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Shibuya Corp operates in the packaging machinery sector. The company offers various products system such as bottling, packaging, product handling, pharmaceutical manufacturing, regenerative medicine manufacturing, cleaning, environmental, laser working, water-jet cutting, semiconductor, medical equipment, agricultural equipment, and Food processing systems.

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The Global Engagement Center (GEC), a U.S. State Department unit established in 2016 to counter foreign disinformation, has shut down after Congress failed to extend its funding.
&#8220;The Global Engagement Center closed on December 23, 2024,&#8221; it <a target="_blank" href="https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-public-diplomacy-and-public-affairs/global-engagement-center/#:~:text=The%20Global%20Engagement%20Center%20closed%20on%20December%2023%2C%202024." rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a> on its website.
The closure comes amid growing concerns over disinformation campaigns from adversaries like Russia and China, mainly as they target global narratives and U.S. interests, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/25/us-government-agency-targeting-foreign-disinformation-shuts-down" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a> Al Jazeera.
The GEC, with a budget of $61 million and a staff of about 120, was responsible for tracking and responding to foreign propaganda.
Its closure marks the first time in eight years that the State Department will lack a dedicated office to address disinformation from global rivals, Al Jazeera adds.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42681352/us-futures-tumble-after-christmas-break-but-analysts-still-expect-a-santa-claus-rally" rel="noreferrer noopener">US Stocks Likely To Open In Red After Christmas Break But Analysts Still Expect A Santa Rally Into The New Year</a>
The decision to terminate the GEC follows persistent criticism from Republican lawmakers who accused the center of censorship and surveillance of Americans.
The center also faced attacks from high-profile figures such as Elon Musk, who labeled it for media manipulation and the &#8220;worst offender in US government censorship.&#8221;
Despite these criticisms, GEC leaders defended their work, emphasizing its importance in combating foreign propaganda.
The GEC&#8217;s closure leaves a significant gap in U.S. efforts to counter misinformation campaigns, particularly those from Russia regarding the war in Ukraine and China&#8217;s global disinformation initiatives.
In response, the State Department has said it is consulting with Congress on potential next steps.
Meanwhile, the GEC&#8217;s shutdown follows the stripping of a funding extension from the final version of the bipartisan federal spending bill passed by Congress last week, Al Jazeera further adds.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42678014/top-7-blue-chip-stocks-with-the-best-return-potential-going-into-2025" rel="noreferrer noopener">S&amp;P 500 Hits 57 All-Time Highs In Record-Breaking 2024: Magnificent 7 Drive 30% Of Nasdaq's Surge</a>

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US State Department Shuts Down Global Engagement Center Amid Funding Issues

High-rolling investors have positioned themselves bearish on AppLovin (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>), and it's important for retail traders to take note. 
\This activity came to our attention today through Benzinga's tracking of publicly available options data. The identities of these investors are uncertain, but such a significant move in APP often signals that someone has privileged information.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 11 options trades for AppLovin. This is not a typical pattern.
The sentiment among these major traders is split, with 36% bullish and 45% bearish. Among all the options we identified, there was one put, amounting to $26,710, and 10 calls, totaling $1,570,997.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $80.0 to $610.0 for AppLovin over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for AppLovin's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across AppLovin's significant trades, within a strike price range of $80.0 to $610.0, over the past month.
<h3>AppLovin 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735224350_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</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 align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>APP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$264.6</td>
<td>$263.1</td>
<td>$264.6</td>
<td>$82.50</td>
<td>$370.4K</td>
<td align="right">205</td>
<td align="right">44</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>APP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$267.3</td>
<td>$265.3</td>
<td>$265.3</td>
<td>$82.50</td>
<td>$318.3K</td>
<td align="right">205</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>APP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$51.2</td>
<td>$49.1</td>
<td>$50.0</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$250.0K</td>
<td align="right">231</td>
<td align="right">50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>APP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$266.8</td>
<td>$263.1</td>
<td>$264.6</td>
<td>$82.50</td>
<td>$211.6K</td>
<td align="right">205</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>APP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$130.9</td>
<td>$128.0</td>
<td>$128.0</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$153.6K</td>
<td align="right">91</td>
<td align="right">12</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About AppLovin</h3>
AppLovin Corp is a mobile app technology company. It focuses on growing the mobile app ecosystem by enabling the success of mobile app developers. The company's software solutions provide tools for mobile app developers to grow their businesses by automating and optimizing the marketing and monetization of their applications.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with AppLovin, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of AppLovin</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 41,399, the price of APP is down -0.63% at $339.69. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 48 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for AppLovin</h3>
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $455.0.
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>. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Macquarie continues to hold a Outperform rating for AppLovin, targeting a price of $450. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Loop Capital keeps a Buy rating on AppLovin with a target price of $450. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Stifel persists with their Buy rating on AppLovin, maintaining a target price of $435. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Citigroup continues to hold a Buy rating for AppLovin, targeting a price of $460. 
&#x2A; In a cautious move, an analyst from Oppenheimer downgraded its rating to Outperform, setting a price target of $480. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for AppLovin, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

AppLovin Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Boeing. Our analysis of options history for Boeing (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) revealed 12 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 75% of traders were bullish, while 16% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 2 were puts, with a value of $88,250, and 10 were calls, valued at $441,683.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $155.0 to $210.0 for Boeing over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Boeing's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Boeing's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $155.0 to $210.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Boeing Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735224345_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>BA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$6.0</td>
<td>$5.85</td>
<td>$6.0</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
<td>$167.4K</td>
<td>22.1K</td>
<td align="right">307</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$11.55</td>
<td>$11.45</td>
<td>$11.45</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
<td>$57.2K</td>
<td>574</td>
<td align="right">50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$29.7</td>
<td>$29.4</td>
<td>$29.7</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$41.5K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td align="right">14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$29.75</td>
<td>$29.65</td>
<td>$29.75</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$35.7K</td>
<td>3.3K</td>
<td align="right">12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$31.6</td>
<td>$30.5</td>
<td>$31.6</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$31.6K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Boeing</h3>
Boeing is a major aerospace and defense firm. It operates in three segments: commercial airplanes; defense, space, and security; and Global services. Boeing's commercial airplanes segment competes with Airbus in the production of aircraft that can carry more than 130 passengers. Boeing's defense, space, and security segment competes with Lockheed, Northrop, and several other firms to create military aircraft, satellites, and weaponry. Global services provides aftermarket support to airlines.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Boeing, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Current Position of Boeing</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 156,743, with BA's price up by 0.14%, positioned at $179.59.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 34 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 Boeing with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Unpacking the Latest Options Trading Trends in Boeing

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Alibaba Gr Hldgs.
Looking at options history for Alibaba Gr Hldgs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) we detected 9 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 66% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 11% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $59,140 and 7, calls, for a total amount of $350,500.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $75.0 to $97.5 for Alibaba Gr Hldgs over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Alibaba Gr Hldgs'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 Alibaba Gr Hldgs's whale activity within a strike price range from $75.0 to $97.5 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Alibaba Gr Hldgs Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735224340_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</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>BABA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$13.1</td>
<td>$12.9</td>
<td>$12.96</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$129.7K</td>
<td>745</td>
<td align="right">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$6.0</td>
<td>$5.8</td>
<td>$5.95</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$59.5K</td>
<td>3.5K</td>
<td align="right">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$11.9</td>
<td>$11.7</td>
<td>$11.9</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$47.6K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td align="right">40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/24/25</td>
<td>$3.1</td>
<td>$2.62</td>
<td>$3.1</td>
<td>$87.00</td>
<td>$31.0K</td>
<td>137</td>
<td align="right">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$16.7</td>
<td>$14.3</td>
<td>$15.5</td>
<td>$97.50</td>
<td>$31.0K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Alibaba Gr Hldgs</h3>
Alibaba is the world's largest online and mobile commerce company as measured by gross merchandise volume. It operates China's online marketplaces, including Taobao (consumer-to-consumer) and Tmall (business-to-consumer). The China commerce retail division is the most valuable cash flow-generating business at Alibaba. Additional revenue sources include China commerce wholesale, international commerce retail/wholesale, local consumer services, cloud computing, digital media and entertainment platforms, Cainiao logistics services, and innovation initiatives/other.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Alibaba Gr Hldgs, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Present Market Standing of Alibaba Gr Hldgs</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 239,160, the BABA's price is up by 0.39%, now at $85.85. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 41 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 Alibaba Gr Hldgs with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

BABA

This Is What Whales Are Betting On Alibaba Gr Hldgs

Trading Ideas

MGIH

Millennium Group International Shares Resume Trade

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) is trading around $95,500, down 3.4% over the past 24 hours, as on-chain data and whale activity suggest predictions of an imminent bear market <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/bitcoin-price-prediction">lack substantial evidence</a>.  
What Happened:  Ki Young Ju, founder of CryptoQuant, pointed out in a <a href="https://x.com/ki_young_ju/status/1872207964352004106">post</a> on X on Dec. 26 that whale accumulation, once market-moving news, has now become a routine phenomenon. 
This indicates a market dominated by institutional players, while retail investors remain hesitant.
A $7 billion weekly capital inflow confirms Bitcoin is in a bull cycle, not a bubble. 
A true bubble—marked by a market price far exceeding capital inflows—would spark warnings of a cyclical top, which analysts have yet to issue.
Brief corrections of up to 30% are possible but unlikely to derail the ongoing bull cycle. The cycle's peak is still distant, and predictions of a bear market lack support from on-chain data.
In another post on the same day, he <a href="https://x.com/ki_young_ju/status/1872162768570425845">revealed</a> whales are increasingly utilizing privacy transactions for accumulation. 
Of the 1.55 million BTC accumulated in 2024 through ETFs, MicroStrategy,and custodial wallets, 240,000–420,000 BTC remain unaccounted for, signalling large, unidentified buyers.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42656507/bitcoin-price-decisively-back-below-100000-what-is-going-on">Bitcoin Price Decisively Back Below $100,000: What Is Going On?</a>
Why It Matters: Traders maintain their optimism around upcoming price patterns for the crypto king.
Crypto trader Jelle sees the recent Bitcoin volatility as insignificant in the bigger picture. 
The trend remains upward, with dips acting as minor speed bumps. He advised his followers to "stay focused."
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">When you look at the grand scheme of things, it&#39;s almost as if the volatility from the past weeks does not matter.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> keep pushing higher, dips are just speed bumps along the route. Stay focussed. <a href="https://t.co/MknV2INpYu">pic.twitter.com/MknV2INpYu</a>
&mdash; Jelle (@CryptoJelleNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoJelleNL/status/1872235469372887200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
On the other hand, crypto chart analyst Ali Martinez flagged a buy signal on Bitcoin's hourly chart which implies a price rebound.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The TD Sequential presented a buy signal on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> hourly chart, anticipating a price rebound. <a href="https://t.co/AW8Ks17mRx">pic.twitter.com/AW8Ks17mRx</a>
&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1872246246263714252?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42638493/crypto-analyst-2025-will-continue-to-be-a-great-year-for-bitcoin">Crypto Analyst: &#8216;2025 Will Continue To Be a Great Year for Bitcoin&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

Bitcoin Drops 3% To $95,500: What Is Going On?

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Raymond James analyst C. Gregory Peters upgraded the rating for The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGR#NYSE">PGR</a>) from Market Perform to Outperform and announced a $305 price target. Progressive shares closed at $243.24 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PGR/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Raymond James analyst Aaron Kessler upgraded EverQuote, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVER#NASDAQ">EVER</a>) from Outperform to Strong Buy and maintained the price target of $35. EverQuote shares closed at $18.32 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/EVER/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Raghuram Selvaraju upgraded the rating for RAPT Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RAPT#NASDAQ">RAPT</a>) from Neutral to Buy and maintained the price target of $10. RAPT Therapeutics shares closed at $1.73 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/RAPT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying PGR stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="598" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26093624/image-210-1024x598.png" alt="" class="wp-image-707746" style="width:365px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26093624/image-210-1024x598.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26093624/image-210-300x175.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26093624/image-210-768x448.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26093624/image-210.png 1057w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42669200/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-give-their-take-on-3-utilities-stocks-with-over-4-dividend-yields">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Give Their Take On 3 Utilities Stocks With Over 4% Dividend Yields</a></li>
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Upgrades

Analyst Ratings

EVER

RAPT

This Progressive Analyst Turns Bullish; Here Are Top 3 Upgrades For Thursday

Millennium Group International Shares Halted To The Upside; Stock Now Up 245.75%

WIIM

AMPG

AmpliTech Group shares are trading lower after the company announced the pricing of a $5.8 million registered direct offering for 1.87 million shares at $3.10 per share.

KULR Technology Group Inc (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KULR#AMEX">KULR</a>) shares are trading higher Thursday after the company announced a Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) purchase under its newly-adopted <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/g42683875/kulr-launches-bitcoin-treasury-with-purchase-of-217-18-bitcoin-for-21-million">Bitcoin Treasury strategy</a>. 
What To Know: At the beginning of December, KULR announced plans to include Bitcoin as a primary asset in its treasury program. The company said that it planned to allocate up to 90% of its surplus cash to Bitcoin. 
&#8220;Given the unique characteristics of BTC, it provides long term appreciation and a bulwark against geopolitical, inflationary, and other macro-economic and political trends affecting all developed economies,&#8221; said Michael Mo, chairman and CEO of KULR Technology.
On Thursday, KULR announced that it purchased 217.18 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BTC-USD">Bitcoin</a> for approximately $21 million. The purchases were made at an average price of $96,556.53 per Bitcoin. 
KULR selected Coinbase Prime for wallet services for its Bitcoin. The company noted that this is the first purchase in a string of expected ongoing purchases the company expects to make going forward under its Bitcoin Treasury strategy. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42682141/dogecoin-price-down-4-what-is-going-on">Dogecoin Price Down 4%: What Is Going On?</a>
KULR Price Action: <a href="http://benzinga.com/quote/KULR">KULR Technology shares</a> were up 2.19% at $3.49 at the time of publication, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo: Shutterstock.

Movers

KULR

What's Going On With KULR Technology Group Stock Today?

In the current market session, Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XEL#NASDAQ">XEL</a>) share price is at $68.58, after a 0.54% spike. Moreover, over the past month, the stock decreased by 6.37%, but in the past year, increased by 9.74%. Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is overvalued, even if the company is performing up to par in the current session. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735223411_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>Xcel Energy P/E Ratio Analysis in Relation to Industry 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. 
Xcel Energy has a better P/E ratio of 20.24 than the aggregate P/E ratio of 17.84 of the Electric Utilities industry. Ideally, one might believe that Xcel Energy 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/2024/1735223411_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In conclusion, the price-to-earnings ratio is a useful metric for analyzing a company's market performance, but it has its limitations. While a lower P/E can indicate that a company is undervalued, it can also suggest that shareholders do not expect future growth. Additionally, the P/E ratio should not be used in isolation, as other factors such as industry trends and business cycles can also impact a company's stock price. Therefore, investors should use the P/E ratio in conjunction with other financial metrics and qualitative analysis to make informed investment decisions.

Intraday Update

Price Over Earnings Overview: Xcel Energy

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/yield-investments"> high dividend payout</a>.
Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Traders can sort through Benzinga's extensive database of analyst ratings, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">by analyst accuracy</a>.
Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the communication services sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 6.81%</li>
<li>UBS analyst John Hodulik maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $44 to $45 on Dec. 20. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 76%.</li>
<li>Scotiabank analyst Maher Yaghi maintained a Sector Perform rating and cut the price target from $47.25 to $47 on Oct. 23. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 62%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Dec. 23, Vertical Bridge completed $3.3 billion tower transaction with Verizon.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">latest VZ 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=BZprocontent122624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="911" height="848" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26092320/image-207.png" alt="" class="wp-image-707724" style="width:631px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26092320/image-207.png 911w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26092320/image-207-300x279.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26092320/image-207-768x715.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 911px) 100vw, 911px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sinclair, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBGI#NASDAQ">SBGI</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 6.29%</li>
<li>Guggenheim analyst Curry Baker maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $18 to $19 on Oct. 19. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 60%.</li>
<li>JP Morgan analyst David Karnovsky maintained an Underweight rating and raised the price target from $14 to $16 on Nov. 12. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 69%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Dec. 17, Sinclair expanded Broadcast Network Footprint of TBD TV through partnership with FOX in top 10 DMAs.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">latest SBGI 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=BZprocontent122624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="906" height="836" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26092359/image-208.png" alt="" class="wp-image-707726" style="width:597px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26092359/image-208.png 906w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26092359/image-208-300x277.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26092359/image-208-768x709.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 906px) 100vw, 906px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Playtika Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTK#NASDAQ">PLTK</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 5.88%</li>
<li>Roth MKM analyst Eric Handler maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $8 to $9 on Nov. 8. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 72%.</li>
<li>Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter reiterated an Outperform rating and a price target of $11.5 on Sept. 19. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 64%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Dec. 20, Playtika announced a partnership with IGT, a global gaming leader.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s charting tool helped identify the <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">trend in PLTK 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=BZprocontent122624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="903" height="841" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26092457/image-209.png" alt="" class="wp-image-707729" style="width:600px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26092457/image-209.png 903w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26092457/image-209-300x279.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26092457/image-209-768x715.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 903px) 100vw, 903px" /></a></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="How to Find Dividend Stocks: Scan, Analyze, and Capture with Benzinga Pro" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pVF0O2lsEH4?start=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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</figure>
Read More: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42669200/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-give-their-take-on-3-utilities-stocks-with-over-4-dividend-yields">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Give Their Take On 3 Utilities Stocks With Over 4% Dividend Yields</a></li>
</ul>

Dividends

Price Target

Pre-Market Outlook

PLTK

SBGI

Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts Weigh In On 3 Tech And Telecom Stocks With Over 5% Dividend Yields

Toyota Motor Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TM#NYSE">TM</a>) shares are trading higher Thursday following reports the company is targeting higher <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/12/42680713/tesla-toyota-and-3-stocks-to-watch-heading-into-thursday">return-on-equity</a>. 
What To Know: According to a Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-26/toyota-shares-gain-second-day-after-report-on-roe-target?embedded-checkout=true">report</a> citing Nikkei Asia, Toyota shares jumped on Thursday morning on reports the Japanese automaker is planning to significantly increase its target for return-on-equity. 
A Toyota executive reportedly said the company plans to double its target to around 20%, although the unspecified executive noted that the company has not set an &#8220;explicit target&#8221; or deadline for its goal.
"The company would need to boost earnings from the value chain, in order to further propel profit margins upward," Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities analyst Shinji Kakiuchi reportedly said in a new note.
"We'll also be watching for Toyota, as a part of moves to improve capital efficiency, to take funds from selling its equity holdings to bolster shareholder returns further."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42681352/us-futures-tumble-after-christmas-break-but-analysts-still-expect-a-santa-claus-rally">US Stocks Likely To Open In Red After Christmas Break But Analysts Still Expect A Santa Rally Into The New Year</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Is TM A Good Stock To Buy?</h3>
When deciding whether to buy a stock, there are some key fundamentals investors may want to consider. One of these factors is revenue growth. Buying a stock is essentially a bet that the business will continue to grow and generate profits in the future.
Toyota Motor has reported average annual revenue growth of 6.86% over the past five years.
It's also important to pay attention to valuation when deciding whether to buy a stock. Toyota Motor has a forward P/E ratio of 9.49. This means investors are paying $9.49 for each dollar of expected earnings in the future. The average forward P/E ratio of Toyota Motor's peers is 37.96.
Other important metrics to look at include a company's profitability, balance sheet, performance relative to a benchmark index and valuation compared to peers. For in-depth analysis tools and important financial data, check out <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga PRO</a>. 
TM Price Action:<a href="http://benzinga.com/quote/tm"> Toyota Motor shares</a> were up 7.48% at $195.01 at the time of publication Thursday, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo: Shutterstock.

Toyota Motor Stock Is Trading Higher Thursday: What's Driving The Action?

SciSparc Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPRC#NASDAQ">SPRC</a>) shares are rocketing on Thursday after it disclosed that AutoMax Motors Ltd., an Israeli automotive importer and distributor with which it has a merger agreement, has received its $13 million first delivery of JAC vehicles from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/g42681304/scisparc-automax-announces-13-million-first-delivery-of-jac-vehicles-following-regulatory-approval" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Co., Ltd</a>. (JAC Motors).
This marks a key milestone in AutoMax&#8217;s direct import and distribution operations initiated earlier this year under agreements with JAC Motors.
With regulatory approvals in place, AutoMax is set to begin marketing and sales activities for JAC Motors vehicles across Israel.
SciSparc has provided financial support to AutoMax, enabling the resources necessary to facilitate the JAC Motors transaction.
As part of its growth strategy, SciSparc entered into a merger agreement with AutoMax in April 2024.
If completed, this merger would expand SciSparc into the automotive sector, subject to shareholder approval and other closing conditions.
This month, SciSparc disclosed an amendment to its non-binding letter of intent (LOI) regarding the spin-off of its advanced clinical-stage pharmaceutical portfolio and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/g42505822/scisparc-provides-updates-on-status-of-spin-off-of-its-advanced-clinical-stage-pharmaceutical-port" rel="noreferrer noopener">equity stake in </a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/g42505822/scisparc-provides-updates-on-status-of-spin-off-of-its-advanced-clinical-stage-pharmaceutical-port" rel="noreferrer noopener">SciSparc Nutraceuticals Inc</a>.
Price Action: SPRC shares are trading higher by 256% at $0.7874 premarket at the last check Thursday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/09/41107692/pharma-company-gets-fda-green-light-for-next-phase-trial-for-tourette-syndrome" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pharma Company Gets FDA Green Light For Next Phase Trial For Tourette Syndrome</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock.

Equities

Small Cap

SPRC

SciSparc Shares Skyrocket With AutoMax's First JAC Motors Shipment

Offerings

AmpliTech Group Prices $5.8M Registered Direct Offering For 1.87M Shares At $3.10 Per Share To Support Growth Initiatives

<ul>
<li>TSLA</li>
<li>NVDA</li>
<li>LUNR</li>
<li>AMD</li>
<li>ACHR</li>
<li>QQQ</li>
<li>$BTC</li>
<li>MSTR</li>
<li>PLTR</li>
<li>GOOGL</li>
</ul>
Data from <a href="https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment">https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment</a>
&nbsp;

ACHR

GOOGL

LUNR

MSTR

NVDA

PLTR

TSLA

Top 10 Trending Stocks On WallStreetBets As Of December 26, 2024 (Via Swaggy Stocks)

UBS analyst Jay Sole reiterates Nike (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) with a Neutral and maintains $73 price target.

Reiteration

UBS Reiterates Neutral on Nike, Maintains $73 Price Target

In the current market session, Domino's Pizza Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DPZ#NYSE">DPZ</a>) share price is at $431.24, after a 0.06% increase. Moreover, over the past month, the stock fell by 9.49%, but in the past year, increased by 4.55%. Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is overvalued, even if the company is performing up to par in the current session. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735222516_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>Domino's Pizza P/E Compared to Competitors</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. 
Domino's Pizza has a lower P/E than the aggregate P/E of 81.76 of the Hotels, Restaurants &amp; Leisure industry. Ideally, one might believe that the stock might perform worse than its peers, but it's also probable that the stock is undervalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735222516_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.

Price Over Earnings Overview: Domino's Pizza

OPTN

OptiNose shares are trading lower after the company announced a 1-for-15 reverse stock split.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/big-banks?page=5" rel="noreferrer noopener">Major U.S. banks</a>, including JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), and Citigroup (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), filed a lawsuit against the Federal Reserve on Tuesday, challenging the transparency of its annual stress test procedures.
Leading banking and business organizations, including the Bank Policy Institute (BPI), American Bankers Association (ABA), U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Bankers League, and Ohio Chamber of Commerce, joined the <a target="_blank" href="https://bpi.com/banks-and-business-groups-file-legal-challenge-against-federal-reserve-over-flawed-stress-testing-framework/" rel="noreferrer noopener">lawsuit </a>against the Federal Reserve. These tests, which assess banks&#8217; resilience during economic crises, are a cornerstone of financial risk management. However, the plaintiffs argue that the current system violates federal law by excluding required public input.
The litigation addresses long-standing concerns about the opacity of the Federal Reserve&#8217;s stress testing procedures, which the plaintiffs claim lead to excessive and volatile capital requirements. These charges, they say, hinder banks&#8217; ability to lend, support households and businesses, and contribute to economic growth. While acknowledging the importance of stress testing, the groups emphasize the need for reforms to create a fairer and more predictable regulatory environment.
Greg Baer, CEO of the BPI, stated that the current regime results in inaccurate and excessive capital charges, which reduce lending and stifle economic growth.
Rob Nichols, CEO of the ABA, criticized the stress tests for shielding critical supervisory models from public scrutiny.
Michael Adelman, CEO of the Ohio Bankers League, stressed that the lawsuit is about enforcing compliance with federal laws.
Tom Quaadman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce highlighted the detrimental effects of the current system on small businesses, which rely on bank lending for growth.
The lawsuit follows the Fed&#8217;s <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/bcreg20241223a.htm">recent </a>announcement to overhaul its stress test regime and seek public input on proposed changes in early 2025, the Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/regulation/banks-sue-federal-reserve-over-lack-of-transparency-in-stress-testing-0db6a002" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
The lawsuit highlights the economic implications of unexpected capital burdens, stating they could impose &#8220;billions of dollars&#8221; in costs and negatively impact the broader economy.
The banks also noted that a statute of limitations on stress-test rule changes will expire in February, prompting their decision to file the suit now.
The latest test assessed how banks would manage a 40% decline in commercial real estate prices and a 36% drop in house prices.
The Federal Reserve evaluates these results to determine the total capital banks need to absorb potential losses, the Financial Times <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/56def327-dbf7-42f1-8aba-218259ebd4a1" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
Since the 2008 financial crisis, banks have faced increased regulatory scrutiny, including stringent capital requirements.
Executives like Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase and Brian Moynihan of Bank of America have criticized these rules for driving financial activities into less transparent markets.
The Federal Reserve&#8217;s Vice Chair for Supervision, Michael Barr, had proposed raising capital requirements for large banks but delayed those plans following industry opposition.
Six leading <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/06/39506407/6-biggest-us-banks-ramp-up-buybacks-undeterred-by-stress-tests" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. banks, including</a> JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo &amp; Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), and Citigroup repurchased over $14 billion in shares in the first quarter.
In June, Bank of America analyst Ebrahim H. Poonawala criticized the Federal Reserve&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/06/39531404/bank-of-america-analyst-highlights-fed-stress-test-opacity-varying-bank-impacts-gol" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress test process</a>, highlighting its &#8220;inherent opacity.&#8221; These evaluations, which assess banks&#8217; resilience under severe economic scenarios, revealed varying impacts on capital requirements. Poonawala noted that while banks demonstrated adequate buffers, the tests showed higher-than-expected losses.
In June, JPMorgan analyst Vivek Juneja analyzed the Federal Reserve&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/06/39536951/bank-stress-tests-much-bigger-surprise-than-expected-will-delay-future-investment-p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">annual stress test results</a>, highlighting larger-than-expected increases in stress capital buffers for major banks. He noted that the elevated capital requirements could delay or reduce long-term capital return strategies for these institutions.
Image via Shutterstock.

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