Latest news for First Bitcoin Capital (OTC:BITCF) Stock

First Bitcoin Capital Corp is a public company. It is the vertically integrated, publicly-traded Bitcoin entity to enter the lucrative crypto-currency space. First Bitcoin is engaged in developing digital currencies, proprietary Blockchain technologies, and the digital currency exchange- www.CoinQX.com. The company is developing a beta e-commerce marketplace (BITessentials.com) which already accepts a variety of digital currencies by partnering with GoCOIN.com.

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GBTC

European Banks Driving Bitcoin Boom As Brace Against Future Ransomware Attacks

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On Thursday, the Dutch government inked a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/semiconductors" rel="noreferrer noopener">hardware and technological</a> expertise deal with Nvidia&nbsp;Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) over a potential artificial intelligence (AI) facility.
The Netherlands targets a facility for an AI &#8216;supercomputer&#8217; that could potentially contribute to research and development.
In 2024, the Dutch government&nbsp;earmarked&nbsp;204.5 million euros ($210 million) for investments in AI.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/42843417/nvidia-highlights-ai-chips-powering-pubg-robotics-chatgpt-moment-automotive-expansion-and-more-at-ces-event" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia Highlights AI Chips Powering PUBG, Robotics &#8216;ChatGPT Moment,&#8217; Automotive Expansion And More At CES Event</a>
The Nvidia deal coincided with reports indicating the Biden administration eying <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42897081/nvidia-and-ai-chip-stocks-brace-for-impact-as-biden-administration-considers-new-china-export-ban-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">additional semiconductor sanctions</a> on allies and non-allies before passing the torch to the Trump administration on January 20.
Washington could impose three tiers of chip curbs, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
ASML Holding (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>) of the Netherlands emerged as a key AI beneficiary, backed by its lithography portfolio and scalable EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) technology, which helped contract chipmakers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) manufacture high-performance chips for Nvidia&#8217;s AI processors. 
The semiconductor equipment maker projected <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/41978712/asml-projects-revenue-surge-to-63-billion-by-2030-eyes-ai-and-chip-market-boom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">annual sales of</a> $46.51 billion – $63.43 billion (44 billion euros – 60 billion euros) by 2030 and a gross margin target of 56%-60%. It expects global sales to surpass $1 trillion by 2030, backed by the integration of AI across industries.
Price Action:&nbsp;NVDA stock closed lower by 0.02% at $140.11 Wednesday.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42882959/intel-partners-with-amazon-cloud-to-drive-next-gen-smart-vehicle-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Intel Partners with Amazon Cloud to Drive Next-Gen Smart Vehicle Tech, Wins Stellantis, Karma Auto As Clients</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Government

News

Regulations

Eurozone

Tech

ASML

NVDA

Nvidia Teams Up with Dutch Government to Build Cutting-Edge AI Supercomputer Facility

Stifel analyst David Grossman downgrades Accolade (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACCD#NASDAQ">ACCD</a>) from Buy to Hold and lowers the price target from $8 to $7.03.

Downgrades

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

ACCD

Stifel Downgrades Accolade to Hold, Lowers Price Target to $7.03

Goldman Sachs analyst Will Nance upgrades BILL Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BILL#NYSE">BILL</a>) from Neutral to Buy and raises the price target from $96 to $104.

Upgrades

BILL

Goldman Sachs Upgrades BILL Holdings to Buy, Raises Price Target to $104

Goldman Sachs analyst Will Nance downgrades Global Payments (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GPN#NYSE">GPN</a>) from Buy to Neutral and lowers the price target from $155 to $122.

Goldman Sachs Downgrades Global Payments to Neutral, Lowers Price Target to $122

B of A Securities analyst Ken Hoexter maintains Greenbrier Companies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GBX#NYSE">GBX</a>) with a Underperform and raises the price target from $60 to $62.

B of A Securities Maintains Underperform on Greenbrier Companies, Raises Price Target to $62

On Wednesday, Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) said it has temporarily paused all U.S. cases using its Varipulse pulsed field ablation (PFA) system.
Pulsed-field ablation (PFA) is&nbsp;a non-thermal procedure that uses high-amplitude electrical pulses to treat cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) and tumors.
In November, the FDA <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/johnson-johnson-medtech-receives-fda-approval-for-the-varipulse-pulsed-field-ablation-platform-for-the-treatment-of-atrial-fibrillation" rel="noreferrer noopener">approved</a> the Varipulse Platform for drug-refractory paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (AFib).
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/12/42600472/your-healthcare-costs-are-soaring-us-spending-reached-5-trillion-in-2023-with-major-increase-in-obesity-and-diabetes-drugs-hospital-services" rel="noreferrer noopener">Your Healthcare Costs are Soaring! US Spending Reached $5 Trillion In 2023 with Major Increase in Obesity and Diabetes Drugs, Hospital Services</a>
The VARIPULSE Platform is designed to enable AFib treatment with a single device that combines PFA therapy and advanced mapping with the CARTO 3 System, a 3D electroanatomical cardiac mapping system.
"On January 5, out of an abundance of caution, Johnson &amp; Johnson MedTech temporarily paused the U.S. External Evaluation and all U.S. Varipulse cases while we investigate the root cause of four reported neurovascular events in the U.S. External Evaluation," the company <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/johnson-johnson-statement-on-varipulse-u-s-external-evaluation" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>.
Neurovascular events are&nbsp;a range of conditions that affect the blood vessels and blood supply to the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.
Since the beginning of the external evaluation, the company has reported more than 130 cases of Varipulse in the U.S., spread across 14 sites and 40 operators. Globally, it has reported more than 3,000 commercial cases with Varipulse.
"We are working diligently to complete the investigation according to our medical safety processes and resume the U.S. External Evaluation," the company said in its statement. "We expect to have more information to communicate within the coming days."
Last month, the FDA issued a complete response letter (CRL) to&nbsp;Johnson &amp; Johnson's Biologics License Application for a fixed combination of amivantamab and recombinant human hyaluronidase for subcutaneous administration in patients with non-small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/12/42535810/fda-rejects-johnson-johnsons-injectable-version-of-approved-drug-for-lung-cancer" rel="noreferrer noopener">factor receptor mutations</a>.
The CRL is&nbsp;related&nbsp;to observations as part of a standard pre-approval inspection at a manufacturing facility.
Price Action: JNJ stock closed at $146.23 on Wednesday.
Read Next:
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</ul>
Photo by Tada Images via Shutterstock

Large Cap

Health Care

General

Johnson & Johnson Pauses US Varipulse Procedures Amid Safety Review, Investigates Brain-Related Events

B of A Securities analyst Jason Gerberry reiterates Catalyst Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CPRX#NASDAQ">CPRX</a>) with a Buy and maintains $30 price target.

Reiteration

CPRX

B of A Securities Reiterates Buy on Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Maintains $30 Price Target

Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>) announced on Thursday the commencement of shipments for its max-performance servers featuring<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/n42896497/supermicro-begins-volume-shipments-of-max-performance-servers-optimized-for-ai-hpc-virtualization-" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Intel Xeon 6900 series processors with P-cores.</a>
These systems are optimized for demanding high-performance workloads such as large-scale AI, cluster-scale HPC, and GPU-intensive environments like collaborative design and media distribution, the company said in a press release.
According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>, SMCI stock has lost over 5% in the past year.
Supermicro&#8217;s new X14 systems offers up to 256 performance cores per system, 12 memory channels per CPU with MRDIMM support, and high-performance EDSFF storage options.
The systems are designed for low latency and maximum I/O expansion, making them ideal for large-scale applications.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42898200/targets-wellness-push-over-50-of-new-items-priced-under-10" rel="noreferrer noopener">Target&#8217;s Wellness Push: Over 50% Of New Items Priced Under $10</a>
Charles Liang, President and CEO, emphasized the company&#8217;s ability to ship solutions at any scale, supported by its Server Building Block Solutions design methodology and in-house liquid cooling solutions.
The X14 systems come in various configurations, including GPU-optimized models supporting the latest SXM and PCIe GPUs, high-density multi-node systems such as FlexTwin and GrandTwin models, and market-proven SuperBlade rackmounts for enterprises and data centers.
They also include options for direct-to-chip liquid cooling, significantly enhancing system efficiency and reducing thermal throttling.
Supermicro said it is now shipping AI server based on the Intel Gaudi 3 accelerator hosted by Intel Xeon 6 processors.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Defiance Daily Target 2X Long SMCI ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCX#NASDAQ">SMCX</a>).
Price Action: SMCI shares closed at $32.61 on Wednesday.
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42890191/trump-themed-nfts-launch-on-bitcoin-network-for-first-timeheres-what-you-should-know" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump-Themed NFTs Debut On Bitcoin Network — One Card Gets Listed At $1.9 Million</a></li>
</ul>

Equities

SMCI

SMCX

Super Micro Begins Shipping Max-Performance Servers With Intel Xeon 6900 Series Processors

Concentrix Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNXC#NYSE">CNXC</a>) will release its fourth-quarter financial results after the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CNXC/earnings"> closing bell on Wednesday, Jan. 15.</a>
Analysts expect the Newark, California-based company to report quarterly earnings at $3.01 per share, down from $3.36 per share in the year-ago period. Concentrix projects quarterly revenue of $2.44 billion, compared to $2.23 billion a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
On Sept. 25, Concentrix reported quarterly earnings of $2.87 per share, which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $2.93 per share.
Concentrix shares fell 0.4% to close at $45.60 on Wednesday&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; .
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CNXC/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>Baird analyst David Koning initiated coverage on the stock with an Outperform rating and a price target of $70 on Oct. 3, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 79%.</li>
<li>Barrington Research analyst Vincent Colicchio maintained an Outperform rating and cut the price target from $84 to $70 on Sept. 26, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 61%.</li>
<li>Canaccord Genuity analyst Joseph Vafi maintained a Buy rating and cut the price target from $125 to $100 on Sept. 26, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 80%.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying CNXC stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="594" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09123810/image-53-1024x594.png" alt="" class="wp-image-726577" style="width:564px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09123810/image-53-1024x594.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09123810/image-53-300x174.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09123810/image-53-768x446.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09123810/image-53.png 1117w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Read This Next: 
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</ul>

Earnings

Trading Ideas

CNXC

Top Wall Street Forecasters Revamp Concentrix Price Expectations Ahead Of Q4 Earnings

Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNV#NYSE">SNV</a>) will release its fourth-quarter financial results, after the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SNV/earnings">closing bell, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.</a>
Analysts expect the New York-based company to report quarterly earnings at $1.22 per share, up from 84 cents per share in the year-ago period. Synovus Financial projects quarterly revenue of $19.43 billion, compared to $17.44 billion a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
On Monday, Barclays upgraded the stock from Equal-Weight to Overweight and raised its price target from $70 to $95.
With the recent buzz around Synovus Financial, some investors may be eyeing potential gains from the company's dividends too. As of now, Synovus Financial offers an annual dividend yield of 2.90%, which is a quarterly dividend amount of 38 cents per share ($1.52 a year).
So, how can investors exploit its dividend yield to pocket a regular $500 monthly?
To earn $500 per month or $6,000 annually from dividends alone, you would need an investment of approximately $207,020 or around 3,947 shares. For a more modest $100 per month or $1,200 per year, you would need $41,383 or around 789 shares.
To calculate: Divide the desired annual income ($6,000 or $1,200) by the dividend ($1.52 in this case). So, $6,000 / $1.52 = 3,947 ($500 per month), and $1,200 / $1.52 = 789 shares ($100 per month).
Note that dividend yield can change on a rolling basis, as the dividend payment and the stock price both fluctuate over time.
How that works: The dividend yield is computed by dividing the annual dividend payment by the stock&#8217;s current price.
For example, if a stock pays an annual dividend of $2 and is currently priced at $50, the dividend yield would be 4% ($2/$50). However, if the stock price increases to $60, the dividend yield drops to 3.33% ($2/$60). Conversely, if the stock price falls to $40, the dividend yield rises to 5% ($2/$40).
Similarly, changes in the dividend payment can impact the yield. If a company increases its dividend, the yield will also increase, provided the stock price stays the same. Conversely, if the dividend payment decreases, so will the yield.
SNV Price Action: Shares of Synovus Financial gained 0.1% to close at $52.45 on Wednesday.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="How to Find Dividend Stocks: Scan, Analyze, and Capture with Benzinga Pro" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pVF0O2lsEH4?start=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
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</ul>

Long Ideas

How To Earn $500 A Month From Synovus Financial Stock Ahead Of Q4 Earnings

Oppenheimer analyst Christopher Glynn maintains Acuity Brands (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $370 to $380.

Oppenheimer Maintains Outperform on Acuity Brands, Raises Price Target to $380

Raymond James analyst Farooq Hamed maintains Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVN#TSX">IVN</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from C$25 to C$24.

TSX:IVN

Raymond James Maintains Outperform on Ivanhoe Mines, Lowers Price Target to C$24

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) will release earnings results for its fourth quarter, before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MS/earnings">opening bell on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.</a>
Analysts expect the New York-based company to report quarterly earnings at $1.67 per share, up from 85 cents per share in the year-ago period. Morgan Stanley projects to report revenue of $14.99 billion for the recent quarter, compared to $12.9 billion a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC has agreed to pay a $15 million penalty to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges for failing to prevent four financial advisors from stealing millions in client funds, the SEC announced on Dec. 9.
Morgan Stanley shares gained 0.8% to close at $127.86 on Wednesday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MS/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>B of A Securities analyst Michael Carrier maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $140 to $146 on Jan. 7, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 80%.</li>
<li>JP Morgan analyst Kian Abouhossein maintained a Neutral rating and boosted the price target from $100 to $104 on Dec. 6, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 69%.</li>
<li>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst David Konrad maintained a Market Perform rating and raised the price target from $121 to $138 on Dec. 3, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 73%.</li>
<li>HSBC analyst Saul Martinez downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold and raised the price target from $128 to $131 on Nov. 26, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 73%.</li>
<li>Citigroup analyst Keith Horowitz maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $105 to $135 on Nov. 25, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 78%.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying MS stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="573" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09122506/image-52-1024x573.png" alt="" class="wp-image-726556" style="width:581px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09122506/image-52-1024x573.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09122506/image-52-300x168.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09122506/image-52-768x430.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09122506/image-52.png 1120w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/01/42873668/jim-cramer-lemonade-is-up-too-much-this-health-care-stock-can-go-lower">Jim Cramer: Lemonade Is &#8216;Up Too Much,&#8217; This Health Care Stock Can Go Lower (UPDATED)</a></li>
</ul>

Morgan Stanley Earnings Are Imminent; These Most Accurate Analysts Revise Forecasts Ahead Of Earnings Call

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>GOOGL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/10/25</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>$39.0K</td>
<td>8.2K</td>
<td>23.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>META</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/24/25</td>
<td>$615.00</td>
<td>$125.8K</td>
<td>510</td>
<td>3.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NFLX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/10/25</td>
<td>$875.00</td>
<td>$45.6K</td>
<td>315</td>
<td>774</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GOOG</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$146.8K</td>
<td>3.2K</td>
<td>200</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding GOOGL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 1 day(s) on January 10, 2025. Parties traded 284 contract(s) at a $195.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 31 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $39.0K, with a price of $137.0 per contract. There were 8231 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 23811 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding META (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), we observe a call option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 15 day(s) on January 24, 2025. Parties traded 77 contract(s) at a $615.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $125.8K, with a price of $1635.0 per contract. There were 510 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3835 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NFLX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 1 day(s) on January 10, 2025. This event was a transfer of 60 contract(s) at a $875.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.6K, with a price of $760.0 per contract. There were 315 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 774 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GOOG (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 372 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $160.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $146.8K, with a price of $734.0 per contract. There were 3234 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 200 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

GOOG

GOOGL

NFLX

4 Communication Services Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/10/25</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$30.6K</td>
<td>14.3K</td>
<td>93.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>XPEV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$13.00</td>
<td>$31.2K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
<td>730</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NKE</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$98.7K</td>
<td>2.5K</td>
<td>578</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GAP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$23.50</td>
<td>$40.0K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td>461</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVNA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
<td>$25.8K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td>100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EDU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$59.42</td>
<td>$27.0K</td>
<td>128</td>
<td>60</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TJX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$105.5K</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MELI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$1640.00</td>
<td>$25.0K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 1 day(s) on January 10, 2025. This event was a transfer of 45 contract(s) at a $400.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.6K, with a price of $680.0 per contract. There were 14336 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 93131 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding XPEV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPEV#NYSE">XPEV</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 98 day(s) on April 17, 2025. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $13.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.2K, with a price of $156.0 per contract. There were 3109 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 730 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NKE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 736 day(s) on January 15, 2027. This event was a transfer of 250 contract(s) at a $55.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $98.7K, with a price of $395.0 per contract. There were 2574 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 578 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GAP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GAP#NYSE">GAP</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 8 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 445 contract(s) at a $23.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 17 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.0K, with a price of $90.0 per contract. There were 1505 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 461 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CVNA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 8 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 6 contract(s) at a $240.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.8K, with a price of $4310.0 per contract. There were 1246 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 100 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For EDU (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EDU#NYSE">EDU</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 372 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 17 contract(s) at a $59.42 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.0K, with a price of $1590.0 per contract. There were 128 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 60 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TJX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TJX#NYSE">TJX</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 98 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 28 contract(s) at a $85.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $105.5K, with a price of $3770.0 per contract. There were 3 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 28 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MELI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MELI#NASDAQ">MELI</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 708 day(s) on December 18, 2026. This event was a transfer of 1 contract(s) at a $1640.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.0K, with a price of $25010.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 10 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

CVNA

New Oriental Education & Technology Group

MELI

TSLA

XPEV

8 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Information Technology sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NVDA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/10/25</td>
<td>$141.00</td>
<td>$27.7K</td>
<td>51.7K</td>
<td>71.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSTR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/10/25</td>
<td>$330.00</td>
<td>$31.9K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
<td>17.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/10/25</td>
<td>$425.00</td>
<td>$33.6K</td>
<td>4.4K</td>
<td>10.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PLTR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/10/25</td>
<td>$69.00</td>
<td>$28.0K</td>
<td>5.8K</td>
<td>7.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AVGO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
<td>$73.0K</td>
<td>8.7K</td>
<td>4.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/31/25</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
<td>$60.9K</td>
<td>6.4K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CORZ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$12.00</td>
<td>$176.0K</td>
<td>8.4K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IONQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$22.50</td>
<td>$47.2K</td>
<td>371</td>
<td>741</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SMCI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/14/25</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$69.6K</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>470</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>APP</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/10/25</td>
<td>$330.00</td>
<td>$61.0K</td>
<td>814</td>
<td>466</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 1 day(s) on January 10, 2025. This event was a transfer of 157 contract(s) at a $141.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.7K, with a price of $177.0 per contract. There were 51798 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 71615 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MSTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 1 day(s) on January 10, 2025. Parties traded 47 contract(s) at a $330.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.9K, with a price of $680.0 per contract. There were 3109 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 17111 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MSFT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 1 day(s) on January 10, 2025. This event was a transfer of 150 contract(s) at a $425.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.6K, with a price of $224.0 per contract. There were 4490 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 10942 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PLTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 1 day(s) on January 10, 2025. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $69.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.0K, with a price of $140.0 per contract. There were 5867 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 7376 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AVGO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 8 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 360 contract(s) at a $240.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $73.0K, with a price of $203.0 per contract. There were 8796 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4689 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AAPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 22 day(s) on January 31, 2025. This event was a transfer of 127 contract(s) at a $240.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $60.9K, with a price of $480.0 per contract. There were 6456 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2727 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CORZ (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CORZ#NASDAQ">CORZ</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 8 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 800 contract(s) at a $12.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $176.0K, with a price of $220.0 per contract. There were 8418 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1651 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For IONQ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IONQ#NYSE">IONQ</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 43 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 193 contract(s) at a $22.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $47.2K, with a price of $245.0 per contract. There were 371 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 741 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SMCI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 36 day(s) on February 14, 2025. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $35.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $69.6K, with a price of $348.0 per contract. There were 22 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 470 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For APP (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 1 day(s) on January 10, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $330.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $61.0K, with a price of $610.0 per contract. There were 814 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 466 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

AAPL

AVGO

Core Scientific, Inc. - Class A Common Stock

CORZ

IONQ

MSFT

MSTR

PLTR

10 Information Technology Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

California utility companies could come under pressure from regulators and investors after devastating Los Angeles wildfires have left at five people dead and almost 180,000 evacuated from their homes due to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42899028/la-wildfire-damages-estimated-above-52-billion-california-property-insurance-crisis">multiple wildfires</a>. 
Here's the latest.
What Happened: Areas near Los Angeles, California have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/01/42888380/los-angeles-fires-shut-down-production-of-tv-shows-fallout-abbott-elementary-hacks-film-premieres-canceled-critics-choice-awards-delayed">been hardest hit</a> by one of the most destructive wildfire events in the state.
At least five people are dead, found in buildings in Altadena, where the Eaton Fire exploded Tuesday night, as <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-08/fire-weather-fierce-winds-los-angeles">reported </a>by the LA Times.
179,783 people are under evacuation orders as of Thursday, according to Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/wildfires/live-blog/california-wildfires-live-updates-deadly-blazes-spread-hollywood-hills-rcna186927">NBC News </a>reported. Another 200,000 face evacuation warnings. 
Over 2,000 buildings have been burned. Multiple fires continue blazing Thursday and have not been contained.
&#8220;What we saw here in the last 24 hours is unprecedented," LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said Wednesday. "I've never seen anything like this."
Limited resources including a lack of firefighters, firetrucks and water in fire hydrants have been reported in several regions.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called on the National Guard for its assistance in helping with evacuation orders and to assist with the devastating fires.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/01/42892886/spacex-ceo-elon-musk-offers-free-starlink-terminals-to-los-angeles-areas-affected-by-wildfires">SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Offers Free Starlink Terminals To Los Angeles Areas Affected By Wildfires</a>
Utility Stocks in Focus: Utility companies including Edison International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EIX#NYSE">EIX</a>) and San Diego Gas &amp; Electric, which is owned by Sempra (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SRE#NYSE">SRE</a>), began cutting power to customers to reduce fire risk ahead of elevated winds during the week, as reported by The New York Times.
Edison plans to continue utility shutoffs for customers through Friday after already cutting power to over 150,000 customers.
Restoration of power for customers will depend on future weather, the containment of fires and inspections of power lines.
"Our top concern right now is the safety of our customers, crew members and emergency personnel," Edison spokesman David Eisenhauer said.
Edison <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250108156871/en/Edison-International-Provides-Update-on-Southern-California-Wildfires-and-SCE-Power-Outages">said </a>the fires, which it called an "extreme weather event," are an evolving situation it is monitoring.
"Safety remains our number one priority for customers, employees and our communities," the company said.
Public safety power shutoffs have been conducted by SDG&amp;E due to the dry conditions and Santa Ana winds, the company <a href="https://www.sdgetoday.com/news/sdge-responds-extreme-weather-continued-public-safety-power-shutoffs-0">said </a>Wednesday. The proactive measure is being done to protect public safety and help reduce wildfire risk.
A statement from Pacific Gas &amp; Electric (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PCG#NYSE">PCG</a>) <a href="https://www.pge.com/en/newsroom/currents/safety/southern-california-wildfires--pg-e-crews--helicopters-and-wildf.html">said </a>the company has sent helicopters and wildlife resources to the region to help with the fires, including two Blackhawk helicopters.
PG&amp;E said it is monitoring conditions in its serviced areas including Kern, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
Edison stock was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42894683/los-angeles-wildfires-stoke-investor-fears-edison-internationals-stock-ended-10-lower-on-wednesday-amid-concerns-over-possible-equipment-links-to-forest-fires">hit the hardest</a> of the utility companies connected to the California wildfires, falling 10% to $69.50 on Wednesday. The stock is now down 5% over the last year.
Pacific Gas &amp; Electric shares fell 4% to $19.25 on Wednesday.
Sempra shares fell 2% to $82.82 on Wednesday.
These utility companies remain top holdings in utility ETFs. In the SPDR Select Sector Fund – Utilities (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>), Sempra is the sixth largest holding at 4.5% of assets, PCG 10th largest at 3.6% of assets and EIX comprises 2.3% of the ETF&#8217;s assets.
In the Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VPU#NYSE">VPU</a>), Sempra (4.3% of assets), PG&amp;E (3.2% of assets) and Edison International (2.5%) are among the largest holdings. 
Fire Cause: One of the key question on the minds of California residents and investors will be who or what caused the fire. Right now, this remains a mystery.
As the New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/08/us/what-caused-california-fires.html">reports</a>, scrutiny of power lines will likely come after the fires, as utility equipment has led to some of the largest California wildfires in the past, including the 2018 Camp Fire that left 85 people dead.
In 2024, four wildfire incidents were caused by utility equipment, including two by Edison International-owned Southern California Edison, according to the report.
Pacific Gas &amp; Electric, which may have limited exposure to this week&#8217;s infernos, is a lesson in the liability risk that California utilities face.
The utility company declared bankruptcy in 2019 related to damages and claims from wildfires. This included a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/19/12/14953787/pg-e-trades-higher-on-13-5b-wildfires-settlement"> $13.5 billion settlement </a>for its alleged role in the fires. The company emerged from bankruptcy in 2020.
In 2024, Pacific Gas &amp; Electric paid $45 million in penalties related to the Dixie Fire in 2021, which state regulators found was linked to the company's power lines, as <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/26/us/pacific-gas-electric-settlement-dixie-fire-california/index.html">reported </a>by CNN.
California state law AB-1054, passed in 2019, established a Wildfire Fund of up to $21 billion to provide liquidity for fire events in the state and limits the liability of utility companies.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/01/42889402/nhl-game-canceled-after-los-angeles-fires-nfl-monitoring-situation-ahead-of-monday-playoff-game">NHL Game Canceled After Los Angeles Fires, NFL Monitoring Situation Ahead Of Monday Playoff Game</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Sector ETFs

5 Dead, Nearly 180,000 Evacuated In Los Angeles Wildfires: California Utilities Face Scrutiny

On Wednesday, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CPRX#NASDAQ">CPRX</a>) entered into a settlement agreement with Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEVA#NYSE">TEVA</a>).
This Agreement resolves the patent litigation brought by Catalyst and its licensor SERB S.A in response to Teva&#8217;s Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) seeking approval to market a generic version of Firdapse (amifampridine) 10 mg tablets before the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/g42881700/catalyst-pharmaceuticals-announces-settlement-of-firdapse-amifampridine-patent-litigation-with-tev" rel="noreferrer noopener">expiration of the applicable patents</a>.
If approved by the FDA, Teva will not market its generic version of Firdapse in the United States before February 25, 2035, unless certain limited circumstances customarily included in these types of agreements occur.
The parties will terminate all ongoing patent litigation between Catalyst/SERB and Teva regarding Firdapse patents pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
The ongoing Firdapse patent litigation involves two defendants: Hetero, which is being challenged on all of Firdapse&#8217;s Orange Book-listed patents, and Lupin, which is facing a case focused on Catalyst&#8217;s Firdapse patent that expires in 2037.
In the Notice Letter in January 2023, Teva stated that it intended to market a generic version of Firdapse before the expiration of multiple of Catalyst&#8217;s patents listed in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/01/30523209/why-catalyst-pharmaceuticals-shares-are-moving" rel="noreferrer noopener">FDA Orange Book</a>.
In May, the FDA approved its supplemental New Drug Application, increasing the indicated maximum daily dose of Firdapse&#8217;s (amifampridine) for adults and pediatric patients weighing more than 45 kg from 80 mg to 100 mg for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS).
LEMS is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue. Firdapse is a potassium channel blocker indicated for LEMS in adults and pediatric patients six years of age and older and works by increasing the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, at the neuromuscular junction, which helps improve muscle <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/05/g39094213/catalyst-pharmaceuticals-receives-u-s-fda-approval-for-increased-maximum-daily-dose-for-firdapse" rel="noreferrer noopener">function in people with LEMS</a>.
In the third quarter of 2024, Firdapse revenues increased 19.7% year over year to $79.3&nbsp;million. The company expects full-year 2024 net product revenue of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/11/g41787062/catalyst-pharmaceuticals-reports-strong-third-quarter-2024-financial-results-and-provides-corporat" rel="noreferrer noopener">$300 million—$310 million</a>.
Price Action: CPRX stock closed at $19.53 on Wednesday.
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Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Settles Patent Litigation Case With Teva Pharmaceutical

BMO Capital analyst Kevin O'Halloran maintains Endeavour Silver (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EDR#TSX">EDR</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from C$8.5 to C$8.

TSX:EDR

BMO Capital Maintains Outperform on Endeavour Silver, Lowers Price Target to C$8

Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENPH#NASDAQ">ENPH</a>) disclosed that it is expanding in Latin America through the<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/g42895008/enphase-energy-expands-in-latin-america-with-launch-of-iq8-microinverters-in-colombia-panama-and-c" rel="noreferrer noopener"> launch of its IQ8P Microinverters</a>.
IQ8P Microinverters offers 480 W peak output for residential and commercial solar installations in Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica.
Enphase is partnering with installers and distributors across Latin America, with recent IQ8 Microinverter launches in the Caribbean and ongoing operations in Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.
The company&#8217;s IQ8 Microinverters optimize energy production by handling continuous DC currents of up to 14 amperes, enabling higher-powered solar modules to capture more energy.
This week, Enphase Energy disclosed that IQ8 Microinverters had been selected for a 2.2 MW solar project at the Belgoprocess <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/g42841752/enphase-energy-iq8-microinverters-selected-for-belgium-radioactive-waste-facility" rel="noreferrer noopener">radioactive waste facility in Dessel, Belgium</a>.
The project, which comprises 4,000 IQ8HC Microinverters, will span four rooftops of the radioactive waste facility. In the coming years, capacity is planned to expand from 2.2 MW to 6 to 8 MW.
Once completed in 2026, the project is expected to be the largest Enphase project worldwide.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via Tidal ETF Trust II The Meet Kevin Pricing Power ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PP#NYSE">PP</a>) and Global X Solar ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RAYS#NASDAQ">RAYS</a>).
Price Action: ENPH shares closed lower by 5.24% at $69.66 on Wednesday.
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Enphase Energy Strengthens Latin American Presence With IQ8P Microinverters

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First Bitcoin Capital

European banks are stockpiling bitcoin as a hedge against ransomware attack, driving the virtual currency up 200 percent this year, The Street&rsquo;s Jim Cramer said, quoting a panel talk with the CEO of Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/CTXS#NASDAQ">CTXS</a>).
&ldquo;Bitcoin is what the bad guys demand you pay if you have a cybersecurity breach,&rdquo; <a href="http://www.thestreet.com/video/14166290/citrix-ceo-companies-are-buying-bitcoin-in-case-of-ransomware.html">Cramer said</a>. &ldquo;The European banks...European companies are buying bitcoin to be ready for the next ransom attack.&rdquo;
The &ldquo;WannaCry&rdquo; outbreak was unleashed on the world on May 12, when bitcoin was $1,697; It&#39;s now trading at $2,826.
<h3>
	Bitcoin Boom Mainly Coming In Europe, Hit Hardest By WannaCry</h3>
The worst attack of ransomware on record has largely abated -- at least until next time -- and there&rsquo;s evidence only a <a href="https://www.elliptic.co/wannacry/">relative handful</a> of people or institutions paid up to have their data freed from the malware&rsquo;s encrypted jail.
Among the computers affected worldwide were those integral to Britain&rsquo;s National Health Service. A tech-savvy Samaritan found a fix that was widely deployed, but cyberattack experts warned that the next round of ransomware <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/17/05/9496220/the-blame-game-the-definitive-guide-to-whos-at-fault-for-the-ransomware-cyberatta">could be worse</a>.
The link between the bitcoin boom and the WannaCry malware surfaced at The Deal&#39;s Corporate Governance Conference on Monday in New York, when Cramer spoke with Citrix CEO Kirill Tatarinov about the recent ransomware attacks.
Tatarinov said that companies are buying up bitcoin to pay off the hackers in the case of an attack.
&rdquo;These cyber attackers have customer service desks,&rdquo; to handle payment, Cramer said on CNBC. &ldquo;They give you an 800 number.&rdquo;
He said the digital currency could reach $1 million.
Experts generally warn against paying ransom.
&ldquo;In general, any kind of extortion is problematic to pay. Not only does it encourage the people (who spread the worm) but there is no guarantee that they are going to return the data,&rdquo; Eugene H. Spafford, executive director of Purdue University&#39;s Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security, told Benzinga.
Related links:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/17/05/9496220/the-blame-game-the-definitive-guide-to-whos-at-fault-for-the-ransomware-cyberatta">The Blame Game: Who&rsquo;s At Fault For Ransomware</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/17/05/9544533/is-bitcoin-one-giant-bubble-waiting-to-burst">Is Bitcoin One Big Bubble Waiting To Burst?</a>

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