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Understanding Stock Pricing: From IPOs to Real-Time Market Dynamics

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Understanding Stock Pricing: From IPOs to Real-Time Market Dynamics

The stock market’s pricing mechanism forms the foundation of modern financial markets. Understanding price determination is essential for investors and traders alike. International Distribution Services PLC shares exemplify how market forces shape valuations, reflecting both short-term sentiment and long-term value. As Benjamin Graham famously observed, markets act as a voting machine in the short run but function as a weighing machine over time, measuring true business worth rather than momentary opinions.

This fundamental concept captures the essence of stock pricing—prices reflect both immediate market sentiment and underlying business value. Today’s stock markets operate through a complex interplay of factors, from fundamental analysis to technological innovations.

Primary market pricing

When a company first enters the public market through an Initial Public Offering (IPO), investment banks play a crucial role in determining the initial stock price. This process, known as price discovery, involves careful analysis of several factors:

  • Company’s financial health and growth prospects

  • Market conditions and investor sentiment

  • Comparable company valuations

  • Expected demand from institutional investors

Investment banks, acting as underwriters, conduct a book-building process. They gather interest from potential investors at various price points to determine the optimal initial price. For instance, when Deliveroo launched its IPO in 2021, the initial price range was set at 390-460 pence per share, based on institutional investor feedback.

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Secondary market mechanics

Basic principles

Once shares begin trading on exchanges like the London Stock Exchange, price formation becomes dynamic. Supply and demand take centre stage, with thousands of market participants interacting through a sophisticated order-matching system.

The exchange acts as a centralised marketplace where buyers and sellers meet. Each transaction occurs when a buyer’s bid price matches a seller’s ask price. This continuous process creates the familiar price movements we see during trading hours.

Price formation factors

Several key elements influence moment-to-moment price changes:

  1. The bid-ask spread represents the gap between the highest price buyers are willing to pay and the lowest price sellers will accept. Tighter spreads typically indicate higher liquidity.

  2. Market depth shows how many shares are available at different price levels. Greater depth usually means price movements are more stable.

  3. Trading volume provides insight into market interest and can indicate the strength of price movements. High volume often suggests stronger price trends.

Fundamental valuation methods

Company-based factors

Long-term stock prices ultimately reflect a company’s business performance. Key aspects include:

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  • Earnings growth and profitability trends

  • Market position and competitive advantages

  • Management effectiveness and strategy

  • Industry conditions and growth potential

Take Tesco plc as an example. Its stock price responds to factors like market share in the UK grocery sector, expansion plans, and operational efficiency improvements.

Financial metrics

Professional investors use various metrics to assess whether a stock’s price is justified:

The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio compares a company’s share price to its earnings per share. For instance, if a stock trades at £100 and earns £5 per share, its P/E ratio is 20.

Other important measures include:

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  • Price-to-book ratio: Compares market value to accounting value

  • Dividend yield: Annual dividend payments relative to share price

  • Cash flow analysis: Evaluates the company’s ability to generate cash

Each metric provides different insights into whether a stock might be overvalued or undervalued, though no single measure tells the complete story.

External price drivers

Market factors

The broader market environment significantly influences individual stock prices. Think of sector trends as powerful currents that can lift or sink all boats. For instance, British energy stocks surged collectively when oil prices spiked in early 2022, regardless of individual company performance.

Competition within industries shapes pricing dynamics too. When Marks & Spencer announced strong digital sales growth, it affected not just its own share price but also those of competitors like Next and ASOS, as investors reassessed the entire retail sector’s online potential.

Macro influences

Global economic conditions cast long shadows over stock prices. Interest rates, set by the Bank of England, particularly impact stock valuations. When rates rise, as seen in recent rate hike cycles, stocks often face downward pressure as bonds become more attractive investments.

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Currency fluctuations add another layer of complexity. For FTSE 100 companies earning significant revenues abroad, a weaker pound typically boosts their stock prices, as overseas earnings translate into more pounds.

Modern market dynamics

Technology impact

Today’s stock prices move at lightning speed, driven by sophisticated technology. High-frequency trading systems, operating in microseconds, now account for over 50% of UK stock market volume. These algorithms scan news feeds, analyse trading patterns, and execute trades faster than any human could blink.

Dark pools and electronic communication networks have created new venues for price discovery. These alternative trading systems match large institutional orders away from traditional exchanges, though their prices eventually feed back into the main market.

Information flow

The democratisation of financial information has transformed price formation. Social media platforms can now move markets as quickly as traditional news sources. When Elon Musk tweets about a company, its stock price often reacts within seconds.

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Professional analysts still play a crucial role:

  • Publishing detailed research reports

  • Providing earnings estimates

  • Offering buy/sell recommendations

  • Conducting management interviews

Their insights help investors contextualise raw information and form more nuanced views on appropriate stock prices.

Price manipulation and regulation

Market integrity remains crucial for fair price formation. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) actively monitors for suspicious trading patterns that might indicate manipulation. Common red flags include:

  • Unusual trading volumes

  • Coordinated trading activity

  • Misleading market announcements

  • Artificial price movements

Recent technology improvements have enhanced surveillance capabilities, making it harder to manipulate prices without detection. The FCA’s enforcement actions serve as a deterrent, helping maintain market confidence.

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Conclusion

Understanding stock price formation requires appreciating its multifaceted nature. While short-term prices might reflect immediate market sentiment, long-term valuations ultimately align with fundamental business performance.

For market participants, this suggests focusing on:

  • Company fundamentals rather than market noise

  • Long-term trends over daily fluctuations

  • Multiple information sources for better context

  • Risk management through proper research

Stock prices represent the market’s best estimate of value at any moment, based on all available information. This dynamic process never stops evolving, making continuous learning essential for anyone involved in the markets.

 

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Disclaimer: This is a sponsored article and is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect the views of Crypto Daily, nor is it intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice.

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Council tax alert: Oxford set to hit second home owners with 200% charge

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Council tax alert: Oxford set to hit second home owners with 200% charge

The council of one of Britain’s most famous cities is drawing up plans to charge residents a 200 per cent council tax bill in effort to generate more revenue for the local authority.

Oxford City Council has approved plans to double council tax charges on second homes in a move aimed at making the city “a fairer place to live” in a move than will impact hundreds of households.


An estimated 668 properties within the city council’s boundary will be affected by the new premium charge of 100 per cent.

The measure, which will require second homeowners to pay twice their standard council tax rate, is set to take effect from April 2025.

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Earlier this week, the decision was finalised following approval from the authority’s audit and governance committee.

Do you have a money story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing money@gbnews.uk.

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Oxford City Council is preparing to hike council tax on second homes

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The council had initially planned to implement the charge from April 2024, following its initial approval in February 2023.

However, these plans faced a setback in late December 2023 when council officers received guidance from the Government.

This delay came after officials were informed they needed to provide affected homeowners with 12 months’ notice following the legislation’s royal assent.

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As a result, this requirement pushed the implementation date back to April 2025, as the legislation did not receive royal assent until October 2023.

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Council tax bills are expected to go up this year

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Speaking after the committee’s approval, Oxford City Council’s deputy leader Ed Turner emphasised the fairness aspect of the new measure.

“We really want to make Oxford a fairer place to live,” he said. Turner added: “If people have a second home in Oxford, it’s only right that they make an appropriate contribution for local services.”

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The deputy leader also highlighted the council’s eagerness to implement the charges, stating: “We need this money, and I think we will be charging from the first moment that we legally can.”

Oxford is not the only local authority floating raising council taxes on specific types of property owners.

Wandsworth Borough Council, where residents are known for paying the lowest council tax in the country, are preparing to target foreign investors who are buying London properties and leaving them vacant.

As of April 1, the Labour-run council will charge a 100 per cent council tax premium on homes which have not been lived in for 12 months.

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Wandsworth is one of the wealthier boroughs in London but is looking to raise more council tax revenue

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Property owners who do not reside in the property for five years will have to pay 200 per cent more, while those who not live in the home for five years will be charged a 300 per cent penalty.

Those who are second home owners, who have furnished their property despite it not being their primary residence, will be hit with a double council tax bill.

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Under previous tax rules, a property in Wandsworth needed to be empty for two years before being hit with a 100 per cent council tax rate.

GB News has contacted Oxford City Council for comment.

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Fineqia launches world’s first DeFi yield Cardano ETN

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Fineqia launches world’s first DeFi yield Cardano ETN

Fineqia AG, the European subsidiary of digital assets and investment firm Fineqia International, has unveiled the first-ever exchange-traded note that deploys Cardano assets for yield bearing in decentralized finance.

The Fineqia FTSE Cardano Enhanced Yield ETN, which went live on the Vienna Stock Exchange on Jan.24, will allow investors to tap into opportunities around Cardano (ADA) price appreciation while still earning yield regardless of the underlying asset’s price movement. 

ETNs are debt instruments that collateralize an exchange-traded product’s underlying asset, including crypto. The Cardano ETN, which trades under the ticker YADA, provides access to yield by deploying ADA across yield-bearing DeFi protocols.

The global DeFi market currently holds over $155 billion in total value locked across various protocols. According to DeFiLlama, the TVL peaked at $207 billion during the last bull market. Meanwhile, research platform Statista estimates that the global DeFi ecosystem could see its revenue grow to $542 billion by 2025.

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Fineqia’s offering is a collaboration with FTSE Russell, a subsidiary of the London Stock Exchange, which will serve as the ETN’s index provider.

The launch of the Cardano ETN follows Fineqia AG’s base prospectus approval from the Liechtenstein Financial Market Authority. Approval from the FMA allows the company to issue crypto-backed exchange-traded notes across the European Union.

YADA adds to the growing crypto ETN market in the EU, with a third of the 139 products listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange. Increased adoption of digital assets as investment vehicles has led to the availability of over 220 crypto ETPs globally. These products currently account for more than $216 billion in assets under management.

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Among these ETPs are U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, which have recorded over $121 billion in AUM since their debut in January 2024. Experts attribute the positive market sentiment to Trump’s victory and assumption of office.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen over $4.2 billion in net inflows year-to-date, reflecting the broader optimism surrounding the market.

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Crypto Czar Classifies NFTs and Meme Coins as Collectibles

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Crypto Czar Classifies NFTs and Meme Coins as Collectibles

David Sacks has introduced a new perspective on non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and meme coins, describing them as a distinct class of digital assets.

In an interview with Fox Business, the AI and crypto czar spoke on the growing complexity of classifying digital assets, categorizing the two as collectibles.

Digital Asset Classification

“When you talk about digital assets, it could mean many things… you’re talking about a vast area of innovation,” Sacks stated in the interview. He explained that virtual assets cover a broad spectrum, including securities and commodities, placing NFTs and meme coins in the collectible category.

This classification could influence the way the two are perceived, shifting the focus from their volatility to their potential as items of cultural and commemorative significance. Sacks elaborated on this idea, comparing such assets to traditional memorabilia.

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Speaking on the Solana-based Official Trump (TRUMP) meme coin, he said:

“I think the Trump coin is a collectible. It’s like a baseball card or a stamp. People buy it because they want to commemorate something.”

However, he clarified that his statements should not be interpreted as a regulatory position.

NFT and Meme Coin Legitimacy Debate

The legitimacy of non-fungible tokens and meme coins is still a hot topic. Last August, NFT marketplace OpenSea received a Wells notice from the SEC over claims that such assets on its platform might be regarded as unregistered securities. In December, the gaming-focused NFT project Cyberkongz was sent a similar warning from the regulator.

This debate has intensified with the recent launches of the official TRUMP and MELANIA meme coins. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a crypto skeptic, has urged federal regulators and the Office of Government Ethics to investigate the TRUMP meme coin. In a January 22 letter, she alleged it had enriched the President and provided a means for crypto funds to flow to him.

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At a recent press briefing, Trump downplayed the situation by saying he did not know whether he had benefited financially from the project and claimed to have no knowledge of the coin’s value.

The introduction of these tokens also caused some constitutional compliance concerns, with Zack Guzman from Coinage noting that while the emoluments clause prohibits presidents from profiting from their office, meme coins challenge these existing rules.

Meanwhile, billionaire investor Mark Cuban previously dismissed the Trump project as a gamble, suggesting it could harm the crypto industry’s reputation, especially if proper regulations were not in place. Similarly, former Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasan described such tokens as speculative assets, famously calling them a “zero-sum lottery.”

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Bigger Bitcoin Price Catalyst Than The US BTC Reserve

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Bitcoin price

Este artículo también está disponible en español.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced on Thursday, January 23, the rescission of Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 121, a directive that had imposed stringent accounting requirements on crypto custody for US banks and financial institutions. The move, encapsulated in the newly issued SAB 122, is poised to serve as a more substantial catalyst for Bitcoin’s price dynamics than the anticipated US Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), according to several industry experts.

Implications For Bitcoin

Originally enacted in 2022, SAB 121 mandated that banks classify customer-held cryptocurrencies as liabilities on their balance sheets. This classification significantly increased the operational costs and complexities for financial institutions, effectively deterring them from offering crypto-related services. Thus, the requirement acted as a barrier, limiting the integration of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies into mainstream banking operations.

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The withdrawal of SAB 121 through SAB 122 effectively removes this accounting impediment. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce lauded the decision on social media, stating, “Bye, bye SAB 121! It’s not been fun: http://SEC.gov | Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 122.”

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The Bitcoin community has responded favorably to the SEC’s decision. Andrew Parish, founder of x3, emphasized the significance of SAB 122 on X, asserting, “Rescinding of SAB 121 is a bigger catalyst for Bitcoin than the SBR. Bookmark this post.” Similarly, Fred Krueger, founder of Troop, highlighted the broader market implications, noting, “SAB 122 is extremely good for Bitcoin. More significant than the Bitcoin Reserve, which is also coming. Now watch the Banks start accumulating.”

Vijay Boyapati, an Ex-Google engineer and the author of The Bullish Case for Bitcoin, further elaborated on the transformative potential of the SEC’s action, stating, “It really is hard to emphasize how huge a sea change we’re witnessing. We went from the worst conceivable anti-Bitcoin, anti-innovation, anti-growth, anti-business administration to the most friendly Bitcoin administration you could hope for. This is 100% not priced in.”

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Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of MicroStrategy, succinctly captured the market sentiment with his tweet: “SAB 121 has been rescinded, allowing banks to custody Bitcoin. 🚀” This aligns with Saylor’s previously outlined tgree catalysts for Bitcoin reaching $1 million per coin, where the facilitation of traditional bank custody stood as last open m factor.

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The regulatory easing is expected to catalyze increased institutional participation in the BTC and crypto market. Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America—the second-largest US bank by assets—addressed the potential for broader crypto adoption during an interview with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Moynihan stated, “If the rules come in and make it a real thing that you can actually do business with, you’ll find that the banking system will come in hard on the transactional side of it.”

This statement aligns with the SEC’s latest directive, indicating that banks are now more likely to develop and offer crypto services, including custody solutions, which were previously constrained under SAB 121. The removal of these regulatory hurdles is anticipated to enhance the liquidity and accessibility of Bitcoin, potentially driving a new wave of demand similar to the spot ETFs in January last year.

At press time, BTC traded at $105,466.

Bitcoin price
BTC price, 4-hour chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com

Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

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Best of the Week: It’s All Happening!

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U.S. President Donald Trump signs executive orders

It was a big week for crypto following the inauguration of Donald Trump to a second term Monday.

The White House issued an executive order on digital assets, calling for a friendly approach to crypto across the administration and the creation of a “digital asset stockpile” (which may, or may not be, a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve). Regulatory editors Nik De and Jesse Hamilton were all over the news, as usual.

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The SEC withdrew a controversial crypto accounting rule, started a crypto taskforce headed by Hester Peirce (aka “Crypto Mom”), and named crypto-friendly Commissioner Mark Uyeda as acting chair.

Senator Cynthia Lummis, arguably crypto’s most loyal friend in Congress, was named to head the Senate Banking Committee’s new digital assets panel, Hamilton also reported.

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We dissected the fallout from the (very) controversial memecoins dropped by the Trump family on the eve of Monday’s swearing in. CoinDesk’s Shaurya Malwa reported that 60 Solana Whales made off with at least $10 million each (many others gained a lot less). Reporting from Tom Carreras on Monday showed that the paper wealth generated by these surprise tokens was, frankly, staggering, even absurd.

Still the memecoins were a great success, encouraging filings for memecoin ETFs, Helene Braun reported. Helene also broke the story about how CME leaked information about XRP and SOL futures ETFs by mistake, which sank those tokens and weighed on the broader market.

Ross Ulbricht, who created Silk Road about 12 years ago, educating thousands on bitcoin for the first time, went free after serving ten years in prison. His freedom was a key promise of the Trump team on crypto. Sam Reynolds had the news.

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And the news kept on coming. In fact, it was hard to remember a week when more stuff of importance happened in crypto. Amid it all, the Ethereum community hotly debated its future (particularly that of the Ethereum Foundation). Parikshit Mishra and Sam Kessler followed the story.

Stay tuned for more big stuff happening next week.

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Dear President Trump: Bitcoin Reserve, Not Shitcoin Reserve

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Dear President Trump: Bitcoin Reserve, Not Shitcoin Reserve

Yesterday, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) entitled “Strengthening American Leadership In Digital Financial Technology.”

The document outlines the ways in which the U.S. government will embrace “digital assets” and support the rights of citizens and businesses to engage with “cryptocurrencies” and “blockchain technology.”

Bitcoin isn’t mentioned once in the document.

Most concerningly, it’s not mentioned in the portion of the document that addresses the potential for the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets (also established via the EO) to create a “stockpile” of digital assets.

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Here’s exactly how it reads:

“The Working Group shall evaluate the potential creation and maintenance of a national digital asset stockpile and propose criteria for establishing such a stockpile, potentially derived from cryptocurrencies lawfully seized by the Federal Government through its law enforcement efforts.”

Bitcoin is one of 17 digital assets the Federal Government has seized.

The idea that the government would hold onto the 16 other crypto assets the government is holding is both silly and pointless, as none of those other assets were designed to be a store of value, and a chunk of them are just digital versions of the ever-debasing U.S. dollar.

In other words, there’s no reason for the U.S. to stockpile digital assets that are perpetually losing value versus bitcoin. Without even getting into the features that differentiate bitcoin from the other assets on the list above — like its hard-coded perfect scarcity or its network’s level of decentralization — one needs to only take note of the fact that no digital asset has ever made subsequent highs versus bitcoin in consecutive bull markets to understand why it makes sense to only hold bitcoin.

I mean, even someone whose company evaluates shitcoins for a living agrees:

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So, please President Trump, beef up the bitcoin stockpile by swapping the 16 other digital assets you’re holding for bitcoin, and let’s call it a day. Surely, you’ve seen how well the bitcoin-only approach has worked out for President Bukele, with whom you spoke just the other day.

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It’s time to show the world that we understand that bitcoin is the savings technology and that everything else is, well, something else.

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Lightchain AI Is Trending Among Investors Who Missed Out on Meme Coin Hype

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Lightchain AI Is Trending Among Investors Who Missed Out on Meme Coin Hype

The cryptocurrency market has always been a playground for trends, with meme coins like Dogecoin (DOGE) and Pepe Coin (PEPE) captivating retail investors through viral buzz. However, not everyone managed to capitalize on these fleeting trends, leaving many searching for more stable and promising opportunities.

Enter Lightchain AI, a blockchain platform that combines artificial intelligence with decentralized technology. With its presale price at $0.005625 and over $12.7 million raised, Lightchain AI is quickly becoming the top choice for investors seeking long-term growth beyond the speculative mania of meme coins.

Rise and Fall of Meme Coin Hype

Meme coins, cryptocurrencies inspired by internet memes, have experienced significant volatility.

Initially, coins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu gained popularity due to social media hype and celebrity endorsements, leading to substantial market capitalizations. However, many lacked intrinsic value or utility, making them susceptible to sharp declines once the initial excitement waned.

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Recently, the launch of $TRUMP and $MELANIA tokens by President Donald Trump and his wife attracted both investor interest and criticism. These tokens quickly surged in value but faced scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest and ethical concerns.

The rapid rise and fall of such meme coins underscore the speculative nature of the market, highlighting the importance of thorough research and caution for investors.

Why Lightchain AI Is Gaining Attention

Unlike meme coins, Lightchain AI is built on a foundation of real-world applications and advanced technology.

One of its most compelling features is its Presale Tokenomics, which allocates 40% of its total supply to early supporters. This structure incentivizes early investors and provides a clear path for ecosystem growth.

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Another highlight is its focus on AI-Powered Decentralized Solutions, enabling businesses to adopt blockchain technology without disrupting their existing workflows. These unique attributes make Lightchain AI stand out in a market saturated with speculative assets, offering tangible benefits to both enterprises and developers.

Investors’ Shift Toward Long-Term Value

For many investors, Lightchain AI represents a shift from speculative trading to strategic, utility-driven investments.

Its presale success, coupled with milestones such as a testnet launch in January 2025 and a mainnet rollout in March, ensures consistent growth and adoption. Additionally, its commitment to solving challenges in data security, scalability, and AI adoption positions it as a frontrunner in the next wave of blockchain innovation.

The token’s strong fundamentals have not gone unnoticed. Experienced investors, burned by the meme coin bubble, are now flocking to Lightchain AI for its potential to deliver both short-term gains and long-term stability.

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ECB member doubles down on digital euro after Trump’s crypto EO: Report

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Piero Cipollone reportedly said Donald Trump’s executive order affecting stablecoins could potentially influence people considering abandoning big banks.

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Labour ‘considering bringing forward increases’ as analysts call for rise to 71

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Labour 'considering bringing forward increases' as analysts call for rise to 71

The Labour Government is “considering bringing forward increases” to the state pension age, according to analysts, as recent research suggests it needs to rise to 71 by 2050 for payments remain affordable.

A study by the International Longevity Centre (ILC) has warned that the UK faces “widening demographic imbalances” that will put increasing pressure on Government finances.


According to the ILC’s research, Britain is heading towards a future where there will be just one working-age adult for every pensioner by 2050. Under current Government plans, the state pension age is set to increase from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028.

A further rise to 68 is currently scheduled for 2044 to 2046, though this timeline remains subject to Government review. By 2050, the UK is projected to reach a dependency ratio of 50 per cent, meaning for every person receiving a state pension, there will only be one working-age adult contributing to the system.

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Jonathan Gribb, an associate director at the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), confirms ministers will soon be reviewing the timeline for pension age increases to avoid such a scenario.

Do you have a money story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing money@gbnews.uk.

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“The Government will shortly be considering whether to bring forward the following rise to age 68, which is currently scheduled for 2044,” he said.

Gribb told The Express these increases are justified in principle, noting they help control costs for taxpayers.

“While growth in life expectancy has stalled recently, over previous decades it rose substantially,” he explained.

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The retirement expert argues that as people live longer, raising the state pension age is a logical step. However, Gribb emphasises that such changes must be implemented carefully, considering their social impact.

The IFS expert warns that pension age increases disproportionately affect poorer people in their mid-60s. “It is poorer people in their mid 60s who are hit most by state pension age increases. Most of these people are not in employment, some as a result of poor health,” Gribb said.

He highlighted that many in this group lack alternative financial resources. “They also often have little savings or private pensions to fall back on,” he explained.

Previous pension age increases have had measurable negative effects on this demographic. “We know that poverty rates rose substantially among those in their mid 60s following previous pension age increases,” Gribb noted.

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Given these impacts, he argues there is “a good case for the government to do more to support this group.” Gribb outlines two potential approaches for the government to support those most affected by pension age changes.

The first option involves increasing Universal Credit support for those within a year of pension age. “A boost to their benefits costing £600 million a year would reduce poverty by around 30,000 households,” he said.

This represents just one-tenth of the savings from raising the pension age by one year. Alternatively, the Government could target additional Universal Credit specifically to those receiving disability benefits.

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Britons are concerned about potential changes to the state pension age

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This more focused approach would cost around £200 million but “would still make a real difference to many,” according to Gribb. Both options aim to provide extra support for low-income individuals while maintaining the cost-saving benefits of pension age increases.

Supporting the poorest could help maintain broader public backing for necessary pension age increases, according to the IFS analysis. Gribb emphasises that the government needs to “maintain general support for the principle of a higher pension age as life expectancy rises.”

Targeted support for the most vulnerable could be key to achieving this balance.

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“Supporting the poorest could help maintain this support, and help protect the incomes of some of those who struggle to work in their late 60s,” Gribb said.

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Solana Price Jumps 9% as New L2 Project Solaxy Banks $14M in Presale

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Solana Price Jumps 9% as New L2 Project Solaxy Banks $14M in Presale

Solana (SOL) is showing no signs of slowing down in 2025.

Its native token, SOL, is up 9% in the past 24 hours – erasing most of the losses from yesterday.

Alongside SOL’s surge, a new Layer-2 solution called Solaxy (SOLX) has just blown past the $14 million mark in its presale.

Solana Price Rebounds as Spot Trading Volumes Surge

Solana is back on track after a brief dip.

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After testing a minor support level yesterday, SOL has rebounded, climbing to $267 at the time of writing.

That puts SOL back where it was on Wednesday, and it’s now leading all the major altcoins in terms of gains.

But what’s really interesting are the factors behind this rebound.

Looking at spot trading volumes, it’s clear that interest in SOL is surging again.

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Spot volumes soared past $10 billion in the past 24 hours, even passing XRP, marking a 10% increase from the previous day.

On top of that, open interest has climbed to $4.1 billion, which suggests that traders are betting on SOL going even higher.

The token’s technicals look good, too.

On the 4-hour chart, SOL rejected the 50-period EMA, and since then, it has followed an upward trendline that formed earlier this week.

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This solid support and the uptick in trading volume hint that the bulls are back in control for Solana.

Beyond the Price – Why Solana’s Fundamentals Are Stronger Than Ever

Several factors are lining up that could send SOL even higher in the coming months.

The big one everyone’s watching is today’s Solana ETF decision.

This potential approval comes as big money is pouring into the ecosystem, with over $3.5 billion in stablecoins flowing in the past ten days.

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Solana’s fundamentals are also getting stronger.

Over 7,600 new developers joined the network last year, and this influx of talent is fueling innovation across the board, from new DeFi protocols to AI projects and even platforms for real-world assets (RWAs).

DEXs like Raydium and Jupiter are also seeing huge traction.

And Solana’s not resting on its laurels when it comes to tech, either.

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The upcoming “Firedancer” upgrade promises to boost transaction speeds, potentially to one million per second.

On top of that, Solana is getting even more political backing, with venture capitalist David Sacks being given a role as a crypto advisor in the Trump administration.

Sacks is famously a big supporter of Solana.

Could Solaxy be the Next Big Layer-2 Network? SOLX Token Presale Passes $14M Mark

Another factor playing into Solana’s bullishness is all the buzz around Solaxy and its presale.

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This new Layer-2 project just hit a huge milestone – raising over $14 million from early investors.

Clearly, many people believe Solaxy could be the key to solving Solana’s scaling challenges.

The timing of its emergence couldn’t be better.

As Solana gets more popular, the need for effective scaling solutions is becoming urgent.

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Solaxy’s approach, which involves processing transactions off-chain and then settling them in batches, could help things run much smoother during peak times.

However, there’s more to Solaxy than just scaling.

The platform also has a staking program for the native SOLX token, which currently offers annual yields of 274%.

Investors have already locked up more than 4.1 billion tokens in this program.

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But the most exciting thing is all the hype that Solaxy is getting from popular crypto influencers.

For example, Austin Hilton released a video analysis of Solaxy last week – stating that it’s a “major” project.

He also believes the planned bridge between Solana and Ethereum could unlock access to the latter’s huge liquidity base.

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With the SOL price rising and institutional interest in Solana growing, Solaxy could be in the right place at the right time.

And with SOLX tokens on presale for just $0.001612, this might be the last chance to grab them at such a low price.

Visit Solaxy Presale

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