Pfizer Prevails in Obesity Biotech Battle, Secures Metsera Over Novo Nordisk

Pfizer agreed to buy Metsera after a fierce bidding war with Novo Nordisk A/S over the weight-loss startup, in a $10 billion deal.

Metsera announced late on Friday that Pfizer will pay up to $86.25 per share, which includes an initial cash payment of $65.60 per share and potential additional payments of up to $20.65 per share for reaching specific milestones.

Pfizer appears ready to conclude an intense bidding war between two of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, both of which see Metsera as a solution to serious issues affecting their businesses.

 

Novo has been trying to compete with rival Eli Lilly and Co. since making an unsolicited offer for Metsera in October, and boost its stagnant stock price, while Pfizer has been searching for a viable strategy to enter the highly competitive obesity market after multiple failed attempts with weight-loss medications.

The U.S. government ultimately had the greatest influence on which company would win. Due to U.S. antitrust concerns, a Novo acquisition would have posed “unacceptably high legal and regulatory risks to Metsera and its shareholders,” according to a statement from Metsera on Friday.

The statement also referenced a call from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission about potential risks involved in proceeding with the proposed Novo deal structure. Pfizer, on the other hand, had already received FTC approval for its bid. According to the statement, Metsera’s board decided that the new Pfizer offer was “the best transaction for shareholders, both in terms of value and certainty of closing.”

Pfizer expressed satisfaction that “we and Metsera have agreed to these revised terms, which will provide immediate and certain value to Metsera’s shareholders,” and indicated that it expects to close the deal soon..

Bitcoin Outflow Hits BlackRock’s IBIT, BTC Steady at $102K+

BlackRock clients withdrew $127 million from the company’s Bitcoin ETF, representing yet another significant withdrawal from the asset manager’s cryptocurrency holdings.

Several Bitcoin withdrawals from BlackRock, a well-known asset management firm, have occurred recently, raising concerns about a shift in institutional sentiment toward cryptocurrency assets. As possible signs of more significant market changes, investors are keeping an eye on BlackRock’s asset transfers to exchanges

. Client-driven Bitcoin sales, which represent portfolio rebalancing in erratic times, have also been reported by other significant asset managers.

Bitcoin (BTC) remains stable above $102,000. The live price is between $102,150 and $103,000 USD, with minor fluctuations over the last 24 hours (from a low of approximately $99,257 to a high of  $104,05).

This consolidation around $102K comes after a volatile October–November period during which Bitcoin surged to new highs in early October but corrected 19–20 percent due to whale selling (long-term holders sold ~400K worth of BTC in a single day), ETF outflows, and broader macro pressures like a hawkish Fed stance and weak risk-on cues.

21Shares Ignites XRP ETF Hype: Countdown to Potential Approval Begins!

21Shares filed an 8(a) on Friday for its spot XRP ETF, which, in accordance with U.S securities law, would take effect automatically after 20 days in the absence of SEC intervention. The Cboe BZX Exchange is anticipated to list the 21Shares XRP ETF with the ticker symbol TOXR.

Coinbase Custody Trust Company, Anchorage Digital Bank, and BitGo Trust Company will oversee XRP custody.

Shares may be created or redeemed in cash or in kind by authorized participants, such as Macquarie Capital and Jane Street Capital. Other asset managers, such as Bitwise, Franklin Templeton, and Canary Capital, have also submitted updated SEC filings and prepared for a possible launch in the near future.

XRP and Dogecoin ETFs are scheduled to launch next after Bitwise’s spot Solana ETF and Canary Capital’s Litecoin and HBAR ETFs. Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, stated earlier this year in March that several XRP ETFs would be introduced in the US in the second half of 2025 following the resolution of legal disputes with the SEC.

Gold Breaches $4K Amid US Government Shutdown and Dismal Economic Data

XAU/USD was up 0.64% at the last trading session of the week as the US government shutdown continues to influence markets, while risk aversion keeps US equity markets on track for weekly losses. Bullion closed at $4,002 after climbing from the daily low of $3,974.

According to the University of Michigan’s preliminary Consumer Sentiment survey for November, uncertainty remains prevalent in the US economy. Bullion gains 0.64 percent amid risk aversion and increased expectations of a December Fed rate cut.

The COVID emergency caused the index to drop to its lowest level since June 2022, indicating that households are worried “about potential negative consequences for the economy” of the US government shutdown. Gold, traditionally seen as a hedge against uncertainty and lower interest rates, maintained its gains, rising 0.13 percent so far this week.

In October, employers laid off more than 150,000 workers, marking the largest monthly reduction in over 20 years. This information comes from the Challenger report by Gray and Christmas, which indicates that the U.S. job market may be contracting more quickly than anticipated.

According to data from the Prime Market Terminal’s interest rate probability tool, market participants are estimating a 68 percent chance of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve (Fed) during its December meeting.

The US Dollar Index (DXY), which compares the US dollar against six other currencies, falls 0.15 percent to 99.55. After a decline of seven-and-a-half basis points on Thursday, US Treasury yields stabilized, with the 10-year Treasury note yield remaining steady at approximately 4.085 percent. US real yields, which tend to move inversely to gold prices, increase nearly two basis points to 1.805 percent.

Tesla Greenlight Musk’s $1 Trillion Jackpot – TSLA Rockets 10%

Tesla received shareholder approval for Elon Musk’s $1 trillion compensation package, marking the largest payout ever awarded to a corporate leader.

Tesla stock has fallen sharply as Musk and Trump continue fighting.

The stock has risen by 10% so far this year, trailing behind the S&P 500 Index, which has gained 14%. As the company looks ahead to 2026 and beyond, Elon Musk hinted at several ambitious goals. Despite working with reputable suppliers like Samsung and TSMC, the CEO, who has led the electric vehicle manufacturer since 2008, suggested that Tesla might need to build its own chip factory to achieve the necessary production volume.

At the company’s annual meeting on Thursday, over 75% of the votes cast supported this unprecedented pay plan. This outcome followed a week-long effort by Musk, the board, and prominent retail investors to rally support for the initiative.

The compensation deal positions Musk, currently the richest person in the world, to potentially become the first trillionaire and increase his ownership of Tesla to at least 25% over the next ten years. However, to receive the full payout, he must achieve significant goals, including boosting Tesla’s market value, revitalizing its struggling automobile business, and launching the emerging robotaxi and Optimus robotics initiatives.

Musk stated, “It’s not just a new chapter for Tesla; it’s a new book,” as he confidently took the stage in front of an enthusiastic audience during the shareholder meeting..

Musk remarked, “Even when we extrapolate the best-case scenario for chip production from our suppliers, it’s still not enough.” Consequently, he believes that a Tesla terafactory may be necessary, as it would be significantly larger than a Gigafactory.

Musk indicated that the focus for the coming year will be on the Optimus robot, the semi-truck, and the Cybercab. He anticipates that Cybercab production will largely align with receiving regulatory approval. He added, “I want to express my gratitude to Waymo for making this possible. It’s really beneficial.”

 

 

 

Nvidia “Zero Plans” to Ship Blackwell AI Chips to China

Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang dismissed rumors that his company is attempting to engineer a return to the largest semiconductor market in the world by stating that it is not actively in talks to sell its Blackwell AI chips to Chinese companies.

Huang arrived in Taiwan on Friday in preparation for meetings with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., a longtime partner. took the chance to address recent remarks regarding the AI race between the US and China. In an interview with the Financial Times this week, the head of Nvidia caused a stir when he was quoted as saying that “China will win” that competition.

Huang clarified that his goal was only to highlight the Asian nation’s superiority in emerging technology. After visiting Washington and South Korea last week, the 62-year-old founder is still traveling the world and closing deals with businesses in various sectors that want Nvidia’s artificial intelligence hardware expertise. Huang has been plagued by persistent speculation.

Nvidia’s market value increased by $1 trillion, making it the first $5 trillion company in history.

Nvidia remains the most valuable company in the world, surpassing its tech rivals, Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp., despite the stock’s recent decline. Huang is promoting AI adoption worldwide to expand the application of Nvidia’s technology in various industries and regions.

Additionally, the CEO is working to address concerns about an AI bubble and demonstrate that hardware investments totaling trillions of dollars, such as data centers and Nvidia chips, will be profitable.

BlackRock’s Trillion-Dollar XRP Shockwave: Is the Mega-Rally About to Explode?

Zach Rector has identified a $30 trillion market potential for XRP over the next ten years. In a recent analysis, he emphasizes that institutional adoption, the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), and Ripple’s expanding infrastructure are creating a multitrillion-dollar market for XRP. The growth of tokenized assets in sectors such as commodities, debt markets, real estate, and private equity represents, according to Rector, “the single greatest opportunity in all of finance,” second only to global payment flows.

While XRP is widely recognized for its role in payments, Rector argues that the next phase of development will focus on bridging tokenized assets and providing liquidity for institutional-grade digital finance. He estimates that tokenized assets could reach between $12 trillion and $23 trillion by 2033, referencing predictions from Ripple and BCG. Over the next ten years, a conservative estimate suggests that the amount moving on-chain could range from $20 trillion to $30 trillion. “We’re moving in that direction, whether we reach $30 trillion in 2030 or 2035,” he stated.

Maxwell Stein, Director of Digital Assets at BlackRock, has shocked everyone in attendance at this year’s Ripple Swell conference. Important subjects covered during the two-day conference included Real World Assets (RWA), the role of banks in the adoption of cryptocurrencies, and the eager institutions that could offload trillions of dollars on-chain.

Trillions are definitely coming on-chain, but in the short term, we need to prove the utility of the blockchain,” Maxwell Stein said. In the meantime, NASDAQ President and CEO Adena Friedman went into detail about how banks have already tokenized bonds, fixed income, and stablecoins, especially CBDCs.Ripple’s annual Swell conference is the most anticipated event of the year in the cryptocurrency community.

However, Digital Asset Investor, a well-known analyst, recently echoed this sentiment, noting that while Swell might not influence the price, an announcement about an XRP ETF backed by BlackRock could have a very different impact. His post reignited debate about the true factors driving XRP’s market fluctuations and whether Swell will ever serve as a significant price catalyst.

The outlook of digital asset investors is clear: Swell isn’t typically an event that causes XRP’s value to move immediately. The conference mainly focuses on cross-border payment innovation, blockchain integration, and industry collaboration—topics that support long-term fundamentals but don’t usually spark short-term surges. Conversely, he suggested that a formal XRP ETF would significantly change the market environment, especially if backed by a major international investment firm like BlackRock. Such an event would indicate institutional support and regulatory recognition—factors that could attract substantial capital inflows and alter perceptions of XRP.

Reactions on X varied among users. While some see potential, one user noted that the current market trend indicates weakness and consolidation, suggesting that broader declines may overshadow any positive developments. They also mentioned that retail traders might react emotionally in the short term.

The overarching conclusion is that traders differentiate between significant financial advancements and mere symbolic events. Although Swell’s global reach and institutional partnerships are noteworthy, they rarely generate headlines that impact the market. In contrast, the possibility of a BlackRock XRP ETF would have much larger implications for investor accessibility, liquidity, and long-term valuation.

Market participants will likely continue to look for signs of progress in institutional integration as Ripple’s Swell 2025 conference in New York approaches. However, until an ETF or regulatory milestone is officially announced, expectations for substantial price movements remain low.

Intel Ignites: 84% YTD Rocket Ride Eyes $50 Target in AI Foundry Boom

Intel, a long-established leader in the semiconductor industry, experienced a significant turnaround in 2025, driven by government funding, investments in artificial intelligence (AI), and a recovery in its foundry business.

The company’s stock has surged approximately 84% year-to-date (YTD), outperforming the S&P 500’s gain of about 14%.

Intel faced challenges due to manufacturing delays and intense competition from AMD and Nvidia, which severely impacted its performance.

Government and Private Investment Propel Intel, but Volatility Persists

Intel’s shares closed yesterday at $36.93, reflecting a decline of 3.78%. This recent volatility has tempered the stock’s upward rally. With a market capitalization of $176.01 billion, Intel’s stock is currently trading at $37.

The fluctuations in the stock price are attributed to geopolitical risks and broader declines within the tech sector. Moreover, the stock’s beta of 1.35 indicates that it is more volatile than the overall market, making it susceptible to changes in the tech industry.

In terms of valuation, Intel has a Price/Sales ratio of 3.04 and a Price/Book ratio of 1.81, suggesting the stock may be overpriced based on trailing metrics, but it appears more reasonable when looking ahead. Continued investments in AI and manufacturing are evident through an Enterprise Value/EBITDA ratio of 186.15.

After recording its first annual loss since 1986 in 2024, Intel’s rally in 2025 marks a stark contrast to the nearly 60% decline experienced the previous year.

Revenue reached $13.65 billion, and net income was $1.02 billion, exceeding projections and indicating growth in foundry services and AI chips. This followed a disappointing Q1 with revenue of $12.67 billion, but the company gained momentum with lower losses forecasted for Q2.  The stock had risen nearly 99% at peak, outperforming Nvidia’s approximately 50% increase, climbing from around $20 at the beginning of the year to  $39 by early November (peaking at $42). The recent decline from $39.99 on November 1 is seen as profit-taking amid Nasdaq declines.

The stock’s 5-year return of -10% underscores the need for sustained growth, while the 3-year return of +35.81% lags behind the S&P 500’s return of +78.25%.

 

Bitcoin’s $100K Dream Shattered by Declining Confidence

Bitcoin has recently shown a strong short-term bearish trend, experiencing a decline of over 7% in the latest trading session. This sell-off can largely be attributed to increased risk aversion in the financial markets, which has reduced demand for Bitcoin. Downward pressure on Bitcoin’s short-term price is likely to persist as long as investors continue to favor safer investments and market confidence remains low.

The cryptocurrency dipped below $100,000, reaching its lowest level since May after falling more than 10%. Since then, Bitcoin has rebounded to above $103,000, positioning itself roughly halfway between the psychological support level of $100,000 and the previous support-turned-resistance level at $108,000.

Today’s price movement reflects stabilization following a significant sell-off earlier this week. The near-term outlook remains neutral at best as long as Bitcoin stays within the $100,000 to $108,000 range. However, after a challenging start to the week, traders are likely to welcome any positive developments.

Moving forward, traders will be on the lookout for a potential “death cross” between the 50-day exponential moving average (EMA) and the 200-day moving average (MA), which could indicate a shift in the long-term trend. If the price falls below $100,000, it may trigger another decline.

Market sentiment has been as fragile as it has been in months following a significant “risk-off” move yesterday. Fortunately, today’s better-than-expected economic data and early signs of progress toward reopening the US government have helped stabilize major markets.

The final UK PMI survey opened the European session on a strong note with a score of 52 points, compared to the expected score of 51. Another positive report came from the ADP Employment report, which showed 42,000 new jobs created versus the anticipated 25,000.

Policymakers believe that, given current immigration trends, this job growth is close to the breakeven point that will prevent the unemployment rate from declining further, even though it remains below the 100,000+ readings seen earlier this year. Regarding unemployment, the world’s largest economy has not released official employment data since early September, and it seems unlikely that the October Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) report will be published this Friday either.

Gold Calms After Hitting 1-Week High

Gold prices stabilized after experiencing their largest gain in about a week, as traders evaluated the implications of US interest rates based on recent private-sector employment data.  Bullion remained just above $3,980 per ounce, following a 1.2 percent increase on Wednesday. Gold was stable at $3,981.40 per ounce at the time of publication.

According to data from ADP Research, payrolls rose by 42,000 after experiencing declines for two consecutive months. This modest increase eases concerns about a rapid downturn and aligns with a general softening in labor demand.

This year, the bullion asset has increased by more than 50%. It reached a record in October, but after a fierce rally, it lost some ground. In addition to inflows into bullion-backed exchange-traded funds and increased central bank purchases, the US central bank’s rate cuts have supported prices. According to Vantage Markets analyst Hebe Chen, “the metal is likely to remain range-bound in the near term.”. “Stable, but awaiting the next big spark.”.

The Federal Open Market Committee, which sets interest rates, is scheduled to meet for the last time in 2025 next month. Currently, the longest government shutdown in US history has caused important official data to be delayed, making it much more difficult to evaluate conditions throughout the world’s largest economy.