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The antitrust case against Steam, initially filed by Wolfire Studios and Dark Catt Studios in 2021, has taken a significant turn.
A U.S. court document <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/wolfire-and-dark-catts-antitrust-lawsuit-against-valve-granted-class-action-status">seen </a>by GamesIndustry.biz, has approved the motion for class certification, broadening the lawsuit's scope to include "any developers, publishers, or individuals" who have adhered to Steam's 30% revenue cut for purchases made since Jan. 28, 2017.
This expansion, granted by United States District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead, amplifies the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/11/41914135/valves-steam-deck-oled-gets-makeover-heres-what-you-need-to-know">stakes for Valve,</a> Steam's parent company, as it faces intensified scrutiny over its business practices.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/11/42229617/microsofts-xbox-game-store-for-android-ready-to-go-live-says-executive-but-legal-standoff-with-google-halts-launch">Microsoft&#8217;s Xbox Game Store For Android &#8216;Ready To Go Live,&#8217; Says Executive, But Legal Standoff With Google Halts Launch</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Origins Of Steam&#8217;s Antitrust Case</h3>
The dispute began with Wolfire Games' claim that Valve leverages its dominant market position to impose "an extraordinarily high cut" on sales through its PC platform. The studio argued that this practice exploits both publishers and consumers, stifling competition and inflating prices.
After the original lawsuit was dismissed in November 2021, Wolfire returned in May 2022 with a revised complaint. This time, the focus sharpened on Valve's Platform Most Favoured Nations (PMFN) policy, which allegedly ensures Steam's commission remains "supracompetitive."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Allegations And Antitrust Implications</h3>
The plaintiffs contend that Valve's policies harm competition in three critical ways:
<ul>
<li>Steam secures a disproportionately high commission.</li>
<li>Developers and publishers are unable to compete across distribution platforms.</li>
<li>Rival platforms struggle to gain traction in the marketplace.</li>
</ul>
These practices, the lawsuit alleges, violate multiple antitrust laws, including Washington&#8217;s Consumer Protection Act. The plaintiffs are seeking &#8220;class-wide remedies&#8221; to address the financial impact on publishers and inflated costs for consumers.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Valve's Defense And Courtroom Developments</h3>
Valve has pushed back against these claims, particularly targeting the testimony of Dr. Steven Schwartz, an expert witness whose findings characterize Valve as the dominant force in PC game distribution. 
Valve argued that Schwartz's conclusions were "based on faulty methods and improper assumptions" and sought to have his testimony dismissed. However, the court rejected this request, allowing Schwartz&#8217;s analysis to remain part of the proceedings.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Broader Implications</h3>
With the lawsuit now class-certified, it opens the door for a wider array of developers and publishers to join the case. Wolfire and Dark Catt will act as class representatives, potentially uniting a broad coalition of industry stakeholders under the same legal banner.
This case depicts growing concerns about market dominance in the digital distribution sector. As rival platforms like the Epic Games Store attempt to chip away at Steam's market share, the outcome of this lawsuit could set significant precedents for how revenue-sharing models and platform policies are regulated moving forward.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/11/41996480/1-8-million-instances-of-hate-content-on-steam-is-valve-ignoring-extremism-report">1.8 Million Instances Of Hate Content On Steam — Is Valve Ignoring Extremism?: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using photos from Shutterstock.

Gaming

News

Legal

General

Antitrust Lawsuit Against Steam Expands To Include All Developers Since 2017

Celestica's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLS#NYSE">CLS</a>) short percent of float has risen 15.62% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 3.41 million shares sold short, which is 2.96% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.29 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Celestica Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732905923_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Celestica has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Celestica's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Celestica's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 2.88%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

Peering Into Celestica's Recent Short Interest

JPMorgan Chase's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) short percent of float has risen 13.83% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 30.12 million shares sold short, which is 1.07% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.77 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>JPMorgan Chase Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732905917_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for JPMorgan Chase has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing JPMorgan Chase's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, JPMorgan Chase's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 1.09%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

How Is The Market Feeling About JPMorgan Chase?

Teladoc Health's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDOC#NYSE">TDOC</a>) short percent of float has fallen 4.62% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 25.69 million shares sold short, which is 19.39% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.79 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Teladoc Health Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732905912_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Teladoc Health has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Teladoc Health's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Teladoc Health's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.33%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

TDOC

How Is The Market Feeling About Teladoc Health?

Cardano (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ada/usd">ADA</a>) is up 4.5% over the past 24 hours, boosted by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/11/42237636/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-simmer-down-on-thanksgiving-analyst-sees-significant-shift-from-btc-season-to-alt-season">altcoins enjoying bullish sentiment.</a>
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>Market Cap</td>
<td>24-Hour Trend</td>
<td>7-Day Trend</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cardano (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ada/usd">ADA</a>)</td>
<td>$1.05</td>
<td>$37.4 billion</td>
<td>+4.5%</td>
<td>+8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Algorand (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/algo/usd">ALGO</a>)</td>
<td>$0.39</td>
<td>$327 billion</td>
<td>+30%</td>
<td>+62%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ripple (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>) </td>
<td>$1.70</td>
<td>$96.6 billion</td>
<td>+15%</td>
<td>+14.5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Trader Notes: Crypto trader Brandon Hong noted in a post on X on Friday that Cardano offered traders an entry of around 80 cents.
From current levels, he anticipates ADA to push higher to $1.20 and, if that level is successfully reclaimed, possibly to $1.60 or further.
Pseudonymous trader Ssebi also <a href="https://x.com/Av_Sebastian/status/1862468049858679094">targets</a> $1.25, while trader Altcoin Scholar sees a chart pattern playing out that could possibly <a href="https://x.com/AltcoinScholar/status/1862210098879504541">take</a> ADA to $2 in the long run.
Community News: Digital asset manager Bitwise on Nov. 27 submitted an <a href="https://www.sec.gov/files/rules/sro/nysearca/2024/34-101775.pdf">application</a> for an exchange-traded fund (ETF) based on its existing 10 Crypto Index Fund.
Cardano holds a weight of 0.70% in the index fund.
Cardano co-founder Charles Hoskinson highlighted a <a href="https://x.com/cardano_whale/status/1861637989983756397">tweet</a> from a community member, showing that Cardano handles one-quarter to one-half of the transactions of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) while trading at under 10% of their valuation.
The community member pointed out that Cardano is &#8220;one of the most organic chains out there.&#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">Daily transactions, 25 Nov Bitcoin 605k Ethereum 1292k Cardano 322k ADA does 25%-53% the transactions of BTC and ETH at 2%-8% the market cap These are the most organic chains out there, VC chain figures of hugely different magnitude can be considered unreliable or meaningless
&mdash; whale (@cardano_whale) <a href="https://twitter.com/cardano_whale/status/1861637989983756397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Another notable milestone was when Cardano deployed its first zero-knowledge (ZK) smart contract, Halo2, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42221059/cardano-price-surges-above-one-dollar-on-200-30-day-rally-what-is-going-on-with-ada">on its mainnet.</a>
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42244078/vladimir-putin-signs-bitcoin-mining-crypto-taxation-law">Vladimir Putin Signs Bitcoin Mining, Crypto Taxation Law</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

$ADA

$ALGO

$BTC

$ETH

$XRP

ADA Price Up 4.5% In 24 Hours: Why Is Cardano Going Up?

The regional banking sector has spent much of the last two years making headlines for all the wrong reasons. <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/resources/resolutions/bank-failures/in-brief/2023">Bank failures</a> like Silicon Valley, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank rocked the sector, and the SPDR Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KRE#NYSE">KRE</a>) dropped more than 40% at the end of 2023.
Investors remained on edge to start 2024 following another pair of failures, but the sector has rebounded following the Federal Reserve's rate-cut strategy and the 2024 U.S. presidential election results.
The incoming Trump administration is expected to replace several top regulators, such as Linda Khan (at the FTC), Rohit Chopra (CFPB), and Gary Gensler (SEC), which could create an atmosphere for more mergers and acquisitions through less stringent regulation.
Regional banks stand to be some of the biggest beneficiaries of this attitude change, and KRE has already jumped 18% in the last month.
Let&#8217;s take a look at five of the most promising regional bank stocks to buy ahead of the new crop of regulators.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How We Narrowed It Down to Six Stocks to Buy</h2>
Looser capital guidelines and diminished regulatory scrutiny will benefit plenty of firms in the finance sector. We trimmed our regional bank stock list down to five based on the following criteria:
<ul>
<li>Beneficiary of Relaxed Deregulation &#8211; Several banking rules involving capital requirements (like Basel III) and liquidity standards could be relaxed during a second Trump admin, in addition to a more friendly M&amp;A environment. Regional banks can't meet these requirements as efficiently as larger national banks, so deregulation often benefits smaller banks.</li>
<li>Valuation Metrics &#8211; The banks on our list have affordable stocks compared to their sector peers based on metrics like Price-to-Earnings (P/E), Price-to-Sales (P/S), and Price-to-Book (P/B) rates.</li>
<li>Dividend Yield &#8211; If you own bank stocks, you want to be compensated with stock price appreciation and dividend income. These regional banks all pay higher dividend yields than the industry average.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Six Regional Banks to Buy</h2>
Based on the above criteria, here are five regional bank stocks to consider adding to your portfolio before a second Trump administration, and its new crop of top regulators, sets up shop in Washington.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">US Bancorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USB#NYSE">USB</a>)</h3>
US Bancorp&#8217;s roots date back to the Civil War when it was awarded the 24th national bank charter of the United States. Today, it&#8217;s one of the largest regional banks in the United States, with a market cap of over $83 billion and 68,000 employees. USB shares have lagged in 2024, with a 23% year-to-date gain compared to 30% from KRE, but looser regulations could be a tailwind as the bank <a href="https://www.usbank.com/about-us-bank/company-blog/article-library/us-bancorp-completes-acquisition-of-union-bank.html">acquired MUFG Union Bank</a> in 2022 to expand operations into California, Oregon, and Washington. The stock has reasonable fundamental metrics like a 16.5 P/E ratio and 1.97 P/S ratio and pays a 3.73% dividend yield.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="395" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133051/USB-1024x395.png" alt="" class="wp-image-670667" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133051/USB-1024x395.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133051/USB-300x116.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133051/USB-768x296.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133051/USB.png 1364w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">KeyCorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#NYSE">KEY</a>)</h3>
KeyCorp has a market cap under $20 billion and less reach than bigger regional banks like US Bancorp, but the stock makes our list thanks to a combination of good value, high dividend yield, and potential growth from deregulation. The bank has two segments: Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking, with the commercial wing focused on small and mid-size business services. KeyBanc Capital Markets is the company's M/A wheelhouse, having negotiated more than 500 clients on mergers in the mid-size business space. KEY stock has the highest P/E ratio of banks on our list at 19.4 but rewards shareholders with a 4.17% dividend yield, and its P/B rate is bottom third in the sector at 1.3.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="395" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133059/KEY-1024x395.png" alt="" class="wp-image-670668" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133059/KEY-1024x395.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133059/KEY-300x116.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133059/KEY-768x296.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133059/KEY.png 1364w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Regions Financial Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RF#NYSE">RF</a>)</h3>
Regions Financial doesn't have a hundred-plus-year history like US Bancorp or KeyCorp, but it does offer a variety of banking and wealth management services to clients across the southern region. RF shares have actually outperformed KRE so far in 2024 (42% vs 30%), and its debt/equity level of 0.35 is the lowest of our selections, indicating a well-capitalized bank poised to benefit from more risk-taking. The stock pays a 3.66% dividend yield with a 13.4 P/E ratio and 1.48 P/B ratio.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="395" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133104/RF-1024x395.png" alt="" class="wp-image-670669" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133104/RF-1024x395.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133104/RF-300x116.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133104/RF-768x296.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133104/RF.png 1364w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Truist Financial Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TFC#NYSE">TFC</a>)</h3>
Formed during the merger of SunTrust Bank and BB&amp;T Corp, Truist Financial is the second-largest regional bank on our list, and one of the reasons is that KRE is up more than 30% this year. TFC shares have matched the regional banking ETF performance almost penny for penny in 2024, but the stock remains well below its 2022 all-time high. Truist has the lowest P/B ratio on our list at 1.08, pays a 4.36% dividend yield, and recently sold off its insurance and asset management subsidiaries to improve its liquidity and capitalization situation. Truist mainly serves states east of the Mississippi River but plans to expand operations in the Sun Belt. These plans could benefit from increased M/A activity and deregulation in the next few years.
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="395" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133110/TFC-1024x395.png" alt="" class="wp-image-670670" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133110/TFC-1024x395.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133110/TFC-300x116.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133110/TFC-768x296.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133110/TFC.png 1364w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">M&amp;T Bank (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTB#NYSE">MTB</a>)</h3>
M&amp;T Bank (which stands for Manufacturers and Traders) is one of the nation&#8217;s oldest banks, with predecessors tracing back as far as 1856. MTB has a $36 billion market cap and pays a 2.45% dividend, the lowest on our list but easily sustained by the company's income. The stock has been one of 2024's biggest success stories, posting an astonishing 60% gain in 2024, which doubled the regional banking ETF. Following the bank's strong October earnings report, more gains could be on the horizon, causing many analysts to upgrade their ratings and price targets. M&amp;T Bank has a 16.3 P/E ratio and a 1.4 P/B ratio, and its net profit margin of 18.7 is bested only by Regions Financial.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="395" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133115/MTB-1024x395.png" alt="" class="wp-image-670671" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133115/MTB-1024x395.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133115/MTB-300x116.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133115/MTB-768x296.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133115/MTB.png 1364w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Discover Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>)&nbsp;</h3>
Discover Financial has been linked with Capital One since the latter announced intentions to purchase the former for $35 billion in February. However, the deal has been in limbo since New York regulators began investigating the acquisition for possible antitrust violations. DFS shares traded in a tight range from July until the week of the election, but both DFS and COF stocks immediately gapped up on the Wednesday following Trump's victory. Investors anticipate the deal going through in a less harsh regulatory environment, so DFS shares could continue to rally in the weeks ahead.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="395" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133121/DFS-1024x395.png" alt="" class="wp-image-670672" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133121/DFS-1024x395.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133121/DFS-300x116.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133121/DFS-768x296.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133121/DFS.png 1364w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Keep in mind that campaign promises don't always materialize in reality, and the previous Trump administration was often as much bark as bite. Less regulation and more M&amp;A are expected, but investments based on political overtures are short-term bets by nature. Don't hang on to losing stocks if the regulatory environment we get is different than anticipated.
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Image via Midjourney

Opinion

6 Regional Bank Stocks to Buy Before Trump Names New SEC Leadership

CorVel Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRVL#NASDAQ">CRVL</a>) announces V. Gordon Clemons is electing to retire as a member of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") and as Chairman of the Board, effective November 26, 2024, after 37 years of service. Clemons founded CorVel Corporation in 1988 and has served as Chairman of the Board since the Company went public in 1991. Effective upon Clemons' retirement, Michael G. Combs, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, was appointed as the new Chairman of the Board. Clemons has been an advisor to Combs since 2017, and he will continue to be available to Combs as an outside consultant.

Management

CRVL

CorVel Announces Retirement Of V. Gordon Clemons As Chairman Of The Board, Effective November 26, 2024; President And CEO, Michael G. Combs Was Appointed As The New Chairman Of The Board

Retailer Target Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>) could enjoy a boost for the holiday shopping season thanks to the likes of Pokémon and Taylor Swift, according to early <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/black-friday">Black Friday consumer data.</a>
What Happened: Experts expect Black Friday sales <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/42236796/black-friday-cyber-monday-shopping-set-to-break-sales-records">to top records,</a> which could be good news for retailers like Target Corporation.
Early Black Friday data for Target's website could also be good news for The Pokémon Company, which is partially owned by Nintendo Co (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTDOY#OTC">NTDOY</a>).
Pokémon is one of the top searched items by shoppers on Target&#8217;s website Friday, according to data from <a href="https://www.similarweb.com/">Similarweb</a>.
Here are the top 10 searched items on Target for Black Friday:
<ol>
<li>Pokémon</li>
<li>Pokémon cards</li>
<li>Lego</li>
<li>Airpods</li>
<li>Nintendo Switch</li>
<li>Apple Watch</li>
<li>iPad</li>
<li>Taylor Swift book</li>
<li>Prismatic Evolutions Pokémon</li>
<li>Christmas tree</li>
</ol>
Pokémon dominates Target&#8217;s top-searched items list with three items, matching Apple, which also has three items on the list (Airpods, Apple Watch, iPad).
The items from Pokémon rank first, second and ninth, making the company the most dominant among Target shoppers.
An exclusive Taylor Swift <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/10/41338328/taylor-swift-teams-up-with-target-for-exclusive-black-friday-merch-will-swifties-boost-q4-s">book with photos</a> and stories from her record-breaking Eras Tour was a top-searched item online for Black Friday shoppers. The book is exclusive to Target and will be available in stores on Friday before a wider release on Target&#8217;s website in the coming days.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/11/42244324/black-friday-frenzy-shoppers-queue-for-taylor-swift-merch-retro-gadgets-and-more-as-retailers-open-doors-early-amid-shortened-shopping-season">Reports of lines</a> outside Target stories Friday showed the continued power of Swift fans as many shoppers have turned to online shopping over waiting outside stores on Black Friday. 
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42247063/apple-products-dominate-early-black-friday-trending-searches">Apple Products Dominate Early Black Friday Trending Searches</a>
Why It's Important: For more than 25 years, Pokémon has been one of the top brands for kids in sectors such as video games, consumer products, and trading cards.
For shoppers at Target, Pokémon cards dominate the list, including the newest set, Prismatic Evolutions, which will be released in January.
This year's holiday shopping season is shorter than normal, with 27 days from the day before Thanksgiving until Christmas Day.
Early shopping searches and data could show which items are most in demand for the holiday season.
Similarweb data that tracked Target along with Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy showed Pokémon cards as the 10th most-searched item on Black Friday overall.
TGT Price Action: Target stock was up 1.6% to $132.31 on Friday versus a 52-week trading range of $120.21 to $181.86. Target stock is down 8% year-to-date.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/42247827/one-low-tech-toy-blows-away-black-friday-shopping-competition">One Low-Tech Toy Blows Away Black Friday Shopping Competition</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

NTDOY

Target Black Friday Deals: Pokémon Shoppers Gotta Catch 'Em All

By <a href="https://elplanteo.com/author/hernan-panessi/">Hernán Panessi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hernanpanessi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>via <a href="https://elplanteo.com/yamandu-presidente-cannabis-uruguay/">El Planteo</a>
More than 10 years have passed since <a href="https://elplanteo.com/noticias/latinoamerica/uruguay/">Uruguay</a> became the first country to legalize <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/cannabis">adult-use cannabis</a>. In 2012, then-President <a href="https://elplanteo.com/pepe-mujica-diario-che-guevara/">José "Pepe" Mujica</a> boldly stated, "Someone has to be first," during debates over legalizing cannabis. By December 2013, Uruguay had made history as the world's first nation to legalize cannabis cultivation and sales.
While groundbreaking, Law 19.172 has faced its share of challenges. After years of controversies, irregularities and debates—largely tied to the outgoing administration—the return of the Frente Amplio, a progressive coalition that spearheaded the original law, could usher in renewed approaches to cannabis regulation.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Changing Political Landscape</h3>
With Uruguay's new political configuration, pressing questions arise: What's next for cannabis policy? Will the Frente Amplio prioritize cannabis reform? What stance will newly elected President <a href="https://elplanteo.com/yamandu-presidente-cannabis-uruguay/">Yamandú Orsi</a> take?
Journalist Camilo Salvetti explained to <a href="https://elplanteo.com/">El Planteo</a> that former President Luis Lacalle Pou adopted a "business-oriented approach to cannabis." According to data from the Institute for Regulation and Control of Cannabis (IRCCA), Uruguay currently has:
<ul>
<li>3 licenses for adult-use psychoactive cannabis cultivation,</li>
<li>15 licenses for medical cannabis cultivation,</li>
<li>40 registered pharmacies selling cannabis,</li>
<li>71,843 registered buyers,</li>
<li>11,708 home growers,</li>
<li>410 cannabis clubs, and</li>
<li>13,687 cannabis club members.</li>
</ul>
Salvetti explained, "There are three ways to access cannabis in Uruguay: buying at pharmacies, joining a cannabis club, or registering as a home grower with limits on plant numbers."
Currently, three companies hold licenses to grow, produce and distribute cannabis sold in pharmacies. However, Salvetti noted that government-supplied cannabis often fell short in quality: "The joke is that this marijuana doesn't even get you high." Following complaints from producers, the government increased the allowable THC levels in pharmacy-sold cannabis.
See also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/11/41996451/uruguays-cannabis-industry-struggles-amid-export-barriers-price-drops">Uruguay&#8217;s Cannabis Industry Struggles Amid Export Barriers, Price Drops</a>
This created friction between cannabis clubs and licensed producers. Salvetti explained, "Producers argued that clubs were not properly regulated, creating a gray market. While more users may be registered at pharmacies, cannabis clubs appear to dominate actual purchases and cash flow."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rethinking Criminalization And Policy</h3>
Under Lacalle Pou's government, prison sentences for minor cannabis trafficking offenses increased, with harsher penalties for "minimal quantities" of cannabis. Salvetti criticized this trend: "The new government must rethink its marijuana policy—whether it serves companies growing state-sanctioned cannabis or focuses on the people."
Activist and educator Rosina Yemini, founder of Cultivando Clubes, noted significant changes after Uruguay's right-wing government came to power in 2020. These shifts primarily affected how cannabis users were judged, leading to increased criminalization and legal ambiguities. Yemini stated, "We now have a large number of home growers in prison."
She expressed hope that President Orsi's government would address these issues and embrace activism in drafting new regulations. Yemini emphasized the importance of engaging IRCCA in open dialogues with advocates.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Politically Stable Cannabis Consensus</h3>
Uruguay's cannabis regulation enjoys broad political support. Across the spectrum, there are no major proposals to reverse legalization. Diego Olivera, a Frente Amplio senator, former head of IRCCA, and national drug policy coordinator, remarked: &#8220;Today, cannabis is a state policy embedded in public policy and societal reality.&#8221;
Olivera observed, "As a socially progressive country, Uruguay sees cannabis regulation as an extension of its individual freedom and state responsibility traditions."
Despite this stability, Olivera acknowledged challenges. For example, early government attempts sought to expand police involvement in cannabis market oversight at the expense of IRCCA. He said, &#8220;That would have marked a return to criminalization, but both the left and center-right opposed it. Instead, regulatory policy remained largely unchanged.&#8221;
While there was some bureaucratic streamlining to boost medical cannabis exports, no major structural reforms occurred under Lacalle Pou's administration.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What's Next Under Frente Amplio?</h3>
The Frente Amplio's platform includes proposals to deepen cannabis regulation, including:
<ul>
<li>Promoting cannabis tourism to attract investments,</li>
<li>Revising penalties for minor trafficking offenses,</li>
<li>Expanding membership access to cannabis clubs,</li>
<li>Addressing hurdles in legal cannabis procurement,</li>
<li>Balancing supply with growing demand, and</li>
<li>Strengthening the National Drug Secretariat to improve access and implement harm-reduction policies.</li>
</ul>
Diego Olivera concluded, "The challenge for Frente Amplio is ensuring all cannabis users can access legal avenues."
Cover image: Photo by Marcelo Cúneo, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons, edited by El Planteo
This article is from an external unpaid contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#8217;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

Cannabis

Latin America

Interview

10+ Years Of Legal Weed In Uruguay: Will The New Government Expand Access?

Reddit Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDDT#NYSE">RDDT</a>) leapfrogged Elon Musk&#8216;s X to become the UK's fifth most <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/social-media">popular social media platform</a>.
What Happened: According to a report by communications watchdog Ofcom, 22.9 million UK adults visited Reddit in May. X saw 22.1 million visitors.
Reddit also clinched the title of the fastest-growing large social media network in the country.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/11/42221015/reddit-targets-india-brazil-to-boost-global-user-growth-revenue">Reddit Targets India, Brazil To Boost Global User Growth, Revenue</a>
Per <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/nov/28/reddit-overtakes-x-in-popularity-of-social-media-platforms-in-uk">The Guardian</a>, Reddit's meteoric 47% year-on-year growth pushed it ahead of LinkedIn and X, marking a remarkable climb in the rankings. The surge comes as Reddit's signature communities, or &#8220;subreddits,&#8221; continue to captivate an increasingly engaged user base.
Experts attribute Reddit's ascent to a mix of technological shifts and strategic moves. Farhad Divecha, managing director at AccuraCast, pointed to Google's 2024 algorithm update as a key driver, boosting Reddit's visibility in search results. 
Additionally, Reddit's March IPO brought heightened publicity, while changes restricting third-party app access may have funneled users directly to its platform.
Why It Matters: X's reach fell by 8% over the past year. Since Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, the platform has faced criticism over its content moderation policies and stiff competition from Meta's Threads, launched in July 2023.
The Ofcom report underscores broader digital trends:
<ul>
<li>40% of UK adults encountered misinformation or deepfakes online in the past year</li>
<li>30% harbor beliefs in global conspiracies or electoral fraud, highlighting a growing need for digital literacy</li>
</ul>
As the UK's digital habits evolve, Reddit's rise signals a shifting social media landscape—one where niche communities and authentic engagement trump traditional networks. 
Whether Reddit can sustain this momentum remains to be seen, but for now, its upward trajectory is hard to ignore.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/11/42212745/jim-cramer-reddit-is-fabulous-dow-is-a-tough-one">Jim Cramer: Reddit Is &#8216;Fabulous,&#8217; Dow Is A &#8216;Tough&#8217; One</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Social Media

Tech

RDDT

Reddit Rises, Elon Musk's X Stumbles: UK's Social Media Shakeup

Risk-on sentiment gained momentum on Wall Street after the Thanksgiving holiday, fueled by investor optimism over fourth-quarter profit forecasts for U.S. corporations, lifting both the S&amp;P 500 and Dow Jones <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">to fresh record highs.</a>
The S&amp;P 500 broke past the 6,040-point mark on Friday and closed at 6,032, extending its year-to-date gains to an impressive 27%. If the year ended on Friday, the broader U.S. stock market would have surged by a staggering 57% over the last two years, representing the strongest such rally since 1998. 
The Dow Jones also hit a record-high milestone, surging above the 45,000 level and bringing its year-to-date gains to 19%.
Technology stocks outperformed, with the Nasdaq 100 rising 1% on the day, buoyed by gains in the Magnificent Seven mega caps and semiconductor stocks.
Small caps stocks posted more modest gains, as the Russell 2000 index edged up 0.4%.
In the currency market, the U.S. dollar snapped its eight-week winning streak, pressured by a drop against the Japanese yen amid speculation of a possible Bank of Japan interest rate hike.
In the bond market, Treasury yields edged lower by about 5 basis points, with the 10-year yield approaching 4.2%, a level not seen since late October. The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) rallied 1%, reaching over one-month highs.
Commodities also saw a positive price action. Gold rose 0.8%, marking its fourth consecutive session of gains, and silver jumped 1.4%. Natural gas prices spiked 4.9%, ending the month with a 24% surge. The underperformer was crude, which eased 0.2%.
In cryptocurrency markets, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) rebounded 1.6%, climbing above $97,000 and signaling resilience for the digital asset universe amid broader market enthusiasm.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>Chg (%)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>20,930</td>
<td>+0.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,032</td>
<td>+0.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>44,910</td>
<td>+0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,434</td>
<td colspan="2">+0.3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 1 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent112524&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) edged 0.6% higher to $509.61.</li>
<li>The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) rose 0.5% to $450.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rallied 0.9% to $509.61.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rose 0.5% to $242.10.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) outperformed, rising 0.9%. The&nbsp;Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLRE#NYSE">XLRE</a>) lagged, down 0.5%.</li>
</ul>
Friday&#8217;s Stock Movers
<ul>
<li>Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) rose by 1.1% to $273.62 per share, hitting a fresh record high.</li>
<li>U.S.-listed shares of Brazilian companies sold off heavily as investors were disappointed by the latest fiscal reform from the Lula government. Shares of Nu Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NU#NASDAQ">NU</a>), StoneCo Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STNE#NASDAQ">STNE</a>) and XP Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XP#NASDAQ">XP</a>) tumbled by 7.2%, 9.1% and 9.2%, respectively. </li>
<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) jumped 4% after Wedbush projected the EV giant could tap into $1 trillion in AI and self-driving opportunities, with fewer regulatory hurdles potentially lifting its valuation to $1.5-$2 trillion.</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/11/42247850/gm-other-us-automakers-brace-for-sharp-profit-squeeze-from-trump-tariffs-analysts-warn">GM, Other US Automakers Face Sharp Profit Squeeze From Trump Tariffs, Analysts Warn</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Equities

Large Cap

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Commodities

Forex

Markets

Movers

ETFs

AAPL

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

STNE

iShares Trust Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund

TSLA

XLRE

S&P 500, Dow Rally To Record Highs, Dollar Snaps 8-Week Streak, Bitcoin Soars Above $97,000: What's Driving Markets Friday?

In the current session, the stock is trading at $37.02, after a 0.24% spike. Over the past month, Revolve Gr Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RVLV#NYSE">RVLV</a>) stock increased by 44.55%, and in the past year, by 150.56%. With performance like this, long-term shareholders are optimistic but others are more likely to look into the price-to-earnings ratio to see if the stock might be overvalued.

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732905007_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>Comparing Revolve Gr P/E Against Its Peers</h3>
The P/E ratio measures the current share price to the company's EPS. It is used by long-term investors to analyze the company's current performance against it's past earnings, historical data and aggregate market data for the industry or the indices, such as S&amp;P 500. A higher P/E indicates that investors expect the company to perform better in the future, and the stock is probably overvalued, but not necessarily. It also could indicate that investors are willing to pay a higher share price currently, because they expect the company to perform better in the upcoming quarters. This leads investors to also remain optimistic about rising dividends in the future. 
Revolve Gr has a better P/E ratio of 64.79 than the aggregate P/E ratio of 19.0 of the Specialty Retail industry. Ideally, one might believe that Revolve Gr Inc. might perform better in the future than it's industry group, but it's probable that the stock is overvalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732905007_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In summary, while the price-to-earnings ratio is a valuable tool for investors to evaluate a company's market performance, it should be used with caution. A low P/E ratio can be an indication of undervaluation, but it can also suggest weak growth prospects or financial instability. Moreover, the P/E ratio is just one of many metrics that investors should consider when making investment decisions, and it should be evaluated alongside other financial ratios, industry trends, and qualitative factors. By taking a comprehensive approach to analyzing a company's financial health, investors can make well-informed decisions that are more likely to lead to successful outcomes.

Intraday Update

RVLV

P/E Ratio Insights for Revolve Gr

By <a href="https://elplanteo.com/author/lucia-tedesco/">Lucía Tedesco</a> via <a href="https://elplanteo.com/paraguay-legalizar-thc-cannabis-latinoamerica/">El Planteo</a>
<a href="https://elplanteo.com/paraguay-legalizar-thc-cannabis-latinoamerica/">Paraguay</a>&#8216;s government, in collaboration with key private sector players, is betting on establishing the country as a leading exporter of cannabis-derived products. The vision is to transform Paraguay into a reference hub for Latin America and the world.
To achieve this ambitious goal, the strategy focuses on legislative reforms and infrastructure investments, with an emphasis on economic and social sustainability. One cornerstone of this initiative is revising the legal framework governing industrial cannabis. Currently, the maximum allowable <a href="https://elplanteo.com/que-es-el-thc/">THC</a> content—the psychoactive compound in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/cannabis">cannabis</a>—is capped at 0.5%. However, this limit hampers opportunities in international markets that permit higher concentrations under strict regulations.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Legislative Reforms And Industry Potential</h3>
Recently, Minister of Industry and Commerce Javier Giménez visited one of Paraguay's top cannabis manufacturing facilities. He highlighted the sector&#8217;s significant potential to boost the national economy, emphasizing a coordinated approach to fostering cannabis development.
<a href="https://elplanteo.com/paraguay-legalizar-thc-cannabis-latinoamerica/">Marcelo Demp</a>, president of the Industrial Cannabis Chamber of Paraguay (<a href="https://elplanteo.com/casorla-cannabis-paraguay/">CCIP</a>) and vice president of the Latin American Hemp Industry Association (LAIHA), underscored this need: &#8220;Expanding our legal framework would enable Paraguay to become a supplier of finished products for the region and the world, including markets like Argentina and Brazil.&#8221;
The proposed next step involves authorizing products with higher THC content for sale in regulated dispensaries. To this end, the CCIP is working with multiple institutions to introduce a bill ensuring complete traceability from production to sale.
&#8220;What CCIP proposes is to legalize THC under the same rigorous controls and traceability already in place for industrial cannabis,&#8221; Demp added.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">International Competitiveness</h3>
Paraguay has already proven its ability to compete in the global market. In recent years, it has exported cannabis-derived products to the United States, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and other European countries.
Moreover, the country boasts over 20 authorized dispensaries that not only offer legal products but also serve an educational purpose by informing the public about the benefits and applications of industrial cannabis. According to Demp: &#8220;Paraguay exports to more than 10 countries, and the opening of local dispensaries has been key to building consumer trust and awareness.&#8221;
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Sustainable And Inclusive Approach</h3>
Paraguay's cannabis strategy also emphasizes environmental sustainability and social development. The CCIP actively collaborates with small farmers, integrating them into a value chain that promotes responsible agricultural practices and creates opportunities for rural communities.
Looking ahead, the industry envisions diversifying cannabis applications across food, supplements, therapeutic products, cosmetics, and regulated recreational products. Demp highlighted the broader economic and reputational benefits: &#8220;By selling finished products in authorized dispensaries and exporting to markets like Argentina, Brazil, the U.S., Canada, and Europe, Paraguay will not only strengthen its economy but also establish itself as a global leader in the sector.&#8221;
Cover image made with AI
This article is from an external unpaid contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#8217;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

A Global Cannabis Exports Leader In The Making? Paraguay Targets THC Reform To Boost Economy

B. Riley Securities analyst Eric Wold downgrades RumbleON (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RMBL#NASDAQ">RMBL</a>) from Buy to Neutral and maintains the price target from $7 to $7.

Downgrades

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

RMBL

B. Riley Securities Downgrades RumbleON to Neutral, Maintains Price Target to $7

Truist Securities analyst Anthony Hau maintains Plymouth Industrial REIT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLYM#NYSE">PLYM</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $27 to $22.

PLYM

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Plymouth Industrial REIT, Lowers Price Target to $22

Truist Securities analyst Anthony Hau maintains Global Net Lease (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GNL#NYSE">GNL</a>) with a Hold and lowers the price target from $8.5 to $8.

Truist Securities Maintains Hold on Global Net Lease, Lowers Price Target to $8

Truist Securities analyst Anthony Hau maintains Whitestone REIT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WSR#NYSE">WSR</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $15 to $16.

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Whitestone REIT, Raises Price Target to $16

Truist Securities analyst Anthony Hau maintains Equinix (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQIX#NASDAQ">EQIX</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $935 to $1090.

EQIX

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Equinix, Raises Price Target to $1090

Truist Securities analyst David Macdonald maintains RadNet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDNT#NASDAQ">RDNT</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $80 to $94.

RDNT

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Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards American Express (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in AXP usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 14 extraordinary options activities for American Express. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 28% leaning bullish and 42% bearish. Among these notable options, 3 are puts, totaling $313,083, and 11 are calls, amounting to $515,858.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $220.0 and $370.0 for American Express, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for American Express's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of American Express's whale trades within a strike price range from $220.0 to $370.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>American Express Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732904173_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AXP</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$65.45</td>
<td>$63.7</td>
<td>$63.7</td>
<td>$370.00</td>
<td>$248.4K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td align="right">40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AXP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$34.1</td>
<td>$33.9</td>
<td>$33.9</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$81.3K</td>
<td>34.7K</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AXP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>11/29/24</td>
<td>$86.85</td>
<td>$83.9</td>
<td>$85.38</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$68.3K</td>
<td>15</td>
<td align="right">15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AXP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/29/24</td>
<td>$16.5</td>
<td>$16.05</td>
<td>$16.5</td>
<td>$290.00</td>
<td>$59.4K</td>
<td>186</td>
<td align="right">47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AXP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$15.0</td>
<td>$14.4</td>
<td>$14.56</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$58.2K</td>
<td>5.0K</td>
<td align="right">60</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About American Express</h3>
American Express is a global financial institution, operating in about 130 countries, that provides consumers and businesses charge and credit card payment products. The company also operates a highly profitable merchant payment network. Since 2018, it has operated in three segments: global consumer services, global commercial services, and global merchant and network services. In addition to payment products, the company's commercial business offers expense management tools, consulting services, and business loans.
In light of the recent options history for American Express, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of American Express</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 1,197,271, the AXP's price is up by 0.14%, now at $304.68. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 56 days.</li>
</ul>
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>.
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for American Express with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

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