Investor and TV personality Kevin O'Leary, known as Mr. Wonderful, says the current tariff panic is overblown and that the real issue is a stalled negotiation between the U.S. and China. During a recent appearance on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZhBxfM_buU">Fox Business</a>, O'Leary described the situation as chaotic but fixable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mixed Messages and Missed Opportunities</h2>



&#8220;I think we have a negotiation going on that has been detailed ad nauseam. It's a little chaotic from the point of view that you don&#8217;t get a consistent message out of the administration,&#8221; O'Leary said. &#8220;That's got to get cleaned up, and that's self-inflicted. They can fix that.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I think we have a negotiation going on that&#39;s been detailed at nauseum. It's a little chaotic from the point of view that you don&#39;t get a consistent message out of the administration. We&#39;ve got to figure out where China sits in trying to come into the narrative. Right now I want… <a href="https://t.co/ARk6VwsCQf">pic.twitter.com/ARk6VwsCQf</a>&mdash; Kevin O&#39;Leary aka Mr. Wonderful (@kevinolearytv) <a href="https://twitter.com/kevinolearytv/status/1911831858343522776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



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The major sticking point? China. O&#8217;Leary emphasized the importance of understanding China&#8217;s position in the broader trade conversation, especially with tariffs being discussed at levels that would essentially freeze trade.



&#8220;Right now I want 400%, but that&#8217;s just bombastic. One hundred-plus percent wipes out all trade, and so there&#8217;s boats on the water waiting to bring in product,&#8221; he said.



He added that Chinese President Xi Jinping needs to respond to what he described as two olive branches offered by President Donald Trump over the weekend. &#8220;Xi at some point has to take the olive branch that&#8217;s been offered twice over the weekend by Trump and say, &#8216;Okay, let&#8217;s start talking,'&#8221; O'Leary said.



Trending: With shares starting at $1.52, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-a-10k-bet-on-health-care-originals-could-have-skyrocketed-your-portfolio">this could be your chance to invest in the future of healthcare</a>.



O&#8217;Leary also dismissed speculation that China could hit back by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/bonds/25/04/44805832/peter-schiff-counters-claims-china-wont-sell-us-treasuries-fearing-strong-currency-but-a-strong-yuan-might-suit-beijing">dumping U.S. Treasury bills</a>. &#8220;Everybody thinks, &#8216;Oh, he&#8217;s got the leverage of selling T-bills.&#8217; No, he doesn&#8217;t. He doesn&#8217;t have that leverage,&#8221; he said. &#8220;If you study FX, you know if he starts dumping T-bills, the dollar goes down, his currency goes up, and he&#8217;s virtually screwed.&#8221;



According to O'Leary, the U.S. has the upper hand. &#8220;All that stuff that&#8217;s made in the factories—almost 39% of it—is consumed by Americans. If he can&#8217;t sell the stuff, those people [in China] don&#8217;t have jobs. And that&#8217;s going to be a bad outcome for him. He knows it.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Escalation on Both Sides</h2>



Meanwhile, the trade standoff deepened after China retaliated against the United States for raising tariffs on Chinese imports to a total of 145%. In response, Beijing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44756353/xi-jinping-says-there-are-no-winners-in-tariff-war-as-china-slaps-125-tariffs-on-us-goods-urges-trump-to-immediately-correct-wrongdoings">increased its own tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%</a> and imposed restrictions on 18 American companies, mostly in defense-related industries. This adds to about 60 other U.S. firms already targeted by China over the past year.



See Also: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">invest pre-IPO from $0.60 per share now</a>.



China's Finance Ministry criticized the latest U.S. moves, calling them a &#8220;mistake on top of a mistake&#8221; and saying they undermine global trade rules. Beijing also released a <a href="http://english.scio.gov.cn/whitepapers/2025-04/09/content_117814362_5.html">white paper</a> defending its trade practices and claiming it had fulfilled its obligations under the 2020 phase 1 trade deal, which was disrupted by the pandemic.



&#8220;The U.S. has systematically escalated economic and other forms of pressure against China,&#8221; the paper said. &#8220;Concurrently, the U.S. has promoted false narratives related to human rights, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Xinjiang and the pandemic.&#8221;



The rising tensions have started to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/25/04/44728262/us-china-tensions-disrupt-academic-ties-leave-chinese-students-facing-visa-cancellations-political-pressure">impact other areas</a>, with China issuing travel and education warnings for its citizens visiting the U.S., including a specific alert for students considering studying in Ohio.



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Image: Shutterstock

News

Trump Offered An Olive Branch Twice This Weekend, Says Kevin O'Leary—It's Time For China's Xi To Take It

U.S. stock markets will be closed on Friday, April 18, in observance of Good Friday, a Christian holiday that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.



US Stock Market Resumes On Monday



While Good Friday isn&#8217;t a federal holiday, the U.S. stock market remains closed on that day. The Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange will be closed on Friday and will reopen on Monday, April 21. According to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, the U.S. bond market will close early at 2 p.m. ET on Thursday and remain closed on Friday.



Following the Good Friday closure, Wall Street will operate normally until its next scheduled break on Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day.



What About Global Markets?



Additionally, stock markets in Australia, Germany, France, Singapore, and the UK (London Stock Exchange) will be closed on April 18. Also, the Hong Kong stock market remains closed on Good Friday and Monday, April 21. However, all MSCI and currency derivatives products will be open for trading.



Notable exceptions are Japan and mainland China stock markets, which will remain open as usual.



Are Banks Open On Good Friday?



According to the Federal Reserve, most banks will remain open on Good Friday, though the working hours could be modified. Please check the bank&#8217;s website before visitng. 



Will The Mail And Postal Service Operate Today?



U.S. Postal Service facilities will operate as usual with regular mail delivery, and both UPS and FedEx services will also continue without interruption.



Is It A State Holiday?



Good Friday is recognized as a state holiday in twelve states, though it is not a Federal Holiday. These states are: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas, and Kentucky, which observe it for one and a half days.



Significance Of This Holiday



Good Friday marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, which Christians believe was a sacrificial act to atone for humanity&#8217;s sins. Though the day is solemn, it is called &#8216;good&#8217; because it paves the way for Easter Sunday—the celebration of Jesus's resurrection, symbolizing triumph over death and the promise of new life.



SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/04/44876356/google-scores-partial-win-in-antitrust-case-but-faces-setback-on-publisher-tools">Google Scores Partial Win In Antitrust Case But Faces Setback On Publisher Tools</a>



Image via Shutterstock



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

Markets

General

Why Is Stock Market Closed Today? A Quick Guide To Markets, Banking Hours And What's Closed On Good Friday 2025

Each week, Benzinga&#8217;s Stock Whisper Index uses a combination of proprietary data and pattern recognition to showcase five stocks that are just under the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/stock-whisper-index" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surface and deserve attention</a>.



Investors are constantly on the hunt for undervalued, under-followed and emerging stocks. With countless methods available to retail traders, the challenge often lies in sifting through the abundance of information to uncover new opportunities and understand why certain stocks should be of interest.



Read Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/04/44597684/exclusive-marchs-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-where-do-tesla-nvidia-apple-applovin-stock-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: March's 20 Most-Searched Tickers On Benzinga Pro — Where Do Tesla, Nvidia, Apple, Applovin Stock Rank?</a>



Here's a look at the Benzinga Stock Whisper Index for the week ending April 17:



Equinix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQIX#NASDAQ">EQIX</a>): The data center company saw strong interest from readers during the week. Citigroup recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/EQIX/analyst-ratings">maintained a Buy </a>rating on the stock and lowered the price target from $1,020 to $970. Mizuho also lowered the price target from $1,094 to $1,053 recently while maintaining an Outperform rating. All eyes are likely centered on the company's upcoming first-quarter earnings report on April 30. Analysts expect the company to report revenue of $2.22 billion, up from $2.13 billion in last year's first quarter. Analysts expect the company to report quarterly earnings per share of $9.09, up from $8.86 in last year's first quarter. The company has had recent mixed results beating earnings per share in three of the last four quarters, while missing revenue estimates in four straight quarters. The stock was up around 5% over the last five trading sessions, as shown on the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0417"> Benzinga Pro chart</a> below.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href=" https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0417"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="995" height="505" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17174940/Screenshot-379.png" alt="" class="wp-image-877779" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17174940/Screenshot-379.png 995w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17174940/Screenshot-379-300x152.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17174940/Screenshot-379-768x390.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 995px) 100vw, 995px" /></a></figure>



Prologics Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLD#NYSE">PLD</a>): The industrial and logistics REIT saw strong interest from readers during the week and rejoins the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/25/04/44651693/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet">Stock Whisper Index.</a> On April 16, the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/44837972/prologis-beats-q1-ffo-estimate-same-store-noi-up-6-2-y-y-more">reported earnings per share </a>of $1.42 that beat a Street consensus estimate of $1.38, while revenue of $2.00 billion missed a Street consensus estimate of $2.04 billion. The company has had mixed recent results, beating earnings per share in fourth straight quarters, while missing revenue estimates from analysts in six straight quarters. Several analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLD/analyst-ratings">lowered their price targets </a>on the stock recently. While the quarterly results showed growth, management commentary said that customers were being more cautious given "policy uncertainty." The company reiterated full-year guidance, but the commentary could be something to watch going forward.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href=" https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0417"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="991" height="499" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17174955/Screenshot-380.png" alt="" class="wp-image-877780" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17174955/Screenshot-380.png 991w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17174955/Screenshot-380-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17174955/Screenshot-380-768x387.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 991px) 100vw, 991px" /></a></figure>



Alamos Gold Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGI#NYSE">AGI</a>): Gold stocks continue to be hot with Benzinga readers with Alamos taking its turn on the Stock Whisper Index with gold at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/treasuries/25/04/44857989/gold-nears-3400-mark-experts-point-to-likely-correction-amid-bull-market-rates-will-drop-like-rock">all-time highs</a>. The stock recently got several <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AGI/analyst-ratings">price target increases</a> from analysts including Scotiabank and RBC Capital. Investors are preparing for the company to report first-quarter financial results on April 30. Analysts expect the company to report revenue of $357.2 million and earnings per share of 23 cents. The company has beaten revenue estimates from analysts in four straight quarters and seven of the last 10 quarters overall. On the earnings side, the company has beaten analyst estimates for EPS in seven of the last 10 quarters overall. Shares are up 98% over the last year and could have more upside from a strong earnings report and positive commentary on how the strong prices of gold are helping the company's future financials.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href=" https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0417"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1001" height="501" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17175012/Screenshot-381.png" alt="" class="wp-image-877781" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17175012/Screenshot-381.png 1001w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17175012/Screenshot-381-300x150.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17175012/Screenshot-381-768x384.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1001px) 100vw, 1001px" /></a></figure>



Boston Scientific Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BSX#NYSE">BSX</a>): The medical devices company saw strong interest from readers during the week, which comes ahead of fourth-quarter financial results. The company also received <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BSX/analyst-ratings">an analyst upgrade</a> from Hold to Buy from Needham with a new price target of $113. Boston Scientific is set to report first-quarter financial results on April 23. Analysts expect the company to report revenue of $4.57 billion, up from $3.86 billion in last year's first quarter. The company has beaten analyst revenue estimates in more than 10 straight quarters. Analysts expect the company to report earnings per share of 67 cents, up from 56 cents per share in last year's first quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in eight straight quarters. There are some concerns about<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/04/44652075/us-tariffs-spare-drugmakers-but-threaten-diabetes-device-industry"> how tariffs could impact </a>medical devices, but Boston Scientific has remained a strong performer in the sector. The company said 2024 was one of the best years <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/02/43494194/boston-scientific-clocks-22-jump-in-q4-sales-on-strong-heart-devices-profit-and-guidance-exceeds-expectations">in its history</a>. Investors will be looking for a strong first quarter and positive commentary to kick things off in 2025.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href=" https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0417"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1001" height="497" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17175026/Screenshot-382.png" alt="" class="wp-image-877784" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17175026/Screenshot-382.png 1001w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17175026/Screenshot-382-300x149.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17175026/Screenshot-382-768x381.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1001px) 100vw, 1001px" /></a></figure>



American Express Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>): The credit card company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/44862333/american-express-q1-card-spending-strong-ceo-maintains-annual-outlook-contingent-on-economic-climate">reported first-quarter</a> financial results on Thursday with earnings per share of $3.64 beating an analyst estimate of $3.47 and revenue of $16.97 billion beating an analyst estimate of $16.94 billion. The company has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in two straight quarters and for earnings per share in four of the last five quarters. In the earnings results, the company reported strong Card Member spending and higher net interest income. The company said it is seeing steady spending and credit trends despite the macroeconomic concerns. Bank of America recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/upgrades/25/04/44768565/american-express-receives-upgrade-what-makes-this-stock-so-appealing">upgraded the stock</a> from Neutral to Buy given it high-quality customer base that could keep credit losses in check. During uncertain times, credit card spending could increase and American Express remains a stock to watch with the stock up around 16% over the last year.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href=" https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0417"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="995" height="505" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17175041/Screenshot-383.png" alt="" class="wp-image-877785" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17175041/Screenshot-383.png 995w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17175041/Screenshot-383-300x152.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17175041/Screenshot-383-768x390.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 995px) 100vw, 995px" /></a></figure>



Stay tuned for next week&#8217;s report, and follow Benzinga Pro for all the latest headlines and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0417" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top market-moving stories here.</a>



Read the latest Stock Whisper Index reports here:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44333602/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">March 14</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/03/44448522/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-58" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">March 21</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/03/44546189/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-59" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">March 28</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/25/04/44651693/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet">April 4</a></li>
</ul>



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Exclusives

Trading Ideas

EQIX

Benzinga's 'Stock Whisper' Index: 5 Stocks Investors Secretly Monitor But Don't Talk About Yet

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New On The Block</h2>



<ul>
<li>Willow Tree Credit Partners seeks to sell a minority stake and is soliciting potential buyers, according <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-15/private-credit-firm-willow-tree-is-said-to-explore-stake-sale?sref=TBDibEcD">to</a> Bloomberg. The New York-based firm has about $5 billion in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/asset-management">assets under management</a>.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Bloomberg also <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-16/partners-group-said-to-weigh-options-for-telepass-stake-in-italy?sref=TBDibEcD">reports</a> that Zurich-based Partners Group is divesting a 49% stake in Italian toll road business Telepass. It first purchased the stake in 2021. Italy's Benetton family maintains control with a 51% stake.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Updates From The Block</h2>



<ul>
<li>GeneDx (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WSG#NASDAQ">WSG</a>) agreed to acquire Fabric Genomics, a pioneer in AI-powered genomic interpretation, for $33 million in cash . Upon achieving certain milestones, the total price tag <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44843916/genedx-eyes-global-genomic-leadership-with-fabric-genomics-buyout-for-up-to-51-million">could potentially reach $51 million</a>.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Axios broke the news that a New Zealand-based metaverse company called Futureverse <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/16/candy-digital-futureverse-mlb-nft">acquired</a> NFT startup Candy Digital. Major League Baseball, Netflix and DC Comics are among Candy Digital&#8217;s partners. That wasn&#8217;t the only metaverse deal this past week.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Infinite Reality, which boasts a $15-billion valuation, agreed to buy agentic AI company Touchcast for $500 million. Last month, Infinitie Reality acquired digital music innovator Napster <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44546940/deal-dispatch-bezos-backed-crop-company-wilts-tech-startup-nabs-napster-for-207-million">for $207 million</a>.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Lyft, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LYFT#NASDAQ">LYFT</a>) announced that it purchased a taxi app from BMW Group and Mercedes-Benz Mobility for €175 million <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44841871/lyft-expands-to-europe-with-e175m-freenow-acquisition-targets-bookings-by-e1b-annually">($197 million) in cash</a>.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Off The Block</h2>



<ul>
<li>Onsemi (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ON#NASDAQ">ON</a>) terminated its efforts to acquire Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALGM#NASDAQ">ALGM</a>). In early March, Allegro received a proposal from Onsemi, or ON Semiconductor Corporation, for $35.10 per share, with an implied <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/b44157898/onsemi-proposes-to-acquire-allegro-microsystems-for-35-10-per-share-in-cash" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enterprise value of $6.9 billion</a>.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Paychex (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>) closed its $4.1-billion acquisition of payroll and HR software firm Paycor HCM. The deal was first <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42855388/paychex-buys-paycor-41-billion-deal-to-strengthen-ai-driven-hr-solutions">announced in January</a>.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>TPG completed its $2.2-billion take-private buyout of Altus Power, the largest owner of commercial-scale solar in the U.S. Approximately 40% of the company&#8217;s stock is already committed to the deal. Altus Power expects the transaction to officially close <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43537313/why-altus-power-stock-is-gaining-today">within the second quarter</a>.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bankruptcy On The Block</h2>



<ul>
<li>Consolidated Burger Holdings, a Burger King franchisee operating 57 locations across Florida and Georgia, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company, based in Destin, Florida, cited financial struggles worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, including reduced foot traffic and declining revenue, while costs like rent and debt service remained high. Its restaurants include sites in cities like Valdosta, Tallahassee, West Palm Beach, and Naples, with four located inside Walmart stores.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is investigating 23andMe&#8216;s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, raising concerns about the security of its sensitive genetic data. Lawmakers fear the company&#8217;s genetic database could be compromised as its assets are <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/03/44456578/why-dna-test-provider-23andmes-stock-is-plunging-today">now up for sale</a>. In a letter to interim CEO Joe Selsavage, three Republican congressmen requested answers about the company&#8217;s data and privacy practices by May 1. The inquiry follows similar concerns from the FTC and the House Oversight Committee. Once valued at $6 billion, 23andMe has struggled to maintain revenue and expand into research and therapeutics.</li>
</ul>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/asset-sales/25/04/44771660/deal-dispatch-harley-davidson-prada-versace-fashionable-price">Check out last week&#8217;s edition of the Deal Dispatch</a>.



Now Read:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44876137/grant-cardone-explains-the-art-of-negotiating-it-takes-4-things-to-make-a-deal">Grant Cardone Explains The Art Of Negotiating: &#8216;It Takes 4 Things To Make A Deal&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

Asset Sales

ALGM

GRPN

LYFT

PAYX

Deal Dispatch: Metaverse Mergers, 23andMe Under Investigation, Burger King Franchise Goes Bankrupt

In response to allegations of AI model mimicry, OpenAI has implemented stricter access protocols. 



What Happened: Developers are now required to provide government ID verification to gain access to the company&#8217;s advanced AI models. 



The OpenAI has made it mandatory for developers to provide government ID verification to access its advanced AI models. This measure is intended to prevent misuse and protect the company&#8217;s intellectual property.



A recent study by AI content detection company, Copyleaks, found that 74% of outputs from the&nbsp;Chinese model, DeepSeek-R1, were classified&nbsp;as OpenAI-written. This indicates that OpenAI&#8217;s outputs may be used to train competing AI systems, a practice known as distillation, which could potentially&nbsp;violate OpenAI&#8217;s terms of service.



As per the report <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-tightens-access-evidence-ai-model-mimicry-deepseek-2025-4">by </a>Insider, OpenAI has not yet commented on these findings, but has previously expressed concerns about developers intentionally violating usage policies. Earlier this year, the company stated that it was investigating indications of DeepSeek distilling their models inappropriately.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44066117/elon-musk-battles-openai-over-move-to-for-profit-model-and-experts-are-pushing-back">Elon Musk Battles OpenAI Over Move To For-Profit Model — And Experts Are Pushing Back</a>



While distillation is a common practice in AI research, unauthorized use could lead to legal complications. The debate over ownership in the AI industry is escalating, and tools&nbsp;like Copyleaks&#8217; digital fingerprinting system&nbsp;could help&nbsp;trace and verify authorship at&nbsp;the model level.



Why It Matters: OpenAI&#8217;s decision to tighten access protocols comes at a time when the AI industry is grappling with issues of ownership and intellectual property rights. The alleged misuse of OpenAI&#8217;s outputs by competing AI systems underscores the need for stricter regulations and verification processes. 



By requiring government ID verification, OpenAI aims to ensure that its advanced AI models are used responsibly and in compliance with its terms of service. 



This move could potentially set a precedent for other companies in the industry, leading to more robust measures to protect intellectual property in the AI space.



Read Next



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40969874/openais-employees-see-this-latest-creation-as-ominous-what-is-it">OpenAI&#8217;s Employees See This Latest Creation As &#8216;Ominous&#8217; – What Is It?</a>

Tech

OpenAI's Latest Move Has Competitors Like DeepSeek on Edge

A blockbuster quarter for Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) delivered standout revenue, profit, and guidance figures that blasted past Wall Street forecasts, yet Goldman Sachs is holding the line seeing little room left for further <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44881024/netflix-unitedhealth-novo-nordisk-tesla-and-trump-media-why-these-5-stocks-are-on-investors-radars-today">upside from current levels.</a>



In a note shared Thursday, Goldman Sachs analyst Eric Sheridan said the market is likely to respond positively to the company's first-quarter 2025 results and its forward-looking commentary. Sheridan emphasized the "solid revenue performance," driven by rising subscriber growth and partial pricing impacts, along with a "materially better" operating margin and an aggressive stock buyback program that far exceeded prior assumptions.



Still, the investment bank is treading carefully on the streaming giant, sticking with a &#8216;Neutral&#8217; rating and a 12-month price target of $955—below where the stock moved in after-hours trading following the earnings release.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Revenue Hits $10.54 Billion In Q1, Powered By Global Strength</h3>



For the quarter ended March, Netflix reported $10.54 billion in total revenue, a 13% increase year-over-year—or 16% when adjusted for foreign exchange. That result beat both Goldman Sachs' estimate of $10.42 billion and the FactSet consensus of $10.50 billion.



Regionally, performance was mixed but generally strong. 



The U.S. and Canada segment pulled in $4.62 billion, slightly below Street estimates, while Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) outperformed at $3.41 billion versus expectations of $3.32 billion. Both Latin America and Asia-Pacific met or slightly beat consensus targets at $1.26 billion each.



The standout metric was Netflix's GAAP operating income, which reached $3.35 billion, well above Goldman's $2.95 billion estimate and the Street's $3 billion figure. That equated to an operating margin of 31.7%, far ahead of the 28.5% expected by Wall Street.



Earnings per share for the quarter came in at $6.61, a substantial beat compared to both Goldman's forecast of $5.60 and the consensus of $5.69.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Q2 Outlook: Strong Guidance Raises The Bar</h3>



The company guided second-quarter 2025 revenue to $11.04 billion, implying 15% year-over-year growth—again ahead of consensus expectations of $10.89 billion.



Even more compelling was the forward guidance on profitability. Netflix expects second-quarter operating income to hit $3.68 billion, reflecting an operating margin of 33.3%. That compares to Wall Street's forecast of just 30%. 



If achieved, it would mark a major milestone in Netflix's margin expansion story, signaling increasing operating leverage as its global user base and pricing power grow.



Projected earnings per share for the second quarter are $7.03, topping Goldman's $6.30 and Street consensus of $6.25.



For full-year 2025, Netflix reaffirmed its guidance for revenue between $43.5 billion and $44.5 billion, and a full-year operating margin of 29%—in line with previous commentary and roughly in line with Wall Street forecasts.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Buybacks And Margins: The Two Big Stories</h3>



The company's aggressive share buyback program was a key surprise in the earnings release. 



According to Sheridan, the level of shareholder returns far exceeded expectations, adding another bullish dimension to the company's capital return story.



Meanwhile, the dramatic margin expansion is central to the bull case. After spending years investing heavily in content and international growth, Netflix now appears to be reaping the rewards of scale.



Sheridan said investor debates heading into the next earnings call will center around the sustainability of these margin levels, the trajectory of Netflix's ad-supported tier and pricing strategy, and how second-half margins may compare to the strong first half.



Sheridan also flagged potential downside risks: slower-than-expected execution on initiatives like the ad-supported tier and password-sharing crackdowns, unexpected churn from pricing changes, and rising industry competition that could limit subscriber growth and margin expansion.



Read now: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/04/44856564/former-cable-exec-says-netflixs-1-trillion-goal-is-very-realistic-heres-why-its-not-far-fetched">Netflix&#8217;s $1 Trillion Goal &#8216;Very Realistic&#8217;, Says Former Cable Executive: &#8216;It&#8217;s Not That Hard To Get There&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Large Cap

Analyst Ratings

NFLX

Netflix Beats Wall Street Forecasts, Yet Goldman Sachs Sees Limited Upside Ahead

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) just delivered a quarter that Wall Street won't soon forget &#8211; but you wouldn't know it by looking at the stock chart.



The chip giant crushed first quarter estimates, powered by AI-hungry demand for its 3nm and 5nm chips, yet shares continue to short-circuit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Strong Fundamentals, Stronger Headwinds</h2>



First quarter revenue surged 41.6% year-over-year to $25.53 billion, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44857887/taiwan-semiconductor-q1-surges-41-in-sales-boosted-by-ai-chip-demand-expanded-margins">topping expectations</a> of $23.92 billion. EPS came in at $2.12, well above the $1.82 consensus. TSM also projected second quarter revenue between $28.4 billion and $29.2 billion, bolstered by continued strength in AI processor demand &#8211; think Nvidia Corp&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) GPUs and Apple Inc's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) iPhones.



As Direxion's Head of Capital Markets Jake Behan put it: "TSM's strong results, driven by its critical supplier role to Nvidia, signal strength ahead of a pivotal semiconductor earnings season&#8230;.TSM&#8217;s strong earnings and sustained capex plans position it as a bellwether, signaling continued AI-driven demand – a bullish signal for the sector."



But don't cue the victory music just yet.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44870886/why-nvidia-meta-and-3-more-are-this-strategists-top-buys-this-week-and-why">Nvidia, Meta And 3 More Stocks Are This Strategist&#8217;s Top Buys: Here&#8217;s Why</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TSM Stock Chart Is Flashing All Red Lights, A Death Cross</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0418"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="627" height="489" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/18064122/Screenshot-2025-04-18-at-4.08.41-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-878206" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/18064122/Screenshot-2025-04-18-at-4.08.41-PM.png 627w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/18064122/Screenshot-2025-04-18-at-4.08.41-PM-300x234.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px" /></a></figure>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0418">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>



Despite the stellar report, TSM stock is flashing technical warning signs all over the board. At $151.74, it's trading below its eight, 20, 50 and 200-day simple moving averages (SMAs). In trader speak, that's a bearish signal coming from every major trend line. The 50-day SMA stands at $177.31, and the 200-day SMA is way up at $183.96 &#8211; have recently made a Death Cross.



"A pre-tariff buying rush may have padded TSM's bump in sales, which raises the question of whether short-term strength could mask longer-term softness," warned Behan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Volatility, Thy Name Is Semis</h2>



With trade war chatter and tariff jitters looming large, even the best earnings might not be enough to keep the rally going. As Behan notes: "Headline risk continues to be a key headwind for the semiconductor sector."



For investors looking to play the volatility, investors may look at the Direxion Daily TSM Bull 2X Shares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSMX#NASDAQ">TSMX</a>) (2x daily return) and the Direxion Daily TSM Bear 1X Shares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSMZ#NASDAQ">TSMZ</a>) (-1x daily return) to ride the waves &#8211; or shield from them.



TSM's fundamentals are flexing, but the charts are trembling. AI demand is hot, but trade risks and technical pressure may leave the stock stuck in the cooling chamber.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44868970/nvidia-amd-take-a-17-billion-hit-in-the-ai-arms-race-while-broadcom-remains-shielded-says-analyst">Nvidia, AMD Take A $17 Billion Hit In The AI Arms Race, While Broadcom Remains Shielded, Says Analyst</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock/Jack Hong

Earnings

Earnings Beats

Technicals

AAPL

NVDA

TSMX

TSMZ

'Headline Risk' Lurks as TSM Shines Bright on AI Demand

Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) has seen a significant setback, erasing all its gains from 2024 in the first quarter of 2025, while Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>) continues to lead in the decentralized exchange (DEX) space.



What Happened: CoinGecko&#8217;s Q1 Crypto Industry Report indicates that Ethereum&#8217;s value took a <a href="https://www.coingecko.com/research/publications/2025-q1-crypto-report">steep </a>dive by 45.3%, closing Q1 at $1,805. 



This drastic drop wipes out all the gains Ethereum accumulated in 2024, reverting it back to its 2023 levels. On the other hand, the overall crypto market cap experienced a lesser fall of 18.6% in the initial months of 2025.



Ethereum&#8217;s trading volume also experienced a slump in Q1, falling&nbsp;from a daily average of&nbsp;$30.0 billion in Q4 2024 to $24.4 billion. CoinGecko pointed out that days witnessing a volume spike coincided with a fall in Ethereum&#8217;s price.



Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43901226/robert-kiyosaki-says-everything-bubble-will-cause-historic-market-crash-bitcoin-will-be-fastest-to-recover" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Kiyosaki Says ‘Everything Bubble' Will Cause Historic Market Crash, Bitcoin Will Be Fastest To Recover</a>



Conversely, Solana maintained its dominance in the DEX space, accounting&nbsp;for 52% of on-chain trades&nbsp;among the top 12 blockchains in January 2025. Despite this, Ethereum managed to claw back&nbsp;the top spot in March,&nbsp;with a 30.1% market share, outpacing Solana&#8217;s 23.4%.



Why It Matters: The significant decline in Ethereum&#8217;s value and trading volume in Q1 2025, coupled with Solana&#8217;s continued dominance in the DEX space, signals a potential shift in the crypto market dynamics. 



Ethereum&#8217;s struggle to maintain its gains from 2024 and its fluctuating market share in the DEX space may impact investor confidence and future investment decisions. 



On the other hand, Solana&#8217;s consistent performance could attract more investors, further strengthening its position in the DEX space.



Read Next



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43581896/analyst-who-nailed-2021-crypto-collapse-now-says-worst-of-bitcoin-could-come-in-next-few-weeks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Analyst Who Nailed 2021 Crypto Collapse Now Says Worst Of Bitcoin Could Come In Next Few Weeks</a>



Image: Shutterstock/VPLAB

Cryptocurrency

$ETH

$SOL

Ethereum's 2024 Gains Erased In Q1 2025 as Solana Reigns Supreme in DEX Space: Report

The turmoil in U.S. equity markets has spooked foreign investors, leading to massive outflows over the past week, as tariff-related uncertainties continue to persist.



What Happened: According to a research note by Bank of America Global Research, foreign investors dumped $6.5 billion worth of U.S. equities last week, marking its second-largest amount on record, the first being the $7.5 billion in outflows during the banking crisis of 2023.



See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44882019/apple-ceo-tim-cooks-dialogue-with-commerce-secretary-lutnick-secured-tariff-exemption-for-iphones-and-electronics-report">Tim Cook&#8217;s Talks With Commerce Secretary Lutnick Helped Apple Secure Tariff Exemption For iPhones: Report</a>



Market observers on X have added more context to this statistic. The Kobeissi Letter, a popular capital markets newsletter, noted that foreign investors own 20% of the U.S. equity market, worth $18.5 trillion, and 30% of treasuries, amounting to $7.2 trillion, and $4.2 trillion, or 30% of the corporate debt market.



&#8220;Foreign investors want out amid the volatility,&#8221; it said.



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Foreign investors are dumping US stocks at a rapid pace: Investors from overseas withdrew ~$6.5 billion from US equity funds over the last week, the second-largest amount on record. Net outflows were only below the $7.5 billion seen during the March 2023 Banking Crisis.… <a href="https://t.co/eXQst0EBQm">pic.twitter.com/eXQst0EBQm</a>&mdash; The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) <a href="https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1912952517346070939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Peter Schiff, a vocal critic of the tariffs, took a potshot a President Donald Trump.



&#8220;Trump thought tariffs would bring capital into America. Instead, it triggered a global run out of U.S. assets.&#8221;



He reiterated the same point in the accompanying video, while adding that &#8220;whenever the government wants to do something, the opposite is what happens.&#8221; 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Trump thought tariffs would bring capital into America. Instead, it triggered a global run out of U.S. assets. &#x1f4c9; &#x1f4a1; <a href="https://t.co/G7uBRqEsre">https://t.co/G7uBRqEsre</a> — download The Best Way to Buy Gold. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PeterSchiff?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PeterSchiff</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tariffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tariffs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Economy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Economy</a> <a href="https://t.co/REYYV0QBSY">pic.twitter.com/REYYV0QBSY</a>&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1913020032461709368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Why It Matters: Analysts have been warning of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44756751/full-spectrum-collapse-top-bank-rings-alarm-over-simultaneous-fall-of-us-assets">simultaneous collapse across U.S. assets</a>, with equities, treasuries, the bond market, as well as the U.S. dollar all sliding in tandem. This has been attributed to foreign investors losing faith in American assets.



While this has been a growing narrative in recent weeks, there are others with a contrarian take, such as Tom Lee of Fundstrat Global Advisors, who said earlier this week that he <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44806892/tom-lee-rejects-end-of-american-exceptionalism-narrative-says-says-us-still-home-to-worlds-best-companies-despite-dollar-yield-fears">does not believe</a> the "America in decline" or "end of American exceptionalism&#8221; narratives.



"The best and most important companies in the world are American companies,&#8221; he said.



Read More:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44882256/trumps-threat-to-fire-powell-could-shake-us-financial-markets">Trump&#8217;s Threat To Fire Powell Could Shake US Financial Markets</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Peter Schiff Rings Alarm After Foreign Investors Dump $6.5 Billion In US Equities In A Week, Quips 'Trump Thought Tariffs Would Bring Capital Into America'

The Trump administration is implementing major staff cuts at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), letting nearly 90% of its staff go as part of a larger initiative to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44353947/trumps-cfpb-overhaul-leaves-consumers-exposed-heres-what-it-means-for-your-money">scale back</a> the agency's role in monitoring consumer financial protections.



What Happened: More than 1,500 CFPB employees are being sent reduction-in-force notices, bringing the agency's workforce down to just over 200, according to <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/cfpb-make-sweeping-job-cuts-trump-admin-refocuses-agency">a</a> Fox Business report.



The layoffs cover core operations, including supervision and enforcement roles. Internal communications obtained by The Wall Street Journal show a noticeable reduction in supervisory exams and a shift back to oversight of traditional banks and credit unions.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">NEW: Take a look at the CFPB&#39;s new direction in a memo sent to staff this evening. Some key changes worth reading with the agency being run by acting CFPB director <a href="https://twitter.com/russvought?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@russvought</a>. Trump&#39;s nominee to run the CFPB, Jonathan McKernan, has yet to receive a full Senate vote. <a href="https://t.co/RetkiaDlQH">pic.twitter.com/RetkiaDlQH</a>&mdash; Brian Schwartz (@schwartzbWSJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/schwartzbWSJ/status/1912633869255188512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44833509/judge-strikes-down-biden-era-rule-capping-credit-card-late-fees-at-8">Judge Strikes Down Biden-Era Rule Capping Credit Card Late Fees At $8</a>



Why It Matters: The changes indicate a significant shift in the orientation of federal consumer protection strategy. "We're reallocating resources to address tangible consumer harm," wrote CFPB Chief Legal Officer Mark Paoletta in a memo to staff.



The agency will now focus on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/bonds/25/04/44774323/mortgage-rates-hit-7-1-as-bond-market-volatility-trade-tariffs-shake-markets">mortgage-related issues</a>, data mismanagement, and financial fraud, while stepping back from domains like medical debt, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44778031/she-was-29-months-from-erasing-247k-in-student-debt-now-her-forgiveness-is-frozen">student loans</a>, and digital payments. The CFPB also vowed to avoid "novel legal theories" and adhere to well-defined legal boundaries.



The CFPB's new direction highlights the Trump administration's wider push to limit regulatory reach and lower government intervention in financial markets.



With Jonathan McKernan's nomination to lead the agency still awaiting Senate confirmation, the bureau's future will likely continue to be molded by ongoing legal and political battles over its scope and authority.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44787438/us-watchdog-to-investigate-sec-overhaul-led-by-white-house-elon-musks-doge-report">FTC Launches Public Inquiry After Trump Issues Executive Order To Eliminate Anticompetitive Regulations That Favor Monopolies, Raise Consumer Costs</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock

Government

Trump Administration To Lay Off Nearly 90% Of CFPB Employees In Major Downsizing: Report

In speeches and rallies, President Donald Trump paints a spirited picture of a manufacturing comeback. He wants to fill up <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44506409/steve-jobs-warned-34-years-ago-about-america-being-hollowed-out-by-foreign-manufacturing-a-concern-trump-now-echoes">half-empty factories</a>, bring jobs back from overseas and restore America's status as a &#8220;manufacturing superpower.&#8221;



But while Americans might love the idea of more factory jobs, most don't actually want to work in one.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Nostalgic Vision Meets Modern Reality</h2>



Manufacturing once dominated the U.S. job market. In 1970, more than 25% of American workers held manufacturing jobs. Today, it's only around 8%, and many of those jobs look very different than they used to.



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<li>Inspired by Uber and Airbnb &#8211; Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets &#8211; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">with $1,000 you can invest at just $0.26/share!</a></li>



<li>Invest in the future of digital engagement: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/vatom-adv">Own a piece of the $100 billion Metaverse for just $500</a>.</li>
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Despite this drop, support for manufacturing remains high. A 2024 Cato Institute <a href="https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/2024-08/Globalization%20Survey_2024.pdf">survey</a> found that 80% of Americans believe the country would be better off with more manufacturing jobs. But when asked if they personally would prefer a factory job over their current work, only 25% agreed. About 73% said no, and just 2% of respondents actually work in manufacturing today.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">"America would be better off if more people worked in manufacturing." • 80% of Americans agree • 20% disagree "I would be better off if I worked in a factory." • 25% of Americans agree • 73% disagree • 2% currently work in a factory &#x1f449;&#x1f3fb; <a href="https://t.co/ycnHVZ1gT1">https://t.co/ycnHVZ1gT1</a> <a href="https://t.co/4NXb0GLK5L">pic.twitter.com/4NXb0GLK5L</a>&mdash; Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) <a href="https://twitter.com/FrankLuntz/status/1911463710029488317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



So what gives? According to Carolyn Lee, executive director of the Manufacturing Institute, the jobs that still exist in modern factories are not what they used to be. &#8220;The majority of the jobs in the sector are not entry-level jobs that have no skills,&#8221; she told <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/10/business/manufacturing-us-jobs-trump-tariffs/index.html">CNN</a>. These roles now require everything from certifications to software and robotics skills.



Trending: With shares starting at $1.52, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-a-10k-bet-on-health-care-originals-could-have-skyrocketed-your-portfolio">this could be your chance to invest in the future of healthcare</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tariffs Alone Won't Bring Back the Old Jobs</h2>



Trump believes sweeping tariffs will reverse the decades-long decline in factory work. In a recent social media <a href="https://x.com/TrumpDailyPosts/status/1909784713847321085">post</a>, he wrote, "I'm proud to be the president for the workers, not the outsourcers."



But many economists say the plan oversimplifies the issue. U.S. manufacturing output has actually increased over the last 40 years, even as jobs declined—thanks to automation and improved productivity. American factories now produce more high-value goods with fewer workers.



The push to onshore production also faces a major labor problem. There simply aren't enough Americans willing—or trained—to fill these roles. In February, the U.S. had <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/jolts.t01.htm">482,000</a> open manufacturing jobs, and projections show 1.9 million may go unfilled by 2033, <a href="https://themanufacturinginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Digital_Skills_Report_April_2024.pdf">according</a> to Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute.



&#8220;The skills U.S. workers have are mismatched for manufacturing right now,&#8221; Olaf Groth, a professor at UC Berkeley, told CNN. &#8220;What we need to do is lift the majority of American labor from mid-skilled to high-skilled.&#8221;



See Also: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">invest pre-IPO from $0.60 per share now</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">High Costs, Uncertain Results</h2>



Trump's supporters argue that tariffs will help revive old factory towns. But the costs are high. Tariffs raise the price of imported goods, which hits lower-income families the hardest. A <a href="https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/global-research/current-events/us-tariffs">note</a> from JPMorgan Chase summed it up: "At the end of the day, tariffs are a tax on imports… the tax incidence nearly always falls on domestic sellers and consumers, not foreign producers."



Trump&#8217;s steel and aluminum tariffs during his first term are a case in point. They raised costs for U.S. manufacturers and consumers alike. In 2018, the Peterson Institute <a href="https://www.piie.com/blogs/trade-and-investment-policy-watch/steel-profits-gain-steel-users-pay-under-trumps">estimated</a> it cost about $650,000 to save a single job in the steel industry.



There's also no guarantee that jobs would come back <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44660218/commerce-secretary-howard-lutnick-says-army-of-workers-will-build-iphones-in-the-us-but-trumps-tariffs-could-reportedly-push-iphone-16-pro-maxs-prices-to-2300">at the scale envisioned</a>. As Lee noted, new factories may open, but they'll need fewer people. Robots and machines will do most of the manual work. And many Americans just aren't interested. The Cato survey confirms that.



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Image: Shutterstock

80% Of Americans Say The Country Would Be Better Off With More Manufacturing Jobs—But Only 25% Want One Themselves

Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) has pulled back to levels not seen since 2018, yet key players from whales to traders remain defiant about the coin&#8217;s future prospects.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Market Cap</td><td>24-Hour Trend</td><td>7-Day Trend</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</td><td>$1,582</td><td>$193.5 billion</td><td>-0.3% </td><td>+4.5% </td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>$84,853</td><td>$1.68 trillion</td><td>+0.6% </td><td>+6.7%</td></tr><tr><td>XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$2.08</td><td>$121.5 billion</td><td>-2.0% </td><td>+5.5% </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: In an X <a href="https://x.com/CrypNuevo/status/1912557361283113036">post</a> on Wednesday, trader CrypNuevo highlighted that Ethereum's current range mirrors historical accumulation zones. 



With Bitcoin holding its one-week 50-day moving average and BTC dominance not yet peaking, he's placing some of his largest spot buys in this range.



Crypto Caesar emphasized the importance of this support zone, calling it a potential millionaire-making moment. He urged traders not to sit idle, saying the next big move is likely just &#8220;a few clicks away.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> &#8211; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ethereum?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ethereum</a> is testing support. I'm still bullish. This is not the time to do nothing. In times like this millionaires are being made. You are just a few clicks away. <a href="https://t.co/aSmNh8fB3v">pic.twitter.com/aSmNh8fB3v</a>&mdash; Crypto Caesar (@CryptoCaesarTA) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoCaesarTA/status/1912453098540253238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Niels, another prominent trader, <a href="https://x.com/Web3Niels/status/1912798313679630767">acknowledged</a> ETH's underperformance this cycle despite ETF approvals, major upgrades, and institutional interest. 



He believes the two catalysts that could send ETH to $10,000 are: a return of Fed quantitative easing and approval of ETH spot ETFs with staking enabled.



Statistics: Ethereum ETF flows remain negative, according to trader Ted Pillows, who suggests staking might be the only lever left to revive bullish momentum.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> ETF inflows remain in the red. Ethereum staking might be the only factor capable of reversing the trend. You agree? <a href="https://t.co/xZMsacmU3Z">pic.twitter.com/xZMsacmU3Z</a>&mdash; Ted (@TedPillows) <a href="https://twitter.com/TedPillows/status/1912777752484229314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



CryptoGoos <a href="https://x.com/crypto_goos/status/1912506515023446323">pointed </a>out a curious divergence: whales are buying heavily—possibly anticipating a move retail hasn't yet seen.



Coinglass data shows a 4.6% spike in open interest, with $27.8 million in liquidations over 24 hours. Notably, short liquidations ($14.5M) are outpacing longs, suggesting the market could be bracing for a squeeze.



IntoTheBlock data reveals a 2.2% increase in large transaction volume and a 4% bump in daily active addresses. Exchange netflows dropped 127.6%, signaling potential accumulation off exchanges.



Community News: Crypto YouTuber Crypto Rover <a href="https://x.com/rovercrc/status/1912869406549660008">reminded</a> his followers that BlackRock now owns $2 billion in ETH, arguing that such a move from the world's largest asset manager isn&#8217;t made lightly.



In a post on April 17, analytics firm Santiment&#8217;s marketing director Brian Quinlivan <a href="https://insights.santiment.net/read/ethereum-s-network-costs-hit-historically-low-milestone-8619?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=post&amp;utm_campaign=twitter_eth_low_fee_milestone_b_041625/&amp;fpr=twitter">noted</a> that Ethereum gas fees are at five-year lows, indicating a lack of on-chain activity.



Historically, these conditions have preceded price rebounds, making current entry levels appealing for long-term investors. Low fees usually signal a bottom, Quinlivan said and they often precede strong upside moves.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44858748/millennium-managements-bitcoin-and-ethereum-etfs-purchased-in-q4-suffer-22-7-million-loss-amid-crypto-slump">Millennium Management&#8217;s Bitcoin And Ethereum ETFs Purchased In Q4 Suffer $22.7 Million Loss Amid Crypto Slump</a></li>
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$BTC

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Ethereum Price Plunges To 2018 Levels: What Is Going On?

Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) may be gearing up for a major move, as its Layer-2 roadmap comes into focus and key technical indicators <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/dogecoin-doge-price-prediction">flash bullish signals</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Market Cap</td><td>24-Hour Trend</td><td>7-Day Trend</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.1550</td><td>$23 billion</td><td>+0.3%&nbsp;</td><td>+0.06%&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>$0.00001175</td><td>$6.9 billion</td><td>-0.6%&nbsp;</td><td>-1.1%&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Pepe (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">PEPE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.057194</td><td>$3 billion</td><td>+0.3%&nbsp;</td><td>+7.3%&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: Trader Tardigrade <a href="https://x.com/TATrader_Alan/status/1912770190636642465">noted</a> Dogecoin has flipped from a downtrend to an uptrend on the 4-hour chart, breaking a key trendline. 



The RSI is now approaching 50 and inching closer to bullish momentum.



In another X post, Tardigrade questions a "93-day Doge Bull Run?"



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Are you ready for a 93-day <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24Doge&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$Doge</a> Bull Run?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dogecoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dogecoin</a> <a href="https://t.co/85T96AwHEv">pic.twitter.com/85T96AwHEv</a>&mdash; Trader Tardigrade (@TATrader_Alan) <a href="https://twitter.com/TATrader_Alan/status/1912850798390002135?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Javon Marks <a href="https://x.com/JavonTM1/status/1912867110507651470">highlighted</a> a strong bullish divergence on the charts, signaling that bearish pressure is fading. 



He sees the potential for a 150%+ move toward $0.40.



Statistics: In an X <a href="https://x.com/ali_charts/status/1912052774310719551">post</a> on Tuesday 15, crypto chart analyst Ali Martinez noted whales have accumulated more than 800 million DOGE in the last 48 hours.



Coinglass data shows Dogecoin liquidations in the past 24 hours at $4.35 million, with $2.51 million in long liquidations. DOGE derivatives data volume expanded by 12.6%.



Community News: The Dogecoin Foundation recently unveiled plans for integrating Layer-2 networks, aiming to supercharge DOGE's utility. 



Foundation director Timothy Stebbing <a href="https://x.com/tjstebbing/status/1912627688998838489">emphasized</a> that while Dogecoin's Layer-1 should remain lean and optimized for speed and security, real innovation—including smart contracts, tokenization and identity—will thrive on L2s.



He called this "a new era" for the meme coin, noting that progress always brings both opportunities and risks—and that it's up to the community to harness the good while fending off scams.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44846673/meme-coin-market-is-very-much-alive-can-dogecoin-shiba-inu-fartcoin-bounce-back">Meme Coin Market Is &#8216;Very Much Alive&#8217;: Can Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, Fartcoin Bounce Back?</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

$DOGE

$PEPE

$SHIB

A 93-Day Dogecoin Bull Spring May Be About To Begin

As <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44856008/china-dismisses-trumps-tariff-numbers-game-files-wto-complaint-talks-can-only-proceed-based-on-mutual-respect">US-China trade tensions</a> continue to escalate, Chinese refiners have cut their U.S. oil imports, while imports of Canadian crude have reached record highs



What happened: Imports of U.S. oil by China have plunged roughly 90% since 2023, falling from a peak of 29 million barrels per month to just 3 million, according to Vortexa Ltd. data, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-16/china-pivots-from-us-to-canada-for-more-oil-as-trade-war-worsens">reported</a> Bloomberg. In March, China imported 7.3 million barrels of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44855903/scott-bessent-warns-of-serious-risk-to-anyone-buying-iran-oil-crude-moves-up-us-futures-and-nikkei-post-modest-gains">crude</a> from Canada's Vancouver port.



This figure is expected to rise even more this month. This shift follows the completion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion (TMX) in late 2023, which added 590,000 barrels per day of export capacity and gave Alberta's landlocked oil sands direct access to Asian markets.



Why it matters: China's shift to Canadian oil highlights the larger impact of the<a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle"> current trade conflict</a> between the Donald Trump administration and Team Xi Jinping. For investors, the emergence of Canada as a key supplier to China signals a structural shift in North American oil fundamentals, with implications for companies such as Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., Cenovus Energy Inc., and U.S. majors like Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) and Chevron Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>).



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44858847/nancy-pelosi-called-us-china-trade-a-job-loserold-remarks-reemerge-amid-trump-tariff-push">Nancy Pelosi Called US-China Trade &#8220;A Job Loser:&#8221; Old Remarks Reemerge Amid Trump Tariff Push</a>



This move is also strategically significant for China's refineries, which gain from the comparatively inexpensive and dense oil available from Canada's oilsands. Wenran Jiang, president of the Canada-China Energy &amp; Environment Forum, stated, "Given the trade war, it's unlikely for China to import more <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/buybacks/25/04/44853647/northern-oil-and-gas-stock-climbs-on-q1-hedging-results-shareholder-return-update-what-you-need-to-know">US oil</a>."



Oil prices witnessed a rally on early Thursday, with Brent Crude Oil up 0.85%, now trading at $66.42 per barrel, and the WTI Futures up by 1.06%.



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44856114/nvidia-says-it-follows-us-government-instructions-on-what-it-can-sell-and-where-amid-trade-war-escalation-with-china">Nvidia Says It Follows US Government Instructions On What It Can Sell And Where Amid Trade War Escalation With China</a>



Image via Shutterstock

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Global

Economics

China Slashes US Oil Imports By 90% Amid Trump Tariffs, Turns To Canada Instead

Former Google chief executive Eric&nbsp;Schmidt sketched an aggressive road&nbsp;map for artificial intelligence progress, warning that machines will match — and soon eclipse — elite human talent across most creative and technical fields.



What Happened: Speaking at the AI&nbsp;+&nbsp;Biotechnology Summit, co‑hosted by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), Schmidt predicted "the vast majority of programmers" will be supplanted within 12&nbsp;months as generative models crank out production‑ready code in any language. Over the same span, he expects AI systems to reach the level of "the tippy‑top of graduate math programs," leveraging formal proof languages such as Lean, to out‑reason human savants.



<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="Dr. Eric Schmidt" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L5jhEYofpaQ?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>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Two Years: Self‑Improving AI</h3>



Schmidt reveals that by 2027, research labs such as OpenAI and Anthropic could see 20% of their research code written autonomously, a feedback loop Schmidt called "recursive self‑improvement." Pairing that capability with advanced reasoning, he said, lays the groundwork for broader disruption of business and government workflows.



See also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44856114/nvidia-says-it-follows-us-government-instructions-on-what-it-can-sell-and-where-amid-trade-war-escalation-with-china">Nvidia Says It Follows US Government Instructions On What It Can Sell And Where Amid Trade War Escalation With China</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Three To Five Years: Artificial General Intelligence</h3>



Schmidt subscribes to what he dubbed the "San&nbsp;Francisco consensus": between 2028 and 2030, a single model will rival the best mathematician, physicist, writer, or artist. That milestone — artificial general intelligence — would put a "smartest human" in every pocket, able to design homes, negotiate contracts, or draft policy with minimal oversight.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Six Years: Super‑Intelligence</h3>



Extend the scaling curves, Schmidt argued, and "artificial super‑intelligence" emerges by 2031 — machines smarter than the sum of humanity, operating largely outside human guidance. Realizing that the future will hinge on massive computing power, he cautioned, and society still lacks language, let alone policy, for managing intellect "that's largely free."



Schmidt rejected the notion that everyone will be unemployed, but stressed the window to prepare for AI's cascading impact is closing fast: "The foundation is being locked in. We're not going to stop it."



Why It Matters: Schmidt had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44185833/former-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-warn-of-nuclear-level-risks-in-global-superintelligent-ai-race-what-begins-as-a-push-for-a-superweapon">earlier warned</a> that an unchecked race for super‑intelligence could mirror a nuclear arms sprint. In a March&nbsp;7 white paper with Alexandr&nbsp;Wang and Dan&nbsp;Hendrycks, he urged the U.S. to pursue "Mutual&nbsp;Assured&nbsp;AI&nbsp;Malfunction" safeguards and non‑proliferation pacts to prevent destabilizing, Cold‑War‑style escalation.



xAI founder Elon Musk, meanwhile, strikes a middle course: he <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37987626/is-superintelligence-safe-elon-musk-backtracks-on-ai-warnings">pegs a 10‑20% chance</a> that super-intelligent AI ends humanity but still expects machines to outthink us by 2029 and create "abundance," abandoning his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36070359/larry-page-disliked-elon-musks-love-for-humanity-over-ai-powered-digital-life-forms-and-that-soured">2023 pause proposal</a>. Palantir's Peter Thiel is more <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/08/40475377/palantir-co-founder-peter-thiel-says-ai-could-take-15-20-years-to-become-super-dominant-calls-this-t">skeptical</a>, arguing true AGI could take 15‑20 years and calling near‑term super‑dominance a distant "holy grail."



Photo Courtesy: Frederic Legrand &#8211; COMEO on Shutterstock.com



Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/04/44854679/time-100-most-influential-people-includes-elon-musk-mark-zuckerberg-alex-karp-and-more-public-company-ceos">Time 100 Most Influential People Includes Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Alex Karp And More Public Company CEOs</a>

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt Predicts AI Sprint Toward Super Intelligence Could Put 'Smartest Human' In Every Pocket In 6 Years

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