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iCoreConnect Inc develops and markets secure cloud-based HIPAA compliant software services focused on compliance, workflow/productivity, and electronic health records systems. Its core services technology can be adopted to other vertical markets that require a high degree of secure data communication, such as the legal, financial, and education fields. It markets secure HIPAA compliant cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) offering under the names of iCoreExchange, iCoreCodeGenius, iCoreSecure, iCoreMD, iCoreDental, iCoreMobile, iCoreHuddle, iCoreRx, iCorePDMP, iCoreEPCS, and iCorePay. The company's software is sold under annual recurring revenue subscriptions. The company has a single reporting segment for reporting purposes focused on the North American market.

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President-elect Donald Trump is set to make history once again with his upcoming inauguration. The event promises to be a grand spectacle, featuring an impressive guest list of billionaires, former presidents, and global leaders.
When Is Trump's Inauguration
The swearing-in ceremony for Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance is scheduled for Monday at 12 pm EST. However, festivities will begin on Saturday at Trump's Virginia golf club.
How To Watch The Event
Major television networks will broadcast the inauguration live. The White House will also stream the events on its official website, ensuring accessibility for viewers worldwide.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42893958/after-apple-halts-hardware-subscription-plans-samsung-unveils-similar-strategy-for-ai-powered-galaxy-smartphones" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">After Apple Halts ‘Hardware&#8217; Subscription Plans, Samsung Unveils Similar Strategy For AI-Powered Galaxy Smartphones</a>
Biden And Harris: Will They Attend?
President Joe Biden has confirmed his attendance, marking a bipartisan moment despite their contentious history. Vice President Kamala Harris is also expected to attend, continuing the tradition of outgoing vice presidents witnessing the transfer of power.
Former Presidents On The Guest List
Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton will also attend the ceremony. Their spouses, including Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton, will also be present.
Notably, Michelle Obama will not attend, citing undisclosed reasons.
While Biden's presence signals a return to tradition, history shows many outgoing presidents have skipped their successors' inaugurations. These include John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Johnson. Trump himself did not attend Biden's inauguration, citing election disputes.
Billionaires At The Inauguration: Musk, Bezos, And Zuckerberg
Some of the world's richest individuals are set to attend. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg will be seated together on the platform, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/elon-musk-jeff-bezos-mark-zuckerberg-attend-trump-inauguration-rcna187642">reported</a> NBC.
Musk took to X and said that he was "honored" by the invitation.
<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">Honored
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1879240313942012123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Musk is a Trump ally and has been instrumental in shaping his administration's efficiency policies. Meanwhile, both Bezos and Zuckerberg, despite past conflicts with Trump, have pledged $1 million each <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42454227/months-after-trump-threatened-to-put-mark-zuckerberg-in-prison-meta-ceo-donates-1m-to-president-elects-inaugural-event">to the inaugural fund</a>.
The Tesla CEO currently has a net worth of $427 billion, making him the world's wealthiest individual, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/">Index</a>. He is followed by Bezos and Zuckerberg as the second and third rank holders on the index with $237 billion, and $210 billion as their net worth respectively.
World Leaders And Foreign Representatives
Argentine President Javier Milei, who met Trump shortly after his election win, is expected to attend. Trump has also invited Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
According to reports, Bukele's attendance remains uncertain, but Meloni has stated she will attend if her schedule allows.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will also reportedly send an envoy in his place. Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces legal challenges, could also attend.
<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">&#8211; Muito honrado em receber do Presidente dos EUA, <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>, convite para a sua posse e de seu Vice Presidente <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a> , no próximo dia 20/JAN. &#8211; Agradeço a meu filho, o Deputado Federal <a href="https://twitter.com/BolsonaroSP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BolsonaroSP</a>, pelo excelente trabalho nesta relação com a família do Presidente… <a href="https://t.co/OTc71wxa3P">pic.twitter.com/OTc71wxa3P</a>
&mdash; Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) <a href="https://twitter.com/jairbolsonaro/status/1876967301649502389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
French politician Eric Zemmour and European Parliament member Sarah Knafo were also reportedly invited, though their attendance remains unconfirmed.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42900737/stephen-king-slams-elon-musks-h-1b-visa-stance-musk-thinks-smart-immigrants-can-stay-the-rest-of-you-washing-dishes-get-lost" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stephen King Slams Elon Musk&#8217;s H-1B Visa Stance: ‘Musk Thinks Smart Immigrants Can Stay – The Rest of You Washing Dishes … Get Lost&#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.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Government

News

Trump Inauguration: From Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos To Barack Obama, George Bush And Bill Clinton — Who All Will Attend?

<h3>Companies Reporting Before The Bell</h3>
• BlackRock (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLK#NYSE">BLK</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $11.21 per share on revenue of $5.53 billion. 
• Valens Semiconductor (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VLN#NYSE">VLN</a>) is likely to report earnings for its third quarter. 
• JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $4.04 per share on revenue of $41.56 billion. 
• Goldman Sachs Gr (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $8.27 per share on revenue of $12.33 billion. 
• Citigroup (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.24 per share on revenue of $19.41 billion. 
• Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BK#NYSE">BK</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.54 per share on revenue of $4.63 billion. 
• Wells Fargo (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.26 per share on revenue of $20.28 billion. 
<h3>Companies Reporting After The Bell</h3>
• Home BancShares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOMB#NYSE">HOMB</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.52 per share on revenue of $256.67 million. 
• Synovus Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNV#NYSE">SNV</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $1.15 per share on revenue of $566.76 million. 
• H.B. Fuller (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUL#NYSE">FUL</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.92 per share on revenue of $904.32 million. 
• Concentrix (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNXC#NASDAQ">CNXC</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $3.07 per share on revenue of $2.44 billion. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Earnings

CNXC

HOMB

Earnings Scheduled For January 15, 2025

Investors are buzzing with speculation about the Federal Reserve possibly raising interest rates in 2025. This comes despite recent aggressive rate cuts. The conversation is heating up around a potential policy reversal.
What Happened: While the likelihood of a rate hike remains at zero according to CME Group's FedWatch, the topic is gaining traction among investors. The debate centers on whether the barriers to increasing rates are more substantial than those to reducing them, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/what-if-the-fed-u-turns-and-raises-rates-this-year-f180855b">reported</a> on Wednesday.
Historically, the Fed has signaled major policy shifts well in advance, with only one instance of switching from cuts to hikes within a year since 1994. This occurred in 1998, following the Long-Term Capital Management crisis.
Some analysts believe the Fed has learned from past inflation shocks and may act swiftly if necessary. Ed Al-Hussainy of Columbia Threadneedle Investments noted, "It's a paper barrier, and they will break through it quickly if the data becomes overwhelming."
Investors considering the possibility of rate hikes might look into short-dated Treasurys. However, the market&#8217;s volatility and potential for loss remain significant concerns.
Why It Matters: The speculation surrounding potential rate hikes comes on the heels of a strong jobs report from December, which has led Wall Street analysts to reconsider their interest rate forecasts. Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42944934/wall-street-slashes-interest-rate-cut-bets-after-jobs-data-are-hikes-back-on-the-table">adjusted his projections</a> for Fed policy in 2025, reducing expected rate cuts due to the robust employment figures.
Moreover, the Federal Reserve&#8217;s December meeting minutes revealed uncertainty about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42886101/investors-should-expect-no-rate-cuts-in-q1-2025-after-federal-reserves-december-minutes-release-strategist-says">future rate cuts</a>, as noted by Jeffrey Roach, chief economist for LPL Financial. The Fed&#8217;s use of the word &#8220;uncertain&#8221; multiple times underscores the difficulty in mapping out a clear path for interest rates amid unpredictable economic conditions.
Read now:
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Photo courtesy of the Federal Reserve
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Macro Economic Events

Economics

General

Federal Reserve Policy Reversal? Buzz Around 2025 Rate Hikes Gains Momentum: 'It's A Paper Barrier...Will Break Through It Quickly If The Data Becomes Overwhelming'

Nokia and Zain KSA to implement unique indoor solutions for enterprise customers
<ul>
<li>First 4G/5G Femtocell solution in the Middle East and Africa region.</li>
<li>Enhances end user experiences, enriches B2B offering and reduces time to market.</li>
<li>Provides robust and secure connectivity for enterprises across the Kingdom.</li>
</ul>

Nokia And Zain KSA Launch First 4G/5G Femtocell Solution In The MEA Region

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda indicated Wednesday that the central bank is prepared to raise interest rates if economic and price conditions continue to improve, as Japan&#8217;s 10-year government bond yields touched their highest level since 2011 amid mounting speculation of policy tightening.
What Happened: The yield on Japan&#8217;s benchmark 10-year government bonds surged to around 1.25% on Wednesday, reaching levels not seen since April 2011, as investors positioned themselves ahead of next week&#8217;s crucial BOJ policy meeting.
&#8220;We are currently analyzing data thoroughly and will compile the findings in our quarterly outlook report,&#8221; Ueda said at a gathering of regional banks, according to Reuters, noting that the BOJ will discuss potential rate hikes at next week&#8217;s meeting. 
His comments followed similar remarks from BOJ Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino, strengthening market expectations of an imminent policy shift.
The potential policy change comes amid rising inflation concerns. Peter Schiff, a prominent economist, highlighted on social media platform X that Japan&#8217;s inflation rate has reached 3.4%, significantly exceeding the BOJ&#8217;s 2% target. 
<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">For over a decade, the goal of the Bank of Japan was to raise the official <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/inflation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#inflation</a> rate to 2%. It&#39;s now 3.4% and headed much higher. The Japanese were far better off and the government had a lot less debt when inflation was below 2%. The BOJ should have left well enough alone.
&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1879145071045640462?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Peter Boockvar, Chief Investment Officer of Bleakley Financial Group, emphasized the broader implications, noting that Japanese Government Bond yields are crucial for understanding global rate dynamics.
<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 debate on the direction of the US 10 yr yield cannot be complete without talking about the continued rise in JGB yields. The BoJ is the architect of modern day QE and ZIRP (taken a step further with NIRP, along with European central banks) that had a foot on the neck of rates… <a href="https://t.co/t8Ec5hRLjt">pic.twitter.com/t8Ec5hRLjt</a>
&mdash; Peter Boockvar (@pboockvar) <a href="https://twitter.com/pboockvar/status/1879199645802340794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 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/markets/asia/25/01/42993441/south-korean-president-yoon-suk-yeol-arrested-kospi-edges-higher-despite-political-upheaval-won-stable">South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Arrested — KOSPI Edges Higher Despite Political Upheaval, Won Stable</a>
Why It Matters: These policy discussions unfold in the shadow of August&#8217;s market turbulence, when the BOJ&#8217;s rate adjustment sparked widespread volatility. The Nikkei 225 suffered its sharpest single-day drop since 1987, and the unwinding of yen-based carry <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40199218/yen-carry-trade-is-only-halfway-unraveled-wall-street-analyst-says-how-much-more-ro">trades reverberated across global financial markets</a>.
For U.S. investors, the BOJ&#8217;s potential policy shift holds significant implications, given Japan&#8217;s historical influence on global bond yields and currency markets. On Wednesday, the U.S. dollar traded at 157.38 Japanese yen, underscoring the prevailing market uncertainty surrounding the BOJ&#8217;s next moves.
Ueda identified two key factors influencing the timing of any rate hike: the new U.S. administration&#8217;s economic policies and the momentum of this year&#8217;s wage negotiations in Japan, which he noted have shown positive indicators based on recent regional branch manager meetings.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42993713/trump-2-0-could-be-thwarted-by-inflation-mohamed-el-erian-notes-ahead-of-cpi-data-release">Trump 2.0 Could Be Thwarted By Inflation, Mohamed El-Erian Notes Ahead Of CPI Data Release</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Markets

BOJ's Kazuo Ueda Signals Rate Hikes, Japanese Bond Yields Rise To 14-Year High—What The Recent Past Tells Us About Impact On US Markets

Over 1.3 million electric vehicles were sold in the U.S. in 2024, marking a growth of 7.3% year-on-year, and accounting for 8.1% of total auto sales, according to data from automotive research company Kelley Blue Book. 
What Happened: EV sales in the U.S. benefited from strong incentives from automakers, excellent lease deals, and federal and state incentive programs in 2024, the firm said, while adding that companies like General Motors also added &#8220;excellent&#8221; new products.
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) was the most-sold EV brand nameplate, followed by Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>). The best-selling EV models, however, came from across different brand names.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="831" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15012502/0DWlR-top-selling-evs-in-2024-1024x831.png" alt="" class="wp-image-733814" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15012502/0DWlR-top-selling-evs-in-2024-1024x831.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15012502/0DWlR-top-selling-evs-in-2024-300x243.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15012502/0DWlR-top-selling-evs-in-2024-768x623.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15012502/0DWlR-top-selling-evs-in-2024.png 1240w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
The top-selling EV model was, unsurprisingly, Tesla&#8217;s Model Y SUV. The company sold 372,613 units of the Model Y in the 12 months, grabbing a remarkable 28.6% market share.
Model Y was seconded by Tesla&#8217;s mass-market sedan &#8211; the Model 3. Tesla launched the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/36921718/youtuber-marques-brownlee-reviews-refreshed-model-3-calls-it-teslas-most-important-car-i-am-impresse">refreshed Model 3 in the U.S. </a>in Jan. 2024 and 189,903 units of the vehicle were sold, giving it a 14.6% share of the market.
Dearborn-based Ford sold 51,745 units of its Model Y rival Mustang Mach-E and 33,510 units of its Cybertruck rival F-150 Lightning, giving them the 3rd and 6th position in the best-selling EV list, respectively. 
The fourth best-selling EV in the U.S. after the Teslas and the Ford SUV, comes from South Korean automaker Hyundai. Hyundai sold 44,400 units of its Ioniq 5 SUV, placing it below the Mach-E but above Tesla&#8217;s stainless steel truck Cybertruck. Tesla <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42967593/cybertruck-sales-rise-in-2024-weighed-down-on-tesla-model-s-deliveries-in-us-shows-data">sold 38,965 units of the</a> Cybertruck last year. 
Japanese automaker Honda also found a place in the best-selling EV list with its Prologue. The company sold 33,017 units of the Prologue, cementing its 7th position on the list. 
General Motors&#8217; Chevrolet Equinox EV and the Cadillac Lyriq also made it onto the list with over 28,000 units sold of each. GM started delivering the Equinox EV only in May. 
California-based Rivian&#8217;s R1S SUV took the tenth spot with nearly 27,000 units sold despite its high price point of about $75,000. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="723" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15012218/su3s1-market-share-of-top-selling-evs-in-2024-1024x723.png" alt="" class="wp-image-733812" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15012218/su3s1-market-share-of-top-selling-evs-in-2024-1024x723.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15012218/su3s1-market-share-of-top-selling-evs-in-2024-300x212.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15012218/su3s1-market-share-of-top-selling-evs-in-2024-768x543.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15012218/su3s1-market-share-of-top-selling-evs-in-2024.png 1240w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
What&#8217;s Ahead: Cox Automotive expects EV sales to grow further in 2025 despite uncertainties around policy under the incoming Trump administration. 
Cox noted that over 15 new models are expected to enter the market and coupled with better charging infrastructure and incentives from automakers, EV sales will rise and account for 10% of total vehicle sales in 2025. 
Policy changes under the new administration will likely not be put into effect soon, allowing prospective buyers to make their purchases, it said. 
The research firm is now <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42762224/bev-market-share-will-increase-across-us-china-europe-in-2025-says-sp-global-mobility">expecting 2025</a> to be a record year for EV volume. 
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
Read Next:
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</ul>
Photo courtesy: Tesla

Tech

TSLA

Elon Musk's Tesla Leads The Pack In Top-Selling EVs In US In 2024: Ford, GM Follow

Econ #s

France Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (MoM) For December 0.2% Vs. 0.2% Est.; -0.1% Prior

France Consumer Price Index (MoM) For December 0.2% Vs. 0.2% Est.; -0.1% Prior

According to&nbsp;Reuters,&nbsp;Nippon Steel&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NPSCY#OTC">NPSCY</a>) is eager to engage&nbsp;with&nbsp;Donald Trump&#8216;s incoming administration to finalize a takeover of&nbsp;U.S. Steel&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/X#NYSE">X</a>). This comes after&nbsp;President Joe Biden blocked a&nbsp;$14.9 billion acquisition, leading to lawsuits filed by both companies.
What Happened: In&nbsp;an opinion <a href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/nippon-steel-and-us-steel-why-were-suing-biden-over-deal-blocking-bb6ed1e1?mod=opinion_lead_pos11">piece</a> in the&nbsp;Wall Street Journal on Wednesday,&nbsp;Takahiro Mori, vice chairman of Nippon Steel, expressed the company&#8217;s determination to pursue the transaction.
&#8220;Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel&nbsp;will do whatever it takes&nbsp;to close this transaction,&#8221; Mori stated, emphasizing their strong legal position and anticipation of court proceedings.
Trump is set to assume&nbsp;office on Monday. Enforcement of&nbsp;Biden&#8217;s order, which mandated the unwinding of the deal within 30 days, has been postponed until June due to the legal challenge. Mori highlighted the importance of&nbsp;partnerships with the new administration&nbsp;to bolster U.S. Steel for the benefit of American stakeholders.
Meanwhile,&nbsp;Cleveland-Cliffs&nbsp;is collaborating with&nbsp;Nucor&nbsp;to potentially present an all-cash bid for U.S. Steel, as reported by Reuters. Mori reiterated Japan&#8217;s alliance with the U.S. and dismissed national security concerns regarding the takeover.
Why It Matters: The legal battle between&nbsp;Nippon Steel&nbsp;and the Biden administration over the blocked acquisition of&nbsp;U.S. Steel&nbsp;has been ongoing. In early January,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/42870745/nippon-steel-ceo-slams-tariffs-defends-15-billion-us-steel-merger-amid-national-security-concerns-we-never-think-that-industry-can-become-stronger-through-tariffs-alone">Nippon Steel CEO Eiji Hashimoto</a>&nbsp;criticized tariffs as insufficient for strengthening the U.S. steel industry and defended the merger, arguing it would enhance U.S. national security by creating a more robust company.
The lawsuit filed by Nippon Steel challenges the Biden administration&#8217;s decision, claiming it violated constitutional due process rights. Legal experts suggest that this lawsuit might extend the timeline for the deal, allowing for alternative deal structures. The opposition from Biden was reportedly aimed at securing union support in Pennsylvania, a key state in the political landscape.
Price Action: United States Steel was up by 1.37% in overnight trading on Robinhood at 2:43 am ET.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image by Poetra.RH via Shutterstock

NPSCY

Nippon Steel Eyes Trump Administration To Revive $15B US Steel Deal Blocked By Biden: 'We'll Do Whatever It Takes'

Jimmy Donaldson, popularly known as MrBeast, is in talks with several billionaires about potentially acquiring TikTok to prevent its shutdown in the U.S.
What Happened: On Tuesday, the renowned YouTuber took to X, formerly Twitter, and said that he intends to buy TikTok so it doesn't get banned in the U.S.&nbsp;
He later said that multiple billionaires have contacted him to explore the feasibility of the purchase. While he did not disclose any names, the YouTuber appears to be considering the possibility of making the acquisition a reality.
"Unironically I've had so many billionaires reach out to me since I tweeted this, let's see if we can pull this off," he stated.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42893958/after-apple-halts-hardware-subscription-plans-samsung-unveils-similar-strategy-for-ai-powered-galaxy-smartphones">After Apple Halts ‘Hardware&#8217; Subscription Plans, Samsung Unveils Similar Strategy For AI-Powered Galaxy Smartphones</a>
<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">Unironically I've had so many billionaires reach out to me since I tweeted this, let's see if we can pull this off &#x1f64c;&#x1f3fb;
&mdash; MrBeast (@MrBeast) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrBeast/status/1879224239485808811?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Tech mogul Elon Musk has also emerged as a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/42965533/elon-musk-emerges-as-potential-tiktok-us-buyer-as-ban-deadline-looms-company-terms-it-pure-fiction">potential buyer for TikTok&#8217;s U.S.</a> operations, with discussions valuing the deal between $40 billion to $50 billion.
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: In April 2024, President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38394855/biden-set-to-sign-tiktok-ban-into-law-after-senate-passes-bill-supported-by-gop-democrats">signed a bill requiring</a> TikTok&#8217;s parent company, ByteDance, to either cease U.S. operations or sell its business in the country.
With the Jan. 19 deadline looming, MrBeast&#8217;s post about buying TikTok has sparked interest, though initially perceived as a joke by some fans.
The primary concern leading to the potential ban is the risk of data being shared with the Chinese government.
ByteDance has previously stated that TikTok is not for sale, and any sale attempts might face <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38693602/tiktok-admits-xi-jinpings-ccp-wont-let-its-algorithm-be-sold-after-biden-gives-9-months-to-divest-or">opposition from the Chinese government</a>.&nbsp;
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday heard <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42919029/supreme-court-hears-tiktok-oral-arguments">oral arguments on the legislation</a> that could lead to the app&#8217;s shutdown. TikTok users have also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931704/tiktok-users-call-on-trump-to-deliver-immediately-on-his-promise-to-save-app-from-us-ban-we-dont-need-the-supreme-court-to">launched a campaign urging</a> President-elect Donald Trump to intervene and prevent the ban.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
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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.

Social Media

MrBeast Discussing Buying TikTok With Billionaires To Prevent US Shutdown: 'Let's See If We Can Pull This Off'

Italy&#8217;s largest bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, dipped its toes in the cryptocurrency market, conducting its first Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) purchase worth $1 million, according to a report on Tuesday.
What Happened: Intesa Sanpaolo purchased 11 Bitcoins&nbsp;in what CEO Carlo Messina&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/italys-intesa-buys-1-mln-euros-bitcoin-first-proprietary-trade-2025-01-14/#:~:text=An%20internal%20memo%20seen%20by,through%202028%20for%20company%20investments.">described </a>as &#8220;a test,&#8221; Reuters reported, citing an internal memo.
Speaking to reporters at an event, Messina said that the lender had &#8220;very limited&#8221; room to invest in cryptocurrencies and that the latest trial was conducted to prepare for potential requests for such investments by &#8220;sophisticated&#8221; clients.
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Banche, Messina (Intesa): &quot;Investimento in Bitcoin non stupisca è test"" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z2clF1jYGDw?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>
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&#8220;We tested how to handle any potential requests from clients, but there will anyway be very tight limits and clients will need to prove they understand potential risks,&#8221; Massino said.
He also advised individual investors to avoid cryptocurrency investments, stating, &#8220;I myself don&#8217;t invest in Bitcoin.&#8221; 
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/25/01/42936962/shytoshi-kusama-outlines-treat-tokens-usefulness-ahead-of-launch-optimistic-whales-buy-up-shiba-inu">Shytoshi Kusama Outlines TREAT Token&#8217;s Usefulness Ahead Of Launch, Optimistic Whales Buy Up Shiba Inu</a>
With total assets of €949.18 million ($977.40 million), Intesa Sanpaolo is Italy&#8217;s largest bank. The company didn&#8217;t immediately return Benzinga&#8217;s request for comment.
Why It Matters: This development comes in the wake of Italy&#8217;s recent change in stance towards cryptocurrencies. 
Last month, Italian politicians from the ruling coalition <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42430918/italy-backpedals-on-controversial-tax-hike-on-crypto-capital-gains-following-industry-opposition-no-more-prejudices">announced a significant reduction</a> in the proposed tax hike on cryptocurrency capital gains following industry criticism and internal disagreements.
The Treasury had initially planned to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41367903/italy-eyes-drastic-tax-hike-on-bitcoin-profits-42-looming-in-2025-shocking-countrys-crypto" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">increase the tax</a>&nbsp;on cryptocurrency capital gains from 26% to 42% under the 2025 budget. However, due to industry protests and internal debates, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42430918/italy-backpedals-on-controversial-tax-hike-on-crypto-capital-gains-following-industry-opposition-no-more-prejudices">rate was reduced</a> to 33%.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $97,052.07, up 2.82% 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 Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
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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>

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

Cryptocurrency

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$BTC

Italy's Largest Bank Leaps Into Bitcoin Trading With $1 Million 'Test' Investment But CEO Says He Doesn't Invest In BTC Personally

<ul>
<li>Portugal's 4th largest bank expands Nasdaq partnership, adopting Calypso's Front Office and Risk platform</li>
<li>Fully integrated system will be deployed in the cloud to enhance flexibility and scalability of novobanco's treasury infrastructure</li>
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NDAQ

Novobanco Expands Nasdaq Calypso Partnership To Streamline Capital Market Operations

U.K. Producer Price Index Input (MoM) For December 0.1% Vs. 0.2% Est.; 0.0% Prior

U.K. Consumer Prices Index Including Owner Occupiers' Housing Costs (YoY) 3.5% Vs. 3.5% Prior

U.K. Consumer Price Index (YoY) For December 2.5% Vs. 2.6% Est.; 2.6% Prior

U.K. Consumer Price Index (MoM) For December 0.3% Vs. 0.4% Est.; 0.1% Prior

U.S. semiconductor trade groups have mounted strong opposition to the President Joe Biden administration&#8217;s new chip export restrictions, warning of potential market share losses to global competitors in a private letter to Biden.
What Happened: The letter Tuesday, signed by six trade organizations including the Semiconductor Industry Association and SEMI, criticized the administration&#8217;s approach to implementing stricter controls on advanced computing chips and high-bandwidth memory technology, particularly regarding sales to China, Reuters reported.
The pushback comes as the Commerce Department unveiled new regulations Monday creating a three-tier system for global chip exports. The rules require most nations to obtain licenses for building AI data centers using U.S. chips, while providing unrestricted <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42967114/what-does-joe-bidens-last-minute-chip-export-restrictions-mean-for-nvidia-that-has-jensen-huang-led-ai-giant-up-in-arms">access to 18 allied countries</a>.
Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), which controls approximately 90% of the AI chip market, saw its shares drop 3% following the announcement. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) fell 2% in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/42941939/nvidia-down-3-amd-falls-2-after-white-house-imposes-new-ai-chip-export-restrictions">response to the restrictions</a>.
"This rule threatens to derail innovation and economic growth worldwide," said Nvidia&#8217;s VP of government affairs, Ned Finkle, in a statement on Monday.
The pending regulations could particularly impact companies like Lam Research Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRCX#NASDAQ">LRCX</a>), potentially reversing earlier interpretations that had allowed hundreds of millions in additional revenue from Chinese memory chip makers, according to the report.
&#8220;We understand that this additional rule will even more strictly control high bandwidth memory, without consideration of how such changes may impact U.S. companies or cede market share to global competitors,&#8221; the letter said.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/01/42993441/south-korean-president-yoon-suk-yeol-arrested-kospi-edges-higher-despite-political-upheaval-won-stable">South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Arrested — KOSPI Edges Higher Despite Political Upheaval, Won Stable</a>
Why It Matters: Oracle Corp. Executive Vice President Ken Glueck warned the restrictions could reduce the international chip market for U.S. companies by up to 80%, significantly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/42941939/nvidia-down-3-amd-falls-2-after-white-house-imposes-new-ai-chip-export-restrictions">affecting the domestic cloud industry</a>.
The rules arrive amid escalating U.S.-China tensions over semiconductor technology. In December, the U.S. blacklisted 140 Chinese entities and restricted memory chip exports, prompting Beijing to implement retaliatory export <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42265847/biden-targets-china-with-new-chip-restrictions-nvidia-slides">controls on critical minerals</a>.
The regulations are set to take effect <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42967114/what-does-joe-bidens-last-minute-chip-export-restrictions-mean-for-nvidia-that-has-jensen-huang-led-ai-giant-up-in-arms">after a 120-day comment period</a>, extending into the incoming President-elect Donald Trump&#8216;s administration, raising questions about their long-term implementation and effectiveness in the rapidly evolving AI chip market.
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Image Via Shuttesrock 
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Equities

LRCX

NVDA

After Nvidia, Semiconductor Trade Groups Oppose  Biden's Chip Export Measures: Rules Threaten To 'Derail Innovation And Economic Growth Worldwide'

IPOs

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Reported Earlier, Plum Acquisition Corp. IV Prices $150M Initial Public Offering Of 15M Units At $10/Unit

Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management, has said that Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s leadership approach at Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) has changed since he started learning jiu-jitsu.
What Happened: On Tuesday, Munster pointed out that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42986509/meta-platforms-announces-performance-based-job-cuts-whats-going-on">Meta&#8217;s 5% workforce reduction</a> is a reflection of this strategic shift.
This follows previous reductions of 5% in 2024, 11% in 2023, and 13% in 2022. Despite these cuts, Zuckerberg plans to refill the positions, ensuring that severance costs do not impact Meta&#8217;s operating margin, he stated.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/01/42906243/netflixs-wwe-monday-night-raw-premiere-more-than-doubles-2024-usa-network-audience">Netflix&#8217;s &#8216;WWE Monday Night Raw&#8217; Premiere More Than Doubles 2024 USA Network Audience</a>
<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">I believe Zuckerberg&#39;s devotion to jiu jitsu has reshaped how he thinks about running <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24META&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$META</a>. Today&#39;s 5% workforce cuts are the latest example. This follows cuts of 5% in 2024, 11% in 2023, and 13% in 2022. If you&#39;re curious, he began his training in 2020. Since he is planning…
&mdash; Gene Munster (@munster_gene) <a href="https://twitter.com/munster_gene/status/1879277095207211046?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: At its core, Jiu Jitsu teaches principles of gentleness, mutual welfare, and maximum efficiency, according to Zenyo Jiu Jitsu, a website about the martial art. In 2023, Zuckerberg labeled the year as the company&#8217;s &#8220;year of efficiency&#8221; and announced plans to cut 10,000 jobs.
At the time, he said, &#8220;Change is never easy, but I know we'll get through this and come out an even stronger company that can build better products faster&nbsp;and enable you to do the best work of your careers.&#8221;
In a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/06/32807615/how-mark-zuckerberg-harnesses-jiu-jitsu-to-run-meta-better-your-ability-to-keep-doing-interesting-th">June 2023 interview</a> with Lex Fridman, Zuckerberg underscored the importance of embracing embarrassment as a catalyst for growth.
He explained that his commitment to Jiu-Jitsu embodied this philosophy, as the physically challenging discipline humbled him during his early stages, teaching him valuable lessons through moments of being "kicked" and feeling "stupid."
Meta&#8217;s workforce reductions are part of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42865109/sony-co-founder-akio-morita-once-said-that-management-should-treat-companies-like-families-not-commodities-recession-comes-management-fire-people-but-stays-to-keep-its-profit">broader trend in the tech</a> industry. In December 2024, Alphabet Inc. (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>) announced a 10% <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42635813/google-announces-major-layoffs-as-pichai-stresses-efficiency">reduction in top management</a> roles to streamline operations.
Similarly, Elon Musk&#8217;s X, formerly Twitter, also reportedly faced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/41698648/elon-musks-x-reportedly-hit-with-new-wave-of-layoffs-engineering-department-faces-major-cuts-amid-un">significant layoffs</a> in November 2024, particularly affecting the engineering department.
Meta is set to announce its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/42991174/meta-platforms-analyst-expects-strong-momentum-in-q4-to-continue-in-2025">fourth-quarter earnings</a> on Jan. 29. In October last year, Meta reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41637326/meta-platforms-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-daily-actives-up-5-strong-momentum-in-ai">third-quarter revenue</a> of $40.59 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $40.29 billion.
Price Action: Meta&#8217;s stock dropped 2.31% on Tuesday, but saw a 0.21% gain in after-hours trading, closing at $592.52, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
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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.

GOOG

GOOGL

Mark Zuckerberg's Jiu-Jitsu Training Has Transformed Meta's Leadership Strategy, Says Gene Munster

The units are expected to trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market ("Nasdaq") under the ticker symbol "RIBBU" beginning January 15, 2025. The Company expects the IPO to close on or about January 16, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A ordinary shares and the rights are expected to be traded on Nasdaq under the symbols "RIBB" and "RIBBR," respectively.

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