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FRHC

Reported Earlier, Freedom Holding Announces Expansion Into Turkey With New Brokerage License Approval

<ul>
<li>Strong first year as standalone company; global leader Sandoz uniquely positioned in attractive and growing USD 200 billion market for generics and biosimilars</li>
<li>Leading in home market Europe, which represents half of total sales; strategically positioning company to become #1 in biosimilars in US, with three US launches expected in 2025</li>
<li>Ambitious GLP-1 strategy in place, addressing each opportunity with mix of internal capabilities and external partnerships</li>
<li>Industry-leading pipeline for rapidly-growing biosimilar segment now comprises 28 molecules</li>
<li>Strongly positioned to capitalize on unprecedented global market opportunity, with reference medicines worth more than USD 400 billion in sales due to lose exclusivity from 2029 onwards</li>
</ul>

SDZNY

Reported Earlier, Sandoz Highlights Ambitious Roadmap For Biosimilar Leadership And GLP-1 Expansion At J.P. Morgan Healthcare Event

While NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang has stated that practical quantum computing is likely two decades away, the company is not waiting to invest in its future. In a strategic move, Nvidia is actively hiring for roles that will bolster its quantum computing capabilities, indicating a long-term commitment to integrating quantum and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42867168/nvidias-jensen-huang-said-something-that-has-all-quantum-computing-stocks-tumbling-qubt-and-rgti-down-13-ionq-down-11">classical computing systems</a>.
What Happened: Huang, speaking at several forums including the recent CES 2025 keynote, has set a timeline of 15 to 30 years for &#8220;very useful&#8221; quantum computers, with a consensus within Nvidia leaning towards a 20-year horizon.
Despite this, Nvidia is already laying the groundwork for this hybrid future, as evidenced by job listings for positions like Director of Product Management for Climate and Weather and Senior Quantum Error Correction Research Scientist, according to Nvidia&#8217;s <a href="https://nvidia.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/NVIDIAExternalCareerSite/jobs?q=quantum">hiring</a> page. 
These roles focus on immediate applications such as weather forecasting with Nvidia&#8217;s Earth-2 digital twin and foundational quantum research in error correction and algorithm development.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42966137/biden-admin-brushed-off-teslas-100m-big-rig-charging-funding-application-says-report-elon-musk-sighs">Biden Admin Brushes Off Tesla&#8217;s $100M Big-Rig Charging Funding Application, Says Report: Elon Musk Sighs</a>
Why It Matters: The investment in quantum talent comes at a time when the quantum computing industry faces skepticism, as seen with the recent decline in quantum computing stocks post-Huang&#8217;s comments. IonQ Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IONQ#NYSE">IONQ</a>), Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QUBT#NASDAQ">QUBT</a>), and Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) all experienced significant drops, reflecting investor caution. 
However, some industry leaders, like D-Wave CEO Alan Baratz, argue quantum applications are already commercially viable in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42892470/jensen-huang-is-dead-wrong-about-quantum-computing-d-wave-ceo-fires-back-at-nvidia-boss-happy-to-meet-with-jensen-any-time-any-place-to-help-fill-in-these-gaps">areas like financial modeling</a>.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms Inc., echoed Huang's cautious optimism during an appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast, stating, "Quantum computing is still quite a ways off from being a truly practical paradigm." While admitting his limited expertise, Zuckerberg agreed with the industry consensus on the decade-long <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42936751/mark-zuckerberg-backs-nvidia-ceo-jensen-huangs-view-on-quantum-computing-its-still-quite-a-ways-off">timeline for practical adoption</a>.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42966025/softbank-backed-arm-plans-major-price-hike-apple-qualcomm-supplier-explores-chip-development">SoftBank-Backed Arm Plans Major Price Hike: Apple, Qualcomm Supplier Explores Chip Development</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Equities

Markets

IONQ

NVDA

QBTS

QUBT

RGTI

Jensen Huang Said Quantum Computing Is 20 Years Away, But Nvidia Bets Big On Strategic Hiring

The XMT rig adapts proven oil and gas technology for the mining sector, enabling faster, safer, and more sustainable drilling. This patented hybrid drilling system builds on the success of an earlier prototype developed by the XMT team, offering a revolutionary approach to identifying critical minerals. By improving drilling speed, core recovery, and producing anticipated high-fidelity drill chips, the XMT rig is designed to deliver a versatile and efficient solution that surpasses conventional methods.
The XMT Series-A funding of $11M will drive the development and field deployment of the first hybrid rig at Santa Cruz.

Reported Earlier, XtremeX To Launch Revolutionary Drilling Rig With Ivanhoe Electric After $11M Funding Led By GoGreen Partners

Empowering women and girls worldwide to dream beyond boundaries is the heart of e.l.f.'s next episode of ‘Show Your(s)e.l.f.' featuring Nguyen's inspiring journey

e.l.f. Beauty Partners With Amanda Nguyen To Inspire Women And Girls Through Empowerment And Advocacy

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

INDA

India Wholesale Price Index Inflation (YoY) For December 2.37% Vs. 230% Est.; 1.89% Prior

Biden administration reportedly brushed off Tesla Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) application for about $100 million to fund a big-rig charging corridor, to the exasperation of the EV giant&#8217;s CEO Elon Musk.
What Happened: TechCrunch <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/13/biden-admin-snubs-teslas-100-million-big-rig-charging-funding-request-again/">reported</a> on Monday that Tesla had applied for funding for a big-rig charging corridor project. The information was confirmed by its project partner California's South Coast Air Quality Management District. 
However, Tesla was not named in the list of 49 applicants to whom the Department of Transportation (DOT) gave over $635 million in funding on Friday to build EV charging infrastructure. 
Tesla first requested funding in 2023 from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure program to build nine semi-truck charging stations between its former headquarters in California to the southern border of Texas, officially called <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/08/33495327/tesla-seeks-100m-for-semi-charging-route-between-california-and-texas">Project TESSERACT</a>. However, the department chose other applicants over Tesla even then. 
CEO Responds: Musk responded to the news on social media platform X with a brief, &#8220;Sigh.&#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">Sigh
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1878902938640515082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: The status of the big rig charging corridor is unclear. Tesla did not immediately respond to Benzinga&#8216;s request for comment. 
Tesla has its own fast charging network. Earlier this month, the company said that it opened over 11,000 supercharger stalls in 2024, taking the total number of superchargers to over 65,000.
The growth of Tesla's supercharger network was in question after the company announced&nbsp;layoffs of at least 10% of its global workforce in April. The layoffs impacted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38846223/elon-musk-fired-supercharger-chief-rebecca-tinucci-and-her-entire-team-after-she-refused-to-lay-off" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">500 members of the supercharging team</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;Rebecca Tinucci, Tesla's then Senior Director of Charging Infrastructure, left the company.
During Tesla's annual shareholder meeting in June, Musk, however, slammed rumors of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38757383/elon-musk-announces-500m-investment-in-teslas-supercharger-network-expansion-in-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">death of the supercharger network </a>as "greatly exaggerated."
"Our supercharger network is continuing to grow," Musk said while adding the company will invest $500 million into expanding the network in 2024. 
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/01/42937833/elon-musks-spacex-delays-starship-7th-test-flight-to-wednesday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk's SpaceX Delays Starship 7th Test Flight To Wednesday</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Tech

TSLA

Biden Admin Brushes Off Tesla's $100M Big-Rig Charging Funding Application, Says Report: Elon Musk Sighs

Reported Earlier, Australia Building Approvals (MoM) For November -3.6% Vs. -3.6% Est.; 5.2% (Revised) Prior

BBJP

WisdomTree Trust Japan Total Dividend Fund

Reported Earlier, Japan Current Account n.s.a. For November 3.353T Vs. 2.691T Est.; 2.457T Prior

Reported Earlier, Japan Adjusted Current Account For November 3.03T Vs. 2.59T Est.; 2.41T Prior

British chip design firm Arm Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NYSE">ARM</a>) is developing plans to increase prices by up to 300% and has discussed manufacturing its own chips, marking a significant shift in strategy that could reshape its relationship with major customers like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>).
What Happened: The SoftBank-controlled company aims to boost annual smartphone revenue by approximately $1 billion over a decade through its &#8220;Picasso&#8221; initiative, according to court documents revealed during a recent trial with Qualcomm, Reuters reported. The strategy, dating back to 2019, centers on increasing royalty rates for its latest Armv9 computing architecture.
Arm CEO Rene Haas has explored expanding beyond the company&#8217;s traditional role of selling chip-design blueprints to potentially producing complete chips or chipsets. This move could position Arm as a direct competitor to its current customers, particularly as the company seeks growth beyond its relatively modest $3.23 billion revenue in fiscal 2024.
Internal communications revealed during the trial showed Haas&#8217;s confidence in competing against customers if Arm entered chip production. &#8220;Rest are hosed,&#8221; Haas wrote in a December 2021 message regarding potential competition with companies like Qualcomm.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42965139/tesla-soars-over-2-after-hours-on-morgan-stanleys-430-target-upgrade-and-breakthrough-fsd-advancements-says-gary-black">Tesla Shares Rise Over 2% After Hours On Morgan Stanley&#8217;s Price Target Hike, FSD Breakthroughs: Gary Black Highlights Key Drivers</a>
Why It Matters: The strategy <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42890464/softbank-owned-arm-eyes-acquisition-of-oracle-backed-chip-designer-ampere-computing-amid-nvidias-dominance-report">shift comes as Arm explores acquiring</a> Ampere Computing LLC, an Oracle Corp.-backed chip designer which was valued at $8 billion in 2021. This potential acquisition could accelerate Arm&#8217;s evolution from a technology licensor to a complete chipmaker, particularly in the server market.
Industry analysts express concern about the implications. &#8220;It should send a chill down the spine of their customers,&#8221; said Tantra Analyst founder Prakash Sangam, noting the unexpected nature of Arm&#8217;s chip-making aspirations.
Price Action: Arm Holdings PLC&#8217;s ADR closed at $137.07 on Tuesday, down 2.43% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock gained 1.26%. Over the past year, the stock has surged by an impressive 100.16%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42965859/ray-dalio-warns-us-could-go-broke-as-debt-soars-urges-action-to-avert-crisis">Ray Dalio Warns US Could &#8216;Go Broke&#8217; As Debt Soars, Urges Action To Avert Crisis</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstok 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

AAPL

QCOM

SoftBank-Backed Arm Plans Major Price Hike: Apple, Qualcomm Supplier Explores Chip Development

Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, warned Tuesday that the United States could &#8220;go broke&#8221; due to mounting government debt problems, as the nation grapples with unprecedented interest payments <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38661979/us-pays-2m-interest-per-minute-on-national-debt-funny-peculiar-chicken-and-the-egg-type-situation">reaching $2 million per minute</a>.
What Happened: In a post on X, Dalio announced an upcoming book examining how countries face financial collapse, titled &#8220;How Countries Go Broke: Principles for Navigating the Big Debt Cycle.&#8221; His warning comes as U.S. debt has surged past $36 trillion, with interest payments <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/01/42755472/102-trillion-global-debt-the-u-s-and-china-lead-the-charge-what-you-need-to-know">exceeding $892 billion in fiscal year 2024</a>.
The International Monetary Fund projects U.S. annual interest payments will reach $1.7 trillion by 2034, with cumulative interest costs over <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/01/42755472/102-trillion-global-debt-the-u-s-and-china-lead-the-charge-what-you-need-to-know">the next decade approaching $12.9 trillion</a>. The U.S. currently accounts for 34.6% of global debt, which stands at $102 trillion.
&#8220;Big debt crises are inevitable,&#8221; Dalio wrote, explaining that lending is rarely perfectly aligned with the income needed to service it. &#8220;Even though this progression has happened many times in history, most policymakers and investors think their current circumstances and monetary system won&#8217;t change.&#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">I'm worried that the US government debt problem will get so bad that the US will "go broke" and I believe that there are steps we can take to prevent it. I am in the process of completing a comprehensive study about the mechanics of how countries go broke, where the US… <a href="https://t.co/lYzhLpdWMv">pic.twitter.com/lYzhLpdWMv</a>
&mdash; Ray Dalio (@RayDalio) <a href="https://twitter.com/RayDalio/status/1878925239423267311?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2025</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/general/social-media/25/01/42965533/elon-musk-emerges-as-potential-tiktok-us-buyer-as-ban-deadline-looms-company-terms-it-pure-fiction">Elon Musk Emerges As Potential TikTok US Buyer As Ban Deadline Looms, Company Terms It &#8216;Pure Fiction&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The debt situation has sparked concern among other financial experts. JPMorgan&#8217;s Jack Manley highlighted a &#8220;peculiar chicken-and-egg situation&#8221; where high interest rates, intended to fight inflation, may actually be contributing to economic resilience and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38661979/us-pays-2m-interest-per-minute-on-national-debt-funny-peculiar-chicken-and-the-egg-type-situation">continued inflationary pressures</a>.
Dalio suggests that while debt crises can be managed through proper restructuring and monetary policy, they require a careful balance between deflationary measures (debt restructuring) and inflationary approaches (money creation). He emphasized the importance of spreading debt reduction over time rather than attempting dramatic short-term fixes.
The IMF has warned that without significant fiscal adjustments, including spending cuts and increased taxes, the U.S. debt burden could severely impact government budgets and economic growth. The mounting debt has also raised concerns about the dollar&#8217;s status as the world&#8217;s primary reserve currency.
Dalio plans to release additional installments of his study, examining historical patterns and potential solutions for navigating the current debt cycle.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/01/42964291/walmart-refreshes-image-with-new-brand-identity">Walmart Refreshes Image With New Brand Identity</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia

Ray Dalio Warns US Could 'Go Broke' As Debt Soars, Urges Action To Avert Crisis

Wall Street strategist Tom Lee suggests Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) could retreat significantly from recent highs, potentially testing support levels at $70,000 or even the $50,000 range, while maintaining a long-term bullish stance targeting $250,000.
What Happened: Speaking <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp-fYnv9aTA">on</a> CNBC&#8217;s &#8216;Squawk Box&#8217;, Lee, who serves as Fundstrat Capital&#8216;s Chief Investment Officer, characterized the cryptocurrency&#8217;s recent 15% decline from all-time highs as a &#8220;normal correction&#8221; for a volatile asset. Bitcoin currently trades near $95,000, down about 6.6% over the past month.
The forecast comes amid broader market uncertainty, with U.S. stocks experiencing a 23-day correction period and persistent inflation concerns. Lee emphasized that Bitcoin&#8217;s movements largely track global liquidity conditions, noting the market is still early in its halving cycle.
Crypto skeptic Peter Schiff offered a more bearish perspective on social media platform X, drawing parallels between current Bitcoin enthusiasm and Ethereum&#8217;s (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) previous peak.
&#8220;There was lots of hype around Ethereum in 2021, just as there&#8217;s a lot of hype around Bitcoin now,&#8221; Schiff wrote, highlighting Ethereum&#8217;s 40% decline from its November 2021 high of nearly $5,000 to current levels below $3,000.
<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">In Nov. 2021 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ethereum?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ethereum</a> almost hit $5K. Today the price is under $3K, a 40% drop in over three years. There was lots of hype around Ethereum in 2021, just as there&#39;s a lot of hype around <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> now. A similar drop in Bitcoin would wipe out almost all of <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24MSTR&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$MSTR</a>&#39;s unrealized gains.
&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1878870442628591961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2025</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/25/01/42962446/bitcoin-ethereum-xrp-dogecoin-reverse-red-monday-on-bullish-trump-news">Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Reverse &#8216;Red Monday&#8217; On Bullish Trump News</a>
Why It Matters: Despite short-term volatility concerns, Lee maintains that Bitcoin&#8217;s current price around $95,000 represents an attractive entry point for long-term investors. &#8220;If you&#8217;re trying to time it, maybe you&#8217;ll get lucky and it will reach $70,000. But to me, Bitcoin could go to $250,000, so $90,000 is still a good entry point,&#8221; Lee said.
The cryptocurrency market&#8217;s movements come as the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42886101/investors-should-expect-no-rate-cuts-in-q1-2025-after-federal-reserves-december-minutes-release-strategist-says">Federal Reserve signals a pause in expected rate cuts</a>, contributing to broader market uncertainty. Lee suggests these macro factors, combined with temporary distortions from natural disasters affecting inflation data, could influence near-term price action across financial markets.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42962279/trump-could-sign-crypto-related-executive-orders-on-day-1-report">Trump Could Sign Crypto-Related Executive Orders On Day 1: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

$ETH

Tom Lee Forecasts Bitcoin Could Dip To $50K, But Maintains Long-Term Target Of $250K Amid Market Volatility

Jeff Bezos‘&nbsp;Blue Origin said on Monday evening that it is now looking to launch its New Glenn launch vehicle to orbit for the first time no earlier than Thursday, Jan. 16, after scrapping liftoff on Monday morning. 
What Happened: The three-hour launch window on Thursday will open at 1 a.m. EST, the company said. 
Blue Origin was looking to launch the vehicle on Monday but scrapped it to troubleshoot an issue identified with a vehicle subsystem. The company said later in the day that the issue was identified as ice forming in a purge line on an auxiliary power unit that powers some of its hydraulic systems. 
The key objective for the first flight of New Glenn is to reach orbit safely. The company is looking to land the booster of the vehicle in the Atlantic Ocean after launch while the second stage goes into orbit. The company previously said in a statement that the booster landing is "ambitious but we are going for it"
Why It Matters:&nbsp;New Glenn is a reusable heavy-lift rocket named after&nbsp;John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth. The development of the vehicle, expected to compete with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/01/42937833/elon-musks-spacex-delays-starship-7th-test-flight-to-wednesday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SpaceX&#8217;s Falcon launch vehicle</a>, has been delayed for years.
New Glenn, unlike Blue Origin&#8217;s New Shepard vehicle, can reach the Earth&#8217;s orbit and beyond.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38909990/90-year-old-breaks-record-as-oldest-astronaut-with-blue-origins-launch" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Shepard</a>, meanwhile, can only reach the edge of space.
New Glenn&#8217;s first launch, which is expected to include a payload, will also mark the rocket's first National Security Space Launch certification flight.
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/01/42937833/elon-musks-spacex-delays-starship-7th-test-flight-to-wednesday">Elon Musk&#8217;s SpaceX Delays Starship 7th Test Flight To Wednesday</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Blue Origin

SPACE

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin Now Eyeing Thursday For New Glenn's First Launch To Orbit

Chinese officials are considering Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk as a potential buyer for TikTok&#8217;s U.S. operations, as the social media platform <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931704/tiktok-users-call-on-trump-to-deliver-immediately-on-his-promise-to-save-app-from-us-ban-we-dont-need-the-supreme-court-to">faces a Jan. 19 deadline</a> to divest or shut down.
What Happened: The discussions, though preliminary, envision a potential scenario where Musk&#8217;s X platform could take over TikTok&#8217;s U.S. operations, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-14/china-discusses-sale-of-tiktok-us-to-musk-as-one-possible-option">reported</a> on Monday, citing sources and estimates, valuing the deal between $40 billion to $50 billion. The move would combine TikTok&#8217;s 170 million U.S. users with X&#8217;s advertising reach.
Beijing officials, who retain influence through a &#8220;golden share&#8221; in ByteDance&#8217;s Chinese affiliate, see Musk as an attractive option because of his existing relationships in China through Tesla&#8217;s Shanghai factory and his close ties to President-elect Donald Trump, the report said.
Musk&#8217;s track record with social media acquisitions includes his $44 billion purchase of Twitter in 2022, which he later rebranded as X. The controversial takeover was financed through a combination of personal funds, investment partners, and substantial bank loans, which he continues to service.
&#8220;We can&#8217;t be expected to comment on pure fiction,&#8221; a TikTok spokesperson told&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42961753/analyst-sees-broadening-rally-in-semis-coming-in-2025-2-top-stock-picks-and-2-to-avoid">Analyst Sees &#8216;Broadening Rally&#8217; In Semiconductors In 2025: 2 Top Stock Picks, 2 To Avoid</a>
Why It Matters: The deliberations come as the Supreme Court signals support for upholding legislation requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok&#8217;s U.S. operations. Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has requested a delay in implementing the ban, marking a shift from his previous stance on the platform.
The deal is very challenging, what with the tricky separation of its U.S. business and potential funding issues, even for the world&#8217;s richest person. Other bidders include Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), as well as a consortium led by the &#8220;Shark Tank&#8221; investor Kevin O&#8217;Leary.
If no deal is reached by the deadline, TikTok users will lose access to updates and security patches, though existing app installations will continue working. Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) subsidiary Google&#8217;s YouTube may gain from the migration of creators to their platforms.
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Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) shares rose more than 2% in after-hours trading on Monday, driven by Morgan Stanley&#8217;s increase in its price target and positive developments in its Full Self-Driving technology, according to prominent Tesla bull Gary Black.
What Happened: Morgan Stanley raised its price target on Tesla to $430 from $400 and increased its bull case to $800, citing opportunities in autonomous rideshare and robotaxi services, noted Black, managing partner of The Future Fund LLC, in posts on X.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">What's causing TSLA's stock price to take flight (+$8/share, +2.1%) after hours? It's always difficult to discern cause and effect, but here's my guess: 1/ Elon's re-post of a tweet from <a href="https://twitter.com/philipengberg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@philipengberg</a> that FSD v13.2 is showing a 750% efficacy increase to 724 miles per… <a href="https://t.co/V5kRuRlPXQ">https://t.co/V5kRuRlPXQ</a>
&mdash; Gary Black (@garyblack00) <a href="https://twitter.com/garyblack00/status/1878957721988555229?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The stock&#8217;s after-hours gains were also supported by favorable feedback on Tesla&#8217;s refreshed Model Y and significant improvements in its Full Self-Driving technology, Black said. FSD version 13.2 showed a 750% efficacy increase to 724 miles per disengagement on highways compared to 89 miles in the previous version, according to a post shared by CEO Elon Musk.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This is what exponential improvement looks like <a href="https://t.co/g8lflQkSiY">https://t.co/g8lflQkSiY</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1878888522695999721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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These developments come as Tesla navigates both challenges and opportunities. The company recently faced scrutiny over CEO Musk&#8217;s $56 billion pay package, which was rejected by a Delaware judge in December. The controversy led Europe&#8217;s largest pension fund, Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP, to sell its entire $585 million Tesla stake in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/42950414/tesla-stock-sold-by-europes-largest-pension-fund-in-q3-we-had-a-problem-with-musk-pay">the third quarter of 2024</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/42962366/kb-home-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-home-deliveries-up-17-net-orders-soar-and-more">KB Home Q4 Earnings: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, Home Deliveries Up 17%, Net Orders Soar And More</a>
Why It Matters: Despite these headwinds, Tesla&#8217;s stock has shown remarkable strength. It is currently trading around $387, up over 45% from its third-quarter lows.
The company maintains strong support from Wall Street, with recent analyst coverage <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42938578/jamie-dimon-calls-elon-musk-an-extraordinary-talent-jp-morgan-ceo-shares-why-trumps-election-victory-didnt-surprise-him">remaining largely positive</a>. JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. CEO Jamie Dimon recently praised Musk as &#8220;an extraordinary talent,&#8221; citing achievements at Tesla and SpaceX.
Black also addressed concerns about potential regulatory changes under President-elect Donald Trump, suggesting that any rollback of President Joe Biden-era emissions targets would likely have minimal impact on Tesla&#8217;s zero-emission vehicle credit sales, as analysts had already forecast these revenues to decline in coming years.
Price Action: Tesla&#8217;s stock closed at $403.31 on Monday, gaining 2.17% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock climbed further, adding 2.42%. Over the past year, Tesla&#8217;s stock has surged an impressive 83.40%, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Tesla Shares Rise Over 2% After Hours On Morgan Stanley's Price Target Hike, FSD Breakthroughs: Gary Black Highlights Key Drivers

<a href="https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/investing/2025/01/13/honeywell-plans-breakup-under-pressure-from-elliott/" title="https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/investing/2025/01/13/honeywell-plans-breakup-under-pressure-from-elliott/">https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/investing/2025/01/13/honeywell-plans-breakup-under-pressure-from-elliott/</a>

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Walmart, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) announced on Monday an updated brand identity that includes subtle changes to its wordmark and spark logo, as well as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/01/42755273/exclusive-top-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-december-2024-where-do-tesla-nvidia-quantum-computing-stock-rank">its color palette.</a>
The Details: The mega-retailer worked with creative agency Jones Knowles Ritchie to create its updated<a href="https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2025/01/13/walmart-introduces-updated-look-and-feel-a-testament-to-heritage-and-innovation"> brand identity</a> which the company says aims to "build credibility and connection, become known for its convenient digital-first services and be seen as a more modern, culturally dynamic brand."
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42919029/supreme-court-hears-tiktok-oral-arguments">Supreme Court Hears TikTok Arguments With App&#8217;s Ban Ahead: &#8216;Essentially, The Platform Shuts Down&#8217;&nbsp;</a>
Walmart's iconic spark logo remains similar, yet slightly thicker and bolder.&nbsp;
"We wanted to put more depth and impact to it, so it exudes a bit more Walmart energy and serves as a beacon for the brand," William White, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Walmart U.S., <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/91057001/impossibles-massive-meatier-new-brand-promises-that-plants-can-bleed-red">told</a> Fast Company.&nbsp;
The new wordmark was inspired by founder Sam Walton's classic trucker hat with "Walmart" written in the typeface Antique Olive.&nbsp;
"Walmart aims to be an inspirational, digital retailer that provides all the products, brands and services our customers need and want. This update, rooted in the legacy of our founder, Sam Walton, demonstrates our evolving capabilities and longstanding commitment to serve our customers of today and tomorrow," said White.&nbsp;
Walmart says starting this month the new brand identity will officially roll out on Walmart.com, the Walmart app, marketing campaign assets and its corporate site.
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Photo: Courtesy Walmart

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Many Americans likely tuned into the first round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs over the weekend with teams fighting for a chance to advance to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/nfl">Super Bowl LIX.</a>
One game featured a rather unique sideline sighting that could help a self-help author far beyond belief.
What Happened: The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers 22-10 Sunday night in a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/01/42829221/how-to-watch-nfl-playoffs-super-bowl-lix-betting-odds-will-history-be-made-by-chiefs-or-lions"> game shown on FOX</a>, a unit of FOX Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOX#NASDAQ">FOX</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOXA#NASDAQ">FOXA</a>).
The win gets the Eagles closer to Super Bowl LIX and wide receiver A.J. Brown closer to another chance at winning the Lombardi Trophy.
In six seasons with the Tennessee Titans and Eagles, Brown has nine playoff appearances, including three in 2022 where the Eagles lost Super Bowl LVII to the Kansas City Chiefs 35 to 38. In that Super Bowl, Brown had six catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Brown didn't have the normal strong stats Sunday against the Packers, posting only one catch for 10 yards on three targets, but he quickly became one of the most talked about players during and after the game.
Fox cameras caught Brown reading a book on the sideline, which later turned out to be self-help book, "Inner Excellence," from performance coach Jim Murphy.
"Discover the life guide that has developed world champions, empowered athletes to become world #1 and most importantly, transformed their hearts and minds. This step-by-step training manual from one of the world's top mental skills coaches will teach you how to train your mind like the very best," a description of the book on Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) <a href="https://www.amazon.com/INNER-EXCELLENCE-Extraordinary-Performance-Possible/dp/1734654805?tag=googhydr-20&amp;source=dsa&amp;hvcampaign=books&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAkJO8BhCGARIsAMkswyjiuw6_zmBe-nFjIGhq2Rw4DXj1jVfgmdsmw1vMVJlqeJ_PiOnHsNAaAjElEALw_wcB">reads</a>.
The book, with the subtitle of "Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible Life," hit number one on Amazon Monday as the top-selling book, as <a href="https://www.sportico.com/personalities/athletes/2025/aj-brown-book-reading-inner-excellence-sales-philadelphia-1234823669/">reported </a>by Sportico.
Before Monday, the book was ranked #552,709, the report said.
Seeing Brown read the book on the sideline led to huge interest in the book on Amazon. Murphy, who has coached athletes and leaders, including Olympic athletes, may want to send a thank you note Brown's way.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The book AJ Brown is reading is called &#39;Inner Excellence&#39; &#x1f4da; &#x1f4fa; FOX <a href="https://t.co/9o1RGD9hLn">pic.twitter.com/9o1RGD9hLn</a>
&mdash; FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLonFOX/status/1878601077542490471?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Brown was asked about the viral moment after Sunday's victory.
"My teammates call it ‘the recipe,'" Brown said. "It's got a lot of points in there, it's a lot of mental game, a lot of mental parts about it, and you know for me this game is mental."
Brown said a teammate recommended the book to him last year and he now carries it on the sideline and looks back at points from the book during games.
The Eagles wide receiver <a href="https://x.com/ZachGelb/status/1878611786213269543">told </a>reporters he wasn't reading the book due to the outcome of the game or his individual performance.
"No, I was not frustrated at all. I figured that's what y'all probably thought. I wasn't frustrated. Why do y'all think I'm frustrated? I read the book. I like to read."
Brown was open about his mental health in 2021, sharing that he previously spoke to a therapist and telling people that it&#8217;s okay to seek help and talk to someone.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/01/42884959/detroit-lions-take-a-bite-out-of-sportsbooks-analyst-advises-patience-after-flutter-cuts-guidance">Detroit Lions Take Bite Out Of Sportsbooks: Analyst Advises Patience After Flutter Cuts Guidance</a>
What's Next: Brown and his teammates may want to read the book and keep looking at how they can perform best in the 2024 NFL Playoffs.
The Eagles will play the winner of Monday's Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings contest in the second round of the playoffs. That game is set for 7 p.m. ET on NBC, a unit of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>).
Brown and his sideline reading material will likely be a subject discussed during the game and cameras may be set on the wide receiver to catch him reading once again.
The Eagles have odds of +450 to win Super Bowl LIX at sportsbook DraftKings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKNG#NASDAQ">DKNG</a>), ranking third behind the Detroit Lions (+285) and Kansas City Chiefs (+350).
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Photo: Fabio Alcini via Shutterstock

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