It's a mixed session on Wall Street, with major indices struggling for direction as investors hold their breath ahead of a key jobs report <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">set for Friday morning.</a>



The S&amp;P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 edged up 0.3%, while the Dow Jones slipped 0.1% and small caps held steady.



Among the leading sectors, financial stocks outperformed after the Fed released the framework for 2025 bank stress test. The big six banks — JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), Wells Fargo &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>), Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>), and Citigroup (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>) — all climbed more than 1%, with Citigroup surging 2.9%.



Eli Lilly Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) jumped 3.2% after topping earnings estimates, while Tapestry Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TPR#NYSE">TPR</a>) surged 12% and Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PM#NYSE">PM</a>) skyrocketed nearly 10% on strong revenue figures. In contrast, Qualcomm (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) slid 4.3% on concerns over slowing smartphone demand.



Shares of Palantir Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) surged 6.5%, extending its weekly gains to 30.8%, the stock's best weekly rally since early November.



Oil prices had a volatile session. Crude initially dipped as speculation mounted over a potential Trump-Putin meeting as early as this month or next, raising hopes for possible peace talks in Ukraine. Prices rebounded after the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on Iran's oil network.



Gold softened, dropping 0.6% from record highs and snapping a five-session winning streak.



Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) remained stable, hovering just below $97,000.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices</td><td>Price</td><td>1-day %chg</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>21,742.18</td><td>0.4%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>6,082.15</td><td>0.3%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,316.14</td><td>0.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>44,811.50</td><td>-0.1%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 1:00 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>



According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:



<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.3% to $605.83.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) eased 0.2% to $447.73.</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>)&nbsp;inched 0.3% up to $528.47.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) flattened at $229.55.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLRE#NYSE">XLRE</a>) outperformed, up 1.6%; the&nbsp;Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) lagged, down 1.7%.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>



Stocks reacting to corporate earnings, ordered by market capitalization, are:



<ul>
<li>Eli Lilly &amp; Co.: up 3.11%</li>



<li>Linde Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LIN#NYSE">LIN</a>): up 0.34%</li>



<li>Philip Morris International Inc.: up 9.97%</li>



<li>Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HON#NASDAQ">HON</a>): down 5.33%</li>



<li>ConocoPhillips (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COP#NYSE">COP</a>): down 0.71%</li>



<li>Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HLT#NYSE">HLT</a>): up 4.65%</li>



<li>Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>): down 2.04%</li>



<li>Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ICE#NYSE">ICE</a>): up 4.95%</li>



<li>IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IQV#NYSE">IQV</a>): up 2.95%</li>



<li>Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/YUM#NYSE">YUM</a>): up 8.49%</li>



<li>Hershey Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>): up 5.16%</li>



<li>McKesson Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCK#NYSE">MCK</a>): down 2.56%</li>



<li>Qualcomm Inc.: down 4.41%</li>



<li>Molina Healthcare Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MOH#NYSE">MOH</a>): down 8.68%</li>



<li>O&#8217;Reilly Automotive Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORLY#NASDAQ">ORLY</a>): down 1.87%</li>



<li>MetLife Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MET#NYSE">MET</a>): down 1.39%</li>



<li>Cognizant Technology Solutions (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTSH#NASDAQ">CTSH</a>): up 3.64%</li>



<li>Corteva Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTVA#NYSE">CTVA</a>): down 3.92%</li>



<li>Allstate Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALL#NYSE">ALL</a>): down 0.07%</li>



<li>Skyworks Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SWKS#NASDAQ">SWKS</a>): down 23.74%</li>



<li>Aflac Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>): down 3.64%</li>



<li>Align Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALGN#NASDAQ">ALGN</a>): down 0.66%</li>



<li>Equifax Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFX#NYSE">EFX</a>): down 6.24%</li>



<li>Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZBH#NYSE">ZBH</a>): down 3.02%</li>



<li>Aptiv Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APTV#NYSE">APTV</a>): up 4.18%</li>



<li>Air Products &amp; Chemicals Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APD#NYSE">APD</a>): down 1.75%</li>



<li>Kellanova (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/K#NYSE">K</a>): up 0.12%</li>



<li>Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>): down 6.74%</li>
</ul>



Stocks reporting after the close include: 



<ul>
<li>Amazon.com Inc. </li>



<li>Illumina Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ILMN#NASDAQ">ILMN</a>)</li>



<li>Fortinet Inc.</li>



<li>Expedia Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXPE#NASDAQ">EXPE</a>)</li>



<li>Take-Two Interactive Software (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TTWO#NASDAQ">TTWO</a>)</li>



<li>Monolithic Power Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MPWR#NASDAQ">MPWR</a>)</li>



<li>Pinterest Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PINS#NYSE">PINS</a>)</li>



<li>SS&amp;C Technologies Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSNC#NASDAQ">SSNC</a>)</li>



<li>Principal Financial Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFG#NASDAQ">PFG</a>)</li>



<li>Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTD#NYSE">MTD</a>)</li>



<li>AptarGroup Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ATR#NYSE">ATR</a>)</li>



<li>Post Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POST#NYSE">POST</a>)</li>



<li>Mohawk Industries Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MHK#NYSE">MHK</a>)</li>



<li>Boyd Gaming Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYD#NYSE">BYD</a>)</li>



<li>Encompass Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EHC#NYSE">EHC</a>)</li>



<li>VeriSign Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRSN#NASDAQ">VRSN</a>)</li>



<li>Cloudflare Inc. </li>



<li>Skechers USA Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SKX#NYSE">SKX</a>)</li>



<li>Affirm Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>)</li>



<li>Elf Beauty Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELF#NYSE">ELF</a>)</li>
</ul>



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43534297/january-jobs-report-preview-speculators-bet-on-strong-payroll-surge-yet-economists-predict-a-different-picture">January Jobs Report Preview: Speculators Bet On Strong Payroll Surge, Yet Economists Predict A Different Picture</a></li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock.

Cryptocurrency

Equities

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Commodities

Econ #s

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$BTC

AFRM

ALGN

APTV

CTSH

CTVA

EXPE

ILMN

MPWR

ORLY

PINS

PLTR

POST

QCOM

SSNC

SWKS

TTWO

VRSN

XLRE

Stocks Edge Higher, Bank Giants Rally, Palantir Skyrockets: What's Driving Markets Thursday?

Trump Media &amp; Technology Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DJT#NASDAQ">DJT</a>), which was co-founded by President Donald Trump, is pushing deeper into the world of finance with a filing for several custom exchange-traded funds, a move that comes after recently rolling <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/43310673/trump-media-technology-group-stock-jumps-on-expansion-into-financial-services">out plans for Truth.Fi.</a>



What Happened: Following up on a trademark made for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/11/42124007/trump-media-trademark-filing-for-truthfi-hints-at-potential-digital-wallets-asset-trading">Truth.Fi in November</a>, Trump Media &amp; Technology is expanding its offerings beyond its Truth Social social media platform and Truth+ video streaming platform.



The company <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/06/3022027/0/en/Trump-Media-Registers-Trademarks-for-Truth-Fi-Investment-Vehicles.html">filed </a>for several customized ETFs and separately managed accounts on Thursday. The filing advances the company's plans to launch America First-Themed ETFs and SMAs.



The trademarks include:



<ul>
<li>Truth.Fi Made in America ETF</li>



<li>Truth.Fi Made in America SMA</li>



<li>Truth.Fi U.S. Energy Independence ETF</li>



<li>Truth.Fi U.S. Energy Independence SMA</li>



<li>Truth.Fi Bitcoin Plus ETF</li>



<li>Truth.Fi Bitcoin Plus SMA</li>
</ul>



"The investment vehicles will be components of the new Truth.Fi brand covering financial services and financial technology," the company said in a press release.



The launch of Truth.Fi includes the investment of up to $250 million to be custodied by Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>), which is partnering with Trump Media to develop the SMAs.



Trump Media also signed services and licensing agreements with an affiliate of Yorkville Advisors, who will act as the Registered Investment Advisor on the new financial vehicles.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43255291/cathie-wood-passes-on-trump-meme-coin-poll-shows-investors-split-with-58-saying-this">Cathie Wood Passes On Trump Meme Coin, Poll Shows Investors Split With 58% Saying This</a>



Why It's Important: The names of the ETFs and SMAs suggest carrying out investment vehicles for some of Trump's top priorities.



Trump has made companies making products in America a top priority, which comes as he has threatened to place tariffs on countries like China, Canada and Mexico for items imported into the U.S.



The president has also put an emphasis on energy production in America, which is likely the reason for the U.S. Energy Independence name.



Trump's support for Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) has been a bit newer as he changed his tune about cryptocurrency during his run for president in the 2024 election after previously being <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41096120/if-you-invested-1-000-in-bitcoin-when-donald-trump-said-he-wasnt-a-fan-heres-how-much-youd">outspoken about the sector.</a>



&#8220;I am not a fan of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, which are not money, and whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air,&#8221; Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1149472282584072192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1149472282584072192%7Ctwgr%5E05ce97419f07b6da557a7465d7b1138a09bf4c43%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FrealDonaldTrump2Fstatus2F1149472282584072192widget%3DTweet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tweeted&nbsp;</a>on July 11, 2019.



Trump supported Bitcoin during the election and his win helped send the price of Bitcoin to new all-time highs with a new White House administration that is pro-crypto and also considering a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve.



There are several approved Bitcoin ETFs and the new Truth.Fi would be one off the newest to hit the market.



"We aim to give investors a means to invest in American energy, manufacturing, and other firms that provide a competitive alternative to the woke funds and debanking problems that you find throughout the market. We're exploring a range of ways to differentiate our products, including strategies related to bitcoin," TMTG CEO Devin Nunes said.



Nunes comments suggest there could be additional finance products launched by Truth.Fi soon. Notably, the new filings do not include anything related to Trump Coin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TRUMP</a>), which launched before Trump was sworn in as president. There are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43105356/meme-coin-supercycle-dogecoin-trump-bonk-futures-etf-applications-filed">several pending ETFs</a> that plan to include Trump Coin.



While it is not specific to Trump and his policies, the Point Bridge America First ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAGA#BATS">MAGA</a>) was launched in 2017 by Hal Lambert. During the 2024 election, Lambert <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/23/05/32520652/maga-etf-founder-is-backing-desantis-over-trump-im-in-for-desantis-this-time">initially voiced support</a> for Republican competitor Ron DeSantis before switching back to supporting Trump.



DJT Price Action: Trump Media stock is up 2.63% to $31.15 on Thursday versus a 52-week trading range of $11.75 to $79.38. The stock is down 10% year-to-date in 2025 and down 32.7% over the past year.



Check This Out:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent020625">Lawmakers Are Making Huge Investments In 2025. See What They&#8217;re Buying And Selling With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

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$TRUMP

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Donald Trump Once Said Bitcoin 'Was Based On Thin Air,' Now His Media Company Is Launching BTC ETF

Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) will be reporting its fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday. Wall Street expects $1.49 in EPS and $187.30 billion in revenues as the company reports<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings?tickers=AMZN" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> after market hours</a>.



The stock is up 40.71% over the past year, 8.08% year-to-date.



Let&#8217;s look at what the charts indicate for Amazon stock and how the stock currently maps against Wall Street estimates.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43519586/jeff-bezos-10b-earth-fund-pulls-support-from-key-climate-initiative-what-happened">Jeff Bezos&#8217; $10 Billion Earth Fund Pulls Support From Key Climate Initiative: What Happened?</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AMZN Stock Strongly Bullish Ahead Of Q4 Earnings</h2>



AMZN stock is displaying strong bullish momentum ahead of its fourth quarter earnings report, with the stock trading above its five-day, 20-day and 50-day exponential moving averages. This signals an overall uptrend, though slight selling pressure has emerged. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020625&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="626" height="490" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/06114216/Screenshot-2025-02-06-at-7.54.43-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-769897" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/06114216/Screenshot-2025-02-06-at-7.54.43-PM.png 626w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/06114216/Screenshot-2025-02-06-at-7.54.43-PM-300x235.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px" /></a></figure>



<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020625&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>



Amazon stock's eight-day simple moving average of $237.68 sits just above the current price of $238.27, flashing a short-term bearish signal. However, longer-term indicators remain firmly bullish, with Amazon stock trading above its 20-day ($231.01), 50-day ($224.81) and 200-day ($195.58) simple moving averages.



For investors, the technical setup suggests AMZN stock is in a strong position heading into earnings. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator at 4.57 reinforces positive momentum, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 60.48 signals room for further upside before hitting overbought territory. 



If earnings confirm continued business strength, the technicals suggest AMZN stock could push higher. However, a downside surprise could test short-term support levels, making the $230-$224 range a key zone for traders to watch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Amazon Analysts See 15% Upside</h2>



Ratings &amp; Consensus Estimates:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AMZN/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> The consensus analyst rating</a> on Amazon stock stands at a Buy currently with a price target of $255.37. The latest analyst ratings from Benchmark, Telsey and JMP imply a 15.45% upside for AMZN stock with a $275 target.



Stock Price Action: Amazon stock was trading at $236 at the time of publication.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43531533/top-wall-street-forecasters-revamp-amazon-price-expectations-ahead-of-q4-earnings">Top Wall Street Forecasters Revamp Amazon Price Expectations Ahead Of Q4 Earnings</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Technicals

Previews

Tech

Trading Ideas

AMZN

Amazon Stock Powers Into Q4 Earnings With Bullish Momentum: Is $275 In Sight?

Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) is one of the largest electric vehicle companies in the world, but it could be facing sales declines in parts of the world due to CEO Elon Musk's deeper <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43172806/tesla-lost-15-billion-in-brand-value-in-2024-report-says-did-elon-musks-political-push-hurt-ev-giant">push into politics.</a>



What Happened: In recent weeks, sales data for electric vehicle sales in 2024 has shown Tesla's market share and overall unit sales declining in regions, including<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/01/42978236/us-electric-vehicle-sales-hit-record-1-3-million-units-in-2024-despite-tesla-declines-top-10-bestselling-models-list"> the United States.</a>



Along with sales<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/02/43447273/tesla-sales-drop-12-in-california-is-elon-musks-support-for-donald-trump-hurting-ev-sales"> drops in California </a>and the United States overall, Tesla's sales in Europe are taking a sharp hit.



An Electrek <a href="https://electrek.co/2025/02/05/tesla-sales-dropped-60-in-germany/">report</a>, citing data from Reuters and German road traffic agency KBA, shows Tesla's sales of 1,277 units in Germany for the month of January, down 59.5% year-over-year.



Sales are believed to be down due to the launch of the Model Y refresh and Musk's political push.



While Tesla's sales were down 59.5% in January, the overall German automotive market was down 2.8%. Battery-electric vehicle sales were up 53.5% year-over-year in Germany in January, meaning this was likely a Tesla problem and not the overall EV market.



Data shows sharp declines in the month of January across several European markets, which could be related to Musk's politics push and the Model Y update. Here are the sales figures below:



<ul>
<li>Germany: -59.5%</li>



<li>United Kingdom: -18.2%</li>



<li>France: -63.4%</li>



<li>Netherlands: -42.5%</li>



<li>Norway: -40.2%</li>



<li>Spain: -75.4%</li>



<li>Sweden: -46.0%</li>



<li>Denmark: -40.9%</li>



<li>Portugal: -31.0%</li>
</ul>



The overall drop was 50.4% year-over-year in January for the countries above combined.



Tesla sales were down 5.6% year-over-year in the United States in 2024, which came as the country set a record for EV sales for the year. In California, Tesla sales were down 12% year-over-year in 2024.



Are you buying when the CEOs of the Magnificent 7 are selling?



<ul>
<li>Stay in the know with our Insider Trades page — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">see when leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Jensen Huang are offloading their own shares.</a></li>
</ul>



Why It's Important: Musk has shown support for far-right German party Alternative for Germany and recently spoke virtually at<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43251316/tesla-faces-boycott-call-in-poland-over-musks-wwii-comments"> the party's rally.</a>



During his appearance, Musk downplayed the importance of moving on from Germany's past, potentially referencing the Nazi party and World War II.



&#8220;Children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents,&#8221; Musk said, as reported by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-27/tesla-faces-call-for-boycott-in-poland-after-musk-s-germany-remarks?srnd=homepage-americas&amp;sref=TBDibEcD" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bloomberg</a>.



Musk said there is a &#8220;too much focus on past guilt&#8221; during his virtual appearance. The comments came as the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp was being recognized across Europe.



Polish Sports and Tourism Minister Slawomir Nitras called for a boycott in the country after Musk's comments.



In Poland, Tesla is the number one EV company with 4,460 vehicles sold in 2024, significantly more than second place Mercedes-Benz (1,640).



A Brand Finance survey showed Tesla's brand value declining $15 billion in 2024 dropping Tesla from 36th place to 18th place. In the survey, consumers were less likely to recommend or consider buying a Tesla vehicle with some users citing Musk's politics as the reason why.



While Musk has plenty of Tesla fans that will stay loyal no matter what he does or says, data is showing that Musk's deeper push into politics in America and Europe could have a drastic impact on Tesla's sales and market share in regions around the world.



TSLA Price Action: Tesla stock is down 3.2% to $366.19 on Thursday versus a 52-week trading range of $138.80 to $488.54. Tesla stock is now down 3.5% year-to-date in 2025, but remains up 97.8% over the past year.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/42023767/tesla-owners-who-dont-like-musk-are-letting-bumper-stickers-do-the-talking">Tesla Owners Who Don&#8217;t Like Musk Are Letting Bumper Stickers Do The Talking</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

News

TSLA

Tesla Sales Drop 60% In Germany: Are Elon Musk's Politics Getting In The Way Of EV Growth?

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent doubled down on Donald Trump&#8216;s administration policy priorities, laying down a bold economic roadmap focused on lowering government spending, cutting regulations, and driving<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s"> private-sector-led growth. </a>



In a Wednesday <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6368327660112">interview </a>with Fox Business, Bessent indicated that the new administration is prioritizing fiscal discipline and economic expansion.



"The U.S. doesn't have a revenue problem—it has a spending problem," he said, adding that the plan is to "reprivatize the economy" by shifting growth away from government-driven stimulus toward private-sector investment.



"Spending has gone out of control in Washington," he said, indicating that fiscal responsibility and pro-business policies will drive sustainable expansion.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Lower Yields and Trump's Focus on the 10-Year Treasury</h3>



With markets watching the Federal Reserve's next moves, Bessent stressed the importance of bond yields and long-term interest rates. 



"He and I are focused on the 10-year Treasury," he said, referring to Trump's stance on borrowing costs.



The 10-year Treasury yield, a key benchmark for everything from mortgage rates to corporate borrowing, has risen since the Federal Reserve started to cut interest rates in September last year. 



&#8220;They did a jumbo rate cut and the 10-year rate went up,&#8221; he said. 



Bessent indicates that long-term yields can come down—not through Fed intervention, but by cutting spending, lowering energy prices, and signaling fiscal responsibility to investors.



On Wednesday, yields on the 10-year Treasury tumbled by 10 basis points following Bessent&#8217;s remarks. The U.S. 10-Year Treasury Note ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UTEN#NASDAQ">UTEN</a>) rose 0.7%. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Spending Cuts And The 3-3-3 Plan: Can It Work?</h3>



Bessent is pushing what he calls the &#8220;3-3-3&#8221; economic strategy:



<ul>
<li>Getting the deficit-to-GDP ratio down to 3%-3.5% by the end of Trump's term.</li>



<li>Driving GDP growth beyond 3% through deregulation and investment.</li>



<li>Increasing U.S. energy production by 3 million barrels per day to strengthen economic security.</li>
</ul>



"We can create 3% plus economic growth, non-inflationary economic growth," he said, highlighting energy independence as a key driver.



"We produced 3 million more energy equivalents under Trump's first term," he told Fox Business.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tariffs As &#8216;Means To An End&#8217;</h3>



On trade policy, Bessent indicated that tariffs could be a tool to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., as they should function as a temporary measure to incentivize reshoring. 



He highlighted recent trade actions, including threats of tariffs on Mexico and Canada over immigration policies and fentanyl-related concerns, saying, "The president threatened tariffs, and the president of Mexico offered 10,000 troops at the southern border."



He added that tariffs on China are also under consideration due to the fentanyl crisis, emphasizing that they are "not a revenue issue right now" but a strategic tool to restore economic security. 



"Tariffs are a means to an end," he said. "In theory, they would be a shrinking ice cube—you impose them, production comes back to the U.S., income tax revenue rises, and tariffs decline."



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Elon Musk, Dogecoin, And Treasury's Efficiency Overhaul</h3>



Bessent hinted that Elon Musk and DOGE could play a role in Treasury's modernization efforts.



"Elon Musk is the greatest entrepreneur of this generation," he said, adding that the administration is working with Musk on government efficiency reforms.



&#8220;DOGE is not going to fail,&#8221; he added, referencing past government efficiency initiatives that fell short, including efforts by the Reagan and Clinton administrations. 



Bessent highlighted ongoing efforts to improve payment processing and accountability. "At the Treasury, our payment system processes 13 billion payments a year. We're studying how to enhance accountability, accuracy, and traceability," he said. 



Yet, he clarified that Treasury is not directly involved in decisions to halt payments, saying that "such actions happen upstream at the department level."



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Watch Below The Full Bessent&#8217;s Interview</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="DOGE is not going to fail: Trump Treasury head" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NlvB93cQ0bI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Photo: Shutterstock

Government

Regulations

Bonds

Treasuries

Federal Reserve

UTEN

'Tariffs Are A Means To An End': Bessent Defends Trade Strategy, Pushes Growth Plan

On Thursday, Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) stock is trading higher after the company released better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43505148/what-to-expect-when-eli-lilly-reports-q4-earnings-on-thursday" rel="noreferrer noopener">provided 2025 guidance</a>.



The U.S. pharma giant reported fourth-quarter revenue of $13.53 billion, up 45% year over year, almost in line with the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus of $13.57 billion</a>.



The increase was driven by a 48% increase in volume, partially offset by a 4% decrease due to lower realized prices.



The volume increase was driven by growth from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/02/n43523303/lilly-reports-full-q4-2024-financial-results-and-provides-2025-guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mounjaro and Zepbound</a>. Lower realized prices were primarily driven by Mounjaro, partially offset by Zepbound and Humalog.



New Products&nbsp;revenue grew by&nbsp;$3.15 billion&nbsp;to&nbsp;$5.64 billion&nbsp;in Q4 2024, led by Zepbound and Mounjaro. Growth Products&nbsp;revenue increased 13% to&nbsp;$5.95 billion,&nbsp;driven by growth in Verzenio and Jardiance, partially offset by lower Trulicity sales.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/01/43053632/fda-approves-expanded-use-of-eli-lillys-ulcerative-colitis-drug-for-crohns-disease" rel="noreferrer noopener">FDA Approves Expanded Use Of Eli Lilly&#8217;s Ulcerative Colitis Drug For Crohn&#8217;s Disease</a>



The company reported an adjusted EPS of $5.32, compared to $2.49 from a year ago, beating the consensus of $4.94.



Mounjaro sales <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42976923/eli-lilly-expects-around-55-billion-sales-from-weight-lossdiabetes-drugs-with-overall-topline-growth-of-32-issues-2025-forecast" rel="noreferrer noopener">jumped 60% to $3.53 billion</a>. Sales of Verzenio (a breast cancer drug)&nbsp;increased 36% to&nbsp;$1.56 billion, and sales of diabetes drug Jardiance&nbsp;increased 50% to&nbsp;$1.19 billion.



Zepbound sales reached $1.91 billion, up from $175.8 million a year ago. Trulicity sales fell 25% to&nbsp;$1.25 billion.



Guidance: Eli Lilly forecasts fiscal year 2025 sales of $58 billion-$61 billion versus a consensus of $59.91 billion and $45.04 billion in 2024.



The company adds that the midpoint represents approximately 32% growth compared to 2024, driven by new Lilly medicines such as Zepbound, Mounjaro, Jaypirca, Ebglyss, Omvoh and Kisunla; approvals of new indications for existing Lilly medicines; launches of Mounjaro in additional worldwide markets; and potential launches of new medicines such as imlunestrant for metastatic breast cancer.



The company continues to invest heavily in increasing manufacturing capacity and estimates producing at least 1.6 times the amount of salable incretin doses in the first half of 2025 compared to the first half of 2024.&nbsp;



Eli Lilly forecasts 2025 adjusted EPS of $22.50-$24.00 compared to $12.99 in 2024 and the consensus of $22.69.



Price Action: At last check on Thursday, LLY stock was up 1.11% at 851.49 during the premarket session.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/downgrades/25/02/43506847/spotify-analyst-draws-comparison-to-apple-on-scale-pricing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spotify Analyst Draws Comparison To Apple On Scale, Pricing</a></li>
</ul>



Photo by Ciara Kimsey via Shutterstock

Biotech

Earnings

Large Cap

Guidance

Health Care

General

Eli Lilly Q4 Earnings: Strong Demand For Mounjaro But Prices Dip, Forecasts Over 30% Jump In 2025 Sales On Newer Medicines

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee is among the first Republican lawmakers to openly express concerns over the growing influence of billionaire Elon Musk within <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">the Trump administration</a> and across federal agencies.



"There's no doubt that the president appears to have empowered Elon Musk far beyond what I think is appropriate," she told reporters Wednesday. "I think a lot of it is going to end up in court," she said, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5129250-congress-worried-musk-executive-power/">according </a>to The Hill.



She's got that right. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee tried and failed to subpoena Musk on Wednesday in a surprise attempt to get him to testify about his efforts to reshape the federal government. Musk was appointed by President Donald Trump to head the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, though he remains at the helm of Tesla and SpaceX.



Meanwhile, the lone Republican expressed her concerns about empowering Musk to slash programs, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), that have already been authorized and funded by Congress.



"I am concerned if the Trump administration is clawing back money that has been specifically appropriated for a particular purpose," Collins said.



She took issue with the fact that Musk and team did not provide advance notice to Congress when he <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/02/politics/usaid-officials-leave-musk-doge/index.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com">froze </a>USAID funding, which he called "a criminal organization" that he spent last weekend "feeding … into the woodchipper," <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5122676-usaid-shutdown-elon-musk-doge/">according </a>to The Hill.



Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43516681/doge-gains-access-to-medicare-and-medicaid-systems-elon-musk-says-this-is-where-the-big-money-fraud-is-happening">DOGE Gains Access To Medicare And Medicaid Systems: Elon Musk Says, &#8216;This Is Where The Big Money Fraud Is Happening&#8217;</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Public Money Consolidated In Executive Branch?</h2>



As the Senate's top appropriator, Collins is involved in negotiations over federal funding levels ahead of a looming March 14 government shutdown deadline. She's questioned the Trump administration's efforts to consolidate spending authority within the executive branch, arguing that it undercuts Congress' constitutional power of the purse.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dems Get Into The Act</h2>



Later on Wednesday, a couple of Democratic lawmakers &#8220;barged&#8221; into House Speaker Mike Johnson's office, <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/02/05/congress/two-dem-lawmakers-invade-house-speakers-office-in-backlash-against-musk-00202667">reported</a> Politico. Reps. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) paid Johnson a visit and confronted him about Musk&#8217;s team <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43497170/ex-spacex-engineer-with-musk-ties-granted-high-level-treasury-access-lawmakers-raise-red-flags">gaining access to a sensitive payment system</a> at the Treasury Department.



"Gwen Moore forced her way in there, and then I got to go in right behind her," Chu told reporters. "And she was already confronting Speaker Johnson about Treasury Secretary Bessent and the stealing of Americans' private information, tax information that should never be stolen and given to this billionaire Elon Musk."



Now Read: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43497170/ex-spacex-engineer-with-musk-ties-granted-high-level-treasury-access-lawmakers-raise-red-flags">Ex-SpaceX Engineer With Musk Ties Granted High-Level Treasury Access — Lawmakers Raise Red Flags</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Elon Musk's Expanding Government Role 'Far Beyond' Appropriate, GOP Senator Warns

U.S. stock futures rose on Thursday following Wednesday&#8217;s advances as investors digest tariff pauses by the Trump administration amid earnings reports. All four benchmark indices were trading higher.



Heavyweight Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) along with Eli Lilly And Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>), Fortinet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTNT#NASDAQ">FTNT</a>), Thomson Reuters Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRI#NYSE">TRI</a>), Cloudflare Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NET#NYSE">NET</a>) and Roblox Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RBLX#NYSE">RBLX</a>) are a few companies that will report their earnings today.



The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.44%, while the two-year yield was at 4.21%. According to the CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>, there is an 85.5% chance that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged for the March meeting.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>0.20%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>0.24%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.36%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>0.33%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) both experienced positive premarket trading on Thursday. SPY rose 0.22% to $605.57, and QQQ advanced 0.22% to $528.03, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From The Last Session



Real estate, information technology, and financial sectors led the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43520435/dow-rises-over-300-points-as-nvidia-surges-investor-sentiment-improves-but-greed-index-remains-in-fear-zone">gains</a> in U.S. stocks on Wednesday, however, communication services and consumer discretionary stocks declined, bucking the overall market trend. 



Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) shares jumped over 5% following positive results from Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) and Google&#8217;s increased FY25 capital expenditure guidance. The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) also reported better-than-expected first-quarter financial results.



On the economic front, the U.S. trade deficit widened to $98.4 billion in December, exceeding market expectations of $96.6 billion and up from a revised $78.9 billion in November. The ISM services PMI fell to 52.8 in January, below the estimated 54.3 and a revised 54 in December.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>0.19%</td><td>19,692.33</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>0.39%</td><td>6,061.48</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.71%</td><td>44,873.28</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>1.14%</td><td>2,316.23</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts



Despite recent market volatility, a &#8220;buy the dip&#8221; mentality remains prevalent among investors, according to Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Schwab. According to Schwab&#8217;s <a href="https://international.schwab.com/story/stock-market-update-open">daily commentary</a>, Sonders noted that money continues to seek opportunities, with &#8220;stealthy, quiet participation&#8221; emerging in sectors beyond the &#8220;Magnificent Seven&#8221; tech stocks.



She emphasized that this diversification is a healthy sign, predating the recent tariff-related concerns. However, Sonders cautioned that the market should brace for continued &#8220;rapid-fire sector rotations,&#8221; citing the recent movement of tech and defensive stocks. These sector-related gyrations, she predicted, are likely to persist for some time.



Scott Wren, the senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo <a href="https://www.wellsfargoadvisors.com/research-analysis/commentary/stock-market-commentary.htm">said</a> that he views the tariff threats so far as bargaining chips the U.S. president is using to encourage agreement from the leaders of various countries. He highlighted that &#8220;bringing more manufacturing back to the U.S., particularly from China and Mexico, is a goal but will take time.&#8221;



The market momentum remains positive overall, though the numerous policy changes under a potential second Trump administration are likely to fuel further volatility, said Louis Navellier of Navellier &amp; Associates.



He highlighted the new administration&#8217;s apparent push for lower interest rates and energy prices, noting that both appear to be underway and are positive indicators for economic growth.



However, tariffs remain a significant wildcard due to the unpredictable nature of potential responses, particularly from China, a major U.S. trade partner. Navellier pointed out that earnings have been encouraging, and smaller capitalized stocks are performing well. Looking ahead, he suggests that if current trends continue, the Federal Reserve could eventually implement rate cuts, which would further boost market momentum.



Upcoming Economic Data



Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on Thursday:



<ul>
<li>Initial jobless claims till Feb. 1 and the U.S. productivity data for the fourth quarter will be out at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Fed Governor Christopher Waller will speak at 2:30 p.m. and Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan will speak at 5:10 p.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul>
<li>Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) advanced 0.61% in premarket on Thursday ahead of its earnings, which will be released after market close. Analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $1.49 per share on revenue of $187.31 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HON#NASDAQ">HON</a>) was down 0.54% as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings of $2.32 per share on revenue of $9.83 billion before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>) slipped 0.27% ahead of its earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $1.46 per share on revenue of $11.57 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Eli Lilly And Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) slid 0.73% as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings of $5.08 per share on revenue of $13.43 billion before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Arm Holdings Plc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) declined 5.08% despite reporting better-than-expected third-quarter financial results for fiscal year 2025 as it narrowed its next quarter and full-year&#8217;s guidance.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) fell 5.09% despite upbeat fourth-quarter financial results but forecasted a tougher year.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Sangoma Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SANG#NASDAQ">SANG</a>) was down 5.07% after it reported a loss in the second quarter and missed revenue estimates.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Rani Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RANI#NASDAQ">RANI</a>) was up 40.97% after successful preclinical data for oral delivery of semaglutide which is used to treat type-2 diabetes.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 0.59% to hover around $71.45 per barrel.



The gold spot index was down by 0.29% to $2,859.30 per ounce. The Dollar Index was down 0.39% at 107.998 level.



Asian markets were trading higher on Thursday. China's CSI 300, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, Australia's ASX 200, South Korea's Kospi, and Japan's Nikkei 225 index advanced. European markets were mostly higher in trade.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/02/43491799/meta-ai-models-clearly-behind-deepseek-says-analysts-after-mark-zuckerberg-admitted-deepseek-did-some-novel-things-were-still-digesting">Meta AI Models ‘Clearly Behind' DeepSeek, Says Analyst After Mark Zuckerberg Admits DeepSeek Did Some Novel Things ‘We're Still Digesting'</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Futures

Pre-Market Outlook

Analyst Ratings

FTNT

NVDA

RANI

RBLX

SANG

US Stocks Likely To Open Higher Ahead Of Amazon's Earnings: 'Buy The Dip' Mentality Remains Prevalent, Says Analyst

Banks have successfully sold $5.5 billion in loans tied to X Corp., the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, amid <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/43373012/elon-musk-bringing-advertisers-back-to-x-amazon-boosts-spending-apple-considers-return">surging investor demand</a>. 



What Happened: The sale, which was initially planned at $3 billion, was expanded due to heightened interest, with investors including Pimco and Citadel purchasing the loans at 97 cents on the dollar, people familiar with the matter <a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/banks-sell-5-5-billion-of-x-loans-after-investor-interest-surges-4b84f89c?st=GYpPqP&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink">told</a> The Wall Street Journal. 



The floating-rate debts carry an interest rate of approximately 11%—a premium even compared to some of Wall Street's riskiest loans.



The transaction underscores the renewed investor enthusiasm surrounding X Corp. following Musk's growing influence in Washington and the return of key advertisers, such as Amazon.com Inc. The platform faced significant turmoil after Musk's $44 billion acquisition in 2022, as advertisers pulled back due to concerns over content moderation. While X is still grappling with financial challenges, recent signs of stability have drawn fresh interest from investors.



At a recent investor meeting led by Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) bankers and X CEO Linda Yaccarino, financial documents revealed that Musk's artificial intelligence startup, xAI, has injected hundreds of millions of dollars into X. The two entities share executives and business ties, and X now holds a 10% stake in xAI, valued at approximately $5 billion, according to the WSJ report.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43513408/arm-holdings-stock-slides-on-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-revised-guidance-and-more">Arm Holdings Stock Slides On Q3 Earnings: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, Revised Guidance And More</a>



Why It Matters: The loan sale is a significant win for the banks, including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), and Barclays (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BCS#NYSE">BCS</a>), which originally extended financing for Musk's 2022 buyout. The sluggish performance of X and high interest rates had forced them to hold onto the debt far longer than expected.



Despite the successful sale, the banks still retain around $6 billion in X-related debt, some of which is considered riskier. X remains under financial pressure, with annual interest payments exceeding $1 billion. 



With major advertisers like Amazon ramping up spending and Apple Inc. reportedly considering reintroducing ads. 



Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43511849/strategy-q4-earnings-bitcoin-treasury-company-spends-205b-on-btc-shares-inch-higher-despite-revenue-miss">Strategy Q4 Earnings: Bitcoin Treasury Company Spends $20.5B On BTC, Shares Inch Higher Despite Revenue Miss</a></li>
</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.

Social Media

AAPL

Elon Musk's Lenders Cash In $5.5 Billion Thanks To Investor Demand For X Loans: Report

The Official TRUMP (TRUMP) coin has surged 4.27% in the last 24 hours, reaching $18.50, with a market cap of $3.7 billion. Despite this short-term rally, TRUMP remains down 75.36% from its all-time high of $75.35 set on Jan. 19. 



What Happened: This dramatic drop follows a volatile market phase, where it <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43335432/trump-meme-coin-now-accepted-for-merchandise-purchases">lost 42% of its value in the last week</a>.



The meme coin, originally launched by CIC Digital, a group linked to President Donald Trump's campaign, reached an astonishing market cap of nearly $75 billion within days of its launch. 



However, its meteoric rise has been matched by sharp declines, as investors face uncertainty amid broader market conditions and recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43152664/trump-memecoin-achieved-this-valuation-milestone-inside-two-days-that-took-jeff-bezos-amazon-over-13-years">tariff announcements by Trump</a>.



Despite the volatility, TRUMP has still managed to maintain its position as one of the top meme coins, even after falling from 14th to 32nd in market cap rankings, according <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/official-trump/#About">to</a> CoinMarketCap.



At the time of writing, TRUMP was the second-best performing coin behind FTX Token (FTT), according to data from CoinMarketCap. TRUMP outpaced Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), and meme-king Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) over a 24-hour period.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43507132/stocks-rebound-google-eyes-worst-drop-in-a-year-gold-shatters-fresh-records-whats-driving-markets-wednesday">Stocks Rebound, Google Eyes Worst Drop In A Year, Gold Shatters Fresh Records: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Wednesday?</a>



Why It Matters: The coin has also started to see real-world use cases, with online merchants and travel websites like Travala accepting TRUMP as <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43335432/trump-meme-coin-now-accepted-for-merchandise-purchases">payment through Solana Pay</a>. 



The involvement of insiders linked to CIC Digital, who control a large portion of the coin's supply, has raised concerns over potential market manipulation and its <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43335432/trump-meme-coin-now-accepted-for-merchandise-purchases">impact on price stability</a>.



Price Action: The Official TRUMP coin is currently priced at $18.50, up 4.09% in the last 24 hours. It has experienced a significant 171.24% increase since its inception, according <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/official-trump/#About">to</a> CoinMarketCap. 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43517995/amazons-remarkable-alexa-is-coming-heres-what-to-expect-from-the-ai-overhaul-and-its-potential-10-monthly-fee">Amazon&#8217;s &#8216;Remarkable Alexa&#8217; Is Coming—Here&#8217;s What To Expect From The AI Overhaul And Its Potential $10 Monthly Fee</a></li>
</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.

$DOGE

$ETH

TRUMP Meme Coin Jumps 4.27%, Outpaces Bitcoin, Ethereum And Dogecoin, But It's Still Nowhere Near January Highs

On Wednesday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades involving Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) and Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>). These trades occurred amid notable developments in both companies, drawing attention from investors and market analysts.



The Palantir Trade



On Wednesday, Ark Invest, through its ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>), decided to offload 5,495 shares of Palantir. This move came as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/43497092/palantir-stock-surges-after-blockbuster-earnings-whats-next">Palantir&#8217;s stock soared</a> following its impressive fourth-quarter earnings report. The company reported a 36% year-over-year increase in total revenue, with substantial growth in its U.S. commercial and government sectors. The Palantir rally has since simmered down with the stock ending 2.4% lower at $101.36 on Wednesday. This valued the Ark trade at approximately $556,973.



Palantir&#8217;s stock performance has been remarkable, showing a 34.8% upside since 2025 began.The retail investing community actively engaging with the company&#8217;s prospects. The recent earnings report has only fueled this enthusiasm, showcasing the company&#8217;s strong performance and future potential.



Notably, Ark <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43484615/cathie-wood-led-ark-invest-dumps-7m-worth-of-palantir-stock-amid-searing-rally">chose to offload</a> nearly $7.4 million worth of Palantir shares a day earlier amid the searing rally in the stock on Tuesday.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/25/02/43502478/microstrategy-stock-caught-in-a-tug-of-war-will-q4-earnings-tip-the-scale">MicroStrategy Stock Caught In A Tug-Of-War: Will Q4 Earnings Tip The Scale?</a>



The Robinhood Trade



Ark Invest also made moves involving Robinhood through its flagship ARKK fund. The company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports-betting/25/02/43482999/robinhood-ends-super-bowl-lix-bets-plan-after-cftc-complaint">recently faced challenges</a> after its plan to offer event contracts for Super Bowl LIX was halted due to a complaint from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Robinhood had intended to launch these contracts in collaboration with Kalshi, but the plan was scrapped following regulatory pressure.



Despite this setback, Robinhood is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43310167/robinhood-expands-trading-services-with-bitcoin-oil-gold-futures">expanding its trading services</a>, including futures trading for Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), oil, and gold. This strategic move into derivative markets indicates Robinhood&#8217;s efforts to diversify its offerings and attract a broader user base. The developments surrounding Robinhood highlight the dynamic nature of the financial services industry and the challenges companies face in navigating regulatory landscapes.



On Wednesday, Ark sold 127,952 Robinhood stocks worth $6.9 million. Robinhood shares ended the day 3.1% higher at $54.20.



Other Key Trades:



<ul>
<li>Crisper Therapeutics (CRSP): Ark Invest purchased 159,139 shares through ARKK and 28,199 shares through ARKG.</li>



<li>10X Genomics Inc (TXG): Acquired 77,594 shares via ARKK.</li>



<li>Twist Bioscience Corp (TWST): Bought 15,291 shares from ARKK.</li>



<li>Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT): Sold 100 shares through ARKQ.</li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



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<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/02/43517095/elon-musks-lenders-cash-in-55-billion-on-thanks-to-investor-demand-for-x-loans-report">Elon Musk&#8217;s Lenders Cash In $5.5 Billion On Thanks To Investor Demand For X Loans: Report</a></li>
</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>

ARKK

HOOD

Cathie Wood Sells Palantir Shares As Rally Cools Down, Ark Invest Also Dumps Nearly $7 Million Worth Of Robinhood Stock

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed some improvement in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Wednesday.



U.S. stocks settled higher on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones index gaining more than 300 points during the session.



Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) shares jumped over 5% on Wednesday in sympathy with AMD after reporting better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results and Google which raised its FY25 capital expenditure guidance. The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) reported better-than-expected first-quarter financial results.



On the economic data front, the U.S. trade deficit increased to $98.4 billion in December versus a revised $78.9 billion gap in the previous month and compared to market estimates of a $96.6 billion gap. The ISM services PMI fell to 52.8 in January versus a revised reading of 54 in December, and down from estimates of 54.3.



Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with real estate, information technology, and financial stocks recording gains on Wednesday. However, communication services and consumer discretionary stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.



The Dow Jones closed higher by around 317 points to 44,873.28 on Wednesday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.39% to 6,061.48, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.19% at 19,692.33 during Wednesday's session.



Investors are awaiting earnings results from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HON#NASDAQ">HON</a>) today.



What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?



At a current reading of 39.6, the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Wednesday, versus a prior reading of 38.9.



The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43492050/top-3-financial-stocks-that-may-rocket-higher-this-quarter">Top 3 Financial Stocks That May Rocket Higher This Quarter</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Dow Rises Over 300 Points As Nvidia Surges: Investor Sentiment Improves, But Greed Index Remains In 'Fear' Zone

Arm Holdings Plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) reported third-quarter financial results for fiscal year 2025 after the market close on Wednesday. Here&#8217;s a rundown <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/02/b43509353/arm-holdings-plc-reports-results-for-the-third-quarter-of-the-fiscal-year-ended-2025">of the report</a>.



Q3 Earnings: Arm reported third-quarter revenue of $983 million, beating analyst&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">estimates</a>&nbsp;of $946.73 million. The chip designer reported adjusted earnings of 39 cents per share, beating analyst estimates of 34 cents per share, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>.



Total revenue was up 19% year-over-year, driven by record levels of royalty revenue and continued strength in license revenue. Royalty revenue grew 23% year-over-year primarily driven by continued adoption of Armv9 architecture, increased usage of Arm chips in data centers and IoT improvement.



Annualized contract value (ACV) was up 9% year-over-year to $1.27 billion. Arm said free cash flow totaled $349 million in the quarter. The company ended the period with $2.67 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.



&#8220;Arm delivered record third-quarter revenue driven by continued strong adoption of Armv9 and CSS compute platforms,&#8221; said Rene Haas, CEO of Arm Holdings.



&#8220;With our high-performance, energy-efficient, flexible technology, Arm is a key enabler in advancing AI innovation and transforming the user experience, from the edge to the cloud.&#8221;



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43507132/stocks-rebound-google-eyes-worst-drop-in-a-year-gold-shatters-fresh-records-whats-driving-markets-wednesday#google_vignette">Stocks Rebound, Google Eyes Worst Drop In A Year, Gold Shatters Fresh Records: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Wednesday?</a>



Guidance: Arm expects fourth-quarter revenue of $1.175 billion to $1.275 billion. The company anticipates fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of 48 cents to 56 cents per share.



Arm also narrowed its full-year guidance. The company now expects full-year revenue of $3.94 billion to $4.04 billion and full-year adjusted earnings of $1.56 to $1.64 per share.



Arm executives will further discuss the quarter on a call with investors and analysts at 5 p.m. ET.



ARM Price Action: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ARM" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arm shares</a> were down 6.99% after hours, trading at $161.25 at the time of publication Wednesday, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/02/43505678/amds-ai-ambitions-face-nvidias-dominance-analysts-see-growth-but-challenges-remain">AMD&#8217;s AI Ambitions Face NVIDIA&#8217;s Dominance—Analysts See Growth, But Challenges Remain</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock.

After-Hours Center

Movers

Arm Holdings Stock Slides On Q3 Earnings: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, Revised Guidance And More

MicroStrategy Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), which announced a rebrand to Strategy on Wednesday, reported fourth-quarter financial results after the market close. Here&#8217;s a look at the key<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/02/b43509300/strategy-announces-fourth-quarter-2024-financial-results-holds-471-107-btc"> details from the quarter</a>.



Q4 Earnings: Strategy reported fourth-quarter revenue of $120.7 million, missing analyst <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings">estimates</a> of $123.25 million, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>. The Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) treasury company reported a fourth-quarter adjusted loss of $3.20 per share.



Total revenue was down 3% year-over-year. Subscription services revenue came in at $31.9 million, up 48.4% year-over-year. Product licenses and subscription services revenue was up 18.3% year-over-year. Product support revenues fell 10.8% and other services revenue declined 20.8%.



Strategy ended the quarter with $38.1 million in cash and cash equivalents. 



&#8220;Earlier today, we announced that we are now Strategy, a new name that powerfully and succinctly conveys the universal and global appeal of our company. Strategy is at the cutting edge of innovation, championing the two most transformative technologies of the 21st century: Bitcoin and AI,&#8221; said&nbsp;Phong Le, president and CEO of Strategy.



&#8220;We have completed&nbsp;$20 billion&nbsp;of our&nbsp;$42 billion&nbsp;capital plan, significantly ahead of our initial timelines, while leading the digital transformation of capital in the financial markets. Looking ahead to the rest of 2025, we are well-positioned to further enhance shareholder value by leveraging the strong support from institutional and retail investors for our strategic plan.&#8221;



Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43506411/microstrategy-rebrands-as-strategy-unveils-new-logo-and-bitcoin-focused-identity">MicroStrategy Rebrands As Strategy, Unveils New Logo And Bitcoin-Focused Identity</a>



Bitcoin Holdings: Strategy said it acquired 218,887 Bitcoin in the fourth quarter for $20.5 billion. As of Dec. 31, the company held a total of 447,470 Bitcoin. Total Bitcoin holdings were up to 471,107 as of Wednesday. 



Strategy said its Bitcoin yield in full year 2024 was 74.3%. The company revised its annual Bitcoin yield target to a minimum of 15% for 2025. Strategy also introduced a &#8220;BTC $ Gain&#8221; metric and said its targeting $10 billion in 2025.



&#8220;2025 will take our evolution further with the introduction of the BTC $ Gain KPI and when we adopt fair value accounting for our Bitcoin holdings with our Q1 results, transforming our financial results and bringing more transparency to the value generation and profitability of our treasury operations,&#8221; said Andrew Kang, CFO of Strategy.



Strategy&#8217;s management team will further discuss the quarter on a call with investors and analysts at 5 p.m. ET.



MSTR Price Action: Strategy shares were up 0.20% after-hours, trading at $337.36 at the time of publication Wednesday, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43507033/pro-crypto-trump-administration-to-clear-path-for-banks-to-offer-crypto-services">Pro-Crypto Trump Administration To Clear Path For Banks To Offer Crypto Services</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock.

MSTR

Strategy Q4 Earnings: Bitcoin Treasury Company Spends $20.5B On BTC, Shares Inch Higher Despite Revenue Miss

The Trump administration on Wednesday dialed back elements of its controversial proposal to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43503385/trumps-gaza-plan-for-seaside-resort-faces-global-pushback">assume control over Gaza</a>, following immediate global backlash. 



Officials are now clarifying that President Donald Trump's suggestion to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43503385/trumps-gaza-plan-for-seaside-resort-faces-global-pushback">relocate Palestinians and redevelop Gaza</a> was not a commitment to deploying U.S. troops or spending American taxpayer dollars. The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/02/05/world/israel-gaza-netanyahu-trump">reports </a>that key figures within the administration are emphasizing a more limited role in the plan.



What Happened: After unveiling the proposal during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's White House visit, Trump's vision for a transformed Gaza ignited international opposition. The plan, which involved relocating up to two million Palestinians and redeveloping the area into a U.S.-controlled territory, was swiftly rejected by Middle Eastern leaders and global institutions, citing violations of international law. 



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/43506109/bill-ackman-sends-unitedhealth-stock-lower-with-deleted-tweet-heres-what-he-said">Bill Ackman Sends UnitedHealth Stock Lower With Deleted Tweet: Here&#8217;s What He Said</a>



Secretary of State Marco Rubio later stated that Trump was merely suggesting reconstruction efforts rather than permanent U.S. governance over Gaza, The Times reported.



Special envoy Steve Witkoff echoed this sentiment, assuring Republican senators that Trump had no intention of putting "troops on the ground" or allocating federal funds to the effort.



Saudi Arabia issued a statement before dawn, rejecting any forced displacement of Palestinians and reaffirming that diplomatic ties with Israel remain conditional on an independent Palestinian state. Egypt and Jordan also condemned any plans to remove Gaza's population, with Jordan's King Abdullah II reaffirming his opposition in a meeting with Palestinian leadership.



Why It Matters: Trump's Gaza remarks disrupted diplomatic efforts and injected uncertainty into U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Beyond the immediate regional implications, market observers linked the proposal to rising demand for safe-haven assets. 



Palestinians in Gaza expressed both outrage and uncertainty, with some rejecting forced relocation outright and others citing the dire conditions caused by prolonged conflict as a reason to consider leaving. Hamas outright rejected the proposal, warning that any forced relocation would escalate tensions in a region, according to the NY Times.



Meanwhile, Gold prices <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43485292/gold-outshines-bitcoin-as-trumps-gaza-plan-us-china-tensions-fuel-rally-peter-schiff-calls">soared to a record $2,849.05 per ounce</a> as investors responded to geopolitical instability and renewed U.S.-China tensions. Economist Peter Schiff framed the surge as a contrarian signal, arguing that broader retail interest in gold is yet to come.



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43502963/oil-drops-as-traders-doubt-iran-sanctions-trump-bark-is-far-worse-than-his-bite-analyst-says">Oil Drops As Traders Doubt Iran Sanctions: &#8216;Trump Bark Is Far Worse Than His Bite,&#8217; Analyst Says</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Shutterstock.com

Global

Trump Administration Softens Gaza Takeover Proposal As Middle East Allies Reject Plan

Gold's momentum shows no signs of slowing. The bullion – as tracked by the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) – continued its record-breaking run, closing at $2,860 per ounce on Wednesday, hitting the fifth straight winning session as central banks and investors pour into the metal, seeking safety amid escalating geopolitical <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">tensions and economic uncertainty</a>.



In a report shared Wednesday, the World Gold Council highlighted that total gold demand, including over-the-counter investment, rose 1% year-over-year in the fourth quarter, setting a new record of 4,974 tons for 2024. 



Central banks have been leading the charge, purchasing over 1,000 tons of gold for the third consecutive year, with buying accelerating sharply in the fourth quarter to 333 tons.



&#8220;Central banks and investors drive market strength.Demand in value terms reached previously unseen levels,&#8221; the World Gold Council wrote. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why Are Central Banks Rushing To Buy Gold?</h3>



The surge in central bank gold purchases signals a strategic shift in global finance, with institutions seeking to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar amid heightened geopolitical risks. 



The latest tensions between the U.S. and China, fueled by Donald Trump's proposed 10% import tariffs and China's retaliatory restrictions on U.S. energy imports, have only reinforced gold's status as a hedge.



Further compounding concerns, President Trump suggested the possibility of sending U.S. forces to the Gaza Strip, adding another layer of uncertainty that has investors flocking to the yellow metal.



&#8220;We believe this gold price action reflects a significant shift in the dynamics of the gold markets over the past two years,&#8221; said Imaru Casanova, portfolio manager at VanEck. &#8220;Central banks worldwide have emerged as a major driver of gold demand and gold prices, buying record amounts of gold bullion since 2022.&#8221;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Miners Play Catch Up, Still Undervalued Despite Gold&#8217;s Rally</h3>



Despite bullion's remarkable ascent, some of the world's largest gold miners have underperformed significantly.



John Ciampaglia, CEO of Sprott Asset Management, said, &#8220;Some of the bellwethers, the largest gold miners in the world, struggled last year. Newmont Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEM#NYSE">NEM</a>) and Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOLD#NYSE">GOLD</a>) underperformed gold quite significantly. I think that isn&#8217;t very clear for a lot of investors because the reason that you invest in gold stocks is for their operating leverage.&#8221;



Yet, miners have recently started catching up. The VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDX#NYSE">GDX</a>) rallied 2.2% on Wednesday, marking its highest level since late October and extending its winning streak to six weeks &#8211; the longest since July 2020. Year-to-date, gold mining stocks have outperformed all other industries, surging 18.9%.



Top-performing gold miners within the GDX ETF on Wednesday included: 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><thead><tr><th>Company</th><th>1-day %chg</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSRM#NASDAQ">SSRM</a>)</td><td>11.03</td></tr><tr><td>Calibre Mining Corp. NASDAQ: СХВ)</td><td>6.08</td></tr><tr><td>Zhaojin Mining Industry Company Limited</td><td>6.07</td></tr><tr><td>Aris Mining Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARMN#NASDAQ">ARMN</a>)</td><td>4.42</td></tr><tr><td>Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGI#NYSE">AGI</a>)</td><td>3.68</td></tr><tr><td>Newmont Corporation</td><td>3.65</td></tr><tr><td>Westgold Resources Limited</td><td>3.42</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



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</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Macro Economic Events

Sector ETFs

ARMN

GOLD

SSRM

Gold Extends Records As Central Banks Rush To Buy Bullion, Miners Eye Sixth Straight Winning Week

Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) reported first-quarter financial results, which included several company records, after the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">tmarket close Wednesday.</a>



Here are the key highlights.



What Happened: Qualcomm reported record first-quarter revenue of $11.7 billion, up 17 % year-over-year. The revenue total beat a Street consensus estimate of $10.93 billion, according to data<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020525&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> from Benzinga Pro.</a>



The company reported first-quarter earnings per share of $3.41, a non-GAAP company quarterly record. The earnings per share beat a Street consensus estimate of $2.96.



Qualcomm&#8217;s revenue for the QCT segment was a record $10.1 billion, up 20% year-over-year. The segment revenue breaks down as follows:



<ul>
<li>Handsets: $7.57 billion, +13% year-over-year</li>



<li>Automotive: $961 million, +61% year-over-year</li>



<li>IoT: $1.55 billion, +36% year-over-year</li>
</ul>



This marked the sixth consecutive quarter of record revenue for the QCT automotive segment. The QCT handsets segment also had record quarterly revenue. 



QTL segment revenue was $1.5 billion, up 5% year-over-year.



"We are very pleased to have achieved quarterly revenue records, which reflect the strength of our technology, product roadmap and end-customer demand," Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon said. 



The company bought back $1.8 billion in stock in the first quarter. &nbsp; Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/11/41786182/qualcomm-q4-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-new-15-billion-share-buyback-announced">Qualcomm Q4 Earnings Highlights: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, New $15 Billion Share Buyback Announced</a>



What's Next: Qualcomm guidance calls for second-quarter revenue to be in a range of $10.3 billion to $11.2 billion.



Revenue guidance breaks down as QCT $8.9 billion to $9.5 billion and QTL $1.25 billion to $1.45 billion.



Analysts are guiding for second-quarter revenue of $10.34 billion, according to data from Benzinga Pro.



The company is guiding for second-quarter earnings per share in a range of $2.70 to $2.90, versus a Street consensus estimate of $2.69.



"We are delivering growth across our diversification initiatives and remain committed to executing on our fiscal 2029 targets to achieve $22 billion of non-handset revenue," Amon said.



QCOM Price Action: Qualcomm stock was trading 1.64% higher at $175.88 ahead of the close Wednesday versus a 52-week trading range of $142.43 to $230.63. Qualcomm stock is up around 21% over the past year.



Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43095865/qualcomms-china-tailwind-analyst-sees-positives-that-overwhelm-apple-concerns">Qualcomm&#8217;s China Tailwind: Analyst Sees Positives That &#8216;Overwhelm&#8217; Apple Concerns</a></li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="&#x1f534; WATCH LIVE: Qualcomm Q1 2025 Earnings Call &#x7C; $QCOM" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wOF8EMiIp1k?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Photo via Shutterstock.

Qualcomm Q1 Earnings Highlights: Record Revenue, EPS Beat Estimates, 'Growth Across Our Diversification Initiatives'

Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman sent shares of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) lower with a tweet alleging overstated profits, which comes as the health insurance company faces more scrutiny after the death <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43195956/unitedhealth-announces-replacement-for-murdered-executive-heres-who-will-lead-insurance-unit">of an executive.</a>



What Happened: The health insurance sector faces pressure after the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/12/42316904/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-fatally-shot-outside-nyc-hotel"> killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO</a> Brian Thompson put a bigger spotlight on potentially high claim denial rates, with the alleged murderer accusing the company of prioritizing profits over people.



Ackman stirred further concerns for UnitedHealth Group with a tweet on Tuesday night.



"I would not be surprised to find that the company's profitability is massively overstated due to its denial of medically necessary procedures and patient care," Ackman said in the since-deleted tweet.



Ackman suggested he would short the stock if he still shorted stocks.



The hedge funder called on the SEC to investigate UnitedHealth Group.



Now, Ackman himself could face an SEC probe. The insurance company said they contacted the SEC with concerns about Ackman's post, as reported by <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-05/unitedhealth-raised-concerns-with-sec-on-ackman-post-on-profits?srnd=homepage-americas&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">Bloomberg</a>.



"Health insurance has long been subject to significant regulatory oversight and earnings caps," UnitedHealth said in a statement.



The company said that people like Ackman claiming that insurance companies "can somehow over-earn are grossly misinformed."



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/08/40423891/buffett-musk-wood-cuban-or-ackman-who-do-investors-trust-most-with-life-savings-poll-shows-it-isnt-e">Buffett, Musk, Wood, Cuban Or Ackman: Who Do Investors Trust Most With Life Savings? Poll Shows It Isn&#8217;t Even Close</a>



Why It's Important: Ackman's assertion that profitability was "massively overstated" follows the company&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43025159/unitedhealth-q4-earnings-revenue-falls-short-medical-ratio-rises-to-85-5-stock-falls">Jan. 16 earnings report.</a>



The company has faced many questions about its profitability and its claims approval and denial process as alleged killer Luigi Mangione allegedly targeted Thompson and UnitedHealth due to the company's position in the health insurance sector.



UnitedHealthcare is the largest individual player in Medicare Advantage with 7.8 million members, the company&#8217;s latest earnings report revealed. The company also has 4.3 million members enrolled in Medicare supplement plans through UnitedHealthcare. It also has 3 million people enrolled in standalone Part D coverage.



Thompson&#8217;s death and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42605759/luigi-mangione-faces-death-penalty-details-show-attack-planned-for-months-the-target-is-insuranceit-checks-every-box" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the possible motive&nbsp;</a>behind his killing have drawn scrutiny to the health insurance sector, including reports of high claim denial rates by companies like UnitedHealth Group.



UnitedHealth CEO&nbsp;Andrew Witty&nbsp;acknowledged the pressure on the health insurance sector during the company&#8217;s earnings call. The industry needs to be &#8220;less confusing, less complex and less costly&#8221; for patients, he said.



Mangione faces New York state charges along&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/12/42541669/luigi-mangione-indicted-on-first-degree-murder-charges-in-unitedhealthcare-ceos-death-senseless-act-of-violence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">with federal charges</a>. He also faces the potential of the death penalty if found guilty of first-degree murder on federal charges.



Mangione&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42655562/luigi-mangione-suspected-ceo-assassin-pleads-not-guilty-in-new-york-court" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pleaded not guilty</a>&nbsp;in New York on Dec. 23. He is expected to appear in federal court on Feb. 21.



UNH, DIA Price Action:&nbsp;UnitedHealth stock is down 1.6% to $536.70 on Wednesday. Shares hit a daily low of $521.91 before recovering slightly. The stock has traded between $436.38 and $630.73 over the past year.



The quick drop in UnitedHealth stock to open Wednesday's trading session also saw ETFs that track the Dow Jones Industrial Average like the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) fall.



The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial ETF fell to start the day before recovering. The ETF is now up 0.3% on the day at the time of writing.



UnitedHealth is the second largest holding in the Dow Jones ETF and the second largest weighting of the index, which weighs stocks by stock price and not market capitalization.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/12/42544499/luigi-mangione-documentaries-in-the-works-from-award-winning-creators-and-possibly-rapper-50-cent" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Luigi Mangione Documentaries In The Works From Award-Winning Creators — And Possibly Rapper 50 Cent</a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Insurance

Bill Ackman Sends UnitedHealth Stock Lower With Deleted Tweet: Here's What He Said

MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) has officially rebranded as Strategy, reflecting its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43276613/jim-cramer-endorses-bitcoin-as-a-great-thing-but-guess-what-he-had-to-say-about-microstrategy">sharpened focus on Bitcoin</a> (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and artificial intelligence. 



The company's new logo features a stylized "B", symbolizing its position as the largest Bitcoin Treasury Company.



It has also adopted orange as its primary brand color, aligning with Bitcoin's identity while representing energy and intelligence.



What Happened: As part of the transition, Strategy has launched new websites for its AI-powered business intelligence software at StrategySoftware.com and a new merchandise store at store.strategy.com.



Michael Saylor, founder and executive chairman of Strategy, described the change as a move toward simplification and clarity.



"Strategy is one of the most powerful and positive words in the human language. It represents a simplification of our company name to its most important, strategic core," he said.



Phong Le, President and CEO of Strategy, emphasized the company's role in two of the most transformative technologies today. 



"Our new name powerfully and simply conveys the universal and global appeal of our company, and the value we bring to the strategies of our shareholders, customers, partners, and employees," Le said.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43504042/blackrock-to-launch-bitcoin-investment-product-in-europe">BlackRock To Launch Bitcoin Investment Product In Europe</a>



Why It Matters: The rebrand comes as the company continues to expand its Bitcoin acquisition strategy.



Strategy recently announced a $563.4 million preferred stock offering, pricing 7.3 million shares of 8.00% Series A Perpetual Strike Preferred Stock at $80 per share, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43399688/microstrategy-prices-preferred-stock-offering-at-80-per-share-seeks-563m-to-buy-bitcoin#google_vignette'">settlement expected on Feb. 5</a>.



The company plans to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, including further Bitcoin purchases and working capital.



Strategy's Bitcoin holdings have now grown to 471,107 BTC, following its latest acquisition of 10,107 Bitcoin at an average <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43231667/microstrategys-bitcoin-buying-spree-continues-accumulates-over-10000-btc">cost of $105,596 per BTC. </a>



This marks the company's twelfth consecutive week of Bitcoin accumulation, adjusting its total cost basis to $64,511 per Bitcoin.



The firm's aggressive approach has drawn both praise and skepticism. Mizuho recently initiated coverage on the company with an ‘outperform' rating and a $515 price target, calling Strategy a "Lever for the Believer" in Bitcoin. 



However, concerns remain about the sustainability of its premium valuation relative to its underlying Bitcoin holdings.



In a move that could enable further Bitcoin acquisitions, Strategy's shareholders recently approved an increase in authorized stock, giving the company greater <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43201211/microstrategy-to-redeem-105b-in-convertible-notes-settles-conversions-with-shares">flexibility in its capital structure.</a>



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43500853/is-the-sec-making-peace-with-crypto-the-key-personnel-shifts-hinting-at-why-this-may-be-the-case">Is The SEC &#8216;Making Peace&#8217; With Crypto? The Key Personnel Shifts Hinting At Why This May Be The Case</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

MicroStrategy Rebrands As Strategy, Unveils New Logo And Bitcoin-Focused Identity

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