Bullish crypto exchange soars to $13.2B in NYSE debut
The stock opened at $90 and was trading over 150% its IPO price of $37 in afternoon trading. It went as high as $118, before paring gains slightly to trade at $92.60.A string of regulatory wins under a pro-crypto White House, corporate treasury adoption and ETF inflows have prompted investors to embrace the once-scorned digital asset class, driving bellwether bitcoin BTC= to record highs.Exchange operator Gemini and asset manager Grayscale are also among the crypto firms that have confidentially filed to go public."We've gone public today, and there's a slew of others that are going to follow us, and I think that is net beneficial, because it gives people more options in terms of how they access this asset class," Bullish President Chris Tyrer told Reuters in an interview.Bullish is close to concluding a two-year process to obtain a virtual currency license known as a "BitLicense" in New York, which would allow the company to operate in the state, Tyrer said.The BitLicense requires companies to comply with requirements related to know-your-customer, anti-money laundering and capital.Peter Thiel-backed Bullish plans to convert a significant portion of the IPO proceeds to stablecoins — a slice of the crypto space that has boomed since U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Genius Act, creating a regulatory regime for the dollar-pegged cryptocurrencies.INSTITUTIONAL FOCUSBullish's debut marks a rare U.S. listing by a crypto exchange, joining larger retail-focused rival Coinbase COIN.O, which became the first crypto player to be included in the benchmark S&P 500 .SPX index in May.Founded in 2020, Bullish targets institutional clients, whose crypto holdings are expected to rise as a new White House order aims to allow alternative investments in 401(k) retirement plans."A pure institutional strategy positions Bullish for more stable, recurring revenue than exchanges reliant on retail volumes, which tend to be cyclical and sentiment-driven," said Michael Hall, co-chief investment officer and founding partner at Nickel Digital Asset Management.Bullish CEO Tom Farley was previously the president of the NYSE.advertisement"For a sector still overcoming reputational headwinds, that kind of leadership experience can be a differentiator in securing institutional mandates," Hall said.- Ends
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Mint
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The market looks shaky. Put options can protect you, Goldman says.
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36 minutes ago
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US stock futures today: Dow futures surge on UnitedHealth boost, S&P ticks higher; Nasdaq slides after Applied Materials chip warning
U.S. stock futures edge higher as Dow leads on health-care surge, tech lags behind- U.S. stock futures were mixed early Friday, signaling a cautious but upward-tilted open for Wall Street after a week that tested investor nerves with hotter-than-expected inflation data and a flurry of corporate earnings surprises. By 8:45 a.m. ET, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up +0.66% (≈+297 points) at 45,294, led by strong pre-market gains in health-care stocks, particularly UnitedHealth, which surged after Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a sizable new stake. The morning's moves reflect a market in rotation: investors are shifting toward defensive plays like health care and industrials while easing out of overextended tech positions. With consumer sentiment data due later in the morning, traders are bracing for fresh clues on whether the day's cautious optimism will hold through the closing bell. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Why the Dow is outperforming this morning The biggest driver for the blue-chip index is UnitedHealth Group (UNH) , which is surging more than 11% in pre-market trading . The spike follows news that Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a fresh stake in the insurer late Thursday, a move reminiscent of Buffett's historic bets on entrenched, recession-resilient businesses. Health-care stocks, often seen as defensive plays in uncertain rate environments, are also benefiting from analyst upgrades. According to Goldman Sachs , health insurers could see 'margin tailwinds' if wage growth continues to cool while premium revenues rise — a dynamic that could extend into early 2026. Live Events Dow Jones Futures : Up about 0.66% , hovering near 45,295 . A solid gain that shows continued strength in blue-chip sectors like health care. S&P 500 Futures : Gaining roughly 0.15% , trading in the 6,500 range. Modest upward momentum reflects tentative optimism amid mixed economic signals. Nasdaq-100 Futures : Slight decline of 0.07% , resting just under 23,915 . Weakness driven largely by softness in chip-related sectors. Tech sentiment cools after chipmaker warning While the Dow's health-care heavyweights are lifting sentiment, the Nasdaq is being held back by Applied Materials (AMAT) , down roughly 14% pre-market . The chip equipment giant cited 'softness in advanced memory demand from China' in its fiscal Q4 guidance, trimming revenue forecasts by nearly $900 million versus Wall Street expectations. 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Global cues shaping U.S. pre-market mood Asian markets closed mixed, with the Nikkei 225 up 0.6% but Shanghai Composite down 0.4% , mirroring investor caution after weak Chinese credit growth data. In Europe, the DAX and FTSE 100 posted modest gains, suggesting global investors are cautiously leaning risk-on despite inflation jitters. Currency markets are also adding a layer of complexity: the U.S. dollar index is holding above 103.7 , which could weigh on multinational exporters once Wall Street opens. US Stock Future Top Stock Today UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is the standout performer—trading up roughly 11% pre-market , lifted by Berkshire Hathaway's fresh $1.6 billion stake and sparking strength across health-care sectors. Nucor (NUE) is also in rally mode, rising around 5–6% , reflecting bullish sentiment after Berkshire added to its holdings in the steelmaker. On the downside, Applied Materials (AMAT) is leading the skids—dropping nearly 14% after issuing weaker-than-expected revenue guidance, with fears of sluggish chip demand in China dragging peers lower. What this means for traders and investors today For short-term traders, the divergence between Dow and Nasdaq futures offers tactical opportunities — rotational plays into health care and industrials could outperform if tech remains under pressure. For long-term investors , the morning's moves underscore two themes: Sector leadership is rotating — defensive, cash-rich companies are taking the baton from overextended tech leaders. Macro data still trumps narratives — one surprise inflation reading can recalibrate rate expectations in a single day. As the session unfolds, watch for 10:00 a.m. ET U.S. consumer sentiment data and any additional Fed commentary, both of which could amplify or reverse pre-market trends. Snapshot: August 15, 2025 — U.S. futures at a glance Index Futures Value Change Primary Driver Dow Jones 45,294 +0.66% UnitedHealth rally, health-care strength S&P 500 6,500.25 +0.15% Mixed sector performance Nasdaq-100 23,914.75 −0.07% Semiconductor weakness Bottom line: The Dow is on track for an outsized gain thanks to health-care momentum, but the Nasdaq's slump reminds us that rate cuts, inflation, and sector-specific shocks can keep markets choppy. In other words, today might reward nimble investors — but it will test those who ignore macro signals. FAQs: Q1. What is driving US stock futures today ? The Dow is gaining on health-care strength, while tech is under pressure from weak chipmaker guidance. Q2. How does inflation data affect US stock futures? Hotter inflation reduces chances of a big Fed rate cut, impacting market sentiment.
