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Top Reasons Why Bitcoin Price Could Retest $75,000 in Early February

Forex 3 Mins Read

The post Top Reasons Why Bitcoin Price Could Retest $75,000 in Early February appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Bitcoin price has entered a cautious phase after failing to hold its recent recovery, with price action gradually tilting back toward the downside. The pullback has been controlled rather than panic-driven, but signs of weakening demand are becoming harder to ignore. Spot buying remains limited, leverage continues to unwind, and sellers are still active beneath the surface. Together, these signals raise the likelihood of Bitcoin revisiting lower support levels, with the $75,000 region now emerging as a key area to watch as early February approaches.

Open Interest: Leverage Steps Back, Not In

Open interest across exchanges has declined sharply, signaling broad deleveraging rather than aggressive dip-buying. This drop suggests traders are closing positions instead of building fresh longs to defend current levels. Importantly, open interest has struggled to recover alongside price, reinforcing the idea that conviction remains weak. 

When leverage exits the market without being replaced, the price often drifts toward the next support zone. This behavior aligns with the broader correction seen on the price chart and adds weight to the bearish near-term outlook.

Exchange Reserves: Spot Supply Gradually Increases

Exchange reserve data shows Bitcoin balances ticking higher after a prolonged period of decline. While this does not point to panic selling, it does indicate that more BTC is becoming available to sell. 

In past cycles, rising reserves during a corrective phase have often coincided with extended pullbacks rather than quick reversals. With spot supply increasing and no clear signs of aggressive accumulation, downside pressure remains a real risk if demand does not improve.

Spot Taker CVD: Sellers Still Have the Upper Hand

Spot taker CVD reinforces this cautious view. Over the past several months, sell-side market orders have dominated, and while selling pressure has eased slightly, buyers have yet to take clear control. 

The lack of a strong bullish shift in CVD suggests that recent stabilization is more about sellers slowing down than buyers stepping up. Without sustained spot buying, any bounce is likely to remain corrective rather than trend-changing.

Is Bitcoin (BTC) Price Heading to $75,000?

Ever since the BTC price dropped below $100,000, it has slipped into extreme bearish conditions. It broke down below the rising wedge, which has been the start of a strong descending trend. 

After breaking the wedge, the BTC price has also completed a small upside correction that resulted in a fresh descending trend. Meanwhile, the weekly RSI is also heading towards the lower threshold, indicating Bitcoin is yet to mark the bottom. Considering the chart structure, the next strong support is just below $75,000, at around $74,500, which could be the range where buyers may take control. 

Conclusion: What Comes Next for Bitcoin?

Taken together, price structure, derivatives positioning, and spot market behavior all lean toward further downside exploration. Bitcoin does not appear to be in a capitulation phase, but it also lacks the conditions typically seen at durable bottoms. Unless spot demand strengthens and leverage begins to rebuild alongside rising prices, Bitcoin may continue drifting lower toward the $74,000–$76,000 support zone. A bounce from there is possible, but for now, the data supports caution rather than optimism.

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Stocks

What Kevin Warsh’s Fed nomination could mean for stocks, crypto, and risk assets

Stocks 3 Mins Read

The financial world shifted on its axis this Friday as President Donald Trump officially nominated Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Chair of the Federal Reserve.

This appointment is far from a mere administrative baton-pass; it represents a fundamental pivot in the world’s most powerful economic engine.

Warsh, a former Fed governor and Wall Street veteran, enters the fray at a time when the central bank’s independence and its approach to liquidity are under intense scrutiny.

For financial markets, the “Warsh Era” signals a departure from the status quo, promising a cocktail of aggressive rate-cut advocacy mixed with a disciplined, “tough love” approach to the Fed’s balance sheet that could fundamentally reshape the performance of risk assets in 2026.

Kevin Warsh – a double-edged sword for risk assets

The immediate market reaction to the Warsh news was a sharp “risk-off” move, with stock prices declining and Bitcoin facing selling pressure as well.

This stems from Warsh’s reputation as a “reformed hawk”.

While he’s aligned with Trump’s demand for lower interest rates to spur growth – a move that typically benefits stocks and cryptocurrencies – he simultaneously advocates for a significantly smaller Fed balance sheet.

This creates a paradox for risk assets: while lower nominal rates are a tailwind, a reduction in global dollar liquidity is a massive headwind.

As Stephen Brown of Capital Economics noted, Warsh is a “relatively safe choice,” but his conviction that “the Fed should operate with a much smaller balance sheet” could put persistent upward pressure on long-term bond yields, making non-yielding assets like stocks and crypto less attractive.

Valuation over liquidity: the death of the “Fed Put”

For years, equity markets have leaned on the “Fed Put” – the belief that the central bank would reliably inject liquidity at the first sign of trouble.

Warsh, however, is a vocal critic of the Fed’s tendency to “pamper” markets. His “valuation-over-liquidity” framework means risk assets like high-growth tech and Bitcoin can no longer rely on central bank largesse to mask weak fundamentals.

In a recent interview, Warsh argued that the Fed’s “bloated balance sheet” should be reduced to “support households and small businesses” rather than just the largest financial firms.

This shift forces a Darwinian transition: companies with real earnings will thrive under lower rates, but “zombie” stocks and speculative bubbles that survived solely on excess market liquidity may face a harsh reckoning as the Fed’s safety net is pulled away.

How to play risk assets amidst the new economic climate

Ultimately, Kevin Warsh views the Fed not as a “pampered prince” of the economy, but as a disciplined steward of the currency.

His belief that artificial intelligence will act as a “significant disinflationary force” suggests he may feel emboldened to cut rates without fearing an immediate inflationary spike, a scenario that could ignite a massive rally in small-cap stocks.

However, the cost of this growth will be the removal of the experimental stimulus measures that defined the last decade.

As we move toward May 2026, the transition from Powell’s “cautious guidance” to Warsh’s “structural reform” means the era of easy, liquidity-driven gains is likely over.

In this new landscape, the winners will be those who prioritize real productivity over the temporary highs of central bank cash injections.

The post What Kevin Warsh’s Fed nomination could mean for stocks, crypto, and risk assets appeared first on Invezz

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Forex

Ethereum Price Breakdown Ignites Fresh Bear Fears Across Crypto

Forex 4 Mins Read

The post Ethereum Price Breakdown Ignites Fresh Bear Fears Across Crypto appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Ethereum is facing renewed downside pressure after breaking below the $2,700 level, reigniting concerns over a deeper correction. The second-largest cryptocurrency has now lost more than 7% in a single day and is down over 40% from recent highs, reflecting a broader shift toward risk-off sentiment across crypto markets.

Market liquidity remains thin, institutional demand is weakening, and selling pressure continues to dominate short-term price action, setting the stage for heightened volatility.

Peter Brandt Flags Further Downside Risk

Veteran trader Peter Brandt has added to the cautious outlook, warning that Ethereum’s recent technical breakdown could lead to further losses. Sharing chart analysis, Brandt pointed to a completed symmetrical triangle breakdown on Ethereum’s price chart, a pattern typically associated with bearish continuation.

Beyond ETH itself, Brandt also highlighted weakness across the broader crypto market. His analysis of total crypto market capitalization shows a drop to key support near $2.82 trillion. A sustained failure at this level, he warned, could drag total market value toward $2.41 trillion, implying a potential 15–20% market-wide decline that could pressure major assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP.

ETF Outflows Add to Selling Pressure

Institutional sentiment around Ethereum remains fragile, as reflected in continued outflows from spot Ethereum ETFs. On Thursday alone, ETH ETFs recorded nearly $156 million in net redemptions, led by Fidelity and BlackRock products. Grayscale’s Ethereum funds also saw notable withdrawals.

These outflows suggest that large investors are still de-risking, reinforcing Brandt’s view that Ethereum’s weakness is tied more to liquidity stress and capital rotation than isolated technical issues.

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Vitalik Buterin Moves 16,384 ETH

Adding another layer to the narrative, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently withdrew 16,384 ETH. While such movements often raise short-term market concerns, Buterin clarified that the funds are intended to support Ethereum’s long-term development and sustainability.

According to Buterin, the ETH will help fund an aggressive roadmap focused on scalability, decentralization, and security, while also supporting the Ethereum Foundation’s core mission. He has also signaled interest in improving decentralized staking structures to better align rewards with Ethereum’s long-term goals.

Key Support Levels in Focus

Ethereum’s price action continues to reflect a market stuck in limbo rather than one gearing up for a decisive move. Analysts note that ETH has been locked in a broad, well-defined range between roughly $2,600 and $3,350 for the past two months, with no clear trend emerging on higher timeframes. This prolonged consolidation has created what some describe as a forced equilibrium, where neither bulls nor bears have enough conviction to take control. 

Without a clean breakout above resistance or a confirmed breakdown below support, recent price swings are viewed as short-term liquidity rotations rather than the start of a new cycle. For now, Ethereum remains in a macro stalemate, trading around $2,798 and down about 5% on the week, as the market continues to wait for a decisive signal.

Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!

Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

FAQs

Why is Ethereum’s price falling today?

Ethereum is dropping due to weak liquidity, ETF outflows, and a broader risk-off mood, not because of a fundamental breakdown in the network.

How do Ethereum ETF outflows impact ETH price?

ETF outflows signal institutional de-risking, which adds selling pressure and often amplifies short-term price volatility in Ethereum.

What are the key support levels to watch for Ethereum?

ETH is holding a range between roughly $2,600 and $3,350. A clear break below support or above resistance may set the next trend.

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Economy

Amazon slashes another 16,000 jobs

Economy 2 Mins Read

Amazon said Wednesday it was slashing another 16,000 jobs across the company in an ongoing bid to restructure the sprawling trillion-dollar firm.

‘The reductions we are making today will impact approximately 16,000 roles across Amazon, and we’re again working hard to support everyone whose role is impacted,’ Beth Galetti, Amazon’s senior vice president of people experience and technology, said in a memo to employees.

‘That starts with offering most US-based employees 90 days to look for a new role internally,’ she said. Amazon will ‘continue hiring and investing in strategic areas and functions that are critical to our future.’

Galetti said the cuts would ‘strengthen our organization by reducing layers, increasing ownership, and removing bureaucracy.’

In October, Amazon cut 14,000 jobs primarily at the corporate level. At the time, Galetti cited artificial intelligence as being the “most transformative technology we’ve seen since the internet.”

Amazon has 1.55 million employees worldwide, the company said in a filing last year.

It said Tuesday that it would close some of its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh physical stores, planning to convert some into Whole Foods Market stores.

While AI was not explicitly cited in Wednesday’s note to Amazon workers, the cuts come as workers nationwide brace for the impact of artificial intelligence in a sluggish labor market.

Companies have started citing ‘efficiency’ as they pursue the implementation of AI.

On Monday, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said that his firm’s headcount would be ‘more constrained in 2026’ as the company sees ‘opportunities for efficiency and we try to deploy those.’

On Tuesday, Pinterest said it would cut 15% of its workforce as it pivoted ‘resources to AI-focused roles and teams that drive AI adoption and execution.’

Last year, Microsoft said it was eliminating 9,000 jobs to improve efficiency. Target also cut 1,800 corporate jobs to reduce ‘complexity.’ Instagram and Facebook owner Meta Platforms also reduced its workforce by around 600 jobs as it shifted toward artificial intelligence.

At the same time, hiring nationwide is slowing and inflation remains elevated.

After three months of contraction last year, the U.S. economy added only 56,000 jobs in November and just 50,000 in December. Meanwhile, inflation remains at 2.7%, well above the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Stocks

Nvidia stock flat on Friday but analysts remain strongly bullish

Stocks 3 Mins Read

Nvidia stock was mostly flat in early trading on Friday, consolidating recent gains that have lifted the stock to its highest level since early November.

Shares were down 0.1% at $192.22, after rising 0.5% in the previous session.

The stock has advanced over the past week on a mix of optimism around renewed access to China and encouraging signals from major customers’ earnings, reinforcing confidence in Nvidia’s dominant position in artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Analysts lift target price on Nvidia stock

Wolfe Research raised its price target on Nvidia to $275 from $250, arguing that the company’s shift toward rack-scale AI systems, higher average selling prices and sustained margins will drive earnings well beyond current market expectations.

Wolfe estimates that shipments of Blackwell-based racks reached about 1,000 units per week by the end of calendar 2025 and expects that pace to hold through 2026.

That implies annual shipments of roughly 50,000 to 60,000.

The firm also expects Nvidia’s next-generation Rubin platform to begin ramping in the second half of 2026 without delays, helped by design changes that simplify assembly.

Based on those assumptions, Wolfe forecasts approximately 55,000 Blackwell racks and 20,000 Rubin racks in 2026.

For 2027, it models around 55,000 Rubin racks and 15,000 Rubin Ultra racks.

Over time, Wolfe expects Nvidia to continue shifting its product mix toward rack-scale systems, with slower growth in HGX and other standalone platforms.

Earlier in the week, Morgan Stanley reiterated its Overweight rating and $250 price target on Nvidia, citing increasingly strong market checks across the artificial intelligence ecosystem.

The bank acknowledged that Nvidia’s shares have lagged recently as AI beneficiaries broaden and supply-chain constraints affect much of the semiconductor industry.

However, Morgan Stanley described concerns about potential market-share losses as “overblown.”

It said Nvidia’s upcoming Vera Rubin platform should reinforce its leadership in AI computing and help counter fears around competition.

Morgan Stanley also addressed investor unease around the financing of frontier AI model developers and Nvidia’s exposure to that ecosystem, saying the situation “requires some adjustment,” but does not undermine the long-term opportunity.

OpenAI IPO seen as potential catalyst

Investors are also watching developments around ChatGPT developer OpenAI for clues about sentiment toward the broader AI ecosystem.

OpenAI is preparing for a public listing as soon as the fourth quarter of this year and is pursuing a fundraising round of up to $100 billion at a potential valuation of $830 billion ahead of its IPO, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing people familiar with the matter.

A successful IPO would likely lift sentiment across AI-exposed stocks, including Nvidia.

The post Nvidia stock flat on Friday but analysts remain strongly bullish appeared first on Invezz

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Forex

Trump-Backed USD1 Stablecoin Explodes to $5B in Less Than a Year

Forex 4 Mins Read

The post Trump-Backed USD1 Stablecoin Explodes to $5B in Less Than a Year appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The Trump-linked USD1 stablecoin has surged past a $5 billion market capitalization, quickly cementing its place as the fifth-largest stablecoin globally. In doing so, USD1 has overtaken PayPal’s PYUSD and climbed into the top 25 cryptocurrencies by overall market value, according to CoinMarketCap data. The rapid rise has caught the market’s attention, especially given that the stablecoin has achieved this scale in less than a year.

Donald Trump Jr., co-founder of World Liberty Financial, highlighted the milestone on X, pointing to growing institutional interest and accelerating adoption. The pace of growth has positioned USD1 as one of the fastest-scaling stablecoins the market has seen so far.

Growth Fueled by New Products and Treasury Moves

Behind USD1’s momentum is an aggressive expansion strategy by World Liberty Financial. Earlier this year, the firm unveiled “World Liberty Markets,” a new platform that allows users to borrow digital assets using USD1 as collateral. The platform also supports major stablecoins like USDT and USDC, along with tokenized Bitcoin, broadening its appeal to both retail and institutional users.

At the same time, World Liberty has moved to strengthen USD1’s supply through governance. A recent community vote approved using part of the project’s treasury to expand stablecoin issuance, helping meet growing demand. The firm has also signaled plans to launch real-world asset products backed by USD1, further embedding the stablecoin into on-chain financial infrastructure.

Banking Ambitions Spark Regulatory Debate

USD1’s rapid rise comes alongside a controversial push into traditional finance. Earlier this month, WLTC Holdings LLC, an affiliate of World Liberty Financial, applied with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a national trust bank focused on stablecoin issuance.

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The move immediately drew political scrutiny. Senator Elizabeth Warren urged the OCC to halt its review, citing concerns over the project’s ties to former President Donald Trump. The OCC responded by stating that World Liberty’s application would be evaluated under the same standards as any other filing.

World Liberty co-founder Zach Witkoff has defended the application, arguing that a national trust bank would build on USD1’s rapid growth and provide a stronger regulatory foundation for future expansion.

Security Concerns Add Another Layer

Warren has also raised alarms about USD1’s connection to PancakeSwap, a decentralized exchange where the stablecoin is actively traded. She previously warned the Treasury Department that the platform has been linked to illicit fund flows, questioning whether the partnership could pose national security risks.

World Liberty maintains that its operations remain compliant and that USD1’s growth reflects legitimate market demand rather than political backing.

As USD1 continues its climb, it now sits at the center of both market excitement and regulatory debate. Its rise highlights how quickly politically linked crypto projects can scale, but also how fast they can attract scrutiny as they push deeper into the financial system.

Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!

Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

FAQs

How did USD1 grow so fast compared to other stablecoins?

Its growth was driven by new lending products, treasury-backed issuance expansion, and early institutional interest boosting liquidity.

What regulatory concerns surround USD1 right now?

Lawmakers have questioned its banking ambitions and DeFi exposure, though regulators say it’s being reviewed like any other applicant.

Does USD1 pose risks to users or the crypto market?

Like all stablecoins, risks include regulation and platform exposure, but USD1 claims compliance and demand-driven growth so far.

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Stocks

Why did Microsoft stock crash 11% after earnings despite beating estimates

Stocks 3 Mins Read

Microsoft stock (NASDAQ: MSFT) plunged over 11% on Thursday despite beating Wall Street on revenue and earnings in the second quarter.

The sharp sell-off came despite a record surge in AI capital spending.

But, investors seem more concerned about the modest cloud growth that raised serious questions about timing and returns on its massive infrastructure bet.

The Microsoft stock dropped more than 7% in after-hours trading on Wednesday and fell over 11% as the markets opened on Thursday.

For a company that has beaten earnings five straight quarters, this reaction signals that Wall Street’s appetite for “beats” has fundamentally shifted.

AI CapEx: The bill comes due

The central tension is around Microsoft’s spending of $37.5 billion on capital expenditures in the October-December quarter alone, a staggering 66% year-over-year increase and roughly $3 billion higher than expected.

About two-thirds of that spending went to GPUs and other compute chips for data centers.

In just the first two quarters of fiscal 2026, Microsoft has already invested $72.4 billion in infrastructure, more than Amazon spent annually on capex in most years.

Management framed this as long-term positioning. CEO Satya Nadella told investors:

We are only at the beginning phases of AI diffusion across the enterprise.

CFO Amy Hood emphasized that not all capex flows to Azure, as some funds are internal AI products like Copilot for Microsoft 365, GitHub Copilot, and Copilot Security.

Yet that explanation didn’t ease investor nerves about near-term returns. The real issue: Microsoft is spending massive amounts now on infrastructure it may not fully monetize for months or years.

Azure growth: Barely enough to beat

Here’s where investor disappointment crystallized.

Azure cloud services grew 39% in the quarter, solid by any normal measure, but it only narrowly exceeded the expected 38.8%, a whisper-low margin of comfort.

Management guided Azure to grow 37%-38% next quarter, suggesting deceleration from the current run rate.

For a cloud business that commands premium valuations precisely because of rapid expansion, that’s a red flag.

Morgan Stanley’s Keith Weiss, the research head covering software, made the blunt case:

Capex is growing faster than we expected, and maybe Azure is growing a little bit slower than we expected.

Weiss dropped Microsoft from his “Top Pick” list, a signal that even bullish analysts see the trade-off as problematic.

Goldman Sachs cut its price target to $600 from $655, citing “higher capex without faster Azure acceleration.”​

The new bar: Margin risk

Microsoft crossed $50 billion in quarterly cloud revenue for the first time and boasts a $625 billion backlog of future revenue.

On paper, the business looks pristine, but the market reaction tells you otherwise. Rich valuations become liabilities when growth stalls or investment intensity accelerates.

Investors want to see capex flatlining or declining as new data centers come online, while Azure accelerates.

Instead, they see capex rising alongside merely adequate cloud growth, exactly the opposite signal.

Microsoft has to prove the AI gamble transforms into operating leverage, not just balance sheet depreciation.

The post Why did Microsoft stock crash 11% after earnings despite beating estimates appeared first on Invezz

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Forex

Top Analyst Reveals What’s Next For Bitcoin, XRP and Ethereum

Forex 3 Mins Read

The post Top Analyst Reveals What’s Next For Bitcoin, XRP and Ethereum appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

A top analyst from crypto analytics firm Santiment says the crypto market is going through a quiet but important phase, even as gold and silver steal the spotlight.

Brian, an analyst at Santiment, explained that Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP are not collapsing. Instead, they are being ignored while money flows into precious metals due to global uncertainty.

Bitcoin Sentiment Turns Negative, But Not Dangerous

Over the past week, Bitcoin-related discussions jumped by 47%, but not for positive reasons. Many traders have been calling Bitcoin a “dead asset” simply because it has failed to keep up with gold and silver.

Brian pushed back on that idea. Bitcoin is down just 10–12% over the past year, which is normal in crypto terms and can be recovered quickly. The negative chatter is mainly driven by frustration, not panic.

At the time of analysis, Bitcoin was trading around $87,500, after briefly moving above $90,000 earlier in January. Social sentiment has cooled since then, but there is no major fear in the market yet.

Gold and Silver Are Pulling Attention Away From Crypto

Brian pointed out that gold and silver have become the center of attention, especially silver, which has surged sharply in recent weeks. This has pulled discussion and capital away from Bitcoin.

He compared the situation to crypto market cycles, where money often rotates from Bitcoin to altcoins. Right now, that rotation is happening across asset classes, not just within crypto.

Gold’s strong rally is also acting as a fear indicator, reflecting concerns about geopolitics, tariffs, and broader global uncertainty. Large institutions and central banks are buying gold, which explains the strong price action.

Why This Could Actually Be Bullish for Bitcoin

According to Brian, the widening gap between Bitcoin and gold could be setting up a strong future move for Bitcoin.

As retail investors move away from crypto, long-term holders and large players are quietly accumulating coins. He noted that major buyers have been increasing their holdings during this period of low excitement.

“If fear increases and Bitcoin drops fast toward $80,000, that could create a powerful setup for a sharp rebound,” he explained. A quick drop matters more than a slow grind lower, as it can trigger stronger buying signals.

Ethereum Follows Bitcoin’s Lead

Ethereum is showing a very similar pattern to Bitcoin. It is down slightly more in recent weeks, but sentiment remains neutral.

Brian said Ethereum is currently below its “neutral” valuation level, which is generally a positive sign. However, there is not enough data yet to say Ethereum is clearly a better buy than Bitcoin right now.

XRP Shows Bullish Signs, But That’s a Risk Short Term

XRP stands out slightly. While its price is down over 21% from recent highs, long-term valuation metrics suggest it is in a stronger buy zone compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum.

However, sentiment around XRP has been more optimistic, with sudden bullish spikes linked to short-lived news events. Brian warned that too much optimism can limit short-term upside.

“In the near term, XRP has more FOMO than Bitcoin and Ethereum, which usually isn’t ideal,” he said. Long term, though, XRP’s outlook remains solid based on valuation data.

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Stocks

Apple Q1 earnings preview: Wedbush continues to see AAPL as ‘top pick’

Stocks 3 Mins Read

Wedbush Securities’ senior analyst Dan Ives recommends sticking with Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) ahead of its Q1 earnings on January 29th.

The tech titan is broadly expected to post a nearly 11% increase in revenue to $138.47 billion – its largest year-on-year growth since 2022 – on the back of strong iPhone 17 demand.

AAPL’s earnings are seen printing at a record $2.67 on a per-share basis as well in the first quarter.

Ahead of the release, Apple stock is trading at about twice its price in April of 2025.

Why Apple stock is worth buying ahead of Q1 earnings

Dan Ives believes Apple Inc will “dive into the deep end of the pool” with its artificial intelligence (AI) strategic roadmap in 2026.

The iPhone maker is expected to announce a formal partnership with Alphabet to integrate Gemini directly into its ecosystem this year, which Ives believes will prove a game-changer for its AI roadmap

Additionally, a major conversational overhaul of Siri codenamed “Campos” may roll-out in spring, potentially turning the assistant into a sophisticated chatbot powered by high-end LLMs.

This, the Wedbush analyst wrote, could further boost demand for the iPhone and lift AAPL stock price over the next 12 months.

What else could drive AAPL shares higher in 2026

Ives remains bullish on Apple shares ahead of Q1 earnings, also because the unit demand for iPhone is being underestimated – particularly in China, where sales have seen a resurgence.

The multinational may also launch a foldable iPhone later this year to boost average selling prices (ASPs), he told clients in a research note today.

According to the Wedbush Securities analyst, despite rumors of a transition, Tim Cook will remain the chief executive through at least the end of 2027 to navigate this critical AI transition.

All in all, he believes AAPL could climb to $350 by the end of 2026 – indicating potential upside of well over 35% from current levels.

Where options data suggests Apple Inc is headed next

AAPL shares remain attractive as an AI play also because they’re trading at a more “compelling” price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple compared to some of the pure-play names like Nvidia.

At roughly 30x forward earnings, it’s over 30% cheaper to own than NVDA in 2026.

Despite the recent pullback, the iPhone maker remains handily above its 200-day MA, indicating the broader uptrend remains intact.

What’s also worth mentioning is that options traders believe Apple will push nearly “3.5%” higher to $265 after the earnings release on January 29.

In fact, longer-term derivatives contracts expiring mid-April suggest the Nasdaq-listed firm could be trading at nearly $280 within the next three months, according to data from Barchart.

And Wall Street seem to agree with the options traders’ optimism on Apple Inc as well, given the consensus rating on the Cupertino-headquartered company sits at “moderate buy” at the time of writing.

The post Apple Q1 earnings preview: Wedbush continues to see AAPL as ‘top pick’ appeared first on Invezz

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Forex

Why Is BTC Price Lagging While Gold and Silver Surge?

Forex 4 Mins Read

The post Why Is BTC Price Lagging While Gold and Silver Surge? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The BTC price USD trades within a subdued range shows its hard struggle to regain its momentum back, clearly reflecting a broader shift in global risk appetite. Bitcoin still remains structurally intact in longterm, but capital is aggressively flowing into precious metals that are strongly responsible for delaying upside catalysts for BTC price despite clear signs of long-term accumulation.

Liquidity Rotation Explains Why BTC Price Is Lagging

At present, macro liquidity dynamics offer a clearer explanation for Bitcoin’s underperformance than technical weakness. Some market observers highlight that strong Chinese liquidity historically favors GOLD, while periods of expanding U.S. liquidity tend to support BTC crypto. Current conditions, however, continue to tilt toward defensive capital allocation.

Asgeopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty persist, investors are in total risk-off sentiment and avoiding the worst by prioritizing capital preservation. That’s what makes Gold and SILVER strongly favourable, as they are long viewed as traditional stores of value and as a result it has naturally attracted large inflows. Central banks and institutional players have also increased exposure to precious metals, pushing prices toward record levels while risk assets remain sidelined.

Gold and Silver Lead During Defensive Market Phases

In environments dominated by caution, capital rotation typically favors assets perceived as stable and non-correlated. Although Bitcoin often carries the “digital gold” narrative, the market still treats it largely as a risk asset, similar to equities. As a result, shortterm BTC price forecast narratives remain constrained during risk-off cycles.

Historically, precious metals tend to absorb liquidity first when fear spikes. Only after volatility subsides does capital rotate back into higher-beta assets like Bitcoin. That pattern appears intact. For now, the strength in XAU/USD and XAG/USD has delayed meaningful upside for the BTC price chart.

Silver’s Extreme Volatility Highlights Capital Movement

Recent price action in SILVER has underscored the scale of liquidity currently bypassing crypto markets. According to market data, Silver swung nearly $2 trillion in market capitalization within just 24 hours.

Between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM ET, SILVER added approximately $500 billion in market value. That was followed by a $950 billion drawdown by 4:30 PM ET, before rebounding with another $500 billion inflow later in the session.

Such volatility highlights how capital is rapidly rotating within precious metals rather than flowing into BTC crypto during the current defensive phase.

BTC Price Structure Remains Supported by Accumulation

Despite the lagging BTC price USD, on-chain supply data suggests selling pressure remains limited. Wallets holding between 1,000 and 100,000 BTC continue to accumulate at notable levels. Interestingly, even the smallest holders addresses holding 0 to 1 BTC are adding exposure, reinforcing a broader accumulation trend.

Meanwhile, addresses holding 1 to 1,000 BTC appear to be the primary sellers. However, their distribution is being absorbed by both retail participants and larger holders. This pattern often appears during consolidation phases, when price underperforms fundamentals.

From an analytical standpoint, this supply behavior indicates that once capital rotation begins away from precious metals, BTC price may respond rapidly as sidelined demand re-enters the market.

Capital Rotation May Define the Next BTC Price Phase

That said, continued strength in GOLD and SILVER could still pressure BTC price prediction narrative in the near term. If precious metals extend higher, Bitcoin may remain range-bound or experience modest downside without signaling structural weakness.

However, elevated metal prices also increase vulnerability to profit-taking. When that occurs, historical rotation patterns suggest capital tends to migrate toward assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other alt’s. With institutional participation and government-linked accumulation still active, downside risk remains comparatively limited even during consolidation.

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