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The fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in U.S. listed common stock of large-, mid- and small-capitalization discretionary spending companies. It will hold common stock of those companies that fall into the Discretionary Spending Evolved Sector which have economic characteristics that have been historically correlated with companies traditionally defined as consumer discretionary companies. The fund is non-diversified.

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Target and Ross Stores expected to have better revenues in Q2 as consumers continue spending despite uncertainties, according to analysts.

Target, Ross Stores Expected To Post Higher Revenues As Consumers Stay Resilient: Analysts

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Home Depot shares rise on lower price target and estimates after Q2 earnings results, with raised sales guidance and adjusted EPS forecast.

Home Depot&#39;s Price Forecasts For 2024 Lowered By Analysts Amid Modest Sales Growth, Cite Weaker Consumer Outlook

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Home Depot&#39;s revenue declined in Q2 due to cautious consumers and tough market trends. Analysts predict lower financing costs and maintain $360 target.

Home Depot Sales Fall Short As Consumers &#39;Become Increasingly Cautious&#39;: Analyst (CORRECTED)

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China's Financial Regulator Says Banks Are Encouraged To Support Loan Renewals For Borrowers Facing Temporary Financial Difficulties; Medium-Sized Firms With Working Capital Loans Due By Sept 30, 2027, May Receive Renewal Support Similar To That Available For Small And Micro Firms

Cipher Mining Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CIFR#NASDAQ">CIFR</a>) shares are moving higher. The company on Tuesday announced the closing of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/09/g41003371/cipher-mining-announces-the-closing-of-its-acquisition-of-barber-lake-300-mw-data-center-site">300 MW data center site</a>.
What Happened: Cipher said it completed its acquisition of the Barber Lake site in West Texas. The Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) mining company acquired the site for&nbsp;$67.5 million&nbsp;in cash and a variable fee of&nbsp;$3 per MWh (megawatt hour) for the initial five years after the energization of the site.
The site has 300 MW of capacity, a newly constructed high-to-mid voltage substation and all necessary regulatory approvals. Cipher also noted that it acquired 250 acres of land surrounding the substation and completed all necessary agreements to participate in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market. 
&#8220;We are delighted to close the acquisition of our new Barber Lake site, which is ideally suited for either hosting a large HPC customer or mining bitcoin. The site is immediately available with an existing high-quality substation and all the essential characteristics necessary to develop a large-scale HPC data center,&#8221; said Tyler Page, CEO of Cipher Mining.
&#8220;Large sites with these characteristics are extremely rare, and we have already received interest in the site from multiple hyperscalers. We sold a portion of our bitcoin treasury to fund the majority of this purchase and believe we have exchanged one rare and valuable asset for an even more rare and more valuable asset – an immediately available, large-scale, interconnected site with plenty of land.&#8221;
Including this acquisition and other recently announced purchases, Cipher&#8217;s portfolio is expected to grow to more than 2.5 GW across 10 sites. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41005694/bitcoin-is-gold-with-a-leverage-says-expert-who-sees-us-government-in-big-trouble-over-deb">Bitcoin Is &#8216;Gold With A Leverage,&#8217; Says Expert Who Sees US Government In Big Trouble Over Debt Burden</a>
CIFR Price Action: <a href="http://benzinga.com/quote/cifr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cipher shares</a> were up 5.69% at $3.16 at the time of publication Tuesday, per <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo: Gaston Cerliani from Shutterstock.

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As most everyone knows by now, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates at their September meeting for the first time since 2020.  The size of the cut, 50 basis points (bps), which is half a percent, was a surprise, at least to <a href="http://www.lcmcapital.com">LCM Capital Management</a>.  This should have a positive impact on most things people use to finance their way of life; from mortgage rates, car loans and eventually credit card debt. However, it will have a negative impact on the interest rates savers receive, reducing what banks pay to their clients on their savings.  This is a positive for the banks if you couldn't tell.
So why would the Federal Reserve cut rates more than the 25bps the market was anticipating?
No one knows for sure, probably not even Fed Chairman Powell. &nbsp;&nbsp;We remind you of one of our firm's favorite quotes from him in July 2022, "we now understand better how little we understand about inflation." &nbsp;
According to Mr. Powell's policy statement after the rate cut decision, "this decision reflects our growing confidence that with an appropriate recalibration of our policy stance, strength in the labor market can be maintained." &nbsp;
We would like to remind Mr. Powell that just last month nbcnews.com wrote, "U.S. job gains over the 12 months ending in March were revised downward by 818,000 which was the largest negative revision downward since 2009 and adds to recent concerns that the economy has been slowing. The change means that roughly 2.1 million jobs were created in the U.S. in the past year, compared with about 2.9 million prior to the revision (almost 30% less than thought). The new figures do not represent job losses —&nbsp;merely new estimates of how many jobs were actually created during the period in question." &nbsp;While it is correct to say it is not job losses, it still points to labor market weakness.
Bank of America research analysts said after the report&#8217;s release, &#8220;Even after these large downward revisions, the labor market looks to have been on solid footing.&#8221;&nbsp; Don't know what planet they are living on, but a 30% downward revision doesn't exactly sound to us as having solid footing.
So maybe they cut rates because inflation is now under control? Well according to the Fed's statement, "we have greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2% and that the central bank judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are roughly in balance"
So, <a href="http://www.lcmcapital.com">LCM Capital Management</a> asks, does anyone think inflation is running at or near 2% or even dropping as the Fed says it is?
Inflation as most of you know, measures how prices for goods and services rise over time which reduces the purchasing power of money. It affects everything. The Consumer Price Index (CPI), is probably the most commonly known index for tracking inflation.
The CPI is weighted according to a typical household's budget meaning, housing has a bigger influence than apparel. &nbsp;It should if it's going to represent most American's month to month cost of living. &nbsp;Since we are all talking about AI these days, we thought we would ask Chat-GPT what makes up the CPI index? &nbsp;After reading each category, please ask yourself – is this costing me more or less than last year, 2 years ago or 4 years ago?
<ol>
<li>Housing (Shelter):  Housing costs, including rent, utilities, and homeowners' equivalent rent (an estimate of what homeowners would pay to rent their own homes), make up the largest portion of the CPI, typically around 30%.  However, the CPI doesn't account for interest payments on mortgages, loans, or credit cards.  Instead, it focuses on rent and the cost of owning a home so fed's rate cut doesn't mean this category is coming down.</li>
<li>Food and Beverages:  This category tracks the cost of groceries (food at home) and dining out, including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.  Been out to dinner or for drinks lately?</li>
<li>Transportation:  Transportation costs include gasoline, vehicle purchases, used car prices, maintenance, public transit fares, and airline tickets.</li>
<li>Medical Care:  This covers health insurance, prescription drugs, medical services, and medical supplies.  Anyone's premiums dropping?</li>
<li>Apparel:  Clothing, footwear, and related accessories are included here, although this category tends to be less volatile compared to others</li>
<li>Recreation:  Spending on entertainment, such as movies, hobbies, sports equipment, and recreational activities, falls under this category.  Taken the kids to a ball game lately?</li>
<li>Education and Communication:  This includes school tuition, textbooks, telephone services, and internet bills.  Do you have any kids going to college?</li>
<li>Energy:  Energy costs track the prices of electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and gasoline.</li>
<li>Other Goods and Services:  This catch-all category includes personal care products, beauty services, and miscellaneous expenses like funeral costs.</li>
</ol>
Are any of these things costing you less? &nbsp;Didn't think so.&nbsp;
What continues to perplex us is Core CPI, a term our government and Federal Reserve like to use as their real inflation indicator. Core CPI is the CPI minus food and energy and they exclude these because they can fluctuate in cost quite unpredictably. The problem is, these are 2 essential life living requirements and without them, literally, we can't survive. So why remove them from the cost of living? &nbsp;Our guess, because it fits their narrative, whatever that might be.
Perhaps some things have reached a plateau, but as consumers, does anyone see prices falling?&nbsp; Time will tell why the Fed cut rates more than anticipated but I think we can all agree it sure doesn't seem to be because inflation and our cost of living are dropping as they want us to believe. &nbsp;Or maybe the interest payments on debt created was becoming uncomfortable.

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XPeng Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPEV#NYSE">XPEV</a>) shares are trading higher<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket" rel="noreferrer noopener"> on Tuesday.</a>
In fact, shares of U.S.-listed Chinese companies are trading higher after <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/41004045" rel="noreferrer noopener">China Central Bank announced a new stimulus package.</a>
Xpeng has formed a dealership agreement to penetrate the Qatari market, advancing its global presence, <a target="_blank" href="https://cnevpost.com/2024/09/23/xpeng-signs-dealer-deal-enter-qatar/" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> CnEV Post. The pact designates Pioneer Motors, part of Qatar&#8217;s Almana Group, as its collaborator in this initiative.
According to a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3279572/chinese-ev-maker-xpeng-adds-qatar-export-list-amid-price-war-home" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a> by the South China Morning Post, by year&#8217;s end, motorists in Qatar will have the opportunity to purchase various all-electric Xpeng models featuring autonomous driving technology, such as the P7 sedan and G6 SUV.
Also Read:<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/41004167/ready-for-the-road-ford-opens-orders-for-2025-f-series-super-duty-truck" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Ready For The Road &#8211; Ford Opens Orders For 2025 F-Series Super Duty Truck</a>
South China Morning Post added that Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia are emerging as significant markets for Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers regarding exports and production sites, citing a report published by Moody&#8217;s in late August.
These areas exhibited reduced geopolitical risks, and their electric vehicle adoption is increasing as their gross domestic product per capita rises and their climate change efforts advance, the report noted.
According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>, XPEV stock has lost over 39% in the past year. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P Kensho Smart Mobility ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAIL#NYSE">HAIL</a>) and&nbsp;Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PBW#NYSE">PBW</a>).
Price Action: XPEV shares are trading higher by 7.17% to $10.25 at last check Tuesday.
Photo via Shutterstock
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40996835" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">XPeng Touches Production Milestone Of 500K EVs: Here&#8217;s How Many Electric Cars The Chinese Company Has Delivered</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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Telsey Advisory Group analyst Dana Telsey maintains Birkenstock Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIRK#NYSE">BIRK</a>) with a Outperform and maintains $70 price target.

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XChange Tec.INC shares are trading higher after the company announced it entered into a securities purchase agreement with VG Master Fund SPC.

Source: <a href="https://www.streetwisereports.com/article/2024/09/20/acquisition-has-other-brazil-lithium-cos-wondering-whos-next.html?utm_medium=feed">Streetwise Reports 09/20/2024</a>
In Brazil&#39;s emerging lithium sector, a US$370 million acquisition of a local company has other junior explorers the wondering if they could be next.
Lithium prices have been on quite the roller coaster. After peaking at a high of over US$79,637 per ton in 2022 on the back of the battery power needed for electric vehicles (EVs) and the energy transition, they hit their lowest point in three years in 2024 after EV sales didn&#39;t soar as high as expected.
But that doesn&#39;t mean lithium won&#39;t still be needed, or that EVs won&#39;t eventually fulfill their promise, helping transition the economy to cleaner energy.
Chief Executive Officer Dale Henderson of Australian miner Pilbara Minerals Ltd. (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pilbf#OTC">PILBF</a>), which recently announced a US$370 million deal to take over Latin Resources Ltd. and its Salinas lithium project in Brazil, said his company is thinking long-term with the purchase.
&quot;The quality of the Salinas project that Latin Resources has developed is very high quality and we think it will be a very low-cost operation once fully developed&quot; Henderson said, according to a Reuters article. &quot;Inevitable price cycles, it will be able to navigate those, we think, with ease.&quot;
Under the all-share deal, Latin Resources shareholders will receive 0.07 new Pilbara shares for each share held. After the deal was announced in August, shares of Latin Resources soared 56% in their biggest one-day percentage gain in more than two years, another Reuters article reported.
In Brazil&#39;s emerging lithium sector, where an &quot;overhaul in lithium export regulations has transformed the country into a burgeoning hub for lithium production&quot; according to S&amp;P Global, the deal has other junior explorers wondering who could be next.
<h2>A New Hub for Lithium Production</h2>
Brazil is becoming a burgeoning hub for lithium production, unlocking vast economic potential and attracting global investments.
&quot;With three operational plants and eight more planned, Brazil&#39;s lithium carbonate equivalent output reached 29,976 Mt (metric tons) in 2023, with expectations of up to a fivefold increase by 2028&quot; S&amp;P noted.
According to BMO Capital Markets analyst Greg Jones in an August 14 research report, the Pilbara acquisition of Latin Resources represented a 32% premium to Latin Resources&#39; 30-day VWAP (volume-weighted average price).
&quot;Based on Latin&#39;s resources of 77.7 Mt at 1.24% Li20, the consideration implies an EV (enterprise value)/resource multiple of ~US$150/t LCE, which is generally in line with multiples paid in other recent lithium developer transactions&quot; Jones wrote.
Latin Resources&#39; &quot;Salinas lithium project has the potential to become one of the 10 largest rock-based lithium operations in the world in terms of production and could open up new growth markets in Europe and North America for Pilbara Minerals&quot; Henderson told the Exposibram (Brazilian International Mining Expo and Congress) event in Brazil, according to an article in Stockhead.
&quot;A September 2023 preliminary economic assessment outlined the potential for an 11-year operation to produce 499,000 tonnes of 5.2% spodumene at total cash costs of US$567 per tonne&quot; at Salinas, Australian mining journalist Kristie Batten wrote for the website. &quot;Capital costs for the two-stage operation are US$308 million, which will be refined by Pilbara as part of an optimized definitive feasibility study by Pilbara once the acquisition closes.&quot;
The deal is expected to close by early December.
<h2>An Opportunity for Buyers</h2>
BMO&#39;s Jones wrote in a late August report that the landscape in the Americas (including South America) is providing an opportunity for buyers, Batten reported.
&quot;Given current valuations and the difficulty in raising capital, we see the conditions as being favorable for M&amp;A from a buyer&#39;s perspective&quot; Jones noted in the report. &quot;In our view, projects that buyers will find the most attractive will offer high-quality resources with large-scale, long-life potential, low capital intensity, operating costs at the lower end of the cost curve, access to infrastructure, as well as benefit from a defined permitting process and social license/community support.&quot;
While the firm sees a &quot;limited universe of potential buyers at the current time&quot; he wrote, &quot;These circumstances could present [an] opportunity for others to outright acquire (e.g., mining-focused private equity), or pursue strategic/joint venture investments (e.g., auto OEMs, battery manufacturers) with less competition.&quot;
&quot;In addition, the current environment may prompt government investment, or direct involvement in order to encourage project development, which could support developer valuations and bridge the gap to a stronger M&amp;A market&quot; Jones wrote, according to Batten.
<h2>The Catalyst: Metal Helps Put Spark in Energy Transition</h2>
What&#39;s the big deal? Lithium is a critical metal vital in the energy transition for its use in batteries for EVs and other applications. It also is used in electronics, medicine and other industries.
Global demand for lithium is expected to maintain the steady climb it commenced in 2020 to at least 2035, Statista data show, reaching 3,829,000 metric tons of LCE from 917,000 metric tons in 2023.
According to a report by Grand View Research, market size for the metal was estimated at US$31.75 billion last year and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.7% from this year through 2030.
&quot;The automotive application segment is expected to witness substantial growth, driven by stringent regulations imposed by government bodies on ICE automakers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles&quot; researchers said. &quot;This has shifted the interest of automakers toward producing EVs, which is anticipated to benefit the demand for lithium and related products.&quot;
EVs and battery storage primarily will fuel future growth of the lithium market, Marin Katusa of Katusa Research wrote recently. He pointed out that all major electric vehicle batteries require lithium, about 1.55 pounds per kilowatt hour of battery capacity, on average.
&quot;I think the data speaks for itself that there&#39;s more growth and opportunity on the horizon&quot; Katusa wrote.
<h2>Slowdown Could Easily Reverse</h2>
In a July article for Reuters, Andy Home wrote that the current slowdown could easily reverse.
&quot;One critical facilitator will be the build-out of EV charging infrastructure, a sector which has attracted far less investment than battery manufacturing&quot; he wrote. &quot;Car buyers in Europe and the United States are choosing hybrids because of range anxiety, and they will continue to do so until they see more charging points. The second key factor is price.&quot;
However, &quot;the seeds of the next lithium upswing are already being sown in the current low-price environment&quot; Home wrote.
S&amp;P reported that local industry players in Brazil agree with Pilbara&#39;s Henderson and are confident that &quot;the low-cost structure of their projects and projected competitive production costs will help them withstand the ongoing pricing pressure.&quot;
Following are two junior explorers operating in the country and watching the Pilbara/Latin Resources transaction with deep interest.
<h2>Atlas Lithium Corp.</h2>
Atlas Lithium Corp. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/atlx#NASDAQ">ATLX</a>) announced this year that it has more than doubled its lithium exploration portfolio in the Brazil&#39;s &quot;Lithium Valley&quot; to about 539 square kilometers, or nearly 54,000 hectares (approximately 133,000 acres), leading the company to believe &quot;it has the largest claim ownership position of any listed company in this new lithium frontier&quot; and the &quot;largest lithium exploration footprint in Brazil.&quot;
Earlier this year, Atlas signed an offtake agreement with Mitsui &amp; Co. Ltd. (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mitsf#OTC">MITSF</a>) for future production from the company&#39;s Neves Project. Mitsui is one of the largest global companies with headquarters in Japan; Warren Buffett&#39;s Berkshire Hathaway is one of its largest investors.
Mitsui invested US$30 million in purchasing common shares of Atlas Lithium. In parallel, Mitsui secured an offtake agreement with Atlas Lithium, ensuring access to 15,000 tons of lithium concentrate from the initial production with the potential to expand up to 60,000 tons annually.
The company&#39;s modular dense media separation (DMS) lithium processing plant, fabricated in South Africa and currently in pre-shipment stage, is a key part of its strategy to advance production at its Minas Gerais lithium project in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable manner.
&quot;Atlas Lithium&#39;s strategic initiatives in Brazil are not just pivotal for the company but also play a crucial role in the broader context of U.S. efforts to reduce dependence on foreign sources for these vital materials&quot; wrote Mangeet Kaur Bouns <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/partner/commodities/24/07/39955895/all-eyes-on-atlas-lithium-as-the-us-assistant-secretary-of-state-for-energy-resources-visits-" rel="noopener" target="_blank">for Benzinga</a>. &quot;The expansion of Atlas Lithium&#39;s exploration footprint in Brazil . . . highlights the potential of this region as a significant contributor to the global supply chain of critical minerals. As the world transitions to a greener energy mix, the demand for these minerals is set to skyrocket.&quot;
And it&#39;s not just for environmental sustainability. The strategic importance of the mineral extends to national security and economic development.
&quot;China&#39;s dominance in producing and processing critical minerals may exacerbate these risks, as highlighted by recent geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions&quot; the Benzinga report said. &quot;To mitigate these vulnerabilities, the U.S. government is focusing on securing supply chains through partnerships and investments in countries rich in critical minerals. With its substantial reserves of copper, lithium, and other critical minerals, Latin America is emerging as a key region for such investments.&quot;
Analyst Joe Reagor of ROTH Capital Partners wrote in a research note on July 26 that &quot;we continue to believe Atlas Lithium Corp. has the potential to enter production in early 2025.&quot;
Heiko Ihle, an analyst with H.C. Wainwright &amp; Co., agreed in a July 9 note.
&quot;We remain confident that the firm can start recording revenue from spodumene at Das Neves once production begins&quot; the analyst wrote.
About 34% of Atlas Lithium is owned by management and insiders. About 11% of the shareholders are institutional, strategic partners with another 12%. The rest, about 43%, is retail.
Top shareholders include Waratah Capital Advisors Ltd. with 4.34%, Mitsui &amp; Co. Ltd. with 12.27%, and Candace Shira Associates LLC with 1.39%, according to Reuters.
Its market cap is about US$143.8 million. It trades in a 52-week range of US$34 and US$8.37.
<h2>Lithium Ionic Corp.</h2>
Another company in the country making the transition from exploration to production is Lithium Ionic Corp. (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lthcf#OTC">LTHCF</a>) has achieved a milestone with the approval of its final exploration reports for the Bandeira and Outro Lado lithium properties by Brazil&#39;s National Mining Agency (Agencia Nacional de Mineracao, or ANM).
The company has submitted both the mining concession application and the economic viability study (Plano de Aproveitamento Economico, or PAE) for its Bandeira property following the ANM&#39;s approval. The PAE outlines technical, economic, and environmental details of the mining project and is seen as essential for securing the final approval needed for the project&#39;s operational phase.
A Feasibility Study published earlier this year for the company&#39;s flagship Bandeira Lithium Project highlighted a post-tax NPV of US$1.31 billion and an IRR of 40% for a 14-year mine life producing an average of 178,000 tonnes per year of 5.5% spodumene concentrate at a low operating cost of US$444 per tonne.
Now, Lithium Ionic is awaiting approval for the Licenca Ambiental Concomitante (LAC), an environmental license that will permit construction at the Bandeira site, with approval expected in the coming months. The LAC is another important step before the mining concession can be fully granted.
In a September 10 research report, BMO&#39;s Jones highlighted the significance of the ANM approval, stating, &quot;LTH has now submitted the Mining Concession application and the Economic Viability Study. Achieving concession status will mark the final legal approval required to transition Bandeira from exploration to extraction/production.&quot;
The analyst maintained an Outperform(S) rating and a target price of CA$2.00 on the stock.
Canaccord Genuity Analyst Katie Lachapelle, in another September 10 research report, wrote that &quot;from a regulatory perspective, the next major hurdle &mdash; and a key catalyst, in our view &mdash; will be the approval of the Licen&ccedil;a Ambiental Concomitante (LAC) for the Bandeira Lithium Project.&quot; Lachapelle maintained her Speculative Buy rating for Lithium Ionic with a price target of CA$2.50.
Finally, Desjardins Analyst Frederic Tremblay rated Lithium Ionic a Buy in an August 15 research note.
Pilbara&#39;s acquisition of Latin Resources reinforces Lithium Ionic&#39;s status as a takeout candidate, Tremblay pointed out. One possibility is that Pilbara acquires Lithium Ionic&#39;s Salinas project, too, given the potential for synergies between it and Latin Resources&#39; Salinas project. Another possibility is that Lithium Ionic gets taken out in its entirety rather than just one of its assets, by a company looking for exposure to Brazil.
&quot;That said, we also continue to view [Lithium Ionic] as an attractive investment even if no takeout scenario ultimately materializes&quot; wrote Tremblay.
According to the company, management and insiders own 20% of the Lithium Ionic.
One of the insiders, President &amp; Director Helio Diniz, owns 5.52%, Director Michael Lawrence Guy owns 5.10%, Director David Patrick Gower owns 2.56%, and Andre Rezende Gumaraes owns 2.52%, according to Reuters.
30% is held by institutional investors. Reuters reports Waratah Captial Advisors owns 7.01%, JGP Gestao de Recursos Ltda owns 2.69%, RBC Global Asset Management Inc owns 1.94%, Sprott Asset Management LP owns 1.55%, BMO Asset Management owns 1.30%, and IXIOS Asset Management SA owns 1.20%. The rest is retail.
Lithium Ionic has 158.58 million shares outstanding and 131.15 million free-float traded shares.
The company&#39;s market cap is CA$104.66 million, and it trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.41 - 2.24 per share.
Important Disclosures:
<ol>
<li>Atlas Lithium Corp. and Lithium Ionic Corp. are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports and pay SWR a monthly sponsorship fee between US$4,000 and US$5,000.</li>
<li>Steve Sobek wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an employee.</li>
<li>This article does not constitute investment advice and is not a solicitation for any investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her personal financial adviser and perform their own comprehensive investment research. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports&#39; terms of use and full legal disclaimer. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company.</li>
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Acquisition Has Other Brazil Lithium Cos. Wondering Who's Next

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Pseudonymous crypto trader Dentoshi thinks the performance of meme coins Dogwifhat (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">WIF</a>) and Pepe (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">PEPE</a>) could signal the continuation or end of the current &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/06/39420068/is-the-meme-coin-super-cycle-over-trader-outlines-pros-and-cons">memecoin supercycle</a>.&#8221;
What Happened: Dentoshi, known for his technical analysis, took to his social media <a href="https://x.com/Dentoshi/status/1838521939758928027">account</a> to analyze the situation of the two popular meme coins.
A strong reaction off the 0.382 Fibonacci level for WIF could indicate a direct continuation of the uptrend. Dentoshi reminds reader that the meme coin attempted this in May, stating, "We tried in May with WIF, pumped 30% higher from entry but wasn&#8217;t able to sustain."
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="531" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24102436/image-191-1024x531.png" alt="" class="wp-image-563388" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24102436/image-191-1024x531.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24102436/image-191-300x155.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24102436/image-191-768x398.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24102436/image-191-1536x796.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24102436/image-191.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
The second scenario, which Dentoshi seems to view as more critical at this juncture, involves a deeper retracement into the 0.618 to 0.707 Fibonacci zone. He suggests that if the market still has momentum, this should represent the lowest point of the pullback before a potential upward move.
The trader emphasizes the importance of confirmation before entering a position, advising traders to get involved only after seeing a clear breakout from this area.
For the unfamiliar, Fibonacci retracement levels are&nbsp;horizontal lines on a chart that indicate potential support and resistance levels for a meme coin.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/digital-assets/ "><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="250" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/27091545/Benzinga-conference.gif" alt="Benzinga future of digital assets conference" class="wp-image-267246" /></a></figure>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40956111/pepe-leapfrogs-dogecoin-shiba-inu-in-30-day-gains-trading-volume-no-one-is-bullish-enough-">Pepe Leapfrogs Dogecoin, Shiba Inu In 30-Day Gains, Trading Volume: &#8216;No One Is Bullish Enough,&#8217; Says Trader</a>
Why It Matters: The trader&#8217;s analysis implies that the current price action of WIF and PEPE could be at a pivotal point.
If these meme coins show strength and bounce from these deeper Fibonacci levels, it might signal a continuation of the broader meme coin trend and possibly influence the overall crypto market sentiment.
Dogwifhat and Pepe individually and combined have higher trading volumes in the past 24 hours in comparison to Dogecoin and Shiba Inu. Total meme coin market capitalization currently stands at $46.3 billion, a 4.1% increase in the past 24 hours.
What&#8217;s Next: The influence of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/is-bitcoin-a-good-investment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin as an institutional asset class</a>&nbsp;is expected to be thoroughly explored at Benzinga&#8217;s upcoming&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/digital-assets/agenda/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Future of Digital Assets</a>&nbsp;event on Nov. 19.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40941388/shiba-inu-killer-dogwifhat-erupts-for-17-gain-will-erase-six-months-of-downtrend-in-2-3-we">&#8216;Shiba Inu Killer&#8217; Dogwifhat Erupts For 17% Gain, Will Erase &#8216;Six Months Of Downtrend In 2-3 Weeks,&#8217; According To Trader</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFW3ONApp4w" title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFW3ONApp4w">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFW3ONApp4w</a>

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Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards ASML Holding (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in ASML usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 21 extraordinary options activities for ASML Holding. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 33% leaning bullish and 47% bearish. Among these notable options, 5 are puts, totaling $241,150, and 16 are calls, amounting to $878,325.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $420.0 to $1060.0 for ASML Holding over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for ASML Holding options trades today is 72.16 with a total volume of 147.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for ASML Holding's big money trades within a strike price range of $420.0 to $1060.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>ASML Holding 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727188258_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ASML</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$38.3</td>
<td>$35.0</td>
<td>$38.3</td>
<td>$805.00</td>
<td>$157.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">41</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">42</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ASML</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$66.4</td>
<td>$65.2</td>
<td>$66.4</td>
<td>$865.00</td>
<td>$99.6K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ASML</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$57.5</td>
<td>$56.7</td>
<td>$56.7</td>
<td>$880.00</td>
<td>$90.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">53</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ASML</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$52.7</td>
<td>$52.3</td>
<td>$52.7</td>
<td>$780.00</td>
<td>$63.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">44</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ASML</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$34.5</td>
<td>$33.7</td>
<td>$33.7</td>
<td>$820.00</td>
<td>$53.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">107</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">16</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About ASML Holding</h3>
ASML is the leader in photolithography systems used in the manufacturing of semiconductors. Photolithography is the process in which a light source is used to expose circuit patterns from a photo mask onto a semiconductor wafer. The latest technological advances in this segment allow chipmakers to continually increase the number of transistors on the same area of silicon, with lithography historically representing a high portion of the cost of making cutting-edge chips. ASML outsources the manufacturing of most of its parts, acting like an assembler. ASML's main clients are TSMC, Samsung, and Intel.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with ASML Holding, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>ASML Holding's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 180,205, with ASML's price up by 0.47%, positioned at $807.24.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 22 days.</li>
</ul>
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>.
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest ASML Holding options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Options

ASML

Looking At ASML Holding's Recent Unusual Options Activity

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Nike. Our analysis of options history for Nike (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) revealed 9 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 66% of traders were bullish, while 33% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 3 were puts, with a value of $156,820, and 6 were calls, valued at $328,609.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $79.0 and $120.0 for Nike, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Nike options trades today is 1770.67 with a total volume of 4,277.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Nike's big money trades within a strike price range of $79.0 to $120.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Nike Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727188252_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NKE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/27/24</td>
<td>$0.63</td>
<td>$0.62</td>
<td>$0.64</td>
<td>$88.00</td>
<td>$126.8K</td>
<td>3.4K</td>
<td>3.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NKE</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$27.45</td>
<td>$25.65</td>
<td>$27.5</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$68.7K</td>
<td>95</td>
<td>25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NKE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/27/24</td>
<td>$3.2</td>
<td>$3.05</td>
<td>$3.2</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$64.0K</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
<td>519</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NKE</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$13.8</td>
<td>$13.7</td>
<td>$13.8</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$53.8K</td>
<td>907</td>
<td>90</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NKE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/11/24</td>
<td>$9.7</td>
<td>$9.6</td>
<td>$9.7</td>
<td>$79.00</td>
<td>$38.8K</td>
<td>913</td>
<td>41</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Nike</h3>
Nike is the largest athletic footwear and apparel brand in the world. Key categories include basketball, running, and football (soccer). Footwear generates about two thirds of its sales. Its brands include Nike, Jordan (premium athletic footwear and clothing), and Converse (casual footwear). Nike sells products worldwide through company-owned stores, franchised stores, and third-party retailers. The firm also operates e-commerce platforms in more than 40 countries. Nearly all its production is outsourced to contract manufacturers in more than 30 countries. Nike was founded in 1964 and is based in Beaverton, Oregon.
<h3>Where Is Nike Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 3,836,512, the price of NKE is up by 1.95%, reaching $87.88.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 7 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Nike</h3>
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $88.4.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Equal-Weight rating on Nike, which currently sits at a price target of $79. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Wells Fargo has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Nike, which currently sits at a price target of $95. 
&#x2A; An analyst from B of A Securities downgraded its action to Buy with a price target of $104. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Barclays persists with their Equal-Weight rating on Nike, maintaining a target price of $84. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Piper Sandler has revised its rating downward to Neutral, adjusting the price target to $80. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Nike with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

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iShares U.S. Consumer Focused ETF

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