 (OTC:AFTWS) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

NASA on Thursday postponed its upcoming two <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40599693/elon-musk-reacts-after-nasa-oig-says-launcher-for-artemis-4-mission-may-cost-2-7b-holy">Artemis missions</a>, including the one expected to land humans back on the surface of the Moon for the first time in over half a century.
What Happened: While the Artemis 2 mission is now slated for April 2026, Artemis 3 is slated for mid-2027. Previously, the agency was planning to undertake the Artemis 2 mission in Sept. 2025 and Artemis 3 in 2026.
During the Artemis 1 mission in late 2022, charred material on the heat shield wore away differently than expected during re-entry. However, unlike Artemis 1, Artemis 2 mission will have a crew on board. The delayed timeline will allow the agency to address the Orion spacecraft&#8217;s environmental control and life support systems, NASA said. 
"The Artemis campaign is the most daring, technically challenging, collaborative, international endeavor humanity has ever set out to do," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.&nbsp;&#8220;We need to get this next test flight right. That's how the Artemis campaign succeeds."
For Artemis 2, engineers will continue to prepare the Orion spacecraft with the heat shield attached to the capsule. However, the agency will make changes to Orion&#8217;s trajectory as it enters Earth&#8217;s atmosphere and subsequently splashes down in the Pacific Ocean.
Why It Matters: NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen will continue training for the 10-day Artemis 2 mission in the meantime. They will fly around the Moon and back. 
Artemis 3 will build on Artemis 2 and aims to land people on the surface of the Moon with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/24/11/42108681/spacex-shows-off-starship-concept-designed-to-help-humans-land-back-on-moon-in-over-50-years">human landing system version of SpaceX&#8217;s Starship</a>. 
The Artemis program is the U.S.&#8217;s campaign to return to the surface of the Moon after a long gap of over 50 years. The last time NASA landed humans on the Moon was in 1972 as part of the Apollo Program.
The program is also expected to build the foundation for crewed missions to Earth&#8217;s neighboring planet Mars. 
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>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42361181/more-than-tesla-rivian-customers-are-most-likely-to-return-to-the-brand-survey-shows" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">More Than Tesla, Rivian Customers Are Most Likely To Return To The Brand, Survey Shows</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

News

SPACE

Tech

NASA Mission To Land Humans On Moon Delayed: Artemis 3 Now Slated For Mid-2027

Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) value has reached an unprecedented milestone, crossing the $100,000 mark. This has prompted Michael Saylor, executive chairman of MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), to reiterate his bullish stance on the cryptocurrency.
What Happened:&nbsp;Saylor emphasized the simplicity of investing in Bitcoin, discussing the cryptocurrency&#8217;s ascent and MicroStrategy&#8217;s ongoing investment strategy in an interview <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/video/microstrategy-chairman-says-bitcoin-simple-212018091.html">with</a> Yahoo Finance.
Saylor stated,&nbsp;&#8220;Every day for the past&nbsp;four years, I&#8217;ve said buy&nbsp;Bitcoin, don&#8217;t sell the Bitcoin.&#8221;
He explained his straightforward approach, &#8220;Just&nbsp;keep Buying Bitcoin with your&nbsp;spare capital. It&#8217;s going to&nbsp;appreciate against the dollar forever.&#8221;
He advised considering Bitcoin as a long-term asset, suggesting that investors should average their Bitcoin purchase price quarterly.
Saylor believes Bitcoin should be part of a long-term portfolio, recommending that funds not needed for four to ten years be invested in the cryptocurrency. He noted that MicroStrategy has generated significant shareholder value by holding Bitcoin, asserting that understanding the applications is unnecessary to benefit from its potential.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42330146/congressman-buys-meme-coins-ski-mask-dog-coin-climbs-in-value-after-disclosure-i-liked-the-coins-so-i-bought-them?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Congressman Buys Meme Coins? Ski Mask Dog Coin Climbs In Value After Disclosure</a>
Why It Matters: The recent surge in Bitcoin&#8217;s value to $100,000 marks a pivotal moment for the cryptocurrency market. On December 4,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42331261/bitcoin-hits-historic-100000-milestone-michael-saylor-gets-ready-for-party">Bitcoin crossed the $100,000 barrier</a>, a milestone that was celebrated by the cryptocurrency community.&nbsp;Saylor even suggested a celebratory event to mark this achievement.
He has also been vocal about Bitcoin&#8217;s potential as a &#8220;global capital.&#8221; In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42345293/bitcoin-is-global-capital-says-michael-saylor-every-nation-that-respects-property-rights-is-going-to-support-btc">recent interview</a>, he predicted that Bitcoin could reach $13 million per coin by 2045, emphasizing its transformative impact on global wealth storage and transfer.
Earlier, Saylor had also pitched Bitcoin&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42259408/michael-saylor-says-bitcoin-could-boost-microsofts-valuation-by-nearly-5-trillion-and-add-584-to-the-stock-by-2034">potential to boost</a>&nbsp;Microsoft Corp.'s valuation by nearly $5 trillion, highlighting its status as a high-performing uncorrelated asset.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $99,308, up 1.7% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
MicroStrategy stock closed at $395.01 on Friday, up 2.2% for the day. Year-to-date, the stock has gained a whopping 476%.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42296482/xrp-price-explodes-415-in-30-days-experts-analyze-why-xrp-is-going-up?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">XRP Price Explodes 415% In 30 Days: Experts Analyze Why XRP Is Going Up</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Michael Saylor / MicroStrategy

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

Cryptocurrency

Markets

$BTC

MSTR

Michael Saylor Says His Bitcoin Strategy Is Simple: 'Just Keep Buying BTC With Your Spare Capital'

Elon Musk&#8216;s rocket manufacturing company SpaceX is now gearing up for yet another test flight of its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/starship">Starship launch vehicle</a>, possibly before the end of the year.
What Happened: The company has moved the booster of the Starship launch vehicle to the launch pad at Starbase for testing ahead of its upcoming flight, the company said in a post on X on Friday. The post was accompanied by a picture of the 232-foot-tall booster. 
The company, however, did not specify when the next flight would be. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Flight 7 Super Heavy booster moved to the pad at Starbase for testing <a href="https://t.co/IOnSMTjrTk">pic.twitter.com/IOnSMTjrTk</a>
&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1865170524852093159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Starship is currently in the testing and development phase.
The company has conducted six test flights of the vehicle thus far starting in April 2023 but without a payload. The last flight test took place in November. 
Why It Matters: The Starship vehicle is part of big dreams. While NASA is looking forward to taking humans back to the surface of the Moon after a gap of over 50 years with the help of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42108681/spacex-shows-off-conceptual-version-of-starship-which-will-help-humans-land-back-on-moon-in-over-50-yrs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">custom version of Starship</a>, Musk is dreaming of taking <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40770222/elon-musk-sets-2026-for-starships-first-uncrewed-mars-mission-targeting-successful-landing">humans to the planet Mars</a> aboard Starship. 
"…I would not be surprised if we fly 400 Starship launches in the next four years,&#8221; SpaceX President and COO&nbsp;Gwynne Shotwell&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/24/11/42105704/spacex-ceo-elon-musk-reveals-technical-glitch-that-led-company-to-drop-key-objective-of-starships-6th-test-flight" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said at the Baron Investment Conference</a>&nbsp;in New York last month.
SpaceX is a privately held company. Unlike Musk&#8217;s publicly held EV company Tesla, SpaceX&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42022150/spacex-to-launch-tender-offer-valuing-company-at-over-250-billion-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">does not divulge its financials</a>&nbsp;periodically. 
&#8220;We are going to make some money on Starlink this year. But ultimately I think Starship will be the thing that takes us over the top as one of the most valuable companies,&#8221; Shotwell previously said.
For the upcoming flight test, SpaceX will attempt to land the Starship spacecraft in the ocean yet again.
"We will do one more ocean landing of the ship. If that goes well, then SpaceX will attempt to catch the ship with the tower," Musk previously said. 
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>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42361181/more-than-tesla-rivian-customers-are-most-likely-to-return-to-the-brand-survey-shows" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">More Than Tesla, Rivian Customers Are Most Likely To Return To The Brand, Survey Shows</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: SpaceX

SpaceX Tests Starship Booster Ahead Of Next Flight: Will The 7th Test Happen Before End Of 2024?

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is reportedly working on its modem technology. This could result in slimmer iPhones and introduce cellular capabilities to Macs and headsets like Vision Pro.
What Happened: Apple is developing a new modem, internally named Sinope, which is set to debut next year, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-06/apple-s-modem-chips-pave-way-for-slimmer-iphone-cellular-macs-and-headsets?srnd=undefined">reported</a> Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter.
This modem will gradually replace components from Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) over three years.
Apple engineers have expressed concerns about Qualcomm&#8217;s modems taking up too much space in iPhones, the report noted.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42295863/apple-might-have-to-commit-1-billion-to-indonesia-to-reverse-iphone-16-ban">Apple Might Have To Commit $1 Billion To Indonesia To Reverse iPhone 16 Ban</a>
The first device to feature the new modem will be the iPhone SE, launching next year. It will be followed by Apple&#8217;s thinnest phone yet, codenamed D23, later in 2025.
This transition paves the way for Apple to explore foldable devices and introduce cellular connectivity to Macs by 2026. As per the report, Apple is also considering adding cellular support to headsets.
The first modem will also appear in low-end iPads next year, with a 2026 update planned for Pro versions of the iPhone and iPad.
The tech giant is not currently developing a modem for the Apple Watch.
Subscribe to the <a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a> to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: It was previously reported that Apple has plans to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42286671/apples-foldable-iphone-could-spark-smartphone-market-revival-in-2026-says-expert">launch a foldable iPhone</a> in 2026. This move could boost the market, with a projected growth of over 30% in 2026, according to display analyst Ross Young.
However, Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies Co. has also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40845772/huaweis-2-800-tri-fold-phone-has-the-potential-to-eat-apples-lunch-in-china-here-is-how-it-compares">intensified its efforts</a> to challenge Apple's dominance, making the competition even tougher for the iPhone maker.
Last month, Apple reported its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41666494/apple-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-installed-base-hits-new-highs-iphone-sales-rise-as-apple-in">fourth-quarter earnings</a> highlighting the revenue of $94.9 billion, surpassing analyst estimates.
Price Action: Apple's stock declined 0.082% on Friday, closing at $242.84, and fell an additional 0.22% in after-hours trading to $242.30. Year-to-date, Apple shares have gained 30.81%, slightly ahead of the Nasdaq 100 index&#8217;s 30.7% rise during the same period, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Apple's consensus price target, derived from evaluations by 31 analysts, is $242.26, with the highest target of $300 set by Wedbush on Nov. 29. Recent ratings from Wedbush, Morgan Stanley, and Maxim Group average $262.67, suggesting a potential upside of 8.4%.
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/24/12/42356192/tim-cook-breaks-silence-on-defying-steve-jobs-design-philosophy-with-the-iphone-16s-camera-button-vision-pro-sales-airpods-disrupting-hearing-aids-and-whether-hell-lead-apple-into-the-next-era">Tim Cook Explains Why Apple Defied Steve Jobs&#8217; Design Philosophy With the iPhone 16&#8217;s Camera Button, Touches On Retirement Plans: &#8216;I&#8217;ll Do It Until…&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Media

AAPL

QCOM

Apple Working On In-House Modems To Replace Qualcomm, Will Slim Down iPhones Further And Bring Cellular Connectivity To Macs: Report

EV giant Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) will rely on pre-assembled superchargers in the Nordic countries including Norway to keep up the pace of deployment in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36732243/how-to-optimally-charge-tesla-in-freezing-weather-youtuber-shows-right-way-amid-chicagos-cold-snap">freezing temperatures</a>, senior company executive Max de Zegher said on Thursday.
What Happened: De Zegher was responding to an X user who noted that Tesla had opened two of the latest versions of superchargers in Norway in a day.
&#8220;And pre-assembled Superchargers, which we'll see more of in the Nordics. Another benefit from going with pre-assembled Superchargers is that we can keep building even in freezing temperatures,&#8221; the director of charging replied. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">And pre-assembled Superchargers, which we'll see more of in the Nordics. Another benefit from going with pre-assembled Superchargers is that we can keep building even in freezing temperatures.
&mdash; Max de Zegher (@MdeZegher) <a href="https://twitter.com/MdeZegher/status/1864801494475956578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Last month, Tesla updated its phone app to allow customers <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42105055/tesla-app-allows-users-to-report-issues-on-snow-accumulation-insufficient-lighting-at-charging-locations-with-new-update-ahead-of-winter">to report issues</a> including trash and snow accumulation at&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/topic/tesla-supercharger" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">charging locations</a>. Customers can share issues ranging from access, cleanliness, insufficient lighting, and damage in the form of cracked post skins with the update.
Why It Matters: As of the end of the third quarter, Tesla had 6,706 supercharger stations around the globe and 62,421 connectors.
During Tesla's annual shareholder meeting in June, Tesla CEO&nbsp;Elon Musk&nbsp;slammed rumors of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38757383/elon-musk-announces-500m-investment-in-teslas-supercharger-network-expansion-in-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">death of its supercharger network&nbsp;</a>following a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41200538/tesla-supercharger-network-growth-slows-sequentially-ev-giant-adds-2-800-stalls-in-q3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">major layoff in April&nbsp;</a>as "greatly exaggerated." Musk then said that Tesla would invest $500 million in expanding the network this year.
Tesla's company-wide layoffs in April impacted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38846223/elon-musk-fired-supercharger-chief-rebecca-tinucci-and-her-entire-team-after-she-refused-to-lay-off" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">500 members of the supercharging team</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;Rebecca Tinucci, Tesla's then Senior Director of Charging Infrastructure, left the company.
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>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42361181/more-than-tesla-rivian-customers-are-most-likely-to-return-to-the-brand-survey-shows">More Than Tesla, Rivian Customers Are Most Likely To Return To The Brand, Survey Shows</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Tesla

TSLA

Tesla To Rely On Pre-Assembled Superchargers To Keep Up Deployment In Nordic Winters, Says Exec

HUIZ

Trading Halt: Halted at 7:50:00 p.m. ET - Trading Halt: Halt News Pending

Golden Minerals Company ("Golden Minerals," "Golden" or the "Company") (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AUMN#TSX">AUMN</a>) today announced that it has received notification from the NYSE American LLC (the "NYSE American" or the "Exchange") that the Exchange determined to commence proceedings to suspend and delist the Company's common stock as a result of its determination that the Company is no longer suitable for listing due to its non-compliance with Sections 1003(a)(i), 1003(a)(ii) and 1003(a)(iii) of the NYSE American Company Guide, which require the Company to report stockholders' equity of $6.0 million or more if the Company has reported losses from continuing operations and/or net losses in its five most recent fiscal years, as previously reported.
The Company anticipates that the Common Stock will begin trading on the OTC Pink Market under the symbol "AUMN" at the open of business on December 16, 2024. Shareholders do not need to take any action in connection with this transition. The Company's stock will continue to be traded first on the NYSE American and immediately thereafter on the OTC Pink Market, and investors should be able to trade shares through their existing brokerage accounts.

AUMN

TSX:AUMN

Golden Minerals Announces NYSE American Notice To Commence Delisting

Tenaris S.A. announced that the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice (SCJ) published today its unanimous&nbsp;decision to reject a motion of clarification filed by Tenaris's subsidiary Confab, together with Ternium's subsidiaries Ternium Investments and Ternium Argentina (all of which compose the T/T Group under the Usiminas shareholders agreement), that had sought to revert the June 18, 2024 SCJ decision ordering the T/T Group to pay Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional, or CSN, an indemnification in connection with their 2012 acquisition of a participation in Usiminas.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the SCJ unanimously resolved to modify the applicable monetary adjustment mechanism and to cap the applicable attorney's fees, thereby lowering the aggregate amount that would be payable by the T/T Group if CSN ultimately prevails in its claims. Assuming monetary adjustment through November 30, 2024, and BRL 5 million in attorney's fees, in each case as determined pursuant to the SCJ decision published today, the revised aggregate amount potentially payable by Confab would be of approximately BRL548 million (approximately $90 million).
Tenaris continues to believe that all of CSN's claims and allegations are unsupported&nbsp;and without merit, and that in connection with the Usiminas acquisition the T/T Group was not required either to launch a tender offer or to pay indemnification to CSN. Accordingly, Confab intends to continue to defend its rights vigorously and to file all available motions and appeals against the SCJ decisions that ordered an indemnification payment.

Legal

Tenaris Announces Brazilian Superior Court Rejects Motion To Reverse Ruling Ordering T/T Group To Pay CSN Indemnification Related To 2012 Usiminas Acquisition, Lowers Potential Liability To ~$90M; Tenaris Maintains Claims Are Without Merit And Will Continue To Vigorously Defend Against SCJ Decisions

Athira Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ATHA#NASDAQ">ATHA</a>), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing small molecules to restore neuronal health and slow neurodegeneration, today presented preclinical data highlighting target engagement and neuroprotective effects of ATH-1105 in human motor neurons at the Motor Neurone Disease Association's 35th International Symposium on ALS/MND, taking place Dec. 6-8, 2024, in Montreal, Canada.

Biotech

General

ATHA

Athira Pharma Presents Preclinical Data Highlighting Neuroprotective Effects Of ATH-1105 In Models Of ALS At Motor Neurone Disease Association's International Symposium On ALS/MND

<a href="https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/documents/indexnews/announcements/20241206-1475790/1475790_dec2024apowday.pdf" title="https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/documents/indexnews/announcements/20241206-1475790/1475790_dec2024apowday.pdf">https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/documents/indexnews/announcements/20241206-1475790/1475790_dec2024apowday.pdf</a>

RGNX

TRNO

Terreno Realty Corp. And Champion Homes Inc. Will Replace Hudson Pacific Properties Inc. And REGENXBIO  Inc. In The S&P SmallCap 600, Respectively

Gov. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/andy-beshear">Andy Beshear</a>&#8216;s administration has refused to release the names of applicants for medical marijuana dispensary licenses in Kentucky's nine regions, despite <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42203777/kentucky-awards-first-medical-cannabis-dispensary-licenses">announcing the winners last month. </a>
The Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Office of Medical Cannabis denied a public records request from Kentucky Public Radio, citing the records as &#8220;preliminary&#8221; and exempt from disclosure, as<a href="https://www.lpm.org/news/2024-12-06/beshear-administration-wont-disclose-medical-marijuana-dispensary-applicants"> reported</a> by Louisville Public Media.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/11/41843261/kentucky-gov-beshear-the-jury-is-no-longer-out-kentuckians-want-medical-cannabis">Kentucky Gov. Beshear: &#8216;The Jury Is No Longer Out,&#8217; Kentuckians Want Medical Cannabis</a>
They stated that the list of applicants will remain confidential until after the final lottery for the last two regions on Dec. 16.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Concerns Over Fairness And Transparency</h3>
The decision follows concerns about out-of-state companies dominating Kentucky's marijuana licensing process.
One of the companies, Arkansas-based Dark Horse Cannabis, submitted over 100 applications in Kentucky and won multiple licenses in the October lottery, including four dispensary licenses in the November drawing.
While the state released the names of 36 dispensary license winners from the first nine regions, the full list of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/10/41413763/huge-interest-in-medical-cannabis-licenses-in-kentucky-nearly-5-000-applications-fees-announced">over 2,800 applicants </a>remains concealed. 
Critics worry that out-of-state companies are gaining a disproportionate share of licenses, which raises questions about fairness and transparency in the process.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Legal Challenge To Denial</h3>
Kentucky Public Radio's request for the full list of applicants was denied, and the station has now appealed the decision to the state's Office of the Attorney General. 
Michael Abate, an attorney representing Kentucky Public Radio and the Kentucky Press Association, criticized the administration's actions, saying the denial "makes absolutely no sense." 
He asked: "Why are they trying to delay disclosure until after all the lotteries are done? It suggests the cabinet just doesn&#8217;t want any scrutiny on its process. But obviously, this is an important process and the public has a right to know what&#8217;s going on."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Complaints From Local Farmers</h3>
Local hemp farmers, shut out of the October lottery for cultivator licenses, are frustrated with the process.
They argue that large out-of-state companies are gaining an unfair advantage and pushing in-state applicants aside. Gov. Beshear, however, has dismissed these concerns. He stated that the companies tied to Dark Horse Cannabis "named different unaffiliated people as owners in their applications."
The governor did not comment on the investor presentation uncovered by Kentucky Public Radio, which suggested Dark Horse Cannabis could become the parent company of a "vertical" business structure in Kentucky, controlling cultivation, processing and dispensary operations. This ownership model is prohibited under Kentucky's medical cannabis regulations.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Final Lottery And Ongoing Scrutiny</h3>
The final lottery for dispensary licenses will take place on Dec. 16 for regions 1 and 2, which include Louisville and Lexington. 
About 1,200 applicants are competing for the remaining licenses and the results could shed more light on the role of out-of-state companies in Kentucky's cannabis industry.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/06/39488414/cannabis-guns-kentucky-2nd-amendment-meet-the-atf-if-you-say-yes-to-medical-marijuana-the-answer">Cannabis, Guns, Kentucky &amp; 2nd Amendment, Meet The ATF: If You Say &#8216;Yes&#8217; To Medical Marijuana, The Answer To Owning A Gun Is &#8216;No&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy Gov. Beshear&#8217;s office

Cannabis

Government

Why Kentucky Is Keeping Marijuana Applicants' Names A Secret

AMTM

QRVO

WDAY

S&P Dow Jones Indices Announces Changes: Apollo Global Management And Workday To Join S&P 500, Replacing Qorvo And Amentum Holdings; Comerica And Carpenter Technology To Enter S&P MidCap 400, Replacing Vishay Intertechnology And Carters; Vishay And Carters To Move To S&P SmallCap 600, Replacing Comerica And Carpenter Technology

<ul>
<li>Conference call and webcast to discuss data on Monday, December 9 at 8:30 a.m. ET</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.enanta.com&amp;esheet=54163368&amp;newsitemid=20241206627146&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Enanta+Pharmaceuticals%2C+Inc.&amp;index=1&amp;md5=20d384e13292c32afa00e9dd99c15466">Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.</a> (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENTA#NASDAQ">ENTA</a>), a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to creating small molecule drugs for virology and immunology indications, today announced the company will hold a conference call and webcast on Monday, December 9 at 8:30 a.m. ET to share topline results from RSVPEDs, a first-in-pediatrics Phase 2 study evaluating zelicapavir in hospitalized and non-hospitalized children aged 28 days to 36 months with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

ENTA

Enanta Pharmaceuticals To Present Topline Results From Its Phase 2 Study Evaluating Zelicapavir For Respiratory Syncytial Virus; Conference Call And Webcast To Discuss Data On Monday, December 9 At 8:30 a.m. ET

Partnership will facilitate the flow of national security data from the tactical edge to the cloud-based enterprise
Palantir and Anduril, two leading companies at the intersection of commercial technology and national security, are launching a new consortium to ensure that the U.S. government leads the world in artificial intelligence. Our goal is to deliver the technological infrastructure, from the edge to the enterprise, that can enable our government and industry partners to transform America's world-leading AI advancements into next-generation military and national security capabilities.
This partnership is focused on solving two main problems that limit the adoption of AI for national security purposes. The first is data readiness. Most useful national security data— government data that are collected and created by sensors, vehicles, weapons, and robots at the tactical edge—are not retained for AI training and algorithm development. Exabytes of defense data, indispensable for AI training and inferencing, are currently evaporating. What should be America's ultimate asymmetric advantage over our adversaries is instead our biggest lost opportunity.

PLTR

Anduril And Palantir To Accelerate AI Capabilities For National Security; Partnership Will Facilitate The Flow Of National Security Data From The Tactical Edge To The Cloud-Based Enterprise

Baijiayun Group Ltd ("Baijiayun" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTC#NASDAQ">RTC</a>), a one-stop AI video solution provider, today announced that it has entered into a Standby Equity Purchase Agreement (the "SEPA"), with YA II PN, Ltd. ("YA"), a fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the the SEPA, YA is committed to purchase up to $50 million (the "Commitment Amount") of the Company's Class A Ordinary Shares (the "Shares") at any time during the two-year period following the execution date of the SEPA, by delivering written notice to YA (an "Advance Notice"). Pursuant to the SEPA, YA will advance to the Company, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions as set forth therein, the principal amount of up to $15 million (the "Pre-Paid Advance"), which will be evidenced by convertible promissory notes (the "Promissory Notes", together with the "SEPA", the "Offering") in four tranches. The first Pre-Advance, in the principal amount of $3,000,000, was advanced December 6, 2024 in connection with the execution of the SEPA,&nbsp; and is subject to a 10% discount to the principal amount of such Promissory Note.

Offerings

Baijiayun Announces Up To $15M Convertible Promissory Notes And $50M Standby Equity Purchase Agreement With YA II PN, Ltd.

The Board of Directors of The AES Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AES#NYSE">AES</a>) approved an increase of 2% in the Company's quarterly common stock dividend, from $0.1725 per share to $0.17595 per share, beginning in the first quarter of 2025.&nbsp;

Dividends

AES Increases Quarterly Dividend From $0.1725 To $0.17595 Per Share

Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>) ("SMCI" or the "Company"), a Total IT Solution Provider for AI, Cloud, Storage and 5G/Edge, today announced that on December 6, 2024, it received a letter from the Nasdaq Stock Market ("Nasdaq") informing the Company that Nasdaq has granted the Company's request for an exception to Nasdaq's Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) through February 25, 2025. The exception gives the Company until February 25, 2025 to file its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2024 and any other required filings. The Company's common stock will remain listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market during the exception period. If the Company files all the required reports by February 25, 2025, the common stock will remain listed, so long as the Company remains in compliance with Nasdaq's listing rules.
The Company currently expects to file all the required reports by February 25, 2025.

SMCI

Super Micro Computer Announces Receipt Of Extension From Nasdaq Stock Market Through February 25, 2025

Ever since pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/22/08/28349295/understanding-bitcoins-whitepaper" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published a whitepaper</a> on Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) in 2008, there have been plenty of cryptocurrency skeptics.
President-elect Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41096120/if-you-invested-1-000-in-bitcoin-when-donald-trump-said-he-wasnt-a-fan-heres-how-much-youd">was one of them</a>.
&#8220;I am not a fan of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, which are not money, and whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1149472282584072192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1149472282584072192%7Ctwgr%5E05ce97419f07b6da557a7465d7b1138a09bf4c43%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FrealDonaldTrump2Fstatus2F1149472282584072192widget%3DTweet">tweeted</a> in 2019. He also called out Libra, a virtual currency that Meta Platforms was working on at the time. The Facebook parent company should &#8220;seek a new Banking Charter and become subject to all Banking Regulations, just like other Banks,&#8221; he insisted.
But during his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/41778425/bitcoins-all-time-high-a-groundbreaking-milestone-and-strong-post-election-rally-coming-ex">2024 U.S. presidential campaign</a>, Trump changed his mind. He suggested a strategic national crypto stockpile for the U.S. Trump also<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/22/12/30095836/donald-trump-nfts-are-here-how-you-can-buy-them-and-get-dinner-with-the-former-president" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> launched his own non-fungible tokens</a> on the Polygon (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/matic/usd">MATIC</a>) blockchain and accepted Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) as a payment option. 
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42356067/venture-capitalist-david-sacks-appointed-as-white-house-ai-crypto-czar-by-trump">Trump Appoints VC David Sacks As White House Crypto Czar: &#8216;He Will Work On A Legal Framework&#8217;</a>
A key milestone for the crypto sector came when Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/40001426/trump-aims-to-make-us-crypto-capital-of-the-planet-well-get-it-done">spoke</a> at the 2024 Bitcoin Conference in Nashville. 
"For too long our government has violated the cardinal rule that every Bitcoiner knows by heart: Never sell your Bitcoin," Trump <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UxAUryUKXM">said </a>at the event on July 27. "This afternoon I'm laying out my plan to ensure that the United States will be the crypto capital of the planet and Bitcoin superpower of the world and we'll get it done.&#8221;
Investing $1,000 in Bitcoin: Bitcoin holders saw a soaring valuation ever since Trump made that speech.
Bitcoin traded between $66,705.22 to $69,398.51 on July 27, 2024, the date of Trump's event appearance.
A $1,000 investment at the day's highest price could have purchased 0.0144 BTC.
Fast-forward to today and Bitcoin trades at $101,478.46, recently passing the $100,000 milestone for the first time.
The $1,000 investment would be worth $1,461.29 today, up 46.1% in less than five months.
The same $1,000 invested in the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust, which tracks the S&amp;P 500, would be worth $1,111.21 today. That&#8217;s up only 11.1% over the same time period.
Bitcoin quickly passed new all-time highs after Trump won the 2024 presidential election. Over the past month, Bitcoin has traded between $74,480.42 and $103,900.47.
Bitcoin investors are optimistic that Trump's incoming administration will continue being pro-crypto compared to his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/11/41996491/18-republican-states-sue-bidens-sec-over-harsh-crypto-crackdown">predecessor, President Joe Biden</a>. 
Now Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42367065/exclusive-bitcoin-briefly-tops-100000-but-where-do-benzinga-readers-predict-it-will-finish-2024">EXCLUSIVE: Bitcoin Briefly Tops $100,000, But Where Do Benzinga Readers Predict It Will Finish 2024?</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Education

Politics

$ETH

$MATIC

If You Invested $1,000 In Bitcoin When Trump Said US Will Be 'Crypto Capital Of The World,' Here's How Much You'd Have Today

BIOA

Trading Halt: Halt status updated at 4:55:00 PM ET: Quotation Resumption: News and Resumption Times

Analysts have updated coverage and raised price targets on Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>) after the company hosted its first investor day on Wednesday and showed significant growth across customers, assets under <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports-betting/24/12/42345211/robinhood-ceo-vlad-tenev-says-sports-betting-comments-taken-a-little-bit-out-of-context-but-he-also-wouldnt-rule-it-out">custody and trading volumes.&nbsp;</a>
Expert Ideas: Goldman Sachs analyst James Yaro assumed coverage of Robinhood Markets on Thursday and upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy with a $46 price target. The analyst highlighted the firm's growth as driven by continued wallet share gains among active traders and sees a long-term opportunity for Robinhood to expand into other areas, including wealth management and international markets.  
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42365711/fridays-top-5-trending-stocks-whats-going-on-with">Friday&#8217;s Top 5 Trending Stocks: What&#8217;s Going On With SoundHound AI, GameStop, Lululemon?</a>
"HOOD has successfully migrated from a fast growing, periodically profitable online broker servicing mostly younger investors, to a best-in-class top and bottom-line asset under custody compounder with a growing total addressable market," Yaro wrote.&nbsp;
Robinhood's average revenue per user (ARPU) has more than doubled over the past two years and Yaro sees the firm's ARPU rising another 19% through 2026, driven mainly from transaction revenue growth. &nbsp;
The Goldman Sachs analyst also sees further growth of assets under custody (AUC), driven by Robinhood's low brokerage market share at present and its expanding wallet share among active traders. Yaro highlighted the "best-in-class customer value" provided through the company's HOOD Gold offering, as well as new products for active traders including index options, futures, crypto offerings and prediction markets.&nbsp;
Piper Sandler analyst Patrick Moley also weighed in on the potential for Robinhood to grow its assets under custody. In a Thursday note, Moley pointed to Robinhood's younger demographic, with 75% of its customers under age 43 combined with an ongoing generational wealth transfer of approximately $85 trillion, providing fuel for significant AUC and revenue growth. 
Piper Sandler maintained its Overweight rating on Robinhood shares and raised its price target from $42 to $54.
HOOD Price Action: According to data from<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw"> Benzinga Pro,</a> Robinhood Markets shares ended Friday's session 7.07% higher at $41.67.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42316904/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-dies-after-being-shot-outside-nyc-hotel">UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Fatally Shot Outside NYC Hotel</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

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