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Equity Commonwealth is a real estate investment trust engaged in the acquisition, ownership, and operation of office buildings located throughout the United States. The vast majority of the company's real estate portfolio comprises office assets. These properties are fairly evenly dispersed between many of America's urban markets, notably Washington, Austin and Denver. Equity Commonwealth derives the vast majority of its income in the form of rental revenue from tenants occupying its offices.

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Cryptocurrency mogul Justin Sun declared Thursday that he won&#8217;t dump his Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) holdings despite the continued decline in its value.
What Happened: Sun, the founder of the Tron (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/trx/usd">TRX</a>) blockchain, expressed a strong conviction for the second-largest cryptocurrency in an X post.
&#8220;ETH is currently at a low price, but we have no intention of selling our ETH holdings,&#8221; the cryptocurrency entrepreneur wrote.
&nbsp;Instead, he stated that Tron was looking&nbsp;to collaborate with more Ethereum&nbsp;developers to &#8220;build the industry together.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">ETH is currently at a low price, but we have no intention of selling our ETH holdings. Tron will continue to seek opportunities to collaborate with more Ethereum developers and build our industry together.
&mdash; H.E. Justin Sun &#x1f34c; (@justinsuntron) <a href="https://twitter.com/justinsuntron/status/1912945575504617945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Justin Sun is one of the largest cryptocurrency investors, with a portfolio worth more than $994 million, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://platform.arkhamintelligence.com/explorer/entity/justin-sun" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data&nbsp;</a>from Arkham Intelligence.&nbsp; He held 203.175 ETH as of this writing, worth $322,510, while his Lido Staked Ether (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">STETH</a>) accounted for $266 million.
Ethereum has been a major cryptocurrency laggard this year, plunging more than 52% year-to-date. The mega-cap token was currently trading 60% below its December highs.
In the last two days, however, it has traded sideways with little volatility.
 &#8220;This kind of price action usually precedes a large move. Just got to wait for the break to either direction,&#8221; Daan Crypto Trades, a widely followed cryptocurrency trader, predicted.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> Price extremely compressed. Has not really moved for the better part of 2 days. This kind of price action usually precedes a large move. Just got to wait for the break to either direction. <a href="https://t.co/dqCAz05seL">pic.twitter.com/dqCAz05seL</a>
&mdash; Daan Crypto Trades (@DaanCrypto) <a href="https://twitter.com/DaanCrypto/status/1913124975055118441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44881657/shytoshi-kusama-introduces-karma-system-a-trust-score-for-the-shiba-inu-ecosystem" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shytoshi Kusama Introduces &#8216;Karma&#8217; System To Assess Credibility Of Shiba Inu Users: &#8216;We Deal With So Many Scams And Scammers&#8217;</a>
Meanwhile, another well-known ETH investor, Niels, admitted that the token has been &#8220;the biggest disappointment&#8221; of this cycle.
Niels noted that major upgrades and institutional adoption have had little impact on the price, and now only <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/44875406/hell-be-out-if-i-ask-him-can-trumps-threat-to-oust-powell-shake-the-fed">quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve</a> and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/03/37967762/fidelity-includes-staking-in-spot-ethereum-etf-application">approval of Ethereum staking exchange-traded funds</a> could spark a recovery.
&#8220;If these 2 things happen this cycle, $10,000 ETH is programmed,&#8221; Niels said.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> is now at its most crucial support zone. Despite being one of my holdings, I&#39;m admitting that ETH has been the biggest disappointment of this cycle. ETF approval, major upgrades, and institutional adoption have helped very little, and prices are now back to 2018 levels.… <a href="https://t.co/YAQMd87JoH">pic.twitter.com/YAQMd87JoH</a>
&mdash; Niels (@Web3Niels) <a href="https://twitter.com/Web3Niels/status/1912798313679630767?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Price Action: At the time of writing, ETH traded at $1,588.02, down 0.37% 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>.&nbsp;
The Open Interest in ETH futures rose 2.11% in the last 24 hours, <a href="https://www.coinglass.com/LongShortRatio">according </a>to Coinglass. Additionally, more than 50% of Binance traders with an active ETH contract were positioned short as of this writing.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44881383/isaac-newton-inspired-crypto-defies-gravity-soars-7600-since-the-year-began">Isaac Newton-inspired Crypto Defies Gravity, Soars 7600% Since The Year Began</a></li>
</ul>
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.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"></a>
Photo: VPLAB/Shutterstock

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$TRX

Justin Sun Has 'No Intention Of Selling' ETH Despite A 52% YTD Slump—Crypto Mogul Says Tron Will Continue Collaboration With Ethereum

Chinese firms are reportedly using shell entities to circumvent the hefty tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. These shell importers, which are relatively easy to establish, could potentially hit the U.S. government&#8217;s revenue collection projections.
What Happened: These shell entities, typically registered as limited liability companies (LLCs) in the U.S., are being utilized to dodge customs duties, according <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade-war/Trump-tariffs/Shell-game-How-China-linked-front-companies-dodge-U.S.-tariffs">to</a> a report by Nikkei Asia.
&#8220;This just becomes a game of whack-a-mole,&#8221; commented Nicholas Birch, an international trade attorney at Schagrin Associates, according to the report.
These shell entities provide a &#8220;surety bond&#8221; to U.S. officials to cover expected tariff payments. However, these bonds can be significantly smaller than the actual duties, enabling the shell entities to forfeit their bonds and vanish, only to establish another shell company the following week.
Experts caution that the lack of customs supervision on importers, combined with the simplicity of creating a shell importer, heightens the risk of trade fraud.
&#8220;CBP does not screen these entities,&#8221; stated Paula Connelly, a former customs broker and senior member at trade law firm Sandler, Travis &amp; Rosenberg, according to the report.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44794639/ironically-because-of-all-the-new-tariffs-its-now-way-cheaper-to-make-our-chocolate-bars-outside-the-us-says" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ironically, Because Of All The New Tariffs, It&#8217;s Now Way Cheaper To Make Our Chocolate Bars Outside The US,&#8217; Says MrBeast</a>
The report added that shell companies are merely one tactic Chinese companies employ to reduce the costs of exporting to the U.S. Other strategies include undervaluing products and concealing the origin of products by shipping them via third countries.
Why It Matters: The tariff war between the U.S. and China has been escalating, with President Trump intensifying import taxes on China to a staggering <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44778488/as-trump-intensifies-tariff-war-with-china-global-economy-feels-the-tremors-whats-the-endgame-here">145%</a> on April 12. In retaliation, China raised its own tariffs to 125%.
 Chinese manufacturers and distributors, affected by these tariffs, were <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44785827/us-amazon-sellers-face-unlawful-tariff-evasion-proposals-from-frenzied-chinese-suppliers-report">proposing illegal strategies</a> to U.S. Amazon sellers to decrease their tariff duties. These tactics included understating the value of their imported goods and misrepresenting the shipment's value.
By April 16, the Trump administration had raised tariffs on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle">Chinese imports by up to 245%</a>. Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44857520/bill-gates-says-his-kids-and-grandkids-will-live-in-a-very-changed-world-as-ai-puts-an-end-to-shortage-of-te" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bill Gates Says His Kids And Grandkids Will Live In A &#8216;Very Changed World&#8217; As AI Puts An End To Shortage Of Teachers And Doctors</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Global

Chinese Firms Are Reportedly Using Shell Entities To Dodge Trump's Tariffs

The Blue Whale Growth fund, backed by the billionaire Peter Hargreaves, has sold its entire stake in Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) amid fears of a global economic slowdown.
What Happened: The decision to exit Meta and Microsoft was announced by the fund&#8217;s manager, Stephen Yiu, following U.S. President Donald Trump&#8216;s announcement of broad tariffs on April 2, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/4049c101-65f4-4cf5-a045-78b3b7e67131">reported</a> the Financial Times.
Yiu expressed concerns that these tariffs could potentially trigger a global economic slowdown, which would negatively impact Meta&#8217;s digital advertising business. He stated, &#8220;When you have a global business in digital advertising and a global slowdown and economic uncertainty, then it does impact the top line [revenues].&#8221;
The Blue Whale Growth fund, managing £1.1 billion ($1.46 billion), has massive holdings in technology stocks, accounting for nearly 40% of the portfolio. Meta&#8217;s holding represented about 3% of this.
Yiu also revealed that the fund has been buying shares of U.S. chip designer&nbsp;Nvidia Corporation&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), raising the stock&#8217;s share of the overall fund from 7% at the end of last year to 10%, in order to take advantage of a lower share price.
SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44881570/trump-administration-to-lay-off-nearly-90-of-cfpb-employees-in-major-downsizing-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Administration To Lay Off Nearly 90% Of CFPB Employees In Major Downsizing: Report</a>
Why It Matters:&nbsp;The Blue Whale Growth fund, started in 2017 by Hargreaves, co-founder of Hargreaves Lansdown, holds around £200 million ($265.31 million) from his family. Since Trump&#8217;s tariff announcement, Hargreaves Lansdown has reported that its customers have continued to be net buyers of the Magnificent Seven stocks, which represent nearly a third of the S&amp;P 500 by market capitalization.
In early April, UK retail investment platforms Interactive Investor and AJ Bell experienced a surge in trading volumes. Interactive Investor reached its highest-ever trading volumes on April 7, with Nvidia and Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) being popular picks. AJ Bell noted an increase in purchases of the Polar Capital Technology Trust, which includes tech giants like Nvidia, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple, highlighting growing interest in tech stocks.
After President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/liberation-day"> on April 2</a>, the U.S. technology sector has been particularly impacted. Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) dropped 16.86% year-to-date, while VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMH#NASDAQ">SMH</a>) lost 21.5% during the same period.
<ul>
<li>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44877231/ethereum-price-plunges-to-2018-levels-what-is-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ethereum Price Plunges To 2018 Levels: What Is Going On? &#8211; Benzinga</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Tech

AMZN

MSFT

NVDA

Billionaire Peter Hargreaves-Backed Fund Offloads Stake In Meta, Microsoft Amid Global Economic Woes

Amid escalating US-China tensions, senior scientist Yi Shouliang, formerly with the US Department of Energy, has left the U.S. to assume a new academic role at Sichuan University in China, according to a media report on Friday. What Happened: Yi recently departed the US after a short tenure as an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh, as reported <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3306865/doe-senior-scientist-yi-shouliang-leaves-us-china">by</a> the South China Morning Post. He also dissolved his commercial ventures in the country.
Earlier, Shouliang served as a principal scientist and project leader at the DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), where he focused on the Water-Energy Programme.
He has now accepted a new role at Sichuan University in China. Shouliang&#8217;s move comes at a time of increasing US-China tensions.
The reasons for his departure have not been disclosed. Currently, his name only appears in one patent filing and project proposals.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44881540/cathie-wood-says-shes-trusting-trump-will-get-call-on-tariffs-right-investors-shorting-the-equity-market-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cathie Wood Says She&#8217;s Trusting Trump Will Get Call On Tariffs Right: &#8216;Investors Shorting The Equity Market Now Will Be Caught Flat Footed Or Worse&#8217;</a>
At Sichuan University, Yi&#8217;s research includes advanced separation technologies and engineering. The lab also conducts exploratory research on artificial intelligence and machine learning.
These technologies are applied to high-performance membrane materials, porous functional materials, carbon capture and conversion, energy storage and gas separation, and ion-selective separation.
According to Sichuan University&#8217;s official website, Yi holds multiple titles, including Hai Na Distinguished Professor, doctoral supervisor, and head of the Green Low-Carbon Separation Technology and CCUS Innovation Team.
He is also a recipient of the National Overseas <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/08/34031021/chinas-stealth-revival-of-thousand-talents-plan-signals-semiconductor-ambitions-despite-us-restricti">High-Level Talent Programme</a>, previously known as the &#8216;Thousand Talents Plan&#8217;.
Why It Matters: Shouliang&#8217;s move to China is part of a larger trend of top scientists leaving the US for China. This trend has been fueled by China&#8217;s revival of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/08/34031021/chinas-stealth-revival-of-thousand-talents-plan-signals-semiconductor-ambitions-despite-us-restricti">&#8220;Thousand Talents Plan&#8221; (TTP)</a>, a program aimed at attracting top scientists to accelerate its semiconductor industry.
Another notable departure was that of acclaimed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40939909/top-mathematician-kenji-fukaya-leaves-us-to-join-chinas-tsinghua-university-amid-rising-tensions">Japanese mathematician Kenji Fukaya</a>, who left his post in the United States to take up a full-time professorship at China's Tsinghua University. Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44794639/ironically-because-of-all-the-new-tariffs-its-now-way-cheaper-to-make-our-chocolate-bars-outside-the-us-says" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ironically, Because Of All The New Tariffs, It&#8217;s Now Way Cheaper To Make Our Chocolate Bars Outside The US,&#8217; Says MrBeast</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Top US Scientist Leaves Department Of Energy To Join Sichuan University Amid Rising China Tensions

Barclays&nbsp;has revised its price target for&nbsp;Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) from $325 to $275, attributing the downgrade to weak fundamentals.
What Happened: Barclays, led by analyst Dan Levy, maintained an equal weight rating on Tesla&#8217;s stock but lowered the price target following a review of Tesla&#8217;s Q1 performance, as reported by <a href="https://in.investing.com/news/analyst-ratings/barclays-cuts-tesla-stock-price-target-to-275-from-325-93CH-4780716">Investing.com</a>. Barclays believes that, despite the downgrade, the market could respond positively if sentiment around Tesla improves — especially with Elon Musk taking a more active role and the upcoming Full Self-Driving (FSD) event on the horizon.
Levy and his team anticipate a low point in Tesla&#8217;s gross margin, driven by reduced production volume and operational inefficiencies. This expected drop played a key role in their decision to adjust the price target for Tesla shares.
Barclays has revised its forecast for Tesla's vehicle volume, now anticipating a decrease by 2025. Analysts view this potential drop in volume as a key concern for the company's future, with possible implications for its financial results and market valuation.
SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44829139/musk-firing-thousands-of-federal-workers-a-warning-says-bernie-sanders-what-do-you-think-hell-do-when-ai-com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Musk Firing Thousands Of Federal Workers A Warning, Says Bernie Sanders—&#8217;What Do You Think He&#8217;ll Do When AI Comes For Private Sector Jobs?&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The downgrade comes amid a series of challenges for Tesla. A recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44881982/elon-musks-tesla-accused-of-manipulating-odometers-to-dodge-warranty-repairs">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;accused the company of manipulating odometer readings to avoid warranty repairs, further damaging its reputation. 
Additionally, Tesla has been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44882075/tesla-reportedly-scales-back-cybertruck-production-shifts-workers-as-sales-plummet-the-parking-lot-keeps-getting-emptier">scaling back</a>&nbsp;its Cybertruck production and reassigning workers due to a sales slump, indicating potential operational and demand issues. Meanwhile, the EV maker is encountering new obstacles in its production plans for the Cybercab and Semi, stemming from the ongoing effects of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44831422/donald-trumps-145-tariffs-on-china-could-disrupt-teslas-cybercab-semi-production-report">145% tariffs </a>on Chinese goods imposed by the Trump administration.
These factors, coupled with the projected decline in vehicle volume, could significantly impact Tesla&#8217;s market valuation and financial performance in the long run.
However, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives believes that the&nbsp;Elon Musk-led EV giant was ‘<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44831960/dan-ives-says-tesla-best-positioned-to-deal-with-tariffs-it-will-ultimately-be-finished-cars-vs-auto-parts">best positioned</a>&#8216; to deal with the tariffs relative to the Detroit automakers like&nbsp;General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>), Ford Motor Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>), and&nbsp;Stellantis Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>). Ives&#8217;s remarks highlight Tesla&#8217;s solid standing in the U.S. electric vehicle market, where it led with a 43% share of EV sales in the first quarter of 2025.
Notably, Barclays&#8217; revised price target indicates nearly a 14% upside from Tesla&#8217;s Thursday close. Over the past month, shares of Tesla climbed 7.13%.
<ul>
<li>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44866755/mark-cuban-says-this-trump-healthcare-order-could-save-hundreds-of-billions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Says This Trump Healthcare Order &#8216;Could Save Hundreds Of Billions&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

STLA

TSLA

Tesla Price Target Slashed To $275 By Barclays Amid Margin Woes, But Elon Musk's FSD Push Could Lift Sentiment

The U.S. Energy Department (DoE) is reportedly contemplating substantial reductions, potentially halting&nbsp;nearly $10 billion in federal&nbsp;funding for clean-energy projects. This move could jeopardize high-profile collaborations with&nbsp;Exxon Mobil (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>)&nbsp;and&nbsp;Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>).
What Happened: The proposed cuts could disrupt contracts with energy companies involved in&nbsp;hydrogen, carbon capture, long-duration energy&nbsp;storage, and other technologies, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/doge-comes-for-clean-energy-putting-exxon-and-occidental-projects-at-risk-565bd42f">reported</a>. These reductions are a part of President Donald Trump's broader initiative through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce the size and cost of government, and could result in thousands of job losses at the Department of Energy (DOE), according to the report. 
DOGE&#8217;s&nbsp;efforts, overseen by Trump advisor Elon Musk, have already resulted in significant contract reductions and&nbsp;job cuts across the federal&nbsp;workforce. The $10 billion figure represents&nbsp;potential funding slashes in two&nbsp;DOE offices and a portion of the DOGE-driven cancellations being considered across the Energy Department.
Several key partnerships are at risk, including projects with Exxon, NextEra Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEE#NYSE">NEE</a>), and Occidental Petroleum, as the DOE considers cutting support. Additionally, funding for four regional hydrogen hubs—mainly in Democratic-leaning areas—is also under review.
DOE did not respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga&#8217;s</a> request for comment.
SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44877231/ethereum-price-plunges-to-2018-levels-what-is-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ethereum Price Plunges To 2018 Levels: What Is Going On? &#8211; Benzinga</a>
Why It Matters: The proposed cuts follow President Trump&#8217;s earlier move to freeze billions in federal funding, affecting projects in clean energy, conservation, and transportation across the United States. This move&nbsp;in February has created <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43628767/trump-freezes-billions-in-federal-funding-jobs-and-projects-in-clean-energy-conservation-and-transportation-left-in-limbo">uncertainty </a>for thousands of workers and local economies.
Moreover, in April 2025, Trump unveiled plans to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44701436/trump-unleashes-beautiful-clean-coal-policies-as-wall-street-tanks-sp-500-hits-1-year-low">revive U.S. coal production</a>, marking a dramatic policy reversal from the climate-focused agendas of the Biden and Obama administrations. This shift in policy and the proposed funding cuts could significantly impact the clean energy sector and its stakeholders.
Meanwhile, DOGE has drawn severe criticism for its mass firings. Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44484549/mark-cuban-on-doge-government-cuts-this-isnt-a-corporate-turnaround-this-is-the-united-states-of-america">warned </a>that abruptly cutting federal programs, agencies, and jobs without considering the economic impact could harm local economies. He noted that in some cities, up to 9% of the workforce depends on government jobs, and sudden cuts could lead to job losses, falling home values, and economic decline.
iShares Global Clean Energy UCITS ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ICLN#NASDAQ">ICLN</a>) and Invesco Solar ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAN#NYSE">TAN</a>) climbed 1.77% and 1.19%, respectively, on Thursday.
While shares of Occidental Petroleum and Exxon Mobil rose 3.28% and 2.62%, respectively, during the same period.
<ul>
<li>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44881570/trump-administration-to-lay-off-nearly-90-of-cfpb-employees-in-major-downsizing-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Administration To Lay Off Nearly 90% Of CFPB Employees In Major Downsizing: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

iShares S&P Global Clean Energy Index Fund

ICLN

Trump's Energy Department Mulls Cutting Billions In Clean-Energy Funds, Threatening Exxon, Occidental Projects

On Friday, Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks about potential collaboration in technology and innovation, signaling a strong push for deeper ties in these areas.
What Happened: In a post on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi shared that he and Musk had discussed "various issues," including the topics they touched upon during their earlier meeting in Washington, D.C., this year.
Modi went on to add that the discussion revolved around the &#8220;immense potential for collaboration&#8221; in tech and innovation.
<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">Spoke to <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our…
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1913129902100090992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44881778/amid-rising-competition-from-chinas-deepseek-and-us-rivals-openai-ceo-sam-altman-launches-codex-cli-a-coding-agent-that-runs-on-your-computer">Facing Heat From China&#8217;s DeepSeek And US Rivals, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Launches Codex CLI: &#8216;A Coding Agent That Runs On Your Computer&#8217;</a>
Why It's Important: The meeting between the two comes <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44833951/elon-musk-led-teslas-model-y-spotted-testing-in-mumbai-ahead-of-india-debut">amid growing anticipation</a> for Tesla&#8217;s expansion into the Indian market, further fueled by a recent test run of a Tesla Model Y in Mumbai.
Tesla has also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43805175/elon-musks-tesla-prepares-for-india-expansion-engineer-confirms-hiring-push-we-are-looking-for-motivated-talent-to-help-us">been hiring for roles in India</a>, a sign that the company is serious about establishing a presence there after facing challenges with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43718656/will-tesla-finally-enter-india-modi-musk-meeting-reportedly-focused-on-tariffs-starlink-licensing-and-spacex-collaboration">local tariffs and manufacturing</a> requirements.
Last month, Musk's SpaceX partnered with India&#8217;s Jio Platforms to expand Starlink <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44268506/elon-musk-led-spacex-inks-agreements-with-indias-top-telecom-providers-expands-addressable-market-by-over-850-million-users">satellite internet services</a>. SpaceX has also signed up a similar agreement with Bharti Airtel, Jio&#8217;s main competitor.
Price Action: Tesla shares dipped 0.070% on Thursday and slipped an additional 0.20% in after-hours trading, settling at $240.89. While the stock has seen some recent gains, it&#8217;s still down 36.36% year-to-date, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
The EV leader currently boasts a solid growth score of 67.60%, based on Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Click here to see how it stacks up against</a> other top industry players.
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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/25/03/44554189/openai-and-microsoft-back-mcp-standard-in-major-shift-toward-interoperable-ai-agents-that-can-think-click-and-navigate-the-web-but-google-ceo-sundar-pichai-appears-to-be-mulling-over-it-in-shakespearean-fashion-to-mcp-or-not-to-mcp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI And Microsoft Back MCP Standard For Web-Surfing AI Agents; Google's Sundar Pichai Asks A Shakespearean Question</a></li>
</ul>
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: Shutterstock

SPACE

Politics

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Indian PM Modi Discuss Deeper Tech Ties Amid Model Y Test Run In Mumbai

Warren Buffett's anti-Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) rhetoric has long been discussed in market circles, with many trying to comprehend why one of the world's most valuable assets failed to impress the "Oracle of Omaha."
That being said, his firm, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>), has indirect exposure to the price moves of the apex cryptocurrency through a company that bets on spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds.
What happened: According to the latest 13F filing, Berkshire Hathaway held 680.23 million shares of banking giant Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), translating to a stake worth nearly $29.89 billion, at the end of 2024.
Notably, BAC was Berkshire Hathaway's third-largest holding, cornering about 11.88% of its investment portfolio.
However, unlike its investor, the financial behemoth was not hesitant to park its funds in Bitcoin.
BAC has a stake in each of the six top ETFs tracking Bitcoin&#8217;s spot price, with the largest position valued at $21.78 million in the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBIT#NASDAQ">IBIT</a>). The company&#8217;s 13F filing revealed that it has held the shares since the first quarter of 2024 and scooped up an additional 249,292 shares in the fourth quarter.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44621245/gold-backed-cryptos-match-yellow-metals-highs-following-trumps-liberation-day-shock"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44856286/solana-outpaces-bitcoin-ethereum-after-cathie-woods-ark-invest-piles-on-sols-new-canada-based-etf">Solana Breaks Free From Bitcoin, Ethereum Lag After Cathie Wood&#8217;s Ark Invest Accumulates New SOL Staking ETF</a>
Why It Matters: The investment sharply contrasted with Buffett's disdain toward Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. The seasoned stock picker has called Bitcoin<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44728494/bitcoin-draws-ire-from-buffett-and-dimon-but-blockchain-technology-sees-a-softer-stance-from-both"> "probably rat poison squared"</a> and a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44728494/bitcoin-draws-ire-from-buffett-and-dimon-but-blockchain-technology-sees-a-softer-stance-from-both">&#8220;delusion&#8221;</a> in the past, questioning its intrinsic value.
Interestingly, like BAC, some other Berkshire Hathaway holdings are tied to cryptocurrencies.
Financial services company&nbsp;Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JEF#NYSE">JEF</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44622000/warren-buffett-avoids-bitcoin-but-do-you-know-berkshire-hathaway-holds-a-stake-in-a-bitcoin-hedge-advocate">also held over $85 million worth of IBIT shares</a> and deemed Bitcoin a &#8220;critical hedge&#8221; against fiat debasement and inflation.
Additionally, Berkshire <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42480133/do-you-know-warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-has-positions-in-this-lesser-known-crypto-friendly-bank-heres-how-the-stock-has-performed-this-year">has a stake</a> in Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NU#NYSE">NU</a>), a Brazil-based cryptocurrency-friendly bank.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin traded at $84,624.93, up 0.03% 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>.&nbsp;
Shares of Berkshire Hathaway rose 0.13% in after-hours trading after closing 0.34% higher at $518.21 during Thursday&#8217;s regular session. BAC stock closed 0.21% higher at $37.41.
As of this writing, Berkshire Hathaway&#8217;s stock was experiencing strong momentum. Go to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings</a> to see how BAC and its other top holdings perform on this metric.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="484" height="123" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/18041626/Screenshot-2025-04-18-134602.png" alt="" class="wp-image-878091" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/18041626/Screenshot-2025-04-18-134602.png 484w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/18041626/Screenshot-2025-04-18-134602-300x76.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 484px) 100vw, 484px" /></figure>
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Image via Shutterstock

$BTC

IBIT

MSTR

MTPLF

Warren Buffett Dislikes Bitcoin—But Berkshire Hathaway Finds Itself Linked To BTC ETFs Through One Of Its Biggest Holdings

President Donald Trump's potential attempt to dismiss Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell could rattle U.S. financial markets and undermine central bank independence, investment strategists warn.
What Happened: Trump&#8217;s aggressive stance on tariffs has already caused turbulence in the financial markets.
Investment strategists have now warned against dismissing the possibility of Trump trying&nbsp;to remove Powell from the&nbsp;Fed.
Kathy Jones, chief fixed-income strategist at the Schwab Center for Financial Research, stated that Trump&#8217;s desire to fire Powell and lower interest rates is evident, according <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/if-trump-fires-powell-it-would-blindside-wall-street-and-rattle-financial-markets-4b21833c?g=d37519b0-9514-4474-9d8e-414d33c0919d&amp;ref=biztoc.com">to</a> a report by MarketWatch.
Trump has publicly criticized Powell&nbsp;for refusing to lower interest&nbsp;rates, demanding that&nbsp;the central bank follow the&nbsp;European Central Bank&#8217;s example,&nbsp;which announced its latest rate&nbsp;cut on Thursday.
Despite Trump&#8217;s threats, Powell has maintained that the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/fed-chair-powell-deliver-fresh-economic-view-tariffs-inject-uncertainty-2025-04-16/">Fed will wait</a> to see how Trump&#8217;s&nbsp;tariffs impact the economy and&nbsp;inflation before proceeding with further interest-rate cuts. He also stated that the Fed would not&nbsp;intervene if the stock market&nbsp;plummeted.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44860334/china-cuts-us-oil-purchases-by-90-boosts-imports-from-canada-to-new-heights" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China Slashes US Oil Imports By 90% Amid Trump Tariffs, Turns To Canada Instead</a>
Following Trump&#8217;s social media post criticizing Powell, several press reports cited White House officials stating that <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/trump-says-his-proposed-tariffs-will-cost-americans-nothing-but-he-can-t-guarantee-anything-226489925905">Trump was not&nbsp;actually planning to fire Powell</a>.&nbsp;However, the authority Trump has to dismiss Powell remains unclear.
Analysts have warned that&nbsp;an upcoming Supreme Court decision&nbsp;could potentially undermine the independence&nbsp;of the Fed and other government agencies by expanding presidential powers. This could allow&nbsp;firings at institutions previously considered&nbsp;insulated from political pressure.
Despite the uncertainty, investors seemed willing to&nbsp;give Trump the benefit of&nbsp;the doubt, with the S&amp;P 500 index finishing&nbsp;slightly higher after a rocky&nbsp;session ahead of the long&nbsp;holiday weekend.
Why It Matters: The potential dismissal of Powell by Trump has been a topic of discussion since Trump&#8217;s re-election.
In November, Powell dismissed speculation about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/11/41823887/powell-dismisses-talk-of-resignation-after-trump-victory-says-policy-is-still-res">his potential resignation</a> or removal upon Trump&#8217;s return to the White House, stating the president cannot legally fire the central banker.
However, Trump later said he had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42381894/donald-trump-shifts-stance-on-jerome-powell-says-no-immediate-plans-to-replace-fed-chair-i-dont-think-so">no immediate plans to remove Powell</a>.
Despite this, Trump&#8217;s criticism of Powell&#8217;s handling of interest rates has continued, leading to speculation about a potential <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/41849984/powell-brushes-off-trumps-removal-threat-economists-say-2026-could-be-his-last-stand">clash between the White House and the central bank</a>.
This ongoing tension, coupled with the lack of a perceived &#8220;Trump put&#8221; or <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44661029/trump-and-fed-stand-firm-lack-of-a-put-could-drive-the-market-lower-very-quickly-warns-expert">&#8220;Fed put&#8221;</a>, could trigger a swift and significant market downturn. Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44866755/mark-cuban-says-this-trump-healthcare-order-could-save-hundreds-of-billions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Says This Trump Healthcare Order &#8216;Could Save Hundreds Of Billions&#8217;</a></li>
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Photo Courtesy: Jonah Elkowitz on Shutterstock.com

Federal Reserve

Trump's Threat To Fire Powell Could Shake US Financial Markets

<h3>Companies Reporting Before The Bell</h3>
• Sify Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SIFY#NASDAQ">SIFY</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.06 per share on revenue of $166.10 million. 
<h3>Companies Reporting After The Bell</h3>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Earnings

SIFY

Earnings Scheduled For April 18, 2025

Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) is reportedly scaling back its Cybertruck production and shifting workers in response to a sales slump.
What Happened: Over the recent months, Tesla has been reducing&nbsp;production targets for several Cybertruck&nbsp;lines, with some operating at a significantly reduced capacity. The size of several Cybertruck production teams has also been cut down. Since the start of the year, Tesla has been reassigning workers from the Cybertruck line at its Gigafactory Texas to the Model Y line, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-cybertruck-production-drops-sales-slump-2025-4">reported </a>Business Insider.
 &#8220;It feels a lot like they&#8217;re filtering people out,&#8221; a worker commented. &#8220;The parking lot keeps getting emptier.&#8221;
In Q1&nbsp;2025, Tesla sold 6,406 Cybertrucks, a 50% drop from the previous quarter. Although Elon Musk initially claimed that the vehicle had over a million reservations, fewer than 50,000 Cybertrucks have been delivered to date.
Tesla&#8217;s overall sales have also been declining, with Q1 delivery results showing&nbsp;a 13% decline from the&nbsp;same period in 2024. This decline coincides with increasing competition, protests outside showrooms, and a 40% drop in stock value year-to-date.
SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44779863/warren-buffetts-son-sold-his-berkshire-stock-inheritance-to-buy-something-infinitely-more-valuable-than-the-500-million-it-would-be-worth-today" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warren Buffett&#8217;s Son Sold His Berkshire Stock Inheritance To Buy Something &#8216;Infinitely More Valuable&#8217; Than The $500 Million It Would Be Worth Today &#8211; Benzinga</a>
Why It Matters: Tesla has once again adjusted its Cybertruck production schedule, similar to changes made in December 2024. Back then, the company informed workers about schedule changes and asked for their role preferences. Workers were told at the time that Tesla intended to reduce Cybertruck production targets for the first quarter of 2025. Notably, in March, the EV maker announced the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44414187/elon-musks-tesla-recalls-over-46000-cybertrucks-due-to-safety-concerns">recall of more </a>than 46,000 Cybertrucks in the U.S. due to a safety issue pertaining to the exterior panel.
The Cybertruck, a brainchild of Elon Musk, is being considered as one of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44662021/is-tesla-cybertruck-the-biggest-automotive-blunder-in-decades-after-fords-edsel-its-a-huge-swing-and-a-huge-miss">biggest automotive flops </a>in decades according to experts. The vehicle fell short of Musk&#8217;s ambitious sales target by a whopping 84%, with no signs of recovery in sight.
Furthermore, Tesla is reportedly sitting on nearly<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44670296/tesla-has-over-200-million-worth-of-cybertrucks-in-inventory-and-thats-raising-questions-about-demand-again"> 2,400 unsold</a> Cybertrucks worth $200 million in inventory across the U.S., which is approximately $200 million worth of inventory. The sticker shock from the base model&#8217;s price, coupled with frequent quality issues, has led to eroding trust in the vehicle.
Tesla has a momentum rating of 92.50% and a quality rating of 93.93%, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TSLA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga's Proprietary Edge Rankings</a>. For an in-depth report on more stocks and insights into growth opportunities,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/screener/top-momentum-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sign</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/screener/top-momentum-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">up for Benzinga Edge.</a>
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Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Tesla Reportedly Scales Back Cybertruck Production, Shifts Workers As Sales Plummet: 'The Parking Lot Keeps Getting Emptier'

Peter Thiel co-founded Palantir Technologies Inc.&nbsp;(PLTR) has signed a $29.8 million contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to enhance its immigration enforcement tools. This new deal is an expansion of an existing agreement and concentrates on tracking visa overstays and self-deportations through a system called ImmigrationOS.
What Happened: The contract, reviewed <a href="https://www.404media.co/ice-just-paid-palantir-tens-of-millions-for-complete-target-analysis-of-known-populations/?ref=daily-stories-newsletter">by</a> 404 Media, details a prototype of ImmigrationOS, a software suite created to streamline ICE's case management system.
The upgrade promises "near real-time visibility" into cases of self-deportation and promises to cover the "end-to-end immigration lifecycle," from identifying individuals to removal.
The system will also track visa overstays and share data with Customs and Border Protection for synchronized enforcement.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44706330/irs-reverses-stance-agrees-to-share-undocumented-migrant-taxpayers-information-with-ice-this-is-unprecedented">IRS Reverses Stance, Will Hand Over Undocumented Taxpayer Info To Immigration Authorities: &#8216;It&#8217;s Unprecedented&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: These technological tools are being conceptualised in accordance with executive orders that define unauthorized immigration and transnational crime as national security threats.
According to ICE, the software will help prioritize enforcement against individuals highlighted for serious offenses, but also broadens scrutiny to civil immigration violations.
ICE stressed Palantir's decade-long role in building and maintaining these systems, pointing to the contractor&#8217;s compliance with DHS privacy and security standards.
Palantir, along with Elon Musk's SpaceX, may also be major players in President Donald Trump's proposed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44861620/spacex-palantir-frontrunners-in-bid-that-could-build-donald-trumps-golden-dome-report">Golden Dome missile defense initiative</a>.
Delivery of the ImmigrationOS prototype is expected by Sept. 25.
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Photo courtesy: slyellow / Shutterstock.com

PLTR

Peter Thiel's Palantir Bags $30 Million Order From ICE For Immigrant Tracking System

In a recent dialogue with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) CEO Tim Cook reportedly discussed the potential ramifications of President Donald Trump&#8216;s tariffs on iPhone prices.
What Happened: Cook held a discussion last week with the Commerce Secretary about the possible impact of the tariffs on iPhone prices. Cook also engaged in talks with other senior White House officials, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/04/17/apple-iphone-tariff-exemption-trump/">report</a> by The Washington Post. As a result of this conversation, the Trump administration has agreed to exempt Apple&#8217;s China-produced electronic products from import duties.
Despite the widespread criticism of President Donald Trump&#8216;s trade policies by numerous executives, Cook chose not to do so. By the end of the week, the Trump administration decided to exempt import duties on electronic products that Apple manufactures in China. This decision also benefited other major U.S. firms like HP Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPQ#NYSE">HPQ</a>) and Dell (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DELL#NASDAQ">DELL</a>).
Notably, the exemption was approved even though senior White House aide Peter Navarro had recommended keeping the taxes in place.
Wilbur Ross, former commerce secretary during Trump's first term, told the publication, &#8220;Tim has a very good relationship with the president and rightly so. He has been playing a very careful role in that he obviously has a huge dependency on China but is also hugely important to the U.S.&#8221;
SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44869983/a-small-business-owner-asks-whats-your-plan-now-that-a-20-product-from-china-costs-50-before-it-even-hits-th" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A Small Business Owner Asks, &#8216;What&#8217;s Your Plan,&#8217; Now That A $20 Product From China Costs $50 Before It Even Hits The Warehouse?</a>
Why It Matters: Apple shares climbed over 2% on Monday after Trump exempted tariffs on electronics on Friday and pushed the company's market cap back more than $3 trillion. After the exemption, Trump stated, "I helped Tim Cook, recently, and that whole business,&#8221; reported CNBC.
The Apple CEO also invested $500 billion in the U.S. in March for an AI push, boosting U.S. manufacturing tech after a discussion with President Trump.
Prior to this development, Apple had been preparing for the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44781528/apples-preemptive-iphone-stockpile-could-disrupt-supply-chain-amid-looming-semiconductor-tariffs-warns-top-analyst-says-this-may-be-cupertinos-best-option-beyond-white-house-talks">potential impact </a>of tariffs on its supply chain. Top analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had warned that Apple&#8217;s supply chain could face significant disruptions due to the tariffs.
Interestingly, Cook had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44783543/when-tim-cook-revealed-the-real-reason-iphones-are-made-in-chinaand-its-not-low-labor-costs-china-stopped-being-a-low-wage-country-years-ago">previously clarified</a> that Apple&#8217;s decision to manufacture its products in China was not due to low labor costs. In a 2024 video, Cook stated, &#8220;China stopped being a low labor cost company many years ago.&#8221; This tariff exemption will allow Apple to continue its manufacturing operations in China without the added cost of import duties.
According to&nbsp;Benzinga Edge Rankings,&nbsp;Apple is unfavorable in the short, medium, and long term, but how does it compare with other tech stocks? Check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Edge Stock rankings</a>&nbsp;today to learn more.
Over the past month, Apple stock declined by over 7.4%, according to data from <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro.</a>
<ul>
<li>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44877231/ethereum-price-plunges-to-2018-levels-what-is-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ethereum Price Plunges To 2018 Levels: What Is Going On? &#8211; Benzinga</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

AAPL

DELL

Tim Cook's Talks With Commerce Secretary Lutnick Helped Apple Secure Tariff Exemption For iPhones: Report

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) reportedly manipulated odometer readings on its electric vehicles to avoid warranty repairs.
What Happened: A lawsuit filed by Nyree Hinton says that Tesla&#8217;s odometer readings are based on factors like energy consumption and predictive algorithms rather than actual mileage, leading to premature warranty expirations.
Hinton, the plaintiff, alleges her 2020 Model Y&#8217;s odometer ran at least 15% faster than expected, causing her warranty to expire prematurely, according to a report by Reuters.
Tesla did not immediately respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga&#8217;s</a> request for comment. 
Hinton, a Los Angeles resident, filed the lawsuit in a federal court in Los Angeles, seeking compensatory and punitive damages for Tesla drivers in California, potentially affecting over a million vehicles.
The complaint argues that Tesla&#8217;s practices increase repair revenue and force consumers to buy extended warranties earlier than necessary.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44881374/trump-admin-exempts-us-exporters-from-china-built-ship-fees-amid-industry-pushback">Trump Admin Exempts US Exporters From China-Built Ship Fees Amid Industry Pushback</a>
Why It Matters: This lawsuit is not the first legal challenge Tesla has faced. In September 2024, a U.S. District Court judge dismissed a lawsuit against Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, regarding alleged misrepresentations about the company&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41104861/elon-musk-tesla-win-dismissal-of-full-self-driving-claims-judge-tosses-lawsuit">Full-Self Driving (FSD) technology</a>.
The judge found that some of the statements were not false and others were related to future plans.
Earlier, in June 2024, Tesla faced a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39393674/tesla-to-face-lawsuit-for-alleged-monopoly-on-vehicle-repairs-and-parts">monopolizing the market for vehicle repairs</a> and parts.
The lawsuit alleged that Tesla coerced owners into paying high prices and enduring long waits for repairs, under the threat of losing warranty coverage.
Additionally, in April last year, Dustin Moskovitz, co-founder of Facebook (now Meta), compared <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38474626/tesla-is-now-enron-folks-facebook-co-founder-claims-musks-ev-giant-is-cooking-up-some-fsd-data">Tesla&#8217;s situation to the infamous collapse of Enron</a>, expressing concerns about the company&#8217;s FSD data.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44859742/rivian-delivers-70-fleet-vehicles-to-hellofresh-after-ending-exclusive-amazon-deal">Rivian Delivers Vehicles To HelloFresh In First Non-Amazon Deal After Ending Its Exclusive Partnership</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: Shutterstock

Equities

Elon Musk's Tesla Reportedly Manipulating Odometers To Dodge Warranty Repairs

White House Science and Technology Director Michael Kratsios made waves this week after claiming that the U.S. possesses technology that can "manipulate time and space.&#8221;
What Happened: Kratsios made the statement during a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/04/8716/">speech</a> at the Endless Frontiers tech retreat in Texas, where he advocated a renaissance of American innovation.
&#8220;Our technologies permit us to manipulate time and space. They leave distance annihilated, cause things to grow, and improve productivity,&#8221; Kratsios said.
Kratsios mourned a downturn in technological advancement in comparison with the mid-20th century.
"A gap lies between our moment and the speed of transformation America experienced midcentury," he said.
He ascribed this &#8220;stagnation&#8221; to national choice rather than capability and said, "Our technologies permit us to manipulate time and space."
While he did not specify which tools he was referring to, Kratsios did reference artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and semiconductors in the same address.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/04/44859753/scientists-detect-possible-signs-of-life-on-distant-planet-k2-18b-as-nasa-faces-massive-cuts">Scientists Detect Possible Signs Of Life On Distant Planet K2-18b</a>
Why It Matters: The comments come as the Trump administration makes policy moves targeted at promoting the tech sector, including tariff exemptions for electronics like <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44788262/apples-margins-catch-a-break-but-road-ahead-still-looks-bumpy">Apple&#8217;s iPhones</a> and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44782569/trump-to-unveil-semiconductor-tariff-plan-this-week-signals-flexibility-on-tech-exemptions">semiconductor equipment</a>.
A new presidential <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-trump-brings-permitting-technology-into-the-21st-century-for-government-efficiency/">memo</a> released this week also instructs federal agencies to increase the use of emerging technologies in infrastructure.
At the same time, NASA is facing a proposed 50% reduction to its science budget under the Trump administration's draft plan for the upcoming fiscal year.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/04/44730104/trumps-nasa-chief-pick-isaacman-tells-senate-we-will-prioritize-sending-american-astronauts-to-mars">Trump&#8217;s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman Tells Senate &#8216;We Will Prioritize Sending American Astronauts to Mars&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Trump's Tech Chief Claims US Can 'Manipulate' Time And Space

On Wednesday, Sam Altman-led OpenAI launched Codex CLI, a new open-source coding agent, along with two AI reasoning models.
What Happened: The newly launched open-source coding agent is OpenAI's most notable open-source release since 2019.
The AI startup also unveiled the full-scale version of its "o3" model—described as its most advanced AI system to date—and a more compact, efficient variant known as "o4-mini."
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Altman said, "o3 and o4-mini are super good at coding, so we are releasing a new product, Codex CLI, to make them easier to use. This is a coding agent that runs on your computer. It is fully open source and available today; we expect it to rapidly improve."
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://in.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44566020/arm-aims-for-50-data-center-cpu-market-share-by-2025-challenging-intel-and-amd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arm Aims for 50% Data Center CPU Market Share by 2025, Challenging Intel and AMD</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">o3 and o4-mini are super good at coding, so we are releasing a new product, Codex CLI, to make them easier to use. this is a coding agent that runs on your computer. it is fully open source and available today; we expect it to rapidly improve.
&mdash; Sam Altman (@sama) <a href="https://twitter.com/sama/status/1912558495997784441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Codex CLI is built to operate directly on a user's machine while connecting to the cloud to leverage the reasoning capabilities of its o3 and o4-mini models. Beyond generating code snippets, it can independently determine which tools to use locally to carry out tasks.
The company also noted that Codex CLI will soon support features from its recently released GPT-4.1 model.
To drive adoption, OpenAI has launched a $1 million grant program, offering selected developers $25,000 in API credits to build innovative projects using Codex CLI.
Moreover, according to OpenAI, training the o3 model required roughly ten times more computational resources than its earlier o1 model, previously considered its top performer in reasoning.
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's Important: This launch comes at a time when OpenAI faces mounting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/03/44474850/chinas-deepseek-ups-the-heat-in-openai-rivalry-upgrades-v3-model-improving-coding-and-reasoning-capability">pressure from competitors</a> such as China's DeepSeek, which in January launched its R1 model, an open-source AI, reportedly capable of mimicking OpenAI's advanced reasoning abilities.&nbsp;
In February, Anthropic also introduced a model capable of delivering both rapid, instinctive responses and more deliberate, step-by-step reasoning when necessary—a level of adaptive flexibility that OpenAI's models have yet to fully replicate.
Last month, Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google released its Gemini 2.5 Pro, a reasoning-focused model that outperformed OpenAI's o3-mini <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44487389/sundar-pichai-shows-off-googles-most-intelligent-ai-ever-with-a-dinosaur-video-game-that-even-you-could-make-with-a-simple-prompt">across several benchmark tests</a>.
OpenAI has also completed a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44580172/openai-finalizes-historic-40-billion-funding-round-valuing-company-at-300-billion-with-backing-from-softbank-and-microsoft">historic $40 billion funding round</a>, raising its valuation to $300 billion. Major contributors to the round include SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>).
This reportedly marks the largest funding round ever recorded and nearly doubles OpenAI's earlier valuation of $157 billion.
Photo Courtesy: Meir Chaimowitz on Shutterstock.com
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/25/03/44554189/openai-and-microsoft-back-mcp-standard-in-major-shift-toward-interoperable-ai-agents-that-can-think-click-and-navigate-the-web-but-google-ceo-sundar-pichai-appears-to-be-mulling-over-it-in-shakespearean-fashion-to-mcp-or-not-to-mcp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI And Microsoft Back MCP Standard For Web-Surfing AI Agents; Google&#8217;s Sundar Pichai Asks A Shakespearean Question</a></li>
</ul>
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.

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GOOGL

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Facing Heat From China's DeepSeek And US Rivals, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Launches Codex CLI: 'A Coding Agent That Runs On Your Computer'

The U.S. is on track to add almost four million manufacturing jobs by 2033—but Gen Z is not interested. While young workers are opting for trade careers, factory roles remain a hard sell.
What Happened: A Deloitte <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/manufacturing/supporting-us-manufacturing-growth-amid-workforce-challenges.html">study</a> projects 3.8 million new manufacturing jobs over the next decade, primarily due to retirements.
However, a Soter Analytics survey indicates that only 14% of Gen Z would consider working in factories. Instead, they are going for seemingly better-paying, flexible trades like plumbing and construction, according <a href="https://fortune.com/article/us-manufacturing-jobs-gen-z-baby-boomers-retirement-immigration/">to</a> Fortune.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/25/04/44858177/uber-ceo-dara-khosrowshahi-says-the-two-college-courses-are-absolute-necessity-for-c-suite-aspiring-leaders">Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Says The Two College Courses Are &#8216;Absolute Necessity&#8217; For C-Suite-Aspiring Leaders</a>
Why It Matters: The gap between job openings and interest could mean that half of the roles will remain unfilled. Low pay—averaging $51,890 a year—as well as safety and flexibility concerns, are major turnoffs.
A 2024 Cato Institute survey revealed that while 80% of Americans <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44880439/80-of-americans-say-the-country-would-be-better-off-with-more-manufacturing-jobs-but-only-25-want-one-themselves">support the idea</a> of increasing manufacturing jobs, only 25% said they'd opt for factory work themselves. Nearly three-quarters said they would not, and only 2% currently work in the sector.
Immigration, typically a major source of labor, is likely to be affected by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44789245/1-4-million-migrants-with-deportation-orders-could-be-facing-daily-fines-of-998-if-they-dont-leave-the-u-s">stricter regulations</a> under the Trump administration, which will put the sector under even more pressure.
As boomers retire over the next few years, the lack of Gen Z interest and reduced immigration could lead to a decline in the sector's growth. Without reinvention, the manufacturing boom may hit a wall.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44879959/steve-jobs-said-14-years-ago-iphones-would-never-be-made-in-the-u-s-those-jobs-arent-coming-back-now-tariffs-could-lift-price-to-3500">Steve Jobs Said 14 Years Ago iPhones Would Never Be Made In The U.S.: &#8216;Those Jobs Aren&#8217;t Coming Back&#8217;—Now Tariffs Could Lift Price To $3,500</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Nearly 4 Million Manufacturing Jobs Are Opening As Boomers Retire—But Gen Z Is Not Interested

Pseudonymous personality Shytoshi Kusama shared details about the upcoming &#8220;Karma&#8221; system, set to be used as a trust identifier for anyone interacting with the Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>) ecosystem.
What Happened:&nbsp;In an X post on Thursday, Kusama shared a recent podcast where they and Shadowhunter, a prominent developer within the ecosystem, discussed the mechanics and vision of the so-called Karma technology.
&#8220;As for me, Karma is something very crucial to our ecosystem. It&#8217;s going to be like an identity for trust,&#8221; Shadowhunter explained.
The developer said that Karma would assign a trust score to users based on their interactions with different products within the ecosystem, such as ShibaSwap and Metaverse. This score, he explained, would be tied to various aspects, primarily reflecting the credibility of users and their engagement with the platform.
&#8220;That trust score will be associated with a lot of things, but majorly shows how valued our users are,&#8221; Shadowhunter added.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">KARMA&#8230; Let&#39;s talk about it: &#x1f447;<a href="https://t.co/yRDX0RJM1W">https://t.co/yRDX0RJM1W</a> &#x1f446;&#x1f446;&#x1f446;First of many podcasts are coming your way as we continue pushing forward to release the operating system of the future.
&mdash; Shytoshi Kusama&#x2122; (@ShytoshiKusama) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShytoshiKusama/status/1912782258836025716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The concept of Karma, as Kusama described, was intriguing because it introduces a trust system in a supposedly trustless environment of blockchains.
&#8220;But as we know, we deal with so many scams and scammers in the system. Having a trust-based system to help understand who you are dealing with is very important,&#8221; Kusama said.
Kusama likened the idea to the seller rating system that online marketplace eBay Inc.&nbsp;uses to assist customers. 
&#8220;Overtime, it really helps you know who and what your likelihood of success will be,&#8221; the mysterious personality said. &#8220;I&#8217;m super excited to see it launch and see what the community would do with it.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44621245/gold-backed-cryptos-match-yellow-metals-highs-following-trumps-liberation-day-shock"></a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44856286/solana-outpaces-bitcoin-ethereum-after-cathie-woods-ark-invest-piles-on-sols-new-canada-based-etf">Solana Breaks Free From Bitcoin, Ethereum Lag After Cathie Wood&#8217;s Ark Invest Accumulates New SOL Staking ETF</a>
Why It Matters:&nbsp; Kusama announced their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43220991/shytoshi-kusama-steps-down-as-shiba-inu-lead-accomplished-my-initial-goal-with-flying-colors-heres-whats-next-for-the-masked-visionary" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">transition</a>&nbsp;from the Shiba Inu lead visionary to the lead ambassador role, stating that the project requires more execution and communication than vision.
The real identity of Kusama has been a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/39640358/shiba-inu-lead-developer-shytoshi-kusama-appears-in-japan-in-batman-like-avatar-our-humble">subject of significant interest</a> within the cryptocurrency circle, and they disguise their true self with masks during public appearances.
The Shiba Inu project launched its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42936962/shytoshi-kusama-outlines-treat-tokens-usefulness-ahead-of-launch-optimistic-whales-buy-up-shiba-inu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">4th ecosystem token</a>,&nbsp;TREAT,&nbsp;earlier this year to further its founder Ryoshi's vision
Price Action: At the time of writing, SHIB was trading at $0.00001181, down 0.98% 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>.  Year-to-date, the token has plunged 43%.
Photo Courtesy: vlastas on Shutterstock.com
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44856786/bhutan-flexes-hydropower-for-bitcoin-mining-explores-sale-of-green-coins">Bhutan Flexes Hydropower For Bitcoin Mining, Explores Sale Of &#8216;Green&#8217; Coins</a></li>
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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.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"></a>

$SHIB

Shytoshi Kusama Introduces 'Karma' System To Assess Credibility Of Shiba Inu Users: 'We Deal With So Many Scams And Scammers'

President Donald Trump on Thursday indicated that the tariff impasse between the United States and China may be on the path to resolution, even as a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44655624/trumps-tariff-hike-pushes-back-tiktok-us-deal-as-china-opposes-the-sale-extending-the-deadline-for-bytedances-divestment">proposed negotiation involving TikTok</a> hangs in the balance.
The remarks come amid signals that both countries are moving away from further economic escalation.
What Happened: Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he may put a pause on increasing tariffs further, citing concerns about their effect on consumer behavior, Reuters reported.
"I may not want to go higher… because you want people to buy, and at a certain point, people aren&#8217;t gonna buy," he said.
Earlier, the president had imposed a <a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44656680/trumps-10-tariff-on-most-imports-is-finally-here-taking-effect-saturday">10% tariff on most imports</a> and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44740040/chinas-growth-outlook-dims-as-trumps-125-tariffs-put-millions-of-jobs-at-risk-goldman-warns">raised duties on Chinese goods to 145%</a> after retaliation from Beijing. However, the administration has since postponed additional increases, and Trump admitted that Chinese officials have been in contact.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44881374/trump-admin-exempts-us-exporters-from-china-built-ship-fees-amid-industry-pushback">CBP&#8217;s Latest Tariff Figures Reveal $500 Million In Collections, Dwarfing Trump&#8217;s $2 Billion Daily Estimate</a>
Why It Matters: The likely pause in tariff escalation demonstrates a shift from the earlier aggressive approach that upset financial markets and damaged U.S.-China trade ties.
While Beijing said it would not match Washington "in a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44856008/china-dismisses-trumps-tariff-numbers-game-files-wto-complaint-talks-can-only-proceed-based-on-mutual-respect">numbers game with tariffs</a>," Trump&#8217;s more restrained tone suggests room for negotiation.
On Thursday, President Trump also shared an update about TikTok. Although a deal exists for ByteDance to spin off TikTok's U.S. operations, Trump shared that the transaction is on hold. "It&#8217;ll be subject to China," he said, "so we'll just delay the deal ‘til this thing works out one way or the other."
With formal negotiations yet to gain momentum, the prospects for both trade relations and the TikTok deal remain unclear. Trump's comments suggest a preference for de-escalation, but progress may depend on how both countries navigate the next phase of talks.
TikTok recently announced that its U.S. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/04/44856624/tiktoks-us-policy-chief-steps-down-as-bidding-war-heats-up-after-trump-extends-deadline-report">public policy chief, Michael Beckerman</a>, is leaving his Washington-based role to transition to a global advisory position.
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</ul>
Photo courtesy: XanderSt / Shutterstock.com

Social Media

President Trump Hints At Cooling Tariff War With China, Says TikTok Divestment Will Be Postponed Until Trade Issues Are Settled

The Trump administration is implementing major staff cuts at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), letting nearly 90% of its staff go as part of a larger initiative to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44353947/trumps-cfpb-overhaul-leaves-consumers-exposed-heres-what-it-means-for-your-money">scale back</a> the agency's role in monitoring consumer financial protections.
What Happened: More than 1,500 CFPB employees are being sent reduction-in-force notices, bringing the agency's workforce down to just over 200, according to <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/cfpb-make-sweeping-job-cuts-trump-admin-refocuses-agency">a</a> Fox Business report.
The layoffs cover core operations, including supervision and enforcement roles. Internal communications obtained by The Wall Street Journal show a noticeable reduction in supervisory exams and a shift back to oversight of traditional banks and credit unions.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">NEW: Take a look at the CFPB&#39;s new direction in a memo sent to staff this evening. Some key changes worth reading with the agency being run by acting CFPB director <a href="https://twitter.com/russvought?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@russvought</a>. Trump&#39;s nominee to run the CFPB, Jonathan McKernan, has yet to receive a full Senate vote. <a href="https://t.co/RetkiaDlQH">pic.twitter.com/RetkiaDlQH</a>
&mdash; Brian Schwartz (@schwartzbWSJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/schwartzbWSJ/status/1912633869255188512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44833509/judge-strikes-down-biden-era-rule-capping-credit-card-late-fees-at-8">Judge Strikes Down Biden-Era Rule Capping Credit Card Late Fees At $8</a>
Why It Matters: The changes indicate a significant shift in the orientation of federal consumer protection strategy. "We're reallocating resources to address tangible consumer harm," wrote CFPB Chief Legal Officer Mark Paoletta in a memo to staff.
The agency will now focus on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/bonds/25/04/44774323/mortgage-rates-hit-7-1-as-bond-market-volatility-trade-tariffs-shake-markets">mortgage-related issues</a>, data mismanagement, and financial fraud, while stepping back from domains like medical debt, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44778031/she-was-29-months-from-erasing-247k-in-student-debt-now-her-forgiveness-is-frozen">student loans</a>, and digital payments. The CFPB also vowed to avoid "novel legal theories" and adhere to well-defined legal boundaries.
The CFPB's new direction highlights the Trump administration's wider push to limit regulatory reach and lower government intervention in financial markets.
With Jonathan McKernan's nomination to lead the agency still awaiting Senate confirmation, the bureau's future will likely continue to be molded by ongoing legal and political battles over its scope and authority.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44787438/us-watchdog-to-investigate-sec-overhaul-led-by-white-house-elon-musks-doge-report">FTC Launches Public Inquiry After Trump Issues Executive Order To Eliminate Anticompetitive Regulations That Favor Monopolies, Raise Consumer Costs</a></li>
</ul>
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