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GraniteShares 2x Long MU Daily ETF

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Mullen Group Ltd

Raymond James analyst Justin Jenkins initiates coverage on Capital Clean Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCEC#NASDAQ">CCEC</a>) with a Outperform rating and announces Price Target of $26.

News

Price Target

Initiation

Analyst Ratings

CCEC

Raymond James Initiates Coverage On Capital Clean Energy with Outperform Rating, Announces Price Target of $26

On Thursday, ChatGPT-parent OpenAI released a "research preview" of a new AI agent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/11/41964846/openais-operator-ai-agent-will-perform-tasks-like-coding-travel-booking-and-more-launch-expected-in-january-next-year-report">called "Operator,"</a> designed to autonomously perform web tasks.
What Happened: Operator is initially available in the U.S. for subscribers of OpenAI&#8217;s $200 per month ChatGPT Pro tier.
The AI agent employs a &#8220;Computer-Using Agent&#8221; model, integrating GPT-4o&#8217;s vision capabilities with advanced reasoning through reinforcement learning, allowing it to interact with graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
Shortly after its release, a user on X, formerly Twitter, noted a limitation in Operator&#8217;s news site access, prompting Sam Altman, OpenAI&#8217;s CEO, to acknowledge the issue and promise a swift fix.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41220186/google-will-continue-to-fight-epic-games-in-court-to-halt-epic-requested-changes-to-play-store-under" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Will Continue To Fight Epic Games In Court To Halt Epic-Requested Changes To Play Store: ‘Undercut Android's Ability To Compete With Apple's iOS'</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">that's a miss; we will fix fast
&mdash; Sam Altman (@sama) <a href="https://twitter.com/sama/status/1882653620757504087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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OpenAI states that Operator can &#8220;see&#8221; through screenshots and &#8220;interact&#8221; using mouse and keyboard actions, enabling it to perform tasks on the web without custom API integrations.
The AI startup is working with companies like DoorDash, Instacart, and Uber to ensure Operator meets real-world needs. However, OpenAI cautions that the tool may struggle with complex interfaces.
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: The launch of Operator comes on the heels of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41149788/openai-valuation-soars-to-157b-in-latest-funding-round">OpenAI&#8217;s valuation surge</a> to $157 billion, following a $6.6 billion funding round aimed at advancing AI research and expanding compute capacity.
Despite this financial boost, OpenAI faces challenges. Earlier this month, Altman said that the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42810114/openai-ceo-sam-altman-reveals-company-struggling-with-chatgpt-pro-losses">company is incurring losses</a> on the ChatGPT Pro plan. The plan, intended to generate revenue, has not met profit expectations due to higher-than-anticipated usage.
Other major tech companies, such as Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and 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>), have either launched or are gearing up to release <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/10/41428765/microsoft-salesforce-battle-heats-up-as-ai-agent-technology-takes-center-stage">similar AI agent tools</a>.
Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also previously discussed the shift from simple chatbots to more advanced AI agents capable of managing complex tasks and objectives.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;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://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41181916/mark-cuban-offers-to-help-elon-musk-boost-x-revenue-says-tesla-ceo-is-concerned-about-declining-user?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Offers To Help Elon Musk Boost X Revenue, Says Tesla CEO Is Concerned About Declining Users: ‘I Wish He Would Call Me&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Tech

GOOG

GOOGL

MSFT

OpenAI Debuts 'Operator' AI Agent That Performs Web Tasks, But Early Error Has Sam Altman Scrambling For A Quick Fix

Telsey Advisory Group analyst Cristina Fernandez maintains Ethan Allen Interiors (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETD#NYSE">ETD</a>) with a Market Perform and maintains $32 price target.

Telsey Advisory Group Maintains Market Perform on Ethan Allen Interiors, Maintains $32 Price Target

On Thursday, January 23, U.S. markets closed higher, with the S&amp;P 500 hitting a record high as investors evaluated mixed earnings and President Trump&#8217;s Davos remarks urging OPEC to cut oil prices and central banks to lower rates. While markets welcomed these prospects, concerns lingered about tariffs driving inflation and affecting Federal Reserve policy. Despite uncertainties, all three major Wall Street indexes posted a fourth consecutive day of gains, reflecting optimism around Trump&#8217;s economic policies.
In economic data, U.S. initial jobless claims rose by 6,000 from the prior week, reaching 223,000 for the week ending January 18, slightly exceeding market expectations of 220,000.
Every sector of the S&amp;P 500 ended in positive territory, led by gains in health care, real estate, and industrial stocks.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.92% and closed at 44,565.07, the S&amp;P 500 closed higher by 0.53% at 6,118.71, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.22% to finish at 20,053.68.
Aisa Markets Today
<ul>
<li>On Friday, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225 closed lower by 0.10% at 39,962.50, led by losses in the Power, Precision Instruments, and Gas and water sectors.</li>
<li>The Bank of Japan raised interest rates to 0.5%, the highest since 2008, citing confidence in stable inflation and rising wages. Governor Ueda signaled further gradual hikes, emphasizing Japan&#8217;s progress toward overcoming deflation and boosting economic growth despite global uncertainties, including trade and tariff risks.</li>
<li>Australia&#8217;s S&amp;P/ASX 200 gained 0.36%, ending the session at 8,408.90, led by gains in the Consumer Discretionary, Healthcare, and Consumer Staples sectors.</li>
<li>India&#8217;s Nifty 50 closed lower by 0.50% at 23,090.45, and the Nifty 500 fell 1.04%, closing at 21,314.30, led by losses in the Real Estate, Oil and gas, and Capital Goods sectors.</li>
<li>China&#8217;s Shanghai Composite gained 0.70% and closed at 3,252.63, and the Shenzhen CSI 300 rose 0.77%, finishing the day at 3,832.86.</li>
<li>Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng closed the session higher by 1.86% at 20,066.19.</li>
</ul>
Eurozone at 05:30 AM ET
<ul>
<li>The European STOXX 50 was up 0.63%.</li>
<li>Germany&#8217;s DAX rose 0.33%.</li>
<li>France&#8217;s CAC gained 0.88%.</li>
<li>U.K.&#8217;s FTSE index 100 traded lower by 0.32%.</li>
</ul>
Commodities at 05:30 AM ET
<ul>
<li>Crude Oil WTI was trading higher by 0.43% at $74.95/bbl, and Brent was up 0.40% at $78.61/bbl.</li>
<li>Oil prices rose slightly but remained set for a weekly decline due to U.S. plans to boost production and Trump&#8217;s demands for OPEC to lower prices. Concerns over tariffs, global growth, and oversupply continue to weigh on the market.</li>
<li>Natural Gas declined 2.51% to $3.842.</li>
<li>Gold was trading higher by 0.56% at $2,780.36, Silver was up 1.59% to $31.332, and Copper rose 0.91% to $4.3678.</li>
</ul>
U.S. Futures at 05:30 AM ET
Dow futures were down 0.13%, S&amp;P 500 futures fell 0.15% and Nasdaq 100 futures declined 0.17%.
Forex at 05:30 AM ET
<ul>
<li>The U.S. Dollar Index declined 0.56% to 107.53, USD/JPY fell 0.10% to 155.91, and USD/AUD fell 0.55% to 1.5820.</li>
<li>The U.S. dollar weakened on Friday after President Trump called for lower interest rates during his Davos address. The Japanese yen rose after the Bank of Japan announced a rate hike and expressed optimism about inflation staying near its target.</li>
</ul>
Photo by Pavel Bobrovskiy via Shutterstock

Asia

Emerging Markets

Eurozone

Futures

Commodities

Forex

Markets

ADIV

AGOV

ASHR

BBEU

BOIL

CQQQ

PowerShares DBmmodity Index Optimum Yield Diversified Fund

EEMA

FLAX

CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust

IEMG

IEUR

KraneShares Trust KraneShares S&P Pan Asia Dividend Aristocrats Index ETF

KDIV

SPEM

USDU

PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund

Asia And Europe Markets Mixed, Japan Hikes Interest Rate; Gold Advances To $2,780 - Global Markets Today While US Slept

UBS analyst Grant Joslin initiates coverage on Indie Semiconductor (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INDI#NASDAQ">INDI</a>) with a Neutral rating and announces Price Target of $4.5.

INDI

UBS Initiates Coverage On Indie Semiconductor with Neutral Rating, Announces Price Target of $4.5

Citigroup analyst Mark Zhang initiates coverage on DigitalOcean Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DOCN#NYSE">DOCN</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $45.

DOCN

Citigroup Initiates Coverage On DigitalOcean Holdings with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $45

Piper Sandler analyst Paul Newsome upgrades Travelers Companies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRV#NYSE">TRV</a>) from Neutral to Overweight and raises the price target from $259 to $310.

Upgrades

Piper Sandler Upgrades Travelers Companies to Overweight, Raises Price Target to $310

Dorian LPG Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LPG#NYSE">LPG</a>) (the "Company" or "Dorian LPG"), today updated its financial and operational outlook for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 and announced that its Board of Directors has declared an irregular cash dividend of $0.70 per share of the Company's common stock, returning approximately $30.0 million of capital to shareholders. The irregular dividend is payable on or about February 27, 2025 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 5, 2025. In addition, the Company plans to issue a press release on Friday, January 31, 2025 prior to the market open, announcing its unaudited financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2024.

Dividends

Dorian LPG Declares $0.70/Share Irregular Dividend, Returning $30M to Shareholders

Guidance

Dorian LPG Expects Q3 Time Charter Equivalent Revenues To Be $78.70M - $80.70M

On Thursday, Jeff Bezos-backed Perplexity launched its AI-powered mobile assistant for Android users.
What Happened: Perplexity has introduced its AI-powered mobile assistant on Android, aiming to rival Alphabet Inc.'s (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>) Google with its multimodal capabilities.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Google's AI assistant now supports completing tasks across multiple apps and handling multimodal requests at Samsung&#8217;s unveiling of the Gemini-powered Galaxy S25.
Now Perplexity has announced that its assistant can handle tasks like writing emails, setting reminders, and booking dinners. It can interact with what&#8217;s on a user's screen and use their camera to &#8220;see&#8221; the environment.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/43181940/elon-musk-or-larry-ellison-dan-ives-on-who-could-win-tiktoks-billion-dollar-soap-opera-someone-hand-picked-from-beijing-but-also-trumps-white-house" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Or Larry Ellison? Dan Ives On Who Could Win TikTok's Billion-Dollar Soap Opera: ‘Someone Hand Picked From Beijing But Also Trump's White House'</a>
The assistant also plays media, such as podcasts, and identifies objects using the phone&#8217;s camera.
However, the assistant has limitations. It currently supports apps like Spotify, YouTube, and Uber, but cannot access platforms like Slack or Reddit. The company said that more app support and functionalities are in development.
Users can activate the assistant through the Perplexity app, replacing their default assistant. It is not yet available for iPhone users.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Introducing Perplexity Assistant. Assistant uses reasoning, search, and apps to help with daily tasks ranging from simple questions to multi-app actions. You can book dinner, find a forgotten song, call a ride, draft emails, set reminders, and more. Available on Play Store. <a href="https://t.co/UHdUIiDOzD">pic.twitter.com/UHdUIiDOzD</a>
&mdash; Perplexity (@perplexity_ai) <a href="https://twitter.com/perplexity_ai/status/1882466239123255686?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
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: Last year, Perplexity raised $500 million, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42570376/jeff-bezos-backed-perplexity-raises-500-million-tripling-its-valuation-to-9-billion-as-competition-with-google-and-openai-heats-up">tripling its valuation to $9 billion</a>. This funding round was led by Institutional Venture Partners and highlights the company&#8217;s rapid expansion and increased market share in AI search.
Previously, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas also spoke about efforts to disrupt the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41399723/jeff-bezos-backed-perplexity-ai-aims-to-break-google-and-metas-duopoly-with-new-internal-knowledge-s">duopoly of Google and</a> Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) in the search and advertising sectors.
At the time, he said that consumer behavior was evolving from basic keyword searches to more intricate queries. This makes platforms like Perplexity increasingly attractive to advertisers seeking more meaningful engagement.
Earlier this month, Perplexity reportedly made a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/43078206/jeff-bezos-backed-perplexity-reportedly-makes-50-billion-move-to-merge-with-tiktok-but-elon-musks-x-remains-this-analysts-favorite-bidder">$50 billion bid to merge</a> with TikTok U.S., aiming to improve its video capabilities. This move, if successful, could significantly bolster Perplexity&#8217;s position in the tech industry.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;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://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41181916/mark-cuban-offers-to-help-elon-musk-boost-x-revenue-says-tesla-ceo-is-concerned-about-declining-user?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Offers To Help Elon Musk Boost X Revenue, Says Tesla CEO Is Concerned About Declining Users: ‘I Wish He Would Call Me&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Perplexity Debuts AI-Powered Mobile Assistant On Android, Rivals Google With Multimodal Features — But There Are Some Gaps

GRAVITY Co., Ltd. (NASDAQGM:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GRVY#NASDAQGM">GRVY</a>) ("Gravity" or "Company"), a developer and publisher of online and mobile games, today announced that 仙境传说：初心, a mobile MMOARPG game, received an ISBN code by Chinese government disclosed on January 21, 2025.
仙境传说：初心 marks the first ISBN in 2025 as Ragnarok IP titles following Ragnarok Origin (Chinese title 仙境传说：爱如初见), and Ragnarok X: Next Generation (Chinese title 仙境传说：新启航) in 2023, Ragnarok Online (Chinese title: 仙境传说起源) in February 2024, Ragnarok Dawn, (tentative English title) (Chinese title: 仙境传说：破晓) in June 2024 and Ragnarok: Rebirth (Chinese title: 仙境傳說：重生) in December 2024.
仙境传说：初心 is a mobile MMOARPG game that sets in a new world play after the Ragnarok. The game features seamless map with no boundaries between regional borders, enabling smooth gameplay environment. In addition, full 3D open-field environment and weather system enhance play experience. The game also introduces customizing characters with 2D rendering texture and diverse material expression and dynamic combat experience with enhanced action and impact. 仙境传说：初心 was introduced in G-Star 2024 as ‘Project Abyss (tentative title)' and was praised for its high-quality graphic, diverse content exploration and skill combination system.

GRVY

Gravity's New Ragnarok Mobile Game Secures China's ISBN Code, Promising Enhanced MMOARPG Experience

For 2024, annual production and sales volume exceeded 5 million units, representing an 18.5% year-over-year growth.&nbsp;

CAAS

China Automotive Systems Says Subsidiary Achieved Production And Sales Increase Of 35% YoY In Q4

The reverse stock split will be effective as of the morning of January 28, 2025, and the Company's common stock will trade on a post-split basis at the beginning of trading on the same date under the existing trading symbol "REVB." The CUSIP number for the common stock following the reverse stock split will be 76135L606.

Stock Split

REVB

Revelation Biosciences Plans To Implement 1-For-16 Reverse Split Of Its Common Stock

Citigroup analyst Michelle Fang downgrades New Oriental Education (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EDU#NYSE">EDU</a>) from Buy to Neutral and lowers the price target from $83 to $50.

Downgrades

New Oriental Education & Technology Group

Citigroup Downgrades New Oriental Education to Neutral, Lowers Price Target to $50

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2024 results on Friday.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/telecom" rel="noreferrer noopener">Swedish telecom equipment maker&#8217;s</a> sales grew 1% year-over-year to 72.9 billion Swedish Krona, driven by 54% <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ericsson.com/en/newsroom" rel="noreferrer noopener">growth </a>in the North American market. In USD, sales of $6.77 billion missed the analyst consensus estimate of $6.93 billion.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/43168435/google-taps-htcs-talent-in-250-million-deal-to-lead-ar-vr-innovation" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Taps HTC&#8217;s Talent in $250 Million Deal to Lead AR/VR Innovation</a>
Group organic sales grew by 2% Y/Y. Adjusted gross margin improved to 46.3% from 41.1% Y/Y, driven by substantial expansion in Networks.
Adjusted EBIT margin was 13.1% versus 10.3% Y/Y due to a non-cash&nbsp;impairment loss relating to the Vonage acquisition.&nbsp;Adjusted EBITA margin improved to 14.1% from 11.4% a year ago, benefiting from higher gross income and cost actions.
Ericsson reported an EPS of SEK 1.44 versus SEK 1.02 Y/Y. In USD, EPS of $0.13 missed the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus estimate of $0.19</a>.
Free cash flow before M&amp;A was SEK 15.82 billion in the quarter, benefiting from the operational improvements.
As of December 31, 2024, net cash stood at SEK 37.8 billion.
Dividend: Ericsson board will propose a 2024 dividend per share of SEK 2.85 (up from SEK 2.70 Y/Y).
CEO Börje Ekholm noted further signs that the overall RAN market is stabilizing, with strong growth in North America supporting a return to Networks sales growth in the fourth quarter. However, the company has yet to accomplish its long-term EBITA goal.&nbsp;
Outlook: Ericsson&nbsp;expects <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter&nbsp;sales growth</a> for Networks and Cloud Software and Services to be similar to the 3-year average seasonality and a first-quarter adjusted gross margin for Networks of 47%- 49%.
Ericsson and rivals grappled with a weak <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39745508/ericsson-gains-premarket-after-q2-print-whats-going-on" rel="noreferrer noopener">telecom equipment market</a> as operators postponed expensive network upgrades. This prompted companies like Ericsson to adopt cost-cutting measures and pivot to markets like the U.S. and India.
Ericsson stock surged over 57% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock through Defiance Connective Technologies ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SIXG#NASDAQ">SIXG</a>) and Global X Artificial Intelligence &amp; Technology ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIQ#NASDAQ">AIQ</a>).
Price Action: ERIC stock is down by 8.20% at $8.17 premarket at last check Friday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/01/43110913/apples-iphone-dependence-remains-but-services-wearables-offer-growth-potential-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple&#8217;s iPhone Dependence Remains, But Services, Wearables Offer Growth Potential: Analyst</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Mats Wiklund via Shutterstock.

Earnings

Equities

Movers

ERIC

SIXG

Ericsson Q4 Earnings: Sales Climb 1%, North America Shines, Dividend Raise, Guidance And More

Barclays analyst Julien Roch upgrades Interpublic Gr of Cos (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IPG#NYSE">IPG</a>) from Equal-Weight to Overweight and raises the price target from $32 to $36.

Barclays Upgrades Interpublic Gr of Cos to Overweight, Raises Price Target to $36

Barclays analyst Duffy Fischer upgrades Air Products &amp; Chemicals (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APD#NYSE">APD</a>) from Equal-Weight to Overweight and raises the price target from $315 to $365.

Barclays Upgrades Air Products & Chemicals to Overweight, Raises Price Target to $365

U.S. stock futures fell on Friday following a 25 basis point rate hike by the Bank of Japan. Futures of all four indices declined.
BOJ hiked the interest rates to 0.5% from 0.25%, the highest in 17 years since the 2008 financial crisis.
The market closed higher on Thursday extending their winning streak as S&amp;P 500 closed at a fresh record close.
The 10-year Treasury note yielded 4.62%, while the two-year note yielded 4.27%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a> indicated a strong 99.5% probability that the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady at its upcoming meeting on Jan. 31, 2025. 
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<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Change (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>-0.14%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-0.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-0.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-0.09%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) both experienced negative premarket trading on Friday. SPY declined by 0.09% to $609.22, and QQQ fell 0.09% to $532.14, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Cues From The Last Session
U.S. stocks closed higher on Thursday, with the S&amp;P 500 reaching record highs after President Donald Trump called for lower oil prices. Speaking at the World Economic Forum via videoconference, Trump advocated for increased oil and gas production, a 15% corporate tax rate for businesses relocating to the U.S., and tariffs on countries with large trade deficits, warning Europe, Canada, and China.
U.S. initial jobless claims rose by 6,000 to 223,000 for the week ending Jan. 18, slightly above estimates. All S&amp;P 500 sectors closed higher, with healthcare, real estate, and industrials posting notable gains.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>1.28%</td>
<td>20,053.68 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>0.53%</td>
<td>6,118.71</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>0.92%</td>
<td>44,565.07</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>0.47%</td>
<td>2,314.60</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts
The chief technical strategist at LPL Financial, Adam Turnquist said that there are plenty of catalysts underpinning the recent advance. According to him, Trump brings a pro-growth agenda to Washington, with expectations of reduced regulations and lower taxes.
Market breadth has not kept pace with the recent stock rebound, said Turnquist, suggesting the advance has been relatively narrow. Although price and breadth disparities can last for a while, they often signal potential weaknesses in a rally that could stall.
&#8220;While we are not making a call for an imminent correction, investors should not be surprised if one develops this year as history shows they occur at least once per year,&#8221; he added.
Despite these overhangs, Ryan Detrick, the chief market strategist at Carson Research said in an X post that &#8220;this is a bull market and stocks are the place to be overweight in your portfolio&#8221;.
<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">They tried to scare you with &#39;weak market breadth&#39; or higher interest rates or a hawkish Fed or Washington drama or Year of the snake, etc. Bottom line, as we&#39;ve been saying since November 2022, this is a bull market and stocks are the place to be overweight in your portfolio. <a href="https://t.co/iAs9jMMklV">pic.twitter.com/iAs9jMMklV</a>
&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1882536474064925141?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Detrick also highlighted the data since 1950, stating that the post-election years could do better if it is a President&#8217;s second term.
<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">Going back to 1950, post election years do better if it is a President&#39;s second term. <a href="https://t.co/7rGQSj44DH">pic.twitter.com/7rGQSj44DH</a>
&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1882473698898374715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 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/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures</a>
Upcoming Economic Data
Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on today:
<ul>
<li>On Friday, S&amp;P flash services PMI and manufacturing PMI will be released at 9:45 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Existing home sales for December and consumer sentiment data for January will be released at 10 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>American Express Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>) was up 0.32% in the premarket on Friday ahead of its earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $3.04 per share on revenue of $17.16 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) was up 0.48% as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings of $1.10 per share on revenue of $35.32 billion before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>HCA Healthcare Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HCA#NYSE">HCA</a>) was up 2.03% ahead of its earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $6.13 per share on revenue of $18.23 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Intuitive Surgical Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ISRG#NASDAQ">ISRG</a>) was down 2.25% as it issued conservative guidance despite reporting better-than-expected earnings and sales results for the fourth quarter after the market closed on Thursday.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) was down 1.83% as it warned investors of steeper quarterly losses and lower revenue in its preliminary fourth-quarter financial results. It also expects a $3.5 billion cash flow loss due to labor strikes and layoffs.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Allurion Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALUR#NYSE">ALUR</a>) was up 92.97% as it announced plans to conduct a clinical study of its gastric balloon weight-loss product alongside GLP-1 drugs.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Starbox Group Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STBX#NASDAQ">STBX</a>) was up 74.48% as it entered a software purchase agreement valued at $15.5 million via share issuance.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 0.31% to hover around $74.85 per barrel.
The gold spot index was up by 0.50% to $2,778.90 per ounce. The Dollar Index was down 0.66% at 107.336 level.
Asian markets closed mixed on Friday as India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex and Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell. Whereas, China's CSI 300, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, Australia's ASX 200, and South Korea's Kospi index rose. European markets were also mixed.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/01/43184963/nvidia-microsoft-or-oracle-which-among-these-stargate-ai-project-beneficiaries-are-the-least-expensive-to-own">Nvidia, Microsoft, Or Oracle: Which Stock Among These Stargate AI Project Beneficiaries Are The Least Expensive To Own?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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