: “Thank you for your contributions.” Her resignation also follows the March merger of X and xAI in an all-stock transaction that valued the AI startup at $80 billion and X at $33 billion. The restructuring, coupled with Grok’s erratic behavior, has raised serious questions about the governance and direction of the n...

Nvidia ( NVDA ) has become the first publicly traded company to surpass a $4 trillion market valuation, cementing its position as the engine behind the artificial intelligence boom and the current bull run in equities. The chipmaker hit the milestone during intraday trading Wednesday, pushing its stock to $163.35, up nearly 2%, and well above the price needed to secure the record. This puts Nvidia ahead of tech heavyweights like Microsoft ( MSFT ) and Apple ( AAPL ), with the latter currently valued at just over $3.1 trillion. It’s a striking rise for a company that, just two years ago, was valued at slightly more than $1 trillion. From Graphics to Generative AI Founded in 1993, Nvidia initially gained traction through its leadership in graphics processing. But the real pivot came with the emergence of generative AI, which requires immense computing power—something Nvidia’s GPUs are uniquely built to handle. Nvidia’s market value has grown by roughly 1,000% since the begi...