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Key Points: – Microsoft surpasses $4 trillion in market cap after strong earnings and $75B Azure revenue. – Azure’s 34% growth highlights Microsoft’s central role in cloud and AI. – Tech rally continues as Nvidia, Meta, and Microsoft drive markets to new highs.

Microsoft has officially joined Nvidia in the exclusive $4 trillion market cap club, marking a historic milestone for the software giant and underlining the tech sector’s relentless momentum in 2025. Shares surged over 5% following a robust earnings report, which included impressive revenue growth and a major new disclosure: Azure, Microsoft’s cloud platform, generated more than $75 billion in annual revenue—a 34% jump year-over-year.

This leap not only reflects the growing dominance of cloud computing, but also Microsoft’s deepening foothold in artificial intelligence. Azure has become the backbone for countless AI tools and large language models developed by Microsoft, OpenAI, and other industry titans. It’s the first time Microsoft has reported Azure’s revenue in dollar terms, a move that underscores confidence in its scale and transparency.

Microsoft now joins Nvidia, which crossed the $4 trillion threshold earlier this month, as the top two performers on the tech leaderboard. The rise of both companies has displaced Apple from its long-standing top spot. Apple currently holds a market cap around $3.2 trillion, weighed down by concerns that it’s lagging in AI innovation—a stark contrast to the explosive growth seen at Microsoft and Nvidia.

The earnings report revealed Microsoft’s fastest revenue growth in over three years, up 18%, fueled largely by AI-integrated services across its ecosystem—from Azure to Copilot. This momentum helped push the Nasdaq and S&P 500 to fresh record highs, with Microsoft and Meta among the day’s biggest gainers.

Investor confidence in Microsoft is also riding high as the broader AI boom reshapes the market. Microsoft’s strategic investments and partnerships in generative AI, including its alliance with OpenAI, continue to pay dividends. The company is widely seen as a foundational player in AI infrastructure, not just through its software, but via the massive cloud computing power needed to support this new wave of intelligence-driven applications.

Meanwhile, Nvidia remains the biggest hardware beneficiary of the AI surge. Its GPUs power the vast majority of AI models and cloud-based inference engines, including those used by Microsoft. The synergy between the two companies has made them central pillars of this new technological era, where compute power and software intelligence go hand-in-hand.

The broader tech rally was also fueled by Meta, which saw its shares jump over 11% on strong earnings and guidance. The “Magnificent Seven” mega-cap tech firms continue to dominate market headlines and investor portfolios, with Microsoft and Nvidia at the forefront of this reshaping.

Looking ahead, Microsoft’s strong positioning in AI, continued cloud growth, and investor optimism could drive further gains. With tech still attracting the bulk of growth capital, and AI becoming more embedded in daily life and business, Microsoft’s $4 trillion valuation may just be the beginning of a new market era.

Wall Street’s confidence is building again as key analysts revise their year-end forecasts sharply upward, signaling optimism in equity markets. One of the most bullish views yet comes with a new S&P 500 target of 7,100 by the end of 2025—a level that would reflect a third consecutive year of 20%+ gains for the benchmark index. Driving this aggressive projection is fading concern over global trade tensions, recently stabilized by new tariff frameworks between the U.S. and the European Union. The return of corporate earnings strength and improved guidance across industries is further fueling the outlook.

Yet while risk appetite appears to be returning in equities, investor behavior in the commodities space tells a different story. Gold continues to hover above $3,000 per ounce, holding ground well above its average 2024 levels and confirming its role as a key hedge in the current economic climate. A recent Reuters poll of market professionals projects an average price of $3,220 for gold this year, with expectations pushing as high as $4,000 by the end of 2026 if fiscal uncertainty deepens.

The persistent strength in gold suggests investors are hedging more than just interest rate risk. Geopolitical instability, mounting national debt, and global currency diversification strategies—particularly among central banks—are reinforcing gold’s long-term value. Countries like China continue to add to their gold reserves, while confidence in the U.S. dollar as the dominant reserve currency faces renewed scrutiny.

Silver has joined the precious metals rally too, outperforming gold so far in 2025 with gains over 30% and flirting with the $40 mark for the first time in over a decade. Like gold, silver’s surge is being driven by both investor demand and fears surrounding fiscal policy, trade disruption, and central bank behavior. Analysts now project silver could reach an average of $38 per ounce next year, with spot market tightness and ETF inflows providing strong momentum—though some warn of short-term vulnerability if demand slows.

This complex environment raises questions for investors. On one hand, equity markets are being buoyed by stronger-than-expected earnings, renewed consumer activity, and stabilization of global trade policies. On the other, the rush into safe-haven assets like gold and silver—alongside inflationary pressures and ballooning deficits—suggests a current of caution running beneath the surface.

The S&P 500’s rally may reflect optimism about earnings growth and reduced short-term economic friction, but the ongoing strength in precious metals reminds us that deeper, unresolved risks remain. The juxtaposition of record equity prices and record gold prices illustrates a bifurcated sentiment: a market reaching for growth while bracing for the fallout of long-term fiscal imbalances.

As the second half of 2025 unfolds, both the bullish momentum in equities and the elevated levels of gold and silver will be closely watched. Whether this unusual alignment signals resilience or the calm before a shift in sentiment remains to be seen.

President Trump on Friday put the likelihood of a trade agreement with the European Union at “50-50,” casting a shadow over negotiations that had shown signs of momentum in recent weeks. With an August 1 deadline looming, both sides had expressed optimism that a deal could be reached, but Trump’s remarks suggest growing skepticism — or a last-minute negotiating tactic. The European Commission’s president is set to meet Trump this weekend at his golf course in Scotland in what may be a final push to secure an agreement.

Simultaneously, complications are surfacing in a newly announced trade deal with Japan. Just days after Trump unveiled the $550 billion Japanese investment and a baseline 15% tariff on Japanese imports, reports indicate that Tokyo and Washington are already at odds over how profits will be shared. Japan is seeking a structure tied to its sizable capital contribution, while U.S. negotiators insist on retaining as much as 90% of profits, citing regulatory, tax, and infrastructure advantages offered to foreign investors. The discord raises questions about whether this marquee deal can remain intact — or if it’s the first crack in what could become a patchwork of volatile trade relationships.

Trump’s comments come as the administration prepares to issue formal letters to over 200 nations, outlining revised tariff schedules that will reportedly range from 15% to 50% depending on the nature of each bilateral relationship. The President indicated that more punitive tariffs are likely for nations that have either resisted new trade talks or failed to reach favorable terms, singling out Canada as a continued source of frustration. He suggested a 35% tariff could be imposed on Canadian imports not protected under the USMCA agreement, reigniting tensions with one of America’s largest trading partners.

Elsewhere, new details emerged about recent U.S. deals with the Philippines and Indonesia. Both countries will see their exports to the U.S. hit with a 19% tariff, adding to the growing list of nations now operating under a Trump-era trade framework defined by high tariffs and deal-by-deal arrangements. Meanwhile, China remains in the mix, with Trump noting that the two sides now have the “confines of a deal” in place ahead of upcoming talks. Whether those talks produce meaningful outcomes or simply delay further escalation remains to be seen.

Taken together, this flurry of trade activity signals a significant reshaping of global commerce under Trump’s second term. With tariffs now functioning not only as economic tools but also as political levers, the landscape for investors is shifting rapidly. Industries tied to global supply chains — particularly those reliant on imports — could face tighter margins, delayed deliveries, and strategic realignment. On the flip side, the push for domestic manufacturing and reshoring may boost middle-market industrials, infrastructure firms, and logistics providers.

While the tone of Trump’s trade doctrine remains combative, the opportunities for agile investors are growing clearer. As countries jockey for favorable terms and multinationals rethink their sourcing strategies, small and mid-cap companies operating domestically could be among the biggest beneficiaries. Whether these deals hold or fall apart, one thing is certain: the age of blanket trade agreements is giving way to a more fragmented, transactional world economy — and that’s a game middle-market investors should be watching closely.

Key Points: – June home sales dropped 2.7% from May as mortgage rates remained near 7%. – Inventory rose nearly 16% year-over-year, yet prices hit a record $435,300. – High-end homes are driving sales growth while first-time buyers remain sidelined

The U.S. housing market continues to send mixed signals. According to the National Association of Realtors, existing home sales for June fell 2.7% month-over-month to an annualized rate of 3.93 million units, surprising analysts who expected a much smaller decline. But despite softening demand, prices are still climbing — reaching a record-high median of $435,300.

For middle-market investors, this data presents both a challenge and a strategic opportunity.

Mortgage rates are the elephant in the room. At 6.77%, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has hovered near cycle highs since spring, discouraging both first-time buyers and move-up homeowners from entering the market. The result? Stagnant sales volumes and longer time on market — now averaging 27 days versus 22 this time last year.

And yet, home prices continue to rise. June marked the 24th straight month of year-over-year price increases, driven by a long-standing shortage in housing supply and resilient demand at the high end of the market.

The supply situation has improved modestly, with 1.53 million homes on the market — up nearly 16% from a year ago — but remains well below the level needed for a balanced market. With a current supply of just 4.7 months, the market still leans in favor of sellers, particularly in premium segments.

Sales of homes over $1 million rose 14%, while those priced under $100,000 dropped 5%. Homes between $100,000 and $250,000 were up 5%, suggesting some traction in mid-tier affordability brackets, though far from historical norms. First-time buyers accounted for just 30% of sales, well below the typical 40% share, underscoring affordability pressures in a high-rate environment.

So, what does this mean for investors focused on small- and mid-cap real estate opportunities?

It may be time to double down on targeted real estate plays — not just in residential development, but also in rental housing, home improvement suppliers, and regional banks with exposure to housing markets. Companies servicing the higher end of the housing spectrum, or those innovating around affordability, are poised to benefit as buyers adjust expectations and capital flows to where inventory and demand align.

Furthermore, the rise in cash transactions (29% of sales) suggests that liquidity remains strong in certain market segments, and that investors are still finding value — despite rate headwinds.

In a market where fundamentals are diverging, middle market investors should be looking beyond national headlines and focusing on regional trends, builder sentiment, and small-cap housing companies with healthy balance sheets and smart positioning.

While rising prices may be discouraging to homebuyers, they’re a reminder that the housing shortage is far from solved — and the companies working to close that gap could deliver long-term upside.

Key Points: – Opendoor shares surge nearly 95% as retail traders rally behind turnaround potential. – Market buzz fueled by comparisons to Carvana’s 100x rebound. – Rebound renews optimism for small-cap proptech firms navigating post-crisis recovery.

Shares of Opendoor Technologies (Nasdaq: OPEN) have soared nearly 95% in Monday trading, extending a jaw-dropping run that saw the online home-buying platform triple in value last week. The catalyst? A mix of bullish small-cap speculation, retail investor momentum, and echoes of past high-profile recoveries.

The sudden surge began after EMJ Capital’s Eric Jackson revealed his firm had taken a position in Opendoor, citing the potential for a “100-bagger” return — a term used to describe stocks with the potential to return 100 times the original investment. Jackson compared Opendoor’s situation to that of Carvana (CVNA), which went from the brink of collapse in 2023 to becoming one of the market’s biggest comeback stories.

Opendoor, once a darling of the real estate tech boom, had lost nearly 98% of its market cap since peaking at nearly $36 per share in early 2021. It had been teetering on the edge of delisting from the Nasdaq after trading below $1 for over 30 days this year. In a bid to remain listed, the company proposed a reverse stock split in June to artificially lift its share price — but that plan may now be unnecessary.

As of Monday, Opendoor shares had closed above $1 for four consecutive sessions, and were trading above $4 by midday — a potential lifeline to retain its Nasdaq listing and buy time for a true turnaround. This rally, although speculative in nature, brings fresh attention to the broader small-cap property technology (proptech) space.

The momentum gained steam in familiar territory: Reddit’s WallStreetBets community. Traders shared screenshots of their Opendoor positions and praised the stock’s volatility, pushing it deeper into meme stock status. While much of the price action has been driven by speculative enthusiasm, the fundamental hope lies in the company’s expected move into positive EBITDA territory in the coming earnings cycle — which could signal a shift from survival to sustainable growth.

For investors in the small and micro-cap space, Opendoor’s rebound offers a powerful reminder of the volatility — and opportunity — inherent in post-crisis tech sectors. As housing markets stabilize and interest rates gradually ease, companies that can operate leaner and show clear paths to profitability are regaining investor confidence.

This momentum has also put a spotlight on similar small-cap proptech and real estate platforms that are undervalued but show operational potential. While it’s unlikely most will see meme-like surges, Opendoor’s rally highlights a window of opportunity for middle-market investors to identify turnaround plays before institutions catch on.

Whether this rally marks a sustainable turnaround or a speculative detour, one thing is clear: the market is watching, and the appetite for underdog small caps is alive and well.

Research News and Market Data on IPOOF

Jul 16, 2025, 07:00 ET

CALGARY, AB, July 16, 2025 /CNW/ – InPlay Oil Corp. (TSX: IPO) (OTCQX: IPOOF) (“InPlay” or the “Company“) announces that Obsidian Energy Ltd. (“Obsidian“) has provided the Company notice of a non-binding agreement between Obsidian and a third party in respect of the sale of all 9,139,784 common shares (“Common Shares“) in the capital of InPlay currently held by Obsidian (the “Third Party Offer“).

InPlay understands that the proposed price per Common Share under the Third Party Offer is in excess of the closing price of the Common Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of July 15, 2025. The sale of any Common Shares by Obsidian to the third party remains subject to numerous terms and conditions, including, without limitation, execution of a definitive agreement and the approval of the Company pursuant to its investor rights agreement with Obsidian. While negotiations are continuing, there is no assurance that any binding agreement will be entered into in the future or that any transaction will be completed. 

As a result of the Third Party Offer, Obsidian announced today that it will not launch its previously announced exchange offer to purchase up to approximately $10 million of its common shares for consideration consisting of Common Shares.  

InPlay does not intend to issue any further public updates regarding this matter unless the situation warrants or as may be required by applicable securities laws or stock exchange rules.

SOURCE InPlay Oil Corp.

For further information please contact: Doug Bartole, President and Chief Executive Officer, InPlay Oil Corp., Telephone: (587) 955-0632; Kevin Leonard, Vice President, Business & Corporate Development, InPlay Oil Corp., Telephone: (587) 893-6804

Just 24 hours after data showed job openings surging to their highest level since November 2024, the American labor market delivered a jarring reality check. Private sector employment unexpectedly contracted by 33,000 positions in June, according to ADP’s Wednesday report—marking the first monthly decline since March 2023 and painting a starkly different picture of employment dynamics.

The contradiction between Tuesday’s robust job openings data (7.76 million available positions) and Wednesday’s payroll contraction illustrates the complexity of today’s labor market, where demand for workers remains strong but actual hiring has stalled dramatically.

ADP’s report revealed a troubling disconnect between employer intentions and actions. While May data showed companies posting abundant job openings, June hiring patterns suggest businesses are increasingly reluctant to pull the trigger on new hires. The 33,000 job loss significantly missed economist expectations for 100,000 new positions, representing a stunning 133,000-job swing from forecasts.

“Though layoffs continue to be rare, a hesitancy to hire and a reluctance to replace departing workers led to job losses last month,” explained Nela Richardson, ADP’s chief economist. This phenomenon—where companies maintain job postings but delay actual hiring decisions—reflects growing business uncertainty about economic conditions.

The May revision further underscored this trend, with private payroll gains reduced to just 29,000 from an initially reported 37,000, highlighting how even modest job growth has been weaker than initially perceived.

Service Sector Bears the Brunt

The June contraction was concentrated in service industries, with professional and business services shedding 56,000 positions and health and education losing 52,000 jobs. Financial services added to the decline with 14,000 fewer positions. These sectors, which typically drive white-collar employment growth, appear to be exercising extreme caution in their hiring strategies.

However, goods-producing industries provided some offset, adding 32,000 positions across manufacturing and mining operations. This divergence suggests that while consumer-facing and office-based businesses are pulling back, industrial sectors continue to see steady demand.

Geographically, the Midwest and West experienced the steepest declines, losing 24,000 and 20,000 jobs respectively, while the South managed modest growth of 13,000 positions. The Northeast saw minimal contraction of 3,000 roles.

The data revealed a striking pattern based on company size. Large employers with over 500 employees actually expanded payrolls by 30,000 positions, suggesting that well-capitalized companies continue to invest in talent acquisition. Conversely, small businesses with fewer than 20 employees accounted for 29,000 lost positions, indicating that smaller enterprises are bearing the brunt of economic uncertainty.

This divergence reflects different risk tolerances and financial capabilities, with smaller businesses typically more sensitive to economic headwinds and policy uncertainties.

Wage Growth Momentum Fades

Adding to concerns, annual wage growth decelerated for both job stayers and job switchers. Workers remaining in their positions saw pay increases of 4.4%, down from 4.5% in May, while those changing jobs experienced wage growth of 6.8%, declining from 7.0%. This moderation in wage pressures could provide some relief for inflation-conscious Federal Reserve officials but signals weakening worker bargaining power.

The stark contradiction between job openings and actual hiring creates a challenging environment for Federal Reserve policymakers already under pressure from the Trump administration to cut interest rates. While Tuesday’s job opening surge suggested labor market strength, Wednesday’s payroll contraction reinforces concerns about economic momentum.

Financial markets will closely watch Thursday’s official Bureau of Labor Statistics employment report, which economists expect to show 110,000 nonfarm payroll additions and unemployment rising to 4.3%. If the government data confirms ADP’s weak showing, it could significantly strengthen the case for monetary easing.

The divergent signals—strong job demand but weak hiring execution—suggest an economy in transition, where businesses remain optimistic enough to post openings but cautious enough to delay actual hiring decisions. This hesitancy may reflect concerns about tariff impacts, regulatory changes, or broader economic uncertainty.

For investors and policymakers alike, the labor market’s mixed messages underscore the importance of looking beyond headline numbers to understand the underlying dynamics driving employment trends in an increasingly complex economic environment.

AbbVie has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Capstan Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering targeted in vivo cell engineering, in a deal valued at up to $2.1 billion. The acquisition includes Capstan’s lead asset, CPTX2309—an investigational therapy targeting B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases—as well as the company’s proprietary targeted lipid nanoparticle (tLNP) platform for RNA delivery.

This strategic move signals AbbVie’s growing commitment to reshaping the treatment landscape for autoimmune diseases. While AbbVie has long been a major player in immunology with blockbuster therapies like Humira and Rinvoq, the addition of Capstan’s in vivo CAR-T capabilities positions the company at the frontier of a new therapeutic modality.

CPTX2309 is an mRNA-based therapy that delivers an anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) directly into CD8-expressing cytotoxic T cells via Capstan’s tLNP system. Unlike traditional ex vivo CAR-T therapies, which require harvesting and engineering a patient’s cells outside the body before reinfusion, CPTX2309 enables this transformation to happen in vivo. This significantly simplifies the treatment process by eliminating the need for lymphodepletion or complex manufacturing steps—making it potentially more scalable and accessible.

Targeting CD19, a well-validated marker expressed on B cells, CPTX2309 aims to deplete the autoreactive B cells responsible for driving autoimmune diseases such as lupus or multiple sclerosis. The goal is to eliminate the pathogenic immune cells and repopulate the system with naïve, healthy B cells—effectively resetting the immune system and halting disease progression.

AbbVie is not only acquiring a promising clinical candidate but also a platform technology with broad applications. Capstan’s proprietary CellSeeker™ tLNP platform can be adapted to deliver a variety of RNA payloads to specific cell types in vivo, opening possibilities far beyond autoimmune conditions. This could have future implications for oncology, infectious diseases, and more.

As part of the agreement, AbbVie will make a cash payment of up to $2.1 billion at closing, subject to customary regulatory and legal conditions, including the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

This acquisition adds to AbbVie’s expanding immunology pipeline and enhances its positioning in next-generation therapeutic development. By integrating Capstan’s cutting-edge technology, AbbVie aims to develop new approaches that go beyond treating symptoms and instead target the root causes of autoimmune disorders.

The transaction is expected to close later this year. Capstan was advised by Centerview Partners LLC as financial advisor and Cooley LLP as legal counsel. AbbVie did not disclose its legal or advisory team.

This deal reflects a growing industry trend of major pharmaceutical companies investing heavily in advanced RNA delivery platforms and in vivo cell therapies—technologies seen as essential to the next wave of personalized medicine. With this acquisition, AbbVie reaffirms its commitment to driving innovation that transforms the standard of care for patients worldwide.

Take a moment to take a look at more emerging growth biotechnology companies by taking a look at Noble Capital Markets’ analyst Robert LeBoyer’s coverage list.

Semiconductor stocks stumbled Friday after reports surfaced that the U.S. government is considering revoking waivers that currently allow major global chipmakers to use American technology in their Chinese operations.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Commerce Department official Jeffrey Kessler informed executives from Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) earlier this week that the Biden administration is reviewing whether to terminate these exemptions. The waivers had enabled companies to export U.S. chipmaking tools and software to facilities in China, despite existing export controls.

The news triggered a wave of selling across the semiconductor sector. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) dropped around 1%, while individual stocks including Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Marvell Technology fell roughly 1%. TSMC shares declined more than 2% as investors reacted to the potential disruption to its China-based operations.

The Commerce Department’s move signals a possible escalation in the ongoing tech tensions between Washington and Beijing. Although the two nations recently agreed on the framework of a second trade deal during meetings in London, the Biden administration has continued to tighten restrictions on advanced chip technology exports, citing national security concerns.

“These waivers were a key lifeline for chipmakers operating in China,” said Adam Kinley, an analyst at EastWest Securities. “If revoked, companies like TSMC and Samsung could face operational hurdles, reallocation costs, and potentially a sharp drop in revenue tied to China-based production.”

The semiconductor industry has already been navigating growing restrictions. In 2022 and 2023, the U.S. introduced sweeping controls limiting China’s access to advanced AI chips and tools required for high-end semiconductor fabrication. The latest efforts to close loopholes reflect Washington’s concern that Beijing could exploit foreign chip factories operating inside China to circumvent those controls.

The impact of these export curbs is already being felt. Nvidia, a leading AI chipmaker, disclosed last month that U.S. government restrictions on its China-bound H20 chips contributed to an estimated $8 billion hit in sales. CEO Jensen Huang described the China market—once worth $50 billion to U.S. chip companies—as “effectively closed.”

The potential rollback of waivers could further strain U.S.-China trade relations, particularly as China has denounced these restrictions as discriminatory. While the current policy discussions are ongoing and no final decision has been made, the possibility of more sweeping limits has introduced fresh volatility into the sector.

Investors and chipmakers alike will be watching closely for any formal announcements in the coming weeks. A reversal of the waivers would force affected companies to reevaluate supply chains, consider shifting manufacturing operations out of China, and potentially delay production schedules.

In the near term, analysts expect heightened market sensitivity to any government signals or diplomatic developments related to U.S.-China tech policy. As Washington balances national security priorities with global economic interests, the semiconductor industry finds itself once again at the center of geopolitical risk.