Generic Gold Stock (OTC:GGCPF), Trade Ideas

Generic Gold Corp is a gold exploration company. It is focused on gold projects in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in Quebec, and the Gold Belt in the Yukon Territory of Canada. The company's project includes the Belvais project and the Yukon project. The company's operations comprise a single reporting operating segment engaged in mineral exploration in Canada.

Generic Gold Corp

&nbsp;This deficiency will be considered by the Hearings Panel (the &quot;Panel&quot;) at a hearing that has been scheduled for April 25, 2024 (the &quot;Hearing&quot;) to address the Company&#39;s other current deficiencies.
As previously reported on May 8, 2023, due to the resignation of one of the Company&#39;s board members from its Board of Directors and therefore its Audit Committee on April 12, 2023, the Company no longer complied with the Audit Committee Requirements. Pursuant to Listing Rule 5605(c)(4), Nasdaq provided the Company a cure period to regain compliance with the Audit Committee Requirements, which ended on April 12, 2024.

News

BRSH

Brüush Oral Care Receives Additional Delisting Threat Over Audit Committee Non-Compliance

Biophytis SA (Nasdaq CM:BPTS)(PARIS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALBPS#PARIS">ALBPS</a>), (&quot;Biophytis&quot; or the &quot;Company&quot;), a clinical-stage biotechnology company specialized in thedevelopment oftherapeutics for age-related diseases, today annouces that it will change the ratio of its American Depositary Shares (the &quot;ADSs&quot;) to Biophytis ordinary shares (the &quot;Shares&quot;) from one ADS representing 100 Shares, to one ADS representing 4,000 Shares (the &quot;Ratio Change&quot;). The effective date of the Ratio Change (the &quot;Effective Date&quot;) is expected to be April 23, 2024.

BPTS

PARIS:ALBPS

Biophytis Announces ADR Ratio Change: From 100 To 4,000 Shares Per ADS, Effective April 23

CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer warned that the market hasn&#8217;t found its bottom, advising against buying the dip. Tom Lee of Fundstrat echoed this caution, urging investors to hold off on purchasing stocks, anticipating a forthcoming wave of selling that could signal a bottom in the weeks ahead.
What Happened: Cramer, during his show &#8220;Mad Money,&#8221; suggested that the market is still in a downward trend, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/18/jim-cramer-says-the-market-hasnt-reached-a-real-bottom-yet.html">reported</a> CNBC. He cautioned investors to refrain from buying at the start of the session, stating that this is not the right move. 
Meanwhile, Lee cautioned that the recent surge in the VIX, the market&#8217;s volatility gauge, could prompt further selling, adding to the short-term pressure on stocks, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-outlook-sp500-bottom-buy-the-dip-sell-fundstrat-2024-4">reported</a> Business Insider. 
&#8220;While we normally like to buy dips, as we said earlier this week, the surge in the VIX says we gotta take buying the dip extra slowly,&#8221; Lee said in a video sent to clients on Thursday.
Despite this, Lee suggested that a buying opportunity might emerge soon, as the market seems poised to bottom out, with positive catalysts such as robust corporate earnings growth and potential Fed rate cuts still in play.
&#8220;I think there&#8217;s a widespread belief that you can still buy the dip. That&#8217;s been the right move ever since long-term interest rates peaked back in October,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Now, though, buying the dip is the quintessential wrong thing to do.&#8221;
Cramer pointed out that there are not enough companies with &#8220;brown shoots,&#8221; or disappointing earnings. He also highlighted the unpredictable patterns of market leaders such as Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), and NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), suggesting that investors should not assume that they have reached the bottom.
According to Cramer, the market requires a &#8220;vicious open,&#8221; followed by a &#8220;crescendo&#8221; moment, to reach a lasting bottom. He noted that the S&amp;P 500 has seen green intraday before closing lower each day this week.
Lee predicted that the market could hit a trough within the next month, provided that the Middle East conflict does not escalate further, volatility eases, and investors slow their pace of selling. He also forecasted that the S&amp;P 500 could reach 5,200 by the end of the year, with a best-case scenario of 5,500 or higher.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38293168/macro-guru-raoul-pal-says-80-of-his-crypto-investment-is-in-this-ethereum-rival-and-i-have?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Macro Guru Raoul Pal Says 80% Of His Crypto Investment Is In This Ethereum Rival: &#8216;And I Have 1% In Stupid S&#x2A;&#x2A;t Like Dogwifhat, Dogecoin And Bonk&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Cramer&#8217;s warning comes after he outlined potential factors that could lead to further market decline in a previous show. He advised investors to be cautious about their buying and selling decisions, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38306086/jim-cramer-explains-what-could-trigger-further-market-decline-if-you-want-to-get-out-go-ahead">stating</a>, &#8220;If you want to get out, go ahead.&#8221;
Despite recent concerns, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38284811/wall-street-experts-dismiss-rate-cut-fears-middle-east-tensions-predict-bull-market">Wall Street veterans</a> are confident that the bull market will persist, citing a robust U.S. economy and the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) as key drivers. The U.S. stock market experienced a recent downturn due to escalating tensions in the Middle East and apprehensions about monetary policy.
Earlier in April, Lee had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38214726/fundstrats-tom-lee-encourages-investors-to-seize-market-dip-amid-inflation-concerns">encouraged investors to seize the market dip</a> following an inflation-induced sell-off, suggesting that a potential June rate cut was still on the table. However, his recent cautionary advice suggests a shift in the market dynamics.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38303079/most-s-p-500-stocks-no-longer-trade-above-50-day-average-healthy-pullback-or-is-the?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Most S&amp;P 500 Stocks No Longer Trade Above 50-Day Average: Healthy Pullback Or Is The Bull Market Over?</a>
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Equities

Markets

AAPL

NVDA

TSLA

Buying The Dip? Jim Cramer And Tom Lee Warn Market Hasn't Hit Rock Bottom Yet: 'Quintessential Wrong Thing To Do'

Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) has declared that it will no longer disclose its subscriber count every quarter, hinting at a potential deceleration in user growth.
What Happened: Netflix&#8217;s unexpected decision led to a dip in the company&#8217;s stock, Reuters last Friday. The streaming giant added 9.3 million new subscribers in Q1, nearly twice the predicted number. 
By the end of March, Netflix had a worldwide subscriber base of 269.6 million, marking a year-over-year growth of 16.0%. However, the company will stop revealing subscriber additions each quarter from Q1 2025, choosing to announce them only when significant milestones are achieved.
Co-CEO Greg Peters stated, &#8220;This change is really motivated by wanting to focus on what we see are the key metrics that we think matter most to business.&#8221;
Analysts fear that this move could unsettle investors and make it difficult for Wall Street to model the company&#8217;s business.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38286236/once-trumper-scaramucci-warns-re-electing-ex-president-would-result-in-american-fascism-and-be-very?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;Once-Trumper&#8217; Scaramucci Warns Re-Electing Ex-President Would Result In &#8216;American Fascism&#8217; And Be &#8216;Very Bad&#8217; For Business: &#8216;He Wants To Be North American Autocrat&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: This decision follows <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38324337/netflix-q1-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-9-33-million-paid-subs-added-ad-tier-plan-upda">Netflix&#8217;s first-quarter earnings report,</a> where the company reported a revenue of $9.37 billion, up 14.8%, beating a Street consensus estimate of $9.275 billion. This report also revealed that Netflix added 9.33 million paid subscribers, surpassing expectations.
However, just a week before the earnings report, an analyst from Piper Sandler<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38228178/netflix-q1-subscriber-estimates-too-high-analyst-cautions-on-elevated-expectations-"> cautioned about inflated expectations</a> for Netflix&#8217;s Q1 subscriber numbers.
Price Action: On Thursday, Netflix closed at $610.56, 0.51% lower than its previous close. It was trading at $581.49 in the after-hours market.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38285714/no-more-inventory-discounts-on-tesla-cars-as-ceo-elon-musk-says-sales-system-has-turned-complex-and?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">No More Inventory Discounts On Tesla Cars As CEO Elon Musk Says Sales System Has Turned &#8216;Complex And Inefficient&#8217;</a>
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Entertainment

Tech

General

NFLX

Netflix Is Dumping Quarterly Subscriber Reports: Co-CEO Greg Peters Says This Is What Motivated The Change

LIFW

Reported Earlier, LifeWallet Strikes Settlement With 10 Affiliated P&C Insurers, Expanding Claims Processing In 15 States

NGMS

Reported Earlier, NeoGames And Aristocrat Secure Final Regulatory Nods For Acquisition Deal

Banco Latinoamericano (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLX#NYSE">BLX</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $1.40 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.14 by 22.81 percent. The company reported quarterly sales of $72.600 million which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $57.810 million by 25.58 percent. This is a 22.64 percent increase over sales of $59.200 million the same period last year.

Earnings

Earnings Beats

Banco Latinoamericano Q1 2024 GAAP EPS $1.40 Beats $1.14 Estimate, Sales $72.600M Beat $57.810M Estimate

ENTYVIO is Now Available in the U.S. in Both IV and Subcutaneous Administrations for Maintenance Treatment of Adults with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn&#39;s Disease

Reported Earlier, Takeda Announces U.S. FDA Approval Of ENTYVIO Subcutaneous Administration For Maintenance Therapy In Moderately To Severely Active Crohn's Disease

As Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38312639/tesla-stock-on-free-fall-ahead-of-crucial-q1-earnings-here-are-key-levels-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fell for a fifth straight session</a> on Thursday, breaching a significant psychological threshold, Cathie Wood&#8216;s Ark Investment Management ramped up its acquisition of the stock, while also bolstering its holdings in crypto-related exchange-traded funds.
Doubling Down On Tesla: Across its&nbsp;ARK Innovation ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>),&nbsp;ARK Autonomous Technology &amp; Robotics ETF&nbsp;(CBOE: ARKQ), and&nbsp;ARK Next Generation Internet ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#NYSE">ARKW</a>), Ark purchased 88,720 Tesla shares on Thursday, amounting to approximately $13.30 million based on Tesla&#8217;s closing price of $149.93.
Ark has been consistently accumulating Tesla shares for three consecutive sessions this week, accumulating a total of $26.89 million worth of shares.
This surge in buying activity comes amid Tesla facing downward pressure throughout the week, with analysts revising their estimates and price targets downward in anticipation of a disappointing earnings report next week. Concerns about the company&#8217;s recent announcement of significant&nbsp;layoffs,&nbsp;plans to seek shareholder approval for CEO&nbsp;Elon Musk&#8216;s compensation package, and uncertainties surrounding the potential deprioritization of the sub-$30,000 electric vehicle have all contributed to the stock&#8217;s weakness.
On Thursday, Tesla closed at its lowest level since January 25, 2023.
See Also:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-etfs" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best ETFs To Buy Right Now</a>
Expanding Crypto Exposure: While Ark has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38214834/cathie-woods-ark-invest-sells-20m-coinbase-shares-as-bitcoin-trades-over-70k-buys-palantir-sells" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gradually reducing its exposure</a> to crypto-related stocks like Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) and Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), it refrained from trading these shares on Thursday. 
Instead, Ark augmented its positions in ETFs with crypto exposure.
<ul>
<li>ARKW bought 22,461 units of ARK 21Shares Active Ethereum Futures Strategy ETF (CBOE: ARKZ) valued at $823,645.</li>
<li>Ark&#8217;s ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKF#NYSE">ARKF</a>) 490,751 units of its recently launched spot Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) ETF, the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (CBOE: ARKB) valued at $31.19 million.</li>
<li>Ark&#8217;s ARKW added 42,800 Proshares Ether Strategy ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EETH#NYSE">EETH</a>) valued at $2.90 million.</li>
</ul>
ARKB, which commenced trading on Jan. 11, 2024, has appreciated by approximately 36%, riding on the coattails of Bitcoin&#8217;s rally, which has surged by about 34% since its inception.
On the other hand, ARKZ, an actively managed ETF launched by the Wood-led firm, aims for 100% exposure to&nbsp;Ethereum&nbsp;(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) by investing in ether futures contracts. The fund, boasting approximately $11 million in net assets, has yielded approximately 24% year-to-date.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin has strengthened amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. At last check, the premier cryptocurrency climbed by 0.72% over the past 24 hours to reach $62,141.40, according to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro data.</a>
ARKK fell 0.26% on Thursday before closing at $42.91.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37891092/5-technologies-that-could-be-worth-220-trillion-by-2030-cathie-woods-ark-predicts-t">5 Technologies That Could Be Worth $220 Trillion By 2030, Cathie Wood&#8217;s ARK Predicts: &#8216;The Time Is Now&#8217;</a>

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

Cryptocurrency

Long Ideas

Specialty ETFs

Trading Ideas

ETFs

$BTC

$ETH

ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF

ARKB

ARKF

ARKK

ARKQ

ARKW

ARKZ

COIN

EETH

HOOD

Cathie Wood Sees Value In Tesla Wreckage As Ark Buys $13M Worth Of EV Giant's Stock, Loads Up On Bitcoin And Ethereum ETFs

Changpeng Zhao, the former CEO of Binance, recently clarified that Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/what-is-bitcoin-halving">halving</a> is not akin to a stock split, emphasizing the nascent stage of cryptocurrency understanding.
What Happened: On Friday, Changpeng Zhao took to X, formerly Twitter, to address a question about Bitcoin halving. He stated, &#8220;Someone asked me if bitcoin halving is like a stock split&#8230; We are still early. (Answer is no) Happy halving!&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Someone asked me if bitcoin halving is like a stock split&#8230; We are still early. (Answer is no) Happy halving! <a href="https://t.co/gxAvfOpGQH">pic.twitter.com/gxAvfOpGQH</a>
&mdash; CZ &#x1f536; BNB (@cz_binance) <a href="https://twitter.com/cz_binance/status/1781180083425988959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Zhao, shared his earlier thoughts on halving dated Oct. 9, 2023. The Binance founder reflected on Bitcoin halvings based on his past experiences with the event. 
He said that in the months leading up to the halving, there was typically increased discussion, news coverage, anxiety, and anticipation surrounding Bitcoin.
However, immediately after the halving, the price of Bitcoin didn&#8217;t skyrocket overnight. Despite this, in the year following the halving, Bitcoin&#8217;s price often reached multiple all-time highs, prompting people to wonder about the reasons behind it. Zhao emphasized that while there may not be proven causation between halvings and price movements, history doesn&#8217;t necessarily predict the future.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38284502/dogecoin-killer-shiba-inu-sees-significant-increase-in-token-burn-rate-as-price-recovers-i?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;Dogecoin Killer&#8217; Shiba Inu Sees Significant Increase In Token Burn Rate, As Price Recovers — Is A Turnar</a>
Why It Matters: Bitcoin halving is a pre-programmed mechanism that fundamentally impacts the economics of mining and potentially shapes the future price and ecosystem of Bitcoin. The upcoming halving event, the fourth of its kind, is scheduled for around April 20, 2024. This event will slash Bitcoin miner rewards from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC.
Contrary to a stock split, which increases the number of shares of a company without changing its market capitalization, Bitcoin halving reduces the rate at which new tokens are created, effectively limiting the cryptocurrency&#8217;s supply. This fundamental difference underlines Zhao&#8217;s clarification and the importance of understanding the unique dynamics of cryptocurrency.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin traded 1.2% higher at $61,961.16, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data. </a>
Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38299089/trump-related-maga-memecoin-onboards-roger-stone-as-partner?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump-Related MAGA Memecoin Onboards Roger Stone As Partner</a>
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Is Bitcoin Halving Like A Stock Split? Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao Says 'No' — Offers Insights On Post-Event Dynamics

With U.S. stock futures trading lower this morning on Friday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
Wall Street expects The Procter &amp; Gamble Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PG#NYSE">PG</a>) to report quarterly earnings at $1.41 per share on revenue of $20.41 billion before the opening bell, according to data from Benzinga Pro. Procter &amp; Gamble shares fell 0.1% to $157.14 in after-hours trading.
Intuitive Surgical Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ISRG#NASDAQ">ISRG</a>) reported better-than-expected results for its first quarter on Thursday. Intuitive Surgical shares gained 3.5% to $385.60 in the after-hours trading session.
Analysts are expecting American Express Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>) to post quarterly earnings at $2.95 per share on revenue of $15.79 billion. The company will release earnings before the markets open. American Express shares fell 1.7% to $213.90 in after-hours trading.
Check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) reported upbeat earnings and sales results for its first quarter. The company added 9.33 million paid net new subscribers in the first quarter to bring the company to a total of 269.60 million. Netflix shares fell 4.8% to $581.49 in the after-hours trading session.
Analysts expect Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLB#NYSE">SLB</a>) to post quarterly earnings at 75 cents per share on revenue of $8.69 billion before the opening bell. SLB shares fell 0.5% to $50.69 in after-hours trading.
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38285336/how-to-earn-500-a-month-from-intel-stock-ahead-of-q1-earnings">How To Earn $500 A Month From Intel Stock Ahead Of Q1 Earnings</a>

Pre-Market Outlook

ISRG

Netflix, Procter & Gamble And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Friday

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a slight decline in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Thursday.
U.S. stocks closed mixed on Thursday, with the S&amp;P 500 falling for a fifth straight session. All major indices are also on course to record losses this week, with the S&amp;P 500 falling more than 2% so far during the week.
On the economic data front, U.S. initial jobless claims came in unchanged from the previous week at 212,000 for the week ending April 18, down from market expectations of 215,000. The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index increased 12 points to a reading of 15.5 in April, topping market estimates of 1.5.
D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>) reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results. After the closing bell, Netflix Inc  (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) reported upbeat earnings and sales results for its first quarter.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with communication services, utilities and consumer staples stocks recording the biggest gains on Thursday. However, information technology and consumer discretionary stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.
The Dow Jones closed higher by around 22 points to 37,775.38 on Thursday. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.22% at 5,011.12, while the Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.52% at 15,601.50 during Thursday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from The Procter &amp; Gamble (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PG#NYSE">PG</a>), American Express Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>) and Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLB#NYSE">SLB</a>) today.
At a current reading of 34.1, the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Thursday, versus a prior reading of 34.3.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/04/38312296/jim-cramer-recommends-buying-ethereum-or-bitcoin-instead-of-this-stock-lets-not-fool-aro">Jim Cramer Recommends Buying Ethereum Or Bitcoin Instead Of This Stock: &#8216;Let&#8217;s Not Fool Around&#8217;</a>

Investor Optimism Edges Lower; S&P 500 Settles Lower For Fifth Session

American Express Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>) is expected to release earnings results for its first quarter, before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AXP/earnings">opening bell on April 19, 2024</a>.
Analysts expect the New York-based company to report quarterly earnings at $2.95 per share, up from $2.19 per share in the year-ago quarter. American Express is projected to report quarterly revenue of $15.79 billion, compared to $13.05 billion in the year-earlier period, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
CLEAR recently extended its partnership with American Express to deliver premium value to members and enhance airport experience.
American Express shares fell 0.1% to close at $217.50 on Thursday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AXP/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>HSBC analyst Saul Martinez maintained a Buy rating and boosted the price target from $232 to $239 on April 11, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Donald Fandetti maintained an Overweight rating and increased the price target from $220 to $250 on April 10, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.</li>
<li>UBS analyst Eric Wasserstrom maintained a Neutral rating and boosted the price target from $188 to $206 on Jan. 29, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 75%.</li>
<li>BMO Capital analyst James Fotheringham maintained an Underperform and raised the price target from $157 to $159 on Jan. 29, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 73%.</li>
<li>Baird analyst David George downgraded the stock from Neutral to Underperform with a price target of $190 on Jan. 8, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 74%.</li>
</ul>
Read This Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38268727/top-4-tech-stocks-you-may-want-to-dump-in-april">Top 4 Tech Stocks You May Want To Dump In April</a>

Price Target

American Express Earnings Are Imminent; These Most Accurate Analysts Revise Forecasts Ahead Of Earnings Call

HMN Financial(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HMNF#NASDAQ">HMNF</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.30 per share. This is a 18.92 percent decrease over earnings of $0.37 per share from the same period last year. The company reported $9.16 million in sales this quarter. This is a 8.29 percent decrease over sales of $9.99 million the same period last year.

HMNF

HMN Financial Q1 EPS $0.30 Down From $0.37 YoY, Sales $9.16M Down From $9.99M YoY

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) has taken down Meta Platforms&#8217; (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) applications, WhatsApp and Threads, from its China App Store, in response to a Chinese government order.
What Happened: The Chinese government&#8217;s directive specifically targeted WhatsApp and Threads, without providing a detailed explanation of the perceived security threat, Reuters reported on Friday. Other Meta apps including Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger remain accessible in the China App Store.
Apple, in an email statement to Reuters, said, &#8220;The Cyberspace Administration of China ordered the removal of these apps from the China storefront based on their national security concerns. We are obligated to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even when we disagree.&#8221;
At the time of publishing this article, a Meta spokesperson referred to Apple for further comments while Apple has yet to respond to the queries sent by <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38288119/chinese-fighter-jets-shadow-us-navy-aircraft-over-taiwan-strait-amid-escalating-tensions-will-resolu?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese Fighter Jets Shadow US Navy Aircraft Over Taiwan Strait Amid Escalating Tensions: &#8216;Will Resolutely Defend National Sovereignty And Security&#8230;&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: This development follows a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/23/10/35087405/apple-yields-to-chinese-regulations-developers-now-need-government-license-for-app-store-access">new regulation introduced last August, </a>mandating all apps in China to register with the government or face removal. The deadline for registration was the end of March, and the rules came into effect on Apr. 1. 
Apple has previously removed apps from its China App Store, including The New York Times news app in 2017, and several ChatGPT-like apps in 2021. Apple had initially resisted the Chinese government&#8217;s rules for app stores but eventually complied.
Apple&#8217;s CEO, Tim Cook, recently visited China, a move that analysts suggest could indicate Apple&#8217;s intention to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37927675/tim-cooks-latest-visit-a-sign-apple-could-double-down-on-china-says-analyst-as-ipho">double down on its presence in the country</a>, despite regulatory pressures and declining sales. 
Meanwhile, Meta has faced its own share of challenges in China, partially due to CEO Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/07/33097839/mark-zuckerbergs-chants-against-china-proves-costly-for-his-metaverse-ambitions-in-country">unfavorable image in the country</a>.
The removal of the apps comes amid increasing tensions between the U.S. and China, with the U.S. House of Representatives recently<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/03/37800098/tiktok-ban-china-has-the-power-to-block-sale-gains-leverage-over-washington"> moving forward on a bill that could ban TikTok</a> in the U.S. unless sold by its owner, ByteDance Ltd.
Price Action: On Thursday, Apple closed 0.57% lower than its previous close at $167.04 while Meta closed at $501.80, indicating a 1.54% increase since its previous close.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/04/38274667/prudent-investors-pay-attention-to-the-extraordinary-treasuries-move-momo-obliviously-buys-stocks?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Prudent Investors Pay Attention To The Extraordinary Treasuries&#8217; Move – Momo Obliviously Buys Stocks</a>
Photo by James Yarema on Unsplash
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Social Media

Global

Apple Bows To China's Security Concerns: Pulls 2 Meta Products From App Store

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

Germany Producer Price Index (MoM) For March 0.2% Vs. 0.0% Est.; -0.4% Prior

U.K. Retail Sales (MoM) For March 0.0% Vs. 0.3% Est.; 0.1% Prior

U.K. Retail Sales (YoY) For March 0.8% Vs. -0.3% (Revised) Prior

Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLB#NYSE">SLB</a>) is set to release earnings results for its first quarter before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SLB/earnings">opening bell on April 19, 2024.</a>
Analysts expect the Houston, Texas-based company to report quarterly earnings at 75 cents per share, up from 63 cents per share in the year-ago period. SLB is projected to report quarterly revenue of $8.69 billion, compared to $7.74 billion in the year-earlier quarter, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
SLB recently announced an agreement to acquire ChampionX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHX#NYSE">CHX</a>) in an all-stock transaction. Schlumberger will acquire ChampionX, and the shareholders will receive 0.735 shares of Schlumberger in exchange for each ChampionX share.
SLB shares rose 0.3% to close at $50.94 on Thursday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SLB/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>Susquehanna analyst Charles Minervino maintained a Positive rating with a price target of $77 on April 8, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%.</li>
<li>Barclays analyst David Anderson maintained an Overweight rating and cut the price target from $74 to $70 on April 4, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 69%.</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs analyst Neil Mehta maintained a Buy rating on April 1, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Roger Read maintained an Overweight rating and boosted the price target from $69 to $70 on Jan. 22, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 74%.</li>
<li>Raymond James analyst James Rollyson maintained an Outperform rating and increased the price target from $68 to $72 on Oct. 23, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.</li>
</ul>
Also Read This: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/04/38321908/top-3-consumer-stocks-which-could-rescue-your-portfolio-this-quarter">Top 3 Consumer Stocks Which Could Rescue Your Portfolio This Quarter</a>