Breaking China’s Grip? U.S Government invests $1.6B and Takes Stake in USA Rare Earth

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

The Trump administration will invest $1.6 billion in Oklahoma-based USA Rare Earth as part of the White House’s ongoing investments in publicly traded businesses.

This could give the government an equity stake of more than 15%. Since Trump began his second term, the federal government has acquired ownership—or the right to purchase shares—in at least ten companies. A “golden share” in a U is one of them. The S. business that Nippon Steel owns.

The largest investor in MP Materials, USA Rare Earth’s rival, is S. Steel. Trump is increasingly taking on the role of CEO amid a wave of dealmaking.

Rare earths are included in the critical minerals sector, which accounts for six of the ten. China’s monopoly on this sector, which is crucial to the manufacture of everything from high-end computers and data centers to military hardware and cars, is being challenged by the United States. China has exploited its superiority in the manufacturing of strong magnets.

According to an SEC filing from January, the government’s ownership stake may vary from 8% to 16%, depending on whether all of the warrants are executed.

A $1.3 billion loan via the CHIPS Act and $277 million in direct federal funding are part of the agreement. Additionally, USAR announced a $1.5 billion PIPE (private investment in public equity) deal headed by major mutual fund companies.

Public companies raise money through PIPE deals by selling securities directly to institutional and private investors at a negotiated price, usually at a discount. In a note, industry analyst Neal Dingmann of William Blair stated that other businesses are probably under the “assumption that there is more government rare earth funding to come.”

The US government received a nearly 31 percent discount on its shares compared to January as a result of the USAR deal.

Elon Musk’s Mega Demand: Up to $134 Billion From OpenAI, Microsoft

Posted on January 17, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Elon Musk demands that OpenAI Inc. and Microsoft compensate him between $79 billion and $134 billion in damages for alleging that the generative AI company deceived him by abandoning its nonprofit roots and teaming up with the software giant. A day after a federal judge rejected OpenAI and Microsoft’s latest effort to avoid a jury trial scheduled for late April in Oakland, California,

Musk’s lawyer outlined the damages request in a court filing on Friday. Musk is entitled to a share of OpenAI’s current $500 billion valuation because he was defrauded of the $38 million in seed money he invested when he helped found the company in 2015.

“The wrongful gains that OpenAI and Microsoft have earned, which Mr. Musk is now entitled to recover, are far larger than the gains an early investor in a startup might realize, potentially many times greater than the initial investment.”

Musk left OpenAI’s board in 2018, started his own AI company in 2023, and entered a legal dispute with Sam Altman in 2024 over Altman’s plans to run OpenAI as a for-profit business. Microsoft and OpenAI have denied his claims. “We look forward to demonstrating this at trial, as Mr. Musk’s lawsuit remains baseless and part of his ongoing pattern of harassment,” OpenAI stated.

“The purpose of this most recent insignificant demand is to continue this harassment campaign.” OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, announced its reorganization in October. In a move to keep the nonprofit arm in charge of its for-profit activities, it revealed it had granted a 27 percent ownership stake to its longtime supporter, Microsoft. Altman has condemned Musk’s lawsuit challenging OpenAI’s reorganization as using the legal system as a weapon to hinder a competitor.

China Locks Down Silver Exports: Fueling the 2026 Squeeze While Analysts Sound the Bubble Alarm

Posted on January 14, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Silver prices have skyrocketed as a result of China’s new export restrictions, which went into effect on January 1, 2026. This has led to widespread discussion about a possible supply squeeze and warnings of a potential bubble. China, which accounts for between 60 and 70 percent of the world’s supply of refined silver, replaced its previous quota system with a more stringent licensing system.

The Ministry of Commerce now requires government approval for exporters, and only big, state-approved companies are eligible (e.g. The g. those who meet credit requirements and produce at least 80 tonnes per year).

Effectively limiting smaller and mid-sized exporters as a result, domestic demands for sectors like solar panels, EVs, electronics, and AI data centers are prioritized, .

The action, which positions silver as a “strategic material” in the face of growing global demand and ongoing supply shortages (silver has been in structural shortage for years), is reminiscent of China’s previous strategies with rare earths.

Expectations for increased manufacturing demand in emerging industries like artificial intelligence are supporting many metals. The rally has been fueled by a speculative frenzy in China, where traders and wealthy investors are heavily investing in commodities such as copper, nickel, and lithium.

Trading volumes on the Shanghai Futures Exchange have increased significantly.

On Wednesday, the total open interest in all six of SHFE’s base metals hit a new record. This rally, especially in precious metals, has also been boosted by the so-called debasement trade, where investors avoid government bonds and currencies due to concerns over rising debt levels.

Commodities priced in dollars are attractive because of the relatively weak dollar. Last year, both gold and silver experienced their best annual performances since 1979, with gold increasing by 65% and silver nearly 150%. As global mines and smelters struggle to meet demand, base metals are generally benefiting from expectations of a tighter supply this year.

Commodities that do not pay interest benefit significantly from lower borrowing costs, with traders betting on additional rate reductions in 2026. Physical premiums have hit extreme levels due to relentless industrial demand from solar panels, EVs, AI data centers, and electronics, pushing against dwindling inventories. Elon Musk’s remarks highlighting the growing investor frenzy around precious metals triggered Monday’s early momentum.

“This is not good,” Musk said on X in response to a tweet about Chinese export restrictions.

Many industrial processes rely on silver. The US’s blockade of oil tankers in Venezuela and Washington’s actions against the Islamic State in Nigeria over the past week have increased the appeal of these metals as safe havens. Silver inventories are at their lowest point ever, raising the risk of supply shortages that could impact several industries.

China’s Grip on Silver Tightens – Putting the Brakes on AI and Renewable Energy Growth

Posted on January 6, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

China’s new export-licensing system went into effect on January 1st, placing government gatekeepers between the country and the rest of the world for 121 million ounces of silver exports annually.

This implies that 60–70% of the refined supply traded internationally will require Beijing’s approval to exit the country. The increase in margin on silver dealers caused Wall Street to panic. The typical suspects warning about “speculative excess” were trotted out by CNBC. Six months ago, there were a lot of people on the X platform who couldn’t even spell backwardation when they suddenly explained why silver was overpriced.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, responded to a post about the impending restrictions on his social media platform X by criticizing the action.

However, the regulations are not brand-new. The new steps to improve oversight of rare metals were first announced by China’s Commerce Ministry in October, the same day that Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump met in South Korea. At the time, the US lowered tariffs while Beijing consented to a one-year suspension of some rare earth export restrictions.

A list of 44 businesses authorized to export silver under the new regulations in 2026 and 2027 was made by China earlier this month.

The new regulations in 2026 also limit exports of tungsten and antimony, two materials heavily utilized in advanced technologies and defense, which are currently dominated by China’s supply chain. The state-run Securities Times on Tuesday quoted an unidentified industry insider who stated that the new policy formally elevates the metal, even though China hasn’t declared a complete ban on silver exports.

The US added silver to its nationally recognized list of essential minerals, citing its application in solar cells, batteries, electrical circuits, and antimicrobial medical devices.

According to a different US analysis, China had one of the biggest silver reserves and was one of the world’s top producers in 2024. According to Wind Information, which cited official data, China exported over 4,600 tons of silver in the first 11 months of the year, far more than the approximately 220 tons that were imported during that time.

South African Rand Forecast: USD/ZAR Heads to R16 as Gold and Silver Boost the Investor Sentiment

Posted on December 29, 2025January 2, 2026 by Skerdian Meta

As precious metals hit all-time highs, the rand is seeing a broad recovery driven by a resurgence of trust in South Africa’s policy framework and the improvement of macroeconomic conditions. Continue reading “South African Rand Forecast: USD/ZAR Heads to R16 as Gold and Silver Boost the Investor Sentiment” →

Silver Price Forecast: $74.70 Holds as RSI Near 80 Signals Next Move

Posted on December 26, 2025 by Arslan Butt

Silver (XAG/USD) is trading close to $74.70 on the 4hr chart, extending a pretty impressive rally that started somewhere around the $65-66 mark earlier this month. The advance is being driven by some really strong bullish candles, with only a couple of shallow pullbacks in between, which is a classic sign of solid buying power rather than late-stage speculation. Sellers, however, have had a tough time forcing any meaningful retracements – which is good news for the bulls – suggesting the overall trend is still intact.

The price action is still respecting a rising trendline drawn from those lows in the middle of the month, which keeps the overall structure looking solid. Rather than showing any signs of exhaustion, silver is consolidating gains, which is a pretty healthy pause after a pretty sharp upside run.

Key Levels Define the Technical Structure

When it comes to moving averages, silver is pretty well supported. Price is still trading above the 50-period EMA near $68.10 and comfortably above the 100-period EMA around $64.45, which is good news for the bulls. These levels have acted as a safety net in the past during silver pullbacks and continue to attract buyers when the price dips.

The current consolidation is forming just below $75.40, a level that aligns with a prior Fibonacci extension from the latest swing up. This zone has capped any upside attempts so far, but the sell side is being orderly rather than aggressive.

[[XAG/USD-graph]]

Levels to keep an eye on;

Resistance: $75.40 and then $76.90
Support: $74.25 followed by $71.85
Trend support: Rising trendline from those mid-month lows

The fact that there is a confluence of support and trendline near $71.85 makes it an even more important level to watch if we do get a deeper pullback.

RSI Signals Stretch, Not Reversal

The momentum indicators are showing a pretty stretched market, with the RSI hanging around 80. But the good news is that we’re not seeing any signs of bearish divergence, which suggests the buyers aren’t getting out just yet.

Historically, markets like this one resolve themselves through a bit of sideways movement rather than a sharp price drop. A brief pause or a shallow retracement would help to reset the momentum and possibly set the stage for another upside attempt.

Silver Price Chart - Source: Tradingview — Silver Price Chart – Source: Tradingview

Silver (XAG/USD) Short Term Trading Outlook

As long as silver holds up above that key trend support, we’ve got a pretty constructive bias. If we do get a pullback, though, it’s only likely to attract some buying interest unless the price decisively breaks below $70.

Trade idea: Look to buy dips near $72.70 with a stop just below $70.00 and a target of $76.90.

Novo Nordisk Surges 7.3% as FDA Approves First Oral Weight-Loss GLP-1 Drug

Posted on December 24, 2025 by Aiswarya Gopan

Novo Nordisk’s stock price shot up over 10% on December 23 after the FDA approved their oral Wegovy formulation. This was the first pill-based GLP-1 medication approved in the US for weight management. The regulatory triumph eases investors’ worries about the company’s competitive position and proves that its obesity franchise is a long-term growth engine.

Novo Nordisk Surges 7.3% as FDA Approves First Oral Weight-Loss GLP-1 Drug — Novo Nordisk Reclaims Growth Narrative: Wegovy Pill Approval Triggers 10% Relief Rally

The approval gives Novo Nordisk temporary market exclusivity in oral obesity therapies, putting it ahead of Eli Lilly, whose orforglipron small-molecule medicine isn’t anticipated to be available until 2026. Shares rose to 335.60 Danish crowns, the biggest one-day rise since August 2023. This added tens of billions to the company’s market value.

Technical Catalyst Driving the Rally

The market’s strong reaction is due to three important concerns that the approval immediately addresses. First, it shows that Novo Nordisk can handle complicated GLP-1 manufacturing problems and the supply problems that made the launch of the injectable Wegovy in 2021 so difficult. Mike Doustdar, the CEO, said that the company is “better prepared this time” since it has enough pills on hand for the launch.

Second, the oral formulation greatly increases the number of people who can use it, going beyond just people who are comfortable with self-injection. Paul Major, a portfolio manager at Bellevue Asset Management, says that more than 10% of adults are hesitant to have injections. This means that there is a large group of patients who have not yet been treated. Oral formulations aren’t as effective as injectables; for example, it takes 25mg of semaglutide to match the 2.4mg injectable dose. However, the convenience element makes it easier for people who couldn’t get it before to get it.

Third, the clearance puts Novo Nordisk back in the running after Lilly’s Zepbound injectable took market share in 2025 and led U.S. prescription volumes for much of the year. BMO Capital’s Evan Seigerman and other analysts say that this advantage may not last long, but being the first to market gives you important revenue visibility through at least 2026.

Financial Impact and Growth Trajectory

Novo Nordisk’s main source of growth is now the obesity care segment. In 2023, revenues reached DKK 41.6 billion (increasing 147–154% year-over-year) and sped up to DKK 65.1 billion in 2024. The DKK 18.4 billion in revenue from obesity care in the first quarter of 2025 predicts an annually run rate of more than DKK 70 billion, or about $10–11 billion.

This part of the corporation today makes up a large part of the DKK 215.1 billion diabetes and obesity care division, which brings in more over 90% of all sales. Management always says that demand is still higher than supply, which means that revenue is still limited by capacity rather than demand.

According to Sydbank analyst Soren Lontoft Hansen, the oral Wegovy formulation might reach peak annual sales of over DKK 24 billion ($3.79 billion) worldwide. The timing of the introduction is very important because Novo Nordisk will encounter problems in 2026, such as expected price drops for its current GLP-1 medications Ozempic and injectable Wegovy.

Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy Pricing Strategy and Market Access

Novo Nordisk agreed in November to charge Medicare, Medicaid, and uninsured cash-paying patients $149 a month for starter dosages, which is the same price as the introductory rate for general cash-pay consumers. Patients with insurance can get all dose levels for as little as $25 a month. This is better than the new prices for injectable Wegovy, which are $199 at first and $349 after two months for patients who pay for their own care.

Novo Nordisk bought Emisphere for $1.3 billion in 2020, and the oral formulation uses SNAC (sodium N-[8-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino]caprylate) technology from that company. This excipient generates a pH buffer zone that keeps stomach enzymes from breaking down peptides and makes them easier to absorb. This is the same technology used in the company’s diabetes medication Rybelsus.

Competitive Landscape

Novo Nordisk has a short-term monopoly on the oral obesity treatment market, however this industry is changing quickly. Lilly’s orforglipron may have certain benefits over Wegovy, such as not having to be taken at specific times of the day, like Wegovy does. Roche, AstraZeneca, Viking Therapeutics, and Structure Therapeutics are all working on oral weight-loss prospects.

For investors, the rise is a sign that they have regained faith in the long-term growth of the market, not just short-term gains. The main question has changed from whether Novo Nordisk’s growth will continue with obesity treatments to how well the business can scale up manufacturing to meet rising worldwide demand in a market that is becoming more competitive.

450 Aussies Burned in $59M Crypto Scam as Regulators Step In

Posted on December 18, 2025 by Arslan Butt

Australia’s Federal Court has issued a permanent injunction against blockchain mining firms NGS Group Limited, NGS Crypto Pty Ltd, and NGS Digital Pty Ltd from running any financial services business without a proper licence. Between 2018 & 2024, over 450 Aussies stumped up about $59 million to invest in NGS Group, and many used their own superannuation funds – with NGS Crypto actively encouraging people to do so.

The Court made it clear that the companies had been running an unregistered managed investment scheme in breach of the Corporations Act. Acting Chief Justice Collier pointed out that the operators flat out ignored regulatory warnings and left investors high & dry.

Investor Losses and Court Rulings

The Court made it clear that NGS Group’s lack of the right Australian financial services licence really hurt investors and made it hard for people to trust its management. Some key points from the Court’s ruling are

NGS Crypto was operating outside the law, prioritizing company interests over investor protection.
The Court has appointed receivers to sort out digital assets and prevent them from being flogged off.
Directors Brett Mendham, Mark Ten Caten, and Ryan Brown have had restrictions imposed on them, including a travel ban for Mendham.

The Federal Court has ordered that NGS Group be wound up and that the unregistered scheme be shut down, with liquidators appointed to wind up the remaining assets and distribute them to investors in an orderly fashion. This is all about getting as much cash back to people as quickly as possible.

Safeguarding Assets & Next Steps

To make sure investors’ blockchain holdings are safe, the Federal Court has brought in some receivers – Anthony Connelly, Katherine Sozou, and William James Harris of McGrathNicol. ASIC had been pushing for this action, saying that if they didn’t do it right now, investor assets would be at risk of being flogged off.

Investors may be able to get some of their cash back, but just how much is still unclear. Some things to keep in mind are

The receivers will let people control who gets access to the digital assets.
The liquidation process will make sure that everyone gets a fair share of what’s left over.
ASIC will keep a close eye on the remaining operators in the Australian crypto sector.

This case shows just how seriously Australia’s regulators are taking the crypto sector and that running an unlicensed financial scheme is a terrible idea.

China Snubs Nvidia H200: Beijing Outsmarts Trump’s Chip Strategy

Posted on December 17, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

China has deciphered the US strategy that permits it to purchase Nvidia. White House AI czar David Sacks stated that the H200 is rejecting the AI chip in favor of domestically produced semiconductors.

President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would permit shipments of Nvidia’s H200 to China as part of an administration initiative supported by Sacks to take on Chinese tech giants like Huawei by introducing competition from the United States to their domestic market. Sacks hinted on Friday that he wasn’t sure if that strategy would succeed. In an interview with Bloomberg Tech, Sacks stated

“They’re rejecting our chips,” citing an unidentified news story he had seen that day. They don’t seem to want them, and I believe that’s because they want semiconductor independence. Sacks stated that he was alluding to a Financial Times article that claimed China was about to restrict access to the chips through a local approval process in which Chinese buyers would have to defend their purchases.

Sacks’ remarks raise concerns about Nvidia’s ability to recoup revenue from China, a data center market that it has completely excluded from its projections but that CEO Jensen Huang has estimated to be worth $50 billion this year.

Analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence project that China could generate $10 billion in H200 revenue annually, but only if the country accepts the US company’s chips.

Nvidia stated in a press release that it is still collaborating with the government on H200 licenses for approved clients. The company stated, “While we do not yet have results to report, it’s clear that three years of overbroad export controls fueled America’s foreign competitors and cost US taxpayers billions of dollars.”

Broadcom Dives 11% After Vague 2026 AI Guidance and Profit Pressure

Posted on December 15, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Broadcom’s stock declined after its sales forecast for the booming market fell short of investors’ high expectations. The shares decreased approximately 11% over the past week, reversing earlier gains following remarks made by Chief Executive Officer Hock Tan during a conference call with analysts.

Some investors were disappointed to learn that the company has a backlog of $73 billion for AI products scheduled for shipment over the next six quarters. Tan, however, tried to clarify that this amount was a “minimum.” “We do expect much more as more orders come in for shipments within those next six quarters,” he stated.

Therefore, our lead time can vary from six months to a year, depending on the specific product.

Investors were looking for more clarity on when and how the company will benefit from AI, and the conference call came after a dizzying surge in Broadcom shares. Instead, they received a vague schedule without an AI revenue forecast for 2026, along with concerns about the company’s profit margins tightening.

Tan mentioned that the company received an $11 billion order from AI startup Anthropic PBC in the fourth quarter but cautioned that total margins were decreasing due to the sale of AI products.

He noted that Broadcom’s annual AI revenue forecast was “a moving target.” “I find it difficult to predict exactly what ’26 will look like,” he remarked. “Therefore, I would prefer not to offer you guys any advice.”

The call followed a generally positive earnings report. The fiscal first quarter, which concludes in February, is expected to generate $19.1 billion in sales, the company stated. Analysts projected an average of $18.5 billion. Furthermore, the company increased its quarterly dividend by 10% to 65 cents per share. He stated that a $10 billion deal in the third quarter preceded the $11 billion Anthropic order in the fourth.

Tan also mentioned that Broadcom signed a $1 billion customer order, though he did not name the customer. As part of a major data center build-out, Broadcom has benefited from demand for its custom chips, gaining a larger share in an industry primarily led by Nvidia.