American Century ETF Trust Avantis Responsible Emerging Markets Equity ETF (ARCA: AVSE)

Latest news for American Century ETF Trust Avantis Responsible Emerging Markets Equity ETF (ARCA:AVSE)

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The fund invests primarily in a diverse group of companies related to emerging markets across market sectors, industry groups and countries. The fund may invest in companies of all market capitalizations. The portfolio management team limits its investable universe of companies by screening out those that raise concerns based on the teams evaluation of multiple ESG metrics. The portfolio managers utilize third party commercial data sources and scoring systems (currently, MSCI and Sustainalytics), as well as proprietary evaluations, to decide what securities should be excluded due to ESG concerns.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Sponsored ADR

Tencent Holdings Ltd

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. GDR

Alibaba

Infosys Ltd

PDD Holdings Inc

Avantis Responsible Emerging Markets Equity ETF

US.Dollar.China.Yuan.SouthAmerica

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Emerging Markets

Tech

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Trading Ideas

American Century ETF Trust Avantis Responsible Emerging Markets Equity ETF

AVSE

BABA

BIDU

BILI

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI INDXX DIGITAL TRANSACTION & PROCESS TECHNOLOGY ETF

LEGR

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

XPEV

U.S. listed Chinese stocks remain on watchlist as domestic markets falter due to weak economic data and Trump&#39;s return, but Goldman Sachs expects fiscal measures to drive stock market gains. China also plans to increase treasury bond sales to counter potential U.S. tariffs.

Goldman Sachs Backs Chinese Equities as Markets React to Economic Slowdown and Tariff Concerns

European aerospace companies are bracing for &#8220;very strong&#8221; protectionism in the United States as Donald Trump prepares to take office. Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus SE (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EADSY#OTC">EADSY</a>), voiced his concerns about the potential impact on the industry.
What Happened: Faury, who also leads France&#8217;s GIFAS aerospace association, noted that supply chains are still recovering from the pandemic&#8217;s disruptions, Reuters reported on Thursday. While the European aerospace sector is witnessing robust demand for commercial aircraft and increased defense spending, it faces challenges like overcapacity and job reductions in the satellite industry.
As Trump&#8217;s inauguration approaches, the industry anticipates a significant shift toward protectionism. Trump has previously threatened tariffs on foreign goods to prioritize American interests. Faury also pointed out the European defense sector&#8217;s struggle with financing shortages, despite ongoing conflicts such as the one in Ukraine.
He urged the French government, led by Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, to maintain support for research on emissions reduction and to ease corporate charges, warning against repeating past mistakes seen in other industries.
Why It Matters: The prospect of a Trump presidency has raised concerns in Europe about the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/24/11/41819604/trump-presidency-raises-concerns-about-european-recession">potential for a new round </a>of tariffs, which could trigger an economic recession. Analysts have issued pessimistic outlooks for European economic growth following Trump&#8217;s election victory.
Trump&#8217;s win has also sparked a &#8220;reshoring&#8221; rally, with stocks of companies <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/41857487/exclusive-trump-victory-triggers-reshoring-rally-as-supply-chain-security-outweighs-cost">focused on bringing production</a> back to the U.S. surging sharply. This trend is driven by expectations of protectionist policies.
Furthermore,&nbsp;Goldman Sachs&nbsp;analysts have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42888800/goldman-sachs-flags-market-correction-risk-as-inflation-trump-policies-stir-uncertainty">flagged a near 30% probability</a> of market corrections due to rising inflation pressures, trade tensions, and political uncertainty ahead of Trump&#8217;s second term. These factors could lead to deeper market volatility and weaker forward returns for equities.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Wikimedia Commons

Global

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European Aeronautic Defence And Space Unsponsored

EADSY

Airbus CEO Warns Of 'Very Strong' US Protectionism Under Trump

Telsey Advisory Group analyst Joseph Feldman maintains Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>) with a Outperform and maintains $1100 price target.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

COST

Telsey Advisory Group Maintains Outperform on Costco Wholesale, Maintains $1100 Price Target

Telsey Advisory Group analyst Joe Feldman maintains Albertsons Companies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACI#NYSE">ACI</a>) with a Outperform and maintains $26 price target.

Telsey Advisory Group Maintains Outperform on Albertsons Companies, Maintains $26 Price Target

RBC Partners With Cohere To Co-develop And Deploy An Enterprise Generative AI Solution Optimized For Financial Services

The Company will use the anticipated net proceeds from the sale, after payment of transaction-related fees and expenses, to prepay in full the outstanding CCIBV term loans in the principal amount of $375 million, plus any accrued interest.
The transaction is expected to close in 2025, upon satisfaction of regulatory approvals.
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Asset Sales

Clear Channel Outdoor Agrees To Sell The Businesses Constituting Its Europe-North Segment To Bauer Media For $625M

Health Care

Contracts

GNTA

Genenta Science Has Amended Its Partnership With AGC Biologics And Introduced An Exclusive gMP Suite At The AGC Biologics Cell And Gene Center Of Excellence In Milan To Manufacture Genenta's Cell Therapy Product

Costco Wholesale Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>), a top pick by the late veteran investor Charlie Munger reported strong sales figures for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/12/42473288/costco-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-comps-up-52-membership-fee-growth-and-more">December</a> and is expected to post a 7% year-on-year jump in January 2025 core sales, according to the analysts at Telsey Advisory Group.
What Happened: Costco reported a 9.9% jump to $27.52 billion in net sales for the five weeks ended Jan. 5, as compared to $25.03 billion last year. This excluded the impact of changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange.
However, this Munger favorite admired for its business model and unique approach to retailing is expected to report better sales in the coming months. Analysts at TAG expect Costco to &#8220;execute well in this uncertain operating environment.&#8221;
The research note projects a January comparable sales of 5% as compared to 2.7% in January last year. According to them, the core merchandise comparable sales, excluding gas and forex price changes, will come in at 7% as compared to 3.4% last year during the same period.
Within the U.S., TAG expects a 6.5% increase in sales as compared to 2.2% a year ago, excluding forex and gas price change.
E-commerce sales in December were positively impacted by an estimated 15%, due to Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday occurring a week later this year. However, TAG pegs it at 5% for January 2025, which is less than the 21% growth in the same month last year.
&#8220;In FY25, Costco should continue to generate solid EPS growth, driven by an MSD comp, membership fee income growth of HSD (including benefits from higher fees), effective management of merchandising and costs, and leverage of customer data,&#8221; said the note. TAG analysts maintain an &#8216;outperform&#8217; rating with a 12-month price target of $1,100 per share given the healthy underlying trends.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/earnings-beats/24/12/42483334/from-4-2-million-thanksgiving-pies-to-record-pizza-sales-costco-hits-4-major-milestones-in-q1-beating-earnings-estimates">From 4.2 Million Thanksgiving Pies To Record Pizza Sales: Costco Hits 4 Major Milestones In Q1, Beating Earnings Estimates</a> 
Why It Matters: "I love everything about Costco," <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42495307/charlie-munger-identified-this-stock-30-years-ago-after-warren-buffett-passed-on-it-heres-how-it-is-doing-as-it-accomplishes-four-milestones-in-its-current-quarter">Munger</a> said during the Daily Journal's annual shareholder meeting back in February 2023. He died in November 2023 and had a seat on the retailer&#8217;s board till his death. This seat was first offered to Warren Buffett in 1997, which he declined, saying that retailing was a difficult business.
"I wish everything else in America was working as well as Costco does," Munger said in early 2022. "Think what a blessing that would be for us all."
In December, Costco reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/12/42473288/costco-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-comps-up-52-membership-fee-growth-and-more">first-quarter</a> revenue of $62.15 billion, beating the consensus estimate of $62.08 billion. The membership-based retailer reported first-quarter adjusted earnings of $3.82 per share, beating analyst estimates of $3.79 per share, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
The stock rose 1.85% to $944.55 apiece in after-hours on Wednesday. It has risen by 4.57% over the last six months, outperforming the Nasdaq 100 index, which rose by 3.56% in the same period.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/COST/analyst-ratings">Benzinga</a>, Costco has a consensus price target of $1009.88 based on the ratings of 26 analysts. The highest price target out of all the analysts tracked by Benzinga is $1175 issued by BMO Capital as of Dec. 13, 2024. The lowest target price is $890 issued by Redburn Atlantic on Sept. 10, 2024.
The average price target of $1053.33 between Telsey Advisory Group, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo implies an 11.52% side for Costco.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/COST/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="945" height="358" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09043130/costco-anr-anr-anr.png" alt="" class="wp-image-725626" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09043130/costco-anr-anr-anr.png 945w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09043130/costco-anr-anr-anr-300x114.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09043130/costco-anr-anr-anr-768x291.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 945px) 100vw, 945px" /></a></figure>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42891870/avadel-pharmaceuticals-misses-earnings-estimate-but-posts-150-increase-in-sales-from-its-narcolepsy-drug-lumryz">Avadel Pharmaceuticals Misses Earnings Estimates But Posts 150% Sales Increase From Narcolepsy Drug LUMRYZ</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Earnings

Equities

Markets

Charlie Munger's Top Pick Costco Reports Strong December Sales: Analysts Expect A 7% Jump In January

Annual average production in 2025 is targeted to be between 1,510 MBOE/d and 1,555 MBOE/d, resulting in production growth of approximately 170 MBOE/‌d or 12% over 2024 levels based on the mid-point of corporate guidance.
This significant corporate growth includes the previously disclosed strategic acquisition of the AOSP and Duvernay assets completed in 2024.&nbsp;

Canadian Natural Sets 2025 Operating Capital Budget Of C$6B; Targets Annual Average Production In 2025 To Be Between 1,510 MBOE/d - 1,555 MBOE/d

Nayib Bukele, President of El Salvador, suggested that Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) might soon be available at a reduced price. 
What Happened:&nbsp;Bukele&#8217;s comment came after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42890745/us-government-granted-permission-to-liquidate-65-billion-in-bitcoin-seized-from-silk-road-case-report">a federal judge allowed the U.S. government</a> to sell 69,370 Bitcoins, valued at $6.5 billion, seized from the Silk Road case. 
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) received approval to liquidate the Bitcoin due to concerns about price volatility. The Silk Road, a notorious darknet marketplace, was shut down in 2013, and Bitcoins were seized as part of the investigation. The DOJ&#8217;s decision to sell the assets comes amid ongoing discussions about the cryptocurrency&#8217;s market stability and regulatory measures.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Maybe we'll all get the chance to buy Bitcoin at a discount! <a href="https://t.co/d16TnQ9SAl">https://t.co/d16TnQ9SAl</a>
&mdash; Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) <a href="https://twitter.com/nayibbukele/status/1877188308301763013?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Why It Matters: For Bukele, who has been a vocal advocate for Bitcoin, the potential market impact of this sale is noteworthy. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/21/06/21486534/el-salvador-becomes-first-country-in-the-world-to-adopt-bitcoin-as-legal-tender">El Salvador became the first country</a> to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, and Bukele&#8217;s interest in the cryptocurrency market remains strong. The sale could present an opportunity for investors to acquire Bitcoin at a lower price, aligning with Bukele&#8217;s optimistic outlook on the cryptocurrency&#8217;s future.
The U.S. government&#8217;s move to sell Bitcoin has been a topic of debate, with figures like Donald Trump expressing opposition. In August, Trump stated that the government <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40176950/trump-says-government-shouldnt-be-selling-bitcoin-crypto-is-like-ai-if-we-dont-build-it-ch">should not be selling Bitcoin</a>, comparing the importance of cryptocurrency to that of artificial intelligence. He emphasized the need for the U.S. to embrace and build upon these modern currencies. 
Furthermore, Trump has reportedly considered an executive order to establish a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42505162/trump-reportedly-considering-executive-order-to-establish-strategic-bitcoin-reserve">Strategic Bitcoin Reserve</a>, indicating a potential shift in U.S. economic policy to position Bitcoin as a core national asset. This move could have significant implications for the cryptocurrency market and the U.S. economy.
Read Also: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42890191/trump-themed-nfts-launch-on-bitcoin-network-for-first-timeheres-what-you-should-know">Trump-Themed NFTs Debut On Bitcoin Network — One Card Gets Listed At $1.9 Million</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock

$BTC

El Salvador's Nayib Bukele Says 'Maybe We'll All Get The Chance To Buy Bitcoin At A Discount' After DOJ Clears Sale Of Over 69K BTC

KKR Further Extends Second Tender Offer For FUJI SOFT From January 9, 2025 To January 24, 2025; Says Will Not Withdraw Its Second Tender Offer

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on Thursday that the company will provide free Starlink terminals to areas affected by wildfires in Los Angeles. 
What Happened: &#8220;SpaceX will provide free Starlink terminals to affected areas in LA tomorrow morning,&#8221; Musk said on his social media platform X, without elaborating on numbers. The billionaire CEO was responding to footage from Fox 11 where the on-ground reporter said that they are using Starlink to broadcast their live coverage of the wildfires due to the lack of cell service.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">SpaceX will provide free Starlink terminals to affected areas in LA tomorrow morning <a href="https://t.co/hm4k3hAmq2">https://t.co/hm4k3hAmq2</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1877219652050313671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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South California has been battling multiple wildfires over the last few days. Since the start of the new year, there have over over 55 wildfires in the region, prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. The Palisades fire, which started on Tuesday, is spread across over 17,000 acres in Los Angeles, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f525; CAL FIRE is battling multiple wildfires across Southern California. Just eight days into 2025, there have been more than 55 wildfires. Here is a summary of the major fires burning in Southern California, including the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PalisadesFire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PalisadesFire</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EatonFire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EatonFire</a> <a href="https://t.co/JmOlMHKOIw">pic.twitter.com/JmOlMHKOIw</a>
&mdash; CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) <a href="https://twitter.com/CAL_FIRE/status/1877092836333568048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Over 7500 personnel, 1162 fire engines, 6 air tankers, and multiple helicopters have been deployed to fight the wildfires, California Governor Gavin Newsom said. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Latest deployment count via local, state, and federal partners in the fight against the Los Angeles wildfires: &#x1f9d1;&#x200d;&#x1f692; 7,500+ Personnel &#x1f692; 1,162 Fire Engines &#x1f4a7; 23 Water Tenders &#x2708;&#xFE0F; 6 Air Tankers &#x1f681; 31 Helicopters &#x1f69c; 53 Dozers
&mdash; Governor Newsom (@CAgovernor) <a href="https://twitter.com/CAgovernor/status/1877217310726815923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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As per a recent report from Forbes, the death toll due to the fires has <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/01/08/california-wildfire-live-updates-officials-say-5-dead-as-another-fire-breaks-out-in-hollywood-hills/">increased to five</a>.
Why It Matters: This is not the first time that Starlink has offered a helping hand in times of crisis.
In October, SpaceX <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41301754/elon-musks-spacex-to-offer-starlink-service-for-free-to-hurricane-helene-and-hurricane-milton-victim">offered free Starlink service</a> for those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Hurricane Milton until the end of the year. Starlink and T-Mobile US Inc.&nbsp;then also activated their Direct-to-Cell coverage to provide emergency alerts for all phones and telecommunications carriers in areas affected by the hurricanes. 
The satellite internet segment of SpaceX achieved a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/11/35583773/spacex-ceo-elon-musk-says-starlink-business-has-achieved-breakeven-cash-flow-is-an-ipo-on-the-cards" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breakeven cash flow</a> in November 2023 and continues to be a money-making segment for SpaceX. Earlier this month, the company said that Starlink now has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/01/42761808/spacex-says-starlink-now-has-over-4-6-million-customers-1-6-million-new-users-added-in-7-months">over 4.6 million customers</a> in over 118 countries, territories, and other markets.
&#8220;We are going to make some money on Starlink this year. But ultimately I think Starship (the company's new rocket under development) will be the thing that takes us over the top as one of the most valuable companies,&#8221; SpaceX COO&nbsp;Gwynne Shotwell&nbsp;said at a conference hosted by Baron Capital in November. However, Shotwell refused to divulge more of the private company&#8217;s financials.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42891397/non-foundation-series-cheaper-cybertrucks-join-tesla-inventory" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla's Inventory Now Includes Non-Foundation Series Cybertrucks</a></li>
</ul>
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock

SPACE

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Offers Free Starlink Terminals To Los Angeles Areas Affected By Wildfires

A special administrative region in Bhutan announced on Wednesday that it will hold Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), and BNB Coin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/bnb/usd">BNB</a>) as part of its strategic reserve.
What happened: Gelephu Mindfulness City, situated in the south-central part of the Himalayan nation, said in a <a href="https://gmc.bt/digitalassets/">statement </a>that they opted for cryptocurrencies with large capitalizations to ensure ease of trading and to avoid liquidity risks.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and BNB were placed first, second, and fifth among the most valuable cryptocurrencies, respectively.
The endeavor was meant to strengthen the region&#8217;s economic resilience and expand its existing capabilities in the Bitcoin mining sector.
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/25/01/42890745/us-government-granted-permission-to-liquidate-65-billion-in-bitcoin-seized-from-silk-road-case-report">US Government Silk Road Bitcoin Holdings Drop To 0 Amid Report DOJ Approved To Sell $6.5 Billion Worth Of Crypto</a>
Reacting to the development, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao said that this was the first time a multi-asset cryptocurrency reserve had been set up in any jurisdiction.
"This signals that Bhutan is open-minded and open to other cryptocurrencies," Zhao noted.
Note that El Salvador has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/03/37763988/pro-bitcoin-president-nayib-bukele-says-el-salvador-will-purchase-btc-daily-until-king-cry">strategic Bitcoin treasury reserve</a> in place, and it was the first to enact such a fiscal policy measure.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">A few more points about Bhutan GMC making a crypto Strategic Reserve. 1. It&#39;s not just a bitcoin reserve but a crypto one, including ETH and BNB. I believe this is a first, and it sure won&#39;t be the last. This signals that Bhutan is open-minded and open to other cryptocurrencies,… <a href="https://t.co/Wvw7ejVTh8">https://t.co/Wvw7ejVTh8</a>
&mdash; CZ &#x1f536; BNB (@cz_binance) <a href="https://twitter.com/cz_binance/status/1876989878946451639?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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A dream project of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the Gelephu Mindfulness City is a planned economic hub with separate rules and laws, providing enterprises with legal freedom and executive autonomy.
Why It Matters: Bhutan has attracted eyeballs for its rapidly growing Bitcoin holdings, with <a href="https://intel.arkm.com/explorer/entity/druk-holding-investments">on-chain data</a> indicating a stash of 11.688K BTC, worth over $1 billion.&nbsp;
This made it the fifth-largest government holder of the apex digital currency behind the U.S., China, the UK, Ukraine, and surprisingly, above El Salvador, <a href="https://bitcointreasuries.net/">according </a>to bitcointreasuries.net.
Interestingly, Bhutan&#8217;s Bitcoin reserves were not derived from law enforcement seizures but rather from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40996451/max-keiser-says-el-salvador-needs-to-step-it-up-as-bhutans-bitcoin-adoption-astonishes-cry">indigenous mining capabilities</a> backed by its substantial hydropower resources.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $93,165.38, down 3.30% 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>.
Ethereum traded at $3,308.62 after a fall of 1.45%, while BNB was up 0.60% to $694.15.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42890191/trump-themed-nfts-launch-on-bitcoin-network-for-first-timeheres-what-you-should-know">Trump-Themed NFTs Debut On Bitcoin Network — One Card Gets Listed At $1.9 Million</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

$BNB

$ETH

Bhutan's Special Administrative Region Announces Strategic Reserve Consisting Of Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB Coin: Bhutan Is Open To Other Cryptos, Says Changpeng 'CZ' Zhao

Zoomcar's financial turnaround has been remarkable over the past year. Key highlights include:
<ul>
<li>In the first fiscal quarter 2024-25 report, Zoomcar reported a contribution profit of $0.46 million (20%), a substantial improvement in contribution margin from a loss of $1.2 million (-45%) in the first fiscal quarter 2023-24.</li>
<li>Similarly, Zoomcar shared a record quarterly contribution profit of $1.21 million (54% of revenue) in the second fiscal quarter 2024-25, up from a loss of $0.12 million (-5%) in the second fiscal quarter 2023-24.</li>
<li>December 2024's unaudited and unreviewed monthly contribution profit continues this positive trajectory, following a streak of four consecutive quarters of contribution profit improvement filed by the company.</li>
</ul>

ZCAR

Zoomcar Record $494K Contribution Profit In December 2024 With 17% YoY Growth In Bookings And Cost Coverage

The U.S. financial markets will observe an extraordinary trading pause on Thursday, to honor former President Jimmy Carter&#8216;s state funeral, marking only the fourth such closure for a presidential <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/movers-shakers/24/12/42716329/jimmy-carter-the-39th-us-president-who-championed-human-rights-and-peace-in-the-middle-east-had-died">remembrance in modern market history</a>. 
What Happened: The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will suspend all trading operations, while the bond market will see a shortened session closing at 2 p.m. ET, as recommended by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. 
This follows President Joe Biden&#8216;s executive order declaring Jan. 9 a national day of mourning for Carter, who died on Dec. 29 at age 100.
While U.S. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42725647/markets-will-close-for-president-jimmy-carters-state-funeral-what-you-need-to-know">financial markets and post offices will close</a>, most banks will maintain regular operations as the day is not designated as a federal holiday. 
The market closure has sparked debate within the financial community. Notably, Pershing Square CEO Bill Ackman <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/12/42737155/bill-ackman-questions-stock-market-closure-to-honor-jimmy-carter-calls-it-shutting-down-commerce">questioned the practice</a>, arguing on social media platform X that &#8220;closing the market is synonymous with shutting down commerce.&#8221; However, NYSE Group President Lynn Martin defended the decision, emphasizing Carter&#8217;s public service legacy.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/42865028/jim-cramer-predicts-palantir-buying-surge-tonight-after-morgan-stanleys-underweight-rating-unless-an">Jim Cramer Predicts Palantir Buying Surge Tonight After Morgan Stanley&#8217;s Underweight Rating: &#8216;Unless Another Analyst Starts With A Sell&#8230;&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Carter&#8217;s presidential tenure (1977-1981) was marked by significant economic challenges, including peak inflation of 13.5%. His appointment of Paul Volcker as Federal Reserve chairman proved pivotal in establishing monetary policies that would later tame inflation, though these measures <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/24/12/42734155/jimmy-carters-complex-economic-legacy-high-inflation-but-effective-hawkish-fed-under-volcker">contributed to his re-election defeat</a>.
For modern investors, Carter&#8217;s economic legacy includes the successful $1.5 billion government-backed rescue of Chrysler Corporation in 1980, which established a precedent for major corporate interventions. The automaker, now part of Stellantis N.V., ultimately repaid $12.5 billion in government loans.
The temporary market closure follows similar observances for former Presidents George H.W. Bush in 2018 and Gerald R. Ford in 2007.
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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.

Is Stock Market Open Today? A Quick Guide To Markets, Banking Hours And Closures For Jimmy Carter's Funeral On Jan. 9

Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FC#NYSE">FC</a>) fell 7.93% in after-hours on Wednesday as it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/earnings/25/01/42886380/earnings-breakdown-franklin-covey-q1">missed</a> the first-quarter estimates, but the management highlighted that the combined impact of its focused initiatives will boost future earnings, reaffirming its guidance for the current fiscal.
What Happened: Paul Walker, the president, CEO, and director of Franklin Covey highlighted two key areas of focus in 2025, including client penetration and onboarding new customers, also called, logo-hunting.
Talking about client penetration, he said that the previous fiscal&#8217;s revenue per client expanded 218% to $85,000 from $39,000. Walker explained that this expansion occurs when organizations who have been utilizing one or more of its solutions renew and expand their subscription.
&#8220;Since our conversion to subscription, we&#8217;ve won thousands of new logos,&#8221; Walker added during the call. Pegging this as Project Land, the company&#8217;s focus in this area helped them get one of the five largest banks in America as a client. The coaching company, providing training and assessment services in the areas of leadership, individual effectiveness, and business execution partnered with this bank in the development of 2,000 of their leaders.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/01/42871340/regional-banks-can-thrive-despite-big-bank-dominance-truist-securities-highlights-three-key-paths-for-thriving-regional-banks">Regional Banks Can Thrive Despite Big Bank Dominance: Truist Securities Highlights Three Key Paths For Thriving Regional Banks</a>
Why It Matters: CFO Steve Young reaffirmed the guidance provided at year-end, expecting revenue in the range of $295 million to $305 million in constant currency terms and adjusted EBITDA in the range of $40 million to $44 million. &#8220;We&#8217;ll need to achieve accelerated revenue growth in the back half of the year, and we expect this to happen,&#8221; Young said.
In the first quarter of the current fiscal its consolidated revenue increased to $69.1 million compared with $68.4 million in the same quarter of the previous fiscal. It missed Benzinga&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FC/earnings">estimate </a>by 1.52%, which was pegged at $70.15 million.
The company earnings per share came in at $0.09, missing Benzinga&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FC/earnings">estimate </a>by 59.1% of $0.22 per share. However, its liquidity remained strong at over $115 million, with $53.3 million of cash and no drawdowns on the company's $62.5 million credit facility.
Price Action: Franklin Covey shares have fallen by 7.93% over the last six months, underperforming the NYSE Composite Index, which rose by 6.61% in the same period.
According to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga</a>, FC has a consensus price target of $63.33 per share, with a &#8216;buy&#8217; rating based on the ratings of three <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FC/analyst-ratings">analysts</a>. The highest price target out of all the analysts tracked by Benzinga is $95 issued by Northland Capital Markets as of March 28, 2024. The lowest target price is $45 per share issued by Barrington Research on Nov. 7, 2024.
The average price target between the recent ratings by Barrington Research and Roth MKM implies a 32.2% upside for Franklin Covey.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FC/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="945" height="355" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09025530/FC-ANR.png" alt="" class="wp-image-725446" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09025530/FC-ANR.png 945w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09025530/FC-ANR-300x113.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09025530/FC-ANR-768x289.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 945px) 100vw, 945px" /></a></figure>
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</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Earnings Misses

Market Summary

Franklin Covey Shares Fall Nearly 8% After Q1 Miss, Management Reaffirms Optimistic Guidance

D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QBTS#NYSE">QBTS</a>) CEO Alan Baratz has criticized Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang for his comments regarding the timeline for achieving practical quantum computing, saying he is &#8220;dead wrong.&#8221;
What Happened: Huang&#8217;s remarks during Nvidia's analyst day, suggesting a 15 to 30-year wait for &#8220;very useful quantum computers,&#8221; have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42867168/nvidias-jensen-huang-said-something-that-has-all-quantum-computing-stocks-tumbling-qubt-and-rgti-down-13-ionq-down-11">sparked a heated debate</a> in the tech community.
Baratz strongly disagreed with Huang&#8217;s timeline, stating that D-Wave&#8217;s quantum computers are already in commercial use by companies like Mastercard Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) and Japan&#8217;s NTT Docomo, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/08/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-is-dead-wrong-about-quantum-d-wave-ceo.html">reported</a> CNBC.
"Not 30 years from now, not 20 years from now, not 15 years from now," he stated, adding, "But right now today."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42837406/amid-nvidias-ces-2025-buzz-investors-overlooked-apple-supplier-foxconns-strong-q4-says-jim-cramer">Amid Nvidia's CES 2025 Buzz, Investors Overlooked Apple Supplier Foxconn's Strong Q4, Says Jim Cramer</a>
Baratz stated that while Huang's remarks may hold some validity for gate model quantum computers, they are &#8220;100% off base&#8221; when it comes to annealing quantum computers.
He expressed willingness to meet with Huang to discuss the capabilities of D-Wave&#8217;s technology, highlighting that their systems can tackle problems beyond the reach of Nvidia&#8217;s fastest systems.
"I'll be happy to meet with Jensen any time, any place, to help fill in these gaps for him," the D-Wave CEO said.
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: After Huang&#8217;s comments, quantum computing stocks experienced significant declines on Wednesday.
During regular trading hours, IonQ Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IONQ#NYSE">IONQ</a>) dropped by 39%, while Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QUBT#NASDAQ">QUBT</a>) saw a 43.34% decline.
D-Wave and Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) also faced declines, with their stocks falling by 36.13% and 45.41%, respectively.
Price Action: D-Wave&#8217;s stock tumbled by 36.13% on Wednesday, but rebounded in after-hours trading with a 6.39% increase, reaching $6.49. Despite the decline, the company&#8217;s shares have skyrocketed by 600% over the past year, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
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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</ul>
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.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

IONQ

NVDA

QBTS

QUBT

RGTI

Jensen Huang Is 'Dead Wrong' About Quantum Computing, D-Wave CEO Fires Back At Nvidia Boss: 'Happy To Meet With Jensen Any Time, Any Place, To Help Fill In These Gaps'

NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42866458/jim-cramer-cites-nvidias-6-decline-to-too-much-hot-money-after-jensen-huangs-ces-keynote-watch-this-data-to-buy-stock-much-lower">shares fell 6.22% on Tuesday</a> following CEO Jensen Huang&#8216;s CES 2025 keynote, prompting Wedbush Securities Managing Director Dan Ives to draw parallels with another transformative tech moment &#8211; Apple Inc.&#8216;s iPhone launch in 2007, which initially saw minimal market reaction before driving a 15.9% surge in the following month.
What Happened: &#8220;The only thing that could compare would maybe be the iPhone launch in 2007. I'm trying to give you an example of how different the energy was — there was something new, something transformational,&#8221; Ives <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvVjKxQjt_w">told</a> Yahoo Finance on Wednesday, suggesting the market response might similarly underestimate Nvidia&#8217;s long-term impact.
&#8220;None of this happens without Jensen and Nvidia. The bears who&#8217;ve missed every major tech transformation in the last 20 years are now hyper-focused on things like geopolitical risks and the 10-year at 5%.&#8221;
Huang&#8217;s comments about quantum computing&#8217;s practical implementation being 15-30 years away triggered a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42867168/nvidias-jensen-huang-said-something-that-has-all-quantum-computing-stocks-tumbling-qubt-and-rgti-down-13-ionq-down-11">broader sector selloff</a>, with IonQ Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IONQ#NYSE">IONQ</a>) dropping 10.75% and Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) falling 13% on Wednesday.
Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya maintained a Buy rating with a $190 price target, describing Nvidia as an &#8220;end-to-end AI shop,&#8221; while Benchmark analyst Cody Acree noted the presentation may have been &#8220;too technical&#8221; for investors seeking <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42866458/jim-cramer-cites-nvidias-6-decline-to-too-much-hot-money-after-jensen-huangs-ces-keynote-watch-this-data-to-buy-stock-much-lower">near-term guidance</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42891906/palantir-cto-shyam-sankar-challenges-automations-potential-as-selling-pressure-mounts-what-have-we-been-doing-for-20-years">Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar Challenges Automation&#8217;s Potential As Selling Pressure Mounts: &#8216;What Have We Been Doing For 20 Years?&#8217;</a>
What Happened: Ives dismissed concerns about the stock decline, pointing to similar patterns in other tech leaders. &#8220;Look at Apple—it sold off to $190 after WWDC, and then it shot back up to $250-260,&#8221; he explained. &#8220;The reality is, coming out of CES, we should actually be more bullish, given the market opportunities in robotics and autonomy.&#8221;
The analyst emphasized the growing enterprise demand for AI solutions, citing his observations across Asia and Europe. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to see a tidal wave of activity in terms of AI use cases,&#8221; Ives predicted, noting that IT buyers are ramping up investments not just in consumer applications but across the enterprise sector.
Nvidia&#8217;s stock has surged over 160% in the past year, pushing its market capitalization above $3.5 trillion. Despite near-term volatility driven by macroeconomic concerns including interest rates and inflation, Ives maintains his bullish stance on the company&#8217;s position in what he describes as a &#8220;once-in-40-year revolution with AI.&#8221;
&#8220;They&#8217;re so far ahead of the game, it&#8217;s pretty insane,&#8221; Ives added, referencing skepticism in 2022 about Jensen&#8217;s heavy AI investments over gaming. &#8220;Jensen plays chess while others are playing checkers. Blackwell demand is insane.&#8221;
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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.

Nvidia's CES Setback Mirrors 2007 iPhone Launch, Says Dan Ives: 'Jensen Plays Chess While Others Are Playing Checkers'

Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>)&nbsp;is making a significant move in the AI sector with a $300 million investment in&nbsp;DDN, a company known for its expertise in data storage and analysis. 
What Happened: The investment represents the first external funding for DDN, valuing the Chatsworth, California-based firm&nbsp;at $5 billion. Founded in&nbsp;1998 by computer scientists Alex&nbsp;Bouzari and Paul Bloch, DDN&nbsp;provides computing equipment and software essential for managing data during AI model training and deployment,&nbsp;The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/blackstone-to-make-300-million-investment-in-ai-data-company-03f9c4aa">reported</a>&nbsp;on Thursday.
Initially serving&nbsp;government agencies and research organizations,&nbsp;DDN has shifted its focus as businesses increasingly adopt AI technologies. CEO Bouzari stated that Blackstone&#8217;s investment will help expand DDN&#8217;s business-customer base, making AI more cost-effective.
DDN&#8217;s technology is integral to major AI infrastructure projects, including the Colossus supercomputer by Elon Musk&#8216;s xAI. The company is considered a strong competitor in the field and could potentially pursue an IPO in the coming years, sources suggest.
Blackstone&#8217;s investment strategy aligns with its broader AI focus, having previously acquired data-center operator QTS and engaged in significant deals with Digital Realty and AirTrunk. The firm has also supported CoreWeave in financing rounds backed by AI chips.
Why It Matters: The investment by Blackstone comes at a time when major tech companies are heavily investing in AI infrastructure. Recently, Microsoft Corp. announced plans to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42801720/microsoft-to-invest-80-billion-in-ai-data-centers-for-fiscal-2025">allocate $80 billion </a>toward AI data centers for fiscal 2025. This move underscores the growing demand for computing power necessary for AI model training and deployment.
Furthermore, Blackstone&#8217;s strategic investments in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42801720/microsoft-to-invest-80-billion-in-ai-data-centers-for-fiscal-2025">AI-related companies</a>, such as its acquisition of a stake in Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC, highlight its commitment to expanding its presence in the AI sector. These investments are part of a broader trend among private equity firms to fuel growth in technology and advisory services.
Read More: 
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</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

MSFT

Blackstone Invests $300 Million In AI Data Firm That Powers Elon Musk's xAI Supercomputer

A &#8220;supermajority&#8221; of workers at BlueOval SK battery plant in Kentucky has filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for a vote to form their union with the United Auto Workers (UAW), the union said on Wednesday.
What Happened: The petition was filed on Tuesday, UAW said, without clarifying the percentage of workers who supported it. BlueOval SK is a joint venture of Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) and South Korea&#8217;s SK On.
In November, a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42104199/supermajority-of-workers-at-fords-jv-battery-plant-sign-union-authorization-cards-says-uaw">majority of workers at&nbsp;BlueOval SK signed cards</a> showcasing their support for UAW. However, the company hired anti-union consultants in a bid to stop the workers from organizing, UAW said. 
While companies can voluntarily recognize workers once a majority sign cards supporting unionization, in case they don&#8217;t, there is an election overseen by NLRB where workers must vote in the majority to form a union.
Why It Matters:&nbsp;In September, workers at Ultium's battery plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40724845/gm-lg-ultium-cells-jv-agrees-to-union-recognition-at-tennessee-battery-plant-says-uaw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">formed their union</a>. Ultium is a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution that makes batteries for the former's electric vehicles.
Workers at BlueOval SK held a town hall with UAW members from Ultium Cells in December to discuss the perks of organizing, the UAW said. 
Last year, UAW pledged<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/37255447/can-40m-secure-unionization-from-tesla-to-toyota-uaw-pledges-big-to-help-non-union-auto-workers-orga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;$40 million to support the organizing efforts&nbsp;</a>of non-union autoworkers and battery workers in the U.S. under the banner of major manufacturers such as&nbsp;Mercedes-Benz Group,&nbsp;Tesla Inc,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Toyota&nbsp;Motor Corp, among others.
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Workers At Ford JV In Kentucky Petition NLRB For Vote To Form Union

<h3>Companies Reporting Before The Bell</h3>
<h3>Companies Reporting After The Bell</h3>
• Accolade (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACCD#NASDAQ">ACCD</a>) is likely to report quarterly loss at $0.16 per share on revenue of $105.99 million. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

ACCD

Earnings Scheduled For January 9, 2025

Avantis Responsible Emerging Markets Equity ETF declares semi-annual distribution of $0.4290

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/chinese-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. listed Chinese stocks</a>, including Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), Baidu, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIDU#NASDAQ">BIDU</a>), JD.com, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>), PDD Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), Bilibili Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BILI#NASDAQ">BILI</a>), NIO Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>), XPeng Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPEV#NYSE">XPEV</a>) Li Auto Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LI#NASDAQ">LI</a>) remained on investor watchlist on Monday.



Mainland China&#8217;s benchmark CSI lost its sheen as the domestic regulators strived to reassure markets following equities and the renminbi&#8217;s extended losses amid weak economic data and as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take charge.



China&#8217;s Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges conducted discussions with global investors to reassure them about &#8220;solid fundamentals and resilience,&#8221; and the central bank reaffirmed its plans to maintain the currency stable despite Trump&#8217;s tariff threats, the Financial Times <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/87d95035-f123-455a-bb28-9a062b2de084" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42793170/alibaba-cloud-joins-forces-with-ex-google-execs-unicorn-to-boost-ai-models" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alibaba Cloud Joins Forces With Ex-Google Exec&#8217;s Unicorn To Boost AI Models</a>



Investors kept spending on long-dated sovereign debt over possible easing in monetary policy.



Jason Lui of BNP Paribas justified the domestic selloff to the FT as investor profit-taking ahead of Trump 2.0 uncertainties.



FT reports that Kevin Liu of CICC attributed the domestic selloff to weak manufacturing data, the strength of the dollar index, and Trump&#8217;s return.



China is set to showcase its economic policy agenda in March.



Winnie Wu of Bank of America told the FT that the worst of derating is over for Chinese equities.



Goldman Sachs <a target="_blank" href="https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3293603/goldman-sachs-china-should-favour-fiscal-taps-over-policy-easing-spur-stocks" rel="noreferrer noopener">told the</a> SCMP it expects China to focus on fiscal measures rather than rate cuts to drive stock market gains. It cited correlations between policies like the reopening measures after the 2020 pandemic and stimulus packages that triggered stock rallies.



The brokerage had a bullish take on Chinese equities in November.



Goldman Sachs flagged that Chinese equities, largely backed by domestic factors, offer relatively higher diversification benefits versus risky assets moving in tandem.



Conversely, UBS Global Wealth Management slashed its November forecast for Chinese stocks, citing U.S. tariffs and weaker-than-expected stimulus.



Since September, China has slashed thresholds for property purchases, swapped local government debt, and subsidized consumption, leading to a stock market rally.



Last week, reports indicated China&#8217;s&nbsp;Caixin/S&amp;P Global manufacturing purchasing managers&#8217; index&nbsp;for December missed the analyst consensus of 51.7, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/42767647/chinese-stocks-drop-as-manufacturing-growth-slows-and-geopolitical-tensions-hit" rel="noreferrer noopener">reflecting a slowdown</a> as exports weighed on demand amid current tensions.



Reportedly, China targets&nbsp;a special treasury bond&nbsp;sale of 3 trillion yuan ($411 billion) in 2025 versus 1 trillion yuan in 2024 to counter potential U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports.



It aims to drive consumption through subsidy programs encompassing railways, airports, electric vehicles, robotics, semiconductors, and green energy.



E-commerce juggernaut Alibaba is hailed as China&#8217;s tech barometer. Investors can gain exposure to Alibaba through First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction &amp; Process ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEGR#NASDAQ">LEGR</a>) and American Century ETF Trust Avantis Responsible Emerging Markets Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVSE#NYSE">AVSE</a>).



Price Actions: BABA stock is up 0.70% at $86.15 at the last check on Monday. PDD is up 2.55%.



Also Read:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/42761737/alibaba-leverages-scale-and-deep-pockets-to-slash-ai-llm-prices-to-gain-market-share" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alibaba Leverages Scale and Deep Pockets to Slash AI LLM Prices To Gain Market Share</a></li>
</ul>



Photo by Oleg Elkov via Shutterstock

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American Century ETF Trust Avantis Responsible Emerging Markets Equity ETF

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