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Associated Banc-Corp 6.625% Fixed-Rate Reset Subordinated Notes due 2033

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) has reportedly issued a stern warning to employees about leaking information.
This comes after CEO Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s comments during an all-hands meeting were leaked on Wednesday.
What Happened: In an internal memo, Guy Rosen, Meta&#8217;s chief information security officer, emphasized the seriousness of leaks, stating, &#8220;We take leaks seriously and will take action,&#8221; <a href="https://www.theverge.com/meta/603812/meta-warns-leakers-leaked-memo">reported</a> The Verge.&nbsp;
He highlighted the negative impact on team morale and productivity, adding that Meta will &#8220;take appropriate action, including termination&#8221; against those responsible.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/01/43325503/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-pays-trump-25-million-to-settle-lawsuit-over-facebook-instagram-ban-after-jan-6-riot-a-big-year-for-redefining-our-relationships-with-governments" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Pays Trump $25 Million To Settle Lawsuit Over Facebook, Instagram Ban After Jan. 6 Riot: ‘A Big Year For Redefining Our Relationships With Governments'</a>
Why It Matters: The memo came shortly after Zuckerberg&#8217;s remarks from Meta&#8217;s first all-hands meeting of the year were leaked, according to a separate <a href="https://www.theverge.com/command-line-newsletter/603754/mark-zuckerberg-tells-employees-to-buckle-up-in-leaked-all-hands-meeting">report</a> by The Verge.
During the meeting, Zuckerberg addressed employee concerns about layoffs, content moderation changes, and Meta's relationship with the Donald Trump administration.
He defended <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42960291/metas-content-moderation-changes-alarm-advertisers-as-zuckerberg-aligns-with-trump-and-musk">policy shifts</a>, highlighted Meta's continued AI and smart glasses investments, and expressed frustration over leaks, leading to stricter internal communications.&nbsp;
&#8220;We try to be really open, and then everything I say leaks,&#8221; he stated, adding, &#8220;It s&#x2A;&#x2A;ks.&#8221;
Meta&#8217;s warning to employees about leaks is not an isolated incident. In February 2023, the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/02/30871801/metas-vr-headset-leaks-mystery-solved-source-identified-after-probe">identified the source of leaks</a> concerning its unannounced VR headsets.&nbsp;
Zuckerberg also has a history of taking a firm stance against leaks. In 2010, he demanded the immediate resignation of a Facebook employee after what he termed &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/09/40714270/mark-zuckerbergs-confidential-2010-email-demanded-a-facebook-employee-resign-immediately-aft">an act of betrayal</a>&#8221; against the company.
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.
Meta continues to perform well financially. The company reported a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/43322201/meta-platforms-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-daily-actives-up-5-continued-strong-revenue-growth-expected">strong fourth quarter</a>, with revenue of $48.39 billion, beating <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings">analyst estimates</a> of $47.03 billion.
Price Action: Meta&#8217;s stock dipped 0.16% in after-hours trading to $685.91. Earlier on Thursday, it closed at $687, reflecting a 1.55% gain during regular trading, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
Check out more of Benzinga'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/tech/25/01/43221770/apples-ipad-turns-15-today-heres-a-throwback-to-when-steve-jobs-explained-called-it-the-third-category-after-phones-and-notebooks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple's iPad Turns 15 Today: Here's A Throwback To When Steve Jobs Explained Called It The ‘Third Category' After Phones And Notebooks</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.

News

Tech

Media

Meta Vows To Fire Leakers After Mark Zuckerberg's Private Comments Made Public — CEO Says, 'It S**ks'

Amid recent artificial intelligence sector turbulence, CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer wondered if Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIDU#NASDAQ">BIDU</a>) might be the next Chinese tech giant to draw market focus. 
What Happened: He posed the question on X on Thursday, writing, &#8220;First, it was DeepSeek, then it was BABA, and next, maybe Baidu?&#8221;
The observation comes as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) shares surged 6.39% to $102.91 on Thursday, driven by growing investor confidence in its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/43351350/alibaba-stock-rises-as-deepseek-selloff-continues-qwen-ai-model-gains-attention">Qwen 2.5-Max AI model</a>. Alibaba&#8217;s latest AI iteration has reportedly outperformed DeepSeek-V3 in multiple benchmarks, including Arena Hard, LiveBench, and GPQA-Diamond tests.
The market repositioning follows a tumultuous period triggered by DeepSeek&#8217;s disruptive entrance, which initially caused a massive tech sector selloff. NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) saw <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43294528/jim-cramer-says-the-shoot-first-learn-later-crowd-got-hosed-as-nvidia-and-other-tech-stocks-stage-recovery-after-deepseek-turmoil">nearly $600 billion erased from its market value</a> on Monday before staging an 8.82% recovery on Tuesday.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/43351350/alibaba-stock-rises-as-deepseek-selloff-continues-qwen-ai-model-gains-attention">Tim Cook Praises China&#8217;s DeepSeek For Driving Efficiency, Stresses Apple&#8217;s &#8216;Prudent And Deliberate&#8217; Approach Toward Capital Expenditure</a>
Why It Matters: DeepSeek, which emerged from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43293842/bill-ackman-questions-whether-deepseek-ais-hedge-fund-affiliate-profited-from-nvidias-sell-off-a-fortune-could-have-been-made">the $8 billion quantitative hedge</a> fund High-Flyer, had claimed to match OpenAI&#8217;s performance at significantly lower costs, developing its R1 model for just $5.6 million using lower-end Nvidia chips. However, sustainability concerns have since dampened enthusiasm for DeepSeek-linked investments.
The shifting landscape has caught the attention of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43296517/black-swan-author-nassim-taleb-nvidias-17-drop-on-monday-is-just-the-beginning-says-electric-cars-are-next-noting-pioneers-with-innovative-ideas-never-made-money">prominent market observers</a>. &#8220;Black Swan&#8221; author Nassim Taleb warned investors about the fragility of wealth concentration in technology stocks, suggesting at Miami Hedge Fund Week that potential drawdowns could be &#8220;two or three times bigger&#8221; than Monday&#8217;s selloff.
Meanwhile, OpenAI is reportedly in discussions with SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) for a potential $40 billion funding round at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/43374528/softbank-may-lead-openais-40-billion-funding-round-at-a-300-billion-valuation-despite-deepseek-disruption-report">a $300 billion valuation</a>, highlighting the intense competition in the AI space. OpenAI has accused DeepSeek of using its proprietary models without authorization, adding another layer of complexity to the evolving narrative.
Price Action: Baidu closed at $94.77 on Thursday, gaining 5.76% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock dipped slightly by 0.047%, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/43374018/bitcoin-dogecoin-trade-flat-ethereum-rises-ahead-of-feds-preferred-inflation-gauge-release-will-bitcoin-peak-in-early-2027">Bitcoin, Dogecoin Trade Flat, Ethereum Rises Ahead Of Fed&#8217;s Preferred Inflation Gauge Release: Will Bitcoin Peak In Early 2027?</a></li>
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Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Equities

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BIDU

NVDA

SFTBY

Jim Cramer Wonders If Baidu Could Be Next After Alibaba's AI Model Outperforms DeepSeek

Cryptocurrency firm Tether (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">USDT</a>) announced the launch of USDT, the world&#8217;s most valuable stablecoin by market cap, on the Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) blockchain on Thursday.
What Happened: The integration will make the $139 billion-valued stablecoin available on Bitcoin&#8217;s base layer and the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/what-is-the-bitcoin-lightning-network">Lightning Network</a>, its second-layer protocol, according to a press release.
The integration will be made possible by the&nbsp;new Taproot-powered protocol, Taproot Assets,&nbsp;developed by Lightning Labs. The upgrade allows users to issue and transfer digital assets like stablecoins directly on the Bitcoin blockchain.
&#8220;Millions of people will now be able to use the most open, secure blockchain to send dollars globally. It all comes back to Bitcoin,&#8221; Lightning Labs CEO Elizabeth Stark said.
Tether CEO Paulo Ardoino said the integration will offer practical solutions for remittances, payments, and other financial services. 
USDT is already available on several leading blockchains like Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), Tron (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/trx/usd">TRX</a>), and Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>).
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43325381/elon-musks-tesla-racks-up-600-million-paper-gains-on-bitcoin-in-q4">Elon Musk&#8217;s Tesla Records $600 Million In Paper Gains On Bitcoin In Q4 Thanks To New Accounting Rule</a>
Why It Matters: USDT is extensively used to enter and exit trading positions on exchanges, as well as in decentralized apps, remittances, and settlements, among other use cases. It is the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization and most traded among them all.
However, over the years, USDT has attracted criticism for being a popular tool for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42166673/drug-cartels-use-tether-and-bitcoin-to-launder-millions-court-documents-reveal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drug traffickers&nbsp;</a>and illegal gaming platforms to launder money. A UN report from last year explicitly mentioned&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/01/36644909/from-casinos-to-slaves-un-report-details-tethers-role-in-organized-crime" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USDT's role</a>&nbsp;in boosting the&nbsp;illicit digital economy in Southeast Asia.
Earlier this month, Tether <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42956569/tether-to-relocate-headquarters-to-el-salvador">relocated to El Salvador</a>, citing the country&#8217;s cryptocurrency-friendly policies, favorable regulations, and widespread adoption of digital assets.
Image via Shutterstock
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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>

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

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USDT

Tether Is Bringing USDT To Bitcoin Network, Which Will Allow 'Millions' To Send Dollars Globally

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43355688/apple-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-iphone-sales-slip-installed-base-climbs-to-all-time-high-our-best-quarter-ever">delivered better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter results</a>, with Deepwater Asset Management&#8216;s Gene Munster suggesting the quarter wasn&#8217;t as disappointing as initial numbers indicated, citing channel inventory adjustments and forward guidance as key factors.
What Happened: The tech giant reported revenue of $124.3 billion, slightly exceeding analyst estimates of $124.13 billion, while earnings per share came in at $2.40, above the expected $2.36. Despite these beats, iPhone sales showed some weakness, particularly in China.
Munster, analyzing the results on X, pointed to channel inventory adjustments as a significant factor in the apparent slowdown. &#8220;The mess wasn&#8217;t as big as it looked in the numbers,&#8221; he noted, explaining that about half of the weakness in China, where revenue declined 11%, was attributable to inventory management rather than underlying demand issues.
&#8220;I still believe Apple Intelligence will reaccelerate iPhone sales starting in June based on early uptake data in the US,&#8221; Munster said. 
The company&#8217;s installed base reached a new all-time high <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43355688/apple-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-iphone-sales-slip-installed-base-climbs-to-all-time-high-our-best-quarter-ever">across all products and geographic segments</a>, with CEO Tim Cook highlighting the role of Apple silicon in unlocking new possibilities through Apple Intelligence. Services revenue showed particular strength, growing to $26.34 billion from $23.12 billion year-over-year, representing about 20% of total sales.
Looking ahead, Munster expressed optimism about iPhone sales reaccelerating by June, based on early adoption data in the U.S. He emphasized the strength of Apple&#8217;s ecosystem, noting the 7% growth in the installed base to 2.2 billion devices.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24AAPL&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$AAPL</a>&#39;s quarter was not as bad as the numbers first looked based on channel inventory and the guide. I still believe Apple Intelligence will reaccelerate iPhone sales starting in June based on early uptake data in the US. <a href="https://t.co/jPrLxN4M6U">pic.twitter.com/jPrLxN4M6U</a>
&mdash; Gene Munster (@munster_gene) <a href="https://twitter.com/munster_gene/status/1885118521224351873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: However, challenges remain in China, where local competition and shifting consumer preferences toward domestic brands pose ongoing concerns. Despite these headwinds, Apple&#8217;s guidance for the March quarter suggests approximately 5% revenue growth, which Munster views as encouraging given the inventory adjustments in the previous quarter.
Price Action: Apple&#8217;s stock closed on Thursday at $237.59, down 0.74% for the day. However, in after-hours trading, the stock price rose by 3.01%, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43354237/deepseek-doesnt-own-name-trademark-in-us-could-this-be-the-next-battle-alongside-ip-theft-allegations">DeepSeek Doesn&#8217;t Own Name Trademark In US: Could This Be The Next Battle Alongside IP Theft Allegations?</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.

AAPL

Gene Munster Says Apple's 'Mess Wasn't As Big As It Looked' As iPhone Maker Delivers Better Than Expected Results

About a billion Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>) tokens were removed from circulation on Thursday, applying further deflationary pressure on the popular dog-themed cryptocurrency.
What Happened:&nbsp;Kaal Dhairya, a key figure in the ecosystem, took to X to announce the massive burning event to celebrate upgrades made to ShibTorch, Shiba Inu&#8217;s community-driven burn portal.
&#8220;To celebrate the progress team is making the deployer has burnt pending 1B SHIB, enjoy,&#8221; Dhairya said.
<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">To celebrate the progress team is making the deployer has burnt pending 1B SHIB, enjoy <a href="https://t.co/3fbkLUDjQp">https://t.co/3fbkLUDjQp</a> <a href="https://t.co/YsdwuATIyz">https://t.co/YsdwuATIyz</a>
&mdash; Kaal (@kaaldhairya) <a href="https://twitter.com/kaaldhairya/status/1885068301505569195?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Coin burning involves purposely sending a cryptocurrency to an unusable wallet address to remove it from circulation. This is done to generate scarcity and gradually boost the market value of the token in the long term.
Due to the massive incineration, the burn rate shot up to 43325.59% in the past 24 hours, <a href="https://www.shibburn.com/">according </a>to Shiba Inu&#8217;s official burn tracker. As of this writing, nearly 410.744 trillion SHIB tokens have gone up in smoke.
ShibTorch was launched in August last year on Shibarium, Shiba Inu&#8217;s Layer-2 blockchain, allowing users to actively participate in burning tokens. Note that a portion of transaction fees paid on Shibarium are set aside and burned.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43325381/elon-musks-tesla-racks-up-600-million-paper-gains-on-bitcoin-in-q4">Elon Musk&#8217;s Tesla Records $600 Million In Paper Gains On Bitcoin In Q4 Thanks To New Accounting Rule</a>
Why It Matters:&nbsp;The mega-burning event comes on the heels of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43261673/shytoshi-kusamas-biggest-announcement-ever-tease-triggers-rally-in-shiba-inu-ecosystem-tokens">big tease</a> by Shytoshi Kusama, Shiba Inu&#8217;s lead ambassador. Earlier this week, they hinted at the &#8220;biggest announcement&#8221; ever related to the blockchain ecosystem.
Kusama continued to pique the interest of the community, announcing that an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43293760/shiba-inus-shytoshi-kusama-teases-extremely-powerful-partnership-for-ecosystemcoin-themed-on-mysterious-personality-rallies-25">&#8220;extremely powerful partnership&#8221;</a> was the works.
Meanwhile, SHIB&#8217;s daily active addresses rose by 1.15% in the last 24 hours, although large transactions involving whales dipped significantly, <a href="https://app.intotheblock.com/?end_offset=20">according</a> to data from IntoTheBlock. 
Price Action: At the time of writing, SHIB was exchanging hands at $0.00001859, up 0.41% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next:&nbsp;
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$SHIB

Shiba Inu's Burn Rate Explodes 43325% As A Billion SHIB Tokens Kicked Out Of Circulation

SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) is reportedly in discussions to spearhead a new funding round for OpenAI, potentially raising up to $40 billion.
What Happened: This investment would value the ChatGPT-maker at $300 billion, marking a record-setting funding round for a private entity, reported Reuters, citing sources.
As per the report, SoftBank assessed OpenAI&#8217;s value at $260 billion before the funding round, a notable increase <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41149788/openai-valuation-soars-to-157b-in-latest-funding-round">from $157 billion just months ago</a>.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43295689/tesla-gears-up-for-q4-print-here-are-the-recent-forecast-changes-from-wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Gears Up For Q4 Print; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts</a>
Earlier on Thursday, the Wall Street Journal also <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/openaiin-talks-for-huge-investment-round-valuing-it-up-to-300-billion-2a2d4327">reported</a> that OpenAI could be valued at around $340 billion with this funding round.
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: Previously, it was reported that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43327823/softbank-eyes-historic-25-billion-investment-in-openai-poised-to-dethrone-microsoft-as-chatgpt-parents-biggest-investor">SoftBank might invest</a> $15 billion to $25 billion directly into OpenAI. This investment would represent a significant commitment for SoftBank and its CEO, Masayoshi Son, who has approximately $30 billion in cash reserves.
It could make it the largest stakeholder in OpenAI, surpassing Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), which has invested nearly $14 billion.
The move comes as DeepSeek, a Chinese startup, has said it developed its cost-effective R1 model <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43327016/microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-accepts-deepseek-ai-has-some-real-innovations-but-wont-say-if-they-mark-a-turning-point-for-ai-cost-reduction">in just two months</a>, investing $5.6 million and using lower-end Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) chips.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43296041/openai-alleges-deepseek-used-proprietary-models-without-permission-as-microsoft-investigates-ai-security-risks">OpenAI has accused DeepSeek</a> of using its proprietary models without authorization.
Photo by NP27 on Shutterstock.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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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.

MSFT

SFTBF

SoftBank May Lead OpenAI's $40 Billion Funding Round At A $300 Billion Valuation Despite DeepSeek Disruption: Report

Despite the slower-than-expected economic growth in the US for the final quarter of 2024, the stock market ended in the green on Thursday. The S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq indices witnessed a rise of 0.5% and 0.4% respectively, as the GDP growth rate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/43336153/us-economy-grows-below-q4-estimates-as-consumer-spending-hits-7-quarter-high">fell short of the forecasted 2.6% expansion</a>. The tech-heavy Nasdaq ended the day 0.25% higher at 19,681.75.
These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day:
Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)
Apple&#8217;s stock dipped by 0.74%, closing at $237.59. However, the shares were seen trading nearly 3% higher in the after-hours session. The intraday high and low were $240.79 and $237.21, respectively, with a 52-week range of $260.09 to $164.08. The tech giant reported a successful first quarter, with <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43355688/apple-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-iphone-sales-slip-installed-base-climbs-to-all-time-high-our-best-quarter-ever">revenue of $124.3 billion</a> and adjusted earnings of $2.40 per share, both surpassing analyst estimates. 
Intel Corp.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>)
Intel&#8217;s shares rose by 1.32%, closing at $20.01. The intraday high and low were $20.10 and $19.43, respectively, with a 52-week range of $46.63 to $18.51. Investors were closely watching the company&#8217;s CEO search and potential segment spin-offs following its fourth-quarter financial report. The company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43354712/intel-stock-climbs-on-better-than-expected-q4-report-details">reported earnings per share</a> of 13 cents which beat the consensus estimate of 12 cents.
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBA#NASDAQ">WBA</a>)
Walgreens&#8217; stock climbed by 1.87%, closing at $11.46. The intraday high and low were $11.60 and $11.25, respectively, with a 52-week range of $23.77 to $8.08. The company announced the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/dividends/25/01/43357768/walgreens-boots-alliance-shares-slide-as-board-suspends-dividend">suspension of its quarterly dividend</a> as part of a longer-term turnaround strategy. 
United Parcel Service Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>)
UPS shares plummeted by 14.11%, closing at $114.9. The intraday high and low were $117.98 and $109.62, respectively, with a 52-week range of $158.95 to $109.62. The company reported a YoY <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43335015/ups-q4-earnings-major-customer-volume-cut-raises-jitters-stock-tanks">consolidated revenue growth</a> of 1.5% in the fourth quarter, missing the consensus. 
Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)
Tesla&#8217;s stock rose by 2.87%, closing at $400.28. The intraday high and low were $412.50 and $384.41, respectively, with a 52-week range of $488.54 to $138.80. CEO Elon Musk announced that the production of the new Model Y vehicle would result in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43328898/elon-musk-warns-teslas-new-model-y-will-result-in-several-weeks-of-lost-production-for-ev-giant-in-q1">several weeks of lost production</a> in the first quarter.
Image via Shutterstock
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.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43373930/ross-gerber-says-robotaxi-is-here-and-it-is-a-waymo-from-google-highlights-teslas-severe-hardware-limitations">Ross Gerber Says Robotaxi Is Here And It Is A Waymo From Google, Highlights Tesla&#8217;s &#8216;Severe Hardware Limitations&#8217;</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>

INTC

TSLA

Apple, Intel, Walgreens, UPS, And Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

Leading cryptocurrencies lost their early gains on Thursday as investors awaited the release of crucial inflation data.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 7:45 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>+0.03%</td>
<td>$104,582.18</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>+3.95%</td>
<td>$3,267.77</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>+0.05%</td>
<td>$0.3308</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: Bitcoin broke through $106,000 in the morning before falling back to the $104,000 region. Popular dog-themed meme coin Dogecoin witnessed a similar price pattern.
Ethereum, on the other hand, sustained its gains, rising nearly 4% in the last 24 hours.
About $86 million in short bets were wiped out in the last 24 hours, out of a total of $143 million in cryptocurrency liquidations.
Interestingly, traders placing short bets on Bitcoin rose against those gunning for price increases, according to the Long/Short Ratio.
That said, if Bitcoin reclaims its all-time high, more than $530 million in short positions will be liquidated.
"Extreme Greed" emotion dominated the market, according to the reading on the Crypto Fear &amp; Greed Index, sparking concerns of a further correction.
Top Gainers (24-Hours)
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 7:45 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DeXe (DEXE)</td>
<td>+30.15%</td>
<td>$20.80</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JasmyCoin (JASMY)</td>
<td>+29.66%</td>
<td>$0.03193</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Arweave (AR)</td>
<td>+27.44%</td>
<td>$16.46</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.57 trillion, growing by 1.92% in the last 24 hours.
Stocks closed in the green on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 136.83 points, or 0.38%, to close at 44,882.13. The S&amp;P 500 gained 0.53% to end at 6,071.17. The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite popped 0.25% to 19,681.75.
The uptick came as investors parsed the earnings of the "Magnificent 7" companies. Shares of Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) rose 2.87% and 1.55%, respectively.
The focus now shifts to Friday's personal consumption expenditures index report, considered the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: Popular cryptocurrency analyst and trader Ali Martinez emphasized the "critical importance" of $97,877 for Bitcoin, stating that a sizable amount of the apex cryptocurrency was scooped at this level.
"If it holds, the bull run could continue," Martinez predicted. "However, a break below $97,877 and $91,700 could put the entire bull market in jeopardy."
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">With a significant amount of <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> accumulated at $97,877, this level holds critical importance. If it holds, the bull run could continue. However, a break below $97,877 and $91,700 could put the entire bull market in jeopardy.<a href="https://t.co/adz1GAiTFL">https://t.co/adz1GAiTFL</a>
&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1884901807228436492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Another influential cryptocurrency trader, Michaël van de Poppe, ruled out the possibility of Bitcoin having 30% corrections this cycle.
"The markets become larger, through which a lot more liquidity is added and Bitcoin becomes more &#8216;boring&#8217;. Just a gradual upward pace," the trader noted.
Van De Poppe forecast that a Bitcoin peak could come either in the fourth quarter of 2025 or early 2027.
<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 don&#39;t think we&#39;ll have many 30% corrections on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> during this cycle. The markets become larger, through which a lot more liquidity is added and Bitcoin becomes more &#39;boring&#39;. Just a gradual upwards pace. Either Bitcoin peaks in Q4 2025 or somewhere beginning 2027.
&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1885005301436531134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Photo by Avi Rozen on Shutterstock
Read Next:    
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/23/06/32811591/winklevoss-twins-say-elizabeth-warren-and-gary-genslers-war-on-crypto-will-cost-democrats-">Winklevoss Twins Say Elizabeth Warren And Gary Gensler&#8217;s War On Crypto &#8216;Will Cost Democrats 2024 Election&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

Movers

Trading Ideas

$DOGE

Bitcoin, Dogecoin Trade Flat, Ethereum Rises Ahead Of Fed's Preferred Inflation Gauge Release: Will Bitcoin Peak In Early 2027?

On Thursday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades involving Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>).
The Palantir Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s decision to sell Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) shares on Thursday comes amid a backdrop of competitive pressures in the AI space. 
Recently, Palantir has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43234047/palantir-stock-is-falling-monday-whats-going-on">faced challenges</a> from Chinese startup DeepSeek, which has introduced a high-performance AI computing solution at a lower cost. This development has caused some concern among investors, leading to fluctuations in Palantir&#8217;s stock price.
Ark Invest executed a sale of 127,969 Palantir shares worth $10.4 million through its flagship ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>). The stock closed at $81.22 on Thursday, January 30, marking a 1.83% increase from the previous day.
Notably, Ark has been on a Palantir share-selling spree. In early January, the firm had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42835519/cathie-woods-monday-moves-dumps-15m-worth-of-hot-stock-palantir-loads-up-amazon-com">sold $14.93 million worth</a> of the Alex Karp-led technology company&#8217;s shares.
Other Key Trades:
<ul>
<li>10X Genomics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXG#NASDAQ">TXG</a>) &#8211; Ark Invest purchased 314,472 shares through the ARKK fund and 55,354 shares via the ARKG fund. </li>
<li>Roblox Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RBLX#NYSE">RBLX</a>) &#8211; Sold 33,404 shares from the ARKK fund. </li>
<li>Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACHR#NYSE">ACHR</a>) &#8211; Sold 57,238 shares from the ARKK fund.</li>
<li>Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) &#8211; Acquired 8,304 shares through the ARKW fund.</li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43353698/trump-slaps-25-tariffs-on-canada-mexico-loonie-peso-slide-oil-climbs">Trump Slaps 25% Tariffs On Canada, Mexico: Loonie, Peso Slide, Oil Climbs</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>

ETFs

ACHR

ARKK

PLTR

QCOM

RBLX

Cathie Wood's Ark Invest Dumps Over $10 Million Worth Of Palantir Stock As AI Competition Heats Up

Prominent Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) investor Ross Gerber has highlighted significant challenges facing the electric vehicle maker&#8217;s Full Self-Driving system while praising competitor Waymo&#8216;s autonomous driving technology.
What Happened: Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, pointed to Waymo&#8217;s growing presence in the robotaxi space. 
&#8220;Waymo waymos everywhere. Driving flawlessly, with confidence. Robotaxi is here&#8230; and it&#8217;s called Waymo. Coming to your city soon,&#8221; he wrote on X on Thursday, referring to Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) subsidiary.
<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">Waymo waymos everywhere. Driving flawlessly, with confidence. Robotaxi is here… and it's called Waymo. Coming to your city soon. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24goog&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$goog</a>
&mdash; Ross Gerber (@GerberKawasaki) <a href="https://twitter.com/GerberKawasaki/status/1885094196891312312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
The investment manager&#8217;s comments come amid mounting concerns about Tesla&#8217;s hardware capabilities. Responding to Tesla investor Sawyer Merritt, Gerber suggested that even Tesla&#8217;s Hardware 4 system won&#8217;t achieve full autonomy, citing &#8220;severe hardware limitations&#8221; compared to Waymo&#8217;s proven robotaxi technology.
These observations follow Tesla CEO Elon Musk&#8216;s recent acknowledgment that the company will need to upgrade Hardware 3 vehicles for FSD customers, a process Musk described as &#8220;painful and difficult.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">At some point he will also admit HW4 isn't going to get to level 5 autonomy either. Tesla FSD has severe hardware limitations and waymo has proven exactly what you need to work as a robotaxi. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24tsla&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$tsla</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24goog&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$goog</a> <a href="https://t.co/B71oNWCAYJ">https://t.co/B71oNWCAYJ</a>
&mdash; Ross Gerber (@GerberKawasaki) <a href="https://twitter.com/GerberKawasaki/status/1884986277277401151?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43355688/apple-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-iphone-sales-slip-installed-base-climbs-to-all-time-high-our-best-quarter-ever">Apple Q1 Earnings: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, iPhone Sales Slip, Installed Base Climbs To All-Time High — &#8216;Our Best Quarter Ever&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The criticism extends beyond hardware concerns. Just a day after Musk celebrated Tesla&#8217;s achievement in &#8220;unsupervised&#8221; FSD operation, Gerber <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43329365/a-day-after-elon-musk-hailed-teslas-unsupervised-fsd-ross-gerber-criticizes-ev-makers-autonomous-driving-system-doesnt-work-when-dust-or-ash-get-in-the-cameras">highlighted the practical limitations</a> of the system&#8217;s vision-only approach. &#8220;My Tesla FSD doesn&#8217;t work when dust or ash gets in the cameras. Vision-only systems have some big limitations. Also, the sun shines into them wrong,&#8221; Gerber noted on X.
These developments come at a crucial time for Tesla&#8217;s autonomous driving program. The company faces an ongoing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation into 2.6 million FSD-equipped vehicles, while Musk maintains that FSD will <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42894743/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-says-fsd-will-be-safer-than-human-drivers-in-q2-2025">exceed human driving safety</a> by the second quarter of 2025.
The debate intensified following Tesla&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43327837/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-dismises-lidar-again-says-if-humans-drive-without-shooting-lasers-from-their-eyes-so-can-autonomous-cars">recent fourth-quarter earnings call</a>, where Musk defended the company&#8217;s camera-only strategy, arguing that humans drive without &#8220;shooting lasers out of their eyes,&#8221; in contrast to competitors&#8217; use of LiDAR technology.
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Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

GOOG

GOOGL

Ross Gerber Says Robotaxi Is Here And It Is A Waymo From Google, Highlights Tesla's 'Severe Hardware Limitations'

On Thursday, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) CEO Tim Cook lauded DeepSeek, a China-based AI startup.
What Happened: During Apple's <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43355688/apple-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-iphone-sales-slip-installed-base-climbs-to-all-time-high-our-best-quarter-ever">first-quarter earnings</a> call, Cook was asked about the perception that Cupertino is benefiting from lower compute costs.
The analyst inquired about Cook&#8217;s perspective on the DeepSeek situation and whether any changes in the cost landscape could impact Apple's margins.
In response, the Apple CEO detailed the company's use of a hybrid AI model, where simple tasks are executed locally on devices, while complex operations are managed in the cloud through AI partnerships.
Currently, Apple collaborates with OpenAI, leveraging ChatGPT to assist iPhone users via a private cloud.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/01/43325503/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-pays-trump-25-million-to-settle-lawsuit-over-facebook-instagram-ban-after-jan-6-riot-a-big-year-for-redefining-our-relationships-with-governments" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Pays Trump $25 Million To Settle Lawsuit Over Facebook, Instagram Ban After Jan. 6 Riot: ‘A Big Year For Redefining Our Relationships With Governments'</a>
"From a CapEx point of view, we&#8217;ve always taken a very prudent and deliberate approach to our expenditure and we continue to leverage a hybrid model, which I think continues to serve us well," Cook stated.
Despite <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43296041/openai-alleges-deepseek-used-proprietary-models-without-permission-as-microsoft-investigates-ai-security-risks">OpenAI&#8217;s accusation of DeepSeek</a> using its models without permission, Cook acknowledged DeepSeek&#8217;s contributions.
"In general, I think innovation that drives efficiency is a good thing. And, you know, that's what you see in that model," he said on the earnings call.
Why It Matters: Apple has previously indicated that it is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/11/42030331/heres-when-google-gemini-could-be-integrated-with-apple-intelligence">open to incorporating AI models</a> from other companies, like Google's Gemini or Anthropic's Claude, into future iPhones.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43296460/dan-ives-says-chinese-startup-deepseeks-6-million-ai-development-assertion-is-likely-a-fictional-story">DeepSeek claims to have developed</a> its cost-efficient R1 model in just two months with an investment of $5.6 million. While these claims have been scrutinized they have also raised questions about the need for large-scale GPU investments.
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.
On Wednesday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/43326499/mark-zuckerberg-says-chinas-deepseek-did-some-novel-things-were-still-digesting-but-meta-may-keep-pouring-billions-into-ai-infrastructure-anyway">acknowledged DeepSeek&#8217;s novel approaches</a>. However, he said it's too soon to determine how these developments will impact infrastructure usage and capital expenditures.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also recognized DeepSeek&#8217;s AI innovations but remained cautious about their <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43327016/microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-accepts-deepseek-ai-has-some-real-innovations-but-wont-say-if-they-mark-a-turning-point-for-ai-cost-reduction">potential to reduce AI costs</a>.
Apple&#8217;s earnings report revealed a fiscal first-quarter <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43355688/apple-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-iphone-sales-slip-installed-base-climbs-to-all-time-high-our-best-quarter-ever">revenue of $124.3 billion</a>, surpassing analyst estimates, despite a decline in iPhone sales.
Price Action: Apple's stock rose by 3.01% in after-hours trading, hitting $244.75. In regular trading on Thursday, it closed at $237.59, reflecting a 0.74% decline, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
Image via Shutterstock
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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.

Tim Cook Praises China's DeepSeek For Driving Efficiency, Stresses Apple's 'Prudent And Deliberate' Approach Toward Capital Expenditure

Entrepreneur and TV personality Kevin O'Leary has thrown his support behind <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43203763/trump-wants-to-get-rid-of-federal-emergency-agency-its-not-good-he-says-while-visiting-disasters-in-california-north-carolina">President Donald Trump's plan</a> to overhaul or even scrap the Federal Emergency Management Agency. O'Leary's endorsement comes amidst growing debate over the effectiveness of FEMA and Trump's proposal to shift disaster relief funding directly to state governments.
On social media and in a Fox News interview, O'Leary <a href="https://x.com/kevinolearytv/status/1883270303952077040">said</a> Trump's plan is "smart" and "efficient." He explained that giving state governors control of disaster money, along with clear rules to track spending, would make things more transparent. "Every taxpayer wants accountability, and this plan delivers," he wrote.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trump's FEMA Criticism and Vision for Reform</h2>
Trump has been very critical of FEMA, saying it's not doing a good job and has too much red tape. During a visit to hurricane-hit North Carolina last week, Trump stated bluntly, "FEMA has turned out to be a disaster. I think we recommend that FEMA go away. I think, frankly, that FEMA is not good." He suggested redirecting disaster relief funds straight to state governors, whom he views as the CEOs of their states, capable of managing resources more effectively.
An <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/council-to-assess-the-federal-emergency-management-agency/">executive order</a> issued by Trump lays out a plan for a 20-member council that will be led by the secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to evaluate FEMA and propose reforms within 180 days. While the White House clarified the review is aimed at reform rather than immediate elimination, Trump's sharp criticism has sparked intense discussion about FEMA's future.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Legacy of Challenges for FEMA</h2>
FEMA, established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, was created to centralize disaster management after decades of inefficiency. More than 100 federal agencies were involved in disaster relief, creating a chaotic and uncoordinated system prior to FEMA. The agency's role has since been enshrined in federal law, making it impossible for a president to unilaterally abolish it without congressional approval.
Despite its vital role, FEMA has faced challenges over the years. Under President Ronald Reagan, conservative appointees prioritized downsizing, and during President George W. Bush's tenure, FEMA's status was reduced within the Department of Homeland Security, which many critics say undermined its effectiveness. Trump's proposal to overhaul FEMA is seen by some as part of a broader strategy to disrupt government agencies.
Trending: According to Juniper Research, the total value of B2B cross-border payments stored on the blockchain is projected to exceed $4.4 trillion — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/web3-enabler-future-of-enterprise-transactions">Join the first company to bring blockchain payments to Salesforce early with just $100.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mixed Reactions to Trump's Proposal</h2>
Critics argue that dismantling FEMA would set disaster management back decades, returning to a fragmented system where states struggled to manage large-scale emergencies. During his visit to disaster-stricken areas in North Carolina and Southern California last week, Trump's remarks about FEMA drew fire for undermining emergency workers and ignoring the agency's critical role.
However, O'Leary and others see merit in Trump's plan. O'Leary highlighted the inefficiencies of FEMA's bureaucracy, pointing out that disaster funds often fail to promptly reach those in need. He praised Trump's vision of milestone-based funding, saying it ensures transparency and effective use of taxpayer money.
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If governors are given the responsibility and accountability, taxpayers will know exactly how their money is being used, he said. &#8220;Let&#8217;s check in every month or every quarter or every year and see exactly how that Capital was used, and I think every taxpayer, including me, listening to that, says, ‘I like that idea. I want some accountability, and I want to see executional skills in action.'&#8221;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Turning Point for Disaster Management?</h2>
The debate over FEMA's future comes at a critical time. Natural disasters, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43095813/california-wildfires-to-cost-275-billion-critics-slam-gov-newsoms-101m-firefighting-cuts-amid-record-rainfall-in-2023">from hurricanes to wildfires</a>, have been increasing in frequency and intensity. Critics of Trump's approach warn that eliminating FEMA could leave states overwhelmed during large-scale crises. Supporters, however, see it as a chance to streamline disaster relief and reduce federal inefficiency.
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'Every Taxpayer Wants Accountability, And This Plan Delivers,' Says Kevin O'Leary, Backing Donald Trump's Plan To Possibly Scrap FEMA

ZKIN

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

FCUV

Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, criticized President Donald Trump&#8217;s handling of the <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/01/43328465/no-survivors-yet-to-plane-crash-near-reagan-national-airport-american-airlines-ceo-heads-to-washington">recent fatal crash</a> of an American Airlines Group Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AA#NASDAQ">AA</a>) plane, highlighting the safety record during his tenure.
What Happened: On Thursday, Buttigieg took to X to express his disapproval of Trump&#8217;s response to the tragic midair collision that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/01/43343648/all-60-passengers-4-crew-members-onboard-american-airlines-jet-feared-dead-after-midair-collision-official-says">resulted in 64 fatalities</a>. 
He emphasized the safety measures implemented during his time in office, including the growth of Air Traffic Control and the reduction of close calls. 
&#8220;Despicable. As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying. We put safety first, drove down close calls, grew Air Traffic Control, and had zero commercial airline crash fatalities out of millions of flights on our watch,&#8221; Buttigieg said.
<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">Despicable. As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying. We put safety first, drove down close calls, grew Air Traffic Control, and had zero commercial airline crash fatalities out of millions of flights on our watch. President Trump now oversees the military and the…
&mdash; Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteButtigieg/status/1885013865676562491?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Buttigieg also pointed out that one of Trump&#8217;s first acts as President was to fire and suspend key personnel who helped ensure aviation safety. He called on the President to demonstrate leadership and outline measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43372252/elon-musk-brushes-aside-concerns-on-trumps-ev-policies-sustainable-transport-is-inevitable-it-cant-be-stopped">Elon Musk Brushes Aside Concerns On Trump&#8217;s EV Policies: &#8216;Sustainable Transport Is Inevitable … It Can&#8217;t Be Stopped&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The midair collision, involving an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, is the deadliest air disaster on U.S. soil since 2001. 
The crash occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, leading to the suspension of all takeoffs and landings for the rest of the evening. This incident happened just nine days after President Trump&#8217;s inauguration, during which he <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/01/43354408/trump-comments-on-american-airlines-crash-heres-what-we-know-what-he-suggests-is-to-blame">fired the heads</a> of the Transportation Security Administration and Coast Guard.
Trump suggested that diversity, equity and inclusion policies could have been a factor in the fatal crash, but did not provide any evidence. When pressed on his claims, the president said he had &#8220;common sense.&#8221;
Price Action: American Airlines stock closed nearly 2.5% lower at $16.90 on Thursday and gained 0.3% in the after-hours trading, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">data from Benzinga Pro.</a>
Photo Courtesy: Rich Koele On Shutterstock.com
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
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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

General

Trump's Comments On American Airlines Crash 'Despicable,' Says Pete Buttigieg: President Should Be 'Leading, Not Lying'

Elon Musk's past comments may have scared away advertisers from his X social media platform, which he bought for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31810229/elon-musk-bought-twitter-1-year-ago-a-look-back-at-whats-happened-since-and-what-could-be-next">$44 billion in 2022.</a>
A new report says two of the largest companies in the world could provide a boost to X's advertising revenue.
What Happened: Musk's<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/04/38240165/disney-took-a-break-from-x-during-the-companys-suspension-of-advertising-now-one-account-is-tweeting"> push for free speech</a> and changes to content moderation on X led to some advertisers exiting the platform completely or cutting down their level of spending.
Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) is a current advertiser on X and is ramping up its spending on the platform, according to a <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/amazon-raises-its-ad-spending-on-elon-musks-x-in-major-reversal-8a27228b">report </a>from the Wall Street Journal.
The e-commerce giant previously pulled a large portion of its advertising a year ago when concerns about hate speech on the platform were elevated.
The report said Amazon CEO Andy Jassy was involved in the decision to increase spending on the platform. While the report doesn't say that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was part of the decision, the timing of the announced ad spending increase comes after Musk and Bezos have been part of several appearance together.
Both billionaires were present at President Donald Trump's inauguration and a once very public rivalry between the two appears to have been minimized due to Musk's political influence within the Trump administration.
Along with the news that Amazon is set to increase its spending on X, the report said Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is also considering testing ads on the platform. Apple previously pulled all of its ad spending on X in 2023.
Apple's X account has 9.7 million <a href="https://x.com/Apple">followers </a>and no posts. The account has been used for advertisements and sponsored posts in the past and caused confusion when the account went silent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/11/29832912/apple-exec-deletes-twitter-account-tech-giant-clears-all-posts-whats-going-on">with no posts.</a>
Apple CEO Tim Cook was a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42801809/apple-ceo-tim-cook-reportedly-donates-1-million-to-trump-inauguration-joins-ranks-of-mark-zuckerberg-jeff-bezos-and-sam-altman">donor to the Trump inauguration</a>. Apple and Musk's SpaceX were recently part of a collaboration with T-Mobile iPhone users <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43294364/apple-surprises-iphone-users-by-teaming-up-with-spacex-and-t-mobile-to-bring-starlink-satellite-texting-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-feature">getting access to </a>Starlink. &nbsp;&nbsp;
The moves by Amazon and Apple come as Musk is viewed as one of the top allies of Trump and he heads the Department of Government Efficiency, which is in charge of cutting government spending.
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Why It's Important: News of a potential windfall in additional advertising spending comes at an interesting time for X.
Investment banks including Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) who were part of the financing of the $44 billion buyout have been trying to sell off their debt, as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43204045/elon-musk-says-x-user-growth-is-stagnant-banks-who-financed-acquisition-selling-debt-at-10-discount">Benzinga recently reported</a>. Some banks were willing to sell the debt at 10% discounts.
Banks are looking to sell off $3 billion in loans, as reported by <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-30/x-s-post-musk-financials-signal-recovery-in-2024-after-slide?sref=TBDibEcD">Bloomberg</a>.
News of the debt sales is providing a better look at the financials of X, which went private with Musk's purchase. The report said X had adjusted EBITDA of $1.2 billion in 2024. This includes having EBITDA of $400 million on $710 million in revenue in the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter could have gotten a bump with record usage reported during the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/41766191/elon-musk-says-x-saw-record-usage-on-election-day-as-trump-closes-in-on-white-house-win">2024 presidential election</a>, an event that likely saw increased advertising revenue.
The EBITDA figure is around flat from when Musk bought the company according to the report. One big difference noted is the $1.4 billion cash on the balance sheet in 2022 versus a cash balance of $400 million today.
Bloomberg reported that investors are becoming more interested in buying the debt that banks are trying to sell off as signs of Musk turning around X are becoming more prevalent. Also drawing interest is ownership stakes in xAI that were awarded to investors of the Twitter buyout.
The bank's debt was previously receiving offers of 60 to 65 cents on the dollar versus the 90 to 95 cents offered today. Banks have received interest payments on their debt, but many have held the debt longer than they do on loans due to lower valuations assigned to X after Musk took over.
Fidelity, which owns shares of X Holdings in the&nbsp;Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund&nbsp;(FBGRX),&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42271676/fidelity-raises-valuation-of-elon-musks-x-but-its-still-worth-72-less-than-his-buyout-price" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">valued X at $12.3 billion recently</a>. While the company increased its valuation of X by 32.3% at the time, it valued X at 72% less than Musk paid.
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Photo: Shutterstock

Social Media

Financing

AMZN

Elon Musk Bringing Advertisers Back To X: Amazon Boosts Spending, Apple Considers Return

Egg prices in the U.S. have risen 60% over the past year, due in large part to the bird flu ravaging commercial flocks. Here's a look at why experts see the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/01/43117087/bird-flu-update-first-commercial-case-in-georgia-moderna-receives-590-million-to-develop-vaccine"> prices continuing to climb.</a> 
The Details: The average price for a dozen large, grade-A eggs rose 60% over the past year, reaching $4.15 in December, according <a href="https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/APU0000708111">to data</a> from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The USDA predicts egg prices <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings#:~:text=In%202025,%20prices%20for%20all,of%20-2.7%20to%205.5%20percent.%5C">will </a>rise another 45% in 2025 due to a strain of bird flu known as H5N1 that killed 13.2 million commercial egg-laying hens in December.
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On top of the record-high prices, consumers are also facing egg shortages and purchase limits at major retailers like Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>) and Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACI#NYSE">ACI</a>). 
Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that a record number of more than 20 million egg-laying chickens died in the last quarter due to bird flu.&nbsp;
In an attempt to contain the virus, farmers are compensated for chickens and eggs that are destroyed through a USDA program which said it had paid out $1.25 billion to farmers since the outbreak started in 2022, according to a CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/egg-industry-chicken-deaths-bird-flu/">report</a>.&nbsp;
In fact, egg producers are reporting record profits during the latest bird flu outbreak. Cal-Maine Foods Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CALM#NYSE">CALM</a>), the nation's largest egg producer, reported<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/42862269/cal-maine-foods-stock-climbs-after-strong-q2-results-eps-beat-revenues-beat"> its most recent </a>quarterly revenue at $954.7 million, well above the $751.49 million consensus estimate.
The company attributed its high revenue in part to restricted supply resulting from bird flu outbreaks. Cal-Maine Foods stock has gained more than 75% over the past six months.&nbsp;
Telsey Advisory Group analyst Sarang Vora initiated coverage this week on Vital Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VITL#NASDAQ">VITL</a>), a smaller producer specializing in pasture-raised eggs. Vora said he sees the company&#8217;s sales growing at an annual growth rate of 19% to 20% and hitting the $1 billion mark in 2027, versus $600 million in 2024. 
This week, Rose Acre Farms, the second-largest egg producer in the U.S., confirmed its chickens had tested positive for bird flu, likely extending the period of high egg prices and shortages. 
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Image: Shutterstock

Health Care

CALM

COST

VITL

Eggs Prices Soar As Bird Flu Spreads: Why Experts Expect Another 45% Increase In 2025

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/12/42368125/i-wonder-how-young-people-today-survive-robert-kiyosaki-says-spending-14-on-an-egg-salad-sandwich-was-hard-to-swallow">Robert Kiyosaki</a>, the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, has never been shy about making bold predictions. On Jan. 26, he took to X to double down on what <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/07/40041316/laugh-all-you-want-robert-kiyosaki-rich-dad-poor-dad-warns-millions-of-401-k-s-and-iras-will-be-">he's been warning about for years</a>: a massive stock market crash. This time, though, he's naming a specific date – February 2025 – as the tipping point for what he calls "the biggest stock market crash in history."
In his post, Kiyosaki referenced his 2013 book, Rich Dad's Prophecy, where he claimed this crash was inevitable. But it's not just doom and gloom from him. Kiyosaki argues that market crashes create opportunities for those prepared, saying everything from cars to houses will "go on sale." He wrote, "Good news because in a crash everything goes on sale. Cars and houses on sale now."
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Even more interestingly, he predicts that billions will leave traditional investments like stocks and bonds, flowing into assets like Bitcoin, gold and silver. He advises people to "get out of fake and into real," emphasizing that even owning a single Satoshi could be enough to secure wealth in the chaos.
But Kiyosaki isn't alone in predicting trouble.
Goldman Sachs analysts also warn of a significant market correction, estimating a potential 30% drop in 2025. Their concerns stem from high valuations and ongoing economic uncertainty. Economist Harry Dent is on a similar page, pointing to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/42236424/1-in-5-dollars-the-government-expends-goes-to-repaying-investors-heres-why-this-spells-trouble-for-trump-and-doge">America's growing private debt</a> as a time bomb waiting to go off. Dent has even said the bubble could burst as early as mid-2025.
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Meanwhile, Jeremy Grantham, a veteran investor known for spotting financial bubbles, is predicting a "cataclysmic decline" in the stock market. He attributes this to overvaluation, demographic shifts like declining population growth, and global challenges such as climate change.
With heavyweights like Kiyosaki, Goldman Sachs, Dent and Grantham all predicting a downturn, the message is clear: prepare now. While the specifics of these warnings differ, they all share a common theme – markets are fragile, and significant challenges are ahead.
For the average investor, this means reassessing your financial strategy. Diversification becomes even more critical in uncertain times. Kiyosaki suggests moving from traditional "fake" assets like stocks and bonds into alternatives like cryptocurrency, gold and silver. While his Bitcoin predictions of "boom, boom, boom" may seem extreme, crypto has historically performed well during periods of economic uncertainty.
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Experts recommend having a clear plan for market volatility. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/08/40531988/you-dont-need-emergency-savings-says-grant-cardone-claims-that-three-months-of-savings-in-case-o">Building emergency savings</a>, paying down debt, and diversifying your investments are key steps to weather a potential storm.
No one can predict the future with absolute certainty, but financial experts' growing chorus of warnings is hard to ignore. Whether or not February 2025 brings the "biggest crash in history," it's a good time to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/are-you-rich">evaluate your financial health</a> and make adjustments if needed. After all, as Kiyosaki often reminds us, in every crash lies an opportunity – if you're prepared for it.
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Robert Kiyosaki, 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad,' Warns The Biggest Stock Market Crash Ever Is Coming February – 'Good News Is Everything Goes On Sale'

Outlook
The company anticipates that adjusted earnings per share for the full year 2025 will be in the range of $7.75 to $8.05, which at the mid-point represents EPS growth of 7% excluding the impact of foreign currency translation and a higher tax rate. This range is based on current global economic activity and foreign exchange rates, ongoing soft global industrial production, and mixed demand across the various regions in which we operate. The company expects that annual EPS growth will be weighted toward the second half of 2025 as global industrial demand weakened and the U.S. dollar strengthened in the second half of 2024. Additionally, we expect to realize more than $100 million in annualized share gains in our Industrial Coatings segment beginning in the second half of the year.
Additional information related to 2025 financial projections is posted within the slides and prepared commentary associated with the fourth quarter earnings documents on the Investors section of PPG.com.
The term organic sales as used in this press release is defined as net sales excluding the impact of currency, acquisitions and divestitures.

Guidance

PPG Anticipates Adj EPS For FY25 Will Be In The Range Of $7.75-$8.05 Vs $8.68 Est.

PPG Indus (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPG#NYSE">PPG</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $1.61 per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $1.65 by 2.42 percent. This is a 3.21 percent increase over earnings of $1.56 per share from the same period last year.

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Associated Banc-Corp 6.625% Fixed-Rate Reset Subordinated Notes due 2033

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