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The roller coaster markets of the last quarter of 2024 hold some important lessons for how advisors should approach retirement planning with their clients.
While last November&#8217;s election sent the markets on a rally, with the S&amp;P 500 ending up 5.9% that month, the same index fell 2.4% the following month, as the much-vaunted Santa Claus Rally failed to appear and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell signaled slower rate cuts in the future.
But despite this turmoil, American investors were very restrained. <a href="https://www.planadviser.com/retirement-plan-investors-remain-cautious-december-amid-market-volatility/">Data from the Alight 401(k) Index</a> shows that on average only 0.011% of 401(k) balances were traded daily in December. Only two of the month&#8217;s 21 trading days showed big spikes in trading activity, including December 18, when Powell warned that rate cuts will be slower in 2025 and 401(k) trading activity jumped five times over.
For advisors, this shows that most prefer a one-and-done approach to retirement investing that they can decide on once, and then never touch. The enduring popularity of target date funds shows as much, though Alight's Rob Austing points out that target date funds also had the most withdrawals in December. This suggests that on those really volatile days, such as December 18, investors can see even target date funds as being too risky.
It&#8217;s important, then, that advisors work with clients to select target date funds with a date and risk profile that really suits the client, so they feel confident sticking with it through thick and thin.
Another lesson is that even hands-off clients, even during largely hands-off markets, may well look for changes during big market events. Advisors need to be prepared, with plans for how to respond, and with adjustments and reviews to reassure and readjust.
According to Alight, on 14 of December&#8217;s 21 trading days, equity funds were the most traded in 401(k) accounts. This suggests that retirement investors may be overexposed to equities, forgoing the benefits of diversification. Recent stock market performance makes this understandable, but advisors should be ready to advise clients on the risks of forgoing diversification.

Financial Advisors

Q4 Market Roller Coaster Reveals Retirement Planning Pitfalls

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/01/42773692/i-dont-want-you-to-invest-like-im-young-mark-cuban-reveals-how-he-protected-his-wealth-after-selling-his-first-company">Mark Cuban</a> believes college is worth a shot for everyone, even if you don't graduate. It's not about the name on your diploma or even your major, he says – it's about learning how to learn and expanding your perspective.&nbsp;
In a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEK2063FPLw">recent interview</a> with social media personality Jules Terpak, Cuban advised, "Go to a cheap school." Affordability is key for those concerned about student loan debt or unsure of their long-term goals.
According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of a four-year degree at a public college for in-state students is $27,146 annually, including tuition and living expenses. Private colleges are even pricier, averaging $58,628 per year.&nbsp;
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Cuban suggests students consider community colleges, where tuition averages just $3,990 annually, according to the American Association of Community Colleges. These institutions provide an affordable foundation, allowing students to transfer to four-year programs later.
Cuban, who began his education at the University of Pittsburgh before transferring to Indiana University, says he picked Indiana for its affordability. "At the time, it had the cheapest tuition among the top 10 business programs," he shared. Today, Indiana University's tuition for in-state students is $11,447 per year, well below the national average for public universities.
The financial argument for college is compelling. A Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data highlights the significant impact of educational attainment on earnings among young adults.&nbsp;
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According to the analysis, Millennials aged 25 to 32 with a bachelor&#8217;s degree working full time earn a median annual income of about $45,500. In contrast, those with some college education earn approximately $30,000 and high school graduates earn around $28,000 annually.&nbsp;
Over a lifetime, this can translate to a significant earnings gap. However, Cuban acknowledges the risks of high debt, which the Federal Reserve&#8217;s 2023 data indicates show that the median student loan debt among borrowers was between $20,000 and $24,999.&nbsp;
For Cuban, college offers more than just earning potential. "It's about getting excited to learn and exposing yourself to all kinds of different people [and] ideas," he says.&nbsp;
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He also highlights the practical skills that can be gained, such as accounting, finance and marketing, which are invaluable even if you don't finish your degree. Cuban applied these lessons to build two <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/12/42487831/this-ceos-journey-from-rock-bottom-to-100m-success-i-hated-my-job-quit-in-secret-and-built-showpo-over-glasses-of-red-wine">successful companies,</a> including Broadcast.com, which sold to Yahoo for $5.7 billion.
The idea that a school's prestige matters less than the student's experience is echoed by Jennifer Breheny Wallace, author and parenting researcher. Wallace told CNBC Make It, "There's no such thing as a ‘good college.'"&nbsp;
A Gallup-Purdue survey of 30,000 U.S. college graduates found that engaging in internships, building strong mentor relationships and participating in extracurriculars more significantly impacted future well-being than attending a highly selective school.
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Personal Finance

Billionaire Mark Cuban On College Costs: 'Pick The Cheapest School You Can Find – It's About Learning, Not Prestige'

Benzinga examined the prospects for <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas">many investors&#8217; favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here&#8217;s a look at some of our top stories.
The major indices experienced consecutive weekly losses, with the S&amp;P 500 falling 1.9%, the Nasdaq Composite dropping 2.3%, and the Dow sliding nearly 1.9% this week.
Wall Street&#8217;s post-election rally was erased amid rising concerns over interest rates, fueled by a strong labor market, soaring inflation expectations, and escalating geopolitical tensions as President-elect Donald Trump nears a return <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42916780/donald-trump-receives-unconditional-discharge-in-new-york-hush-money-case-will-enter-white-house-as-convicted-felon">to the White House. </a>
December&#8217;s nonfarm payrolls surged to 256,000, far surpassing estimates, intensifying pressure on the Federal Reserve to curb inflation. Meanwhile, new sanctions targeting Russian oil companies and a spike in oil prices added <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42928629/us-labor-market-smashes-expectations-wall-street-erases-post-election-rally-as-interest-rateanxiety-grows-this-week-in-the-markets">further market instability.</a>
Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week&#8217;s most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Bulls</h3>
&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42830046/amd-reveals-new-ai-processors-gaming-products-ahead-of-ces-2025-shares-rise">AMD Reveals New AI Processors, Gaming Products Ahead Of CES 2025, Shares Rise</a>,&#8221; by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/piero-cingari">Piero Cingari</a>, highlights Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) unveiling the Ryzen AI Max series processors and enterprise-focused Ryzen PRO chips, showcasing AI-powered performance innovations for PCs, laptops, and gaming devices, sparking investor optimism.
&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42825654/rivians-strong-deliveries-r2-line-plans-and-vw-jv-expansion-drive-analyst-optimism">Rivian&#8217;s Strong Deliveries, R2 Line Plans And VW JV Expansion Drive Analyst Optimism</a>,&#8221; by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/anusuya-lahiri-0">Anusuya Lahiri</a>, highlights Rivian Automotive Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>) achieving 51,579 EV deliveries in 2024, surpassing analyst expectations, with plans for its 2026 R2 line and expanded joint ventures with Volkswagen AG (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VWAGY#OTC">VWAGY</a>) driving a positive outlook despite EV tax credit concerns.
&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42856421/from-earth-to-the-moon-intuitive-machines-and-nokia-launch-4glte-network">From Earth To The Moon: Intuitive Machines And Nokia Launch 4G/LTE Network</a>,&#8221; by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/lekha-gupta">Lekha Gupta</a>, details the integration of Intuitive Machines Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUNR#NASDAQ">LUNR</a>) and Nokia Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOK#NYSE">NOK</a>) technologies to deploy the first 4G/LTE lunar network during the IM-2 mission, enabling high-definition video and telemetry transmission via the Athena lander.
For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/01/42882919/netflix-q4-to-show-advertising-live-sports-strength-analyst-says-multiyear-narrative-of-compounded-growth">Netflix Q4 To Show Advertising, Live Sports Strength, Analyst Says: &#8216;Multiyear Narrative Of Compounded Growth&#8217;</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/42919268/nike-analyst-turns-bullish-visible-recovery-story-in-2025">Nike Analyst Turns Bullish: &#8216;Visible Recovery Story&#8217; In 2025</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/42843001/taiwan-semiconductor-ramps-up-production-in-japan-us-and-germany-to-diversify-away-from-china">Taiwan Semiconductor Ramps Up Production in Japan, US, and Germany to Diversify Away from China</a>
The Bears
&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42879725/nvidia-ceo-sends-quantum-stocks-lower-poll-finds-over-50-pick-rigetti-or-skip-for-2025">Nvidia CEO Sends Quantum Stocks Lower: Poll Finds Over 50% Pick Rigetti Or Skip For 2025</a>,&#8221; by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/chris-katje">Chris Katje</a>, reports on Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang's cautionary remarks about quantum computing&#8217;s practical timeline impacting stocks like Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>), Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QUBT#NASDAQ">QUBT</a>), and D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QBTS#NYSE">QBTS</a>), with Benzinga readers favoring Rigetti for 2025 despite steep declines.
&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42866225/notable-crypto-analyst-foresees-potential-dip-in-dogecoin-price">Dogecoin To Drop Further? Top Analyst Foresees Possible Dump For Memecoin If Bitcoin Doesn&#8217;t Bounce</a>,&#8221; by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/aniket-verma">Aniket Verma</a>, highlights analysts' concerns about Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>), with one linking its potential decline to Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) failing to recover, while another foresees a drop to $0.30 amid ongoing crypto market weakness.
&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42768507/china-slaps-export-restrictions-on-dozens-of-us-companies-boeing-lockheed-martin-general-dynamics-raytheon-affected">China&#8217;s Export Crackdown Hits Boeing, Lockheed Martin, And More</a>,&#8221; by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/erica-kollmann">Erica Kollmann</a>, highlights China&#8217;s export ban on dual-use items to 28 U.S. companies, including Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>), and RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>), as part of escalating trade tensions and retaliation for U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42821300/biden-set-to-ban-future-offshore-oil-drilling-4-stocks-to-watch">Biden Set To Ban Future Offshore Oil Drilling: 4 Stocks, 2 ETFs To Watch</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42888800/goldman-sachs-flags-market-correction-risk-as-inflation-trump-policies-stir-uncertainty">Goldman Sachs Flags Market Correction Risk As Inflation, Trump Policies Stir Uncertainty</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/42825094/us-steel-nippon-steel-sue-biden-administration-cleveland-cliffs-union-in-response-to-blocked-merger">US Steel, Nippon Steel Sue Biden Administration, Cleveland-Cliffs, Union In Response To Blocked Merger</a>
Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following<a href="https://twitter.com/Benzinga"> Benzinga</a><a href="http://twitter.com/Benzinga"> on Twitter</a>.
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Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Rivian, Intuitive Machines, Rigetti Computing — And Dogecoin Analyst Foresees Drop To 30 Cents

The world&#8217;s best soccer player is also a savvy real estate investor. Bloomberg reported that Inter Miami&#8217;s Argentine superstar, Lionel Messi, recently listed his Spanish-based real estate properties on a small stock exchange in that country, valuing them at $232 million. Messi&#8217;s company is called Edificio Rostower Socimi, and his collective properties are being listed on the digital-only Portfolio Stock Exchange as a REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust). His holdings comprise seven hotels, shops, offices, and houses.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Messi is close to billionaire status and is likely not listing his real estate assets to make money but for tax purposes. In Spain, REITS are taxed lower than other companies, and investors usually list them to meet legal requirements.&nbsp;
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Luxury Miami Area Homes</h2>
Although Messi is undoubtedly the MLS&#8217;s star player and the best paid – according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/12/42330923/espn-lands-on-disney-in-major-content-fusion-heres-what-it-actually-means">ESPN, </a>his deal with Inter Miami is estimated to be worth $150 million – Messi spent most of his career in Spain playing for FC Barcelona, thus most of his real estate holdings are based there. The diminutive soccer sorcerer has also been buying luxury U.S. real estate. According to the Miami Herald, he spent $10.75 million on a waterfront mansion in Fort Lauderdale. He also owns three condos in the Miami suburbs. In addition, Messi owns a home in his hometown of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/07/39586771/lionel-messis-hometown-meet-the-cannabis-cultivators-breeders-caregivers-scoring-goals-for-the-c">Rosario in Argentina</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Billion-Dollar Lifetime Deal With Adidas</h2>
The eight-time Ballon d&#8217;Or winner, along with Cristiano Ronaldo, is one of the wealthiest soccer players in the world. As with most star athletes, endorsements have significantly influenced Messi&#8217;s staggering wealth. According to a Sportico estimate from 2023, Messi has earned $1.2 billion in salary, bonuses, and endorsements throughout his professional career.
In 2021, Forbes reported that Messi earned $33 million from endorsement deals with companies such as Adidas, Gatorade, and Pepsi. In 2022, the publication increased this to $65 million. However, this likely does not factor in the lifetime deal Messi signed with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38511886/adidas-puts-yeezy-history-behind-rides-fashion-high-with-samba-and-gazelle-shoes">Adidas</a> in 2017, which is estimated to be worth $1 billion. The deal includes a revenue-sharing element that compensates Messi a percentage of all jersey sales, among other apparel.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Messi To Miami – A Gamble That Paid Off</h2>
Bringing Messi to Miami was a big financial gamble for the fledgling MLS team, who, before his arrival, had poor attendance figures and even poorer results. However, the gamble has paid off because the club has doubled its revenue since his arrival. It has increased its revenue from $50-$60 million before it arrives in 2022, increasing to $120-$130 million in 2023, and by the time the totals are in for 2024, the club is estimated to have generated over $200 million in revenue.
&#8220;It is completely night and day [after signing Messi], because what we are doing now with the team is totally on an international level,&#8221; Xavier Asensi, Inter Miami president of business operations, told ESPN. &#8220;Now we are talking about the global interest. Now it is football, not soccer.&#8221;&nbsp;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Apple Funded Messi&#8217;s Deal</h2>
Messi has also become a magnet for lucrative U.S. sponsorships, signing 11 deals over the last year, including Audi, JPMorgan Chase, Duracell, Lowe&#8217;s, Visa, and LaCroix. However, the key to bringing Messi to Miami was Inter Miami&#8217;s deal with Apple – a $2.5 billion, 10-year commitment to be the exclusive home of every MLS match streamed on Apple TV – giving the clubs a cut. Inter Miami&#8217;s sizable share allowed them to underwrite the cost of bringing Messi Stateside.&nbsp;
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Real Estate

Lionel Messi Has A $232 Million Real Estate Portfolio. The Inter Miami Star Owns Hotels, Commercial Real Estate And Homes

Melania Trump&nbsp;is set to executive produce a new documentary on&nbsp;Amazon.com, Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Prime Video, offering a rare glimpse into her life and influence in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42806697/melania-trump-to-executive-produce-upcoming-amazon-documentary-offering-rare-insight-into-her-life-and-influence-in-donald-trumps-political-world" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donald Trump's</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42806697/melania-trump-to-executive-produce-upcoming-amazon-documentary-offering-rare-insight-into-her-life-and-influence-in-donald-trumps-political-world" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;political sphere</a>.&nbsp;
Smartphones
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) remains unable to sell its&nbsp;iPhone 16&nbsp;in Indonesia. the company has&nbsp;not met Indonesia's domestic&nbsp;content requirements, which stipulate that smartphones sold in the country must include at<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/42890863/apples-airtag-factory-fails-to-impress-indonesia-iphone-16-sales-remain-banned-despite-local-production-plans" rel="noreferrer noopener"> least 35% locally-made components</a>.
Apple has clarified its privacy policies regarding Siri, following a $95 million settlement over allegations of unauthorized recordings. The company emphasized&nbsp;that it has never sold&nbsp;or used<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42890955/apple-clarifies-siri-privacy-policies-after-95-million-settlement" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Siri data for marketing purposes</a>.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSNLF#OTC">SSNLF</a>) is gearing up for CES 2025 with major announcements and futuristic tech. Samsung&#8217;s theme for this year&#8217;s CES presentation is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42808821/samsung-ces-2025-press-conference-from-cutting-edge-ai-to-transparent-screens-heres-what-to-expect" rel="noreferrer noopener">"AI for All: Everyday, Everywhere.</a>"
Early announcements from Samsung&#8217;s newsroom highlight AI-enhanced refrigerators, appliances with built-in screens, and more. Expect features like advanced personalization and smarter home integration.
Samsung has confirmed the release of its much-anticipated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836293/samsungs-ballie-is-finally-coming-in-2025-will-this-round-home-robot-live-up-to-the-hype" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ballie</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836293/samsungs-ballie-is-finally-coming-in-2025-will-this-round-home-robot-live-up-to-the-hype" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;home robot</a>.
Samsung announced its Unpacked event, set for Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in San Jose. The event will showcase the new&nbsp;Galaxy S25&nbsp;series <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836040/samsung-unpacked-2025-date-time-livestream-details-and-galaxy-s25-pre-order-offers-everything-you-need-to-know" rel="noreferrer noopener">and advancements in&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836040/samsung-unpacked-2025-date-time-livestream-details-and-galaxy-s25-pre-order-offers-everything-you-need-to-know" rel="noreferrer noopener">Galaxy AI</a>.
Samsung is set to introduce a subscription model <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42893958/after-apple-halts-hardware-subscription-plans-samsung-unveils-similar-strategy-for-ai-powered-galaxy-smartphones" rel="noreferrer noopener">for its Galaxy smartphones</a>.
Media &amp; Gaming
Alphabet Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Google&nbsp;TV users are reportedly encountering issues with purchasing certain movies, including&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42808621/google-tv-reportedly-struggles-with-missing-movie-purchases-disney-classics-and-new-releases-now-locked-behind-streaming-services" rel="noreferrer noopener">Walt Disney Co.&#8217;s</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42808621/google-tv-reportedly-struggles-with-missing-movie-purchases-disney-classics-and-new-releases-now-locked-behind-streaming-services" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>)&nbsp;classics</a>.
Walt Disney said that its streaming platforms have reached another milestone.&nbsp;The company&#8217;s streaming platforms,&nbsp;Disney+,&nbsp;Hulu, and&nbsp;ESPN+, have amassed approximately 157 million monthly active users globally who<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42890512/disney-now-has-157-million-monthly-ad-supported-viewers-on-disney-hulu-and-espn-globally" rel="noreferrer noopener"> engage with ad-supported content</a>.
Technology
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) has decided to temporarily pause construction on parts of its&nbsp;ambitious data center <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42806852/microsoft-pauses-construction-on-33-billion-mount-pleasant-data-center-project-cites-technology-changes-and-design-re-evaluation" rel="noreferrer noopener">project&nbsp;in Mount Pleasant</a>.
Nvidia Corporation&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO&nbsp;Jensen Huang&nbsp;delivered the keynote at CES 2025. The keynote's highlight was the introduction of the latest&nbsp;GeForce&nbsp;RTX 5000&nbsp;Graphic cards series, which include the $1,999 RTX 5090, $999 RTX 5080, $749 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42835923/jensen-huang-unveils-monster-gpus-nvidias-rtx-5000-series-starting-at-549" rel="noreferrer noopener">RTX 5070 Ti, and $549 RTX 5070</a>.
The lead product for&nbsp;Google's AI Studio&nbsp;has voiced concerns over the U.S. government's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836724/google-lead-product-questions-americas-ai-priorities-as-platforms-embrace-chinese-models-its-so-great-so-cheap-so-fast-such-good-rate-limits" rel="noreferrer noopener">approach to artificial intelligence</a>.
Also, Nvidia CEO&nbsp;Jensen Huang&nbsp;introduced the company&#8217;s $3,000 "personal AI supercomputer," a compact, high-performance machine designed to run advanced AI models right <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42838231/jensen-huang-unveils-3000-personal-ai-supercomputer-the-size-of-a-small-book-it-runs-the-entire-nvidia-ai-stack" rel="noreferrer noopener">from your desk at CES 2025</a>.
Amazon.com has expanded its home security portfolio with the launch of smart smoke <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/42838001/amazons-ring-introduces-smart-smoke-alarms-at-ces-2025-boosting-home-security-with-pro-monitoring-features" rel="noreferrer noopener">and carbon monoxide alarms</a>.
Dell Technologies Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DELL#NYSE">DELL</a>) announced a major rebranding of its personal computers, aiming to boost sales by adopting a simplified <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42869349/dell-takes-bold-step-to-revive-pc-sales-with-simplified-apple-like-brandingxps-and-inspiron-are-gone-for-good" rel="noreferrer noopener">naming strategy similar to&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42869349/dell-takes-bold-step-to-revive-pc-sales-with-simplified-apple-like-brandingxps-and-inspiron-are-gone-for-good" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple</a>.
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) CEO&nbsp;Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s&nbsp;accusation of censorship has been firmly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/42891403/mark-zuckerberg-accuses-eu-of-censorship-spokesperson-pushes-back-on-metas-allegations-we-absolutely-refute-any-claims" rel="noreferrer noopener">denied by the European Commission</a>.
The Commission stated that their regulations only mandate the removal of illegal content. "We absolutely refute any claims of censorship," said a Commission spokesperson.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) is making a significant move in the AI sector with a $300 million investment in&nbsp;DDN, a company known for its expertise <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42892338/blackstone-invests-300-million-in-ai-data-firm-that-powers-elon-musks-xai-supercomputer" rel="noreferrer noopener">in data storage and analysis</a>.
Apple committed to updating its AI feature following a complaint from the BBC.&nbsp;The issue came to light last month after the BBC reported that an AI-generated summary falsely claimed that&nbsp;Luigi Mangione, accused of killing&nbsp;UnitedHealthcare&nbsp;CEO<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836957/apple-acknowledges-ai-flaws-after-bbc-complaint-vows-fix-for-misleading-news-summaries" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836957/apple-acknowledges-ai-flaws-after-bbc-complaint-vows-fix-for-misleading-news-summaries" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brian Thompson</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836957/apple-acknowledges-ai-flaws-after-bbc-complaint-vows-fix-for-misleading-news-summaries" rel="noreferrer noopener">, had shot himself</a>.
OpenAI&nbsp;CEO&nbsp;Sam Altman&nbsp;has made a bold prediction regarding the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI), suggesting it will <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/42867568/openai-ceo-sam-altman-predicts-agi-will-arrive-during-the-trump-presidency-says-chips-act-not-effective-enough" rel="noreferrer noopener">occur during&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/42867568/openai-ceo-sam-altman-predicts-agi-will-arrive-during-the-trump-presidency-says-chips-act-not-effective-enough" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donald Trump's</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/42867568/openai-ceo-sam-altman-predicts-agi-will-arrive-during-the-trump-presidency-says-chips-act-not-effective-enough" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;presidency</a>.&nbsp;
Anthropic, the AI startup behind "Claude" backed by Jeff Bezos, is reportedly in advanced discussions to secure $2 billion in funding. This deal could elevate its valuation to $60 billion, positioning it among the top <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42867792/jeff-bezos-backed-anthropic-set-to-become-one-of-the-top-5-us-startups-as-it-reportedly-eyes-60-billion-valuation-with-2-billion-funding-round" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">five most valuable U.S. startups</a>.
Image: Shutterstock

Large Cap

AAPL

AMZN

DELL

GOOG

MSFT

SSNLF

Consumer Tech News (Jan 6-10): Microsoft Pauses Ambitious Data Center Project, Blackstone Makes $300 Million Investment In AI & More

Cathie Wood-led&nbsp;Ark Invest&nbsp;made significant trades in five major companies on Friday: Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RXRX#NASDAQ">RXRX</a>), Illumina Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ILMN#NASDAQ">ILMN</a>), Intellia Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTLA#NASDAQ">NTLA</a>), Cloudflare Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NET#NYSE">NET</a>), and Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADPT#NASDAQ">ADPT</a>).
The RXRX Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>) purchased a substantial 264,596 shares of&nbsp;Recursion Pharmaceuticals.
The value of this trade, calculated from the closing price of $6.88, is approximately $1.82 million. This move comes despite RXRX&#8217;s stock closing at a 5.23% decrease on Friday.
The ILMN Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s Genomic Revolution ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKG#BATS">ARKG</a>) and ARK Innovation ETF both bought shares of&nbsp;Illumina Inc.
ARKG acquired 4038 shares, while ARKK purchased 11425 shares. The combined value of these trades, calculated from the closing price of $136.69, is approximately $1.97 million.
This move was made despite Illumina's stock closing at a 2.14% decrease on Friday.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931747/bitcoin-supercycle-incoming-says-economist-but-theres-a-catch">Bitcoin Supercycle Incoming, Says Economist, But There&#8217;s A Catch</a>
The NTLA Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s Genomic Revolution ETF and ARK Innovation ETF both bought shares of&nbsp;Intellia Therapeutics.
ARKG acquired 41503 shares, while ARKK purchased 124799 shares.
The combined value of these trades, calculated from the closing price of $10.2, is approximately $1.46 million. This move was made despite NTLA&#8217;s stock closing at a 15.14% decrease on Friday.
Intellia Therapeutics announced a 27% workforce reduction on Friday to cut costs.
The NET Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW) sold 7840 shares of&nbsp;Cloudflare.
The value of this trade, calculated from the closing price of $112.62, is approximately $882,608. This move was made despite NET&#8217;s stock closing at a 2.66% decrease on Friday.
The ADPT Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s Genomic Revolution ETF sold 130,790 shares of&nbsp;Adaptive Biotechnologies.
The value of this trade, calculated from the closing price of $6.5, is approximately $850,135. This move was made despite ADPT&#8217;s stock closing at a 2.84% decrease on Friday.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931941/mark-zuckerberg-critiques-culturally-neutered-companies-advocates-for-masculine-energy-as-meta-cuts-dei-programs-">Mark Zuckerberg Critiques &#8216;Culturally Neutered&#8217; Companies, Advocates For &#8216;Masculine Energy&#8217; As Meta Cuts DEI Programs Post-Joe Rogan Appearance</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Ark Invest

Markets

ETFs

ADPT

ARKG

ARKK

ILMN

NTLA

RXRX

Cathie Wood's Ark Invest Loads Up On Intellia Therapeutics Which Laid Off Over A Quarter Of Its Workforce

Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg&nbsp;expressed concerns about companies distancing themselves from &#8220;masculine energy&#8221; during a podcast with&nbsp;Joe Rogan.
What Happened: Zuckerberg, who appeared on&nbsp;The Joe Rogan Experience, discussed his views on corporate culture and his personal interests, including&nbsp;mixed martial arts and hunting.
He emphasized the importance of creating environments where women can thrive in the workplace and added that he believes corporate culture should embrace both masculine and feminine energies.
"Masculine energy I think is good, and obviously society has plenty of that, but I think that corporate culture was really trying to get away from it," Zuckerberg said.
The podcast episode coincided with reports that said Meta is changing its content moderation policies. The company is ending third-party fact-checking in the U.S. and halting diversity training programs, according to an internal memo seen <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/10/meta-dei-programs-employees-trump?ref=platformer.news">by</a> Axios.
"I think that that's all good. But I do think the corporate culture sort of had swung toward being this somewhat more neutered thing."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931869/jeff-bezos-amazon-to-pay-40-million-for-melania-trump-documentary-report">Jeff Bezos&#8217; Amazon To Pay $40 Million For Melania Trump Documentary: Report</a>
Zuckerberg also criticized the&nbsp;Biden administration&nbsp;for its approach to content moderation during the pandemic, claiming that officials overstepped their bounds.
He expressed optimism about&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;returning to the White House, aligning Meta&#8217;s policies with the incoming administration.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: The recent comments by Zuckerberg&nbsp;and the policy shifts at&nbsp;Meta are part of a broader strategy to restore free expression on its platforms.
For instance, Meta is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42851889/meta-ditches-fact-checking-for-community-notes-zuckerberg-says-opportunity-to-restore-free-expression">transitioning to a Community Notes style</a> of content moderation, similar to the approach taken by Elon Musk&#8217;s X.
This move is seen as a way to align with the incoming Trump administration, following a significant <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42454227/months-after-trump-threatened-to-put-mark-zuckerberg-in-prison-meta-ceo-donates-1m-to-president-elects-inaugural-event">$1 million donation by Zuckerberg</a> to Trump&#8217;s inauguration event.
This donation is part of efforts to mend relations with Trump, who had previously criticized Meta for censoring conservative voices.
Zuckerberg also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931361/mark-zuckerberg-says-biden-officials-berated-meta-staff-as-they-refused-to-remove-true-content-it-just-got-to-thi">revealed instances</a> where Biden officials pressured Meta staff to remove certain content, which the company resisted, marking a shift towards a more open platform.
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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:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931704/tiktok-users-call-on-trump-to-deliver-immediately-on-his-promise-to-save-app-from-us-ban-we-dont-need-the-supreme-court-to">TikTok Users Call On Trump To &#8216;Deliver Immediately&#8217; On His &#8216;Promise&#8217; To Save App From US Ban: &#8216;We Don&#8217;t Need The Supreme Court To…&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Ray-Ban

Entertainment

Tech

Mark Zuckerberg Critiques 'Culturally Neutered' Companies, Advocates For 'Masculine Energy' As Meta Cuts DEI Programs Post-Joe Rogan Appearance

In a display of opulence,&nbsp;Jeff Bezos&#8216; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/23/05/32618155/jeff-bezos-500m-superyacht-is-so-big-it-has-a-support-boat-with-a-helipad-crane-and-storage">superyacht &#8220;Koru&#8221;</a> stole the spotlight at the annual St. Barts festival, where 173 billionaires showcased their superyachts.
What Happened: The event took place as&nbsp;2024 came to a close,&nbsp;with&nbsp;the capital city of Gustavia&nbsp;hosting the elite gathering.
The festival, known for its luxurious atmosphere with&nbsp;Michelin-star restaurants and designer shops, saw Bezos&#8217; $500 million yacht emerge as the highlight.
Despite not being the largest, Koru is recognized as the most expensive superyacht, featuring a distinctive three-mast design and a statue of the Norse god Freyja.
The event marked the end of St. Bart&#8217;s high season, <a href="https://www.boatinternational.com/boat-pro">with</a> BoatPro&#8217;s global tracker confirming the presence of 173 superyachts.
Other notable vessels included Shahid Khan&#8217;s $360 million yacht, Nancy Walton Laurie&#8217;s $300 million Kaos, and WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum&#8217;s 328-foot yacht.
While Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin owns the largest superyacht, Bezos&#8217; Koru captivated attendees with its grandeur, solidifying its status as the centerpiece of the celebration.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931807/t-mobile-sued-over-massive-data-breach-impacting-79-million-americans-sensitive-information-included-names-addresses-and-more">T-Mobile Sued Over Massive Data Breach Impacting 79 Million Americans: Sensitive Information Included Names, Addresses, And More</a>
Why It Matters: The journey of Bezos&#8217; yacht, Koru, has been marked by significant events since its inception.
Initially, the yacht was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/08/28385974/jeff-bezos-500-million-superyacht-has-been-relocated-after-bridge-controversy-avoids-getting-egged-i">embroiled in controversy</a> when it was revealed that a historic bridge in the Netherlands might need dismantling to allow the vessel&#8217;s passage.
This led to the yacht being relocated from the&nbsp;Oceanco shipyard&nbsp;to avoid public backlash.
In 2023, the yacht was seen cruising the Mediterranean, accompanied by a support vessel named Abeona, which features a helipad and extensive storage facilities.
The yacht&#8217;s grandeur was further highlighted when Bezos hosted celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Leonardo DiCaprio for summer festivities, showcasing the yacht&#8217;s lavish amenities.
Bezos&#8217; transition from leading&nbsp;Amazon.com Inc.&nbsp;to focusing on ventures like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/09/40860724/bezos-doesnt-sunbathe-alone-on-his-25m-a-year-superyacht-as-he-hosts-kim-kardashian-leonard">Blue Origin</a>&nbsp;and enjoying his superyacht underscores a shift in his personal and professional life.
The yacht&#8217;s presence at the St. Barts festival not only signifies Bezos&#8217; status but also highlights the broader trend of billionaires investing in luxury assets.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931704/tiktok-users-call-on-trump-to-deliver-immediately-on-his-promise-to-save-app-from-us-ban-we-dont-need-the-supreme-court-to">TikTok Users Call On Trump To ‘Deliver Immediately' On His ‘Promise' To Save App From US Ban: ‘We Don't Need The Supreme Court To…'</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia

General

Jeff Bezos' $500 Million Superyacht Koru Steals The Show At St. Bart's Annual Festival Where 173 Billionaires Turned Up With Their Yachts

Amazon.com Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) is reportedly investing $40 million in a documentary about&nbsp;Melania Trump, directed by&nbsp;Brett Ratner.
What Happened: The deal also includes a follow-up docuseries, marking Ratner&#8217;s return to filmmaking after a hiatus since 2018, according <a href="https://puck.news/melania-trump-documentary-scores-massive-amazon-payday">to</a> a report by Puck.
The documentary will have a limited theatrical release before becoming available on Prime Video.
Amazon&#8217;s acquisition of the documentary is notable for its involvement of Melania Trump herself.
This project comes amid ongoing speculation about Amazon founder&nbsp;Jeff Bezos&nbsp;and his connections to the Trump family.
The deal also includes a previously undisclosed project related to the former first lady. The release on Prime Video also highlights Amazon&#8217;s continued investment in exclusive content to attract subscribers.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931704/tiktok-users-call-on-trump-to-deliver-immediately-on-his-promise-to-save-app-from-us-ban-we-dont-need-the-supreme-court-to">TikTok Users Call On Trump To ‘Deliver Immediately' On His ‘Promise' To Save App From US Ban: ‘We Don't Need The Supreme Court To…'</a>
Why It Matters: The acquisition of the Melania Trump documentary by Amazon is set against a backdrop of previous interactions between Bezos and the incoming Trump administration.
In December, Bezos expressed optimism about President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s second term, highlighting potential regulatory reductions.
At the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42331420/jeff-bezos-optimistic-about-trumps-second-term-wants-to-help-streamline-rules-we-do-have-too-many-regulations-in-this-country">New York Times DealBook Summit</a>, Bezos stated, &#8220;I&#8217;m actually very optimistic this time around,&#8221; referring to Trump&#8217;s enthusiasm for reducing regulations.
Additionally, Amazon pledged $1 million to Trump&#8217;s inaugural event in January 2024, aligning with other tech giants like&nbsp;Meta Platforms Inc.
This move was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42801809/apple-ceo-tim-cook-reportedly-donates-1-million-to-trump-inauguration-joins-ranks-of-mark-zuckerberg-jeff-bezos-and-sam-altman">part of a broader trend</a> where tech leaders, including&nbsp;Apple Inc.&nbsp;CEO Tim Cook, contributed to Trump&#8217;s inauguration, emphasizing unity and tradition.
Cook, along with Bezos, was among those who donated $1 million to the event.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42801788/jeff-bezos-says-good-old-days-are-such-an-illusion-as-far-as-planet-earth-is-concerned-but-theres-one-except">Jeff Bezos Says ‘Good Old Days' Are ‘Such An Illusion' As Far As Planet Earth Is Concerned, But There's One Exception</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Flickr

Politics

Jeff Bezos' Amazon To Pay $40 Million For Melania Trump Documentary: Report

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPE#NYSE">HPE</a>) has reportedly secured a deal worth over $1 billion to supply servers optimized for artificial intelligence to Elon Musk&#8216;s social media platform, X.
What Happened: The deal between HP and X was finalized late last year, Bloomberg News <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-10/hpe-wins-1-billion-ai-server-deal-for-elon-musk-s-x">reported</a> on Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The servers are tailored for AI applications, a segment witnessing robust demand from enterprises. Competitors Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DELL#NYSE">DELL</a>) and Super Micro Computer Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>) also vied for the contract.
The market for AI servers has been expanding, with businesses increasingly looking for hardware that can support artificial intelligence applications. Companies under Musk&#8217;s leadership, including&nbsp;Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and xAI, have become prominent clients for such hardware. 
Why It Matters: Musk&#8217;s interest in AI is well-documented. In a recent discussion, Musk predicted that AI could reach <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41618261/elon-musk-predicts-ai-will-match-human-capabilities-in-few-years-the-cup-is-80-full-maybe-90">human-level capabilities by&nbsp;2029.</a> "I certainly feel comfortable saying that it's getting 10 times better per year which is, let's say, four years from now that would mean 10,000 times better," Musk said.
 His AI startup, xAI, is also making strides, with Musk announcing the integration of its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42867252/xais-grok-chatbot-to-be-integrated-into-tesla-vehicles-soon-says-elon-musk">Grok chatbot into Tesla vehicles&nbsp;</a>soon. Musk shared the update during a live stream on X, stating, &#8220;Grok in Teslas is coming soon. You will be able to talk to your Tesla and ask for anything.&#8221;&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Musk&#8217;s social media platform, X, is facing competition from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42867967/elon-musks-x-rival-bluesky-is-being-valued-at-700-million-after-explosive-growth-post-trumps-victory-report">Bluesky, a rival platform that is reportedly </a>nearing a $700 million valuation. 
Price Action:&nbsp;On Friday, HPE stock saw a 0.23% increase, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
The latest analyst ratings for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. were issued by Deutsche Bank, Loop Capital, and Barclays on Dec. 19, Dec. 9, and Dec. 6, respectively. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/HPE/analyst-ratings">With an average price target</a> of $25.33 across these firms, the ratings suggest an implied upside of 14.01% for the company.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/HPE/analyst-ratings"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/10232310/Screenshot-2025-01-11-at-9.53.03%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-729087" style="width:376px;height:auto" /></a></figure>
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>.
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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: Wikimedia

Social Media

SMCI

TSLA

Elon Musk's X, Hewlett Packard Strike $1 Billion AI Server Deal: Report

Washington state has taken legal action against&nbsp;T-Mobile US (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>)&nbsp;for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42022124/t-mobile-hit-by-chinese-hackers-after-rivals-att-verizon-suffer-breach-report">allegedly neglecting cybersecurity vulnerabilities</a>, leading to a significant data breach in 2021 that impacted 79 million people across the U.S.
What Happened: The lawsuit,&nbsp;filed by Washington Attorney General&nbsp;Bob Ferguson, accuses T-Mobile of ignoring known security issues and failing to adequately notify over two million Washington residents affected by the breach.
The breach exposed sensitive personal information, such as names, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers.
The lawsuit claims T-Mobile&#8217;s notifications about the&nbsp;breach violated the Consumer Protections&nbsp;Act by omitting crucial details, making it difficult for individuals to assess their risk of identity theft.
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Furthermore, the filing criticizes T-Mobile for not adhering to industry cybersecurity standards and using weak passwords to protect sensitive data.
Ferguson emphasized that the data breach was &#8220;entirely avoidable&#8221; and highlighted T-Mobile&#8217;s failure to address vulnerabilities.
The lawsuit seeks compensation for affected customers and demands improvements in T-Mobile&#8217;s cybersecurity practices and transparency.
This legal action follows T-Mobile&#8217;s previous settlements, including a $350 million payout in 2022 related to the same breach.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931704/tiktok-users-call-on-trump-to-deliver-immediately-on-his-promise-to-save-app-from-us-ban-we-dont-need-the-supreme-court-to">TikTok Users Call On Trump To &#8216;Deliver Immediately&#8217; On His &#8216;Promise&#8217; To Save App From US Ban: &#8216;We Don&#8217;t Need The Supreme Court To…&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The lawsuit against T-Mobile comes amid heightened concerns over cybersecurity threats, particularly from foreign actors.
In recent years, major telecom companies, including T-Mobile, have been targeted by cyber-espionage operations linked to Chinese intelligence.
A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42022124/t-mobile-hit-by-chinese-hackers-after-rivals-att-verizon-suffer-breach-report">report</a>&nbsp;from November revealed that T-Mobile and other telecom giants, such as&nbsp;AT&amp;T Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>)&nbsp;and&nbsp;Verizon Communications Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), were compromised in a large-scale cyber-espionage operation attributed to Chinese hackers.
This breach raised <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41200026/chinese-hackers-breach-at-t-verizon-networks-in-major-wiretap-data-theft-putting-us-national-securit">significant national security concerns</a> as it targeted cellphone communications of high-value intelligence targets.
Earlier in 2024, the FBI warned about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38330156/fbi-chief-warns-xi-jinpings-ccp-linked-chinese-hackers-are-planning-to-physically-wreak-havoc-on-us">Chinese hackers</a> infiltrating U.S. critical infrastructure, including telecommunications, energy, and water sectors.
FBI Director Christopher Wray cautioned that these hackers could potentially &#8220;physically wreak havoc&#8221; on U.S. infrastructure at a time of their choosing.
These incidents underscore the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38659657/major-hacking-incident-exposes-data-of-military-personnel-in-uk-ministry-of-defence-breach-is-china">growing threat of cyberattacks</a> and the need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data and national security.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Unsplash

TMUS

T-Mobile Sued Over Massive Data Breach Impacting 79 Million Americans: Sensitive Information Included Names, Addresses, And More

Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is experiencing a drop in its market share in China. This decline is attributed to a decrease in iPhone shipments, as reported by&nbsp;supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. 
What Happened: &nbsp;Kuo, an analyst at TF&nbsp;Securities, <a href="https://medium.com/@mingchikuo/apple-likely-to-face-fiercer-challenges-in-2025-requiring-caution-against-potential-downside-risks-5cec099e1d5d">revealed</a> that Apple has been &#8220;cautious&#8221; in discussing its&nbsp;2025 iPhone production plans with&nbsp;key suppliers. Despite&nbsp;the expected launch of the&nbsp;new iPhone SE 4, Kuo forecasts a 6% year-over-year decline in shipments&nbsp;for the first half of&nbsp;2025.
He also expects Apple&#8217;s&nbsp;market share to continue to&nbsp;decline, attributing this to the thin design of two upcoming iPhone models, which may only support eSIM, a feature not widely promoted in the Chinese market.
"These two models could face shipping momentum challenges unless their design is modified," he said.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931361/mark-zuckerberg-says-biden-officials-berated-meta-staff-as-they-refused-to-remove-true-content-it-just-got-to-this-pointthats-ridiculous">Mark Zuckerberg Says Biden Officials Berated Meta Staff As They Refused To Remove &#8216;True&#8217; Content: &#8216;It Just Got To This Point…That&#8217;s Ridiculous</a>&#8216;
In December, while overall smartphone shipments in China remained stable year-over-year, iPhone shipments saw a decline of 10% to 12%. Kuo pointed out that Apple's on-device artificial intelligence feature, Apple Intelligence, has yet to drive hardware upgrades or boost services revenue.
For 2024, Apple's estimated iPhone shipments were around 220 million units, with projections for 2025 ranging from 220 million to 225 million, falling short of the market consensus of 240 million or more, according to Kuo.
Why It Matters: This news comes in the wake of a series of challenges for Apple. Earlier in the month, an analyst downgraded <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42854151/apple-faces-downgrade-amid-iphone-challenges-turns-to-news-for-growth">Apple from Neutral to Sell </a>and lowered the price target from $202 to $188. MoffettNathanson analyst Craig Moffett cited the lack of traction for iPhone 16 models featuring artificial intelligence and ongoing geopolitical tensions with China.
Apple also reached a $95 million settlement in a lawsuit regarding allegations of unauthorized Siri recordings. After the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42903742/apple-clarifies-siri-privacy-policy-after-95-million-settlement-over-allegations-of-unauthorized-rec">Siri privacy policies</a> lawsuit, the company clarified that it has never sold or used Siri data for marketing purposes.
Despite these controversies, Apple&#8217;s CEO&nbsp;Tim Cook&nbsp;saw a significant increase in his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42931220/apple-ceo-tim-cook-took-home-74-6-million-in-2024-up-18-despite-ai-and-siri-privacy-controversies">annual compensation in 2024</a>. Cook's total compensation for 2024 rose by 18% from the previous year, reaching $74.6 million,&nbsp;the company said in a proxy filing on Friday.
Price Action: On Friday, Apple's stock saw a 2.41% decrease, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Apple has a consensus price target of $245.17, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL/analyst-ratings">according to 30 analysts tracked by Benzinga</a> The most recent ratings, issued by MoffettNathanson, Bernstein, and B of A Securities on Jan. 7 and 3, 2025, suggest an average price target of $234.67, implying a slight downside of -0.99% based on these assessments.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL/analyst-ratings"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/10225601/Screenshot-2025-01-11-at-9.25.54%E2%80%AFAM-1024x392.png" alt="" class="wp-image-729079" /></a></figure>
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>.
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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

Apple Staring At Market Share Decline In China Amid Declining iPhone Shipments: Top Analyst Flags Why Some Models Could Be Face Shipping Momentum Challenges

Economist and trader&nbsp;Alex Kruger&nbsp;has expressed a bullish outlook on Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), despite the cryptocurrency currently trading 13% below its all-time high.
What Happened: Kruger believes that Bitcoin has significant potential for growth and is far from reaching the peak of its cycle.
He attributes this optimism to&nbsp;the approval of spot Bitcoin&nbsp;exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in January&nbsp;2024, which he suggests may alter Bitcoin&#8217;s traditional four-year halving cycles.
"The&nbsp;introduction of the ETF and&nbsp;the significant flows they bring&nbsp;make the correlation between risk&nbsp;and Bitcoin more sustainable," Kruger said on a recent episode of the Unchained podcast.
He emphasized that current market conditions are evolving, with the halving&#8217;s impact diminishing and the presence of ETFs.
However, Kruger cautioned that a supercycle does not imply continuous upward movement.
He explained, &#8220;We have shorter corrections&#8230;&nbsp;smaller drawdowns that last for&nbsp;shorter periods,&#8221; provided equities and the economy perform well.
As of now, Bitcoin is priced at $94,343, approximately 13% below its peak of $108,268.
Why It Matters: The prediction of a Bitcoin supercycle comes amid a backdrop of diverse opinions on the cryptocurrency&#8217;s future.
Recently,&nbsp;Anthony Scaramucci, CEO of SkyBridge Capital, shared his strategy on Bitcoin, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42906639/anthony-scaramucci-was-asked-about-his-take-profit-strategy-on-bitcointhis-is-what-he-said">emphasizing a focus on altcoins</a> like Solana while maintaining his Bitcoin holdings.
Scaramucci noted that the market&#8217;s maturity could lead to Bitcoin lending and earning mechanisms akin to traditional banking.
Conversely, economist&nbsp;Peter Schiff&nbsp;criticized Bitcoin, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42894166/peter-schiff-counters-bitcoins-safe-haven-narrative-amid-forecast-of-impending-fiat-train-wreck-there-is-no-riskier-asset">labeling it as the riskiest asset</a>, challenging its reputation as a safe haven. Schiff&#8217;s comments highlight the ongoing debate about Bitcoin&#8217;s role in financial markets.
Additionally,&nbsp;Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, speculated that changes in U.S. banking regulations could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42802338/bitcoin-to-hit-1-million-arthur-hayes-says-another-signpost-has-appeared-amid-us-debt-concerns">potentially drive Bitcoin&#8217;s value to $1 million</a>. Hayes pointed to possible exemptions from the supplementary leverage ratio rule as a catalyst for increased liquidity and Bitcoin&#8217;s price surge.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="How Bitcoin and Crypto Will React to Trump's Inauguration: Bits + Bips" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nykvv_9BlXg?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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Price Action: Bitcoin was trading at $94,398 at the time of writing, up by 0.43% in the past 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Bitcoin Supercycle Incoming, Says Economist, But There's A Catch

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), on Friday criticized Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) for its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/41894509/apples-next-big-bet-think-smaller-says-analyst-there-will-never-be-another-iphone">lack of innovation</a> and restrictive policies. He also hinted at the potential downfall of the tech giant if it doesn&#8217;t adapt to the rapidly changing industry.
What Happened: In a podcast with Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg expressed his views on Apple&#8217;s recent performance. He stated that Apple has been coasting on its past success and hasn&#8217;t "really invented anything great in a while."
"Steve Jobs invented the iPhone and now they're just kind of sitting on it 20 years later," he said, adding Tim Cook-led tech giant has "been so off their game in terms of not really releasing many innovative things."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42931220/apple-ceo-tim-cook-took-home-74-6-million-in-2024-up-18-despite-ai-and-siri-privacy-controversies">Apple CEO Tim Cook Took Home $74.6 Million In 2024, Up 18% Despite AI And Siri Privacy Controversies</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24META&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$META</a> CEO MARK ZUCKERBERG ON <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24AAPL&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$AAPL</a> BEING ‘OFF THEIR GAME' &#39;They haven't really invented anything great in a while—Steve Jobs invented the iPhone, and now they&#39;re just kind of sitting on it 20 years later&#8230; Apple's basically squeezing people with a 30% tax on developers and… <a href="https://t.co/9LpaigOs5H">pic.twitter.com/9LpaigOs5H</a>
&mdash; Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) <a href="https://twitter.com/wallstengine/status/1877796140675911979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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While acknowledging the iPhone as a groundbreaking invention, he criticized Apple&#8217;s restrictive policies, which he believed would stifle competition and innovation. He also highlighted the financial impact of Apple&#8217;s policies on Meta, citing potential profit increases if Apple were to relax its rules.
"if you just don't do a good job for like 10 years, eventually, you're just going to get beat by someone."
He also mentioned Meta&#8217;s ongoing issues with Apple, particularly the 30% cut Apple takes on some App Store transactions which "feel arbitrary." These restrictions have reportedly hindered Meta&#8217;s hardware competition and led to significant losses in advertising revenue.
If the iPhone maker&#8217;s "random rules" didn't apply, his company would make "twice as much profit or something" based on his "back of the envelope calculation," Zuckerberg said.
Why It Matters: Zuckerberg&#8217;s comments come at a time when Apple is facing increasing scrutiny over its App Store policies and alleged <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37447136/apple-faces-class-action-lawsuit-for-alleged-icloud-monopoly-they-are-generating-almost-pure-profit">monopoly over smartphones.</a> The company is under pressure to open up its ecosystem, with regulatory changes in the EU and&nbsp;a lawsuit from the U.S.&nbsp;Department of Justice. Despite facing pressure <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/24/06/39530832/apple-battles-with-the-eu-over-app-store-policies-while-their-30-recovery-could-propel-their-stock">from regulatory bodies</a> and lawsuits, Apple has shown no signs of opening up its closed ecosystem.
Meanwhile, Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has been rebranding and expanding its focus on the metaverse, a virtual reality space. The company&#8217;s rift with Apple is significant, given the latter&#8217;s dominance in the smartphone market and its potential impact on Meta&#8217;s future developments.
In April of last year, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38424000/mark-zuckerberg-shades-apple-vision-pro-once-again-calls-it-fashionable-ai-glasses-without-a-display">Zuckerberg criticized Apple's Vision Pro</a>. During Meta&#8217;s first-quarter earnings call, he expressed doubt about the widespread appeal of augmented reality (AR) glasses, especially those lacking &#8220;full holographic displays.&#8221; In a subtle dig at the Vision Pro, Zuckerberg said, "It seems clear that there&#8217;s also a significant market for fashionable AI glasses without a display.&#8221;
Price Action: Apple&#8217;s stock has risen by 27.21% over the past year but has dropped 2.56% so far in 2025, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro data</a>. In comparison, Meta saw a 66.24% increase over the past year and a 4.45% gain in 2025.
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>.
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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.
Photos courtesy: Flickr and Wikimedia

'Steve Jobs Invented The iPhone And Now They're Just...Sitting On It:' Mark Zuckerberg Hints At Apple's Potential Downfall Amid iPhone Maker's 'Random Rules'

Amid growing concerns over the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tiktok">potential ban of TikTok</a> in the U.S., TikTok creators are leading an online campaign aimed at convincing President-elect&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;to stop the impending ban.
What Happened: TikTok creator&nbsp;Tiffany Cianci&nbsp;took to live-streaming outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday, urging fellow TikTok users to inundate Trump with messages in support of the app, according <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-10/tiktokers-put-hope-in-online-campaign-to-get-trump-to-end-us-ban">to</a> a report by Bloomberg.
This initiative comes as the Supreme Court deliberates on a law that mandates&nbsp;ByteDance Ltd.&nbsp;to divest TikTok&#8217;s U.S. operations by Jan. 19 or face a shutdown.
Cianci's broadcast attracted approximately 180,000 viewers. "We don't need the Supreme Court to save TikTok," she said.
"This is a promise Trump made and it is a promise he used to get a large number of young people to vote for him. We are calling on him to deliver immediately," she added, according to the report.
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.
The Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments on the legislation that requires ByteDance to sell TikTok&#8217;s U.S. operations. She emphasized that Trump, as president-elect, could intervene and encourage followers to post on his social media accounts.
Last year, a similar campaign was launched to sway Congress but did not succeed. However, Trump has shown a willingness to delay the ban, citing a &#8220;warm spot&#8221; for TikTok. He has met with TikTok CEO&nbsp;Shou Chew&nbsp;and requested the Supreme Court to postpone the law until his inauguration on January 20.
Despite the Supreme Court&#8217;s inclination to uphold the law, Cianci and other creators remain hopeful.
Why It Matters: The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42919029/supreme-court-hears-tiktok-oral-arguments">Supreme Court&#8217;s decision</a> on TikTok&#8217;s future in the U.S. is critical, as the app boasts around 170 million users in the country. The case stems from a law passed by Congress last year, which requires ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban.
This legal battle has drawn significant attention, with investor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/01/42834240/kevin-oleary-joins-the-peoples-bid-for-tiktok-as-pending-ban-looms">Kevin O&#8217;Leary</a>&nbsp;joining a group attempting to purchase TikTok before the deadline.
Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42712643/trump-asks-supreme-court-to-delay-tiktok-ban-as-he-pursues-a-political-resolution">current stance</a> represents a shift from his previous efforts to ban TikTok due to its Chinese ownership. He has sought a &#8220;political resolution&#8221; and asked the Supreme Court to delay the ban, marking a notable change in his approach.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

TikTok Users Call On Trump To 'Deliver Immediately' On His 'Promise' To Save App From US Ban: 'We Don't Need The Supreme Court To…'

The&nbsp;Trump Organization on Friday&nbsp;announced an ethics plan that will see President-elect&nbsp;Donald Trump distancing himself from the company&#8217;s day-to-day operations.
What Happened: The Trump Organization revealed that Trump will not be involved in the company&#8217;s daily management once he assumes office. The company also pledged not to&nbsp;enter into <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/08/33771698/republican-oversight-committee-chair-accuses-donald-trumps-son-in-law-of-ethical-breach-over-2b-saud">new contracts with&nbsp;foreign governments </a>during Trump&#8217;s presidency,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/trump-organization-says-incoming-president-will-separate-himself-from-family-business-86f7a765">reported</a>&nbsp;The Wall Street Journal on Friday.
The plan states that the Trump Organization will remain free to pursue further foreign business deals with private companies. Lawyer William Burck will assist the company in crafting internal ethics policies to prevent any possible conflicts of interest.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931361/mark-zuckerberg-says-biden-officials-berated-meta-staff-as-they-refused-to-remove-true-content-it-just-got-to-this-pointthats-ridiculous"> Mark Zuckerberg Says Biden Officials Berated Meta Staff As They Refused To Remove &#8216;True&#8217; Content: &#8216;It Just Got To This Point…That&#8217;s Ridiculous&#8217;</a>
Trump&#8217;s investments will be managed independently by external institutions, with the president-elect having limited access to the company&#8217;s financial information. The company also plans to donate profits from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/11/29722548/trumps-dc-hotel-host-top-officials-from-6-countries-who-spent-thousands-of-dollars-to-seal-crucial-d">foreign government officials </a>identified at its hotels and other businesses to the U.S. Treasury.
This marks a significant shift from the approach taken when Trump first&nbsp;assumed office in 2017.
Eric Trump, the Trump Organization&#8217;s executive vice president, said, &#8220;The&nbsp;Trump Organization is dedicated to&nbsp;not just meeting but vastly&nbsp;exceeding its legal and ethical&nbsp;obligations during my father's presidency.&#8221; 
Why It Matters: Amid growing scrutiny of its international operations, the Trump Organization has decided to distance Trump from daily business activities and halt <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/23/09/34784560/jared-kushners-controversial-2b-saudi-deal-faces-no-threat-even-if-trump-re-elected-hints-crown-prin">new contracts with foreign governments.</a> This move comes as the company continues to expand its presence in regions where the Trump brand is well-established,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/11/29799914/trump-inks-4b-deal-with-saudi-developer-to-build-villas-hotel-and-golf-course-in-oman"> including Asia and the Middle East</a>.
Trump's business dealings have sparked controversy since his first presidency, with accusations of breaching the Constitution&#8217;s emoluments clauses. The Supreme Court dismissed a case related to this issue after Trump's 2020 election loss. Recently, the Trump Organization<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/21/10/23342965/trump-in-talks-to-sell-dc-hotel-to-a-rod-connected-investment-firm"> sold the long-term lease</a> for the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., for $375 million, and reports suggest the company is in negotiations to reacquire the property.
Trump faced criticism over his son-in-law Jared Kushner receiving a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/09/34517991/raskin-explains-why-democrats-didnt-probe-2b-saudi-investment-in-kushners-firm-in-2020-but-a-complet">$2 billion investment</a> for his private equity firm, Affinity Partners, from a Saudi fund backed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his first term in office.
Meanwhile, Trump Media &amp; Technology Group Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DJT#NASDAQ">DJT</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42874587/djt-stock-riding-the-trump-inauguration-rally-or-bracing-for-a-turn">stock has jumped 106% over the past year,</a> with the rally seemingly coinciding with President-elect Trump's anticipated return to the White House. At $35.31, DJT stock is trading above its 5, 20, and 50-day exponential moving averages, suggesting a bullish trend. However, key indicators present a mixed outlook.
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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

Trump Organization Unveils Ethics Plan To Distance President-Elect Donald Trump From Operations

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of&nbsp;Meta&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), has admitted that officials from the Biden administration have been exerting pressure on Meta staff to remove specific content from the platform. 
What Happened: During an episode of &#8220;The Joe Rogan Experience&#8221; podcast on Friday, Zuckerberg recounted instances where Biden administration officials aggressively confronted Meta staff over content removal requests. &#8220;Basically,&nbsp;these people from the Biden&nbsp;administration would call up our&nbsp;team and, like, scream at&nbsp;them and curse,&#8221; Zuckerberg shared with Rogan, the podcast host. 
&#8220;It&nbsp;just got to this point&nbsp;where we were like, &#8216;No, we&#8217;re not gonna, we&#8217;re&nbsp;not gonna take down things&nbsp;that are true. That&#8217;s ridiculous,&#8221; Zuckerberg said.
SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/01/42906243/netflixs-wwe-monday-night-raw-premiere-more-than-doubles-2024-usa-network-audience">Netflix&#8217;s &#8216;WWE Monday Night Raw&#8217; Premiere More Than Doubles 2024 USA Network Audience</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">The cat is out of the bag and the real OGs of internet culture and freedom are ready to lead. <a href="https://t.co/ZnPkHRx3VH">pic.twitter.com/ZnPkHRx3VH</a>
&mdash; Joe Rogan Podcast (@joeroganhq) <a href="https://twitter.com/joeroganhq/status/1877836006801502306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Zuckerberg also noted that Facebook occasionally complied with the White House&#8217;s requests but hinted that the platform would approach such decisions differently in the future.
Why It Matters: This is not the first time Zuckerberg has spoken about the Biden administration&#8217;s pressure on Meta. In August, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/08/40575260/mark-zuckerberg-reveals-biden-administration-pressured-meta-platforms-to-censor-certain-covid-19-">Zuckerberg&nbsp;revealed&nbsp;that during the COVID-19</a> pandemic, senior Biden administration officials pressured Meta to censor certain content on its platforms. He expressed regret for not opposing the pressure sooner and acknowledged certain decisions made by Meta in removing content during that period.
Meanwhile, in November 2024, Zuckerberg&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/11/42227958/mark-zuckerberg-and-trump-reportedly-met-at-mar-a-lago">reportedly met&nbsp;with President-elect</a>&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;at Trump&#8217;s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Earlier that year, Trump had threatened legal <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40667286/trump-warns-zuckerberg-in-latest-book-says-he-could-be-in-prison-for-the-rest-of-his-life-we-are-wat">action against Zuckerberg</a> if elected, accusing the Meta CEO of plotting against him while appearing friendly during visits to the Oval Office.
Last month, the Meta CEO&nbsp;also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42454227/months-after-trump-threatened-to-put-mark-zuckerberg-in-prison-meta-ceo-donates-1m-to-president-elects-inaugural-event">donated $1 million</a>&nbsp;to support the inauguration events for President-elect Trump. This marked Meta's first contribution to an inauguration fund.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;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: Wikimedia

Mark Zuckerberg Says Biden Officials Berated Meta Staff As They Refused To Remove 'True' Content: 'It Just Got To This Point...That's Ridiculous'

In 2024, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) CEO Tim Cook saw a significant increase in his annual compensation despite the company&#8217;s controversies over its AI and Siri privacy policies.
What Happened: Cook&#8217;s total compensation for 2024 rose by 18% from the previous year, reaching $74.6 million,&nbsp;the company said in a proxy filing on Friday. 
This increase was primarily due to a rise in stock awards, which amounted to $58.1 million, and non-equity incentive plan compensation, which was $12 million.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42893958/after-apple-halts-hardware-subscription-plans-samsung-unveils-similar-strategy-for-ai-powered-galaxy-smartphones" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">After Apple Halts ‘Hardware' Subscription Plans, Samsung Unveils Similar Strategy For AI-Powered Galaxy Smartphones</a>
Cook&#8217;s base salary remained $3 million for the third consecutive year. The company&#8217;s compensation committee also decided to raise the target value of Cook&#8217;s equity award to $50 million from $40 million, citing benchmark data for peer CEOs&#8217; pay.
Meanwhile, three senior executives — former Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri, General Counsel Kate Adams, and Deirdre O&#8217;Brien, who leads retail and HR — each earned a total compensation of $27,179,257. Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams received a slightly lower package, with his compensation totaling $27,177,812.
Why It Matters: Apple has been under scrutiny for its AI and Siri privacy policies. The company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836957/apple-acknowledges-ai-flaws-after-bbc-complaint-vows-fix-for-misleading-news-summaries">acknowledged flaws in its AI features</a> after a complaint from the BBC.
Apple also settled a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42890955/apple-clarifies-siri-privacy-policies-after-95-million-settlement"> $95 million lawsuit </a>over allegations of unauthorized recordings through Siri. Apple reaffirmed its privacy stance, stating it has never used or sold Siri data for marketing or advertising purposes. A recent settlement could benefit millions of U.S. Apple device users from September 2014 to December 2024.
Last week, UBS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42760822/ubs-cuts-iphone-sales-forecast-for-december-as-apple-faces-stiff-competition-from-other-players">forecasted weaker iPhone sales for December</a>, citing declining demand and falling market share in China. However, the company&#8217;s stock has remained resilient, indicating investor confidence in Apple&#8217;s long-term prospects.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Cook&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42801809/apple-ceo-tim-cook-reportedly-donates-1-million-to-trump-inauguration-joins-ranks-of-mark-zuckerberg-jeff-bezos-and-sam-altman">donated $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s inaugural committee</a>, joining the ranks of other major tech leaders. This move was seen as a significant one, given the political climate at the time.
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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