Gold Rush : Goldman Sachs Eyes $5K Breakthrough – Is Your Portfolio Ready?

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

According to a Goldman Sachs survey, many investors believe that gold will reach a new all-time high of $5,000 by the end of 2026.

The bullion metal has increased by 58.6 percent so far this year, and on October 8, it broke through the historic $4,000 mark for the first time. In a survey of over 900 institutional investor clients on Goldman Sachs’ Marquee platform, 36 percent believe that gold will continue to rise and surpass $5,000 per troy ounce by the end of next year.

An additional 33% of respondents to the November survey predict that the commodity will hit between $4,500 and $5,000. Goldman Sachs reports that more than 70% of institutional investors expect gold prices to rise in the upcoming year.

On the other hand, slightly more than 5% of those surveyed believe that prices will decline to between $3,500 and $4,000 in the upcoming year. According to the survey, 27% of participants cited fiscal concerns as the primary cause of gold’s price increase, while 38% cited central bank purchases.

This year, a wide range of investors, including hedge funds and retail buyers, have turned to the commodity, which is typically viewed as a safe-haven asset during turbulent times, as a hedge against inflation risk, geopolitical unrest, and a declining dollar. Central banks have also invested in the precious metal because of gold’s high liquidity, low default risk, and generally neutral status as a reserve asset.

Silver’s 2025 Rampage to Historic Tops – Why This ‘Devil’ Still On

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Silver, often called the “Devil’s metal” because of its volatility, has reached record highs this year and still has potential for further gains amid a supply shortage. The price of an ounce of gold has exceeded $4,000 this year, and silver’s value has been rising in tandem with gold.

Silver prices hit a record high of $54.47 per troy ounce in mid-October, up 71% from the previous year. They have since somewhat retreated but are now increasing again despite limited supply.

Over the past fifty years, silver prices have peaked in October only three times, including January 1980, when the Hunt brothers attempted to corner the market by acquiring a third of the global supply, and 2011, when U.S. gold and silver were seen as safe-haven assets during the debt ceiling crisis.

This year, silver’s rise—driven by a short squeeze—caught many investors off guard. Unlike earlier investment waves, the 2025 silver boom relied on a mix of low supply, high demand from India, industrial demand, and tariffs. Silver’s market is only about a tenth the size of gold’s. It saw a slight decline after Liberation Day, while gold prices surged.

The gold-silver ratio—which indicates how many ounces of silver are needed to buy one ounce of gold—spiked above 100, indicating that many ounces of silver are required to buy one ounce of gold. A low ratio means gold is relatively cheap, while a high ratio suggests silver is undervalued and likely to increase.

This ratio hit a record high in April. This year, silver proved to be an attractive, low-cost investment, especially in a country where roughly 55% of the population depends on agriculture. Silver prices in India surged dramatically on October 17, reaching a record high of 170,415 rupees per kilogram, an 85% increase since the start of the year.

However, 80% of India’s silver supply is imported. Historically, the UK has been India’s main silver supplier, but increasingly, the UAE and China are filling that demand. Over recent years, London’s vaults have been rapidly depleting: the London Bullion Market Association held 31,023 metric tons of silver in June 2022, but by March 2025, that volume had fallen to about 22,126 metric tons—its lowest level in many years.

Crude Oil Surges above $60 a Barrel on Hopes of Ukraine Peace Breakthrough

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Crude oil rose and ended the week on a positive note as investors assessed uncertain prospects for a ceasefire in Ukraine and as the commodity crossed a key technical level.

West Texas Intermediate rose 0.7 percent to close above $60 per barrel, suggesting a risk premium persists. Russia objected to some parts of a plan supported by the US because a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine remains elusive.

The market is watching developments on a settlement that could lower prices by easing sanctions and increasing Russian oil flows, especially as an expected oversupply begins to appear.

Ukraine claimed responsibility for an overnight attack on the Temryuk seaport and Russia’s Syzran refinery. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Washington lobbied European nations to block a plan to use Moscow’s frozen assets to support a large loan for Ukraine. On Friday, WTI settled above its 50-day moving average, a crucial support level for the commodity, boosting bullish momentum.

Algorithmic traders covering some of their bearish positions in recent sessions also helped push prices higher, and analysts forecast more buying activity in the coming weeks. According to Dan Ghali, a commodity strategist at TD Securities, “this session should be the first significant short covering program since algo selling activity exhausted itself, and the bar is low for subsequent CTA buying activity to hit the tapes over the coming week.”

Worldwide oversupply is exerting downward pressure on prices amid geopolitical risks. While Canadian oil prices have fallen sharply, Saudi Aramco will cut the price of its flagship Arab Light crude grade to the lowest level since 2021 for January. Additionally, Baker Hughes reports that the number of US crude oil rigs increased by six over the previous week.

Breakup Bonanza: Netflix’s $5.8 Billion Warner Penalty Tops M&A History

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Netflix acquired Warner Bros. for $72 billion. One of the largest breakup fees ever included in a deal is a $5.8 billion penalty that Netflix has agreed to pay if the deal collapses or isn’t approved by regulators.

The fee, which is 8% of the deal’s equity value, is much higher than the typical amount even in large transactions, showing Netflix executives’ confidence in their ability to persuade international antitrust authorities.

According to a Houlihan Lokey report, the average breakup fee in 2024 was 2.4 per cent of the total transaction value.
Netflix’s multibillion-dollar commitment highlights the intense competition to take over the famous Hollywood studio.

Earlier this week, rival Paramount Skydance Corp. made a more substantial offer, increasing its proposed breakup fee to $5 billion—more than doubling it. Meanwhile, if Warner Bros. shareholders reject the deal, the company would have to pay a $2.8 billion reverse breakup fee. If Warner Bros. accepts a competing offer, the new buyer would be responsible for that cost.

XRP’s BlackRock Moment: The Silent Takeover That Changes Crypto Wealth

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Maxwell Stein, the Director of Digital Assets at BlackRock, caused a stir in the crypto market.

“Trillions of dollars are poised to enter the blockchain ecosystem, but in the short term, we need to demonstrate the technology’s utility,” stated Maxwell Stein. Meanwhile, Adena Friedman, President and CEO of NASDAQ, elaborated on how banks have begun tokenizing bonds, fixed income assets, and stablecoins, particularly Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).

Ripple’s annual Swell conference is one of the most anticipated events in the cryptocurrency community. However, renowned analyst Digital Asset Investor recently noted that while the Swell conference may not directly impact prices, an announcement regarding an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) backed by BlackRock could have a significantly different effect. This comment reignited discussions about the factors that truly influence XRP’s market fluctuations and whether Swell WAS a meaningful price catalyst.

The consensus among digital asset investors is clear: the Swell conference typically does not lead to immediate changes in XRP’s value. The conference mainly focuses on cross-border payment innovations, blockchain integration, and industry collaboration—topics that support long-term fundamentals but rarely trigger short-term price spikes. Conversely, the analyst suggested that a formal XRP ETF, especially one backed by a major international investment firm like BlackRock, would dramatically transform the market landscape. Such an event would signify institutional support and regulatory recognition, potentially attracting significant capital inflows and influencing the token’s price.

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.

Hewlett-Packard: HPE Tumbles on Gloomy Sales Forecast Amid AI Server Delays

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Hewlett-Packard Enterprise shares fell after the company’s sales forecast for the current quarter did not meet high expectations for its AI server business.

According to a statement released by HPE on Thursday, the company’s revenue for the period ending in January is projected to be between $9 billion and $9.4 billion, with profits, excluding certain items, expected to range from 57 to 61 cents per share. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg had predicted sales of $9.88 billion and an average profit of 53 cents per share.

The decline in sales for the fourth quarter of the fiscal year, which ended in October, was attributed to Chief Executive Officer Antonio Neri, who noted in an interview that their results also fell short of analysts’ projections. He explained that several agreements for servers designed to support AI workloads were postponed until 2026.

Specifically, some agreements with the U.S. government were delayed because of the federal government shutdown, and one transaction in Europe has been held up due to issues with a data center that is not yet ready.

Chief Financial Officer Marie Myers mentioned during a conference call with analysts that HPE is experiencing “substantial interest” in its AI servers, particularly from government and business clients. She noted, “We anticipate that demand will continue to be uneven because some of our largest sovereign clients are placing orders with long lead times, which may delay shipments to later dates.”

The Texas-based company is making a significant investment in networking as a key driver of future growth following the acquisition of Juniper Networks Inc. in July for approximately $13 billion.

Mark Zuckerberg’s Metaverse Retreat: Deep Cuts Spark $815 Analyst Target

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Mark Zuckerberg is expected to significantly reduce funding for the metaverse, which he previously promoted as the future of the company and as the reason behind its rebranding from Facebook.

The metaverse team, which includes the virtual worlds product Meta Horizon Worlds and the Quest virtual reality unit, may face budget cuts of up to 30% next year, according to sources familiar with the discussions who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the company’s plans.

While a final decision has not yet been made, these sources indicated that such substantial cuts could result in layoffs as early as January.

Shares rose as much as 6% intraday before settling up 3.4% to $661.53. Concerns about the metaverse’s $70 billion+ burn rate since 2021 have subsided as investors see the cuts as a welcome reallocation towards high-growth AI.

The rally represents relief from a bet that has long irritated shareholders, with Mizuho analyst Lloyd Walmsley projecting that the cuts could increase 2026 EPS by $2 to $29.50, maintaining an Outperform rating and $815 target.

More broadly, Meta’s AI initiatives, such as the restructuring of Superintelligence Labs, stand in stark contrast to the metaverse’s stagnation, where Horizon Worlds user engagement is still relatively low (less than 300,000 monthly active users).

Meta has confirmed a decrease in resources allocated to the metaverse, stating that futuristic projects within its Reality Labs division—such as AI glasses and other wearables—are expected to benefit from these savings. A company spokesperson mentioned, “We are reallocating some of our investment from the Metaverse within our overall Reality Labs portfolio due to the momentum in wearables and AI glasses. We do not intend to make any significant changes beyond that.”

Proposed cuts to the metaverse budget are part of the company’s budget planning for next year, which included several meetings at Zuckerberg’s Hawaii compound last month. Sources have reported that Zuckerberg has instructed Meta executives to pursue overall cuts of 10%, a typical request made during budget cycles.

The metaverse group was created in response to the diminished level of industry-wide competition in this technology compared to earlier times.

Ripple Fear Hits Rock Bottom: XRP Rally Incoming?

Posted on December 5, 2025December 5, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Santiment, an intelligence platform, claims that the recent meltdown could boost Ripple’s token surge, although social sentiment toward XRP has plummeted into the “fear zone.” According to Santiment’s social data, XRP is experiencing “the most fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) since October,” the company said on Thursday. ”

XRP’s price immediately rallied 22 percent over the next three days, and the last time we saw near this level of fear from the crowd was November 21,” the statement continued.

An opportunity seems to be emerging as of right now. Among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market value, XRP has performed the worst, falling 5% over the last day to below $2.10. The token’s current value is 42% below its July 2025 peak.

Net inflows to spot XRP exchange-traded funds significantly decreased this week. Thursday’s inflows were $12.8 million, the lowest since November. 21, as stated by SoSoValue. Nonetheless, since their launch in mid-November, the products have continued to generate positive flows, and the five funds’ combined net assets total $881 million. On December 2, a significant increase in XRP velocity was verified by CryptoQuant data.

The metric reached its highest reading of the year, 0.0324. Strong network engagement and quick circulation are frequently indicated by high velocity. Additionally, during a time of increased volatility, the surge shows higher participation from whales and traders. As investors watched to see if these changes would affect short-term liquidity conditions, market activity increased.

Google’s AI Gold Rush Turns Golden: $1.1B Stock Donation Breakdown from Co-Founder Brin

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Sergey Brin sold Alphabet stock worth over $1.1 billion in the past week, with most of the proceeds going to a charity founded by the Google co-founder.

A regulatory filing that revealed the donation on Friday did not specify the recipient of the more than 3.5 million shares. A representative for Brin’s family office states that Catalyst4, which Brin started in 2021 to fund research into central nervous system disorders and climate change solutions, will receive about $1 billion in stock.

Brin is also donating roughly $90 million to his family foundation and $45 million to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s disease research. Brin previously donated $700 million worth of Alphabet shares to the same three charities in May.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Brin, 52, has a fortune of $255.5 billion, making him the fourth richest person in the world.

Thanks to an increase in Alphabet shares, which hit a high of $323 on Tuesday due to the company’s advances in artificial intelligence, his net worth has soared this year. Brin’s wealth has grown by $97.3 billion this year, and he owns about 6% of the company overall.

Zcash Nightmare Drop: 40% Wipeout Hits Despite ETF Hype and Halving Glow—What’s Next?

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Zcash (ZEC), known for its shielded transactions powered by zk-SNARKs, has experienced significant volatility in late 2025. The token dropped nearly 40% from its November peak of around $750, reaching lows of approximately $334 by early December.

ZEC is currently trading at $394.27, a 10.29% increase from the previous day, with a trading volume of $1.17 billion. However, it has decreased by 17% over the past week and more than 60% from its yearly highs.

Zcash has lost more than 17% in the past week. The stagnation in shielded pools and the crowded retail demand- potentially acting as exit liquidity for large wallet investors aiming to take profits- are behind the privacy coin’s second consecutive bearish week.

Reduced demand is signalled by inactivity in shielded ZEC pools. The nearly 1000 per cent rally between September and October was driven by a surge in demand for ZEC as a privacy coin. Shielded ZEC tokens in the Orchard pool surged during the rally, according to ZECHUB data, effectively reducing supply and creating a positive feedback loop to boost demand.

However, after reaching a peak of 4.21 million ZEC tokens on November 4, the Orchard pool has plateaued, indicating a decline in demand. If the plateau persists, ZEC prices might face further downward pressure due to a lack of new demand. Retail demand for Zcash is rising despite a decline in on-chain activity, allowing savvy investors to lock in profits.

According to CryptoQuant’s data, retail volume is overheating the futures and spot markets, leading to crowding in the purchase of privacy coins. Sharp corrections in cryptocurrency assets are often triggered by increased retail activity; this was seen during the cycle tops in May and November of 2021.

ZEC futures Open Interest (OI) has decreased 7.71 per cent over the past day, down to $977.4 million, according to CoinGlass data. A drop in futures OI indicates traders are reducing their capital exposure in case of a pullback or other uncertain events.