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SoundHound AI anuncia una oferta mixta de 500 millones de dólares, incluidas ventas de hasta 250 millones de dólares.

SoundHound AI (SOUN) presenta oferta mixta de $500M y sus acciones caen

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Jim Cramer llama a SoundHound AI una acción meme, su opinión sobre Lam Research y su favorita de energía, Enterprise Products Partners.

SoundHound AI y las recomendaciones de Cramer: ¿Inversión inteligente o especulación?

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El comentarista de mercado advierte sobre riesgos en acciones de IA y computación cuántica tras caídas masivas de hasta 45%.

Jim Cramer advierte sobre burbuja en IA y cuántica: ¿Momento de vender acciones?

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Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk, the world's richest person with a net worth of $412 billion, is at the center of criticism amid a potential conflict of interest as he takes on the role of head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
What Happened: DOGE was introduced by Donald Trump, with Musk leading the department alongside other big names from the tech industry such as Marc Andreessen, the co-founder of Netscape, and Travis Kalanick, the co-founder of Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) among others.
With DOGE, Musk aims to reduce $2 trillion in federal spending by 2026, which is aimed at reducing the federal deficit.
So far, DOGE has announced several measures, including shutting down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has drawn sharp criticism from the Democrats, who have termed the move as "illegal".
Musk's aides appointed to oversee the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) have reportedly<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43417749/elon-musks-aides-block-government-workers-from-federal-data-systems-report"> restricted</a> access of career civil servants to computer systems containing the personal data of millions of federal employees.
While critics have said Musk stands to gain from DOGE, data has thrown up a surprising twist.
Here Are The World's Top Five Billionaires
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Name</td>
<td>Total net worth</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Elon Musk</td>
<td>$412 billion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jeff Bezos</td>
<td>$257 billion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Zuckerberg</td>
<td>$251 billion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Larry Ellison</td>
<td>$197 billion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bernard Arnault</td>
<td>$193 billion</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Musk leads the list of world's billionaires, with a net worth of $412 billion on Feb. 6 as per the Bloomberg Billionaire Index.
Here's What The Data Shows: Here are the top gainers among the world's richest in the first three weeks of the Trump administration.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Name</td>
<td>Net Worth on Jan. 18</td>
<td>Net Worth on Feb. 6</td>
<td>Change</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Zuckerberg</td>
<td>$217 billion</td>
<td>$251 billion</td>
<td>$34 billion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jeff Bezos</td>
<td>$245 billion</td>
<td>$257 billion</td>
<td>$12 billion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Thomas Peterffy</td>
<td>$57.1 billion</td>
<td>$68.1 billion</td>
<td>$11 billion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jim Walton</td>
<td>$114 billion</td>
<td>$125 billion</td>
<td>$11 billion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alice Walton</td>
<td>$111 billion</td>
<td>$122 billion</td>
<td>$11 billion</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
On the other hand, Musk's net worth has decreased from $449 billion on Jan. 18 to $412 billion on Feb. 6, a decline of $37 billion, marking the highest decline in net worth among the world's richest.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43554574/apple-faces-mounting-pressure-from-uk-government-to-grant-spying-access-to-encrypted-data-of-users-worldwide">Apple Faces Mounting Pressure From UK Government To Grant Spying Access To Encrypted Data Of Users Worldwide</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Politics

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UBER

While Elon Musk Has Been At The Center Of Trump's Presidency In The First Three Weeks, Data Shows His Rivals Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg And Others Benefited More Since The Inauguration: Here's More

Bill Gates earlier this week disclosed that the late Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) co-founder Steve Jobs once suggested that he should have experimented with hallucinogenic drugs to make Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) products more appealing.
What Happened: Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, shared this anecdote in an interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/money/property-price-slow-drop-fall-affordable-b2010005.html">The Independent</a>. Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), was known for his innovative product designs, which he partially attributed to his use of LSD.
"Steve Jobs once said that&nbsp;he wished I'd take acid&nbsp;because then maybe I would&nbsp;have had more taste in&nbsp;my design of my products."&nbsp;
Gates, who is currently worth $164 billion, said he tried recreational drugs in his younger years, including marijuana, but ceased when he began working on Microsoft with co-founder Paul Allen.
He clarified, "Another thing about my personality is that I like my mind to work and be very logical. So I stopped … because it made my mind sloppy, either during or the day afterwards."
He also acknowledged Jobs&#8217; talents in design and marketing, admitting that they were not his strong suits.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43569802/wall-street-drops-on-tariffs-threat-dollar-rises-uber-rockets-on-ackmans-tweet-whats-driving-markets-friday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wall Street Drops On Tariffs Threat, Dollar Rises, Uber Rockets On Ackman's Tweet: What's Driving Markets Friday?</a>
Gates responded to Jobs&#8217; suggestion with a light-hearted remark,&nbsp;"Look, I got the wrong&nbsp;batch. I&nbsp;got the coding batch, and&nbsp;this guy got the marketing-design&nbsp;batch, so good for him.&#8221;
&nbsp;"I envy those skills. I'm&nbsp;not in his league."&nbsp;
Jobs, who passed away in 2011, had publicly expressed his belief that Gates would have been a more well-rounded individual had he experimented with drugs or gone to a religious retreat, or ashram, in his youth.
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>.
Why It Matters: This revelation adds a new dimension to the relationship between two of the most influential figures in the tech industry. Despite their differences, Gates and Jobs had a complex relationship, as evidenced by Gates&#8217; recent disclosure.
Jobs&#8217; suggestion to Gates is particularly interesting given their history.
In 1997, Gates <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/10/41340693/bill-gates-saved-rival-apple-from-bankruptcy-by-investing-150-million-steve-jobs-thanked-him-pub">invested $150 million in Apple</a> when the company was on the brink of bankruptcy, a move that saved the company and was publicly acknowledged by Jobs.
Gates also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/10/41457050/bill-gates-once-said-he-was-so-jealous-of-apples-steve-jobs-and-labeled-him-a-genius-and-wizard-no-o">expressed his admiration for Jobs</a> in a 2020 interview, highlighting Jobs&#8217; natural charisma and ability to motivate people.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43482587/elon-musk-appointed-as-special-government-employee-amid-doge-department-push-cant-do-anyth" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Appointed As ‘Special Government Employee&#8217; Amid DOGE Department Push: ‘Can&#8217;t Do Anything Without Our Approval,&#8217; Says Trump</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photos courtesy: Shutterstock and Apple

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Bill Gates Says Steve Jobs Once Told Him, I Wish You'd 'Take Acid' That Would Enhance Microsoft's Product Design More: 'I Envy Those Skills. I'm Not In His League'

On Friday, Cathie Wood's Ark Invest made significant trades involving a number of prominent companies such as&nbsp;Amazon.com Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>),&nbsp;Robinhood Markets Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>),&nbsp;Palantir Technologies Inc&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>), and&nbsp;Roblox Corp&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RBLX#NYSE">RBLX</a>), among others.
The AMZN Trade
Ark Invest, across its ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKF#NYSE">ARKF</a>), ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>), ARK Autonomous Technology &amp; Robotics ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKQ#BATS">ARKQ</a>), ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#NYSE">ARKW</a>), and ARK Space Exploration &amp; Innovation ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKX#BATS">ARKX</a>) funds, purchased shares of&nbsp;Amazon.com Inc. The total number of shares bought across all ETFs was 72,457.
Given Amazon&#8217;s closing price of $229.15 on the day of the trade, the total value of purchases stands at $16.6 million.
The Roblox Trade
Ark Invest bought a cumulative 48,541 shares of Roblox across its ARKF, ARKK, and ARKW funds. The value of the trade stands at $3.21 million, based on Friday's closing price of Roblox stock of $66.28.
The Illumina Trade
Ark Invest bought a cumulative 107,459 shares of Illumina across its ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKG#BATS">ARKG</a>) and ARKK funds. The value of the trade stands at $11.93 million, based on Friday's closing price of Illumina stock of $111.06.
The PLTR Trade
Ark Invest sold 8,150 shares of Palantir from its ARKF fund. The value of the trade stands at $903,428, based on Friday's closing price of Palantir stock of $110.85. The Alex Karp-led company reached an all-time high of $116 on Thursday. 
Other Key Trades
<ul>
<li>Accolade Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACCD#NASDAQ">ACCD</a>): 401,962 shares sold through ARKG fund.</li>
<li>Twist Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TWST#NASDAQ">TWST</a>): 44,562 shares bought through <a>ARKG and ARKK funds.</a></li>
<li>10X Genomics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXG#NASDAQ">TXG</a>): 185,249 shares bought through ARKG and ARKK funds.</li>
<li>PagerDuty Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PD#NYSE">PD</a>): 85,420 shares bought through ARKK and ARKW funds.</li>
<li>Cloudflare Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NET#NYSE">NET</a>): 18,319 shares sold through ARKW fund.</li>
<li>UiPath Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PATH#NYSE">PATH</a>): 996,441 shares sold through ARKK and ARKW funds.</li>
<li>Robindhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>): 113,777 shares sold through ARKF, ARKK, and ARKW funds.</li>
<li>Rocket Lab USA Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKLB#NASDAQ">RKLB</a>): 70,252 shares sold through ARKQ and ARKX funds.</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43577591/legendary-short-seller-jim-chanos-warns-of-market-speculation-reaching-historic-extremes-wall-street-has-a-printi">Legendary Short Seller Jim Chanos Warns Of Market Speculation Reaching Historic Extremes: ‘Wall Street Has A Printing Press Too'</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Ark Invest

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TWST

Cathie Wood's Ark Invest Bets Big On Amazon, Roblox And Illumina While Trimming Palantir Stake After Alex Karp-Led Company Touched An All-Time High On Thursday

The&nbsp;Trump administration&nbsp;has decided to delay the suspension of the&nbsp;de minimis provision, which allows&nbsp;duty-free entry for packages valued under $800.
What Happened: The delay will remain in place until the Commerce Department can establish systems to efficiently process and collect tariff revenues,&nbsp;according to a new executive&nbsp;action announced on Friday.
This decision affects both Chinese e-commerce platforms like Shein, Temu, and Aliexpress, and U.S. retailers such as&nbsp;Amazon.com Inc.,&nbsp;eBay Inc., and&nbsp;Etsy Inc., which ship goods from China.
The de minimis provision was part of a broader announcement by&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;regarding 10% tariffs on Chinese goods, a move that could significantly impact global trade dynamics.
Chinese e-commerce giants have leveraged this exemption to build their business models, allowing over a billion packages to enter the U.S. at low costs.
The executive order did not&nbsp;specify the duration of the delay, and Packard suggested it might be a strategic trade negotiation tactic.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43577591/legendary-short-seller-jim-chanos-warns-of-market-speculation-reaching-historic-extremes-wall-street-has-a-printi">Legendary Short Seller Jim Chanos Warns Of Market Speculation Reaching Historic Extremes: ‘Wall Street Has A Printing Press Too'</a>
Why It Matters: The delay of the de minimis suspension comes amid escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China.
On Feb. 2,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43423288/trumps-tariffs-are-here-heres-what-will-get-more-expensive-from-canada-china-and-mexico">Trump imposed tariffs</a>&nbsp;on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico, including a 10% duty on Chinese goods.
This move was met with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/02/43454424/china-strikes-back-new-tariffs-up-to-15-on-certain-us-imports-in-retaliation-for-trumps-10-levy-on-chinese-goods">retaliatory response</a> from China, which announced new tariffs on certain U.S. imports, effective Feb. 10.
Further intensifying the situation, Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43577207/trump-says-he-will-announce-reciprocal-tariffs-next-week-that-will-impact-everyone-escalating-trade-war-with-global-partners-the-only-fair-way-to-do-it">announced</a> plans to introduce reciprocal tariffs affecting all trading partners, signaling a potential escalation in the trade war.
The delay in suspending the de minimis rule could be a strategic move amid these ongoing trade negotiations.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/02/43577295/trump-praises-taylor-swifts-boyfriend-travis-kelce-ahead-of-super-bowl-appearance-after-kansas-city-chiefs-tight-end-says-it-would-be-a-great-honor-to-have-the-president-at-the-game">Trump Praises Taylor Swift&#8217;s Boyfriend Travis Kelce Ahead Of Super Bowl Appearance After Kansas City Chiefs Tight End Says It Would Be A &#8216;Great Honor&#8217; To Have The President At The Game</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Government

Trump Administration Delays Suspension Of Duty-Free Imports From China Under De Minimis Rule

Renowned short-seller&nbsp;Jim Chanos&nbsp;has raised alarms over current market trends, drawing parallels to the speculative extremes seen during the pandemic. His comments come amid a backdrop of rising concerns about market volatility and speculation.
What Happened: Chanos shared his insights <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-02-05/full-digital-jim-chanos-president-founder-chanos-company">with</a> Bloomberg, emphasizing the resurgence of speculative behavior.
He pointed to the proliferation of new meme coins, such as the recent launch of the Trump coin by President Donald Trump, as a clear indicator of speculative fervor.
"The speculation is there for me, not quite as where it was in 2021, which is the most speculative market I&#8217;ve seen. But it&#8217;s getting back there," Chanos said.
He warned that Wall Street might soon witness a surge in issuance similar to the pandemic era, emphasizing that "Wall Street has a printing&nbsp;press too, just like the&nbsp;Fed."
He also highlighted potential risks in the market, including the &#8220;political theater&#8221; in the U.S. and aspects of Trump&#8217;s economic agenda, such as tariffs and government job cuts.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43577575/bitcoin-could-surge-to-200000-by-year-end-says-marathon-digital-ceo-scarcity-us-plans-for-strategic-btc-reserve-c">Bitcoin Could Surge To $200,000 By Year-End, Says Marathon Digital CEO: Scarcity, US Plans For Strategic BTC Reserve Could Aid Growth</a>
Additionally, Chanos pointed to the risk posed by disruptive technology, citing&nbsp;DeepSeek, a Chinese startup that caused a $1 trillion stock rout in January with its AI model.
Chanos, known for his successful bets against companies like Enron, has consistently warned investors about high&nbsp;valuations and speculative market behavior.
He previously predicted a return to pandemic-era market frenzy, cautioning against FOMO-driven trading.
Why It Matters: The concerns raised by Chanos come amid a broader context of market unease.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43372687/robert-kiyosaki-rich-dad-poor-dad-warns-the-biggest-stock-market-crash-ever-is-coming-february-good-news-is-everything-goes-on-sale">Robert Kiyosaki</a>, author of "Rich Dad Poor Dad," recently warned of an impending stock market crash in February, dubbing it &#8220;the biggest stock market crash in history."
Kiyosaki has advised investors to prepare for opportunities that arise during market downturns.
Additionally, the U.S. federal debt, which has surged to nearly $36 trillion, is causing concern. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/42236424/1-in-5-dollars-the-government-expends-goes-to-repaying-investors-heres-why-this-spells-trouble-for-trump-and-doge">One in every five dollars</a> the government spends is used to repay investors, posing challenges for Trump&#8217;s economic ambitions.
The growing debt reflects joint fiscal actions by Congress and the president, impacting government functionality.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/02/43577295/trump-praises-taylor-swifts-boyfriend-travis-kelce-ahead-of-super-bowl-appearance-after-kansas-city-chiefs-tight-end-says-it-would-be-a-great-honor-to-have-the-president-at-the-game">Trump Praises Taylor Swift&#8217;s Boyfriend Travis Kelce Ahead Of Super Bowl Appearance After Kansas City Chiefs Tight End Says It Would Be A &#8216;Great Honor&#8217; To Have The President At The Game</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Legendary Short Seller Jim Chanos Warns Of Market Speculation Reaching Historic Extremes: 'Wall Street Has A Printing Press Too'

Bitcoin&#8217;s (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) price could see a significant increase by the end of the year, according to&nbsp;Fred Thiel, CEO of&nbsp;Marathon Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>). Thiel predicts that the cryptocurrency could more than double its current value this year.
What Happened: In an interview with CNBC, Thiel shared his optimistic outlook for Bitcoin.
"I think there's a general consensus that the price of Bitcoin will move up this year to somewhere between $150,000 to $200,000 by the end of this year," Thiel said.
He noted that substantial Bitcoin sales often attract buying interest, maintaining its price within the $95,000 to $100,000 range.
"I think there is still a big belief that Bitcoin will continue to go up in price. There's still a lot of demand for the asset by not just retail but also institutional investors," he added.
Thiel attributes this potential surge to a more favorable regulatory environment and increased adoption&nbsp;by both private and public&nbsp;sectors, and Bitcoin's scarcity could also play a role in helping the cryptocurrency's growth.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43577494/this-top-50-altcoin-is-set-for-a-massive-surge-after-significant-correction-predicts-trader">This Top-50 Altcoin Is Set For A Massive Surge After Significant Correction, Predicts Trader</a>
He mentioned that U.S. banks might soon be able to hold and lend against crypto, leading corporations to allocate a small percentage of their assets in Bitcoin.
Thiel also suggested the possibility of a U.S. Bitcoin Strategic Reserve, which could further boost demand.
Why It Matters: The prediction by Marathon Digital&#8217;s CEO comes amidst a backdrop of various market analyses and predictions regarding Bitcoin&#8217;s future.
According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43570466/bitcoin-to-hit-all-time-highs-in-february-under-one-condition-standard-chartered-says">report by Standard Chartered</a>, Bitcoin has the potential to reach a new all-time high above $108,000 in February, contingent on the absence of negative market catalysts.
The behavior of U.S. Treasury yields, particularly the 10-year yield, plays a crucial role in this outlook.
Furthermore,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43526328/bitcoin-could-see-a-20b-market-cap-boost-from-1-billion-btc-reserve-purchase-says-analyst-could-have-bigger-surges-this-year-if-central-banks-really-get-involved">Katalin Tischhauser</a>&nbsp;from Sygnum Bank highlighted that a strategic Bitcoin reserve purchase of $1 billion could potentially trigger a $20 billion surge in Bitcoin&#8217;s market cap.
This increase would result from direct capital inflows and a significant upward price surge, driven by the limited liquid supply of Bitcoin.
Moreover,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43505966/bitcoin-struggling-but-perfect-storm-will-take-it-to-500000-ethereum-to-20000-trader-predicts">crypto analyst Michaёl van de Poppe</a>&nbsp;has urged investors to hold onto their crypto assets, emphasizing that Bitcoin is fairly valued while altcoins remain undervalued.
<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="Crypto-friendly regulation in U.S. to drive up bitcoin prices in 2025, says Mara CEO" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hcEG9QHYhkM?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>
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $96,200, down 0.8% over the past 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43577295/trump-praises-taylor-swifts-boyfriend-travis-kelce-ahead-of-super-bowl-appearance-after-kansas-city-chiefs-tight-end-says-it-would-be-a-great-honor-to-have-the-president-at-the-game">Trump Praises Taylor Swift&#8217;s Boyfriend Travis Kelce Ahead Of Super Bowl Appearance After Kansas City Chiefs Tight End Says It Would Be A &#8216;Great Honor&#8217; To Have The President At The Game</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

MARA

Bitcoin Could Surge To $200,000 By Year-End, Says Marathon Digital CEO: Scarcity, US Plans For Strategic BTC Reserve Could Aid Growth

Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is reportedly set to initiate its anticipated company-wide layoffs next week. This move comes as the company is also expediting the hiring of machine learning engineers.
What Happened: Meta has notified employees about upcoming layoffs on Friday, according to an internal memo reviewed by Reuters.
According to the company, affected employees in most countries, including the U.S., will begin receiving notifications at 5 a.m. local time on Monday. However, due to local labor laws, staff in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands will not be impacted. 
Meanwhile, employees across more than a dozen countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa will be informed between Feb. 11 and Feb. 18, the report added.
Meta did not immediately respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga&#8217;s</a> request for comment.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43569802/wall-street-drops-on-tariffs-threat-dollar-rises-uber-rockets-on-ackmans-tweet-whats-driving-markets-friday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wall Street Drops On Tariffs Threat, Dollar Rises, Uber Rockets On Ackman's Tweet: What's Driving Markets Friday?</a>
In January, Meta confirmed plans to cut approximately 5% of its &#8220;lowest performers&#8221; while backfilling at least some of the positions. Meta's Head of People, Janelle Gale, described the layoffs as &#8220;performance terminations.&#8221; She also clarified that the cuts would not result in office closures or any further updates on the decisions.
Meta is also speeding up its hiring process for machine learning engineers and other &#8220;business-critical&#8221; engineering roles. According to a separate memo from Peng Fan, VP of Engineering for Monetization, this hiring push will take place between Feb. 11 and March 13.
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.
Why It Matters: The upcoming layoffs and the accelerated hiring of machine learning engineers come amid a series of strategic moves by Meta.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43551024/mark-zuckerberg-visits-white-house-for-advancing-american-tech-leadership-abroad-as-meta-ceo-continues-to-strengthen-ties-with-trump">visited the White House </a>to discuss collaboration with the Trump administration in advancing American tech leadership abroad. This was seen as a move to bolster Meta&#8217;s standing in the global tech landscape.
However, Meta&#8217;s AI position has been a subject of concern. The company&#8217;s AI models were deemed to be &#8220;clearly behind&#8221; those of <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">Chinese AI startup DeepSeek</a>.
"In terms of the tricks and methodology applied by DeepSeek, the leading labs such as OpenAI and Anthropic are fully aware of such methodologies and also employ these but such is not the case of Meta which is clearly behind," the note from Piper Sandler's analyst read.
Despite these challenges, Meta&#8217;s stock has been performing well, with a 52% surge over the past year, a 19% increase year-to-date, and a 15% rise in the last month. However, Zuckerberg has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/02/43527542/meta-stock-soars-but-zuckerbergs-cashing-in-should-investors-worry">selling millions in stock</a>.
Price Action: According to ratings from 43 analysts,<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com"> tracked by Benzinga</a>, Meta has a consensus price target of $724.86. The latest ratings, issued by UBS, Citigroup, and Oppenheimer on January 30, 2025, suggest a higher average price target of $788.67. This indicates a potential upside of 10.47% for Meta based on these most recent evaluations.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META/analyst-ratings"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/07232537/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-9.55.32%E2%80%AFAM-1024x383.png" alt="" class="wp-image-772897" /></a></figure>
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Social Media

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta To Begin Mass Layoffs Next Week, Speeds Up Hiring Of Machine Learning Engineers: Report

Amid a significant market correction, analyst and trader Michaël van de Poppe has expressed optimism about the NEAR Protocol (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/near/usd">NEAR</a>).
What Happened: Van de Poppe shared with his 772,700 followers on the social media platform X that NEAR is in an &#8220;ideal spot&#8221; after sweeping liquidity beneath the lows.
He anticipates the next target for NEAR to be between $15 and $20 in the coming three to six months. This would represent a 500% increase from its current price of $3.23.
"Pretty ideal spot for NEAR. It took all the liquidity beneath the lows and seems to have a strong weekly candle. If this is the liquidity sweep, then next target is $15-$20 in the next three-six months," he said.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Pretty ideal spot for <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24NEAR&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$NEAR</a>. It took all the liquidity beneath the lows and seems to have a strong weekly candle. If this is the liquidity sweep, then next target is $15-20 in the next 3-6 months. <a href="https://t.co/zpCYkf89Ev">pic.twitter.com/zpCYkf89Ev</a>
&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1887863888646906059?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Additionally, the analyst discussed Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), suggesting it may trade sideways until it surpasses its all-time high resistance level of approximately $108,000.
Bitcoin is currently priced at $96,212, reflecting a 0.8% decline over the past 24 hours.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Important day today with labor market data coming in. Might be pivotal if there&#39;s a big miss. Anyways, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> stuck in the range, the real inflection will occur once it breaks ATH. For now, just consolidation before the next leg up. <a href="https://t.co/KPZ3OJhq4D">pic.twitter.com/KPZ3OJhq4D</a>
&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1887815061990752472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43554574/apple-faces-mounting-pressure-from-uk-government-to-grant-spying-access-to-encrypted-data-of-users-worldwide">Apple Faces Mounting Pressure From UK Government To Grant Spying Access To Encrypted Data Of Users Worldwide</a>
Why It Matters: The prediction by van de Poppe comes at a time when the crypto market is experiencing extreme bearish sentiments. In a recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43505966/bitcoin-struggling-but-perfect-storm-will-take-it-to-500000-ethereum-to-20000-trader-predicts">analysis</a>, he urged investors to hold onto their crypto assets, emphasizing that Bitcoin is fairly valued while altcoins remain heavily undervalued.
This sentiment follows a prolonged period of capitulation, where many altcoin investors have faced significant losses over the past 6-12 months.
Furthermore, a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43073101/altcoins-flash-bullish-signal-amid-bitcoins-surge-says-research-firm">recent surge</a> in Bitcoin past the $100,000 mark has triggered bullish signals for altcoins, with increased whale transactions indicating potential upcoming investments in altcoins.
This aligns with van de Poppe&#8217;s earlier observations that both Bitcoin and Ethereum were nearing critical buying levels, suggesting a strategic opportunity for investors to &#8220;buy the dip&#8221; as the market recovers.
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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.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

$NEAR

NEAR

This Top-50 Altcoin Is Set For A Massive Surge After Significant Correction, Predicts Trader

Ford Motor Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) CEO Jim Farley said earlier this week that it is upon the company management to tackle Chinese EV models such as the Xiaomi SU7 in cost of manufacturing and product appeal. 
What Happened: &#8220;While the company needs to work with government partners to make it a level playing field as much as possible. But at the end of the day, it&#8217;s management&#8217;s responsibility to beat the SU7 straight up in a street fight,&#8221; Farley said about imposing tariffs on imports from China to protect domestic automakers.
&#8220;&#8230;what I learned after 40 years in this industry is the company has to stand on its own, toe-to-toe with the cost of those (Chinese) companies and the product appeal of those companies,&#8221; he said. 
Chinese EV players like BYD Co or Xiaomi do not sell EVs in the U.S. However, Chinese vehicle makers are expanding to be a major force in the industry, Farley noted. 
&#8220;Their operational fitness is incredible. Their supply chains are now expanding globally and they&#8217;re increasing their exports around the world,&#8221; he said.
President Trump imposed 10% on Chinese imports over the last weekend. 
Why It Matters: In October, Farley shared his reluctance to part with the SU7 which Ford flew for him from Shanghai to Chicago. He praised its performance and market success, noting, "They sell 10,000, 20,000 a month. They're sold out for six months." Xiaomi has sold over 150,000 SU7 EVs till date. 
For Ford&#8217;s EV segment called Model e, the company reported a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43522408/ford-slides-5-pre-market-after-disappointing-outlook-high-loss-from-ev-segment-in-2024">full-year EBIT loss of $5.08 billion</a> in 2024. The company expects $5 billion to $5.5 billion in losses in its EV segment this year, in line with the loss recorded last year.
Ford CEO&nbsp;Jim Farley&nbsp;also addressed the possible impact of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43524700/ford-ceo-jim-farley-says-trumps-proposed-tariffs-on-mexico-canada-will-be-manageable-in-near-term-but-will-have-huge-impact-if-protracted">increased tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada</a> on Wednesday in the earnings call. While a few weeks of tariffs will be manageable, prolonged 25% tariffs will have a huge impact on the auto industry and mean higher prices for customers, he said.
President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;announced tariffs of 25% on goods from Mexico and Canada last weekend, possibly impacting automakers including General Motors and Ford whose supply chains rely on these regions. Trump, however, delayed the imposition of the tariffs for a month after a discussion with the countries' leaders on Monday.
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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Image via photos on Shutterstock

Ford CEO Jim Farley Envisions Beating Chinese EVs In 'A Street Fight,' Wants A Level Playing Field: 'Their Operational Fitness Is Incredible'

President Donald Trump has publicly expressed his admiration for Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and boyfriend of pop star Taylor Swift, as the Super Bowl approaches.
What Happened: Kelce, who is set to play against the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans this Sunday, welcomed the idea of Trump attending the game, saying it would be &#8220;awesome&#8221; and a &#8220;great honor,&#8221;.
Kelce stated, &#8220;No matter who the president is, I know I&#8217;m excited because it&#8217;s the biggest game of my life.&#8221; He added that having the president present would be &#8220;pretty cool.&#8221;
This event marks the first time a sitting president will attend the Super Bowl. Trump announced on Truth Social that he plans to give an interview before the game and praised Kelce as the &#8220;absolute best tight end in football (Ever!).&#8221; The president also predicted a &#8220;great game.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43554574/apple-faces-mounting-pressure-from-uk-government-to-grant-spying-access-to-encrypted-data-of-users-worldwide">Apple Faces Mounting Pressure From UK Government To Grant Spying Access To Encrypted Data Of Users Worldwide</a>
The friendly exchange between Trump and Kelce comes despite Trump&#8217;s previous public disdain for Swift, who has been a consistent supporter of Kamala Harris. Swift is expected to attend the Super Bowl, potentially setting up an encounter with Trump.
Why It Matters: The interaction between Trump and Kelce is noteworthy given the backdrop of Trump&#8217;s past<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40870369/trumps-i-hate-taylor-swift-met-with-witty-response-from-harris-campaign-the-american-people-want-to"> public comments</a> about Taylor Swift.
In September, Trump expressed his dislike for Swift on Truth Social, stating, &#8220;I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!&#8221; This comment was met with a witty response from Kamala Harris' campaign, emphasizing the American people&#8217;s desire to move forward.
Moreover, Trump&#8217;s<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/12/42351922/trump-predicted-taylor-swift-sales-would-drop-target-data-shows-over-800k-sold"> prediction</a> that Swift would face marketplace repercussions for endorsing Harris did not materialize. Instead, Swift continued to achieve significant success, as evidenced by her record-breaking &#8220;Eras Tour&#8221; and the launch of her new &#8220;Eras Tour Book.&#8221;
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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.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Sports

Trump Praises Taylor Swift's Boyfriend Travis Kelce Ahead Of Super Bowl Appearance After Kansas City Chiefs Tight End Says It Would Be A 'Great Honor' To Have The President At The Game

President&nbsp;Donald Trump announced plans to introduce reciprocal tariffs, further intensifying the ongoing trade war with the United States&#8217; economic allies.
What Happened: Trump revealed his intentions to implement reciprocal tariffs during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister&nbsp;Shigeru Ishiba&nbsp;on Friday. The president did not specify the exact measures but indicated that they would impact &#8220;everyone.&#8221;
Trump stated, &#8220;I'll&nbsp;be announcing that next week&nbsp;— on reciprocal trade —&nbsp;so that we're treated evenly&nbsp;with other countries. We don't want any more or any&nbsp;less.&#8221;
He also suggested that these reciprocal tariffs could replace&nbsp;the 10-20% universal import duty, a key element of his economic platform during his campaign.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43574215/trumps-tax-plans-could-slash-revenue-by-11-trillion">Trump&#8217;s Tax Plans Could Slash Revenue By $11 Trillion, Push Debt To 149% Of GDP: Report Says White House Relies On &#8216;Fantasy Math&#8217;</a>
Trump&#8217;s administration has previously hinted at using tariffs to counter&nbsp;non-tariff trade barriers imposed by&nbsp;other nations. The president has argued that these measures are necessary to secure a &#8220;fair deal&#8221; for U.S. consumers.
&#8220;I think that&#8217;s&nbsp;the only fair way to&nbsp;do it. That way, nobody&#8217;s&nbsp;hurt. They charge us. We&nbsp;charge them. It&#8217;s the same thing.&#8221;
Trump also hinted at the possibility of tariffs targeting the automobile industry, stating, &#8220;That&#8217;s always on the table, it&#8217;s a very big deal. We have to equalize it.&#8221;
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Why It Matters: Trump has been a long-time advocate for reciprocal tariffs, vowing during his campaign to push for legislation that would enable him to impose the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/eurozone/25/01/43196247/trumps-push-for-cheap-oil-ai-dominance-widens-eu-us-policy-gap"> &#8220;same exact tariff&#8221; on any country</a> that levies a duty on a U.S.-made product.
The President&#8217;s call for reciprocal tariffs coincides with discussions about imposing a global tariff, targeting the European Union, and enacting sector-specific sanctions on industries like <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43420164/trump-may-enforce-new-tariffs-on-key-sectors-starting-saturday-chips-steel-among-potential-targets">steel, pharmaceuticals, and oil.</a> His advisors see these measures as strategic bargaining tools to address key issues, including illegal immigration, fentanyl smuggling, and trade imbalances.
This announcement comes on the heels of Trump&#8217;s decision to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43450261/trump-trudeau-strike-border-security-deal-tariffs-on-canada-paused-for-at-least-30-days">pause tariffs on Canada and Mexico</a>&nbsp;for at least 30 days, following new border security commitments to combat fentanyl trafficking and organized crime.
Meanwhile, the implementation of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43474797/amazon-faces-trumps-tariffs">new tariffs on China-made goods</a>&nbsp;has already begun to impact American shoppers and small businesses, with the elimination of the de minimis exemption leading to unexpected import duty notices from shipping firms. These developments are causing significant disruptions in the retail sector, with customers now being asked to pay additional duties and handling fees before receiving their packages.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Trump Says 'Reciprocal Tariffs' Hitting 'Everyone' Next Week, Escalating Global Trade War: '..The Only Fair Way To Do It'

Elon Musk&#8216;s rocket manufacturing company SpaceX is looking to land a Falcon 9 first stage off the coast of the Bahamas for the first time over the coming weeks.
What Happened: SpaceX is targeting Feb. 17 for a Falcon 9 launch of 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Florida. After separating from the second stage of the rocket, the first stage will land back on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of The Bahamas, the company said while warning that residents and visitors of the island may hear one or more sonic booms during the landing. 
&#8220;Our new landing collaboration with The Bahamas will enable Falcon 9 to launch to new orbital trajectories,&#8221; the launch provider said in a post on social media platform X. Delegates from the Bahamas visited SpaceX facilities in Florida on Friday. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Delegates from The Bahamas visited SpaceX facilities in Florida today ahead of launch on the 17th, carrying a Bahamian flag that Falcon 9 flew to and from space in March 2024 <a href="https://t.co/WwmPhgc35B">pic.twitter.com/WwmPhgc35B</a>
&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1887992502860529965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: The Bahamas executed a Letter of Agreement with SpaceX positioning itself as a destination for witnessing booster landings in February 2024. The first stage will land east of the Exumas, allowing residents and tourists to witness it from various Bahamian islands. 
SpaceX&#8217;s other landing zones are in Florida and California, making the Bahamas the first international location to host SpaceX <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/01/43119727/spacex-falcon-9-delivers-27-starlink-satellites-to-orbit-marks-400th-booster-landing">Falcon 9 rocket booster landings</a>.
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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</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

SPACE

Elon Musk's SpaceX To Land Falcon 9 First Stage Off The Coast Of The Bahamas Later This Month

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reportedly said on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump might be serious about annexing Canada. 
What Happened: Trump is keen to control Canada&#8217;s natural resources, Trudeau said in a closed-door session at an economic summit his office organized in Toronto with business leaders, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/canadas-trudeau-says-trump-might-be-serious-about-51st-state-92956d31?mod=mhp">reported</a>, citing sources. The business and labor leaders had gathered to discuss the next moves for the economy amid fears of a trade war with the U.S. 
Trump has talked about making Canada the U.S.&#8217; 51st state and using economic force to coerce the country to that end. Trudeau as well as other senior Canadian officials had previously played it down.
Trudeau on Friday also called for making the Canadian economy more resilient and said that the country needs a revised economic strategy to support growth as policymakers battle "more challenging long-term political situation with the United States," the report said.
Why It Matters: Trump, over the last weekend, said he would impose a 25% tariff on non-energy imports from Canada and a 10% tariff on energy imports. 
However, on Monday, Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43450261/trump-trudeau-strike-border-security-deal-tariffs-on-canada-paused-for-at-least-30-days">delayed the tariffs by 30 days </a>after the Canadian PM agreed to reinforce the country&#8217;s border with the U.S. with new choppers, technology, and personnel to stem the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/25/02/43476012/trumps-canada-tariffs-bffs-for-decades-what-went-wrong-can-it-really-be-about-fentanyl-unlikely">flow of fentanyl </a>and combat organized crime.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;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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</ul>

Justin Trudeau Says Trump Might Be Serious About Annexing Canada: Report

U.S. President Donald Trump is contemplating the approval of Nippon Steel&#8216;s (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NPSCY#OTC">NPSCY</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/02/43574248/trump-hints-at-rekindling-nippon-steels-14-billion-acquisition-of-united-steel-in-talks-with-japanese-pm-ishiba">$14.1 billion bid</a> for U.S. Steel Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/X#NYSE">X</a>) as an investment, rather than a purchase.
What Happened: Trump&#8217;s unexpected comments came amid Nippon Steel&#8217;s year-long pursuit of U.S. Steel, which has faced staunch opposition from the President himself. The remarks were made in the presence of&nbsp;Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the Oval Office. 
Nippon Steel &#8220;is going to be doing something very exciting about U.S. Steel,&#8221; the president said. 
&#8220;They&#8217;ll be looking at an investment rather than a purchase.&#8221;
"They've agreed to invest heavily in U.S. Steel, as opposed to own it."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43576456/elon-musks-120-hour-workweek-call-for-doge-team-not-only-outdated-but-unfounded-says-stanford-researcher">Elon Musk&#8217;s 120-Hour Workweek Call For DOGE Team &#8216;Not Only Outdated But Unfounded,&#8217; Says Stanford Researcher</a>
The details of the investment and any potential changes to the deal structure remain unclear. However, Trump has announced plans to meet with the head of Nippon Steel next week to &#8220;mediate and arbitrate.&#8221;
"It is not one sided. It will be reciprocal, it will be mutually beneficial," Ishiba said.
Comments from Trump came a&nbsp;day after his meeting with U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt at the White House. The deal has become a contentious issue, with both Biden and Trump having previously vowed to block it.
Why It Matters: Nippon Steel was locked in a legal dispute with the Biden administration last year over its stalled acquisition of U.S. Steel. In early January, CEO Eiji Hashimoto <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/42870745/nippon-steel-ceo-slams-tariffs-defends-15-billion-us-steel-merger-amid-national-security-concerns-we-never-think-that-industry-can-become-stronger-through-tariffs-alone">dismissed tariffs as an inadequate solution</a> for bolstering the U.S. steel industry. He defended the merger, asserting that it would strengthen national security by creating a more resilient and competitive company.
The lawsuit filed by Nippon Steel, last year, challenges the U.S. administration's decision, claiming it violated constitutional due process rights. The earlier opposition from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42994950/nippon-steel-eyes-trump-administration-to-revive-15b-us-steel-deal-blocked-by-biden-well-do-whatever-it-takes">Biden was reportedly aimed</a> at securing union support in Pennsylvania, a key state in the political landscape.
U.S. Steel stock closed nearly 6% lower on Friday after a turbulent trading session. Shares initially surged following <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/02/43574248/trump-hints-at-rekindling-nippon-steels-14-billion-acquisition-of-united-steel-in-talks-with-japanese-pm-ishiba">a CBS report</a> suggesting that Trump might approve the deal. However, the gains were erased after Trump reaffirmed his opposition to the acquisition in comments.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

NPSCY

Trump Hints At Alternative Structure For Nippon Steel's US Steel Deal: 'They've Agreed To Invest Heavily… As Opposed To Own It'

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) researcher Troy Teslike on Friday criticized the EV giant&#8217;s approach to vehicle autonomy, saying that the company is skipping a step to driverless vehicle operations.
What Happened: Teslike noted that it took Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s Waymo three years from Oct. 2017 to Oct. 2020 to address all edge cases and transition from unsupervised testing with a safety driver present but not actively controlling the vehicle to fully driverless operations.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">It took Waymo three years, from October 2017 to October 2020, to address all the edge cases and transition from unsupervised testing with a safety driver present but not actively controlling the vehicle to fully driverless operations. <a href="https://t.co/dxDlzC2NVC">https://t.co/dxDlzC2NVC</a> Elon seems to be…
&mdash; Troy Teslike (@TroyTeslike) <a href="https://twitter.com/TroyTeslike/status/1887975198084706422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Currently, FSD requires the driver to pay active attention and be ready to take over at any moment. According to Teslike, there must be one more step after but before driverless operations where the driver does not have to actively supervise the vehicle&#8217;s operations but can check emails and the car informs you in advance if it wants you to take over. 
&#8220;Before going driverless, the car is supposed to work without the driver watching the road all the time,&#8221; he said. 
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is, instead, planning to skip to driverless operations directly, Teslike said, while also terming it an &#8220;unrealistic plan.&#8221;
Why It Matters: During Tesla&#8217;s fourth-quarter earnings call in January, Musk said that the&nbsp;company will start testing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43326143/tesla-stock-rises-5-after-hours-on-fsd-and-new-vehicle-promises-despite-q4-revenue-miss">autonomous ride-hailing service in Texas</a> in June with vehicles deployed with FSD.&nbsp;
&#8220;Teslas will be in the wild with no one in them in June in Austin&#8230; It&#8217;s literally five, six months away, five months away kind of thing,&#8221; Musk said while adding that the company expects its driverless vehicles to operate in several cities by year-end.
Musk has previously said that Tesla&#8217;s robotaxi fleet will function like a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38396288/teslas-robotaxi-to-be-called-cybercab-elon-musk-says-self-driving-fleet-will-be-like-combination-of" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">combination of Airbnb and Uber</a>. While a certain portion of the fleet will be owned by Tesla, individual customers can also add or subtract their vehicles to the robotaxi fleet at will. As for riders, they can summon a car using the Tesla App, similar to Uber. 
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;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: Tesla

Tesla Researcher Says EV Giant Is Skipping A Step To Driverless Operations: 'It Took Waymo Three Years...'

President Donald Trump announced that he is revoking the security clearance of his predecessor, Joe Biden, effectively ending Biden&#8217;s access to classified information and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37573133/former-nsa-perplexed-over-reports-of-trump-receiving-intelligence-briefings-puts-whatever-he-is-told">daily intelligence briefings</a>.
What Happened: Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, stating that there is no longer a need for Biden to have access to classified information. &#8220;Therefore,&nbsp;we are immediately revoking Joe&nbsp;Biden&#8217;s&nbsp;Security Clearances and stopping his daily Intelligence Briefings,&#8221; Trump wrote.
Trump said Biden&#8217;s 2021 decision established a precedent for limiting a former president&#8217;s access to national security details after leaving office, calling it unfair. He also pointed to former special counsel Robert Hur's report, which did not charge Biden with a crime but depicted him as a forgetful commander-in-chief who mishandled highly sensitive classified information.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/02/43574248/trump-hints-at-rekindling-nippon-steels-14-billion-acquisition-of-united-steel-in-talks-with-japanese-pm-ishiba">Trump Hints At Rekindling Nippon Steel&#8217;s $14 Billion Acquisition Of United Steel In Talks With Japanese PM Ishiba</a>
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Why It Matters: Trump&#8217;s decision to halt Biden&#8217;s intelligence briefings comes four years after Biden took a similar step against Trump, citing his &#8220;erratic behavior&#8221; before and after the 2021 Jan. 6, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Biden's decision to bar Trump from intelligence briefings in 2021 marked the first time a former president was denied access to these updates, traditionally offered as both a courtesy and a resource for advising a sitting president. This move established a precedent that allowed Trump to do the same to his predecessor.
In January, before leaving the office, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/01/43084064/biden-makes-last-day-pardons-to-block-potential-trump-retribution">Biden issued preemptive pardons</a> to key figures, including Dr. Anthony Fauci and retired Gen. Mark Milley, ahead of Trump&#8217;s inauguration. This move was seen as a measure to protect public servants from potential threats and intimidation.
Meanwhile, on his first day in office,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/01/43106379/trump-reverses-bidens-ai-policies-on-day-1-what-it-means-for-tech-giants-nvidia-amd-alphabet">Trump revoked Biden&#8217;s comprehensive executive order</a>&nbsp;on artificial intelligence, which mandated developers of AI systems posing threats to national security or public safety to report the results of safety tests to the U.S. government. This was part of a broader action that reversed 78 Biden-era executive actions.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photos courtesy: Shutterstock

General

Trump Revokes Biden's Security Clearance, Ending Daily Intelligence Briefings: 'Joe, You're Fired'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly wants the country to supply the U.S. with rare earths and minerals in return for financial support in its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ukraine-russia-war">ongoing war against Russia.</a>
What Happened: According to Zelenskyy, less than 20% of Ukraine&#8217;s mineral resources are under Russian occupation. Moscow could open the resources to U.S. enemies North Korea and Iran, he said, while poring over a once-classified map of rare earths and other critical minerals, as per Reuters.
Ukraine is not proposing to give away its resources but instead offering a mutually beneficial partnership to develop them jointly, he told Reuters reporters. 
Ukraine and the U.S. White House are also discussing the idea of using Ukraine&#8217;s underground gas storage sites to store U.S. liquefied natural gas, he said. 
Why It Matters: In the interview with Reuters, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for security guarantees from its allies as part of any settlement, preventing Russia from launching another invasion in the future.
Trump administration is pushing for an end to the Ukraine-Russia war. 
Zelenskyy wants to meet Trump in person before the U.S. President meets <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43216865/putin-agrees-with-trump-ukraine-war-avoidable-if-trump-had-been-in-office">Russian President Vladimir Putin</a>.
According to the report, President Donald Trump said on Friday that he expected to talk to Zelenskyy next week. The Ukrainian President reportedly told the news agency that there are regular contacts between his team and Keith Kellogg, Trump&#8217;s special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, as well as with Trump&#8217;s national security adviser Michael Waltz.
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Photos courtesy: Shutterstock

Global

Ahead Of Talks With Trump Next Week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Offers Mineral Partnership With US In Return For Security: Report

EV giant Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) said on Friday that customers who purchase or lease a new Model X or Model S in the U.S. are eligible for free supercharging during their ownership of the vehicle, an offer aimed at increasing demand for the company&#8217;s expensive car offerings.
What Happened: The offer also applies to Model S and X purchases in Canada, Puerto Rico, Europe, and the Middle East, the company said in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Model S and X are Tesla&#8217;s pricier car offerings. While the Model S starts at $79,990 in the U.S., the Model X starts at $84,990. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Model S &amp; X come with free Supercharging Applies to orders in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico + Europe &amp; Middle East <a href="https://t.co/3PuA84aPbD">pic.twitter.com/3PuA84aPbD</a>
&mdash; Tesla (@Tesla) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tesla/status/1887885383691636860?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The new offer comes on the heels of data that the American EV giant sold <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43556649/tesla-drops-1-5-premarket-after-sales-of-china-made-evs-in-january-drop-11-5-yoy">63,238 China-made vehicles in January</a>, marking a dip of 11.5% from the corresponding month of 2024.
Furthermore, Tesla <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43183608/tesla-launches-refreshed-model-y-in-us-with-25-price-hike-full-self-driving-included">launched a refreshed version</a> of its bestselling Model Y SUV in January. Company CEO Elon Musk warned in January that the company will be retooling factories for the start of production of its new and refreshed Model Y in the first quarter and the change will result in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43328898/elon-musk-warns-teslas-new-model-y-will-result-in-several-weeks-of-lost-production-for-ev-giant-in-q1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">several weeks of lost production</a>. Deliveries of the facelifted vehicle are slated to start in March.
Why It Matters: Tesla reported global&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42766117/tesla-stock-tumbles-on-q4-deliveries-whats-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deliveries of 1.79 million</a>&nbsp;vehicles in 2024, down from full-year deliveries of 1.81 million in 2023, marking a fall in vehicle deliveries for the first time in over a decade.
While Tesla said in its 2024 earnings report that the company expects its vehicle business to &#8220;return to growth&#8221; in 2025, Musk did not reiterate the 20-30% delivery growth expectation that he put forth in October. 
However, the company said last month that it expects to start production of new models, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43375903/tesla-researcher-estimates-drop-in-ev-deliveries-for-2025-despite-promise-of-new-models">including more affordable ones</a>, in the first half of 2025, likely increasing its total addressable market. 
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

Tesla Launches Free Supercharging Offer On Model S, X In US To Battle Drop In Vehicle Deliveries

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Inc. and SpaceX, has been advocating for a 120-hour workweek for his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/doge">Department of Government Efficiency</a> (DOGE) team. However, a Stanford researcher has challenged this approach, citing its potential &#8220;negative health outcomes.&#8221;
What Happened: Musk has been promoting a grueling work schedule for his DOGE team, which is tasked with implementing cost-cutting measures across the federal government. This approach, however, has been criticized by Alison T. Wynn, a senior research scholar at the Stanford VMware Women's Leadership Innovation Lab in an <a href="https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/elon-musk-doge-office-120-hours-productivity-trap-rcna191270">opinion</a> post for MSNBC.
&#8220;There's just one problem: Musk and his team are wrong,&#8221; she said.
Wynn argued that the belief that long hours equate to increased productivity is &#8220;not only outdated but unfounded.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43569802/wall-street-drops-on-tariffs-threat-dollar-rises-uber-rockets-on-ackmans-tweet-whats-driving-markets-friday">Wall Street Drops On Tariffs Threat, Dollar Rises, Uber Rockets On Ackman&#8217;s Tweet: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Friday?</a>
&#8220;Instead, research clearly shows that working long hours doesn't make you a better employee. In fact, it can lead employees to struggle or even make catastrophic mistakes. This is concerning no matter what job you're doing, but it may be of special concern for the Musk team handling sensitive data systems that touch the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans.&#8221;
Wynn also highlighted the adverse effects of this work culture on employees&#8217; physical and emotional well-being. She referenced studies that showed increased stress and work-life conflict due to rising time demands, which&nbsp;can lead to high turnover, dissatisfaction, and negative health outcomes.
Contrary to the belief that long hours are necessary for productivity, Wynn cited a&nbsp;2024 study published in Nature,&nbsp;which found that employees working&nbsp;from home two days per&nbsp;week were&nbsp;just as productive as those&nbsp;working&nbsp;full-time in the office.&nbsp;
Why It Matters: Musk&#8217;s DOGE initiative has been a subject of intense scrutiny and debate. The project, which aims to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget by 2026, has been met with skepticism by some economists.
Former White House Council of Economic Advisers Chair Jason Furman <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43426165/elon-musks-daily-4-billion-doge-target-will-lead-to-30-cut-in-federal-spending-says-economist-jason-furman">pointed out potential discrepancies</a> in Musk&#8217;s claims regarding federal spending reductions and the proposed fiscal targets.
Despite the criticism, Musk&#8217;s initiative has also received support.&nbsp;Alex Karp, the CEO of&nbsp;Palantir Technologies Inc., has expressed enthusiasm for the DOGE initiative,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43487682/palantir-ceo-hails-elon-musks-doge-initiative-anticipates-positive-outcome">anticipating a positive outcome</a>&nbsp;for his company.
However, not everyone is on board with Musk&#8217;s approach.&nbsp;Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn and former COO of PayPal, has criticized Musk&#8217;s rapid cutting of government programs on behalf of his Department of Government Efficiency,&nbsp;stating that there&#8217;s a reason the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/02/43548753/reid-hoffman-rebuffs-elon-musks-doge-theres-a-reason-the-government-doesnt-work-like-companies">government doesn&#8217;t work like companies</a>.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Elon Musk's 120-Hour Workweek Call For DOGE Team 'Not Only Outdated But Unfounded,' Says Stanford Researcher

President Trump's push for tariffs with America's trading partners, only about a week old, is already having a big impact on the financial markets.
On February 1, President Trump said he was triggering the International Emergency Economic Powers Act due to "the extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl."
Until the crisis passes, President Trump slapped a 25% additional tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% additional tariff on imports from China. Energy resources from Canada will have a lower 10% tariff.
Some of those tariffs have been suspended after negotiations between the US and Mexico, though it's unclear how long that will last, as neither country agreed to anything they weren't already doing. In the meantime, the expanded tariff skirmishes are having a big effect on the US stock market.
But here are four market sectors that are virtually "tariff-proof."
According to<a href="https://www.jpmorgan.com/markets/etrading-trends?source=cib_de_tr_etrading980225"> JPMorgan Chase's 2025 E-Trading Insights</a>, most traders worldwide say that tariffs (and inflation) are the most significant market impactors in 2025.
"Tariffs aren't simply random taxes on imports—they're a political and monetary strategy," said James Francis, CEO at Paradigm Asset Management. "Right now, the Trump management is slapping price lists on Chinese items, elevating prices on the whole lot from metallic to semiconductors."
What does this suggest for the inventory marketplace? Volatility, for starters.&nbsp;
"When price lists pass up, corporations that depend on imports see their prices rise," Francis noted. "Some companies skip the prices directly to consumers, even as others take the hit of their earnings margins. Either way, it creates uncertainty, and buyers tend to get nervous."
[<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge/?utm_source=WebRD-0210&amp;el=ResearchDaily&amp;he={{email}}&amp;adt_ei={{email}}">The Simplest Way to Find Stocks With Actionable Setups</a>]
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Four "Immune" Sectors</h2>
On the upside, some industries have historically been immune to tariffs and trade wars. Here's a snapshot of three sectors that should be safe right now.
Select technology plays. &#8220;To avoid tariff turbulence, focus on industries that don&#8217;t import a lot of goods from abroad," said Rich Smith, a contributing analyst at The Motley Fool.
For example, the technology sector may be one walled-off sector.
"Software code can be created without the importation of significant quantities of widgets from abroad, and so should be insulated from tariffs risk," Smith notes. "Simultaneously, tech stocks could be at risk from retaliatory measures by countries responding to American tariffs. For example, China reportedly responds to US tariffs by investigating Alphabet over ostensible antimonopoly concerns."
Microsoft (MSFT) could be one sector stock that offers some tariff insurance. "Microsoft makes its cash from software programs, cloud computing, and company offerings," Francis said. "They don't depend as much on imported items, making the company surprisingly secure from change disruptions."
Utilities. Another relatively safe sector is utilities, particularly energy utilities that produce power from American-sourced oil and gas.
"Bargains might be easier to find here than in the red-hot tech sector," Smith added. "Investors might look at something like Dominion Energy (D), for example. At less than 21 times earnings, it&#8217;s cheaper than most S&amp;P stocks, and Dominion pays a strong 4.7% dividend yield. Wall Street analysts have the stock pegged for a 23% earnings growth next year, which implies the valuation might be cheap. And Dominion&#8217;s dividend yield is about three times the average yield on the S&amp;P to boot."
NextEra Energy (NEE) could be a safe play. "As a primary software issuer focusing on renewable energy, NextEra doesn't rely upon overseas imports," Francis said. "People will continually want electricity, making this a solid alternative no matter price lists."
Auto stocks. Select global auto markets may be safe, too. Automakers who don't manufacture in North America will see some upside. "That includes Chinese auto manufacturers who are increasingly exporting vehicles to other countries," said Tony Pelli, practice director at BSI Americas in London, UK.&nbsp;&nbsp;
One prison stock. Private prisons seem to be favored by the Trump administration, as they fit the "law and order" vibe from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and are cheaper to work with than public prisons.
"Right now, the best stock to invest in that appears to be immune to tariffs is GEO Group (GEO)," said Alejandro Zambrano, chief market strategist at the online trading services provider ThinkMarkets. "The private prison company draws most of its revenue from the USA, and Trump's deportation plans have not faced criticism internally or externally. It's also a play we have been bullish on since before the election."
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Keep Your Eyes on the Ball – and Not On Tariffs</h2>
No doubt, tariffs are shaking things up on Wall Street; however, that doesn't mean investors are helpless.
"By specializing in industries which are much less uncovered to tariff change wars—like technology, utilities, and healthcare—you may decrease hazard and preserve your portfolio steady," Francis noted.
Trade guidelines might also change, but that's okay, too. "Keep your eye on long-time period growth, diversify wisely, and don't permit short-time period headlines dictate your decisions," Francis advised.
Every market day, Benzinga Edge readers get a stock pick setting up for an interesting technical move. Today, you can get access to the stocks making new breakouts, breakdowns, and other tradeable setups, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge/?utm_source=WebRD-0210&amp;el=ResearchDaily&amp;he={{email}}&amp;adt_ei={{email}}">Right Here.</a>
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Press Releases

SoundHound's Conversational AI Agents Drive Nearly 20% Productivity Increase at Apivia Courtage Contact Centers

SoundHound AI To Participate in Investor Conferences in December

Torchy's Tacos Debuts SoundHound's Voice AI Phone Ordering Across All Locations

SoundHound AI Supports Church's Texas Chicken® to Power Voice AI Ordering at the Drive-Thru

SoundHound AI's Amelia Platform Recognized as Frost Radar™ Leader in Enterprise Conversational AI in Healthcare 2024

SoundHound AI and Lucid Motors Bring In-Vehicle Voice Assistant with Integrated Generative AI to Electric Vehicles

CES 2025: SoundHound AI Debuts Its First Ever In-Vehicle Voice Assistant With On-The-Go Food Ordering

Small Cap

How Growing Number of Industries are Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Create Lucrative Revenue Opportunities

Rekor Systems Taps SoundHound AI to Revolutionize Emergency Vehicle Technology With First Of Its Kind Audio-Visual AI

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