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February 15, 2025

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Master Multiple Time Frame Analysis With This Simple Method

How can we define the market trend on multiple time frames, so we can better identify trend changes and ensure we are following the drive of market forces?  Today I’ll describe my proprietary Market Trend Model to define the short-term, medium-term, and long-term trends, and share what it’s telling us about market conditions in February 2025.

Using Moving Averages to Define the Trend

Using a simple daily chart with the 50-day and 200-day moving averages, we can show why the slope of the moving average can provide valuable insights on trend direction.  Let’s look at the daily chart of Apple (AAPL), and we’ll focus on a highlighted period in 2023-2024.

Starting with the 200-day moving average, we can see that the 200-day tends to slope higher during uptrends and lower during downtrends.  So for the highlighted period in 2023 and 2024, the 200-day moving average tended to slope higher through that entire trend.

Note how there were a couple meaningful pullbacks in the price of AAPL in Q3 2023 and Q2 2024.  While the 200-day moving average was still sloping higher, the 50-day moving average sloped downward in each of those pullbacks.  So by using two moving averages of varying periods, we can define the trend by simply looking at the slope of the moving averages.

We can also use a crossover technique and look for golden crosses (short-term moving average crosses above long-term moving average) and death crosses (short-term moving average crosses below long-term moving average) as a way of determining changes in those trends.

Exponential Moving Averages Improve Trend Detection

The problem with simple moving averages, as used above, is that they weigh all the data points equally in the calculation.  So what happened two days ago has the same impact as what happened 192 days ago!  By using exponential moving averages, which weight the most recent data the most, our charts will react more quickly to changes in the trend.

My Market Trend Model uses a series of exponential moving averages on a weekly chart of the S&P 500 to define the secular (long-term), cyclical (medium-term), and tactical (short-term) time frames.  By using the PPO indicator, I can chart the trends using a histogram and simply check if the comparison is above or below the zero line.

Based on my model, the long-term trend has been bullish since March 2023.  The medium-term trend, which is the most important one for my own portfolio analysis, turned bullish in November 2023.  And the short-term trend just turned bullish in early January after flipping bearish in early December of last year.

Tracking the Market Trend Model in February 2025

When my Market Trend Model is bullish on all three time frames, as it is as of this Friday’s closing price data, it tells me to be looking for long ideas and make sure I am taking on risk in my portfolio.  If the short-term trend would turn bearish, that would indicate a pullback phase within the long-term uptrend, as we observed a number of times in 2024.

The key signal I’m looking for would be the medium-term trend turning bearish, which last occurred in September 2023.  That signal would tell me to go more risk-off, to get more defensive, and to focus more on capital preservation than capital appreciation.  For now, my Market Trend Model is suggesting a market trending higher.  And until the medium-term trend turns bearish, I’m inclined to assume the market trend is innocent until proven guilty!

RR#6,

Dave

PS- Ready to upgrade your investment process?  Check out my free behavioral investing course!

David Keller, CMT

President and Chief Strategist

Sierra Alpha Research LLC

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 author does not have a position in mentioned securities at the time of publication.    Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person or entity.

Stay Ahead of Tariffs: Essential Chart Analysis for Investment Security

The stock market is like a river — constantly changing without knowing what lies ahead. Sometimes it’s calm. Other times it’s choppy. And when the stock market is choppy, it can leave investors in a dilemma, leading them to make irrational investment decisions.

The broader stock market indexes have been choppy lately, going up one day and down the next. Frequent news headlines such as tariffs, inflation data, and earnings influence market price action. This makes it a very challenging environment for investors. So how should you position your portfolio in this type of market?

Instead of chasing headlines, navigate the market by analyzing the overall trend and momentum. Start with the big picture before diving into individual stocks or exchange-traded funds.

The View From the Top

The S&P 500 ($SPX) has seen a lot of sideways choppiness (see daily chart of the S&P 500 below). After it broke out of the downward channel (blue dashed lines), it continued moving sideways with a series of lower highs. The up-and-down price action reflects the headline-driven characteristic of the market.

FIGURE 1. DAILY CHART OF THE S&P 500 INDEX. The overall trend remains bullish, but don’t be surprised if the consolidation extends further.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

The index looks like it wants to reverse the “lower highs” series and resume its uptrend. It tried hard to hit a record close but, alas, closed shy of it on Friday. The new 52-week highs outnumber the new 52-week lows, which is a sign of healthy market breadth.

The overall trend is in favor of the bulls, as of this writing, but there’s a lot of hesitancy among investors. If we continue to see a headline-driven market, there’s a chance of an extended consolidation period. We need to see a breakout of the consolidation, with a series of higher highs and higher lows to confirm the continuation of the uptrend.

Expect to see more headlines in the near term. So far, we’ve seen the news rattling the market sometimes and, at other times, not impacting the markets at all. Tariffs, inflation, tax cuts, and deregulation are a handful of topics you’re likely to hear about in the near term. Let’s analyze how each of these factors will impact your investment portfolio.

Trade Tariffs

Trump has imposed 10% tariffs on China and 25% on steel and aluminum imports. He has delayed tariffs on Canada and Mexico but is still scheduled to impose them in early March. President Trump was expected to sign an order for reciprocal tariffs, but that turned into a memo requesting a plan of action for these tariffs. This could take a few months to get implemented. The market was quick to shrug this off.

There’s no doubt that tariffs are front and center in investors’ minds. Trump’s main objectives of tariffs are to collect revenues for the government, protect specific industries, and curtail the flow of illegal drugs into the US. But there are headwinds, the biggest of which is inflation. A restriction in global trade could send ripples through complex supply chains, resulting in higher prices.

Inflation: Will It Create Waves?

The Federal Reserve is already planning to pause rate cuts in 2025, and January’s hot CPI increased the probability of this happening. The dot plot now suggests one rate cut in 2025, which, according to the CME FedWatch Tool, is pushed out until the July Fed meeting, as of this writing.

A rise in inflation would mean the Fed would be more cautious with interest rate cuts. Tariffs and an expansion of the federal deficit could impact the interest rate cut path. A good chart to monitor inflation is the chart of the ProShares Inflation Expectations ETF/iShares TIPS Bond ETF (RINF:TIP), which approximates the market’s inflation expectations.

FIGURE 2. THE STOCK MARKET’S INFLATION EXPECTATIONS. Inflation expectations seem to be lowered after the market shrugged off recent inflation reports and tariff news.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

Inflation expectations aren’t as low as they were in September 2024 but are below the January highs.

Why impose tariffs when it upsets global trade and results in inflation? One of President Trump’s tariff objectives is that tariff revenues will offset his planned tax cuts. 

Lower Taxes and Deregulation

Trump plans to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) provisions. He also plans to add other tax cuts — eliminating taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits. Lower taxes means more money for consumers and corporations. But will the tax cuts be enough to make up for the higher prices consumers will have to pay for goods?

These are just one piece of the change puzzle. Other policy changes include less oversight across different industries. Three sectors that could benefit from deregulation are Financials, Industrials, and Energy.

  • Financial companies can benefit the most, especially if rules for banks, credit card companies, etc. are more relaxed. The biggest beneficiary could be the big banks.
  • Dialing back on environmental regulations such as carbon emissions will benefit oil and gas companies.
  • Less compliance costs would mean more productivity. As a result, the Industrials sector could see gains.

The PerfChart below compares the one-year performance of the Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF), Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI), and Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE).

FIGURE 3. PERFCHART OF FINANCIALS, INDUSTRIALS, AND ENERGY. A deregulatory environment would benefit certain industries more than others. Financials are in the lead and are likely to benefit the most from deregulation.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

The Financials are leading the pack, while the Energy sector is lagging. In a deregulatory environment, the Financials could remain in the lead.

The Bottom Line

Expect to see a boatload of news stories as the year unfolds. As a smart investor, the best way to navigate the stock market’s up and down waves is to follow the charts discussed in this article. There are many uncertainties in the market, so don’t sway your investment decisions based on what you hear in the news.

You never know what lies ahead, just like a river. But if you look at the overall trends, determine which sectors are being impacted by policy changes, and keep an eye on inflation expectations, you’ll be able to navigate steadily through the rough patches.

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.

Crypto Market Recap: WLFI Unveils Strategic Token Reserve

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (February 12) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin is trading at US$96,208, recording a 1.9 percent decrease over 24 hours.

The day’s trading range has brought a high of US$98,231 and a low of US$94,864.

Meanwhile, Ethereum is priced at US$2,627.82, marking a decline of 2.7 percent over the same period. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday high of US$2,708.90 and a low of US$2,581.55.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) is currently valued at US$196.92, 2.9 percent lower over 24 hours, after hitting a daily high of US$203.17 and a low of US$193.64.
  • XRP is trading at US$2.42, reflecting a 2.8 percent decrease. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday high of US$2.50 and a low of US$2.38.
  • Sui (SUI) is priced at US$3.29, having experienced a 7.1 percent decline. It achieved a daily high of US$3.54 and a low of US$3.22.
  • Cardano (ADA) is down, priced at US$0.7897, reflecting a 1.3 percent decrease over 24 hours. Its highest price on Wednesday was US$0.8127 and its lowest was US$0.7556.

Crypto news to know

While meme coins continue to dominate headlines, recent analysis from Godex, an online crypto exchange platform, sheds light on specific blockchain platforms that are quietly driving real-world impact.

The firm’s research highlights five key networks that show crypto isn’t just about speculation — it’s also about solving major global challenges in finance, sustainability and supply chain security.

To do this, Godex analyzed 100 blockchain platforms, filtering out those built purely on speculation and emphasizing real-world applications. It found five standouts that are making waves through real-world use cases, major industry partnerships and solid market growth. These are the blockchain platforms it lists:

  • Ethereum — Powering decentralized finance, humanitarian aid and sustainable development. Ethereum’s smart contracts enable transparent charitable donations and verifiable digital identities for refugees.
    • Stellar — Revolutionizing financial inclusion by offering low-cost remittance services and digital wallets for unbanked populations.
    • VeChain — Enhancing supply chain traceability, from pharmaceutical safety to sustainable fashion verification.
    • Avalanche — Driving carbon credit markets, streamlining disaster relief funding and digitizing vehicle ownership records to prevent fraud.

    While speculative tokens grab headlines, Godex believes these blockchain platforms are demonstrating that real utility is what drives long-term industry growth. Institutional adoption is accelerating, and as businesses and policymakers recognize blockchain’s full potential, the focus is shifting from hype to real-world applications.

    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

    Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Durango Surges 115% on Antimony Project

    The Trump administration announced on Monday (February 10) it would be expanding steel and aluminum tariffs to all countries. The tariffs, set to come into effect on March 12, will disproportionally impact Canadian exports as Canada is the largest supplier of steel and aluminum to the United States.

    This isn’t the first time the president has imposed sweeping tariffs on the global steel and aluminum industries. The effect from the first round in 2018 was mixed. While it allowed domestic producers to charge more for their products, that increased downstream costs for consumers and manufacturers, leading to tighter profit margins and layoffs.

    Even though the US produces enough steel to meet its own demand, incoming tariffs could still have negative implications for the North American auto industry. Coming into 2025, the sector anticipated growth but was also wary that some consumers were concerned about affordability. Increases in steel costs due to import fees and the potential for additional tariffs on cars and parts produced in Canada and Mexico could dampen vehicle sales.

    Rising consumer costs came into view when the US Bureau of Labor Statistics released January’s consumer price index (CPI) data on Wednesday (February 12). The figures showed inflation ticking up in January to 3 percent on a yearly basis, up from the 2.9 percent increase in December. On a monthly basis, there was a 0.5 percent increase, up from the 0.4 percent the previous month.

    Some analysts are expecting costs to rise even further as new tariffs take effect and producers begin raising prices accordingly. Higher CPI figures are also likely to impact the Federal Reserve’s next meeting in March, with most analysts predicting the central bank will maintain the current rate of 4.25 to 4.50 percent.

    Markets and commodities react

    US equity markets saw sharp selloffs following the release of CPI data on Wednesday, but rallied to finish the week in positive territory, with the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:INX) gaining 1.13 percent to end at 6,114.62, and the Nasdaq-100 (INDEXNASDAQ:NDX) rising 2.05 percent to 22,114.69. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) was flat, gaining just 0.34 percent to 44,546.09.

    In Canada, the markets were more positive. The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) fell 0.96 percent on the week to close at 640.26 on Friday, the S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) posted a 0.31 percent loss to hit 25,483.23 and the CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) dropped 0.65 percent to 135.03.

    After hitting new all time highs early in the week, the gold price was also affected by Wednesday’s CPI announcement. In the end, it managed to eke out a 0.78 percent increase to close the week at US$2,883.91 per ounce on Friday at 5:00 p.m. EST. Silver fared a little better, closing the week up 1.1 percent at US$32.13.

    In base metals, the copper price climbed as high as US$4.88 per pound on the COMEX during trading Friday before pulling back to close at US$4.68, up 1.3 percent for the week. Copper is up significantly from the end of January, when it was just US$4.28. The S&P GSCI (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) was also up this week, gaining 1.07 percent to close at 569.44.

    Top Canadian mining stocks this week

    So how did mining stocks perform against this backdrop?

    We break down this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.

    Data for this article was retrieved at 4:00 p.m. EST on February 14, 2024, using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market capitalizations greater than C$10 million are included. Companies within the non-energy minerals and energy minerals sectors were considered.

    1. Durango Resources (TSXV:DGO)

    Weekly gain: 115.38 percent
    Market cap: C$15.54 million
    Share price: C$0.14

    Durango Resources is a polymetallic exploration company that is developing a portfolio of projects in Québec and British Columbia, Canada.

    Shares have seen significant gains in 2025 following several news releases. The first came on January 15 when the company announced it had acquired five critical mineral projects: an antimony site in Haida Gwaii, BC, and a rare earth project and three historical copper mines in Québec.

    The properties were acquired for C$5,000 cash and the issuing of 4 million common shares to arm’s length vendors.

    This was followed by news on January 30 that the company had completed an AI-powered study of its Babine West copper and gold project near Smithers, BC. The results suggested a large structure that coincides with a moderate magnetic anomaly.

    The team hypothesizes the magnetism could be from a widespread zone of early-stage alteration, which may be related to copper-gold porphyry systems at the neighboring American Eagle Gold’s (TSXV:AE,OTCQB:AMEGF) NAK project and AMARC Resources’ (TSXV:AHR,OTCQB:AXREF) Duke project.

    Durango’s Babine project consists of four claim blocks covering 4,635 hectares and is located within one of BC’s most prolific porphyry copper and gold belts. According to the project page, exploration at the site has returned broad areas of mineralization, including 1.09 percent copper equivalent over 302 meters.

    After slowly climbing through the week, Durango’s share price spiked to C$0.16 on Thursday. The company’s most recent news came on Tuesday, when it announced it had increased the project area for its recently acquired Victory antimony project in Haida Gwaii to 1,387 hectares. Newmont (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM) originally discovered the site in 1988, and a chip sample at the time contained 1.24 percent antimony.

    2. Turmalina Metals (TSXV:TBX)

    Company Profile

    Weekly gain: 106.67 percent
    Market cap: C$12.77 million
    Share price: C$0.14

    Turmalina Metals is a gold, silver and copper explorer that is developing a portfolio of projects in South America.

    Its primary focus is the Colquemayo project in Moquegua, Peru. In July 2024, Turmalina entered into an option agreement with Compania de Minas Buenaventura to acquire a 100 percent ownership stake in the property.

    The 6,600-hectare site has seen more than 20,000 meters of historic core drilling and hosts multiple porphyry targets that have been identified but have gone untested. Highlighted drill samples from the property have demonstrated results of 2.4 percent copper and 10 grams per metric ton (g/t) silver over 237.3 meters, including intersections of 3.4 percent copper and 14 g/t silver over 161.2 meters and 14.8 percent copper and 47 g/t silver over 31.3 meters.

    In news released on Wednesday, the company said it was intensifying its focus on the project and would be relogging historic cores. Additionally, Turmalina hired INSIDEO, a Lima-based environmental consulting firm, to help advance baseline studies and a Declaración de Impacto Ambiental, which is needed for drilling permits. The release also indicated that the company is also in the process of rebranding which will include updating its name, ticker and website.

    As part of the restructuring of Turmalina, company CEO Roger James will be stepping down, but maintaining a seat on the board, he will be replaced by Jonathan Richards as interim CEO.

    3. Power Metals (TSXV:PWM)

    Company Profile

    Weekly gain: 70 percent
    Market cap: C$111.12 million
    Share price: C$0.85

    Power Metals is a lithium and cesium exploration company focused on its Case Lake project.

    Located in Northeastern Ontario, the site is 10 kilometers by 9.5 kilometers in size and comprises 585 cell claims. Exploration at the site between 2017 and 2024 led to the discovery of pegmatite dykes bearing lithium, cesium and tantalum (LCT). Case Lake now consists of six spodumene dykes that form a mineralization trend of about 10 kilometers.

    Recent assays from the site released on February 14 included a highlight of 8.07 meters grading 2.19 percent lithium oxide, 5.19 percent cesium oxide and 1,438 parts per million (ppm) tantalum. The results also included a 1 meter intersection bearing 1.85 percent lithium oxide, 11.7 percent cesium oxide and 208 ppm tantalum.

    In addition to its most recent exploration news, Power Metals announced on February 10 that it had brought on DRA Global to begin work on a maiden mineral resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment for the Case Lake project. It expects to have the former completed by the end of Q1 2025, with the latter to follow in Q2.

    Adding to Power Metals’ recent share gains was a release on February 5 in which the company reported that it had been awarded a new exploration permit for Case Lake. The new permit will remain valid for the next three years and will be used to target newly identified cesium targets uncovered in late 2024.

    4. Cascada Silver (CSE:CSS)

    Company Profile

    Weekly gain: 57.14 percent
    Market cap: C$10.16 million
    Share price: C$0.055

    Cascada Silver is an exploration company working to advance its copper and molybdenum projects in Chile. Since the start of 2025, the company’s main focus has been on its Angie copper-molybdenum project in North-central Chile.

    Cascada carried out its Phase 1 drill program at the 2,000 hectare site in 2024, with work focusing on an 800 by 1,500 meter target with molybdenum mineralization. The assays from the initial drill program, released on November 20, revealed results of 476 ppm molybdenum over 64 meters, including an intersection of 1,208 ppm molybdenum over 8 meters.

    On December 17, the company announced it was mobilizing for the second phase of drilling at Angie using data acquired through a drone-based magnetometer survey. The Phase 2 program will consist of up to 2,000 meters of diamond drilling, with the first hole planned for a depth of 500 meters. Cascada announced on January 9 that drilling at the site had commenced and was expected to be completed in February, with assays available four to six weeks later.

    Cascada’s most recent news came on February 3, when it announced that it would be listing on the OTCQB market under the symbol CSSCF. The company said this was a strategic step in enhancing its visibility and accessibility to US investors.

    5. THEMAC Resources (TSXV:MAC)

    Weekly gain: 55.56 percent
    Market cap: C$11.91 million
    Share price: C$0.14

    THEMAC Resources is a copper exploration and development company that is developing the Copper Flat mine in southwest New Mexico, United States.

    The brownfield site was mined until the early 1980s and hosts significant existing infrastructure, including a primary crusher structure, a coarse ore reclamation tunnel, and several building foundations. These will provide THEMAC with US$54 million in capital savings. An April 2020 feasibility study demonstrated a base case after-tax net present value of US$545.16 million with an internal rate of return of 20.8 percent over a payback period of 3.3 years.

    In addition to the economics, the study also included a measured and indicated resource estimate of 1.39 billion pounds of copper, 40.66 million pounds of molybdenum, 737,000 ounces of gold and 14.74 million ounces of silver.

    Shares in THEMAC climbed this week, although the company has not reported news so far in 2025.

    FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

    What is the difference between the TSX and TSXV?

    The TSX, or Toronto Stock Exchange, is used by senior companies with larger market caps, and the TSXV, or TSX Venture Exchange, is used by smaller-cap companies. Companies listed on the TSXV can graduate to the senior exchange.

    How many companies are listed on the TSXV?

    As of June 2024, there were 1,630 companies listed on the TSXV, 925 of which were mining companies. Comparatively, the TSX was home to 1,806 companies, with 188 of those being mining companies.

    Together the TSX and TSXV host around 40 percent of the world’s public mining companies.

    How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?

    There are a variety of different fees that companies must pay to list on the TSXV, and according to the exchange, they can vary based on the transaction’s nature and complexity. The listing fee alone will most likely cost between C$10,000 to C$70,000. Accounting and auditing fees could rack up between C$25,000 and C$100,000, while legal fees are expected to be over C$75,000 and an underwriters’ commission may hit up to 12 percent.

    The exchange lists a handful of other fees and expenses companies can expect, including but not limited to security commission and transfer agency fees, investor relations costs and director and officer liability insurance.

    These are all just for the initial listing, of course. There are ongoing expenses once companies are trading, such as sustaining fees and additional listing fees, plus the costs associated with filing regular reports.

    How do you trade on the TSXV?

    Investors can trade on the TSXV the way they would trade stocks on any exchange. This means they can use a stock broker or an individual investment account to buy and sell shares of TSXV-listed companies during the exchange’s trading hours.

    Article by Dean Belder; FAQs by Lauren Kelly.

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

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

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

    Could Bitcoin Reach $200000? Market & Expert Insights

    Bitcoin attracts bold predictions. Recent forecasts show that this top cryptocurrency may soon hit Bitcoin Reach $200000. Many trusted sources, including Yahoo Finance, CoinDesk, Bloomberg, and CNBC, have reported this forecast. This public news reflects rising optimism among market experts amid changing economic conditions.

    Market Sentiment and Economic Drivers

    Many analysts believe that economic uncertainty and rising prices create a strong chance for Bitcoin to serve as a safe asset. Investors now see Bitcoin as a reliable store of value. They shift funds to cryptocurrencies when they lose trust in traditional assets. In addition, new regulations in key markets push both large and small investors to spread their money across various assets.

    Technical Analysis and Price Trends

    Technical data supports a potential price surge. Long-term charts show an upward trend, while short-term drops offer good buying points. Trading volumes and network activity grow each day. Experts point to a limited supply and high demand as key reasons that Bitcoin Reach $200000 upto.

    Investor Implications and Risk Management

    Investors must stay alert in this volatile market. They should manage risk by diversifying their portfolios. Many experts advise reviewing holdings and allocating funds wisely. They also recommend keeping up with the latest market news and technical signals to guide decisions.

    Conclusion

    This forecast that Bitcoin may reach $200,000 comes from strong market sentiment, positive technical trends, and a unique economic climate. However, investors face a volatile market that demands caution. Experts urge both individual and institutional investors to monitor these trends closely and prepare for various market moves.

    While reaching $200,000 is not guaranteed, this forecast offers valuable insight into the ever-changing crypto market. It shows that the market can shift quickly and that informed decisions are key. Investors should act wisely and stay updated on news and trends. By doing so, they can protect their investments and uncover new opportunities in the fast-paced world of cryptocurrencies.

    The post Could Bitcoin Reach $200000? Market & Expert Insights appeared first on FinanceBrokerage.

    Grocery stores are rationing eggs as supply falls and prices rise

    Egg rationing is here.

    With prices rising rapidly and showing no signs of slowing anytime soon, some of the nation’s biggest grocery store chains — including Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Costco — have begun limiting the amount of eggs individual consumers can buy.

    This time last year, the average price for a dozen eggs was around $3, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By last month, it had risen to around $5.

    And egg prices are expected to climb this year by 20.3 percent, according to the latest outlook from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

    Market analysts blame the price hikes on the highly infectious bird flu that has decimated the chicken population and reduced egg supplies during the winter holiday season, when the demand is strong. More than 13 million hens have been lost or slaughtered since December as a result of the bird flu outbreak, according to the Agriculture Department’s latest Egg Markets Overview.

    Trader Joe’s is dealing with the shortages by limiting the amount of eggs customers can buy.

    “Due to ongoing issues with the supply of eggs, we are currently limiting egg purchases to one dozen per customer, per day, in all Trader Joe’s stores across the country,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “We hope these limits will help to ensure that as many of our customers who need eggs are able to purchase them when they visit Trader Joe’s.”

    Walmart is limiting bulk buyers to two 60-count cartons per purchase “to help ensure more customers can have access to eggs,” a spokesperson said.

    “Although supply is very tight, we’re working with suppliers to try and help meet customer demand, while striving to keep prices as low as possible.”

    There are no restrictions on purchasers of smaller quantities of eggs, the spokesperson said.

    At Sam’s Club, purchasers are allowed to buy two cartons of each brand of eggs on the shelves, a spokesperson said.

    But at Kroger and Aldi there is a two dozen eggs per trip limit, while Whole Foods and Costco are capping egg purchases at three one-dozen cartons per person in select stores.

    A sign asks customers to limit their purchases of eggs at a grocery store Monday in South Pasadena, Calif. Frederic J. Brown / AFP – Getty Images

    Meanwhile, the White House found itself taking flak again from Democrats demanding that President Donald Trump fulfill his campaign promise to immediately start reducing the price of groceries.

    “Over the last several weeks, you have done nothing to address these rising costs,” the Congressional Dads Caucus said in a letter Thursday to Trump. “Moreover, your flurry of executive actions has hampered the government’s response to effectively address the underlying causes of this crisis. Eggs are a basic necessity for families in our districts, and the financial burden caused by these surging prices must be resolved.”

    In some areas of New York, “the average price of a dozen eggs has reached more than $8 in some stores,” said Tony Hernandez, spokesperson for Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., who leads the group that fired off the letter.

    In response to the harsh criticism from congressional Democrats, a White House spokesperson, Anna Kelly, blamed the egg crisis on the ‘Biden Administration’s slow and ineffective response to the bird flu outbreak, which began in 2022.’

    “Moms and dads across the country gave President Trump a mandate to take every action to drive down costs, and he is delivering,’ Kelly said in emailed statement.

    Trump and Brooke Rollins, who is the president’s pick to head the Agriculture Department, ‘will refocus the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on its core mission: protecting the health of the United States’ plants, animals, and natural resources,’ Kelly wrote.

    In New York City, some bodegas have taken to selling eggs one at a time because their customers can’t afford to shell out $10 or more to buy a dozen eggs, a price that is not unusual in the very expensive city.

    “These people don’t have enough money to buy a dozen eggs, so I have to sell them separately,” Fernando Rodriguez, 62, owner of Pamela’s Green Deli in The Bronx, told the New York Post.

    This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

    Retail sales slumped 0.9% in January, down much more than expected

    Consumers sharply curtailed their spending in January, indicating a potential weakening in economic growth ahead, according to a Commerce Department report Friday.

    Retail sales slipped 0.9% for the month from an upwardly revised 0.7% gain in December, even worse than the Dow Jones estimate for a 0.2% decline. The sales totals are adjusted for seasonality but not inflation for a month, in which prices rose 0.5%.

    Excluding autos, prices fell 0.4%, also well off the consensus forecast for a 0.3% increase. A “control” measure that strips out several nonessential categories and figures directly into calculations for gross domestic product fell 0.8% after an upwardly revised increase of 0.8%.

    With consumer spending making up about two-thirds of all economic activity in the U.S., the sales numbers indicate a potential weakening in growth for the first quarter.

    Receipts at sporting goods, music and book stores tumbled 4.6% on the month, while online outlets reported a 1.9% decline and motor vehicles and parts spending dropped 2.8%. Gas stations along with food and drinking establishments both reported 0.9% increases.

    Stock market futures held in slightly negative territory following the release, while Treasury yields lost ground. Traders raised bets that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates again as soon as June.

    “The drop was dramatic, but several mitigating factors show there’s no cause for alarm. Some of it can be chalked up to bad weather, and some to auto sales tanking in January after an unusual surge in December due to fat dealer incentives,” said Robert Frick, corporate economist with Navy Federal Credit Union. “Especially considering December was revised up strongly, the rolling average of consumer spending remains solid,” Frick added.

    Inflation remains ahead of the Fed’s 2% goal. The consumer price index posted a 0.5% gain in January and showed a 3% annual inflation rate. However, the producer price index, a proxy for wholesale prices, showed some softening in key pipeline inputs.

    In other economic news Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that import prices accelerated 0.3% in January, in line with expectations for the largest one-month move since April 2024. On a year-over-year basis, import prices increased 1.9%.

    Fuel prices increased 3.2% on the month, also the biggest gain since April 2024. Food, feeds and beverage costs rose 0.2% following a 3% surge in December.

    Export prices also increased, rising 1.3%.

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