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<a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/europeancapitalinsights/p/european-energy-under-threat-from?r=3nmatg&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web">European energy markets are more vulnerable to </a>Middle East tensions than the US due to its <a href="https://europeancapitalinsights.substack.com/p/middle-east-unrest-threatens-europes">import dependence and geopolitical exposure</a>. Further military escalation could lead to price spikes and supply disruptions as winter approaches.&nbsp;
Oil prices climbed for the third straight session on Thursday following Iran's missile attacks on Israel on Tuesday. December Brent crude futures rose 5% to $77.62 a barrel on ICE Europe, the highest since August 30.&nbsp;
President Joe Biden said on Thursday that the US is discussing with Israel the possibility of <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3rljzepw5yo.amp">Israeli strikes on Iran's oil infrastructure</a>. This might trigger further upside for prices, while cutting European energy supplies.&nbsp;
<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20240701-1">European Union (EU) petroleum oil imports</a> from Saudi Arabia, Libya and Iraq accounted for 23% of its second-quarter imports.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101045/energy_supplies_041024-1-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1890" style="width:624px" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101045/energy_supplies_041024-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101045/energy_supplies_041024-1-300x169.jpg 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101045/energy_supplies_041024-1-768x432.jpg 768w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101045/energy_supplies_041024-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Iranian-Backed Militias Threaten European Energy</h3>
European energy supplies would be impacted if Iranian-backed militias step their attacks on energy infrastructure. 
The Shiite Houthis in Yemen have carried out nearly 100 attacks on ships crossing the Red Sea since November. They say they are <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/houthis-warn-shipowners-new-phase-red-sea-campaign-prepare-be-attacked-2024-10-03/">acting in solidarity with Palestinians</a> in Israel&#8217;s year-long war in Gaza.
A senior official from a coalition of mostly Shiite Muslim paramilitary groups <a href="https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/world/iraqi-militia-threatens-oil-cutoff-europe-s-winter-energy-at-risk">threatened to halt Mideast energy supplies</a>. <a href="https://europeancapitalinsights.substack.com/">European Capital Insights</a> didn't independently verify the threats.
Iran's "seriously destabilizing actions" throughout the Middle East "must stop," G7 Leaders said in an October 3 statement.&nbsp;
They pointed to <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/10/03/g7-leaders-statement-on-recent-developments-in-the-middle-east/">Iran's terrorist proxies and armed groups</a>, including the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hamas, and Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Dimon, Lagarde Issue Geopolitical Warnings</h3>
JPMorgan's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) CEO Jamie Dimon warned that history was repeating itself, even before <a href="https://europeancapitalinsights.substack.com/p/geopolitical-risks-may-be-biggest">the bout of Middle East violence</a>.
"Geopolitics are getting worse," Dimon said at the <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/live/atlantic-festival-2024/">Atlantic Festival in Washington</a>, D.C. on September 20.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&#8220;The most important thing that dwarfs all other things" since 1945 is "what&#8217;s going on in Israel [and] in the Middle East" and Ukraine, Dimon said. He made his comments at Georgetown University on September 17.
<a href="https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/key_ecb_interest_rates/html/index.en.html">European Central Bank</a> (ECB) President <a href="https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb/decisions/html/cvlagarde.en.html">Christine Lagarde</a> issued a similar warning on September 20, saying the "<a href="https://europeancapitalinsights.substack.com/p/lagarde-warns-of-profound-uncertainty">uncertainty ahead is profound</a>."&nbsp;
Global pressures resemble those that &#8220;took place a century ago,&#8221; Lagarde said. That resulted in "economic nationalism&#8221; and a collapse in global trade, she said.&nbsp;
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Spain's Role In European Energy Supplies</h3>
Spain could play a strategic role in moving Europe energy if Middle Eastern routes are disrupted.
Spain does not rely on Middle Eastern oil supplies, providing a risk buffer to any disruptions in European energy supplies. Its oil imports are mainly from the U.S. (14.1%), Mexico (11.4%), and Brazil (10.8%).
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="772" height="647" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101144/European-energy_041024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1891" style="width:624px" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101144/European-energy_041024.png 772w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101144/European-energy_041024-300x251.png 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101144/European-energy_041024-768x644.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 772px) 100vw, 772px" /></figure>
Source: <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1196686/share-of-spanish-crude-oil-imports-by-country/">Statista</a>, Spain Imports by Country, 2023
Spain can also distribute abroad through its 11 oil port terminals. It has the largest civil pipeline network in Western Europe.
As a <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Oil-and-gas-pipelines-in-the-Middle-East_fig2_372240169">net exporter of refined oil products</a>, it has a capacity of 1.59 million barrels per day.&nbsp;
The country also has a total storage capacity of approximately <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rfD2-woznZoAcG5AZcjEn693jGLeaIoXvFTGg3NVvq8/edit?usp=sharing">184 million barrels </a>through 138 sites. This includes strategic reserves managed by CORES, the Corporation of Strategic Reserves of Oil Products.
As the first point of contact for oil shipments <a href="https://www.iea.org/articles/spain-oil-security-policy">rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope</a>, Spain ensures 90% inland oil transportation through its pipelines. For context, Germany ensures only 11%.&nbsp;
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="950" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101343/Map-of-Spains-oil-infrastructure-1024x950.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-1892" style="width:624px" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101343/Map-of-Spains-oil-infrastructure-1024x950.avif 1024w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101343/Map-of-Spains-oil-infrastructure-300x278.avif 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101343/Map-of-Spains-oil-infrastructure-768x713.avif 768w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101343/Map-of-Spains-oil-infrastructure.avif 1384w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Source: <a href="https://www.iea.org/articles/spain-oil-security-policy">IEA</a>, Spain oil security policy, 2022
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Repsol Could Benefit from European Energy Risks</h3>
Spain's Repsol (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/REPYF#OTC">REPYF</a>) stands out as a beneficiary amid potential disruptions in European energy supplies. 
It has limited exposure to the region and substantial investments in the U.S. and Brazil.&nbsp;
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="336" height="167" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101444/European-energy4_041024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1893" style="width:624px" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101444/European-energy4_041024.png 336w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/04101444/European-energy4_041024-300x149.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px" /></figure>
Source: <a href="https://www.repsol.com/content/dam/repsol-corporate/en_gb/accionistas-e-inversores/resultados/2024/interim-management-report-for-the-first-half-of-2024.pdf">Repsol 2024 interim report</a>, first half, upstream investments
The company operates five major refineries in Spain with a total production capacity of 1.013 million barrels per day. This is 64% of Spain's entire capacity as of the first half 2024.&nbsp;
Repsol reported a net income of €1.626 billion for the same period, up 15% from the year prior. Additionally, it invested more in growth and diversifying into low-carbon generation and renewable energy.
The energy corporation increased dividends to €0.5 per share in July, a 30% increase compared to 2023. It also maintained a strong liquidity of €9.67 billion.
At an extremely low P/E ratio of 4.4 multiple in an industry averaging 11, <a href="https://www.gurufocus.com/term/pettm/REPYY">Repsol stock appears undervalued</a>. Analyst price targets range from €15 to €20.50, <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/REP.MC/">averaging a 46% upside</a> to €17.72 per share as of October 4.
Disclaimer:
Any opinions expressed in this article are not to be considered investment advice and are solely those of the authors. European Capital Insights is not responsible for any financial decisions made based on the contents of this article. Readers may use this article for information and educational purposes only.&nbsp;
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga's reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

Eurozone

Markets

REPYF

European Energy Supplies Under Threat From Mideast War

WIIM

Shares of airline companies are trading higher following a report suggesting that Spirit Airlines is considering bankruptcy.

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASTS#NASDAQ">ASTS</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with ASTS, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 17 uncommon options trades for AST SpaceMobile.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 47% bullish and 35%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 7 are puts, for a total amount of $267,495, and 10 are calls, for a total amount of $630,154.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $10.0 to $45.0 for AST SpaceMobile over the recent three months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for AST SpaceMobile options trades today is 3870.69 with a total volume of 4,264.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for AST SpaceMobile's big money trades within a strike price range of $10.0 to $45.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>AST SpaceMobile Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1728056788_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 style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ASTS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$10.9</td>
<td>$10.7</td>
<td>$10.8</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$216.0K</td>
<td>6.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ASTS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$2.3</td>
<td>$2.2</td>
<td>$2.29</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>$114.3K</td>
<td>2.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">946</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ASTS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$11.7</td>
<td>$11.4</td>
<td>$11.52</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$57.6K</td>
<td>6.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">251</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ASTS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$2.9</td>
<td>$2.5</td>
<td>$2.7</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$54.8K</td>
<td>4.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">203</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ASTS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/11/24</td>
<td>$1.25</td>
<td>$1.2</td>
<td>$1.25</td>
<td>$26.00</td>
<td>$53.7K</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">899</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About AST SpaceMobile</h3>
AST SpaceMobile Inc is a satellite designer and manufacturer. The company is building a cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices, and off-the-shelf mobile phones based on extensive IP and patent portfolio. It has focused on eliminating the connectivity gaps faced by mobile subscribers and finally bringing broadband to the billions who remain unconnected. The Company's spaceMobile Service is being designed to provide cost-effective, high-speed Cellular Broadband services to end-users who are out of terrestrial cellular coverage using existing mobile devices.
<h3>Where Is AST SpaceMobile Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 4,785,658, with ASTS's price up by 7.84%, positioned at $25.04.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 39 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 AST SpaceMobile options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Options

ASTS

AST SpaceMobile Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Visa. Our analysis of options history for Visa (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>) revealed 11 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 45% of traders were bullish, while 36% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 8 were puts, with a value of $442,338, and 3 were calls, valued at $103,030.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $240.0 to $315.0 for Visa over the recent three months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Visa stands at 603.29, with a total volume reaching 1,229.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Visa, situated within the strike price corridor from $240.0 to $315.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Visa Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1728056783_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>V</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$14.5</td>
<td>$14.45</td>
<td>$14.45</td>
<td>$285.00</td>
<td>$79.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">669</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">165</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$14.55</td>
<td>$13.65</td>
<td>$14.41</td>
<td>$285.00</td>
<td>$79.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">669</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">55</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$14.5</td>
<td>$14.15</td>
<td>$14.32</td>
<td>$285.00</td>
<td>$78.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">669</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">110</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$14.65</td>
<td>$14.2</td>
<td>$14.65</td>
<td>$285.00</td>
<td>$61.5K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">669</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">207</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/25/24</td>
<td>$2.0</td>
<td>$1.8</td>
<td>$2.0</td>
<td>$270.00</td>
<td>$58.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">265</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Visa</h3>
Visa is the largest payment processor in the world. In fiscal 2023, it processed almost $15 trillion in total volume. Visa operates in over 200 countries and processes transactions in over 160 currencies. Its systems are capable of processing over 65,000 transactions per second.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Visa, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Present Market Standing of Visa</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 1,120,257, the V's price is up by 0.05%, now at $277.0. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 25 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Visa</h3>
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $310.6.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from BMO Capital has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Visa, which currently sits at a price target of $310. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Goldman Sachs keeps a Buy rating on Visa with a target price of $317. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Oppenheimer downgraded its action to Outperform with a price target of $318. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from B of A Securities continues to hold a Neutral rating for Visa, targeting a price of $308. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Macquarie continues to hold a Outperform rating for Visa, targeting a price of $300. 
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 Visa with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Smart Money Is Betting Big In Visa Options

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Wells Fargo. Our analysis of options history for Wells Fargo (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>) revealed 34 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 11% of traders were bullish, while 70% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 8 were puts, with a value of $511,054, and 26 were calls, valued at $1,380,926.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $45.0 to $62.5 for Wells Fargo during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Wells Fargo's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Wells Fargo's whale activity within a strike price range from $45.0 to $62.5 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Wells Fargo 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1728056778_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>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>WFC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$5.65</td>
<td>$5.65</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$168.9K</td>
<td>246</td>
<td>300</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WFC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$13.9</td>
<td>$13.35</td>
<td>$13.35</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$133.5K</td>
<td>3.4K</td>
<td>100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WFC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$1.68</td>
<td>$1.41</td>
<td>$1.42</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$98.2K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WFC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/11/24</td>
<td>$0.93</td>
<td>$0.92</td>
<td>$0.92</td>
<td>$58.00</td>
<td>$88.5K</td>
<td>4.9K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WFC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$5.25</td>
<td>$5.15</td>
<td>$5.25</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$78.7K</td>
<td>5.6K</td>
<td>250</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Wells Fargo</h3>
Wells Fargo is one of the largest banks in the United States, with approximately $1.9 trillion in balance sheet assets. The company has four primary segments: consumer banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management. It is almost entirely focused on the U.S.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Wells Fargo, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Wells Fargo's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 5,222,608, the WFC's price is up by 2.62%, now at $56.42. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 7 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Wells Fargo</h3>
4 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $66.25.
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&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley persists with their Overweight rating on Wells Fargo, maintaining a target price of $67. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Evercore ISI Group has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Wells Fargo, which currently sits at a price target of $68. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Goldman Sachs continues to hold a Buy rating for Wells Fargo, targeting a price of $65. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Evercore ISI Group persists with their Outperform rating on Wells Fargo, maintaining a target price of $65. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Wells Fargo, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Wells Fargo Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

Billionaire investor and Kamala Harris proponent Mark Cuban recently weighed in on a key difference between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris regarding their economic strategies for boosting U.S. manufacturing. In a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3g616-_YTY">discussion</a> about how to strengthen American companies, Cuban highlighted two contrasting approaches: Trump's aggressive tariff policy and Harris' plan to offer incentives.
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As Cuban noted, Trump&#8217;s plan includes levying high tariffs on businesses such as John Deere that may decide to relocate manufacturing or outsource jobs elsewhere. &#8220;Donald Trump is trying to come in with a hammer and say you&#8217;re the nail; I&#8217;m going to hit you with a 200% tariff, John Deere,&#8221; Cuban said vigorously.&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">Trump said: &quot;I&#39;m just notifying John Deere, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24DE&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$DE</a>, right now. If you build in Mexico, we&#39;re putting a 200% tariff on everything that you wanna sell into the United States so that if I win, John Deere is gonna be paying 200%.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/PNcgpoUaoM">pic.twitter.com/PNcgpoUaoM</a>
&mdash; unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) <a href="https://twitter.com/unusual_whales/status/1840451727243264414?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Trending: The global games market is projected to generate $272B by the end of the year —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gameflip"> for $0.55/share, this VC-backed startup with a 7M+ userbase gives investors easy access to this asset market. </a>
However, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40993998/mark-cuban-says-trumps-lack-of-understanding-business-is-insane-slams-200-tariff-threat-on-john-deer">Cuban questioned</a> whether such an aggressive tactic helps the economy in the long run, comparing it to Kamala Harris's approach, which focuses on offering <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/09/41089144/cut-red-tape-harris-proposes-100-billion-to-rebuild-americas-industrial-base">incentives to companies</a> to manufacture more within the U.S.&nbsp;
Instead of threatening tariffs, Harris's strategy would offer rewards for keeping production stateside, encouraging companies to invest in American jobs and infrastructure.
&#8220;Which do you think is going to work better with companies?&#8221; Cuban asked. &#8220;Do you want to be underneath a hammer — because when you put a 200% tariff on John Deere and only a 10 or 20% tariff on their Chinese competitors, their Chinese competitors are now less expensive than John Deere.&#8221;
Trending: ‘Scrolling to UBI': Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones –<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2"> invest today with $1,000 for just $0.25/share </a>
Cuban then pointed to the example of Carrier in 2016. The company faced a 35% tariff under Trump but managed to navigate it by laying off workers instead of returning jobs to the U.S. As Cuban puts it, &#8220;They just gamed the system.&#8221; He thinks this kind of result is unhelpful and harms American workers more than it helps.
Ultimately, Cuban posed the question: Which is better for U.S. manufacturing—Trump's heavy-handed tariffs or Harris's incentives? For Cuban, the answer is clear: offering companies incentives is the better way forward if the goal is to promote long-term growth, job creation, and economic stability in the U.S.
Trending: This Adobe-backed AI marketing startup went from a $5 to $85 million valuation working with brands like L'Oréal, Hasbro, and Sweetgreen in just three years –<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-ai"> here's how there's an opportunity to invest at $1,000 for only $0.50/share today.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Do Economists Think?</h2>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39630382/paul-krugman-says-trump-tariffs-will-hurt-80-of-americans-benefit-only-the-top-1-burden-would-fall-o">Economists tend to be skeptical</a> of high tariffs like the ones Donald Trump has championed. Tariffs drive up the cost of imported goods, pushing consumer prices and production costs for businesses that depend on international supply networks.
Many contend that tariffs can also have unfavorable knock-on consequences on the economy, as they can trigger retaliatory tariffs from other nations, impede international trade, and eventually lower economic efficiency. According to a <a href="https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w29315/w29315.pdf">study by the National Bureau of Economic Research</a>, Trump's tariffs increased consumer prices without significantly benefiting U.S. workers.
On the other hand, proponents of tariffs argue that they can protect critical industries, especially those related to national security or strategic importance. That said, most economists still agree that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/09/40961812/economists-warn-trumps-plans-for-tax-cuts-tariffs-and-deportation-could-trigger-skyrocketing-inf">tariffs are a blunt tool</a> with limited long-term efficacy.
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<li>Unlock a $400 billion opportunity by investing in the future of EV infrastructure on<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/dunamis-1"> this startup already valued at $50 million with just $500</a>.</li>
</ul>

Startups

Mark Cuban Asks What's Better: 'I'm Gonna Hit You With A 200% Tariff, John Deere' Vs. 'I'm Going To Give You Incentives To Manufacture More'

RBC Capital analyst Gregory Renza maintains Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INO#NASDAQ">INO</a>) with a Sector Perform and lowers the price target from $8 to $7.

News

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

RBC Capital Maintains Sector Perform on Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Lowers Price Target to $7

Blink Charging Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLNK#NASDAQ">BLNK</a>) shares are<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/movers" rel="noreferrer noopener"> trading higher on Friday.</a>
The company has announced that its subsidiary, Envoy Technologies, will introduce the award-winning Lucid Air EVs <a target="_blank" href="https://lucidmotors.com/air" rel="noreferrer noopener">from </a>Lucid Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LCID#NASDAQ">LCID</a>)<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/10/g41174461/envoy-technologies-inc-launches-turnkey-on-demand-luxury-lucid-ev-sharing-as-an-amenity" rel="noreferrer noopener"> into its car-sharing programs.</a>
This initiative will begin with resident car-share installations at three luxury properties in California.
&#8220;Envoy can offer properties a brand-new Lucid Air Grand Touring for as low as $699 per month, plus additional revenue share for qualifying properties,&#8221; said Envoy co-founder Aric Ohana.
The launch is taking place at The Holland Group&#8217;s Orlo in Santa Clara, the Monticello property in Santa Clara, and the Beaudry luxury apartments in Downtown Los Angeles.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/24/09/40817541/lucid-not-ready-to-take-on-tesla-cybertruck-ceo-says-tough-to-make-an-electric-pickup-truck-work-to" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lucid Not Ready To Take On Tesla Cybertruck: CEO Says &#8216;Tough To Make An Electric Pickup Truck Work Today&#8217;</a>
Envoy collaborates with multi-residential communities to offer turnkey EV sharing and charging stations as a valuable amenity.
&#8220;We look forward to working with similarly resident-friendly properties, where our full turnkey private car share service can provide cars from our fleet of beautiful new Lucid Airs for 12-month terms,&#8221; added Ohana.
The installations at Orlo and Monticello mark the introduction of Lucid EVs into Envoy&#8217;s existing network in the Silicon Valley area, while Beaudry represents this milestone for Downtown LA.
According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>, BLNK stock has lost over 40% in the past year. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via WisdomTree Trust WisdomTree Battery Value Chain and Innovation Fund (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBAT#BATS">WBAT</a>).
Meanwhile, Blink Charging recently disclosed that it had exceeded 100,000 electric vehicle (EV) chargers sold,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/09/g41065508/blink-charging-surpasses-100-000-charger-milestone" rel="noreferrer noopener">deployed, or contracted worldwide</a>.
&#8220;This landmark is truly a collaborative effort shared among every member of the Blink team, each of our customers, and the demand from the EV community,&#8221; said Mike Battaglia, Chief Operating Officer and CEO-Elect at Blink Charging.
Price Action: BLNK shares are trading higher by 6.18% to $1.89 at last check Friday.
Photo: courtesy of Blink
Read Next:
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Equities

Movers

General

BLNK

LCID

WBAT

Lucid Air Electric Vehicles Join Blink Charging's Envoy Program: Details

JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBLU#NASDAQ">JBLU</a>) stock is trading higher on Friday following a report suggesting Spirit Airlines is considering filing for bankruptcy. 
What To Know: Back in January, a federal district court judge blocked a merger between JetBlue and Spirit, according to the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/spirit-airlines-in-talks-with-bondholders-over-terms-of-potential-bankruptcy-filing-fdd23fae">Wall Street Journal</a>. Since then, the companies have abandoned the merger, reasoning that they likely could not overcome the legal and regulatory challenges.
Currently, Spirit is in talks with bondholders and creditors regarding support for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth told Reuters, &#8220;We suspect Spirit should be able to renegotiate with creditors outside of bankruptcy.&#8221;
Additionally, Spirit is planning to cut its capacity by close to 20% during the fourth quarter and has already cut dozens of flights for November and December. The company has reported losses in nearly every quarter since February 2020, according to data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
If Spirit declares bankruptcy, JetBlue, along with other airlines, may have the chance to purchase assets from the declining company at a discount. In addition, a Spirit bankruptcy would give JetBlue the chance to attract consumers looking for budget friendly options.
Lastly, a Spirit bankruptcy would leave consumers with one less option giving remaining airlines more pricing power, especially when it comes to key domestic flights. This could result in higher revenue per flight for the surviving airlines.
How To Buy JetBlue Stock
Besides going to a brokerage platform to purchase a share &#8211; or fractional share &#8211; of stock, you can also gain access to shares either by buying an exchange traded fund (ETF) that holds the stock itself, or by allocating yourself to a strategy in your 401(k) that would seek to acquire shares in a mutual fund or other instrument. 
For example, in JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBLU#NASDAQ">JBLU</a>)'s case, it is in the Industrials sector. An ETF will likely hold shares in many liquid and large companies that help track that sector, allowing an investor to gain exposure to the trends within that segment.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41156066/elon-musk-cant-contain-his-joy-after-california-deepfakes-law-supported-by-gavin-newsom-blocked-by-c">Elon Musk Can&#8217;t Contain His Joy After California Deepfakes Law Supported By Gavin Newsom Blocked By Court: &#8216;Yay!&#8217;</a>
JBLU Price Action: At the time of publication, JetBlue stock is moving 13.8% higher at $7.28, according to data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image: JetBlue Photo via Wikimedia

JBLU

What's Going On With JetBlue Stock Friday?

RBC Capital analyst Gregory Renza maintains Exelixis (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXEL#NASDAQ">EXEL</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $27 to $30.

EXEL

RBC Capital Maintains Outperform on Exelixis, Raises Price Target to $30

Retailers and politicians reacted to the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and U.S. Maritime Alliance&#8217;s (USMX) tentative deal to end <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/41097541/amazon-apple-tesla-brace-for-supply-chain-disruptions-as-potential-east-coast-dockworkers-strike" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the ongoing port strike</a>.
What Happened: East Coast dockworkers <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41122944/east-coast-dockworkers-strike-how-labor-dispute-impacts-economy-logistics-companies">went on strike</a> Tuesday following their contract lapse with port employers.
The dockworkers sought a 77% pay increase over the next six years and workplace protections for automation of port practices.
Several experts thought a prolonged strike <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40906726/us-port-strike-in-october-could-lead-to-major-supply-chain-disruptions-says-container-trade-expert">could seriously harm</a> U.S. supply chains, though they pegged the likelihood of a strike continuing for more than a few days to be low.
The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41177060/port-strike-ends-workers-return-to-work-friday">strike ended Thursday night</a> following the USMX&#8217;s offer to increase pay by 62%. The contract was extended to Jan. 15, giving both sides time to negotiate on other issues such as port automation.
Reporting by Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ship-queue-grows-us-ports-dockworker-strike-enters-third-day-2024-10-03/">attributed</a> the success of negotiations to White House economic adviser Lael Brainard and Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su.
Reactions: The end of the strike <a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-reacts-port-strike-suspension">received</a> a flurry of reactions, including from National Retail Federation President Michael Shay.
&#8220;The decision to end the current strike and allow the East and Gulf coast ports to reopen is good news for the nation's economy,&#8221; Shay said. 
&#8220;It is critically important that the International Longshoremen's Association and U.S. Maritime Alliance work diligently and in good faith to reach a fair, final agreement before the extension expires. The sooner they reach a deal, the better for all American families."
A Bank of America analyst also expressed relief that the strike ended promptly while noting future considerations.
&#8220;We see limited impact from the strike, with &lt;1% incremental global congestion build, and with China export volumes muted during China&#8217;s October Golden Week. As such, pressure should build on container spot rates, per our BofA Asian Transport analyst Nathan Gee,&#8221; the analyst said. 
&#8220;With pre-shipping done, a quick strike, and inventories built, we see a muted backdrop until demand accelerates, which should remain an overhang on U.S. transport stocks.&#8221;
In a post on X, President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41177525/biden-praises-end-of-port-strike-highlights-importance-for-hurricane-helene-recovery-collective-barg">applauded the end</a> of the strike.
&#8220;Collective bargaining works,&#8221; Biden wrote. The Scranton, Pennsylvania, native<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/39009950/bidens-push-for-unionization-faces-new-challenge-in-semiconductor-industry-report"> positioned himself</a> as firmly pro-union during his presidency.
His senate colleague, progressive Bernie Sanders (I-VT), also commented on the agreement between the ILA and USMX.
&#8220;I congratulate the 50,000 port workers who went on strike against the outrageous corporate greed of the shipping industry and won an historic increase in wages,&#8221; Sanders wrote. &#8220;Billionaires in the shipping industry must not be allowed to get even richer by replacing port workers with robots.&#8221;
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</ul>
Photo: Andy-li for Unsplash

Analyst Color

Politics

Global

Port Strike Ends After 3 Days: Retaliers, Politicians Breathe A Sigh Of Relief

RBC Capital analyst Luca Issi maintains WAVE Life Sciences (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WVE#NASDAQ">WVE</a>) with a Sector Perform and raises the price target from $5 to $7.

RBC Capital Maintains Sector Perform on WAVE Life Sciences, Raises Price Target to $7

BMO Capital analyst James Thalacker maintains American Electric Power (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $114 to $111.

BMO Capital Maintains Outperform on American Electric Power, Lowers Price Target to $111

DECK

FORD

LULU

Shares of apparel-related companies are trading higher after the dockworkers reached a deal to suspend their strike after they reached a tentative agreement.

RBC Capital analyst Luca Issi maintains CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRSP#NASDAQ">CRSP</a>) with a Sector Perform and lowers the price target from $60 to $53.

CRSP

RBC Capital Maintains Sector Perform on CRISPR Therapeutics, Lowers Price Target to $53

BMO Capital analyst James Thalacker reiterates Vistra (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VST#NYSE">VST</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $125 to $146.

Reiteration

BMO Capital Reiterates Outperform on Vistra, Raises Price Target to $146

BMO Capital analyst Michael Zaremski maintains American Intl Gr (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIG#NYSE">AIG</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $87 to $90.

BMO Capital Maintains Outperform on American Intl Gr, Raises Price Target to $90

The September jobs report came in hotter than predicted, with U.S. payrolls increasing by 254,000 and the unemployment rate surprisingly slipping to 4.1%. Wage growth exceeded expectations, rising 0.4% <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/10/41184080/us-economy-adds-254-000-new-jobs-in-september-smashes-expectations-unemployment-f">month-over-month and 4% year-over-year. </a>
These robust numbers have sparked a fresh debate among economists about the Federal Reserve's next move. The general consensus now seems to lean toward a more gradual approach to rate cuts, as the labor market&#8217;s resilience weakens the case for aggressive monetary easing.
Here's how five experts are interpreting the latest jobs data.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">&#8220;Blowout&#8221; Report Suggests Fed Should Stay Cautious</h3>
Economist Mohamed El-Erian describes the September jobs report as a &#8220;blowout,&#8221; highlighting the stronger-than-expected job creation and wage growth. He says that this data reinforces the strength of the labor market and &#8220;U.S. economic exceptionalism.&#8221;
El-Erian suggests the report offers a reason for the Fed to resist market pressure for significant rate cuts in 2024-25, favoring a more cautious approach to monetary easing.
According to Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Independent Advisor Alliance, the September report suggests a turnaround following signs of labor market weakening earlier in the year. 
He warns against overreacting to either overly optimistic or pessimistic reports, and sees this as further evidence of a growing economy with a solid labor market. 
&#8220;This should put to rest – at least for the next month – the idea that the economy is about to fall off a cliff or that imminent doom is on the horizon,&#8221; he said. 
He maintains a balanced outlook, suggesting that while one strong report doesn&#8217;t warrant excessive optimism, the data strengthens the case for investors to remain fully invested in equities as the economy continues to grow.
Joseph Brusuelas, principal and chief economist at RSM US LLP, highlights the strong wage growth in September, with a 0.4% monthly increase and 4% annualized growth, providing momentum as the U.S. heads into the crucial holiday season. 
The economist underlines that "hiring remains rock solid," even though some seasonal and technical factors may inflate the topline numbers. He sees the economy on track to grow at or above a 3% pace.
Brusuelas dismisses concerns of an imminent recession, instead signaling a "mid-cycle economic expansion" as hiring moderates from post-pandemic highs. 
Looking ahead, he interprets the strong jobs data as support for the Federal Reserve to adopt a more gradual approach to rate cuts.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Broad Job Gains Point To Smaller Rate Cuts</h3>
The recent data flow raises questions about whether the Fed&#8217;s &#8220;super-sized cut was warranted,&#8221; says Aditya Bhave, U.S. economist at BofA Securities. 
Bhave highlights the September jobs report, calling it &#8220;gangbusters,&#8221; as it reinforces his perspective with robust job growth, upward revisions to previous months, and a drop in the unemployment rate. Moreover, last week&#8217;s gross domestic product revisions also pointed to a healthier economy than previously thought.
Given the strength of recent economic reports, Bhave has revised his November forecast from a 50bp cut to 25bp, while maintaining the same path of rate cuts into 2025. He now projects a terminal rate between 3.0% and 3.25%, noting that the risks to this figure are skewed to the upside due to stronger-than-expected productivity growth.
Jeffrey Roach chief economist for LPL Financial emphasizes the broad-based payroll increase. He suggests that "this solid report increases the odds that the economy will continue to grow above trend in the next quarter" and that the Fed is likely to opt for a "quarter point" rate cut rather than a larger one.
However, he also highlights a slight drop in hours worked and a rise in the percentage of workers holding multiple jobs, suggesting some caution is warranted.
According to Nathaniel&nbsp;Casey, investment strategist at wealth management firm Evelyn Partners, the robust payroll data reassures markets of the U.S. economy&#8217;s strength. 
He highlights that &#8220;the headline non-farm payroll figure saw its largest beat over consensus estimates since December 2023.&#8221;
While the unemployment rate's drop to 4.1% is encouraging, he cautions that rising hourly earnings could trigger inflationary concerns.
The expert warns that with such strong labor market data, the likelihood of a 50-basis point rate cut has diminished, with markets now favoring a smaller 25-basis point cut in November.
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</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

Federal Reserve

'Blowout' September Jobs Report Spurs Reactions: 6 Economists Say Aggressive Fed Rate Cuts May Face Obstacles

<a href="https://about.fb.com/news/2024/10/facebook-local-tab-messenger-communities-ai/">https://about.fb.com/news/2024/10/facebook-local-tab-messenger-communities-ai/</a>
&nbsp;
<h2>Takeaways</h2>
<ul>
<li>We're testing new Local and Explore tabs that pull together content from across Reels, Marketplace, Groups and Events on Facebook to help you find what you're interested in, and we're introducing an updated, full-screen Video tab that gives Reels a more prominent home on Facebook.</li>
<li>We're making it easier to find relevant information from public groups, pages and creator posts with AI Comment Summaries, and testing a customizable Group AI to help members of groups find answers to their questions.</li>
<li>We're announcing Messenger Communities, a new way for small- to medium-sized communities to connect over shared interests.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Today at our Facebook IRL event in Austin, we shared exciting new developments for the future of Facebook and Messenger.
We're adding features that help young adults – and all Facebook users – explore their interests and connect with the world beyond their close friends. Whatever you're into, there are people on Facebook who can help you find and do more of it. We want to make it easy for you to discover the content and people you care about, because that's exactly the kind of social discovery that Facebook is built for.
With Messenger, we've made it easier for you to connect privately with the people in your life, whether it's to share a Reel you saw on Facebook, message with Marketplace sellers, react to the Story your friend shared or to interact in one of the many other ways Messenger enables every day.&nbsp; Messenger continues to lead the industry in utility and expression. Every month, more Americans report turning to Messenger for personal communication than any other mobile messaging app. We take this responsibility seriously and are adding features that spark fun and meaningful conversations while ensuring communication on Messenger is private, safe, reliable and expressive.
We're excited to share all the work we've been doing to improve your Facebook and Messenger experiences.

'Introducing New Facebook Local Tab, Messenger Communities, AI Integrations And More' - Meta Blog Post

RBC Capital analyst Luca Issi maintains Biomarin Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMRN#NASDAQ">BMRN</a>) with a Sector Perform and lowers the price target from $85 to $80.

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