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Biotech and Pharma Market Update: Q3 2025 in Review

Investing 7 Mins Read

The third quarter was a pivotal period for both the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors, with regulatory developments and an increase in business deals shaping the landscape for the industries.

Public biotech indexes rallied above critical levels last seen in 2021, with the NASDAQ Biotech Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) closing 21 points ahead for the quarter and up 11 percent year-to-date.

Emerging artificial intelligence (AI) applications are becoming increasingly critical in drug discovery and R&D, highlighted by products like AlphaFold and new draft guidance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that encourages AI use in regulatory submissions. However, cautious funding approaches remain, especially for early stage companies.

This confluence may signal a sector resurgence, despite continued funding caution for early stage firms.

Biopharma M&A activity picks up

In a Q3 report on M&A activity, Oppenheimer notes that biopharma market sentiment showed an upward trajectory during the quarter, with expectations that deal flow will continue to increase through the end of 2025.

William Blair, a global investment banking and asset management firm specializing in biopharma investments, also notes an uptick in momentum in a recap of Q2 activity in the biopharma space, citing positive clinical data, a wave of public M&A activity and more clarity on tariffs and drug pricing as catalysts.

Total M&A transaction value reached US$38 billion for the quarter, according to data analyzed by Oppenheimer, including US$20 billion in September alone. Clinical-stage acquisitions saw their strongest quarter since late 2023, driven by early stage assets in the oncology, immunology and cardiovascular-metabolic areas.

The central nervous system space saw a pause in deals for the first time since the beginning of 2024, reflecting shifting investment priorities. Small molecules and antibodies maintained their leading positions as prevalent treatment modalities in deals, while emergents like bispecific antibodies, multi-specific antibody-drug conjugates and CAR-T therapies gained traction. However, the overall M&A market for antibody-drug conjugates remained cautious, with the exception of Seribant Therapeutics’ acquisition of Y-mAbs Therapeutics for US$412 million.

Public company takeouts continued to outnumber private company acquisitions for the second consecutive quarter; however, private companies still attracted strong interest from investors after a sluggish first half of 2025.

Oppenheimer’s Private Placement Activity report notes that a significant increase was observed in September, with companies with a clinical pipeline and a platform commanding the highest valuations.

Strategic partnerships between established pharmaceutical leaders and innovative biotech firms continued to underscore the ongoing efforts by pharma leaders to build and diversify their pipelines.

Roche Holding (OTCQX:RHHBY,SWX:ROG) and Zealand Pharma (OTC Pink:ZLDPY,CPH:ZEAL) entered into an agreement to co-develop and co-commercialize weight-loss drug candidate petrelintide in a deal valued at up to US$5.3 billion, reflecting ongoing interest in weight-management therapies, despite market challenges and competitive pressure.

Meanwhile, Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) and BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX) agreed to co-develop and co-commercialize a novel cancer immunotherapy targeting multiple tumor types in a deal worth up to US$11 billion, and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) partnered with 3SBio (OTC Pink:TRSBF,HKEX:1530) to advance a new cancer drug candidate.

Both agreements highlight ongoing efforts to expand oncology treatment options.

Cell and gene therapies continued to draw investor attention, and the central nervous system space saw an increase in average deal size. William Blair notes that cell and gene therapies remain a priority area for venture capital investors, as well as public market investors, despite regulatory complexities.

Initial public offering (IPO) activity rebounded meaningfully in Q3 after a quieter first half of 2025, with LB Pharmaceuticals’ (NASDAQ:LBRX) September offering serving as a marker of renewed capital markets appetite.

Secondary public offerings and clinical-stage private financings also increased, fueled by promising clinical data and expanding investor participation, including from international markets such as China.

In parallel, funding for AI-driven drug discovery platforms continued to capture investor interest, with rounds for companies like Isomorphic Labs, Pathos and Lila Sciences.

Regulatory and policy developments

US President Donald Trump’s second term has brought a shift to more business-friendly stances, impacting healthcare M&A and trade. The Federal Trade Commission has signaled intentions to ease antitrust scrutiny, potentially speeding up big pharma and biotech dealmaking and encouraging higher transaction volumes that consolidate the sector.

A central policy focus is the onshoring of biopharmaceutical manufacturing, with the administration actively pursuing tariff negotiations to reduce import costs and bolster supply chain resilience. The landmark deal between the government and Pfizer to lower drug prices in Medicaid in exchange for tariff relief exemplifies this dual approach.

These tariff adjustments are designed to ease the burden on drug importation costs, incentivizing companies to invest more domestically while managing global supply chain risks. Lara Castleton, US head of portfolio construction and strategy at Janus Henderson Investors, has identified this agreement as “the catalyst for healthcare.” She further suggests that the sector is likely overdue for a comeback, having lagged behind the tech market earlier in the year.

Trump has emphasized the expectation that other pharma companies will follow suit, intensifying onshoring efforts. As of September 30, large pharma had committed roughly US$368 billion to US-based manufacturing facilities.

Additionally, the FDA approved 45 new drug applications in Q3, marking a notable increase from previous quarters. This surge was driven by accelerated approvals, largely in the gene and cell therapy sectors, as well as innovative biologics targeting rare diseases and oncology.

Biotech and pharma market forecast for 2025

The biotech and pharma sectors entered Q4 on firm footing. Supportive market dynamics are expected to persist as the year continues, with 2025 on track to reach US$93 billion in total transaction value.

Several catalysts are poised to shape the healthcare landscape moving forward.

An anticipated IPO from MapLight Therapeutics, focusing on neurology therapies, will reveal investor appetite for specialty pharma assets in a market that had a bullish close to Q3, but faces questions about sustaining momentum.

On the regulatory front, FDA decisions are expected for a handful of treatments in gene and cell therapy, as well as oncology. Approvals are expected to accelerate, bolstered by programs aimed at speeding up evaluations of novel treatments like CRISPR-based medicines, stem cell research and nutraceuticals.

Leadership changes may also foster innovation in unconventional medical fields such as stem cell research and nutraceuticals. Amid an evolving regulatory and political landscape, Reed Jobs has advocated for sustained public funding to fuel biomedical progress, delivering a key congressional address on National Institutes of Health protection in September. Beyond advocacy, he is also building a nearly US$1 billion biotech fund focused on next-generation cancer therapies, highlighting the vital intersection of public research funding and private sector innovation.

Policy clarity around drug pricing reforms and Medicaid tariff relief will critically influence commercial access and pricing dynamics. The GLP-1 sector remains under the spotlight following the announcement of Trump’s plans to reduce the monthly cost of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy to US$150.

AI’s expanding role in drug discovery, clinical trial design and digital therapeutics will continue to inspire industry innovation, likely attracting significant funding and fostering new collaborations.

However, volatility related to regulatory appointments, trade uncertainties and notably the ongoing US federal government shutdown presents near-term challenges. Investors and industry participants will closely monitor clinical data and regulatory shifts to navigate the evolving landscape successfully.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Questcorp Mining Closes First Tranche of Private Placement

Investing 5 Mins Read

Questcorp Mining Inc. (CSE: QQQ,OTC:QQCMF) (OTCQB: QQCMF) (FSE: D910) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Questcorp’) announces that it has closed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement (the ‘Offering’). In connection with closing, the Company has issued 14,000,334 units (each, a ‘Unit’) at a price of $0.15 per Unit for gross proceeds of $2,100,050. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a ‘Share’) and one-half-of-one share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, an ‘Warrant’). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire an additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.20 until October 24, 2027, subject to accelerated expiry in the event the closing price of the Shares is $0.50 or higher for ten consecutive trading days.

The Company expects to utilize the proceeds of the Offering for advancement of ongoing exploration and drill work at the La Union Gold and Silver Project, upcoming exploration work at the North Island Copper Property, and for general working capital purposes.

A portion of the Units issued under the first tranche the Offering, representing $2,000,000 will be held pursuant to a sharing agreement entered into with an institutional investor, Sorbie Bornholm LP (‘Sorbie‘) and the Company (the ‘Sharing Agreement‘). The Sharing Agreement provides that the Company’s economic interest will be determined in twenty-four monthly settlement tranches as measured against the Benchmark Price (as defined herein). If, at the time of settlement, the Settlement Price (determined monthly based on a volume-weighted average price for twenty trading days prior to the settlement date) (the ‘Settlement Price‘) exceeds the benchmark price of $0.1949 (the ‘Benchmark Price‘), the Company shall receive more than one-hundred percent of the monthly settlement due, on a pro-rata basis. There is no upper limit placed on the additional proceeds receivable by the Company as part of the monthly settlements. If, at the time of settlement, the Settlement Price is below the Benchmark Price of $0.1949, the Company will receive less than one-hundred percent of the monthly settlement due on a pro-rata basis. In no event will a decline in the Settlement Price of the Units result in an increase in the number of Units being issued to Sorbie.

The Units issued to subscribers in the first tranche of the Offering were issued pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption (the ‘Listed Issuer Financing Exemption‘) under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions (‘NI 45-106‘). As a result, they are not subject to statutory hold periods. In connection with the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, the Company has prepared and filed an offering document related to the Offering that is available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company’s website at: www.questcorpmining.ca. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision. No finders’ fees or commissions were paid in connection with completion of the first tranche of the Offering, but Sorbie received a corporate finance fee in the amount $130,000 payable through the issuance of 866,667 Units at price of $0.15 per Unit.

The Company anticipates completing a further tranche of the Offering for up to a further 9,333,000 Units, to bring combined gross proceeds from the Offering to $3,500,000. The Company anticipates that the remaining Units will be offered to subscribers pursuant to the accredited investor exemption (the ‘Accredited Investor Exemption‘) under Section 2.3 of NI 45-106. All securities issued pursuant to the Accredited Investor Exemption will be subject to restrictions on resale for a period of four-months-and-one-day in accordance with applicable securities laws. In connection with completion of the remaining tranche of the Offering, the Company may pay finders’ fees to eligible third-parties who have introduced subscribers to the Offering. Completion of a final tranche of the Offering remains subject to receipt of regulatory approvals.

About Questcorp Mining Inc.

Questcorp Mining Inc. is engaged in the business of the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in North America, with the objective of locating and developing economic precious and base metals properties of merit. The Company holds an option to acquire an undivided 100% interest in and to mineral claims totaling 1,168.09 hectares comprising the North Island Copper Property, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, subject to a royalty obligation. The Company also holds an option to acquire an undivided 100% interest in and to mineral claims totaling 2,520.2 hectares comprising the La Union Project located in Sonora, Mexico, subject to a royalty obligation.

Contact Information

Questcorp Mining Corp.
Saf Dhillon, President & CEO
Email: saf@questcorpmining.ca
Telephone: (604) 484-3031

This news release includes certain ‘forward-looking statements’ under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the intended use of proceeds from the Offering. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the ability of Riverside to secure geophysical contractors to undertake orientation surveys and follow up detailed survey to confirm and enhance the drill targets as contemplated or at all, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain capital markets; and delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that the geophysical surveys will be completed as contemplated or at all and that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/271978

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

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Shaakichiuwaanaan Project Set to Become Second Largest Lithium Mine Globally

Investing 2 Mins Read

Canadian company PMET Resources (ASX:PMT, TSX:PMET, OTCQX:PMETF) has completed a lithium-only feasibility study on the CV5 deposit of its Shaakichiuwaanaan lithium project in Northern Quebec.

The company said that the feasibility study confirms that the project is a large-scale and lifelong operation, with CV5’s maiden reserve updated to 84.3 million tonnes (Mt) at 1.26 percent lithium oxide or about 2.62 Mt lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) in probable reserves.

Results also show that there is still potential to upgrade and expand resources at CV5 and its nearby CV13 deposit, which currently hold a total resource of 108.0 million tonnes at 1.40 percent indicated and 33.4 at 1.33 percent inferred.

“Our large scale and long-life project is ideally suited to support the emerging American, European, and Asian lithium raw materials supply chains,” commented CEO and President Ken Brinsden.

“There are very few projects of this size & scale, quality, and low production cost that can assist in underwriting the expected capital investment supporting new supply chains and demand growth in western markets.”

Located in Quebec’s Eeyou Istchee James Bay region, Shaakichiuwaanaan is recognised as the largest lithium pegmatite mineral resource in the Americas.

It is also among the largest lithium mines in the world, with potential to become the second largest following the Greenbushes lithium operations in Western Australia.

Greenbushes is owned by Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) and was recorded with an estimated 0.21 metric tonnes per annum lithium production in 2023.

PMET is targeting a final investment decision for Shaakichiuwaanaan for the second half of 2027, hoping that “the overall market supply-demand balance tightens over the coming years.”

Researchers found that the project can have an annual production of up to 800,000 tonnes of lithium-rich rock, along with pollucite, tantalite, and cesium.

Brinsden said that about 20 percent of the jobs created at Shaakichiuwaanaan will be allotted to workers at the Cree territory.

PMET Resources was formerly Patriot Battery Metals. The company officially changed its name in September.

Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Homerun Resources Inc. Financings Update

Investing 2 Mins Read

Homerun Resources Inc. (TSXV: HMR,OTC:HMRFF) (OTCQB: HMRFF) (‘Homerun’ or the ‘Company’) announces that the Company has submitted its formal application for conditional approval of the previously announced $6-million financing with a single institutional investor. The Company is now awaiting conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Company also reports, that further to its October 6, 2025, news release, the Company is oversubscribed for its $3-million unit private placement at $1.00. This financing will close after the above financing, as several subscribers have requested that the closing of the $6-million institutional financing be a precedent, and so the Company has requested and received approval from the TSX Venture Exchange to extend the closing of that financing for a standard 30-day period to November 24, 2025.

Both financings are anticipated to close in the immediate term, subject to TSX-V approval.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of
Homerun Resources Inc.

‘Brian Leeners’

Brian Leeners, CEO & Director
brianleeners@gmail.com / +1 604-862-4184 (WhatsApp)

Tyler Muir, Investor Relations
info@homerunresources.com / +1 306-690-8886 (WhatsApp)

FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE
The information contained herein contains ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be ‘forward-looking statements’.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/271921

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

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Editor’s Picks: Gold Price Recovers from Biggest One-Day Drop in 12 Years

Investing 4 Mins Read

The gold price declined from its recent all-time highs this week, sinking to nearly US$4,000 per ounce and recording its biggest one-day decline in more than 12 years.

Silver took a similar hit, slipping back below the US$50 per ounce level.

The drops have been attributed to factors like a stronger US dollar and lower US-China tensions, as well as profit taking, potentially from traders who are new to the market.

Many experts have been anticipating a correction for the metals — their latest rise has been quick, and no asset can go straight up forever.

However, there’s also a broad consensus that gold has entered a new phase. For example, Patrick Tuohy of Goldstrom believes gold won’t fall below US$3,000 again.

Here’s what Tuohy said:

‘Is this a short-term phenomenon that’s going to have some some dynamics that are going to turn it on its head and it reverses 50, 60 percent? I don’t believe that is the case. I think within our group … the consensus is that it’s unlikely that we’ll see gold below US$3,000 again in our lifetimes. So let’s say that that’s the floor. That’s a fairly significant move from where we were two years ago. So that’s comfortable.’

Next week, all eyes will be on the US Federal Reserve, which is set to meet from October 28 to 29. CME Group’s (NASDAQ:CME) FedWatch tool shows strong expectations for another interest rate cut.

While the release of US government data has been affected by the ongoing shutdown, September consumer price index numbers were released on Friday (October 24).

The report was the first major piece of federal economic data to come out since the shutdown began, and it has confirmed expectations of another rate reduction.

Bullet briefing — What’s next for gold and silver?

Gold and silver prices perked up to end the week, rising to the US$4,100 and US$48.60 levels, respectively. But with the metals still off from their all-time highs, investors are wondering what’s next.

Opinions vary, but I’ve pulled together a couple of quotes that illustrate what I’m hearing.

First is Ed Steer of Ed Steer’s Gold and Silver Digest. He’s well known for his commentary on the precious metals space, and he weighed in on what’s next for silver, saying that today really is different compared to the other times silver rose to the US$50 level.

Here’s how he explained it:

‘It’s irrelevant what the price is today. You look at the big picture, and look at the fact that the BRICS+ have become an absolutely awesome juggernaut, and it’s absolutely unstoppable. And as we shift from the west to the east, as this continues economically, financially, it’s impossible to say where this is going to end up.

‘But what we’re living right now is we’re living through a major, major shift in financial power, from one area of the world to another, and we’re going to be — they’re going to be writing about this 1,000 years from now. So we’re living through history.’

Next we have Don Durrett of GoldStockData.com. This interview is from the week before last, so it’s a little older, but definitely still relevant. I’ve kept thinking about a comment Durrett made about one way we can tell the gold cycle is still early. This is what he said:

The thing that really reveals how early we are is the stock market is only 2 percent from an all-time high. What in the world is the stock market doing at an all-time high and gold at an all-time high? Those are antagonistic. Gold is supposed to be a hedge against uncertainty. The stock market is supposed to show basically confidence.

And so if you have an all-time high, people should be confident. Everything’s fine. We don’t need this. But people are not confident. People have said this is the most scary bull market ever. Nobody really believes in it, right? … So the question is, who’s telling the truth? Is the stock market telling the truth at an all time high, or is it gold is telling the truth? Well, it’s pretty obvious that gold’s the one telling the truth.

In It To Win It interview

Finally, if you’d like to hear more from me, I was recently interviewed by Steve Barton of In It To Win It.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Tech Weekly: Cloud Providers, Tech Stocks Outperform as Earnings Season Rolls On

Investing 5 Mins Read

This week began on a strong note, with emerging signs that US-China tensions could ease and White House Economic Advisor Kevin Hassett’s suggestion that the federal government shutdown could soon end.

US stocks rallied broadly, led by small caps and semiconductors, with the PHLX Semiconductor Sector (INDEXNASDAQ:SOX) hitting an all-time high amid reduced concerns about regional bank credit quality.

On Tuesday (October 21), hotter-than-expected Canadian inflation data weighed on the S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX), while the Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) outperformed.

Wednesday (October 22) saw profit taking in high-growth names as Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) and IBM (NYSE:IBM) reported after the bell, and as reports of potential new US export curbs on China pressured equities.

IBM beat revenue forecasts with US$9.5 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) revenue, but offered cautious guidance, leading its share price to fall after-hours. Tesla missed revenue estimates, with margins falling to 5.8 percent due to price cuts and reduced regulatory credits, despite record deliveries. CEO Elon Musk reiterated medium-term goals in AI, autonomy and robotics, though the firm didn’t update its financial guidance. Tesla shares also dropped after hours.

Despite the pullback, the tech sector rebounded sharply on Thursday (October 23), driven by optimism about AI and cloud infrastructure. Quantum computing companies such as IonQ (NASDAQ:IONQ), Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI) and D-Wave Quantum (NYSE:QBTS) surged on reports of increased US government funding.

North of the border, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled a C$3 billion joint investment in small modular reactors at the Darlington site, located east of Toronto in Bowmanville.

Later, Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) surpassed expectations with a 3 percent year-on-year revenue increase, reaching US$13.7 billion, with gross margins doubling to 38 percent. The demand for AI accelerators and x86 processors contributed to these strong results. CEO Lip-Bu Tan expressed confidence in continuing AI-driven compute demand.

Following the announcement, shares rose and opened nearly 5 percent higher the next day.

Intel’s standout earnings boosted sentiment heading into Friday. Markets opened higher after delayed US inflation data came in cooler than expected, showing easing underlying pressures and reinforcing expectations for another Fed rate cut next week. Tech stocks led the advance once again.

3 tech stocks that moved markets this week

1. Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU)

Micron Technology shares rose 4.46 percent this week, hitting a record high above US$214 on Monday (October 20) after analysts at Barclays (NYSE:BCS) raised their price target from US$195 to US$240, citing robust earnings and margin expansion as signs of operational strength. The company has reported surging demand for its high-bandwidth memory chips, with supply fully sold out through 2026. Other semiconductor stocks, such as ON Semiconductor (NASDAQ:ON) and KLA (NASDAQ:KLAC), also gained, reflecting broad semiconductor strength.

2. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Apple’s share price is up 2.7 percent for the week, boosted by an overall bullish sentiment for high-value tech stocks, as well as momentum from strong M5 MacBook demand and solid sales of the iPhone 17 in the US and China.

CEO Tim Cook later announced the opening of the company’s Texas manufacturing facility on Thursday, two months ahead of schedule, further boosting sentiment.

3. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA)

Top AI stock NVIDIA saw gains of 1.67 percent this week following a joint announcement with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE:TSM). The companies said the first Blackwell wafer has been produced in the US at Taiwan Semiconductor’s semiconductor fab in Phoenix.

It is the first of its kind to be domestically manufactured in recent American history.

NVIDIA remains the bellwether for the AI sector, and its share price performance is widely regarded as a barometer for risk-on sentiment in the AI and tech sectors, with its share price movements often reflecting investor appetite for growth and optimism about the future of AI-driven innovation.

Micron Technology, NVIDIA and Apple performance, October 21 to 24, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

Tech ETF performance

This week, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) advanced by 1.83 percent, while the Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXQ) saw a weekly gain of 1.91 percent.

The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SMH) increased by 1.59 percent.

Other tech market news

  • Amazon Web Services experienced a major outage this week, raising concerns about cloud infrastructure resilience and spotlighting the critical dependency on hyperscale providers.

        Tech news to watch next week

        Next week, investors will be eyeing interest rate decisions from the Bank of Canada and the US Federal Reserve. The Bank of Canada is expected to hold rates steady, reflecting ongoing cautiousness amid cooling inflation, while US investors are betting on a rate cut from the the country’s central bank.

        Earnings results from tech giants will also be closely watched, with Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Microsoft and Meta reporting on Wednesday (October 29), and Apple and Amazon on Thursday (October 30).

        Strong beats or cautious guidance from these heavyweight companies could either boost confidence in the tech sector’s growth trajectory or temper enthusiasm in the final quarter of 2025.

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

        This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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        Ed Steer: Silver Rally Now Unstoppable, Price to Hit Triple Digits

        Investing 1 Min Read

        Ed Steer of Ed Steer’s Gold and Silver Digest shares his thoughts on silver’s run past US$50 per ounce, saying that in his view the bull market is just getting started.

        ‘One way or another we’re going to run into a supply/demand brick wall, and when that day happens we could see triple-digit silver prices in a very, very short period of time,’ he said.

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

        This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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        X-ray tables, hidden cameras: The tech in rigged poker games linked to the mob and NBA

        Business 5 Mins Read

        Card-reading contact lenses, X-ray poker tables, trays of poker chips that read cards, hacked shuffling machines that predict hands. The technology alleged to have been used to execute a multistate, rigged poker operation sounds like it’s straight out of Hollywood.

        And those were only some of the gadgets that authorities say were used to swindle millions of dollars from unsuspecting victims through rigged, high-dollar, underground poker games over more than five years.

        A sprawling indictment unsealed Thursday by the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York charged Chauncey Billups, the head coach of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, and Damon Jones, a former NBA player, along with members of the Mafia and dozens of other defendants, with being part of a conspiracy.

        The victims were “at the mercy of concealed technology, including rigged shuffling machines and specially designed contacts lenses and sunglasses to read the backs of playing cards, which ensured that the victims would lose big,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella of Brooklyn said in a statement.

        Cheating at poker is as old as poker itself. But today, wearable tech and nano-cameras are putting even upstanding poker players on their guard.

        The defendants used “special contact lenses or eyeglasses that could read pre-marked cards,” Nocella said at a news conference announcing the indictments.

        He also showed a photo of an X-ray table that “could read cards face down on the table … because of the X-ray technology.”

        An X-ray poker table in an image from defendant Robert Stroud’s iCloud account.U.S. Justice Department

        “Defendants used other cheating technologies, such as poker chip tray analyzers, which is a poker chip tray that secretly reads cards using a hidden camera,” he said.

        And while marking poker cards so they are visible only with special eyewear is an old trick, new radio-frequency identification and infrared technologies have ramped up the sophistication levels.

        Technically speaking, many of the devices involved in the alleged scam authorities detailed Thursday are relatively cheap to manufacture, said Sal Piacente, a gaming security consultant.

        By the time they reach their customers, however, the cost of industrial shufflers or tables can easily approach $100,000, once distributors and middlemen are factored in.

        “You could make a lucrative career buying this stuff,” Piacente said.

        Casino and gaming security consultants told NBC News that the alleged scheme was possible only because the games were underground. In backrooms, there was none of the surveillance tech that reputable casinos use to catch players cheating.

        “A lot of the features which made this scheme so successful would have been ID’d a lot sooner, or very quickly, in a traditional regulated gaming environment,” said Ian Messenger, a former U.K. law enforcement officer and founder and CEO of the Association of Certified Gaming Compliance Specialists.

        More than any other tech, it was the reprogramming of the industrial card shufflers — identified in charging documents as Deckmate-brand machines — that authorities said was key to the alleged game rigging.

        A DeckMate 2 shuffler taken apart on a table in an image from defendant Shane Hennen’s iCloud account. U.S. Justice Department

        Deckmates are not sold directly to the public — though many used ones can be found for sale online. The ones at the high-dollar games cited in the indictment could read cards and predict which player had the best hand. Neither Deckmate nor its parent company, Light & Wonder, were implicated in any way in Thursday’s indictments.

        A spokesman for Light & Wonder told NBC News in a statement that the company was aware of reports about the charges against people but said they were not affiliated with the company.

        “We sell and lease our automatic card shufflers and other gaming products and services only to licensed casinos and other licensed gaming establishments,” said Andy Fouché, the company’s vice president of communications. “We will cooperate in any law enforcement investigation related to this indictment.”

        Reprogramming shufflers is not a new trick. In 2023, hackers at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas presented research showing how to hack a Deckmate shuffler and use it to cheat.

        The rigged shuffler machines would transmit information about the players’ hands to an off-site “operator,” according to prosecutors.

        The computer program showing information transmitted by the rigged shuffling machine in an image from defendant Shane Hennen’s iCloud account. U.S. Justice Department

        The operator would then communicate the information to someone else at the table, dubbed the “quarterback.” The victim was known as the “fish.”

        Here, the high-tech gadgets met the low-tech of a card game.

        The quarterback might touch the $1,000 poker chip or tap his chin or touch his black chips to indicate who at the table had the best hand.

        Text messages obtained by prosecutors also appear to show defendants concerned that a fish would leave the table if he lost too many hands.

        “Guys please let him win a hand he’s in for 40k in 40 minutes he will leave if he gets no traction,” read one text message released by authorities.

        But according to Messenger, the consultant, it was not the tech that made the alleged scheme so successful for so long. What set it apart was the level of communication.

        For example, he said, the card information had to be seamlessly passed from the dealing machines to an off-site operator and back to a person back at the table, all without alerting the fish.

        “The piece that made this so successful was the coordination, not the technology,” he said.

        This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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        Business

        Target is eliminating 1,800 corporate jobs as it looks to reclaim its lost luster

        Business 3 Mins Read

        Target said Thursday that it is eliminating about 1,800 corporate positions in an effort to streamline decision-making and accelerate initiatives to rebuild the flagging discount retailer’s customer base.

        About 1,000 employees are expected to receive layoff notices next week, and the company also plans to eliminate about 800 vacant jobs, a company spokesperson said. The cuts represent about 8% of Target’s corporate workforce globally, although the majority of the affected employees work at the company’s Minneapolis headquarters, the spokesperson said.

        Chief Operating Officer Michael Fiddelke, who is set to become Target’s next CEO on Feb. 1, issued a note to personnel on Thursday announcing the downsizing. He said further details would come on Tuesday, and he asked employees at the Minneapolis offices to work from home next week.

        “The truth is, the complexity we’ve created over time has been holding us back,” Fiddelke, a 20-year Target veteran, wrote in his note. “Too many layers and overlapping work have slowed decisions, making it harder to bring ideas to life.”

        Target, which has about 1,980 U.S. stores, lost ground to Walmart and Amazon in recent years as inflation caused shoppers to curtail their discretionary spending. Customers have complained of messy stores with merchandise that did not reflect the expensive-looking but budget-priced niche that long ago earned the retailer the jokingly posh nickname “Tarzhay.”

        Fiddelke said in August when he was announced as Target’s next CEO that he would step into the role with three urgent priorities: reclaiming the company’s position as a leader in selecting and displaying merchandise; improving the customer experience by making sure shelves are consistently stocked and stores are clean; and investing in technology.

        He cited the same goals in his message to employees, calling the layoffs a “necessary step in building the future of Target and enabling the progress and growth we all want to see.”

        “Adjusting our structure is one part of the work ahead of us. It will also require new behaviors and sharper priorities that strengthen our retail leadership in style and design and enable faster execution,” he wrote.

        Target has reported flat or declining comparable sales — those from established physical stores and online channels — in nine out of the past 11 quarters. The company reported in August that comparable sales dipped 1.9% in its second quarter, when its net income also dropped 21%.

        The job cuts will not affect any store employees or workers in Target’s sorting, distribution and other supply chain facilities, the company spokesperson said.

        The corporate workers losing their jobs will receive pay and benefits until Jan. 8 as well as severance packages, the spokesperson said.

        This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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        Investing

        Top 4 Canadian Biotech Stocks of 2025

        Investing 4 Mins Read

        Biotech is a dynamic industry that is driving scientific advances and innovation in healthcare. In Canada, the biotech sector is home to companies pursuing cutting-edge therapies and medical technologies.

        Read on to learn what’s been driving these Canadian biotech firms.

        1. Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals (TSX:EPRX)

        Year-on-year gain: 141.23 percent
        Market cap: C$410.85 million
        Share price: C$8.25

        Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals is developing clinical candidates that employ its DiffuSphere technology, which delivers treatments to the targeted tissues.

        The company’s candidates are currently EP-104GI for eosinophilic esophagitis and EP-104IAR for knee osteoarthritis, and it is exploring the use of its technology for other active compounds as well.

        Eupraxia added EP-104GI to its pipeline through its acquisition of EpiPharma Therapeutics in late 2023. The company has continued to advance the treatment through clinical trials in 2025 and released multiple rounds of positive data from its Phase 1b/2a trial cohorts.

        In July, Eupraxia dosed its first patient after advancing its investigation to Phase 2b trials based on safety and efficacy data from the earlier Phase 2a patient cohorts. Top-line results from the Phase 2b study are anticipated in the second half of 2026.

        In September, the company shared data from the highest-dose cohort of the still ongoing Phase 1b/2a trials, reporting that the group saw the largest improvements so far.

        2. Bright Minds Biosciences (CSE:DRUG)

        Year-on-year gain: 103.17 percent
        Market cap: C$683.67 million
        Share price: C$92.95

        Bright Minds Biosciences is developing novel serotonin agonists targeting neurocircuit abnormalities linked to neuropsychiatric disorders and epilepsy, designing next-generation treatments that aim to retain the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics while minimizing side effects.

        Its lead candidate, BMB-101, a selective 5-HT2C receptor agonist, has shown encouraging preclinical efficacy by stopping seizures in an epilepsy mouse model, evaluated jointly with Firefly Neuroscience (NASDAQ:AIFF).

        The company’s stock surged nearly 1,500 percent in October 2024 following H. Lundbeck’s acquisition announcement of a competitor focused on similar targets. Strengthening its epilepsy expertise, Bright Minds expanded its scientific advisory board in early 2025 by adding five leaders in the field.

        Ongoing clinical progress and strategic growth initiatives position Bright Minds as a promising contender in the neuropsychiatric treatment landscape.

        3. Hemostemix (TSXV:HEM)

        Year-on-year gain: 31.25 percent
        Market cap: C$18.40 million
        Share price: C$0.11

        Hemostemix is a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing autologous stem cell therapies, meaning the treatments use a patient’s own cells to theoretically enhance safety and efficacy.

        Its main product, ACP-01, is an autologous cell therapy designed to promote tissue repair and regeneration in areas affected by diseases, including a range of heart diseases.

        The company announced its first advanced sales orders for ACP-01 in Q1 2025 and has been working to expand internationally and attract new investment.

        Hemostemix secured the regulatory green light for commercial sales in Florida after the state passed Senate Bill 1768. The bill creates a framework in which healthcare providers can administer stem cell therapies that had not yet been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but meet the bill’s guidelines.

        The company now offers commercial ACP-01 treatments for ischemic pain in the state under the name VesCell, with sales forecasted to reach C$22.5 million in 2026. Operational plans target cash flow positivity by Q4 2026, supported by a growing physician network and commercial pipeline.

        Additionally, Hemostemix is currently collaborating with Firefly Neuroscience on a Phase 1 clinical trial of ACP-01 for vascular dementia.

        4. NervGen (TSXV:NGEN)

        Year-on-year gain: 79.92 percent
        Market cap: C$300.97 million
        Share price: C$4.39

        NervGen is a clinical-stage Canadian biotechnology company that focuses on developing innovative treatments to enable the nervous system to repair itself following damage from injury or disease.

        The company’s core technology targets a mechanism that hinders nervous system repair. When the nervous system is damaged, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPG) form a “scar.” Initially, CSPGs help contain damage, but their long-term interaction with the PTPσ receptor inhibits repair.

        NervGen’s lead drug candidate, NVG-291, is designed to relieve these inhibitory effects to promote nervous system repair. It received fast-track designation from the US FDA.

        NervGen is advancing NVG-291 in a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial for spinal cord injury (SCI) and reported positive data from the chronic cohort in June.

        NVG-300, a newer preclinical candidate, is being evaluated for ischemic stroke and SCI.

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

        This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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