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CLARA TECHNOLOGIES CORP by CLARA TECHNOLOGIES CORP

Chinese fintech giant Ant Group disclosed on Monday that it invested a record 23.45 billion yuan ($3.26 billion) in research and development during 2024, marking the fourth consecutive year of increased R&amp;D spending since 2021.
What Happened: The Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) affiliate revealed the figures in its 2024 sustainability report, according to Reuters, highlighting its commitment to technology advancement amid China&#8217;s artificial intelligence boom.
Ant Group, formerly known as Ant Financial, operates China&#8217;s dominant mobile payments platform, Alipay, and has been rebuilding its operations following regulatory setbacks that derailed its 2020 initial public offering. Chinese regulators halted the company&#8217;s planned IPO at the last moment and imposed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45200539/alibabas-ant-group-eyes-hong-kong-ipo-for-ant-international-as-it-pushes-forward-with-fintech-growth">antitrust measures on domestic tech giants</a>.
The substantial R&amp;D investment comes as the parent company, Alibaba, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46069690/alibaba-accelerates-global-ai-push-targets-overseas-data-centers">accelerates its global AI expansion</a>. Alibaba has committed 380 billion yuan ($52 billion) over three years for cloud computing and AI infrastructure development. The company plans to extend its Qwen large language models to overseas data centers by 2025, operating 29 facilities globally, including two in the United States.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46159125/elon-musk-calls-trumps-megabill-political-suicide-says-it-is-utterly-insane-and-destructive-will-destroy-millions-of-jobs-in-america">Elon Musk Calls Trump&#8217;s Megabill &#8216;Political Suicide,&#8217; Says &#8216;It Is Utterly Insane and Destructive,&#8217; Will &#8216;Destroy Millions of Jobs in America&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Recent partnerships with Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Siemens AG (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SIEGY#OTC">SIEGY</a>), and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) underscore Alibaba&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45975004/alibaba-updates-llms-to-power-ai-on-apple-devices-in-china">strategic AI positioning</a>. Benchmark analyst Fawne Jiang identified Alibaba as &#8220;a leading beneficiary of accelerated AI adoption in China.&#8221;
Ant Group has explored listing its Singapore-registered overseas arm, Ant International, on the Hong Kong stock exchange as it seeks growth opportunities beyond mainland China. The company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45200539/alibabas-ant-group-eyes-hong-kong-ipo-for-ant-international-as-it-pushes-forward-with-fintech-growth">reported 100 million users</a> for its tap-and-pay service launched in June 2024.
Alibaba shares have surged over 58.05% in the past 12 months as investors recognize the company&#8217;s AI potential amid U.S.-China <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/46113383/us-china-trade-deal-could-be-finalized-next-week-says-harvard-scholar-they-are-going-to-stabilize-this">trade relations prospects</a>.
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46161059/apple-has-the-potential-to-crush-metas-ray-ban-smart-glasses-says-ming-chi-kuo-but-the-tech-giant-has-been-surprisingly-slow">Apple Has the Potential To Crush Meta&#8217;s Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, Says Ming-Chi Kuo, But The Tech Giant Has Been &#8216;Surprisingly Slow&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: THINK A / Shutterstock.com

Equities

BABA

MSFT

NVDA

SIEGY

China's Ant Group Boosts R&D Spending To Record $3.26 Billion In 2024 Amid AI Push

Investor Gary Black, the founder of The Future Fund, has issued a cautious outlook on Tesla Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) upcoming second-quarter deliveries, saying that the EV giant is likely to miss estimates.
What Happened: On Saturday, in a post on X, Black projected that the company would deliver around 370,000 vehicles in Q2, marking a 17% year-over-year decline, while falling short of consensus estimates by Wall Street analysts at 385,000, or 13% before estimates.
&#8220;We expect TSLA 2Q deliv[erie]s due out next week to disappoint,&#8221; Black said, adding that the ideal re-entry price for the stock would be &#8220;in the $250 range,&#8221; which he notes is 30% below the price that his fund had exited a couple of weeks ago, at $358 a share.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/education/25/06/46159918/elon-musk-reveals-the-lunch-that-launched-tesla-do-you-mind-if-i-do-that">Elon Musk Reveals The Lunch That Launched Tesla: &#8216;Do You Mind If I Do That?&#8217;</a>
Black also cautions that the company&#8217;s widely anticipated, upcoming affordable models could end up cannibalizing its sales instead of expanding its total addressable market, if they end up being just stripped-down versions of the existing Model 3 or the Model Y.
&#8220;If the 2023–2024 price-cutting experience repeats, a lower-priced, lower-cost model won't expand TSLA TAM or generate incremental volume since it will merely cannibalize the higher-priced trims,&#8221; he says.
Instead, Black argues that Tesla would need to introduce an entirely new form factor, such as a compact hatchback or a low-priced pickup, to attract new customer segments and generate true volume growth.
<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">We continue to post on <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24TSLA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$TSLA</a> because many of our followers ask us daily what might be a good re-entry point. We would venture a TSLA re-entry price in the $250 range (-30% from our $358 exit) after the new more affordable TSLA is announced and turns out to be a lower cost… <a href="https://t.co/gjeAV6ELOC">pic.twitter.com/gjeAV6ELOC</a>
&mdash; Gary Black (@garyblack00) <a href="https://twitter.com/garyblack00/status/1938820545048449109?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Why It Matters: Black has repeated his theory on cannibalization several times in the past, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44971532/teslas-new-cheaper-cars-might-not-be-the-game-changer-investors-hoped-for-warns-gary-black-heres-why-he-thinks-they-could-hurt-more-than-help">warning shareholders</a> about this for the first time over two months ago. 
He has also repeatedly warned that the company&#8217;s second-quarter sales would be disappointing. Having said last week that Tesla&#8217;s CEO, Elon Musk, is unwilling to accept that at least <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46132042/teslas-q2-sales-going-to-s-says-gary-black-after-tsla-north-america-and-europe-chief-omead-afshars-exit">some of this weakness</a> is owing to the &#8220;brand taint associated with his right-wing political rhetoric and DOGE activities.&#8221;
Other leading analysts, such as Mark Delaney of Goldman Sachs, have since <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/06/45818240/tesla-stock-faces-demand-brand-issues-in-us-competition-in-china-analyst-lowers-delivery-estimates">lowered their price targets</a> for the stock to $290, with a &#8220;Neutral&#8221; rating, citing the company&#8217;s substantial demand and brand-related issues. 
There have been several bullish takes on the stock as well, with Wedbush analyst Dan Ives <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/46157191/tesla-the-next-month-could-make-or-break-the-year">raising the target</a> to $500 while reiterating its &#8220;Outperform&#8221; rating last week.
In a research note, Ives said, &#8220;We believe the march to a $2 trillion valuation for Tesla has now begun.&#8221;
Price Action: Shares of Tesla were down 1.43% on Friday, ending the week at $323.79, but it is up 0.75% after hours.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="146" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/29234118/Screenshot-2025-06-30-at-9.11.02-AM-1024x146.png" alt="" class="wp-image-966167" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/29234118/Screenshot-2025-06-30-at-9.11.02-AM-1024x146.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/29234118/Screenshot-2025-06-30-at-9.11.02-AM-300x43.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/29234118/Screenshot-2025-06-30-at-9.11.02-AM-768x110.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/29234118/Screenshot-2025-06-30-at-9.11.02-AM.png 1526w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Tesla scores well on Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings, and has a favorable price trend in the short, medium and long terms. Click <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">here</a> for deeper insights on the stock, its peers, and competitors. 
Photo Courtesy: Jonathan Weiss on Shutterstock.com
Read More: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46156654/ford-ceo-jim-farley-believes-waymos-approach-makes-more-sense-than-elon-musk-led-teslas-when-you-have-a-brand-like-ford-you-have-to-be-really-careful">Ford CEO Jim Farley Believes Waymo&#8217;s Approach Makes More Sense Than Elon Musk-led Tesla&#8217;s: &#8216;When You Have A Brand Like Ford&#8230; You Have To Be Really Careful&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

Large Cap

Travel

Markets

TSLA

Gary Black Warns Tesla Q2 Deliveries Will 'Disappoint' — Says Cheaper Models Could Cannibalize Sales And See Ideal Re-Entry 22% Below Current Levels

Seasoned investor Cathie Wood said Saturday that Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) holders may not hesitate to shift their holdings to a centralized cryptocurrency exchange to avail home loans.
What Happened: Wood, the CEO of&nbsp;ARK Invest, was responding to an X user who suggested that Bitcoin holders, who typically self-custody their assets, would be unlikely to&nbsp;move their holdings to a&nbsp;centralized exchange to help their loan applications.
Wood countered this view, stating, &#8220;Bitcoin hodlers probably have a&nbsp;large percent of their net&nbsp;worth in crypto and therefore&nbsp;have not been able to&nbsp;qualify for a mortgage. I&nbsp;wouldn't be surprised if they&nbsp;were to shift some of&nbsp;their Bitcoin to Coinbase to&nbsp;serve as collateral for a&nbsp;once unattainable new home.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Bitcoin hodlrs probably have a large percent of their net worth in crypto and therefore have not been able to qualify for a mortgage. I wouldn't be surprised if they were to shift some of their bitcoin to Coinbase to serve as collateral for a once unattainable new home. <a href="https://t.co/C36B7yT14f">https://t.co/C36B7yT14f</a>
&mdash; Cathie Wood (@CathieDWood) <a href="https://twitter.com/CathieDWood/status/1939116844884918430?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41508328/michael-saylor-says-he-supports-self-custody-for-the-willing-able-after-coming-under-fire-">Self-custody</a> is a widely touted ideal in the cryptocurrency space, advocating control of one&#8217;s digital assets, specifically private keys, without relying on a third-party custodian. Purists consider holding coins on exchanges, like Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), as against the cryptocurrency ethos.
The COIN stock boasted a high Momentum and Growth ranking as of this writing. Find out how other cryptocurrency stocks stack up on these metrics using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="560" height="342" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/29233019/image-429.png" alt="" class="wp-image-966163" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/29233019/image-429.png 560w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/29233019/image-429-300x183.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px" /></a></figure>
Why It Matters: Wood&#8217;s comments come after the Federal Housing Finance Agency <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/06/46108786/fannie-and-freddie-directed-to-consider-crypto-mortgages-by-us-housing-regulator-but-michael-saylor-thinks-its-only-bitcoin-that-has-entered-the-american-dream">announced plans to consider cryptocurrency as an asset</a> for a mortgage. However, the directive asked mortgage giants Fannie and Freddie to consider only those assets that can be stored on a U.S.-regulated cryptocurrency exchange, subject to applicable laws
Wood praised the directive, stating that it could bolster both crypto and housing<a href="https://x.com/CathieDWood/status/1938961940501667967"> significantly.</a>
Wood has been an outspoken advocate of Bitcoin,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45335755/cathie-wood-stands-firm-on-bold-700000-bitcoin-prediction-for-investors-says-bull-case-in-the-1-5-million-range" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forecasting that it will reach $700,000</a>&nbsp;in the coming years, with the bull case in the&nbsp;$1.5 million range.
Her asset management firm maintains a sizeable portfolio of cryptocurrency stocks and makes significant trades from time to time, depending on the market movements. Recently, ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKF#BATS">ARKF</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/06/46156309/cathie-woods-ark-invest-continues-to-offload-coinbase-bets-big-on-sofi-technologies">offloaded nearly $40 million</a> worth of Coinbase shares. 
Price Action:&nbsp; At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $108,523.02, up 1.08% in the last 24 hours, according to&nbsp;<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>.
Photo Courtesy: Stonel on Shutterstock.com
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46087464/bitcoins-400x-rise-aside-cathie-wood-says-the-next-exciting-leg-is-just-beginning">Bitcoin&#8217;s 400x Rise Aside, Cathie Wood Says The &#8216;Next Exciting Leg&#8217; Is Just Beginning</a></li>
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Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

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$BTC

ARKF

COIN

Bitcoin Investors Faced Mortgage Hurdles Due to Crypto-Tied Assets, Says Cathie Wood: 'Won't Be Surprised' If They Were To Shift Some Of Their BTC To Coinbase

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) has the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39449125/apple-glass-potential-competitor-to-ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses-may-take-longer-to-develop-report">potential to outshine</a> Meta Platforms, Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) Ray-Ban smart glasses, says analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
What Happened: Over the weekend, Kuo highlighted Apple&#8217;s lag in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/05/45580078/apple-could-reportedly-launch-ai-smart-glasses-next-year-and-here-is-what-all-they-are-expected-to-do">the smart glasses</a> market, especially compared to Meta&#8217;s Ray-Ban models.
&#8220;Apple could build the best Meta Ray-Ban–like smart glasses on the market,&#8221; Kuo said, &#8220;Yet its decision-making in this area has been surprisingly slow.&#8221;
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45830549/pierre-ferragu-takes-apple-to-task-for-dismissing-the-ai-revolution-has-its-head-in-the-sand" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pierre Ferragu Takes Apple To Task For Dismissing The AI Revolution: ‘Has Its Head In The Sand'</a>
Despite this, Kuo expressed confidence that Apple's renewed push for hardware innovation could lead to significant market shifts.
&#8220;Better late than never,&#8221; he said, adding, &#8220;Apple&#8217;s renewed push for hardware innovation is undoubtedly good news for the supply chain.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I believe—and I doubt anyone would disagree—that Apple could build the best Meta Ray-Ban–like smart glasses on the market. Yet its decision-making in this area has been surprisingly slow. Putting AI aside for a moment, this category could cannibalize at least some AirPods demand,… <a href="https://t.co/nuqahpVnVQ">https://t.co/nuqahpVnVQ</a>
&mdash; 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) <a href="https://twitter.com/mingchikuo/status/1939429560610959363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Kuo's observation came after he shared a research update and key findings, noting that Apple is working on at least seven head-mounted and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/05/45580078/apple-could-reportedly-launch-ai-smart-glasses-next-year-and-here-is-what-all-they-are-expected-to-do">smart glasses projects</a>, with some slated for release from 2027 onward.
This includes Vision Pro M5 Version, Vision Air, All-New Design Vision Pro 2nd Generation, XR Glasses and display accessory.
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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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I believe—and I doubt anyone would disagree—that Apple could build the best Meta Ray-Ban–like smart glasses on the market. Yet its decision-making in this area has been surprisingly slow. Putting AI aside for a moment, this category could cannibalize at least some AirPods demand,… <a href="https://t.co/nuqahpVnVQ">https://t.co/nuqahpVnVQ</a>
&mdash; 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) <a href="https://twitter.com/mingchikuo/status/1939429560610959363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Why It's Important: Earlier this month, Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya harshly criticized Apple's future innovation potential on the All-In podcast, arguing the company has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46068152/whats-next-for-apple-chamath-palihapitiya-fires-back-dont-think-they-have-any-chance-of-anything-dismisses-glasses-and-ai-hopes">no chance of delivering</a> major breakthroughs.
There's a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/05/45486193/why-is-apple-still-behind-on-ai-expert-dissects-reasons-behind-iphone-maker-lagging-likes-of-microsoft-and-amazon-despite-poaching-googles-ai-chief">growing skepticism about Apple's capacity</a> to stay ahead in emerging technologies like AI and spatial computing, particularly when compared to agile startups and major rivals such as Alphabet Inc.'s (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 Meta.
Previously, it was reported that Apple executives have discussed the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46041473/apple-eyes-perplexity-ai-acquisition-while-facing-shareholder-lawsuit-over-exaggerated-ai-progress-report">possibility of acquiring</a> Perplexity AI, but the startup said it is not aware of any current or planned acquisition talks.
Price Action: Data from <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> shows that Apple's stock has fallen by 17.54% year-to-date and has declined 7.23% over the past year.
Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings suggest that Apple's shares remain on a downward trajectory across short, medium and long-term timeframes. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">More detailed performance data is available here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/29231718/Screenshot-2025-06-30-at-8.29.11%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-966157" /></a></figure>
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Photo Courtesy: Muhammad Raid Ahyan 2105 on Shutterstock.com
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45489038/us-stocks-likely-to-open-lower-after-moodys-downgrade-bear-market-isnt-fully-recovered-yet-but-it-is-close-says-expert" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US Stocks Likely To Open Lower After Moody's Downgrade: ‘Bear Market Isn't Fully Recovered Yet, But It Is Close,' Says Expert</a></li>
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Tech

AAPL

GOOG

GOOGL

Apple Has the Potential To Crush Meta's Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, Says Ming-Chi Kuo, But The Tech Giant Has Been 'Surprisingly Slow'

Standard Chartered chief executive&nbsp;Bill Winters&nbsp;says his Ivy League MBA was "a waste of time," and the real edge in today's AI-driven economy comes from the curiosity and empathy he developed as a humanities major.
What Happened: Winters, 63, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-06-24/stanchart-ceo-bill-winters-on-imposter-syndrome-video">told</a> Bloomberg last week that his 1988 Wharton degree added little value, even though the New Jersey native parlayed it into a 26-year run at JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:&nbsp;JPM) and a decade at the helm of the £26 billion emerging-markets lender.
"I studied international relations and history. I got an MBA later, but that was a waste of time," he said. The veteran banker credits those undergraduate classes at Colgate University, not finance lectures in Philadelphia, for teaching him &#8220;how to think.&#8221;
&#8220;For the 40 years since I left university, those skills have been degraded, degraded, degraded. They're coming back now," he added, arguing that algorithmic tools handle most technical work while leaders must excel at "curiosity and empathy."
See also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/25/06/46158210/hes-67-still-working-and-just-sold-his-house-his-bank-advisor-says-claiming-social-security-now-or-lose-money-later-is-that-true">He&#8217;s 67, Still Working, And Just Sold His House — His Bank Advisor Says Claiming Social Security Now Or Lose Money Later. Is That True?</a>
Why It Matters: Winters' critique lands as MBA costs soar. Tuition at Wharton has climbed to roughly $93,000 a year, almost six times the 1988 sticker price, while median starting pay has only tripled. He urged teenagers to skip business school unless it delivers clear, job-ready skills.
Winters insists that humanities graduates are better positioned for boardrooms reshaped by generative AI. "The technical skills are being provided by the machine, or by very competent people in other parts of the world who have nailed the technical skills at a relatively low cost," he said.
Shark Tank star and investor Kevin O&#8217;Leary echoes Winters&#8217; thoughts. O&#8217;Leary once remarked that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46018778/kevin-oleary-once-said-that-business-school-graduates-know-nothing-until-the-real-world-smacks-them-something-he-learned-the-hard-way-now-he-can-spot-a-winner-in-15-minutes-flat">real-world experience</a>, rather than business school, shaped his instincts. Ken Griffin, founder of hedge‑fund giant Citadel LLC, also lectured Stanford students that he strongly believes that the key goal for everyone enrolled in an Ivy League MBA program should be to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/05/45183198/citadel-kingpin-ken-griffin-warns-being-smartest-in-the-room-means-youve-screwed-up-your-mba">surround themselves with sharper minds</a>.
Photo Courtesy: fongbeerredhot on Shutterstock.com
Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/crowdsourcing/25/06/46158113/so-wild-to-see-her-reaction-alexis-ohanian-co-founder-of-reddit-uses-ai-to-turn-childhood-doodles-into-space-adventures-with-his-kid">&#8216;So Wild To See Her Reaction&#8217; — Alexis Ohanian, Co-Founder Of Reddit, Uses AI To Turn Childhood Doodles Into Space Adventures With His Kid</a>

Education

General

Ivy League MBA Was A 'Waste Of Time,' Says Veteran Banker, Lists Two Key Traits Far More Relevant In The AI Age

Leading cryptocurrencies rose Sunday as President Donald Trump called Bitcoin&#8217;s growing adoption a &#8220;great thing&#8221; for the United States.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Cryptocurrency</th>
<th>Gains +/-</th>
<th>Price (Recorded at 9:30 p.m. ET)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>+1.18%</td>
<td>$108,713.46</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>+3.07%</td>
<td>$2,511.22</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>+3.03%</td>
<td>$0.1688</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: Bitcoin hit the upper reaches of $108,000, as trading volume for the apex cryptocurrency jumped over 25% in the last 24 hours. Its market dominance rose further to 64.6%.
The asset received a new round of support from Trump, who said Bitcoin was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46148904/donald-trump-says-bitcoin-takes-a-lot-of-pressure-off-the-dollar">helping to ease pressure on the dollar</a> and that its growing adoption was &#8220;a great thing" for the U.S.
Ethereum also erupted late evening, reaching intraday highs of $2,523.32.&nbsp;
The rally resulted in nearly $200 million in cryptocurrency liquidations in the last 24 hours, with $164 million in shorts wiped out.
Bitcoin&#8217;s open interest rose 3.82% in the last 24 hours. Interestingly, the majority of top trader accounts on Binance with open BTC positions were short as of this writing.
The "Greed" sentiment persisted in the market, according to the Crypto Fear &amp; Greed Index.
Top Gainers (24 Hours)
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Cryptocurrency</th>
<th>Gains +/-</th>
<th>Price (Recorded at 9:30 p.m. ET)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Arbitrum (ARB)</td>
<td>+17.14%</td>
<td>$80.3639</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pyth Network (PYTH)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>+11.69%</td>
<td>$0.1105</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Immutable (IMX)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>+8.19%</td>
<td>$0.4675 </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.3 trillion, following an increase of 0.15% in the last 24 hours.
Stock futures rallied overnight Sunday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures climbed 215 points, or 0.49%, as of 9:41 p.m. EDT.&nbsp; Futures tied to the S&amp;P 500 rose 0.25%, while Nasdaq 100 Futures gained 0.35%.
The U.S. stock market pushed into record territory, with the S&amp;P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite notching new highs on Friday.
Meanwhile, Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46156587/trump-says-july-tariff-deadline-not-set-in-stone-we-can-do-whatever-we-want">signaled flexibility on the July deadline</a> for reinstating U.S. tariffs on various countries. "We can do whatever we want," he told reporters at the White House.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader Rekt Capital noticed Bitcoin nearing a major weekly resistance level that, if broken, could propel it to new highs.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BTC</a> Bitcoin is once again approaching the final major Weekly resistance that, once broken, would unlock new All Time Highs (red)<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Crypto?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Crypto</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://t.co/73kL0TtfWK">pic.twitter.com/73kL0TtfWK</a>
&mdash; Rekt Capital (@rektcapital) <a href="https://twitter.com/rektcapital/status/1939266221884494159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Another cryptocurrency chartist, Autumn Riley, stated that despite sideways movement, Bitcoin showed a bullish structure with higher lows, indicating that sell pressure was waning.
"Most people are seeing BTC just going sideways, but there's actually a lot happening inside this range," the analyst added.
<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">Most people are seeing <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> just going sideways, but there's actually a lot happening inside this range. If you look at the 15-minute chart, the structure is bullish. Every time price sweeps a high, it reacts down but keeps making higher lows. The pressure from sellers is fading… <a href="https://t.co/rpVyGbWzIC">pic.twitter.com/rpVyGbWzIC</a>
&mdash; Autumn Riley (@Autumn_Rileyy) <a href="https://twitter.com/Autumn_Rileyy/status/1939255855934824634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Photo Courtesy: sundaemorning on Shutterstock.com
Read Next:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46117165/bitcoin-consolidating-at-107000-heres-what-will-drive-the-market-in-q3">Bitcoin Consolidating At $107,000: Here&#8217;s What Will Drive The Market In Q3</a></li>
</ul>

Movers

Trading Ideas

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Climb As Trump Labels Growing BTC Adoption As 'Great Thing': Sell Pressure On Largest Crypto May Be Fading Away, Says Analyst

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is once again taking a shot at President Donald Trump&#8217;s budget reconciliation bill, dubbed the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill.&#8221;
What Happened: On Sunday, Sanders posted on X with highlights from his recent remarks on the Senate floor regarding the proposed legislation. 
Sanders calls the bill a &#8220;gift to the billionaire class,&#8221; which causes massive pain for millions of working-class American families, referring to it as &#8220;the most dangerous piece of legislation in the modern history of our country.&#8221;
The post is accompanied by a video of Sanders&#8217; speech on the Senate floor, where he says that the bill provides $975 billion in tax breaks to the top 1%, along with a $211 billion estate tax exemption for the top 0.2%. &#8220;Congratulations, you hit the jackpot.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46087132/elizabeth-warren-says-the-tax-break-for-mark-zuckerbergs-meta-is-so-bountiful-under-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-that-35-copay-from-each-american-wont-still">Elizabeth Warren Says The Tax Break For Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s Meta Is So Bountiful Under Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Big Beautiful Bill&#8217; That $35 Copay From Each American Won&#8217;t Still Match It</a>
He said that large corporations would receive $918 billion in tax cuts, even as many move jobs overseas or invest in job-replacing AI technologies.
Sanders further warned that the legislation would make deep cuts to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, removing health coverage for over 16 million Americans. &#8220;This bill throws over 16 million people off the health insurance they have,&#8221; he said, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45785851/elizabeth-warren-says-trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-will-rip-away-health-coverage-from-16-million-a">citing projections from</a> the Congressional Budget Office.
The independent Senator from Vermont also criticized the bill for forcing Medicaid recipients with incomes as low as $16,000 per year to begin paying co-pays. &#8220;For the first time, [it] forces millions of Medicaid recipients who make as little as $16,000 a year to pay a $35 co-payment every time they visit a doctor&#8217;s office,&#8221; Sanders said.
Pointing to a joint study by the Yale School of Public Health and the University of Pennsylvania, Sanders claimed the consequences could be deadly. &#8220;They estimate that if this bill goes through, over 50,000 Americans will die unnecessarily every year,&#8221; he said. 
&#8220;In other words, this bill is literally a death sentence for low-income and working-class people,&#8221; he says.
<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" is a gift to the billionaire class while causing massive pain for working families. It is the most dangerous piece of legislation in the modern history of our country. I'm LIVE on the floor to oppose this disastrous bill. <a href="https://t.co/flAfpXmEzM">https://t.co/flAfpXmEzM</a>
&mdash; Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSanders/status/1939457235068871013?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: Sanders is joined by several of his Democratic peers, alongside experts, analysts and economists in pushing back against this bill.
Last week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer referred to the bill as &#8220;flawed&#8221; and &#8220;irredeemable,&#8221; citing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/46132709/chuck-schumer-slams-gops-big-beautiful-bill-as-flawed-it-guts-healthcare-kills-jobs-to-fund-tax-breaks-for-billionaires">the same reasons</a> as Sanders, that it kicks millions off healthcare, kills good-paying energy jobs, and takes food away from children, all the while bankrolling &#8220;tax breaks for billionaires.&#8221;
Economist Justin Wolfers calls it &#8220;pure reverse Robin Hood,&#8221; calling out the fact that it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45535537/trumps-budget-agenda-is-reverse-robin-hood-economics-says-justin-wolferstakes-from-working-families-gives-to-the-rich">takes from the poor</a> to give to the rich. 
Wolfers says that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/45919422/trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-is-the-largest-redistribution-from-poor-to-rich-in-american-history-says-economist-justin-wolfers-amid-tax-cuts-spending-s">the bill represents</a> one of the &#8220;largest redistributions from poor to rich in American history.&#8221;
Even GOP senators, Ron Johnson&nbsp;(R-Wis.) and&nbsp;Rand Paul&nbsp;(R-Ky.) have warned <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45604917/gop-senators-threaten-to-block-trumps-tax-and-spending-bill-over-deficit-medicaid-cuts-and-debt-ceiling-hike">against the bill</a>, saying that it could fuel deficits and inflation. 
Photo Courtesy: Jana Shea on Shutterstock.com
Read More: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46159430/trumps-major-bill-advances-in-senate-amid-late-night-vote-salt-provision-compromise-stirs-controversy">Trump&#8217;s Major Bill Advances In Senate Amid Late-Night Vote, SALT Provision Compromise Stirs Controversy</a></li>
</ul>

Government

Macro Economic Events

Economics

Bernie Sanders Slams Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' As A Gift For Billionaires: 'The Most Dangerous Piece of Legislation In Modern History'

Elon Musk's Neuralink has been receiving tons of feedback from the deaf community after the tech entrepreneur proposed plans to use <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45160705/elon-musk-says-neuralink-will-ultimately-be-available-to-all-as-fda-grants-breakthrough-status-for-speech-restoring-brain-tech">brain implant technology</a> to restore hearing.
What Happened: Over the weekend, Musk said that Neuralink could eventually restore hearing for people who have experienced total hearing loss since birth, thanks to the device&#8217;s ability to activate brain neurons that process sound.
&#8220;There is a clear path to restoring hearing with a Neuralink, even for someone who has had total loss of hearing since birth, as our device directly activates the neurons in the brain that process sound,&#8221; posted on X, formerly Twitter.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45919464/boeing-faces-fresh-turmoil-as-india-mulls-787-8-grounding-after-fatal-crash-ceo-kelly-cancels-paris-trip-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boeing Faces Fresh Turmoil As India Mulls 787-8 Grounding, Safety Review After Fatal Crash, CEO Kelly Ortberg Cancels Paris Trip: Report</a>
<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">There is a clear path to restoring hearing with a <a href="https://twitter.com/neuralink?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Neuralink</a>, even for someone who has had total loss of hearing since birth, as our device directly activates the neurons in the brain that process sound <a href="https://t.co/h5CeELct5m">https://t.co/h5CeELct5m</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1939064963257245920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
However, the suggestion sparked an immediate response from the deaf community.
A user, who goes by the handle name @DeafLibertarian, urged Musk to engage with deaf adults before proceeding. "We deserve a say," the user wrote.
<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">Please meet with Deaf adults before moving forward. We deserve a say.
&mdash; Among the Wildflowers (@deaflibertarian) <a href="https://twitter.com/deaflibertarian/status/1939070093021077953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Some other users also supported the call for inclusion, with some voicing concerns about the implications of such technology on deaf culture and identity.
<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">It seems that a lot of the comments here are from people that do not fully understand the deaf/hard of hearing community. Please correct me if I misunderstand what my daughter (who has profound hearing loss) has explained to me. Us hearing people THINK that we are being…
&mdash; &#x1f1fa;&#x1f1f8;Fred&#x1f1fa;&#x1f1f8;&#x1f1ee;&#x1f1f1;&#x1f1e9;&#x1f1ea; (@FDyroff) <a href="https://twitter.com/FDyroff/status/1939088269586936166?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
However, there was also a section of people who said that deaf people have the choice to either get these implants or not, but they cannot decide what the research should be about.
<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">The treatment is something others may want and nobody HAS to get. It's not an attack on her, it's innovation that individuals have a right to try should they choose to.
&mdash; OlgaSayz (@OlgaSayz) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlgaSayz/status/1939297901252948448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It&#8217;s Important: Musk's latest comments came after Musk's he revealed during a Y Combinator fireside chat that within the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46020319/elon-musk-says-neuralinks-blindsight-implant-will-help-people-see-radar-infrared-like-a-superpower-ahead-of-human-trial-next-year">next six to twelve months</a>, Neaurlink plan to carry out their first vision implants — aiming to restore sight by interfacing directly with the visual cortex, even for people who are fully blind.
He also mentioned that one of their monkeys involved in testing has had the visual implant for three years.
Meanwhile, Neuralink has also implanted its brain-computer <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46012959/elon-musks-neuralink-implants-brain-chip-in-6th-patient-enables-paralyzed-man-to-move-cursor-play-game-with-his-mind">interface in a sixth person</a>, who was able to control a video game using only their thoughts just a week after the procedure.
Last month, Neuralink secured more than $650 million through its Series E funding round — attracting investors like Cathie Wood's ARK Invest — bringing its current valuation to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45634160/elon-musks-neuralink-hits-9-billion-valuation-with-new-funding">around $9 billion</a>.
Photo Courtesy: Kemarrravv13 on Shutterstock.com
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45396297/cathie-wood-dumps-palantir-as-stock-touches-peak-prices-bails-on-soaring-flying-taxi-maker-archer-aviation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cathie Wood Dumps Palantir As Stock Touches Peak Prices, Bails On Soaring Flying-Taxi Maker Archer Aviation</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Health Care

Elon Musk Says 'Clear Path' To Restoring Hearing With Neuralink, But The Deaf Community Want To Have Their 'Say'

Billionaire investor&nbsp;Bill Ackman&nbsp;called for a federal law requiring protesters to disclose their funding sources while commenting on the anti-immigration protests that rocked Los Angeles earlier this month.
What Happened:&nbsp;In an X post, the Pershing Square Capital Management CEO said that the difference between organic protests and those funded by special interests is significant.
&#8220;Protests can change the course&nbsp;of history, but there is&nbsp;a big difference between an&nbsp;organic protest of volunteers for&nbsp;a cause and protestors paid&nbsp;for by special interests seeking&nbsp;to achieve an objective,&#8221; he argued.
Ackman was responding&nbsp;to a post by Tyler&nbsp;Winklevoss, co-founder of cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, who alleged the protests were not organic but rather &#8220;NGO funded propaganda.&#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">It should be a requirement under Federal law that all protests disclose their source of funding. Protests can change the course of history, but there is a big difference between an organic protest of volunteers for a cause, and protestors paid for by special interests seeking… <a href="https://t.co/S80iiLFQqq">https://t.co/S80iiLFQqq</a>
&mdash; Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillAckman/status/1939298478330368137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
The discussion started after a video surfaced showing officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service announce an investigation into the funding of the riots.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/46159226/bill-gates-warns-us-its-not-too-late-to-change-course-as-trump-team-targets-hiv-funding-cuts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bill Gates Warns US &#8216;It&#8217;s Not Too Late To Change Course&#8217; As Trump Team Targets HIV Funding Cuts</a>
Why It Matters: Demonstrations against immigration raids escalated in Los Angeles, leading to large-scale protests. Some of them turned violent.
To&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45851810/trump-supports-arrest-of-california-governor-gavin-newsom-as-us-deploys-700-marines-to-los-angeles">quell the agitation</a>, Trump authorized the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines, a move deemed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45830221/gavin-newsom-calls-deployment-of-national-guard-in-los-angeles-unlawful-says-there-was-no-problem-until-trump-got-involved-serious-breach-of-state-sovereignty" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breach of state sovereignty</a> by California Governor&nbsp;Gavin Newsom. Newsom asked a federal court to block the Trump administration from using the U.S. military to assist with immigration raids in the city.
More than 30 cases of &#8220;police violence&#8221; against journalists while covering the protests were also reported, according to a Reuters report dated June 12.
Photo Courtesy: Christopher Penler on Shutterstock.com
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46148904/donald-trump-says-bitcoin-takes-a-lot-of-pressure-off-the-dollar">Donald Trump Says &#8216;Bitcoin Takes A Lot Of Pressure Off The Dollar&#8217;</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>

Bill Ackman Demands Funding Disclosure Law After Gemini's Tyler Winklevoss Brands LA Protests 'NGO Funded Propaganda'

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Citigroup analyst George Gianarikas downgraded the rating for Lyft, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LYFT#NASDAQ">LYFT</a>) from Buy to Hold and lowered the price target from $22 to $14. Lyft shares closed at $15.85 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AFRM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Canaccord Genuity analyst George Gianarikas downgraded Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) from Buy to Hold and cut the price target from $90 to $84. Uber shares closed at $93.12 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AFRM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Stephens &amp; Co. analyst Trey Grooms downgraded GMS Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GMS#NYSE">GMS</a>) from Overweight to Equal-Weight and maintained the price target of $95. GMS shares closed at $98.54 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AFRM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Baird analyst David George downgraded Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) from Outperform to Neutral and maintained the price target of $52. Bank of America shares closed at $47.46 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AFRM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying UBER stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UBER/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="552" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/27101911/image-426-1024x552.png" alt="" class="wp-image-965002" style="width:612px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/27101911/image-426-1024x552.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/27101911/image-426-300x162.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/27101911/image-426-768x414.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/27101911/image-426.png 1153w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
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Photo via Shutterstock

Downgrades

Analyst Ratings

LYFT

UBER

This Uber Analyst Is No Longer Bullish; Here Are Top 4 Downgrades For Friday

Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) is celebrating the House-passed bill that would shut down the Internal Revenue Service Direct File <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/10/41321973/more-than-30-million-americans-can-file-taxes-for-free-in-2025-find-out-if-youre-one-of-them-and">program</a>, a free federal tool that allows Americans to file taxes online without paying private companies.
&#8220;Nobody asked for the IRS to be Americans' tax preparer, filer, and auditor,&#8221; Smith <a href="https://x.com/RepJasonSmith/status/1937596031174103338">posted on X</a> on June 24. &#8220;The House-passed One, Big, Beautiful Bill puts an end to the IRS Direct File Program.&#8221;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Program Had Strong Support From Voters And Users</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Nobody asked for the IRS to be Americans's tax preparer, filer, and auditor. The House-passed One, Big, Beautiful Bill puts an end to the IRS Direct File Program.
&mdash; Rep. Jason Smith (@RepJasonSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJasonSmith/status/1937596031174103338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
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Despite Smith&#8217;s remarks, the Direct File program has received <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44656868/lets-prove-doge-wrong-mark-cuban-urges-followers-to-use-irs-direct-file-for-taxes-says-doge-wants-it-gone-due-to-low-usage">broad support</a> from taxpayers and voters across the political spectrum. According to a Data for Progress <a href="https://www.filesforprogress.org/datasets/2025/4/dfp_groundwork_direct_file_tabs.pdf">poll</a> conducted in April, 82% of likely voters said they support expanding Direct File to all Americans. That includes 80% of Republicans, 85% of Independents, and 81% of Democrats.
The IRS launched Direct File using Inflation Reduction Act funds. It started as a small pilot in 12 states during the 2024 tax season and expanded to 25 states in 2025, serving 32 million eligible users. The tool was described as secure, simple, and always free.
Kitty Richards, senior fellow at the Groundwork Collaborative, a progressive economic policy group, <a href="https://groundworkcollaborative.org/news/direct-file-is-government-efficiency-at-work-says-groundworks-richards/">said</a> Direct File was &#8220;a crystal clear example of government efficiency at work. Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay exorbitant fees to predatory for-profit companies just to file their taxes.&#8221;
According to Groundwork, IRS data and user surveys also backed the program's popularity. In 2024, 90% of surveyed users rated their experience as excellent or above average, and most reported filing in under an hour. By their estimates, Direct File saved taxpayers $5.6 million in fees during its first full rollout, and every dollar invested returned $160 in savings.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Critics Say Ending Program Benefits Big Companies</h2>
When news broke out in April that the Trump administration plans to discontinue Direct File for the 2026 tax season, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) <a href="https://www.finance.senate.gov/ranking-members-news/wyden-blasts-trump-killing-free-direct-tax-filing-service">called</a> Direct File a &#8220;massive success&#8221; that removed unnecessary middlemen. He accused President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of &#8220;robbing regular American families to pay back lobbyists that spend millions to make tax filing more expensive and more difficult.&#8221;&nbsp;
Staff working on the program were reportedly told weeks earlier that they would no longer be needed.
The Department of Government Efficiency, once led by Tesla CEO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) Elon Musk, reportedly played a role in weakening the IRS program. Musk <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1886498750052327520?lang=en">posted</a> in February that the Direct File development team had been &#8220;deleted.&#8221;
Meanwhile, the program critics like David Williams of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance argued that the IRS overstepped by building Direct File without explicit approval. &#8220;The IRS created Direct File without congressional approval,&#8221; Williams <a href="https://x.com/tpapres/status/1912571116037497090">wrote</a> in April. &#8220;In fact, the $15M from the Inflation Reduction Act was supposed to be for a study. Instead, the IRS built the software.&#8221;
Still, many policy advocates and voters say the program filled a real need and made tax season less stressful.
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Congressman Says 'Nobody Asked For The IRS To Be Americans' Tax Preparer,' Applauds Efforts To Shut Down The IRS Direct File Program

Iran has reaffirmed its commitment to continue its nuclear enrichment program, despite recent U.S. military actions targeting its nuclear facilities.
What Happened: Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, announced that Iran will persist with its nuclear enrichment activities, asserting it as an &#8220;inalienable right.&#8221; This statement was made during an <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amir-saeid-iravani-iran-un-ambassador-face-the-nation-transcript-06-29-2025/">interview</a> on CBS News&#8217;s &#8220;Face the Nation&#8221; on Sunday.
Iravani cited the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which allows non-nuclear-weapon states to develop peaceful nuclear technology, including uranium enrichment, within certain limits. When asked by moderator Margaret Brennan if Iran plans to restart its enrichment program, Iravani replied, &#8220;I think that enrichment will not — never stop.&#8221;
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Why It Matters: The U.S. military&#8217;s recent strikes on Iran&#8217;s nuclear facilities have sparked a debate over their long-term impact. A preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment suggested that the strikes only set back Iran&#8217;s nuclear program by a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/06/46086403/us-attack-on-iranian-nuclear-sites-reportedly-set-tehran-back-only-a-few-months-white-house-calls-assessment-flat-out-wrong">few months</a>. 
However, Mike Gallagher, Head of Defense at Palantir Technologies Inc., stated that the program was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/06/46090389/palantirs-defense-chief-says-iran-nuclear-program-set-back-significantly-by-us-strikes-but-intel-split-on-how-long">&#8220;set back significantly,&#8221; </a>though intelligence assessments remain conflicted over the operation&#8217;s long-term impact.
In response to the strikes, Iran&#8217;s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the country&#8217;s nuclear facilities <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46094069/iran-breaks-silence-says-nuclear-facilities-badly-damaged-by-us-strikes">suffered significant damage</a>.
Meanwhile, President Trump announced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46107752/trump-announces-iran-nuclear-talks-following-us-strikes-that-severely-damaged-iranian-nuclear-program">upcoming nuclear talks</a> with Iran, following what he described as strikes that &#8220;severely damaged&#8221; Tehran&#8217;s nuclear capabilities.
Photo Courtesy: Dancing_Man on Shutterstock.com
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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>

Politics

Iran's Top Diplomat To UN Says Uranium Enrichment To Continue: An 'Inalienable Right'

Real estate investor Grant Cardone has never been afraid of <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@grantcardone/video/7519579404255661325?lang=en">prioritizing a single asset class</a>. He's always been skeptical of stocks and recently warmed up to Bitcoin, but real estate has remained his primary asset outside of growing businesses.
He recently threw cold water on a popular piece of investing advice that has served people well over the years.
"People should not diversify their investments," he stated while criticizing ETFs and mutual funds.&nbsp;
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Cardone's thoughts on portfolio diversification contract the mainstream advice of diversifying your portfolio and not putting all of your eggs in one basket. However, there is merit behind Cardone's suggestion that can be valuable for investors.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Diversify In What You Know</h2>
Cardone does not diversify his portfolio across a wide range of sectors. For instance, he doesn't pour his money into oil stocks, bank stocks, consumer staples stocks, or any other stocks. He has made almost all of his money with real estate, but he has a well-diversified portfolio if you narrow it down to real estate.
He isn't betting all of his wealth on a single apartment complex. Instead, he has thousands of apartment units spread across several states that make up a multi-billion dollar portfolio.
You don't have to buy real estate to apply this knowledge. For instance, the S&amp;P 500 gives you broad, diversified exposure to 500 of the largest and most profitable publicly traded corporations. However, if you know a lot about artificial intelligence and believe it can outperform the broad market, it may be more beneficial to buy an ETF that only contains AI stocks.
Thematic ETFs can push you away from broad market ETFs. It's possible to limit your stock investments to two sectors that you know very well and outperform the stock market.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Look Deeper Into ETFs</h2>
If you ask Cardone, he will tell you to buy real estate for the significant tax advantages. However, if you are a stock investor and want to apply the same concept of not diversifying, you can look deeper into ETFs and see their holdings.
Every ETF displays its holdings and how the funds are allocated. You can see which stocks make up the lion's share of an ETF's portfolio and which picks aren't doing much to move the fund.&nbsp;
An investor can review this information to gauge which stocks outperform the ETF, and every ETF is guaranteed to contain stocks that outperform its benchmark returns. For instance, if you look at an ETF that holds AI stocks, you can dig deeper and discern which AI stocks are delivering most of the returns.
Many broad market benchmarks like the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq Composite lean heavily on the Magnificent Seven stocks. There's also a recurring trend of tech ETFs outperforming the S&amp;P 500. For instance, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) has rallied by roughly 170% over the past five years, while the S&amp;P 500 has barely doubled during the same stretch. The gap between their gains only expands as you look further in the past.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Continue To Research Investment Opportunities</h2>
Occasionally researching new investment opportunities can help you discover promising stock picks before others notice. You can also use this approach with Cardone's preferred asset, real estate, and look at deals in your area.&nbsp;
Some real estate investors may have to look for deals outside of their zip code to get the highest returns. Cardone hasn't isolated himself to a single city or state and opts to buy multifamily properties in different states. It's good to avoid rushing into an asset, especially one that requires as much time and capital as real estate.
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iShares PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index Fund

SOXX

'People Should Not Diversify Their Investments' -- Cardone On The ETFs and Mutual Funds

Fried chicken is having its moment in the sun, and Bojangles is looking to capitalize on it. Only a few weeks after Dave&#8217;s Hot Chicken was sold to Roark Capital, which also owns Subway, for nearly $1 billion, Bojangles wants to up the ante. According to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/bojangles-is-exploring-a-sale-while-the-fried-chicken-market-is-hot-5cc6fb9e?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=ASWzDAisj8A__yJMAVvT5KRji6g9TQETLri6ipk_sHvL9RExkgRgb0R4BJzs&amp;gaa_ts=684b359f&amp;gaa_sig=7rRGmiky5CnmWkK2Hvxl0R4UbWRbJ9Tgrb9UfOE_TTJeTPgVI0asE_hm96FWpY2fYJgbaVSDEjEi0s8XCgSQVg%3D%3D">The Wall Street Journal</a>, Bojangles' owners are considering a sale. If they can get their estimated $1.5 billion asking price, they will have tripled what they paid to buy the chain in 2019.
The first Bojangles opened in Charlotte, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45786038/amazon-expands-cloud-ai-footprint-with-10-billion-data-center-investment-in-north-carolina">North Carolina</a> in 1978. Original owners Jack Fulk and Richard Thomas had a simple mission: to bring spicy, Cajun-style fried chicken and homemade biscuits to the masses. Although spicy fried chicken and biscuits were staples in many southern households at the time, Kentucky Fried Chicken was one of only a few successful chicken franchises.
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The original Bojangles operated on a shoestring budget out of a walk-up kiosk on West Boulevard in Charlotte. It wasn't long before Bojangles' reputation for having top-tier fried chicken translated into a loyal following. That pattern would repeat itself almost everywhere Bojangles opened and it wasn't long before the chain was inspiring almost cult-like devotion among its fans.&nbsp;
Bojangles&#8217; simple formula of providing crispy, spicy chicken and delicious biscuits proved very successful throughout the South. The chain underwent aggressive expansion in the 1990s and opened its 300th location in 2003. Bojangles gained national recognition in 2008 when the Wall Street Journal named it one of the world's best restaurant chains.
Bojangles opened its 600th location in 2014. Not long after, the owners took Bojangles <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bojangles-ipo-update-idUSKBN0MY0B620150407/">public</a>, and the chain raised an estimated $372 million at its<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/ipos/25/06/45941185/chimes-ipo-marks-another-successful-wall-street-debut"> IPO</a> in 2015. <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/01/28/1706253/0/en/Bojangles-Inc-Durational-Capital-Management-and-The-Jordan-Company-Complete-Acquisition.html">Bojangles</a> went private again in 2019 when The Jordan Company and Durational Capital Management bought the chain for $593 million. Since then, the popularity of fried chicken has skyrocketed.
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The emergence of foodie culture and innovations like Korean style chicken wings and Nashville hot chicken has helped fried chicken become one of the hottest sectors in the fast-food industry. Rising players like Raising Cane&#8217;s have also hit the market and made a strong impact, but Bojangles' place as a major player in the sector had already been secured.
Then, Roark Capital acquired Los Angeles-based Dave's Hot Chicken for almost $1 billion. The size of that deal was simply too big for The Jordan Company and Durational Capital to ignore. Bojangles is a much larger, more well-established chain than Dave's Hot Chicken. If Dave's was worth $900 million, it stands to reason that a chain with Bojangles' history and over 700 locations worldwide would be worth considerably more.
According to the Journal's sources, the asking price for Bojangles will be in the $1.5 billion range. If a deal closes in that range, it would translate to roughly $1 billion in profit for The Jordan Company and Durational Capital in just six years of ownership. Now, that's what you call hot chicken.
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Really Hot Chicken–This Fried Chicken Franchise Has Tripled In Value Since 2019 And Could Now Sell For $1.5 Billion

President Donald Trump has indicated the presence of a potential&nbsp;buyer for the US operations&nbsp;of TikTok, the widely used&nbsp;social media app owned by&nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;ByteDance Ltd. However, he has decided to keep the specifics under wraps for the next two weeks.
What Happened: During a conversation with Fox News&#8217;s Sunday Morning Futures, Trump said, &#8220;We have a buyer for TikTok,&nbsp;by the way. I think&nbsp;I&#8217;ll&nbsp;need probably China approval and&nbsp;I think President Xi will&nbsp;probably do it,&#8221; as per a&nbsp;Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-29/trump-says-there-s-a-buyer-for-tiktok-but-he-won-t-provide-name?srnd=homepage-asia&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">report</a>.
Trump, who had earlier extended the deadline for ByteDance to offload TikTok&#8217;s US operations, did not reveal the identity of the potential buyer. He merely referred to them as a &#8220;group of very wealthy people.&#8221; The interview was aired on Sunday, but was recorded on the preceding Friday.
In the previous year, a law was enacted by Congress mandating ByteDance to divest its US operations of TikTok due to concerns over national security. 
However, the progress on the deal has been significantly delayed due to the rising tensions surrounding US-China trade and tariff negotiations.
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Prior to the announcement of&nbsp;widespread tariffs in April, a&nbsp;deal seemed to be on the horizon, with&nbsp;a consortium of US investors&nbsp;including&nbsp;Oracle Corp.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>),&nbsp;Blackstone Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>),&nbsp;and venture capital firm Andreessen&nbsp;Horowitz expressing interest.
Why It Matters: The sale of TikTok&#8217;s US operations has been a topic of intense discussion and speculation due to the political and economic implications it carries. 
The potential buyer&#8217;s identity, once revealed, could significantly impact the dynamics of the tech industry, particularly in the realm of social media. 
Furthermore, the deal&#8217;s progress could serve as a barometer for the state of US-China relations, which have been fraught with tension due to ongoing trade and tariff disputes.
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Donald Trump Drops Hint About Potential TikTok Buyer, But Keeps Details Close To His Chest

Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is being urged to consider the development of a smart ring.
Bloomberg&#8217;s&nbsp;Mark Gurman,&nbsp;in his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-06-29/apple-should-launch-oura-ring-competitor-tethered-vision-pro-ios-26-beta-2-mchmc20h?srnd=undefined&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">latest</a>&nbsp;weekly &#8220;Power On" reported that the wearables and smartwatch segment of the tech behemoth has been witnessing a slowdown, with a revenue drop of 7% in the last fiscal year. 
The Apple Watch alone experienced a decline of over 14% in fiscal 2024. The company&#8217;s foray&nbsp;into a new wearables category, such as smart rings, could potentially reverse this downward trend.
While&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;is already developing smart glasses, a competitor to products from&nbsp;Meta Platforms Inc., the introduction of a smart ring could further diversify its product portfolio. 
Companies like Oura Health Oy, Samsung Electronics Co., Ultrahuman, and RingConn have already tapped into the consumer interest in fitness rings.
Despite the absence of a display and phone-like features, smart rings offer several benefits. They are more comfortable to wear, especially during sleep or workouts, and&nbsp;can last several days on&nbsp;a single charge. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45941076/apples-wwdc-2025-unveiling-ios-26-liquid-glass-interface-and-carplay-enhancements">Apple&#8217;s WWDC 2025: Unveiling Ios 26, Liquid Glass Interface And Carplay Enhancements</a>
Moreover, they can easily blend into any wardrobe and offer&nbsp;the same fitness and health&nbsp;tracking benefits as an Apple Watch.
Apple&#8217;s hint at a tethered Vision Pro and the release of&nbsp;new beta versions of iOS&nbsp;26 and other operating systems indicate the company&#8217;s intent to expand its wearables portfolio. 
The company&#8217;s potential move into rings and glasses could pose a significant challenge to current market players like Oura and Meta. 
If successful, this could potentially revitalize Apple&#8217;s wearables division and reverse the recent decline in revenue.
Read Next
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Image: Shutterstock

Apple Inc. Encouraged To Enter Smart Ring Market Amid Slowing Wearables Revenue

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has expressed her fears regarding what she believes to be the most significant threat to the freedom of American women.
What Happened:&nbsp;In a recent interview, Greene voiced her concern about the possibility of a &#8220;Muslim takeover&#8221; and the subsequent enforcement of Sharia law as the most substantial danger to American women&#8217;s liberty.
These comments by Greene were in response to a question&nbsp;about a post she made&nbsp;after Zohran Mamdani&#8216;s victory&nbsp;in the New York City&nbsp;Democratic mayoral primary. 
The post featured the Statue of Liberty dressed in a burqa, accompanied by&nbsp;the caption, "This hits hard."
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This hits hard. <a href="https://t.co/YUrNTZW5lq">pic.twitter.com/YUrNTZW5lq</a>
&mdash; Marjorie Taylor Greene &#x1f1fa;&#x1f1f8; (@mtgreenee) <a href="https://twitter.com/mtgreenee/status/1937851484567195954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Upon being asked to explain her post, During <a href="https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/5370783-rising-june-26-2025/">the</a> interview with The Hill, Greene stated that she was alluding to the threat of a &#8220;Muslim takeover, or possibly Sharia law,&#8221; which she perceives as a severe threat to all American women.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46043789/marjorie-taylor-greenes-response-to-trump-bombing-iran-let-us-pray-that-we-are-not-attacked-by-terrorists-on-our-homeland">Marjorie Taylor Greene&#8217;s Response To Trump Bombing Iran: &#8216;Let Us Pray That We Are Not Attacked By Terrorists On Our Homeland&#8217;</a>
&#8220;That is a great threat to every single American woman. And I think that's something all women should never want or allow to happen in America. And it's important to talk about those things," MTG said. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">He asked me what I meant when I posted the Statue of Liberty covered in a burka. Here is what I said. <a href="https://t.co/6tVkOohoU3">pic.twitter.com/6tVkOohoU3</a>
&mdash; Marjorie Taylor Greene &#x1f1fa;&#x1f1f8; (@mtgreenee) <a href="https://twitter.com/mtgreenee/status/1938764157295165765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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"I'm an American woman, and I have all the freedoms in the world to never have to bow to a religion that would force me to cover my body up and only see my eyes and my fingertips. And that is a major threat for all American women, and I think that's something that hits hard for all women," she added. 
Mamdani has not shown any interest in imposing Sharia law. Mamdani&#8217;s platform comprises policies such as free city bus transportation, publicly funded childcare, and a rent freeze.
Greene&#8217;s statements have surfaced amidst a surge of racially charged comments from some Republicans following Mamdani&#8217;s primary victory.
Why It Matters: Greene&#8217;s comments highlight the ongoing tensions and racial divisions within American politics. The fear of a &#8220;Muslim takeover&#8221; and the enforcement of Sharia law, as expressed by Greene, is not supported by the actions or policies of Muslim politicians in the U.S. such as Mamdani. 
Read Next
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Image: Shutterstock

Marjorie Taylor Greene: 'Muslim Takeover' Threatens American Women

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has cautioned against the unreserved trust that users have been placing in the company&#8217;s AI chatbot, ChatGPT, despite its increasing popularity.
What Happened: In a recent interview, Altman expressed astonishment at the extent of trust users have in ChatGPT, OpenAI&#8217;s AI chatbot. While acknowledging its widespread use, Altman stressed that the technology is far from infallible.
During the inaugural episode of OpenAI&#8217;s official <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB9mjd-65gw">podcast</a>, Altman voiced his concerns, cautioning that AI can produce misleading or false content and should not be trusted without question. 
He disclosed that despite its unreliability, millions continue to employ ChatGPT for a variety of purposes, including research and parenting advice.
"People have a very high degree of trust in ChatGPT, which is interesting, because AI hallucinates. It should be the tech that you don't trust that much," he said. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/06/45931965/rates-of-hallucination-in-ai-models-from-google-openai-on-the-rise">Rates Of Hallucination In AI Models From Google, OpenAI On The Rise</a>
Altman also touched upon the new features of ChatGPT, such as persistent memory and potential ad-based models, which have sparked new privacy concerns. 
In the face of legal challenges from media houses like The New York Times, Altman underscored the importance of transparency and preserving user trust.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/06/32675856/chatgpt-is-fabricating-information-why-thats-a-problem-for-every-industry-not-just-journalism">ChatGPT Is Fabricating Information: Why That&#8217;s a Problem For Every Industry, Not Just Journalism</a>
While Altman remains hopeful about the future of AI, he insisted on the necessity for honesty about the technology&#8217;s shortcomings. &#8220;It&#8217;s not super reliable,&#8221; he conceded. &#8220;We&nbsp;need to be honest about&nbsp;that.&#8221;
Why It Matters:
The warning from Altman comes at a time when AI technology, particularly chatbots, are gaining traction across various sectors. The popularity of ChatGPT underscores the growing reliance on AI for everyday tasks. 
However, Altman&#8217;s cautionary note serves as a reminder of the inherent limitations of AI technology and the potential risks of overreliance. 
His emphasis on transparency and user trust also highlights the ethical considerations that companies must address as they continue to innovate and push the boundaries of AI.
Read Next
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Sam Altman Warns Users Not To Blindly Trust ChatGPT Despite Its Rising Fame, Says 'AI Hallucinates, It Should Be The Tech That You Don't Trust That Much'

A Reddit thread on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/1lk9z3j/people_who_make_3050k_a_year_and_live_comfortably/">r/NoStupidQuestions</a> recently prompted a wide range of replies after someone asked how low-income earners feel about people who <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44614059/someone-asked-why-75k-is-seen-as-a-low-salary-on-reddit-the-responses-actually-make-more-sense-than-youd-expect">make $75,000</a> to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/06/46044025/earning-more-than-100000-feels-like-a-dream-to-many-but-when-you-look-closer-some-of-these-jobs-arent-as-difficult-as-youd-think">$115,000 or more</a> but &#8220;still say it's not enough.&#8221;&nbsp;
The original poster, who said they were once in the $30,000 to $50,000 income range and now earn above six figures, noted their lifestyle hasn't changed much despite the pay bump. They found it surprising that higher earners often still claim they're struggling financially.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Raise Doesn&#8217;t Always Mean Relief</h2>
The replies poured in, offering everything from understanding to exasperation. Many pointed out that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45685741/the-cost-of-living-crisis-hits-hard-in-these-8-cities-where-you-need-to-earn-at-least-100k-to-live-c">cost of living varies wildly by location</a>. &#8220;I'm making over in 100K in NYC but sometimes that feels like barely enough after retirement savings, emergency funds, student loans, rent etc.,&#8221; one person wrote. Others noted that if you <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/41975094/can-you-raise-a-family-here-heres-what-it-takes-to-live-comfortably-in-americas-costliest-states">live in a high-cost area</a> like San Francisco or Boston, even six figures can feel tight.
Another major theme was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/25/06/46024255/7-silent-wealth-drains-that-are-sabotaging-your-future">lifestyle creep</a>. &#8220;As you make more money, you start buying nicer stuff, eating at fancier places, or upgrading things you didn't need to upgrade,&#8221; one person said. All of this can quietly inflate your monthly budget.
Still, others highlighted hidden expenses that don't show up in salary figures. Some higher earners support family members or face high health care and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44999168/reason-people-dont-have-kids-earlier-is-theyre-expensive-says-kevin-oleary-however-time-is-the-one-thing-money-cant-buy">childcare costs</a>. &#8220;I make $90K and feel broke because half my paycheck goes to daycare,&#8221; one parent commented.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Some Weren't Buying It</h2>
Not all replies were empathetic. Some users were openly dismissive of people earning over $75,000 who said they couldn't make ends meet. One wrote, &#8220;Many people have literally no idea how to save money or no self control to do it. All my coworkers get DoorDash multiple times a week, go to the bar every weekend, have $800 car payments, and complain they are broke. If they got a 50k raise they&#8217;d still be broke.&#8221;
Others blamed poor decision-making. "Yeah, there are two types of broke people. Those who are broke because of bad luck and the system against them, and those who are broke because of how they act. The former can be helped by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/06/46041988/a-henry-redditor-asks-if-she-should-take-a-job-with-higher-pay-or-a-better-title-is-this-a-no-brainer">getting a better-paying job</a>, but the latter will always find a way to spend more than they make," one person said.
In the end, the thread revealed just how complex the conversation around money can be. Income alone doesn't tell the full story. Context, cost of living, spending habits, and financial literacy all play major roles. While some commenters showed compassion for high earners feeling the squeeze, others found it hard to sympathize when they're scraping by on far less.
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Image: Shutterstock

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