 (OTC:AFFS) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

South Korea&#8217;s Hyundai Motor Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HYMTF#OTC">HYMTF</a>) and Kia Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KIMTF#OTC">KIMTF</a>) collectively overtook Dearborn-based Ford Motor Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) in EV sales in the U.S. last year, according to recent data from automotive research company Kelley Blue Book.
What Happened: Hyundai sold 61,727 EVs in the U.S. in 2024 while Kia sold 56,099, taking their collective numbers to 117,826 units. 
American brand Ford, in the meantime, sold only 97,865 EVs, including its three EV models Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and E-Transit. 
Other Top Sellers: The top-selling EV brand in the U.S. in 2024 was Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) which sold about 634,000 EVs. Ford was the second-best-selling individual brand.
General Motors Co.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42801755/gm-overtakes-ford-ev-sales-in-q4-with-equinox-ev-sells-670-units-of-escalade-iq-priced-at-130000">brands</a> Brightdrop, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC collectively sold only 114,426 EVs, less than Hyundai and Kia together.
Best-selling models: The Ioniq 5 was Hyundai&#8217;s best-selling EV in the year while the EV9 was Kia&#8217;s.
Hyundai sold over 44,000 units of the Ioniq 5 last year, effectively placing it in the fourth position among best-selling EVs after the Tesla Model Y, Model 3, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E. 
Tesla&#8217;s latest addition to its lineup &#8211; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42967593/cybertruck-sales-rise-in-2024-weighed-down-on-tesla-model-s-deliveries-in-us-shows-data">the Cybertruck</a> &#8211; took the place of the fifth best-selling EV in the country, overtaking Ford&#8217;s F-150 Lightning electric pickup.
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/25/01/42967593/cybertruck-sales-rise-in-2024-weighed-down-on-tesla-model-s-deliveries-in-us-shows-data">Cybertruck Success Comes At A Cost: Tesla Sells Nearly 39,000 Units In 2024, But Luxury Model S And X Sales Take A Hit In US, Data Shows</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Hyundai

News

Tech

HYMTF

KIMTF

TSLA

South Korea's Hyundai, Kia Collectively Sold More EVs In US Than Ford In 2024

Prominent economist Mohamed El-Erian highlighted Bloomberg Opinion columnist John Authers&#8216; analysis showing how inflation could derail President-elect Donald Trump&#8216;s economic agenda before it begins, as markets await crucial December Consumer Price Index data.
What Happened: El-Erian, Chief Economic Advisor at Allianz, shared Authers&#8217; <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-01-14/inflation-could-derail-trump-2-0-before-it-starts">opinion</a> piece on Tuesday revealing stark political divisions in inflation expectations. According to Authers&#8217; analysis of University of Michigan data, Democrats anticipate 4% inflation while Republicans project just 0.1% &#8211; a historically low level not seen in nearly 70 years without major oil price declines.
The December CPI report, due Wednesday, is expected to show headline inflation rising to 2.9% year-over-year from November&#8217;s 2.7%, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42988894/all-eyes-on-december-inflation-betting-odds-signal-risk-of-fed-struggling-to-tame">according to consensus estimates</a>. Core inflation, excluding food and energy, is forecast to hold steady at 3.3%.
Market indicators suggest persistent inflation pressures. Authers notes the 10-year breakeven rate, measuring market-based inflation expectations, has climbed to the top of its two-year range. The University of Michigan&#8217;s consumer survey showed five-year inflation expectations at 3.3%, the highest since 2008.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Given all the focus on US inflation this week, and ahead of tomorrow&#39;s CPI data, here are a few charts from <a href="https://twitter.com/johnauthers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@johnauthers</a>&#39; Bloomberg Opinion note on &quot;Inflation could derail Trump 2.0 before it starts.&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/opinion?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@opinion</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/economy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#economy</a> <a href="https://t.co/2SbNkpkaag">pic.twitter.com/2SbNkpkaag</a>
&mdash; Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) <a href="https://twitter.com/elerianm/status/1879266780558106697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/01/42993441/south-korean-president-yoon-suk-yeol-arrested-kospi-edges-higher-despite-political-upheaval-won-stable">South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Arrested — KOSPI Edges Higher Despite Political Upheaval, Won Stable</a>
Why It Matters: &#8220;If inflation remains sticky, monetary policymakers will be responsible,&#8221; said Joe Lavorgna, former Trump administration economic advisor at SMBC Nikko, questioning the Federal Reserve&#8217;s recent rate cuts despite upward revisions to growth and inflation forecasts.
The inflation outlook complicates Trump&#8217;s proposed economic policies, including planned tariffs that could fuel price pressures. While <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/eurozone/25/01/42900748/us-dollar-drops-on-report-of-trump-tariff-plan-shift">reports show that the Trump team</a> is studying gradual tariff increases under emergency powers, any significant trade barriers could challenge efforts to contain inflation.
Fed funds futures currently show a 55% probability of rate cuts by June 2025, though persistent inflation could delay monetary easing into late 2025 or 2026, potentially constraining <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42988894/all-eyes-on-december-inflation-betting-odds-signal-risk-of-fed-struggling-to-tame">Trump&#8217;s growth initiatives</a>. 
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42993388/jim-cramer-eyes-quantum-computing-stocks-like-rigetti-after-gamestop-sell-off-warns-against-super-micro-computer-they-are-trying-so-hard-to-walk-it-up-now">Jim Cramer Eyes Quantum Computing Stocks Like Rigetti, Warns Against Super Micro Computer: &#8216;They Are Trying So Hard To Walk It Up Now&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Economics

Trump 2.0 Could Be Thwarted By Inflation, Mohamed El-Erian Notes Ahead Of CPI Data Release

The blockchain-based company Ripple Labs announced a donation of $100,000 worth of XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>) tokens on Tuesday to support the wildfire relief efforts in California.
What happened: The San Francisco-headquartered fintech firm said on X that the contributions will be facilitated through philanthropic organizations like The Giving Block, World Central Organization, and GiveDirectly.
Donations made through The Giving Block will be matched 1:1 by Jared Isaacman, founder and CEO of the non-profit's parent company, Shift4.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Ripple is donating $100,000 in XRP through <a href="https://twitter.com/TheGivingBlock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheGivingBlock</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/WCKitchen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WCKitchen</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/GiveDirectly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GiveDirectly</a> to aid in wildfire relief efforts in California. Thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/rookisaacman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rookisaacman</a>, our donation will be doubled. You can help families and first responders too. Your crypto, cash and stock…
&mdash; Ripple (@Ripple) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ripple/status/1879196891356807228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Matching donations doubles the amount provided by an individual or organization. In this case, the contributions will be matched 1:1 until the $1 million mark has been met. 
While donations will be accepted even after the $ 1 million mark, they won't be eligible for the match.
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/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42936962/shytoshi-kusama-outlines-treat-tokens-usefulness-ahead-of-launch-optimistic-whales-buy-up-shiba-inu">Shytoshi Kusama Outlines TREAT Token&#8217;s Usefulness Ahead Of Launch, Optimistic Whales Buy Up Shiba Inu</a>
Why It Matters: Ripple&#8217;s efforts come at a time when the raging wildfires have caused tremendous damage to life and property. The fires have resulted in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42992642/biden-administration-announces-one-time-770-payments-to-california-wildfire-victims">at least 24 deaths and damage to over 12,000 structures</a>, with the total damage and economic loss estimated to be between $250 billion and $275 billion.
President Joe Biden has announced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42992642/biden-administration-announces-one-time-770-payments-to-california-wildfire-victims">one-time payment</a> of $770 for victims of the ongoing California wildfires.
Meanwhile, the XRP token rallied to a 7-year high on Tuesday, just 17% shy of its all-time highs. The upsurge was supported by strong demand from whales, who own 37% more XRPs than they did two months ago, according to on-chain analytics firm Santiment.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f433;&#x1f4c8; XRP investors are pleased to see the #3 market cap asset reach $2.69 today for the first time since December 17, 2024. This is being supported by continued enormous accumulation from wallets holding 1M-10M XRP, who own over 37% more coins than they did 2 months ago… <a href="https://t.co/G3a3N5iSAS">pic.twitter.com/G3a3N5iSAS</a>
&mdash; Santiment (@santimentfeed) <a href="https://twitter.com/santimentfeed/status/1879259323853062640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Price Action: At the time of writing, XRP was exchanging hands at $2.82, up 10.86% 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>.
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42935597/mark-cuban-advocates-bitcoin-over-gold-during-economic-turmoil-i-think-it-has-more-value-than-gold">Mark Cuban Advocates Bitcoin Over Gold During Economic Turmoil: &#8216;I Think It Has More Value Than Gold&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

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

Cryptocurrency

Markets

$XRP

Ripple Labs Donates $100K In XRP For California Wildfires Relief, Says Contributions Will Be Doubled

On Tuesday, OpenAI announced the introduction of a beta feature named "Tasks" for ChatGPT.
What Happened: The move marks OpenAI&#8217;s entry into the virtual assistant market, positioning itself against established players like 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>) Google Assistant, Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) Siri and Amazon.com Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Alexa.
The "Tasks" feature allows ChatGPT users to schedule future tasks, such as setting reminders for events or arranging regular updates like daily weather forecasts.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42893958/after-apple-halts-hardware-subscription-plans-samsung-unveils-similar-strategy-for-ai-powered-galaxy-smartphones">After Apple Halts ‘Hardware' Subscription Plans, Samsung Unveils Similar Strategy For AI-Powered Galaxy Smartphones</a>
How To Use The &#8216;Tasks&#8217; Feature
Step I: Select &#8220;GPT-4o with scheduled tasks&#8221; from the model picker.
Step II: Once selected, provide ChatGPT with a message specifying the task and its timing.
Scheduled tasks can be managed directly within the chat or through the &#8220;Tasks&#8221; section in the profile menu. ChatGPT may also suggest tasks based on user interactions, giving users the option to accept or decline as needed.
While scheduling tasks is supported across all platforms using natural language prompts, managing tasks is currently limited to the task manager on the web version. Notifications for scheduled tasks will be delivered via web, desktop, and mobile once set up.
Availability: The Tasks beta is being rolled out globally over the next few days, exclusive to premium users—including Plus, Team, and Pro subscribers. The rollout begins with web access.
Subscribe to the <a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a> to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: The introduction of OpenAI&#8217;s &#8216;Tasks&#8217; feature comes at a time when major tech companies are intensifying their efforts in the AI-driven virtual assistant market.
For example, Apple also decided to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/11/42129847/apple-prepares-to-take-on-openais-chatgpt-google-gemini-live-with-llm-siri-in-2025-report">incorporate its &#8220;Apple Intelligence&#8221;</a> into Siri, leveraging ChatGPT&#8217;s capabilities.
Amazon also previously said that it is upgrading Alexa with generative AI capabilities to stay competitive. Last year, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy revealed plans for a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/11/42055771/amazons-ai-powered-alexa-upgrade-faces-latency-compatibility-concerns-report">new version of Alexa</a> that will autonomously perform tasks, expected to launch soon.
In 2023, Google Assistant, the personal assistant integrated into Android and iOS devices, was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35094259/google-unveils-assistant-with-bard-powered-by-generative-ai-for-android-ios">boosted with the capabilities</a> of Bard, now called Gemini.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42900737/stephen-king-slams-elon-musks-h-1b-visa-stance-musk-thinks-smart-immigrants-can-stay-the-rest-of-you-washing-dishes-get-lost">Stephen King Slams Elon Musk's H-1B Visa Stance: ‘Musk Thinks Smart Immigrants Can Stay – The Rest of You Washing Dishes … Get Lost'</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">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

AAPL

AMZN

GOOG

GOOGL

Siri, Alexa And Google Assistant May Become A Thing Of The Past Thanks To ChatGPT Tasks — Here's How To Use The New Feature

Bitwise&nbsp;Chief Investment Officer&nbsp;Matt Hougan argued on Tuesday that associating the Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) Treasury reserve strategy solely with MicroStrategy Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) would be inaccurate, as companies buying the apex cryptocurrency is now a &#8220;bona fide megatrend.&#8221;
What Happened: In a research note, Hougan stated that while the Michael Saylor-led firm walked away with most media attention, as many as 70 publicly traded companies and many private firms had Bitcoin on their balance sheets.
&#8220;I've come away thinking that this is a&nbsp;much&nbsp;bigger trend than most people realize. In fact, I think it's a bona fide megatrend,&#8221; Hougan added.
The analyst underlined that apart from cryptocurrency-focused firms like Coinbase and MARA Holdings, many non-cryptocurrency companies like Elon Musk&#8217;s Tesla have stacked Bitcoin on their books.
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<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Companies other than MicroStrategy</td>
<td>Latest Bitcoin Acquisition</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MARA Holdings</td>
<td>$1.53 billion on Dec. 19, 2024</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KULR Technology Group</td>
<td>$21 million&nbsp;on Jan. 6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Riot Platforms</td>
<td>$510 million on Dec. 13, 2024</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
According to <a href="https://bitcointreasuries.net/">BitcoinTreasuries.com</a>, MicroStrategy was the largest corporate holder with over $43 billion in Bitcoin, followed by MARA with $4.36 billion worth of the leading digital asset. Tesla held about $944 million in Bitcoin as of this writing.
Additionally, big private companies like SpaceX also boasted significant Bitcoin holdings, valued at over $800 million.
&#8220;That's significant. It means that, even today, MicroStrategy is less than 50% of the corporate BTC market. I suspect it'll be a small fraction of it eventually,&#8221; Hougan said.
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/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42936962/shytoshi-kusama-outlines-treat-tokens-usefulness-ahead-of-launch-optimistic-whales-buy-up-shiba-inu">Shytoshi Kusama Outlines TREAT Token&#8217;s Usefulness Ahead Of Launch, Optimistic Whales Buy Up Shiba Inu</a>
The reputational risks linked with Bitcoin have considerably lessened in recent months, particularly after Donald Trump&#8217;s victory, with top Washington officials <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42962279/trump-could-sign-crypto-related-executive-orders-on-day-1-report">showing increased acceptance of cryptocurrency</a>, Hougan stated.
Moreover, the Financial Accounting Standards&nbsp;Board introduced a new rule in December, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42502213/new-crypto-accounting-standards-from-todaywill-it-boost-bitcoins-corporate-adoption">changing how Bitcoin&nbsp;is accounted for in GAAP&nbsp;reporting</a>.
Hougan said that these factors could eventually cause the number of firms buying Bitcoin to &#8220;explode&#8221; in the coming years.
Why It Matters: MicroStrategy has been aggressively issuing convertible debt and other fixed-income securities to buy Bitcoin in recent months and appears prepared to employ all corporate maneuvers at its disposal to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42665877/microstrategy-to-hold-special-shareholder-vote-to-support-the-42-billion-bitcoin-acquisition-strategy">bolster its 21/21 plan</a>.
However, the strategy was drawn a fair bit of criticism. 
Arthur Hayes, co-founder of cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, expressed concerns over MicroStrategy's debt-powered Bitcoin buying strategy. In an interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42963353/michael-saylors-microstrategy-will-struggle-when-bitcoins-volatility-falls-says-arthur-hay">Benzinga</a>, Hayes predicted challenging times for the firm when the top cryptocurrency loses volatility.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $96,996.88, up 1.91% 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>.
Shares of MicroStrategy rose 4.19% to 342.17 during Tuesday's regular session and were up 0,56% in pre-market trading.
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42935597/mark-cuban-advocates-bitcoin-over-gold-during-economic-turmoil-i-think-it-has-more-value-than-gold">Mark Cuban Advocates Bitcoin Over Gold During Economic Turmoil: &#8216;I Think It Has More Value Than Gold&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

$BTC

MSTR

Michael Saylor's MicroStrategy Not Alone In Bitcoin Acquisition, Says Bitwise Chief Investment Officer: 'It's A Bona Fide Megatrend'

South Korean markets showed resilience Wednesday as President Yoon Suk Yeol was taken into custody, with the benchmark KOSPI rising 0.40% to 2,507.35 amid heightened political uncertainty.
Yoon, 64, was detained at 10:33 a.m. local time by a joint probe team investigating allegations related to his December martial law declaration, marking an unprecedented arrest of a sitting South Korean president. 
The arrest came after an initial failed attempt on Jan. 3 that resulted in a standoff between investigators and presidential security, <a href="https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10390439">reported</a> The Korean Herald.
Despite the political upheaval, major South Korean stocks held steady. SK Hynix Inc. led the gains, climbing 2.31% to 1,99,800 South Korean won ($136.90). Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSNLF#OTC">SSNLF</a>) rose 0.37% to 54,100 South Korean won ($37.06), while KB Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KB#NYSE">KB</a>) gained 0.90%, reaching 89,500 South Korean won ($61.31). Hyundai Motor (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HYMTF#OTC">HYMTF</a>) saw a slight decline of 0.23%, trading at 2,21,500 South Korean won ($151.76). 
The iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWY#NYSE">EWY</a>), a key indicator for U.S. investors, gained 0.94% on Tuesday.
The Korean won remained stable against the U.S. dollar, trading at 1,460.52 South Korean won, down marginally by 0.063%. 
The arrest warrant for President Yoon, which expires Jan. 21, includes charges of power abuse and insurrection. The investigation is led by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42993322/elon-musk-faces-sec-lawsuit-for-allegedly-hiding-twitter-stake-allowing-him-to-buy-shares-at-artificially-low-prices">Elon Musk Sued By SEC For Allegedly Hiding Twitter Stake That Allowed Him To Buy Stock At Artificially Low Prices</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Asia

Equities

Government

SSNLF

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Arrested — KOSPI Edges Higher Despite Political Upheaval, Won Stable

Jim Cramer is steering investors toward quantum computing stocks while expressing concerns about Super Micro Computer Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>) amid its auditor changes.
What Happened: The CNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Mad Money&#8221; host announced on X on Tuesday his strategy to reinvest gains from GameStop Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>) into quantum computing stocks, particularly as Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) saw extraordinary trading volume of 352 million shares against its 280 million outstanding shares. &#8220;They are trying so hard to walk it up now,&#8221; Cramer said. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Love it when RGTI, with 280 million shares trades 352 million shares&#8230; And they are trying so hard to walk it up now!!
&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1879304699603820876?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Taking Gamestop winnings and piling them into quantum. Why not!!!
&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1879286856736776618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Rigetti&#8217;s stock surged 47.93% to close at $8.95, rebounding from last week&#8217;s sector-wide selloff triggered by cautionary comments from tech leaders. The quantum computing sector, including IonQ Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IONQ#NYSE">IONQ</a>) and D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QBTS#NYSE">QBTS</a>), showed strong recovery despite recent skepticism from industry giants.
<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">Very typical quantum bounce giving you another exit point
&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1879282361436971205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
This recovery comes after Nvidia Corp. CEO Jensen Huang&#8216;s assessment that practical quantum computing applications might be 15-30 years away, with 20 years being the most likely timeline. Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42939766/quantum-computing-stocks-tumble-after-mark-zuckerberg-backs-nvidia-ceo-jensen-huangs-practical-c">echoed similar sentiments</a> about the technology&#8217;s current limitations.
Meanwhile, Cramer took a decisive stance against Super Micro Computer, stating <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/14/cramers-lightning-round-super-micro-computer-is-a-sell.html">on</a> CNBC, &#8220;Sell. It doesn&#8217;t matter, I don&#8217;t care&#8230;Accounting irregularities equal sell.&#8221; 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/25/01/42988617/jpmorgan-vs-wells-fargo-1-stock-technically-stronger-ahead-of-earnings">JPMorgan Vs. Wells Fargo: 1 Bank Stock Technically Stronger Ahead Of Earnings</a>
Why It Matters: Cramer&#8217;s comments follow SMCI&#8217;s recent auditor switch after Ernst &amp; Young&#8216;s unexpected departure in December. The company, known for its partnership with Nvidia, had been facing potential Nasdaq delisting risks due to delayed financial filings before securing a new auditor.
The market reflected these developments with GameStop shares falling 10.15% to $27.88, while Super Micro Computer declined 1.77% to close at $30.53.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/01/42986605/exclusive-energy-semiconductors-could-dominate-portfolios-in-2025-says-direxion-ceo">EXCLUSIVE: Energy, Semiconductors Could Dominate Portfolios In 2025, Says Direxion CEO</a></li>
</ul>
Image made via AI on MidJourney
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

IONQ

NVDA

QBTS

RGTI

SMCI

Jim Cramer Eyes Quantum Computing Stocks Like Rigetti, Warns Against Super Micro Computer: 'They Are Trying So Hard To Walk It Up Now'

On Tuesday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission initiated a lawsuit against Elon Musk, accusing him of failing to disclose his substantial stake in Twitter, now rebranded as X.
What Happened: The lawsuit outlines that before Musk completed his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/25/01/42794433/if-you-invested-1000-in-dogecoin-when-elon-musk-acquired-twitter-heres-how-much-youd-have-now">$44 million acquisition of Twitter</a> in October 2022, he had already started amassing a significant number of shares.
By March 2022, Musk had acquired over 5% of Twitter&#8217;s common stock, a threshold that required disclosure to the SEC within 10 days.
This alleged non-disclosure allowed Musk to acquire shares at &#8220;artificially low prices,&#8221; according to the SEC.
The complaint, lodged in a federal court in Washington, D.C., accuses Musk and his wealth manager of withholding this crucial information to avoid a potential surge in Twitter&#8217;s stock price.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931833/hewlett-packard-enterprise-strikes-1b-ai-server-deal-with-elon-musks-x-report">Elon Musk&#8217;s X, Hewlett Packard Strike $1 Billion AI Server Deal: Report</a>
This alleged omission enabled Musk to underpay Twitter investors by more than $150 million for his stock purchases during this period.
According to the lawsuit, Musk increased his stake to 7% by purchasing nearly 3.5 million shares on March 25, 2022.
He later joined Twitter&#8217;s board and formally disclosed his stake in early April 2022, by which time he owned over 9% of the company, causing Twitter&#8217;s stock price to rise by more than 27%.
Why It Matters: Last month, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42487993/elon-musk-faces-deadline-to-settle-with-sec-over-twitter-buyout-lawyer-alleges-years-of-harassment">Musk faced a deadline</a> to settle with the SEC over his Twitter buyout, with his lawyer alleging &#8220;years of harassment&#8221; by the agency. The inquiry focused on Musk&#8217;s sale of Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) shares and his growing investment in Twitter before announcing a leveraged buyout of the social media platform in 2022.
In October 2024, the SEC rejected Musk&#8217;s offer to pay $2,923 for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41559160/elon-musks-2-9k-offer-rejected-by-sec-agency-requests-judge-to-sanction-billionaire-over-missed-depo">missing a deposition</a> related to his 2022 Twitter purchase, seeking sanctions against him instead.
Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, co-leading the &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42035165/coinbase-ceo-brian-armstrong-says-doge-department-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-opprtunity-advocates-abolishing-individual-income-tax">Department of Government Efficiency</a>&#8221; in Donald Trump's administration, have previously criticized the SEC, labeling it as a &#8220;weaponized institution.&#8221;&nbsp;Their statement came following the Fifth Circuit Court decision that the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42469967/elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-slam-sec-just-another-weaponized-institution">SEC exceeded its authority</a> by approving Nasdaq&#8217;s diversity quota policy.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/42833727/dana-white-wanted-elon-musk-mark-zuckerberg-in-cage-fight-now-hes-on-metas-board-of-directors">Dana White Wanted Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg In Cage Fight, Now He&#8217;s On Meta&#8217;s Board Of Directors</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Legal

Elon Musk Sued By SEC For Allegedly Hiding Twitter Stake That Allowed Him To Buy Stock At Artificially Low Prices

Leading cryptocurrencies charged higher Tuesday amid softer-than-expected wholesale inflation data.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 7:30 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>+2.53%</td>
<td>$97,071.13</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>+2.83%</td>
<td>$3,219.18</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>+5.58%</td>
<td>$0.3576</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: Bitcoin soared to a weekly high of $97,350 early this morning, holding on to its gains for the remainder of the day.&nbsp;
The dramatic turnaround comes just a day after the leading cryptocurrency slipped below $90,000 for the first time since November 2024.
Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, reclaimed the $3,200 zone a day after dipping below $3,000.&nbsp;
About $185 million were liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, with bearish bets accounting for $122 million.&nbsp;
The percentage of Binance traders going long on Bitcoin dipped from 62% to 55% in the last 24 hours, suggesting that the market was bracing for another correction.
The "Greed" sentiment strengthened from 63 to 70 in the last 24 hours, according to the Crypto Fear &amp; Greed Index
Top Gainers (24-Hours)
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 7:30 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ai16z (AI16Z)</td>
<td>+21.07%</td>
<td>$1.36</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DeXe (DEXE)</td>
<td>+20.48%</td>
<td>$16.41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kaspa (KAS)</td>
<td>+16.19%</td>
<td>$0.1375</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.36 trillion, rising by 2.77% in the last 24 hours.
Major stock indexes moved north on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 221.16 points, or 0.52%, to 42,518.28. The S&amp;P 500 gained 0.11% to close at 5,842.91. The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite was the outlier, ending 0.23% lower at 19,044.39.
The rise followed<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42979267/markets-rebound-on-cool-inflation-data-experts-await-wednesdays-cpi"> cooler-than-expected</a> Producer Price Index data for December. Focus shifts to the all-important <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42988894/all-eyes-on-december-inflation-betting-odds-signal-risk-of-fed-struggling-to-tame">Consumer Price Index</a> report, due for release on Wednesday, as investors look for signals about whether the Federal Reserve may soften its interest rate policy.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst Rekt Capital noted the importance of Bitcoin's daily close above $91,000.
"The $91000-$101000 range and early-stage higher low on the RSI have been preserved," the analyst remarked. "The exaggerated bullish divergence remains intact."
<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> Daily Close above $91000 secured The $91000-$101000 range and early-stage Higher Low on the RSI have been preserved The exaggerated Bullish Divergence remains intact<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$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/UVZFMcEbfh">https://t.co/UVZFMcEbfh</a> <a href="https://t.co/GB3qPmyzrE">pic.twitter.com/GB3qPmyzrE</a>
&mdash; Rekt Capital (@rektcapital) <a href="https://twitter.com/rektcapital/status/1879181211412697600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Another popular cryptocurrency trader, Michaël van de Poppe, expressed optimism that sentiment toward altcoins would shift starting this week.
"The sentiment, in a negative manner, has gone through new roofs, people are expecting the bull market to be over. The ideal climate for altcoins to perform well," he 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">I&#39;m confident the sentiment and climate for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Altcoins?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Altcoins</a> is going to shift from these weeks onwards. The sentiment, in a negative manner, has gone through new roofs, people are expecting the bull market to be over. The ideal climate for altcoins to perform well.
&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1879222698900910080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Photo by CMP_NZ on Shutterstock
Read Next:    
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42935597/mark-cuban-advocates-bitcoin-over-gold-during-economic-turmoil-i-think-it-has-more-value-than-gold">Mark Cuban Advocates Bitcoin Over Gold During Economic Turmoil: &#8216;I Think It Has More Value Than Gold&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

Movers

Trading Ideas

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin, Ethereum, And Dogecoin Rebound Sharply On Lighter Inflation Data: Top Trader Says Despite Expectations For Bull Market To Be Over, It's An Ideal Climate For Altcoins.

The U.S. stock market experienced mixed results on Tuesday. The Dow Jones index climbed over 220 points to 42,518.28, while the Nasdaq saw a decline of 0.2% to 19,044.39. The S&amp;P 500 showed modest gains. rising 0.1% to 5,842.91.
These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day:
Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>).
Microsoft&#8217;s stock dipped by 0.36%, closing at $415.67. The stock reached an intraday high of $419.74 and a low of $410.72, with a 52-week range between $384.81 and $468.35. The tech giant <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42980720/microsoft-taps-meta-veteran-to-lead-new-coreai-division-plans-shift-from-openai-dependence">announced a new engineering organization</a>, CoreAI—Platform and Tools, aimed at enhancing its AI capabilities. This division will integrate various teams to develop the end-to-end Copilot and AI stack, including GitHub Copilot.
Applied Digital Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APLD#NASDAQ">APLD</a>).
Applied Digital&#8217;s shares surged 9.98%, closing at $8.54. The stock hit an intraday high of $9.72 and a low of $8.25, with a 52-week range from $2.36 to $11.25. The company reported impressive fiscal second-quarter results, with revenue of $63.9 million, surpassing analyst expectations. The growth was largely driven by its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/42990272/applied-digital-q2-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-cloud-services-growth-late-stage-discussions-with-multiple-hyperscalers-and-more">Cloud Services</a>&nbsp;sector, which saw a 523% increase year-over-year.
Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>)
Rigetti Computing&#8217;s stock skyrocketed 47.93%, closing at $8.95. It reached an intraday high of $8.97 and a low of $6.56, with a 52-week range of $0.66 to $21.42. The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42978003/whats-going-on-with-rigetti-computing-rgti-stock-4">stock rebounded</a> after previous declines, following remarks by Nvidia and Meta executives about the timeline for quantum computing. Despite the uncertainty, Rigetti&#8217;s shares saw a significant boost, reflecting investor optimism in its potential.
Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>)
Eli Lilly&#8217;s shares fell 6.59%, closing at $744.91. The stock had an intraday high of $784.23 and a low of $729, with a 52-week range of $612.7 to $972.53. The company reduced its fourth-quarter revenue guidance, expecting $13.5 billion, below previous estimates. Despite this, Eli Lilly anticipates strong sales from its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42976923/eli-lilly-expects-around-55-billion-sales-from-weight-lossdiabetes-drugs-with-overall-topline-growth-of-32-issues-2025-forecast">weight loss and diabetes drugs</a>.
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)
Tesla&#8217;s stock decreased by 1.72%, closing at $396.36. It reached an intraday high of $422.64 and a low of $394.54, with a 52-week range from $138.80 to $488.54. The company saw a rise in Cybertruck sales, with nearly 39,000 units sold in 2024. However, this success came at the expense of its luxury Model S and X sales, which saw significant declines. The data highlights the impact of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42967593/cybertruck-sales-rise-in-2024-weighed-down-on-tesla-model-s-deliveries-in-us-shows-data">Cybertruck&#8217;s popularity</a> on Tesla&#8217;s overall sales strategy.
Prepare for the day&#8217;s trading <a href="https://editorial.benzinga.com/wp-admin/Premarket%20Movers%20&amp;%20News">with top premarket movers and news</a> by Benzinga.
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</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

APLD

MSFT

Microsoft, Applied Digital, Rigetti Computing, Eli Lilly, Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

SVMH

Trading Halt: Halted at 7:50:00 p.m. ET - Trading Halt: Halt News Pending

SMXWW

SVMHW

President Biden announced a one-time payment of $770 for victims of the ongoing California wildfires on Monday.
What Happened: The announcement came during a wildfire briefing at the White House on Monday. The President emphasized that the federal support is not waiting for the fires to end, but is being provided immediately, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5084128-california-wildfires-federal-payments/">reported</a> The Hill.
&#8220;We're getting them help right now, as you all know. People impacted by these fires are going to receive a one-time payment of $770, one-time payment, so they quickly purchase things like water, baby formula and prescription,&#8221; said Biden.
According to the President, nearly 6,000 survivors have already registered for the program, and $5.1 million has been disbursed. The Federal Emergency Management Agency activated its Critical Needs Assistance Program last week, which facilitated the initial one-time payment.
Biden also provided updates on the containment of the wildfires, reporting 14% containment in Pacific Palisades, 33% in Pasadena, and 100% in Ventura. He confirmed last week that the federal government will cover 100% of the costs of California's efforts to fight the wildfires for 180 days, extending into the upcoming administration of President-elect Trump.
The announcement comes amidst public disagreements between President-elect Donald Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom over the handling of the fires. Newsom has expressed concerns that the incoming administration could withhold disaster aid to California.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/01/42991885/joe-bidens-approval-rating-hits-37-ahead-of-white-house-exit-poll-finds-president-made-progress-in-1-of-18-areas">Joe Biden&#8217;s Approval Rating Hits 37% Ahead Of White House Exit, Poll Finds President Made Progress In 1 Of 18 Areas</a>
Why It Matters: The wildfires in California have been a major cause of concern, with the National Weather Service issuing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/01/42953761/santa-ana-winds-return-as-la-wildfire-damage-estimates-rise-to-at-least-250-billion-fire-officials-investigate-downed-power-lines">severe fire warnings</a> for Los Angeles County. The fires have resulted in at least 24 deaths and damage to over 12,000 structures, with the total damage and economic loss estimated to be between $250 billion and $275 billion.
Furthermore, the Los Angeles area has been bracing for more &#8220;extreme fire weather&#8221; with high winds of 40 to 70 miles per hour, making the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42983439/la-braces-for-another-extreme-fire-weather-scenario-multiple-lawsuits-filed-against-edison-over-eaton-fire-damages">containment of the wildfires even more challenging</a>. The Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire were reported to be at 35% and 17% containment respectively, as of Tuesday morning.
Image via Shutterstock
Did You Know?
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<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Politics

General

Biden Administration Announces One-Time $770 Payments To California Wildfire Victims

Ensign Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENSG#NASDAQ">ENSG</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 8.76% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 20.25%. Currently, Ensign Group has a market capitalization of $7.65 billion. 
Buying $100 In ENSG: If an investor had bought $100 of ENSG stock 15 years ago, it would be worth $1,571.33 today based on a price of $133.50 for ENSG at the time of writing.
<h3>Ensign Group's Performance Over Last 15 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736898306_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

ENSG

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning Ensign Group Stock In The Last 15 Years

Charles Schwab (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 1.54% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 9.9%. Currently, Charles Schwab has a market capitalization of $132.44 billion. 
Buying $1000 In SCHW: If an investor had bought $1000 of SCHW stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $6,470.48 today based on a price of $72.35 for SCHW at the time of writing.
<h3>Charles Schwab's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736897408_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

SCHW

If You Invested $1000 In This Stock 20 Years Ago, You Would Have This Much Today

What's left on the bucket list of a billionaire who has seemingly done it all? For <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/42089647/bill-gates-owns-275000-acres-of-farmland-which-grows-potatoes-for-mcdonalds-fries-and-he-eats-them-free-thanks-to-his-rare-mcgold-card">Bill Gates</a>, the answer is unexpectedly simple: "Don't die."
The quip came during a 2013 Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything), where Gates, then the cochair of the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, fielded questions about everything from eradicating polio to his favorite books. Known for his sharp mind and dry humor, Gates didn't miss a beat when asked about his personal bucket list, delivering the kind of witty, understated response he could pull off.
Don't Miss:
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<li>Can you guess how many Americans successfully retire with $1,000,000 saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/1milsaved"> The percentage may shock you</a>.</li>
<li>With 100+ historic trademarks including some of the high grossing characters in history, like Cinderella, Snow White and Peter Pan, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elf-labs-1">this company is transforming the $2 trillion entertainment market with patented AR, VR, and AI tech. — For a short window, investors are able to claim $2/share ($980 min).</a></li>
</ul>
At the time of the AMA, Gates was still the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/07/39600675/bill-gates-was-the-worlds-richest-man-for-a-record-18-years-his-secret-to-success-saving-like-a-">richest man in the world</a> – a title he'd held for years. With his Microsoft days behind him, his full focus was on philanthropy, tackling some of the world's biggest challenges like global health, education and poverty. So, it's fair to ask: what does someone who can visit Antarctica for fun, tour the Large Hadron Collider with his kids or fund groundbreaking vaccine research want to accomplish next?
Of course, Gates wasn't just thinking about longevity. Throughout the AMA, he offered thoughtful reflections on his work, values and legacy.
For instance, he explained why he and Melinda decided not to leave their children massive inheritances. "I definitely think <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/07/40015377/bill-gates-children-will-only-inherit-10-million-0-0077-of-his-net-worth-leaving-kids-massive-am">leaving kids massive amounts of money</a> is not a favor to them," Gates wrote. Inspired by Warren Buffett's perspective, he shared how this philosophy shaped his own approach to wealth and giving. "Some people disagree with this, but Melinda and I feel good about it."
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When asked how he measures success at his foundation, Gates pointed to one of his core goals: reducing the number of children under five who die from preventable causes. "Amazingly, as health improves, families choose to have fewer kids," he said, noting the surprising ways improving health impacts broader global issues.
And while he's no longer the code-writing tech visionary who built Microsoft, Gates still enjoys dabbling in programming. "Not as much as I would like to," he admitted when asked if he still codes. "I write some C, C# and some Basic. I am surprised new languages have not made more progress in simplifying programming."
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Despite his accomplishments, Gates's answers often revealed a grounded, curious side. He spoke of his love for tennis, bridge and "touring interesting things" with his kids – whether it's a garbage dump or a missile silo. He confessed his favorite book at the time, Steven Pinker's Better Angels of Our Nature and waxed optimistic about the future of energy, education and even robotics.
As one of the wealthiest and most influential people on the planet, Gates could probably write a bucket list that would put everyone else's to shame. But his AMA response distilled a truth that even billionaires can't escape: at the end of the day, the ultimate goal is just to keep going.
"Don't die" – equal parts humor and reality – might be the most relatable thing Gates has ever said.
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Personal Finance

Billionaire Bill Gates Was Asked What's Left On His Bucket List – He Reveals There's Only One Thing: 'Don't Die'

President-elect Donald Trump's picks for Secretary of State, Secretary of Transportation, Attorney General, CIA Director and Secretary of Energy are set to begin the confirmation process on Wednesday. Here's a look at who will be appearing before Senate committees on as the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/01/42956943/trump-cabinet-confirmation-hearings-begin-tuesday-pete-hegseth-doug-collins-up-first">nominations process unrolls.&nbsp;</a>
Secretary Of State: Florida Sen. Marco Rubio will appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on which he served. Rubio has gained bipartisan support due to his extensive foreign policy and political experience.&nbsp;
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Secretary of Transportation: Former Wisconsin congressman and Fox Business host Sean Duffy will appear before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee which oversees the Department of Transportation.&nbsp;
Duffy&#8217;s path to confirmation appears smooth, with support from both Republicans and Democrats on the Commerce Committee, <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/01/07/congress/sean-duffy-confirmation-hearing-00196809">according to</a> Politico.&nbsp;
Some of the topics at the Senate hearing may include electric vehicle policies, discretionary grant programs and Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>).&nbsp;&nbsp;
Airline stocks, including United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>) and American Airlines Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAL#NASDAQ">AAL</a>), and EV stocks such as Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>) are ones to watch as Duffy's hearing gets underway Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET. 
Attorney General: Pam Bondi, former Florida Attorney General, is Trump&#8217;s choice to serve as the U.S. Attorney General and will appear before the Senate Judicial Committee on Wednesday.&nbsp;
Sen. Dick Durbin has <a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/dem/releases/durbin-outlines-concerns-regarding-pam-bondi-trumps-attorney-general-pick-ahead-of-nomination-hearing">expressed concerns</a> regarding Bondi's loyalty to Trump and her potential independence. She will likely face questioning about her commitment to maintaining the Department of Justice&#8217;s independence and impartiality.
CIA Director: John Ratcliffe, former director of national intelligence and former Texas congressman, will go before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday. Ratcliffe is expected to face less resistance than he saw in 2020 due to his experience and qualifications.&nbsp;
Energy Secretary: Trump's choice to lead the Department of Energy is Chris Wright, fossil fuel executive and founder of fracking company Liberty Energy. Wright's nomination is expected to face questions related to his lack of government experience and fossil fuel background. He has also previously expressed skepticism regarding climate change and renewable energy.&nbsp;
Stocks to watch include oil companies like Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE XOM) and Shell Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHEL#NYSE">SHEL</a>) as well as solar names like First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSLR#NASDAQ">FSLR</a>) and Sunrun, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RUN#NASDAQ">RUN</a>).&nbsp;
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Photo: Shutterstock&nbsp;

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FSLR

RIVN

SHEL

Trump Cabinet Confirmation Hearings On Wednesday: Departments Of Transportation, Energy, State; Attorney General, CIA Director

Molina Healthcare (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MOH#NYSE">MOH</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 3.06% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 11.42%. Currently, Molina Healthcare has a market capitalization of $16.82 billion. 
Buying $100 In MOH: If an investor had bought $100 of MOH stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $869.74 today based on a price of $294.03 for MOH at the time of writing.
<h3>Molina Healthcare's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736896508_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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