Intel Plunges 17% as CEO Lip-Bu Tan Flags Manufacturing Woes and Weak Outlook

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Intel’s stock fell as much as 17.5% after CEO Lip-Bu Tan issued a poor forecast and cautioned that the chipmaker was having manufacturing issues.

Revenue and earnings forecasts for the first quarter were significantly below Wall Street expectations. Additionally, Tan’s statement during a conference call with analysts that it would require “time and resolve” to turn around the business caused the shares to drop.

Investors who were hoping for a greater boost from new products are disappointed by production issues. “We are on a multi-year journey,” the CEO declared. Low manufacturing yields, or the proportion of usable chips that leave its factories, are a problem for Intel, the biggest producer of personal computer processors. This has made fulfilling orders more difficult. This is yet another setback for the once-dominant semiconductor company, which has been working for years to recover from market share losses and regain its technological advantage.

Tan stated in an interview that the company is making efforts to address its manufacturing issues and that demand is “quite strong.” However, he noted that Intel depleted a large portion of its stock during the fourth quarter. Tan declared, “Our production, manufacturing, and yield are not up to my standards.”

Chief Financial Officer Dave Zinsner stated during the conference call with analysts that the company won’t have more supply until the end of the first quarter, especially of profitable server computer chips. He clarified that it will take several months to produce more products because Intel has depleted its inventory.

According to Zinsner, supply will rise every quarter this year. In contrast to Intel’s recent attempts to reduce its budget, spending on new plants and equipment in 2026 will be comparable to that of the previous year. However, he stated that any increase in output from new equipment won’t occur until 2027.

Another difficulty, according to Zinsner, is that even though there is a strong market for server chips, the company cannot move production too quickly in that direction without endangering its PC clients.

According to Tan, there is also worry that rising memory chip costs will result in more costly laptops and decreased demand. Intel had been enjoying a surge of enthusiasm from Wall Street. In recent months, investors have poured money into the stock, wagering that new products would strengthen finances. Additionally, Nvidia Corp. and the US government made prominent investments in Intel. and SoftBank Group Corp.

XRP Bridges the Old and New: SWIFT Ties Fuel 2026 Optimism

Posted on January 24, 2026January 24, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Crypto Sensei” pieced together several developments that, when considered collectively, depict a far more permissive environment for XRP, tokenization, and bank-led crypto services than many investors may be aware.

Without clear regulations, “the benefits do not outweigh the costs” for institutions that might otherwise use volatile cryptocurrency assets for settlement, according to Sensei, who emphasizes that the problem is not technology but rather bank risk appetite.

He saw this as structural pressure rather than a “crypto roadmap,” since ISO-native payment systems like RippleNet will be in a better position once legacy formats and paper checks are phased out.

He reiterates a point that is frequently overlooked in online discussions: payment systems, not tokens themselves, are subject to ISO compliance.
A recent clip of Fed Chair Jerome Powell declaring that US banks are “perfectly able to serve crypto customers” as long as operations are safe, sound, and compliant is heavily referenced in the video.

According to Sensei, the Fed, FDIC, and OCC replaced their earlier, more stringent joint crypto statements with principles-based guidance in 2025. Sensei contends that instead of developing intricate crypto rails internally, banks are more likely to “white-label” infrastructure from companies like Ripple, Circle, Fireblocks, or Coinbase.

He believed that a sizable portion of institutional traffic could be discreetly routed through XRP-enabled systems without ever being advertised by brands.

Silver’s Explosive Surge: Why It’s Outrunning Gold by a Mile in 2026

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Gold experienced a sharp increase as central banks and investors sought out safe-haven assets because of the unconventional economic policies of the US Trump administration.

Silver is taking center stage. Silver’s price surged above $100 per troy ounce, more than tripling its value a year earlier and dwarfing even gold’s meteoric rise of over 80% due to a collision between limited supply and surging investor demand.

Demand for both precious metals has increased as investors look to protect themselves from inflation, currency depreciation, and political unrest.

However, silver has numerous qualities that make it a useful component in a wide range of industrial applications, unlike gold.

The profitability of manufacturers who use it could be negatively impacted by persistently high prices, which could also encourage efforts to replace silver components with other metals.

Silver is an electrical conductor utilized in batteries, electric cars, circuit boards, and switches.

In addition to being a vital component of solar panels, silver paste is also utilized in medical device coatings. Silver is still a common component of coins and jewelry, much like gold.

extensive industrial bases because of their sizable populations, and the significant role that silver jewelry continues to play as a store of value passed down through the generations, China and India continue to be the world’s largest buyers of silver.

Governments and mints also use large quantities of silver to make bullion coins and other goods. Its price fluctuates more sharply during precious metal rallies, and as a tradable asset, it is far less expensive per ounce than gold, making it more accessible to retail investors.

Silver’s price fluctuates more violently, but it frequently moves in tandem with gold. The valuation difference between the two metals was pushed to the limit by a spike in gold prices in the first few months of the year.

Silver Breaks $100 Barrier as Global Chaos Drives Safe-Haven Surge

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Silver’s price surpassed $100 per ounce, continuing a scorching rally fueled by frenzied buying in retail markets from Shanghai to New York and rising demand for haven assets.

Spot silver increased by 6. 6.9 percent to $ 102. 87 an ounce on Friday after prices more than doubled in 2025, bringing gains this year to over 40 percent.

Gold also reached a new high, approaching $ 5, 000 per ounce. During the first year of US President Donald Trump’s second term, investor demand for precious metals grew as trade, geopolitics, and monetary policy became more uncertain.

A historic short squeeze occurred in London in October due to a rush to ship silver to New York amid fears that the US might impose tariffs. A rift between Washington and European allies drove silver’s advance this week, while recent efforts to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict have not yet succeeded.

Meanwhile, there has been a five- year shortage of silver in the global market. Retail purchases surged as prices rose. Additionally, Chinese investors poured money into silver as an inexpensive alternative to gold, while US dealers experienced a frenzy.

Citigroup Inc. upgraded its short- term forecast to $100 per ounce and predicted that gold might reach $ 5, 000 per ounce. Following Trump’s announcement that he had completed interviews for the next Federal Reserve chair, reigniting concerns about the central bank’s independence, precious metals gained further support. The so- called debasement trade, in which investors shift away from sovereign bonds and currencies toward alternative havens like gold, gained momentum amid Trump’s renewed attacks on the Fed, military intervention in Venezuela, and threats to annex Greenland.

This year, bullion has risen by 15%, building on last year’s best annual performance in nearly 40 years. Despite the US’s January decision to delay imposing import tariffs on essential minerals, silver continued to rise.

While Trump did not rule out tariffs, he stated that negotiations would involve bilateral agreements to ensure adequate supplies and floating price floors. Silver plays an important industrial role alongside its value as a financial asset. The solar industry remains one of its main consumers

Intel Shares Plunge 14% as CEO Tan Warns of Manufacturing Woes and Weak Forecast

Posted on January 23, 2026January 23, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Intel’s stock fell as much as 14% after CEO Lip-Bu Tan issued a poor forecast and cautioned that the chipmaker was having manufacturing issues.

Gold Surges Toward $5,000 as Weak Dollar Fuels Record Rally

Posted on January 23, 2026January 23, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Foreign investors preferred non-US assets with unpredictable policy and geopolitical risks, which caused the dollar to hold its losses.

Additionally, precious metals reached new all-time highs. China’s central bank set the yuan’s daily reference rate higher than the closely watched 7-per-dollar level, drawing attention to currencies. The dollar held its losses after its biggest decline in a month.

Gains in precious metals fueled by the weak dollar; gold reached a record price of over $4,965 per ounce. The price of an ounce of silver was close to $100. Due to their more appealing valuations and more promising growth prospects, the moves suggested a gradual unwinding of dollar exposure in favor of regional stocks.

The change occurs in the context of growing policy uncertainty, including threats to the independence of the Federal Reserve and rekindled tariff worries related to US-European tensions.

There are increasing indications that investors are withdrawing from US assets. The dollar is weakening as investors pour money into emerging-market funds at a record rate in anticipation of a rotation away from US assets. Additionally, India’s holdings of US Treasuries have dropped to a five-year low as the country works to diversify its reserves and support its currency. This is part of a larger trend by some major economies to withdraw from the world’s largest bond market.

Emerging-market assets have generally increased amid growing risk appetite. Asia also benefits from lower valuations and robust economic growth.

The S&P 500 Index has advanced by 1% so far this year, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index has increased by 5.5%. Despite this, the Asian gauge is currently trading at a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 15 times, while the US benchmark is trading at roughly 22 times.

In the meantime, the BOJ kept its benchmark rate and released higher inflation forecasts, which leave room for its next hike to occur sooner than anticipated.

Silver Surge Crowns Hindustan Zinc India’s Top Metals Giant

Posted on January 23, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Hindustan Zinc Ltd. has benefited from silver’s rally. to surpass some of its biggest competitors, including parent Vedanta Ltd., and become the largest metals company in India by market capitalization. One of the nation’s largest manufacturers of white metal, the company’s stock increased more than 6% on Friday, surpassing 15% in gains so far this year. The company’s market value increased to over $32 billion, marginally surpassing that of leading competitor JSW Steel Ltd.

Gold and silver reached all-time highs as concerns about a damaging trade war between the US and Europe grew, following President Donald Trump’s increasing push to annex Greenland. As the dollar was affected by Trump’s aggression and demand for safe havens increased, spot gold was trading near $4,670 per ounce, while silver rose by as much as 4.4%.

The United States will impose tariffs on eight European nations that oppose the plan to acquire Greenland, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In February, the 10% levy will take effect. 1 and rose to 25% in June.

European leaders will meet urgently in the coming days to discuss possible countermeasures. Member states are debating a variety of options for how to respond, including retaliatory levies on US goods valued at €93 billion ($108 billion), according to people familiar with the discussions.

The EU can respond to coercive trade measures in several ways thanks to the ACI, the bloc’s most potent retaliation tool. According to Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo Markets in Singapore, the Greenland-inspired tensions are distinct from the Liberation Day tariffs of the previous year because they “point to a deeper geopolitical fault line.” Referring to NATO, she stated, “Using tariff threats inside the alliance is a kind of trust shock that can leave a stickier risk premium.”

Precious metals have risen sharply this year after the US detained Venezuela’s leader in 2025 and then escalated its threats to seize Greenland. Furthermore, the Trump administration has stepped up its criticism of the Federal Reserve, casting doubt on its independence and promoting the debasement trade, in which investors avoid government bonds and currencies because they are concerned about the amount of debt.

$5 Billion Bombshell: Trump Sues Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan for Post-Jan. 6 Debanking

Posted on January 23, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

JPMorgan Chase & Co. was sued by President Donald Trump and its CEO, Jamie Dimon, for at least $5 billion over claims that the bank stopped providing banking services to him and his companies for political reasons.

The bank faces accusations of trade libel and violating the implied covenant of good faith, as outlined in a complaint filed on Thursday. It also alleges that Dimon violated Florida’s laws against deceptive trade practices. JPMorgan responded by stating that it does not terminate accounts based on political or religious beliefs.

Trump has frequently targeted JPMorgan in his efforts to combat what he sees as banks refusing to offer financial services to clients for ideological reasons, especially after JPMorgan closed accounts for Trump and his companies about seven weeks after the January 6 assault by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol. At that time, Trump was no longer in office and had low political standing.

According to the complaint filed in Miami-Dade County court, JPMorgan, the largest U.S. bank, informed the plaintiffs that it was closing their accounts “without warning or provocation,” causing significant financial and reputational damage.

Since regaining power last year, Trump has sought revenge against alleged political adversaries. His targets include law firms, colleges, businesses, media outlets, Democratic officials, and others who oppose his ideology.

The complaint claims the bank was motivated by its “woke” belief that it needed to distance itself from Trump and his conservative views. JPMorgan Chase essentially removed the plaintiffs’ accounts because it believed the current political climate supported such actions. JPMorgan states that the lawsuit has no merit.

The bank, based in New York, stated, “We do close accounts because they create legal or regulatory risk for the company.” It added, “We hate having to do this, but regulations and expectations often compel us to do so. We support efforts to prevent the banking industry from becoming a tool for political agendas, and we have been urging both this and previous administrations to change the laws and policies that have put us in this situation.”

In November, the bank disclosed that it is undergoing reviews, investigations, and legal actions related to the Trump administration’s campaign against “debanking.” Additionally, Capital One Financial Corp. has already been sued by the Trump Organization over similar accusations.

China’s ‘Auntie Army’ Fuels Silver Rush—Lines Form in Shenzhen as Supplies Vanish

Posted on January 23, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Banks and refiners are rushing to meet the unprecedented demand from retail investors amid silver’s dizzying rally, as evidenced by Chinese aunts waiting in line at Shenzhen markets, Turkish refineries running out of stock, and a Korea Mint offer that sold out in an hour.

The white metal has taken it up a notch in 2026 as the Trump administration ushers in a new era of imperialism and attacks on the Federal Reserve, jumping by about a third in a few weeks after surging nearly 150 percent last year. The consumer craze for silver coins and bars began in China, but as prices continue to break records, it is spreading.

Firat Sekerci, a bullion dealer in Dubai, stated, “It’s the highest demand I’ve ever seen.” For the past 10 days, the majority of refineries in Turkey have been out of stock of the smaller bars, 10 and 100 ounces. “Turkish retail investors are now willing to pay up to $9 more per ounce than the global benchmark price

This is causing international banks to prioritize shipments to the nation and region, with less metal reaching India and leaving demand there unmet.”

Particularly for a less-liquid metal like silver, a short squeeze in October of last year demonstrated how local supply constraints can quickly spread worldwide.

At the time, London’s liquidity was depleted, and benchmark silver prices reached their highest level since the 1970s due to Indian stockpiling ahead of the Diwali celebration and tariff concerns that kept supplies locked up in the US.

According to Samit Guha, CEO of MMTC-PAMP India Pvt, investor demand for silver is greater in India now than it was in October, with smaller bars and coins being popular. is the biggest precious metals refiner in the nation. Although the company’s imports of silver dore more than doubled from October to December of last year, it is still having difficulties.

XRP Poised to Bridge Worlds: SWIFT Eyes Crypto Integration Soon

Posted on January 22, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Gottfried Leibbrandt, a former CEO of Swift, made the headline claim when he recently stated that once regulatory volatility and legal uncertainty subside, Swift could integrate “native currencies like XRP.” Without clear regulations, “the benefits do not outweigh the costs” for institutions that might otherwise use volatile cryptocurrency assets for settlement, according to Sensei, who emphasizes that the problem is not technology but rather bank risk appetite.

He believed that a sizable portion of institutional traffic could be discreetly routed through XRP-enabled systems without ever being advertised by brands.