Money

Crypto funding surge following Bitcoin’s strong performance

Published

2 years ago

February 16, 2024

After enduring a prolonged period of volatility and uncertainty, the crypto industry witnessed a resurgence in venture funding in the fourth quarter of 2023, marking the first uptick since the onset of the “crypto winter” nearly two years ago.

According to data from PitchBook released on Thursday, venture funding for crypto-related companies reached $1.9 billion in the final quarter of 2023, representing a 2.5% increase compared to the previous quarter.

This positive trend comes as a relief for crypto entrepreneurs who have struggled amidst the challenging fundraising landscape in recent years.

The “crypto winter,” characterized by a downturn in investor sentiment and heightened regulatory scrutiny, dampened the fundraising efforts of crypto startups throughout 2022.

Tesla deliveries expected to fall

Rising interest rates from major central banks further exacerbated the situation, prompting investors to retreat from riskier assets including cryptocurrencies.

Crypto winter

Compounding the challenges were high-profile collapses of crypto firms such as Do Kwon’s Terra and Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX, leading to significant losses for major venture funds like Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital.

However, with a resurgence in crypto asset prices and improved public market valuations for companies like Coinbase and MicroStrategy, investor confidence has begun to rebound. Over the past year, bitcoin has more than doubled in price, surpassing $52,000 per coin, while Coinbase stock has surged nearly 140%.

“We’re starting to see a correlation between investments in private markets and the public markets,” says a spokesperson from PitchBook in an interview with CNBC.

“The uptrend in publicly-traded crypto companies is now being reflected in private investments as well.”

Capital flowing

While the total number of deals declined slightly in the fourth quarter, PitchBook suggests that capital is flowing towards stronger startups within the crypto space.

This concentration of investment is evident in notable fundraises such as those for Swan Bitcoin and Blockchain.com, which raised $165 million and $100 million, respectively.

Money

Stocks rally ahead of Thanksgiving as markets log four days of gains

Markets gain momentum ahead of Thanksgiving, with the Dow up 388 points and Oracle rising 4% amid investor optimism.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 27, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Markets gain momentum ahead of Thanksgiving, with the Dow up 388 points and Oracle rising 4% amid investor optimism.

Markets are moving into the Thanksgiving break with strong momentum, as stocks notch four straight days of gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 388 points, while the S&P 500 added 0.9%, pushing both indexes toward their best week since June.

Oracle led major movers, rising more than 4% after Deutsche Bank reaffirmed its bullish outlook on the tech giant. Broad investor optimism continues building across sectors as economic data softens and earnings remain resilient.

All eyes are now on the Federal Reserve and what potential shifts in interest-rate policy may mean for the markets. U.S. markets will close Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday and reopen Friday for a shortened trading session.

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#Markets #Stocks #Thanksgiving #DowJones #SP500 #Oracle #FederalReserve #FinanceNews

Money

Dow surges 500 points amid rate cut optimism

Dow jumps 569 points on fresh hopes for December rate cut and AI market optimism

Published

2 weeks ago

November 26, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Dow jumps 569 points on fresh hopes for December rate cut and AI market optimism

In Short:
– Dow Jones rose 569 points, reflecting optimism for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut.
– Alphabet’s stock increased as Meta may invest in AI chips, but Nvidia’s declined amid market concerns.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 569 points or 1.2% on Tuesday, reflecting investor optimism for an upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate cut. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also posted gains, up 0.8% and 0.4% respectively. This represented a recovery from earlier losses, where the S&P 500 briefly fell by 0.7%.

Markets anticipate an 85% chance of a quarter-point rate cut in December, driven by comments from New York Fed President John Williams, who indicated the possibility of lower rates soon. Investor sentiment strengthened following reports that Kevin Hassett may be appointed as the next Fed chair, potentially resulting in a more lenient monetary policy.

Tech Sector

Alphabet saw its stock rise by over 1% after reports indicated that Meta Platforms might invest in its AI chips. This could signal increased demand for AI technology, benefiting the sector overall. However, Nvidia’s stock fell more than 3%, suggesting concerns about its dominance in the AI chip market.

Investors are also wary of the valuation of tech stocks. Despite recent gains, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq remain down over 1% and 3%, respectively, for November, while the Dow has lost more than 1% this month. The broader market’s performance indicates ongoing scrutiny regarding tech valuations amid changing economic expectations.

Money

Gold prices surge as Central Banks buy big, but risks grow ahead

Gold prices surge as central banks increase demand; risks include a stronger dollar and rising interest rates.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 25, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Gold prices surge as central banks increase demand; risks include a stronger dollar and rising interest rates.

Gold prices are climbing fast as central banks ramp up buying, pushing demand to its highest levels in years. The metal’s reputation as a safe haven is strengthening, especially amid rising geopolitical tensions and global financial uncertainty.

But experts warn the shine could fade. A stronger US dollar and the possibility of rising interest rates may weigh on momentum, making investors question how long the rally can last.

Dr Steven Enticott from CIA Tax breaks down the drivers behind gold’s surge—from ETF inflows to physical bar demand—and what could send the price sharply higher… or lower.

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