Fitch Ratings downgrades China outlook to negative as economic concerns rise
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2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
Toyota
Toyota Motor revealed a new 4Runner SUV for the first time in nearly 15 years — completing a recent redesign of the automaker’s current trucks and SUVs.
Aside from its new looks, which are similar to the recently redesigned Toyota Tacoma pickup, the 2025 4Runner will be offered with a hybrid engine for the first time as well as new “Platinum” and “Trailhunter” high-end trims.
“This all-new 4Runner has incredible versatility and capability that nicely rounds out our truck family,” Dave Christ, Toyota group vice president and general manager, said in a release. “We’ve sold over 3 million 4Runners over the past 40 years, and this sixth-generation model offers a cool new look and incredible features yet retains the rugged style and capability our customers love about this adventure icon.”
Toyota’s “truck family” is also known as the “five brothers”: the Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks and the 4Runner, Land Cruiser and Sequoia SUVs. The 4Runner is the last to be redesigned and built on Toyota’s global truck platform, which debuted with the Land Cruiser and Tundra in 2021.
2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter
Toyota
Toyota said pricing of the 2025 4Runner will be released closer to its on-sale date. Starting prices for the 2024 model range from about $41,000 to more than $55,000.
While Toyota is known for its fuel-efficient vehicles such as the Prius, its larger “brother” SUVs, including the 4Runner, had much worse fuel ratings prior to being updated — at 17 mpg combined or less, according to federal ratings. The current 4Runner has been on sale, with some updates, since 2010.
Toyota said miles per gallon ratings for the new 4Runner will be released closer to the vehicle arriving in showrooms in the fall. Toyota’s other redesigned trucks and SUVs have notably improved fuel economy.
Jack Hollis, executive vice president of Toyota Motor North America, last month told CNBC that the company continues to balance out its truck and SUV portfolio, including potential hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric models.
“Those brothers, they all have a lot of similarities, and they have a lot of differences,” he said. “How do we curb carbon emissions fastest with everyone, everywhere? It’s having the right mix between those five products.”
2025 Toyota 4Runner Limited
Toyota
The 4Runner’s available hybrid engine is a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine with a 48-horsepower electric motor integrated into the eight-speed transmission to produce up to 326 horsepower and 465 foot-pounds of torque. The vehicle’s standard turbocharged 2.4-liter engine produces 278 horsepower and 317 foot-pounds of torque.
The 2025 4Runner will be offered in nine models: SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Sport Premium, TRD Off Road, TRD Off Road Premium, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter.
The new Trailhunter model features additional off-road styling and equipment including rock rails and high strength steel skid plates, while the Platinum model is geared toward more convenience and luxury features.
Production of the 2025 4Runner is taking place at Toyota’s Tahara plant in Japan.
Correction: The 2025 Toyota 4Runner is the first new version of the vehicles in 15 years. A previous version of the article misstated how many years it had been.
Circle is expanding its Web3 Services and Tools suite to Solana to enhance USDC’s accessibility for developers and enterprises, ensuring easy integration into various applications.
The move comes after an AllianceBernstein research report revealed that Solana has become the most popular network for stablecoin transfers, especially for cross-border payments.
Circle aims to improve USDC’s accessibility for developers and enterprises, ensuring easy integration into various applications. The initiative will allow businesses to use APIs to integrate secure wallets, manage on-chain transactions or smart contracts, and streamline user onboarding and transaction flows.
Circle’s official announcement expressed excitement about partnering with Solana’s dynamic developer community and businesses to develop and launch innovative applications.
Stablecoin dominance
This development occurs against a backdrop of significant growth in the stablecoin market, with USDC’s supply experiencing a nearly 10% increase in the last month.
Amid these developments, a report from AllianceBernstein has positioned Solana ahead of Ethereum in terms of stablecoin payment volume, highlighting its emergence as the preferred medium for stablecoin transactions.
The report, penned by analysts Gautam Chhugani and Mahika Sapra, emphasizes the resurgence of stablecoin usage in the current bull market, with Solana leading in cross-border payments using stablecoins.
Remarkably, Solana has captured a dominant 43% market share in the value of stablecoins transferred, significantly outpacing Ethereum, as per Artemis’ data, which recorded Solana’s stablecoin transfer volume at $63.6 billion against Ethereum’s $26.6 billion.
On-chain data shows that Solana’s market share in stablecoin transfers amounted to $1.4 trillion in March, more than 2x Ethereum’s $635 billion.
However, Ethereum still holds a higher market cap of stablecoins on its blockchain, but much of its capital remains unused. Bernstein analysts noted that although Solana has overtaken Ethereum in value transferred, it faces significant scalability challenges, especially for consumer payments.
Circle’s decision to extend Web3 service support to the Solana blockchain showcases confidence in Solana’s ability to overcome its current challenges and reflects a broader commitment to leveraging stablecoins for a more open and inclusive financial system.
The post Circle expands support for Solana as it becomes top network for cross-border payments appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Amidst the recent market retracement, notable crypto enthusiast and YouTuber Jeremy DaVinci has sparked optimism in the Bitcoin community.
DaVinci’s analysis revolves around a technical indicator, the Bollinger Bands, suggesting a potential rally in Bitcoin’s price trajectory.
Where Are We Headed To?
According to DaVinci, Bitcoin has closed above the upper Bollinger Bands indicator for two consecutive months, a pattern that historically preceded significant price surges. Drawing from past occurrences, DaVinci hints at the possibility of Bitcoin’s price doubling within three months following this setup.
DaVinci, renowned for his early adoption of Bitcoin and emotional support for the cryptocurrency, has positioned himself as a prominent figure within the crypto space.
With his latest forecast, DaVinci projects Bitcoin’s price to surpass $130,000 within the next three months potentially. This bullish prediction aligns with similar sentiments echoed by other market experts, further supporting optimism among Bitcoin investors.
Things are looking very interesting now.
Bitcoin just closed two months above the upper Bollinger Band!
Historical data shows that whenever this happens, Bitcoin’s price has doubled within three months. pic.twitter.com/jmMpcVzGew
— Davinci Jeremie (@Davincij15) April 9, 2024
Macroeconomic Factors To Drive Bitcoin Rise
Adding to Bitcoin’s bullish sentiment, prominent investor Dan Tapiero has voiced his optimistic outlook for the leading cryptocurrency.
Tapiero, known for his investment insights and founding roles in Gold Bullion International and 10T Holdings, highlighted a significant macroeconomic factor that drives Bitcoin’s potential ascent.
According to Tapiero, the observed correlation in the market points to concerns regarding “monetary debasement” fueled by a substantial increase in the Treasury market over the past five years.
Tapiero’s bullish stance centers on the unique scarcity of Bitcoin as a digital asset, emphasizing its potential to outperform traditional assets like gold.
Most remarkable macro correlation break I’ve seen in some time.
Suggests extreme concern about monetary debasement driven by 60% Treasury mkt increase past 5yrs.
Theme not yet widely subscribed.
Bullish #GOLD and more so when rates drop.
Vaults #Bitcoin to 200k+
🚀 🚀 pic.twitter.com/muI1CNtN0h— Dan Tapiero (@DTAPCAP) April 8, 2024
While acknowledging the favorable prospects for gold in such a scenario, Tapiero remains particularly bullish on Bitcoin’s future price trajectory. His forecast hints at the possibility of Bitcoin surpassing the $200,000 mark, offering investors an opportunity for substantial gains in digital gold.
The asset has demonstrated resilience amid these speculations and predictions regarding BTC’s possible price rally in the coming months. While Bitcoin has plunged nearly 5% in the past 24 hours, it has traded above $69,000 at the time of writing.
Featured image from Unsplash, Chart from TradingView
Disclaimer: The article is provided for educational purposes only. It does not represent the opinions of NewsBTC on whether to buy, sell or hold any investments and naturally investing carries risks. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use information provided on this website entirely at your own risk.
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Apple stock is down about 12% this year but could still see stellar gains in 2024, according to Wedbush.
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The iPhone maker has 48% upside, the firm said, outlining five bullish tailwinds for the stock.
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Apple stock has had a disappointing year so far, but there are still reasons for investors to stay bullish on the iPhone maker, according to Wedbush.
The firm pointed to a “black cloud” hanging over the company, with Apple shares sliding 10% for a loss of over $200 billion in market value so far in 2024. That loss comes amid demand concerns in China, where Apple is battling a government crackdown on iPhones and fierce competition from China-based rivals, like Huawei.
“It’s clear that Apple is navigating one of the more difficult China demand environments we have seen the last 5 years as a combination of factors has created a perfect storm for Cupertino in this key market,” analysts said in a note on Tuesday, estimating that iPhone sales in China would likely fall “moderately” below estimates in March.
But Apple stock still has the potential to deliver big gains this year, analysts said, maintaining their “outperform” rating and $250 price target on the stock, the highest estimate on Wall Street.
A rise to that level implies 48% upside for Apple, which Wedbush said could stem from five bullish factors:
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iPhone sales could be strong overall this year. 2024 estimates are “hittable” despite some conservative 2025 estimates for iPhone sales, analysts noted.
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There could be pent-up demand for iPhones, given how many users are due for an upgrade. Wedbush estimated there were around 270 million iPhones that could be swapped for a newer version, especially as Apple is set to roll out its iPhone 16 this year.
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Services revenue for the company remains “rock solid,” Wedbush analysts said. Apple pulled record-high revenue from the services side of its business over the first quarter, according to its latest earnings report.
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The company is integrating AI into its devices. Apple is set to make an announcement on its progress with generative artificial intelligence at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Wedbush predicted.
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Apple still dominates the smartphone market, with 2.2 billion of its devices being used around the world. That’s the “strongest installed base of any company,” analysts noted.
Over the medium term, investors are eyeing Apple’s next quarterly earnings report, which is set to roll out on May 2.
“The Street is bracing for a brutal March quarter and soft June guidance which we believe could be the last few quarters of this growth storm as Apple starts to see a renaissance of growth heading into the September quarter and FY25,” Wedbush said. “While some patience is required to navigate this China weakness, we believe the seeds for an Apple growth turnaround are being planted in the field.”
Most analysts on Wall Street have maintained a “strong-buy” rating for the stock, according to data from the Nasdaq Exchange. The average price target for Apple stood at $202 a share, implying a 20% upside for the stock.
Read the original article on Business Insider
The applications for spot ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) face a potential rejection in May when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reaches its deadline for decisions, according to Vaneck’s CEO. His firm is one of the applicants seeking approval for a spot ether ETF. “Right now, pins are dropping as far as Ethereum is […]
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As the Bitcoin (BTC) “Halving” approaches, expectations increase about how the flagship cryptocurrency will perform. Bitcoin (BTC) is recovering momentum after facing a significant correction in the first few days of Q2, and some analysts are forecasting new heights for the number one cryptocurrency soon.
Are The Odds In The Bulls Or Bears Favor?
Bitcoin had its best quarterly close during Q1, 2024. Despite BTC’s stellar performance, as Q2 started, the market was dragged by the leading cryptocurrency’s price correction.
Since then, Bitcoin has been steadily recovering, testing the $70,000 resistance level over the weekend. As the week started, BTC appeared to have regained support above the $70,000 level.
Crypto analyst Ali Martinez seems to think that Bitcoin’s performance so far reflects a positive sentiment from investors. In an X post, Martinez shared a chart that paints an optimistic picture, at least for now.
When you compare support (1.4 million addresses holding 893,000 $BTC between $68,220 and $70,325) with resistance (474,000 addresses holding 285,000 #BTC between $70,760 and $71,200), the odds appear to favor the #Bitcoin bulls! pic.twitter.com/pceCyGa8mb
— Ali (@ali_charts) April 9, 2024
According to Martinez’s post, the In/Out of the Money Around Price (IOMAP) indicator seems favorable to the bulls. Per the chart, the addresses holding BTC at the support level massively outnumber those holding Bitcoin at the resistance level.
The chart suggests that Bitcoin is at “stable support” as 474,000 addresses hold 285,000 BTC between $70,760 and $71,200. Meanwhile, 1.4 million addresses hold the flagship cryptocurrency between $68,220 and $70,325.
When compared, the addresses and BTC held at the support level nearly triple those in the resistance zone. To the analyst, bulls are the current victors as “odds appear to favor” them.
Analyst Forecast Bitcoin To 90,000 Soon
Captain Faibik, another crypto analyst, also seems to perceive more bullish momentum for Bitcoin. In an X post, the analyst suggests that BTC’s “bullish pennant upside break is confirmed on the daily chart.”
Per the chart, the flagship cryptocurrency’s price started a consolidation period in early March, forming a pennant pattern. This pattern saw an upside breakout after Monday’s daily candle closed above the $70,000 price range.
Due to this breakout, the analyst forecasts a surge to the $88,000-$90,000 price range this month.
$BTC Bullish Pennant Upside Breakout is Confirmed on the Daily timeframe Chart.. ✅
Now, Send Bitcoin to the 88-90k this Month. 📈🚀#Crypto #BTC #Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/ok2DGPXsAb
— Captain Faibik (@CryptoFaibik) April 9, 2024
At the time of writing, Bitcoin remains above the $70,000 support level, only 5% below its most recent all-time high (ATH) price of $73,373. Despite the positive resistance, BTC’s price performance shows a slight decrease of 2.3% from yesterday.
Similarly, its daily trading volume and market capitalization have mildly dropped. According to CoinMarketCap data, BTC’s daily trading volume is down by 6%, while its market cap of $1.38 trillion represents a 2.1% decrease.
Nonetheless, Bitcoin remains 8.4% above its price seven days ago, trading at $70,378. Further bullish sentiment, fueled by the upcoming “Halving” event, could help the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization consolidate its support above the current levels.
Bitcoin sits above the $70,000 support level in the 1-day chart. Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview
Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
Disclaimer: The article is provided for educational purposes only. It does not represent the opinions of NewsBTC on whether to buy, sell or hold any investments and naturally investing carries risks. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use information provided on this website entirely at your own risk.
The digital-asset industry and its allies in Congress on Tuesday criticized the Biden administration for blaming cryptocurrency for its failures to prevent the flow of funds to foreign adversaries supporting terrorism, drug trafficking and other illegal activities.
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Quick Take
Bitcoin’s price cycles are often influenced by the behavior of short-term holders (STHs), defined as investors who have held the digital asset for less than 155 days. According to Glassnode data, during market peaks, STHs typically possess 80% or more of the Bitcoin supply, with the prevailing cohort transitioning from shorter to longer holding periods in each subsequent cycle.
Data from Glassnode shows that at the peak in 2011, STHs commanded 96% of the supply, primarily comprising holders of one-day to one-week durations. By the 2013 peak, 90% of the supply was held by STHs, predominantly those holding for one-day to one-week periods. Moving to the 2017 peak, STHs still dominated over 90% of the supply, but the principal cohort shifted to one-week to one-month holders, indicating a slightly maturing market.
In March 2021, at the peak, 85% of the supply was held by STHs, with the predominant group being holders of one-month to three-month durations, according to Glassnode.
Currently, with Bitcoin hovering near all-time highs, STHs control 54% of the supply, which suggests potential for further growth. The gradual transition in dominant STH groups from shorter to longer durations implies an evolving market maturity.
The post From days to months: How Bitcoin holder behavior predicts price peaks appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Lucid delivered nearly 2,000 luxury electric sedans in the first quarter, helping to drive down inventory.
Shareholders of Lucid Group (LCID -2.41%) haven’t had much to cheer about over the past year. The stock of the luxury electric vehicle (EV) maker has plunged 65% in the last 12 months. But shares got a bump today after the company reported its first-quarter production and delivery results.
Those figures appear to be more than what investors expected. Lucid stock jumped more than 6% on the news. As of 11:10 a.m. ET, shares were still trading up by 3% on the day. There’s one good reason for why investors liked the data released by the company.
Luxury EV market size concerns
Lucid didn’t blow away its own production estimates in the first quarter. Management previously predicted it would produce about 9,000 vehicles in 2024. First-quarter production of 1,728 EVs doesn’t give them any reason to boost that full-year estimate.
But importantly, the company delivered nearly 2,000 EVs in the quarterly period. That allays fears that Lucid had been producing vehicles that weren’t yet sold, building up inventory. In the fourth quarter, Lucid produced about 650 more units than it delivered. So it was encouraging to see that discrepancy reverse in the first quarter.
But sales volume is still much lower than the company had predicted more than a year ago. That has resulted in Lucid burning more cash than it had planned. Financial backing by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) and its affiliates may be the only reason Lucid hasn’t discussed filing for bankruptcy already.
Ultimately, Lucid will need sales of its Air luxury sedan to pick up and for the Gravity SUV to be a hit when shipments begin by the end of this year. For now, news that Air sedan sales aren’t declining is good enough for investors to give shares a boost.
Howard Smith has positions in Lucid Group. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.