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It was a week of downward momentum for the gold price.

The yellow metal neared the US$3,400 per ounce level on Monday (June 23) as investors reacted to the weekend’s escalation in tensions in the Middle East, but sank to just above US$3,300 the next day.

The decline came as US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire. While the ceasefire has not gone entirely smoothly, with Trump expressing displeasure about violations, the news appeared to calm investors.

Gold’s safe-haven appeal took another hit toward the end of the week, when Trump said late on Thursday (June 26) that the US had signed a trade deal with China. Although details remain scarce — China’s commerce ministry confirmed the arrangement, but said little else — the gold price dropped on the news, closing Friday (June 27) at about US$3,274.

It was a different story for other precious metals this week.

Silver enjoyed an uptick, rising as high as US$36.79 per ounce before pulling back to the US$36 level. Whether it can continue breaking higher remains to be seen, but many experts are optimistic.

In fact, Randy Smallwood of Wheaton Precious Metals (TSX:WPM,NYSE:WPM) said that right now he’s perhaps more excited about silver than he is about gold. Here’s how he explained it:

There’s not a lot of new production coming on stream, just because most silver comes as a by-product from lead, zinc and copper mines — more than half of silver. And we’re just not seeing the investment into the base metals space that we need to sustain that production and grow that production.

As excited as I am about gold, I think silver’s got a few more fundamentals behind it that make it a pretty exciting time to be watching silver … silver’s got some catching up to do with respect to what gold’s done over the last few years.’

Watch the full interview with Smallwood for more on silver, as well as gold and platinum.

Speaking of platinum, it was also on the move this week, rising above US$1,400 per ounce.

The move has turned heads — despite a persistent supply deficit, platinum has spent years trading in a fairly tight range, and it hasn’t crossed US$1,400 since 2014.

Recent trends supporting platinum’s move include a shift toward platinum jewelry due to the high cost of gold, as well as larger platinum imports to the US earlier this year when tariff uncertainty was heating up. At the same time, miners have faced challenges.

‘This has led to tight forward market conditions,’ said Jonathan Butler of Mitsubishi (TSE:8058), ‘with a deep backwardation across the curve.’ In his view, these conditions will continue providing support for the precious metal in the coming weeks.

Bullet briefing — Gold repatriation, Rule Symposium

Germany, Italy to repatriate gold?

Germany and Italy are facing calls to bring home gold stored in the US.

According to the Financial Times, politicians and economists in the two countries are pushing for repatriation as a result of global geopolitical uncertainty, as well as concerns about Trump’s potential influence on the Federal Reserve as he continues to criticize Chair Jerome Powell.

‘We are very concerned about Trump tampering with the Federal Reserve Bank’s independence. Our recommendation is to bring the (German and Italian) gold home to ensure European central banks have unlimited control over it at any given point in time’ — Michael Jäger, Taxpayers Association of Europe

The news outlet calculates that German and Italian gold held in the US has a total value of about US$245 billion. Market participants agree that it would be a blow to relations with America if the countries were to bring their gold home at this time.

At least for now they seem unlikely to do so — although Italy’s central bank hasn’t commented, Germany’s Bundesbank said it sees the New York Fed as ‘trustworthy and reliable.’

Send your questions for the Rule Symposium

The Rule Symposium runs in Boca Raton, Florida, from July 7 to 11, and I’ll be heading there to interview Rick Rule, as well as Adrian Day, Lobo Tiggre, Andy Schectman, Dr. Nomi Prins and more.

Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

ATLANTA — One of the biggest FIFA Club World Cup matches will take place Sunday, June 29, featuring one of the greatest players of all time, and a reigning champion.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami from Major League Soccer will face Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup round-of-16 match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It’s the biggest match played by an MLS club in the league’s 30-year history, and it will come against the European champions.

Messi will face his former squad in PSG, where he briefly shined alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe before unceremoniously leaving in July 2023 to join Inter Miami. Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano will also face their former Barcelona coach in Luis Enrique, who is leading PSG.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Inter Miami-PSG matchup, and stay tuned for live updates from USA TODAY Sports.

What time is the Inter Miami-PSG match?

The match begins at noon ET (1 p.m. in Argentina, 6 p.m. in Paris.)

Where to watch Inter Miami-PSG match live stream link?

The match is available to live stream for free on DAZN.

Watch Inter Miami vs. Paris Saint-Germain live on DAZN

How to watch the Inter Miami-PSG match on TV in the US?

The match will be broadcast on TNT and TruTV in English; Univision and TUDN in Spanish.

Is Lionel Messi playing today?

Messi, in his first match since his 38th birthday June 24, is expected to play. His status will be confirmed when Inter Miami announces its starting lineup.

Is Ousmane Dembélé playing today?

Dembélé, one of the frontrunners for this year’s Ballon d’Or as the world’s best player, hasn’t played in the Club World Cup due to a quad injury. His status will be confirmed when PSG announces its starting lineup.

Inter Miami vs. PSG score prediction

Paris Saint-Germain 3, Inter Miami 1: This may not look pretty for Lionel Messi’s side and Major League Soccer. But just getting to this point in the Club World Cup is valiant enough. Messi scores a goal, but Inter Miami is outclassed by the Champions League winners. — Safid Deen

Inter Miami vs. PSG betting odds

Inter Miami is the biggest underdog of any team in the Club World Cup round of 16. Here are the betting odds for the match, according to BetMGM:

  • Paris Saint-Germain: -550
  • Draw: +725
  • Inter Miami: +1250
  • Over/under: 3.5 goals

Why did Lionel Messi leave Paris Saint-Germain?

Messi’s two-year spell at PSG was complicated, particularly upon his return to Paris from the 2022 World Cup triumph – having led Argentina to victory over France in the final. Imagine having to live and work in the same country you just delivered heartbreak to. Fans voiced their displeasure with Messi, who was also suspended by the club in May 2023 for taking an unsanctioned trip to Saudi Arabia the day after a match.

When did Lionel Messi join Inter Miami?

Messi joined Inter Miami in July 2023, joining the MLS club co-owned by Jorge Mas, Jose Mas and soon-to-be Sir David Beckham.

Who does Inter Miami/PSG winner face in Club World Cup quarterfinals?

The winner of Sunday’s Inter Miami-PSG match will face the winner of Sunday’s 4 p.m. match between Bayern Munich (Germany) and Flamengo (Brazil).

How has Inter Miami performed in the Club World Cup?

Messi and Inter Miami won a match, and settled for a draw in two others during the Club World Cup group stage. But they were able to advance as a Group A runner-up. They beat FC Porto (Atlanta), and drew against Al-Ahly (Egypt) and Palmeiras (Brazil).

How has Paris Saint-Germain fared in the Club World Cup?

PSG won Group B of the tournament: They beat Atlético Madrid 4-0, lost 1-0 to Botafogo (Brazil), and beat the Seattle Sounders 2-0 during the group stage.

When is Lionel Messi’s birthday?

Messi turned 38 years old on June 24, 2025. He will turn 39 during World Cup 2026. Check out these photos from his birthday celebration last week:

Will Lionel Messi re-sign with Inter Miami?

Messi is under contract with Inter Miami through the 2025 MLS season. The club hopes he re-signs a contract extension to remain through, at least 2026. It’s possible Messi could sign a longer extension.

Will Lionel Messi play in the World Cup?

Messi has not yet declared whether he will play in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. If he does, it would be his sixth World Cup and he would help Argentina defend its 2022 crown.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The 2025 Home Run Derby, to take place July 14 at Truist Park just outside of Atlanta, is still in the early stages of setting its field. However, the fledgling bracket already has a pair of big names attached to it.

The first player to declare, hometown star Ronald Acuna Jr., is sure to be the most popular player of the night. However, Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, colloquially referred to as ‘Big Dumper,’ has had a torrid first half of the season and is looking to become the first catcher to win the derby and the first switch hitter to win it undisputed.

As with every year in the Home Run Derby, however, there have been some notable declinations. The past two winners − the Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez − will not participate in this year’s iteration. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani also will not compete, stating ‘the current rules are tough. I don’t think there’s a chance,’ per Bleacher Report.

USA TODAY Sports is tracking which players will be in the 2025 Home Run Derby, with updates as well below.

Who is in 2025 Home Run Derby?

The 2025 Home Run Derby currently has two players in the mix: Braves star Ronald Acuna and Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who has stolen the national spotlight with 32 home runs through June 28.

Here’s the list as it continues to grow, along with how many seasons and career home runs they have so far.

  • Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves OF (9 HR in 2025, 174 career)
  • Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners C (32 HR in 2025, 125 career)

Latest Home Run Derby participant updates

This section will be updated as players accept, decline invitations

Who won Home Run Derby 2024?

The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez will be passing off the Home Run Derby crown. The Dodgers slugger eked out a win over the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. with 14 home runs in the final round, one more than Witt’s 13. Witt, finished with one more homer for the overall event, hitting 50 to Hernandez’s 49.

Hernandez, however, will not be returning, saying his attention is on a Dodgers World Series repeat in 2025.

“I was considering it at the beginning, but not right now,’ Hernandez told AM 570 LA Sports on June 27. ‘I think I’m not going to do it this year. Maybe next year. Because last year, when I finished the Home Run Derby, I was a little tired, tight. My body was a little tired, and with the injury that I had with my groin this year, I don’t want to put anything at risk. So I’m going to stay put and not participate this year.”

Elly De La Cruz declines Home Run Derby invite

In addition to Hernandez and Ohtani, another major name has declined an invite to Atlanta. Reds wunderkind shortstop Elly De La Cruz will not participate, but the door isn’t closed for the future.

“The time is going to come,” he said, per The Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY network. “But not now.”

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Dave Parker, the two-time World Series winner and two-time batting champion whose dangerous exploits at the plate earned him the nickname Cobra, died Saturday after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, just one month before he was to be inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Parker, 74, was an imposing left-handed hitting threat on two power-packed championship teams, the 1979 “We Are Family” Pirates and the 1989 “Bash Brothers” Oakland Athletics. He hit 339 home runs and won National League batting titles in 1977 (.338) and 1978 (.334) for the Pirates.

Parker never earned more than 24.5% support in 15 years of Hall of Fame voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, well short of the 75% required. But he was named on 14 of 16 ballots in December voting by the Classic Baseball Era Committee and will be elected alongside fellow Pennsylvania legend Dick Allen next month.

But neither will be around to see it. Parker was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013 and his prominence in the public eye diminished in the decade-plus since.

“I’m a battler,” Parker said in 2018.

That was evidenced in his climb to the Hall of Fame, and while he won’t be there for the induction, he was able to celebrate last December, when his election was announced.

“I’ve been holding this speech in for 15 years,” Parker told MLB Network that night.

Parker left such an impact that he’s a member of both the Pirates’ and Cincinnati Reds’ halls of fame. He was the 1978 NL MVP, when he led the majors in both batting average (.334) and OPS (.979), slammed 30 homers and earned an NL-best 7.0 WAR.

One year later, Parker banged out 193 hits and 20 home runs and, alongside Willie “Pops” Stargell, helped lead the Pirates to their first World Series title since 1960. Parker had a dominant postseason performance, getting four hits in 12 at-bats in an NL Championship Series sweep of the Reds, and was 10-for-29 (.345) and drove in four runs in the Pirates epic seven-game triumph over the Baltimore Orioles.

Parker left Pittsburgh for Cincinnati after the 1983 season but was still in his prime. He led the NL with 42 doubles and 125 RBIs in 1985 and earned All-Star nods in two of his four seasons with Cincinnati.

In 1989, he was the oldest player on a brash, power-hitting Oakland A’s team that featured beefed-up sluggers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire and Hall of Fame leadoff man Rickey Henderson. Parker hit 22 homers as the A’s primary DH as he added a second championship to his portfolio. He made his seventh and final All-Star team one year later with Milwaukee.

‘Dave Parker was a gifted all-around player whose numerous accomplishments led to his upcoming induction in Cooperstown this summer,’ MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. ‘He was a World Series Champion with the 1979 Pirates and the 1989 Athletics, a beloved All-Star Red in his hometown of Cincinnati, and an All-Star in Milwaukee. Dave was also a three-time Gold Glover on the strength of his famous arm, a two-time batting champion, and the winner of the inaugural Home Run Derby in 1985.’All of us throughout the game are deeply saddened by this loss. We will remember the Cobra forever, especially as his name soon officially joins the legends of our national pastime.’

In 2019, Parker was the subject of a 90-minute documentary produced by MLB Network, “The Cobra at Twilight,” which did not glaze over any of his career.

In 1985, Parker was called to testify before a grand jury in a trial that resulted in the conviction of six Pittsburgh men and a Philadelphia Phillies clubhouse worker on 11 counts of distributing cocaine.

Parker acknowledged he battled addiction from 1979 to 1982 and used that experience to mentor young players to avoid mistakes he made earlier in his career.

“The thing that resonated with me more than anything was that he did not want me to drift into some of the things off the field that he did,” Eric Davis, the Reds’ All-Star outfielder and Parker teammate, recalled in the documentary.

Yet Parker was a trailblazer in so many other ways. He was just the second ballplayer to earn at least $1 million a season when he signed a five-year, $5 million contract with the Pirates, with a sartorial style that arguably captured the late ’70s ethos better than anyone.

He returned to his native Cincinnati after that contract expired and became a beloved Red, even as the franchise failed to recapture the glory of the Big Red Machine years featuring another native son, Pete Rose.  

Eventually, Parker’s body of work was recognized by the Hall of Fame, setting the stage for an emotional celebration of life and career next month in Cooperstown.

“We join the baseball family in remembering Dave Parker. His legacy will be one of courage and leadership, matched only by his outstanding accomplishments on the field,” says Jane Forbes Clark, chairman of the Baseball Hall of Fame. “His election to the Hall of Fame in December brought great joy to him, his family and all the fans who marveled at his remarkable abilities.

“We will honor his incredible life and career at next month’s induction ceremony in Cooperstown, where his legacy will be remembered forever.”  

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fastDownload for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

ATLANTA — If Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s cast of former Barcelona stars hope to pull off one of the biggest upsets soccer may ever see against Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup, they’ll have to outsmart one person who may know them all the best.

Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Javier Mascherano last raised the Champions League trophy together with Barcelona in 2015 under the leadership of coach Luis Enrique.

Ten years later, Enrique reached the sport’s mountaintop again, leading Paris Saint-Germain to its first Champions League title last month.

Now, they’ll reunite again on the same pitch Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium – this time as adversaries with plenty of love and respect at the forefront of their round-of-16 matchup in the Club World Cup.

“I’m sure it’s going to be much more difficult than anyone can imagine,” Enrique said Saturday night before the match.

“They have the level. They have the quality. And they are winners. They’re players who have won a lot throughout their careers (with) that spirit inside them they’ve had all their lives.

“Emotionally, it’s very difficult to prepare for a game like this.”

It’ll be Messi’s first match against PSG since leaving the French club in July 2023 to join Inter Miami.

And he’s leading a Major League Soccer club just five years into its existence into a match against the European champions.

Inter Miami is the biggest underdog of any team in the Club World Cup round of 16. They have +1050 odds to beat PSG, the heavy favorite at -450, according to BetMGM.

But Enrique isn’t overlooking the opponent one bit.

He knows better.

Especially coaching against No. 10 on the other side.

“I had the opportunity to meet Leo Messi at the height of his career. Leo Messi’s peak has lasted 10, 15 years – I don’t know how long it will last,” Enrique said. “He is the best soccer player in history – without a doubt.”

Enrique still believes Messi, Suarez, Alba and Busquets are at the top of their games.

He looks forward to the few moments they’ll share together on the pitch Sunday, before and after the whistle is blown.

“When you give it some space and look back at what we’ve been through over the years, a smile appears on your face, and you want to share things again – even if it’s just 10 minutes before or after the game,” Enrique said.

Rising PSG star Désiré Doué, a 20-year-old who scored twice in the Champions League final, is excited to face Messi and the other Barcelona legends.

“Yes, it’s a special match, but it’s still a soccer game,” Doué told DAZN. “We’re lucky to be able to play against one of the greatest players in history and some of the greatest players who have marked the history of soccer.”

Messi’s heroics will be key if Inter Miami is going to pull off an upset against PSG, which dominated Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final on May 31.

Messi’s free-kick goal against Porto in Atlanta on June 19 is Inter Miami’s defining moment in the Club World Cup to this point. It was instrumental in helping them reach the knockout stage of a tournament featuring 32 of the best clubs in the world.

Some would argue Inter Miami has already peaked in the Club World Cup. They were the only MLS club to reach this point, while the Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC both failed to win a match during the group stage.

Many don’t expect them to pull off the upset on Sunday.

Even they know the odds are stacked against them.

“It’s clear and we’re not naïve – we know that we’re the weaker team, but that doesn’t mean you can kill us off beforehand. We’re going to fight, which is what it’s all about,” Mascherano said.

“I think the nice thing about (Sunday’s) match is that we’ve earned the right to play it. … The challenge is to come out tomorrow and test ourselves against what is possibly the best team in the world today.”

Added Inter Miami defender Marcelo Weigandt: “We are a very humble team. We try to give our all. And hopefully, God willing, tomorrow will be kind to us and we can get a good result.”

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Ilia Topuria said he would knock out Charles Oliveira in the first round of their UFC 317 bout on Saturday for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship belt. He did just that.

Topuria vacated his Featherweight title to move up to Lightweight division in April and the move paid off. He knocked out Oliveira in the first round of the main event to win the UFC Lightweight Championship, marking his third straight knockout win. With the victory, Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) became the first undefeated fighter and only the 10th fighter in UFC history to become a champion in two divisions.

The UFC Lightweight belt was up for grabs after champion Islam Makhachev moved up to the Welterweight division. 

Oliveira previously held the UFC Featherweight title from May 2021 to May 2022, when he was stripped of the belt ahead of his second title defense after missing weight by half a pound. It marked the first time in UFC history that a defending champion lost a title due to missing weight. 

USA TODAY Sports recapped UFC 317 and provided analysis through each fight:

UFC 317 main card results

Main event: Ilia Topuria def. Charles Oliveira via KO – Round 1, 2:27

  • For the vacant UFC lightweight title

Round 1: Charles Oliveira started attacking Ilia Topuria’s legs early. Topuria landed a shot to Oliveira’s head that resulted in a gash above right eye. Oliveira landed a takedown, but Topuria ended up on top. Oliveira almost got Topuria into a leg lock, but Topuria wiggled free and the two fighters returned to their feet. Topuria knocked Oliveira out cold with a right hook that he followed up with a left hook. Topuria finished Oliveira off with a follow-up shot on the ground to end the fight in the first round as he stated he would.

We have a new UFC lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria.

Alexandre Pantoja def. Kai Kara-France via submission (rear-naked choke) 

  • For Pantoja’s UFC flyweight title

Round 1: Kai Kara-France came out swinging and Pantoja quickly took him down and gained control of Kara-France’s back. Fans started to boo to the bewilderment of the commentators. Pantoja threw nasty body shots as he locked his legs around Kara-France’s abdomen. Kara-France attempted to wiggle free and Pantoja mounted Kara-France and almost got an arm bar. Pantoja maintained control on the ground and dominated the round.

Round 2: Pantoja caught Kara-France with a loud body kick to the left abdomen that left a mark. Kara-France countered with some kicks of his own, but they didn’t appear to impact Pantoja. They exchanged some blows before Pantoja took Kara-France down again. Kara-France worked his way to his feet and tried a take down of his own. Pantoja appears to be slowing down, but ended the round with a kick that made Kara-France stumble back.

Round 3: Pantoja came out with another body kick and clinched Kara-France against the cage before scoring another take down. Pantoja got on Kara-France’s back and locked his legs around his waist again in a dominant position. Pantoja worked himself into position for a rear naked chokehold, forcing Kara-France to tap.

And still the UFC flyweight champion, Alexandre Pantoja.

Joshua Van def. Brandon Royval by unanimous decision

Joshua Van may have taken this fight on three weeks notice, but he came out sharp and landed several shots to Royval’s head. Royval focused on Van’s body early on, but Van brilliantly countered many of Royval’s shots. The second round opened with a flurry of punches from both fighters, who remained on their feet the entire round. Royval and Van both landed shots as the bout continued to be very close. The action picked back up in the third round as Royval and Van continued to duke it out without a single take down attempt. Both fighters were bloodied and battered but continued to throw punches at a high clip in the middle of the Octagon. Van knocked down Royval with a right hook to the chin with seconds remaining in the third round. Van won by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27). Van declared that he broke his right big toe three weeks ago.

Beneil Dariush def. Renato Moicano via unanimous decision

Dariush dropped Moicano early in the first round with a kick, but Moicano responded with a punch that knocked down Dariush. The two fighters then jockeyed for position on the ground before returning to their feet. More grappling ensued in the second round with Dariush dominating the exchanges. Dariush again took down Moicano in the third round, but Moicano reversed and almost took Dariush back before he got free. They returned to their feet. A fatigued Moicano had some moments in the third round, but it was too little too late. Dariush won by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

Payton Talbot def. Felipe Lima via unanimous decision

Lima caught Talbot with some punishing punches early on and attempted to take Talbot down, but Talbot continually took control on the ground and showed his improved grappling skills. Talbot defeated Lima by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

UFC 317: Time, PPV, streaming for Oliveira vs. Oliveira

The match between Charles Oliveira and Ilia Oliveira will take place on Saturday, June 28 and can be purchased on ESPN+ PPV.

  • Date: Saturday, June 28
  • Location: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
  • Early prelims start time: 7 p.m. ET
  • Early prelims stream: UFC Fight Pass
    • Welterweight Jacobe Smith def. Niko Price via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:03 
    • Heavyweight Jhonata Diniz def. Alvin Hines via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Prelims card start time: 8 p.m. ET
  • Prelims card TV: ESPN; Prelims stream: ESPN+, Disney+
    • Middleweight Gregory Rodrigues def. Jack Hermansson via KO (punch) – Round 1, 4:21
    • Featherweight Jose Miguel Delgado def. Hyder Amil via KO (knee and punches) – Round 1, 0:26
    • Women’s flyweight Tracy Cortez def. Vivian Araujo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Lightweight Terrance McKinney def. Viacheslav Borshchev via submission (Guillotine choke) – Round 1, 0:55
  • Main card start time: 10 p.m. ET
  • Main card stream: ESPN+ PPV
    • Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira; For the vacant UFC lightweight title
    • UFC flyweight title: Champ Alexandre Pantoja def. Kai Kara-France via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 1:55
    • Flyweight Joshua Van def. Brandon Royval via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
    • Lightweight Beneil Dariush def. Renato Moicano via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Bantamweight Payton Talbot def. Felipe Lima via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Catch UFC action with an ESPN+ subscription

UFC 317 prelim results

Gregory Rodrigues def. Jack Hermansson via KO (punch)

Gregory Rodrigues caught Jack Hermansson with a left hook to the chin that stunned Hermansson and knocked him out cold. Rodrigues landed one more punch before referee Herb Dean called the fight. Hermansson remained down in the Octagon several minutes after.

Jose Miguel Delgado def. Hyder Amil via KO (knee and punches)

It only took Jose Miguel Delgado 26 seconds to defeat Hyder Amil. Delgado dropped Amil with a knee to the chin.

Tracy Cortez def. Vivian Araujo via unanimous decision

Cortez dominated Araujo on the ground and won by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Terrance McKinney def Viacheslav Borshchev via submission (Guillotine choke)

The bout between Terrance McKinney and Viacheslav Borshchev was over soon after it began. McKinney caught a kick from Borshchev and immediately took him down. McKinney went for the Anaconda choke, before mounting Borschchev for the Guillotine choke after 55 seconds in the first round. ‘I want to show people I’m well-rounded,’ McKinney said after his win.

Jacobe Smith def. Niko Price via submission (rear naked choke)

Jacobe Smith remains undefeated after making Niko Price tap in the second round by way of a rear-naked choke, which marked the first submission of Smith’s career.

Jhonata Diniz def. Alvin Hines via Unanimous decision

Alvin Hines’ UFC debut didn’t go according to plan. Hines and Diniz went the distance, but the judges crowned Diniz the winner by unanimous decision, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28.

UFC reporter Megan Olivi announces maternity leave

FOX Sports reporter Megan Olivi, who covers the UFC and NFL for the network, announced that UFC 317 will be her last assignment before going on maternity leave. Olivi is expecting her first child with husband Joseph Benavidez, the former UFC flyweight title challenger.

‘Incredibly grateful to be healthy enough to work this event – not gonna lie, it feels pretty empowering,’ Olivi wrote on X. In a post on Instagram, she captioned a photo of her interviewing various UFC stars alongside her baby bump: ‘I cannot wait for this card … then it’s off to maternity leave to have a baby next week lol.’

UFC 317 preliminary and main card start times

  • Early prelims: 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+, Disney+)
  • Prelims: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN+, Disney+)
  • Main card: 10 p.m. ET (PPV on ESPN+)

UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira card

Fight card according to ESPN.

Main Card:

  • Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira; For the vacant UFC lightweight title
  • Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara-France; For Pantoja’s UFC flyweight title
  • Brandon Royval vs Joshua Van; Flyweight
  • Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano; Lightweight
  • Payton Talbot vs Felipe Lima; Bantamweight

Prelims:

  • Jack Hermansson vs Gregory Rodrigues; Middleweight
  • Hyder Amil vs Jose Miguel Delgado; Featherweight
  • Vivian Araujo vs Tracy Cortez; Women’s flyweight
  • Terrance McKinney vs Viacheslav Borshchev; Lightweight

Early Prelims:

  • Niko Price vs Jacobe Smith; Welterweight
  • Heavyweight Jhonata Diniz def. Alvin Hines via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Christopher Ewert vs Jackson McVey; Middleweight

UFC 317: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira predictions

MMA Junkie: Volkanovski predicts Topuria knocks out Oliveira

Farah Honnoun writes:  ‘I think Ilia’s going to get the win. I think Ilia can catch him. I reckon early knockout – early knockout for Ilia Topuria. … He doesn’t just come forward and just stand in your face. He has a lot of movement. You see him slipping and slipping and trying to find his way in.’

ESPN: Experts pick Ilia Topuria

Anthony Smith writes: ‘Everything I look at in this matchup tells me to pick Ilia. He’s a better technical boxer. Against Josh Emmett in 2023, he showed he was defensively responsible, even though he had no problem standing in the pocket. Most people who avoid taking a big shot from Emmett do it by refusing to engage with him and backing away. Ilia is so technically sound, which is extremely impressive. And if he gets on top of Charles on the ground, I think he’ll do serious damage.’

Forbes: Ilia Topuria to beat Charles Oliveira

Trent Reinsmith writes: ‘If Oliveira approaches this fight like he has been competing as of late, he will be in trouble. That means Oliveira cannot opt to strike in range against Topuria, who is a powerful striker with good footwork and finishing skills. Oliveira must fight at distance and keep Topuria from getting in close. Oliveira has not shown a willingness to fight that type of battle.’

UFC 317 live stream

The Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira early prelims and prelims fight will be available to stream on ESPN+ and Disney+, while the main card will be streamed on ESPN Pay-Per-View.

UFC 317 price

UFC events are available to ESPN+ subscribers. The cost of the service is $10.99 a month or $109.99 for the year. The PPV is available for an additional $79.99.

UFC 317 odds: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira fight card

*All odds via BetMGM

Main Card:

  • Ilia Topuria (-450) vs. Charles Oliveira (+325); For the vacant UFC lightweight title
  • Alexandre Pantoja (-250) vs. Kai Kara-France (+200); For Pantoja’s UFC flyweight title
  • Brandon Royval (EVEN) vs. Joshua Van (-120); Flyweight
  • Beneil Dariush (-110) vs. Renato Moicano (-110); Lightweight
  • Payton Talbot (-150) vs. Felipe Lima (-180); Bantamweight

Prelims:

  • Jack Hermansson (+190) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (-235); Middleweight
  • Hyder Amil (+135) vs. Jose Miguel Delgado (-170); Featherweight
  • Vivian Araujo (+210) vs. Tracy Cortez(-260); Women’s flyweight
  • Terrance McKinney (-175) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (+145); Lightweight

Early Prelims:

  • Niko Price (+1000) vs. Jacobe Smith (-3000); Welterweight
  • Jhonata Diniz (-370) vs. Alvin Hines (+280); Heavyweight
  • Christopher Ewert (+125) vs. Jackson McVey (-150); Middleweight

Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira: Tale of the tape

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Chartists can improve their odds and increase the number of opportunities by trading short-term bullish setups within bigger uptrends. The first order of business is to identify the long-term trend using a trend-following indicator. Second, chartist can turn to more granular analysis to find short-term bullish setups. Today’s example will use the Cloud Computing ETF (SKYY).

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, which has over a dozen reports. These cover the Zweig Breadth Thrust, trend-following signals, trailing stops and finding bullish setups. Check it out!

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The bears are now left grasping at straws. What about tariffs? What about inflation? What about recession? What about the Fed? What about interest rates? What about the Middle East? What about the deficits? Blah, blah, blah.

When it comes to the media, you need to bury your head in the sand. Actually, take your head out of the sand and bury it in the charts. That’s where you’ll find the truth.

I said all-time highs were coming back at the April low and here we are. The S&P 500 has set a new all-time record high today and, barring a significant afternoon decline, will set its all-time closing high above the previous closing high of 6144, which was set on February 19, 2025. This new high comes just as we begin to prepare for Q2 earnings season. The run up to earnings season is generally and historically quite strong, so get ready for more highs ahead.

Since 1950, the S&P 500 has produced annualized returns of nearly 27% during the period June 28th through July 17th. This annualized pre-earnings run is nearly triple the average S&P 500 annual return of 9% since 1950. Care to guess how the NASDAQ and Russell 2000 have fared during this bullish pre-earnings period?

  • NASDAQ: +38.67%
  • Russell 2000 (IWM): +32.61% (bullish period ends July 15th for small caps)

Clearly, the bulls have the historical advantage for the next 3 weeks. Technically, evidence began turning in the bulls’ favor in mid-March, despite the last big move lower in early April. I have the research to back that up and will discuss it at an event on Saturday (more details below). While the stock market was rapidly declining in April, Wall Street was happily stealing everyone’s shares during the panicked selloff.

Technical Strength

Two of the most important industry groups to follow are semiconductors ($DJUSSC) and software ($DJUSSW). These two groups are among the most influential in terms of driving the S&P 500 higher. Check out both of these charts and be sure to check out both the absolute and relative strength currently.

Semiconductors:

Software:

Now I’m going to provide charts of these same two groups, but this time show you how positively they correlate to the S&P 500’s direction over the course of this century.

Semiconductors:

Software:

Honestly, you don’t need a PhD in Economics to understand the above charts. It’s really quite simple. When semiconductors and software are rallying to new highs and showing relative strength, BUY U.S. stocks! They both have extremely tight positive correlation with the S&P 500 and they both look very technically sound right now.

Interest Rate Cut

It’s coming and it’s coming fast! I’m now convinced that the Fed will cut the fed funds rate in a month at their next scheduled meeting on July 29-30. I’m not saying it because I feel the Fed should cut or needs to cut. I’m saying it because there’s a ton of buying right now in the 1-month treasury, sending its yield down. The 1-month treasury yield ($UST1M) typically begins to move BEFORE any Fed action occurs. We saw it back in August/September 2024, just prior to the 50 basis point cut at the September 2024 meeting:

The black directional lines in the bottom panel mark approximately the date that the Fed lowered the fed funds rate. The red directional lines in the top panel highlight the downward movement in the $UST1M PRIOR to the Fed’s lowering roughly a month later. Again, I’m not making this stuff up. The charts are telling me a story here and the current story is that rates are about to come down.

Checkmate bears.

Follow the charts, not the media!

The Game

I’m beginning to believe that capitulation is nothing more than a staged event for the Wall Street elite and we’re the panicked pawns running around with our hair on fire. Those days are over for EarningsBeats.com members. We saw this one coming, just like we saw it coming in 2022. Getting out at the top with the Wall Street elite and getting back in at the bottom before them is an excellent recipe for beating the S&P 500 by a mile!

Learning is the key. We focus on market research, guidance, and education at EarningsBeats.com. Those are our 3 pillars of business. Calling the 2025 market top wasn’t a coincidence. We’ve done it before and we’ll do it again. Jumping back in near the bottom was no coincidence either. Our signals are proven and they work.

On Saturday morning at 10:00am ET, we’re hosting a FREE educational event, “Trading the Truth: How Market Manipulation Creates Opportunity”. I’m going to show everyone the “play-by-play” of how we were able to move to cash BEFORE the market top and back into stocks NEAR the market bottom. Market tops form with many of the same signals each time. To learn more about this event and to register with your name and email address, CLICK HERE.

If you’ve struggled with all the uncertainty in 2025 and haven’t trusted stocks, it’s time that you change your process and strategies. I’ll see you on Saturday!

Happy trading!

Tom

If you’ve looked at enough charts over time, you start to recognize classic patterns that often appear. From head-and-shoulders tops to cup-and-handle patterns, they almost jump off the page when you bring up the chart. I would definitely include Fibonacci Retracements on that list, because before I ever bring up the Fibonacci tool on StockCharts, I’m pretty confident the levels are going to line up well with the price action.

Today, we’re going to look at a breakout name that shows why Fibonacci Retracements can be so valuable for confirming upside potential. We’ll also explain some best practices for identifying the most important price levels to use when setting up a Fibonacci framework. Finally, we’ll show how Fibonacci analysis could have helped you validate the current uptrend phase for the S&P 500 index.

Confirming Breakouts: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH)

I started dropping quite a few Fibonacci Retracements on price charts soon after the April 7, 2025 market low. As stocks experienced a sudden and severe bounce off those lows, it became clear that we would need some way to validate a potential upside swing. That helped me zero in on the $20 level for Norwegian (NCLH), a level which was finally eclipsed this week.

Using the January high and the April low, we can see a 38.2% Fibonacci level come in right around $20. A gap higher in mid-May took NCLH close to that level, which was then retested again in early June. After bouncing off the 50-day moving average last week, Norwegian finally pushed above this first Fibonacci resistance level with Friday’s rally.

One of the ways we can differentiate between a “dead cat bounce” off a major low and the beginning of a much larger recovery phase is to key in on the first Fibonacci retracement level. If the price can push above this initial upside target, ideally on heavier than normal volume, then the chances of further upside are significantly increased.

In the case of NCLH, we can now bump up a price target to further Fibonacci levels. The 50% line, just below $20, lines up fairly well with the 200-day moving average. The 61.8% comes in right around $23.50, which represents my next upside target, assuming this week’s strength is confirmed by a follow-through day next week.

Identifying Pullbacks: Raytheon Technologies (RTX)

We can also use Fibonacci Retracements to identify downside targets after a major price peak. In the case of Raytheon Technologies (RTX), that means we use the April low and the high from mid-June to generate potential support levels.

In this case, we can see that the Fibonacci retracement levels line up very well with traditional support levels using the price action itself. The 38.2% level lines up with the mid-June low around $135, which also coordinates with the 50-day moving average. Beyond that support, the 50% level sits right at the late May low at $131, and the 61.8% level comes in right around the early May support at $126.

Given an initial pullback from the June peak around $149, I’m seeing strong potential support at the 38.2% level and 50-day moving average around $135. Now I can use Fibonacci levels to better define my risk vs. reward, showing how much downside action I’d anticipate while still keeping an eye on a return to the previous all-time highs.

Validating Uptrends: The S&P 500 Index ($SPX)

Sometimes Fibonacci Retracements are valuable in that they help validate that an uptrend is progressing with a decent pace. For the S&P 500 chart, every break of a Fibonacci resistance level has confirmed the strength of the broad market indexes off the April low.

It took only two sessions for the SPX to break above the 38.2% retracement of the February to April downtrend phase. In fact, the S&P almost reached the 50% level before pulling back to around 5100 in mid-April. From there, we can see a gap back above the 38.2% level, which helped confirm the strength of the new uptrend phase.

I still have the pink trendline on my chart that I remember drawing during the downtrend phase. “As long as the S&P remains below trendline resistance, the market is in a clear downtrend,” I remember saying out loud on my market recap show. So when the SPX broke above the 50% level, as well as that clear trendline, I was forced to acknowledge the staying power of this new uptrend phase.

The S&P 500 stalled out at the 61.8% retracement level in early May, but another price gap higher signaled that the final Fibonacci resistance level was no longer going to hold. And once you eclipse the final Fibonacci level, that implies a full retest back to the 100% point.

So am I surprised that the S&P 500 has pushed to new all-time highs this week? Absolutely not. Indeed, using Fibonacci Retracements on charts like this have helped me admit when a new uptrend is showing strength, and provide plenty of reminders to follow the trend until proven otherwise!

RR#6,

Dave

P.S. Ready to upgrade your investment process? Check out my free behavioral investing course!


David Keller, CMT

President and Chief Strategist

Sierra Alpha Research LLC

marketmisbehavior.com

https://www.youtube.com/c/MarketMisbehavior


Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

The author does not have a position in mentioned securities at the time of publication. Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person or entity.

As we head into the second half of 2025, here are three stocks that present strong technical setups with favorable risk/reward profiles. One is the largest market cap stock we’re familiar with, which bodes well for the market in general. The second is an old tech giant that’s making a comeback. The third is a beaten-down S&P 500 name that may be ready to rally.

Let’s dive into these three stocks.

NVIDIA (NVDA) is Leading the Market

Nvidia (NVDA) shares have finally broken out and closed above $150, a level we’ve been closely watching. With price action above that resistance threshold, NVDA’s stock price has room to run.

DeepSeek and tariff concerns seem to be in the rearview mirror. The fundamental positives are continued earnings growth, continued large tech cap-ex spend, and, more recently, Jensen Huang’s unveiling of a cute robot he feels could be the next big thing.

Technically, this move has legs, and we have the patterns and history to show for it. The risk/reward set-up is now quite favorable. Let’s break it down.

Over the last five years, there have been periods of consolidation (green boxes) and then significant breakouts to the upside. In all cases, shares became overbought according to the relative strength index (RSI). But overbought doesn’t mean NVDA’s stock price will reverse. During uptrends, overbought conditions can last for quite some time, as they did after the prior two significant breakouts.

With the official breakout above $150 and RSI again reading over 70, history suggests an extended rally is in the cards. A gain of 25–30% from current levels and a run to $200 is likely.

The downside risk is to the $150 level, from which shares just broke out. If this move is just a head fake, then use that level as a stop to limit your losses. This risk/reward set-up is why we believe this is one to own for the back half of 2025.

Cisco Systems (CSCO) Finds New Life

Old-timers like me may remember what a high flyer Cisco Systems (CSCO) once was. It’s been a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($INDU) since June 2009, and shares have struggled to sustain any upward momentum until lately.

Fundamentally, the company continued to grow through acquisition. Now, those deals are starting to help their bottom line, namely the $28 billion acquisition of Splunk that closed in 2024. 

Technically — and that’s what we care about on the StockCharts platform — we can have some fun.

Below is a 30-year chart going back to the dot-com boom. Cisco was one of Wall Street’s darlings and climbed astronomically before falling from the skies. It has struggled to revisit those levels, but that could change soon. 

Switching to a smaller time frame — a three-year weekly chart (see below) — we are seeing great set-ups as we head into the back half of 2025.

CSCO’s stock price consolidated between $43 and $55 for 15 months and broke out in late 2024. Shares rallied and then pulled back to old resistance (now support) at $55 and began their climb back.

Now shares are breaking out again. An upside target of $82, the all-time high set back during the dot-com era, is within reach and may just get there by year-end. The risk/reward seems favorable and, given the run in tech and cyber stocks which CSCO represents, the momentum is there to reach those highs.

Generac’s Power Play

Welcome to hurricane season! It lasts from June 1st to November 30. Generac (GNRC), a leader in home backup power, tends to perform well during weather extremes. It isn’t always the primary catalyst for rallies over the long term in the stock, but it can spur short-term rallies.

Last week, as much of the country was in the middle of a heat wave, GNRC had the best week of gains since November 2024, rallying nearly 12%. The trend change seems to be underway. Shares are lower by -8.1% year-to-date, and there’s room to run.

However, the charts are showing signs of life. Let’s keep this one as simple as possible.

The stock broke its longer-term downtrend (red line)

Shares have made a consistent set of higher lows (green uptrend)

Shares recaptured their 50-day moving average

Shares consolidated in an ascending triangle and broke out

Shares tested and failed to recapture their 200-day moving average

Progress is being made. The trend has changed, there’s something to reverse, and seasonal factors and reduced tariff concerns are a true tailwind.

Shares could easily pull back — a flag, if you will — to the $135 area, but should be a great entry point from a risk/reward perspective. Overall, shares are poised to continue reversing that longer-term downtrend, and could be a good addition to the portfolio for the end of 2025.

The Bottom Line

Each of these stocks offers a viable investment strategy with favorable risk-to-reward ratios. If you’re going to enter a position, use clearly-defined stop levels to manage your risks.