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The Fund is an actively managed exchange traded fund that attempts to achieve 1.5 times the inverse (-150%) of the daily percentage change in the price of the Underlying Security by entering into swap agreements on the Underlying Security. The Fund aims to generate 1.5 times the inverse of the daily performance of the Underlying Security for a single day, and not for any other period. A single day is defined as being calculated from the close of regular trading on one trading day to the close on the next trading day.

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Ahead of the latest Windows 11 update, users are reporting significant issues that could disrupt their workflow. Here&#8217;s what you need to know about the problem and how to address it.
What Happened: According to Microsoft Corp.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2024/10/02/microsoft-issues-new-windows-11-blue-screen-warning-for-all-users/?ref=biztoc.com">update</a> released on Sep. 26, the latest Windows 11 update has been causing some devices to restart multiple times or become unresponsive with blue or green screens.
Microsoft reported that affected devices might automatically open the Automatic Repair tool after repeated restart attempts. In some instances, BitLocker recovery can also be triggered. The company is currently investigating the issue and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
The problematic update applies to Windows 11 Enterprise and Education, version 22H2, and Windows 11 version 23H2, all editions. Users experiencing these issues are advised to follow Microsoft&#8217;s guidelines for a temporary fix.
To address the problem, Microsoft suggests using the <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/group-policy/use-group-policy-to-deploy-known-issue-rollback">Known Issue Rollback</a> (KIR) technology, which allows users to roll back specific changes applied by nonsecurity updates without uninstalling the entire update. This rollback is temporary and will no longer be necessary once a new update is released to fix the issue.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41087287/elon-musk-responds-after-y-combinators-paul-graham-says-twitter-name-change-was-a-waste-of-time-you?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Responds After Y Combinator&#8217;s Paul Graham Says Twitter Name Change &#8216;Was A Waste Of Time:&#8217; &#8216;You&nbsp;Know Nothing&#8217;</a>
Microsoft continues to support Enterprise and Education editions of Windows 11 after Oct. 8. However, Home and Pro editions of Windows 11, version 22H2, will reach the end of service on that date and will only receive security updates until then.
Why It Matters: This isn&#8217;t the first time has faced issues with its updates. Back in July, a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/39854612/windows-pcs-crash-worldwide-with-users-experiencing-blue-screen-of-death-issue-crowdstrike-updat">faulty update</a> from CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWD#NASDAQ">CRWD</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/39854612/windows-pcs-crash-worldwide-with-users-experiencing-blue-screen-of-death-issue-crowdstrike-updat">caused a global IT outage</a>, leading to the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) for many users. This incident was considered one of the largest IT outages in history, affecting critical infrastructure worldwide, including airlines, banks, and media services.
In a LinkedIn post, Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39875506/crowdstrikes-faulty-microsoft-windows-update-gets-slammed-by-us-cybersecurity-official-was-a-huge-de">criticized the Crowdstrike update</a> as a &#8220;serious mistake&#8221; and emphasized its significant impact on global operations. The CEO of CrowdStrike, George Kurtz, took full responsibility and committed to resolving the issue collaboratively.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41078848/openai-execs-feared-chatgpt-parent-would-collapse-after-departure-of-ilya-sutskever-tried-to-woo-him?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI Execs Feared ChatGPT-Parent Would Collapse After Departure Of Ilya Sutskever, Tried To Woo Him Back And Almost Succeeded: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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MSFT

Another Blue Screen Day? Microsoft's Windows 11 Reboot Might Cause Temporary Glitches. Here's How To Fix Them

Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) may have retraced significantly this week, but whale investors have still not given up on the king of meme coins yet.
What Happened: On Tuesday, popular blockchain research firm Santiment took to X to share its findings of Dogecoin&#8217;s recent performance. The firm noted a significant 18% drop from its recent highs on Saturday but highlighted that whales were still very active on the network.
The total number of addresses involved in DOGE transactions daily surged to 63,689 in the past three days, marking the largest 3-day growth in six months. 
Additionally, more than 1,200 transactions worth over $100,000 were recorded preceding the local top on Saturday, the highest whale activity since May 26-28.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f436; Dogecoin has retraced -18% from its top back on Saturday. But on-chain activity indicates that whales may not be done with all the bullish momentum of crypto&#39;s top meme coin. Though they took profit just before the top, their activity remains very high on DOGE&#39;s network. <a href="https://t.co/FsmWJGkSE6">pic.twitter.com/FsmWJGkSE6</a>
&mdash; Santiment (@santimentfeed) <a href="https://twitter.com/santimentfeed/status/1841360170103832995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
&#8220;Though they took profit just before the top, their activity remains very high on DOGE&#8217;s network,&#8221; remarked Santiment.
DOGE&#8217;s bullish potential was also underlined by widely followed cryptocurrency trader Ali Martinez. In an X post, he observed the formation of a MACD bullish crossover on the weekly chart.
Citing history, Martinez said that previous occurrences of MACD bullish crossovers preceded rallies of 90% and 180%, respectively.
The MACD is primarily used to gauge an asset&#8217;s overall trend. When the MACD line crosses above the signal line, the sentiment is bullish, and when it crosses below the signal line, the sentiment is bearish.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The last two times <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dogecoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dogecoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24DOGE&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$DOGE</a> had a MACD bullish crossover on the weekly chart, it rallied 90% and 180%, respectively. A new MACD bullish crossover could be forming soon! <a href="https://t.co/1YfefMe36i">pic.twitter.com/1YfefMe36i</a>
&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1841322213024444556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41134194/odds-of-tim-walz-winning-the-vp-debate-drop-on-polymarket-as-bettors-favor-jd-vance-harris">Odds Of Tim Walz Winning The VP Debate Drop On Polymarket As Bettors Favor JD Vance — Harris Maintains Lead Over Trump</a>
Why It Matters: This analysis comes in the wake of a broader slump in the cryptocurrency market after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/10/41126038/iran-attacks-israel-with-missiles-middle-east-tensions-escalates-s-p-500-stocks-bitcoin-fall-as-oil">news of Iran&#8217;s missile attack on Israel</a> heightened fears of a full-blown war and economic trouble. 
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>) were down 3% and 6%, respectively, while the total market capitalization contracted more than 4% over the last 24 hours.
A pseudonymous cryptocurrency trader, Master Kenobi, predicted last month that Dogecoin would outperform Bitcoin in the current market cycle, as it has in past cycles. 
He argued that Dogecoin has been able to leverage Bitcoin's trajectory, benefiting from the groundwork laid by the apex cryptocurrency, and stands to benefit from the &#8220;follower&#8221; effect.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Dogecoin was exchanging hands at $0.1083, down 8.6% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41134673/gary-gensler-led-sec-scores-a-win-over-crypto-firm-accused-of-securities-law-violation">Gary Gensler-Led SEC Scores A Win Over Crypto Firm Accused Of Securities Law Violation</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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Markets

$DOGE

$ETH

DOGE

Is Dogecoin's Bullish Momentum Over After 18% Retreat From Recent Highs? Not Yet, Say Analysts

<a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/saudi-minister-warns-of-50-oil-as-opec-members-flout-production-curbs-216dc070?mod=hp_lead_pos4" title="https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/saudi-minister-warns-of-50-oil-as-opec-members-flout-production-curbs-216dc070?mod=hp_lead_pos4">https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/saudi-minister-warns-of-50-oil-as-opec-members-flout-production-curbs-216dc070?mod=hp_lead_pos4</a>

Commodities

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

The Wall Street Journal Reported Earlier, Saudi Oil Minister Said Prices May Fall To $50/Barrel If Others Cheat, Citing Sources

Health Care

MODV

Tuesday, ModivCare Amended Its Credit Agreement, Dated February 3, 2022 With JP Morgan Chase Bank, Along With Other Key Lenders,  The Company Has Also Collected All Of ~$60M In Contract Receivables That Were Previously Reported As Delayed

The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/nlrb">National Labor Relations Board</a> has reportedly filed a complaint against Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) on Monday, alleging that the tech giant compelled its employees to sign illegal confidentiality, non-compete, and non-disclosure agreements.
What Happened: The complaint also claims that Apple excessively enforced social media and misconduct policies. The NLRB&#8217;s statement, seen by Reuters, accuses Apple of &#8220;interfering with, restraining, and coercing employees in the exercise of&#8221; their rights under federal labor law.
The case will reportedly be heard by an administrative judge in January.
The NLRB is seeking Apple to revoke its unlawful rules and inform its employees of their legal rights.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41087674/openais-searchgpt-set-to-disrupt-googles-search-empire-as-former-engineer-sounds-alarm-on-deteriorat?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI&#8217;s SearchGPT Set To Disrupt Google&#8217;s Search Empire As Former Engineer Sounds Alarm On Deteriorating User Experience</a>
These allegations trace back to a September 2021 case involving Ashley Gjovik, a former senior engineering program manager, who was allegedly fired for raising issues like harassment and sexism.
In May, the NLRB found that Apple conducted unauthorized interrogations of employees at its World Trade Center retail store in New York City.
Apple did not immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga's</a> comment request.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: This complaint comes amid a backdrop of increasing unionization efforts within Apple&#8217;s retail stores.
In July, Apple made history by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/40001398/apple-makes-history-with-first-us-union-labor-agreement">reaching its first U.S. union labor agreement</a> with retail workers in Towson, Maryland. This marked a significant milestone for the company, as it was the first time any of its U.S. workers had successfully unionized.
The Towson Apple store employees, members of the International Association of Machinists union since June 2022, had been negotiating their first contract and even authorized a strike in May without setting a deadline.
Additionally, Apple has faced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38193281/apple-faces-increased-union-efforts-from-new-jersey-store-will-previous-attempts-in-maryland-oklahom">increased union efforts from other locations</a>, including a New Jersey store. Previous unionization attempts in Maryland and Oklahoma have influenced these efforts.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41078848/openai-execs-feared-chatgpt-parent-would-collapse-after-departure-of-ilya-sutskever-tried-to-woo-him?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI Execs Feared ChatGPT-Parent Would Collapse After Departure Of Ilya Sutskever, Tried To Woo Him Back</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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AAPL

Apple Accused Of Violating Federal Law Over Alleged Illegal Employee Agreements: NLRB Hearing Set For January

In the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41134015/jd-vance-tim-walz-debate-sets-a-different-tone-candidates-discuss-israel-iran-escalation-immigration">debate between vice presidential nominees,</a> Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) held late Tuesday, the latter was slightly ahead, flash polls by CNN showed.
What Happened: Fifty-one percent of the registered voters who watched the debate picked Vance as the winner of Tuesday&#8217;s debate, the CNN instant poll by SSRS <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/vance-walz-debate-cbs-10-01-24/index.html">showed.</a> A more modest 49% opined that Walz won the face-off.
The poll was conducted by text message with 574 registered voters who said they watched the debate, and the results for the full sample of debate watchers have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 5.3 percentage points.
Fifty-nine percent of debate watchers said they had a favorable view of the Democratic vice presidential candidate Walz and only 22% viewed him unfavorably, giving him a net positive favorability rating of 37 points. Ahead of the debate, he had a net positive positive favorability rating of 14 points (46% favorable and 32% unfavorable).
Meanwhile, debate watchers had a net negative favorability rating of three points for Republican nominee Vance (41% favorable and 44% unfavorable). This marked a solid improvement from the net negative 22-point favorability rating for him ahead of the debate (30% favorable, 52% unfavorable).
The pollster noted that debate watchers contacted were three points likelier to be Democratic-aligned than Republican-aligned, which is about five points more Democratic-leaning than all registered voters nationally. The composition is different from the audience of the two presidential debates this year, with both GOP-leaning than the potential American electorate overall. 
When asked whether either of the candidates was qualified to serve as president if needed, 65% said Walz would fit the bill and 58% said Vance had credentials to serve as president. The proportion who felt the same about both were 62% and 50%, respectively, ahead of the debate.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41134194/odds-of-tim-walz-winning-the-vp-debate-drop-on-polymarket-as-bettors-favor-jd-vance-harris#google_vignette">Odds Of Tim Walz Winning The VP Debate Drop On Polymarket As Bettors Favor JD Vance — Harris Maintains Lead Over Trump</a>
Why It&#8217;s Important: The presidential election is just a little over a month away, and ever since Vice President Kamala Harris replaced President Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41118749/trump-vs-harris-poll-finds-vice-president-has-energized-this-largest-voting-bloc-as-her-economic-pro">she has pushed slightly ahead in the race.</a> Given a second debate between Trump and Harris is unlikely, the outcome of the vice presidential debate was keenly watched.
A post by X handle @EndTribalism summed up the debate as &#8220;America won.&#8221; &#8220;The amount of times the words &#8216;I agree with just about all of that but..&#8217; were said tonight was beautiful,&#8221; the post said. &#8220;The main takeaway is that most Americans agree on what the issues of America are, we just slightly disagree on how to solve them.&#8221;
Following the debate, Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113235598943240962">applauded </a>his running mate on the Truth Social platform. &#8220;JD crushed it! Walz was a Low IQ Disaster &#8211; Very much like Kamala. Our Country would never be able to recover from an Administration of these two,&#8221; the former president said. &#8220;Can you imagine them representing us with sharp, fierce Foreign Leaders? I can't!&#8221;
Did You Know?
<ul>
<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
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Politics

Media

Vance Vs. Walz: Flash Poll Picks This Candidate As Tuesday's Debate Winner, But He Falls Short In Favorability Rating

General Motors (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) sold 32,095 electric vehicles in the third quarter in the U.S., marking a jump of about 46% from the prior quarter, thanks to the introduction of new electric models.
What Happened: GM sold 32,095 EVs in the three months through the end of September, with the Chevrolet Equinox EV accounting for a majority of the deliveries. 
GM started deliveries of the Equinox EV in May 2024. In the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39612749/60-000-cadillac-lyriq-drives-gms-q2-ev-sales-after-bolt-is-discontinued"> second quarter</a>, the company delivered only 1,013 units of the vehicle. However, in the third quarter, delivery numbers rose to 9,772 units.
The SUV&#8217;s entry-level variant starts at about $35,000, lower than Tesla&#8217;s Model Y SUV or Ford&#8217;s Mustang Mach-E.
Other best-selling EVs in the quarter include the Cadillac Lyriq and the Blazer EV. The company also sold 387 units of the Sierra EV electric pickup truck after it commenced deliveries in August.
Bolt EV sales in the quarter, however, dropped by about 99% in the quarter after the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40646381/gm-to-move-brightdrop-electric-vans-under-the-chevrolet-brand">discontinued its production in late 2023.</a> 
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>EV Model</td>
<td>Q3 Deliveries </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cadillac Lyriq</td>
<td>7,224</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chevrolet Blazer EV</td>
<td>7,998</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chevrolet Bolt EV</td>
<td>168</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chevrolet Equinox EV</td>
<td>9,772</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chevrolet Silverado EV</td>
<td>1,995</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GMC Hummer EV</td>
<td>4,305</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GMC Sierra EV</td>
<td>387</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BrightDrop Zevo 400/600</td>
<td>246</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Total EV Deliveries</td>
<td>32,095</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: GM</figcaption></figure>
Why It Matters: GM currently has the longest EV lineup among major U.S. EV players including EV giant Tesla. 
Tesla&#8217;s current lineup has just five vehicles- Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X, and the Cybertruck.
Dearborn-based Ford Motor Co, meanwhile, has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40525705/fords-e-transit-van-could-be-its-golden-goose-until-new-evs-start-rolling-out-in-2026">only three EV offerings</a> in the U.S.- the Mustang Mach-E SUV, the F-150 Lightning pickup truck, and the E-transit van.
GM&#8217;s total vehicle deliveries in the quarter, however, dropped 2.2% to 659,601 units, owing to a drop in deliveries of gas-powered vehicles including the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Silverado HD. 
Price Action: GM shares closed up 0.1% at $44.88 on Tuesday. The stock is up 24.5% year-to-date, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read More:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41135581/tesla-discontinues-cheapest-model-3-variant-entry-level-trim-now-starts-at-42-490">Tesla Discontinues Cheapest Model 3 Variant: Entry Level Trim Now Starts At $42,490</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Chevrolet

GM's EV Sales Rise In Q3 On The Back Of New Models: Chevrolet Equinox EV Tops Charts

AerCap Holdings N.V. ("AerCap" or the "Company") (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AER#NYSE">AER</a>) today announced that it has signed lease agreements with Azerbaijan Airlines ("AZAL") for six new Airbus CFM LEAP powered aircraft, including three A320neos and three A321neos which are scheduled to deliver in 2026.
The lease agreements were signed by Samir Rzayev, President of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC, and Peter Anderson, Chief Commercial Officer of AerCap.
"AerCap is delighted to welcome AZAL as a new customer and support them with their ongoing fleet and network expansion," said Peter Anderson, the Chief Commercial Officer of AerCap. "The A320neo and A321neo are among the most desirable and in-demand aircraft in the world and will not only enable AZAL to serve more customers across more destinations but will also support their commitment to modernizing their fleet with the most technologically advanced fuel-efficient aircraft on the market. We wish the AZAL team every success with their expansion plans and look forward to a long and successful partnership."
"The signing of these six leases significantly expands our fleet replacement, in particular with the popular A321neo. These aircraft are intended to meet the evolving needs of our passengers, providing them with maximum comfort and convenience, while also contributing to the expansion of our airline's route network. We aim to create better travel opportunities and meet customer expectations by opening new destinations and improving service quality. In addition, the document signed with a major company like AerCap further demonstrates AZAL's strong credibility in the international aviation market," said Samir Rzayev, AZAL President.

AerCap Signs Lease with Azerbaijan Airlines for Six New Airbus A320neo and A321neo Aircraft

VEON

VEON Announced That Its Operating Companies Mobilink Microfinance Bank And Banglalink Have Been Recognized For Their Work In Digital Inclusion With Three Awards At The M360 APAC – GSMA's Annual Flagship Event For The Asia Pacific Region

Eaton Vance Massachusetts Municipal Income Trust

MultiMetaVerse Announced That It Has Entered Into A Non-binding Term Sheet With Bowong Technology To Acquire All Of The Shares At A Consideration Valuation Of $0.75 Per Share

The thesis that Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) would keep investors' wealth secured during geopolitical risks was negated after the leading cryptocurrency plunged along with stocks over fears of a full-fledged war in the Middle East.
What happened: The world's largest cryptocurrency slipped below $62,000, down about 3.52%, as news of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/10/41126038/iran-attacks-israel-with-missiles-middle-east-tensions-escalates-s-p-500-stocks-bitcoin-fall-as-oil">Iran launching a missile barrage toward Israel</a> spooked markets.&nbsp;
The decline mirrored a slump in the stock market, with blue-chip indexes like the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&amp;P 500 closing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41133816/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-crack-on-israel-iran-war-fears-legendary-trader-flags-significan">Tuesday's trading session in the red</a>.
Bitcoin&#8217;s slump called into question its &#8216;store of value&#8217; moniker, which has been frequently championed by proponents seeking to establish equivalency with gold.
On the contrary, spot gold rose more than 1% to $2,666 per ounce following the development, to later retreat below $2,500 as the missile barrage ended.&nbsp;
In fact, Tether Gold (CRYPTO: XauT), a cryptocurrency backed by physical gold, was among the market's biggest gainers in the last 24 hours.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41102705/pay-taxes-with-bitcoin-ohio-senator-proposes-bill-for-crypto-tax-payments-but-theres-a-cat">Pay Taxes With Bitcoin? Ohio Senator Proposes Bill For Crypto Tax Payments, But There&#8217;s A Catch</a>
Precious metals analyst Jesse Colombo called Bitcoin a risk asset like any other "high-flying tech stocks," arguing that it invariably falls during geopolitical fears.
However, cryptocurrency analyst Timothy Peterson rebutted, saying that both Bitcoin and gold protect against debasement, though gold has a 6,000-year head start on Bitcoin.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Bitcoin and crypto always tank when there are geopolitical fears, unlike precious metals. That confirms my long-held belief that crypto is not a safe-haven. It&#39;s yet another risk asset just like high-flying tech stocks. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24GLD&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$GLD</a> <a href="https://t.co/SBLgLgdpKB">pic.twitter.com/SBLgLgdpKB</a>
&mdash; Jesse Colombo (@TheBubbleBubble) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBubbleBubble/status/1841123937125576757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: The latest developments cast a shadow on the cryptocurrency market's next moves.
In a note to Benzinga, Chris Kline, COO and Co-Founder of BitcoinIRA, stated that war fears would create headwinds for high-risk investments.&nbsp;
"This potent combination of regional conflicts, evolving monetary landscapes, and looming political shifts sets the stage for a period of significant market unpredictability in the weeks ahead," Kline anticipated.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $61,680.41, down 3.56% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Image Via Shutterstock
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41120425/arthur-hayes-cites-money-printing-as-key-factor-for-bitcoin-becoming-the-best-performing-a">Arthur Hayes Cites &#8216;Money Printing&#8217; As Key Factor For Bitcoin Becoming The &#8216;Best Performing Asset&#8217; In History</a></li>
</ul>

Bitcoin's Safe Haven Narrative Comes Under Pressure Amid Iran-Israel War Fears, Investors Prefer Gold During Crisis

In a recent interview, Michael Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy, predicted a significant boost for Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) with the advent of options trading on ETFs. This forecast comes amidst ongoing discussions about the Federal Reserve&#8217;s interest rate decisions and their potential impact on Bitcoin prices.
What Happened: Novogratz, speaking to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/10/01/galaxy-ceo-mike-novogratz-the-next-big-jolt-to-bitcoin-will-be-options-that-trade-on-etfs.html">CNBC </a>on Tuesday, emphasized that the next catalyst for Bitcoin will be the introduction of options trading on ETFs. He noted that while the market had expected a quicker rollout, the process has been slower than anticipated. However, he remains optimistic that the introduction of these options will be transformative for Bitcoin.
&#8220;The next big jolt to bitcoin is going to be when we have options that trade on the ETFs. The SEC said they are coming. I don&#8217;t know if it&#8217;s in three weeks or a month,&#8221; Novogratz said.
Novogratz highlighted that platforms are gradually beginning to offer these options, and this trend is expected to continue. He drew a parallel to MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), which offers leverage on Bitcoin for retail investors and trades at more than twice the value of its Bitcoin holdings, largely due to options trading.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41105426/if-you-invested-1-000-in-dogecoin-when-mark-cuban-and-the-dallas-mavericks-welcomed-the-me?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">If You Invested $1,000 In Dogecoin When Mark Cuban And The Dallas Mavericks Welcomed The Meme Crypto, Her</a>
He pointed out the evident demand for leveraged crypto investments, especially among younger investors using platforms like Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>). 
Why It Matters: Bitcoin has recently experienced notable price movements. On Sep. 27, Bitcoin surged past $66,000, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41070034/bitcoin-smashes-through-66-000-as-etfs-take-in-365m-to-extend-their-inflow-streak-to-6-str">marking a 14% gain</a> over two weeks. This rise was driven by positive fund flows into Bitcoin spot ETFs for six consecutive days, with significant contributions from Ark 21Shares&#8217; ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKB#BATS">ARKB</a>) and BlackRock&#8217;s ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBIT#NASDAQ">IBIT</a>). 
However, geopolitical tensions have also impacted the crypto market. On Tuesday, Bitcoin plummeted to a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41133816/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-crack-on-israel-iran-war-fears-legendary-trader-flags-significan">two-week low</a> of $60,370 following Iran&#8217;s missile attack on Israel, before recovering slightly. This incident underscores the volatility and sensitivity of the cryptocurrency market to global events. 
Price Action: According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>, at the time of writing, Bitcoin had slightly recovered by 1.41% and was trading at $61,503.80. Meanwhile, in the after-hours market, Microstrategy was down by 1.41% while Robinhood was trading 0.76% lower. Among the Bitcoin ETFs, ARKB was down by 1.26% while IBIT was 1.45% lower around the same time.
Read Next:
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<li> <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41078941/if-you-invested-100-in-shiba-inu-when-the-coin-launched-heres-how-much-youd-have-now?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">If You Invested $100 In Shiba Inu When The Coin Launched, Here&#8217;s How Much You&#8217;d Have Now</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock

ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF

ARKB

HOOD

IBIT

Bitcoin's 'Next Big Jolt' To Be From ETF Options, Says Galaxy CEO Michael Novogratz: '...Don't Know If It's In Three Weeks Or A Month'

EV giant Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) has dropped its cheapest <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tesla-model-3">Model 3</a> variant from its U.S. website, namely the rear-wheel drive (RWD) variant that started at $38,990.
What Happened: With the RWD Model 3 getting discontinued, the cheapest Model 3 variant in the U.S. is now the long-range RWD variant which starts at $42,490 and offers a range of 363 miles. This variant was introduced by the company merely a few months <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39743027/tesla-unveils-new-model-3-variant-with-longer-range-eligible-for-7-500-tax-credit">back in July</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="919" height="838" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/02031532/image-2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-575945" style="width:540px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/02031532/image-2.png 919w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/02031532/image-2-300x274.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/02031532/image-2-768x700.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 919px) 100vw, 919px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Screenshot Of Tesla&#8217;s U.S. Website</figcaption></figure>
The Model 3 sedan is the cheapest vehicle from Tesla. The company&#8217;s best-selling vehicle- the Model Y SUV- starts at $44,990 in the U.S.
Tesla&#8217;s reasons for dropping the rear wheel drive variant are not known. The company did not immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga&#8217;s</a> request for comment.
Why It Matters: The discontinued RWD variant was not eligible for a federal EV tax credit of $7,500, unlike the other three variants of the sedan. With the discontinuation of the RWD variant, all available Model 3 variants are now eligible for a federal EV tax credit.
In May, Tesla similarly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38628520/tesla-launches-model-y-rwd-variant-that-can-go-upto-320-miles-on-a-single-charge-elon-musk-promises">dropped the rear-wheel drive version</a> of the Model Y to replace it with a long-range rear-wheel drive version. 
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read More:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41135227/china-approaches-wto-on-tariffs-imposed-by-canada-on-evs-including-tesla-steel-and-aluminum-products">China Approaches WTO On Tariffs Imposed By Canada On EVs Including Tesla, Steel And Aluminum Products</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

TSLA

Tesla Discontinues Cheapest Model 3 Variant: Entry Level Trim Now Starts At $42,490

On Tuesday, following&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41134015/jd-vance-tim-walz-debate-sets-a-different-tone-candidates-discuss-israel-iran-escalation-immigration">only vice-presidential debate</a> of&nbsp;the 2024 elections, Tesla and SpaceX CEO&nbsp;Elon Musk spoke about his viewpoint while praising Republican Sen.&nbsp;JD Vance&nbsp;(R-Ohio.) and Governor&nbsp;Tim Walz&nbsp;(D-Minn).
What Happened: After the debate, a user on X, formerly Twitter, expressed their preference for either of the vice-presidential candidates over the presidential ones, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
&#8220;All I'm gleaning from this&nbsp;debate is that I'd prefer&nbsp;either one of these vice presidents over Trump or Kamala,&#8221; the user posted.
In response, Musk, who has publicly endorsed Trump, said, &#8220;They were rather civil,&#8221; referring to the two vice presidential candidates.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41118749/trump-vs-harris-poll-finds-vice-president-has-energized-this-largest-voting-bloc-as-her-economic-pro?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Vs. Harris: Poll Finds Vice President Has Energized This Largest Voting Bloc As Her Economic Proposals Strike A Chord</a>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">They were rather civil
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1841310431534784954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Why It Matters: The vice-presidential debate&nbsp;was held in New York&nbsp;City, following the previous month&#8217;s&nbsp;presidential debate where Democratic nominee&nbsp;Harris emerged victorious over Trump.
The debate between Walz and Vance was indeed civil, unlike earlier presidential debates. They targeted each other&#8217;s running mates, not one another.
The sharpest moment came when<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41134206/jd-vance-and-tim-walz-lock-horns-over-trumps-2020-election-defeat-jan-6-was-not-facebook-ads"> Vance dodged a question</a> about Trump's 2020 election loss, prompting Walz to call it a "damning non-answer" and condemn the denial of the Jan. 6 riots.
The debate opened with both candidates addressing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41133292/netanyahu-promises-retaliation-for-missile-attack-on-israel-iran-responds-by-promising-vast-destruct">Israel's potential strike on Iran</a>. Walz backed Israel's self-defense and criticized Trump's foreign policy, while Vance praised Trump's global stability efforts and support for Israel.
The Republican candidate also defended Trump's immigration stance, calling for mass deportations and rebuilding the wall.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/09/40696394/inflation-jobs-and-taxes-how-trump-and-harris-economic-policies-differ">On the economy</a>, Walz pointed to Democratic cost-cutting measures like capping insulin prices, though he overstated the pre-legislation cost.
Meanwhile, Vance blamed Harris for rising prices in essentials, arguing she's had years to act. &#8220;If Kamala Harris has such great plans for how to address middle-class problems, then she ought to do them now,&#8221; he stated.
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/09/41084606/elon-musk-targets-lopsided-anti-trump-donations-by-netflix-employees-as-cancellations-soare?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Targets &#8216;Lopsided&#8217; Anti-Trump Donations By Netflix Employees As Cancellations Soared After Co-Founder Reed Hastings Donated To Kamala Harris&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Elon Musk Comments On JD Vance-Tim Walz Debate After User Favors Them Over Trump And Harris: 'They Were Civil'

RPM International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RPM#NYSE">RPM</a>) will release earnings results for its first quarter, before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/RPM/earnings">opening bell on Wednesday, Oct. 2.</a>
Analysts expect the Medina, Ohio-based company to report quarterly earnings at $1.75 per share, up from $1.64 per share in the year-ago period. RPM projects to report revenue of $2.02 billion for the quarter, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro.</a>
On July 25, RPM International reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings.
RPM shares fell 0.8% to close at $120.09 on Tuesday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/RPM/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>BMO Capital analyst John McNulty maintained an Outperform rating and cut the price target from $140 to $139 on Aug. 27. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 66%.</li>
<li>Mizuho analyst John Roberts maintained an Outperform rating and cut the price target from $136 to $134 on July 26. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Michael Sison maintained an Equal-Weight rating and boosted the price target from $110 to $125 on July 26. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 72%.</li>
<li>JP Morgan analyst Jeffrey Zekauskas downgraded the stock from Overweight to Neutral with a price target of $120 on July 26. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 69%.</li>
<li>UBS analyst Joshua Spector maintained a Neutral rating and lowered the price target from $122 to $117 on July 9. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 64%.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying RPM stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="515" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/02030051/image-1-1024x515.png" alt="" class="wp-image-575928" style="width:606px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/02030051/image-1-1024x515.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/02030051/image-1-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/02030051/image-1-768x386.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/02030051/image-1.png 1332w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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</ul>

Earnings

Price Target

Pre-Market Outlook

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

RPM International Gears Up For Q1 Print; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a decline in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Greed&#8221; zone on Tuesday.
U.S. stocks settled lower on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones index falling more than 150 points amid growing concerns in the Middle East.
Most of the major tech stocks closed lower on Tuesday. Shares of Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) all closed the day lower.
On the economic data front, construction spending in the U.S. declined by 0.1% month-over-month to an annual rate of $2,132 billion in August. The ISM manufacturing PMI came in unchanged at 47.2 in September.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a negative note, with information technology, real estate, and financials stocks recording the biggest losses on Tuesday. However, energy and utilities stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session higher.
The Dow Jones closed lower by around 173 points to 42,156.97 on Tuesday. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.93% to 5,708.75, while the Nasdaq Composite dipped 1.53% at 17,910.36 during Tuesday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAG#NYSE">CAG</a>), RPM International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RPM#NYSE">RPM</a>), and Levi Strauss &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEVI#NYSE">LEVI</a>) today.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 69.1, the index remained in the &#8220;Greed&#8221; zone on Tuesday, versus a prior reading of 73.5.
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

LEVI

NVDA

Nasdaq Ends 1.5% Lower As Tesla, Nvidia, And Apple Fall: Investor Optimism Declines, Fear Index Remains In 'Greed' Zone

Alaska Air Group, Inc. (the "Company") today announced the pricing of the previously announced private offering (the "Offering") of (i) $625 million aggregate principal amount of 5.021% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 and $625 million aggregate principal amount of 5.308% Senior Secured Notes due 2031 (the "Notes") by AS Mileage Plan IP, Ltd. ("Loyalty Issuer"), an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and (ii) $750 million senior secured Term Loan B due 2031 (the "Loyalty Term Loan Facility" and, together with the Notes the "Loyalty Financings"). The aggregate amount of the Offering was increased to $1,250 million from the previously announced offering size of $750 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes.
The Company expects to close the Loyalty Financings on or about October 15, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions. Loyalty Issuer intends to use the net proceeds received from the Offering, together with borrowings under the Loyalty Term Loan Facility, in each case, after deducting fees and expenses payable by the Company, (i) to fund the reserve account for the Notes and the Loyalty Term Loan Facility and (ii) to fund a collection account, and the proceeds deposited into the collection account will be used to make an intercompany loan to Alaska Airlines, Inc ("Alaska") on the closing date of the Offering (the "Intercompany Loan"). Alaska intends to use the proceeds from the Intercompany Loan (i) to redeem or repay certain outstanding debt acquired or assumed in the merger of the Company with Hawaiian Airlines pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 2, 2023, including to redeem Hawaiian's 11.000% senior secured notes due 2029 at par and its 5.750% senior secured notes due 2026, and (ii) for general corporate purposes and to support its liquidity position.

Offerings

Reported Earlier, Alaska Air Group Priced $1.25B Upsized Senior Secured Notes Offering (Up From Prior $750M)

With U.S. stock futures trading lower this morning on Wednesday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
<ul>
<li>Wall Street expects Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAG#NYSE">CAG</a>) to report quarterly earnings at 60 cents per share on revenue of $2.84 billion before the opening bell, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. Conagra shares fell 0.2% to $32.65 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LW#NYSE">LW</a>) reported better-than-expected earnings for its third quarter and announced plans to cut approximately 4% of the global workforce and eliminate unfilled job positions. Lamb Weston shares fell 3.7% to $62.49 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Analysts expect RPM International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RPM#NYSE">RPM</a>) to post earnings at $1.75 per share on revenue of $2.02 million for the latest quarter. The company will release earnings before the markets open. RPM International shares fell 0.8% to $120.09 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
</ul>
Check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
<ul>
<li>Nike Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings, while sales missed estimates. The company reported first-quarter revenue of $11.59 billion, missing analyst estimates of $11.65 billion. The athletic footwear and apparel company reported first-quarter earnings of 70 cents per share, beating analyst estimates of 52 cents per share. Nike shares fell 5.9% to $83.85 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Analysts expect Levi Strauss &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEVI#NYSE">LEVI</a>) to post quarterly earnings at 31 cents per share on revenue of $1.55 billion after the closing bell. Levi Strauss shares gained 0.5% to $21.79 in after-hours trading.</li>
</ul>
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</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Nike, Conagra Brands And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Wednesday

China&#8217;s commerce ministry on Wednesday said that it has asked the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to rule on Canada&#8217;s imposition of heightened tariffs on electric vehicles and steel from China.
What Happened: &#8220;China has raised a lawsuit to the WTO over Canada&#8217;s unilateral and trade protectionist measures, and will conduct anti-discriminatory probe into these restrictive measures,&#8221; the Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said while also reiterating their <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/09/40685341/china-hits-back-following-canadas-100-ev-tariffs-with-anti-dumping-investigation-into-canola-imports">firm opposition</a> to the levies introduced. 
&#8220;Canada&#8217;s actions violate the principles of market economy and fair competition, seriously damage the normal economic and trade cooperation between Chinese and Canadian companies, severely impact China-Canada economic and trade relations, and disrupt and distort the global industrial chain and supply chain,&#8221; the spokesperson added. 
The additional 100% tariffs announced by Canada on EVs imported from China took effect on Oct. 1. The tariffs also apply to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40586710/tesla-shares-are-trading-lower-today-what-you-need-to-know">Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles</a> made in China and imported to Canada.
The country has also announced additional 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum products imported from China.
Why It Matters: The EU and the U.S. have also likewise proposed heightened tariffs on EV imports from China.
EU is proposing tariffs <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40925180/teslas-chinese-competitor-nio-begins-deliveries-of-new-es8-in-europe-amid-eu-tariff-concerns-rep">up to 35.3% on EVs made in China</a> in addition to the standard 10% car import duty. China&#8217;s commerce minister warned that these tariffs would disrupt trade and investment, stressing the need to find an amicable solution to avoid escalation of tensions between China and the EU.
The Biden administration has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40868156/former-democratic-senator-al-franken-says-biden-is-wrong-to-impose-higher-tariffs-on-evs-made-in-chi">slapped a 100% tariff </a>on Chinese-made EVs.
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read More:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41111955/ford-ceo-jim-farley-brings-european-insights-home-offers-free-ev-chargers-for-us-buyers-till-jan-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ford CEO Jim Farley Brings European Insights Home, Offers Free EV Chargers for US Buyers Till Jan 2</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Global

China Approaches WTO On Tariffs Imposed By Canada On EVs Including Tesla, Steel And Aluminum Products

StandardAero, Inc. ("StandardAero") announced today the pricing of its initial public offering of 60,000,000 shares of its common stock, at a public offering price of $24.00 per share. The shares include 53,250,000 shares to be issued and sold by StandardAero and 6,750,000 shares to be sold by existing stockholders. The size of the offering was upsized from the previously announced 46,500,000 shares. Shares of StandardAero common stock are expected to begin trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SARO" on October 2, 2024. The offering is expected to close on October 3, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
In addition, the selling stockholders have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an aggregate of 9,000,000 additional shares of common stock from them at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions, upsized from the previously announced 30-day option to purchase up to an aggregate of 6,975,000 additional shares of common stock.

IPOs

SARO

Reported Earlier, StandardAero Prices Upsized IPO at $24 Per Share, Offering 60M Shares Including 6.75M from Stockholders (From Prior Offering Size Of 46.5M), To Begin Trading From Today

Investors now have more ways to invest in or against MicroStrategy Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), a software company and Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) holder that has outperformed top stocks, asset types and index funds <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/39817792/missed-out-on-nvidia-michael-saylor-says-get-on-the-bitcoin-standard-for-even-better-retur">in recent years.</a>



What Happened: REX Shares and Tuttle Capital Management launched two new ETFs Wednesday to give investors more ways to get exposure <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40878741/canaccord-lowers-microstrategy-price-target-to-173-cites-ongoing-bitcoin-accumulation">to MicroStrategy stock </a>with leveraged and inverse ETFs.



The two companies launched the T-REX 2X Long MSTR Daily Target ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTU#BATS">MSTU</a>) and the T-REX 2X Inverse MSTR Daily Target ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTZ#BATS">MSTZ</a>).



"These are the first ETFs to provide investors with 200% leveraged exposure and -200% inverse exposure to the daily price movement of MicroStrategy (MSTR), allowing traders to capitalize on MSTR's exposure to the Bitcoin market," the companies said.



The launch comes after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40399008/mstx-becomes-first-single-stock-leveraged-etf-for-microstrategy-stock-offers-175-exposure">Defiance launched</a> a 1.75X long MicroStrategy ETF and 1.5X Short MicroStrategy ETF in August with the Defiance Daily Target 1.75X Long MSTR ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTX#NASDAQ">MSTX</a>) and Defiance Daily Target 1.5X Short MSTR ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMST#NASDAQ">SMST</a>) respectively.



With the new 2X ETFs, REX and Tuttle have pushed the envelope further.



"The 2X Leveraged and 2X Inverse MSTR ETFs offer traders unparalleled access to MicroStrategy's Bitcoin exposure, whether they're looking to amplify potential gains or hedge against market volatility. We're a product of our ability to redefine what's possible in the ETF industry," Tuttle Capital Management CEO Matthew Tuttle said.



REX Shares CEO Greg King said the new ETFs help provide tools to traders "to engage with a company that's pushing the boundaries in digital assets."



"MicroStrategy's forward-thinking approach presents a compelling opportunity for traders seeking additional ways to trade the stock," King added.



The launches follow several other leveraged and inverse ETFs from REX and Tuttle Capital. The two companies launched the T-REX 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTCL#BATS">BTCL</a>) and T-REX 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTCZ#BATS">BTCZ</a>) in July.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/24/09/40802938/fund-manager-who-bet-against-jim-cramer-and-cathie-wood-has-new-anti-woke-etf-puts-profits-ah">Fund Manager Who Bet Against Jim Cramer And Cathie Wood Has New Anti-Woke ETF: &#8216;Puts Profits Ahead Of Politics, DEI &amp; ESG&#8217;</a>



Why It's Important: MicroStrategy has been a top-performing stock, gaining 94% year-to-date in 2024 and gaining 790% over the last five years.



The company has also seen shares highly volatile as related to the price of Bitcoin because the company is a large holder of the leading cryptocurrency.



MicroStrategy <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40857237/microstrategy-stock-climbs-after-bitcoin-purchase-heres-how-much-btc-michael-saylors-compa">recently announced it bought</a> $1.1 billion worth of Bitcoin bringing its total up to 244,800 Bitcoin. The company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40919378/microstrategy-raises-875m-in-convertible-notes-plans-further-bitcoin-purchases">recently raised</a> over $800 million to redeem $500 million in senior secured notes and to buy additional Bitcoin.



MicroStrategy began buying Bitcoin in August 2020 and will continue to add more Bitcoin, as co-founder and Executive Chairman Michael Saylor <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/22/06/27865236/exclusive-michael-saylors-microstrategy-is-married-to-bitcoin-everything-else-in-the-world">previously told Benzinga.</a>



"We have a simple strategy and our strategy is we just acquire Bitcoin, and we hold the Bitcoin," Saylor told Benzinga.



Saylor said he believes Bitcoin is the best asset in the world.



"Everything else in the world is inferior to Bitcoin. So, if you gave me $1 million and said what do you want to buy, I don't want to buy a sports team, I don't want to buy a building, I don't want to buy a company … all I want to buy is Bitcoin," Saylor previously told Benzinga.



Saylor also previously said that if people hate Bitcoin, they can short MicroStrategy and if they love Bitcoin they could buy the stock.



While investors have more ways to get Bitcoin exposure thanks to cryptocurrency exchanges and Bitcoin ETFs, MicroStrategy remains a popular option to get exposure.



With the new leveraged and inverse ETFs, investors have more ways to predict what will happen to MicroStrategy in terms of the stock going up or down.



Tuttle <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/01/36500461/exclusive-the-man-who-shorts-cathie-wood-and-jim-cramer-filed-for-new-bitcoin-etfs-why-lev">previously told Benzinga</a> that leveraged and inverse ETFs aren't for all investors, but have an important place in the market.



"They are a tool, just like stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, options, etc.," Tuttle told Benzinga. "Just like any tool some people will use them correctly and others won't."



Tuttle said that leveraged ETFs can be used by investors as an &#8220;alternative to options.&#8221;



&#8220;Unlike options, they can be traded after hours. They are very conducive to short-term trading strategies.&#8221;



Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/09/40855829/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet">Benzinga&#8217;s &#8216;Stock Whisper&#8217; Index: 5 Stocks Investors Secretly Monitor But Don&#8217;t Talk About Yet</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Master Tux from Pixabay

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Defiance Daily Target 1.5x Short MSTR ETF

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Wednesday, September 18, 2024