The Daily Editor

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled Thursday that “substantial support” for farmers would be announced next week, particularly for those growing soybeans, as they struggle with fallout from President Donald Trump’s trade conflicts.

Worries have been growing for weeks of a major hit to farmers, a key part of Trump’s political base,

 » Read more about: US farmers hit by trade war to get 'substantial' aid: Treasury chief  »

U.S. stock futures rose Friday morning as renewed optimism in AI stocks outweighed concerns about the ongoing government shutdown. Futures for the major indices are up approximately as follows: Nasdaq 100 futures by 0.27-0.3%, S&P 500 futures by 0.25-0.3%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures by about 0.2-0.22% early in the trading session.

 » Read more about: U.S. stock futures jump today as AI optimism outshines 3-day government shutdown – Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq all in green on Tesla, Nvidia, AMD rally  »

 » Read more about: Gold stocks trounce AI-driven chip rally with 135% gain in 2025  »

The debasement trade, also known as the sound money or hard asset trade, is well and truly alive. Bitcoin (BTC), at more than $120,000, sits just a stone’s throw from its all-time high of $124,000. Meanwhile, gold has almost gained 50% year-to-date, setting fresh record highs almost daily and now trading just below $3,900.

 » Read more about: 'Debaser Trade' in Full Force as Bitcoin and Gold ETFs Rank in Top 10 for Volume  »

• Whales have added $1.5B in XRP, signalling strong institutional demand.
• Seven XRP ETFs await the SEC’s ruling starting October 18, lifting approval hopes.
• XRP has held the $3 support as rate cuts and treasuries fuel a bullish outlook.

XRP has entered October with renewed momentum,

 » Read more about: XRP price outlook: why whales, ETFs, and rate cuts could send XRP soaring  »

Stock futures pointed slightly higher Friday after major indexes set new closing records, as investors continue to downplay the U.S. government shutdown, now in its third day.

Yesterday, stock indexes ended higher for a fifth straight session, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq, blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average,

 » Read more about: Dow Jones Today: Stock Futures Point Higher After Indexes Close at Records; Chip Shares Lead Charge as Investors Continue to Shake Off Govt. Shutdown  »

 » Read more about: Nvidia's Stock Is Up Over 1,100% Since 2023. Is It Too Late to Buy?  »

The Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) has received investment commitments of Rs 1.15 lakh crore, nearly double its target of Rs 59,350 crore, the IT Ministry announced.

“Against a production target of Rs 4,56,500 crore, we have received production estimates more than Rs 10,34,000 crore” over the scheme’s six-year tenure, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

 » Read more about: India’s Electronics Push: Firms Pledge Rs 1.15 Lakh Crore Investments Under ECM Scheme, Nearly Twice The Target  »

Just because the stock market keeps going up, you might feel it’s a good idea to protect your 401(k) and other market investments on the very slim chance that it might not continue to do so forever. Editor Peter Green sat down with Tony Roth, Chief Investment Officer at Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors.

 » Read more about: Big Business This Week: Protecting your 401(k) from market risks  »

Understanding alternative investments

Alternative investments are assets outside of the traditional portfolio like cash, bonds, and stocks. They include private equity, real estate, hedge funds, commodities, gold, collectibles, cryptocurrencies, and more. These assets are likely to behave differently than traditional investments,

 » Read more about: Beyond stocks and bonds: Exploring alternative investments to diversify in 2025  »