All Activity

Another Advance algorithm innovation #Ranzo Protocol hit the Bitget Pre-market trading. an over-the-counter (OTC) platform that specializes in providing a marketplace for new coins before their official listing. The unique features facilitates peer-to-peer trading between buyers and sellers, allowing them to acquire coins at optimal prices and secure liquidity in advance. Think of it as a sneak peek into the crypto world, where you can grab tokens before they become widely available. Ranzo protocol is an innovative platform that aims to revolutionize the way users trade cryptocurrencies. By utilizing a unique algorithm, Ranzo protocol provides a decentralized environment for traders to execute trades more efficiently and securely. This protocol ensures transparency and trust in transactions, making it a reliable option for users looking to engage in trading activities. One of the key advantages of the Ranzo protocol is its high level of security. The decentralized nature of the platform eliminates the risks associated with traditional centralized exchanges, such as hacks and theft. Users can have peace of mind knowing that their assets are protected by a robust security system. Additionally, the Ranzo protocol offers fast transaction speeds and low fees, making it an attractive option for users who want to execute trades quickly and cost-effectively. The platform's advanced algorithm enables swift processing of transactions, resulting in a smooth trading experience for users. The combination of the Ranzo protocol's advanced technology, security features, and trading benefits, along with Bitget's reputable platform, makes joining pre-market trading on the listing date a compelling opportunity for users seeking to enhance their trading experience and maximize their investment potential.

I've heard that the APRs can be quite competitive and change frequently, which can be beneficial for maximizing earnings. Staking seems like a relatively accessible way to earn on idle crypto assets, and it's awesome that it offers attractive returns and innovation not found in traditional finance. For anyone looking to explore new investments, staking and flexible savings could be worth considering. It's important to DYOR, but for crypto enthusiasts, it seems like a promising way to unlock diversified, sustainable passive income streams. If you're interested in making some extra cash, you might want to check out these legit apps to make money. They could be a fun and easy way to earn a bit on the side.

While the posts Bitcoin halving haven't been eventful for some people so far, investors are always brainstorming effective ways for people earn with the BTC they already own. In that regards, my early morning surfing landed me at the shores of BounceBit and I believe it's CeFi + DeFi model is worth sharing. BounceBit basically is a pioneering native BTC Restaking chain that's reshaping how Bitcoin holders earn yield on their assets while securing its network through a dual-token staking system that combines the robustness of Bitcoin and the flexibility of BounceBit tokens. What was impressive in my opinion was how users generate passive income from their idle BTC. They achieved this with their first-of-its-kind Proof of Stake mechanism which leverages native BTC security while ensuring full Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility. Supported by giants like Binance Lab, Breyer Capital, and Blockchain Capital, BounceBit is poised to transform Bitcoin’s utility and it’s Pre-Market Trading just rolling out on Bitget I believe will be another milestone in their journey.

Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 drop back as Hang Seng continues to rally US indices are struggling in the wake of Meta’s earnings last night, but the Hang Seng is showing fresh strength. Source: Getty Images Written by: Chris Beauchamp | Chief Market Analyst, London Publication date: Thursday 25 April 2024 13:53 Nasdaq 100 rally torpedoed by Meta earnings The index reversed course yesterday, giving back most of the gains made on Tuesday, as earnings from Meta soured sentiment. The price remains well above last week’s low for the time being, but with more earnings from Big Tech due in the coming week, further upward progress may be difficult. So long as the price holds above last week’s low at 16,970 then a bounce may yet materialise. A close back above 17,700 would help to bolster the bullish view. Alternately, a close back below 16,970 will bring the late 2021 high at 16,630 into play, and then on down to the 200-day simple moving average (SMA). Source: ProRealTime S&P 500 stumbles on tech earnings This index also took a knock on Wednesday, though it continues to look like it has created a higher low. A push back above the highs of the week so far at 5093 would mark a bullish development, and would open the way to the 50-day SMA, and then on to the highs from late March at 5274. Sellers will want to see a reversal back below the 100-day SMA and below last week’s low at 4925 to provide a more bearish view. Source: ProRealTime Hang Seng surges through key level This index has seen an impressive bounce from the lows of mid-April, which has caried it above 17,000 and the 200-day SMA. It has also succeeded in closing above the latter, for the first time since July. If the price can manage a close above 17,200, then this will be a significant development. 17,200 was the high from early January, and also the peak of March and April, as well as being support from early November. Further gains target the November 2023 high around 18,300. A reversal back below the 200-day SMA would be needed to put more of a dent in the bullish view. Source: ProRealTime

Sourece: Getty Images Mergers and acquisitions Valuation Iron ore Leverage Balance sheet Written by: Shaun Murison | Senior Market Analyst, Johannesburg Publication date: Thursday 25 April 2024 14:56 Key takeaways BHP has proposed a strategic all-share merger with Anglo American Anglo American's shareholders would receive 0.7097 BHP shares for each Anglo American share, plus shares in Anglo American Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore distributed proportionally This proposal values Anglo American at approximately £31.1 billion, a premium over current valuations The merger aims to combine BHP's high-margin, cash-generative assets and strong balance sheet with Anglo American’s diverse commodities portfolio The proposal remains non-binding, subject to due diligence, with no firm commitment yet made BHP has reserved the rights to alter the terms or structure of the proposal, while also setting a deadline of May 22, 2024, to formalize their intention Further strategic reviews of Anglo American’s operations, particularly its diamond business, are planned post-merger Strategic Merger Proposal BHP has proposed a strategic all-share merger with Anglo American, offering 0.7097 of its shares for each Anglo American share, with additional distributions of shares in Anglo American Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore to Anglo American shareholders. This proposal aims to consolidate the strengths and portfolios of both companies for enhanced market competitiveness and growth. Valuation Premiums and Financial Benefits The proposal values Anglo American's share capital at approximately £31.1 billion, offering a substantial premium over current market valuations. Anglo American shareholders would see an immediate increase in value, with a significant premium on the weighted average share price over the past 90 days, alongside direct holdings in Anglo Platinum and Kumba. Operational Synergies and Growth Potential The merger is designed to leverage operational, procurement, and marketing synergies between BHP and Anglo American, which could enhance profitability and yield significant cash flows. Key synergy areas include combining high-quality assets from both companies, particularly in iron ore, metallurgical coal, and other future-facing commodities like potash and copper. Strategic Review and Talent Integration Post-merger completion, Anglo American’s high-quality operations, including its diamond business, will undergo a strategic review. Furthermore, the merger aims to utilize the deep talent pool from both organizations to drive successful integration and operational excellence, potentially benefiting broader community stakeholders. Conditional and Non-binding Nature of the Proposal The proposal, while detailed, remains non-binding and subject to conditions such as satisfactory due diligence and regulatory approvals. BHP has set a deadline of May 22, 2024, to either declare a firm intention to proceed with the offer or withdraw, emphasizing the cautious approach and compliance with regulatory norms governing such transactions. Anglo American Plc (FTSE) analyst ratings Source: IG TipRanks Based on 12 Wall Street analysts offering 12 month price targets for Anglo American in the last 3 months. The average price target is 2510.77p with a high forecast of 3264.41p and a low forecast of 1741.02p. This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. See full non-independent research disclaimer and quarterly summary.

Gold and silver losses pause, while Brent crude oil tiptoes higher Gold and silver continue to form an apparent higher low, while oil prices are aiming to resume their move higher. Source: Getty Images Written by: Chris Beauchamp | Chief Market Analyst, London Publication date: Thursday 25 April 2024 14:02 Gold selling halted for now For the moment the price has managed to halt any further declines. Early trading has seen the price attempting to move higher, having found buyers at the lows just above $2300. A close above $2340 could trigger a new move to the upside that would target $2400. Sellers will want to see a close back below $2300 and then below $2291, the low from Tuesday, though the broader uptrend is still firmly intact. Source: ProRealTime Brent edges higher Oil prices wobbled yesterday after the solid gains seen on Tuesday, but have put their best foot forward in early trading this morning. A higher close today would help to reinforce the view that a higher low was created last week when the price bounced off the 50-day simple moving average. Further gains would head towards $90, and then on to the early April high around $91.50. Source: ProRealTime Silver stabilises above $27 Silver prices have also stemmed the losses over the past week, holding above $27. A higher close today will help bolster the bullish outlook and suggest that a higher low has formed around $27. Additional gains target the mid-April highs at $29. A close below $26.50 would mark a bearish development and, as with gold, suggest a deeper retracement in a broader uptrend. Source: ProRealTime

The first-ever native BTC Restaking chain token $BB is currently trending as both Bitget and Binance gear up for its listing. Bitget has already added $BB to their pre-market trading. Thereby allowing users to trade the token before the official listing. BB is the native token of BounceBit network, a secured unique dual-token staking system that leverages native $BTC security with full EVM compatibility. thereby enabling users to earn yield on their idle Bitcoin. Binance Lab and a host of other top investors back the project.

Thanks for sharing @tradinglounge

Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Amazon and Meta could be the best AI stocks to watch next month. These stocks are the largest AI stocks in the US based on market capitalisation. Source: Bloomberg 2023 was inarguably the year of AI — as the big NASDAQ tech stocks experienced huge surges in market capitalisation — backed by hopes that artificial intelligence progress, in particular in generative AI, could displace current models of working. These so-called ‘magnificent seven’ have driven much of the gains in the US market, with market darling Nvidia rising to $950 per share in March. However, the company has since corrected to $824, recently suffering a 10% one-day fall as investors weigh up the relative risks and rewards. AI in 2024 While AI is undoubtedly filtering into ever more aspects of daily life and work environments, new tech has a history of inspiring market bubbles which pop before the winners go on to generate sustainable growth. This was arguably the case with the dot-com crash — and while no two scenarios are exactly the same, history does tend to rhyme. On the other hand, the AI advances of the last 18 months have been extraordinary — with artificially generated text, imagery and video available to the masses on a scale never before seen. There are even rumours that OpenAI has developed a model approximating Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) — capable of surpassing human-like intelligence with the ability to self-teach. And then there’s the employee question: many companies are already laying off staff in favour of AI-based replacements, and this trend could be set to continue. With some disquiet not just at Nvidia, but other popular shares including Super Micro Computer, Palantir, ARM and AMD, it remains to be seen whether this is the end of the bubble or simply some profit taking before a sustained move higher. As ever, while there may be significant growth opportunities, there are also risks. Past performance is not an indicator of future returns. Best AI stocks to watch There is some disagreement on what constitutes an AI stock — and whether it must be the main focus of a company or simply be a significant growth area. Here we have listed the top AI stocks in the US based on companies where AI is a growth area and ordered by market capitalisation. Microsoft Apple Nvidia Amazon Meta Platforms Microsoft Microsoft remains the original global computing power, so it makes sense that the US behemoth tops the list of the best AI stocks to watch — and is now the most valuable company in the world. The business retains a close relationship with OpenAI prior to the famous ChatGPT launch and has invested billions into the company since 2019. In Q2 results, revenue increased by 18% year-over-year to $62 billion, while net income rose by 33% to $21.9 billion. CEO Satya Nadella enthused that ‘we’ve moved from talking about AI to applying AI at scale. By infusing AI across every layer of our tech stack, we’re winning new customers and helping drive new benefits and productivity gains across every sector.’ In upcoming earnings, two metrics will be closely watched: revenue derived from Azure and related services — which rose by 30% in Q2, including 6% from AI — and revenue from the company’s Microsoft 365 Copilot AI tool, as Q3 will be the first full quarter of sales. Arguably, the two are key bellwethers for AI sentiment. Market Capitalisation: $3.03 trillion Apple Apple is in the middle of a market struggle — independent research firm Counterpoint estimates that iPhone sales in key market China fell by 19% in the March quarter — the worst performance since covid-19 struck in 2020. But in Q1 results, Apple saw revenue rise by 2% year-over-year to $119.6 billion, while quarterly earnings per diluted share increased by 16% to $2.18. CEO Tim Cook noted the company’s ‘all-time revenue record in Services’ and also enthused that the company’s ‘installed base of active devices has now surpassed 2.2 billion, reaching an all-time high across all products and geographic segments.’ The focus of upcoming results may be on new product launches, including new iPads on 7 May and iOS 18, which is rumoured to host artificial intelligence capacity entirely offline on customer iPhones. Market Capitalisation: $2.58 trillion Nvidia Nvidia is arguably the prime beneficiary of the AI boom, with a wide economic moat as the ‘picks and shovels’ stock for the artificial intelligence age. In Q4 2024 results, the company saw revenue rise by 265% year-over-year and 22% quarter-on-quarter to a record $22.1 billion, driven by Data Centre revenue which increased by 409% in the year to $18.4 billion. CEO and founder Jensen Huang enthuses that ‘Accelerated computing and generative AI have hit the tipping point. Demand is surging worldwide across companies, industries and nations… NVIDIA RTX, introduced less than six years ago, is now a massive PC platform for generative AI, enjoyed by 100 million gamers and creators.’ However, clouds may be gathering on the horizon. The 10% one-day drop mentioned above was potentially caused by Super Micro Computers failing to preannounce positive Q3 results as it had last quarter — the business is deeply tied to Nvidia as it makes the titan’s servers. Market Capitalisation: $2.06 trillion Amazon Amazon is well-known as the largest e-commerce retailer in the world, but the company is also a growing operator in the AI space. It offers several cutting-edge AI tools within its AWS business, including Code Whisperer and SageMaker — and clients can customise Amazon’s own machine learning model. Of course, competitors have their owns services, but Amazon is by far the largest cloud computing company, with circa a third of the global market share. Total Q4 net sales increased by 14% year-over-year to $170 billion. Within its e-commerce offering, Amazon uses AI to identify consumer trends, manage inventory and also make personalised product recommendations — including targeted advertising. Then there’s the smart devices, including Alexa and the Fire tablets. CEO Andy Jassy enthuses that the AI opportunity will be ‘tens of billions of dollars of revenue for AWS over the next several years.’ Positively, Bank of America analysts consider that next week’s earnings will see Amazon Web Services and its advertising segment come in on the upside of Wall Street guidance. Market Capitalisation: $1.87 trillion Meta Platforms Meta Platforms now boasts monthly active users of 3.98 billion people across its ‘family’ of apps, comprising Facebook, Instagram, threads and WhatsApp — an increase of 6% compared to Q4 2023. 2023 full-year results saw ad impressions across the family rise by 28% year-over-year, while the average price per advert dropped by 9%. Accordingly, revenue rose by 1% to $134.9 billion. CEO Mark Zuckerberg enthuses that ‘our community and business continue to grow. We've made a lot of progress on our vision for advancing AI and the metaverse.’ A common theme among analysts for 2024 is that the company needs a new catalyst to sustain further gains. But the next catalyst could well come externally — with US politicians considering a ban on competitor TikTok unless parent ByteDance sells the app to a non-Chinese company. Market capitalisation: $1.26 trillion This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. See full non-independent research disclaimer and quarterly summary.

Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Amazon and Meta could be the best AI stocks to watch next month. These stocks are the largest AI stocks in the US based on market capitalisation. Source: Bloomberg 2023 was inarguably the year of AI — as the big NASDAQ tech stocks experienced huge surges in market capitalisation — backed by hopes that artificial intelligence progress, in particular in generative AI, could displace current models of working. These so-called ‘magnificent seven’ have driven much of the gains in the US market, with market darling Nvidia rising to $950 per share in March. However, the company has since corrected to $824, recently suffering a 10% one-day fall as investors weigh up the relative risks and rewards. AI in 2024 While AI is undoubtedly filtering into ever more aspects of daily life and work environments, new tech has a history of inspiring market bubbles which pop before the winners go on to generate sustainable growth. This was arguably the case with the dot-com crash — and while no two scenarios are exactly the same, history does tend to rhyme. On the other hand, the AI advances of the last 18 months have been extraordinary — with artificially generated text, imagery and video available to the masses on a scale never before seen. There are even rumours that OpenAI has developed a model approximating Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) — capable of surpassing human-like intelligence with the ability to self-teach. And then there’s the employee question: many companies are already laying off staff in favour of AI-based replacements, and this trend could be set to continue. With some disquiet not just at Nvidia, but other popular shares including Super Micro Computer, Palantir, ARM and AMD, it remains to be seen whether this is the end of the bubble or simply some profit taking before a sustained move higher. As ever, while there may be significant growth opportunities, there are also risks. Past performance is not an indicator of future returns. Best AI stocks to watch There is some disagreement on what constitutes an AI stock — and whether it must be the main focus of a company or simply be a significant growth area. Here we have listed the top AI stocks in the US based on companies where AI is a growth area and ordered by market capitalisation. Microsoft Apple Nvidia Amazon Meta Platforms Microsoft Microsoft remains the original global computing power, so it makes sense that the US behemoth tops the list of the best AI stocks to watch — and is now the most valuable company in the world. The business retains a close relationship with OpenAI prior to the famous ChatGPT launch and has invested billions into the company since 2019. In Q2 results, revenue increased by 18% year-over-year to $62 billion, while net income rose by 33% to $21.9 billion. CEO Satya Nadella enthused that ‘we’ve moved from talking about AI to applying AI at scale. By infusing AI across every layer of our tech stack, we’re winning new customers and helping drive new benefits and productivity gains across every sector.’ In upcoming earnings, two metrics will be closely watched: revenue derived from Azure and related services — which rose by 30% in Q2, including 6% from AI — and revenue from the company’s Microsoft 365 Copilot AI tool, as Q3 will be the first full quarter of sales. Arguably, the two are key bellwethers for AI sentiment. Market Capitalisation: $3.03 trillion Apple Apple is in the middle of a market struggle — independent research firm Counterpoint estimates that iPhone sales in key market China fell by 19% in the March quarter — the worst performance since covid-19 struck in 2020. But in Q1 results, Apple saw revenue rise by 2% year-over-year to $119.6 billion, while quarterly earnings per diluted share increased by 16% to $2.18. CEO Tim Cook noted the company’s ‘all-time revenue record in Services’ and also enthused that the company’s ‘installed base of active devices has now surpassed 2.2 billion, reaching an all-time high across all products and geographic segments.’ The focus of upcoming results may be on new product launches, including new iPads on 7 May and iOS 18, which is rumoured to host artificial intelligence capacity entirely offline on customer iPhones. Market Capitalisation: $2.58 trillion Nvidia Nvidia is arguably the prime beneficiary of the AI boom, with a wide economic moat as the ‘picks and shovels’ stock for the artificial intelligence age. In Q4 2024 results, the company saw revenue rise by 265% year-over-year and 22% quarter-on-quarter to a record $22.1 billion, driven by Data Centre revenue which increased by 409% in the year to $18.4 billion. CEO and founder Jensen Huang enthuses that ‘Accelerated computing and generative AI have hit the tipping point. Demand is surging worldwide across companies, industries and nations… NVIDIA RTX, introduced less than six years ago, is now a massive PC platform for generative AI, enjoyed by 100 million gamers and creators.’ However, clouds may be gathering on the horizon. The 10% one-day drop mentioned above was potentially caused by Super Micro Computers failing to preannounce positive Q3 results as it had last quarter — the business is deeply tied to Nvidia as it makes the titan’s servers. Market Capitalisation: $2.06 trillion Amazon Amazon is well-known as the largest e-commerce retailer in the world, but the company is also a growing operator in the AI space. It offers several cutting-edge AI tools within its AWS business, including Code Whisperer and SageMaker — and clients can customise Amazon’s own machine learning model. Of course, competitors have their owns services, but Amazon is by far the largest cloud computing company, with circa a third of the global market share. Total Q4 net sales increased by 14% year-over-year to $170 billion. Within its e-commerce offering, Amazon uses AI to identify consumer trends, manage inventory and also make personalised product recommendations — including targeted advertising. Then there’s the smart devices, including Alexa and the Fire tablets. CEO Andy Jassy enthuses that the AI opportunity will be ‘tens of billions of dollars of revenue for AWS over the next several years.’ Positively, Bank of America analysts consider that next week’s earnings will see Amazon Web Services and its advertising segment come in on the upside of Wall Street guidance. Market Capitalisation: $1.87 trillion Meta Platforms Meta Platforms now boasts monthly active users of 3.98 billion people across its ‘family’ of apps, comprising Facebook, Instagram, threads and WhatsApp — an increase of 6% compared to Q4 2023. 2023 full-year results saw ad impressions across the family rise by 28% year-over-year, while the average price per advert dropped by 9%. Accordingly, revenue rose by 1% to $134.9 billion. CEO Mark Zuckerberg enthuses that ‘our community and business continue to grow. We've made a lot of progress on our vision for advancing AI and the metaverse.’ A common theme among analysts for 2024 is that the company needs a new catalyst to sustain further gains. But the next catalyst could well come externally — with US politicians considering a ban on competitor TikTok unless parent ByteDance sells the app to a non-Chinese company. Market capitalisation: $1.26 trillion This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. See full non-independent research disclaimer and quarterly summary.

Meta’s share price plunged as much as 16% in post-market trading, following the release of its 1Q 2024 results. Source: Getty Shares Price Share price Meta Platforms Revenue Artificial intelligence Written by: Yeap Jun Rong | Market Strategist, Singapore Publication date: Thursday 25 April 2024 03:51 Meta’s share price plunged post-results Meta’s share price plunged as much as 16% in post-market trading, following the release of its 1Q 2024 results. If this is followed through in the US session, this will be the largest percentage drop for the company’s share price since October 2022 (-24.6%). Meta’s results have a negative knock-on impact on the share prices of other big tech as well. Alphabet and Amazon are down close to 3% after-market, while Microsoft and Nvidia are down close to 2%. Source: Refinitiv Meta had a stellar 1Q, with a beat in both top and bottom-line. Revenue was 1% higher than consensus at $36.46 billion, up 27% year-on-year. This is the highest year-on-year (YoY) growth since 3Q 2021. Earnings per share (EPS) has beaten expectations by 9.8%, coming in at $4.71 and up more than two-fold from the $2.20 a year ago. Net profit margin was above estimate too, coming in at 33.9% versus the 31.1% consensus. Its other operating metrics have been encouraging as well. Average price per ad increased 6% YoY, ad impressions were up 20% YoY, while family daily active people (DAP) increased 7% YoY. Lacklustre revenue guidance overshadows stellar 1Q 2024 performance With the 40% run-up in its share price year-to-date, expectations are in place for the company to outperform on all fronts, leaving little room for error. It seems hard to find fault with the current set of results, but market participants were expecting more from Meta in terms of its forward sales outlook. The company guided for 2Q 2024 total revenue to be in the range of $36.5-39 billion, with the midpoint of the revenue outlook ($37.8 billion) falling below the $38.3 billion market consensus. There may be some concerns as to whether we have already seen the peak in growth momentum, with year-on-year revenue growth to potentially fall to 18.1% in 2Q 2024 from the current 27.3%. Huge cost increases put market participants off as well Given the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) race among the big tech, Meta has been under pressure to keep up on its AI capabilities in order to fend off competition as well. The company is anticipating a $5 billion cost increase from its AI infrastructure investments for 2024 and expects capital expenditures to continue to increase next year. "We anticipate our full-year 2024 capital expenditures will be in the range of $35-40 billion, increased from our prior range of $30-37 billion." This will be a new record high for the company’s capital expenditure, but there may be some reservations on whether the huge amount will pay off. Having invested heavily in the metaverse since the end of 2020, its metaverse-oriented Reality Labs division is still faced with growing losses ($3.85 billion operating loss in 1Q 2024). This may lead to questions on whether it will be another expensive long-term bet this time round. Technical analysis: Meta’s share price unwind all of its past two months’ gains pre-market Failure to meet the sky-high market expectations for its results has prompted a 16% plunge in its share price pre-market, effectively unwinding all of its gains over the past two months. As such, an attempt for its daily relative strength index (RSI) to revert back above its key 50 level has also failed to materialise, which may keep the trend on a downward bias in the near term. The hefty fall also marked a dip in share price below its daily Ichimoku Cloud support for the first time since October 2023. There may be some expectations on whether the 16% plunge is overdone, given a stellar set of 1Q 2024 numbers, which may potentially catch the attention of some dip buyers. Buyers will have to face the arduous task of potentially pushing above the US$436.00 level (the lower band of the Ichimoku Cloud) to signal some control. Immediate support may be found at the key US$400.00 level, with any failure to hold the line potentially paving the way for a retest of the US$360.00 level next. Source: IG charts This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. See full non-independent research disclaimer and quarterly summary.

Facebook owner Meta Platforms saw its shares down heavily in extended trade after revenue forecasts disappointed. Some analysts are also now questioning the staggering amounts of money Meta is investing in artificial intelligence. Written by: Jeremy Naylor | Analyst, London Publication date: Thursday 25 April 2024 10:28 Earnings per share came in at $4.71, comfortably above estimates of $4.32 and revenues up 27% year-on-year, at $36.46bln, above the forecasts of $36.16bln. That was the fastest rate of revenue expansion for any quarter since 2021. However, shares have quite clearly been priced for perfection as the outlook, however strong it is, quite clearly disappointed the market. Q2 revenue is expected at $36.5 to $39bln with the midpoint at $37.75bln, which would represent 18% year-over-year growth, but below analysts' average estimates of $38.3bln. However, the company is also expected to invest between $30-37bln into AI, possibly as much as $40bln, which some said was too much given current engagement. (AI Video Summary) Meta Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, experienced a significant stock drop post-market following its quarterly earnings report, despite beating earnings expectations with a share price of $4.71 against a forecast of $4.32, and posting revenues of $36.46 billion. Meta's aggressive investment in AI technology This drop was attributed to concerns over its aggressive investment in AI technology, with spending on AI expected to be between $30 to $40 billion. Despite initial investor trepidation, there's notable buying interest in the stock at the lower prices, with 87% of clients holding long positions. The heavy investment in AI technology continues to spark debate among investors regarding the company’s future direction. This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. See full non-independent research disclaimer and quarterly summary.

Despite ECB rate cut forecasts, the Euro climbs against the USD and GBP. US economic data could influence this uptrend. Source: Getty Forex Shares Euro Pound sterling EUR/GBP EUR/USD Written by: Nick Cawley | Analyst, DailyFX, London Publication date: Thursday 25 April 2024 06:37 The euro has gained against the US dollar and the British pound recently, even as markets anticipate a European Central Bank rate cut in June. However, any weakness in the US dollar could be temporary, as upcoming US Q1 GDP and core PCE data may support the view of sustained higher US interest rates. The daily EUR/USD chart shows the pair trading on either side of 1.0700 after rebounding from 1.0600 last week. The April 16th multi-month low coincided with a heavily oversold CCI reading which is now being erased. All three simple moving averages are above the spot price and in a negative pattern, while the pair has posted two major lower highs and lower lows since the end of last year. The next level of resistance is seen at 1.0787, while a confirmed break of 1.0600 will bring 1.0561 and 1.0448 into play. EUR/USD daily price chart Source: TradingView EUR/USD sentiment analysis: traders build net-shorts, prices may still fall Retail trader data shows 59.30% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.46 to 1.The number of traders net-long is 3.54% lower than yesterday and 16.77% lower than last week, while the number of traders net-short is 20.90% higher than yesterday and 35.35% higher than last week. We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests EUR/USD prices may continue to fall. Yet traders are less net-long than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current EUR/USD price trend may soon reverse higher despite the fact traders remain net-long. EUR/GBP jumped last week after Bank of England (BoE) commentary that UK inflation is falling towards target. The BoE rate cut expectations were brought forward, weakening sterling against a range of currencies. EUR/GBP hit a multi-month high but partially retraced the move yesterday after the CCI indicator flashed a heavily overbought reading. In the short term, the recent double high around 0.8645 should act as resistance if the 200-day simple moving average is broken. The 0.8550 is currently guarded by both the 20- and 50-day SMAS. EUR/GBP: traders cut net-shorts on the week, prices may fall According to the latest retail trader data, 51.62% of traders are net-long on EUR/GBP, with a long-to-short ratio of 1.07 to 1. The number of net-long traders has increased by 22.75% compared to yesterday but decreased by 26.67% from last week. Conversely, the number of net-short traders has decreased by 15.19% since yesterday but increased by 61.45% from last week. The contrarian view to crowd sentiment suggests that EUR/GBP prices may continue to fall, despite the current mixed trading bias. EUR/GBP daily price chart Source: TradingView This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Australia Pty Ltd. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients.

Australia's CPI exceeded expectations at 3.5%, suggesting the RBA might keep rates steady, pushing AUD/USD up amid risk-on sentiment and ahead of US data. AUD/NZD shows bullish potential above key supports. Source: Getty Forex Market sentiment Inflation United States dollar AUD/NZD AUD/USD Written by: Richard Snow | Analyst, DailyFX, Johannesburg Publication date: Thursday 25 April 2024 07:15 Australian inflation eases less than anticipated in Q1 Monthly, quarterly and yearly inflation measures showed disappointing progress towards the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) target. The monthly CPI indicator for May rose to 3.5% versus the prior 3.4% to round off a disappointing quarter where the first three months of the year revealed a rise of 1%, trumping the 0.8% estimate and prior marker of 0.6%. Source: DailyFX Generally higher service cost pressures in the first quarter have made a notable contribution to the stubborn inflation data – something the RBA will most likely continue to warn against. The local interest rate is expected to remain higher for longer in part due to the sluggish inflation data, but also due to the labour market remaining tight. A strong labour market facilitates spending and consumption, preventing prices from declining at a desired pace. Markets now foresee no movement on the rate front this year with implied basis point moves all in positive territory for the remainder of the year. This is of course likely to evolve as data comes in but for now, the chances of a rate cut this year appear unlikely. Implied basis point changes in 2024 for each remaining RBA meeting Source: Refinitiv AUD/USD continues to benefit from the return to risk assets After escalation threats between Israel and Iran appeared to die down, markets returned to assets like the S&P 500 and the ‘high beta’ aussie dollar. AUD/USD subsequently reversed after tagging the 0.6365 level – the September 2022 spike low and surpassed 0.6460 with ease. Upside momentum appears to have found intra-day resistance at a noteworthy area of confluence resistance – the intersection of the 50 and 200-day simple moving averages (SMAs). The move could also be inspired by reports of Israel preparing to move on Hamas targets in Rafah, which could risks deflating the recent lift in risk sentiment. US GDP data tomorrow and PCE data on Friday still provide an opportunity for increased volatility and a potential USD comeback should both prints surprise to the upside, further reinforcing the higher for longer narrative that has reemerged. All things considered, AUD may be susceptible to a sifter end to the week. AUD/USD daily chart Source: TradingView AUD/NZD bullish continuation shows promise AUD/NZD entered into a period of consolidation as prices eased in the form of a bull flag pattern. After yesterday’s close, a bullish continuation appears on the cards for the pair despite today’s intraday pullback from the daily high. A move below 1.0885 suggests a failure of the bullish continuation but as long as prices hold above this marker, the longer-term bullish bias and the prospect of a bullish continuation remains constructive. One thing to keep in mind is the risk of a shorter-term pullback as the RSI approaches overbought once more. Upside target appears at 1.1052 (June 2023 high) and 1.0885 to the downside. AUD/NZD daily chart Source: TradingView This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Australia Pty Ltd. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients.

As a long-time hodler of Bitcoin, I'm always looking for ways to make my holdings work for me. That's why I'm excited about BounceBit, the first native BTC restaking chain. This innovative platform unlocks a whole new level of utility for Bitcoin by allowing me to earn passive income on my idle BTC. BounceBit goes beyond simple staking. Their dual-token system leverages both Bitcoin and their native BB token to secure the network, while offering flexibility for users. I can choose to delegate my BTC to validators and receive a liquid staking derivative (stBTC), or even directly stake to other services on the network. This opens up a world of possibilities, from DeFi activities to leveraging my holdings for additional gains. Plus, with the backing of Binance Labs, I feel confident in the security and future potential of BounceBit. This could be a game-changer for Bitcoin holders like myself!

We are together on this trade, the 24 hours trading volume is interesting, I believe it will make a nice price trend.

Yes, I would have expected hundred of upset messages!

Totally, it could have been any amount. My concern is the lack of info from IG, If I'm not chasing constantly.

.....and so far in here only you and me have this problem.

Yes Last Tuesday 16th. It's shocking and I can't believe it. What if some had a £100 million account? Surely this can't be Legit?

hey! Thanks, so it not just me only. It happened on the 16th of April. Still never get a reply via email I sent. Yesterday they said it will take longer than expected to resolve the issue, could be by end of the week, so tomorrow but they didn't sound very confident. I don't understand why they cannot refund the money in the meantime.

This is now the 8th day of a Negative Balance and I cannot Sell or Buy shares. It seems there are others now reporting the same issue on here with little to no feedback other than a Glitch in IT. We really need some update to this issue @AshishIG. Can you help at all? Thank you.

When did this happen to you @ibizen?