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Chile rejects $2.5B iron and copper mining project near Humboldt Penguin Reserve due to environmental concerns, despite potential economic benefits.

Chile Rejects Dominga Project Once Again, Taps Debt Market To Help Its Copper Growth

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Tech

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AMZN

ARTY

BATT

BOTZ

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MSFT

ROBT

Direxion Daily Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Automation Index Bull 3X Shares

UBOT

WisdomTree Trust WisdomTree Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Fund

WTAI

KoBold Metals secures $537M in funding, valuing company at $2.96B. AI-driven mining startup uses data aggregation to discover critical minerals.

Bill Gates And Jeff Bezos Backed Mining Startup Raises $537 Million, Targets Going Public In Few Years

Morgan Stanley analyst Terence Flynn maintains Merck &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $113 to $106.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Morgan Stanley Maintains Equal-Weight on Merck & Co, Lowers Price Target to $106

The energy transition is reshaping the global mining industry, with demand for critical minerals expected to surge over the coming decades. A shift toward renewable energy and electrification drives demand for commodities like copper, nickel, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/23/07/33233340/rare-earth-elements-explained" rel="noreferrer noopener">rare earth elements</a>.
According to BDO's Annual Mining Report, the demand for key energy transition minerals will <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bdo.co.uk/en-gb/insights/industries/natural-resources-and-energy/annual-mining-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">nearly triple by 2030</a> and quadruple by 2040.
Copper remains a cornerstone of the transition, as it is the only critical mineral vital for all clean energy technologies, such as solar, wind, electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, and power grids.
While copper prices hit a record high in mid-2024, they later softened due to weak demand from China's property market. In 2025, forecasts suggest continued price constraints due to high inventories despite the long-term positive outlook.
Merger and acquisition activity has surged – with mining giant BHP <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/05/39068033/time-runs-out-for-bhp-deal-49-billion-acquisition-of-anglo-american-proves-too-complex-to-solve" rel="noreferrer noopener">unsuccessfully bidding</a> for Anglo American and launching a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/40031488/bhp-to-unlock-south-american-copper-riches-partners-with-lundin-for-filo-acquisition" rel="noreferrer noopener">joint venture</a> with Lundin. Meanwhile, sector leader Freeport-McMoRan is opting for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/09/41098074/freeport-mcmoran-sticks-with-organic-growth-takes-advantage-of-geodiversity" rel="noreferrer noopener">capex-driven internal expansion</a>.
Nickel, a metal essential for battery technologies, has faced a turbulent period. In 2024, an oversupply from Indonesia and China led to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/07/39749321/bhp-halts-nickel-mine-were-not-able-to-overcome-economic-challenges-driven-by-oversupply" rel="noreferrer noopener">mine closures</a>, including those operated by Glencore and BHP. However, a rebound is expected in 2025 as supply surpluses narrow and demand for EV batteries remains strong.
Despite the forecasted price stabilization, industry players remain cautious, with some automakers shifting towards alternative battery chemistries that reduce dependence on nickel.
Zinc, another key transition metal used in wind and solar infrastructure, experienced a sluggish first half of 2024 due to subdued industrial activity but rebounded later in the year thanks to Chinese stimulus measures.
In 2025, BDO expects the demand to strengthen as renewable energy projects ramp up. Still, supply constraints and logistical challenges may continue to drive price fluctuations.
The rare earth element market is also in focus as countries look to diversify their supply chains since the U.S., China, and Myanmar account for 92% of global production.
President Donald Trump's recent remark shows the importance of this group of metals, which is vital for producing magnets.
"We're looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they're going to secure what we're giving them with their rare earths and other things," he said,<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/trump-says-he-wants-ukraine-supply-us-with-rare-earths-2025-02-03/" rel="noreferrer noopener"> per</a> Reuters.
Looking forward, despite opportunities created by the energy transition, BDO notes a pressing demographic challenge.
Per McKinsey's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/metals-and-mining/our-insights/has-mining-lost-its-luster-why-talent-is-moving-elsewhere-and-how-to-bring-them-back" rel="noreferrer noopener">survey</a> of Canadian mining companies, 70% of people between 15 and 30 years old would not consider working in mining. Meanwhile, between 2016 and 2022, the number of mining engineering graduates in the U.S. fell by 41%.
While the industry tries to reverse the trend by integrating advanced technologies and enhancing sustainability efforts to create a more attractive work environment – closing the skills gap remains a key. To drive the next phase of mining evolution, the future workforce will need expertise in automation, AI, and environmental management.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/02/43432736/copper-stocks-on-shaky-ground-jpmorgan-analysts-say-tariffs-deepseek-cloud-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Copper Stocks On Shaky Ground, JPMorgan Analysts Say: Tariffs, DeepSeek Cloud Outlook</a></li>
</ul>
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Global

Markets

PICK

PowerShares Dynamic Basic Materials Sector Portfolio

Market Vectors Rare Earth/Strategic Metals Etf

REMX

SLVP

Critical Metal Demand To Triple By 2030, But Demographics Pose Risks

Rosenblatt analyst Kevin Cassidy maintains Bitdeer Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTDR#NASDAQ">BTDR</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $22 to $30.

BTDR

Rosenblatt Maintains Buy on Bitdeer Technologies, Raises Price Target to $30

WIIM

EVAX

Evaxion Biotech shares are trading lower. The stock may be moving on continued weakness after Lake Street cut its price target on the stock yesterday from $35 to $6.

Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Meyer Shields maintains Hartford Finl Servs Gr (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIG#NYSE">HIG</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $139 to $140.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Maintains Outperform on Hartford Finl Servs Gr, Raises Price Target to $140

Solidion Technology shares are trading lower on possible continued weakness after receiving a NASDAQ notice yesterday regarding its minimum market value of publicly held shares.

Guggenheim analyst Michael Morris maintains Spotify Technology (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPOT#NYSE">SPOT</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $520 to $675.

SPOT

Guggenheim Maintains Buy on Spotify Technology, Raises Price Target to $675

AudioCodes Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AUDC#NASDAQ">AUDC</a>) reported better-than-expected<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AUDC/earnings"> fourth-quarter earnings on Tuesday</a>.
The company posted quarterly earnings of 37 cents per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of 23 cents per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $61.554 million which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $61.510 million.
&#8220;I am pleased to report solid fourth quarter performance, with healthy growth in key business lines, taking us further on our transformative evolution to a cloud software and services company,&#8221; said Shabtai Adlersberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of AudioCodes.
AudioCodes shares gained 5.3% to close at $10.66 on Tuesday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on AudioCodes following earnings announcement.
<ul>
<li>Needham analyst Ryan Koontz maintained AudioCodes with a Buy and raised the price target from $11 to $12.5.</li>
<li>Barclays analyst Ryan Macwilliams maintained the stock with an Underweight rating and increased the price target from $9 to $10.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying AUDC stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="486" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05074824/image-44-1024x486.png" alt="" class="wp-image-767025" style="width:457px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05074824/image-44-1024x486.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05074824/image-44-300x142.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05074824/image-44-768x364.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05074824/image-44.png 1121w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Read This Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/02/43460681/jim-cramer-says-no-to-bigbear-ai-recommends-buying-this-tech-stock"> </a>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/02/43460681/jim-cramer-says-no-to-bigbear-ai-recommends-buying-this-tech-stock">Jim Cramer Says No To BigBear.ai, Recommends Buying This Tech Stock</a></li>
</ul>

Earnings

Trading Ideas

AUDC

AudioCodes Analysts Boost Their Forecasts Following Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Meyer Shields maintains Axis Capital Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXS#NYSE">AXS</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $110 to $115.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Maintains Outperform on Axis Capital Holdings, Raises Price Target to $115

FirstService (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSV#NASDAQ">FSV</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $1.34 per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $1.37 by 2.19 percent. This is a 20.72 percent increase over earnings of $1.11 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $1.36 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.33 billion by 2.89 percent. This is a 26.51 percent increase over sales of $1.08 billion the same period last year.

Earnings Beats

Earnings Misses

FirstService Q4 Adj  EPS $1.34 Misses $1.37 Estimate, Sales $1.36B Beat $1.33B Estimate

VLCN

Volcon shares are trading lower after the company announced a public offering of common stock and warrants.

The most oversold stocks in the financial sector presents an opportunity to buy into undervalued companies.
The RSI is a momentum indicator, which compares a stock&#8217;s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. When compared to a stock&#8217;s price action, it can give traders a better sense of how a stock may perform in the short term. An asset is typically considered oversold when the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/rsi">RSI is below 30</a>, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Here's the latest list of major oversold players in this sector, having an RSI near or below 30.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">PayPal Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On Feb. 4, PayPal reported fiscal fourth-quarter revenue growth of 4% year over year to $8.37 billion, topping the analyst consensus estimate of $8.26 billion. The company reported an adjusted EPS of $1.19, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $1.12. The company' stock fell around 12% over the past five days and has a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PYPL"> 52-week low of $55.77</a>.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 21.5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>PYPL Price Action: Shares of PayPal fell 13.2% to close at $77.72 on Tuesday.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to latest PYPL <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020525&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">news</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020525&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="902" height="832" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05044712/image-35.png" alt="" class="wp-image-766680" style="width:665px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05044712/image-35.png 902w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05044712/image-35-300x277.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05044712/image-35-768x708.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 902px) 100vw, 902px" /></a></figure>
UBS Group AG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBS#NYSE">UBS</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>On Feb. 4, UBS Group reported fourth-quarter 2024 sales of $11.6 billion. That's up 7% year-over-year, beating the consensus of $11.2 billion. Underlying revenues upped 6% year-over-year to $11 billion, led by the performance of core businesses. The company's stock fell around 9% over the past five days and<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UBS"> has a 52-week low</a> of $26.00.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 29.4</li>
<li>UBS Price Action: Shares of UBS fell 7.2% to close at $32.41 on Tuesday.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s charting tool helped identify the trend in <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020525&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">UBS stock</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020525&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="917" height="833" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05045048/image-36.png" alt="" class="wp-image-766685" style="width:654px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05045048/image-36.png 917w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05045048/image-36-300x273.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05045048/image-36-768x698.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 917px) 100vw, 917px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Virtus Investment Partners Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTS#NYSE">VRTS</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On Jan. 31, Virtus Investment Partners posted upbeat quarterly results. The company's stock fell around 10% over the past month and has a 52-week <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/VRTS">low of $190.42</a>.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 25.3</li>
<li>VRTS Price Action: Shares of Virtus Investment Partners fell 1% to close at $194.56 on Tuesday.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s signals feature notified of a potential <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020525&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">breakout in VRTS shares</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020525&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="875" height="832" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05045458/image-37.png" alt="" class="wp-image-766696" style="width:557px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05045458/image-37.png 875w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05045458/image-37-300x285.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05045458/image-37-768x730.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 875px) 100vw, 875px" /></a></figure>
Read This Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/02/43460681/jim-cramer-says-no-to-bigbear-ai-recommends-buying-this-tech-stock">Jim Cramer Says No To BigBear.ai, Recommends Buying This Tech Stock</a></li>
</ul>

Long Ideas

Pre-Market Outlook

PYPL

VRTS

Top 3 Financial Stocks That May Rocket Higher This Quarter

RSVR

Reservoir Media shares are trading higher after the company reported better-than-expected Q3 financial results and issued FY25 revenue guidance above estimates.

Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Kyle Voigt maintains Apollo Global Management (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APO#NYSE">APO</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $196 to $194.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Maintains Outperform on Apollo Global Management, Lowers Price Target to $194

Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley maintains Cirrus Logic (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRUS#NASDAQ">CRUS</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $105 to $115.

CRUS

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on Cirrus Logic, Raises Price Target to $115

Keybanc analyst Eric Gonzalez maintains Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $66 to $64.

Keybanc Maintains Overweight on Chipotle Mexican Grill, Lowers Price Target to $64

The digital asset community is approaching the newfound embrace of crypto by the Trump administration with cautious optimism, after a Tuesday press conference led by David Sacks, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43477333/crypto-czar-sacks-says-potential-bitcoin-reserve-to-be-one-of-crypto-committees-first-priorities">the designated &#8220;Crypto Czar.&#8221;</a>
What Happened: While the rhetoric surrounding innovation and regulatory clarity has been well-received, industry experts are now scrutinizing the actual plans and questioning whether the proposed changes will truly benefit the broader crypto ecosystem.
Experts see this as a critical juncture, but they also caution against potential pitfalls.
The formation of a bipartisan working group was a central announcement, signaling an effort to harmonize regulatory efforts across Congress and the executive branch. 
The initiative aims to create a framework for stablecoins and market structure legislation, which could have profound implications for the global financial system.
Speaking with Benzinga, Todd Ruoff, CEO of Autonomys, pointed out the measured approach outlined by Sacks. 
"Lawmakers are ‘exploring the possibilities,'" Ruoff said, noting that the emphasis was on forming committees, educating Congress, and determining the feasibility of frameworks. 
While these early steps are crucial, Ruoff highlighted the economic implications of stablecoin legislation. 
"Higher demand for T-bills would cause their prices to go up, which in turn pushes yields down and lowers interest rates," he said. 
This approach could tie stablecoin adoption directly to the strength of the U.S. dollar and the Treasury market.
Notably, stablecoins could serve as both a technological and economic tool. 
By linking their reserve requirements to U.S. Treasuries, stablecoins could provide a new channel for Treasury demand, reinforcing the dollar's dominance. 
However, this integration would require careful calibration to avoid market distortions, especially given the size of the stablecoin market, which currently exceeds $227 billion.
Paul Neuner, founder of Telcoin, told Benzinga the announcement marks a turning point for crypto in the U.S., where regulators are no longer trying to suppress innovation but are instead working to position the country at the center of digital assets.
He drew parallels to the regulatory evolution seen during the rise of Web 2.0, emphasizing that crypto regulation should focus on gateways like digital asset banks rather than attempting to control decentralized networks.
The media briefing also highlights a shift in regulatory thinking. 
Instead of enforcing broad restrictions, the focus on key entry points like digital asset banks suggests a pragmatic approach. 
This strategy could ensure compliance without stifling innovation, fostering an environment where blockchain-based financial services can thrive alongside traditional systems.
Joao Reginatto, Chief Strategy Officer at M^0, praised the administration's progress on stablecoin clarity. 
"The pace with which the Trump administration is moving through the phases is welcomed by the sector," Reginatto told Benzinga. 
He highlighted the balance between federal oversight and flexibility for state regulators, calling it a "reasonable approach."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43475386/exclusive-anthony-scaramucci-warns-donald-trumps-crypto-promises-may-be-a-mirage">EXCLUSIVE: Anthony Scaramucci Warns Donald Trump&#8217;s Crypto Promises May Be A &#8216;Mirage&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Experts point to a potential decentralization of stablecoin oversight, with state regulators playing a significant role.
This could align with the broader U.S. tradition of federalism while addressing the specific needs of different jurisdictions. 
However, it also raises questions about uniformity and consistency, particularly for large-scale issuers operating across states.
Speaking with Benzinga, Laurenth Alba, Head of Business Development at Rome Protocol, sees the bipartisan effort as a clear sign of crypto's growing importance and said the bipartisan working group and Senate stablecoin bill suggest that crypto is now a national economic and geopolitical priority, not just a speculative asset class.
However, he warned that overregulation could drive users toward decentralized alternatives. "The real threat to dollar hegemony isn't crypto—it's bad policy that pushes financial innovation beyond U.S. control."
There is a delicate balance regulators must strike. 
While integrating stablecoins into the financial system could bolster the dollar's dominance, excessive control risks alienating innovators and users. 
This could create an unintended shift toward decentralized stablecoins or alternative financial systems, eroding the very dominance the U.S. seeks to strengthen.
Alice Liu, Research Lead at CoinMarketCap, acknowledged the administration's recognition of past regulatory missteps. 
"David Sacks and team acknowledged past policies have been inconsistent and, at times, arbitrary—pushing crypto innovation offshore," Liu told Benzinga. 
She emphasized that the focus on stablecoins is a logical first step, given their role in global financial markets. 
However, Liu noted a missed opportunity in the absence of a clearer plan for Bitcoin reserves, which some stakeholders had anticipated.
While stablecoin regulation is critical, Bitcoin remains central to the crypto ecosystem. 
A well-defined policy on Bitcoin could provide additional clarity, particularly as other nations explore BTC as a reserve asset.
Dave Sedacca, Head of Finance at Parity Technologies, viewed the announcement as a positive step but noted market expectations for more impactful measures. 
"The emphasis on reinforcing the dollar from a digital perspective was encouraging, and it will be intriguing to see how the BRICS nations respond," Sedacca said.
As BRICS nations explore alternatives to the dollar, the U.S.'s focus on digital assets could serve as a counterbalance. 
However, this will require swift and effective action to avoid falling <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/23/07/33333534/brics-emerges-as-new-global-powerhouse-us-dollar-faces-uncertain-future">behind in the global financial race.</a>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43473182/could-the-trump-established-sovereign-wealth-fund-invest-in-bitcoin-nvidia-tiktok">Could The Trump-Established Sovereign Wealth Fund Invest In Bitcoin, Nvidia, TikTok?</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

EXCLUSIVE: 'Crypto Czar' Charm Offensive Welcomed, But Experts Wonder: Will US Policy Deliver?

Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Meyer Shields maintains Aon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AON#NYSE">AON</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $411 to $414.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Maintains Outperform on Aon, Raises Price Target to $414

Barclays analyst Jeffrey Bernstein maintains Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $63 to $60.

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on Chipotle Mexican Grill, Lowers Price Target to $60

On Wednesday, Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) reported sales of roughly $12.25 billion (85.68 billion Danish kroner) for the fourth quarter of 2024, beating the consensus of $11.34 billion (79.73 billion Danish Kroner).
Sales increased by 30% in Danish kroner and at CER compared to 2023.
GLP-1 diabetes sales increased by 12% at CER to 42.17 billion Danish kroner, and Obesity care sales increased by 91% at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43459558/novo-nordisk-faces-investor-concerns-over-hybrid-cagrisema-trial-results-for-weight-loss" rel="noreferrer noopener">CER to 21.41 billion Danish kroner</a>.
Ozempic <a target="_blank" href="https://www.novonordisk.com/content/nncorp/global/en/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=915255" rel="noreferrer noopener">sales</a> increased 12% to 33.85 billion Danish kroner, and Wegovy sales more than doubled <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/02/43475491/novo-nordisk-stock-q4-earnings-analysts-68-upside" rel="noreferrer noopener">to 19.87 billion Danish kroner</a>.
Insulin sales increased 36% to 15.9 billion Danish kroner, and Rare disease sales increased 25% at CER to 5.71 billion Danish kroner.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43321236/rfk-jr-and-big-pharma-stocks-to-watch-as-health-secretary-hopeful-answers-pointed-questions-on-drugs-insurance-trump-exec-orders" rel="noreferrer noopener">RFK Jr. And Big Pharma: Health Secretary Hopeful Answers Pointed Questions On Drugs, Insurance, Trump Exec Orders</a>
The Danish pharmaceutical giant&#8217;s net profit increased by 29% to 28.23 billion kroner, with EPS of 6.34 Danish kroner, up 29%, beating the consensus of 5.82 Danish kroner. In USD terms, EPS of $0.91 beat $0.83 consensus.
In its earnings release, Novo Nordisk outlined its plans to conduct a new phase 3 trial in 2025 to further explore <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42613036/novo-nordisks-hybrid-weight-loss-drug-falls-short-on-expectations-stock-plunges" rel="noreferrer noopener">CagriSema&#8217;s weight-loss potential</a>.
The results from the second pivotal phase 3 trial, REDEFINE 2, of CagriSema in adults with type 2 diabetes and either obesity or overweight are expected during the first quarter of 2025
To secure <a target="_blank" href="https://ml-eu.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/365675dd-10f3-4293-9aec-ede9f63375c6" rel="noreferrer noopener">supply</a> chain readiness, the company now expects to file for the first regulatory approval of CagriSema during the first quarter of 2026.
Guidance: Novo Nordisk expects sales growth of between 16% and 24% in constant exchange rates this year, lower than the 26% achieved in 2024.
&#8220;In 2025, we will continue our focus on commercial execution, on the progression of our early and late-stage R&amp;D pipeline and on the expansion of our production capacity,&#8221; Chief Executive Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen said.
The company expects 2025 operating profit growth of 19% to 27% in constant exchange rates.
Novo Nordisk adds that the outlook reflects expected continued periodic supply constraints and related drug shortage notifications across several products and geographies. Novo Nordisk is investing in internal and external capacity to increase supply in the short and long term.
Price Action: At last check on Wednesday, NVO stock was up 3.09% at $85.17 during the premarket session.
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Novo Nordisk Q4 Earnings: Wegovy Sales More Than Double, Seeks Regulatory Approval For Hybrid Weight Loss Drug In 2026

Chile has rejected the proposed $2.5 billion Dominga iron and copper mining project. Andes Iron, a domestic <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mining" rel="noreferrer noopener">exploration and mining company</a>, aimed to establish two open-pit mines and a seaport near the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve.



However, the regulators rejected the project again, citing environmental concerns for an area home to a unique mix of species, including Humboldt penguins, dolphins, and endangered parrots.



The mines were expected to extract 12 million tons of iron and 150,000 tons of copper annually for 22 years, generating 1,400 jobs in a country that is the world's top copper producer.



In 2017, socialist President Michelle Bachelet's administration first rejected the project, leading to the resignation of two top ministers. In 2019, the Chilean Supreme Court ordered a reevaluation, and under the current government of President Gabriel Boric, the project was rejected again in January 2023.



This latest decision by Chile's Committee of Ministers follows an environmental court's mandate to revisit that ruling.



The project's potential impact on biodiversity influenced their decision. The committee noted a lack of a credible mitigation plan, particularly for the burrowing parrot, whose habitat and food sources were inadequately assessed.



"It was not possible to determine or evaluate the real impact on these species," the committee stated.



As <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/chile-rejects-environmental-permit-dominga-copper-iron-mine-2025-01-08/" rel="noreferrer noopener">per</a> the Reuters report, Andes Iron criticized the ruling, accusing the government of bias since the nearby Cruz Grande port received environmental approval.



"The action of the Committee of Ministers sets an unfortunate precedent never seen before in the history of Chile in terms of environmental permits," the company said in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dominga.cl/andes-iron-llama-al-comite-de-ministros-a-respetar-fallo-de-justicia-ambiental/" rel="noreferrer noopener">statement</a>.



Despite continuously rejecting this prospective project, Chile remains committed to growing its copper output. State-owned miner Codelco recently showed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/guidance/25/01/42840568/chiles-codelco-targets-turnaround-with-modest-copper-output-increase-and-strategic-lithium-ventures" rel="noreferrer noopener">signs of a production turnaround</a> and is raising $1.5 billion in bonds to fund its capital expenditure plans.



After spending between $4 and $5 billion last year, these expenditures could reach nearly $6 billion in 2025, aiming to push the copper output toward the goal of 1.7 million tons per year by the decade's end. The financing deal, sourced by Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co., and Banco Santander, is expected to close by January 13.



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KoBold Metals, the AI-driven mining startup backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, has secured $537 million in its Series C funding round. The latest funding round gives the Berkeley-based company a valuation of $2.96 billion and fresh capital to pursue ambitious goals in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities" rel="noreferrer noopener">critical minerals sector</a>.



Durable Capital Partners LP and T. Rowe Price funds led the round, alongside contributions from existing investors such as Andreessen Horowitz Growth, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and Mitsubishi Corporation, as well as new players like StepStone Group and WCM Investment Management.



This latest injection brings KoBold's total fundraising to $1 billion. The funds will accelerate exploration, develop high-potential projects, and enhance its R&amp;D capabilities.



KoBold's innovative approach relies on artificial intelligence to locate deposits of vital minerals such as copper, cobalt, lithium, and nickel. The company's proprietary technology aggregates data from sources like satellite imagery and historical drilling reports to create a detailed "Google Maps" of the Earth's crust, pinpointing untapped resources that traditional methods might miss.



Using this technology, KoBold discovered a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/36940360/kobold-metals-announces-historic-copper-discovery-in-zambia" rel="noreferrer noopener">substantial copper deposit</a> in Zambia's Copperbelt. The Dumbwa target, part of the Solwezi project, exhibited promising results, including drilling highlights of 16 meters at 1.24% copper. KoBold's $2 billion Mingomba site is set to produce at least 300,000 tons annually by 2030, making it Zambia's largest copper operation.



"About 40% of the new capital will go toward advancing existing projects into production, with Zambia receiving the lion's share," KoBold's CEO and co-founder Kurt House <a target="_blank" href="https://www.koboldmetals.com/news/mining-startup-kobold-metals-valued-at-2-96-bn-after-closing-537m-series-c/?aid=01" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a> to the Financial Times.



With 60 active projects across continents, including partnerships with mining giants like BHP and Rio Tinto, the firm is ready to reshuffle the industry. House noted they plan to aggressively expand the team, particularly seeking data scientists, while expanding into new jurisdictions such as Finland and Botswana. The company also aims to go public within three to five years.



Despite changes in U.S. political leadership, House expressed confidence in bipartisan support for critical mineral initiatives. "There is very broad bipartisan support for diversifying [the] supply of critical minerals because this is a national security priority," he said.



U.S. foreign policy is aiding companies like KoBold. President Joe Biden's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets/24/10/41416913/bidens-farewell-to-africa-strategic-motives-behind-first-and-only-presidential-visit" rel="noreferrer noopener">last official trip</a> to Angola discussed revitalizing the Lobito railway line to facilitate mineral transport across Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Thus, firms like KoBold would benefit from better infrastructure while bolstering Western access to strategic resources and reducing reliance on China-dominated supply chains.



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