Franklin Municipal Green Bond ETF (ARCA: FLMB)

Latest news for Franklin Municipal Green Bond ETF (ARCA:FLMB)

Franklin Templeton ETF Trust Franklin Liberty Municipal Bond ETF

Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in municipal securities whose interest is free from federal income taxes, including the federal alternative minimum tax. Although the fund tries to invest all of its assets in tax-free securities, it is possible that up to 20% of the funds net assets may be in securities that pay interest that may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax and, although not anticipated, in securities that pay interest subject to other federal or state income taxes.

Franklin Municipal Green Bond ETF

Rosenblatt analyst Barton Crockett maintains Netflix (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $554 to $635.

News

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

NFLX

Rosenblatt Maintains Neutral on Netflix, Raises Price Target to $635

Macro Economic Events

Economics

All U.S. Edgar Online Services Have Been Restored

A market strategist is providing insight into which sectors could benefit based on whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden wins the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/2024-election">2024 presidential election.</a>
What Happened: There is a lot of focus<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39804113/exclusive-elon-musk-is-burning-his-own-blue-bridges-by-donating-to-trump-says-market-expert"> on electric vehicles</a> ahead of the 2024 election with a win by Trump seen as a negative for the sector, but a potential positive for Tesla.
Freedom Capital Markets Chief Global Strategist Jay Woods told Benzinga there are several sectors to watch ahead of the 2024 election.
Woods sees a potential "Trump bump" for financials and healthcare stocks if the former president returns to office.
The market strategist recalled Operation Warp Speed, which mainly focused on COVID-19 treatments, but also fast-tracked other studies.
"I think the health care sector will thrive under Trump,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/jaywoods3">Woods </a>said. Financial regulations could be minimized under the former president, benefiting financial stocks, he added.
On the other hand, a potential 2024 election win by Biden could be good for industrials and chip stocks, Woods told Benzinga.
He said<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/chips-act"> the Chips Act</a> has been great for many semiconductor stocks and a Biden victory could continue on that momentum.
The market strategist said recent comments by Trump and his vice-presidential pick J.D. Vance could impact the chip sector with potential trade wars with China.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/24/07/39846454/exclusive-market-strategist-jay-woods-says-rotation-in-small-caps-is-just-starting-rus">EXCLUSIVE: Market Strategist Jay Woods Says &#8216;Rotation In Small Caps Is Just Starting&#8217;: Russell 2000 Within 8% Of All Times, &#8216;Easy Upside Target&#8217;</a>
Why It's Important: Woods noted that investors should consider different sectors that could benefit under the 2024 election winner. The market strategist also cautioned that predictions do not always align with the actual outcomes.
Energy stocks experienced a surge leading up to Trump&#8217;s election in 2016 but did not perform as well as predicted afterward, Woods said.
"Energy didn't do as well under Trump as they thought," he added.
Electric vehicle and clean energy stocks were favored by investors ahead of the 2020 election and Biden's win. But EV stocks under Biden haven't performed as strong as expected since the 2020 election, Woods noted.
"They haven't really paid off."
The SPDR Select Sector Fund &#8211; Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>) and SPDR Select Sector Fund &#8211; Health Care (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) are two of the larger ETFs that track the sectors Woods predicts could do well under Trump. 
The SPDR Select Sector Fund &#8211; Industrial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLI#NYSE">XLI</a>) and VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMH#NASDAQ">SMH</a>) are two of the larger ETFs that track the sectors Woods predicts could do well under Biden. 
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/24/07/39848044/exclusive-financials-looking-favorable-after-jpmorgan-earnings-market-strategist-jay-woods-says-">EXCLUSIVE: Financials &#8216;Looking Favorable&#8217; After JPMorgan Earnings — Market Strategist Jay Woods Says Sector &#8216;Just Joining The Party&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Created using images from Benzinga and Midjourney

Politics

Exclusives

Markets

Trading Ideas

EXCLUSIVE: Market Strategist Predicts 4 Winning Sectors Based On Trump Or Biden 2024 Election Victory

Barclays analyst Jared Shaw maintains Synovus Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNV#NYSE">SNV</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $46 to $47.

Barclays Maintains Overweight on Synovus Finl, Raises Price Target to $47

Barclays analyst Jeffrey Bernstein maintains Domino's Pizza (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DPZ#NYSE">DPZ</a>) with a Underweight and lowers the price target from $470 to $380.

Barclays Maintains Underweight on Domino's Pizza, Lowers Price Target to $380

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Hims &amp; Hers Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIMS#NYSE">HIMS</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in HIMS usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 9 extraordinary options activities for Hims &amp; Hers Health. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 44% leaning bullish and 33% bearish. Among these notable options, 5 are puts, totaling $313,116, and 4 are calls, amounting to $184,794.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $14.0 to $21.0 for Hims &amp; Hers Health over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Hims &amp; Hers Health's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Hims &amp; Hers Health's whale trades within a strike price range from $14.0 to $21.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Hims &amp; Hers Health 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1721416599_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>HIMS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$1.5</td>
<td>$1.45</td>
<td>$1.5</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
<td>$104.7K</td>
<td>790</td>
<td>26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HIMS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/19/24</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>$0.0</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>$20.50</td>
<td>$78.2K</td>
<td>454</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HIMS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/19/24</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>$0.15</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>$20.50</td>
<td>$66.8K</td>
<td>454</td>
<td>7.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HIMS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/16/24</td>
<td>$2.65</td>
<td>$2.5</td>
<td>$2.55</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
<td>$60.8K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HIMS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>07/19/24</td>
<td>$2.5</td>
<td>$2.3</td>
<td>$2.39</td>
<td>$18.00</td>
<td>$45.8K</td>
<td>5.5K</td>
<td>106</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Hims &amp; Hers Health</h3>
Hims &amp; Hers Health Inc is a multi-specialty telehealth platform that connects consumers to licensed healthcare professionals, enabling them to access high-quality medical care for numerous conditions related to mental health, sexual health, dermatology, primary care, and more.
<h3>Where Is Hims &amp; Hers Health Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 8,346,592, the HIMS's price is down by -0.26%, now at $20.32. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 17 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Hims &amp; Hers Health</h3>
4 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $22.25.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Jefferies has decided to maintain their Hold rating on Hims &amp; Hers Health, which currently sits at a price target of $23. </li>
<li>An analyst from Piper Sandler has decided to maintain their Neutral rating on Hims &amp; Hers Health, which currently sits at a price target of $18. </li>
<li>An analyst from Truist Securities has decided to maintain their Hold rating on Hims &amp; Hers Health, which currently sits at a price target of $23. </li>
<li>An analyst from TD Cowen persists with their Buy rating on Hims &amp; Hers Health, maintaining a target price of $25. </li>
</ul>
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Hims &amp; Hers Health, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Hims & Hers Health, Inc. Class A Common Stock

HIMS

Hims & Hers Health Unusual Options Activity

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Antero Resources (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AR#NYSE">AR</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in AR usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 9 extraordinary options activities for Antero Resources. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 33% leaning bullish and 44% bearish. Among these notable options, 6 are puts, totaling $254,906, and 3 are calls, amounting to $157,100.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $20.0 to $37.0 for Antero Resources over the recent three months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Antero Resources options trades today is 541.67 with a total volume of 1,767.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Antero Resources's big money trades within a strike price range of $20.0 to $37.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Antero Resources Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1721416594_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$5.3</td>
<td>$5.2</td>
<td>$5.2</td>
<td>$34.00</td>
<td>$83.7K</td>
<td>234</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$8.05</td>
<td>$7.75</td>
<td>$7.75</td>
<td>$27.00</td>
<td>$77.5K</td>
<td>104</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">32</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$12.75</td>
<td>$12.15</td>
<td>$12.15</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$48.6K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/19/24</td>
<td>$1.72</td>
<td>$1.52</td>
<td>$1.56</td>
<td>$31.00</td>
<td>$39.0K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">545</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>07/19/24</td>
<td>$1.81</td>
<td>$1.22</td>
<td>$1.5</td>
<td>$31.00</td>
<td>$37.5K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">795</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Antero Resources</h3>
Antero Resources Corp, based in Denver, engages in the exploration for and production of natural gas and natural gas liquids in the United States and Canada. At the end of 2023, the company reported proven reserves of 18.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent. Production averaged approximately 3,483 million cubic feet of equivalent a day in 2023 at a ratio of 35% liquids and 65% natural gas.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Antero Resources</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 1,429,546, the AR's price is down by 0.0%, now at $29.47. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 12 days.</li>
</ul>
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Antero Resources with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Antero Resources Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with ALB, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 9 uncommon options trades for Albemarle.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 33% bullish and 44%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 5 are puts, for a total amount of $180,665, and 4 are calls, for a total amount of $281,165.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $70.0 and $125.0 for Albemarle, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Albemarle's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Albemarle's whale activity within a strike price range from $70.0 to $125.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Albemarle Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1721416589_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$27.45</td>
<td>$26.4</td>
<td>$26.61</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$146.3K</td>
<td>239</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/30/24</td>
<td>$34.45</td>
<td>$33.3</td>
<td>$33.72</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$67.4K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/16/24</td>
<td>$2.05</td>
<td>$1.95</td>
<td>$1.96</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$58.8K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">70</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/02/24</td>
<td>$3.2</td>
<td>$3.0</td>
<td>$3.05</td>
<td>$96.00</td>
<td>$45.7K</td>
<td>40</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$19.9</td>
<td>$19.8</td>
<td>$19.9</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$31.8K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Albemarle</h3>
Albemarle is one of the world's largest lithium producers. In the lithium industry, the majority of demand comes from batteries, where lithium is used as the energy storage material, particularly in electric vehicles. Albemarle is a fully integrated lithium producer. Its upstream resources include salt brine deposits in Chile and the US and two hard rock mines in Australia, both of which are joint ventures. The company operates lithium refining plants in Chile, the US, Australia, and China. Albemarle is a global leader in the production of bromine, used in flame retardants. It is also a major producer of oil refining catalysts.
<h3>Where Is Albemarle Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 1,294,990, the price of ALB is down -2.13% at $91.81. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 12 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Albemarle</h3>
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $124.8.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Wells Fargo has revised its rating downward to Equal-Weight, adjusting the price target to $100. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Citigroup continues to hold a Neutral rating for Albemarle, targeting a price of $100. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Piper Sandler continues to hold a Underweight rating for Albemarle, targeting a price of $95. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Oppenheimer continues to hold a Outperform rating for Albemarle, targeting a price of $178. </li>
<li>An analyst from Keybanc has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Albemarle, which currently sits at a price target of $151. </li>
</ul>
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Albemarle, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Behind the Scenes of Albemarle's Latest Options Trends

Ever wondered what <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/05/38761475/retire-early-or-retire-rich-man-asks-whether-its-better-to-retire-at-40-with-125-000-a-year-or-a">life looks like financially</a> once you&#8217;ve bid farewell to the 9-to-5 grind? Well, you might be in for a surprise. It turns out that retirees aren&#8217;t exactly pinching pennies as much as you&#8217;d think. Their annual spending is eyebrow-raisingly close to what the average worker brings home.&nbsp;
The magic number? $52,141. That&#8217;s right, the average retiree is shelling out just over $52K per year or about $4,345 per month. To put this into perspective, at the end of 2023, the average salary was $59,384, according to the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/median-weekly-earnings-of-full-time-workers-were-1145-in-the-fourth-quarter-of-2023.htm">Bureau of Labor Statistics.</a>
Don't Miss:
<ul>
<li>The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement —<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/money/smartasset"> How do you compare</a>?</li>
<li>Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? &#8211;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/retire-5mil-nest-egg"> How does it compare to the average?</a></li>
<li>Rory McIlroy&#8217;s mansion in Florida is worth $22 million today, doubling from 2017 —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/bezos-landlord-100-dollars"> here&#8217;s how to get started investing in real estate with just $100</a></li>
</ul>
For many retirees, their spending is actually about 80% of what they were <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/05/38821872/what-size-portfolio-do-you-need-to-replace-the-average-retirement-income-from-dividends-alone">spending before retirement</a>. It&#8217;s as if they&#8217;ve given themselves a 20% &#8220;lifestyle adjustment&#8221; – trimmed a bit but not drastically altering their standard of living.&nbsp;
So where is all this money going? Let&#8217;s examine the breakdown:
Housing: The largest portion, around 36% – about $18,872 annually – goes to keeping a roof over their heads. This isn&#8217;t surprising, as housing remains a significant expense throughout life.
Health care: As we age, medical expenses tend to increase. Health care is becoming an increasingly important line item in retirees&#8217; budgets. Retirees spend a reported $7,030 a year on health care.&nbsp;
Food: Approximately 12.4% of monthly spending, or $6,490, goes toward food. Whether preparing meals at home or dining out, retirees don&#8217;t compromise on their culinary experiences.&nbsp;
Entertainment: Around 5% or $2,672 is dedicated to leisure activities. This suggests that retirement isn&#8217;t solely about economizing but also about enjoying life.
Trending: Many are surprised by Mark Cuban&#8217;s advice for lotto winners:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mark-cubans-annuity-adv"> Cash or annuity?</a>
Transportation: These costs significantly decrease in retirement. Before 65, people spend about $13,865 annually on transportation. After 65? That figure drops to $8,172. The absence of a daily commute makes a difference.
Here&#8217;s an interesting fact: many retirees are spending less than anticipated. 48% report spending under $2,000 monthly. This could be seen as a positive financial surprise for many.
Many retirees still have significant assets left even after nearly two decades of retirement. Some are even growing their nest eggs. According to a study by the <a href="https://www.ebri.org/content">Employee Benefit Research Institute </a>(EBRI), more than one-third of retirees grew their assets over 18 years of retirement.&nbsp;
Retirement spending isn&#8217;t insignificant, but it&#8217;s not exorbitant either. It balances necessary expenses, enjoyable indulgences, and smart savings so the golden years can be golden.&nbsp;
Read Next:
Can you guess how many Americans successfully retire with $1,000,000 saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/red-ventures"> The percentage may shock you</a>.
How much money will a $200,000 annuity pay out each month?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/200k-annuities-adv"> The numbers may shock you.</a>

Personal Finance

The Average Retiree Spends Over $52,000 a Year – And 75% Of That Goes To Just five Expenses. How Does Your Budget Stack Up?

WIIM

SBUX

Starbucks shares are trading higher following a report suggesting Elliott has an undisclosed stake in the company.

Barclays analyst Mark Devries maintains Discover Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $135 to $137.

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on Discover Finl, Raises Price Target to $137

Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>) shares are trading higher on Friday, reflecting a broader uptick in crypto-linked stocks driven by a significant rise in Bitcoin (<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BTC-USD">BTC/USD</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/39865585/bitcoin-unaffected-by-global-it-outage-prediction-markets-dont-see-quick-resolution">prices to $66,000. </a>
What To Know: Trading activity has been robust, with session volume hitting 46.044 million shares, just shy of the average 48.016 million shares traded over the past 100 days. The stock is also trading above its 50-day moving average of $20.39.
What Else: Marathon is scheduled to release its second-quarter earnings for the fiscal year on August 1 2024, after market close. Analysts are anticipating a loss per share of 14 cents, with estimated revenue at $157.84 million. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">How To Buy MARA Stock?</h3>
Buying shares is typically done through a brokerage account. You can find a list of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-stock-trading-platforms">possible trading platforms here.</a> Many will allow you to buy ‘fractional shares,' which allows you to own portions of stock without buying an entire share. For example, some stock, like Berkshire Hathaway, or Amazon.com, can cost thousands of dollars to own just one share. However, if you only want to invest a fraction of that, brokerages will allow you to do so. 
In the the case of Marathon Digital Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>), which is trading at $25.09 as of publishing time, $100 would buy you 3.99 shares of stock.
If you're looking to bet against a company, the process is more complex. You'll need access to an options trading platform, or a broker who will allow you to ‘go short' a share of stock by lending you the shares to sell. The process of shorting a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock">stock can be found at this resource.</a> Otherwise, if your broker allows you to trade options, you can either buy a put option, or sell a call option at a strike price above where shares are currently trading &#8211; either way it allows you to profit off of the share price decline.
MARA Price Action: Marathon shares were up by 4.36% at $24.68 according to<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"> Benzinga Pro.</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="551" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/19143419/MARA-1024x551.png" alt="" class="wp-image-446549" style="width:618px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/19143419/MARA-1024x551.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/19143419/MARA-300x161.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/19143419/MARA-768x413.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/19143419/MARA.png 1099w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
See Also: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39858850/schlumberger-q2-earnings-and-revenues-surpass-estimates">Schlumberger Q2 Earnings and Revenues Surpass Estimates</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Movers

MARA

Why Are Marathon Digital Shares Surging Today?

Barclays analyst Matthew Bouley maintains D.R. Horton (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $168 to $200.

Barclays Maintains Overweight on D.R. Horton, Raises Price Target to $200

Stock market investing has become increasingly popular, with a good portion of Americans who have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/06/39511199/households-have-accrued-substantial-wealth-since-2019-contrary-to-popular-narratives-goldman-sachs">accrued substantial wealth</a>.
The Data: A <a href="https://x.com/MikeZaccardi/status/1814273838395322507">post</a> on X relayed data from the University of Michigan Survey of Consumer Sentiment.
<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 University of Michigan Survey of Consumer Sentiment shows that a record-high 30% of the population has stocks worth more than $500,000, and 37% own a home worth more than $500,000 -Torsten <a href="https://t.co/khbUA7kLiq">pic.twitter.com/khbUA7kLiq</a>
&mdash; Mike Zaccardi, CFA, CMT &#x1f356; (@MikeZaccardi) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeZaccardi/status/1814273838395322507?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
According to the survey, 30% of the U.S. population now have a stock market portfolio worth more than $500,000. 
That figure is nearly double the amount in September 2022 during <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/22/09/28897883/the-fed-trying-to-control-inflation-actually-created-more-damage-grant-cardone-says-the-fed-ended-mo">the market&#8217;s downturn</a>. The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) is up over 40% since then.
It is unclear what percentage of the portfolios are in retirement accounts.
The data also reveals that 37% of respondents own a home worth more than $500,000, representing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/06/39464529/us-needs-1-5-million-more-homes-to-tame-record-prices">a larger trend of housing unaffordability</a> during a period of high interest rates. Under 10% own a home worth less than $100,000.
Why it Matters: Americans have accrued substantial wealth since the COVID-19 pandemic, but much of it has gone toward <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/06/39536324/renters-need-to-make-66-000-a-year-to-afford-the-typical-apartment-can-they-buy-a-house-instead">higher costs for shelter</a>. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1805988859857002757" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data</a> from Redfin, U.S. renters must earn $66,000 to afford a typical apartment.
Meanwhile, households have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/24/06/39460640/americans-pour-more-money-into-stocks-than-ever-before-but-top-10-hold-90-of-wealth">allocated a higher percentage</a> of their wealth to the stock market in recent years. U.S. household financial asset allocations in the equities market hit an all-time high in the first quarter of 2024 at 41.59%.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39864671/wall-street-eye-worst-week-in-3-months-as-tech-sector-falters-oil-falls-bitcoin-hit"> • Wall Street Eyes Worst Week In 3 Months As Tech Sector Falters; Oil Falls, Bitcoin Hits 1-Month Peak: What&#8217;s Driving Market Friday?</a>

Photo: Shutterstock

Real Estate

Record Percentage Of The Population Own Stock Portfolios Worth More Than $500,000

ASNS

ATGL

EPAM

FORTY

IDAI

INST

IONQ

KOPN

LDTC

MOBBW

QIWI

RDZN

SMTK

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XTKG

Shares of companies within the broader tech sector are trading lower amid overall market weakness. The sector may be trading lower due to ongoing outages.

Barclays analyst Manav Patnaik maintains Cintas (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $700 to $850.

CTAS

Barclays Maintains Overweight on Cintas, Raises Price Target to $850

Dennis Porter, CEO and Co-Founder of Satoshi Act Fund, has suggested integrating Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) into the U.S. Exchange Stabilization Fund (ESF) as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/23/10/35378829/exclusive-bitcoins-path-to-global-reserve-status-xapo-bank-ceo-seamus-rocca-shares-insight">a strategic reserve</a>.
What Happened: This move, <a href="https://x.com/Dennis_Porter_/status/1814063064142250229">according</a> to Porter, could represent a decisive win for both the United States and Bitcoin, though it raises questions about the implementation process.
The ESF, established by the Gold Reserve Act of 1934, is a special fund operated by the U.S. Treasury Department. 
Its primary purpose is to stabilize the value of the U.S. dollar through foreign exchange interventions and gold operations. 
Porter argues that Bitcoin, often considered a form of foreign currency, could be integrated into this existing framework.
Porter suggests several ways Bitcoin could be incorporated into the ESF:
<ul>
<li>Holding Bitcoin as a Reserve Asset: The ESF could diversify its holdings by including Bitcoin alongside traditional currencies and gold.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Bitcoin Interventions: Similar to its operations with other currencies, the ESF could use Bitcoin to influence exchange rates and stabilize the dollar.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Liquidity Provision: During financial crises, the ESF could provide Bitcoin liquidity to support market stability.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Policy Coordination: Integrating Bitcoin would require collaboration with financial regulatory bodies to ensure a smooth process.</li>
</ul>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/39856605/ryan-selkis-the-pro-trump-crypto-ceo-ruffling-feathers-on-social-media">Ryan Selkis: The Pro-Trump Crypto CEO Ruffling Feathers On Social Media</a>
Additionally, Porter proposes an executive order to end U.S. Marshal auctions of confiscated Bitcoin, instead transferring approximately $5.5 billion worth of Bitcoin to the ESF. 
This would allow the U.S. to acquire a significant Bitcoin position without directly entering the open market.
&#8220;The path forward is clear, but it will take courage,&#8221; Porter stated. &#8220;If the USA can be bold and lead the world here, we will have a strategic Bitcoin advantage that could bolster the U.S. economy and the dollar for decades to come.&#8221;
This proposal comes at a time when nations worldwide are reassessing their monetary policies and considering the role of cryptocurrencies in their financial systems. 
What&#8217;s Next: The potential inclusion of Bitcoin in the U.S. strategic reserves could have far-reaching implications for both the cryptocurrency market and global economic dynamics.
As discussions around Bitcoin&#8217;s role in national monetary policy continue to evolve, these topics are likely to be a focal point at Benzinga&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/digital-assets/agenda/">Future of Digital Assets</a> event on Nov. 19.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/39846707/wazirx-declares-230m-hack-a-force-majeure-event-pledges-full-investigation">WazirX Declares $230M Hack A Force Majeure Event, Pledges Full Investigation</a>
Image: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

Bitcoin As A Strategic Reserve Asset For The US? Expert Details How Trump Could Make It Happen

Barclays analyst Benjamin Budish maintains Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $126 to $141.

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on Blackstone, Raises Price Target to $141

Barclays analyst Andrew Lazar maintains WK Kellogg (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLG#NYSE">KLG</a>) with a Underweight and lowers the price target from $19 to $16.

Barclays Maintains Underweight on WK Kellogg, Lowers Price Target to $16

In the wake of President Joe Biden&#8217;s COVID-19 diagnosis, meme coins inspired by potential presidential successors have surged, while Biden-themed Jeo Boden (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">BODEN</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/jeo-boden-price-prediction">is down significantly</a>.
What Happened: On July 17, President Biden, aged 81 years, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/07/39829417/biden-gets-covid-19-takes-a-fiesty-dig-at-tesla-ceo-im-sick-of-elon-musk-and-his-rich-buddies-trying">tested positive</a> for COVID-19 with only mild symptoms. He announced that he would continue to fulfill his responsibilities while quarantining at his Delaware residence. Notably, the news of his illness came after he declared that he would step down from the 2024 race if he were to contract a serious medical condition.
Memecoins such as Gabin Noosum (CRYPTO: NOOSUM) and Kamala Horris (CRYPTO: KAMA), inspired by potential Biden replacements, have rallied 586% and 241% respectively since July 17. However, the BODEN meme coin witnessed a 30% drop, as President Biden's Odds of exiting the race based on Polymarket data <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/39858234/president-bidens-nomination-odds-plummet-vice-president-kamala-harris-now-60-favorite-but-">surged to 80%</a>, compared to 33% two days ago) as of Thursday.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/digital-assets/ "><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="250" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/27091545/Benzinga-conference.gif" alt="Benzinga future of digital assets conference" class="wp-image-267246" /></a></figure>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/39780333/solana-up-7-and-could-get-to-50-of-ethereums-valuation-as-most-liquid-election-proxy-in-cr">Solana Up 7% And Could Get To 50% Of Ethereum&#8217;s Valuation As &#8216;Most Liquid Election Proxy In Crypto,&#8217; Trader Says</a>
Why It Matters: The recent rally in meme coins inspired by potential Biden successors comes in the context of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/39846584/president-bidens-odds-of-exiting-the-race-surge-to-80-heres-whos-favored-now">increasing speculation</a> about the Democratic nominee for the 2024 Presidential election.
Amid rising political tensions as the election approaches, Polymarket revealed changing odds regarding Biden&#8217;s potential withdrawal from the race. Political analyst Mark Halperin also noted that Biden plans to announce withdrawal from nomination as early as Sunday.
These reports were based on insights from several top Democrats and close allies urging Biden to consider stepping down.
What&#8217;s Next: The influence of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/is-bitcoin-a-good-investment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin as an institutional asset class</a>&nbsp;is expected to be thoroughly explored at Benzinga&#8217;s upcoming&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/digital-assets/agenda/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Future of Digital Assets</a>&nbsp;event on Nov. 19.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/39617405/biden-inspired-jeo-boden-meme-coin-may-become-first-popular-meme-to-die-after-95-drop-from">Biden-Inspired &#8216;Jeo Boden&#8217; Meme Coin May Become &#8216;First Popular Meme To Die&#8217; After 95% Drop From Its Highs, Says Trader</a></li>
</ul>
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image: Shutterstock

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