Bitcoin has dropped below its 50-week simple moving average, a technical level that had consistently acted as a strong support since early 2023. This breakdown invalidates a long-standing demand zone and raises concerns about a potential sustained sell-off, writes Omkar Godbole, CMT.

Investors' use of zero-day options strategies, including iron condors, is expected to slow sustained stock rallies, according to JPMorgan Chase and UBS Group. These strategies, particularly the short iron condor, have become popular among retail traders, leading to increased volumes and significant hedging activities by market makers.

Menus that evolve with participants—balancing simplicity, customization, and income options—may define the next standard in DC plans.

Jim Bianco, CMT, President of Bianco Research, has warned that cryptocurrencies could be the worst-performing asset class in 2025 if Bitcoin and Ethereum continue their current trends. Bitcoin is up 2.6% year to date, while Ethereum is down 3.7%. Bianco notes that $59 billion has been invested in Bitcoin exchange-traded funds since January 2024, but money would have performed better in a money market fund.

Analyst Mike Zaccardi, CMT, has upgraded the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) to "Buy," pointing to improving technical signals and momentum ahead of Nvidia's fiscal Q3 earnings. Zaccardi said the sector is well positioned for near-term upside, with SMH likely to benefit from any earnings-driven catalysts.

Gold prices advanced on Thursday, continuing their recent upward trend amid ongoing investor uncertainty about the US economy. The metal held steady near $4,196.80 per ounce, supported by persistent central bank buying, especially from China, writes Ali Merchant, CMT.

Bond traders are preparing for a wave of delayed economic releases that will shape expectations for the Federal Reserve's next rate move, with the September jobs report set to land Thursday after the government shutdown. JPMorgan's Priya Misra warned that stronger-than-expected labor figures could reduce the odds of a December rate cut and fuel volatility, while managers broadly expect the Fed to maintain an easing bias even if it pauses next month, as officials express uncerainty around the rate outlook.

Wall Street is pouring unprecedented capital into AI infrastructure, backing multibillion-dollar data center projects for tech giants like Meta, Oracle, and Amazon. Major fund managers, private equity firms, and banks are arranging massive debt and private deals to meet the surging demand for computing power, with some single deals reaching $30 billion or more.

The Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index is on track for its best performance since 2020, potentially fueled by Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts and other factors. The index has returned about 6.7% this year, outpacing short-term Treasury bills. However, potential threats remain, including uncertainty over future rate cuts.

Japan's Financial Services Agency is reportedly weighing new regulations that would categorize cryptocurrencies as financial products, making them subject to insider trading rules. The proposed changes aim to increase oversight and align digital assets with existing financial frameworks, with legislation expected to be considered in the next parliamentary session, sources say.