In this week's market update, our analyst covers key developments in global equity markets, metals and mining sector, and the crypto world. Here's a quick overview: Equity Markets: Global equity markets saw a 0.9% increase last week, with the European Central Bank raising its benchmark rate, while U.S. inflation data showed a mix of results. It's expected that the Federal Reserve will maintain its current rate.

Metals & Mining: The metals and mining sector witnessed notable M&A activity, particularly in lithium and gold. Sigma Lithium received multiple M&A proposals for its lithium project in Brazil, and Victoria Gold Corp. is set to acquire Sabre Gold Mines' Brewery Creek project in Yukon, which hosts 2.1 million ounces of gold resources.

Resource Companies: Surge Battery Metals reported promising lithium assay results in Nevada, with grades of up to 8,070 ppm, which could impact their upcoming resource estimate positively. Crypto Commentary: Mainstream cryptocurrencies saw a 6% increase in prices, following a previous week's decline. Ripple's CEO mentioned challenges in the U.S. for crypto startups, suggesting more favorable options in Singapore, the U.K., the UAE, and Switzerland.

The crypto market experienced $54 million in outflows, primarily from Bitcoin, contributing to a 12% BTC price decline over the past nine weeks. Additionally, the TSX is exploring entry into crypto trading, possibly through strategic acquisitions. Stay informed with this concise overview of the latest market trends and developments.