Major US stock indices closed higher on the day, with the Russell 2000 leading the charge with a modest gain of 0.33%. Both the Dow and the S&P rose by 0.19%, while the NASDAQ index increased by 0.10%.The stock market winners and losers showed a sharply bifurcated tone today, with investors aggressively rewarding select technology, commodity, and infrastructure-related names while rotating out of consumer, retail, travel, and some high-growth momentum stocks. Semiconductor and AI-linked shares helped power many of the session’s biggest gainers, while weakness in consumer discretionary and select technology names weighed on the downside. The divergence highlighted a market still willing to chase growth and momentum in favored sectors, but equally quick to punish stocks facing valuation pressure, slowing growth concerns, or profit taking.Some of the biggest large cap winners (Gains of 5% or More) Corning (GLW): +10.89% Barrick Mining (B): +9.02% Qualcomm (QCOM): +8.42% Vertiv Holdings (VRT): +8.23% CF Industries (CF): +8.23% Coinbase Global (COIN): +7.68% Western Digital (WDC): +7.46% Papa John’s (PZZA): +7.19% Micron (MU): +6.50% Ciena Corp (CIEN): +6.09% First Solar (FSLR): +6.06% Nebius NV (NBIS): +5.11% Some of the biggest losers (Losses of 5% or More) Whirlpool (WHR): -8.59% Shake Shack (SHAK): -8.08% Shopify (SHOP): -7.13% Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): -6.67% Target (TGT): -5.43% Super Micro Computer (SMCI): -5.23% Dell Technologies (DELL): -5.16% Celsius Holdings (CELH): -5.11%The market wrestled with the prospects for success or failure from the Middle East. China is also a focus of this week as President Trump along with a number of corporate executives and government officials will be meeting with China's Xi along with other China officials starting Wednesday.Tomorrow the CPI data will be released with expectations for the headline to rise by 0.6% while the core (ex food and energy) is expected to rise by 0.3%. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

The Bank of Japan will release its 'Summary' of the April meeting today. This was an 'on hold' meeting, but was eventful. From the day:The Bank of Japan left its short-term policy rate unchanged at 0.75%, as widely expected, but delivered a significantly more hawkish inflation outlook alongside the decision, sharply revising up its price forecasts while acknowledging that the Iran war and elevated crude oil prices are clouding Japan's growth trajectory.The decision to hold was not unanimous. Three board members, Nakagawa, Takata and Tamura, proposed raising the short-term rate target to 1.0% from 0.75%, a move that was turned down by a majority vote. The dissent is notable in its scale: three members pushing for a hike simultaneously, even against the backdrop of war-driven economic uncertainty, signals that the hawkish minority on the board is growing more vocal and more willing to act.Takata, in justifying his proposal, said the BOJ's price stability target had been more or less achieved and that inflation risks in Japan were already skewed to the upside, driven by second-round effects from overseas price pressures feeding into domestic costs. Nakagawa made a similar argument, saying that even with the Middle East situation remaining unclear, economic developments and accommodative financial conditions meant risks to prices were tilted upward.Ueda's press conference followed:BOJ governor Ueda vows to stay on the path of raising interest ratesThe Bank of Japan (BOJ) releases a "Summary of Opinions" after each monetary policy meeting. It serves as a record of the discussion and views of the Policy Board members on various economic and financial issues.Key points about the Summary:The summary includes the views of the Policy Board members on economic conditions, both domestically and globally. This includes assessments of economic growth, inflation, and employment trends, among other indicators.The summary also outlines the Policy Board members' views on the effectiveness of the BOJ's current monetary policy measures, including interest rate policy, asset purchases, and yield curve control. Members may discuss the pros and cons of these policies and their potential impact on the economy.The summary includes discussions on the outlook for monetary policy and the potential risks to the economy. Board members may express their views on the appropriate timing and direction of future policy changes, as well as the potential impact of external factors such as global economic conditions.The summary also includes any dissenting views among the Policy Board members. If a member disagrees with the majority view on a particular issue, they may express their own opinion and rationale.In a few week's time we'll get the Minutes of this meeting. The Minutes are a more detailed record of the discussions and decisions made during the meeting.The Minutes include a more complete record of the views expressed, including any dissents or alternative opinions that may not be included in the summary.The Summary of Opinions is typically released a few days after the policy meeting, while the Minutes are published about a month later. This means that the Summary of Opinions can provide more up-to-date information on the BOJ's current stance and view on the economy and monetary policy.The Summary of Opinions is usually written in a more accessible language, making it easier to understand the BOJ's views on monetary policy.The Minutes, on the other hand, are often more technical and may require a deeper understanding of economics and financial markets.The Summary of Opinions is typically shorter than the Minutes. This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.

The remarkable thing about copper in 2026 isn’t where it’s trading—it’s where it isn’t. With the Strait of Hormuz still a battleground, oil dancing around levels that would normally crush industrial metals, and global growth forecasts being marked down by the week, copper is holding $6.45/lb on Comex and refusing to break. That’s a stone’s throw from the all-time highs set in late January, before the war even started. “Dr. Copper” is supposed to be the world’s most reliable economist. In this kind of macro environment—war in the Persian Gulf, blocked shipping lanes, energy shocks—the textbook says copper should be falling but it’s still threatening fresh highs. The bear case wrote itself when the missiles started flying. Bloomberg Intelligence laid it out clearly: oil at $150-plus and curbed flows through Hormuz could drive copper below $10,000/t and tip the refined market into a 100,000–200,000 ton surplus. JPMorgan’s EMEA mining team noted that copper has historically troughed about 25% below peak during major macro shocks, with Dominic O’Kane flagging additional downside risk if global growth headwinds accelerate. The logic is straightforward—stagflationary energy shocks destroy demand. Copper, as a cyclical industrial metal, should follow. It hasn’t.For context, $6.45/lb on Comex translates to roughly $14,200 per tonne—effectively aligning the US price with the upper end of recent LME trading ranges.What’s emerged instead is a market that looks almost intellectually disorienting. Few spectacles in commodities are as puzzling as a metal trading near record prices while visible inventories build and macro conditions deteriorate. Yet that is precisely where copper sits today. On the LME, three-month copper recently pushed toward $14,000/t, brushing record territory even as the geopolitical backdrop deteriorates. Traders have effectively shrugged off the war, focusing instead on a more nuanced supply-demand balance that is tightening beneath the surface. The explanation begins on the supply side—and ironically, the war itself is part of the bullish story. The Middle East conflict has disrupted shipments of sulphuric acid, a critical input in copper refining. Gulf countries account for roughly 45% of global sulfur supply, and the near-halt of tanker traffic through Hormuz has choked availability. In response, China has banned sulphuric acid exports from May through at least December, removing an estimated 3 million tonnes from the seaborne market. That hits major importers like Chile, Indonesia, and India directly.This matters more than it initially appears. Roughly 15% of global copper production is directly reliant on sulphuric acid availability. Chile alone depends heavily on imported acid for leaching operations, and disruptions are already feeding through. Chilean production was down around 6% in Q1 2026 versus the same period in 2025, even before the acid shortage fully tightened the system. Costs are rising as well—Codelco estimated a roughly 5% increase in production costs tied to the war-related disruptions. The second pillar holding copper up is demand—and specifically, the Chinese bid. Chinese buyers account for roughly 60% of global consumption, and they’ve been aggressively buying the dip. After being priced out during earlier rallies, they’ve used macro-driven weakness to rebuild inventories. O’Kane noted that copper held steady in mid-March at around $12,000/t despite severe macro tensions, largely explained by strong Chinese buying. That bid has acted as a floor under the market through the worst of the war headlines.There’s also a structural demand component that is increasingly difficult to ignore. Citi points to three drivers: the energy transition, AI infrastructure buildout, and rising military demand. The last of these is underappreciated. Military-related copper consumption is estimated at roughly 2.5 million tons annually—about 9% of global demand—and modern warfare is becoming more metal-intensive. Drones, missiles, and electrified systems all increase copper intensity, and defense budgets are still expanding. Historical data from the Russia-Ukraine war suggests copper demand can grow faster than military spending itself. On top of that, strategic stockpiling is emerging as a new layer of demand. The U.S. “Project Vault,” a $12 billion initiative aimed at building strategic reserves of critical minerals, adds another incremental buyer to the system.The mine side completes the picture. Production has been constrained by a series of disruptions across key regions. Operational setbacks in Chile, Africa, and Indonesia throughout 2025 have already pushed the market toward its first annual contraction in output since the pandemic. Events like the Kakula earthquake and Grasberg mudslide are still working through supply chains and the full resumption of Grasberg was recently pushed further back. UBS has responded by raising its 2026 deficit forecast to around 520,000 tons, reflecting a widening gap between supply and demand. The longer-term setup I've been writing about for years hasn’t changed—and if anything, it has tightened. The International Copper Study Group sees a 178,000-ton surplus in 2025 flipping to a 150,000-ton deficit in 2026. Morgan Stanley is more aggressive, forecasting the most severe copper deficit in more than 20 years, with demand exceeding supply by roughly 600,000 tons next year. Citi goes further still, suggesting that once the Strait of Hormuz reopens and sentiment improves, prices could push toward $15,000/t by year-end.Not everyone is convinced. StoneX has warned that speculative positioning looks overdone, calling current price levels “unsustainable.” Goldman Sachs expects copper to trade in a $10,000–$11,000/t range next year, arguing that near-term fundamentals don’t fully justify the rally. There is also the issue of inventory—global visible stocks have climbed to around 1.5 million tons, though much of that build is geographically concentrated in the U.S. ahead of tariff risks, while other regions tighten. Still, the key point is that copper has erased the losses sustained during more than six weeks of war—and then some. The market is no longer trading purely on macro fear. Instead, it’s pricing a structurally tight system where supply constraints, policy-driven demand, and opportunistic Chinese buying are offsetting what would normally be a deeply bearish environment.That’s the paradox of copper in 2026. The macro says it should be breaking but it isn't and that might be a tell, particularly if this war ever ends. This article was written by Adam Button at investinglive.com.

The AUDUSD initially dipped during the Asia-Pacific session, but buyers stepped in against a key swing area between 0.7221 and 0.7227. That zone had acted as a ceiling from mid-April through early May before the pair finally broke higher. Since then, the price has traded back and forth around the area, with the level alternating between support and resistance.On Friday, the pair moved back above the zone and successfully held it as support both Friday and again today. The repeated inability to move back below that area increases its technical importance for both the short term and the broader near-term outlook.For sellers to regain more control, the price would need to move below the rising 100-hour moving average at 0.72336 and then break back under the 0.7221–0.7227 swing area. Such a move would disappoint buyers who have been leaning against support over the last two sessions.If the pair does break lower, traders would then target the 200-hour moving average near 0.7205, followed by another key swing area between 0.7193 and 0.7200. A move below those levels would strengthen the bearish bias further.On the topside, the next key targets are Thursday’s high near 0.7263 and Wednesday’s high at 0.7277. That resistance zone carries added importance because it lines up with a broader swing area from March 2022 between 0.7267 and 0.7283. Last week’s high stalled within that range, reinforcing it as a major resistance ceiling.As a result, the technical picture is becoming well defined. Close support comes in near 0.7221, while close resistance extends up to 0.7283. Traders will be looking for a break outside either boundary to provide the next short-term directional clue, with momentum expected to build in the direction of the breakout. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

The price of crude oil futures settled at $98.07, up $2.65 or 2.78% on the day. Looking at the hourly chart, the low price today reached $96.13, briefly pushing below the rising 100-hour moving average, currently at $96.96 (blue line on the chart below). However, sellers were unable to sustain momentum below that key support level, allowing buyers to regain some control and helping to neutralize the bearish bias.At the same time, upside momentum also stalled ahead of the 200-hour moving average, currently at $100.74. The high price today reached $100.37, just short of that key resistance target.As a result, crude oil remains trapped between the 100-hour moving average support below at $96.96 and the 200-hour moving average resistance above at $100.74. A break outside either boundary would give traders the next stronger directional clue.On a break higher, traders look toward the downward sloping trend line as a next key target level. That level comes in at around the $107.68. On a break back below the 100 hour moving average traders would look toward $93.74 followed by the upward sloping trend line near $91.60. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

The NZDUSD moved lower during the Asian-Pacific session in sympathy with the broader US dollar strength. However, each dip toward the rising 100-hour moving average attracted willing buyers, with the pair bouncing on several separate tests of that key support level. The inability to break below the 100-hour moving average helped give buyers the green light to push the pair higher during the North American session.The 100-hour moving average currently comes in at 0.5948 and continues to trend higher. The rebound has taken the price up to 0.5967, putting the pair near the highs from Friday’s trade and close to a downward-sloping trendline connecting the highs from last Wednesday and Thursday on the hourly chart.As a result, the technical picture is becoming well defined in the short term: buyers are successfully defending support against the rising 100-hour moving average, while sellers are leaning against resistance near Friday’s highs and the descending trendline resistance from last week.If buyers can break above the trendline resistance and Friday’s high, traders would begin targeting last week’s highs between 0.5983 and 0.5990. A move above that zone would strengthen the bullish bias further and put the pair at its highest level since February. Beyond that, the next upside targets come in near the February 26 high at 0.6013, followed by the broader swing area between 0.6055 and 0.6091 — the highs for the year.On the downside, a move back below the rising 100-hour moving average at 0.5948 would shift attention toward the old ceiling area between 0.5927 and 0.5935. If sellers can get below that level, the 200 hour moving average at 0.5912 (and moving higher) would be targeted. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

Iran is ready to downblend highly enriched uranium to levels of 3.7% and 20%, according to Al Jazeera citing a source. Washington refused to transfer the highly enriched uranium to Russia and instead suggested a third country receive it. Iran rejected the transfer of Uranium stockpiles outside of Iran. Washington wanted a halt to uranium enrichment for 20 years, but Iran rejected the proposal. It also rejected a proposal to pay Iran reparations for war losses.How does this compare to the JCPOA that Obama negotiated in 2015 and which Trump tore up in 2018.Uranium enrichment levelsCurrent reported proposal: Iran would dilute highly enriched uranium down to 3.7% and 20%. The US reportedly wants Iran to give up uranium enriched to 60%. JCPOA: Iran was limited to enrichment of 3.67% for 15 years. Iran was not permitted to accumulate 20% or higher enriched uranium. The agreement effectively eliminated Iran’s stockpile of medium- and highly-enriched uranium at the time. Uranium stockpile locationCurrent reported proposal: Washington reportedly wanted enriched uranium transferred out of Iran, potentially to Russia or another country. Iran rejected transferring uranium abroad. JCPOA: Iran shipped roughly 98% of its enriched uranium stockpile out of the country, mainly to Russia. This was one of the central pillars of the agreement because it dramatically extended Iran’s breakout timeline. 60% enriched uraniumCurrent reported proposal: The US reportedly demanded Iran abandon its 60% enriched uranium stockpile. JCPOA: Iran had no 60% enriched uranium under the deal. Enrichment above 3.67% was prohibited. The existence of 60% uranium today is viewed by Western powers as much closer to weapons-grade capability than what existed under the JCPOA. Enrichment haltCurrent reported proposal: Washington reportedly sought a halt to enrichment for 20 years. Iran rejected it. JCPOA: Iran was allowed limited civilian enrichment under strict caps and monitoring. The JCPOA was not a total enrichment ban. Key restrictions had “sunset clauses,” with several major limits lasting 10–15 years. Monitoring and inspectionsCurrent reported proposal: Iran reportedly offered dilution under IAEA supervision. JCPOA: The IAEA had extensive monitoring powers, including: Continuous surveillance of nuclear facilities Monitoring of centrifuge production Regular inspections Oversight of uranium supply chains Economic compensation and sanctionsCurrent reported proposal: Iran reportedly sought reparations for war losses, which Washington rejected. JCPOA: The deal focused on sanctions relief: Removal/suspension of nuclear-related sanctions Release of frozen assets Re-entry into global oil and financial markets The JCPOA did not include war reparations as there was no war damage. Key takeawayThe reported framework appears far more difficult to bridge than the original JCPOA because: Iran now possesses 60% enriched uranium, which did not exist under the 2015 deal. Iran appears unwilling to export enriched uranium stockpiles, while that step was essential to the JCPOA. The US position described here appears stricter in some respects, including the reported push for a much longer enrichment halt. The reported proposal resembles a partial rollback and containment framework more than a return to the original JCPOA structure.History cannot be rewritten. Who knows where Iran would have been if the original deal was in place and not recinded in 2018. What we do know (most likely) is if Trump made a deal that was less than the 2015 agreement, it would be political fuel for the Dems against Trump and the GOP. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

U.S. Treasury auctions of $58 billion of 3-year notes at a high yield of 3.965%. WI level at the time of the auction 3.959%Tail 0.6 basis points versus a six month average of -0.4 basis points.Bid to cover 2.54X versus 2.67X six month averageDealers 16.9% versus six month average of 12.7%.Directds 20.14% versus six month average of 23.4%Indirects 62.96% versus six month average of 63.9%Auction Grade D+The auction was weak with a positive tail, bid to cover less than the six month average, the dealers being saddled with more of the average. The domestic buyers were weak while the international buyers were modestly lower than the average. The grade is less than a C and with weakness across the board, I give it a D+ grade This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

The GBPUSD initially moved lower during the Asia-Pacific session following the election results, as traders reacted to the uncertainty surrounding the outcome. However, that same uncertainty also fueled speculation that potential policy changes could ultimately prove supportive for the economy, helping buyers regain confidence as the session progressed.Technically, buyers continued to lean against the rising 100-hour moving average (currently at 1.35924), with dips finding willing support. That buying helped fuel a stronger upside rotation during the North American session. The move higher pushed the pair above a key topside trendline near 1.3627, increasing the bullish bias.After breaking above the trendline, the price targeted last week’s high near 1.3643. A sustained move above that level — and above the early May high at 1.36569 — would open the door for further upside momentum and take the pair to its highest level since mid-February.Beyond that, traders would begin targeting the next major swing area between 1.3725 and 1.3772. If bullish momentum continues through that zone, attention would then shift toward the 2026 high from January at 1.38688.It would take a move back below 1.3627 and then the rising 100 hour MA at 1.35924, to increase the bearish bias today and going forward. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

President Trump is meeting with his national security team Monday to discuss the path forward in the Iran war, including the possibility of resuming military action after negotiations stalled on Sunday, according to Axios citing three U.S. officials. U.S. officials said Trump still wants a deal to end the conflict, but Iran’s rejection of key demands and refusal to make meaningful concessions on its nuclear program has brought military options back into focus. Officials expected to participate in Monday’s meeting include: Vice President Vance White House envoy Steve Witkoff Secretary of State Rubio Defense Secretary Hegseth Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine CIA Director John Ratcliffe Other senior national security officials Two U.S. officials said Trump is leaning toward some form of military action against Iran to increase pressure on the regime and force concessions on its nuclear program. One U.S. official said Trump would likely “tune them up a bit.” A second official added: “I think we all know where this is going.”It is unlikely the Pres. would order a new attack on Iran ahead of returning back from China. Over the weekend, hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough between the U.S. and Iran faded sharply after Iran delivered what President Trump described as an unacceptable response to the latest U.S. proposal aimed at ending the conflict and restarting broader nuclear negotiations. Trump said he was disappointed with Iran’s reply, calling it “totally unacceptable” and “inappropriate,” while adding that Tehran failed to make meaningful concessions on its nuclear program — a central U.S. demand. According to reports, Iran’s response focused more on ending military operations, lifting sanctions, securing guarantees against future attacks, and preserving aspects of its nuclear program rather than agreeing to the tougher restrictions Washington was seeking This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

The USDCHF continues to lean against its 100-hour moving average as a key resistance barometer. Corrective rallies last week stalled against that moving average on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday — and today’s rally attempt once again failed near the same level. If buyers are to take back more control, the pair needs to break above and stay above the 100-hour MA at 0.77913. Until that happens, the buyers are not winning the technical battle.On the downside, the pair has moved back below a key swing area along with the 61.8% retracement of the move up from the January 2026 low, between 0.7771 and 0.7782. Staying below that zone keeps the sellers firmly in control and shifts focus toward last week’s low at 0.7760. Below that, traders will target the March low at 0.77468. A move beneath those levels would increase the bearish bias and open the door for further downside momentum.For the USDCAD, the pair moved higher on Friday but stalled near a major resistance cluster. The rally tested the 38.2% retracement of the decline from the early-April high at 1.37085, while also reaching the lower end of a swing area between 1.37089 and 1.37149. Adding to the resistance, the falling 200-day moving average comes in near 1.3719. Sellers leaned against that confluence area on Friday, helping to push the pair back lower, with downside momentum extending into today’s session.The next downside target comes in at the rising 100-hour moving average near 1.3642. Below that, traders will look toward the 200-hour moving average at 1.36314, followed by a swing area between 1.36199 and 1.3630. Additional downside support targets come in between 1.35934 and 1.3600. As long as the price remains below the key resistance cluster near 1.3710–1.3720, sellers maintain the near-term technical advantage. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

Trump is speaking and says:Iran war will be over soonWe have wiped out their Navy.Iran is out of weapons, leadership, Army and NavyWill meet with a large group of Generals about IranWants to bring oil prices down.Says they have a plan on Iran. Iran Blockade was part of "military genius"Ceasefire is unbelievable weak. Is on life support. Says GOP should walk away with midtermsTo temporarily reduce tariffs on beef impots as soon as Monday. On other topics:He had a positive call with Russia's Putin. We have a massive amount of oil.The war goes on and so does the promises. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

It The latest Iran-related headlines suggest that tensions in the Middle East remain elevated, but there are also ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent a broader escalation.Key developments:Trump is reportedly considering restarting “Project Freedom” — the US-led naval effort aimed at reopening and securing commercial shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran restricted transit in the region. Trump adds that "U.S. Navy guiding ships through the Straits of Hormuz would only be a piece of it"Iran said the US would need to clean up radioactive contamination (“nuclear dust”) at Iranian nuclear facilities allegedly damaged in prior strikes, signaling Tehran is continuing to frame the nuclear issue as unresolved and dangerous. Iran still has not allowed at least one UAE-linked LPG tanker to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Tasnim, reinforcing concerns that shipping disruptions remain in place despite ceasefire discussions. Pakistan is actively mediating between the US and Iran, with Pakistani sources saying there is “no immediate danger” of the war restarting. Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary in negotiations over sanctions relief, shipping access, and broader de-escalation. Iran’s proposal to the US reportedly focuses on: ending hostilities, lifting sanctions, easing the naval blockade, and restoring safer shipping conditions in Hormuz. Trump is pushing back against arrest demands for war reparations, as the administration views this to be implications of defeat.On Iran's the price of crude oil hard-line leaders that "they are going to fold". Regime change present Trump says "I will not deal with them until they make a deal."Market implication: The tone is mixed. Continued tanker restrictions and the possible revival of Project Freedom are supportive for oil prices because they keep supply-disruption fears alive. However, the ongoing mediation effort through Pakistan and talk of negotiations are helping limit some of the worst-case geopolitical fears for now.The price of crude oil is trading up $2.12 at $97.50. The high price reached $100.37. The low price was at $96.13.Trump is saying that the $0.18 federal gas tax may be paused for a period of time. He says that they will wait for the prices to come back down and then "phase it back in". So it sounds like the pause in tax is going to happen. The AAA average gas price for regular stayed steady at $4.52. A week ago it was at $4.46. A month ago it was at $4.14, and a year ago the average price was at $3.14. Pres. Trump and other officials will often say that the prices are coming down. It may with the $0.18 pause but that would be an artificial decline. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

? Tech Sector StumblesToday's trading session saw prominent losses within the tech sector. Notably, Microsoft (MSFT) took a hit, sliding down by 1.11%, while Google (GOOGL) faced a significant decline of 2.01%. The downturn in these tech giants reflects broader market sentiment, with anxiety over high valuations and regulatory scrutiny taking center stage.? Healthcare ImpressesIn stark contrast, the healthcare sector exhibited robust performance today. Eli Lilly (LLY) surged by an impressive 4.05%, driving momentum across the sector, supported by Gilead Sciences (GILD) rising 2.62%. Positive clinical trial results and ongoing demand for innovative treatments buoyed investor confidence.? Consumer Cyclicals and Defensive DentThe consumer cyclical sector experienced setbacks, highlighted by Tesla (TSLA) declining 2.37%. Market pressures from inventory concerns and potential demand challenges seemed to weigh heavily. Likewise, consumer defensive stocks did not fare well, with Procter & Gamble (PG) showing a drop of 2.03%.? Market Sentiment and HighlightsToday's broader market sentiment was a mixed bag, driven largely by industry-specific news and sector rotations. The tech sector's retreat aligns with larger worries about tech valuations, while healthcare's strength hints at investor interest in more defensive, long-term growth plays.Semiconductors Resilient: Bucking today's tech trend, Nvidia (NVDA) rose 1.40%, supported by ongoing demand in AI applications.Financial Sector: Showed slight gains, with Visa (V) up by 1.13% and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) climbing 0.20%, reflecting stable financial market conditions.? Strategic RecommendationsInvestors should consider the volatility in the tech sector as a signal to evaluate their portfolios, perhaps trimming overvalued stocks. Meanwhile, the strength in healthcare suggests potential for growth and stability. Diversification remains key—investing in sectors with strong fundamentals like healthcare and select financials may provide both stability and growth. Staying alert to further regulatory developments affecting tech companies is advisable.For additional analysis and real-time updates, visit InvestingLive.com.? This article was written by Itai Levitan at investinglive.com.

The price of Meta Platforms gapped sharply lower following its April 29 earnings release, as investors reacted negatively to the company’s increased capital spending plans — a development that triggered aggressive selling pressure. On the day of the earnings reaction, the stock fell decisively below its 100-hour moving average, 100-day moving average, and 200-hour moving average, signaling a significant deterioration in the technical picture.Since that break lower, the stock has attempted several corrective rebounds, but sellers have consistently regained control at key technical resistance levels. On both April 30 and again on May 7, rallies stalled near the 200-hour moving average, reinforcing the bearish bias. The May 7 rebound also failed near the 38.2% retracement of the rally from the March 27 low, which came in at $626.10. The high price that day reached $624.98 before rotating lower. The inability to break above both the 38.2% retracement and the 200-hour moving average gave sellers the green light to reassert downside momentum.On Friday, the decline found temporary support near the 50% retracement level at $605.89, with the stock closing at $610.25. However, in today’s trading, the stock gapped back below that midpoint level. The rebound high reached just $604.91 — roughly one dollar short of the broken 50% retracement — allowing sellers to lean once again against former support turned resistance.From a technical perspective, buyers need to reclaim the $605.89 level just to gain a modest short-term foothold. Beyond that, the hurdles become much more difficult. The stock would still need to move back above the broken 38.2% retracement at $626.10 and the rising 200-hour moving average near $630.92 to shift control away from sellers. Ultimately, the 100-hour and 100-day moving averages near $641 remain the larger upside targets that buyers would need to retake to improve the broader technical outlook.Until those resistance levels are reclaimed, sellers continue to hold the stronger hand technically. While short-term rebounds remain possible, the path of least resistance still points lower unless buyers can begin to chip away at the growing list of overhead resistance levels between $605 and $641. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

investingLive has launched its latest educational offering on the ILAcademy platform: Essentials of Technical Analysis. This structured, three-hour masterclass is designed for traders who are done wading through noise and ready to build a framework that actually holds up in live market conditions.The course is led by Giuseppe Dellamotta, Market Analyst at investingLive and a veteran trader whose background cuts against the grain of conventional financial education. Rather than a career built in lecture halls, Dellamotta's approach was forged through real-time market experience and hedge fund level training, covering FX, equities, bonds, and commodities with a specialization in global macro. He is known for identifying macro trends early, often from a contrarian position, and his ability to translate that thinking into clear, actionable frameworks is what makes this course worth the time of any serious trader.Course StructureThe course spans four structured lessons and covers the full technical analysis toolkit without the filler. Students will work through identifying bullish and bearish market structures, developing an objective reading of price action, applying technical tools to locate high-probability entry and exit zones, and implementing the kind of risk management discipline that separates traders who last from those who don't. That last point is where most trading education falls short. Strategies are easy to find. The discipline to execute them consistently is not, and Dellamotta treats it as a non-negotiable part of the curriculum rather than an afterthought.Technical analysis sometimes may get a bad reputation in some circles, often because it gets taught badly. Overcomplicated indicator stacks, conflicting signals, and a general tendency to present charts as crystal balls rather than tools for structured decision-making have given the discipline a credibility problem it doesn't deserve when applied correctly. Focused LearningEssentials of Technical Analysis takes the opposite approach. The focus is on reading price action with clarity, understanding market structure without the clutter, and building a repeatable process rather than chasing setups.For retail traders, that clarity has real value. Most participants in financial markets are operating with limited time, limited capital, and no institutional infrastructure behind them. What they need is not more information. They need a cleaner way to process the information they already have. A coherent technical framework does exactly that. It narrows the field of what's worth paying attention to and gives traders a basis for making decisions that isn't rooted in gut feeling or social media sentiment.The course is available now at academy.investinglive.com and is structured to be completed at the learner's own pace. Students who complete the course receive a certificate of completion. A course on fundamental analysis is already in development as the next addition to the ILAcademy curriculum.For traders looking to sharpen their market reading and build a technical foundation worth trusting, this is a straightforward place This article was written by investingLive at investinglive.com.

The US existing home sales for April 2026 shows:Prior month 3.98M revised to 4.01MExisting home sales for April 4.02M vs 4.05M estimate Existing home sales percentage change 0.2%theDetails from the national Association of realtors4.4-month supply: Unsold housing inventory, up from 4.2 months in March and 4.3 months a year ago. $417,700: Median existing-home price for all housing types in April. Median price increased 0.9% from $414,000 a year ago. April marked the 34th consecutive month of year-over-year home price increases. 110.6: Housing Affordability Index in April, up from 101.4 a year ago. Housing affordability improved in all regions year-over-year: Northeast: +4.7% Midwest: +5.9% South: +9.6% West: +12.5%Single-family home sales: Unchanged month-over-month in April at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.64 million. Single-family sales were down 0.3% from April 2025. $422,300: Median single-family home price, up 1.0% from last year. Condominium and co-op sales: Increased 2.7% month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 380,000. Condo and co-op sales were up 2.7% from a year ago. $374,100: Median condo/co-op price, up 1.1% from April 2025. Northeast: Sales unchanged month-over-month at an annual rate of 450,000. Sales down 8.2% year-over-year. $510,800: Median price, up 4.8% from April 2025. Midwest: Sales increased 2.2% month-over-month to an annual rate of 950,000. Sales down 1.0% year-over-year. $324,500: Median price, up 3.6% from April 2025. South: Sales increased 0.5% month-over-month to an annual rate of 1.87 million. Sales up 2.7% year-over-year. $366,600: Median price, up 0.4% from April 2025. West: Sales decreased 2.6% month-over-month to an annual rate of 750,000. Sales unchanged from last year. $619,600: Median price, down 1.4% from April 2025. 32 days: Median time on market in April, down from 41 days in March but up from 29 days a year ago. 33%: Share of sales to first-time homebuyers, up from 32% in March but down from 34% one year ago. 25%: Share of transactions that were cash sales, down from 27% last month and unchanged from a year ago. 16%: Share of transactions from individual investors or second-home buyers, down from 18% last month and up slightly from 15% a year ago. 2%: Distressed sales (foreclosures and short sales), unchanged from last month and last year. 6.33%: Average 30-year fixed mortgage rate in April, according to Freddie Mac. Mortgage rates were up from 6.18% in March but down from 6.73% one year From NAR Chief Economis Dr Lawrence Yun:“Despite mixed macroeconomic signals—including a record-high stock market and historically low consumer confidence—home sales were modestly boosted by the continued improvement in housing affordability. Mortgage rates are lower from a year ago, and average income growth is outpacing home price gains.Inventory still remains tight. Multiple offers, though not as intense as a few years ago, are still occurring. At the same time, days on market are lengthening on average, implying that consumers are taking their time before making decisions.” This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

Nasdaq futures are implying a down -46 points start for the US stocks. The S&P is targeting down -23 points and the Dow is looking to be down -20 modest points.Despite the declines some consistant gainers continue their gains in pre-market trading. Moderna (MRNA) — +7.82% Shares spiked after the biotech company announced it had already been developing a hantavirus vaccine ahead of the outbreak aboard the cruise ship Hondius. A timely catalyst in a volatile macro environment. Intel (INTC) — +4.8% Intel gained after the Wall Street Journal reported the chipmaker had reached a preliminary agreement with Apple to manufacture some of the chips used in Apple devices. A major credibility boost for Intel's struggling foundry ambitions.Micron (MU) — +6.25% (premarket) Micron shares continue to rise, driven by a global memory chip shortage and soaring demand for AI accelerators and inference hardware. Since late March, Micron shares have more than doubled, and analysts foresee a possible supercycle in chipmaking extending beyond next year.Nebius (NBIS) — Edging higher Nebius edged higher ahead of its Q1 2026 earnings report, having recently hit an all-time high. The company has partnered with Nvidia in a $2 billion deal to build a full-stack AI cloud and plans to acquire Eigen AI for $643 million, with agreements also in place with Meta and Microsoft.As the new trading week begins, yields are higher with the 2 year up 1.7 basis points at 3.909% and the 10 year is up 1.4 basis points at 4.380%. Oil is higher with the price up $1.20 at $96.69.Trump is scheduled to visit China starting Wednesday for a high-profile summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The trip is expected to focus heavily on trade, tariffs, supply-chain security, and geopolitical tensions tied to Iran and Taiwan. One of the key areas of discussion will likely center on extending the current US-China trade truce, with negotiations also expected around rare earth exports, semiconductor supply chains, agricultural purchases, and US energy exports to China. Markets will be watching closely for any signs of easing trade tensions or new purchase agreements that could support global growth sentiment.Geopolitical issues are also expected to play a major role in the discussions. The ongoing Iran conflict and security concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have elevated the importance of China’s relationship with Iran, making energy security and oil market stability key talking points. Taiwan will remain another sensitive issue, with China expected to press the US on arms sales and sovereignty-related language. Artificial intelligence and broader technology competition between the two countries are also likely to be discussed as both nations continue to compete for leadership in advanced technologies.The visit marks Trump’s first trip to China since his 2017 state visit and comes after earlier plans were delayed because of tensions tied to the Iran war. Ceremonial events are expected to include formal diplomatic meetings, a state banquet, and cultural visits in Beijing. Financial markets will focus on whether the meetings produce any breakthroughs on tariffs, rare earth supply agreements, or broader geopolitical cooperation, with potential implications for oil prices, Treasury yields, equities, and global risk sentiment.The prolonged war in Iran gives China some additional leverage which they are not likely to let slide. Often times, the Trump goals of solving problems creates more problems. Will we add Taiwan to the list of problems now? This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

The USD is trading higher against the major currency pairs today, but both the EURUSD and GBPUSD have rebounded from earlier session lows, allowing buyers — or dollar sellers — to regain some short-term control.In the EURUSD, the pair gapped lower during the Asian-Pacific session, but downside momentum began to stall as the price approached the rising 100-hour moving average, currently near 1.17455. Buyers leaned against that key support level, helping to stabilize the pair. During the European morning session, the price pushed higher and tested the highs from Thursday and Friday, where sellers once again slowed the advance.On the topside, key resistance remains in a swing area between 1.1784 and 1.1795. A break above that zone would strengthen the bullish bias and open the door for a move toward 1.1823–1.1836, followed by the April high near 1.1848.The USDJPY has been supported for most of the session as both US yields and crude oil prices moved higher. The pair climbed above its 100-hour moving average at 156.81, but remains below a more important resistance cluster that includes the 200-hour moving average and the 100-day moving average near 157.36. The 38.2% retracement of the rally from the February 12 low comes in at 157.50, adding another resistance target for buyers.On the downside, a move back below the 100-hour moving average at 156.81 would shift focus toward the 50% retracement level at 156.50. Below that, the next key downside target comes in at the 61.8% retracement near 155.50.The GBPUSD remains under pressure largely due to growing political uncertainty in the UK after local election results dealt a significant setback to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the ruling Labour Party. However, despite brief breaks below the 100-hour moving average — currently at 1.35893 — buyers repeatedly stepped in to support the pair. Another test of that moving average during the European morning session again attracted buyers.For sellers to gain more control, the price needs to break decisively below the 100-hour moving average and then below the 200-hour moving average at 1.35677. Without that break, buyers retain the near-term edge. On the topside, a trend line connecting recent highs comes in near 1.3627. A move above that level would target the highs from recent weeks near 1.3643, followed by the April high at 1.3657. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

Lyrie.ai (https://lyrie.ai/), the autonomous cybersecurity platform developed by OTT Cybersecurity LLC, today announced the completion of a $2 million pre-seed funding round and the company’s official exit from stealth. The raise will support continued platform development, security research team expansion, and the operationalization of the Agent Trust Protocol across Lyrie’s platform and partner ecosystem.The company is preparing a Series A round to scale deployment across enterprise and government markets.The Market MomentEnterprise and government organizations are deploying autonomous AI agents at a pace that has outrun every existing security framework. These agents read mail, write code, execute transactions, sign contracts, and operate across sensitive systems with broad access and limited oversight. The question of who those agents are, what they are authorized to do, and whether they have been compromised has gone unanswered.Lyrie was built to answer it.“The agentic AI economy is being built right now, and it is being built without a security foundation. Every AI agent on the internet today is effectively anonymous. No identity verification, no scope enforcement, no tamper detection. We built the infrastructure that changes that — and we built it as an open standard so the entire industry can adopt it.” said Guy Sheetrit, CEO and Founder of OTT Cybersecurity LLC, the company behind Lyrie.ai.Use of ProceedsThe $2 million pre-seed round will fund expansion of Lyrie’s security research team, infrastructure scaling, the IETF submission process for the Agent Trust Protocol, and deeper enterprise and government partnerships.Agent Trust Protocol — Open InfrastructureAlongside the funding announcement, Lyrie is releasing the Agent Trust Protocol (ATP), an open cryptographic standard for AI agent identity, scope, attestation, delegation, and revocation. The protocol is royalty-free and slated for submission to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). The reference implementation is available under MIT license at github.com/OTT-Cybersecurity-LLC/lyrie-ai.ATP is designed to become the trust layer underneath the agentic AI economy — the same way SSL/TLS became the trust layer for the web.Anthropic Cyber Verification ProgramOTT Cybersecurity LLC has been accepted into Anthropic’s Cyber Verification Program (CVP), Anthropic’s framework for verified dual-use cybersecurity operators. The acceptance supports Lyrie’s work around vulnerability research, offensive security tooling, and red-team workflows on Claude’s AI infrastructure, subject to Anthropic’s applicable safety and security policies.Platform CapabilitiesThe Lyrie platform delivers autonomous offensive and defensive security across the full threat lifecycle:Autonomous penetration testing — a 7-phase penetration test from a single command, with proof-of-concept exploits and code-level remediation.Adversarial AI red-teaming — GCG and AutoDAN workflows on H200 GPU infrastructure, supporting advanced AI security evaluation.OWASP ASI 2026 coverage — coverage mapped to the Agentic Security Initiative threat catalog.Zero-day research — autonomous discovery workflows in compiled software via Omega-Suite binary analysis.Rapid deployment — production-ready from consumer hardware through enterprise GPU infrastructure.About OTT Cybersecurity LLC and Lyrie.aiOTT Cybersecurity LLC is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The company’s flagship product, Lyrie.ai, is the security infrastructure layer for the AI agent era. Lyrie is led by CEO and Founder Guy Sheetrit, a cybersecurity and digital infrastructure operator with a track record across enterprise and government markets in the UAE, USA, and globally. This article was written by IL Contributors at investinglive.com.