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Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) senior executive and Cybertruck lead engineer Wes Morrill on Monday pitched health reasons to adopt electric vehicles over environmental concerns, following President Donald Trump&#8216;s cancelation of former President Joe Biden&#8217;s EV targets.
What Happened: &#8220;Forget global warming,&#8221; Morrill said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. &#8220;Let&#8217;s not argue about the politics of environmental impacts. EVs are demonstrably better for particulate and noise pollution which directly impacts each of us today.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Out for a bike ride and realized I was choking on exhaust from a truck and cranking music just to hear it clearly. Let&#39;s not argue about the politics of environmental impacts. EVs are demonstrably better for particulate and noise pollution which directly impacts each of us today.
&mdash; Wes (@wmorrill3) <a href="https://twitter.com/wmorrill3/status/1881420338732614027?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Morrill&#8217;s post comes on the heels of Tesla CEO Elon Musk dismissing climate change concerns in the near term and forging a strong relationship with President Trump, who has called climate change a hoax. 
Trump issued several orders aimed at reversing former President Biden&#8217;s agenda for fighting climate change after his inauguration on Monday. 
Trump declared a national energy emergency, allowing for easing environmental restrictions on energy projects, and also ordered the U.S. to withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate deal calling it &#8220;unfair.&#8221; He also revoked a 2021 executive order signed by Biden aimed at ensuring that half of all vehicles sold in the United States are electric by 2030 and that his administration would consider ending tax credits on new EV purchases as well.
Why It Matters: Tesla CEO and Trump have forged a relationship over the past few months. 
On Monday, Trump signed an executive order to create the advisory group called the Department of Government Efficiency, which is run by Musk. 
Musk himself in December dismissed concerns of the Earth being rendered unlivable soon owing to climate change, saying that climate predictions are too "pessimistic" and "bound to backfire."
"Extreme environmentalists can&#8217;t say ridiculous things like the world is doomed in 5 years, because 5 years goes by, the world is ok and they lose credibility," Musk said in a post on social media platform X.
The billionaire further added that the world will be "fine" if the world transitions to "primarily sustainable energy consumption (electric transport and heating) and production (mostly solar and fission)" in 20 years or so. 
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>
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Tesla Senior Exec Pitches Health Reasons For Adopting EVs After President Trump Revoked Biden's Electrification Targets: 'Forget Global Warming'

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed an improvement in overall market sentiment, but the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Friday.
U.S. stocks settled higher on Friday, with the Dow Jones index gaining more than 300 points during the session.
All three major indices also recorded their first weekly gain of 2025. The Dow jumped 3.7%, while the S&amp;P 500 added 2.9% last week. The Nasdaq, meanwhile, surged 2.5% during the week to notch its strongest weekly performance since December.
Big tech shares recorded gains on Friday, with shares of Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) surging 3% and NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) adding over 3% during the session.
Fastenal C.o (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FAST#NASDAQ">FAST</a>) reported weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings. J B Hunt Transport Services Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBHT#NASDAQ">JBHT</a>) shares fell around 7% on Friday after the company reported fourth-quarter EPS below estimates.
On the economic data front, U.S. industrial production rose by 0.9% in December, topping market estimates of a 0.3% increase. Housing starts rose by 15.8% from the previous month to an annualized rate of 1.499 million units in December. Building permits declined by 0.7% to an annualized rate of 1.483 million in December.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with consumer discretionary, information technology, and communication services stocks recording gains on Friday. However, healthcare and real estate stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.
The Dow Jones closed higher by around 335 points to 43,487.83 on Friday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 1% to 5,996.66, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.51% at 19,630.20 during Friday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from 3M Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>), D.R. Horton Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>), and Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) today.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 37.7, the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Friday, versus a prior reading of 34.1.
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
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Nasdaq Surges 1.5% Amid Gains In Tesla, Nvidia: Investor Sentiment Improves, But Greed Index Remains In 'Fear' Zone

With U.S. stock futures trading higher this morning on Tuesday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
<ul>
<li>Wall Street expects 3M Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>) to report quarterly earnings at $1.66 per share on revenue of $5.78 billion before the opening bell, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. 3M shares gained 0.6% to $141.85 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>Analysts expect D.R. Horton Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>) to post quarterly earnings at $2.36 per share on revenue of $7.08 billion. The company will release earnings before the markets open. In after-hours trading, D.R. Horton shares gained 0.01% to $147.67.</li>
<li>Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) disclosed that it is receiving ongoing support from the U.S. HHS to accelerate the development of its mRNA-based pandemic influenza vaccines. Moderna shares climbed 4.5% to $35.60 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
</ul>
Check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
<ul>
<li>After the markets close, United Airlines Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>) is projected to post quarterly earnings at $2.99 per share on revenue of $14.40 billion. United Airlines shares gained 0.6% to $108.00 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Analysts expect Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) to post quarterly earnings at $4.19 per share on revenue of $10.11 billion after the closing bell. Netflix shares gained 0.4% to $861.50 in after-hours trading.</li>
</ul>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43054647/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-spotlight-on-3-financial-stocks-with-over-9-dividend-yields">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Spotlight On 3 Financial Stocks With Over 9% Dividend Yields</a></li>
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3M, Netflix And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Tuesday

President Donald Trump&#8217;s executive order Monday to suspend the TikTok ban for 75 days has injected fresh uncertainty into the social media platform&#8217;s future, even as potential buyers emerge amid <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/43076238/tiktok-shuts-down-in-us-vanishes-from-app-stores-message-expresses-hope-for-trump-intervention">national security concerns</a>.
What Happened: The order temporarily halts the ban that took effect Sunday under a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok&#8217;s U.S. operations. With 170 million U.S. users, the platform briefly went offline over the weekend before service was restored.
&#8220;I guess I have a warm spot for TikTok,&#8221; Trump said Monday, suggesting the U.S. government should broker a deal for 50% control of the platform, which he valued at potentially $500 billion.
Market observers note <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43078310/mark-zuckerbergs-instagram-doubles-down-on-tiktok-rivalry-with-new-edits-app-to-lure-creators-as-the-potential-shutdown-sparks-alternatives">several companies could benefit</a> from TikTok&#8217;s uncertain status. Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) launched a new video creation app &#8216;Edits&#8217; Sunday, positioning itself to capture advertising revenue if TikTok faces restrictions. According to eMarketer, TikTok generated $12.34 billion in U.S. ad revenue in 2024.
Jeff Bezos-backed Perplexity reportedly made a $50 billion bid to merge with TikTok U.S., while Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk&#8217;s X platform is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/43078206/jeff-bezos-backed-perplexity-reportedly-makes-50-billion-move-to-merge-with-tiktok-but-elon-musks-x-remains-this-analysts-favorite-bidder">considered another potential acquirer</a>. However, Tesla investor Gary Black warned that Musk&#8217;s acquisition of TikTok could negatively impact Tesla&#8217;s stock.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43087992/apple-gets-rare-downgrade-from-jefferies-analyst-warns-on-slowing-revenue-growth-missed-forecasts-and-falling-iphone-demand">Apple Gets Rare Downgrade From Jefferies, Analyst Warns On Slowing Revenue Growth, Missed Forecasts, And Falling iPhone Demand</a>
Why It Matters: Legal experts question the executive order&#8217;s authority. &#8220;Executive orders cannot override existing laws,&#8221; said Sarah Kreps, director of Cornell University&#8217;s Tech Policy Institute, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-ban-executive-order-50df1f96c25576762b65e24b63ce61eb?user_email=97d05b29432d778bbb1ffb8f16f2769451bf1d6125981f71ceccbe18ec8d01d8&amp;utm_medium=APNews_Alerts&amp;utm_source=Sailthru_AP&amp;utm_campaign=NewsAlert_Jan20_2025_08:39PM&amp;utm_term=AP%20News%20Alerts">according</a> to the Associated Press. The law allows for a 90-day extension if there&#8217;s progress toward a sale, but its retroactive application remains unclear.
Beijing signaled possible flexibility on Monday regarding TikTok&#8217;s sale. &#8220;Business operations and acquisitions should be independently decided by companies in accordance with market principles,&#8221; said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.
The situation remains fluid as technology companies navigate compliance. While TikTok restored service for existing users, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) have not reinstated the app in their stores, citing U.S. legal requirements.
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Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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The official meme coins of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tanked on Monday amid no mention of cryptocurrencies in the inaugural presidential address.
What happened: The Official Trump (TRUMP) token sank over 30%, eroding nearly $6 billion worth of investors' wealth in the last 24 hours, <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/official-trump/">according </a>to CoinMarketCap. The coin's trading volume fell 33% in the 24 hours.
The Official Melania (MELANIA) coin witnessed a steeper fall, plummeting over 54% in the last 24 hours. The token has <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/melania-meme/">crashed </a>over 72% since its all-time high of $13.64 recorded a day earlier.&nbsp;
The two Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)&#8211;based meme coins <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43078040/trump-coin-tanks-36-even-as-melania-trump-launches-her-own-token-top-analyst-says-his-short-is-going-very-very-well">created a flutter</a> over the weekend, running up to valuations that established firms took years to build.
At one point, the combined fully diluted valuation of the two cryptocurrencies, at about $58.34 billion, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43080060/donald-trump-and-melania-memecoins-combined-market-value-is-now-higher-than-that-of-warren-buffetts-hot-pick">exceeded</a> that of Occidental Petroleum.
However, due to the slump, the combined valuation, at nearly $36.98 billion, dipped below the oil producer, reaffirming the unpredictable nature of meme coins.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43087038/trump-names-uyeda-acting-sec-chair-as-crypto-regulations-get-set-for-a-makeover">Trump Names Uyeda Acting SEC Chair, Regulators Get Ready For Crypto Makeover</a>
Why It Matters: Disclosures revealed that entities associated with President Trump and Melania <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43079586/donald-melania-launch-official-memecoins-heres-how-much-the-husband-wife-duo-possibly-made-with-their-latest-crypto-forays">have sizable ownership</a> in their respective meme coins.&nbsp;&nbsp;
While Trump-affiliated companies controlled 80% of the TRUMP coin, about 35% of the total supply of MELANIA was reserved for the First Lady's team
The slump comes as Trump's inaugural address <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43086698/crypto-market-plunges-after-trumps-inaugural-speech-fails-to-mention-digital-assets">made no mention of cryptocurrencies</a>, including Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), despite the high expectations leading up to the swearing-in.&nbsp;
The snub had a ripple effect on the broader market, as major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43088034/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-retrace-from-pre-inauguration-highs-as-trumps-address-disappoints-analyst-highlights-possibility-of-btc-consolidation-in-101k-106k-range">fell from the pre-inauguration highs</a>.
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Donald And Melania Trump Memecoins Crash, Erode Billions In Investors' Wealth

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has executed a series of significant technology stock trades valued at over $30 million, according to recent congressional disclosure reports, while recovering from a hip injury sustained during an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42497028/pelosi-hospitalized-after-injuring-hip-during-luxembourg-trip">official trip to Luxembourg</a>.
What Happened: Pelosi&#8217;s latest trading activity includes substantial positions in major tech companies through options contracts. On Jan. 14, she purchased 50 call options each in Google-parent Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), with each position valued between $250,001 and $500,000.
The contracts expire in January 2026 with strike prices of $150.
The former Speaker&#8217;s largest recent transaction was a sale of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) shares on Dec. 31, disposing of 31,600 shares valued between $5 million and $25 million. On the same day, she sold 10,000 shares of NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) worth between $1 million and $5 million.
These trades follow Pelosi&#8217;s hospitalization in Luxembourg, where she was treated for a hip fracture sustained during the 80th-anniversary commemoration of the Battle of the Bulge. Despite the injury, her investment activities have remained active.
Did You Know?
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<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
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Why It Matters: The trades have drawn attention following reports that a Nancy Pelosi stock <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42882348/nancy-pelosi-outperformed-nearly-every-hedge-fund-in-2024-even-beating-the-infamous-inverse-cramer-stock-tracker">tracker delivered 54% gains in 2024</a>, outperforming most hedge funds and even the popular Inverse Cramer Stock Tracker. The performance has reignited debates about congressional stock trading, with critics calling for stricter regulations.
In September, President Donald Trump questioned the timing of Pelosi&#8217;s previous trades, particularly regarding Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>) stock sales that preceded a Department of Justice <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/41060712/trump-wants-nancy-pelosi-prosecuted-over-husband-pauls-visa-stock-sale-before-doj-lawsuit-you-th">lawsuit against the company</a>. Pelosi&#8217;s spokesperson has consistently maintained that all trades comply with federal disclosure requirements under the STOCK Act.
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</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.

AMZN

Nancy Pelosi Sells Nvidia, Apple And Loads Up On Google-Parent Alphabet And Amazon Calls

As Donald Trump took oath as the 47th President of&nbsp;the U.S. on Monday, World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency project backed by him, announced a series of strategic purchases, including Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) and Wrapped Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">WBTC</a>).
What Happened:&nbsp;In an X post, the decentralized finance platform disclosed buying several cryptocurrencies, including $47 million each in Ethereum and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/what-is-wrapped-bitcoin">Wrapped Bitcoin,</a> a converted version of Bitcoin that can be used on Ethereum&#8217;s blockchain.
With the latest grab, World Liberty Financial&#8217;s total ETH holdings shot up to 57,115, worth over $185 million at the current market price, <a href="https://intel.arkm.com/explorer/entity/worldlibertyfi">according</a> to on-chain analytics firm Arkham. WBTC was its second-largest holding.
Other important buys included $4.7 million worth of Tron (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/trx/usd">TRX</a>), Aave (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/aave/usd">AAVE</a>), Chainlink (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/link/usd">LINK</a>), and Ethena (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">ENA</a>).
World Liberty Financial said the purchases commemorated Trump&#8217;s inauguration. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">To commemorate the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24WLFI&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$WLFI</a> is proud to announce the following strategic purchases today: $47,000,000 ETH $47,000,000 wBTC $4,700,000 Aave $4,700,000 LINK $4,700,000 TRX $4,700,000 ENA Excited for the…
&mdash; WLFI (@worldlibertyfi) <a href="https://twitter.com/worldlibertyfi/status/1881457386671464804?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43087038/trump-names-uyeda-acting-sec-chair-as-crypto-regulations-get-set-for-a-makeover">Trump Names Uyeda Acting SEC Chair, Regulators Get Ready For Crypto Makeover</a>
Why It Matters:&nbsp;World Liberty Financial has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42568122/trump-backed-world-liberty-financial-forges-partnership-with-ethena-labs-ena-token-gains-amid-broader-slump">steadily piling on DeFi-linked cryptocurrencies</a> like ETH, AAVE, and LINK to build its platform.
Launched&nbsp;as a decentralized money market&nbsp;last year, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40905315/donald-trumps-new-crypto-project-world-liberty-financial-everything-you-need-to-know">protocol will allow users to borrow</a>, lend, and earn interest on cryptocurrencies. The&nbsp;WLFI&nbsp;token would serve as the platform&#8217;s governance token, enabling users to engage in DeFi-related activities.
The project was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40722435/trumps-crypto-project-vows-to-bolster-us-financial-dominance-with-dollar-pegged-stablecoin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aggressively promoted</a>&nbsp;by Trump and his family, and a firm associated with the President-elect, DT Marks DEFI, LLC, stands to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41395007/trump-affiliated-entity-will-get-75-of-world-liberty-financials-revenue-and-22-of-wlfi-tok" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">receive 75% of the protocol revenue</a>.
Price Action:  At the time of writing, Ethereum was exchanging hands at $3,257.31, down 0.37% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. Meanwhile, TRX was up 3.72%, and LINK gained marginally by 0.04%.
Image via Shutterstock
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$TRX

$WBTC

Trump-Backed World Liberty Financial Bags $47 Million Each Of Ethereum, Wrapped Bitcoin To Commemorate Inauguration: 'Excited For The Future'

Prominent economist Mohamed El-Erian cautioned that President Donald Trump&#8216;s second-term economic initiatives could face significant challenges from persistent inflation and widening <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43083046/performing-very-very-well-why-trumps-economy-may-not-need-big-reforms">global growth disparities</a>.
What Happened: In a Financial Times opinion piece <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/9fcf7dcb-2fad-4dfd-941e-7d6c94d3090d">published</a> on Monday, El-Erian, Chief Economic Advisor at Allianz, highlighted how economic dispersion helped Trump&#8217;s electoral victory but could now complicate his policy implementation.
&#8220;The U.S. has maintained an enviable growth and employment record in recent years,&#8221; El-Erian wrote, noting that benefits have accrued unevenly across society. This &#8220;K-shaped&#8221; recovery has left significant vulnerabilities among lower-income households, marked by depleted savings and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735416/el-erian-warns-of-hidden-crisis-in-exceptional-us-economy-as-lower-income-households-face-considerable-challenges">maxed-out credit cards</a>.
The domestic challenges are amplified by international economic divergence. According to Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the Eurozone&#8217;s nominal GDP gains since late 2019 reached only 39% of U.S. levels, while the UK achieved merely 10%. This disparity has driven U.S. bond yields higher, creating negative spillover effects globally.
Market indicators suggest persistent inflation pressures could further complicate Trump&#8217;s agenda. The University of Michigan&#8217;s consumer survey showed five-year inflation expectations at 3.3%, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42993713/trump-2-0-could-be-thwarted-by-inflation-mohamed-el-erian-notes-ahead-of-cpi-data-release">the highest since 2008</a>, while December&#8217;s Consumer Price Index is expected to rise to 2.9% year-over-year from November&#8217;s 2.7%.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/01/43088007/nvidia-apple-supplier-tsmc-halts-production-as-6-4-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-taiwan">Nvidia, Apple-Supplier TSMC Halts Production As 6.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Taiwan</a>
Why It Matters: The economic landscape Trump inherits differs markedly from his first term, with mortgage rates above 7% and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42990155/5-yields-fuel-demand-treasury-etfs-despite-bond-market-pain-relief-rally">Treasury yields near 5%</a>. His proposed policies, including new tariffs and immigration restrictions, face scrutiny from economists who warn they could disrupt rather than boost current growth.
&#8220;The more the rest of the world lags behind the U.S., the higher the value of the dollar,&#8221; El-Erian cautioned, noting that 41% of S&amp;P 500 tracked by SPDR S&amp;P 500 (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) revenues come from abroad, potentially undermining U.S. corporate performance and increasing protectionist pressures.
El-Erian urged the Trump administration to carefully consider these factors when implementing tax and tariff policies, warning that &#8220;promising initiatives risk being derailed&#8221; without proper attention to economic disparities.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43087992/apple-gets-rare-downgrade-from-jefferies-analyst-warns-on-slowing-revenue-growth-missed-forecasts-and-falling-iphone-demand">Apple Gets Rare Downgrade From Jefferies, Analyst Warns On Slowing Revenue Growth, Missed Forecasts, And Falling iPhone Demand</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Flickr
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Bonds

Economics

ALIZY

Mohamed El-Erian Warns Trump 2.0 Economic Agenda Could Struggle Due To Maxed-Out Credit Cards

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) faces potential headwinds in the U.S. market as data from Europe shows significant sales declines following electric vehicle subsidy removals, raising concerns about the impact of President Donald Trump&#8216;s planned elimination of the $7,500 EV tax credit.
What Happened: Gary Black, managing partner of The Future Fund LLC, highlighted on Monday that Tesla&#8217;s sales dropped 34% year-over-year in France and 41% in Germany after those countries eliminated EV incentives. The data, sourced from Tesla researcher Troy Teslike, suggests similar challenges could emerge in the U.S. market.
&#8220;Not sure how the math works for elimination of the EV credit to be bullish,&#8221; Black wrote on X. 
Tesla&#8217;s European performance in 2024 showed mixed results across different markets, with total sales declining 10.7% to 326,084 units from 365,171 in 2023. While some markets like the Netherlands saw growth of 54.8%, major markets including France and Germany experienced substantial decreases.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Not sure how the math works for elimination of the EV credit to be bullish. In France, elimination of the EV credit caused <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24TSLA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$TSLA</a> 2024 volumes to decline -34% YoY. In Germany the 2024 YoY decline was -41%. Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/TroyTeslike?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TroyTeslike</a> <a href="https://t.co/3WJOwLpkGl">https://t.co/3WJOwLpkGl</a> <a href="https://t.co/UGXnrjaJO2">pic.twitter.com/UGXnrjaJO2</a>
&mdash; Gary Black (@garyblack00) <a href="https://twitter.com/garyblack00/status/1881417081012601307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The timing of Trump&#8217;s tax credit policy changes could significantly impact Tesla&#8217;s 2025 deliveries. Teslike suggests that maintaining current eligibility criteria while announcing a six-month phase-out would be optimal for Tesla&#8217;s sales performance, allowing customers time to utilize the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43082006/tesla-researcher-says-it-will-help-ev-giants-annual-deliveries-if-trump-does-not-change-ev-tax-credit-eligibility-criteria-immediately">credit before its elimination</a>.
Why It Matters: Tesla CEO Elon Musk has previously supported ending EV subsidies, stating during the company&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39934750/trump-presidency-and-ira-cut-would-be-devastating-for-competitors-says-elon-musk-long-term-probably">second-quarter earnings</a> call that while the impact would be &#8220;slight&#8221; for Tesla, it could be &#8220;devastating&#8221; for competitors. 
However, Teslike argues that without the tax credit, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42641207/researcher-says-cancelation-of-7500-ev-tax-credit-could-impact-teslas-deliveries-despite-ceo-elon-musk-claiming-otherwise">Tesla vehicles would effectively cost</a> $7,500 more compared to luxury gas-powered competitors from BMW, Mercedes, and other manufacturers.
The debate comes as Tesla reported global deliveries of 1.79 million vehicles in 2024, slightly down from 1.81 million in 2023, highlighting the importance of policy decisions in key markets for the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42766117/tesla-stock-tumbles-on-q4-deliveries-whats-going-on">company&#8217;s growth trajectory</a>.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/01/43088007/nvidia-apple-supplier-tsmc-halts-production-as-6-4-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-taiwan">Nvidia, Apple-Supplier TSMC Halts Production As 6.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Taiwan</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Flickr
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Global

Gary Black Questions Elon Musk's Take On EV Credit Removal After Tesla Sales Drop In Europe: 'Not Sure How The Math Works'

Noted economist Peter Schiff offered an interesting critique of Donald Trump&#8217;s inaugural address on Monday, pointing out the president&#8217;s preference for gold over Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>).
What Happened: In a post on X, Schiff drew attention to Trump declaring &#8220;The &#8216;Golden Age of America&#8217; begins now&#8221; in his speech after being sworn in as the 47th President of the U.S.
&#8220;Notice he invoked gold, not Bitcoin,&#8221; Schiff said, in what seemed like a cheeky remark.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">In today&#39;s speech, Trump declared that the &quot;golden age of America begins right now.&quot; Notice he invoked gold, not Bitcoin. The reference also suggests something like the Gilded Age. But during that period of unprecedented economic growth, we had no income or Social Security taxes.
&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1881448992929935455?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
The Bitcoin critic also interpreted the remark as referencing the Gilded Age. The Gilded Age was a period in U.S. history from the late 1800s to the early 1900s when the gold standard was in place.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43087038/trump-names-uyeda-acting-sec-chair-as-crypto-regulations-get-set-for-a-makeover">Trump Names Uyeda Acting SEC Chair, Regulators Get Ready For Crypto Makeover</a>
Why It Matters: Schiff&#8217;s views on Bitcoin have been controversial in the cryptocurrency community, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/41998869/analyst-says-bitcoin-lives-rent-free-in-peoples-minds-after-peter-schiffs-cheeky-social-security-trust-remark">with many accusing him of engagement farming</a> by repeatedly mentioning the leading asset in his social media posts.
On the eve of Trump&#8217;s inauguration, Schiff speculated whether outgoing President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43078360/peter-schiff-gets-sarcastic-wonders-whether-biden-will-sell-some-bitcoin-on-last-day-of-presidency">would sell some of the state-owned Bitcoin </a>before the Republican leader took office. This was a dig at Trump&#8217;s reported plans to declare cryptocurrency a national priority and create a national Bitcoin reserve.
Interestingly, Trump&#8217;s inaugural address <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43086698/crypto-market-plunges-after-trumps-inaugural-speech-fails-to-mention-digital-assets">made no mention of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin</a>, despite the high expectations leading up to the swearing-in. Consequently, the market corrected sharply.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $102,354.42, up 0.68% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. Bitcoin gained 121% in 2024.
On the other hand, spot gold was trading at $2,723.66 per ounce, up 0.57%. The yellow metal added 27% in 2024.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43086309/trumps-doge-committee-faces-lawsuit-over-alleged-federal-advisory-violations-and-lack-of-transparency">Trump&#8217;s DOGE Committee Faces Lawsuits Over Alleged Federal Advisory Violations, Lack Of Transparency</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"></a>

Peter Schiff On Trump's Crypto Snub In Inaugural Speech: 'He Invoked Gold, Not Bitcoin'

Tech mogul Elon Musk expressed optimism about his Department of Government Efficiency at Donald Trump's presidential inauguration, even as lawsuits against the agency caused popular dog-themed cryptocurrency Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) to plummet.
What happened: During his speech at a post-inauguration celebration, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO underlined the importance of last year's elections and thanked the American people for voting for Trump.
"It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured,&#8221; Musk said. "We&#8217;re going to have safe cities — finally — secure borders, sensible spending."
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Elon Musk speaking ahead of President Donald Trump: "It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured. We&#39;re going to have safe cities — finally — secure borders, sensible spending. Basic stuff. And we&#39;re going to take DOGE to Mars!" <a href="https://t.co/jO7NRSzcAP">pic.twitter.com/jO7NRSzcAP</a>
&mdash; America (@america) <a href="https://twitter.com/america/status/1881431934221586632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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In what appeared to be an interesting spin on the popular &#8220;DOGE to the Moon&#8221; phrase common among Dogecoin enthusiasts, Musk remarked, &#8220;We&#8217;re going to take DOGE to Mars," referring to the Department of Government Efficiency.
The Mars mention could also refer to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43086509/trump-unleashes-executive-orders-on-border-security-oil-drilling-domestic-manufacturing-in-first-acts-as-president"> Trump&#8217;s promise to send astronauts</a> to plant the American flag on Mars during his inaugural speech.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/42994641/italys-largest-bank-leaps-into-bitcoin-trading-with-1-million-test-investment-but-ceo-says-he-doesnt-invest-in-btc-personally">Italy&#8217;s Largest Bank Leaps Into Bitcoin Trading With $1 Million &#8216;Test&#8217; Investment But CEO Says He Doesn&#8217;t Invest In BTC Personally</a>
Why It Matters: A brainchild of Musk, the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, is an entity<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/41927289/trump-appoints-elon-musk-and-vivek-ramaswamy-to-lead-doge-targeting-bureaucracy-and-65-trillion-federal-spending-we-will-not-go-gently"> tasked with cutting federal spending</a> and abolishing superfluous regulations.
The agency, which has received significant attention since Trump officially announced it following his election victory, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43086309/trumps-doge-committee-faces-lawsuit-over-alleged-federal-advisory-violations-and-lack-of-transparency">fell into trouble </a>when a barrage of lawsuits were launched against it shortly after Trump took office.
Additionally, Vivek Ramaswamy, DOGE's co-lead, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43078027/vivek-ramaswamy-expected-to-exit-trumps-doge-task-force-amid-ohio-governor-bid-report">was expected to step down</a> from his position, potentially causing further troubles for the agency.
Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency that frequently moves on developments around the agency, fell over 3% on this development. The coin's trading volume also plunged by 22%.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Dogecoin was exchanging hands at $0.3457, down 3.02% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42993521/michael-saylors-microstrategy-not-alone-in-bitcoin-acquisition-says-bitwise-chief-investment-officer-its-a-bona-fide-megatrend">Michael Saylor&#8217;s MicroStrategy Not Alone In Bitcoin Acquisition, Says Bitwise Chief Investment Officer: &#8216;It&#8217;s A Bona Fide Megatrend&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

Movers

$DOGE

Elon Musk Says 'DOGE To Mars' But Memecoin Fails To Get A Liftoff Amid Department Of Government Efficiency Lawsuits

President Donald Trump pardoned approximately 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants on Monday, marking his first major executive action after being sworn in as president and fulfilling a key campaign promise to release those he repeatedly called &#8220;hostages.&#8221;
The sweeping clemency includes prominent Proud Boys leaders, with former chief Enrique Tarrio expected to be released from his 22-year seditious conspiracy sentence, according to his attorney Nayib Hassan. Fellow leader Joe Biggs, who was serving 17 years, is also being processed for release.
&#8220;We&#8217;re going to release our great hostages,&#8221; Trump declared at Washington&#8217;s Capital One Arena, reported Reuters. The Bureau of Prisons confirmed immediate releases are possible pending documentation.
The action follows former President Joe Biden&#8216;s pre-emptive pardons in his final hours, which shielded his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43084064/biden-makes-last-day-pardons-to-block-potential-trump-retribution">family members and key officials</a>, including the entire Jan. 6 House Select Committee and their staff. Biden&#8217;s pardons also protected Dr. Anthony Fauci and former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley from what he called &#8220;unjustified politically motivated prosecutions.&#8221;
Over 600 people were originally charged with assaulting or obstructing police during the Capitol riot, according to Justice Department figures. The unprecedented scale of Trump&#8217;s pardons signals potential market volatility, particularly in sectors sensitive to political uncertainty.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/01/43085491/where-will-sp-500-open-after-trumps-inauguration-39-pick-this-range">EXCLUSIVE: Where Will S&amp;P 500 Open Tuesday After Trump&#8217;s Inauguration? 39% Pick This Range</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.

Government

Trump Pardons 1,500 Jan. 6 Defendants, Including Key Proud Boys Figures, After Biden's Final Hour Clemency

Leading cryptocurrencies failed to rally as expected on Monday after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the U.S.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 7:30 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>+1.57%</td>
<td>$101,346.96</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>+1.75%</td>
<td>$3,252.20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>-0.76%</td>
<td>$0.3515</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: Bitcoin fell steadily, reaching an intraday low of $100,626 as the top cryptocurrency failed to capitalize on its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43079668/bitcoin-hits-record-109000-ahead-of-trumps-inauguration-sparks-market-rally">surge to fresh highs of $109,000</a> ahead of the inauguration.&nbsp;
Ethereum followed a similar trajectory, retracing from a high of $3,425 to as low as $3,228.
The excitement was likely muted after Trump&#8217;s inauguration address <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43085738/trumps-crypto-silence-inauguration-omission-sparks-questions-after-history-of-mixed-signals">made no mention of cryptocurrency or Bitcoin</a>, contrary to expectations.
Moreover, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43086309/trumps-doge-committee-faces-lawsuit-over-alleged-federal-advisory-violations-and-lack-of-transparency">lawsuits</a> against the new Elon Musk-headed Department of Government Efficiency affected sentiment around Dogecoin.
About $756 million was liquidated from the market in the last 24 hours, including roughly $500 million on upside bets.
Bitcoin's Open Interest rose 1.36% in the last 24 hours, coinciding with a similar rise in the spot price.
That said, over 51% of derivatives traders had short positions opened for Bitcoin, suggesting expectations of further correction in the days ahead.
The market sentiment remained in the "Extreme Greed" zone, according to the Crypto Fear &amp; Greed Index.
Top Gainers (24-Hours)
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 7:30 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Raydium (RAY)</td>
<td>+14.71%</td>
<td>$7.36</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ai16z (AI16Z)</td>
<td>+13.29%</td>
<td>$0.9323</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lido DAO (LDO)</td>
<td>+12.13%</td>
<td>$1.82</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.53 trillion, increasing by 1.36% in the last 24 hours.
Stock futures spiked during Monday evening as President Trump began his second term. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures rose 241 points, or 0.56%, as of 7:30 p.m. EDT.&nbsp; Futures tied to the S&amp;P 500 gained 0.51%, while Nasdaq 100 Futures added 0.56%.
The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq were closed on Monday to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the markets will resume trading on Tuesday.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst Rekt Capital drew attention to the successful retest of $101,000 as Bitcoin's support.
"This confluent support may serve as a floor for future price action, enabling consolidation within this current $101,000-$106,000 range," the analyst added.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BTC</a> Bitcoin never ceases to amaze with its price action Harsh rejection from the Range High but the most important takeaway is this: Bitcoin has successfully retested the red diagonal and black Range Low of $101k as support This confluent support may serve as a floor for… <a href="https://t.co/ZEFwviuIoF">https://t.co/ZEFwviuIoF</a> <a href="https://t.co/MA1Xknbfhf">pic.twitter.com/MA1Xknbfhf</a>
&mdash; Rekt Capital (@rektcapital) <a href="https://twitter.com/rektcapital/status/1881403885484487086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Another popular on-chain analyst and chartist, Ali Martinez, identified Ethereum&#8217;s $2,700–$3,000 support zone as an area of interest.
"This demand area must hold to maintain ETH's bullish outlook. A breakdown could invalidate the positive momentum," Martinez remarked.
<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">Keep an eye on the $2,700–$3,000 support zone. This demand area must hold to maintain the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ethereum?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ethereum</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> bullish outlook. A breakdown could invalidate the positive momentum.<a href="https://t.co/nzqYWTHqEf">https://t.co/nzqYWTHqEf</a>
&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1881338342748647832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Photo by Avi Rozen on Shutterstock
Read Next:    
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43086309/trumps-doge-committee-faces-lawsuit-over-alleged-federal-advisory-violations-and-lack-of-transparency">Trump&#8217;s DOGE Committee Faces Lawsuits Over Alleged Federal Advisory Violations, Lack Of Transparency</a></li>
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Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Retrace From Pre-Inauguration Highs As Trump Skips Crypto Mention: Analyst Highlights BTC Consolidation In $101K-$106K Range

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck southern Taiwan early Tuesday, forcing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) to evacuate facilities in a region critical to global chip supply, marking the second significant seismic event to impact semiconductor operations in recent months.
The quake&#8217;s epicenter was in Chiayi county&#8217;s Dapu township at a depth of 9.4 kilometers, according to Taiwan&#8217;s weather administration. 
TSMC, which supplies chips to major tech companies including Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), confirmed staff evacuations at its central and southern Taiwan facilities, though initial reports indicate minimal structural damage, according to Reuters.
At least 15 people sustained minor injuries, including six rescued from a collapsed house in Tainan city, where TSMC operates major fabrication plants. The incident follows April 2024&#8217;s more severe 7.4 magnitude earthquake that killed 13 people and disrupted semiconductor operations.
Taiwan&#8217;s location along the Pacific &#8220;Ring of Fire&#8221; makes it susceptible to earthquakes, with previous major incidents in 2016 and 1999 causing significant casualties and industrial disruption, according <a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-earthquake-ec33fde6218f097c2aec6aac2a697761">to</a> the Associated Press.
TSMC is trading at NT$ 1,115 ($34.15) on the Taiwan Exchange, down 0.45% as of 9:12 AM local time. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd., also known as Foxconn, has rebounded from an early dip and is currently trading at NT$ 178.50 ($5.47), up 0.28%.
Meanwhile, the TAIEX index, which tracks companies on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, stands at 23,259.39, down 0.032% for the day.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43086698/crypto-market-plunges-after-trumps-inaugural-speech-fails-to-mention-digital-assets">Crypto Market Plunges After Trump&#8217;s Inaugural Speech Fails To Mention Digital Assets</a></li>
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Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Asia

Nvidia, Apple-Supplier TSMC Halts Production As 6.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Taiwan

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) faces mounting pressure as Jefferies downgraded the tech giant to &#8216;underperform,&#8217; citing concerns over revenue growth, following President Donald Trump's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43079785/trump-announces-apple-plans-massive-investment-in-the-us-following-discussion-with-ceo-tim-cook">remarks about potential new U.S. investments</a> from the company.
The Apple Analyst: Jefferies analyst Edison Lee cut his price target to $200.75 from $211.84, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/20/jefferies-downgrades-apple-to-rare-underperform-rating-says-revenue-may-disappoint.html">reported</a> CNBC, projecting a 12.7% downside for the stock. 
 The rare bearish call stands in contrast to broader Wall Street sentiment, with only three other analysts recommending selling Apple shares compared to 19 buy ratings, according to Tipranks.com. The stock has already declined over 8% in 2024, following last year&#8217;s 30% gain.
The Apple Thesis: Lee warns Apple could miss its 5% revenue growth forecast for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 and expects disappointing second-quarter guidance, citing weak iPhone sales and limited artificial intelligence developments.
The downgrade comes as Trump announced potential &#8220;massive investment&#8221; plans from Apple in the United States, revealed during his recent victory rally in Washington D.C. Trump cited a conversation with CEO Tim Cook, linking the investment to his election win and broader initiative to expedite approvals for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43079785/trump-announces-apple-plans-massive-investment-in-the-us-following-discussion-with-ceo-tim-cook">companies investing $1 billion </a>or more in the U.S.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/01/43085491/where-will-sp-500-open-after-trumps-inauguration-39-pick-this-range">EXCLUSIVE: Where Will S&amp;P 500 Open Tuesday After Trump&#8217;s Inauguration? 39% Pick This Range</a>
Apple, which recently approached but fell short of a $4 trillion valuation, is set to report earnings on Jan. 30, with investors closely watching for signs of revenue weakness highlighted in the Jefferies report.
The contrasting narratives emerge amid strong market performance, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 gaining 1.9% in its best week since November. Apple&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL/analyst-ratings">consensus price target</a> stands at $245.17, based on 30 analyst ratings, with recent analysis from MoffettNathanson, Bernstein, and B of A Securities suggesting a modest 2.25% upside potential.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20195405/Screenshot-2025-01-21-at-6.23.00%E2%80%AFAM-1024x379.png" alt="" class="wp-image-741527" style="width:633px;height:auto" /></figure>
Price Action: Apple closed at $229.98 on Friday, up 0.75% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock dipped 0.21%. Year to date, Apple's stock is down 5.69%, but over the past year, it has gained 18.61%, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
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Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Apple Gets Rare Downgrade From Jefferies, Analyst Warns On Slowing Revenue Growth, Missed Forecasts, And Falling iPhone Demand

In a move mirroring his first term, President Donald Trump has announced his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement. This announcement came on the same day as his inauguration for a second term.
What Happened: Trump&#8217;s decision echoes his 2017 withdrawal from the global climate pact, a decision later reversed by President Joe Biden. &#8220;I&#8217;m immediately withdrawing from the unfair, one-sided Paris Climate Accords,&#8221; Trump declared as he signed a series of executive orders following his inauguration, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-withdrawing-us-paris-climate-agreement-again/">reported</a> CBS News.
In December, Biden had said he rejoined the Agreement because he &#8220;understood we didn&#8217;t have a minute to waste tackling the climate crisis.&#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">On my first day as your president, America rejoined the Paris Agreement because I understood we didn&#39;t have a minute to waste tackling the climate crisis. That is still true today. Today, we celebrate 9 years of global climate progress under that historic commitment.
&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS46Archive) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS46Archive/status/1867278595590123888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
The Paris Agreement, a voluntary pact aimed at limiting global warming, allows nations to set their own greenhouse gas reduction targets. The U.S., one of the world&#8217;s top carbon polluters, faces a February 2025 deadline for new individual plans. The Biden administration had previously proposed a plan to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by over 60% by 2035.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43087435/trump-sets-policy-priorities-heres-how-the-world-betting-markets-reacted-on-day-1">Trump Sets Policy Priorities: How Musk, Qualcomm CEO, Hillary Clinton, Betting Markets Reacted</a>
Why It Matters: There are 195 signatories to the Paris Agreement, according to the United Nations. Notable nations that have not ratified it include Iran, Yemen and Libya — all in the Middle East.
In June, Trump&#8217;s campaign signaled his intent to withdraw from the Paris climate accord if re-elected. This move puts him at odds with businesses like Exxon Mobil Corp, whose CEO Darren Woods urged Trump to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/06/39563833/trump-campaign-signals-intent-to-withdraw-us-from-paris-climate-accord-again-report">reconsider his decision</a>, stating that policy inconsistency creates challenges for businesses.
John Kerry, former secretary of state and co-executive chair of Galvanize Climate Solutions, warned that Trump&#8217;s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement would &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/41966992/obama-era-state-secretary-warns-trumps-plans-to-withdraw-from-paris-agreement-would-cede-leadership-to-china">cede leadership to China</a>.&#8221;
Image via Shutterstock
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

General

Trump Signs Orders To Take US Out Of Paris Climate Agreement, Calls The Deal 'One-Sided' And Unfair

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) has been unanimously confirmed as the 72nd U.S. Secretary of State on Monday.
What Happened: Rubio&#8217;s confirmation as the Secretary of State came on the day of President Trump&#8217;s inauguration, making him the first member of the Cabinet to be confirmed on the same day, <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/international/5096622-senate-confirms-marco-rubio-secretary/">reported</a> The Hill. The confirmation vote saw overwhelming bipartisan support, with a 99-0 vote, including Rubio&#8217;s own vote.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) praised Rubio for his grasp of American foreign policy and his commitment to the American dream. Rubio&#8217;s Senate seat will be filled by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.
&#8220;No one on this body can doubt that Marco Rubio is an intelligent man with remarkable understanding of American foreign policy and a very deep commitment to the American dream,&#8221; said Grassley.
Descending from Cuban immigrants, Rubio&#8217;s appointment marks him as the first Latino American to serve as the top U.S. diplomat. His nomination has been a source of relief for lawmakers and allies abroad, who were concerned about Trump&#8217;s unpredictable approach to foreign affairs.
Rubio, a 14-year Senator, co-sponsored legislation aimed at preventing any president from withdrawing from NATO. During his confirmation hearing, he raised concerns about Chinese companies operating near the Panama Canal, citing national security risks.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43077969/bernie-sanders-slams-elon-musks-vision-of-super-high-iq-aristocracy-who-are-going-to-be-running-the-world-for-us">Bernie Sanders Slams Elon Musk&#8217;s Vision Of &#8216;Super High IQ&#8217; Aristocracy Who Are &#8216;Going To Be Running The World For Us&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/41959835/trump-nominates-marco-rubio-as-secretary-of-state-calls-florida-senator-a-powerful-voice-for-freedom">nominated Rubio</a> for the role of Secretary of State in November 2024, praising him as a &#8220;highly respected leader&#8221; and a &#8220;powerful voice for freedom.&#8221; 
Rubio&#8217;s nomination was followed by his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/01/42992007/trump-cabinet-confirmation-hearings-on-wednesday-departments-of-transportation-energy-state-attorney-general-cia-director">appearance</a> before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in January 2025.
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
Check This Out:
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<li>Lawmakers Made Huge Investments This Year. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Marco Rubio Becomes First Trump Cabinet Pick To Be Confirmed As Secretary Of State

CyberArk Software (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CYBR#NASDAQ">CYBR</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 14.27% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 25.69%. Currently, CyberArk Software has a market capitalization of $15.29 billion. 
Buying $100 In CYBR: If an investor had bought $100 of CYBR stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $976.76 today based on a price of $350.95 for CYBR at the time of writing.
<h3>CyberArk Software's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737416709_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

CYBR

$100 Invested In CyberArk Software 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

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