Breakfast News: Bitcoin Falls Below $90k
November 18, 2025
| Monday's Markets |
|---|
| S&P 500 6,672 (-0.92%) |
| Nasdaq 22,708 (-0.84%) |
| Dow 46,590 (-1.18%) |
| Bitcoin $91,563 (-1.97%) |
1. Souring Sentiment Pulls Bitcoin Lower
S&P 500 futures traded over 0.5% lower ahead of the opening bell, with Bitcoin (BTC 3.06%) falling below $90k and erasing all gains for 2025, as risk sentiment continued to worsen across the crypto space and broader markets.
- Bitcoin ETF investors underwater as $89,600 level breaks: According to Sean Rose at Glassnode, the average cost base across all Bitcoin ETFs is now higher than the current market level, although large buying was also done between $40-70k.
- "We're optimistic that Bitcoin will keep making a positive contribution to our performance in the years to come": Motley Fool CEO and co-founder Tom Gardner recently explained Bitcoin is "well known for its extreme volatility" and has a positive long-term outlook, but stressed that those who don't "have conviction in the underlying purpose of Bitcoin ... will likely have trouble maintaining the discipline to hold during future price swings."
2. Alphabet's AI Hits Travel Stocks
Alphabet (GOOG +3.10%) yesterday unveiled new AI-travel tools that allow users to build and book travel itineraries, pushing Booking Holdings (BKNG 4.83%) and Expedia (EXPE 7.75%) down 4.83% and 7.75% respectively.
- Integrating search results and Google Maps: Alphabet's Canvas AI companion will be linked to other company products, enabling a customer to both research and reserve without leaving the ecosystem, potentially meaning less business for online travel agents.
- A four-time Stock Advisor recommendation, initially from 2004: Booking Holdings has already been integrating AI into its offering for some time, and strong customer retention means there's no guarantee Alphabet will take away meaningful market share.
3. Tariff Relief Lifts Hershey & Vita Coco
Food stocks including Dividend Investor rec Hershey (HSY +0.80%) and Vita Coco (COCO +3.60%) rose thanks to President Trump's executive order exempting hundreds of imported agricultural goods from tariffs.
- "Cocoa is not grown in the United States and is essential to our U.S.-based manufacturing operations": A Hershey's statement applauded the decision, having guided in October for 2025 tariff expenses to be between $160 and $170 million, a figure now expected to be significantly lower. The stock currently yields 3%, with the company consistently increasing its dividend payout for 16 consecutive years.
- Vita Coco expects average company tariff rate to fall from 23% to 6%: Management now sees a much lower impact on costs thanks to the new measure, given the majority of product supplies come from Brazil and the Philippines.
4. Tuesday's Notable Earnings: BIDU, HD, ITRN
Baidu (BIDU 1.47%) is up over 2% in pre-market trading thanks to quarterly revenue beating expectations, driven by broadening enterprise adoption of AI products and solutions.
- "Ongoing consumer uncertainty and continued pressure in housing are disproportionately impacting home improvement demand": Home Depot (HD 1.20%) fell almost 2% ahead of the market open after management cut the full-year profit guidance, with CFO Richard McPhail citing weak consumer spending.
- Beaten earnings per share estimates three out of the last four quarters: Ituran Location and Control (ITRN +0.85%) will release earnings before the opening bell, with a focus on paying subscriber growth and improvements in the key metric of stolen vehicle recoveries.
5. Your Take
What 'zombie' company in your portfolio refuses to die – and what do you think it would take to spark it back to life? Share with friends and family, or become a member to hear what your fellow Fools are saying.