A new Benzinga poll shows one stock could be among the highest-growth names in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/space-stocks">the space sector for 2025.</a>



What Happened: Investors expressed high interest in the space sector throughout 2024. Last year, Elon Musk-led SpaceX hit a new valuation<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42453807/spacex-hits-350-billion-valuation-in-insider-share-sale-ceo-elon-musk-says-no-investors-wanted-to-sell-shares"> of $350 billion.</a>



SpaceX is privately owned and harder for investors to get exposure to. But there are several space stocks that are readily available for investors. Benzinga recently asked readers:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Which Space Stock Would You Consider Investing In For 2025?</h3>



The results were:



<ul>
<li>Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKLB#NASDAQ">RKLB</a>): 33%</li>



<li>None, I'm not considering space stocks: 26%</li>



<li>Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUNR#NASDAQ">LUNR</a>): 24%</li>



<li>AST SpaceMobile Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASTS#NASDAQ">ASTS</a>): 15%</li>



<li>Redwire Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDW#NYSE">RDW</a>): 3%</li>
</ul>



Rocket Lab, a rival of SpaceX, won the poll with 33% of the vote. Ranking second was the answer of none of the four space stocks selected for the poll. Intuitive Machines received 24% of the vote as the second most-picked stock in the poll.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/24/12/42734926/space-industry-to-see-another-stellar-year-in-2025-investor-says">Space Industry To See Another &#8216;Stellar Year&#8217; In 2025, Investor Says</a>



Why It's Important: The industry could benefit from a new White House administration and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42323934/shift4-payments-stock-drops-after-ceo-jared-isaacmans-nasa-nomination-whats-going-on">expected new NASA leader</a> Jared Isaacman.



However, given that 26% of readers didn&#8217;t select any of the space stocks could suggest declining interest in the sector. Or, perhaps, valuations are high after 2024 which saw many of the stocks climb.



Here are the gains in 2024 at the time the poll was conducted.



<ul>
<li>RKLB: +382%</li>



<li>LUNR: +690%</li>



<li>ASTS: +334%</li>



<li>RDW: +490%</li>
</ul>



All four companies went public via SPAC merger in recent years. They also had milestones that could show their strength in the space sector along with future growth initiatives.



Redwire <a href="https://redwirespace.com/newsroom/reaching-new-heights-redwires-top-five-moments-from-2024/">shared </a>that bioprinting human heart tissue onboard the International Space Station, a study of the sun launched in November 2024 and the acquisition of spacecraft developer Hera Systems were highlights from 2024.



In February, Intuitive made headlines for helping the U.S. achieve its first soft landing on the Moon since 1972. The feat was a first for the private sector and Intuitive Machines has lunar missions planned for 2024 with the IM-2 having a launch window that could be around February.



Rocket Lab had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/12/42646240/rocket-lab-ends-2024-with-16th-launch-stock-gains">16 Electron rocket launches</a> in 2024, setting a new annual record and beating the 10 achieved in 2023. The company has future NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and a private commercial mission to Venus among its pipeline rocket deals.



AST SpaceMobile deployed its first five BlueBird satellites as it works to bring space-based broadband to people around the world. The company also <a href="https://x.com/AST_SpaceMobile/status/1871530794076004768">announced </a>Google and Verizon as strategic partners and signed commercial agreements with AT&amp;T and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42390726/ast-spacemobile-secures-long-term-vodafone-deal-to-boost-global-coverage">Vodafone in 2024.</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">ETFs To Watch</h3>



For investors looking to get exposure to multiple space stocks in 2025, there are the Ark Space Exploration &amp; Innovation ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKX#BATS">ARKX</a>) and Procure Space ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UFO#NASDAQ">UFO</a>).



Ark Space counts Rocket Lab as the number one holding at 10.2% of the assets, but does not hold the other three stocks above.



The Procure Space ETF has all four space stocks above as part of the ETF with the following holding rankings and percent of assets in the fund.



<ul>
<li>LUNR: #1 holding, 8.4%</li>



<li>RKLB: #2 holding, 5.7%</li>



<li>ASTS: #5 holding, 4.6%</li>



<li>RDW: #15 holding, 2.7%</li>
</ul>



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/42121665/could-another-magnificent-7-stock-beat-nvidia-in-2025-poll-says-not-likely-27-pick-this-potential-winner">Could Another Magnificent 7 Stock Beat Nvidia In 2025? Poll Says Not Likely, 27% Pick This Potential Winner</a></li>
</ul>



The study was conducted by Benzinga from Dec. 30, 2024 through Jan. 2 , 2025. It included the responses of a diverse population of adults 18 or older. Opting into the survey was completely voluntary, with no incentives offered to potential respondents. The study reflects results from 161 adults.



Image: Shutterstock

SPACE

Exclusives

Trading Ideas

ARKX

ASTS

LUNR

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EXCLUSIVE: Rocket Lab, Intuitive Machines, Redwire Or AST SpaceMobile? 33% Of Readers Pick This Space Stock For 2025

Pudgy Penguins' (CRYPTO: PENGU) has surged in valuation, securing the fourth position <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42538636/pudgy-penguin-token-launches-at-2-billion-valuation-could-land-between-shiba-inu-and-dogecoin-trader-says">among top meme coins.</a>



Data from Lookonchain revealed a PENGU liquidity provider wallet <a href="https://x.com/lookonchain/status/1876318952948900044">transferring</a> 300 million PENGU tokens to major exchanges, including Binance, KuCoin and Bybit, signaling increasing activity and market presence.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Market Cap</td><td>24-Hour Trend</td><td>7-Day Trend</td></tr><tr><td>Pudgy Penguins (CRYPTO: PENGU)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.04423</td><td>$2.8 billion</td><td>+8%&nbsp;</td><td>+39.7%&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Pepe (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">PEPE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.00002094&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>$8.8 billion</td><td>+2.1%&nbsp;</td><td>+13%&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.3894</td><td>$57.4 billion</td><td>+2%&nbsp;</td><td>+22.2%&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.00002419</td><td>$143 billion</td><td>+2%</td><td>+12.3%&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: Crypto trader Eugene Ng Ah Sio shared insights on gaining conviction in high-priced assets. He <a href="https://x.com/0xENAS/status/1875528908436889779">outlined</a> a framework that aligns closely with Pudgy Penguins&#8217; current trajectory:



<ul>
<li>Targeting assets with novel ideas, such as innovative verticals, products or tokenomics.</li>



<li>Favoring newer tokens with fewer entrenched holders, minimizing sell pressure.</li>



<li>Prioritizing tokens with unlimited valuation potential, like meme coins that defy traditional metrics.</li>
</ul>



Another trader, Maison Ghost, praised PENGU, calling it "one of the best for this cycle, billions to come."



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">study <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24PENGU&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$PENGU</a> one of the best for this cycle, billions to come send it higher &#x1f3af; <a href="https://t.co/eN8jJMEf4o">pic.twitter.com/eN8jJMEf4o</a>&mdash; Maison Ghost (@MaisonGhost) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaisonGhost/status/1876316753665638759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Moose, another prominent trader, <a href="https://x.com/JoeyMooose/status/1876261031401665005">reminded</a> the community that GCR, considered one of the best traders of all time, has been bullish on PENGU since 2021. 



GCR predicted that PENGU could be a defining asset for this decade, suggesting that integration with centralized exchanges (CEX) and futures trading would be revolutionary. 



However, he also highlighted challenges like the NFT platform&#8217;s infancy stage and limited liquidity attraction.



Statistics: Pudgy Penguins&#8217; community lead, Berko Crypto, shared impressive engagement metrics within the first few days of 2025. 



It <a href="https://x.com/Berko_Crypto/status/1875243573689643340">posted</a> 1.1 billion views for its GIFs and stickers in early 2025, Telegram stickers sold out in record time and viral campaigns on Instagram and TikTok showcasing the brand&#8217;s cultural relevance.



Pudgy Penguins plans to expand beyond Solana, aiming for integration with Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) and Abstract, an Ethereum layer-2 scaling solution.



According to CoinMarketCap, Ethereum's NFT trading volume <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/nft/?collection=Ethereum">surged</a> to $186 million in the past week, with Pudgy Penguins contributing significantly. 



CoinGecko data shows PENGU&#8217;s valuation ahead of competitors like Bonk (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">BONK</a>), Dogwifhat (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">WIF</a>), and Floki (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">FLOKI</a>). 



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42496442/if-you-invested-1000-in-pudgy-penguins-nfts-at-mint-heres-how-much-youd-have-today">If You Invested $1,000 In Pudgy Penguins NFTs At Mint, Here&#8217;s How Much You&#8217;d Have Today</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Pudgy Penguin

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Pudgy Penguins Coin PENGU Surge Outperforms Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, Pepe: 'One Of The Best For This Cycle,' Trader Says

Winter Storm Blair is impacting much of the U.S., bringing heavy snow, ice and frigid temperatures to the Mid-Atlantic <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/01/42809678/delta-southwest-american-and-others-airlines-halt-over-1300-flights-on-monday-after-severe-winter-">states on Monday.&nbsp;</a>



What To Know: Approximately 34 million people are under winter storm warnings and at least four deaths have<a href="https://weather.com/news/news/2025-01-06-winter-storm-blair-live-updates"> been reported</a> as the storm barrels across the country, according to the Weather Channel.&nbsp; Many school districts have closed and at least 18 inches of snow have fallen in some locations.&nbsp;



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42821300/biden-set-to-ban-future-offshore-oil-drilling-4-stocks-to-watch">Biden Set To Ban Future Offshore Oil Drilling: 4 Stocks, 2 ETFs To Watch</a>



Affected Businesses: More than 350,000 people are without power due to the storm. Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/D#NYSE">D</a>), serves customers in Virginia where more 100,000 power outages have been reported.&nbsp;



Shares of portable-generator maker Generac Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GNRC#NYSE">GNRC</a>) have gained nearly 3% in the past five days as investors anticipated the storm-related power outages and increased demand for generators.&nbsp;



FlightAware is <a href="https://www.flightaware.com/live/cancelled/">reporting</a> nearly 3,000 flight delays and more than 1,700 cancellations as the storm moves across the country Monday. Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUV#NYSE">LUV</a>) is reporting the most cancellations with 371, followed by American Airlines Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAL#NASDAQ">AAL</a>) with 185 cancelled flights.&nbsp;



T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) said it took <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/t-mobile-readies-for-winter-storm-blair">proactive measures</a> late last week, including fortifying network equipment, inspecting and fueling permanent and portable generators and reinforcing infrastructure, to ensure customers and first responders are able to stay connected throughout the storm. 



What's Next: The wintry precipitation should wind down by Tuesday, but the Weather Channel expects another winter storm later this week.&nbsp;



"The next winter storm will begin to emerge in the Southern Plains by Wednesday night and especially Thursday. It could spread snow from parts of northern Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas to other portions of the South, the Ohio Valley and possibly parts of the East by Friday or Saturday," weather.com Digital Meteorologist Chris Dolce said.&nbsp;



Read More:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42768507/china-slaps-export-restrictions-on-dozens-of-us-companies-boeing-lockheed-martin-general-dynamics-raytheon-affected">China&#8217;s Export Crackdown Hits Boeing, Lockheed Martin And More&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Education

Travel

Movers

General

GNRC

TMUS

Winter Storm Blair Blasts Millions Of Americans, Triggers Flight Delays, Power Outages, School Closures

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has been in power for nearly 10 years, announced his resignation Monday.



Trudeau said he will step down after the Liberal Party selects its new leader and said the Parliament will be suspended until March 24.



"I care deeply about this country and I will always be motivated by what is in the best interests of Canadians. And the fact is, despite best efforts to work through it, Parliament has been paralyzed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority Parliament in Canadian history," he said. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Canada Stocks To Watch With Trump Tariff Threats, Trudeau Exit On Horizon </h2>



U.S.-traded stocks of major Canadian companies, particularly in the financial and energy sectors, could experience volatility due to this political upheaval. Mexico, Canada and China — the three countries U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has targeted for tariffs — are the U.S.'s top three trading partners.



Canadian banking institutions traded in the U.S. include the : Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RY#NYSE">RY</a>), Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TD#NYSE">TD</a>), Bank of Montreal (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMO#NYSE">BMO</a>) and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CM#NYSE">CM</a>).



Energy companies could also be affected by the political upheaval in Canada: they include e Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENB#NYSE">ENB</a>), TC Pipelines (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRP#NYSE">TRP</a>), Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SU#NYSE">SU</a>) and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNQ#NYSE">CNQ</a>).



In the tech sector, Ottawa-based Shopify Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHOP#NYSE">SHOP</a>) is trading up 3.7%.



Trudeau's announcement comes shortly after the resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42520833/trudeaus-government-loses-a-top-negotiator-ahead-of-trumps-second-term">stepped down</a> in mid-December due to disagreements with Trudeau&#8217;s spending proposals. Freeland, who also served as deputy prime minister, left the cabinet because she believed Trudeau was not taking adequate measures to prepare for a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42475000/if-trump-starts-a-trade-war-canada-could-impose-export-taxes-on-oil-uranium-report">potential trade war</a> with Washington.



Canadian ETFs likely to be affected by this political firestorm, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/etf-canada">Benzinga Pro</a>, include <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BBCA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JPMorgan BetaBuilders Canada ETF</a> (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBCA#BATS">BBCA</a>) which is trading up 0.9%; the iShares MSCI Canada ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWC#NYSE">EWC</a>), up 0.79%; SPDR Solactive Canada ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZCAN#NYSE">ZCAN</a>), up 0.88%; and Invesco CurrencyShares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FXC#NYSE">FXC</a>), up 0.59%. The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FLCA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Franklin FTSE Canada ETF</a> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLCA#NYSE">FLCA</a>) is trading 0.95% higher midday Monday.



Now Read:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42813324/trumps-universal-tariff-plans-take-shape-analysts-expect-stronger-for-longer-greenback#google_vignette">Trump&#8217;s Universal Tariff Plans Take Shape, Analysts Expect &#8216;Stronger For Longer&#8217; Greenback</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock.

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Justin Trudeau Will Step Down As Canada Faces Tension Over Trump Tariffs

Wall Street is in full risk-on mode, as traders eagerly snap up technology stocks, particularly semiconductors, ahead of Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang&#8216;s speech later on Monday at the Consumer Electronics Show <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/42822846/nvidia-5000-series-product-updates-make-it-top-semiconductor-pick-ahead-of-jensen-huangs-ces-keynote-analyst">in Las Vegas.</a>



Tech-linked indices and sector outperformed by midday trading in New York. The Nasdaq 100 notched a 1.3% increase while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) soared by over 4%, eyeing the strongest session since mid-September.



Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) shares led gains, flagging a 12% surge, on the back of expectations for strong AI demand. Nvidia rose 4.8%.



Among Monday&#8217;s notable headlines, The Washington Post reported Donald Trump&#8217;s economic team is exploring a more targeted version of its universal tariff plan, aiming to apply tariffs to specific sectors rather than implementing a broad <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42813324/trumps-universal-tariff-plans-take-shape-analysts-expect-stronger-for-longer-greenback">measure on all imports. </a>The dollar softened by 0.5% in reaction to the news.



The Federal Reserve announced the vice chair for supervision Michael Barr, a strong advocate for tighter banking regulations, will step down from his role in February but will retain his seat on the Board of Governors.



&#8220;The risk of a dispute over the position could be a distraction from our mission,&#8221; Barr stated, alluding to potential clashes with the incoming administration&#8217;s inclination toward looser banking regulations. Regional bank stocks reacted positively, with the S&amp;P SPDR Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KRE#NYSE">KRE</a>) rising 1.6% on Monday.



In commodities markets, natural gas prices rocketed by another 7% on the heels of an extension of cold temperatures, while oil prices slipped 0.7%, potentially snapping a 5-day winning streak. 



Sentiment turned bullish again in cryptocurrency markets, as Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) ferociously reclaimed the $100,000 mark, sending crypto-linked stocks such as Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), CleanSpark Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLSK#NASDAQ">CLSK</a>) and Microstrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) all higher by about 6%. 



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices</td><td>Price</td><td>1-day % chg</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>21,584.34</td><td>1.2%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>5,996.40</td><td>0.9%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,284.16</td><td>0.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>42,832.88</td><td>0.2%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 1:15 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>



According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent010625&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:



<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 0.9% to $597.33.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.4% to $429.05.</li>



<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rose 1.3% to $525.31.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) soared 0.9% to $226.44.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) outperformed, up 1.7%; the&nbsp;Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) lagged, down 0.7%.</li>
</ul>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h1>



<ul>
<li>Shares of Paycor HCM Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYCR#NASDAQ">PYCR</a>) surged 23% after reports surfaced that the company is nearing a potential acquisition by Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>). </li>



<li>Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) tumbled over 4% following a cautious note from Morgan Stanley. </li>



<li>Fubotv Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUBO#NYSE">FUBO</a>) skyrocketed by 220% after Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) announced to combine its Hulu + Live TV business with Fubo.</li>
</ul>



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/42822625/big-techs-date-with-antitrust-alphabet-meta-amazon-brace-for-legal-showdowns-in-2025">Big Tech&#8217;s Date With Antitrust: Alphabet, Meta, Amazon Brace For Legal Showdowns In 2025</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

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PAYX

PLTR

PYCR

SOXX

Wall Street Rallies, Chipmakers Soar Ahead Of Nvidia's Huang Speech, Bitcoin Reclaims $100,000: What's Driving Markets Monday?

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) stock hit new all-time highs Monday as investors and analysts size up the company's new products and growth opportunities that will be key storylines at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42775636/ces-2025-preview-nvidia-amd-in-spotlight-other-trends-and-stocks-to-watch">this year's CES conference.</a>



The NVDA Analyst: Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya reiterated a Buy rating on Nvidia with a $190 price target.



The NVDATakeaways: Nvidia updates on its AI and robotics growth and the unveiling of the new Nvidia 5000 series graphics cards are among the key catalysts for the stock after CES, Arya said in a new investor note.



The analyst named Nvidia the top sector pick ahead of a keynote presentation by CEO Jensen Huang <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/10/41234323/jensen-huang-to-keynote-ces-2025-as-true-visionary-in-the-tech-industry-how-much-did-nvidia-stock-ri">on Monday night.</a>



The keynote and other presentations could highlight Nvidia's presence in many of the CES trending topic areas including robotics, gaming, PC and artificial intelligence, the analyst said. &nbsp;



Arya said the key question is how quickly the new products will help shareholders.



"The challenge in our view is however making the products reliable enough, cheap enough and pervasive enough to spawn credible business models," Arya said.



The analyst said robotics could be a "cool but niche opportunity" similar to the metaverse and autonomous cars that could take time to reward shareholders.



"While we don't doubt NVDA's capabilities, we are unsure as to when and how fast they can influence NVDA's financials." &nbsp;



The analyst said CES remains a "positive catalyst" for Nvidia that can show the company's dominance and opportunity in growth markets.



Arya said Nvidia's new products could help the company continue its strong pace of year-over-year sales growth.



"NVDA's 50%+ YoY sales growth in CY25E YoY could be the fastest in the S&amp;P 500 index, based on current consensus."



The analyst said Nvidia trades at around 30 times its forward price-to-earnings ratio, compared to a historical trading range of 25x to 35x, making the stock attractive while trading in the middle of the range.



NVDA Price Action: Nvidia stock is up 4.49% to $150.96 on Monday versus a 52-week trading range of $49.48 to $152.89. Nvidia shares hit new all-time highs earlier Monday morning and are up over 190% over the last year.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/42145635/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-calls-ai-a-miracle-say-it-cant-do-100-of-our-jobs">Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Calls AI A &#8216;Miracle,&#8217; Say It &#8216;Can&#8217;t Do 100% Of Our Jobs&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Price Target

Reiteration

Events

Analyst Ratings

Nvidia 5000 Series, Product Updates Make It Top Semiconductor Pick Ahead Of Jensen Huang's CES Keynote: Analyst

The regulatory risk is ratcheting higher for mega-cap tech giants, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/regulations">with antitrust lawsuits</a> and deadlines stacking up like dominoes.



From Alphabet Inc&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) courtroom battles to Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Amazon.com Inc&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) looming trials, JPMorgan sees the regulatory landscape for mega-cap tech firms set to intensify in 2025. Here's a chronological look at what's brewing, focusing on some of the pivotal antitrust cases and decisions spanning the next two years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Google: The DOJ's Prime Target</h2>



Alphabet&#8217;s Google is in the crosshairs with three antitrust lawsuits.



<ul>
<li>Jan. 24, 2023: The <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-google-monopolizing-digital-advertising-technologies">DOJ sued Google</a> for monopolizing digital advertising technologies. The suit targets Google's ad-tech empire. </li>



<li>Nov. 20, 2024: the DOJ proposed remedies to curb Google's dominance in search and advertising. Recommendations include divesting Chrome, revealing search query data, and stopping payouts to distributors like Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>).</li>



<li>Dec. 20, 2024: Google filed its counterproposals ahead of a spring trial. Final rulings are <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/what-comes-next-googles-antitrust-case-over-search-2024-10-08/#:~:text=April%2022%2C%202025%20%2D%20Mehta%20will,case%20to%20begin%20the%20process.">expected</a> by August 2025, with the tech giant planning to appeal.</li>
</ul>



The stakes are high, with divestitures and sweeping behavioral remedies on the table, but Google's playbook includes appeals and push for its ecosystem's indispensable value.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42802321/metas-facebook-instagram-ads-promote-illegal-gun-silencers-report">Meta&#8217;s Facebook, Instagram Ads Promote Illegal Gun Silencers: Report</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Meta: Antitrust, Privacy Woes</h2>



Meta Platforms isn't immune to scrutiny, but JPMorgan sees a low probability of a breakup.



<ul>
<li>Dec. 9, 2020: The U.S. government and 48 attorneys general filed antitrust lawsuits accusing Facebook, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, of operating as an unlawful monopoly.</li>



<li>June 28, 2021: A Federal judge dismissed claims that Facebook holds a social networking monopoly, citing insufficient evidence, and ruled the states&#8217; case was filed too late.</li>



<li>Aug. 19, 2021: The FTC&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.224921/gov.uscourts.dcd.224921.75.1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">refiled a bolstered version</a>&nbsp;of its antitrust case against Meta (formerly Facebook). </li>



<li>Nov. 13, 2024: Judge James Boasberg allowed the FTC&#8217;s claim that Meta overpaid for Instagram and WhatsApp to stifle competition to proceed to trial. He, however, dismissed allegations of restricting third-party developers. Trial date is <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-25/ftc-meta-face-april-14-trial-over-suit-to-break-up-company">set</a> for April 14, 2025.</li>



<li>Meta faces fallout from its "pay or consent" advertising model in the EU and a $1.4 billion settlement over facial recognition privacy in Texas. Regulatory headaches continue as courts reexamine a 2019 FTC ruling on user data practices.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Amazon: The Long Haul</h2>



Amazon is prepping for a marathon legal battle with the FTC.



<ul>
<li>Sep. 26, 2023: <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/09/ftc-sues-amazon-illegally-maintaining-monopoly-power">FTC sues Amazon</a>, accusing it of illegally maintaining monopoly power. The FTC and 17 state attorneys general aim to dismantle Amazon's retail dominance, alleging the company blocks competition and inflates prices. Specifially the suit targets Amazon&#8217;s online stores and third party seller services. The trial is <a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-judge-sets-october-2026-trial-date-ftc-suit-against-amazon-2024-02-13/">set</a> for Oct. 13, 2026.</li>



<li>A <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/06/ftc-takes-action-against-amazon-enrolling-consumers-amazon-prime-without-consent-sabotaging-their">separate FTC lawsuit</a> targeting Prime's enrollment practices heads to trial on June 9, 2025.</li>
</ul>



Amazon argues its marketplace empowers third-party sellers and consumers and said the FTC overstates Amazon&#8217;s market influence.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Else Is On The Docket?</h2>



Beyond these high-profile cases, regulators have their sights set on TikTok, which faces a Jan. 19 divestiture deadline, Apple and other gig economy players.



Labor reforms, European antitrust laws and generative AI governance are also heating up, JPMorgan notes.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/42817526/alphabet-drives-into-2025-googles-ai-waymo-lead-the-charge">Alphabet Drives Into 2025: Google&#8217;s AI, Waymo Lead The Charge</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Regulations

Legal

AAPL

AMZN

GOOG

GOOGL

Big Tech's Date With Antitrust: Alphabet, Meta, Amazon Brace For Legal Showdowns In 2025

President Joe Biden intends to ban offshore drilling along most of the U.S. coast before <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42813324/trumps-universal-tariff-plans-take-shape-analysts-expect-stronger-for-longer-greenback">leaving the White House</a>.



The Details: Biden <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/06/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-protecting-americas-ocean-and-coasts-from-offshore-oil-and-gas-drilling/">said</a> Monday he will protect more than 625 million acres of the ocean from future offshore oil and gas drilling. This includes the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, the Gulf of Mexico and portions of the Bering Sea.



"My decision reflects what coastal communities, businesses, and beachgoers have known for a long time: that drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation's energy needs," Biden said in the statement.&nbsp;



Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42768507/china-slaps-export-restrictions-on-dozens-of-us-companies-boeing-lockheed-martin-general-dynamics-raytheon-affected">China&#8217;s Export Crackdown Hits Boeing, Lockheed Martin And More&nbsp;</a>



Biden will use powers given under the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act which allows the president to indefinitely withdraw unleased lands from the outer continental shelf.&nbsp; The withdrawal of the lands has no expiration date and President-elect Donald Trump will likely not be able to reverse the protections without an act of Congress.&nbsp;



Trump pledged to increase domestic energy and fossil fuel production during his campaign and Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump Vance transition team, took to social media to speak out against President Biden's decision.&nbsp;



"This is a disgraceful decision designed to exact political revenge on the American people who gave President Trump a mandate to increase drilling and lower gas prices. Rest assured, Joe Biden will fail, and we will drill, baby, drill," Leavitt posted on X.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This is a disgraceful decision designed to exact political revenge on the American people who gave President Trump a mandate to increase drilling and lower gas prices. Rest assured, Joe Biden will fail, and we will drill, baby, drill. <a href="https://t.co/NvWx7oA2vU">https://t.co/NvWx7oA2vU</a>&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@karolineleavitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/karolineleavitt/status/1876228351028858932?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Why It Matters: Biden&#8217;s offshore drilling ban could have significant impacts on several companies in the oil and gas sector.



Companies with offshore operations include Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIG#NYSE">RIG</a>) and Noble Corp. plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NE#NYSE">NE</a>), which provide contract drilling services. 



Other names to watch in the oil industry include Halliburton Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAL#NYSE">HAL</a>) and Baker Hughes Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKR#NASDAQ">BKR</a>) which both have modest exposure to the offshore drilling industry. 



The Range Global Offshore Oil Services Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OFOS#NYSE">OFOS</a>) is focused specifically on offshore drilling services. The SPDR S&amp;P Oil &amp; Gas Equipment &amp; Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XES#NYSE">XES</a>) includes companies involved in oil and gas equipment and services. 



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/42777105/russian-natural-gas-delivery-to-europe-halted-us-listed-lng-stocks-gain-as-exports-set-to-increase-in-2025">Russian Natural Gas Delivery To Europe Halted: US-Listed LNG Stocks Gain As Exports Set To Increase In 2025&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Success Stories

Markets

OFOS

Biden Set To Ban Future Offshore Oil Drilling: 4 Stocks, 2 ETFs To Watch

The U.S. Treasury has unveiled its final guidance on the 45V Production Tax Credit, setting the stage for a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/hydrogen">greener hydrogen future</a>. 



According to JPMorgan analyst Bill Peterson, these long-awaited rules could unlock stalled projects and reinvigorate the hydrogen industry, with Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLUG#NASDAQ">PLUG</a>) among the companies standing to benefit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Flexibility To Fuel Growth</h2>



The Treasury's revisions address three critical pillars of green hydrogen: additionality, time matching and deliverability. Projects now have a three-year window to connect clean energy sources to hydrogen plants, providing much-needed flexibility. Clean energy definitions have also expanded and now include select nuclear reactors and renewable methane pathways.



Crucially, the inclusion of retired-but-revived nuclear reactors aligns with Plug Power's advocacy during the public comment period.



In a significant shift, hydrogen producers have been granted an additional two years before strict hourly time matching rules take effect in 2030. This phased approach reflects the challenges of integrating nascent renewable infrastructure and offers producers a smoother transition.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/42250648/plug-power-evgo-among-jpmorgans-top-sustainable-picks-for-2025">Plug Power, EVgo Among JPMorgan&#8217;s Top Sustainable Picks For 2025</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Plug Power's Strategic Position</h2>



While Peterson views the guidance as a net positive for Plug Power, the near-term impact remains muted. The company's 2025 revenue growth will continue to rely on backlog orders and international projects. 



However, the updated rules could accelerate U.S.-based electrolyzer growth beyond 2026, a key focus area for Plug Power's expansion.



The stock's muted reaction suggests that investors had largely priced in these revisions. Going forward, sentiment will likely hinge on PLUG's ability to secure Department of Energy loans and execute margin improvements.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Looking Ahead</h2>



The 45V guidance removes uncertainty, but the path to green hydrogen dominance will require patience and execution. Plug Power's future hinges on scaling its electrolyzer business and capitalizing on these policy changes.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/12/42541811/fuelcell-energy-fcel-short-squeeze-contrarian-options-trade">Options Corner: FuelCell Energy Could Attract Short-Squeeze Speculation</a></li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock

PLUG

Hydrogen's Green Light Moment: Will PLUG Power Up?

President-elect Donald Trump's transition team is reworking his universal tariff proposal, signaling potential upheaval in global trade as markets brace for his inauguration on Jan. 20.



According to an <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/01/06/trump-tariff-economy-trade/">exclusive report</a> by The Washington Post published Monday, the new approach focuses on specific sectors deemed critical to U.S. economic and national security, marking a watered-down version of his 2024 campaign pledge for blanket duties on all imports.



While the plan's final structure remains undecided, early discussions suggest tariffs could target industries such as defense materials, medical supplies and energy production.



If enacted, these tariffs could still significantly disrupt global trade, elevate consumer prices and potentially produce wide-ranging impacts on the U.S. dollar.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trump&#8217;s Tariff Playbook: Targeted But Aggressive</h3>



Instead of implementing a sweeping tax on all imports, discussions among Trump aides suggest that tariffs could be limited to specific sectors. Industries under consideration reportedly include:



<ul>
<li>Defense materials: steel, aluminum, copper</li>



<li>Medical supplies: syringes, vials, pharmaceutical components</li>



<li>Energy production: batteries, rare earth minerals, solar panels</li>
</ul>



The plan appears designed to avoid widespread consumer price shocks that would accompany a blanket tariff on all imports. Still, the policy is being framed as an aggressive move to incentivize domestic manufacturing, a central goal of Trump's trade agenda.



A member of Trump's team described the approach to The Washington Post as a more politically viable way to kick off the administration&#8217;s trade agenda.



"The sector-based universal tariff is a little bit easier for everybody to stomach out the gate," the source said. "And it would still give CEOs a massive incentive to start making their products here."



While the revised strategy may appear more focused, it is no less ambitious. 



Trump's advisers view these measures as a cornerstone of their efforts to bring manufacturing jobs back to U.S. soil. 



Yet, the economic fallout could be significant. Liberal and conservative critics argue that the plan could still raise costs for domestic producers reliant on imported components, driving up prices for consumers and businesses alike.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Will Tariffs Hit In Trump's First 48 Hours?</h3>



Markets are closely watching how quickly Trump will move to implement his tariff strategy once inaugurated. CFTC-regulated Kalshi markets estimate a 49% chance that global tariffs will be announced within the first 48 hours of his presidency, by January 23.



Kalshi data also breaks down the likelihood of tariffs targeting specific trade partners. China leads the list at 45%, followed by Canada at 32%, Brazil at 29% and Mexico at 25%.



China is no stranger to Trump's tariff agenda. During his first term, Trump imposed duties on more than $360 billion worth of Chinese goods, citing trade imbalances and intellectual property concerns. 



Trump's new focus on critical sectors may still escalate tensions with America's largest trade partner.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Goldman Sachs Sees Tariffs Boosting The Dollar</h3>



Goldman Sachs analysts suggest new tariffs could strengthen the U.S. dollar throughout 2025.



"We expect the Dollar to be ‘stronger for longer' in 2025. Tariff risks and divergent growth prospects will eventually allow the Dollar to strengthen," Kamakshya Trivedi, forex strategist at Goldman said in a recent note.



Trivedi indicated that tariffs directly influence exchange rates by altering the cost of international production.



Historically, Goldman's data shows the U.S. dollar index – as tracked by the  Invesco DB USD Index Bullish Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>) – has appreciated 2.5% for every unexpected $100 billion in U.S. tariff revenue from China, equivalent to a 20 percentage point tariff increase.



The analyst highlighted that foreign exchange markets often struggle to fully price in tariff risks ahead of time due to uncertainty over policy implementation and potential retaliation. 



Read now: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42809614/us-stocks-to-open-higher-in-yet-another-truncated-week-nvidia-robotic-stocks-in-focus-ahead-of-ces-2025">US Stocks To Open Higher In Yet Another Truncated Week: Nvidia, Robotic Stocks In Focus Ahead Of CES 2025</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Asia

Currency ETFs

Trump's Universal Tariff Plans Take Shape, Analysts Expect 'Stronger For Longer' Greenback

On Monday, Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) announced it has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/b42810225/uber-announces-1-5-billion-accelerated-share-repurchase-program." rel="noreferrer noopener">entered into an accelerated share repurchase</a> (ASR) agreement with Bank of America to repurchase $1.5 billion worth of stock as part of its previously authorized $7 billion share repurchase program, initially approved in February 2024.



Under the agreement, Uber will receive approximately 18.6 million shares, representing about 80% of the expected total repurchase.



The final number of shares to be retired will be determined based on the volume-weighted average price during the agreement&#8217;s term. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/42806918/new-york-citys-historic-congestion-pricing-starts-sunday-uber-and-lyft-passengers-to-pay-for-entering-manhattan" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York City&#8217;s Historic Congestion Pricing Starts Sunday, Uber And Lyft Passengers To Pay For Entering Manhattan</a>



CFO Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah emphasized that Uber&#8217;s stock is undervalued relative to its business performance and described the ASR as a strategic move to enhance shareholder value.



&#8220;We are entering 2025 with considerable momentum and expect to continue scaling our free cash flows significantly, enabling us to return meaningful capital to shareholders while still investing in growth,&#8221; stated Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah.



&#8220;Our stock is undervalued relative to the strength of our business, and we plan to accelerate our buybacks under the existing authorization as a result. This ASR represents a value-enhancing deployment of capital, retiring over one percent of our market cap.&#8221;



In October, Uber reported fiscal third-quarter 2024 revenue growth of 20% year-on-year to $11.188 billion, beating the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/10/b41648557/uber-announces-results-for-third-quarter-2024" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus of $10.97 billion</a>. It clocked a GAAP EPS of 46 cents and an adjusted EPS of 46 cents, which beat the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus of 41 cents</a>.



Its Gross Bookings grew 16% year-over-year&nbsp;to $40.97 billion. Mobility Gross Bookings were $21.00 billion, up 17% year-over-year; Delivery Gross Bookings were $18.66 billion, up 16%; and Freight Gross Bookings were $1.31 billion, up 2% year-over-year.



Trips grew 17% year-over-year to 2.9 billion, or 31 million per day. Uber&#8217;s Monthly Active Platform Consumers reached 161 million, up 13% year-over-year.



Price Action: At the last check on Monday, UBER shares were trading higher by 5.43% at $68.10 premarket.



Image via Shutterstock

Buybacks

UBER

Uber CFO Says Stock Undervalued, Initiates $1.5 Billion Accelerated Stock Buyback

U.S. stock futures advanced on Monday after ending their <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/42796485/goodbye-santa-rally-tesla-falters-on-deliveries-investors-flee-bonds-ahead-of-trumps-second-term-this-week-in-the-market">losing </a>streak on Friday. Futures of all four major indices rose in premarket trade.



This is yet another truncated week as the U.S. stock markets will remain closed for former President Jimmy Carter&#8217;s &#8220;National Day of Mourning&#8221; on Thursday, Jan. 9.



The 10-year and two-year Treasury notes yielded 4.61% and 4.27%, respectively. The probability of having no change in the interest rates for the upcoming Jan. 31, 2025 decision was at 90.9%, according <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">to</a> CME Group&#8217;s FedWatch tool.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>0.70%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>0.42%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.04%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>0.10%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



In premarket trading on Monday, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) was up 0.42% to $594.44 and the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rose 0.74% to $522.40, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From The Last Session



Following a five-day <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/42796485/goodbye-santa-rally-tesla-falters-on-deliveries-investors-flee-bonds-ahead-of-trumps-second-term-this-week-in-the-market">decline</a>, the longest such streak since April, Wall Street experienced a strong rebound on Friday. Investor confidence returned, driving a surge in market activity. All major indices saw positive returns, with the Nasdaq 100 leading the gains. This broad-based market strength was evident across all S&amp;P 500 sectors.



Furthermore, the latest ISM Manufacturing PMI data surpassed forecasts, indicating a stronger-than-expected manufacturing sector in December. This marks the second month in a row of manufacturing expansion.



U.S. automakers experienced significant price actions following the release of fourth-quarter delivery numbers. The consumer discretionary sector outperformed the consumer staples. 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>1.77%</td><td>19,621.68</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>1.26%</td><td>5,942.47</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.80%</td><td>42,732.13</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>1.72%</td><td>2,268.47</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts



The chief market strategist at Carson Research, Ryan Detrick highlighted in an X post that the average annual returns have been higher 64.7% times in the years that saw the stocks decline on the first or the last day of the year.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">S&amp;P 500 down the last trading day of the year and first day of the following year? Happened the past 3 years actually and &#39;23 and &#39;24 both did fine. I wouldn&#39;t ever invest in just this, but interesting given all the talk about recent weakness. <a href="https://t.co/OOnujvo8YR">pic.twitter.com/OOnujvo8YR</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1876045782622896341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The economic week ahead is chockful of labor market indicators for November and December. Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research said, &#8220;We&#8217;re expecting them to beat expectations. As long as corporate earnings continue to reach new record highs, companies are likely to hire more workers and increase real wages.&#8221;



&#8220;The Q4-2024 earnings reporting season is about to start, led by the big banks. We expect that during their conference calls, company managements will discuss how AI may be starting to boost their productivity. In effect, they&#8217;ll be trying to convince investors that every company is now a technology company either producing AI hardware and software or using them,&#8221; added Yardeni.



Talking further about earnings, Louis Navellier of Navellier and Associates said, &#8220;Stocks, thankfully, trade on earnings prospects, and those remain solid. The tech giants steering the market generate massive cash flows and are affected little by interest rate levels.&#8221;



&#8220;The AI potential is very real in terms of promising major productivity gains, though that may come from meaningful reductions in employment needed to get the same functions accomplished,&#8221; he added.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures </a>



Upcoming Economic Data



Several important data points will be released in this truncated week that will help investors determine the future course of action.



<ul>
<li>On Monday, S&amp;P&#8217;s final U.S. services PMI for December will be announced at 9:45 a.m., ET.</li>



<li>November's factory orders data will be released at 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>



<li>On Tuesday, Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin will be speaking at 8:00 a.m., ET.</li>



<li>U.S. trade deficit data for November will be released at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>



<li>ISM services data for December and job openings data for November will be announced at 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>



<li>On Wednesday, December&#8217;s ADP employment data will be released at 8:15 a.m., ET.</li>



<li>The minutes of the Fed&#8217;s December FOMC meeting will be released at 2:00 p.m., ET.</li>



<li>Consumer credit data for December will be announced at 3:00 p.m., ET.</li>



<li>On Thursday, initial jobless claims till Jan. 4 will be announced at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>



<li>Wholesale inventories data for November will be released at 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>



<li>On Friday, the U.S. employment report, unemployment rate, and hourly wages data for December along with hourly wages year over year will be released at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>



<li>The preliminary consumer sentiment data for January will be announced at 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul>
<li>Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) was 1.87% up in premarket as Wall Street is expecting its CEO Jensen Huang to deliver a keynote address on Monday night at CES 2025. His comments will be important for the semiconductor and AI chip space.</li>



<li>Robotics stocks like Nauticus Robotics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KITT#NASDAQ">KITT</a>) were up 95.26%, Richtech Robotics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RR#NASDAQ">RR</a>) was up 30.81%, Microbot Medical Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBOT#NASDAQ">MBOT</a>) was up 58.81% and Arbe Robotics Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARBE#NASDAQ">ARBE</a>) was up 16.73% ahead of CES 2025.</li>



<li>Plug Power (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLUG#NASDAQ">PLUG</a>) was up 7.98% following the Biden administration&#8217;s announcement of new rules allowing some nuclear power plants to qualify for tax credits when producing clean hydrogen.</li>



<li>General Motors (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) was up 1.26% and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) was up 1.42% after reporting strong 2024 sales. Both carmakers&#8217; sales grew by over 4% for the year, which marked their highest overall sales since 2019.</li>



<li>Cerence Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRNC#NASDAQ">CRNC</a>) was up 20.43% after it announced an extension to its partnership with technology giant Nvidia. It is expected to boost their family of CaLLM language models, including their cloud-based automotive language model.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were lower in the early New York session by 0.04% to hover around $73.93 per barrel.



The gold spot index was down by 0.37% to $2,644.81 per ounce. The Dollar Index was down 0.32% to 108.606 level.



Asian markets were mostly lower on Monday as Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225, India&#8217;s S&amp;P BSE Sensex and China&#8217;s CSI 300 index declined. Whereas, in Australia&#8217;s ASX 200, South Korea&#8217;s Kospi index ended higher. European markets were mixed.



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Photo courtesy: Wikimedia

Equities

Market Summary

Futures

Federal Reserve

Pre-Market Outlook

ARBE

CRNC

KITT

MBOT

US Stocks To Open Higher In Yet Another Truncated Week: Nvidia, Robotic Stocks In Focus Ahead Of CES 2025

On Sunday, Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) backed OpenAI CEO Sam Altman disclosed that the company is currently operating at a loss on its $200 per month ChatGPT Pro plan.



Although the plan was designed to generate revenue, it is not producing the profits OpenAI had anticipated. Altman shared his thoughts on the issue through a <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/sama" rel="noreferrer noopener">series of posts on X</a>, stating that the price was set under the assumption that it would help the company earn revenue, but usage has exceeded their expectations.



"we are currently losing money on openai pro subscriptions! people use it much more than we expected," he said.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">insane thing: we are currently losing money on openai pro subscriptions! people use it much more than we expected.&mdash; Sam Altman (@sama) <a href="https://twitter.com/sama/status/1876104315296968813?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



OpenAI launched ChatGPT Pro late last year to offer its users an upgraded experience. The new plan offers unlimited access to all of OpenAI's models, including the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42356469/openai-unveils-200-chatgpt-pro-subscription-inside-the-o1-reasoning-model-and-what-it-means-for-power-users" rel="noreferrer noopener">advanced "o1" reasoning model</a>.



Internal testing showed a 34% reduction in major errors on difficult questions compared to the preview version.&nbsp;



Despite the promising features, OpenAI has yet to reach profitability despite raising $20 billion since its inception, <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/05/openai-is-losing-money-on-its-pricey-chatgpt-pro-plan-ceo-sam-altman-says/" rel="noreferrer noopener">TechCrunch</a> reported. In October, the company secured more than $6.5 billion in new funding at a<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41149788/openai-valuation-soars-to-157b-in-latest-funding-round" rel="noreferrer noopener"> valuation of $157 billion</a>.



The latest funding is said to be one of the largest private investments ever alongside&nbsp;SpaceX and TikTok parent&nbsp;ByteDance.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42782683/tesla-hits-record-ev-sales-in-china-despite-global-dip" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Hits Record EV Sales In China Despite Global Dip: Report</a>



It is to be noted that the company plans to transition from being controlled by a nonprofit board to a new structure, paving the way for an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41043358/sam-altman-poised-for-10-5b-payday-as-openai-transitions-to-for-profit-model-with-150b-valuation-on" rel="noreferrer noopener">initial public offering (IPO) in the future</a>.



However, Billionaire&nbsp;and OpenAI co-founder&nbsp;Elon Musk has filed for an injunction&nbsp;to halt the transition, accusing OpenAI of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42712683/openai-lays-out-its-for-profit-transition-plans-says-it-must-evolve-to-advance-its-agi-mission" rel="noreferrer noopener">deviating from its original mission</a>.



In 2023, the company projected losses of about $5 billion on $3.7 billion in revenue. High operating expenses, including costs of approximately $700,000 per day to support the ChatGPT platform, are contributing to its financial struggles.



To counter these losses, OpenAI is exploring strategies to become profitable. One potential solution involves increasing the price of its subscription tiers.



In December, OpenAI said it is planning to reach 1 billion users by 2025, driven by new AI products, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42259023/apple-partnership-ai-agents-and-major-infrastructure-investments-openai-executives-outline-strategy-to-attract-1b-users-by-2025" rel="noreferrer noopener">infrastructure and partnership</a> with&nbsp;Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>).



Also, Sam Altman shared his thoughts in a blog post regarding the company's ongoing efforts to build artificial general intelligence (AGI) and its <a target="_blank" href="https://blog.samaltman.com/reflections" rel="noreferrer noopener">eventual goal of superintelligence</a>.



"With superintelligence, we can do anything else. Superintelligent tools could massively accelerate scientific discovery and innovation well beyond what we are capable of doing on our own, and in turn massively increase abundance and prosperity."



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42787508/biden-blocks-14-9b-us-steel-takeover-shares-plunge" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biden Blocks $14.9B US Steel Takeover</a></li>
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Photo via Shutterstock

Media

MSFT

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Says Company Losing Money On ChatGPT Pro Plan

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is reportedly preparing to resign as the leader of the Liberal Party. An official announcement is expected to be made as early as Monday.



What Happened: A report by Reuters, citing Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail, on Sunday suggests that Trudeau&#8217;s resignation could come ahead of a pivotal national caucus meeting on Wednesday. The specifics of Trudeau&#8217;s exit, including whether he will step down immediately or wait for a successor, remain unclear.



Insiders who spoke to The Globe and Mail could not confirm if Finance Minister&nbsp;Dominic LeBlanc&nbsp;would be willing to serve&nbsp;as interim leader and prime&nbsp;minister, particularly if he intends to vie for the leadership.



Trudeau&#8217;s resignation comes at a crucial juncture for the Liberal Party, which is expected to face a significant loss to the Conservatives in the forthcoming election, due by late October. His exit could prompt calls for an expedited election to establish a government capable of managing the administration of President-elect Donald Trump over the next four years.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42714402/elon-musk-weighs-in-on-maga-divide-urges-gop-to-purge-contemptible-fools?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Weighs In On MAGA Divide, Urges GOP To Remove ‘Contemptible Fools' Completely</a>



Why It Matters: Trudeau&#8217;s decision to step down comes on the heels of tense discussions with President-elect Donald Trump. In a high-stakes dinner in late November, Trudeau warned Trump about the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/11/42252924/canadian-pm-justin-trudeau-warns-trumps-25-tariff-plan-will-hurt-americans-at-high-stakes-dinner">potential negative impacts</a> of his proposed 25% tariff plan on American and Canadian citizens.



Following the dinner, Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42409527/trump-humorously-calls-justin-trudeau-as-governor-days-after-floating-idea-of-canada-dodging-tariffs-as-51st-state-of-america">humorously referred</a> to Trudeau as the "Governor of the Great State of Canada," expressing enthusiasm about future meetings and stating that the results of their talks would be "truly spectacular for all."



Photo by Art Babych on Shutterstock



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</ul>



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Justin Trudeau Set To Resign As Prime Minister Of Canada: Report

Leading cryptocurrencies were rangebound Sunday as investors awaited fresh macroeconomic data to assess investments in riskier markets.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 7:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>+0.20%</td><td>$98,435.33</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-0.44%</td><td>$3,644.50</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-3.07%</td><td>$0.3819</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: Bitcoin saw choppy movement, oscillating between $98,700 and $97,300. The world's leading cryptocurrency has regained momentum since New Year, resulting in weekly gains of 4.59%.



Ethereum also stagnated at around the $3,600 level. The coin has endured weeks of corrective action since hitting $4,000 last month.



About $136 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, with long positions accounting for 66% of the total.



Bitcoin's Open Interest rose by 0.48%, indicating speculative interest for the leading asset.



That said, the Long/Short Ratio dropped in the last 24 hours, suggesting expectations of further decline in prices.



Market sentiment entered the "Extreme Greed" zone, according to the Crypto Fear &amp; Greed Index.



Top Gainers (24-Hours)



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 7:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Movement (MOVE)</td><td>+12.10%</td><td>$1.11</td></tr><tr><td>SPX6900 (SPX)</td><td>+11.27%</td><td>$1.49</td></tr><tr><td>Injective (INJ)</td><td>+7.50%</td><td>$25.54</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.49 trillion, following a marginal drop of 0.31% in the last 24 hours.



Stock futures edged slightly lower on Sunday evening. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures fell 33 points, or 0.08%, as of 7:45 p.m. EDT.&nbsp; Futures tied to the S&amp;P 500 dipped 0.07%, while Nasdaq 100 Futures slid 0.08%.



Investors will keep their eyes peeled on the upcoming <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/01/36506821/why-the-december-jobs-report-is-a-crucial-indicator-for-us-economys-trajectory">December jobs report</a>, due on Friday, for hints about the market&#8217;s outlook and the Federal Reserve&#8217;s rate-cut plans.



The NYSE and NASDAQ <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42725647/markets-will-close-for-president-jimmy-carters-state-funeral-what-you-need-to-know">will be closed</a> on Thursday to honor former President Jimmy Carter, who died at 100.



See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>



Analyst Notes: Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst Rekt Capital said Bitcoin was back to its previously lost support area of $97,000-$98,000 and the technical uptrend.



"If Bitcoin weekly closes inside this blue area, there&#8217;ll be a good chance of reclaiming that previously lost support into support once again," the analyst remarked.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BTC</a> Since confirming additional downside, Bitcoin dropped into the ~$91000 Weekly support before reversing to the upside Bitcoin is now back at the previously lost support area that is the blue Order Block ($97k-$98k) and the previously lost technical uptrend (orange) If… <a href="https://t.co/qMf2hJz2g6">https://t.co/qMf2hJz2g6</a> <a href="https://t.co/MOdXEmWhwF">pic.twitter.com/MOdXEmWhwF</a>&mdash; Rekt Capital (@rektcapital) <a href="https://twitter.com/rektcapital/status/1875954197067399207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Well-known on-chain analyst Ali Martinez called attention to Ethereum's strong move in the ascending parallel channel, painting a target of as much as $6,000.



An ascending parallel channel is a pattern of two parallel lines that slope upward, connecting higher highs and lows. It indicates a bullish trend.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Despite the volatility, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ethereum?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ethereum</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> is holding strong within an ascending parallel channel, pointing towards $6,000! <a href="https://t.co/GKrHvv9mkA">pic.twitter.com/GKrHvv9mkA</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1875854504958320844?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Read Next:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/24/12/42751129/bitwises-bold-approach-new-etf-targets-bitcoin-powerhouses-as-institutional-adoption-soars">Bitwise&#8217;s Bold Approach: New ETF Targets Bitcoin Powerhouses As Institutional Adoption Soars</a></li>
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Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Remain Muffled As Investors Await Jobs Data: Top Analyst Says ETH 'Holding Strong' In Pattern Pointing Toward $6K

Elon Musk is reportedly gearing up to introduce a new Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and cryptocurrency feature called "X Money" on his rebranded platform, X, formerly Twitter.



What Happened: According to a leak reported by influencer Alex Finn and MacRumors contributing researcher Aaron Perris on Friday, "X Money" might launch without needing approval from all 50 states.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f6a8;BREAKING: X PAYMENTS LAUNCHING IMMINENTLY New X code has just shipped that reveals X Payments will launch WITHOUT approval from all 50 states Meaning X Payments could launch TODAY Creators could start earning WAY MORE money immediately States it will be available: 1.… <a href="https://t.co/8Wej1XrIQK">pic.twitter.com/8Wej1XrIQK</a>&mdash; Alex Finn (@AlexFinnX) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexFinnX/status/1874916936032870834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">It seems like X plans to launch X money in the US before getting approval in all 50 states <a href="https://t.co/M8QBHf3U6S">pic.twitter.com/M8QBHf3U6S</a>&mdash; Aaron (@aaronp613) <a href="https://twitter.com/aaronp613/status/1874898592181436658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42780776/is-apple-ready-for-a-new-challenge-chinas-smartphone-subsidies-aim-to-boost-domestic-demand-giving-companies-like-huawei-the-upper-hand?itm_source=parsely-api">Apple Rival Huawei, Alibaba And Others Get Boost As China Doles Out Subsidies To Smartphone Buyers</a>



X CEO Linda Yaccarino said earlier this week that payments, including &#8216;X Money,&#8217; will be <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/25/01/42794433/if-you-invested-1000-in-dogecoin-when-elon-musk-acquired-twitter-heres-how-much-youd-have-now">integrated into the platform</a> in 2025. The idea behind it is to transform X into an &#8220;everything app&#8221; similar to Tencent Holdings Limited&#8217;s (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) WeChat.



X payments' support for cryptocurrency could potentially trigger a bitcoin price surge similar to PayPal Holdings Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) 2021 crypto support, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2025/01/05/x-money-leak-reveals-elon-musks-game-changing-plan-as-bitcoin-nears-100000-price/">noted</a> Forbes.



Bitcoin&#8217;s value currently hovers around the $100,000 mark. The apex cryptocurrency touched an all-time high of $108,268.45 on Dec. 17, 2024. 



Why It Matters: The potential launch of &#8216;X Money&#8217; comes amid a series of events that have kept Musk in the crypto spotlight.



Last month, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42739155/elon-musk-changes-his-name-to-kekius-maximus-on-x-sending-to-memecoin-skyrocketing-over-600">Musk changed his name</a> on X to &#8220;Kekius Maximus,&#8221; causing a similarly-named meme coin, Kekius Maximus (KEKIUS), to skyrocket over 600% in value. However, KEKIUS<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42758291/elon-musks-return-to-original-x-avatar-causes-coin-themed-on-kekius-maximus-to-crash-90-frog-themed-pepe-slips-as-well"> crashed by 90%</a> when Musk reverted to his original avatar in January.



Musk&#8217;s influence in the crypto market also became evident when an adult-themed meme <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42780378/elon-musks-x-post-now-sends-this-adult-themed-crypto-up-175">coin surged 175% after he</a> referenced it in a post on X.



While Musk has not directly commented on Bitcoin recently, his support for Donald Trump in the upcoming U.S. presidential election has been linked to rising Bitcoin prices.



His role as an influential advisor to the President-elect has also fueled speculation about the creation of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42378618/musk-fuels-speculation-on-us-bitcoin-reserve-as-crypto-surges">U.S. Bitcoin strategic reserve</a>.



Price Action: Bitcoin is currently priced at $98,247, reflecting a 0.17% increase over the past 24 hours. Its trading volume has risen by 2.45%, reaching $21.52 billion, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.



Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com



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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

PYPL

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Elon Musk's Push For Crypto-Powered 'Everything App' Reflected In 'X Money' Leak As Bitcoin Hovers Around $100K

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/11/41750727/kevin-oleary-supports-elon-musks-2-trillion-plan-to-slash-government-spending-with-trumps-backing-it">Elon Musk </a>doesn't shy away from big ideas or bold predictions, but his latest warning is a wake-up call for America.&nbsp;



During a recent appearance on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qZl_5xHoBw">The Joe Rogan Experience</a>, Musk pulled no punches when discussing the U.S. economy. His verdict? The country is heading toward financial collapse if drastic action isn't taken.



"We're drowning in debt," Musk said, referring to the $36.14 trillion the U.S. owes, as reported by the Treasury Department. He explained that interest payments alone comprise 23% of all federal revenue. "If this keeps up, the entire government budget will go to paying interest. That means no money for Social Security, no Medicare, nothing. America would be toast."



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<li>The global games market is projected to generate $272B by the end of the year —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gameflip"> for $0.55/share, this VC-backed startup with a 7M+ userbase gives investors easy access to this asset market.</a></li>



<li>Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!</a></li>
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Musk's warning hit a nerve and for good reason. Interest payments on the debt are already skyrocketing. In 2024, the government spent over $1 trillion on interest – a staggering figure compared to $4.92 trillion in total revenue.&nbsp;



The Congressional Budget Office predicts those payments will keep climbing, potentially outpacing Medicare and defense spending within a decade.



Musk didn't stop at identifying the problem; he proposed a solution: cutting federal spending by 30%. However, not everyone thinks that's realistic. Marc Goldwein, an expert from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, quickly critiqued Musk's suggestion.&nbsp;



"Cuts of that magnitude would be borderline impossible without touching programs like Social Security or causing severe economic pain," Goldwein said. He added that most of the federal budget is tied to mandatory spending, leaving little room for discretionary cuts.



Trending: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elon-musk-told-the-u-n-if-they-could-show-a-plan-for-ending-world-hunger-hed-donate-6-billion-i-will-sell-tesla-stock-right-now-and-do-it">Elon Musk Told The U.N. If They Could Show A Plan For Ending World Hunger He'd Donate $6 Billion – ‘I Will Sell Tesla Stock Right Now And Do It'</a>



Ever the skeptic, Joe Rogan asked Musk how this would impact everyday Americans. Musk didn't sugarcoat it. "It means inflation will spike, jobs will disappear and systems we rely on will collapse," he said. "This isn't some far-off possibility – it's already starting to happen."



Experts are divided on Musk's approach but agree the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/41720492/anthony-scaramucci-predicts-u-s-will-tackle-debt-crisis-bitcoin-value-will-triple-and-reve"> debt crisis</a> is serious. According to the Peterson Foundation, unchecked debt could lead to higher interest rates, slower economic growth and lower household incomes.&nbsp;



"This isn't just about government budgets," their recent report stated. "It's about the economic future of every American family."



Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned Congress that the U.S. could hit its debt ceiling as early as January 2025. In a letter reported by The Associated Press, Yellen urged Congress to take immediate action to protect credit and the full faith of the USA.



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<li>‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">You can invest today for just $0.26/share with a $1000 minimum.</a></li>
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Startups

There Won't Be Money For Social Security': Elon Musk Tells Joe Rogan About Looming Bankruptcy And $1.1 Trillion Interest

These eight mid-cap stocks were the best performers in the last week. Are they in your portfolio?



<ol>
<li>Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) shares escalated 23.19% as the quantum computing sector saw increased interest.</li>



<li>VEON Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEON#NASDAQ">VEON</a>) stock surged 17.03%. The company announced that Kyivstar inked an agreement with Starlink to introduce groundbreaking direct-to-cell <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42717832" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">satellite connectivity in Ukraine</a>.</li>



<li>NextDecade Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEXT#NASDAQ">NEXT</a>) stock jumped 16.90% on gains in crude oil and natural gas prices.</li>



<li>GDS Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDS#NASDAQ">GDS</a>) stock increased 16.05% amid continued interest sparked by reports that the company is evaluating an initial public offering (IPO) for<a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42710683" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> its data center assets in China</a>.</li>



<li>Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACHC#NASDAQ">ACHC</a>) shares rose 14.79% on U.S. healthcare executives&#8217; bullish outlook for 2025.</li>



<li>Intuitive Machines, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUNR#NASDAQ">LUNR</a>) shares were up 13.89% last week. The stock was on the top ten trending list on WallStreetBets.</li>



<li>Banco BBVA Argentina (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBAR#NYSE">BBAR</a>) shares increased 11.81%, joining the ride in Argentina stocks.</li>



<li>Transportadora de Gas del Sur SA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGS#NYSE">TGS</a>) stock grew 11.93%, joining the ride in Argentina stocks.</li>
</ol>



Image via Shutterstock

Mid Cap

ACHC

BBAR

RGTI

VEON

Rigetti Computing, VEON And Intuitive Machines Are Among Top Mid-Cap Gainers Last Week (Dec 30-Jan 3): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?

The past week has been a whirlwind of political news. From Senator Bernie Sanders backing President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s proposal for a credit card interest rate cap to the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, the news cycle has been nothing short of eventful. Let&#8217;s delve into the top stories of the week.



Bernie Sanders Supports Trump&#8217;s Credit Cap Proposal



Senator Bernie Sanders announced his intention to introduce legislation supporting President-elect Trump&#8217;s proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10%. This comes as credit card defaults hit their highest levels since the 2008 financial crisis. Major credit card companies such as Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), Mastercard Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>), and American Express Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>) saw their stocks decline.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42737402/bernie-sanders-supports-trumps-credit-card-interest-rate-cap-at-10-amid-highest-defaults-since-2008-visa-and-mastercard-trade-in-the-red">Read the full article here.</a>



Jimmy Carter&#8217;s Passing Mourned by Biden and Trump



President Joe Biden and President-elect Trump expressed their condolences over the passing of former President Jimmy Carter. Biden paid tribute to Carter&#8217;s extraordinary contributions over six decades, referring to him as a dear friend of the nation and the world.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42716729/jimmy-carter-to-receive-state-funeral-trump-calls-him-truly-a-good-man-biden-mourns-loss-of-extraordinary-leader">Read the full article here.</a>



Trump Accuses Black Celebrities of Paid Endorsements



Trump accused several Black celebrities of receiving payments for endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris earlier this year. Trump voiced his allegations on Truth Social, claiming that Democrats paid significant sums to secure endorsements from celebrities such as Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, and Al Sharpton.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42716303/donald-trump-claims-black-celebrities-were-paid-for-kamala-harris-endorsements">Read the full article here.</a>



Billionaires&#8217; Influence in Trump&#8217;s White House Warned by Robert Reich



Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich warned of a network of powerful billionaires, including venture capitalist Peter Thiel and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, exerting unparalleled influence over the U.S. government in Trump&#8217;s second term. Reich refers to this as a "billionaire brain trust" poised to shape key aspects of policy and governance.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42722137/elon-musk-peter-thiel-and-billionaires-influence-in-trumps-white-house-former-labor-secretary-robert-reichs-warning">Read the full article here.</a>



Trump&#8217;s Response to NOLA Attack



Trump used the deadly New Orleans attack to call for a crackdown on immigration and to criticize the FBI, the Department of Justice, and other agencies. Despite the attacker being born and raised in the U.S., Trump referred to the incident as a good reason to tighten immigration policies.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42776979/trump-calls-fbi-doj-incompetent-and-corrupt-us-a-laughing-stock-biden-calls-nola-attack-despicable-expresses-sympathy-for-victims-families">Read the full article here.</a>



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42779624/bernie-sanders-says-elon-musk-wrong-on-tech-guest-worker-program-h1-b-visa-purpose-is-to-replace-good-paying-american-jobs?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bernie Sanders Says Elon Musk Wrong On Tech Guest Worker Program: H1-B Visa Purpose Is To &#8216;Replace Good-Paying American Jobs&#8217;</a></li>
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Photo courtesy: Flickr



 This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/anan-ashraf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anan Ashraf.</a>

Sanders Backs Trump's Credit Cap, Carter's Passing, Trump's Response To NOLA Attack And More: This Week In Politics

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