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Katapult Holdings

Katapult Holdings Inc. is a technology-driven lease-to-own platform that integrates with omni-channel retailers and e-commerce platforms to power the purchase of everyday durable goods for underserved U.S. non-prime consumers. It is an e-commerce-focused FinTech company offering a lease-purchase solution to consumers and enabling essential transactions at the merchant point of sale. Katapult is associated with hundreds of retailers across the United States.

Katapult Holdings Inc

Activist investor Starboard Value LP has reportedly acquired a 7.7% stake worth approximately $500 million in Qorvo Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QRVO#NASDAQ">QRVO</a>) on Thursday, targeting the struggling semiconductor manufacturer for potential operational changes.
What Happened: The stake, led by Starboard CEO Jeff Smith, comes as Qorvo faces mounting challenges in the radio frequency chip market, reported the Wall Street Journal, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/starboard-builds-big-stake-in-chip-maker-qorvo-7a18a71f">citing</a> sources. 
The Greensboro, N.C.-based company&#8217;s shares have declined nearly 28% over the past year amid intensifying competition from rivals like Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) and Skyworks Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SWKS#NASDAQ">SWKS</a>).
The investment represents a return to familiar territory for Starboard, which previously held a position in TriQuint Semiconductor before its 2014 merger with RF Micro Devices to form Qorvo. The activist firm has maintained a strong presence in the semiconductor sector, with past investments in NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and Marvell Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRVL#NASDAQ">MRVL</a>).
Qorvo&#8217;s recent performance has worried investors, with the company&#8217;s shares tumbling after missing Wall Street&#8217;s quarterly projections. CFO Grant Brown acknowledged these challenges in October, citing weaker demand for premium smartphones and announcing factory consolidation efforts to improve profitability.
Qorvo did not immediately respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43047812/bill-ackman-calls-hindenburg-researchs-closure-a-big-loss-praises-short-sellers-contribution-to-capital-markets">Bill Ackman Says Hindenburg Research Closing &#8216;A Big Loss,&#8217; Praises Short Seller&#8217;s Contribution To Markets: &#8216;Short Selling Is Really Hard&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The chip maker, currently valued at approximately $7 billion, has struggled to maintain its market position as consumers shift toward entry-level Android devices. Wall Street analysts maintain a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/QRVO/analyst-ratings">consensus price target</a> of $97.65, though recent assessments from Goldman Sachs, Mizuho, and Loop Capital suggest more modest expectations with an average target of $77.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/17000713/Screenshot-2025-01-17-at-10.36.23%E2%80%AFAM-1024x376.png" alt="" class="wp-image-738146" style="width:540px;height:auto" /></figure>
Starboard&#8217;s investment in Qorvo adds to its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41419988/tylenol-listerine-maker-kenvue-under-activist-spotlight-with-starboard-value-stake-overhaul-ahea">recent string of activist positions</a>, including stakes in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>), Kenvue Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KVUE#NYSE">KVUE</a>), and Riot Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIOT#NASDAQ">RIOT</a>).
Price Action: Qorvo surged 7.08% in after-hours trading to $78.80 on Thursday. The stock closed at $73.59, down 0.77% on the regular trading session, and has fallen 27.43% over the past year, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
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Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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Qorvo Soars 7% After Hours As Activist Investor Starboard Reportedly Takes Stake In Semiconductor Company

Chinese EV-making giant BYD Co Ltd. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYDDY#OTC">BYDDY</a>) has now overtaken its American rival Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) twice in quarterly battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales in the past two years as competition intensified.
What Happened: BYD first <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42680542/tesla-or-byd-which-ev-giant-will-sell-more-battery-electric-vehicles-in-q4">took over Tesla</a> as the world&#8217;s biggest BEV seller in the last quarter of 2023. Tesla took back the crown in the first quarter of 2024 and kept it for three consecutive quarters.
However, in the fourth quarter of 2024, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42780142/chinese-player-byd-overtakes-tesla-yet-again-as-worlds-biggest-ev-seller-in-q4">BYD took back the title</a> after selling 595,413 BEVs, significantly higher than the 495,570 delivered by Tesla in the period. 
For the entirety of 2024, BYD sold 1,764,992 BEVs, or just 24,234 units less than Tesla. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="690" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/16234455/FAQAk-quarterly-bev-sales-tesla-vs-byd-1024x690.png" alt="" class="wp-image-738126" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/16234455/FAQAk-quarterly-bev-sales-tesla-vs-byd-1024x690.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/16234455/FAQAk-quarterly-bev-sales-tesla-vs-byd-300x202.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/16234455/FAQAk-quarterly-bev-sales-tesla-vs-byd-768x518.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/16234455/FAQAk-quarterly-bev-sales-tesla-vs-byd.png 1240w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
BYD also makes plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) in addition to BEVs, unlike Tesla which makes only BEVs, giving it another addressable market segment.
According to data research firm Rho Motion, 17.1 million EVs, including BEVs and PHEVs, will be sold in 2024.
In 2024, BYD sold 4.25 million passenger vehicles (both BEVs and PHEVs), accounting for roughly 25% of the world&#8217;s total EV sales in the period.
Tesla, in the period, sold 1.79 vehicles, or just 10.5% of overall global EV sales. 
Why It Matters: Tesla CEO Elon Musk dismissed BYD as a competitor in a Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2023-12-27/in-2011-tesla-ceo-musk-mocked-chinese-competitor-byd-video">interview</a> in 2011.
&#8220;Have you seen their car?&#8221; Musk then laughed when the reporter asked about BYD rivaling his EV company. He added that he does not think the BYD product is &#8220;particularly attractive.&#8221;
The billionaire CEO, however, did a complete U-turn on this statement in January 2024. 
&#8220;Frankly, I think if there are not trade barriers established, they will pretty much demolish most other car companies in the world. So they&#8217;re extremely good." the CEO said about Chinese EV makers during the company&#8217;s earnings call after BYD trumped Tesla in quarterly deliveries for the first time. 
The rivalry between the two EV makers has only intensified since. In Q3 2024, BYD <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41647639/teslas-chinese-rival-byd-outshines-elon-musks-ev-giant-in-quarterly-revenue-for-first-time-since-202">trumped Tesla in quarterly revenue</a> for the first time since 2022. BYD stopped making combustion engine vehicles in March 2022 to focus on electric vehicles.
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Tech

BYDDY

TSLA

In 2011, Elon Musk Mocked Tesla Rival BYD. Fast Forward To 2024, The Chinese Automaker Is The Only Real Contender To TSLA's Global Dominance

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

Reported Earlier, Chinese Unemployment Rate For December 5.1% Vs. 5.0% Est.; 5.0% Prior

Reported Earlier, China Industrial Production Year to Date (YoY) For December 5.8% Vs. 5.8% Prior

Reported Earlier, China Industrial Production (YoY) For December 6.2% Vs. 5.4% Est.; 5.4% Prior

Reported Earlier, China Gross Domestic Product Year to Date (YTD) YoY For Q4 5.0% Vs. 4.8% Prior

Reported Earlier, China Gross Domestic Product (YoY) For Q4 5.4% Vs. 5.0% Est.; 4.6% Prior

Reported Earlier, China Gross Domestic Product (QoQ) For Q4 1.6% Vs. 1.6% Est.; 1.3% (Revised) Prior

Reported Earlier, China Fixed Asset Investment (YoY) For December 3.2% Vs. 3.3% Est.; 3.3% Prior

The Biden administration has decided not to enforce the impending TikTok ban, leaving the decision to the incoming Donald Trump administration.
What Happened: Despite the ban set to take effect on Sunday, the Biden administration will not force TikTok to shut down for U.S. users. However, the popular social media app could choose to do so voluntarily, impacting its 170 million monthly users.
&#8220;Our position on this has been clear: TikTok should continue to operate under American ownership. Given the timing of when it goes into effect over a holiday weekend a day before the inauguration, it will be up to the next administration to implement,&#8221; a White House spokesperson <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-administration-leave-trump-implement-tiktok-ban/story?id=117753133">told</a> ABC News.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43021026/apple-stock-has-moved-up-4-2-since-iphone-16-launched-analyst-says-it-has-another-8-upside-as-manufacturing-cost-decline-bolsters-cupertinos-margins" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Stock Has Moved Up 4.2% Since iPhone 16 Launched, Analyst Says It Has Another 8% Upside As Manufacturing Cost Decline Bolsters Cupertino's Margins</a>
The law, which comes into effect a day before President Joe Biden leaves office, states that app stores and internet hosting services could face fines of up to $5,000 per user if they continue to provide services to TikTok.
This puts tech companies like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), and Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) in a precarious position.
Why It Matters: While both President Biden and President-elect Trump have limited options to delay the ban, the law does allow for a one-time extension of up to 90 days under specific conditions.
However, there is currently no indication that these conditions have been met.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Despite attempts by Democrats to extend the deadline for TikTok&#8217;s parent company, ByteDance, to divest, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) objected on the grounds of national security concerns, the report noted.
Trump&#8217;s pick for national security adviser, Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, confirmed that the incoming administration is exploring options to keep TikTok available, including a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/43018125/trump-considers-executive-order-to-save-tiktok-from-being-banned-in-4-days">possible executive order</a>.
Earlier it was also reported that TikTok CEO Shou Chew is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/43047509/tiktok-ceo-shou-chew-to-join-trumps-inauguration-alongside-musk-bezos-and-zuckerberg-amid-looming-us-ban-report">set to attend Trump&#8217;s inauguration</a>.
As the ban looms, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43035577/nio-ceo-welcomes-tiktok-users-to-rednote-amid-us-ban-concerns">users are seeking alternatives</a>. A growing number of users are turning to RedNote, a widely used Chinese social media app, known as Xiaohongshu in China.
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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TikTok Ban Decision Left To Trump By Biden Administration: What This Means For 170 Million US Users And Big Tech

Litecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ltc/usd">LTC</a>) surged as one of the market's biggest gainers Thursday after the Nasdaq stock exchange submitted a request to the SEC to list a spot exchange-traded fund tracking the coin's price.
What happened: The exchange submitted a 19b-4 <a href="https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/assets/rulebook/nasdaq/filings/SR-NASDAQ-2025-005.pdf">application </a>with the regulator to list shares of an ETF applied by digital asset trading firm Canary Capital.
The filing of the 19b-4 document marks the second step in the ETF approval process, which followed Canary Capital&#8217;s amended S-1 registration application on Wednesday. According to the rules, the SEC has 240 days to deny or approve the 19b-4 application.
Responding to the filing, leading ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said that Litecoin ETF has "all the boxes checked" and is set to become the first altcoin ETF of 2025.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Litecoin ETF now has all the boxes checked. The first alt coin ETF of 2025 is about to be on the clock. I don&#39;t see any reason why this would be withdrawn either given SEC gave comments on the S-1, litecoin is seen as commodity and there&#39;s new SEC sheriff in town. <a href="https://t.co/DaE7jxlb9s">https://t.co/DaE7jxlb9s</a>
&mdash; Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricBalchunas/status/1879936611506614589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/42994641/italys-largest-bank-leaps-into-bitcoin-trading-with-1-million-test-investment-but-ceo-says-he-doesnt-invest-in-btc-personally">Italy&#8217;s Largest Bank Leaps Into Bitcoin Trading With $1 Million &#8216;Test&#8217; Investment But CEO Says He Doesn&#8217;t Invest In BTC Personally</a>
The development spurred a 12% rally in LTC, a coin created from the hard fork of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>). The proof-of-work cryptocurrency witnessed a 50% jump in trading volumes to $2.34 billion.
LTC was up over 22% year-to-date, as excitement around its potential ETF reached a fever peak.
Also dubbed the &#8220;digital silver&#8221; to Bitcoin&#8217;s gold, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38690567/this-bitcoin-offshoot-tops-digital-payments-escapes-sec-scrutiny-but-remains-undervalued-t">Litecoin is widely seen as a commodity</a> and has escaped scrutiny from U.S. regulators.
Interestingly, the Dogecoin&#8217;s (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) network&#8217;s underlying technology is derived from Litecoin.
Speculative interest in LTC exploded, with a 23% jump in money invested in futures contracts, <a href="https://www.coinglass.com/BitcoinOpenInterest">according </a>to Coinglass.
More than 50% of traders placed bullish bets on the coin, anticipating further increases.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Litecoin was exchanging hands at  $135.30, up 13.81% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image via Pexels
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Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

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Litecoin Surges 12% After Analyst Says Altcoin Most Likely To Have Next ETF After Bitcoin, Ethereum

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman praised Hindenburg Research&#8216;s contributions to capital markets following the influential short-seller&#8217;s unexpected closure, highlighting the firm&#8217;s crucial role in exposing corporate misconduct during <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43018900/from-adani-to-nikola-how-hindenburg-research-reshaped-short-selling-before-its-final-bow">its seven-year run</a>.
What Happened: &#8220;This is a great letter from the founder of Hindenburg Research,&#8221; wrote Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, on X. &#8220;Short selling is really hard. Done well, when the research is shared publicly, it is a very important contribution to the proper functioning of the capital markets.&#8221;
The closure announcement <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43022017/indias-second-richest-mans-conglomerate-rattled-by-hindenburg-researchs-damning-report-in-2023-adds-over-5-9-billion-after-short-seller-shuts-shop">triggered market reactions across companies</a> previously targeted by Hindenburg, with India&#8217;s Adani Group seeing its listed entities gain over $5.9 billion in market value on Thursday. New Delhi Television Ltd., an Adani-owned media company, surged 13% on Indian exchanges.
Founded in 2017 by Nathan Anderson, Hindenburg gained prominence after its 2020 investigation into Nikola Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKLA#NASDAQ">NKLA</a>) revealed the electric vehicle maker had staged a product demonstration video. The expose led to founder Trevor Milton&#8216;s conviction and four-year prison sentence for fraud.
&#8220;The shut down of Hindenburg Research is a big loss to the field. They have done some great work, which I have admired from a distance as we don't short stocks,&#8221; Ackman wrote. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This is a great letter from the founder of <a href="https://twitter.com/HindenburgRes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HindenburgRes</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/NateHindenburg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NateHindenburg</a>, about his decision to shut down his firm. Short selling is really hard. Done well, when the research is shared publicly, it is a very important contribution to the proper functioning of the capital…
&mdash; Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillAckman/status/1880027354744906086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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A user on X asked Ackman about shorting Herbalife Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HLF#NYSE">HLF</a>), to which he replied, &#8220;We retired from the short selling world after HLF.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">We used to short stocks on occasion. A few over the first dozen years of the firm then we retired from the short selling world after HLF.
&mdash; Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillAckman/status/1880050151903097076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43047487/teslas-drop-against-modestly-lower-nasdaq-comes-as-investors-weigh-elon-musks-40-50-billion-tiktok-deal-gary-black-says-tsla-share-swap-unlikely-due-to-this-upcoming-milestone">Tesla&#8217;s Drop Against Modestly Lower Nasdaq Comes As Investors Weigh Elon Musk&#8217;s $40-50 Billion TikTok Deal, Gary Black Says TSLA Share Swap Unlikely Due To This Upcoming Milestone</a>
Why It Matters: The firm&#8217;s most impactful investigation targeted India&#8217;s Adani Group in 2023, erasing more than $100 billion in market value and prompting U.S. prosecutors to indict founder Gautam Adani for alleged fraud. Hindenburg&#8217;s reports sparked nearly 100 civil and criminal charges against <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Hindenburg+Research+benzinga&amp;oq=hindenburg+research+benzinga&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgAEEUYJxg7MggIABBFGCcYOzIGCAEQRRhAMggIAhAAGA0YHjIICAMQABgNGB4yCAgEEAAYDRgeMgYIBRBFGDwyBggGEEUYPDIGCAcQRRg80gEINDkwNGowajSoAgCwAgA&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">various executives and companies</a>.
Anderson cited personal reasons for disbanding the 11-person firm. His departure follows other prominent short-sellers like Jim Chanos, who closed his hedge fund in 2023. Unlike traditional investment firms, Hindenburg managed only its own capital while publishing detailed research that often triggered regulatory investigations.
The firm&#8217;s final report on Jan. 2 targeted Carvana Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>), alleging accounting irregularities, which the company denied. Anderson plans to spend six months documenting Hindenburg&#8217;s investigative methods to guide future market watchdogs.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/01/43046128/cathie-wood-adds-new-space-stock-to-2-etfs">Cathie Wood Adds New Space Stock To 2 ETFs: Company Went To Moon, Will Investment Returns Follow?</a></li>
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Image via 247Wallst
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Short Sellers

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Bill Ackman Says Hindenburg Research Closing 'A Big Loss,' Praises Short Seller's Contribution To Markets: 'Short Selling Is Really Hard'

In what could be interpreted as another optimistic signal for cryptocurrencies, Scott Bessent, President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s nominee for Treasury Secretary, argued against the concept of&nbsp;a central bank digital&nbsp;currency in the U.S. on Thursday.
What Happened: Bessent was taking <a href="https://www.finance.senate.gov/hearings/hearing-to-consider-the-anticipated-nomination-of-scott-bessent-of-south-carolina-to-be-secretary-of-the-treasury">questions</a> from members of the Senate Finance Committee for confirmation to the Treasury Department.
&#8220;I see no reason for the U.S. to have a central bank digital currency,&#8221; Bessent said, in response to a question by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). &#8220;In my mind, a central bank digital currency is for countries who have no other investment alternatives.&#8221;
The hedge fund veteran believed that the nations that have undertaken such initiatives were doing so &#8220;out of necessity&#8221; and that the U.S. does not have a similar need.
&#8220;If you hold U.S. dollars, you could hold a variety of very secure U.S. assets, &#8221; Bessent added.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/42994641/italys-largest-bank-leaps-into-bitcoin-trading-with-1-million-test-investment-but-ceo-says-he-doesnt-invest-in-btc-personally">Italy&#8217;s Largest Bank Leaps Into Bitcoin Trading With $1 Million &#8216;Test&#8217; Investment But CEO Says He Doesn&#8217;t Invest In BTC Personally</a>
Why It Matters: CBDCs have been a subject of debate, with many in the cryptocurrency industry seeing it as a g<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/01/36795173/vivek-ramaswamy-says-he-explained-harms-of-cbdc-to-donald-trump-i-give-him-a-lot-of-credit">overnment interference </a>in personal financial liberty.
As the name suggests, CBDC is a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/what-is-a-central-bank-digital-currency-cbdc"> digital version of a country&#8217;s fiat currency</a>, controlled by the central bank, whose blockchain network can only be viewed and engaged with by a select group of financial institutions.
According to the <a href="https://cbdctracker.org/">CBDC Tracker</a>, well over 50 countries have been involved in research or conducting pilots to use CBDCs, including BRICS powers like Russia, China, and India.
The Federal Reserve has also been <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/central-bank-digital-currency.htm">exploring </a>the potential benefits and risks of such government-controlled currencies but has yet to come up with a concrete plan.
Interestingly, Bessent is known to be <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42936887/trumps-treasury-pick-scott-bessent-reveals-up-to-500000-bitcoin-stake-via-blackrocks-etf">personally invested</a> in Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>). He disclosed owning between $250,001 and $500,000 in the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBIT#NASDAQ">IBIT</a>).
Image via Wikimedia Commons
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42993521/michael-saylors-microstrategy-not-alone-in-bitcoin-acquisition-says-bitwise-chief-investment-officer-its-a-bona-fide-megatrend">Michael Saylor&#8217;s MicroStrategy Not Alone In Bitcoin Acquisition, Says Bitwise Chief Investment Officer: &#8216;It&#8217;s A Bona Fide Megatrend&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

Government

Regulations

IBIT

Trump's Treasury Nominee Scott Bessent Sees 'No Reason' For US Central Bank Digital Currency: It's For Countries With 'No Other Investment Alternatives'

NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) is facing renewed market scrutiny as Jim Cramer questioned the stock&#8217;s trading pattern on Thursday, amid growing concerns over China sanctions and positive earnings from key supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>).
What Happened: &#8220;When will they let NVDA go higher?&#8221; CNBC&#8217;s Cramer posted on X, highlighting the stock&#8217;s recent pressure amid TSMC&#8217;s strong fourth-quarter performance. TSMC <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43022899/jim-cramer-quips-about-joe-bidens-tsmc-chips-sanction-as-nvidia-supplier-beats-q4-estimates">reported earnings of $2.24 per share</a> on revenue of $26.88 billion, exceeding estimates by 3.70% and 1.91% respectively.
The commentary comes as Nvidia <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43040533/nvidia-10-billion-setback-3-etfs-to-watch-sanctions">grapples with a $10 billion setback</a> after major tech customers, including Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), and Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), postponed orders for its Blackwell GB200 data center racks due to overheating issues.
<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">When will they let NVDA go higher???
&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1879933424146018518?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 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/general/space/25/01/43046128/cathie-wood-adds-new-space-stock-to-2-etfs">Cathie Wood Adds New Space Stock To 2 ETFs: Company Went To Moon, Will Investment Returns Follow?</a>
Why It Matters: Adding to the challenges, President Joe Biden&#8216;s administration has imposed new semiconductor export restrictions to China, potentially <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43040533/nvidia-10-billion-setback-3-etfs-to-watch-sanctions">affecting up to 50% of Nvidia&#8217;s chip market</a>, according to D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria. This follows Wednesday&#8217;s action placing several Chinese entities on a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43022899/jim-cramer-quips-about-joe-bidens-tsmc-chips-sanction-as-nvidia-supplier-beats-q4-estimates">U.S. trade restriction list</a>, including AI developer Zhipu AI.
&#8220;Geopolitical tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China, have significantly impacted the semiconductor industry,&#8221; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43040533/nvidia-10-billion-setback-3-etfs-to-watch-sanctions">noted</a> Defiance ETFs CEO Sylvia Jablonski. &#8220;Each time we&#8217;ve heard a report about a potential U.S. ban on semiconductors from the White House, we&#8217;ve seen NVDA and all other semiconductor stocks fall.&#8221;
Despite these headwinds, the quantum computing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43023453/quantum-computing-stocks-continue-their-wild-surge-in-thursday-premarket-qubt-up-15-qbts-climbs-9-rgti-gains-over-3">sector shows promise</a>, with Microsoft calling for businesses to become &#8220;quantum-ready&#8221; by 2025. 
Nvidia plans to host a &#8220;Quantum Day&#8221; at its upcoming GTC conference in March, signaling a long-term commitment to the technology despite CEO Jensen Huang&#8216;s view that practical quantum computing remains decades away.
Price Action: Nvidia&#8217;s stock closed at $133.62 on Thursday, down 1.92% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock rose slightly by 0.16%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Year</th>
<th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Performance</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>2024</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+170%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2023</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+239%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Year-to-date</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">&#8211; 3.39%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Nvidia has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NVDA/analyst-ratings">consensus price target</a> of $170.18, with a high of $220 and a low of $120. Recent ratings from HSBC, Rosenblatt, and Benchmark give an average target of $198.33, implying a 48.20% upside.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/16220942/Screenshot-2025-01-17-at-8.37.59%E2%80%AFAM-1024x370.png" alt="" class="wp-image-738054" style="width:680px;height:auto" /></figure>
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</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

AMZN

MSFT

Jim Cramer Questions Nvidia's Trading Pattern Amid Positive TSMC Earnings And Biden's China Export Regulations

On Thursday, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) CFO Kevan Parekh refuted claims that the tech giant enjoys a 75% profit margin on its App Store.
What Happened: Parekh, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40563860/apple-announces-cfo-transition-iphone-16-debut-what-to-know">who succeeded</a> Luca Maestri as CFO, was the first high-ranking executive from a major tech company to testify in the U.K. class action antitrust trial.
Michael Armitage, the attorney for the claimants, referred to evidence from a separate U.S. litigation that suggested App Store operating margins of over 75%, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/85c580f8-9663-4b76-b7f8-fd6820697726">reported</a> the Financial Times.
However, Parekh disputed these figures, stating, &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t say they&#8217;re accurate.&#8221;
He further contended that it was not feasible to accurately calculate the standalone profitability of the App Store due to the inability to allocate all indirect costs to specific products or services.
He said that any attempt to do so would involve imprecise and subjective judgments.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43021026/apple-stock-has-moved-up-4-2-since-iphone-16-launched-analyst-says-it-has-another-8-upside-as-manufacturing-cost-decline-bolsters-cupertinos-margins">Apple Stock Has Moved Up 4.2% Since iPhone 16 Launched, Analyst Says It Has Another 8% Upside As Manufacturing Cost Decline Bolsters Cupertino&#8217;s Margins</a>
Why It Matters: The claimants, led by Rachael Kent, a lecturer at King&#8217;s College London, are seeking £1.5 billion (approximately $1.83 billion) from Apple.
They argue that the tech giant has created a monopoly by forcing developers to distribute their apps using the company&#8217;s own App Store, leading to excessive and unfair commissions passed on to consumers.
Apple&#8217;s lawyers responded that the claimants&#8217; case fails to consider the significant benefits conferred through Apple&#8217;s innovation by the iOS ecosystem as a whole.
Apple has been battling with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/42086154/apple-to-argue-for-dismissal-of-doj-antitrust-case-over-alleged-us-smartphone-market-domination">multiple legal challenges</a> currently. Last year, Apple faced a lawsuit over <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/12/42283614/apple-faces-lawsuit-over-alleged-snooping-on-employees-iphones-and-other-devices">alleged snooping on employees&#8217;</a> iPhones and other devices, and a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42381987/apple-faces-12b-lawsuit-for-dropping-csam-detection-while-google-and-meta-set-higher-standards-for-child-safety">$1.2 billion lawsuit</a> over discontinuing its child sexual abuse material detection feature.
Earlier this month, Apple also agreed to pay $95 million to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/42780075/apple-settles-95-million-lawsuit-over-siri-privacy-violations-affected-users-to-receive-up-to-20-per-device">settle a lawsuit alleging</a> its Siri voice assistant recorded users' private conversations without consent.
Cupertino will report its first-quarter earnings for 2025 on Jan. 30. In October 2024, the company reported a fiscal <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41666494/apple-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-installed-base-hits-new-highs-iphone-sales-rise-as-apple-in">fourth-quarter revenue</a> of $94.9 billion, exceeding analysts&#8217; forecast of $94.56 billion.
Price Action: Apple&#8217;s stock dropped 4.04% on Thursday, ending the day at $228.26. However, in after-hours trading, the shares rose by 0.061%, reaching $228.40, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43018848/those-are-air-bubbles-the-time-steve-jobs-rejected-the-first-ipod-prototype-and-pushed-apple-engineers-to-think-smaller">Steve Jobs Dropped The First iPod Prototype In A Fish Tank And It Wasn&#8217;t To Test If It Was Waterproof</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Legal

Apple CFO Denies Claims Of 75% Profit Margins On App Store: 'I Wouldn't Say They're Accurate'

Leading coins remained steady on Thursday amid reports that President-elect Donald Trump may announce several pro-cryptocurrency measures after being sworn in.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 8:30 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>+0.31%</td>
<td>$100,211.61</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>-1.77%</td>
<td>$3,340.29</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>+0.54%</td>
<td>$0.3789</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: Bitcoin wiggled in the $100,000 region, a day after reclaiming the psychologically important level on softer inflation data.&nbsp;
Ethereum also chopped in the $3,300-$3,900 zone as holders waited for the second-largest cryptocurrency to recapture the $4,000 milestone it reached last month.
The cryptocurrency market was brimming with optimism ahead of Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20. The president-elect was reportedly planning to designate cryptocurrency policy <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43047039/trump-planning-to-declare-cryptocurrency-as-national-priority-increase-engagement-with-industry-report">as a national priority</a>.
Over $332 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, with long liquidations accounting for $188 million.
About $960 million in upside bets could be liquidated if Bitcoin falls back to $95,000.
Bitcoin's Open Interest rose 2.21% in the last 24 hours. A sideways price movement, coupled with a rising Open Interest, typically precedes upside breakouts.
That said, more than half of derivatives traders on Binance placed short bets on Bitcoin, expecting a correction.
Top Gainers (24-Hours)
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 8:30 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hedera (HBAR)</td>
<td>+23.49%</td>
<td>$0.387</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Algorand (ALGO)</td>
<td>+12.24%</td>
<td>$0.4854</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EOS (EOS)</td>
<td>+10.61%</td>
<td>$0.9507</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.52 trillion, increasing marginally by 0.04% in the last 24 hours.
Stocks reversed course on Thursday, erasing gains from the rally a day before. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 68.42 points, or 0.16%, to 43,153.13 The S&amp;P 500 ended a 3-day winning streak, closing 0.21% lower at 5,937.34. The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite lost 0.89% to end at 19,338.29.
Mega tech stocks such as Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) slipped 3.44% and 1.96%, respectively, likely contributing to the sell-offs.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: Popular on-chain analyst Ali Martinez highlighted Bitcoin&#8217;s Long Term Holder Net Unrealized Profit/Loss indicator, which revealed a market sentiment ranging from "Euphoria" to "Greed" for long-term investors.
Net Unrealized Profit/Loss is derived from market value and realized value to track investor sentiment over time for a cryptocurrency.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Long-term holders are starting to feel greedy again as <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> reclaims $100,000! <a href="https://t.co/RcOo9g5Ohg">pic.twitter.com/RcOo9g5Ohg</a>
&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1880048640984481985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Crypto Candy, a widely followed X handle dedicated to cryptocurrency analysis and trading ideas, noted that Bitcoin was encountering a strong resistance zone at $101,000-$103,000, breaking which could propel the apex digital asset to all-time highs.
"Otherwise, if it is rejected once more, we might see it fall back to the $93,000-$91,000 level, although this is considered less likely," Crypto Candy gave the bearish thesis.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> • As anticipated, BTC experienced a price decrease in the lower time frame upon encountering a strong resistance zone, and is now attempting to reclaim that resistance. Repeated tests of this zone appear to be weakening it. • If it successfully breaks through the… <a href="https://t.co/EhOYqdGWGv">pic.twitter.com/EhOYqdGWGv</a>
&mdash; Crypto Candy&#x1f525;&#x1f48e; (@cryptocandy24x) <a href="https://twitter.com/cryptocandy24x/status/1880072388551012445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Photo by Avi Rozen on Shutterstock
Read Next:    
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43035888/donald-trump-reportedly-open-to-us-crypto-reserve-as-bitcoin-reserve-chatter-gathers-steam">Donald Trump Reportedly Open To US Crypto Reserve As Bitcoin Reserve Chatter Gathers Steam</a></li>
</ul>

$ETH

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Steady As Market Expects Trump's Pro-Crypto Bonanza: Analyst Says BTC Could Hit All-Time High If It Breaks This Resistance

TikTok CEO Shou Chew is reportedly set to attend President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42995328/trump-inauguration-from-elon-musk-jeff-bezos-to-barack-obama-george-bush-and-bill-clinton-who-all-will-attend">inauguration, joining other</a> tech leaders like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos.
What Happened: The Trump Vance Inaugural Committee extended an invitation to TikTok&#8217;s CEO, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/us/politics/tiktok-ceo-trump-inauguration.html">reported</a> the New York Times, citing two people familiar with the plans on Wednesday.
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) CEO Sundar Pichai is also expected to attend the event, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/16/tiktok-ceo-expected-to-attend-trumps-inauguration-nbc-reports.html?__source=twitter%7Ctech&amp;taid=678928f67adf43000148d6cc&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter">reported</a> NBC News, citing a Trump transition official.
TikTok and Alphabet did not immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga's</a> request for comments.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42961753/analyst-sees-broadening-rally-in-semis-coming-in-2025-2-top-stock-picks-and-2-to-avoid">Analyst Sees ‘Broadening Rally' In Semiconductors In 2025: 2 Top Stock Picks, 2 To Avoid</a>
The inauguration ceremony for Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance is scheduled for Monday, with festivities beginning on Saturday at Trump&#8217;s Virginia golf club.
Why It Matters: TikTok CEO&#8217;s invitation to the Trump inauguration comes just days before a potential U.S. ban on the app.
The ban could lead to its removal from platforms like Google Play and the Apple App Store unless its parent company, ByteDance, divests its U.S. operations.
Subscribe to the <a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a> to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Already reports of Tesla CEO Musk and other potential buyers <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/42965533/elon-musk-emerges-as-potential-tiktok-us-buyer-as-ban-deadline-looms-company-terms-it-pure-fiction">making a bid are making</a> rounds.&nbsp;
ByteDance has so far resisted selling, and the Supreme Court has yet to make a definitive ruling after hearing arguments last Friday. Trump has filed an amicus brief urging the court to block the ban, seeking a political resolution instead.
On Thursday, TikTok&#8217;s prospects improved as an increasing number of U.S. officials advocated for giving ByteDance additional time to sell the app, reported Reuters.
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew To Join Trump's Inauguration Alongside Musk, Bezos And Zuckerberg Amid Looming US Ban: Report

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) shares dropped 3.6% on Thursday, underperforming the Nasdaq&#8217;s 0.9% decline, as investors weighed speculation regarding CEO Elon Musk&#8216;s potential acquisition of TikTok&#8216;s U.S. operations ahead of the platform&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/42997566/tiktok-is-set-to-be-banned-in-the-us-this-sunday-unless-the-supreme-court-steps-in-heres-what-happens-to-its-nearly-17000-american-workforce">upcoming ban deadline this Sunday</a>.
What Happened: Gary Black, managing partner of The Future Fund LLC, expressed concern on X that Musk might need to sell billions in Tesla shares to fund a possible $40-50 billion TikTok acquisition.
&#8220;Frankly I can&#8217;t see Elon Musk swapping TSLA shares for TikTok&#8217;s US business given that TSLA is on the verge of achieving generalized unsupervised autonomy but one never knows,&#8221; Black wrote. 
Tesla&#8217;s stock previously experienced a 70% drawdown between April 2022 and January 2023, which Black attributed partially to Musk&#8217;s Twitter acquisition and Tesla&#8217;s subsequent EV price cuts.
&#8220;We certainly see the business logic for X, but don&#8217;t like the overhang it would create on TSLA shares,&#8221; Black wrote, drawing parallels to Tesla&#8217;s stock pressure following Musk&#8217;s Twitter purchase.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">In an otherwise modestly lower market (NDX -0.3%), <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24TSLA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$TSLA</a> -3.6% today on continuing speculation that Trump wil help negotiate a sale of TikTok's US operations to X, which could cost $40B-$50B. We certainly see the business logic for X, but don't like the overhang it would create… <a href="https://t.co/GbURfJ4dBy">pic.twitter.com/GbURfJ4dBy</a>
&mdash; Gary Black (@garyblack00) <a href="https://twitter.com/garyblack00/status/1879980308327460911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42976301/charlie-munger-said-his-family-only-owns-3-stocks-damn-right-theyre-rich-because-diversification-is-for-know-nothing-investors">Charlie Munger Said His Family Only Owns 3 Stocks – &#8216;Damn Right&#8217; They&#8217;re Rich Because Diversification Is For &#8216;Know-Nothing Investors&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The speculation comes as TikTok approaches a critical Jan. 19 deadline when it faces removal from U.S. app stores. While President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/43018125/trump-considers-executive-order-to-save-tiktok-from-being-banned-in-4-days">executive order to temporarily suspend the ban</a>, potential buyers are emerging.
Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives noted that Musk&#8217;s relationships with both Trump and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43019833/elon-musk-buying-tiktok-could-hurt-tesla-warns-gary-black-but-dan-ives-thinks-it-makes-sense">Beijing could facilitate a deal</a>.
TikTok, which employs nearly 17,000 people in the U.S., has dismissed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43019833/elon-musk-buying-tiktok-could-hurt-tesla-warns-gary-black-but-dan-ives-thinks-it-makes-sense">the acquisition rumors</a> as &#8220;pure fiction.&#8221; Other potential buyers include Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>), Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), and a consortium led by investor Kevin O&#8217;Leary.
The social media platform has seen a 38% increase in employee departures in late 2024 compared to the previous year, though it maintains over 2,000 job openings across U.S. locations.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/01/43046128/cathie-wood-adds-new-space-stock-to-2-etfs">Cathie Wood Adds New Space Stock To 2 ETFs: Company Went To Moon, Will Investment Returns Follow?</a></li>
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Image Via Tesla 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Tesla's Drop Against Modestly Lower Nasdaq Comes As Investors Weigh Elon Musk's $40-50 Billion TikTok Deal, Gary Black Says TSLA Share Swap Unlikely Due To This Upcoming Milestone

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) will reportedly not apply its new &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42851889/meta-ditches-fact-checking-for-community-notes-zuckerberg-says-opportunity-to-restore-free-expression">Community Notes</a>&#8221; feature to paid advertisements.
What Happened: Earlier this month, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company would replace its fact-checking system with Community Notes.
Unlike the system on Elon Musk's X, which applies to both paid and unpaid posts, Meta&#8217;s version will focus solely on organic content.
Meta&#8217;s Community Notes will allow users to crowdsource annotations on posts they believe are misleading or lack context.
However, these notes will only apply to organic content, not paid ads, when the feature launches later this year, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/metas-community-notes-wont-apply-to-paid-ads-marketers-still-have-questions-9a2af62c">reported</a> the Wall Street Journal, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter.
Subscribe to the <a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a> to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Marketers are left in a state of confusion, trying to understand the impact on their strategies, said Darren D'Altorio of Wpromote.
The uncertainty has sparked discussions about the future of organic sponsored content on Meta&#8217;s platforms, the report noted.
A Meta spokesperson told the publication that the company will continue to evaluate and improve the Community Notes feature as it rolls out in the U.S. over the coming months.
Meta did not&nbsp;immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga's</a> request for comments.
Why It Matters: Meta is set to announce its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/42991174/meta-platforms-analyst-expects-strong-momentum-in-q4-to-continue-in-2025">fourth-quarter earnings</a> on Jan. 29. Last year in October, the company reported its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41637326/meta-platforms-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-daily-actives-up-5-strong-momentum-in-ai">third-quarter revenue</a> of $40.59 billion, surpassing analysts&#8217; expectations of $40.29 billion. Advertising accounted for 96% of this total revenue.
Price Action: Meta&#8217;s stock declined 0.94% on Thursday and dipped further by 0.016% in after-hours trading, settling at $611.20, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Image via Shutterstock
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41633790/apple-refreshes-macbook-pro-lineup-with-m4-pro-and-m4-max-3nm-chips">Apple Refreshes MacBook Pro Lineup With M4 Pro and M4 Max 3Nm Chips</a></li>
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Meta's 'Community Notes' To Exempt Paid Ads, Marketers Left Puzzled About Organic Content Risks: Report

U.S. stock markets experienced a downturn on Thursday, with the Nasdaq Composite shedding over 170 points and ending the day at 19,338.29. The Dow decreased by almost 0.2% to 43,153.13, while the S&amp;P 500 fell 0.2% to 5,937.34.
These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day:
Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)
Apple&#8217;s shares fell 4.04%, closing at $228.26, with an intraday high of $238.01 and a low of $228.03. The stock is trading between its 52-week high of $260.09 and low of $164.08. The decline follows a report indicating a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/43042851/apple-shares-dip-as-iphone-sales-in-china-decline-sharply-in-2024-whats-going-on">significant drop</a> in iPhone sales in China, with Canalys data showing a 17% annual decrease in shipments, marking Apple&#8217;s largest sales drop in the region.
Rivian Automotive Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>)
Rivian&#8217;s stock rose 3.59% to close at $14.44, reaching an intraday high of $14.66 and a low of $13.95. The stock&#8217;s 52-week range is $18.86 to $8.26. The increase came after Rivian finalized a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/01/43045600/rivian-stock-is-racing-higher-after-hours">loan agreement</a>&nbsp;with the U.S. Department of Energy for up to $6.6 billion, aimed at supporting the construction of a new manufacturing facility in Georgia.
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>)
UnitedHealth shares dropped 6.04%, closing at $510.59, with a high of $539.84 and a low of $510. The stock&#8217;s 52-week high is $630.73, and the low is $436.38. The decline follows mixed financial results, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43041254/unitedhealth-ceo-highlights-hospitals-doctors-pharmas-role-in-soaring-health-care-costs">earnings exceeding estimates</a>&nbsp;but revenue falling short by nearly $1 billion, amid challenges like Medicare funding reductions.
Biomerica, Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMRA#NASDAQ">BMRA</a>)
Biomerica&#8217;s stock surged 101.71% to $0.71, with an intraday high of $1.27 and a low of $0.56. The stock&#8217;s 52-week range is $1.35 to $0.24. The dramatic rise follows the approval of its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43033027/biomerica-stock-trades-200-higher-after-prostate-screening-test-receives-approval">Fortel Prostate Specific Antigen Screening Test</a>&nbsp;by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Health and Prevention.
Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)
Tesla&#8217;s shares decreased by 3.36%, closing at $413.82, with a high of $424 and a low of $409.13. The stock trades between a 52-week high of $488.54 and a low of $138.8. The decline comes as an analyst from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43036902/tesla-stock-valuation-analyst-flags-long-term-growth-opportunities-robotaxis-fsd">Goldman Sachs</a> highlighted Tesla&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43036902/tesla-stock-valuation-analyst-flags-long-term-growth-opportunities-robotaxis-fsd">monetization opportunities</a> with robotaxis and full self-driving technology, maintaining a Neutral rating.
Prepare for the day&#8217;s trading&nbsp;<a href="https://editorial.benzinga.com/wp-admin/Premarket%20Movers%20&amp;%20News">with top premarket movers and news</a>&nbsp;by Benzinga.

BMRA

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Apple, Rivian, Unitedhealth, Biomerica, Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

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