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Texas vs. Texas Tech softball highlights: Red Raiders force Game 3

The Women’s College World Series national championship series is headed for a winner-take-all Game 3.

Canady struck out Kayden Henry to finish off the victory. She allowed two earned runs on six hits and collected six strikeouts in her complete game effort. Meanwhile, Texas did not use its ace Teagan Kavan until the sixth inning, after Citlaly Gutierrez found herself in a jam.

The Red Raiders scored their first run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Alana Johnson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The second run came across on a wild pitch. Mia Scott homered in the top of the sixth inning to bring the Longhorns back into the game.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Texas Tech added two insurance runs, which were all needed as Texas fought back at the end before ultimately coming up short.

The last WCWS Game 3 occurred in 2021, when Oklahoma stormed back after losing the opening game to Florida State to win the last two to win the national championship.

USA TODAY brought you live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Check it out.

Watch WCWS finals with ESPN+

Texas vs Texas Tech softball live score

This section will be updated

Texas vs Texas Tech softball live updates

Final: Texas Tech 4, Texas 3

Texas Tech evens WCWS final series 1-1

NiJaree Canady strikes out Kayden Henry to end the ball game as Texas Tech squeaks out the 4-3 victory to force a Game 3 tomorrow night to determine the national champion.

Katie Cimusz drives in another Texas run

Katie Cimusz lines out to left field, but plates a run to make it 4-3. The Longhorns still have a runner in scoring position and one out, for the top of the order.

Leighann Goode double drives in run

Leighann Goode drives in a run on an RBI double and the Longhorns have runners on second and third with zero outs. It’s 4-2 Texas Tech.

Katie Cimusz is pinch hitting.

Texas sends tying run to plate

Texas is sending the tying run to the plate with zero outs following an error and hit by pitch to open the top of the seventh inning.

Leighann Goode is up to the plate with a chance to tie the game with a home run. She has nine home runs on the season.

End of sixth inning: Texas Tech 4, Texas 1

Mihyia Davis single pushes Texas Tech lead to three runs

Mihyia Davis singles to score Victoria Valdez from second base to extend the Texas Tech lead to 4-1. That’s the first run scored on a hit tonight for the Red Raiders.

Bailey Lindemuth extends Texas Tech lead

Bailey Lindemuth greets Teagan Kavan with a flyball to center field to score pinch runner Makayla Garcia from third base to extend the Texas Tech lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Teagan Kavan enters for Texas

Trying to keep it a one-run game going into the seventh inning, Mike White has elected to bring in ace Teagan Kavan with runners on the corners and one out.

Texas Tech threatening to pad lead

An error by Texas first baseman Joley Mitchell has runners on the corners and just one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. Texas Tech is challenging for a potential obstruction at first base as Victoria Valdez ran into second baseman Kaydee Bennett after reaching first base. The call was upheld, no obstruction.

Citlaly Gutierrez in circle for Texas

Citlaly Gutierrez enters the circle for Texas in the bottom of the sixth inning. Texas may lose tonight, but will have a fresh Teagan Kavan tomorrow.

Texas Tech three outs away from tying WCWS finals

NiJaree Canady bounces back from the Mia Scott home run by striking out Reese Atwood for the second time tonight, and then gets Joley Mitchell to foul out to third base.

The Red Raiders are three outs away from trying the WCWS championship series 1-1, forcing a Game 3 on Friday.

Mia Scott homers to cut Texas Tech lead to 2-1

Mia Scott hits a one-out solo home run to get Texas a run back in the top of the sixth inning. That home run had an exit velocity of 80 mph. She’s the career World Series leader with four home runs.

End of fifth inning: Texas Tech 2, Texas 0

Texas Tech scores two in fifth inning

Texas Tech is six outs away from forcing a Game 3 following a two-run fifth inning. The Red Raiders loaded the bases with two outs and were able to plate two runs on a hit by pitch and a wild pitch.

Raegan Jennings led off the inning with a single, with Mihyia Davis adding a one-out double. Lauren Allred walked to load the bases with two outs. Alana Johnson drove in the first run when she was hit by a pitch on her thigh.

The Red Raiders scored their second run on a wild pitch from Camrbia Salmon on a changeup that got past catcher Reese Atwood.

Texas Tech scores second run on wild pitch

A wild pitch by Cambria Salmon gets by catcher Reese Atwood, and that scores the second run of the inning for the Red Raiders.

Alana Johnson hit by pitch scores first run

With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, Alana Johnson is hit by a pitch to plate the first run of the game and give Texas Tech a 1-0 lead.

Teagan Kavan warming up for Texas

Teagan Kavan is warming up in the bullpen for Texas in the bottom of the fifth inning. She could be entering when the Red Raiders have the top of their order come to the plate.

NiJaree Canady records first 1-2-3 inning

NiJaree Canady records her first 1-2-3 inning of the evening in the top of the fifth inning. She picks up her fourth strikeout in the process.

Demi Elder recorded a diving catch to start the inning.

End of fourth inning: Texas Tech 0, Texas 0

1-2-3 fourth inning for Cambria Salmon

Cambria Salmon records a 1-2-3 fourth inning, as all three outs are recorded by second baseman Kaydee Bennett. The Red Raiders have just one hit since the first inning.

NiJaree Canady escapes fourth-inning jam

Sandwiched around a pair of strikeouts, Texas has a pair of singles to put runners on the corners with two outs. However, NiJaree Canady gets Victoria Hunter to ground out to shortstop to end the inning.

Canady had just one strikeout entering the inning. She now has three through four innings.

Mike White says Teagan Kavan ‘could’ pitch tonight

In an interview before the fourth inning with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, Texas coach Mike White says Teagan Kavan could be available to pitch tonight. He also said the plan is currently for Cambria Salmon to follow the lead of Mac Morgan to pitch through the lineup once.

End of third inning: Texas Tech 0, Texas 0

Game 2 of WCWS finals is scoreless through 3 innings

We’re through three scoreless innings in Game 2 of the WCWS championship series. Freshman pitcher Cambria Salmon allows a leadoff single to Mihyia Davis, but then gets the next three hitters out to escape any threat.

Texas third baseman Mia Scott made a pair of key putouts in the inning. Her defense in the WCWS has been a major key for the Longhorns.

Cambria Salmon stats

Cambria Salmon has posted a 2.37 ERA in 59 innings in her freshman season. She has struck out 65 and walked 19 batters. Her last outing was May 23 vs. Clemson.

Cambria Salmon takes over for Mac Morgan

Freshman pitcher Cambria Salmon has taken over for Mac Morgan in the circle in the bottom of the third inning.

End of second inning: Texas Tech 0, Texas 0

Ashton Maloney records web gem catch to end Texas Tech second

Defense is taking over in the second inning of Game 2 of the WCWS finals. Texas right fielder Ashton Maloney makes a diving catch to rob Bailey Lindemuth of a potential hit to end the second inning.

Mac Morgan bounces back from a long first inning with a 1-2-3 second inning.

Texas Tech turns double play to end Texas second

NiJaree Canady walks Katie Stewart with one out on a full count, but bounces back to induce a groundball double play off the bat of Victoria Hunter to end the second inning.

NiJaree Canady makes highlight-reel catch

NiJaree Canady lays out for a diving catch on a bunt attempt by Texas catcher Joley Mitchell. That’s the first out of the top of the second inning as Canady dives to the first base side to make the grab.

End of first inning: Texas Tech 0, Texas 0

Mac Morgan escapes bases-loaded jam

Mac Morgan loads the bases with one out, but gets Alexa Langeliers to ground out to first base for a force out at home and then NiJaree Canady to shortstop to escape the jam.

That’s two straight days the Red Raiders load the bases in the first inning but cannot push across a run.

Texas Tech loads the bases in first inning

Texas Tech loads the bases with back-to-back singles and a four-pitch walk against Mac Morgan. The Red Raiders also loaded the bases in Game 1 in the first inning on Wednesday but did not score a run.

Alexa Langeliers is at the plate.

NiJaree Canady pitches scoreless first inning

Texas gets two hits in the inning, but a throw-out at second from catcher Victoria Valdez helps NiJaree Canady escape the first inning unscathed.

The Longhorns had just four hits in six innings off Canady on Wednesday.

Patrick Mahomes in attendance of Game 2 of WCWS finals

Texas challenges for obstruction

After Kayden Henry singles up the middle, she attempts to steal second base. She is thrown out by catcher Victoria Valdez. However, Texas challenges the call for a potential obstruction. The call is upheld and Henry is ruled out.

Game 2 of WCWS final underway

NiJaree Canady induces a ground out from Ashton Maloney on the second pitch to get Game 2 underway from the WCWS championship series.

Pregame

Mac Morgan vs Tennessee in WCWS semifinal, revisited

While Texas Tech hitters may be relieved to not see Teagan Kavan tonight, Mac Morgan won’t be an easy matchup either. Morgan limited Tennessee to three hits in four scoreless innings on Monday in the semifinals. She collected four strikeouts and walked just one batter.

NiJaree Canady stats

Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady has posted a 33-6 record with a 0.94 ERA in 232 innings in 2025. She has struck out 311 hitters this season to just 44 walks.

Canady had seven strikeouts in six innings on Wednesday. She allowed two runs on four hits.

NiJaree Canady gets start for Texas Tech

NiJaree Canady is back in the circle for Texas Tech in the must-win Game 2 of the WCWS championship series. Canady’s one blemish, a misfire on an intentional walk 3-0 pitch to Reese Atwood, was the difference in Game 1.

If Canady can deliver like she has the rest of the postseason, the Red Raiders could be well-positioned to force a Game 3.

Texas Tech starting lineup for WCWS final Game 2

Here’s a look at the Red Raiders’ starting lineup for the win-or-go-home Game 2

  1. Mihyia Davis, CF
  2. Hailey Toney, SS
  3. Lauren Allred, 1B
  4. Alana Johnson, RF
  5. Alexa Langeliers, 2B
  6. NiJaree Canady, P
  7. Demi Elder, LF
  8. Victoria Valdez, C
  9. Bailey Lindemuth, 3B
  10. Brenlee Gonzales, DP

Mac Morgan starting pitcher for Texas

Texas is going with Mac Morgan over Teagan Kavan for Game 2 of the WCWS final. Morgan has a 3.23 ERA in 73 2/3 innings this season. Her last appearance was against Tennessee on June 2.

Mike White is likely saving Kavan for if the Longhorns get a lead to close out the championship. If Texas Tech gets ahead, he has a fresh ace for the winner-take-all Game 3.

Texas starting lineup for WCWS final Game 2

Here’s the Longhorns’ starting lineup for the second game of the WCWS final:

  1. Ashton Maloney, RF
  2. Kayden Henry, CF
  3. Mia Scott, 3B
  4. Reese Atwood, C
  5. Joley Mitchell, 1B
  6. Katie Stewart, LF
  7. Victoria Hunter, DP
  8. Leighann Goode, SS
  9. Kaydee Bennett

Starting pitcher: Mac Morgan

Texas Tech needs win to keep season alive

Texas is just one win away from winning its first national championship in program history, while Texas Tech needs to win today to force a winner-take-all Game 3 on Friday. The Red Raiders are also looking for their first national championship.

First pitch is set for 8:50 p.m. for WCWS finals game 2

First pitch for Game 2 of the WCWS finals between Texas and Texas Tech is set for 8:50 p.m. ET. That means the game will start 50 minutes after the initial scheduled first pitch time.

Texas-Texas Tech enters weather delay

Game 2 of the Texas-Texas Tech matchup in the WCWS finals is delayed from its original first pitch time of 8 p.m. ET due to inclement weather in the Oklahoma City area. First pitch will be no earlier than 8:45 p.m. ET.

You can keep up here for live updates about the WCWS game.

What time does Texas vs Texas Tech softball start?

  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • Date: Thursday, June 5
  • Location: Devon Park (Oklahoma City)

First pitch for Game 2 of the WCWS finals is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET from Devon Park in Oklahoma City.

What TV channel is Texas vs Texas Tech softball on today?

  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+

Game 2 of the national championship series between Texas and Texas Tech will air live on ESPN, with streaming options on the ESPN app (with a cable login) and ESPN+, the latter of which serves as the network’s streaming service.

WCWS finals schedule

  • Wednesday, June 4: No. 6 Texas 2, Texas Tech 1
  • Thursday, June 5: Texas vs. Texas Tech | 8 p.m. | ESPN (ESPN+)
  • Friday, June 6: Texas vs. Texas Tech | 8 p.m. | ESPN (ESPN+) *

* If necessary

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Trump Admin Strips “Safety” from AI Oversight Institute in Move to Rebrand

The Trump administration announced a rebrand of the US Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Institute, stripping the word “safety” from the organization’s title and mission.

The institute, once tasked with developing standards to ensure AI model transparency, robustness and reliability, will now be known as the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI). According to the announcement, its focus will be on enhancing US competitiveness and guarding against foreign threats, not constraining the industry with regulations.

The decision, announced on Tuesday (June 3) by US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, marks a sharp departure from the Biden-era posture on AI governance.

‘For far too long, censorship and regulations have been used under the guise of national security. Innovators will no longer be limited by these standards,” Lutnick said in a statement.

“CAISI will evaluate and enhance US innovation of these rapidly developing commercial AI systems while ensuring they remain secure to our national security standards.”

Established in November 2023 under President Joe Biden’s executive order on AI, the original AI Safety Institute was housed within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It aimed to assess AI risks, publish safety benchmarks and convene stakeholders in a consortium focused on responsible AI development.

But with the Trump administration’s return to the White House, the emphasis has shifted.

Instead of curbing AI risks through regulation and safety protocols, the renamed CAISI will now prioritize “pro-innovation” objectives, including the evaluation of foreign AI threats, mitigation of potential backdoors and malware in adversarial models and avoidance of what the administration sees as regulatory overreach from foreign governments.

According to the commerce department, CAISI’s primary tasks will include collaborating with NIST laboratories to help the private sector develop voluntary standards that enhance the security of AI systems, particularly in areas like cybersecurity, biosecurity and the misuse of chemical technologies. The center will also establish voluntary agreements with AI developers and evaluators, and lead unclassified evaluations of AI capabilities that may pose national security risks.

In addition to those directives, CAISI will lead comprehensive assessments of both domestic and foreign AI systems, focusing on how adversary technologies are being adopted and used, and identifying any vulnerabilities, such as backdoors or covert malicious behavior, that could pose security threats.

The center is also expected to work closely with the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the intelligence community.

CAISI will remain housed within NIST and will continue to work with NIST’s internal organizations, including the Information Technology Laboratory and the Bureau of Industry and Security.

Rise of foreign AI spurs national security concerns

The reformation of the institute reflects Trump’s broader AI strategy: loosen domestic oversight while doubling down on global AI dominance. Within his first week back in office, Trump signed an executive order revoking Biden’s prior directives on AI governance and removed his AI policy documents from the White House website.

That same week, he announced the US$500 billion Stargate initiative — a massive public-private partnership involving OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank Group (OTC Pink:SOBKY,TSE:9984) that is intended to make the US the global leader in AI.

The Trump administration’s pivot has been partly catalyzed by growing concerns over foreign AI competition, particularly from China. In January, Chinese tech firm DeepSeek unveiled a powerful AI assistant app, raising alarms in Washington due to its technical sophistication and uncertain security architecture.

Trump called the app a ‘wake-up call,” and lawmakers quickly moved to introduce legislation banning DeepSeek from all government devices. The Navy also issued internal guidance advising its personnel not to use the app “in any capacity.”

Signs of an impending transformation had emerged earlier in the year.

Reuters reported in February that no one from the original AI Safety Institute attended the high-profile AI summit in Paris that month, despite Vice President JD Vance representing the US delegation.

Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill reshaping US AI governance

Trump’s massive One Big Beautiful Bill, which includes much of the aforementioned legislation, is poised to dramatically reshape the landscape of AI regulation in the US. The bill introduces a 10 year moratorium on state-level AI laws, effectively centralizing regulatory authority at the federal level.

This move aims to eliminate the patchwork of state regulations, which the administration claims would foster a uniform national framework to bolster American competitiveness in the global AI arena.

The bill’s provision to preempt state AI regulations has sparked significant controversy.

A coalition of 260 bipartisan state lawmakers from all 50 states has urged to remove this clause, arguing that it undermines state autonomy and hampers the ability to address local AI-related concerns. Critics also warn that the moratorium could delay necessary protections, potentially endangering innovation, transparency and public trust. They argue that it may isolate the US from global AI norms and reinforce monopolies within the industry.

Despite the backlash, proponents within the Trump administration assert that the bill is essential for maintaining US leadership in AI. The One Big Beautiful Bill is currently being debated in the US Senate.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Should You Invest in Silver Bullion?

Investing in silver bullion has pros and cons, and what’s right for one investor may not work for another.

Interest in the silver market tends to flourish whenever the silver price increases, with investors beginning to wonder if silver is a good investment and it is the right time to add physical silver to their investment portfolios.

While silver can be volatile, the precious metal is also seen as a safe-haven asset, similar to its sister metal gold. Safe-haven investments can offer protection in times of uncertainty, and with tensions running high, they could be a good choice for those looking to preserve their wealth in difficult times.

With those factors in mind, let’s look at the pros and cons of buying silver bullion.

What are the pros of investing in silver bullion?

Silver can offer protection

Silver bullion is often considered a good safe-haven asset. As mentioned, investors often flock to precious metals in times of turmoil, politically and economically. For example, physical silver and gold have both performed strongly in recent years against a background of geopolitical instability and high inflation.

Silver bullion is a tangible asset

While cash, mining stocks, bonds and other financial products are accepted forms of wealth, they are essentially still digital promissory notes. For that reason, they are all vulnerable to depreciation due to actions like printing money. A troy ounce of silver bullion, on the other hand, is a finite tangible asset. That means that, although it is vulnerable to market fluctuations like other commodities, physical silver isn’t likely to completely crash because of its inherent and real value. Market participants can buy bullion in different forms, such as silver coins or silver jewelry, or they can buy silver bullion bars.

Silver’s cheaper and more flexible than gold

Compared to gold bullion, silver is significantly cheaper, which makes it more accessible for investors looking for an affordable entrance to the precious metals market. This can make it easier for investors to build up a portfolio over time.

Another benefit is that investors who need to convert their precious metals to currency will have an easier time selling a portion of their silver portfolio than those looking to sell part of their gold. Just as a US$100 bill can be a challenge to break at the store, divvying up an ounce of gold bullion can be a challenge. As a result, silver bullion is more practical and versatile, particularly for everyday investors who need flexibility in their investments.

Silver offers higher returns than gold

Silver tends to move in tandem with gold: when the price of gold rises, so too does the price of silver. Because the white metal is currently worth around 1/100th the price of gold, buying silver bullion is affordable and stands to see a much bigger percentage gain if the silver price goes up. In fact, silver has outperformed the gold price in bull markets. It’s possible for an investor to hedge their bets with silver bullion in their investment portfolio.

History is on silver’s side

Silver and gold have been used as legal tender for thousands of years, and that lineage lends them a sense of stability. Many buyers find comfort in knowing that silver has been recognized for its value throughout a great deal of mankind’s history, and so there’s an expectation that it will endure while a fiat currency may fall to the wayside. When individuals invest in physical silver, there is a reassurance that the metal has value that will continue to persist. Additionally, its increasing use as an industrial metal in the energy transition has improved the metals fundamentals even further.

What are the cons of investing in silver bullion?

Danger of theft

Unlike most other investments, such as stocks, holding silver bullion can leave investors vulnerable to theft. And of course, the more physical assets, including silver jewelry, that reside within your home, the more at risk you are for losing significantly if a burglary takes place. It’s possible to secure your assets from looting by using a safety deposit box in a bank or a safe box in your home, but this will incur additional costs.

Weaker return on investment

Silver may not perform as well as other investments, such as real estate or even other metals. Mining stocks, especially silver stocks that pay dividends, may also be a better option than silver bullion for some investors. Royalty and streaming companies are another option for those interested in investing in silver, as are exchange-traded funds and silver futures.

High silver demand leads to higher premiums

When investors try to buy any bullion product, such as an American silver ounce coin known as a silver eagle, they quickly find out that the physical silver price is generally higher than the silver spot price due to premiums used by sellers. What’s more, if demand is high, premiums can go up fast, making the purchase of physical silver bullion more expensive and a less attractive investment.

Bullion lacks quick liquidity

Silver bullion coins are not legal tender, meaning they can’t be used for every day purchases. Since the metal is usually used as an investment, this isn’t often an issue. However, it does mean that if silver needs to be sold in a hurry to cover expenses, investors will need to find a buyer. If you can’t access a bullion dealer and are in a jam, pawn shops and jewelers are an option, but they won’t necessarily pay well.

How to add physical silver to your portfolio?

How to buy silver digitally?

Larisa Sprott: Gold, Silver Early in Cycle, Smart Money Buying Now

Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Justin Huhn: Uranium Game On — Supply “Mirage,” De-risked Demand, Next Price Move

Justin Huhn, editor and founder of Uranium Insider, talks uranium supply, demand and prices.

He emphasized that it’s still ‘very early’ in the cycle and that at this point no further catalysts are needed.

Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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This California startup is cleaning water and removing CO₂ from the atmosphere — all at a reduced cost

As more parts of the world face intense drought, new technologies are emerging to clean and reuse existing water. Investors are seeing potential for big profits.

Water treatment is expensive. It uses a lot of energy and produces its own waste that gets disposed of at a hefty price. Capture6, a startup in Berkeley, California, says it’s developing a solution, and one with an added benefit to the environment.

Capture6′s technology repurposes industrial and water treatment waste, generating clean water and capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

“That combination of water treatment, brine management, and carbon capture all at once is part of what makes us unique, what makes our process innovative,” said Capture6 CEO Ethan Cohen-Cole, who co-founded the company in 2021. “We are able to do so at reduced energy costs.”

The process is complex. It starts with the waste from any sort of water treatment process. Once the solids are removed, that waste is called brine, which is leftover water plus concentrated salt — sodium chloride. Treatment facilities usually have to pay to get rid of it.

But Capture6 takes that brine, strips out the fresh water and separates the salt into sodium and chlorine. It then turns the sodium into lye.

“That lye has the really neat property that if you expose it to the air, it will bond with CO2 and strip it from the air, and that’s the punch line to the process,” said Cohen-Cole. “We have processed the waste salt, we’ve returned fresh water to our partner, and we’ve captured CO2 from the air.”

It’s a particularly attractive proposition in areas most in need of clean water. Capture6 is working in Western Australia, South Korea, and in drought-stricken California, at the Palmdale Water District north of Los Angeles. The district is still testing the technology, but is already projecting huge cost savings in its brine management.

“It will save us 10% on that capital cost, as well as saving us 20 to 40% in operational costs,” said Scott Rogers, assistant general manager at Palmdale Water District. “We’re recovering anywhere from 94% to 98% water out of water that would just normally be wasted.”

Rogers says it’s early but when more facilities start using the technology, it will create a circular economy that can benefit the environment.

Capture6 has raised $27.5 million from Tetrad Corporation, Hyundai Motors, Energy Capital Ventures, Elemental Impact and Triple Impact Capital.

Cohen-Cole says the company’s entire process could run on renewable energy, so all of the CO2 that it captures will be net negative, improving the environment. That allows the company to generate added revenue by selling carbon credits.

It’s just one technology in a growing field of carbon capture, removal and sequestration. Others include direct air capture, burying carbon underground or injecting it into the ocean.

The Trump Administration recently canceled $3.7 billion worth of awards for new technology, including carbon capture, to fight climate change. Capture6 has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and from state-level sources including California, according to the company. So far, none of that has been canceled.

— CNBC producer Lisa Rizzolo contributed to this piece.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Shein and Temu see U.S. demand plunge as loophole for cheap goods closes

Use of low-cost e-commerce giants Temu and Shein has slowed significantly in the key U.S. market amid President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports and the closure of the de minimis loophole, new data shows.

Temu’s U.S. daily active users (DAUs) dropped 52% in May versus March, before Trump’s tariffs were announced, while those at rival Shein were down 25%, according to data shared with CNBC by market intelligence firm Sensor Tower.

DAUs is a measure of the number of people who visit or interact with a platform every 24 hours. Monthly active users (MAUs), a measure of user engagement over a 30-day period, was also down at Temu (30%) and Shein (12%) in May versus March.

The declines were also reflected in both platforms’ Apple App Store rankings. Temu averaged a rank of 132 in May 2025, down from an average top 3 ranking a year ago, while Shein averaged a rank of 60 last month versus a top 10 ranking the year prior, the data showed.

Neither Temu nor Shein immediately responded to CNBC’s request for comment.

The user drop off comes as both Temu and Shein have pulled back on U.S. advertising spend over recent months since the Trump administration’s tariff announcements.

Trump in April announced sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports, including the end of the “de minimis” tariff exemption on May 2, which allowed companies to ship low-cost goods worth less than $800 to the U.S. tariff-free.

In May, Temu’s U.S. ad spend fell 95% year-on-year while Shein’s was down 70%.

“Temu and Shein’s decline in US ad spend was also noticeable in April, as spend decreased by 40% and 65% YoY, respectively,” Seema Shah, vice president of research and insights at Sensor Tower, said in emailed comments to CNBC.

Both Temu and Shein also altered their logistics models in the wake of tariffs, shifting away from a drop shipping model, which allowed them to send items directly from Chinese suppliers to U.S. consumers, and instead, particularly in Temu’s case, building up a network of U.S. warehouses.

Rui Ma, founder and analyst at Tech Buzz China, said such moves were also likely to have impacted the companies’ ad spend strategy and customer acquisition patterns.

“All these additional costs and regulatory hurdles are clearly hurting Chinese platforms’ U.S. growth prospects,” she wrote in emailed comments.

Tech Buzz China research from March showed that a 50% tariff would be the point at which Temu would lose most of its price advantages and find it difficult to operate. The tariff on former de minimis imports currently stands at 54%, having been lowered from 120% amid a 90-day tariff truce between the U.S. and China.

Last week, Temu’s parent company PDD Holdings reported first-quarter earnings below estimates and pointed to tariffs as a significant pressure on sellers.

Temu’s popularity has nevertheless picked up outside the U.S., with non-U.S. users rising to account for 90% of the platform’s 405 million global MAUs in the second quarter, according to HSBC.

Writing in a note last week, HSBC analysts said that was “supported by growth in Europe, Latin America, and South America.” They added that the swiftest of that growth occurred in “less affluent markets.”

“Many (Chinese platforms) are now actively redirecting their efforts toward other markets such as Europe,” Ma said.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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S&P 500 Bullish Patterns: Are Higher Highs Ahead?

In this market update, Frank breaks down recent developments across the S&P 500, crypto markets, commodities, and international ETFs. He analyzes bullish and bearish chart patterns, identifies key RSI signals, and demonstrates how “Go No Go Charts” can support your technical analysis. You’ll also hear updates on Ethereum, Bitcoin, the Spain ETF, silver miners, USO (oil), and sector ETFs like XLP and XLV.

This video originally premiered on June 3, 2025.

You can view previously recorded videos from Frank and other industry experts at this link.

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Strategic Chaos or Tactical Goldmine? What QQQ’s Chart is Whispering Right Now

Despite the uncertainty prevailing in the markets, the Nasdaq 100 Index ($NDX) has proven resilient, perhaps more so than its peer benchmarks. The 90-day trade truce between the U.S. and China, initiated in May, boosted investor confidence. Yet that’s now at risk amid mutual accusations of violations.

Nevertheless, markets rallied on Tuesday morning after news that April job openings, one of a few key reports leading up to Friday’s jobs report, were better than expected. Still, signs of weakening demand, rising deficits, and declining CEO confidence suggest the economy remains fragile.

Why QQQ May Be Worth Watching Right Now

In light of the current environment, is it worth adding positions to Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), an $NDX proxy?

Shifting over to the StockCharts Market Summary page, you can see just how well $NDX is performing.

$NDX Breadth Metrics Reveal Bullish Participation

FIGURE 1. BREADTH AND BPI PANELS ON THE MARKET SUMMARY PAGE. While other indexes are growing increasingly bullish, you can see how the $NDX stands out.

Examining the Breadth panel on the left and zooming in on the moving averages, the $NDX has the most stocks trading above the 200-day simple moving average (SMA), a bullish signal considering that breadth of participation is critical when gauging the performance of an index. On the right panel, another breadth reading — the Bullish Percent Index (BPI) — tells you that 76% of the stocks in the index are triggering Point & Figure Buy Signals, giving you another angle on breadth, which happens to be in alignment.

Now that you’ve seen how $NDX is outperforming in terms of breadth, you’re probably curious about how many stocks are hitting new highs relative to the other indexes. Also, are there any particular standout subsectors or industries?

The New Highs panel can help answer both questions.

FIGURE 2. MARKET SUMMARY NEW HIGHS PANEL. The $NDX leads across the board, which asks the next question: Are there any standout sectors or industries represented within the index?

The $NDX has the highest percentage of stocks hitting new highs. If you click the Nasdaq 100 link, it will bring up a list of stocks in the index. The ones with a StockCharts Technical Rank (SCTR) score above 90 are listed below.

FIGURE 3. $NDX STOCKS WITH SCTR SCORES ABOVE 90. It’s a mixed bag in terms of industry.

The mix of subsectors and industries indicates there’s no one particular grouping (like all semiconductors or all AI stocks) leading the index. The $NDX’s outperformance is distributed across different areas.

So, back to the original question: is it worth entering or adding positions to QQQ?

Strategically, the outlook is murky. Geopolitical tensions and policy reversals can shift the market landscape overnight. But tactically, technical signals may offer potential entry points if you know where to look.

QQQ Weekly Chart: A Technical Rebound With Caveats

Let’s start with a broader view of QQQ, which is the likely investment vehicle for those who want to go long the $NDX. Here’s a weekly chart.

FIGURE 4. WEEKLY CHART OF QQQ. The ETF sharply recovered from a steep drop, but is there enough investor conviction to break above, or even test, its all-time high?

You can see how QQQ recovered sharply from its drop over the last quarter. While it’s trading above its 40-week SMA (equivalent to the 200-day SMA), you can also see how the 10-week SMA (or 50-day SMA equivalent) has fallen below it. Is it a false Death Cross signal, or is it indicating that the QQQ may not have enough momentum or investor conviction to test and break above its all-time high?

Zooming In: Key Support and Resistance Levels

To get a clearer picture, let’s zoom in on a daily chart.

This chart shows QQQ’s recovery in detail. There are several technical features converging to suggest critical support and resistance areas.

FIGURE 5. DAILY CHART OF QQQ. The key zones are highlighted. Now it’s a matter of seeing what QQQ does next.

Here’s a breakdown of the key things to watch:

  • Note the long Volume-by-Price levels (on the left) and how they correspond to the green- and yellow-shaded areas, indicating a high concentration of trading activity which can serve (or has served) as support and resistance.
  • The green range is where QQQ’s price is currently hovering, and the question is whether the ETF can break above it, opening up a path to test its all-time highs, or whether it will fall further.
  • The space between the 200-day SMA and the yellow-shaded area marks a critical support range. QQQ has respected the 200-day SMA before, bouncing off it as price tested the level (blue arrows).
  • The yellow-shaded area, another support range, marks a convergence of historical swing highs and lows (see blue arrows), serving as both resistance and support. It’s also another area of concentrated trading activity.

If QQQ falls below the green area, failing to advance higher, then you can expect support at the 200-day SMA (near $495) or the yellow-shaded range ($465 – $470). Below that, there’s another support range (shaded in red) near $430, but a decline to this level might also suggest weakness in investor conviction.

So far, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is just below the 70-line, indicating room to run should there be enough momentum to advance it. However, the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF), though well above the zero line, shows that buying pressure may be dwindling a bit, enough to watch closely, since volume often precedes price direction.

At the Close

The Nasdaq 100 may be navigating a messy macro backdrop, but its breadth, momentum, and leadership show promise. Strategically, the terrain is uncertain. Tactically? The charts suggest a practical setup for those who are looking to lean into strength.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

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