John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust John Hancock Dynamic Municipal Bond ETF (ARCA: JHMU)

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John Hancock Multifactor Utilities ETF

The fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus amounts borrowed for investment purposes, in municipal bonds of any maturity. The fund primarily invests in bonds that are investment grade when purchased, but the fund may also invest up to 20% of its net assets in non-investment grade bonds rated BB or lower by S&P Global Ratings (S&P), Fitch Ratings (Fitch), or Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (Moodys), or comparable rating by any nationally recognized statistical ratings organization (NRSRO) or unrated equivalents (also called junk bonds). The fund may invest in other fixed income securities which include bonds, debt securities and other similar instruments. The funds investment policies are based on credit ratings at the time of purchase.

John Hancock Dynamic Municipal Bond ETF

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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="600" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/21060806/brk7e-s4eqp.png" alt="" class="wp-image-6173" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/21060806/brk7e-s4eqp.png 900w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/21060806/brk7e-s4eqp-300x200.png 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/21060806/brk7e-s4eqp-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>
A Chinese biotech that made a name for itself by co-developing an anti-Covid drug has filed for a stock market listing to fund research into tackling other conditions
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Key Takeaways:</h4>
<ul>
<li>Vigonvita works closely with the Chinese Academy of Sciences through its founder and biggest shareholder, research scientist Shen Jingshan</li>
<li>After selling rights to its flagship anti-viral product, the drug developer fell back into the red last year</li>
</ul>
As Chinese biotechs beat a path to Hong Kong's IPO market, hoping to catch the eye of investors, one drug developer can point to a commercially launched Covid treatment as proof of its capability.
Vigonvita Life Sciences Co. Ltd., in partnership with Chinese research institutes, began work on the oral anti-viral medicine during the pandemic, later selling the product rights to a major Chinese pharmaceutical brand.
The pandemic project raised the company's profile and is now being leveraged in its pursuit of a Hong Kong stock listing.
Before the Chinese New Year holiday, the developer of innovative drugs&nbsp;<a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/app/sehk/2025/107116/documents/sehk25012700686.pdf">applied</a>&nbsp;to join the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with CITIC Securities as the sole sponsor.
Founded in 2013, Vigonvita Life Sciences develops small molecule drugs to treat viral infections, mental health disorders and reproductive issues. Its pipeline contains nine innovative drugs as well as four generic drugs, two of which have gained marketing approval, bringing new revenue streams into the company.
Vigonvita's activities extend from drug research and development to manufacturing and sales. Its founder and biggest shareholder, Shen Jingshan, is a leading researcher and doctoral supervisor at a Shanghai institute within the Chinese Academy of Sciences that was involved in developing the Covid drug.
After the pandemic broke out in 2020, Vigonvita collaborated with Chinese research bodies to develop anti-Covid medicines, acquiring exclusive intellectual property rights to the resulting treatment, VV116.
In September 2021, Vigonvita sold the rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize the product in most parts of the world to&nbsp;Junshi Biosciences&nbsp;(1877.HK; 688180.SH), while the right to supply the active ingredients was transferred to a pharmaceutical company based in Hainan province.
Together, the two out-licensing deals boosted Vigonvita's finances. China granted conditional marketing approval for the drug in January 2023 and folded it into the national medical insurance system a year later, although by then the pandemic had subsided.
The drug brought in revenues of 110 million yuan ($15.02 million) in the first half of 2023, according to earnings data from Junshi Biosciences, but after that the company stopped releasing specific product figures. Vigonvita is currently working on widening the clinical use of VV116 to cover respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in children. Phase Three clinical trials are expected to be launched in the third quarter of 2025.
The research alliance that produced the Covid drug has also developed two other candidate treatments for which Vigonvita holds the intellectual property rights. According to the IPO prospectus, the company's co-founder and second biggest shareholder, Tian Guanghui, played a key role in developing the two drugs, LV232 and TPN171.
The first of those, a treatment for depression, will enter Phase Two trials in China in the first quarter of 2025. The company expects its TPN171 drug for erectile dysfunction to get marketing clearance in China in the middle of this year, after it was already approved in Uzbekistan. The income would be a welcome boost for the company, after revenues plunged last year.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Falling from a high base</h4>
Product sales have not been the company's main source of revenue. Instead, the bulk of the firm's earnings come from licensing deals, contract research services and pharmaceutical sales. On that basis the company brought in 190 million yuan in 2023 and revenues of 10 million yuan in the first nine months of 2024, but it made a net profit of just 48.51 million yuan and a loss of 151 million yuan in the two periods.
The prospectus blamed the sharp drop on a high base effect, after the previous year's earnings had been boosted by milestone payments and the sale of rights relating to VV116. An analysis of the firm's top five revenue sources shows 102 million yuan coming from Junshi Biosciences in 2023, and payments from the supplier of active ingredients amounting to 94.34 million yuan. But in the first three quarters of last year the input from Junshi Biosciences was a mere 7.98 million yuan and there was no payment from the other partner.
With licensing money drying up, Vigonvita quickly fell back into the red, although its research credentials helped it maintain access to capital. The company completed five rounds of financing between 2020 and 2024. The Series B financing in April 2022 boosted the firm's valuation to 4.2 billion yuan from 1.57 billion yuan four months earlier. The last round of Series C in April 2024 brought in another 160 million yuan, pushing the value to 4.45 billion yuan.
Cash and cash equivalents held by Vigonvita had fallen to 95.05 million yuan at the end of September last year. In the absence of licensing revenue and more drug launches, the IPO is an opportunity for the company to replenish its coffers for future R&amp;D.

Asia

Biotech

IPOs

As Covid Drug Cash Dwindles, Vigonvita Targets New Remedies

Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) AI-driven Visual Intelligence feature is reportedly coming to iPhone 15 Pro models in an upcoming iOS update.
What Happened: Apple Intelligence, the company's suite of AI-powered features, includes Visual Intelligence, which allows users to analyze objects, translate text, and search for information in real-time using their iPhone's camera.
While iPhone 16 and 16 Pro users can trigger the feature using a dedicated camera button, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43820197/apple-unveils-iphone-16e-with-a18-chip-ai-features-599-price-tag">newly launched</a> iPhone 16e lack this hardware.
See Also: <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43873396/apple-stock-has-run-up-over-10-in-a-month-jim-cramer-says-iphone-maker-is-ramping-and-the-credit-goes-to-chinese-subsidies">Apple Stock Has Run Up Over 10% In A Month, Jim Cramer Says iPhone Maker Is &#8216;Ramping&#8217; And The Credit Goes To Chinese Subsidies</a>
&#8220;Apple's solution to enable visual intelligence on the iPhone 16e, despite it lacking the Camera Control button, is two-fold. First, visual intelligence is now available in the Control Center. Second, as demonstrated by Apple in the announcement video, you can assign the Action Button to visual intelligence,&#8221; said Daring Fireball's John Gruber.
Gruber further said that Cupertino will likely assign Visual Intelligence to the Action button or use a Control Center shortcut, citing an Apple representative.
Apple hasn't confirmed which iOS version will bring Visual Intelligence to iPhone 15 Pro models, but Gruber speculates it may arrive in iOS 18.4, which could enter beta testing "any day now."
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: Apple's decision to extend Visual Intelligence to iPhone 15 Pro users reduces the pressure to upgrade to the iPhone 16 series for AI-driven camera enhancements.
Since its launch in September 2023, the iPhone 15 Pro series has seen significant adoption, with the Pro and Pro Max models accounting for 5.44% and 6.83% of the market by November 2024, <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1447263/iphone-15-adoption-rate-by-model-worldwide/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed">according</a> to Statista.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43840286/apples-iphone-16e-to-drive-revenue-growth-for-tim-cooks-company-says-top-analyst">Apple&#8217;s iPhone 16e To Drive Revenue Growth For Tim Cook&#8217;s Company, Says Top Analyst</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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Tech

AAPL

Apple's Visual Intelligence May Come To iPhone 15 Pro: Here's How It Can Transform Your Camera With AI-Powered Real-Time Search

Vipshop Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIPS#NYSE">VIPS</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $5.70 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $5.52 by 3.26 percent. This is a 595.12 percent increase over earnings of $0.82 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $33.224 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $32.102 billion by 3.49 percent. This is a 580.26 percent increase over sales of $4.884 billion the same period last year.

Earnings

Earnings Beats

VIPS

Vipshop Holdings Q4 2024 Adj. EPS $5.70 Beats $5.52 Estimate, Sales $33.224B Beat $32.102B Estimate

CRWD CLIMBS OVER 14 POINTS AFTER THE ALERT
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="891" height="632" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20220650/Screen-Shot-2025-02-20-at-4.27.34-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-6162" style="width:920px;height:auto" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20220650/Screen-Shot-2025-02-20-at-4.27.34-PM.png 891w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20220650/Screen-Shot-2025-02-20-at-4.27.34-PM-300x213.png 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20220650/Screen-Shot-2025-02-20-at-4.27.34-PM-768x545.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 891px) 100vw, 891px" /></figure>
CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD) today experienced a Power Inflow, a significant event for those who follow where smart money goes and value order flow analytics in their trading decisions. 
Today, at 10:02 AM on February 20th, a significant trading signal occurred for CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD) as it demonstrated a Power Inflow at a price of $422.37. This indicator is crucial for traders who want to know directionally where institutions and so-called "smart money" moves in the market. They see the value of utilizing order flow analytics to guide their trading decisions. The Power Inflow points to a possible uptrend in CrowdStrike&#8217;s stock, marking a potential entry point for traders looking to capitalize on the expected upward movement. Traders with this signal closely watch for sustained momentum in CrowdStrike&#8217;s stock price, interpreting this event as a bullish sign.
Signal description
Order flow analytics, aka transaction or market flow analysis, separate and study both the retail and institutional volume rate of orders (flow). It involves analyzing the flow of buy and sell orders, along with size, timing, and other associated characteristics and patterns, to gain insights and make more informed trading decisions. This particular indicator is interpreted as a bullish signal by active traders.&nbsp;
The Power Inflow occurs within the first two hours of the market open and generally signals the trend that helps gauge the stock&#8217;s overall direction, powered by institutional activity in the stock, for the remainder of the day.&nbsp;
By incorporating order flow analytics into their trading strategies, market participants can better interpret market conditions, identify trading opportunities, and potentially improve their trading performance. But let's not forget that while watching smart money flow can provide valuable insights, it is crucial to incorporate effective risk management strategies to protect capital and mitigate potential losses. Employing a consistent and effective risk management plan helps traders navigate the uncertainties of the market in a more controlled and calculated manner, increasing the likelihood of long-term success
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for CRWD, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts. 
<a href="https://benzinga.com/apis?_gl=1&#x2A;1hlgn5i&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTY1NjE2NTYxMi4xNzE0NzQ4MTAy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDc0ODEwMi4xLjEuMTcxNDc0ODQyOC4wLjAuMA..">Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs</a> and include firms, like&nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="https://www.tradepulse.net">https://www.tradepulse.net</a>&nbsp; which are responsible for parts of the data within this article. 
&#xA9; 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
After Market Close UPDATE:
The price at the time of the Power Inflow was $422.37. The returns on the High price ($436.75) and Close price ($436.14)after the Power Inflow were respectively 3.4% and 3.3%. That is why it is important to have a trading plan that includes Profit Targets and Stop Losses that reflect your risk appetite. In this case, the high of the day and close were very close but that is not always the case
Past Performance is Not Indicative of Future Results

Equities

Technicals

TRADEPULSE POWER ALERT: CROWDSTRIKE HOLDINGS INC.,CRWD,MOVES UP 3.4% AFTER ALERT FROM TRADEPULSE

Kash Patel, the newly confirmed Federal Bureau of Investigation director, has significant exposure to Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), according to a financial disclosure.
What happened: Patel reported holding between $50,001 and $100,000 in the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GBTC#NYSE">GBTC</a>) and up to $15,000 in its &#8220;spin-off,&#8221; the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTC#NYSE">BTC</a>).
Additionally, he owned a stake worth between $50,001 and $100,000 in leading Bitcoin mining firm Core Scientific Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CORZ#NASDAQ">CORZ</a>).
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/25/02/43826697/bitcoin-early-in-bull-market-can-compete-with-gold-etfs-blockstream-ceo-says">Bitcoin &#8216;Early In Bull Market,&#8217; Can Compete With Gold ETFs, Blockstream CEO Says</a>
Why It Matters: The disclosure was the latest evidence of the involvement of high-ranking officials of the Donald Trump administration in cryptocurrency.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Apart from the president, who holds a significant amount of Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42936887/trumps-treasury-pick-scott-bessent-reveals-up-to-500000-bitcoin-stake-via-blackrocks-etf">Treasury Secretary</a> Scott Bessent, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/02/43809086/us-commerce-secretary-howard-lutnicks-cantor-fitzgerald-increases-bitcoin-exposure-via-etfs-mstr-mara-adds-chinese-firms-like-baba-baidu-jd-in-q4">Commerce Secretary</a> Howard Lutnick have invested in digital assets.
Patel, who was confirmed as FBI director by the Senate on Thursday, previously worked for Trump on the National Security Council in 2019. He also helped with the Pentagon transition effort from Trump to Biden.
Moreover, Patel <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/24/12/42278429/trump-fbi-pick-kash-patels-wealth-has-grown-from-trump-media-board-position-consulting-deal-and-trump-themed-childrens-books">served as a director</a> on the board of Trump Media &amp; Technology Group, which was co-founded by Trump. In the disclosure, Patel said he would terminate the position before taking charge as the FBI director.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $98,300.91 up 1.16% 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>.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43825637/donald-trump-says-us-is-successfully-negotiating-with-russia-over-ukraine-but-polymarket-traders-arent-convinced">Donald Trump Says US Is &#8216;Successfully Negotiating With Russia&#8217; Over Ukraine, But Polymarket Traders Aren&#8217;t Convinced</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

$BTC

$ETH

Core Scientific, Inc. - Class A Common Stock

CORZ

GBTC

TSX:ETF

New FBI Director Kash Patel Holds Over $100,000 In Bitcoin ETFs, Has Significant Exposure To BTC Miner Core Scientific

As quantum computing stocks resume their rally after a steep year-to-date decline following Microsoft Corp.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) &#8216;Majorana 1&#8217; launch, we look at the top five holders of these companies according to the Security Exchange Commission&#8217;s (SEC) 13F filings.
What Happened: Assessing the 13F filings for the fourth quarter, we found that BlackRock, Inc. and Vanguard Group Inc., which also issue several exchange-traded funds, had major positions in quantum computing stocks.
Vanguard&#8217;s total investment value in Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>), Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QUBT#NASDAQ">QUBT</a>), D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QBTS#NYSE">QBTS</a>), and IonQ Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IONQ#NYSE">IONQ</a>) stood at $1.201 billion during the fourth quarter.
Similarly, BlackRock&#8217;s total investment was valued at $942.637 million.
Both Vanguard and BlackRock were among the top five holders of these four stocks. State Street Corp., on the other hand, featured among the top five holders of three companies.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rigetti Computing</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Company</td>
<td>Holdings (as of Dec. 31)</td>
<td>Value As Of Dec. 31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BlackRock, Inc</td>
<td>11,892,972</td>
<td>$181.486 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Group Inc</td>
<td>11,746,361</td>
<td>$179.249 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>American Assets Investment Management, LLC</td>
<td>7,221,216</td>
<td>$110.195 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco Ltd.</td>
<td>4,580,317</td>
<td>$69.895 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>State Street Corp</td>
<td>4,329,019</td>
<td>$66.060 million</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Quantum Computing</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Company</td>
<td>Holdings (as of Dec. 31)</td>
<td>Value As Of Dec. 31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Anson Funds Management LP</td>
<td>4,230,000</td>
<td>$70.006 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alyeska Investment Group, LP</td>
<td>4,230,000</td>
<td>$69.613 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Group Inc</td>
<td>4,186,729</td>
<td>$69.290 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BlackRock, Inc</td>
<td>1,220,816</td>
<td>$20.204 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UBS Group AG</td>
<td>1,153,053</td>
<td>$19.083 million</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">D-Wave Quantum</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Company</td>
<td>Holdings (as of Dec. 31)</td>
<td>Value As Of Dec. 31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Public Sector Pension Investment Board</td>
<td>40,057,252</td>
<td>$336.480 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BlackRock, Inc</td>
<td>8,618,832</td>
<td>$72.398 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Group Inc</td>
<td>7,118,322</td>
<td>$59.793 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UBS Group AG</td>
<td>4,332,107</td>
<td>$36.389 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>State Street Corp</td>
<td>3,085,359</td>
<td>$25.917 million</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">IonQ Inc</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Company</td>
<td>Holdings (as of Dec. 31)</td>
<td>Value As Of Dec. 31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Group Inc</td>
<td>21,374,125</td>
<td>$892.797 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BlackRock, Inc</td>
<td>16,005,601</td>
<td>$668.553 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>6,264,258</td>
<td>$261.658 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>State Street Corp</td>
<td>4,588,126</td>
<td>$191.646 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Geode Capital Management LLC</td>
<td>4,466,094</td>
<td>$186.592 million</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Please note that these tables exclude any options held by firms
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43875557/donald-trump-airs-fort-knox-inspection-as-gold-edges-closer-to-3000-it-is-an-essential-component-of-portfolio-says-expert">Gold Is An &#8216;Essential Component&#8217; Of Portfolio, Says Expert As It Nears $3000 While Trump, Musk Suggest Fort Knox Inspection Amid The Surge</a>
Why It Matters: Quantum computing stocks <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43844926/quantum-computing-stocks-rgti-qubt-ionq-qbts-cheer-microsofts-majorana-1-launch-satya-nadella-calls-it-a-physics-and-fabrication-breakthrough">jumped</a> after MSFT&#8217;s CEO Satya Nadella launched its chip &#8216;Majorana 1&#8217;. These chips use a different phase of matter called the topological phase for conducting qubits of information.
Nadella described it as &#8220;the transistor moment of quantum computing,&#8221; in the podcast with Dwarkesh Patel.
Following the announcement, the stocks edged higher on Wednesday, following their momentum on Tuesday. However, IonQ, which is backed by Bill Gates&#8216; Breakthrough Energy venture bucked the trend and fell.
Price Action: The stocks were still down in 2025 despite the &#8216;Majorana 1&#8217; bump. The stocks were mixed in premarket on Friday. 
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Stocks</td>
<td>Thursday&#8217;s Performance</td>
<td>Friday Premaret</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rigetti Computing Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>)</td>
<td>3.99%</td>
<td>-1.22%</td>
<td>-42.65%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Quantum Computing Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QUBT#NASDAQ">QUBT</a>)</td>
<td>1.63%</td>
<td>0.25%</td>
<td>-56.88%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>D-Wave Quantum Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QBTS#NYSE">QBTS</a>)</td>
<td>13.00%</td>
<td>0.14%</td>
<td>-23.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IonQ Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IONQ#NYSE">IONQ</a>)</td>
<td>-1.14%</td>
<td>-0.30%</td>
<td>-21.69%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Defiance Quantum ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QTUM#NASDAQ">QTUM</a>)</td>
<td>0.41%</td>
<td>0.23%</td>
<td>3.99%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/02/43875446/walmarts-ai-use-cases-surge-amid-strong-q4-even-as-company-forecasts-weaker-2026">Walmart Expands AI Use Beyond Optimizing Delivery Routes, To Tackling Inventory Issues And Delivering Code Faster</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Market Summary

IONQ

MSFT

QBTS

QTUM

QUBT

RGTI

Top Holders Of Quantum Computing Stocks In Q4: BlackRock, Vanguard, UBS, State Street Pour Money In Rigetti, D-Wave, IonQ, QUBT

Pony.ai has already introduced paid robotaxi rides to and from Beijing Daxing International Airport and to and from Beijing South Railway Station. The simultaneous expansion in Guangzhou's city center and its key transit hubs represents another milestone in the Company's commercialization of autonomous mobility.

PONY

Pony.ai Launches First Robotaxi Service Connecting Guangzhou's City Center To Airport And Railway Station

Integrating advanced data analytics into clinical practice to improve patient care

Philips And Mass General Brigham Collaborate To Unify Medical Data With AI For Smarter Clinical Decisions

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

U.K. Services Purchasing Managers Index Preliminary For February 51.1 Vs. 50.8 Est.; 50.8 Prior

U.K. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index Preliminary For February 46.4 Vs. 48.5 Est.; 48.3 Prior

U.K. Composite Purchasing Managers' Index Preliminary For February 50.5 Vs. 50.5 Est.; 50.6 Prior

Amid escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China, Apple Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) CEO Tim Cook is said to have met President Donald Trump.
What Happened: Citing an anonymous source, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-20/apple-s-tim-cook-meeting-with-trump-as-tariffs-threaten-iphones">Bloomberg </a>reported a possible meeting between Cook and Trump at the White House. The purpose of the meeting, however, remains undisclosed.
The escalating trade war between the US and China has put Apple in a tricky situation. The Trump administration&#8217;s&nbsp;10% tariff on Chinese goods&nbsp;could potentially hinder Apple&#8217;s efforts to revive its sluggish iPhone sales.
Moreover, China, Apple&#8217;s largest manufacturing hub, is contemplating an investigation into the company&#8217;s&nbsp;policies and the fees it&nbsp;charges app developers. 
Also, this month,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43554574/apple-faces-mounting-pressure-from-uk-government-to-grant-spying-access-to-encrypted-data-of-users-worldwide">Apple faced pressure</a>&nbsp;from the U.K. government to create a backdoor for accessing the encrypted data of its users worldwide. 
This meeting with President Trump could be seen in the context of tariffs and privacy-related concerns from the U.K.
Apple did not immediately respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga&#8217;s</a> request for comment. 
SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/02/43856927/billionaire-blackrock-ceo-larry-fink-says-people-are-saving-too-much-and-not-investing-enough-to-retire-with-dignity">Billionaire Blackrock CEO Larry Fink Says People Are Saving Too Much And Not Investing Enough To &#8216;Retire With Dignity&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The tariffs imposed by the Trump administration raised concerns over the impact on the pricing of Apple products. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43839627/apple-may-hike-iphone-prices-by-9-due-to-trumps-tariffs-says-bank-of-america">Analysts at the Bank of America</a>&nbsp;securities have suggested that Apple may need to increase iPhone prices by 9% to counter the tariffs. 
The iPhone maker tried to shift its supply chain from China to India and Vietnam. While India is a major assembling hub for iPhones, Vietnam is a major hub for AirPods. However, the Chinese government is setting obstacles to this shift and has resorted to tightening controls on advanced equipment and critical materials. Additionally, the reciprocal tariffs on India announced by Trump have also become a cause of concern for the Tim Cook-led company.
Post-election, Cook had expressed his willingness to engage with the Trump administration. However, the two have previously had disagreements over Apple&#8217;s privacy policies, with Trump insisting that Apple should do more to assist federal law enforcement in accessing encrypted phones. Apple has consistently opposed such requests citing potential dangers from hackers. 
Despite these challenges, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43873396/apple-stock-has-run-up-over-10-in-a-month-jim-cramer-says-iphone-maker-is-ramping-and-the-credit-goes-to-chinese-subsidies">Apple&#8217;s stock has surged over 10%</a> in the past month, with CNBC's Jim Cramer attributing the momentum to the Chinese government&#8217;s national consumer subsidy programs that also cover Apple products.
<ul>
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43867210/rivian-automotive-q4-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-2025-guidance-truly-transformational-product-r2-coming">Rivian Automotive Q4 Earnings Highlights: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, 2025 Guidance, R2 Update</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Apple CEO Tim Cook Reportedly Meets Trump As Tariff Impact Looms On iPhone Sales And Company's China Strategy

Eurozone Services Purchasing Managers Index Preliminary For February 50.7 Vs. 51.5 Est.; 51.3 Prior

HCOB Eurozone Composite Purchasing Managers Index Preliminary For February 50.2 Vs. 50.5 Est.; 50.2 Prior

Eurozone Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index Preliminary For February 47.3 Vs. 46.9 Est.; 46.6 Prior

Jensen Huang, CEO of&nbsp;Nvidia Corporation&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), addressed investor concerns regarding the necessity of massive AI infrastructure spending during a virtual event uploaded on Thursday. 
What Happened: Huang addressed the DeepSeek-led sell-off of the Nvidia shares and said, that investors misinterpreted the DeepSeek&#8217;s AI advancements. The pre-recorded event, produced by Nvidia partner DDN, was part of the launch of DDN&#8217;s new software platform, Inifinia.
The major reason for the sell-off was due to investors questioning the need for massive AI infrastructure expenditure by Big Tech firms, particularly&nbsp;if models can be trained with lesser computing power. This is a result of DeepSeek&#8217;s advancements in AI, which investors may have misunderstood, triggering a significant market reaction.
The Nvidia Chief clarified that the industry still demands significant computing power for post-training methods, which enable AI models to generate predictions or reach conclusions after training. He emphasized that as these methods diversify and expand, the demand for Nvidia&#8217;s computing power will also increase.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="
</iframe></div></figure>

NVDA

Nvidia Stock Had A Bad Week After DeepSeek Unveiled Its New Model In January—Now CEO Jensen Huang Says Investors Are Misreading AI's Future Impact: 'Obviously, That Paradigm Is Wrong'

President Donald Trump and Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk have reignited decades-old discussions about the U.S. government&#8217;s gold holdings at Fort Knox, as the precious metal&#8217;s prices reach historic highs above $2,940 per ounce.
What Happened: Musk initiated the conversation on social media Saturday, questioning the status of the gold reserves and calling for a &#8220;live video walkthrough&#8221; of the facility. Trump escalated the matter Wednesday, announcing plans to inspect the fortress-like depository. 
&#8220;We hope everything&#8217;s fine with Fort Knox, but we&#8217;re going to go to Fort Knox&#8230;to make sure the gold is there,&#8221; Trump said, adding, &#8220;If the gold isn&#8217;t there, we&#8217;re going to be very upset.&#8221;
<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">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;We&#39;re going to go to Fort Knox — the fabled Fort Knox — to make sure the gold is there.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/nFKlTDGXaO">pic.twitter.com/nFKlTDGXaO</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1892420940220313900?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The U.S. Bullion Depository at Fort Knox currently holds 147.3 million troy ounces of gold, representing approximately 59% of the Treasury&#8217;s total reserves, according <a href="https://www.usmint.gov/learn/tours-and-locations/fort-knox?srsltid=AfmBOorAKfMwGFU3cNWbLEtFSJ31roUnftZ9i27yKhJKN5E3djpNF2s3#accordion-d08d17b2a7-item-13f72f12ff">to</a> the U.S. Mint. At current market prices, these holdings are valued at approximately $434 billion.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/43872745/bitcoin-breaches-98k-ethereum-dogecoin-flat-as-sec-relaxes-crypto-enforcement-top-analysts-are-focused-on-this-level-for-a-potential-btc-upside">Bitcoin Breaches $98K, Ethereum, Dogecoin Flat As SEC Relaxes Crypto Enforcement: Top Analysts Are Focused On This Level For A Potential BTC Upside</a>
Why It Matters: The renewed interest in Fort Knox comes amid a broader surge in gold prices, driven by geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty. Goldman Sachs recently raised its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/25/02/43858757/bullion-boom-gold-etfs-gain-as-geopolitical-storm-fuels-surge">year-end gold target</a> to $3,100 per ounce, citing increased central bank purchasing activity.
The U.S. maintains the world&#8217;s largest government gold reserves, with 8,133 metric tons – more than double Germany&#8217;s holdings, according <a href="https://www.gold.org/goldhub/data/how-much-gold">to</a> the World Gold Council. The Kentucky facility, constructed in the 1930s, was strategically located inland to protect against potential foreign attacks during World War II.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently dismissed speculation about revaluing the nation&#8217;s gold holdings, stating that &#8220;all the gold is there&#8221; and extending an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/25/02/43858757/bullion-boom-gold-etfs-gain-as-geopolitical-storm-fuels-surge">open invitation to senators for verification</a>.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/02/43872677/alibaba-cfo-toby-xu-touts-5-drop-in-share-count-thanks-to-aggressive-buybacks-as-jack-ma-founded-company-basks-in-stellar-q3-results">Alibaba CFO Toby Xu Touts 5% Drop In Share Count Thanks To Aggressive Buybacks As Jack Ma-Founded Company Basks In Stellar Q3 Results</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Commodities

Trump Plans Fort Knox Gold Inspection As Prices Soar Past $2,940: 'If The Gold Isn't There...'

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Thursday said that preparations must start already for deorbiting the International Space Station (ISS), ahead of the timeline decided by space agency NASA. 
What Happened: &#8220;It has served its purpose. There is very little incremental utility,&#8221; Musk said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. &#8220;Let&#8217;s go to Mars,&#8221; the billionaire said, calling for a human-operated base on Mars instead of the low Earth orbit. 
<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">It is time to begin preparations for deorbiting the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a>. It has served its purpose. There is very little incremental utility. Let's go to Mars.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1892621691060093254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;The decision is up to the President, but my recommendation is as soon as possible,&#8221; Musk said while also recommending that the station be deorbited two years from now, or in 2027. 
<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 decision is up to the President, but my recommendation is as soon as possible. I recommend 2 years from now.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1892627928921329862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Current Plans For ISS: The ISS&nbsp;is operated by space agencies from the U.S., Europe, Japan, Canada, and Russia. All countries except Russia have committed to operating the station until 2030.&nbsp;The station has spent about 25 years in orbit and over 270 astronauts have visited it to date. 
NASA&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39574766/spacex-overtakes-ula-in-military-space-missions-as-vulcan-centaur-rocket-experiences-delays" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chose SpaceX</a>&nbsp;to develop and deliver the U.S. Deorbit vehicle (USDV) to deorbit the space station and ensure a lack of risk to populated areas in late June. SpaceX will develop the deorbit spacecraft under the contract valued at $843 million and NASA will take ownership afterward and operate it through the mission. 
The space agency previously said that the deorbit spacecraft would move the station out of orbit and into a remote area of an ocean at the end of its operations around 2030.
Both the spacecraft and the station are expected to break up through the process of re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. Any remnants will subsequently fall harmlessly into the ocean as part of the plan. 
Musk&#8217;s Mars Vision: Musk has often talked about landing humans on the surface of Earth&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39521319/elon-musk-envisions-building-space-station-on-moon-after-spacex-bags-nasa-contract-to-build-iss-deor">neighboring planet Mars</a>. SpaceX&#8217;s Starship launch vehicle, with which he intends to accomplish the dream, is in the testing and development phase. 
Musk last year said that the first Starships will&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39567836/spacex-ceo-elon-musk-picks-terminus-for-mars-first-starship-enabled-city-after-just-4-test-flights" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">head to Mars in two years</a>&nbsp;once the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens.
The first launches to Mars in 2026, Musk then said, will not have a crew onboard and will be aimed at testing the flight&#8217;s ability to land intact on Mars.
&#8220;If those landings go well, then the first crewed flights to Mars will be in 4 years,&#8221; Musk wrote, pegging the first crewed Starship flights to the neighboring planet for 2028.
According to the billionaire, humans stand a risk of extinction on Earth due to risks like nuclear war or natural annihilation.
"Having two planets means that all our eggs are not in one basket. From there, we can extend to other star systems," Musk said <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/02/43840887/spacex-ceo-elon-musk-says-making-mars-self-sustaining-will-take-up-to-half-a-century-will-require-10-earth-mars-transfer-windows">earlier this week.</a>
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:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/02/43874743/elon-musks-spacex-starships-8th-test-flight-could-launch-as-early-as-feb-26">Elon Musk-Led SpaceX Likely To Undertake Starship&#8217;s 8th Test Flight On Feb 26: Here&#8217;s What We Know</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

SPACE

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Calls For Deorbiting Space Station Ahead Of Timeline In 2027: 'Let's Go To Mars'

Vipshop Holdings Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIPS#NYSE">VIPS</a>) will release its fourth-quarter financial results, before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/vips/earnings">opening bell, on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.</a>
Analysts expect the Boston, Massachusetts-based company to report quarterly earnings at $5.39 cents per share, down from $5.79 per share in the year-ago period. Vipshop projects quarterly revenue of $32.07 billion, compared to $34.67 billion a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
On Nov. 19, Vipshop reported third-quarter sales of $2.95 billion, down by 9.2% year-on-year, which topped the Wall Street view of $2.91 billion.
Vipshop shares fell 0.3% to close at $14.53 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/vips/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>Citigroup analyst Alicia Yap maintained a Buy rating and cut the price target from $18 to $17 on Nov. 20, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 60%.</li>
<li>Benchmark analyst Fawne Jiang reiterated a Hold rating on Nov. 20, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 72%.</li>
<li>Barclays analyst Jiong Shao initiated coverage on the stock with an Overweight rating and a price target of $19 on Nov. 6, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 70%.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying VIPS stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="584" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/21034647/image-176-1024x584.png" alt="" class="wp-image-792595" style="width:584px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/21034647/image-176-1024x584.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/21034647/image-176-300x171.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/21034647/image-176-768x438.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/21034647/image-176.png 1106w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Read This Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43864993/top-3-health-care-stocks-you-may-want-to-dump-in-february">Top 3 Health Care Stocks You May Want To Dump In February</a></li>
</ul>

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

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a decline in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Neutral&#8221; zone on Thursday.
U.S. stocks settled lower on Thursday, with the Dow Jones index falling around 450 points during the session.
Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) shares fell around 6.5% on Thursday following the release of quarterly results. Walmart said it sees first-quarter FY26 sales growth of 3% – 4% in CC and adjusted EPS of $0.57 – $0.58 against an estimate of $0.64. For FY26 Walmart expects sales to grow 3% – 4% in CC and an adjusted EPS of $2.50 – $2.60, below the $2.76 estimate.
On the economic data front, initial jobless claims increased by 5,000 from the prior week to 219,000 in the week ending Feb. 15, versus estimates of 215,000. The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index fell to 18.1 in February from 44.3 in the previous month
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a negative note, with financial, consumer discretionary and consumer staples stocks recording losses on Thursday. However, energy and real estate stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session higher.
The Dow Jones closed lower by over 450 points to 44,176.65 on Thursday. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.43% to 6,117.52, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.47% at 19,962.36 during Thursday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDS#NYSE">TDS</a>), United States Cellular Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>), and Brady Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRC#NYSE">BRC</a>) today.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 45.1, the index remained in the &#8220;Neutral&#8221; zone on Thursday, versus a prior reading of 46.7.
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: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43864993/top-3-health-care-stocks-you-may-want-to-dump-in-february">Top 3 Health Care Stocks You May Want To Dump In February</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Pre-Market Outlook

Dow Tumbles 450 Points As Walmart Shares Plunge: Investor Sentiment Declines, Fear & Greed Index In 'Neutral' Zone

The Federal Reserve <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/19/09/14452555/will-us-interest-rates-ever-drop-below-zero">cut interest rates again Wednesday</a>, lowering the benchmark U.S. lending rate by 25 basis points, but for many investors, that wasn&#39;t enough as stocks tallied only modest gains on the day.

Market participants seemed to me concerned with <a href="https://investorplace.com/2019/09/dow-jones-today-fed-reserve-rate-cut/">rising division within the Fed</a> and whether or not the central bank will lower rates again than the fact that it did so on Wednesday. Overall, just one of the 11 sectors in the S&amp;P 500 finished higher yesterday: rate-sensitive utilities.

Just 21 exchange traded funds hit record highs on Wednesday and of that group, five were dedicated utilities. Four investors looking for something a little more adventurous that basic large-cap utilities funds, here are some ideas to consider.

<h3>Invesco S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF (RYU)</h3>

Extending its year-to-date gain to nearly 20%, the Invesco S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/RYU#NYSE">RYU</a>) was one of the utilities ETFs hitting record highs on Wednesday. The fund, which follows the S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight Telecommunication Services &amp; Utilities Index, is ideal for investors looking to avoid some of the concentration risk associated with typical utilities ETFs.

None of RYU&#39;s 28 holdings exceed weights of 4.12%. One of the trade offs for the reduction in concentration risk is that RYU carries a lower dividend yield (2.54%) compared to cap-weighted utilities ETFs. Additionally, RYU&#39;s earnings multiples are mostly inline with standard utilities ETFs. On the bright side, the equal-weight fund has been less volatile than cap-weighted rivals this year.

See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/19/09/14448270/why-this-dividend-etf-can-work-in-a-variety-of-climates">A Dependable Dividend ETF</a>

<h3>Invesco S&amp;P SmallCap Utilities &amp; Communication Services ETF (PSCU)</h3>

The Invesco S&amp;P SmallCap Utilities &amp; Communication Services ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/PSCU#NASDAQ">PSCU</a>) isn&#39;t one of the utilities ETFs that hit record highs, but the fund is up an admirable 11% this year. However, there are risks associated with this ETF that don&#39;t make it appropriate for all investors.

For investors looking for the above-average yields and reduced volatility associated with large-cap utilities, PSCU is an ETF that could easily disappoint. While PSCU will usually be less volatile than a traditional small-cap benchmark, the lack of growth that comes with the utilities sector will restrain this fund&#39;s performance compared to broader small-cap products.

<h3>John Hancock Multifactor Utilities ETF (JHMU)</h3>

The John Hancock Multifactor Utilities ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/JHMU#NASDAQ">JHMU</a>) was one of the utilities ETFs in Wednesday&#39;s all-time high club and offers investors credible, factor-based exposure to a sector dominated by cap-weighted strategies.

Like Hancock&#39;s other sector ETFs, JHMU focuses on factors, such as lower price, higher profitability and smaller market values. JHMU follows the John Hancock Dimensional Utilities Index, an index crafted by Dimensional Fund Advisors, which has been developing multi-factor strategies for over 30 years.

This may be one of investors&#39; best bets as an alternative to usually staid utilities ETFs.

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John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust John Hancock Dynamic Municipal Bond ETF

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Latest news for John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust John Hancock Dynamic Municipal Bond ETF (ARCA:JHMU)

Thursday, September 19, 2019

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