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Investment Protection Agreement with the Ecuador Government on Challenger’s El Guayabo Project

Challenger Gold Limited (ASX: CEL) (‘CEL’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce it has entered into an Investment Protection Agreement (“IPA” or “the Agreement”) with the Government of Ecuador for its 100% owned El Guayabo Project (“El Guayabo” or “the Project”). Under the terms of the IPA, the Government of Ecuador has granted CEL legal protections including stability of the regulatory framework, resolution of disputes through international arbitration, and protection of CEL’s investment.

The IPA covers US$75 million in investment from CEL encompassing expenditures from CEL’s initial acquisition of the project in 2019 and expenditure incurred until the end of 2027. It has an initial term of 8 years and is renewable. Key incentives and protections under the IPA include:

  • Regulatory stability and protection from changes to the current legal framework
  • The legal framework at the time of execution will continue to apply if the terms are more favourable to the project owner than any potential new framework
  • The IPA guarantees rights including non-discriminatory treatment, property protection, and legal certainty
  • International arbitration, should there be any disputes in relation to the Project, with the seat of arbitration in London under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce

Commenting on the Investment Protection Agreement, CEL Managing Director, Mr Kris Knauer, said

“The completion of the Investment Protection Agreement is a significant development for the Project..

The IPA provides certainty with respect to the legal framework governing the Project, including stable mining regulations and fiscal terms, and security of title and investment for the term of the agreement. Additionally, it provides protection from all forms of confiscation and a mechanism for international arbitration should there be any disputes related to the project.

The IPA is also timely given recent corporate action in Ecuador as we take steps to monetise our Ecuador assets following the significant resource upgrade from 4.5 million ounce1 to 9.1 million ounces1,2,3.‘

Click here for the full ASX Release

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Phase 1 Drill Program – Operational and Geological Progress Update

McLaren Minerals Limited (ASX: MML) (‘McLaren’ or ‘Company’), is pleased to provide a further update on the phase 1 Drill Program at its wholly owned McLaren Titanium Project in the western Eucla Basin, Western Australia. This update is driven by the completion of geological interpretation of all the drilling during this campaign, in the absence of laboratory results.

Highlights

McLaren Titanium Project

  • 192 drill holes completed for a total of 4,067 metres, on time and without incident
  • Significant extensions of prospective sediments outside of currently known resource boundaries observed during drilling:
    • North extension: approximately 2,200m wide, avg. 14m thick (max 23m),
    • Central zone eastern extension: 800m wide, avg. 20m thick (max 23m),
    • Southern zone: 2,600m wide, avg. 10m thick (max 15m).
  • Metallurgical and geological samples submitted to IHC and Diamantina Laboratories
  • Geological work has improved confidence in deposit morphology and is expected to reduce future drilling costs
  • Strong community support confirmed within an established mining region

McLaren Mineral Sands Managing Director, Simon Finnis, commented:

“While we have not yet received any assays, phase 1 has delivered strong confidence to our team regarding this project. The most recent interpretation not only confirm the integrity of our geological model, but importantly, demonstrates the scale of the opportunity ahead. Defining substantial potential for mineralisation outside the current Resource boundary positions us well for future resource growth. We’ve also made solid ground operationally—drilling was completed on time, we’ve brought costs down, and we’re seeing strong local support. Taken together, these outcomes give us a great deal of confidence as we move toward the next phase of work and continue building long-term value for shareholders.”

Click here for the full ASX Release

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Crypto Market Review: Trump Media Planning US$3 Billion Raise to Buy Bitcoin, Other Coins

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Monday (May 26) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$109,039 as markets closed, up 1.2 percent in 24 hours. The day’s range for the cryptocurrency brought a low of US$109,003 and a high of US$110,162.

Bitcoin performance, May 26, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Ethereum (ETH) finished the trading day at US$2,540.88, a 0.7 percent increase over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$2,534.30 and saw a daily high of US$2,567.88.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) closed at US$174.15, up 1.1 percent over 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$174.12 in the final minutes of trading and reached a high of US$178.07.
  • XRP is trading at US$2.31, reflecting a 0.2 percent increase over 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached a daily low of US$2.30 and a high of US$2.33.
  • Sui (SUI) peaked at US$3.47, showing a decreaseof 1.9 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Monday was US$3.59.
  • Cardano (ADA) is trading at US$0.7549, up 0.9 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price of the day was US$0.7547, and it reached a high of US$0.7688.

Today’s crypto news to know

Could soaring debt send Bitcoin to US$1 million by 2030?

Prominent voices are calling for US$1 million Bitcoin by the end of the decade, a Cointelegraph post shows.

ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood sees Bitcoin hitting US$1.5 million by 2030 in a high-conviction ‘bull case’ scenario, driven upward by institutional adoption and the coin’s unique monetary properties.

Robert Kiyosaki has echoed the million-dollar prediction, linking it to surging US debt and potential economic collapse, which he says will push investors to safe-haven assets like Bitcoin, gold and silver.

“I strongly believe, by 2035, that one Bitcoin will be over US$1 million, Gold will be US$30,000, and silver US$3,000 a coin,” the financial author posted on X, formerly Twitter, in mid-April.

“We have been quite bullish over the last five or six weeks. We have been bearish coming out of the Trump inauguration in February, but we turned quite bullish,” 10x Research CEO Markus Thielen told Cointelegraph on May 22.

If momentum continues, 2025 could mark Bitcoin’s most aggressive bull run to date. Still, volatility remains a key wildcard, especially as political and macroeconomic dynamics evolve.

Trader behind US$1 billion Bitcoin bet goes all in on PEPE memecoin

Pseudonymous trader ‘James Wynn,’ better known as “moonpig” on the decentralized exchange Hyperliquid, has become one of the most talked-about crypto traders after flipping from a billion-dollar Bitcoin bet to a US$1 million leveraged bet on memecoin PEPE. Days ago, Wynn closed a US$1.2 billion Bitcoin long position with a US$17.5 million loss, then doubled down on a US$1 billion short position using 40x leverage, netting US$3 million as Bitcoin dipped.

After posting about US$25 million in total profit from his trading spree, Wynn announced he’s walking away from perpetual trading. This type of trading involves derivatives contracts without an expiry date.

His latest PEPE trade, however, has already gained US$500,000 as the token jumped 6 percent in just a few hours.

The on-chain transparency of Wynn’s trades has captivated X users, turning him into a meme icon.

Strategy acquires more Bitcoin, faces legal challenges

Michael Saylor’s Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) has acquired an additional 4,020 BTC.

They were purchased between May 19 and 23 for US$427.1 million, as per a Monday announcement. These latest purchases were made at an average price of US$106,237 per BTC.

This marks Strategy’s fourth Bitcoin acquisition in May, bringing its total holdings to 580,250 BTC, acquired for approximately US$40.6 billion at an average price of US$69,979 per coin.

This Bitcoin acquisition occurred after Strategy director Jarrod Patten sold 2,650 Strategy shares worth nearly US$1.1 million between May 16 and 21, according to a report filed by Strategy on May 22.

Meanwhile, Strategy’s shares were down by over 10 percent last week, falling after a class-action lawsuit filed on May 16 alleged the misrepresentation of Bitcoin investments. The plaintiffs are seeking to recover losses for shareholders purportedly affected by securities fraud between April 2024 and April 2025.

Trump Media’s potential US$3 billion crypto acquisition plan

Trump Media and Technology Group (NASDAQ:DJT) is planning to raise US$3 billion to buy Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, according to a Monday report from the Financial Times.

According to the report, which cites six anonymous insiders, Trump Media is aiming to raise US$2 billion in fresh equity and another US$1 billion through a convertible bond.

ClearStreet and BTIG are among the brokers that could serve as underwriters on the deal.

The official announcement could come during Bitcoin 2025, taking place in Las Vegas this week. US Vice President JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump are expected to make appearances, along with David Sacks. The Bitcoin 2024 conference, which was held in Nashville, was where Trump made a highly publicized announcement about making the US the crypto leader of the world, a major turning point for his engagement with the crypto community.

Neither the Trump administration nor representatives for Trump Media have confirmed the story.

Musk starts X Money beta testing

Elon Musk has begun beta testing of X Money, a payment and banking app he is building into his social media platform X. The news was confirmed via social media post on Sunday (May 25) from an account called Tesla Owners Silicon Valley, which is not owned or operated by Musk or by Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA); however, Musk confirmed the test, writing that access will be “very limited” due to the “extreme care” that must be taken with users’ savings.

The features and functionalities of X Money during this initial beta testing phase remain undisclosed, but integration of a payment and banking app into X represents a significant step toward Musk’s vision of an “everything app.’

Pakistan to dedicate 2,000 MW to Bitcoin mining, AI infrastructure

Pakistan’s finance ministry announced that it will allocate 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to power Bitcoin-mining and artificial intelligence data centers. The initiative is being spearheaded by the government-backed Pakistan Crypto Council and is part of a national plan to monetize surplus electricity and modernize the economy.

Officials say the plan will not only alleviate grid imbalances, but also create tech-focused jobs and attract foreign investment. This marks one of the most ambitious state-backed crypto infrastructure moves by a developing country.

If successful, it could help position Pakistan as a regional hub for digital assets and artificial intelligence development. It also comes amid wider energy reforms aimed at revitalizing the nation’s troubled power sector.

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

Learning Painful Lessons is the Start to Building a Successful Trading or Investing Strategy

In order to invest or trade successfully, you have to have conviction. Conviction does not equal stubbornness. It’s very important to remain objective and occasionally question your conviction and adjust your strategy from time to time if signals warrant it. But I cannot trade personally if I believe there’s a 50/50 chance the market is going higher. That doubt will resonate with each and every swing in the market. I’ll chase at the wrong time and get whipsawed out of positions.

Instead, I evaluate those signals that work best for me – the same signals that have allowed me go against the grain and call significant market tops and bottoms over the past 5-7 years. Few were saying it was time to be long in early April, but I was quite clear. Topping signals were just as evident to me earlier this year, leading me to tell EarningsBeats.com members that I was 100% cash at the end of January. The technical confirmation of a market top occurred on Friday, February 21st. I published my belief of that confirmed market top in this same blog – again rather clearly:

You can click on this headline and read the whole story, if you’d like. After letting EB.com members know that I was fully committed on the long side in early April, because of bullish market maker manipulation, I have continued to track that market maker manipulation. Through Friday, it’s still telling me the same thing – BUY US STOCKS!

The Manipulation Continues

Listen, we’ve seen a massive run higher off that early-April low and profit taking and pullbacks will occur. That cannot deter us and should not be misconstrued as distribution ahead of a major market decline. In fact, there are a lot of technicians and market analysts talking about the big selling that’s taken place over the past week and how that will lead to further selling ahead. I completely disagree with this crew. We’ve seen almost zero selling or distribution in recent days. What we’ve seen are more gap downs, just like the ones that occurred after the March 13th low. Those opening and early morning selloffs saw subsequent buying throughout trading sessions. Check out the accumulation/distribution indicator on both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100 below:

S&P 500

You can see the AD line take a bit of a hit during the true period of distribution in 2025. Currently, however, the AD line is very near its all-time high. Last week (since Monday’s close), the SPY lost 15.74, falling from 594.85 to Friday’s close at 579.11. That was roughly a 2.5% pullback, but here’s what’s interesting. The SPY had gap downs the past four trading days that totaled 13.65. Nearly all of last week’s drop occurred at the opening bell. There was little selling during the trading day. We track this manipulative behavior in our “2025 Key Stocks Manipulation” excel spreadsheet, which we update for our members every Monday morning, so our members can clearly see the manipulation taking place on the SPY, QQQ, IWM, and 11 individual stocks, including Mag 7 stocks and a few others. It’s independent research and has helped us completely ignore the bearish and biased media. They’re interested in viewership and clicks and will scare the heck out of everyone to achieve their own selfish, money-making goals. EarningsBeats.com is interested in helping folks navigate a landscape designed to misinform and mislead. We’re interested in making money, that’s it. Follow the charts, not the headlines.

NASDAQ 100

The AD line exploded higher on the NASDAQ 100, mostly because Mag 7 stocks were heavily accumulated during the early-April massacre. The same thing occurred in March 2020 during the pandemic, prior to these stocks skyrocketing later in 2020. Then we saw a repeat in 2022, before a massive explosion higher in 2023. Once again, we’re seeing Wall Street’s “rinse and repeat” strategy of effectively stealing shares from unsuspecting retail traders. And once again, these stocks have been flying again.

It’s up to us to learn these lessons and not make the same mistakes over and over again during cyclical bear markets. At EarningsBeats.com, we take advantage of these selloffs before they occur. First, we move to cash. Next, we watch the stocks tumble. Third, we buy back in much cheaper at the same time that Wall Street does. Doesn’t this sound like a much better strategy? Follow what Wall Street is buying, not what they’re saying.

This manipulation applies to an even greater extent to individual stocks. One of my favorite stocks has been ridiculously-manipulated in 2025. Over the past four trading days, while the S&P 500 has been under pressure, this stock has gapped down 3.13, but has moved 8 bucks higher during the trading day. It’s one of our 12 individual stocks that we track each week and showed the most manipulation last week. Its AD line is soaring again and its relative strength vs. its industry peers has exploded higher since the first week of March. Owning stocks like this help us significantly outperform the S&P 500.

I’m featuring this stock in our FREE EB Digest newsletter on Tuesday morning. To register for our newsletter and receive this stock Tuesday morning before the market opens, simply CLICK HERE and provide your name and email address. Again, it’s free, there’s no credit card required, and you may unsubscribe at any time.

Our Spring Special, HUGE Savings

We run specials from time to time to allow new members an opportunity to enjoy our service for a year at a major discount. We started our annual Spring Special this past week and it runs through Monday at midnight. If you’d like to change your approach to the stock market and be more proactive, please consider taking advantage of this special. For more information and to Start Your Annual Membership Today, follow this link.

Happy trading!

Tom

Kaiser’s Record-Breaking First Weekly Gold Pour

Kaiser Reef Limited (“Kaiser”, or “the Company”) (ASX:KAU) is pleased to announce that the first 10 days of ownership of the Henty Gold Mine has progressed to plan and the operation continues to bed in under Kaiser ownership.

Highlights

  • First 10 days of Henty ownership
  • Record Kaiser gold pour >1,200 ounces from Henty
  • Kaiser transformed into a ≈ 30kozpa gold producer1,3

The first gold pour under Kaiser’s ownership has likely exceeded 1,200oz of gold, and is currently in transit to the Perth Mint for refining and outturn.

The acquisition of the Henty Gold Mine has positioned Kaiser as a multi-asset gold producer with significant growth potential.

Brad Valiukas, Kaiser’s executive Director – Operations commented:

“It’s been an excellent start for Kaiser at Henty, the team is transitioning well, and operational performance has been excellent. We are well positioned to build on the success that Catalyst has had at Henty, as it becomes our flagship asset. Kaiser is now a significantly stronger Company with the incorporation of Henty, and we look forward to advancing our assets and the Company.”

Key highlights of the Henty Gold Mine include:

  • Established production platform: Henty Gold Mine is a proven gold production operation, with historical production of 1.4Moz -8.9g/t2. Since its acquisition by Catalyst in 2021, significant operational improvements have been made, including investments in drill platforms, drilling, tailings, underground fleet and people.
  • 5-year mine plan: Work to date has culminated in establishing a robust 5-year mine plan underpinned by a current Ore Reserves of 1.2Mt @ 4.0g/t for 154koz3. There is significant scope to extend mine life based on the current Mineral Resource of 4.1Mt @ 3.4g/t Au for 449koz3 along with the opportunities for near-mine exploration and development success.
  • Significant infrastructure: The Henty mine benefits from significant infrastructure including a 300ktpa CIL processing plant, surface & underground workshops, administration complex, access to hydro generated grid power and refreshed tailings storage capacity.
  • Implement and build on operational capacity: The Kaiser executive team brings extensive experience in optimising similar assets through a combination of operational improvement and targeted exploration investment. Supported by Catalyst as a 19.99% strategic shareholder, and skilled operating team and local workforce of over 150 employees, Kaiser is well-positioned to drive further value.
  • Flagship asset: As Kaiser’s flagship asset, Henty will receive dedicated focus to continue the significant work completed by Catalyst and further drive operational improvements.

For further information in respect to the acquisition, please refer to the Company’s ASX Announcement dated 24 March 2025.

Click here for the full ASX Release

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Week Ahead: NIFTY Stays In Technically Challanging Situation; Sector Rotation Shows Likely Change In Leadership

After a very strong move in the week before this one, the markets chose to take a breather. They moved in a wide range but ended the week on a mildly negative note after rebounding from their low point of the week. While defending the key levels, the markets largely chose to stay within a defined range. The trading range remained reasonably wide; the Nifty oscillated in a 600.55-point range over the past five sessions. The volatility inched modestly higher; the India Vix rose 4.40% to 17.28 on a weekly basis. While keeping its head above crucial levels, the headline index closed with a net weekly loss of 166.65 points (-0.67).

The coming week will be an expiry week; we will have monthly derivatives expiry playing out as well. Going by the options data, the Nifty has created a trading range between 25100 and 24500 levels. The markets are likely to consolidate in this 600-point trading range. A directional bias would emerge only if the Nifty takes out 25100 on the upside convincingly or ends up violating the 24500 level. While the underlying trend stays intact, the markets are unlikely to develop any sustainable trend so long as they do not move past the 25100 level. While the markets stay in the defined range, it would be prudent to vigilantly guard profits at higher levels and rotate sectors effectively to remain invested in the relatively stronger pockets.

The coming week is likely to see the levels of 25000 and 25175 acting as potential resistance points. The supports come in lower at 24600 and 24450 levels.

The weekly RSI is at 60.14; it stays neutral and does not show any divergence against the price. The weekly MACD is bullish and stays above its signal line.

The pattern analysis shows that the Nifty has formed a trading range between 25100 on the higher side and 24500 on the lower side. This means that a directional bias would emerge only if Nifty moves past 25100 convincingly or violates the 24500 level. Until either of these two things happens, we will see the Nifty consolidating in this defined range. The Nifty has so far defended the pattern support level that also exists in the 24400-24500 zone.

Overall, the markets continue to remain in a challenging environment and face strong resistance near the 25100 level. So long as the Nifty stays below this level, it stays prone to corrective spikes, which may also keep volatility at slightly elevated levels as well. Given the current technical structure, it would be imperative that not only the sectors be rotated properly to stay invested in relatively stronger pockets, but all existing gains must also be vigilantly guarded at current levels by the investors. While continuing to keep leveraged exposures at modest levels, a cautious outlook is advised for the coming week.

Sector Analysis for the coming week

In our look at Relative Rotation Graphs®, we compared various sectors against the CNX500 (NIFTY 500 Index), representing over 95% of the free-float market cap of all the listed stocks. 

Relative Rotation Graphs (RRG) show that while the Nifty Consumption, PSU Bank, Infrastructure, Banknifty, FMCG, and Commodities indices are in the leading quadrant, all are showing a distinct slowdown in their relative momentum against the broader Nifty 500 Index. While these groups are likely to show resilience and may relatively outperform, except for the Consumption Index, they are giving up in favor of other sectors that are showing renewed relative strength.

The Nifty Financial Services Index has rolled inside the weakening quadrant. The Nifty Metal and Services Sector Indices are also inside the weakening quadrant.

While the Nifty Pharma Index continues to languish inside the lagging quadrant, the IT Index, which is also inside the lagging quadrant, is showing sharp improvement in its relative momentum against the broader markets.

The Nifty Realty, Auto, Midcap 100, and Energy Sector Indices are inside the improving quadrant. These groups are expected to continue bettering their relative performance against the broader markets.

Important Note: RRG charts show the relative strength and momentum of a group of stocks. In the above Chart, they show relative performance against NIFTY500 Index (Broader Markets) and should not be used directly as buy or sell signals.  

Milan Vaishnav, CMT, MSTA

Consulting Technical Analyst

www.EquityResearch.asia | www.ChartWizard.ae

Trump clears Nippon merger with U.S. Steel

President Donald Trump on Friday cleared the merger of U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel, after the Japanese steelmaker’s previous bid to acquire its U.S. rival had been blocked on national security grounds.

“This will be a planned partnership between United States Steel and Nippon Steel, which will create at least 70,000 jobs, and add $14 Billion Dollars to the U.S. Economy,” Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.

U.S. Steel’s headquarters will remain in Pittsburgh and the bulk of the investment will take place over the next 14 months, the president said. U.S. Steel shares surged more than 20% to close at $52.01 per share after Trump’s announcement.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro applauded the agreement, saying he worked with local, state and federal leaders ‘to press for the best deal to keep U.S. Steel headquartered in Pittsburgh, protect union jobs, and secure the future of steelmaking in Western Pennsylvania.’

In his own statement, Lieutenant Gov. Austin Davis called the announcement ‘promising,’ but added: ‘I want to make sure everyone involved in the deal holds up their end of the bargain. I look forward to seeing the promised investments become a reality and the workers receive everything they’ve fought for.’

President Joe Biden blocked Nippon Steel from purchasing U.S. Steel for $14.9 billion in January, citing national security concerns. Biden said at the time that the acquisition would create a risk to supply chains that are critical for the U.S.

Trump, however, ordered a new review of the proposed acquisition in April, directing the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to determine “whether further action in this matter may be appropriate.”

Trump said he would hold a rally at U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh on May 30.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

Why Trump’s iPhone tariff threat might not be enough to bring production to the U.S.

The once-solid relationship between President Donald Trump and Apple CEO Tim Cook is breaking down over the idea of a U.S.-made iPhone.

Last week, Trump said he “had a little problem with Tim Cook,” and on Friday, he threatened to slap a 25% tariff on iPhones in a social media post.

Trump is upset with Apple’s plan to source the majority of iPhones sold in the U.S. from its factory partners in India, instead of China. Cook confirmed this plan earlier this month during earnings discussions.

Trump wants Apple to build iPhones for the U.S. market in the U.S. and has continued to pressure the company and Cook.

“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday.

Analysts said it would probably make more sense for Apple to eat the cost rather than move production stateside.

“In terms of profitability, it’s way better for Apple to take the hit of a 25% tariff on iPhones sold in the US market than to move iPhone assembly lines back to US,” Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrote on X.

UBS analyst David Vogt said that the potential 25% tariffs were a “jarring headline” but that they would only be a “modest headwind” to Apple’s earnings, dropping annual earnings by 51 cents per share, versus a prior expectation of 34 cents per share under the current tariff landscape.

Experts have long held that a U.S.-made iPhone is impossible at worst and highly expensive at best.

Analysts have said that iPhones made in the U.S. would be much more expensive, CNBC previously reported, with some estimates ranging between $1,500 and $3,500 to buy one at retail. Labor costs would certainly rise.

But it would also be logistically complicated.

Supply chains and factories take years to build out, including installing equipment and staffing up. Parts that Apple imported to the United States for assembly might be subject to tariffs as well.

Apple started manufacturing iPhones in India in 2017 but it was only in recent years that the region was capable of building Apple’s latest devices.

“We believe the concept of Apple producing iPhones in the US is a fairy tale that is not feasible,” wrote Wedbush analyst Dan Ives in a note on Friday.

Other analysts were wary about predicting how Trump’s threat ultimately plays out. Apple might be able to strike a deal with the administration — despite the eroding relationship — or challenge the tariffs in court.

For now, most of Apple’s most important products are exempt from tariffs after Trump gave phones and computers a tariff waiver — even from China — in April, but Apple doesn’t know how the Trump administration’s tariffs will ultimately play out beyond June.

“We’re skeptical” that the 25% tariff will materialize, wrote Wells Fargo analyst Aaron Rakers.

He wrote that Apple could try to preserve its roughly 41% gross margin on iPhones by raising prices in the U.S. by between $100 and $300 per phone.

It’s unclear how Trump intends to target Apple’s India-made iPhones. Rakers wrote that the administration could put specific tariffs on phone imports from India.

Apple’s operations in India continue to expand.

Foxconn, which assembles iPhones for Apple, is building a new $1.5 billion factory in India that could do some iPhone production, the Financial Times reported Thursday.

Apple declined to comment on Trump’s post.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

3 Stocks to Watch While Everyone’s Staring at NVIDIA

This week, while everyone else is focused on NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA), we will focus our attention on stocks with earnings that may get overlooked.

We’re watching a different group of stocks heading into earnings: Okta, Inc. (OKTA), AutoZone, Inc. (AZO), and Salesforce.com, Inc. (CRM). OKTA and AZO are making new highs as they head into their earnings call, while CRM is struggling.

Let’s break down the best risk/reward set-ups as we kick off the week.

Okta, Inc. (OKTA): Volatility Now, Potential Later

Okta’s stock price broke out to new 52-week highs a week before it posts its quarterly numbers. The cybersecurity company has experienced extreme volatility after posting earnings. In the last three quarters, the stock saw some pretty big swings—up 24.3%, up 5.4%, and down 17.6%. Its average price change post-earnings is +/-10.2%.

Technically, I love this setup. Let’s look at a five-year daily chart.

Shares have broken out ahead of earnings and have a lot to reverse. If we see weakness after results, there are several support areas where we would want to enter the stock with favorable risk/reward. The first strong support area is between $115/$118, an old resistance level that the stock just eclipsed. Old resistance could act as new support and provide an opportunity.

Outside of recent weakness due to “Liberation Day,” OKTA’s stock price has outperformed its peers and held key moving averages. Use levels just below the 50-day moving average around $110 as a near-term stop if $115 doesn’t hold.

To the upside, there is much to reverse and targets of $150 to $160 are attainable. If you’re a longer-term investor, the downtrend is broken and the bulls are back in charge.

AutoZone, Inc. (AZO): Riding Steady 

The retail leader in automotive replacement parts and accessories, AutoZone, Inc. (AZO), continues to rise, slowly and steadily, despite market volatility. The stock price is up 20% year-to-date, and we hope to add to those gains when they report on Tuesday morning.

One thing that has helped AZO’s continued growth is that the average car is roughly 12 years old. Consumers are investing more in maintenance and repairs instead of purchasing new vehicles. And with tariffs, buying a new car becomes more expensive, which benefits the car repair and maintenance business.

Let’s look at that long-term uptrend on a weekly chart going back five years.

The stock is a juggernaut. It has ridden the 50-week moving average consistently since Covid. It is in a beautiful uptrend and made new highs again just last week.

While the trend itself appears a tad extended above its averages, any trip back towards its recent uptrend line gives investors a strong entry point, with downside risk towards its 50-week moving average.

It’s also the best in class when compared to its top competitors, such as O’Reilly Automotive (ORLY) and Advanced Auto Parts (AAP). When looking at strong uptrends in a challenging environment, it’s best to find the best in class, and AZO continues to be just that. The trend continues to be the investor’s best friend.

Salesforce (CRM) Hits a Crossroads

A year ago, Salesforce (CRM) shocked investors with a revenue miss for the first time since 2006. This resulted in the stock price dropping 20% (red box in the chart below). It marked the stock’s low point, as it rallied as much as 74% over the next seven months. It now sits in the middle of a wide year-long range and is poised to move again.

Which way will it go? To examine that question, let’s look at the daily chart of CRM.

Technically, shares are at a crossroads. Shares dropped 37% from their December peak after forming a double top. It just broke its near-term downtrend from its post-Liberation Day lows, experiencing a 28% rally, but paused right at its 200-day moving average.

Momentum appears to be negative. The Moving Average Convergence/Divergence (MACD) has formed a bearish crossover, and shares failed to eclipse the 200-day. Shares are down -18% for 2025, underperforming the tech sector and the S&P 500. CRM sold off late Friday, hitting its 50-day moving average, on news that it’s in talks to acquire Informatica.

If you’re thinking of buying CRM, you may want to hold your horses. Watch the 50-day moving average around $270 to see if it can hold. On strength, look for confirmation and a close above the $295 level for an all clear that momentum has finally shifted in favor of the bulls.

Final Thoughts

OKTA, AZO, and CRM are thoughtful plays based on technical trends and real-world fundamentals. OKTA and AZO could have favorable risk/reward setups. As for CRM, add it to your ChartLists and monitor it regularly.