Simplify Exchange Traded Funds Simplify Commodities Strategy No K-1 ETF (ARCA: HARD)

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Simplify Exchange Traded Funds Simplify Commodities Strategy No K-1 ETF

Fund invests in commodity futures in an attempt to create commodity exposure that performs strongly during inflationary periods while still performing well in more typical market environments.

Simplify Commodities Strategy No K-1 ETF

Kava Lend

HARD TO TREAT DISEASES by Hard to Treat Diseases, Inc.

Hard to Treat Diseases Inc

HARDCORE DISCOVERIES LTD by Hardcore Discoveries Ltd

Hardcore Discoveries Ltd

Macro Economic Events

News

Econ #s

Economics

Germany Producer Price Index (MoM) For November 0.5% Vs. 0.3% Est.; 0.2% Prior

U.K. Retail Sales (YoY) For November 0.5% Vs. 0.8% Est.; 2.0% (Revised) Prior

U.K. Retail Sales (MoM) For November 0.2% Vs. 0.5% Est.; -0.7% Prior

U.K. Core Retail Sales (MoM) For November 0.3% Vs. 0.0% Est.; -0.9% Prior

U.K. Core Retail Sales (YoY) For November 0.1% Vs. 0.7% Est.; 1.6% (Revised) Prior

Workers United, the union representing over 10,000 Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) baristas announced a strike in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle. This action, set to begin Friday morning, comes as the coffee giant faces unresolved issues with its workforce during the busy holiday season.
What Happened: Workers United, which represents employees at 525 Starbucks locations nationwide, stated on Thursday that the walkouts could intensify daily. If no agreement is reached, the strike might expand to hundreds of stores by Dec. 24, potentially affecting holiday sales, Reuters reported on Friday.
Starbucks has expressed willingness to continue negotiations, although it claims union representatives ended the recent bargaining session prematurely. The company and the union had established a framework in February to facilitate organizing and collective bargaining, with negotiations starting in April.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/12/42545829/mark-cuban-expresses-sympathy-for-hawk-tuah-girl-amid-meme-coin-controversy-wasnt-something-she-fully-understood?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Expresses Sympathy For &#8216;Hawk Tuah&#8217; Girl Amid Meme Coin Controversy: &#8216;Wasn&#8217;t Something She Fully Understood&#8217;</a>
Starbucks reported holding over&nbsp;nine bargaining sessions with Workers&nbsp;United since April, reaching agreements on more than 30 topics, including economic issues. However, the union criticized Starbucks for not presenting a serious economic proposal despite public commitments to finalize contracts by year-end.
The coffee giant is undergoing a transformation <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41497160/starbucks-analysts-bullish-on-ceo-brian-niccol-after-tough-preannouncement-zeroing-">under its new CEO</a>,&nbsp;Brian Niccol, aiming to revitalize its coffee house culture by enhancing cafes, reducing wait times, and simplifying the menu.
Why It Matters: The strike comes at a critical time for Starbucks as it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41312974/starbucks-shifts-strategy-fewer-deals-more-focus-on-quality-coffee-and-holiday-favorites">navigates a strategic shift</a> under Niccol. The company is scaling back on promotions to focus on premium coffee, a move that aligns with its efforts to improve in-store experiences and reinforce its premium image.
Additionally,&nbsp;Starbucks&nbsp;is exploring options for its Chinese operations<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/asset-sales/24/11/42117962/starbucks-eyes-stake-sale-in-china-amid-fierce-competition-and-falling-sales"> amid fierce competition</a> and declining sales, including a potential stake sale. These strategic decisions highlight the company&#8217;s focus on maintaining its market position while addressing internal challenges.
Price Action: Starbucks stock fell 1.27% to close at $88.76 on Thursday, as per <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>. Year-to-date, the stock is down 5.2%.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/fda/24/12/42536511/whats-going-on-with-tonix-pharmaceuticals-stock-today?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">What&#8217;s Going On With Tonix Pharmaceuticals Stock Today?</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.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

General

SBUX

Brian Niccol-Led Starbucks Stares At Possible Strike In LA, Chicago, Seattle On Christmas Eve Amid Holiday Rush

The units are expected to commence trading on December 20, 2024 on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "RANGU."

IPOs

RANGU

Reported Earlier, Range Capital Acquisition Prices $100M Initial Public Offering Of 10M Units At $10/Unit

Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WGO#NYSE">WGO</a>) will release earnings results for its first quarter fiscal 2025, before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/wgo/earnings">opening bell on Friday, Dec. 20.</a>
Analysts expect the Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based company to report quarterly earnings at 20 cents per share, down from $1.06 per share in the year-ago period. Winnebago projects to report revenue of $672.23 million for the recent quarter, compared to $763 million a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
On Dec. 18, Winnebago announced that the company&#8217;s Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of 34 cents per share.
Winnebago shares gained 0.4% to close at $51.93 on Thursday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/wgo/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>Northcoast Research analyst John Healy upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy on Nov. 11. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 70%.</li>
<li>Truist Securities analyst Michael Swartz maintained a Buy rating and slashed the price target from $68 to $64 on Oct. 24. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 68%.</li>
<li>BMO Capital analyst Tristan Thomas-Martin maintained an Outperform rating and decreased the price target from $75 to $70 on Oct. 24. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 62%.</li>
<li>Baird analyst Craig Kennison maintained an Outperform rating and cut the price target from $70 to $64 on Oct. 24. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 63%.</li>
<li>Roth MKM analyst Scott Stember maintained a Neutral rating and cut the price target from $70 to $59 on June 21. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 64%.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying WGO stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="437" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20014827/image-175-1024x437.png" alt="" class="wp-image-701080" style="width:531px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20014827/image-175-1024x437.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20014827/image-175-300x128.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20014827/image-175-768x328.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20014827/image-175.png 1421w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42582254/top-3-consumer-stocks-you-may-want-to-dump-this-quarter">Top 3 Consumer Stocks You May Want To Dump This Quarter</a></li>
</ul>

Earnings

Price Target

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

Winnebago Industries Earnings Are Imminent; These Most Accurate Analysts Revise Forecasts Ahead Of Earnings Call

The world's largest asset manager, BlackRock, raised eyebrows on Wednesday after including a line in an explainer video that supposedly disputed Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) finite supply thesis.
What happened: The 3-minute-long video, shared by various X users, including MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor, went over the technical details of the top cryptocurrency and its value proposition.
However, when the video reached the fixed supply part, a text disclaimer emerged, stating, "There's no guarantee that Bitcoin's 21 million supply cap will not be changed."
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">BlackRock explains <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a><a href="https://t.co/X2fPl8tL2s">pic.twitter.com/X2fPl8tL2s</a>
&mdash; Michael Saylor&#x26a1;&#xFE0F; (@saylor) <a href="https://twitter.com/saylor/status/1869132349465829799?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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This was enough to spark anxiety among Bitcoiners. A user, going by the pseudonym The Prairie Banana, <a href="https://x.com/prairiebanana/status/1869717819044282606">wondered </a>why such a disclaimer would be inserted.
Alexander, another user, <a href="https://x.com/alexanderXchi/status/1869787473947308220">said</a>, &#8220;Umm, is BlackRock already coming up with a way to implement a hard fork increasing the BTC cap?
Joel Valenzuela, director of marketing and business development at Dash, voiced strong insinuations, even suggesting a "Bitcoin hijack" theory.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">THIS IS NOT AN ALTERED SCREENSHOT Michael Saylor, the unequivocal face and most influential person in Bitcoin today, posted a video from BlackRock with a really interesting disclaimer: &quot;There is no guarantee that bitcoin&#39;s 21 million supply cap will not be changed.&quot; They&#39;re… <a href="https://t.co/Xg3sQP9BJw">pic.twitter.com/Xg3sQP9BJw</a>
&mdash; Joel Valenzuela (@TheDesertLynx) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDesertLynx/status/1869445485548671270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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BlackRock didn't immediately respond to Benzinga's request for clarification.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42519107/if-you-invested-1000-in-bitcoin-when-the-first-bitcoin-etf-was-filed-heres-how-much-youd-have-today"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42560698/microstrategys-aggressive-bitcoin-strategy-raises-eyebrows-in-crypto-community">MicroStrategy&#8217;s Aggressive Bitcoin Strategy Raises Eyebrows In Crypto Community</a>
Why It Matters: For long, Bitcoin proponents have aggressively pitched its 21 million supply cap as a hedge against fiat debasement and inflation, giving it a gold-like status.&nbsp;
Theoretically, the supply limit can be altered, but thanks to the network's decentralized nature, the process would require a consensus-driven hard fork among nodes—entities that run Bitcoin software to validate and relay transactions.
The same was argued by Neeraj Khandelwal, co-founder of cryptocurrency exchange CoinDCX, who deemed the likelihood of such an event "unlikely."
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f9f5;Why BlackRock is wrong about Bitcoin&#39;s 21M cap being changeable! There is currently some FUD about the below disclaimer from Blackrock&#39;s recent educational video. It states: &#39;There is no guarantee that bitcoin&#39;s 21 million supply will not be changed&#39; Some critics claim that… <a href="https://t.co/Z3yAJu3V3Y">pic.twitter.com/Z3yAJu3V3Y</a>
&mdash; Neeraj Khandelwal (@neerajKh_) <a href="https://twitter.com/neerajKh_/status/1869654345694019666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $96,624.38, down 4.50% 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>.&nbsp;
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42545656/bitcoin-is-no-manhattan-real-estate-peter-schiff-challenges-microstrategys-micheal-saylor-btc-doesnt-generate-any-income">Bitcoin Is No Manhattan Real Estate, Peter Schiff Challenges MicroStrategy&#8217;s Michael Saylor: &#8216;BTC Doesn&#8217;t Generate Any Income</a></li>
</ul>

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

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

BlackRock's Explainer Sparks FUD On Bitcoin's 21 Million Supply Cap: Changes Theoretically Possible But 'Unlikely,' Says Analyst

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has criticized Elon Musk, calling him a legendary entrepreneur but also a &#8220;bully.&#8221;
What Happened: In an interview with Free Press Journal, Altman noted that Musk would likely be content with OpenAI&#8217;s progress if he was at the helm.
&#8220;Elon definitely did a lot to help open in the early days and in spite of all of this I&#8217;m very grateful and I think he&#8217;s just a sort of legendary entrepreneur,&#8221; Altman stated, adding, &#8220;He&#8217;s also clearly a bully and he&#8217;s also someone who clearly likes to get in fights. Now it&#8217;s me, it&#8217;s been Bezos, Gates, Zuckerberg lots of other people.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42568204/nvidia-and-apple-team-up-to-supercharge-llms-with-redrafter-technique?itm_source=parsely-api">Nvidia, Apple Team Up To Supercharge ChatGPT-Like LLMs With ReDrafter Technique</a>
Musk has filed multiple lawsuits against OpenAI, accusing the organization of prioritizing profits over public good and violating its founding principles.
Last month, he sought a court injunction to block OpenAI from continuing its for-profit operations. The xAI owner has also been targeting ChatGPT-parent on X, formerly Twitter.
&#8220;Our job is to build AGI [artificial general intelligence] in a way that benefits humanity,&#8221; Altman said in response. &#8220;Not to engage in a Twitter fight with Elon.&#8221;
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Sam Altman on His Feud With Elon Musk" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zbDD2KAzuBU?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 <a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a> to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: The feud between Musk and Altman has drawn attention because of the Tesla CEO&#8217;s latest alliance with Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), led by Mark Zuckerberg.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42495758/elon-musk-finds-an-unlikely-ally-in-mark-zuckerbergs-meta-in-his-fight-against-sam-altmans-openai">Meta has supported Musk&#8217;s stance</a> against OpenAI&#8217;s for-profit transition, arguing that assets developed under its nonprofit status should not be used for private gain. This alliance is notable given Musk&#8217;s previous disagreements with Zuckerberg.
Earlier this month, OpenAI made a series of emails public revealing that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42499756/musk-backed-for-profit-direction-for-openai-leaked-emails-say">Musk once advocated for a profit-making</a> business model, contradicting his current public disapproval of OpenAI&#8217;s shift.
Musk has also continuously targeted Microsoft Corporation's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) investment into OpenAI, which has now <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/10/41556636/microsoft-and-openai-clash-over-14-billion-as-the-ai-leader-converts-to-a-for-profit-business-disrup">reached about $14 billion</a>.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42546621/elon-musk-agrees-as-satya-nadella-reflects-on-ais-global-impact-in-2024-from-cancer-research-to-rainforest-conservation-and-more?itm_source=parsely-api">Elon Musk Agrees With Satya Nadella As Microsoft CEO Reflects On ‘Incredible Speed' Of AI Diffusion In 2024</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Tech

MSFT

Elon Musk A Legendary Entrepreneur But Also A Bully, Says OpenAI CEO Sam Altman: 'Now It's Me, It's Been Bezos, Gates, Zuckerberg, Lots Of Other People'

Carnival Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) will release its fourth-quarter financial results, before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CCL/earnings">opening bell, on Friday, Dec. 20</a>.
Analysts expect the Miami, Florida-based company to report quarterly earnings at 7 cents per share, versus a year-ago loss of 7 cents per share. Carnival projects quarterly revenue of $5.93 billion, compared to $5.4 billion a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
On Sept. 30, Carnival posted third-quarter adjusted earnings of $1.27 per share, beating analysts&#8217; estimates of $1.16 per share. The company posted quarterly sales of $7.90 billion versus expectations of $7.83 billion.
Carnival shares gained 1.5% to close at $25.18 on Thursday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CCL/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Daniel Politzer maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $25 to $30 on Dec. 16. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 64%.</li>
<li>Barclays analyst Brandt Montour maintained an Overweight rating and increased the price target from $26 to $31 on Dec. 13. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 68%.</li>
<li>Citigroup analyst James Hardiman maintained a Buy rating and increased the price target from $28 to $30 on Dec. 11. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 68%.</li>
<li>Stifel analyst Steven Wieczynski maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $27 to $32 on Dec. 10. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs analyst Lizzie Dove maintained a Buy rating and increased the price target from $24 to $32 on Dec. 10. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 67%.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying CCL stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="568" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20013249/image-174-1024x568.png" alt="" class="wp-image-701037" style="width:628px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20013249/image-174-1024x568.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20013249/image-174-300x166.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20013249/image-174-768x426.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20013249/image-174.png 1147w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42582254/top-3-consumer-stocks-you-may-want-to-dump-this-quarter">Top 3 Consumer Stocks You May Want To Dump This Quarter</a></li>
</ul>

Carnival Gears Up For Q4 Print; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts

The Amended Agreements, which are effective on January 1, 2025, expand Gatos Silver's management rights within the LGJV which will result in the Company being able to fully consolidate the financial statements of the LGJV rather than accounting for its investment in the LGJV under the equity method of accounting as is currently required. The ownership interests of the Company and Dowa in the LGJV are unchanged, at 70% and 30%, respectively.

GATO

Reported Earlier, Gatos Silver Gains New Management And Funding Rights In Los Gatos Joint Venture, Prepares For Financial Consolidation

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a decline in the overall market sentiment, with the index in the &#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221; zone on Thursday.
U.S. stocks settled mixed on Thursday, with the Dow Jones index ending its longest losing streak since 1974 during the session.
All the major indices initially rebounded at the start of the session, with the 30-stock index gaining more than 460 points, but they pared gains as the session went on.
Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) shares dipped over 16% on Thursday after the company posted better-than-expected earnings for its first quarter, while sales missed expectations.
On the economic data front, the U.S. economy grew by an annualized rate of 3.1% in the third quarter compared to 2.8% in the second estimate and up from 3% in the previous quarter.
U.S. existing home sales rose by 4.8% from the previous month to an annualized rate of 4.15 million in November. U.S. initial jobless claims declined by 22,000 to 220,000 in the first week of December, compared to market estimates of 230,000.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a negative note, with materials, real estate, and energy stocks recording the biggest losses on Thursday. However, utilities and financials stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session higher.
The Dow Jones closed higher by around 15 points to 42,342.24 on Thursday. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.09% to 5,867.08, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.10% to close at 19,372.77 during Thursday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from Carnival Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) and Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WGO#NYSE">WGO</a>) today.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 22.4, the index was in the &#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221; zone on Thursday, versus a prior reading of 22.5.
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42582254/top-3-consumer-stocks-you-may-want-to-dump-this-quarter">Top 3 Consumer Stocks You May Want To Dump This Quarter</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

S&P 500, Nasdaq End In Red As Investor Sentiment Declines, Micron Tumbles After Sales Miss: Greed Index In 'Extreme Fear' Zone

<ul>
<li>SYMVESS is a first-in-class bioengineered human tissue designed to be a universally implantable vascular conduit for use in arterial replacement and repair&nbsp;</li>
<li>In clinical testing SYMVESS was observed to have high rates of patency, or blood flow, and low rates of amputation and infection –</li>
<li>Highly experienced sales team already recruited and trained in preparation for commercial launch –</li>
</ul>

HUMA

Reported Earlier, FDA Approves Humacyte's SYMVESS For Treating Extremity Vascular Injuries

With U.S. stock futures trading lower this morning on Friday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
<ul>
<li>Wall Street expects Carnival Corporation &amp; Plc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) to report quarterly earnings at 8 cents per share on revenue of $5.93 billion before the opening bell, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. Carnival shares gained 0.4% to $25.27 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results after the closing bell on Thursday. Nike reported second-quarter revenue of $12.35 billion, beating analyst estimates of $12.13 billion. The company reported second-quarter earnings of 78 cents per share, beating analyst estimates of 65 cents per share. Nike shares slipped 0.5% to $76.68 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Analysts expect Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WGO#NYSE">WGO</a>) to post quarterly earnings at 20 cents per share on revenue of $672.23 million before the opening bell. Winnebago shares gained 2% to $52.99 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
</ul>
Check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
<ul>
<li>FedEx Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) posted stronger-than-expected results for its second quarter. The company also announced that it has decided to pursue a full separation of FedEx Freight through the capital markets, creating a new publicly traded company. FedEx shares climbed 8.7% to $300.00 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>BlackBerry Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BB#NYSE">BB</a>) reported third-quarter adjusted earnings of two cents per share, beating analyst estimates of a loss of one cent per share, according to Benzinga Pro. The company posted quarterly revenue of $162 million. BlackBerry expects fourth-quarter revenue of $126 million to $135 million versus estimates of $161.49 million. BlackBerry shares rose 2% to $3.04 in after-hours trading.</li>
</ul>
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

FedEx, Nike And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Friday

Board of FUJI SOFT Unanimously Supports KKR Second Tender Offer and Recommends Tender

Reported Earlier, KKR Reaffirms Commitment To FUJI SOFT With Tender Offer Extension, Board Labels Bain's Bid Hostile

Cathie Wood, the founder of Ark Investment Management LLC, predicts a surge in mergers and acquisitions after President-elect Donald Trump defeats Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
What Happened: &#8220;M&amp;A has been prevented by the FTC. That is going to change,&#8221; Wood, popularly known for leading ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd-ZoXq5R3w">said</a> in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Thursday.
The seasoned investor continues to maintain her optimistic view on cryptocurrencies, projecting that Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) may hit $1.5 million by 2030. Wood highlighted how Bitcoin is becoming &#8220;more scarce than gold,&#8221; pointing out that after the April halving, its annual supply increase has decreased to 0.9%. 
According to Wood, production rises in tandem with the price of gold. Bitcoin prevents that from occurring.
Her remarks come as Bitcoin has gained 120% this year and is now trading above $100,000. Wood highlights Bitcoin&#8217;s fixed supply cap of 21 million coins and credits the surge to increased institutional interest and regulatory certainty.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42608814/elon-musks-doge-role-in-government-set-for-fascinating-tough-fight-says-analyst-walter-isaacson-sees-challenges-for-tesla-ceos-federal-path">Elon Musk&#8217;s DOGE Role In Government Set For &#8216;Fascinating Tough Fight,&#8217; Says Analyst — Walter Isaacson Sees Challenges For Tesla CEO&#8217;s Federal Path</a>
The emergence of Bitcoin ETFs has significantly increased retail investor interest, with prominent offerings such as iShares Bitcoin Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBIT#NASDAQ">IBIT</a>), Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GBTC#NYSE">GBTC</a>), Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FBTC#BATS">FBTC</a>), ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKB#BATS">ARKB</a>), Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BITB#NYSE">BITB</a>), Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTC#NYSE">BTC</a>), ProShares Bitcoin ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BITO#NYSE">BITO</a>), and Volatility Shares Trust 2x Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BITX#BATS">BITX</a>), providing various options for investors seeking exposure to the cryptocurrency market.
Why It Matters: The Ark Innovation ETF manager, known for her <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42608224/cathie-woods-thursday-moves-dumps-buzzing-stocks-tesla-and-palantir">high-conviction bets on disruptive technology</a>, has recently adjusted her fund&#8217;s positions. ARKK sold 14,016 shares of Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) at $436.17 and 33,402 shares of Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) at $74.21 on Thursday.
Wood also expressed optimism about broader market participation under Trump&#8217;s presidency. &#8220;The market&#8217;s going to broaden out right now and reward companies who are at the leading edge of innovation,&#8221; she said during a previous CNN appearance, though <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42262916/ark-invests-cathie-wood-says-stock-market-will-broaden-out-under-trump-but-growth-wont-be-linear-nothing-goes-up-in-a-straight-line">cautioning that growth wouldn&#8217;t be linear</a>.
Her outlook aligns with Bank of America analysts&#8217; predictions of increased M&amp;A activity, particularly in banking and biotech sectors, under a Republican administration. Analysts note that financial sector deals historically <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/41979935/golden-years-for-ma-deals-ahead-under-trump-analysts-highlight-top-10-large-cap-candidates">increased by 50% during Republican presidencies</a>.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42608297/tom-lee-explains-why-fewer-cuts-in-2025-could-boost-the-market-urges-investors-to-buy-the-dip-amid-recent-volatility">Tom Lee Explains Why &#8216;Fewer Cuts In 2025&#8217; Could Boost The Market, Urges Investors To &#8216;Buy The Dip&#8217; Amid Recent Volatility</a></li>
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Image via Ark Invest

ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF

ARKB

ARKK

Bitwise Bitcoin ETF Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

BITB

BITO

BITX

Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund

FBTC

GBTC

IBIT

PLTR

TSLA

Cathie Wood Says Bitcoin Is 'More Scarce Than Gold' — Predicts M&A Surge Under Trump 2.0

In 2020, CORXEL (formerly Ji Xing) acquired the rights to develop and commercialize aficamten in Greater China (including the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR, and Taiwan) from Cytokinetics in accordance with Cytokinetics' global registration programs. Aficamten received Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the treatment of symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM) from The Center for Drug Evaluation of the China National Medical Products Administration which recently accepted the New Drug Application for aficamten tablets for&nbsp;the treatment of oHCM for Priority Review.
Sanofi will now acquire CORXEL's rights relating to aficamten in Greater China for an undisclosed amount. Cytokinetics&nbsp;remains eligible to receive up to $150 million in development and commercial milestone payments from Sanofi as well as royalties in the low-to-high teens on future sales of aficamten in Greater China. Cytokinetics is now also eligible to receive additional undisclosed payments in connection with the execution of the agreement between Sanofi and CORXEL.

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