Markets Editor
James Park
James is a CFA who spent a decade on a long/short equities desk before joining Obsidian to run the markets editorial. He writes our morning Pulse, edits the equities and macro coverage, and refuses to let any chart appear without a caveat. His preferred unit of analysis is the trade you would actually put on, not the headline you would actually post.
Joined Obsidian 2022
More posts by James Park
Dow Jones Futures: Iran Says Hormuz Closed But New Talks To Start; Nvidia, SpaceX Are Stocks To Watch
Iran said it's closed the Strait of Hormuz but new peace talks are set to start Sunday. Nvidia and SpaceX are stocks to watch.
Long Corporate Bond ETFs: IGLB Offers Broad Exposure While VCLT Is Slightly Cheaper
The iShares 10+ Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (IGLB) and the Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) both target long-maturity corporate debt. For investors comparing the two, the key question is how small differences in cost and construction stack up against the shared exposure to duration and credit-s
VOO’s 0.03% Fee Hides a Costlier Truth About Taxes and Concentration
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:VOO) sells itself on one number: a 0.03% expense ratio. That’s the headline that hooks every “set it and forget it” investor. The sticker fee, however, is where the useful part of the cost conversation ends. What You’re Actually Paying VOO’s net and gross expense ratios both sit at 0.03%
Bitcoin decouples from tech stocks: Is $60K BTC’s next stop?
Bitcoin’s slump accelerated as capital rotated further into the AI sector, raising the odds of a BTC price drop below $60,000.
Renaissance Investment Management Expects Positive Upward Revision for Lam Research (LRCX)
Renaissance Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q1 2026 “Large Cap Growth Strategy.” A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Stocks fell sharply in the first quarter due to the Iran conflict. The Energy and Materials sectors outperformed, Financials and Consumer Discretionary lagg
Do You Believe in the Growth Trajectory of The TJX Companies (TJX)?
Renaissance Investment Management, an investment management company, released its Q1 2026 “Large Cap Growth Strategy.” A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Stocks fell sharply in the first quarter due to the Iran conflict. The Energy and Materials sectors outperformed, Financials and Consumer Discretionary lagg
Nasdaq, S&P 500 Futures Catch Breath Ahead Of First Warsh-Led Fed Decision: Why SPCX, TSLA, RKLB, BABA, NVO, HOOD, STI Are Keeping Traders Hooked
Stocktwits data showed retail sentiment on SPY and QQQ has remained ‘bearish’ despite the recent rally.
Danaher Corporation’s (DHR) Recovery Fell Short of Investor Expectations
Madison Investments, an investment advisor, released its first-quarter 2026 investor letter for the “Madison Large Cap Fund”. A copy of the letter is available to download here. The Madison Large Cap Fund (Class I) declined 2.7% in the quarter, outperforming the S&P 500’s -4.33% return. The fund focuses on long-term ca
Oil prices sink, stocks set to soar after Trump announces deal with Iran
Markets rally on expectations that the agreement will ease global energy supply concerns, though analysts warn gas prices may remain elevated for some time.
SETM Is Up 27% YTD and 150% Over a Year. The S&P 500? Not Even Close.
A friend forwards you a screenshot of an ETF chart with a number on it, and the number is 103%. That is what Sprott Critical Materials ETF (NASDAQ:SETM) has done over the past year, closing June 8, 2026 at $32.72 after starting the prior June around $16.10. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY), the. SETM Is Up
If You Hate (Or Love) The ‘Mag 7’ There Is An ETF To Profit
If you own an ETF tracking the S&P 500 or the Nasdaq-100, the Magnificent Seven are unavoidable. They’re a major part of both benchmarks, where a handful of technology giants continue to dominate index weights. Personally, I’m a bit cautious whenever financial media starts assigning catchy names to groups of stocks. Hi
I’m 55 and earn $100,000. Should I take a $2,900 monthly pension — or $2,200 with 3% annual hikes?
“I plan to continue working until age 60.”
S&P 500, Nasdaq, Dow Futures Climb As Historic SpaceX IPO Looms, Trump Hints Iran War May End: Why SNDK, ASTS, RDW, CRWV, RKLB Are Also Trending
The biggest catalyst for markets on Friday is the SpaceX IPO, set to debut on the Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX.
Is Vistra (VST) One Of The Top 10 Lowest Forward P/E Stocks In The S&P 500?
With a forward P/E of 16.84x and upside potential of 50.20%, Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) ranks among the top 10 lowest forward P/E stocks in the S&P 500. Surging power demand, a swing to profitability, and bullish analyst coverage have brought the independent power producer into focus for value-oriented investors. Nearly a
Wall Street Sees 50%+ Upside In Intuit (INTU); Check Out Why
Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU), with a forward P/E of 10.91x and upside potential of 50.50%, is among the top 10 lowest forward P/E stocks in the S&P 500. Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU) has been one of the steeper decliners in the S&P 500 this year, with AI disruption fears driving nearly 55% year-to-date losses and close to […]
Schwab (SCHA) vs. iShares (IJR): Which Small Cap ETF Should Investors Buy?
Expense ratios, sector weights, and risk profiles set these two small-cap ETFs apart for investors seeking growth and diversification.
Citi Sees the S&P 500 Hitting 8,100 – 2 ‘Strong Buy’ AI Stocks It Says Could Surge Alongside It
First-quarter earnings season is now in the rearview mirror, and with the second quarter entering its final stretch, investors are beginning to focus on what comes next. One theme, however, continues to dominate the market narrative: AI.Introducing TipRanks MCP for Agents Deliver institutional-grade market data directl
USDT's flashing a golden cross and that may be bad news for bitcoin
USDT's dominance rate has flashed a golden crossover in a sign of caution for the broader crypto market.
The great gold myth: Why the precious metal isn’t the war hedge we’re told it is
Gold has tumbled since the Iran war started — and it proves everything you know about geopolitical risk is wrong.
A crucial bitcoin market indicator is signaling that the worst of the crypto crash might be over
The metric shows bitcoin's market price is getting close to its realized fair value after the recent sell-off.
Bitcoin, ether eye worst weekly rout since FTX collapse as cryptos shed $390 billion
A week that began with Strategy's bitcoin sale ended with one of the largest crypto market drawdowns in years.
U.S. job growth blows past forecasts, setting stage for Fed rate hikes
Bitcoin is now facing another headwind — the prospect of higher interest rates.
Arthur Hayes dumps zcash holdings after Orchard Pool vulnerability revealed
Hayes said he would reconsider his stance if his assumptions that an exploit is still possible prove to be incorrect.
Here's what could happen if bitcoin breaks below $60,000
A confluence of factors makes $60,000 as key level to watch for in the near term, according to Deribit.
ASTS, RKLB, RDW, SIDU Slip Overnight: Retail Hopes For SpaceX-Fueled S&P 500 Buying Frenzy Take A Hit
The drop came after a broad space rally on Thursday, driven by SpaceX's high-profile JPMorgan IPO roadshow.
Brookfield Renewable Holdings Corp (BEPC) is Powering AI Growth with Operational Strength
Green Alpha Investment recently released its Q1 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Green Alpha Investment’s philosophy emphasizes that economic growth and portfolio returns are driven by companies that accelerate productivity and can tackle global economic risks. Next Economy Growth & In
Russia sanctions British teenager for alleging A7A5 use in funding Ukraine war
The A7A5 stablecoin was designed to bypass sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Goldman Sachs teams with Apex, Archax for tokenized real estate fund
The fund combines blockchain native issuance with established fund structures.
Apyx's STRC collateralized stablecoin suffers a brief depeg. Protocol says its a feature, not bug
Apyx’s apxUSD stablecoin briefly slipped to 93 cents Wednesday.
Privacy-focused Zcash blockchain has not produced a block for four hours
The Zcash blockchain didn't produce new blocks for more than four hours on June 3.
Nasdaq, S&P 500 Futures Take A Breather Ahead Of ADP Jobs Data: Why PANW, AVGO, CRWD, PLTR, ASTC, GME, XOS Are In Focus
Data from Stocktwits shows that retail sentiment has held at ‘bullish’ on SPY, but sits at a cautious ‘neutral’ on QQQ.
Bitcoin's 'fear gauge' surges nearly 20%, its biggest jump since Feb. 5 crash
The jump signals return of fear after two months of calm market sentiment.
Bullish crypto bets lose $1.6 billion as ETH, SOL, DOGE drop 9%
The single biggest unwind was a $59.67 million BTC-USDT long on HTX.
Why the most important company enabling AI isn’t Nvidia, according to this fund manager
Portfolio manager Jonathan Cofsky talks about where to find the winners in the AI landscape and one company that is beating all comers.
Positive Developments at PAR Technology Corporation (PAR)
Voss Capital, LLC, an investment management company, released its first-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Voss Capital’s funds, Voss Value Fund, LP, and the Voss Value Offshore Fund, Ltd returned -11.4% and -11.5%, respectively, to investors net of fees and expenses, in the firs
Bitmine slows ether purchase pace, buying $53 million worth last week
The Ethereum treasury firm cut weekly purchases by more than 75% after the previous week's 112,000 ETH buying spree.
XLRE Hits 11% Gain This Year; Can the Payout Stay Safe
The Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLRE) is the cheapest way to own the REIT slice of the S&P 500, with an expense ratio of just 8 basis points and a portfolio that pays out income four times a year. XLRE distributed roughly $1.39 per share across 2025, and the Q1 2026 payment of. XLRE Hits 11% Gain T
One Big Beautiful Bill Just Changed the Equation for Families Funding Pilot Licenses From 529 Plans
A parent with a six-figure 529 balance and a child eyeing the cockpit now has a real option that did not exist 18 months ago. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law on July 4, 2025, 529 funds can flow tax-free to FAA flight training at Part 61 and Part 141 schools,. One Big Beautiful Bill Just Changed
Microsoft (MSFT) Slid from the Threat of Margin Compression Due to AI
Auxier Asset Management, an investment advisory firm, released its first quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter is available to download here. Following a robust start to the year, the market was impacted by the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Concerns over AI disruption, excessive stock-based compensation, and hi
Here’s Hayden Capital’s Analysis on Sea Ltd (SE)
Hayden Capital, an investment management firm, released its first-quarter 2026 investment letter. A copy of the letter is available to download here. The portfolio faced difficulties in the first quarter due to concerns about AI disruption and the ongoing conflict in Iran. Companies that are either digitally vulnerable
Is CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) One Of The Under-The-Radar Stocks With Massive Upside For 2026?
With an analyst consensus upside of 52.3%, CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP) ranks among the under-the-radar stocks with massive upside for 2026. As CASGEVY reinforced confidence in the company’s long-term growth outlook, CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP) received fresh support from Wall Street. On May 13, 2026,
Sui blockchain suffers another network outage as transactions grind to a halt
This is the second time this year that the Sui network has suffered an outage.
Stocks are rallying despite the Iran war and stubborn inflation. Here's why.
The S&P 500 hit a new record on Wednesday, even as soaring gas prices fuel inflation and consumer confidence sinks.
BTC Prague 2026: Europe’s leading Bitcoin conference expands its cultural reach
BTC Prague, Europe’s premier Bitcoin conference, returns to the PVA Expo Prague on June 11-13, 2026.
SCHD’s Dividend Quality Filter Now Concentrates 42 Percent of Your Money in Just Ten Stocks
Most investors buy Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHD) because the fund’s reputation tells them they are buying diversification. SCHD has 105 holdings, screens hard on dividend quality, and charges 0.06%. The retiree who built an income sleeve around SCHD usually has not read the holdings list. Read the lis
Strive acquires 1,109 bitcoin, raising total holdings to 16,500 coins
ASST climbs 133% in three months as Strive grows holdings to 16,500 BTC and explores fresh capital raising options.
Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures rise on Iran peace prospects
Stock futures rose to start the holiday-shortened week as investors welcomed easing oil prices but remained watchful of a clash in the Strait of Hormuz.
Bitcoin caught between critical onchain support and an options showdown
Heavy supply concentration and large options positioning continue to suppress volatility and keep bitcoin range-bound.
S&P 500 Dividends Just Hit an All-Time Low Going Back to the 1800s — Here’s What Retirees Need to Know
The host of Retire SMART Podcast opened Episode 416 with a number that should stop every income-focused retiree in their tracks. The S&P 500’s dividend yield has fallen to roughly 1.1%, an all-time low going back to the 1800s. His framing was blunt: “The dividend usually fluctuates between 2 and change, and sometimes u
ARIQO makes its Bangkok debut at SEABW, drawing industry attention
Canton Foundation, Toss, BitGo Among Co-Hosts at Private Event; Token Launch Slated for Second Half of 2026
The Nasdaq’s AI Fast‑Track Will Reshape Big Tech — The S&P Might Be Ready to Change the Rules, Too
As the biggest IPOs the world has ever seen touch down, the market, as we know it, is about to change its composition in a big way, especially at the top. With the Nasdaq 100 poised to fast-track SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI in just weeks after their debuts, questions linger about what the S&P 500. The Nasdaq’s AI
Bitcoin trades above $77,000 as oil's 5% slide pushes Asian equities higher
Oil’s 5% drop on potential Strait of Hormuz reopening boosted Asian equities and supported crypto sentiment.
Why This Couple Shouldn’t Pay Off Their $475K Mortgage (Even With $175K Cash)
On a recent Rich Habits Podcast Q&A, co-host Robert Croak gave a 40-year-old listener named Angela a blunt answer about the $175,000 she and her spouse netted from a recent home sale. They were weighing whether to throw it at their $475,000 mortgage at 5% or invest it. Robert’s verdict: “I would definitely not pay.
SPHD Pays Monthly Income Without Fail Since 2012; Here’s What Could Break the Streak
The Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:SPHD) sends income to shareholders every month, with distributions rising roughly 23% in 2025 and 2026 monthly payouts climbing to around $0.208 per share, with a current 30-day SEC yield of 4.5%. The question is whether that income rests on a durable found
Teradyne, Monolithic Power Systems, Vishay Intertechnology, Lam Research, and Semtech Stocks Trade Up, What You Need To Know
A number of stocks jumped in the afternoon session after traders positioned ahead of Nvidia's fiscal Q1 earnings.
Nasdaq, S&P 500 Futures Rise As Quantum Stocks Stay Red-Hot, All Eyes On Warsh Fed Swearing-In: Why IBM, RGTI, QBTS, INFQ, AMD, RKLB Are In Focus
Data from Stocktwits shows that retail sentiment remained ‘extremely bullish’ on SPY and QQQ.
Investor Demand for S&P 500 Downside Protection Plummets 75% Since March
S&P 500 single-stock put-call skew has plunged 75% since March to a near 20-year low, signaling complacency.
Peer-to-peer trading startup Variational raises $50 million for real-world perps in funding round led by Dragonfly
The company is initially offering perpetual futures on real-world assets including oil, silver, copper and gold.
Bitcoin's long-term holder supply approaches record high, breaking multi-year downtrend
Long-term holder supply has surged by more than 2 million coins to 16.3 million BTC during the current bear market.
A crypto whale has made a $224,000 bet that XRP's price stays perfectly flat through June
The trader collected about $224,500 in premiums and will keep the full amount if XRP remains close to $1.40.