Author: GT

(Bloomberg) — Michael Saylor’s Strategy took advantage of the large price swings in the company’s common shares last week to purchase $285.8 million more of Bitcoin (BTC-USD). Most Read from Bloomberg While the stock fluctuated from losses of as much as 11% to gains of around 25% during the week, the former MicroStrategy Inc. said it sold shares through its at-the-market program to finance the crypto purchases. Hedge funds have been driving some of the demand for the company’s convertible debt, as they seek out Strategy for trades that incorporate buying the bonds and selling the shares short, essentially betting…

This combination of pictures created on April 09, 2025 shows US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff after a meeting with Russian officials at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, 2025 (L); and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaking to AFP during an interview at the Iranian consulate in Jeddah on March 7, 2025.Evelyn Hockstein | Amer Hilabi | AFP | Getty ImagesDUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Talks between U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration and Iran’s government on a potential renewed nuclear agreement began on a positive note over the weekend, representatives of both countries said, despite enduring…

A handful of engineers who worked at Lucid Motors and on Apple’s electric car project have launched a new startup that puts a fresh spin on electric hub motors. The new startup, called Conifer, has developed its motor to be free of rare earth elements by using more abundant ferrite magnets, which the company says not only reduces cost but limits supply chain risk. Conifer also says its proprietary stator offers higher efficiency and power than comparable options while being half the size.The company’s timing — a new volatile era of tariffs and a trade war with China — is…

Pumpjacks are seen in oilfields along Highway 33, known as the Petroleum Highway, west of Buttonwillow, Kern County, California on April 9, 2025. Frederic J. Brown | Afp | Getty ImagesU.S. crude oil rose more than 1% Monday after President Donald Trump exempted smartphones, computers and other tech devices from his steep tariffs on goods imported from China.U.S. crude oil was up 90 cents, or 1.46%, to $62.40 per barrel, while global benchmark Brent rose 88 cents, or 1.36%, to $65.64 per barrel.Trump has slapped 145% tariffs on China, while hitting pause on duties for most other countries for the next…

LONDON (AP) — Sony said it will raise prices starting Monday for some PlayStation 5 video game consoles in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, citing global economic turmoil. The company unveiled the price hikes of at least 10%, saying it was a “tough decision” amid the “backdrop of a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates.” The recommended retail price for a PS5 Digital Edition will go up to 499 euros ($570) in Europe, according to a post Sunday on the official PlayStation blog. That’s up from 449 euros in a previously announced pricing update in 2022.…

Metaplanet Inc. (3350) added 319 bitcoin (BTC) to its treasury. The Japanese firm made its latest buy at an average price $83,147) per coin. This latest purchase brings the company’s total bitcoin holdings to 4,525 BTC, with an aggregate cost basis of $408.1 million and an average acquisition price of $90,194. This move is part of Metaplanet’s broader bitcoin treasury operations strategy, launched in December 2024, aimed at using digital assets to enhance shareholder value. The company evaluates its performance through BTC Yield, a measure of bitcoin holding growth relative to share outstanding. For Q1 2025, its BTC yield reached…

Generative AI is reshaping global competition and geopolitics, presenting challenges and opportunities for nations and businesses alike. Senior figures from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and its tech division, BCG X, discussed the intricate dynamics of the global AI race, the dominance of superpowers like the US and China, the role of emerging “middle powers,” and the implications for multinational corporations. AI investments expose businesses to increasingly tense geopolitics Sylvain Duranton, Global Leader at BCG X, noted the significant geopolitical risk companies face: “For large companies, close to half of them, 44%, have teams around the world, not just in one…

Meta Platforms Inc. faces a historic antitrust trial beginning Monday that could force the tech giant to break off Instagram and WhatsApp, startups it bought more than a decade ago that have since grown into social media powerhouses. The looming antitrust trial will be the first big test of President Donald Trump’s Federal Trade Commission’s ability to challenge Big Tech. The lawsuit was filed against Meta — then called Facebook — in 2020, during Trump’s first term. It claims the company bought Instagram and WhatsApp to squash competition and establish an illegal monopoly in the social media market. Meta, the…

Bullish bitcoin (BTC) options strategies are becoming popular again, stabilizing a crucial sentiment indicator that indicated panic early last week. BTC has bounced to over $84,000 since probing lows under $75,000 last week. The recovery comes as the bond market chaos supposedly forced President Donald Trump to capitulate on tariffs just days after announcing sweeping import levies on several nations, including China. Late Friday, The Trump administration issued new guidelines, sparing key tech products like smartphones from his 125% China tariff and baseline 10% global levy. Hours later, Trump refuted the news, suggesting no relief on tariffs. Still, the price…

Demand for solar energy in power-starved Nigeria has soared in the last decade thanks to worsening grid reliability and rising fuel costs. That’s drawn investor interest to Arnergy, a cleantech startup meeting that need. The company just raised a $15 million Series B extension (on top of a $3 million B1 round last year), bringing its total for the round to $18 million. That surge in demand for solar systems follows significant policy shifts, most notably the removal of Nigeria’s decades-old fuel subsidy in May 2023 (the government’s decision—long debated—ended its practice of covering the gap between global and local…