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This week, we’re getting back to earnings season during the shortened four-day period.

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) reports on the heels of JP Morgan’s solid results that saw its shares rally by 12.3% and recapture its 200-day moving average.

Watch the trading revenue numbers as added volatility should help their bottom line exceed expectations. The implied one-day move for earnings day is +/- 7.7% and, if the market is moving that morning, then expect more-than-normal movement.

FIGURE 1. DAILY CHART OF GS. If the stock rallies watch the $520 level. A break above this level could be a positive move.

Technically, shares have been put through the wringer. GS’s stock price has broken many key trendlines and support levels along the way. Maybe, just maybe, it has found a floor.

Like most stocks in this current environment, the swings have been wild. Lines in the sand have been drawn, and maybe GS can follow JPM’s lead as the charts are similar.

Things have been extremely volatile; the range between support and resistance is wide. The $440/$450 area looks to be a strong area of support for now. However, the trend has changed, and there has been much technical damage done. There are levels of resistance above, but it seems more likely that they may get tested before any retest of the lows.

On a rally, watch the $520 level, from which it broke down after breaching its 200-day moving average. If shares eclipse that, then it will likely experience a run back to its 200-day at $540. That would take the stock’s price back to its new downtrend line and should be met with much selling pressure.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has experienced some of the wildest swings since making a new high in early March. The stock price has fallen over 16%. Look for it to get back to its winning ways when the company reports on Tuesday.

Year-to-date, shares are up 5% and in one of the strongest sectors for those playing defense. Like all companies reporting, the focus will be on management’s commentary on future earnings guidance and potential impacts from global economic conditions.

FIGURE 2. DAILY CHART OF JNJ. The stock price could see more downside, or it could move up to its 200-day moving average.Technically, shares are in a bit of a no-man’s land. Price action has been streaky and now they report in the middle of this recent wide range.

The bear case is that shares have yet to reach oversold levels and test major support. They came close, but didn’t get below $140. So more of a downside could be reached before jumping into the stock.

The bull case, at a minimum, is a reversion back to the 200-day moving average, just above current levels. The best case is that it has little tariff exposure, making it a safer haven in tough times and may run back towards old highs.

Overall, outside a safe 3.3% dividend, the case to jump in for a trade is tough to make given its recent price action.

Netflix (NFLX) has given back all its gains from its last earnings cycle and hopes it can regain those levels when it reports on Thursday.

Shares are seen as a safer haven in this tariff war environment, but have not been immune to the wild market swings we have been seeing. NFLX has continued to put up solid numbers and fared better than most growth stocks during this time.

FIGURE 3. DAILY CHART OF NFLX. A head and shoulders top, bullish divergence in the RSI, and bullish MACD crossover lean toward a bullish move.

Technically, there are several more positives than negatives. NFLX’s stock price has formed a head-and-shoulders top, but failed to break its neckline at the $820 level and bounced. That was one positive development, but the pattern still hangs over the stock for now.

Secondly, there’s a bullish divergence in its relative strength index (RSI) when you compare it to recent price action. As price made new lows, the RSI did not. That indicates something has changed — this recent sell-off was not as strong as its predecessor and that a reversal may be coming.

Lastly, we may be experiencing a bullish crossover in its moving average convergence/divergence (MACD). While we always want confirmation, sometimes anticipating the move may be worth the risk. When tied into the above two factors, I believe it is.

The stock has a history of gaps after earnings, so watch that gap and price action immediately afterward. If NFLX experiences a gap higher and above the 50-day moving average, you can use that as a stop to manage risk. To the downside, watch to see if the $820 level holds. If it doesn’t, there could be an accelerated move to the downside.

Investor anxiety is reaching new heights. CNN’s Fear and Greed Index plunged to just three on April 8, marking its lowest level since March 2020, when COVID-19 lockdowns sent shockwaves through financial markets.

The index has since made a modest improvement and is sitting at eight.

These levels reflect sentiment not seen in over five years. Historically, fear of this magnitude correlates with significant market selloffs. For instance, in 2020, the index remained in single-digit territory from March 5 to 23 — a period when the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) lost more than 30 percent of its value during the early stages of COVID-19.

Economists and traders alike warn that fluctuations in this range can be short-lived, but tend to bring extreme volatility, often resulting in steep market declines. Although the first signs of recovery usually emerge once the Fear and Greed Index climbs above 10, a more reliable signal is a return above 25, which tends to precede sustainable rallies.

US President Donald Trump’s tariffs are behind the latest nosedive. Although a 90 day reprieve has been announced for most countries, uncertainty about the future remains. In addition, tensions between China and the US are heating up — US tariffs on China have ballooned to 145 percent, and China has raised its tariffs on US goods to 84 percent.

The immediate market reaction was negative. US stock markets experienced a sharp decline, and although there’s been some recovery, investors are increasingly concerned about the potential for these trade disputes to escalate into a global recession, contributing to the heightened levels of market fear reflected in the index.

While market sentiment indicators like the Fear and Greed Index don’t dictate future price movements, they do provide insight into the emotional state of the market — often a contrarian signal for savvy investors. When fear reaches extreme levels, it has historically marked moments of potential opportunity or further market turbulence.

So what does this latest drop in the Fear and Greed Index really mean? This article explores the significance of the CNN Fear and Greed Index, its historical context and what investors should watch for next.

What is CNN’s Fear and Greed Index?

CNN’s Fear and Greed Index is a tool designed to measure the prevailing emotions influencing the stock market by weighing seven key indicators. The Fear and Greed Index operates on a scale of zero to 100, with a score under 45 indicating fear, a score of 55 and above signifying greed and one in between marked as neutral.

Scores of under 25 and above 75 are labeled ‘extreme fear’ and ‘extreme greed,’ respectively.

How is CNN’s Fear and Greed Index calculated?

The index aggregates seven key indicators, each reflecting different aspects of market sentiment:

  1. Stock price momentum — Compares the S&P 500’s current value to its 125 day moving average.
  2. Stock price strength — Tracks the number of stocks hitting 52 week highs vs. those reaching 52 week lows.
  3. Stock price breadth — Examines trading volume in advancing vs. declining stocks.
  4. Put and call options — Analyzes the ratio of bearish (put) options to bullish (call) options.
  5. Junk bond demand — Measures the yield spread between high-yield (junk) bonds and safer investment-grade bonds.
  6. Safe-haven demand — Assesses the relative performance of stocks vs. government bonds.

When these indicators collectively signal heightened caution, the Fear and Greed Index falls into the fear zone, with extreme fear indicating widespread pessimism in the markets.

Recent instances of extreme fear

Understanding past instances of extreme fear can provide insights into current market conditions. The last two notable times the index hit extreme fear were August 5, 2024, and December 19, 2024.

1. August 5, 2024: Global selloff and economic uncertainty

On August 5, 2024, markets saw a sharp decline following weak tech earnings and US employment data, accelerated by an unexpected interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan that resulted in investors trying to unwind yen carry trades.

This caused a ripple effect across global markets:

  • The S&P 500 fell over 4 percent amid investor concerns about an economic slowdown.
  • The International Monetary Fund warned that the volatility could be a precursor to prolonged instability.

2. December 19, 2024: Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance

Investor fears resurfaced in mid-December 2024, when the US Federal Reserve signaled that interest rates would likely remain elevated longer than expected. The announcement sent shockwaves through the markets:

  • The US dollar surged to a two year high, weighing heavily on emerging markets.
  • Cryptocurrencies took a hit, with Bitcoin dropping over 15 percent in a week.

How do other fear-based indexes compare?

While CNN’s Fear and Greed Index is a popular barometer of market sentiment, it isn’t the only fear-based indicator worth watching. Here’s how other major sentiment gauges compare:

Crypto Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index tracks investor sentiment in the cryptocurrency market. Crypto markets are particularly sensitive to risk-off sentiment, making this index an important measure for digital asset investors.

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has also dropped into extreme fear, with a score of 15 on March 4. This decline coincided with continued geopolitical tensions, including Trump’s announcement of 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

Doomsday Clock

Though not a financial index, the Doomsday Clock, updated annually by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, reflects global existential risks, including nuclear tensions, climate change and geopolitical instability.

As of January 28, 2025, the clock was at 89 seconds to midnight, signaling heightened global uncertainty, which can influence investor sentiment in risk assets like equities and cryptocurrencies.

What extreme fear means for investors

The plunge of CNN’s Fear and Greed Index into Extreme Fear territory signals widespread investor anxiety. But is this a warning of further declines, or a contrarian buy signal?

Historically, moments of extreme fear have often preceded strong market rebounds, as panicked selling creates opportunities for value investors. However, not all instances lead to immediate recoveries; some mark the beginning of prolonged downturns, and it can be difficult to tell which scenario is ahead.

Key considerations for investors:

  • Economic data: Keep an eye on employment reports, inflation data and GDP growth figures.
  • Fed policy: Interest rate decisions will continue to be a key driver of market sentiment.
  • Corporate earnings: Weak earnings reports could exacerbate investor fears, while strong results may signal resilience.
  • Geopolitical developments: Trade tensions, global conflicts and macroeconomic policies can shift market sentiment quickly.

While fear-based indicators provide valuable insights, investors should use them alongside fundamental and technical analysis to make informed decisions. Whether this moment marks a temporary panic or the start of a broader downturn remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: investors should be prepared for volatility in the weeks or months ahead.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

A Pennsylvania man has been federally charged with making threats to assault and assassinate President Donald Trump, other U.S. officials and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Shawn Monper, 32, who was arrested on Wednesday, lives in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the president was shot during a campaign rally last July. 

‘I want to applaud the outstanding and courageous investigative work of the FBI and the Butler Township Police Department, who thankfully identified and apprehended this individual before he could carry out his threats against President Trump’s life and the lives of other innocent Americans,’ Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement on Friday. 

She added, ‘Rest assured that whenever and wherever threats of assassination or mass violence occur, this Department of Justice will find, arrest, and prosecute the suspect to the fullest extent of the law and seek the maximum appropriate punishment.’

The FBI was notified about Monper’s YouTube account, for which he used the name ‘Mr Satan,’ on Tuesday and was able to link the account to his home in Butler. 

He made several threatening statements between Jan. 15 and April 5, including that he was ‘going to assassinate’ Trump ‘myself,’ ‘ICE are terrorist people, we need to start killing them,’ and ‘Eventually im going to do a mass shooting.’

On Feb. 17, he said: ‘Nah, we just need to start killing people, Trump, Elon [Musk], all the heads of agencies Trump appointed, and anyone who stands in the way. Remember, we are the majority, MAGA is a minority of the country, and by the time its time to make the move, they will be weakened, many will be crushed by these policies, and they will want revenge too. American Revolution 2.0.’

The FBI investigation also found that Monper got a firearms permit after Trump’s inauguration, which he commented about on his YouTube channel.

‘I have bought several guns and been stocking up on ammo since Trump got in office,’ he said after the inauguration, further commenting on his account in March, ‘I have been buying 1 gun a month since the election, body armor, and ammo.’

He threatened ICE again on April 1, writing, ‘If I see an armed ice agent, I will consider it a domestic terrorist, and an active shooter and open fire on them.’

The Butler Township Police Department in Pennsylvania are investigating the case along with the FBI. 

Monper is next expected in court on Monday. 

Trump was shot in the ear during a campaign rally in Butler on July 13. The shooter was killed by the Secret Service. A Florida man was also arrested for attempting to assassinate the president in September after he was found armed, lying in wait outside of his golf course in West Palm Beach. 

Last week, another Florida man was arrested for making threats on social media to assassinate Trump.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Gold fell below US$3,000 per ounce this week before rocketing to a new all-time high.

Gary Wagner, executive producer at TheGoldForecast.com, explains why that happened and how he expects the yellow metal to perform in the long term as market turmoil continues.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Republicans in Congress are launching a probe into a Biden-era green energy grant program that sent billions in funding to climate groups tied to Democrats and former President Joe Biden’s allies.

GOP leaders on the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent letters to the eight nonprofits awarded grants from the $20 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), seeking answers to ensure the Biden Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) followed proper ethics and conflict of interest protocols in distributing the funds.

In February, the Trump administration’s EPA announced it would take steps to get the money back, citing concerns over a lack of oversight related to how the money was being disbursed. In the announcement, new EPA administrator Lee Zeldin cited comments from a former Biden EPA political appointee, who described disbursements made through GGRF as akin to ‘tossing gold bars off the Titanic,’ because Biden officials were allegedly trying to get money out the door before Trump took over. 

It was also revealed that $2 billion from GGRF went to a Stacy Abrams-linked group, Power Forward Communities, which had not been established until after the Biden administration announced the GGRF application process. Meanwhile, during Power Forward’s first few months of operations — prior to receiving the funding — the group reported just $100 in revenue.

Climate United, another group that received the most money from the GGRF, roughly $7 billion, currently staffs a former Biden climate advisor who worked during the last two years of the former president’s term. The same group is also run by a CEO with ties to the Obama administration and a board member who was among those invited to Biden’s signing ceremony for his multitrillion-dollar infrastructure bill in 2021.  

Several GGRF grant recipients have ties to Democrats and Biden advisors, and some were reportedly founded shortly before or after the Biden administration announced the program. Meanwhile, these groups, according to Zeldin, had sole discretion on how to use the funds.

House Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., alongside fellow committee members Reps. Gary Palmer of Alabama and Morgan Griffith of Virginia, both Republicans, said in a joint statement that their investigation into the GGRF recipients will be ‘key’ to understanding whether these funds were allocated ‘fairly and impartially to qualified applicants,’ while also helping to determine the manner in which the money has been used. 

‘The Committee has had concerns about the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund program since its creation—including concerns about the program’s unusual structure, a potential lack of due diligence in selecting award recipients, and the recipients’ ability to manage the large influx of federal dollars they received from the EPA,’ the lawmakers said in their statement. 

‘A recent Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing that examined these concerns coupled with the speed with which money was pushed out the door by the Biden Administration’s EPA heightened the Committee’s concerns and raised additional questions about certain Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund recipients.’

Several of the groups that were recipients of GGRF money sued the Trump administration in March over its attempts to rake back the funds. 

Subsequently, Obama-appointed Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a temporary restraining order preventing the EPA from freezing $14 billion in GGRF funds awarded to three of the climate groups.

The Associate Press contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

The Biden administration engaged in a ‘cover-up’ by failing to disclose details about the health of former president Joe Biden, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. 

‘I can tell you there was certainly a lack of transparency from the former president, from the entire former administration,’ Leavitt told reporters Friday. ‘And frankly, a lot of people in this room, when it came to the health in the competence of the former President of the United States, Joe Biden – there was one of the greatest cover-ups and, frankly, political scandals this nation has ever seen. It’s been unraveled in some recent books that are being written by journalists who engaged in that cover-up in scandal, which is quite ironic.’ 

A spokesperson for Biden did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. 

New books out have detailed Biden’s mental and physical well-being during his time in the White House. 

‘Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History,’ published Tuesday and authored by former producer for CBS’s 60 Minutes Chris Whipple, claims that the White House kept Biden from socializing with those who previously worked alongside him – a tactic that backfired and contributed to his declining mental agility. 

Leavitt’s remarks come as President Donald Trump is receiving an annual physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday. The White House says it will provide a readout of the appointment. 

‘But this president is clearly committed to transparency,’ Leavitt said. ‘You in this room see him and hear from him on a daily basis. You in this room know from covering him. It’s hard to keep up with him. He is a machine working around the clock every single day. And the physician, after today’s physical, will provide an update on the report in the effort of transparency.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Stock market analysis, technical indicators, and market trends are crucial for informed investing. StockCharts is making those things easier, and Grayson Roze is here to show you how.

In this video, Grayson provides an in-depth walk-through of the all-new Market Summary Page. This comprehensive tool offers a top-down overview of global and U.S. financial markets, featuring real-time data and professionally curated charts. Learn how to navigate the markets with ease using this centralized resource, designed to enhance your trading strategies and investment decisions. Whether you’re a seasoned trader or just starting out, understanding market dynamics is key. Grayson’s insights will help you leverage the Market Summary Page to stay ahead in the ever-evolving financial landscape.

This video originally premiered on April 11, 2024. Click on the above image to watch on our dedicated Grayson Roze page on StockCharts TV.

You can view previously recorded videos from Grayson at this link.

The current tariff environment is full of sudden moves that could have broad and long-lasting effects. The challenge is that we don’t know what those long-term impacts will be, mainly because it’s unclear how long the tariffs will last or what things will look like if they become permanent. That makes it incredibly hard to plan or make smart decisions right now.

Near-term shocks are preventing us from estimating the longer-term picture. Perhaps an effective way to counterbalance the geopolitical and market news with some objectivity, then, is to look under the stock market’s hood and take a good look at its breadth of movement—specifically, a longer-term summation of advancing vs. declining stocks. One indicator that’s designed specifically to do this, and one you might want to consider, is the McClellan Summation Index.

What Does the McClellan Summation Index Tell You?

Derived from the McClellan Oscillator, the McClellan Summation Index is a long-term market breadth indicator that shows whether more stocks are generally advancing or declining over time.

Think of it as a cumulative McClellan Oscillator of sorts. When the McClellan Oscillator is positive (above zero, meaning more advancers than decliners), the McClellan Summation Index trends upward; when the oscillator is negative (more decliners than advancers), the corresponding summation index trends downward. As you’ll see in Figure 1, uptrend and downtrend are color-coded black and red, respectively, so you distinguish the turns.

Generally, when the summation index is above zero (or +500), it signals bullish momentum (+500 signaling extremely bullish momentum); below zero (or –500), it reflects bearish (or exceedingly bearish) momentum. By smoothing out the short-term noise of the McClellan Oscillator, the summation can help you gauge the underlying strength or weakness of a market trend.

And smoothing out the noise coming out of the current trade war environment is probably something you’ll want to see.

Take a look at a three-year chart of the NYSE McClellan Summation Index paired with the S&P 500.

FIGURE 1. THREE-YEAR CHART OF THE NYSE MCCLELLAN SUMMATION INDEX WITH THE S&P 500. Notice the index turning points as they correspond to the ZigZag lines in the S&P. Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

The NYSE McClellan Summation Index is in negative territory below the zero line, and the S&P is undergoing a steep drop.  The Summation Index shows that declining stocks are far outnumbering advancing stocks, providing a breadth-informed perspective from which to view the broader market’s bearish decline.

While you can wait for the summation index to cross over the zero line (or even above 500), one way to interpret an early bullish signal is to apply a simple moving average (SMA), such as a 20-day SMA (see purple-dotted line).

As you can see in the chart above, there were many crossovers, indicating upturns and downturns. So, how might you avoid getting whipsawed and taking action on a false signal? You have to watch the price action, particularly the swing highs and lows (remember, an uptrend consists of HH + HL, and the reverse is true of a downtrend). This is where the ZigZag line comes in handy.

  • The chart illustrates the S&P 500 trending higher from the last quarter of 2022 to the breakdown in March 2025.
  • Note how almost all crossovers below the negative line (highlighted by the blue circles) forecasted new highs in the S&P 500.
  • The June 2023 crossover was the exception, but the pullback stayed well above the March 2023 low, sustaining its primary uptrend.
  • In October 2024, the summation index began falling as the S&P 500 continued making new highs.
  • The last SMA crossover preceded a new high, but the S&P finally broke down (see dotted line), leading to where we are now.

At the Close: What Now?

The broader market is trading on tariff-driven headlines, with policy shifts carrying enough weight to reshape the underlying fundamentals. Short-term technicals reflect this uncertainty through heightened volatility, some of which feels nearly unprecedented. In contrast, the longer-term picture—viewed through the lens of the McClellan Summation Index—appears steadier, though still susceptible to noise.

For long-term investors seeking early signs of a shift, watch the Summation Index closely. A bullish crossover above its moving average may be the first clue, but the real confirmation comes from trend behavior. Use tools like the ZigZag indicator to track swing highs and lows—what you want to see are higher highs and higher lows taking shape. Until then, most other market interpretations remain at the mercy of sudden geopolitical shifts—moves that are unpredictable in both timing and duration.


Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

The gold price reached yet another record high on Friday (April 11), breaking US$3,200 per ounce.

The precious metal has gained significant momentum since the beginning of the year. In morning trading on Friday it surged past the US$3,200 mark, climbing as high as US$3,244.33 per ounce.

The rise comes after a week of chaos caused by US President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again global tariff scheme.

Gold chart, April 4 to April 11, 2025.

Gold chart, April 4 to April 11, 2025.

During the week, Trump reversed course on some of the tariff measures he announced on April 2.

Those measures included a 10 percent tariff on all but a handful of countries, including Canada and Mexico, with more severe reciprocal tariffs to come into effect this week. However, on Wednesday (April 9), Trump announced he would pause the additional tariffs for 90 days, saying more than 70 countries had contacted him to make deals.

Trump may have also been feeling pressure from economic advisors as a surge in treasury yields signaled a potential economic crisis brewing in the US bond market. Normally a safe haven during market volatility, the bond market saw a significant selloff this week as US tariffs and worries about the US economy’s stability spooked traders.

Although the pause gave most countries some breathing room, tariffs against China were left on the table. After much back and forth, US tariffs levied against China have now increased to 145 percent.

The net effect of Trump’s actions has been political and financial turmoil, sparking selloffs in major stock markets and pushing prices for safe-haven assets like gold to fresh records.

Additionally, China, Japan and South Korea agreed on March 30 to seek deeper free trade ties in response to the threat of tariffs from the US government. The deal marks a significant move by the three countries following decades of US diplomacy to maintain close relationships with Japan and South Korea.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (April 11) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

At the time of this writing, Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$81,535.55 and up 3.5 percent in 24 hours. The day’s range has seen a low of US$78,669.30 and a high of U$82,999.65.

Bitcoin performance, April 11, 2025.

Bitcoin performance, April 11, 2025.

Chart via TradingView

Bitcoin found support following President Trump’s announcement of a 90-day pause on new tariffs, which has alleviated some investor concerns over a potential global recession.The pause has contributed to a broader market rebound, and improved investor sentiment.

Ethereum (ETH) is priced at US$1,548.41, an 4.0 percent increase over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$1,487.25 and a high of US$1,572.87.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) is currently valued at US$117.24, up 8.6 percent over the past 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$108.85 and a high of US$120.47 on Friday.
  • XRP is trading at US$2.00, reflecting an 3.6 percent increase over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency recorded an intraday low of US$1.93 and a high of US$2.03.
  • Sui (SUI) is priced at US$2.18, showing an increaseof 6.2 percent over the past 24 hours. It achieved a daily low of US$2.06 and a high of US$2.21.
  • Cardano (ADA) is trading at US$0.6201, reflecting a 4.9 percent increase over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price on Friday was US$0.588, with a high of US$0.6353.

Crypto news to know

Crypto rebound likely as Trump tariffs may bring down inflation

Despite rattling financial markets and pushing Bitcoin nearly 20 percent lower since early February, President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff policy may paradoxically signal bullish momentum for crypto in the weeks ahead.

The trade war, which began in earnest on Feb. 1 with tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico, has escalated to include over 100 percent duties on a wide array of goods. While these moves initially stoked fears of stagflation, a toxic mix of low growth and high inflation, newer data suggests the market may have overreacted.

Inflation breakevens, the spread between traditional Treasury yields and TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities), have steadily declined since February. The five-year breakeven rate dropped from over 2.6 percent to 2.32 percent, and the 10-year fell to 2.19 percent, signaling that long-term inflation expectations are cooling.

Observers argue that the price spikes from tariffs may be a one-off adjustment, and without corresponding wage increases, consumers could reduce spending — ultimately dragging prices lower.

Trump overturns IRS DeFi rule

In a move cheered by the crypto industry, President Trump has signed into law a bill nullifying an IRS rule that controversially expanded the definition of “broker” to include decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms.

The regulation, finalized in the waning days of the Biden administration, would have required DeFi protocols — which operate without intermediaries — to report detailed user transaction data to the IRS, something crypto developers argued was both technically unfeasible and legally dubious.

With bipartisan support, both chambers of Congress passed the reversal using the Congressional Review Act. The decision is part of Trump’s broader pledge to position the US as a global crypto leader.

In his first week back in office, he created a federal working group on cryptocurrency regulation and signed an executive order to build a national Bitcoin reserve.

Trump’s administration has also repeatedly criticized the Biden-era IRS framework as stifling innovation and creating legal liabilities for developers.

New York moves to let state agencies accept crypto payments

New York could soon become one of the first US states to formally integrate cryptocurrency into government operations.

A newly filed bill, Assembly Bill A7788, introduced by Assemblymember Clyde Vanel, proposes to allow state agencies to accept crypto — including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash — for a wide range of payments such as taxes, fees, rent, and fines.

The proposed legislation would authorize agencies to enter agreements with crypto payment providers, ensuring that final settlements are made in fiat currency to shield state budgets from crypto market volatility.

More importantly, the bill stipulates that debts would not be considered legally settled until the state receives full fiat payment, preserving the integrity of public finance processes.

Agencies may also charge service fees to offset transaction costs and volatility hedging. While this is not the first time such a proposal has emerged — similar bills were introduced in previous legislative sessions but failed to advance — the current climate of growing mainstream adoption and Trump-era pro-crypto sentiment may improve its chances.

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

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com