📢 Apple reported fiscal first-quarter earnings on Thursday that surpassed expectations, with revenue soaring 16% on an annual basis.
📌 The company reported $42.1 billion in net income, or $2.84 per share, versus $36.33 billion, or $2.40 per share, in the year-ago period. 🚀 Apple saw particularly strong results in China, including Taiwan and Hong Kong. Sales in the region surged 38% during the quarter to $25.53 billion. Apple quarterly results by App Economy Insights $AAPL Apple Q1 FY26 (Dec. quarter): 📱 Products +16% Y/Y to $113.7B. 💳 Services +14% Y/Y to $30.0B. • Revenue +16% Y/Y to $143.8B ($5.2B beat). • Operating margin 35% (+1pp Y/Y). • EPS $2.84 ($0.17 beat).
In Germany, the value of the country’s gold reserves has climbed to €496bn.
Germany holds 3,352 tonnes of gold through the Bundesbank. More than 1,200 tonnes are stored in New York, with the rest held in Frankfurt and London. Source: HolgerZ, Bloomberg
The unwinding of popular strategies such as the yen carry trade in traditional markets have been adding to the selling pressure on bitcoin.
The yen carry-trade strategy involves borrowing the relatively low-yielding yen and investing in other currencies offering higher returns. According to Matt Maley, chief market strategist at Miller Tabak & Co, “Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are assets that tend to move with liquidity. When liquidity is more plentiful, cryptos rally, and when it’s less plentiful, they decline.” “Well, one of the best indicators for the level of liquidity in the system is the yen carry trade.” Source: zerohedge
Bitcoin investors are now eyeing the $80,000 price level for support
- Rate cuts can't pump BTC. - Pro-crypto President can't pump BTC. - Weak dollar can't pump BTC. - Institutional adoption can't pump BTC. - Fed injecting liquidity can't pump BTC. - Stocks new ATH can't pump BTC. Is there anything that could pump BTC now? Which comes first? BTC $300k or a massive suck out of global liquidity??? Source: Zerohedge
Did the BTC/Gold ratio just find support?
Source: www.zerohedge.com
From "Hawks and Doves" to "Red and Blue"?
In a sign of the times, this Wall Street Journal chart characterizes members of the Federal Reserve Board by their political nominations rather than their expertise, experience, or hawkish/dovish inclinations. Source: Mo El Erian
The map of global trade is being rewritten. 🌍⚓ And most people aren't looking at the right coordinates.
While the world discusses "influence," China is building infrastructure. Not just a few docks, but a literal nervous system for the African continent. Here is the reality of the "New Maritime Silk Road": 40+ African Ports: Financed, built, or operated by Chinese state-backed firms. Total Coastal Coverage: From the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Dual-Use Potential: What starts as a commercial hub today can become a naval asset tomorrow. Beyond Djibouti: The PLA Navy’s reach is no longer confined to one base—it’s moving into the heart of global shipping lanes. Why this matters for the global economy: In 2026, Ports = Power. By controlling the gates, you control the flow of: ⚡ Energy 🌾 Food 📦 Commodities 🛡️ Security The Takeaway: China isn't just "surrounding" Africa. It is wiring itself into the very bedrock of global trade. When you own the infrastructure, you own the future of the supply chain. The board is being set. Are we playing the same game? Source: Jack Prandelli on X
🚨 Silver plummets 15%, gold falls 7%, dragging down miners and ETFs🚨
Friday morning felt like a "day of reckoning" for the markets. Gold and silver—the absolute titans of 2025—just took a massive hit. 📉 Here is the breakdown of the "Perfect Storm" hitting your portfolio right now: 💰 The Numbers are Jarring: Silver: Plunged 15%, crashing back below the psychological $100 milestone. Gold: Shed 7%, fighting to hold the $5,000 line. The Ripple Effect: Platinum and Palladium followed suit, dropping 14% and 12% respectively. 📉 Mining & ETFs are bleeding: From London to Wall Street, the sell-off is aggressive. Fresnillo is down 7%, while silver miners like Endeavour and First Majestic are seeing double-digit pre-market losses. Silver ETFs are feeling the heat even more, with some down as much as 25%. 🤔 Why is this happening NOW? After a record-smashing 2025 (Gold +65%, Silver +150%), the market is facing a "concentration risk" reality check. - Crowded Trades: Just like AI tech stocks, everyone was leaning the same way. When the narrative shifts, the exit door gets very small, very fast. - The "Trump/Fed" Factor: The market is on edge awaiting the nomination of the next Fed Chair. Speculation that a more "dollar-friendly" successor might replace Jerome Powell is sending shockwaves through dollar-sensitive assets. - Geopolitical Fatigue: While tensions in Venezuela, Iran, and even Greenland pushed prices to record highs, the "Greenback" has finally stabilized, removing the primary tailwind for metals. 💡 The Lesson: Even "safe haven" assets aren't immune to gravity. As Katy Stoves of Mattioli Woods puts it: "When everyone is leaning the same way, even good assets can sell off." Is this a healthy correction or the start of a long-term reversal? Source: CNBC
