Short interest for Intl Land Alliance gives investors a sense of the degree to which investors are betting on the decline of Intl Land Alliance's stock. Short interest data is updated every two weeks.

Intl Land Alliance Stock (OTC:ILAL), Short Interest Report

International Land Alliance Inc is a residential land development company with target properties located in the Baja California, Norte region of Mexico. Its activities include purchasing properties, obtaining zoning and other entitlements required to subdivide the properties into residential and commercial building plots, securing financing for the purchase of the plots, improving the property's infrastructure and amenities, and selling the plots to homebuyers, retirees, investors, and commercial developers.

Cannabis

News

Markets

ILAL

International Land Alliance Inc. (OTCQB: ILAL) teamed up with a privately-held California hemp grower to form a joint venture to develop a commercial hemp operation.

International Land Alliance Forms JV With California Hemp Grower

INTERNATIONAL LAND ALLICE by International Land Alliance Inc.

International Land Alliance Inc

Former employees of Google (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) have accused the tech giant of unlawful termination. The employees claim that Google dismissed approximately 50 staff members who were protesting its cloud contract with the Israeli government.
What Happened: The workers complained to the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) late Monday, Reuters reported. They allege that Google violated their rights under U.S. labor law to advocate for better working conditions by terminating them.
The workers argue that Project Nimbus supports Israel&#8217;s military tool development. Google, however, maintains that the Nimbus contract &#8220;is not directed at highly sensitive, classified, or military workloads relevant to weapons or intelligence services.&#8221;
Zelda Montes, a former Google employee arrested during a Project Nimbus protest, accused Google of firing workers to suppress organizing and send a message to its workforce that dissent would not be tolerated. 
&#8220;Google is attempting to instill fear in employees,&#8221; Montes said.
The workers involved in the NLRB complaint are seeking reinstatement to their jobs with back pay and a statement from Google affirming it will not violate workers&#8217; rights to organize.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/04/38488235/supreme-court-drivers-hauling-baked-goods-are-in-transportation-not-baking?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Supreme Court: Drivers Hauling Baked Goods Are in Transportation, Not Baking</a>
Why It Matters: This incident follows a series of events that began with Google&#8217;s decision to terminate 28 employees<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38306735/google-reportedly-fires-28-staff-members-over-israel-cloud-contract-protests-majority-of-our-emp"> following sit-in protests </a>at Google's New York and California offices. The protests were against Google's involvement in Project Nimbus.
The company stated last week that about 20 more workers were dismissed for protesting the contract at the office.
Google defended its actions, stating that the workers&#8217; behavior was &#8220;completely unacceptable&#8221; and made others feel threatened and unsafe. The company reiterated that every individual whose employment was terminated was directly involved in disruption inside their buildings.
Later, Google's CEO, Sundar Pichai, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38334324/sundar-pichai-announces-restructure-after-google-fires-protesting-employees-too-important-a-moment-a">announced a restructuring of Google's devices and mobile software</a> divisions in an email. Pichai emphasized the need for focus, collaboration, and respectful disagreements within the company.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/macro-notification/24/04/38491988/federal-reserve-meeting-preview-high-interest-rates-need-more-time-to-work-bank-of-ame?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Federal Reserve Meeting Preview: High Interest Rates &#8216;Need More Time To Work,&#8217; Bank of America Says</a>
Image via Shutterstock
<div style="font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif">
<div>
<hr style="border: 0;height: 5px;background: #225aa9" />
<div style="background-color: #f5f5f5;background-position: center;background-size: cover;justify-content: center"></div>

 Engineered by Benzinga Neuro, Edited by 
 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Pooja-Rajkumari" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="color: #225aa9;text-decoration: none">Pooja Rajkumari</a> 
 
 
<hr style="border: 0;height: 1px;background: #225aa9" />

 The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to create comprehensive and timely stories for you. 
 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="color: #225aa9;text-decoration: none">Learn more.</a>
 
<hr style="border: 0;height: 5px;background: #225aa9" />
 </div>
</div>

Politics

General

GOOGL

Former Google Employees Allege Unlawful Dismissals Over Protests Against Israeli Contract

The CEO of Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>), Laxman Narasimhan, recently unveiled a surprising success story amid the company&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38534321/starbucks-q2-earnings-revenue-miss-eps-miss-comps-down-4-and-more">lackluster second-quarter</a> performance.
What Happened: Despite a quarter marked by economic challenges, Starbucks found a bright spot in the unexpected popularity of its new Lavender Latte. 
The beverage, featuring a trendy botanical twist, resonated with Gen Z and Millennial customers, providing a much-needed boost to the company&#8217;s otherwise disappointing quarterly results
The CEO, however, highlighted the surprising success of the Lavender Latte, which performed almost as well as the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL).
&#8220;Our new Lavender platform performed nearly as well this past quarter as the PSL,&#8221; Narasimhan said during the earnings call.
Despite economic and weather-related challenges, the Lavender Latte&#8217;s popularity provided a much-needed morale boost. Narasimhan even hinted at future &#8220;texture-based innovations,&#8221; suggesting that the executive team may be exploring new and unconventional flavors.
&#8220;When we innovate well, it&#8217;s meeting our own expectations,&#8221; said CFO Rachel Ruggeri.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38478293/shiba-inus-burn-rate-soars-cathie-wood-believes-ethereum-could-catch-up-to-bitcoin-and-mor?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shiba Inu&#8217;s Burn Rate Soars, Cathie Wood Believes Ethereum Could Catch Up To Bitcoin And More: Top Crypto Updates This Week</a>
Why It Matters: Starbucks&#8217; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38534321/starbucks-q2-earnings-revenue-miss-eps-miss-comps-down-4-and-more">second quarter results</a> were indeed disappointing, with a 2% year-over-year drop in revenue to $8.6 billion, a 4% decline in global comparable store sales, and a 7% decrease in overall earnings per share. These results were attributed to a 3% comp growth decline in North America, an 11% comp growth decrease in China, and other economic and weather-related challenges.
Starbucks&#8217; ability to innovate and adapt to changing consumer tastes has been a recurring theme. In 2023, the company partnered with K-pop group BLACKPINK to introduce <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/23/07/33312486/starbucks-teams-up-with-k-pop-stars-blackpink-for-drinks-merchandise-here-are-the-countries">limited-time beverages</a> and merchandise, a move aimed at tapping into new customers. 
In 2022, Starbucks introduced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/05/27116045/starbucks-debuts-chocolate-beverage-while-james-cromwell-glues-himself-to-a-store-counter">chocolate-flavored beverage</a> inspired by &#8220;nostalgic summer moments,&#8221; showcasing its commitment to staying relevant and appealing to customer sentiments.
Price Action: Starbucks experienced a significant decline in after-hours trading on Tuesday, dropping 11.57% to $78.25, according to the data <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/04/38488235/supreme-court-drivers-hauling-baked-goods-are-in-transportation-not-baking?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Supreme Court: Drivers Hauling Baked Goods Are in Transportation, Not Baking</a>
Image Via Shutterstock 
This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Equities

Restaurants

Global

SBUX

Move Over Pumpkin Spice, Lavender Is The New Queen Bee — Starbucks CEO Finds A Silver Lining In Disappointing Q2 Results, Drops Hints Of Future 'Texture-Based Innovations'

An internal email from Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) has surfaced, indicating that the company&#8217;s investment in ChatGPT-parent OpenAI was driven by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38474688/goodbye-google-gemini-apple-in-talks-with-microsoft-backed-openai-for-iphone-ai-features-report">concerns about falling behind</a> Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) AI capabilities.
What Happened: The email, disclosed as part of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/08/33587101/google-antitrust-lawsuit-us-judge-upholds-key-claims-made-by-federal-government">Justice Department&#8217;s antitrust case</a> against Google on Tuesday, was written by Microsoft&#8217;s chief technology officer Kevin Scott in 2019. Scott expressed deep concern about the gap in AI model-training capabilities between Google and Microsoft, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-01/microsoft-concern-about-google-s-lead-drove-investment-in-openai?srnd=technology-vp">reported</a> Bloomberg.
He wrote, &#8220;We are multiple years behind the competition in terms of machine learning scale.&#8221; The email also highlighted the lack of infrastructure and development speed at Microsoft compared to OpenAI and Google&#8217;s DeepMind.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38480373/musk-vs-moskovitz-rages-on-as-tesla-ceo-trolls-facebook-co-founders-company-why-would-anyone-pay-mon?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Musk Vs. Moskovitz Rages On As Tesla CEO Trolls Facebook Co-Founder&#8217;s Company: &#8216;Why Would Anyone Pay Money For Functionality That Comes For Free On Your Phone?&#8217;</a>
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella addressed inquiries regarding the email during his testimony at the trial last fall. &#8220;As it relates to search, we wanted to sort of ensure that we could think about innovation&#8221; within the search domain using large language models such as those developed by OpenAI, he said. Adding, that the investment, however, &#8220;was not made with the narrow focus on just search.&#8221;
The Justice Department has argued that Google&#8217;s monopoly in the search market may have delayed the release of OpenAI&#8217;s innovations. Closing arguments in the case will be presented by Google and the Justice Department on Thursday and Friday, with Judge Amit Mehta anticipated to deliver his decision later this year, the report noted. 
Subscribe to the <a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a> to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: The email&#8217;s release sheds light on the intense competition in the AI space, particularly between Microsoft and Google. Microsoft has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/04/38299939/eu-clears-microsofts-13b-openai-investment-from-formal-probe-a-relief-for-tech-giants">invested over $13 billion in OpenAI</a>, leveraging the startup&#8217;s generative-AI technology to enhance its Bing search service, Edge internet browser, and integrate an AI Copilot service into Windows.
In December 2022, almost a month after OpenAI released ChatGPT to public and received massive appreciation, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/12/30170477/chatgpt-popularity-reportedly-leads-to-google-declaring-code-red-as-sundar-pichai-increases-involvem-1">Google reportedly declared a &#8220;code red.&#8221;</a> At the time, it was reported that Google CEO Sundar Pichai was involved in a flurry of meetings to define the tech giant&#8217;s AI strategy. 
In February 2023, Google introduced Bard (now rebranded as Gemini), as an answer to ChatGPT, however, the chatbot <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/02/30813210/ai-might-not-be-the-answer-for-your-homework-yet-google-bard-gives-this-wrong-answer-at-launch">gave an incorrect answer</a> during the launch event, making it a laughingstock. On Google&#8217;s internal forum &#8220;Memegen,&#8221; employees characterized the troubled launch as &#8220;rushed,&#8221; &#8220;botched,&#8221; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/02/30870003/un-googley-google-employees-ridicule-ceo-sundar-pichai-for-rushing-bard-ai-chatbot-announcement">and &#8220;un-Googley.&#8221;</a>
Earlier this year, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/02/37356467/google-ceo-sundar-pichai-admits-gemini-ai-errors-completely-unacceptable-no-ai-is-perfect-we-got-it">Google also faced backlash for its Gemini AI</a>, after the chatbot generated historically inaccurate images and text.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38510070/apple-co-founder-steve-wozniak-reveals-his-unique-obsession-with-this-weird-object-many-of-the-best?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Reveals His Unique Obsession With This Weird Object: &#8216;Many Of The Best Things… Aren&#8217;t Super Functional But They Are Cool&#8217;</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Tech

Media

MSFT

Microsoft's Fear Of Google's AI Dominance Led To OpenAI Investment, Internal Email Reveals: 'We're Multiple Years Behind The Competition'

Euronet Worldwide (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EEFT#NASDAQ">EEFT</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $1.28 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.04 by 23.08 percent. This is a 47.13 percent increase over earnings of $0.87 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $857.000 million which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $845.578 million by 1.35 percent. This is a 8.87 percent increase over sales of $787.200 million the same period last year.

Earnings

Earnings Beats

EEFT

Euronet Worldwide Q1 2024 Adj EPS $1.28 Beats $1.04 Estimate, Sales $857.000M Beat $845.578M Estimate

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) is set to release earnings results for its first quarter <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MA/earnings">before the opening bell on May 1, 2024.</a>
Analysts expect the Purchase, New York-based company to report quarterly earnings at $3.02 per share, up from $2.8 per share in the year-ago period. Mastercard is projected to report quarterly revenue of $5.92 billion, up from $5.75 billion in the year-earlier quarter, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Mastercard, last month, unveiled a strategic realignment of its teams to focus on Core Payments, Commercial and new Payment Flows, and Services.
Mastercard shares fell 1.3% to close at $451.20 on Tuesday.
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/MA/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>Baird analyst David Koning maintained an Outperform rating and boosted the price target from $525 to $545 on April 19. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 77%.</li>
<li>JP Morgan analyst Tien-Tsin Huang maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $504 to $520 on April 15. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 64%.</li>
<li>Jefferies analyst Trevor Williams maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $520 to $540 on March 8. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 63%.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Donald Fandetti maintained an Overweight rating and increased the price target from $490 to $530 on March 6. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.</li>
<li>BMO Capital analyst Rufus Hone maintained an Outperform rating and boosted the price target from $480 to $490 on Feb. 1. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 78%.</li>
</ul>
Read This Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38520037/jim-cramer-rejects-illumina-as-its-not-well-run-recommends-buying-this-tech-stock-right-here-right-n">Jim Cramer Rejects Illumina As &#8216;It&#8217;s Not Well-Run,&#8217; Recommends Buying This Tech Stock &#8216;Right Here, Right Now&#8217;</a>

Price Target

Pre-Market Outlook

Trading Ideas

Mastercard Likely To Report Higher Q1 Earnings; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts

Apple, Inc.&#8217;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) second-quarter results due Thursday will&nbsp;be used&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38166627/apple-faces-difficult-china-demand-environment-results-could-be-better-than-feared-" rel="noreferrer noopener">gauge China&#8217;s softness,</a>&nbsp;a bullish analyst said&nbsp;on Tuesday.
The Apple Analyst:&nbsp;Wedbush&#8217;s&nbsp;Daniel Ives&nbsp;maintained an Outperform rating and $250 price target for the stock.&nbsp;
The Apple Thesis:&nbsp;&nbsp;iPhone unit sales will be softer in China, with revenue potentially declining&nbsp;year-over-year,&nbsp;due to&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;competition and a lackluster iPhone 15 upgrade cycle, said Ives in a note.
But the analyst sees light at the end of the tunnel. &#8220;The good news is help is on the way as we believe a pent-up demand cycle with an AI-driven iPhone 16 model on the horizon should enable Cook &amp; Co. to return to growth again in China with tailwinds into FY25,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;
Ives said the Services business may have outperformed in the March quarter, and the segment remained the &#8220;Rock of Gibraltar for Apple.&#8221;
See Also:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/everything-you-need-to-know-about-apple-stock" rel="noreferrer noopener">Everything You Need to Know About Apple Stock</a>
Muted Outlook:&nbsp;CEO&nbsp;Tim Cook&#8217;s&nbsp;tone on the earnings call will be&nbsp;important, the analyst said. He looks ahead to a &#8220;cautiously optimistic&#8221; outlook around China&nbsp;longer&nbsp;term from&nbsp;Apple,&nbsp;while also not expecting any fireworks for iPhone unit growth in the region in the June quarter.
Ives models June-quarter iPhone revenue of about $35 billion and total revenue in the $80 billion range.&nbsp;
The analyst also expects Cook to shed more light on the broader AI strategy as the technology would be a game-changer for the Apple story over the coming years.
Bullish Bias:&nbsp;Despite the near-term softness, Ives said he is bullish on Apple due to:
<ul>
<li>seemingly achievable 2024 iPhone estimates&nbsp;</li>
<li>conservative 2025 estimates</li>
<li>pent-up demand around an upgrade cycle potentially exceeding 270 million</li>
<li>Services poised to grow by double-digit percentage</li>
<li>AI&nbsp;finally&nbsp;coming to Apple, with an announcement likely coming at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June</li>
<li>strong installed base with 2.2 billion iOS devices</li>
</ul>
&#8220;Our forest through the trees view on Apple is all about navigating this next 1-2 quarters and getting on to the other side of easier comps,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38362506/apples-next-big-leap-how-ai-software-and-wwdc-announcements-could-fuel-growth" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI announcement at WWDC</a>, [a]&nbsp;stronger upgrade cycle for iPhone 16, and the monetization opportunity of the golden installed base in Cupertino,&#8221; Ives said.
&#8220;The Street is bracing for a brutal March quarter this week and soft June guidance&nbsp;which&nbsp;we believe could be the last few quarters of this growth storm as Apple starts to see a renaissance of growth heading into the September quarter and FY25.&#8221;
Price Action:&nbsp;Apple ended Tuesday&#8217;s session down 1.83% at&nbsp;$170.33,&nbsp;according to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro data.</a>
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38481553/will-earnings-cheer-continue-to-buoy-markets-apple-amazon-pfizer-coinbase-lead-flurry-of-q1-reports">Will Earnings Cheer Continue To Buoy Markets? Apple, Amazon, Pfizer, Coinbase Lead Flurry Of Q1 Reports This Week</a>
Photo via Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Previews

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

AAPL

Wall Street Braces For Brutal Apple Earnings, But Top Analyst Gives 6 Reasons To Stay Bullish On iPhone Maker

Jim Cramer, the host of CNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Mad Money,&#8221; has attributed the recent market downturn to concerns about interest rates.
What Happened: On Tuesday, Cramer discussed the market&#8217;s performance, emphasizing the impact of potential interest rate changes by the Federal Reserve, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/30/jim-cramer-says-interest-rate-worries-helped-bring-april-sell-off.html">reported</a> CNBC. 
The major indices experienced a significant drop, marking the end of a five-month winning streak for all three and the worst monthly performance for the Dow Jones Industrial Average since September 2022.
Cramer highlighted the market&#8217;s sensitivity to the Fed&#8217;s rate decisions, particularly in light of the recent increase in the Employment Cost Index, which measures worker pay. 
He suggested that investors are still hoping for multiple rate cuts this year, and any positive economic data could prompt them to sell off stocks.
"What truly matters to this market is that we've got plenty of investors who're still clinging, or holding out for, a whole bunch of rate cuts this year," he said. "And until they give up on that idea, they're going to keep dumping stocks any time we get one piece of strong economic data, no matter what it is."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/04/38481364/chinas-big-banks-halt-russia-transactions-over-us-sanctions-forcing-firms-to-resort-to-underground-c?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China&#8217;s Big Banks Halt Russia Transactions Over US Sanctions, Forcing Firms To Resort To &#8216;Underground&#8217; Channels: Report</a>
However, Cramer expressed optimism that Fed Chair Jerome Powell could reassure investors during the upcoming meeting by indicating a commitment to maintaining current rates. He pointed to a drop in consumer confidence and the Chicago Purchasing Managers&#8217; Index as potential indicators of a weakening economy, which the Fed may view favorably.
&#8220;Every year there are people who want to get out ahead of the &#8216;sell in May and go away&#8217; crowd,&#8221; Cramer said. &#8220;If that&#8217;s the case, we could right the ship tomorrow if Jay Powell acknowledges some brown shoots. Personally, that&#8217;s my preferred explanation.&#8221;
Why It Matters: Cramer&#8217;s analysis aligns with the current market sentiment, which has been heavily influenced by speculation about potential rate cuts. Earlier in February, Cramer encouraged investors to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/02/36946651/jim-cramer-tells-investors-to-find-some-room-for-stocks-before-fed-rate-cuts-youre-gonna-be-kick">capitalize on the market conditions</a> before the Fed implements rate cuts. 
However, by April, he <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38179803/jim-cramer-weighs-in-on-feds-interest-rate-cut-plans-dont-hold-your-breath-this-eco">warned against anticipating swift rate cuts</a> due to the strength of the economy, a sentiment echoed by other analysts.
Despite this, the possibility of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/macro-notification/24/04/38526201/is-hawkish-shift-on-inflation-imminent-wall-street-analysts-traders-brace-for-fed-impa">hawkish shift in the Fed&#8217;s stance</a> has caused uncertainty among investors. The recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38508875/another-rate-hike-coming-in-2024-macquarie-economists-reverse-forecast-warn-of-incr">reversal of interest rate cut predictions</a> by Macquarie economists further adds to the complexity of the current market landscape.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38478293/shiba-inus-burn-rate-soars-cathie-wood-believes-ethereum-could-catch-up-to-bitcoin-and-mor?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shiba Inu&#8217;s Burn Rate Soars, Cathie Wood Believes Ethereum Could Catch Up To Bitcoin And More: Top Crypto</a>
Image Via Shutterstock 
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
Engineered by Benzinga Neuro, Edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to create comprehensive and timely stories for you. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more.</a>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />

Federal Reserve

Jim Cramer Attributes April Market Sell-Off To Interest Rate Concerns: 'They're Going To Keep Dumping Stocks ...'

Influential crypto trader Kevin, formerly known as OG_Yomi, recently predicted a major support zone for Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>), amidst a turbulent crypto market.
What Happened: On Tuesday, Kevin took to X, previously known as Twitter, to share his views on the current state of Dogecoin. He stated, &#8220;After the weekly close I made the prediction that #Dogecoin would come down to test the .125-.13 cents level. We officially came down to .129 so far.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">After the weekly close I made the prediction that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dogecoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dogecoin</a> would come down to test the .125-.13 cents level. We officially came down to .129 so far. At this point this is a major support zone and if the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Crypto?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Crypto</a> market is in a real bull market we should not lose this zone. If we… <a href="https://t.co/DFWqFiydia">https://t.co/DFWqFiydia</a>
&mdash; Kevin (@Kev_Capital_TA) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kev_Capital_TA/status/1785437140773695576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38479551/is-the-memecoin-supercycle-over-mad-crypto-alpha-with-ivan?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Is The &#8216;Memecoin Supercycle&#8217; Over? Mad Crypto Alpha With Ivan</a>
Kevin further emphasized the importance of this zone, stating, &#8220;At this point this is a major support zone and if the #Crypto market is in a real bull market we should not lose this zone.&#8221;
Dogecoin has seen a sharp fall in prices recently. The Shiba Inu-themed meme coin has slid 18.8% over a seven-day period, while over a longer 30-day span, it has lost more than 38% of its value. Even so it has managed to gain more than 47% since the year began. 
Why It Matters: Kevin&#8217;s prediction comes at a time when Dogecoin&#8217;s performance has been under scrutiny. Just a week ago, he expressed his views on the meme coin&#8217;s performance, stating that the crypto had closed its lowest weekly candle in almost two months. 
He suggested that a retest of the $0.125 to $0.13 level now seems likely, emphasizing that this is a crucial support level that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38488740/dogecoins-5-loss-closes-lowest-weekly-candle-in-2-months-but-this-trader-wouldnt-be-holdin">must hold</a> for Dogecoin to maintain its bullish outlook. A breach of this level could potentially lead to further downside pressure on the cryptocurrency's price.
Earlier this month, Kevin <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38395178/dogecoin-could-outperform-bitcoin-thanks-to-consolidation-in-the-golden-pocket-says-trader">shared a bullish outlook</a> on Dogecoin's performance against Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), noting the cryptocurrency's consolidation in the golden pocket and its position above all bull market up trending moving averages. 
Price Action: At the time of writing, Dogecoin traded nearly 7.9% lower at $0.13, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/feature/newsfeed?gspk=bHVrZWphY29iaTUzNDg&amp;gsxid=tdEE0VrK8Jeg&amp;ref=lukejacobi5348">data from Benzinga Pro.</a>
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38488740/dogecoins-5-loss-closes-lowest-weekly-candle-in-2-months-but-this-trader-wouldnt-be-holdin?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dogecoin&#8217;s 5% Loss Closes Lowest Weekly Candle In 2 Months, But This Trader &#8216;Wouldn&#8217;t Be Holding If It Was All Over&#8217;</a>
<div style="font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif">
<hr style="border: 0;height: 5px;background: #225aa9" />
<div style="background-color: #f5f5f5;background-position: center;background-size: cover;justify-content: center"></div>

 Engineered by 
 Benzinga Neuro, Edited by 
 
 <a href="None" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="color: #225aa9;text-decoration: none"> 
 Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a> 
 
 
<hr style="border: 0;height: 1px;background: #225aa9" />

 The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the 
 extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to 
 create comprehensive and timely stories for you. 
 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="color: #225aa9;text-decoration: none">Learn more.</a>
 
<hr style="border: 0;height: 5px;background: #225aa9" />
 </div>

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

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

$DOGE

Amid Dogecoin Price Dip, Trader Predicts 'Major Support Zone' For Meme Coin

The New York Police Department (NYPD) in riot gear stormed Columbia University&#8216;s campus to quell pro-Palestine protests. The police action came after a week of peaceful demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war.
What Happened: The NYPD, armed with batons, entered Hamilton Hall, where student protesters had barricaded themselves. The police intervention followed a week-long protest on the university&#8217;s outdoor common space, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4634531-police-riot-gear-enter-columbia-university-palestine-protests/">reported</a> The Hill on Tuesday.
The police entered the building through a second-floor window at approximately 9:30 p.m. This move came after the university ordered students to stay in their dorms and the NYPD demanded the same.
The university justified the police intervention as a necessary step to restore safety and order. The spokesperson expressed regret over the protesters&#8217; actions, which left the university with no other choice.
"We regret that protesters have chosen to escalate the situation through their actions," a university spokesperson <a href="https://communications.news.columbia.edu/news/campus-updates">wrote</a>. "After the University learned overnight that Hamilton Hall had been occupied, vandalized, and blockaded, we were left with no choice."
The protests at Columbia are part of a larger national movement against the Biden administration&#8217;s response to the Israel-Hamas war. The protesters are calling for a cease-fire, an end to military aid to Israel, and for their universities to divest from Israeli interests.
At a press conference earlier on Tuesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams claimed that the protests had been &#8220;co-opted&#8221; and urged the demonstrators to end their cause before the situation escalates.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38507901/trump-kennedy-jr-feud-escalates-as-polls-indicate-gap-between-democract-gop-candidates-narrowing?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump-Kennedy Jr. Feud Escalates As Polls Indicate Gap Between Democract, GOP Candidates Narrowing</a>
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who met with the protesters earlier in the week, criticized the mayor and Columbia leadership for their response and the police action.
The police cleared Hamilton Hall of protesters before 11:00 p.m., with at least dozens of protesters being arrested. The NYPD is expected to remain on campus until May 17, according to an email sent to students by the student-run WKCR radio at Columbia.
Why It Matters: The protests at Columbia are part of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38446778/students-demand-universities-sell-off-israel-related-stocks-hundreds-arrested-in-nationwide-protests">larger national movement</a> that has seen hundreds of arrests. The protesters are demanding a cease-fire and for their universities to divest from Israeli interests.
The protests have also sparked <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38358514/mike-pence-tim-scott-slam-pro-palestinian-protests-in-columbia-university-no-place-for-anti-semitism">criticism from political figures</a> such as former Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Tim Scott (R- S.C.). The university&#8217;s decision to call in the NYPD has been met with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38446778/students-demand-universities-sell-off-israel-related-stocks-hundreds-arrested-in-nationwide-protests">widespread condemnation</a>, with some calling for the university president to resign.
Meanwhile, the protests have also had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38520941/ivy-league-grads-no-longer-the-apple-of-recruiters-eyes-amid-anti-israel-protests-they-are-going-to">repercussions on the job market</a>, with recruiters expressing discomfort with hiring graduates from Ivy League colleges due to their increasing political participation.
Despite the police intervention at Columbia, some universities have allowed the protests to continue. Brown University, for example, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38446778/students-demand-universities-sell-off-israel-related-stocks-hundreds-arrested-in-nationwide-protests">agreed to hold a vote</a> on the students&#8217; divestment proposal, leading to the end of their protest.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38482489/ukrainian-troops-retreat-as-conflict-with-russia-intensifies-in-eastern-front-zelenskyy-urges-us-for?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ukrainian Troops Retreat As Conflict With Russia Intensifies In Eastern Front, Zelenskyy Urges US For Swift Arms Deliveries</a>
Image Via Shutterstock 
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
Engineered by Benzinga Neuro, Edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to create comprehensive and timely stories for you. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more.</a>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />

NYPD Descends On Columbia University In Riot Gear Amid Pro-Palestine Protests

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) CEO Lisa Su highlighted the company&#8217;s AI hardware&#8217;s superior performance over NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and its potential to cut customer costs during the first quarter earnings call this year.
What Happened: Su claimed that AMD&#8217;s MI300X GPUs offer better inferencing performance and significant total cost of ownership (TCO) advantages compared to Nvidia&#8217;s H100 GPUs. 
She also noted that the MI300X GPUs could deliver the same amount of compute with 45% fewer servers than the competition, potentially reducing initial capex by up to half and lowering annual opex by more than 40%.
&#8220;Our partners are seeing very strong performance in their AI workloads. As we jointly optimize for their models, MI300X GPUs are delivering leadership, inferencing performance and substantial TCO advantages compared to H100,&#8221; Su said.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/04/38488235/supreme-court-drivers-hauling-baked-goods-are-in-transportation-not-baking?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Supreme Court: Drivers Hauling Baked Goods Are in Transportation, Not Baking</a>
She added, &#8220;For instance, several of our partners are seeing significant increases in tokens per second when running their flagship LLMs on MI300X compared to H100.&#8221;
Why It Matters: AMD&#8217;s first quarter earnings call comes on the heels of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38534910/amd-investors-pull-back-after-modest-q1-beat-ceo-touts-ai-chip-ramp-up">modest beat and lukewarm guidance</a>, which caused a pullback in the stock. Despite this, Su&#8217;s remarks about the MI300X GPUs&#8217; performance and cost advantages could help bolster investor confidence in the company&#8217;s AI hardware.
Earlier in April, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38115757/amds-mi300-chip-gains-momentum-analyst-predicts-strong-growth-and-server-market-success">analyst predictions</a> about the MI300 chip&#8217;s strong growth and success in the server market had already set a positive tone for AMD&#8217;s AI hardware. Su&#8217;s recent comments further reinforce the potential of AMD&#8217;s AI hardware in the market.
Price Action: AMD stock traded lower in after-hours trading, with a decrease of 6.91% to $147.43 on Tuesday. Nonetheless, the stock has seen a 14.29% increase year-to-date, according to the data <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38519395/goldman-sachs-tempers-investor-excitement-on-tesla-self-driving-not-yet-an-eyes-off?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goldman Sachs Tempers Investor Excitement On Tesla Self-Driving Tech In China: &#8216;Not Yet An Eyes-Off, Unsupervised Product&#8217;</a>
Image Via Shutterstock 
This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

NVDA

Nvidia's AI Leadership Challenged As AMD Claims Superior Inference Performance With MI300 Chip: 'Partners Are Seeing Very Strong Performance'

On Tuesday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades, with the most prominent ones involving BYD Co Ltd (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYDDY#OTC">BYDDY</a>) and Palantir Technologies Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>).
The BYD Co. Trade
Ark Invest, through its ARK Autonomous Technology &amp; Robotics ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKQ#BATS">ARKQ</a>), purchased 18,748 shares of BYD Co Ltd. Based on the closing price of $54.47 on the same day, the estimated value of this trade is approximately $1.02 million. This move comes in the wake of a debate between the late billionaire investor Charlie Munger and Wood over the superiority of Tesla, Inc and BYD in the electric vehicle market.
Wood had defended Tesla, a key holding of Ark Innovation ETF, arguing that the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/02/30972092/cathie-wood-chimes-in-on-the-tesla-vs-byd-debate-charlie-munger-and-many-on-wall-street-1">lower costs associated with technologically enabled innovation</a> in batteries and drivetrains would cause a boom in unit demand. This move by Ark Invest may indicate a broader strategy to capitalize on the growing electric vehicle market.
The Palantir Trade
Ark Invest also made a significant move in Palantir purchasing 45,453 shares through its ARKQ ETF. With a closing price of $21.97 on the same day, the trade is valued at approximately $1 million. This follows a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38477354/cathie-woods-ark-invest-hoards-palantir-stock-ahead-of-q1-earnings-adds-more-of-this-buffett-bac">previous acquisition</a> of Palantir shares ahead of the company&#8217;s first-quarter earnings report, scheduled for May 5, 2024.
Analysts expect Palantir to report earnings per share of 8 cents on revenue of $625.33 million, representing an increase from the previous quarter.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/macro-notification/24/04/38526201/is-hawkish-shift-on-inflation-imminent-wall-street-analysts-traders-brace-for-fed-impa?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Is Hawkish Shift On Inflation Imminent? Wall Street Analysts, Traders Brace For Fed Impact</a>
Other Key Trades:
<ul>
<li>Ark Invest bought 1,658 shares of Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD) through its ARKQ fund in a transaction valued at $262,594. Notably, the purchase came on the same day the company declared its first-quarter earnings numbers. The results came <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38534910/amd-investors-pull-back-after-modest-q1-beat-ceo-touts-ai-chip-ramp-up">slightly ahead</a> of investor expectations. </li>
<li>Ark Invest sold shares of 2U Inc (TWOU) from its ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK). </li>
<li>Trimble Inc (TRMB) shares were reduced from the ARKQ. Shares of Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc (KTOS) were sold from the ARKQ fund. </li>
</ul>
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/04/38481364/chinas-big-banks-halt-russia-transactions-over-us-sanctions-forcing-firms-to-resort-to-underground-c?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China&#8217;s Big Banks Halt Russia Transactions Over US Sanctions, Forcing Firms To Resort To &#8216;Underground&#8217; Channels: Report</a>
<div style="font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif">
<hr style="border: 0;height: 5px;background: #225aa9" />
<div style="background-color: #f5f5f5;background-position: center;background-size: cover;justify-content: center"></div>

 Engineered by 
 Benzinga Neuro, Edited by 
 
 <a href="None" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="color: #225aa9;text-decoration: none"> 
 Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a> 
 
 
<hr style="border: 0;height: 1px;background: #225aa9" />

 The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the 
 extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to 
 create comprehensive and timely stories for you. 
 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="color: #225aa9;text-decoration: none">Learn more.</a>
 
<hr style="border: 0;height: 5px;background: #225aa9" />
 </div>

ETFs

ARKQ

BYDDY

PLTR

Cathie Wood's Ark Invest Buys Shares Of Tesla Rival BYD, Continues Accumulating Palantir — Also Acquires AMD Shares

Amazon.com Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) CEO&nbsp;Andy Jassy&nbsp;highlighted the potential of the company&#8217;s AI chatbot, &#8220;Q,&#8221; to revolutionize software development during the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38534302/amazon-q1-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-aws-hits-100-billion-annual-run-rate-and-more">first-quarter 2024 earnings call</a>. 
What Happened: On Tuesday, during the call, Jassy spoke about the pivotal role of &#8220;Q&#8221; in the future of software development. He stated that the AI chatbot will facilitate the transition of developers from Microsoft Windows to Linux.
&#8220;Today, developers can save months&nbsp;using Q to move from&nbsp;older versions of Java to&nbsp;newer, more secure and capable&nbsp;ones,&#8221; he said, adding, &#8220;In the near future, Q will help developers transform their dotNET code as well, helping them move from Windows to Linux.&#8221;
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38488085/metas-chief-ai-scientist-reveals-mark-zuckerberg-was-snubbed-from-bidens-ai-safety-institute-elon-mu?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta&#8217;s Chief AI Scientist Reveals Mark Zuckerberg Was &#8216;Snubbed&#8217; From Biden&#8217;s AI Safety Institute; Elon Musk Also Missing From The List</a>
Jassy also said that &#8220;Q&#8221; is not just a code generator but also a code tester, debugger, and transformer. The Amazon CEO highlighted its unique feature, &#8220;Agents,&#8221; which can autonomously perform various tasks, from implementing features to performing software upgrades.
&#8220;Developers can collaborate with the agent to review and iterate on the plan, and then the agent implements it, connecting multiple steps together and applying updates across multiple files, code blocks and test suites.&#8221; &#8220;It&#8217;s quite handy,&#8221; Jassy concluded.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: The potential of &#8216;Q&#8217; to transform the software development landscape is significant, especially considering Amazon&#8217;s recent financial performance. 
The company reported&nbsp;first-quarter net sales of $143.3 billion, a 13% year-over-year increase, beating the Street consensus estimate of $142.5 billion, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/feature/newsfeed?gspk=bHVrZWphY29iaTUzNDg&amp;gsxid=tdEE0VrK8Jeg&amp;ref=lukejacobi5348" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from Benzinga Pro.</a>
However, &#8220;Q&#8221; has had its share of challenges. In January earlier this year, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/01/36588837/amazons-ai-chatbot-q-struggles-with-hallucinations-amid-criticism-for-rushed-launch">AI chatbot faced criticism</a> for producing incorrect outputs, or &#8216;hallucinations&#8217;, due to a rushed launch and the deployment of a less proficient version of Anthropic's Claude AI model. 
AMZN Price Action:&nbsp;At the time of writing, Amazon shares were up 1.23% in the after-hours session at $177.16, according to&nbsp;Benzinga Pro data.
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:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38477795/elon-musks-prediction-for-domestic-robots-mark-zuckerbergs-massive-1b-bet-on-nvidia-gpus-and-more-th?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk&#8217;s Prediction For Domestic Robots, Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s Massive $1B Bet On Nvidia GPUs And More: This Week In AI</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

AMZN

Andy Jassy Envisions Amazon Chatbot 'Q' Helping Developer's Move Away From Microsoft Windows To Linux:  'It's Quite Handy'

As the cryptocurrency market braces for the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, a prominent crypto analyst has made a bold prediction about Bitcoin&#8216;s (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) immediate future.
What Happened: Micahël van de Poppe, a well-known crypto analyst, took to social media platform X to share his forecast for Bitcoin&#8217;s immediate future. Van de Poppe anticipates a potential dip in the price of Bitcoin, with a possible range of $55,000 to $58,000 before a rebound.
Van de Poppe&#8217;s post read, &#8220;Monthly close approaching for #Bitcoin and FOMC day tomorrow. I think we&#8217;ll see that sweep beneath $60K and potentially cascade towards $55-58K from which we&#8217;re finding the low and rotate back upwards. From there: Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) ETF hype in May to pick up momentum.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Monthly close approaching for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> and FOMC day tomorrow. I think we&#39;ll see that sweep beneath $60K and potentially cascade towards $55-58K from which we&#39;re finding the low and rotate back upwards. From there: Ethereum ETF hype in May to pick up momentum. <a href="https://t.co/Iki4De9mSF">pic.twitter.com/Iki4De9mSF</a>
&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1785364388330824109?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
This prediction comes at a time when the market is experiencing a &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38528542/bitcoin-dogecoin-shiba-inu-pumped-after-the-last-fomc-meeting-will-history-repeat-on-wedne">horrendous slow bleed</a>,&#8221; with most cryptocurrencies closing in the red for 15 out of the last 20 days, according to pseudonymous cryptocurrency trader Kevin.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38478293/shiba-inus-burn-rate-soars-cathie-wood-believes-ethereum-could-catch-up-to-bitcoin-and-mor?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shiba Inu&#8217;s Burn Rate Soars, Cathie Wood Believes Ethereum Could Catch Up To Bitcoin And More: Top Crypto</a>
Why It Matters: The upcoming FOMC meeting is expected to have a significant impact on the cryptocurrency market. Kevin, in a recent tweet, emphasized the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38528542/bitcoin-dogecoin-shiba-inu-pumped-after-the-last-fomc-meeting-will-history-repeat-on-wedne">importance of the meeting</a> as a potential catalyst for the next significant market move.
Van de Poppe&#8217;s prediction also aligns with his previous insights on market rotations and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38523300/crypto-trader-michael-van-de-poppe-highlights-runs-in-solana-meme-coins-predicts-there-is-">altcoin seasons</a>. He believes that by identifying opportunities in altcoins and strategically rotating profits back into Bitcoin, investors can outperform the market and maintain their purchasing power in the face of inflation.
However, the market has also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38535711/bitcoin-jesus-roger-ver-arrested-in-spain-on-tax-evasion-charges">seen some turbulence</a> with the recent arrest of Roger Ver, a prominent figure in the early days of Bitcoin, in Spain on tax evasion charges.
Price Action: Bitcoin is currently trading at $59,730, experiencing a 1.47% decline over the last 24 hours but showing a remarkable 35.22% increase year-to-date. Meanwhile, Ether is trading at $2,977, down 1.13% in the past 24 hours, yet still reflecting a solid 26.54% gain year-to-date, according to data <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38480709/bitcoin-faces-potential-downturn-as-analysts-eye-second-danger-zone-but-what-happen?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Faces Potential Downturn As Analysts Eye &#8216;Second Danger Zone&#8217; — But What Happened To &#8216;Memecoin Supercycle?&#8217;</a>
Image Via Shutterstock 
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
Engineered by Benzinga Neuro, Edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to create comprehensive and timely stories for you. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more.</a>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />

$ETH

Is Bitcoin Heading For A Dip Ahead Of FOMC? Analyst Predicts Potential 'Cascade Towards $55-58K' Before Rebound

On Tuesday, the main U.S. stock indexes closed lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average finishing down 1.5% at 37,815.92, the S&amp;P500 falling by 1.6% to 5,035.69, and the Nasdaq declining by 2.04% to 15,657.82 at the end of the day&#8217;s trading session.
These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day:
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)
Amazon shares fell by 3.29% to close at $175, after reaching an intraday high of $182.99 and a low of $174.8. The e-commerce giant reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38534302/amazon-q1-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-aws-hits-100-billion-annual-run-rate-and-more">first-quarter net sales </a>of $143.3 billion, a 13% increase year-over-year, beating the Street consensus estimate. 
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>)
AMD shares dipped by 1.14% to close at $158.38, with an intraday high of $162.29 and a low of $158.35. The chipmaker reported first-quarter results <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38534910/amd-investors-pull-back-after-modest-q1-beat-ceo-touts-ai-chip-ramp-up">slightly ahead of expectations</a>, thanks to record data center revenue. However, the stock retreated in after-hours trading due to lukewarm second-quarter revenue guidance. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38519395/goldman-sachs-tempers-investor-excitement-on-tesla-self-driving-not-yet-an-eyes-off?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goldman Sachs Tempers Investor Excitement On Tesla Self-Driving Tech In China: &#8216;Not Yet An Eyes-Off, Unsu</a>
Super Micro Computer Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>)
Super Micro shares fell by 3.54% to close at $858.80, after hitting an intraday high of $910.84 and a low of $851.08. The company reported third-quarter earnings of $6.65 per share, a 307.98% increase YoY, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38535630/super-micro-shares-dip-on-mixed-q3-results-eps-beat-sales-miss">beating the analyst consensus estimate</a>. However, quarterly sales of $3.85 billion missed the consensus estimate. 
Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>)
Starbucks shares saw a slight increase of 0.18% to close at $88.49, with an intraday high of $88.99 and a low of $87.18. The company reported a 2% YoY decrease in second-quarter revenue to $8.6 billion, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38534321/starbucks-q2-earnings-revenue-miss-eps-miss-comps-down-4-and-more">missing the consensus estimate</a>. Comparable store sales declined 4% globally.
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)
Tesla shares dropped by 5.55% to close at $183.28, after reaching an intraday high of $190.95 and a low of $182.84. The shares <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38527242/tesla-stock-is-trading-lower-tuesday-whats-going-on">pulled back</a> after rallying more than 15% on Monday following the company&#8217;s progress on its full self-driving technology rollout in China. 
Prepare for the day&#8217;s trading <a href="Premarket Movers &amp; News">with top premarket movers and news</a> by Benzinga.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38490818/if-you-invested-1000-in-chipotle-mexican-grill-a-decade-ago-this-is-how-much-itd-be-worth-now?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">If You Invested $1000 in Chipotle Mexican Grill a Decade Ago, This is How Much It&#8217;d Be Worth Now</a>
Photo by WHYFRAME on Shutterstock

SMCI

TSLA

Amazon, AMD, Super Micro Computer, Starbucks, Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

Elon Musk&nbsp;has unfollowed prominent&nbsp;Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) investor&nbsp;Sawyer Merritt&nbsp;on X, formerly Twitter, due to an alleged breach of confidentiality.
What Happened: On Tuesday, a user on X, who goes by the name&nbsp;Brandon Smith on the platform, questioned Musk about this move stating that Merritt often breaks news about Tesla that employees don&#8217;t disclose to the tech billionaire. 
Musk responded,&nbsp;&#8220;Don't post leaks of confidential&nbsp;information and expect me to&nbsp;follow.&#8221;&nbsp;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Don't post leaks of confidential information and expect me to follow
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1785405979573514425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38519395/goldman-sachs-tempers-investor-excitement-on-tesla-self-driving-not-yet-an-eyes-off?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goldman Sachs Tempers Investor Excitement On Tesla Self-Driving Tech In China: &#8216;Not Yet An Eyes-Off, Unsupervised Product&#8217;</a>
Smith then defended Merritt, stating that if Merritt had received confidential information directly, he wouldn&#8217;t have posted it. He also requested Musk to give Merritt another chance.&nbsp;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">If Sawyer was the one who directly received confidential info he wouldn't have posted it. Once the genie leaves the bottle… it's out of the bottle. If you join the spaces he's in regularly, he refrains from posting dubious "news" all the time. I ask you give him another chance.
&mdash; Brandon Smith (@BLSmith2112) <a href="https://twitter.com/BLSmith2112/status/1785406841695961180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Not just Smith, but many other users on X defended Merritt. On the other hand, some people deduced that Merritt &#8220;amplified Elon's leaked email&#8221; and allegedly disclosed information about layoff. At the time of writing,&nbsp;Musk still wasn&#8217;t following Merritt.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;get&nbsp;all the latest tech developments&nbsp;delivered&nbsp;to your inbox.
<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga</a> reached out to Merritt and he pointed us toward his explanation on X. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This is what happened: Omar and I posted an article from <a href="https://twitter.com/theinformation?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theinformation</a> last night that we saw online. It was a public article that referenced an internal Tesla email from Elon Musk to his executives.
&mdash; Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SawyerMerritt/status/1785426916482195795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: Merritt, a well-known Tesla investor, has been in the spotlight for his outspoken support of the company and its CEO. In March 2024, Merritt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37886370/tesla-investor-claps-back-after-a-columnist-calls-elon-musk-mediocre-white-man-amid-spat-with-don-le">defended Musk</a>&nbsp;against an op-ed that labeled him a &#8220;mediocre white man.&#8221; 
He also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/03/37648525/tesla-backs-investors-petition-to-fulfill-elon-musks-longstanding-regulatory-wish-stop-calling-ota-f">led a petition</a>&nbsp;supported by Tesla, urging the U.S. auto safety regulator to reconsider classifying over-the-air software updates for safety concerns as &#8220;recalls.&#8221;
Just earlier this week, Merritt humorously&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38515667/elon-musk-has-tears-of-laughter-as-tesla-investor-says-stock-is-up-one-gordon-johns">mocked a Tesla bear</a>, Gordon Johnson, after the company&#8217;s stock surged, signaling validation for Musk&#8217;s leadership. 
Merritt&#8217;s actions have often aligned with Musk&#8217;s vision, making this unfollowing incident all the more surprising.
Despite the unfollowing, it&#8217;s important to note that this incident does not necessarily indicate a significant rift between Musk and Merritt. However, it does raise questions about the handling of confidential information within the Tesla community.
Check out more of&nbsp;Benzinga&#8217;s&nbsp;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:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38424000/mark-zuckerberg-shades-apple-vision-pro-once-again-calls-it-fashionable-ai-glasses-without-a-display?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Zuckerberg Shades Apple Vision Pro Once Again, Calls It &#8216;Fashionable AI Glasses Without A Display&#8217;</a>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with&nbsp;the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was&nbsp;reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Elon Musk Unfollows Tesla Investor Sawyer Merritt Over Alleged Confidential Information Leak: 'Don't Post … And Expect Me To Follow'

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warns of a more severe Trump presidency, citing his recent interviews with Time.
What Happened: On Tuesday, Clinton shared a post on X, formerly Twitter, highlighting the potential dangers of a second Trump presidency. She quoted an excerpt from a Time article, which detailed Trump&#8217;s plans for a potential future term.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">If Donald Trump becomes president again, it wouldn&#39;t be as bad as it was last time. It would be much, much worse. Read about his plans, as he describes them in new TIME interviews, and take them seriously. <a href="https://t.co/RezUaOrJ3i">https://t.co/RezUaOrJ3i</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ds4E4iRRmC">pic.twitter.com/Ds4E4iRRmC</a>
&mdash; Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) <a href="https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/1785348329334833386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38479082/elon-musk-gives-one-word-response-to-joe-bidens-dig-at-donald-trump-at-white-house-correspondents-di?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Gives One-Word Response To Joe Biden&#8217;s Dig At Donald Trump At White House Correspondents&#8217; Dinner</a>
The excerpt shared by Clinton from Time journalist Eric Cortellessa paints a picture of an &#8220;imperial presidency&#8221; where Trump would be willing to deploy the U.S. military for mass deportations, allow states to monitor women&#8217;s pregnancies, and potentially fire U.S. Attorneys who don&#8217;t follow his orders.
Why It Matters: The post comes in the wake of a series of interviews where Trump discussed his potential plans if re-elected. Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38539108/trump-says-if-supreme-court-decides-president-doesnt-get-immunity-then-biden-will-be-prosecuted-for">hinted at the prosecution</a> of President Joe Biden, contingent on the Supreme Court&#8217;s decision on presidential immunity.
Recent polls, nearing the six-month mark until the 2024 election, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/04/38537950/trump-vs-biden-former-president-holds-lead-in-all-7-swing-states-which-candidate-does-robert-f-k">suggest a close race</a> between Trump and Biden, with Trump leading in all seven swing states, including those won by Biden in 2020. 
Clinton has previously criticized Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38347162/hillary-clinton-says-donald-trump-would-like-to-do-what-vladimir-putin-does-including-kill-his-oppos">authoritarian tendencies</a>. Earlier, she suggested that Trump would be happy to suppress his opposition in a manner similar to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
She has also criticized Trump&#8217;s policies <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38328076/hillary-clinton-says-trump-is-on-your-side-if-you-are-a-billionaire-otherwise-good-luck">favoring the wealthy</a>, as reported in another Benzinga article, where she responded to a post criticizing Trump&#8217;s tax policies.
Photo Courtesy: Evan El-Amin On Shutterstock.com
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38507901/trump-kennedy-jr-feud-escalates-as-polls-indicate-gap-between-democract-gop-candidates-narrowing?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump-Kennedy Jr. Feud Escalates As Polls Indicate Gap Between Democract, GOP Candidates Narrowing</a>
<div style="font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif">
<hr style="border: 0;height: 5px;background: #225aa9" />
<div style="background-color: #f5f5f5;background-position: center;background-size: cover;justify-content: center"></div>

 Engineered by 
 Benzinga Neuro, Edited by 
 
 <a href="None" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="color: #225aa9;text-decoration: none"> 
 Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a> 
 
 
<hr style="border: 0;height: 1px;background: #225aa9" />

 The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the 
 extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to 
 create comprehensive and timely stories for you. 
 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="color: #225aa9;text-decoration: none">Learn more.</a>
 
<hr style="border: 0;height: 5px;background: #225aa9" />
 </div>

Hillary Clinton On Another Trump Presidency: 'It Wouldn't Be As Bad As It Was Last Time, It Would Be...'

Martin Shkreli, the infamous former pharmaceutical executive, recently made an intriguing comment on social media platform X, hinting at his prison life. This comes as Changpeng Zhao, the co-founder of Binance (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/bnb/usd">BNB</a>), has been sentenced to prison.
What Happened: Shkreli, who is known as the &#8220;Pharma Bro,&#8221; took to social media platform X to comment on a post by billionaire Binance Co-Founder Changpeng Zhao. Shkreli wrote, &#8220;burgers on wednesday, chicken on Thursday,&#8221; hinting at the prison menu.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">burgers on wednesday, chicken on thursday
&mdash; Martin Shkreli (e/acc) (@MartinShkreli) <a href="https://twitter.com/MartinShkreli/status/1785466049711759561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Shkreli has been known for sharing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/03/37764805/sam-bankman-fried-considered-coming-out-as-a-republican-on-tucker-carlsons-show-after-ftxs">advice on prison life</a>. In November, he boasted to Tucker Carlson that Sam Bankman-Fried had sought his advice on serving time in prison, as the FTX founder faced a potential sentence of over 100 years.
Shkreli was released from federal prison in May 2022 after serving approximately five years. Following a lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission, he was ordered to repay $64 million and faced a lifetime ban, which he contested as excessive and limiting his freedom of speech.
According to Martin Shkreli&#8217;s verified account on X, he <a href="https://x.com/wagieeacc/status/1778826437576790225">announced</a> that he would be moving his account to &#8216;@martinshkreli,&#8217; expressing apologies for any messages sent from the previous account due to it being set as default on his iPhone and acknowledging his laziness.
On the other hand, Zhao, the co-founder and former CEO of Binance, has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38532677/former-binance-ceo-changpeng-zhao-sentenced-to-four-months-in-prison">sentenced to four months in prison</a> for his involvement in the failure to establish an effective anti-money laundering (AML) program at the cryptocurrency exchange. Despite his personal situation, Zhao emphasized the importance of compliance in the crypto industry.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38508352/bitcoins-short-term-holder-realized-price-at-59-800-analyst-says-falling-below-this?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin&#8217;s Short-Term Holder Realized Price At $59,800; Analyst Says Falling Below This Could Trigger Notable &#8216;Price Corrections&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Zhao&#8217;s legal troubles have been a point of concern in the cryptocurrency industry. Just a week before his sentencing, Zhao <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38315241/binance-secures-major-win-with-dubai-crypto-license-after-changpeng-zhao-surrenders-voting">surrendered his voting power in Binance</a>, which led to the exchange securing a crucial regulatory license in Dubai. This move was seen as a significant step towards Binance&#8217;s compliance with global regulations.
Earlier in April, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38401035/binance-founder-changpeng-zhao-apologizes-doj-pushes-for-3-year-sentence">pushed for a three-year prison term</a> for Zhao, citing serious lapses in regulatory compliance during his tenure at Binance. Despite the legal challenges, Binance has continued to operate, and Zhao&#8217;s recent tweet indicates his commitment to the industry&#8217;s compliance and development.
Price Action: As of the latest update, BNB is trading at $573.32, marking a decrease of 4.76% over the past 24 hours and a 5.42% decline over the last week. Meanwhile, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) is currently priced at $60,215.92, reflecting a 6.73% drop in the last 24 hours, according to the data <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38478293/shiba-inus-burn-rate-soars-cathie-wood-believes-ethereum-could-catch-up-to-bitcoin-and-mor?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shiba Inu&#8217;s Burn Rate Soars, Cathie Wood Believes Ethereum Could Catch Up To Bitcoin And More: Top Crypto</a>
Binance&#8217;s Changpeng Zhao. Photo via Flickr
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
Engineered by Benzinga Neuro, Edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to create comprehensive and timely stories for you. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more.</a>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />

Legal

$BNB

'Pharma Bro' Martin Shkreli Teases Binance Co-Founder Changpeng Zhao With A Supposed Prison Menu: 'Burgers On Wednesday, Chicken On Thursday'

Amazon.com Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) CEO&nbsp;Andy Jassy&nbsp;has expressed optimism about the future of the company&#8217;s&nbsp;Amazon Web Services&nbsp;or AWS during <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38534302/amazon-q1-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-aws-hits-100-billion-annual-run-rate-and-more">the first-quarter 2024</a> earnings call.
What Happened: On Tuesday, during the call, Jassy highlighted the potential for AWS, stating that despite the segment&#8217;s&nbsp;$100 billion-plus annualized revenue run&nbsp;rate, over 85%&nbsp;of the global IT spend&nbsp;is still on-premises. &#8220;We remain very bullish on AWS.&#8221;
He also noted the impending rise of gen AI, which is expected to be predominantly cloud-based&nbsp;over the next 10 to&nbsp;20 years, presenting a significant opportunity for AWS. &#8220;There is a very large opportunity in front of us,&#8221; he stated. 
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38480983/giant-leap-for-apple-new-leak-of-iphone-16-lineup-confirms-recent-rumors-about-screen-sizes-and-came?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Giant Leap For Apple? New Leak Of iPhone 16 Lineup Confirms Recent Rumors About Screen Sizes And Camera Bump</a>
Jassy went on to highlight AWS&#8217;s competitive edge, which is attracting more companies to shift&nbsp;their AI focus to AWS.
&#8220;We expect the combination of&nbsp;AWS&#8217; reaccelerating growth and high&nbsp;demand for gen AI to&nbsp;meaningfully increase year-over-year capital expenditures&nbsp;in 2024, which given the&nbsp;way the AWS business model&nbsp;works is a positive sign&nbsp;of the future growth,&#8221; the Amazon CEO said, adding, &#8220;The more demand AWS has, the more we have to procure new data centers, power and hardware.&#8221;
Why It Matters: In April 2024, it was reported that the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36578155/amazon-stock-is-trading-higher-whats-going-on">workforce reductions in AWS</a>, were part of the company&#8217;s efforts to streamline operations and pivot towards digital. At the time, the e-commerce giant reported cited overlapping roles as a reason behind these cuts. 
However, despite this, AWS has continued to innovate, launching services such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38066196/amazon-aws-launches-deadline-cloud-to-transform-media-and-entertainment-content-creation-rendering">Deadline Cloud</a>&nbsp;to transform media and entertainment content creation and rendering.
Meanwhile, in the first quarter, Amazon&#8217;s net sales reached $143.3 billion, marking a 13% increase compared to the previous year and surpassing the Street&#8217;s estimated net sales of $142.5 billion, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/feature/newsfeed?gspk=bHVrZWphY29iaTUzNDg&amp;gsxid=tdEE0VrK8Jeg&amp;ref=lukejacobi5348" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from Benzinga Pro.</a>
AMZN Price Action: At the time of writing, Amazon shares were up by 1.23% in the after-hours session at $177.16, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Photo via Shutterstock.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38509476/while-mark-zuckerberg-led-meta-battles-advertiser-complaints-elon-musk-continues-to-thrash-facebook?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">While Mark Zuckerberg-Led Meta Battles Advertiser Complaints, Elon Musk Continues To Thrash Facebook, Instagram For Allegedly Stealing &#8216;Credit For Traffic&#8217;</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Amazon's Andy Jassy Remains Bullish On AWS, Sees 'Very Large Opportunity' And Expects 'Meaningful' CapEx Increase In 2024

Top Democrats have rallied to shield Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) from a potential ouster threat by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), further intensifying the ongoing tensions within the House of Representatives.
What Happened: The debate over Johnson&#8217;s leadership reached a climax on Tuesday. Greene, who has been threatening to oust Johnson for over a month, stated that the Democrats&#8217; intervention was the last straw in her list of grievances against the Speaker, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/4634185-johnson-motion-to-vacate-greene-democrats-rescue/">reported</a> The Hill.
Greene accused Johnson of making &#8220;slimy&#8221; deals with Democrats and urged him to switch parties. She also pledged to force a vote on his removal, although she has not yet revealed when she intends to bring her resolution to the floor.
Leading Democrats, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.), Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (Mass.), and House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (Calif.), have announced their intention to defend Johnson. Their strategy is to support a proposal to table Greene&#8217;s resolution, thereby preventing it from reaching the floor.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38477150/biden-vs-trump-contest-could-be-lost-cause-for-one-candidate-if-history-were-anything-to-go-by-accor?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biden Vs. Trump Contest Could Be Lost Cause For One Candidate If History Were Anything To Go By, According To Pollster</a>
Why It Matters: Greene&#8217;s dissatisfaction with Johnson&#8217;s leadership has been brewing for some time. This month, she <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38084745/marjorie-taylor-greene-brands-mike-johnson-a-democrat-comparable-to-nancy-pelosi-literally-turned-in">likened</a> Johnson to a Democrat, criticizing him for striking a bipartisan deal on a $1.2 trillion funding bill.
Later, she called for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38349699/marjorie-taylor-greene-says-mike-johnsons-speakership-is-over-after-house-passes-ukraine-aid-package">Johnson&#8217;s resignation</a> following the House&#8217;s approval of a new aid package for Ukraine. Despite former President Donald Trump&#8217;s endorsement of Johnson, Greene <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38394246/trumps-endorsement-fails-to-quell-marjorie-taylor-greenes-conservative-rebellion-against-speaker-mik">continued to voice her discontent</a>.
Johnson, on the other hand, dismissed concerns about being a Speaker supported by Democrats, stating that he leads the entire House, not just the GOP conference. He emphasized his conservative Republican philosophy and record, and vowed to continue governing based on those principles.
Images via Shutterstock
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38482489/ukrainian-troops-retreat-as-conflict-with-russia-intensifies-in-eastern-front-zelenskyy-urges-us-for?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ukrainian Troops Retreat As Conflict With Russia Intensifies In Eastern Front, Zelenskyy Urges US For Swift Arms Deliveries</a>
<div style="font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif">
<hr style="border: 0;height: 5px;background: #225aa9" />
<div style="background-color: #f5f5f5;background-position: center;background-size: cover;justify-content: center"></div>

 Engineered by 
 Benzinga Neuro, Edited by 
 
 <a href="None" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="color: #225aa9;text-decoration: none"> 
 Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a> 
 
 
<hr style="border: 0;height: 1px;background: #225aa9" />

 The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the 
 extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to 
 create comprehensive and timely stories for you. 
 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="color: #225aa9;text-decoration: none">Learn more.</a>
 
<hr style="border: 0;height: 5px;background: #225aa9" />
 </div>

Marjorie Taylor Greene's Ouster Threat Against Mike Johnson Gets Top Democrats Rallying Behind House Speaker

It is never too late to invest in mutual funds for retirement. As such, if you plan to invest in some of the best funds, the Zacks Mutual Fund Rank can provide you with valuable guidance.
The easiest, most reliable way to judge a mutual fund&#39;s quality over time is by analyzing its performance, diversification, and fees. The Zacks Mutual Fund Rank, which covers over 19,000 mutual funds, has helped us identify three outstanding options that are perfect for any long-term investors&#39; portfolios that is retirement-focused.
Let&#39;s break down some of the mutual funds with the top Zacks Mutual Fund Rank and the lowest fees.
Thrivent Large Cap Value Fund A (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aautx#NASDAQ">AAUTX</a>): 0.85% expense ratio and 0.45% management fee. AAUTX is a Large Cap Value fund. These funds invest in stocks with a market cap of $10 billion of more, but whose share prices do not reflect their intrinsic value. AAUTX has achieved five-year annual returns of an astounding 12.4%.
RBB Free Market US Equity (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fmuex#NASDAQ">FMUEX</a>): 0.55% expense ratio and 0.49% management fee. FMUEX is an All Cap Growth mutual fund. In order to increase diversification, these funds have holdings across small, medium, and large-cap levels. FMUEX, with annual returns of 11.41% over the last five years, is a well-diversified fund with a long track record of success.
TIAA-CREF Small Cap Equity Premier (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tsrpx#NASDAQ">TSRPX</a>): 0.57% expense ratio and 0.4% management fee. TSRPX is a Small Cap Blend mutual fund, and usually targets stocks with market caps of less than $2 billion, letting investors diversify their funds among other kinds of small-cap equities. With a five-year annual return of 10.21%, this fund is a well-diversified fund with a long track record of success.
We hope that your investment advisor (if you use one) has you invested in one or all of the top-ranked mutual funds we&#39;ve reviewed. But if that isn&#39;t the case, it might be time to have a conversation or reconsider this vitally important relationship.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2264701/should-you-add-these-3-top-performing-mutual-funds-to-your-portfolio?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-fundamental_analysis|top_ranked_mutual_fund-2264701">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>