Volatility Shares Trust 2x Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BATS: BITX)

最新ニュース Volatility Shares Trust 2x Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BATS:BITX)

The Fund is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing its assets principally in cash-settled bitcoin futures contracts that trade only on an exchange registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which currently is the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) (Bitcoin Futures Contracts), and cash, cash-like instruments or high-quality securities that serve as collateral to the Funds investments in Bitcoin Futures Contracts (Collateral Investments). The Fund also may invest in reverse repurchase agreement transactions and shares of other investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (Other Investment Companies).

2x Bitcoin Strategy ETF

Volatility Shares Trust 2x Bitcoin Strategy ETF

Markets in the U.S. will pause on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, even as political and financial tensions mount ahead of<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump"> Donald Trump's presidential inauguration.</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">US Stock And Bond Markets Are Closed</h3>
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq will not operate on Monday, in line with standard market holidays. Trading will restart on Tuesday with regular hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
Last Friday, the S&amp;P 500 index — tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) — closed 1% higher at 5,996 points, now hovering at less than 2 percentage points below record highs.
The Treasury market is also closed, leaving investors to digest potential policy shifts from the incoming administration without access to U.S. government bond trading.
Futures markets will observe an early close at 1:00 p.m. ET. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Commodities Futures On Alert Amid Trump Measures</h3>
Futures on precious metals, such as gold and silver, will wrap up slightly later at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Energy contracts, including crude oil and natural gas, will follow normal trading hours. Futures on the West Texas Intermediate light crude traded 0.4% higher to $78 a barrel during early morning trading in New York. 
Energy markets will be on high alert as President-elect Trump announces his first economic policies.
 The incoming administration is expected to roll back regulations on U.S. oil and gas production, potentially unleashing a surge in domestic output, while also adopting a more aggressive stance against Iran and Russia.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">FX Traders On Edge As Trump Eyes Tariff Blitz</h3>
Currency trading remains open, with forex traders preparing for potential dollar swings. 
Trump has signaled a hardline <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/42988641/trump-wants-trade-partners-to-start-paying-announces-external-revenue-service-for-tariffs">stance on trade policies</a>, with the possibility of steep tariffs on Chinese goods — up to 60% — and additional levies of 10% to 20% on imports from other countries, including neighbors such as Canada and Mexico.
The dollar's reaction could set the tone for global markets in the weeks ahead. Should Trump confirm his aggressive trade agenda, analysts expect increased demand for the greenback.
The U.S. dollar slightly weakened by 0.4% against the euro, while inching 0.1% higher vis-à-vis the Japanese yen. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin Hits Record High As Crypto Speculation Heats Up</h3>
Unlike equities and bonds, the cryptocurrency market never sleeps. 
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) surged to an all-time high of $109,350 overnight, riding a wave of speculation that Trump's administration may usher in an era of deregulation for the crypto sector.
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump floated the idea of a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve, a controversial move that has drawn both praise and skepticism from market participants. 
According to CFTC-regulated platform Kalshi, betting markets price in a 63% chance that Trump will create a National Bitcoin Fund by the end of the year.
Over the weekend, the President-elect launched his own meme coin, TRUMP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TRUMP</a>), which rapidly soared to a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43076559/donald-trumps-meme-coin-trump-rallies-103-in-a-day-creates-billions-out-of-thin-air">$15 billion market capitalization.</a> It has since been on a downtrend, plummeting to a $9.3 billion market cap at last check Monday. 
First Lady Melania Trump also introduced her own digital asset, MELANIA (CRYPTO: MELANIA), which amassed a $2 billion valuation within hours. 
Read Now: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43068639/betting-markets-brace-for-wave-of-executive-orders-on-trump-day-1-immigration-tariffs-top-issues-on-the-table">Betting Markets Brace For Wave Of Executive Orders On Trump Day 1: Immigration, Tariffs Top Issues On The Table</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

News

Commodities

Markets

$BTC

$TRUMP

PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund

Is The Market Open On Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Here's What Investors Need To Know

Brinker International's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EAT#NYSE">EAT</a>) short percent of float has risen 7.32% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 5.41 million shares sold short, which is 17.16% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 5.17 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Brinker International Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737379822_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Brinker International has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Brinker International's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Brinker International's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 9.26%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

(EAT) - Analyzing Brinker International's Short Interest

TeraWulf's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WULF#NYSE">WULF</a>) short percent of float has risen 6.2% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 59.73 million shares sold short, which is 19.17% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.26 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>TeraWulf Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737379817_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for TeraWulf has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing TeraWulf's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, TeraWulf's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 9.21%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

WULF

How Is The Market Feeling About TeraWulf?

Cipher Mining's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CIFR#NYSE">CIFR</a>) short percent of float has risen 14.76% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 22.68 million shares sold short, which is 10.81% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.01 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Cipher Mining Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737379812_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Cipher Mining has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Cipher Mining's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Cipher Mining's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 8.56%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

CIFR

How Is The Market Feeling About Cipher Mining?

Australia's Labor government has announced a $1.25 billion (AU$2 billion) initiative to aid <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/aluminum">the nation's aluminum smelters</a>.
This move underscores the government&#8217;s commitment to a renewable energy transition by 2036, as well as an economic transformation ahead of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/australia">general elections</a> scheduled for May at the latest.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled the plan: "We've got all the ingredients right here for a world-leading metals industry — from the best solar and wind resources, to the critical minerals and facilities, as well as a highly skilled workforce," he said in an <a href="https://x.com/AlboMP/status/1881171682637025758">X</a> post on Sunday, Jan. 19.
<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">Jobs up. Emissions down. Tomago aluminium smelter is a huge job creator – and uses a lot of energy. Today we've announced support as they switch to cheap, reliable renewable energy. Making more things in Australia, using Australian resources &#8211; and acting on climate change.… <a href="https://t.co/6zJ6lTRS8D">pic.twitter.com/6zJ6lTRS8D</a>
&mdash; Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlboMP/status/1881171682637025758?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 government aims for 82% of the national energy supply to come from renewables by 2030, a leap from the current 40%, even as it faces infrastructure and supply challenges — particularly with energy costs that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42482377/australian-opposition-goes-nuclear-211-billion-plan-could-open-doors-for-uranium-miners">broadly fluctuate</a> between its territories.
As a part of the "Future Made in Australia" program, the funding will provide production credits to aluminum smelters. This is expected to incentivize the production of low-carbon aluminum created using renewable energy resources.
Australia currently ranks as the world's sixth-largest aluminum producer.
"These new aluminum production credits should provide some of the transitional support needed as Australia's energy infrastructure and systems develop, and energy pricing returns to competitive levels," <a href="https://amtil.com.au/green-aluminium-production-credit/">noted</a> Marghanita Johnson, Australian Aluminum Council CEO.
However, challenges persist, particularly with securing affordable renewable energy to meet targets
Tomago Aluminum CEO Jerome Dozol recently warned about overly optimistic government goals.
"The price of electricity on offer is too expensive for us to keep operating without government intervention," he said, <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/the-country-s-biggest-aluminium-smelter-says-green-target-unreachable-20241015-p5kick">per</a> AFR's report. Tomago, the country's largest aluminum smelter (majority-owned by Rio Tinto), aims to fully transition to renewables by 2035.
Australia's aluminum industry faces stiff global competition and high energy costs. Tomago, which produces 590,000 tons of aluminum annually, is a critical player, contributing AU$2.2 billion to the economy.
Despite challenges, optimism remains. "Governments are recognizing the problem and the benefits of interim aid for a strong aluminum sector," Dozol stated.
Read Next:  
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42482377/australian-opposition-goes-nuclear-211-billion-plan-could-open-doors-for-uranium-miners">Australian Opposition Goes Nuclear, $211 Billion Plan Could Open Doors For Uranium Miners</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Midjourney

Government

Financing

Australia Bets Big On Aluminum, $1.25 Billion Boost To Smelters Fuels Green Energy Push

<h3>Gainers</h3>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>Name</th>
<th align="right">Price</th>
<th align="right">Change ($)</th>
<th align="right">Change (%)</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>)</td>
<td>SPDR Select Sector Fund - Technology</td>
<td align="right">234.86</td>
<td align="right">4.36</td>
<td align="right">1.89</td>
<td>94.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>)</td>
<td>SPDR Select Sector Fund - Consumer Discretionary</td>
<td align="right">228.83</td>
<td align="right">2.78</td>
<td align="right">1.22</td>
<td>6.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLI#NYSE">XLI</a>)</td>
<td>SPDR Select Sector Fund - Industrial</td>
<td align="right">137.90</td>
<td align="right">0.97</td>
<td align="right">0.70</td>
<td>6.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>)</td>
<td>The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund</td>
<td align="right">97.01</td>
<td align="right">0.46</td>
<td align="right">0.47</td>
<td>4.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLB#NYSE">XLB</a>)</td>
<td>Materials Select Sector SPDR</td>
<td align="right">88.11</td>
<td align="right">0.35</td>
<td align="right">0.39</td>
<td>379</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLRE#NYSE">XLRE</a>)</td>
<td>Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (The)</td>
<td align="right">41.20</td>
<td align="right">0.11</td>
<td align="right">0.26</td>
<td>6.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>)</td>
<td>SPDR Select Sector Fund - Financial</td>
<td align="right">49.93</td>
<td align="right">0.12</td>
<td align="right">0.24</td>
<td>150.3K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Losers</h3>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>Name</th>
<th align="right">Price</th>
<th align="right">Change ($)</th>
<th align="right">Change (%)</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>)</td>
<td>SPDR Select Sector Fund - Energy Select Sector</td>
<td align="right">93.05</td>
<td align="right">-0.19</td>
<td align="right">-0.21</td>
<td>70.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLP#NYSE">XLP</a>)</td>
<td>SPDR Select Sector Fund - Consumer Staples</td>
<td align="right">76.68</td>
<td align="right">-0.12</td>
<td align="right">-0.16</td>
<td>55.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>)</td>
<td>SPDR Select Sector Fund - Utilities</td>
<td align="right">78.62</td>
<td align="right">-0.11</td>
<td align="right">-0.14</td>
<td>25.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>)</td>
<td>SPDR Select Sector Fund - Health Care</td>
<td align="right">141.00</td>
<td align="right">-0.13</td>
<td align="right">-0.10</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Pulled from Benzinga Pro data</a> this sector movers alert provides traders with a compiled way to read macro-level market trends. Investors garner a particular interest in sector movers to better determine sectors that are over- or under-performing to make better investing decisions on exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or individual tickers in those sectors. 
To read more about sector movers, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/movers">click here</a>.

Sector ETFs

Pre-Market Outlook

Movers

ETFs

XLRE

Select Sector SPDR-Consumer Discretionary

Leading And Lagging Sectors For January 20, 2025

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) researcher Troy Teslike sees three possibilities for the $7,500 tax credit currently available on the purchase of new electric vehicles once Donald Trump swears in as President on Monday.
What Happened: According to Teslike, Trump may choose to restrict the reach of the tax credit, making it apply to less number of EV models or less number of potential customers by changing the eligibility criteria. 
The President-elect could instead also restrict eligibility criteria immediately and announce that Congress will cancel the tax credit in six months, Teslike said.
However, according to Teslike, it would be ideal for EV adoption and Tesla deliveries this year if Trump instead chooses to leave the eligibility criteria of the tax credit untouched while announcing that he wants Congress to cancel it within 6 months. 
The last option, where the eligibility criteria are left untouched, will give potential buyers time to make their Tesla purchases while utilizing the tax credit. This will allow the company to make up for the drop in sales during the second half of the year once the tax credit is dropped, Teslike opined. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Hopefully, within 24 hours we&#39;ll know Trump&#39;s plans for the $7,500 tax credit for EVs. Here are some possible outcomes: Scenario 1: Only restrict eligibility for now (such as the income limit or vehicle price). Scenario 2: Restrict eligibility now and announce that Congress will…
&mdash; Troy Teslike (@TroyTeslike) <a href="https://twitter.com/TroyTeslike/status/1881223077922582649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
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</figure>
Why It Matters: In November, Reuters reported that President-elect&nbsp;Donald Trump‘s transition team is planning to kill $7,500 tax credit available on EV purchases. The report also noted that Tesla representatives expressed support for ending the subsidy to the team.
&#8220;In my view, we should end all government subsidies, including those for EVs, oil and gas,&#8221; Tesla CEO&nbsp;Elon Musk&nbsp;then said.
During Tesla's second-quarter earnings in late July, Musk also said that the impact of the elimination of subsidies&nbsp;<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" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">would only be slight for Tesla</a>&nbsp;but devastating for its competitors. The elimination of EV subsidies would probably help Tesla in the long term, he added.
Teslike, however, is of the opinion that the loss of tax credit will only make Tesla<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"> lose its market to gas cars</a> from luxury car brands.
&#8220;Tesla competes with gas cars from BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, and Audi. Therefore, without the tax credit, Teslas will effectively be $7,500 more expensive compared to those cars,&#8221;&nbsp;Teslike said in November. 
Tesla reported global&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42766117/tesla-stock-tumbles-on-q4-deliveries-whats-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deliveries of 1.79 million</a>&nbsp;vehicles in 2024, down from full-year deliveries of 1.81 million in 2023.
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/25/01/43080738/nhtsa-opens-probe-into-about-878000-gm-gas-vehicles-days-after-closing-investigation-into-its-cruise-avs">NHTSA Opens Probe Into Nearly 878,000 GM Vehicles Over Engine Failure Concerns Days After Closing Investigation Into Its Cruise AVs</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Tech

TSLA

Tesla Researcher Says It Will Help EV Giant's Annual Deliveries If Trump Does Not Change EV Tax Credit Eligibility Criteria Immediately

A new report from Bernstein says that the cryptocurrency market will closely examine the utilization of 80% of the Official Trump (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TRUMP</a>) token supply held by Trump <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">insiders in the coming days.</a>
The TRUMP token, launched unexpectedly on the Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>) blockchain, reached a fully diluted market cap of approximately $73 billion. It traded over $30 billion in a day within 48 hours, surpassing Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) as one of the largest meme coins in the market, before experiencing a drawdown of about 50% from its highs.
The token&#8217;s launch was facilitated by CIC Digital, an entity associated with the Trump campaign, which had previously launched branded NFTs and merchandise. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43065531/coinbase-launches-bitcoin-backed-loans-for-us-users">Coinbase Launches Bitcoin-Backed Loans For US Users</a>
While the industry has viewed the token launch by the &#8220;strongest political figure&#8221; as a sign that the US is more open to digital assets and that regulatory risk might be lessened, the Bernstein report shifts the focus to the token distribution structure.
The report points out that 80% of the token&#8217;s supply is held by wallets associated with CIC Digital, raising concerns that these insiders might distribute this large supply, leading to losses for other investors and creating pressure on the token&#8217;s market value.
&#8220;The team could use TRUMP coin as collateral to build something useful in crypto banking &amp; finance or build an engagement model to reward supporters/holders. Or it could use it as a treasury asset to fund more Trump-related political initiatives,&#8221; the report stated.
Given how blockchain-based market-making works, the team is already earning strong revenue from supplying liquidity to trading pools. Given how fast the token reached a stratospheric market value, the 80% supply held by insiders does create some pressure on its market value,&#8221; it further said.
The report also touches upon the regulatory environment. It suggests that the launch of a token by a major political figure signifies a new era where governments may view crypto as a tool to reach out to the masses.
Despite this potential shift, the report cautions that the current regulatory regime in the U.S. has been about cracking down on crypto builders and enforcement actions on token-related activities. 
The president's token launch therefore signals a new era and may lead to new regulations.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43065423/donald-trump-to-mention-bitcoin-or-crypto-at-the-inauguration-polymarket-traders-say-theres-a-chance">Donald Trump To Mention Bitcoin Or Crypto At Inauguration? Polymarket Traders Say There&#8217;s A Chance</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

$DOGE

$SOL

Market Seeks Further Information On Utilization Of 80% TRUMP Token Supply: Report

Ross Stores's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROST#NYSE">ROST</a>) short percent of float has risen 5.41% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 5.10 million shares sold short, which is 1.56% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.25 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Ross Stores Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737378026_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Ross Stores has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Ross Stores's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Ross Stores's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 12.50%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

ROST

Peering Into Ross Stores's Recent Short Interest

Walt Disney's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) short percent of float has fallen 6.09% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 19.55 million shares sold short, which is 1.08% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.37 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Walt Disney Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737378020_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Walt Disney has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Walt Disney's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Walt Disney's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 8.08%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Peering Into Walt Disney's Recent Short Interest

RLI's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RLI#NYSE">RLI</a>) short percent of float has risen 14.15% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 476 thousand shares sold short, which is 1.21% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.58 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>RLI Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737378015_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for RLI has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing RLI's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, RLI's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 2.06%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Looking Into RLI's Recent Short Interest

With President-elect Donald Trump swearing-in on Monday as the next President of the United States, the &#8220;Air Force One&#8221; title will be upon any Air Force aircraft that he travels in. 
What Happened: The Air Force One technically refers to any Air Force aircraft with the U.S. President on board. However, it is often used to refer to two primary presidential aircraft manufactured by Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) called VC-25A, a modified variant of the Boeing 747-200 airliner.
The U.S. Air Force is looking forward to replacing the current primary presidential aircraft with VC-25B, based on the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft given the VC-25A is now old after being delivered in 1990 under the George HW Bush administration.
Trump in 2019 had proposed changing the colors of Air Force One to red, white, and blue but the Biden administration abandoned the design in favor of the colors of the aircraft it would replace. 
Inside Current Air Force One: The current Air Force One aircraft has a longer range than the ordinary 747 aircraft and sports 4000 square feet of interior floor space. Dubbed the &#8220;flying Oval Office,&#8221; it has a conference room, quarters for the president and the first lady, an office area for senior staff members, and another office that converts into a medical facility when necessary.
It further has two galleys that can provide 100 meals in one sitting in addition to multi-frequency radios for air-to-air, air-to-ground, and satellite communications. 
According to Boeing, the key differences between the VC-25 aircraft and the Boeing 747 are the electronic and communications equipment and state-of-the-art navigation in the former.
Air Force One is maintained and operated by the Presidential Airlift Group, part of the White House Military Office.
Boeing&#8217;s Long-Drawn Crisis: Boeing has been faced with one crisis after the other over the past few years, starting in late 2018 when a Boeing aircraft went down in the sea off the coast of Indonesia.
In April 2022, The Wall Street Journal<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/boeings-new-air-force-one-hit-by-production-mishaps-11649170748"> reported</a> that the company is facing factory problems as it seeks to modify the aircraft meant to serve as Air Force One in the future. The company attempted to place one of the two jets onto jacks and risked damaging it, the report said. 
In January 2024, a door panel flew off an Alaska Airlines plane manufactured by Boeing, forcing an emergency landing and creating further safety concerns. The Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on air travel in 2020 did not help the company's financial constraints.
In March 2024, Biden <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/38012479/biden-cracks-joke-about-boeing-made-air-force-one-i-dont-sit-by-the-door">laughed about Boeing aircraft </a>and said that he does not sit by the door of the Air Force One aircraft. Biden later clarified that he was only kidding. 
President-elect&nbsp;Donald Trump‘s pick to lead the Department of Transportation Sean Duffy said earlier this month Boeing needs "<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43020202/trumps-dot-pick-assures-ongoing-tesla-fsd-investigation-and-rigorous-oversight-of-boeing">tough love</a>" as it grapples with recent safety failures
"We have to make sure they are implementing their safety plan," Duffy&nbsp;said, emphasizing his commitment to working with the Federal Aviation Administration to restore global confidence in the aircraft manufacturer.
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:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43080259/all-tesla-fsd-equipped-vehicles-can-reverse-by-itself-soon-says-elon-musk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Says All Tesla FSD-Equipped Vehicles Will &#8216;Soon&#8217; Be Able To Reverse By Themselves</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia

Politics

Flying Oval Office: Inside the Iconic Air Force One Aircraft That Will Be Used By Donald Trump

Jamie Dimon, the CEO of banking behemoth JPMorgan, has maintained a divergent view about cryptocurrencies.&nbsp;
While he frequently disses Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), the most valued cryptocurrency, he appears to have a favorable view of blockchain technology in general and projects based on smart contracts.
What happened: During an interview with CNBC in January 2023, Dimon made a clear differentiation between the two types of cryptocurrencies.
"There&#8217;s a cryptocurrency which might actually do something. Think of a cryptocurrency that has an embedded smart contract in it and that we can use it to buy and sell real estate and move data. That may have value," the CEO of the world&#8217;s most valuable bank said.&nbsp;
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Though Dimon did not identify a specific cryptocurrency, the word &#8220;smart contract&#8221; possibly referred to Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) and blockchains and decentralized applications built on the network.
Smart contracts are self-executing computer programs that facilitate transactions without a central authority. Ethereum is well-known as the largest smart contract-enabled platform.
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>
When Dimon made this assertion, Ethereum traded at $2,531.26 a piece. So, if you invested $1000, you&#8217;d have received 0.3950 units of ETH.&nbsp;
Today, one Ethereum was exchanging hands at $3,443.36. This meant that the original investment would have turned $1360.33, reflecting a return of 36%.
Why It Matters: Dimon&#8217;s opinions suggested that he supported cryptocurrency projects that have utility and could solve real-world problems, unlike Bitcoin, which is speculative and relies on expectations of long-term value growth.&nbsp;
Dimon <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42940832/jamie-dimon-says-hes-not-against-blockchains-but-trades-guns-on-bitcoin-again-it-has-no-intrinsic-value-i-just-dont-feel-great-about">reaffirmed this attitude</a> earlier this month, stating that blockchains will have long-term use. In the same breath, he linked Bitcoin with illicit activities like s&#x2A;x trafficking and money laundering.
Interestingly, JPMorgan has invested in Ethereum exchange-traded funds, with a significant stake in Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETHE#NYSE">ETHE</a>) and its miniature version, Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETH#NYSE">ETH</a>).
Price Action: At the time of writing, Ethereum was exchanging hands at $3,422.62, up 4.43% 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>

$ETH

ETHE

If You Invested $1,000 In Ethereum When Jamie Dimon Said Cryptos With Smart Contracts Have Value, Here's How Much You'd Have Today

As the United States gears up for the inauguration of its 47th President, Donald Trump is set to take the oath of office on Monday. The Republican leader is making a return to the White House for a second term after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race. This inauguration will be held indoors due to the cold weather, marking the first indoor presidential inauguration since 1985.
Trump&#8217;s oath of office will be administered by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts. Alongside him, Vice President-elect JD Vance will also take the oath. The inauguration ceremony is set to begin at noon EST at the United States Capitol Rotunda.
The day&#8217;s events will start earlier, with the Trumps attending morning services at St. John's Church. Post-ceremony, Mr. Trump is expected to sign executive orders and attend inaugural balls, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/19/us/politics/trump-inauguration-watch-time-stream.html">reported</a> on Tuesday.
How And Where To Watch Trump&#8217;s Oath-Taking Ceremony? 
For those following the inauguration, <a href="http://benzinga.com">Benzinga</a> will provide in-depth coverage on its website. Other major news networks including NBC, CNN, ABC, CBS, Fox News, and C-SPAN will also broadcast the inauguration live. The White House and the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) will also stream the event on its official website, allowing global viewers to tune in.
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</figure>
The inaugural events, arranged by JCCIC, will begin at 9:30 am EST on Monday with musical performances and introductory speeches. After the swearing-in ceremony, President Trump will deliver his inaugural address, laying out his plans and vision for the coming four years.
In response to severe cold weather, the inaugural parade has been relocated indoors to the 20,000-seat Capital One Arena in downtown Washington. Later in the evening, President Trump is expected to attend multiple inaugural balls, including the Commander in Chief Ball, Liberty Inaugural Ball, and Starlight Ball.
The inauguration festivities will officially wrap up the following day with the National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral.
Read Also: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/43079238/is-stock-market-open-on-mlk-day-what-you-need-to-know-about-trading-hours-on-jan-20-during-trumps-inauguration">Is Stock Market Open Today? What To Know About MLK Day Trading Hours Amid Trump&#8217;s Inauguration</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image Via Shutterstock

General

How And Where To Watch Donald Trump's Inauguration Ceremony Live

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Wednesday that it has opened a probe into about 878,000 General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) vehicles equipped with the L87 V8 engine over engine failure concerns.
What Happened: The auto safety regulator stated that it had received 39 complaints and several field reports alleging engine failures in these vehicles. The complainants reported being unable to detect the issue before the engine failed.
Failure or malfunctioning of the engine may increase the risk of a crash, the regulator noted. 
The probe includes 2019-2024 Model Year (MY) Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade vehicles.
The probe is aimed at determining the scope and severity of the potential problem and to asses potential safety-related issues, NHTSA said. 
Why It Matters: The new probe comes merely days after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43020700/nhtsa-closes-safety-probe-into-gm-cruise-robotaxis-weeks-after-it-ceased-operations">NHTSA closed its probe</a> into GM&#8217;s Cruise robotaxis in light of the company ceasing business operations. The NHTSA commenced the probe into Cruise robotaxis in October 2023 to gauge whether they are exercising caution around pedestrians following reports of two crashes.
The regulator, on Wednesday, closed the probe in light of a recall action taken by Cruise. The company has also since stopped business operations and no versions of its automated driving system are operating on public roads, the regulator noted.
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:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43051842/ftc-bans-general-motors-from-sharing-driver-data-following-allegations-that-it-sold-sensitive-consumer-information" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FTC Bans General Motors From Sharing Driver Data Following Allegations That It Sold Sensitive Consumer Information</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

NHTSA Opens Probe Into Nearly 878,000 GM Vehicles Over Engine Failure Concerns Days After Closing Investigation Into Its Cruise AVs

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is reportedly bringing its AI smarts to the Mac&#8217;s Mail app with the upcoming macOS 15.4 update.
What Happened: In his latest weekend "Power On" newsletter, Bloomberg columnist Mark Gurman indicated that the new Mail app will make it easier for users struggling with email overload.
The feature, which is currently exclusive to iPad and iPhone, sorts the usual flood of emails into neat categories like primary, transactions, promotions, and updates. It also prioritizes urgent emails like boarding passes.
Gurman also reported that Apple is hitting the brakes on notification summaries in iOS 18.3 and macOS 15.3. This came after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836957/apple-acknowledges-ai-flaws-after-bbc-complaint-vows-fix-for-misleading-news-summaries">complaints of inaccurate notifications</a>.
&#8220;Rather than quickly fixing its AI models, Apple is simply pulling the plug on summaries from news and entertainment apps,&#8221; he stated.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43021026/apple-stock-has-moved-up-4-2-since-iphone-16-launched-analyst-says-it-has-another-8-upside-as-manufacturing-cost-decline-bolsters-cupertinos-margins" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Stock Has Moved Up 4.2% Since iPhone 16 Launched, Analyst Says It Has Another 8% Upside As Manufacturing Cost Decline Bolsters Cupertino's Margins</a>
Why It Matters: The latest update is part of Apple&#8217;s bigger push into AI. The tech giant is expected to roll out its macOS 15.3 in the coming weeks.
With this update, Mac users will finally get to play with Genmoji, Apple&#8217;s custom emoji feature.
However, Cupertino is also facing some headwinds. While Apple continues to push AI capabilities, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42553029/apples-iphone-16-stumbles-on-intelligence-awareness-but-pro-max-shines-bright-says-analyst">iPhone 16 cycle</a> shows signs of struggle, with market share dropping to 66%.
The lack of consumer awareness around Apple Intelligence has been a challenge, according to a JPMorgan analyst.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Cupertino's AI tools <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/01/36526396/gurman-weighs-in-on-apples-overflowing-cup-of-challenges-late-arrival-to-ai-party-app-store-regu">arrived nearly two years after</a> OpenAI's ChatGPT gained widespread popularity – a year and a half following the launch of AI services by Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)  and Alphabet Inc.&#8216;s Google (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), and a year after Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) unveiled its updated Alexa.
&#8220;The totality of Apple&#8217;s generative AI vision will take at least into 2025 to fully scale,&#8221; Gurman said last year.
Apple currently has a market cap of $3.458, making it the most valuable company in the world. It is scheduled to announce its first-quarter earnings for 2025 on Jan. 30.
The company reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41666494/apple-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-installed-base-hits-new-highs-iphone-sales-rise-as-apple-in">revenue of $94.9 billion</a> in the last quarter, surpassing analysts&#8217; expectations of $94.56 billion.
Price Action: Apple's stock rose by 0.75% on Friday, closing at $229.98. However, in after-hours trading, the shares fell by 0.21%, reaching $229.50, according to<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"> Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/01/43047721/apple-cfo-denies-claims-of-75-profit-margins-on-app-store-i-wouldnt-say-theyre-accurate">Apple CFO Denies Claims Of 75% Profit Margins On App Store: &#8216;I Wouldn&#8217;t Say They&#8217;re Accurate&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Media

AAPL

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Apple's Making Your Mac's Mail Much Smarter: Here's What's Coming

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk on Saturday stoked hopes for all the company&#8217;s EVs equipped with its full self-driving (FSD) driver assistance technology reversing by themselves &#8220;soon.&#8221;
What Happened: Tesla&#8217;s FSD allows for lane changes with active driver supervision. However, not all versions of the software enable the car to reverse into a parking spot.
&#8220;It must stress the AI out so much that it isn't allowed to reverse yet! It will soon though,&#8221; Musk said in a post on the social media platform X in response to a user who noted that he had a good experience with the software except for when he attempted to park the vehicle and it could not reverse by itself and instead waited on the driver&#8217;s directive o reverse.
&#8220;It literally placed me ready to reverse into a parking spot. All I had to do was shift, and press the pedal,&#8221; the user said, while adding that he was using version 12.6 of the FSD software.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">It must stress the AI out so much that it isn't allowed to reverse yet! It will soon though.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1880683455262110186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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It is worth noting that version 13 of the software allows for the car to reverse by itself and back into a charging spot if required. 
Why It Matters: Tesla's FSD currently requires active driver supervision. However, Musk is optimistic that the technology will enable autonomous driving with future versions of the software.
Musk is known for overestimating his company's products and providing deadlines he cannot meet. As far back as 2019, Musk said that he was confident about Tesla having operational robotaxis by 2020.&nbsp;
Last year, Musk said that the company would start deploying self-driving Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in Texas and California for ride-hail in 2025, provided it gets the necessary regulatory clearances.
However, earlier this month, the U.S. auto safety regulator National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a probe&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42840097/nhtsa-opens-probe-into-26-million-tesla-vehicles-after-complaint-of-crash-involving-actually-smart-summon-feature" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">into about 2.6 million Tesla vehicles</a>&nbsp;equipped with the company's full self-driving driver assistance technology following a complaint alleging that the use of its "Actually Smart Summon" feature led to a crash.
Actually Smart Summon refers to a feature that allows a user to remotely move the vehicle towards themselves or to another nearby location such as a parking lot through the company&#8217;s phone app.
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:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43051842/ftc-bans-general-motors-from-sharing-driver-data-following-allegations-that-it-sold-sensitive-consumer-information" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FTC Bans General Motors From Sharing Driver Data Following Allegations That It Sold Sensitive Consumer Information</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Tesla

Elon Musk Says All Tesla FSD-Equipped Vehicles Will 'Soon' Be Able To Reverse By Themselves

In a recent interview,&nbsp;Steve Bannon, former chief strategist for&nbsp;Donald Trump, declared that the anticipated presence of top tech leaders at Trump&#8217;s inauguration marks their &#8220;official surrender&#8221; to the president-elect.
What Happened: During an interview on ABC News, Bannon expressed that the attendance of major tech figures at Trump&#8217;s inauguration signifies their capitulation, ABC News <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bannon-tech-billionaires-surrendered-trump/story?id=117826772">reported</a> on Monday.
Bannon noted that the expected presence of&nbsp;Elon Musk&nbsp;of&nbsp;Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>),&nbsp;Jeff Bezos&nbsp;of&nbsp;Amazon.com Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), and&nbsp;Mark Zuckerberg&nbsp;of&nbsp;Meta Platforms Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) at the inauguration is not unexpected. He remarked that once Zuckerberg confirmed his attendance, others followed suit.
&#8220;He&#8217;s like Gen. Douglas MacArthur,&#8221; Bannon said of Trump. &#8220;That is an official surrender, and I think it&#8217;s powerful.&#8221;
He also voiced doubts about the tech leaders&#8217; newfound allegiance to Trump, particularly Zuckerberg, whom he accused of opportunism.
Both Amazon and Meta have contributed $1 million each to Trump&#8217;s inaugural fund. 
Why It Matters: The attendance of tech giants at the inauguration comes amid a backdrop of tension between Bannon and Musk. Just days before the inauguration, Bannon had fiercely criticized Musk, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42935180/steve-bannon-targets-elon-musk-pledges-to-expel-him-from-maga-movement-he-is-a-truly-evil-guy">calling him "truly evil" </a>and vowing to expel him from the MAGA movement. This was reported by the Italian newspaper&nbsp;Corriere della Sera&nbsp;on January 12, 2025. Musk, a frequent visitor at Mar-a-Lago, has been a significant financial supporter of Trump&#8217;s return to the White House. 
Read Also: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43078027/vivek-ramaswamy-expected-to-exit-trumps-doge-task-force-amid-ohio-governor-bid-report">Elon Musk&#8217;s DOGE Co-Lead Vivek Ramaswamy Expected To Exit Trump Admin Task Force Amid Ohio Governorship Bid</a></li>
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Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Former Trump Strategist Steve Bannon Slams Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk And Other Tech Titans' Attendance In President-Elect's Inauguration: 'This Is An Official Surrender'

The official meme coins launched by President-elect Donald Trump and incoming First Lady Melania Trump have accumulated tens of billions in combined market valuation over the weekend, evoking both awe and concerns from the cryptocurrency community.
What happened: The two Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)-based coins, namely OFFICIAL TRUMP and MELANIA, have <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">sparked an unprecedented frenzy</a>, running up to valuations that established corporations took years to build.
At the current price of $58.33, Trump's official coin had a fully diluted valuation of&nbsp; $58.34 billion, <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/">according </a>to CoinMarketCap. Similarly, MELANIA memecoin was worth $12.73 billion.&nbsp;
Note that a fully diluted valuation is an asset's market value if the maximum supply is in circulation.
The combined market value of the two meme coins was $71.07 billion. To put things in perspective, it was higher than oil-producing company Occidental Petroleum Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>), which had a market value of $49.38 billion at the time of writing.
It's worth noting that the energy stock has been on the radar of veteran Wall Street investor Warren Buffett. Through a series of purchases. Buffett's firm Berkshire Hathaway has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/42970418/why-warren-buffett-is-keeping-25-of-berkshires-assets-in-cash">accumulated a stake of up to 29%</a> in Occidental.&nbsp;
See Also:<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"> </a><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">Peter Schiff Says &#8216;Last Night&#8217; For Biden To Sell Some Bitcoin Before Trump Takes Over: &#8216;Let&#8217;s See If He Takes Advantage Of The Opportunity&#8217;</a>
The combined market value of the Trump meme coins also surpassed some other companies in which Buffett expressed interest lately.
VeriSign Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRSN#NASDAQ">VRSN</a>), whose approximately 377,736 shares were scooped up by the conglomerate, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/01/42755180/warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-makes-bold-74-million-bet-on-this-forgotten-darling-of-dotcom-boom">had a market valuation</a> of little over $20 billion as of this writing, a fraction of the Trump meme coins.
Why It Matters: The weekend meme coin frenzy comes just ahead of the presidential inauguration of Trump, who was<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43073027/trump-plans-crypto-friendly-executive-orders-in-early-days-of-presidency-report"> speculated to pass several cryptocurrency-friendly</a> executive orders on Day 1 of his tenure.
The official meme coins attracted profit-hungry traders, who found the cryptocurrencies legitimate and associated with the first family of the U.S. However, the disclaimers of the two projects clearly state no connection with any political campaign, political office, or governmental agency.
Anthony Scaramucci, a prominent cryptocurrency advocate and former White House Communications Director, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43076714/scaramucci-criticizes-donald-trumps-meme-coin-launch-idi-amin-level-corruption">labeled the launch</a> as &#8220;Idi Amin-level corruption.&#8221;
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43076428/trump-inauguration-to-trigger-250k-bitcoin-rally-or-a-plunge-below-100k-analysts-weigh-in">Trump Inauguration To Trigger $250K Bitcoin Rally Or A Plunge Below $100K: Analysts Weigh In</a></li>
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

VRSN

Donald Trump And Melania Memecoins' Combined Market Value Is Now Higher Than That Of Warren Buffett's Hot Pick

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has expressed his admiration for Elon Musk&#8217;s X, formerly Twitter, while voicing concerns about TikTok&#8217;s influence on society.
What Happened: In an interview that was made public on Sunday, Ackman praised X as a platform that allows for diverse voices and immediate feedback, aligning with Musk&#8217;s vision of it as a new media.
He underscored the open nature of X, saying, &#8220;It&#8217;s the voice of the people! It&#8217;s not the curated voices of an owner of a media publication.&#8221;
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43073009/mark-zuckerberg-lauds-sheryl-sandberg-amid-blame-for-metas-dei-program-she-did-amazing-work" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Zuckerberg Lauds Sheryl Sandberg Amid Blame For Meta&#8217;s DEI Program: ‘She Did Amazing Work&#8217;</a>
Ackman also shared his concerns about TikTok, particularly its impact on young women and girls. He underscored issues such as eating disorders and vaping, questioning TikTok&#8217;s role as a positive force.
&#8220;Put aside the China issues, I do think it&#8217;s not been a healthy thing for particularly young women and young girls,&#8221; he said referring to the experience he gained through his daughters who belong to the generation living in the TikTok era.
The discussion also touched on Ackman&#8217;s limited interactions with Musk, whom he admires for his ambitious goals aimed at benefiting humanity. He noted the skepticism surrounding Musk but believes his intentions are aligned with the greater good.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="In conversation with Bill Ackman: on Trump, Elon, Biden, his own political ambitions &amp; plenty more!" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JCkSPXJ2TII?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Why It Matters: Earlier this month, Musk announced an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/42805588/elon-musk-announces-changes-to-x-over-negativity-concerns-too-much-negativity-is-being-pushed">&#8220;algorithm tweak&#8221; to reduce negativity</a> on the X, aiming to improve user experience by maximizing &#8220;unregretted user-seconds.&#8221;
The change was seen in response to growing scrutiny of X and accusations about the app being a negative space. The effect of this algorithm adjustment on both the platform and its users is yet to be determined.
Meanwhile, as TikTok faces an uncertain future in the U.S., Jeff Bezos-backed Perplexity reportedly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/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">made a $50 billion bid</a> to merge with the app.
Reports also suggest that Musk&#8217;s X could be a potential bidder, with Dan Ives thinking that the Tesla CEO could come out as the ultimate winner of TikTok's U.S. acquisition.
Additionally, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43019833/elon-musk-buying-tiktok-could-hurt-tesla-warns-gary-black-but-dan-ives-thinks-it-makes-sense">concerns</a> have been raised about Musk potentially acquiring TikTok, with some analysts warning it could negatively impact Tesla Inc. stock. This underscores the complex dynamics surrounding TikTok&#8217;s influence and ownership.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43021026/apple-stock-has-moved-up-4-2-since-iphone-16-launched-analyst-says-it-has-another-8-upside-as-manufacturing-cost-decline-bolsters-cupertinos-margins" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Stock Has Moved Up 4.2% Since iPhone 16 Launched, Analyst Says It Has Another 8% Upside As Manufacturing Cost Decline Bolsters Cupertino&#8217;s Margins</a></li>
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia

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