ETF

During the early stages of the hush money trial, Donald Trump's defense lawyer, Todd Blanche, faced credibility issues with Judge Juan Merchan. The judge expressed skepticism towards Blanche's claims regarding Trump's compliance with a court-ordered gag order, indicating potential consequences for the trial's outcome.

Cathie Wood's Ark Invest remained bullish on Tesla despite the electric vehicle giant's earnings miss, aggressively purchasing $4.3 million worth of shares across its various ETFs on Tuesday. This follows Ark Invest's $17 million purchase of Tesla shares the previous day, demonstrating continued confidence in the company's long-term prospects.

U.S. stocks closed higher on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 0.7%, the S&P 500 rising 0.9%, and the Nasdaq climbing 1.1%. Top gainers included DJT, which remained in the spotlight despite a slight dip, Riot Platforms, which surged on the back of rising Bitcoin prices, and Matterport, which soared after announcing a deal to be acquired by CoStar Group.

Japan is planning to participate in a joint training exercise in the South China Sea with the United States and the Philippines in response to China's increasing naval presence in the area. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are expected to support this initiative during a three-nation summit in Washington, aiming to upgrade trilateral security cooperation.

The renowned music royalties investment fund Hipgnosis has been acquired by Concord Chorus, a rival specializing in music and theatrical rights, in a $1.4 billion deal. This acquisition signifies a significant consolidation within the music industry, bringing together Hipgnosis' extensive catalogue and Concord's strategic vision.