Latest news for Franklin U.S. Core Bond ETF (ARCA:FLCB)

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in bonds of U.S. issuers, including government, corporate debt, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. Bonds include debt obligations of any maturity, such as bonds, notes, bills and debentures. 'U.S. issuers' include entities, whose securities are listed or traded principally on a recognized stock exchange or over-the-counter market in the U.S., that derive 50% or more of their total revenue from either goods or services produced or sales made in the U.S., that have 50% or more of their assets in the U.S. or that are organized under the laws of, or with principal offices in, the U.S.

Institutional Fiduciary Trust - Money Market Portfolio

Franklin US Core Bond ETF

Long Ideas

News

Bonds

Specialty ETFs

New ETFs

Trading Ideas

ETFs

FLCB

Franklin Templeton&#39;s LibertyShares Launches Active Core Bond ETF

Franklin U.S. Core Bond ETF

With U.S. stock futures trading slightly lower this morning on Friday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
<ul>
<li>Wall Street expects American Express Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>) to report quarterly earnings at $3.04 per share on revenue of $17.16 billion before the opening bell, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. American Express shares gained 0.3% to $326.99 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) reported preliminary fourth-quarter financial results after the closing bell on Thursday. The company announced that it will recognize impacts to its quarterly results related to the IAM work stoppage and agreement, charges for certain Defense, Space &amp; Security programs, and costs associated with workforce reductions from last year. As a result, the airplane manufacturer now expects to report fourth-quarter revenue of $15.2 billion versus estimates of $16.27 billion, according to Benzinga Pro. Boeing also anticipates a fourth-quarter loss of $5.46 per share. Boeing shares fell 1.8% to $175.25 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Analysts expect Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) to post quarterly earnings at $1.10 per share on revenue of $35.32 billion. The company will release earnings before the markets open. Verizon shares gained 0.3% to $39.30 in after-hours trading.</li>
</ul>
Check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
<ul>
<li>Intuitive Surgical Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ISRG#NASDAQ">ISRG</a>) reported better-than-expected earnings and sales results for the fourth quarter after the market closed on Thursday. The company said it expects full-year 2025 worldwide da Vinci procedures to increase approximately 13% to 16%. Intuitive Surgical shares fell 2.2% to $595.00 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Analysts expect HCA Healthcare Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HCA#NYSE">HCA</a>) to post quarterly earnings at $6.13 per share on revenue of $18.23 billion before the opening bell. HCA Healthcare shares gained 1.9% to $331.40 in after-hours trading.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43158901/jim-cramer-says-this-tech-stock-is-speculative-but-he-likes-it">Jim Cramer Says This Tech Stock Is Speculative But He Likes It</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Earnings

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

ISRG

Verizon, Boeing And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Friday

For 2025, in Networks we will continue to benefit from our product leadership position, with the best performance and energy efficiency in the industry. In Enterprise, our priority remains stabilizing the commercial performance in the current portfolio and driving growth in areas such as mission critical and enterprise private networks. Our commitment remains to put high-performing, programmable and differentiated networks at the center of the digitalization of enterprise and society."

Guidance

ERIC

LM Ericsson Q1 2025 Outlook: Sales Growth To Align With 3-Year Average Seasonality, Adjusted Gross Margin Expected At 47%-49%; Says Elevated Restructuring Charges Anticipated For Full Year

Telefonaktiebolaget L M (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ERIC#NASDAQ">ERIC</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.13 per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $0.19 by 29.47 percent. The company reported quarterly sales of $6.768 billion which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $6.927 billion by 2.30 percent. This is a 0.25 percent increase over sales of $6.751 billion the same period last year.

Earnings Misses

Telefonaktiebolaget L M Q4 2024 GAAP EPS $0.13 Misses $0.19 Estimate, Sales $6.768B Miss $6.927B Estimate

The Notes will bear cash interest semi-annually at a rate of 2.75% per annum. The initial conversion rate for the Notes will be 315.2088 common shares of B2Gold ("Shares") per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes, equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately US$3.17 per Share. The initial conversion rate represents a premium of approximately 35% relative to today's closing sale price of the Shares and is subject to adjustment in certain events

Reported Earlier, B2Gold Prices Upsized $400M Offering Of Convertible Senior With 2.75% Interest And $3.17 Conversion Price

Chevron's 50% Stake In Tengiz Future Growth Project Yields First Oil, Setting Stage For Increased Free Cash Flow

According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/43138120/why-goldman-sachs-analysts-see-risk-of-a-massive-30-correction-in-the-stock-market-in-2025">Goldman Sachs</a> Global Investment Research, the U.S. stock market falls in both instances, when it announces tariffs and when other countries announce retaliatory tariffs.
What Happened: Economist Justin Wolfers, who is a professor at the University of Michigan, in an X post, highlighted Goldman&#8217;s research and pointed out that tariffs could be detrimental to the markets in the short term.
Wolfers, who is also a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and Peterson Institute, said, &#8220;We lose when we punch and we lose when we&#8217;re punched.&#8221;
According to the Goldman graph shared by Wolfers, the S&amp;P 500 fell 5% on the days when the U.S. announced tariffs and 7% on days when other countries announced retaliatory tariffs. However, these moves partially reversed, later in the week.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The U.S. stockmarket falls both when: 1. The U.S. announces new tariffs (dark blue bars) 2. Other countries announce retaliatory tariffs (light blue and gray bars) We lose when we punch and we lose when we&#39;re punched. (Source: Goldman) <a href="https://t.co/nGKuSE5P7P">pic.twitter.com/nGKuSE5P7P</a>
&mdash; Justin Wolfers (@JustinWolfers) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinWolfers/status/1882562964303020312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/01/43157322/pltr-stock-is-up-166-in-last-6-months-now-dan-ives-sees-room-for-17-more-growth-our-recent-checks-and-growing-confidenceis-key-to-the-bull-thesis">PLTR Stock Is Up 166% In Last 6 Months. Now Dan Ives Sees Room For 17% More Growth: &#8216;Our Recent Checks And Growing Confidence…Is Key To The Bull Thesis&#8217; </a>
Why It Matters: President Donald Trump was sworn in earlier this week on Monday, and participated remotely in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43170854/trump-outlines-economic-reset-at-davos-5-things-you-need-to-know">World Economic Forum in Davos</a>, Switzerland, on Thursday. In his speech, he reaffirmed his threat to impose tariffs to encourage domestic manufacturing, sending a clear warning to European business leaders.
"If you don't make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then, very simply, you will have to pay a tariff, differing amounts, but a tariff which will direct hundreds of billions of dollars, and even trillions of dollars into our treasury,&#8221; he said.
Trump has hinted at a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports, effective Feb. 1, in response to China sending fentanyl to Canada and Mexico. &#8220;Frankly, I suspect that China is relieved that the tariff is only 10% since up to 100% tariffs had been threatened previously,&#8221; said Louis Navellier of Navellier &amp; Associates.
&#8220;A 10% tariff on Chinese goods is not expected to be inflationary since the U.S. dollar is so strong compared to the Chinese yuan. Obviously, President Trump is serious about eliminating fentanyl and the pressure has been turned up on China, Canada, and Mexico,&#8221; he added.
Ed Yardeni and Eric Wallerstein, in their weekly economic note, highlighted that increased tariffs could lead to higher prices for American consumers. They expect the dollar to strengthen on higher tariffs which will lead to lower revenues for foreign exporters in their local currency. However, &#8220;If tariffs lead to expanded capacity in the U.S., that could be disinflationary,&#8221; the note added.
Price Action: As the Trump administration&#8217;s new policies take root, the market has been resilient over the last six months and the year. The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust tracking the S&amp;P 500 has gained 25.62% over a year, whereas the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust tracking the Dow Jones advanced 17.80% in the same period.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index/ETF</td>
<td>Six Months</td>
<td>One Year</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)</td>
<td>12.66%</td>
<td>25.62%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)</td>
<td>14.95%</td>
<td>25.08%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)</td>
<td>11.72%</td>
<td>17.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>)</td>
<td>5.27%</td>
<td>17.99%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43152718/tesla-to-have-a-choppy-first-half-owing-to-new-ev-policies-deliveries-and-margins-however-this-analyst-expect-over-20-upside-from-current-level-with-a-500-target-price">Tesla Set For A &#8216;Choppy&#8217; First Half Amid New EV Policies, But This Analyst Sees 20% Upside For Elon Musk&#8217;s EV Company With A $500 Price Target</a></li>
</ul>

Analyst Color

Equities

Market Summary

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Emerging Markets

Analyst Ratings

General

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

Trump Tariffs A Lose-Lose Proposition?  Goldman Research Indicates Markets Fall After Imposition And Retaliation — Economist Warns 'We Lose When We Punch And We Lose When We're Punched'

EV giant Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) has launched its refreshed Model Y in the U.S., with the long-range all-wheel drive variant priced at $59,990.
What Happened: Tesla&#8217;s website lists the new Model Y and existing variants. Only the refreshed vehicle&#8217;s Long Range All Wheel Drive Variant is currently shown on the website.
The website says that deliveries of the new vehicle will start in March. 
The old long-range all-wheel drive variant of Model Y was priced at just $47,990, implying the refreshed vehicle is roughly 25% more expensive.
However, the new vehicle includes the Tesla full self-driving feature, unlike in the case of its predecessor, which was an optional add-on priced at another $8,000.
The company has also launched the refreshed Model Y in Canada, with the new Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive priced C$20,000 higher than its predecessor.
Why It Matters: Tesla launched the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42905406/tesla-launches-refreshed-model-y-in-china-amid-rising-competition">refreshed Model Y in China</a> earlier this month with its base variant priced at 263,500 yuan or 5.4% pricier than its older version. 
The refreshed vehicle features changes to both its exterior and interior as compared to its forerunner. 
Model Y, launched in 2020, is Tesla&#8217;s best-selling vehicle. The launch of the refreshed vehicle comes after the company reported its first decline in annual global deliveries in over a decade.
Tesla reported global&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42766117/tesla-stock-tumbles-on-q4-deliveries-whats-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deliveries of 1.79 million</a>&nbsp;vehicles in 2024, down from full-year deliveries of 1.81 million in 2023.
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/tech/25/01/43155064/polestar-ceo-looks-to-attract-tesla-customers-disenchanted-by-elon-musks-politics-somebody-outside-of-germany-endorsing-right-wing-politicial-parties-totally-unacceptable">Polestar CEO Looks To Attract Tesla Customers Disenchanted By Elon Musk&#8217;s Politics: &#8216;Somebody Outside Of Germany Endorsing Right-Wing Politicial Parties&#8230; Totally Unacceptable&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Tesla

Tech

TSLA

Tesla Launches Refreshed Model Y In US With 25% Price Hike, Full Self-Driving Included

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, has reaffirmed his commitment to the ongoing legal battle against Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google. He is prepared to extend this fight for decades if necessary.
What Happened: Epic Games, backed by Tencent Holdings (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) has been embroiled in a long-running legal fight with Apple and Google over their app store practices, which Epic argues are monopolistic.
While Epic continues to rake in billions from Fortnite and its Unreal Engine business, Sweeney indicated that his company could face financial struggles as the battle drags on.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41220186/google-will-continue-to-fight-epic-games-in-court-to-halt-epic-requested-changes-to-play-store-under">Google Will Continue To Fight Epic Games In Court To Halt Epic-Requested Changes To Play Store: &#8216;Undercut Android&#8217;s Ability To Compete With Apple&#8217;s iOS&#8217;</a>
Sweeney said, "Yeah, I think we might run into serious financial problems after a couple more decades of this. But we&#8217;re determined to fight this out," according to an IGN <a href="https://in.ign.com/fortnite/223252/news/tim-sweeney-says-epic-can-afford-to-keep-spending-billions-fighting-apple-and-google-for-the-future">report</a>.
"I expect large parts of this struggle will go on throughout the rest of this decade and we&#8217;re fully committed to going through it and investing to break through," he added.
In September 2023, Epic Games announced a major workforce reduction, laying off approximately 830 employees, which accounted for about 16% of its total staff.&nbsp;
Sweeney previously stated that Epic had been &#8220;spending way more money than we earn,&#8221; referring to the need for a &#8220;major structural change to our economics.&#8221;
Despite these challenges, Sweeney <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/10/41151404/epic-games-is-now-financially-sound-says-ceo-tim-sweeney-after-major-layoffs">declared the company</a> &#8220;financially sound&#8221; during a presentation at Unreal Fest 2024.&nbsp;
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: On Thursday, the company also launched third-party games on the Epic Games Store on mobile, with a more favorable revenue-sharing model: Epic keeps 12% of the revenue from payments it processes, and 0% from third-party payments.
As part of this new initiative, nearly 20 third-party games are now available on the Epic Games Store on mobile, with 19 games on Android globally and 16 games on iOS in the EU.
Epic is also offering free games as part of a new program, including Bloons TD 6 and Dungeon of the Endless: Apogee, free to download until Feb. 20. New free games will be offered each month, with the plan to move to a weekly schedule later this year.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The wait is over! Nearly 20 new games, fresh features and our Free Game program are now live in the Epic Games Store on mobile &#x1f929; Grab Dungeon of the Endless: Apogee for FREE through February 20. More info: <a href="https://t.co/UlNwQ8CEEI">https://t.co/UlNwQ8CEEI</a> <a href="https://t.co/2hpNNefHex">pic.twitter.com/2hpNNefHex</a>
&mdash; Epic Games Store (@EpicGames) <a href="https://twitter.com/EpicGames/status/1882630268336660864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41181916/mark-cuban-offers-to-help-elon-musk-boost-x-revenue-says-tesla-ceo-is-concerned-about-declining-user?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Offers To Help Elon Musk Boost X Revenue, Says Tesla CEO Is Concerned About Declining Users: ‘I Wish He Would Call Me'</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.

Media

AAPL

GOOG

GOOGL

TCEHY

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney Prepared To Spend Billions For Decades Fighting Apple, Google Monopolies: 'We Think Our Best Days Are Ahead'

Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the illegal drug marketplace Silk Road, expressed gratitude on Thursday after being pardoned by President Donald Trump.
What happened: In his first public statement after being granted a full and unconditional pardon, Ulbricht called Trump "a man of his word."
"Thank you so much, President Trump, for giving me this amazing blessing," Ulbricht said in a video posted via his X account. "I am so, so grateful to have my life back, to have my future back, to have this second chance."
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://t.co/pbqRh9spnk">pic.twitter.com/pbqRh9spnk</a>
&mdash; Ross Ulbricht (@RealRossU) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealRossU/status/1882609887878029519?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/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/25/01/43151588/cathie-wood-was-asked-if-she-would-buy-trump-coin-heres-what-she-said">Cathie Wood Was Asked If She Would Buy TRUMP Coin, Here&#8217;s What She Said</a>
Ulbricht, who was serving a double life sentence since 2013 for creating the darknet website, said this is an important moment for those who value freedom and believe in second chances.
On a curious note, Ulbricht stated that "there's a lot to talk about" and that he would start engaging with the free world soon.
Interestingly, wallets tied to Ulbricht <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43150266/unclaimed-bitcoin-worth-44-million-found-in-ross-ulbrichts-wallets-but-doubts-about-the-silk-road-founders-access-to-keys">still contain 430 BTC</a>, worth more than $45 million, fueling speculation about their on-chain moves now that he is free.
Why It Matters: Earlier this week, Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43118234/president-trump-signs-executive-order-to-pardon-silk-road-creator-ross-ulbricht">fulfilled his campaign promise</a> by signing an executive order to liberate Ulbricht in honor of the Libertarian Movement.
The Silk Road website was a hub of the illegal trafficking of heroin, cocaine, LSD, and other substances, all paid for in Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>). It is estimated that the platform facilitated $1 billion worth of illicit transactions in the apex cryptocurrency.
Despite the nature of the crimes, Ulbricht was viewed as a champion of libertarian values, with his supporters <a href="https://lp.org/libertarian-party-calls-for-pardoning-of-ross-ulbricht/">criticizing </a>the government for regulating the internet and tightening civil freedoms.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $104,930 up 2.78% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43150952/blackrock-ceo-larry-fink-says-bitcoin-could-rise-to-700000-on-monetary-debasement-political-instability-fears">Blackrock CEO Larry Fink Says Bitcoin Could Rise To $700,000 On Fiat Fears: &#8216;If You&#8217;re Frightened Of The Debasement…&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

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

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

Trump A Man Of His Word, Says Ross Ulbricht After Pardon — Silk Road Creator's 'Lots To Talk About' Remark Fuels Curiosity

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

BBJP

WisdomTree Trust Japan Total Dividend Fund

Reported Earlier, au Jibun Bank Japan Services Purchasing Managers' Index Preliminary For January 52.7 Vs. 50.9 Prior

Reported Earlier, Japan National Consumer Price Index (MoM) For December 0.6% Vs. 0.4% (Revised) Prior

Reported Earlier, Japan National Core Consumer Price Index (YoY) For December 3.0% Vs. 3.0% Est.; 2.7% Prior

Reported Earlier, Japan Interest Rate Decision Raised To 0.50% Vs. 0.50% Est.; 0.25% Prior

In a significant move, the Bank of Japan has hiked its interest rates to levels not seen since the global financial crisis of 2008 and in line with economists' expectations. This is the first such increase since July of last year.
What Happened: The Bank of Japan is optimistic that wage growth will sustain inflation around its 2% target, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/boj-likely-raise-rates-highest-17-years-signal-more-hikes-2025-01-23/">Reuters</a> reported on Friday. The decision comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s inauguration, with potential tariff threats likely to keep policymakers vigilant.
At the end of a two-day meeting on Friday, the BOJ raised its short-term policy rate from 0.25% to 0.5%, a level not seen in Japan for 17 years. The decision, made by an 8-1 vote with board member Toyoaki Nakamura dissenting, underscores the central bank&#8217;s resolve to gradually elevate interest rates to around 1% &#8211; a level analysts believe will neither cool nor overheat Japan&#8217;s economy.
&#8220;The likelihood of achieving the BOJ&#8217;s outlook has been rising,&#8221; the central bank said in a <a data-wplink-url-error="true" href="http://chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.boj.or.jp/en/mopo/mpmdeci/mpr_2025/k250124a.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, noting that many firms have indicated they will continue to steadily increase wages in this year&#8217;s annual wage negotiations.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43182172/boeing-nikola-texas-instruments-intuitive-surgical-and-tesla-why-these-5-stocks-are-on-investors-radars-today">Boeing, Nikola, Texas Instruments, Intuitive Surgical, And Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors&#8217; Radars Today</a>
Why It Matters: The Bank of Japan&#8217;s decision to raise interest rates is a significant development in the global financial landscape. The move indicates a level of confidence in the country&#8217;s economic stability and growth, despite potential external threats such as the new U.S. administration&#8217;s tariff policies.
The rate hike also suggests that the BOJ is confident in its ability to manage inflation and maintain economic balance. The central bank&#8217;s statement indicates that many firms are planning to continue increasing wages, which could help sustain inflation around the 2% target.
This development could have implications for other central banks and global markets, as they observe Japan&#8217;s approach to managing its economy amidst global uncertainties.
Photo via Shutterstock.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43182640/elizabeth-warren-lists-changes-for-elon-musks-doge-department-urges-guantanamo-closure-due-to-hundreds-of-millions-in-annual-costs">Elizabeth Warren Lists Changes For Elon Musk&#8217;s DOGE Department, Urges Guantanamo Closure Due To &#8216;Hundreds of Millions&#8217; In Annual Costs</a></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif">
<hr style="border: 0;height: 5px;background: #225aa9" />
<div style="background-color: #f5f5f5;background-position: center;background-size: cover;justify-content: center"></div>

 Engineered by 
 Benzinga Neuro, Edited by 
 
 <a href="None" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="color: #225aa9;text-decoration: none"> 
 Jae Hur</a> 
 
 
<hr style="border: 0;height: 1px;background: #225aa9" />

 The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the 
 extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to 
 create comprehensive and timely stories for you. 
 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="color: #225aa9;text-decoration: none">Learn more.</a>
 
<hr style="border: 0;height: 5px;background: #225aa9" />
 </div>

Asia

Bank Of Japan Raises Interest Rates To Pre-2008 Levels Amid Trump's Tariff Uncertainties

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), expressed concerns over the rise of political meme coins on Thursday, warning that they could become &#8220;vehicles for unlimited political bribery.&#8221;
What Happened: In an X post, Buterin criticized the current state of the cryptocurrency industry, particularly the increasing popularity of political tokens. 
&#8220;They are not just sources of fun, whose harm is at most contained to mistakes made by voluntary participants; they are vehicles for unlimited political bribery, including from foreign nation states,&#8221; the cryptocurrency mogul said.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">There is perhaps an analogy with weed here. Ten years ago, to many weed represented freedom, and rebellion against sclerotic old order that denied self-sovereignty over our bodies. Then, weed became legalized, and &quot;official&quot;. On that day, I remember my personal interest in weed…
&mdash; vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) <a href="https://twitter.com/VitalikButerin/status/1882459101390602338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Buterin understood this as a &#8220;new order,&#8221; in which the powerful celebrate the idea that anyone can create tokens for anything, at any scale. 
He believed that this could be a reaction to the old order, in which former SEC Chair Gary Gensler established a regime that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/03/37538468/sec-chair-gary-gensler-declines-to-say-whether-ethereum-is-a-commodity-its-about-circumsta">penalized assets</a> with clear investor rights and transparent revenue streams while rewarding &#8220;obfuscated&#8221; assets.
&#8220;Everything that happened in crypto was in part a response, part compliance, part rebellion, to these pressures,&#8221; Buterin noted.
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/25/01/43151588/cathie-wood-was-asked-if-she-would-buy-trump-coin-heres-what-she-said">Cathie Wood Was Asked If She Would Buy TRUMP Coin, Here&#8217;s What She Said</a>
Why It Matters: While he didn&#8217;t directly name any project, Buterin&#8217;s comments come in the wake of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43078040/trump-coin-tanks-36-even-as-melania-trump-launches-her-own-token-top-analyst-says-his-short-is-going-very-very-well">meme coins</a> drop by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump last week.
The Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)-based coins, named Official Trump (TRUMP) and Official Melania (MELANIA), have accumulated tens of billions in combined market valuation, with speculations that the first couple <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43118779/trump-memecoin-regains-momentum-rallies-22-as-the-president-calls-billions-earned-through-the-venture-as-peanuts">may benefit directly</a> from the gains.
Anthony Scaramucci, former White House Communications Director, criticized <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43076714/scaramucci-criticizes-donald-trumps-meme-coin-launch-idi-amin-level-corruption">Trump&#8217;s meme coin launch</a>, labeling it &#8220;Idi Amin-level corruption.&#8221; 
Buterin has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/06/39199293/shiba-inus-shytoshi-kusama-indicates-massive-plans-for-the-crypto-project-in-response-to-e">previously criticized celebrity memecoins</a>, stating that such projects just benefit celebrities and early adopters.
Price Action: At the time of writing, TRUMP was exchanging hands at $33.09, crashing 11.43% in the last 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap.MELANIA traded at $2.62, down 22% over 24 hours.
Photo by Alexey Smyshlyaev on Shutterstock.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43150952/blackrock-ceo-larry-fink-says-bitcoin-could-rise-to-700000-on-monetary-debasement-political-instability-fears">Blackrock CEO Larry Fink Says Bitcoin Could Rise To $700,000 On Fiat Fears: &#8216;If You&#8217;re Frightened Of The Debasement…&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

Politics

$ETH

$SOL

Amid Trump, Melania Token Frenzy, Ethereum's Vitalik Buterin Warns Of 'Unlimited Political Bribery' Via Memecoins

To recapture some of the spotlight from Sony Group Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SONY#NYSE">SONY</a>) and Nintendo Co. Ltd. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTDOY#OTC">NTDOY</a>), Microsoft Corporation's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) Xbox Developer Direct kicked off the year with a bang.
The January 2025 event revealed major game announcements, including the surprise reveal of "Ninja Gaiden 4" and "Doom: The Dark Ages" preview.
Here's everything you need to know about the new announcements:&nbsp;
Ninja Gaiden 4
After years of waiting, Team Ninja has revived the legendary franchise with the help of Platinum Games. The new game introduces Yakumo, a fresh protagonist who will face off against formidable enemies.
"Ninja Gaiden 2 Black" has also been remastered and is available for Xbox Game Pass users.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43152356/linkedin-hit-with-lawsuit-for-violating-user-privacy-allegedly-sharing-private-data-for-ai-model-training">Microsoft&#8217;s LinkedIn Hit With Lawsuit For Violating User Privacy, Allegedly Sharing Private Data For AI Model Training</a>
<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="NINJA GAIDEN 4 Official Announce Trailer &#x7C; Developer_Direct 2025" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/08vbgX9lpWY?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>
Doom: The Dark Ages&nbsp;
Another major highlight was the preview of Doom: The Dark Ages, the latest chapter in the iconic Doom series. Acting as a prequel to the 2016 reboot, the game will shift the action from quick dashes and jumps to a more deliberate, brawler-style gameplay.
Doom: The Dark Ages releases on May 15, 2025. Pre-order for Xbox Series X&#x7C;S and PC, or play it day one with Game Pass.
<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="DOOM: The Dark Ages &#x7C; Developer_Direct 2025 Gameplay Sizzle (4K) &#x7C; Coming May 15, 2025" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wd1tevNW73k?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>
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
South of Midnight
From developer Compulsion Games comes South of Midnight, a visually striking action-adventure set in a fictional American Southern town. Players take control of Hazel, a character with the ability to weave magic and rid the world of monstrous, corrupted creatures.
South of Midnight arrives on April 8, 2025, for Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X&#x7C;S, and PC. Play it day one with Game Pass or pre-order now.
<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="South of Midnight - Story Trailer &#x7C; Developer_Direct 2025" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/klgw-To1rqc?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>
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive. The game introduces active combat where characters can dodge, perform combos, and parry.
Expedition 33 will launch on April 24, 2025, and will also be available on Xbox Game Pass.
<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="Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 &#x7C; Release Date Trailer &#x7C; Developer_Direct 2025" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b6YNycptEzc?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>
Why It Matters: In October 2024, Microsoft reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41636770/microsoft-q1-earnings-highlights-ai-driven-transformation-is-changing-work-company-beats-revenue-ep">first-quarter revenue</a> of $65.60 billion, reflecting a 16% increase compared to the previous year.
In the More Personal Computing segment, Xbox content and services revenue surged 61%, driven by the acquisition of Activision.
As of December 2024, Xbox leads the console operating system market worldwide with a commanding 65.8% share, followed by PlayStation with 34.19%. Nintendo holds a minimal 0.01% market share, according to Statcounter.
Price Action: Microsoft's stock increased by 0.11% on Thursday, ending the day at $446.71. However, in after-hours trading, the shares fell slightly by 0.081%, reaching $446.35, as per <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</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>.
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/01/42759975/squid-game-season-3-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-thrilling-finale-coming-in-2025?itm_source=parsely-api">Squid Game Season 3: Everything You Need To Know About The Thrilling Finale Coming In 2025</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Gaming

MSFT

NTDOY

Sony Group Corporation American Depositary Shares

SONY

Xbox Developer Direct Drops Big Surprises — Ninja Gaiden 4, Doom: The Dark Ages, And New Game Pass Titles: What You Need To Know

Senator Elizabeth Warren&nbsp;(D-Mass.) presented strategies to tech mogul&nbsp;Elon Musk on Thursday&nbsp;on&nbsp;how the newly formed Department&nbsp;of Government Efficiency could&nbsp;potentially cut government spending.
What Happened: Warren outlined as many as 30 recommendations in a <a href="https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_to_doge_rerecommendationstosave2trillionoverthenext10years.pdf">letter </a>to Musk, President Donald Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42848928/elon-musk-spends-nights-several-hundred-feet-from-trump-in-a-2000-a-night-cottage-at-mar-a-lago">close ally</a> and head of the department. One of the prime suggestions was to negotiate better deals for Department of Defense contracts. 
Other proposals included recreating the DoD Renegotiation Board to challenge excess profits, preventing the military from doing civilian jobs, and stopping corporate welfare for DoD contractors.
Warren also urged the transfer of Guantánamo Bay detainees to other countries and take steps to close the &#8220;world's most expensive detention program.&#8221;
She said if acted upon, her recommendations on defense spending would save the government $200 billion in the next 12 years.
The senator&#8217;s next piece of advice was for the federal health care program, Medicare, which included negotiating for lower drug prices, cracking down on Pharmacy Benefit Managers, and addressing the patent abuses by pharmaceutical firms.
At the same time, Warren opposed any steps to cut Medicare benefits, calling such a move &#8220;cruel&#8221; to American citizens.
She also called for closing tax loopholes that benefit big corporations and the rich.
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/25/01/43151588/cathie-wood-was-asked-if-she-would-buy-trump-coin-heres-what-she-said">Cathie Wood Was Asked If She Would Buy TRUMP Coin, Here&#8217;s What She Said</a>
Why It Matters: These recommendations come after Warren&#8217;s previous&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42541351/warren-says-musk-advisor-role-to-president-elect-conflict-of-interest-trump-team-says-senators-societal-impact-is-11024th-of-tesla-ceo">concerns</a> about Musk&#8217;s roles in the Trump administration and his potential conflicts of interest. The senator had said that Musk is the CEO of several companies that have government contracts, including&nbsp;SpaceX&nbsp;and&nbsp;Tesla.
The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, is an entity<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/41927289/trump-appoints-elon-musk-and-vivek-ramaswamy-to-lead-doge-targeting-bureaucracy-and-65-trillion-federal-spending-we-will-not-go-gently" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;tasked with cutting federal spending</a>&nbsp;and abolishing superfluous regulations. However, Musk <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/25/01/43046108/musks-doge-ambitions-shrink-why-2-trillion-budget-cuts-may-be-out-of-reach">backtracked on his aggressive federal budget-cutting ambitions</a> last week, shifting from saving &#8220;at least&#8221; $2 trillion in election rallies to calling it the &#8220;best-case outcome.&#8221;
DOGE also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43086309/trumps-doge-committee-faces-lawsuit-over-alleged-federal-advisory-violations-and-lack-of-transparency" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fell into trouble </a>when a barrage of lawsuits was launched against it shortly after Trump took office earlier this week.
Price Action: Meanwhile, Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) was exchanging hands at $0.3459, down 2.40% 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>.
This comes after the iconic Shiba Inu image, which had become a symbol of Dogecoin and the larger meme coin movement, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43140690/dogecoin-drops-6-after-doge-department-removes-logo">was no longer available</a> on the Department of Government Efficiency&#8217;s website.
Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald on Shutterstock
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43150952/blackrock-ceo-larry-fink-says-bitcoin-could-rise-to-700000-on-monetary-debasement-political-instability-fears">Blackrock CEO Larry Fink Says Bitcoin Could Rise To $700,000 On Fiat Fears: &#8216;If You&#8217;re Frightened Of The Debasement…&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"></a>

Government

Regulations

$DOGE

Elizabeth Warren Lists Changes For Elon Musk's DOGE Department, Urges Guantanamo Closure Due To 'Hundreds of Millions' In Annual Costs

Spotify Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPOT#NYSE">SPOT</a>) co-founder Daniel Ek's body scanning startup has reportedly raised $260 million, bringing its valuation to $1.7 billion.
What Happened: The investment, spearheaded by Lightspeed Venture Partners, is intended to facilitate Neko Health&#8217;s growth into new markets, including the U.S., subject to regulatory approvals, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/c870d156-4f0c-4aa3-813e-87811718e04a">reported</a> the Financial Times on Thursday.
Other investors in this round include Lakestar, Atomico, General Catalyst, and OG Venture Partners.
"The companies we compare ourselves with are the Apples or Teslas of the world, but we're applying it to a very different domain, which is healthcare," Ek told the publication.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/43181940/elon-musk-or-larry-ellison-dan-ives-on-who-could-win-tiktoks-billion-dollar-soap-opera-someone-hand-picked-from-beijing-but-also-trumps-white-house">Elon Musk Or Larry Ellison? Dan Ives On Who Could Win TikTok&#8217;s Billion-Dollar Soap Opera: &#8216;Someone Hand Picked From Beijing But Also Trump&#8217;s White House&#8217;</a>
Founded in Sweden in 2018 by Ek and Hjalmar Nilsonne, Neko Health provides health check-ups, featuring high-resolution skin scans and blood tests.
Why It Matters: Other companies in the preventive health scanning sector include Ezra and Prenuvo. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has also invested around $180 million in Retro Biosciences, a startup aiming to extend the human lifespan by a decade.
On Thursday, it was also <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/25a473ea-9f87-474a-8729-bc5287df853a">reported</a> that Retro Biosciences is seeking to raise $1 billion in its latest funding round. Altman is expected to invest additional funds during this Series A round.
Image Credits: Shutterstock.com
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43021026/apple-stock-has-moved-up-4-2-since-iphone-16-launched-analyst-says-it-has-another-8-upside-as-manufacturing-cost-decline-bolsters-cupertinos-margins" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Stock Has Moved Up 4.2% Since iPhone 16 Launched, Analyst Says It Has Another 8% Upside As Manufacturing Cost Decline Bolsters Cupertino's Margins</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Health Care

SPOT

Spotify Co-Founder Daniel Ek's Neko Health Secures $260 Million For US Expansion As It Compares Itself With 'The Apples Or Teslas Of The World'

Leading coins rose marginally on a day of cryptocurrency-friendly policies announced by the Donald Trump administration.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 8:15 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>+0.41%</td>
<td>$103,569.49</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>+1.62%</td>
<td>$3,299.95</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>-3.09%</td>
<td>$0.3484</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: Bitcoin recorded choppy momentum over the last 24 hours, surging to a high of $106,500 in the morning before falling to $103,000 by the evening.
The morning rally was triggered by speculations of an executive order to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve. Eventually, Trump signed an order that will  <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43177482/trump-signs-executive-order-on-crypto-bitcoin-reserve-to-be-evaluated">evaluate the creation</a> of a "strategic national digital asset stockpile."
Additionally, a SEC directive that restricted banks' ability to custody cryptocurrencies<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43181875/another-crypto-friendly-measure-by-trump-sec-revokes-sab-121-policy-that-curtailed-banks-ability-to-custody-digital-assets"> was repealed</a>.
Ethereum surged more than Bitcoin, probably due to expectations of inclusion in the potential digital asset stockpile.
More than $382 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, with long liquidations accounting for $262 million. However, Bitcoin's rebound to $107,000 could liquidate nearly $368 million worth of short positions.
More than 50% of trader accounts on Binance placed long positions on Bitcoin, suggesting expectations of a rebound.
The market sentiment remained one of "Greed," according to the Crypto Fear &amp; Greed Index.
Top Gainers (24-Hours)
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 8:15 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mantle (MNT)</td>
<td>+10.53%</td>
<td>$1.22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KuCoin Token (KCS)</td>
<td>+7.71%</td>
<td>$12.09</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ethereum Classic (ETC)</td>
<td>+5.94%</td>
<td>$28.56</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.56 trillion, contracting marginally by 0.17% in the last 24 hours.
Stocks extended their winning streak on Thursday. The S&amp;P 500 rallied 0.53% to close at a new record high of 6,118.71. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lifted 408.34 points, or 0.92%, to end at 44,565.07. The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite gained 0.22%, closing at 20,053.68.
The bump comes after President Donald Trump advocated immediate cuts in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43170854/trump-outlines-economic-reset-at-davos-5-things-you-need-to-know">interest rates</a> during a virtual address at the World Economic Forum 2025.
The market also possibly factored Trump's remarks that corporate taxes will be cut from 21% to 15% for companies that manufacture in the U.S.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: Popular on-chain analytics firm Santiment highlighted the new all-time high for wallets holding between 100 and 1,000 BTC—one of Bitcoin's leading indicators.
"This rise in key stakeholder confidence is yet another promising sign for a bullish 2025," the firm added.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f433; Among Bitcoin&#39;s top leading indicators are the amount of wallets holding between 10 to 100 or 100 to 1,000 BTC. The latter group just broke an all-time high, with 15,777 such wallets. This rise in key stakeholder confidence is yet another promising sign for a bullish 2025. &#x1f680; <a href="https://t.co/4ZPiowoSDf">pic.twitter.com/4ZPiowoSDf</a>
&mdash; Santiment (@santimentfeed) <a href="https://twitter.com/santimentfeed/status/1882476757158367261?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Popular cryptocurrency trader Michaël van de Poppe set a price target of $500,000 per Bitcoin and $20,000 per Ethereum, owing to the latest cryptocurrency-friendly executive orders by President Trump.
"The cycle has begun," he remarked.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">$500K per <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> $20K per <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> The cycle has begun. <a href="https://t.co/OQk7Ek1qfR">https://t.co/OQk7Ek1qfR</a>
&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1882527402800415090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Photo by SvetlanaParnikova on Shutterstock
Read Next:    
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43173869/ivanka-trump-denounces-fake-crypto-coin-using-her-name">Ivanka Trump Denounces Fake Crypto Coin Using Her Name</a></li>
</ul>

Movers

Bitcoin, Ethereum Rise, Dogecoin Dips Amid Pro-Crypo Announcements From Trump: Top Trader Sets Sight On $500,000 BTC Target, $20,000 For ETH

They start young in the Trump family. According to<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/barron-trump-new-business-real-estate-2014039"> </a>Newsweek, the President's 18-year-old son, Barron – currently enrolled as a freshman at New York University's Stern School of Business – filed incorporation documents in Wyoming on July 14, 2024, to form his own real estate business, Trump, Fulcher &amp; Roxburgh Capital Inc. He listed the address as his father's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42935628/mark-zuckerberg-meets-donald-trump-at-mar-a-lago-mending-fences-ahead-of-gop-white-house-return">Mar-a-Lago</a> estate in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42499834/palm-beach-luxury-home-sales-take-off-after-trump-election-win-with-residents-looking-bask-in-mar-a-lago-glamor">Palm Beach</a>, Florida.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">High Golf Resorts And Masterful Mentorship</h3>
However, Trump's youngest son dissolved the business shortly after Trump Sr. won the 2024 election. The ‘Roxburgh' in the company's name and cofounder is Cameron Roxburgh, one of Barron's classmates from High School – the prestigious $40,000-a-year Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach. According to his LinkedIn profile, Cameron, a year behind Barron, is due to graduate in May 2025. He told Newsweek there are plans to "relaunch it" – the real estate business – in the Spring. He explained that the company temporarily shut down to avoid media scrutiny during the election.
Don't Miss:
<ul>
<li>This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to <a href="https://arrivedhomes.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=15&amp;aff_id=1006&amp;aff_sub=yahoo&amp;aff_sub2=byerscta100">become a landlord in just 10 minutes, with minimum investments as low as $100</a>.</li>
<li>Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/boxabl-y2"> you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today.</a></li>
</ul>
Interestingly, Roxburgh revealed that the company will focus on upscale real estate development once it launches. They have already identified properties and golf courses in Utah, Arizona and Idaho. Roxburgh added that he and Barron will be working with a third partner – luxury real estate expert Carter Fulcher.
Although Roxburgh stated that the President has not offered to underwrite his son's company's deals with funding, the T.F.R. team hopes their fledgling business can one day be brought into the Trump Organization fold.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Like Father Like Son</h3>
Carter Fulcher is known for being at the helm of a luxury real estate development business, The Fulcher Organization, in Idaho. In following his father's footsteps, Barron is emulating the path dad Donald took, joining his father's multifamily real estate business in 1968 before launching his own self-branding venture in the 1970s, which continues to this day and is co-run with Trump's other sons Eric and Donald Jr.&nbsp;
Trending: CEO of Integris gathered a team of senior investment managers who have $34.22 billion in combined owned and managed assets in the West Coast —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/integris"> here&#8217;s how to invest in their private credit fund that targets 12% annual interest rate.</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Generational Wealth</h3>
According to The New York Times, Trump Sr. received a staggering $413 million in today's money from his dad over two decades. However, Trump has vehemently disagreed with this number, saying he started with $1 million from his father to kick-start his real estate empire.
Regarding The New York Times accusation, which alleged that much of Trump's inheritance was passed down through tax loopholes, the President's brother Robert Trump said that "all appropriate gift and estate tax returns were filed. Our family has no other comment on these matters that happened some 20 years ago," he said in a statement to the Times, "and would appreciate your respecting the privacy of our deceased parents, may God rest their souls."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Real Estate Dynasties</h3>
While Trump's children with former wife Ivana – Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka – are all involved or have been involved in their dad's real estate business – only Tiffany, the daughter from Trump and Marla Maples' brief marriage, does not appear to be involved in the family business. The Georgetown Law graduate seems to be sticking to the profession she studied. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/25/01/43076683/ivanka-trump-and-jared-kushner-wont-trade-their-24-million-miami-mansion-for-the-white-house-heres-how-they-made-their-money">Ivanka</a> is also married into another real estate dynasty, the Kushners, through her husband Jared, whose family's net worth is believed to be $7.1 billion as of 2024.&nbsp;
Read Next:
<ul>
<li>It&#8217;s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $70 million in art — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks-y2">this alternative asset has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here&#8217;s how everyday investors are getting started.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/go/arrived-private-credit-yf">Arrived Home's Private Credit Fund&#8217;s has historically paid an annualized dividend yield of 8.1%&#x2A;</a>, which provides access to a pool of short-term loans backed by residential real estate with just a $100 minimum.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/go/arrived-private-credit-yf"> </a></li>
</ul>

Real Estate

A Mogul In The Making? Barron Trump's Luxury Property Venture Grows Wings After Dad Donald's Inauguration

LibertyShares, Franklin Templeton&#39;s brand of exchange traded funds, added to its lineup of fixed-income funds this&nbsp;week with the debut of the Franklin Liberty U.S. Core Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/FLCB#NYSE">FLCB</a>).

<h3>What Happened</h3>

The new Franklin Liberty U.S. Core Bond ETF can be <a href="https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/reconsidering-complete-fixed-income-exposure-with-etfs-2019-09-19">used as an alternative</a> to traditional, passively managed aggregate bond strategies, as the new LibertyShares fund is actively managed and seeks low tracking error relative to the widely followed Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond Index.

&ldquo;Franklin Templeton&rsquo;s fixed income and quantitative research teams review issuers and assess risks from multiple perspectives, which results in a truly holistic viewpoint on each potential investment,&rdquo; <a href="http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/09/19/1918051/0/en/Franklin-Templeton-Expands-Active-Fixed-Income-ETF-Lineup-with-Launch-of-Franklin-Liberty-U-S-Core-Bond-ETF.html">according to a statement from the issuer</a>.

&ldquo;FLCB will be managed by David Yuen, SVP, head of quantitative and multi-sector strategies, Amy Cooper, VP, portfolio manager, Patrick Klein, SVP, portfolio manager, multi-sector strategies, and Tina Chou, VP, portfolio manager, with Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group.&rdquo;

<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>

FLCB came to market with just over $100 million in assets under management, putting it in the upper echelon of new ETFs this year, active or passive.

Nearly 58% of the new ETF&#39;s roster is allocated to Treasuries and agency debt,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.franklintempleton.com/investor/investments-and-solutions/investment-options/etfs/portfolio/28565/franklin-liberty-u-s-core-bond-etf/FLCB">with about 28%</a> coming from a category deemed as &ldquo;other.&rdquo;

Examining FLCB&#39;s roster of 88 holdings, which is highly focused relative to passive total bond funds, it&#39;s reasonable to assume the bulk of that &ldquo;other&rdquo; category is investment-grade corporate debt.

FLCB&#39;s Treasury holdings give the fund a duration contribution of just over two years, while the other category has a duration contribution of 2.29 years, according to issuer data. FLCB has an average duration of 5.59 years.

Over 72% of FLCB&#39;s holdings are rated AAA, AA or A. Another 18.56% are rated BBB.

<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>

FLCB is the eighth ETF in the LibertyShares fixed-income lineup, a roster that covers investment-grade corporates, municipal bonds, international debt, senior loans and junk bonds. FLCB charges 0.15% per year, or $15 on a $10,000 investment, making it cost-effective among actively managed funds.

At the end of August, LibertyShares had $4.4 billion in assets under management.

Related Links:&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/19/09/14462339/potx-a-potent-pot-etf-debuts">Another New Cannabis ETF</a>

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/19/09/14462412/how-to-find-small-caps-that-actually-make-money">This ETF&#39;s Small Caps Are Actually Profitable</a>

Comments

Franklin U.S. Core Bond ETF

News

Latest news for Franklin U.S. Core Bond ETF (ARCA:FLCB)

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Popular Channels

Tools & Features

Partners & Contributors

About Benzinga