Bitcoin moved sideways while the altcoin market rallied significantly on Monday as traders pivoted away from the leading cryptocurrency ahead of Christmas.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 7:45 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>-0.37%</td><td>$94,282.97</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+4.35%</td><td>$3,405.60</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+4.51%</td><td>$0.3227</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: Bitcoin remained choppy, oscillating between the $92,000-$96,000 zone. The sideways movement comes a day after the apex cryptocurrency<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42640293/trump-congratulates-bitcoiners-on-new-all-time-highs-as-apex-crypto-suffers-first-weekly-loss-since-election-triumph"> closed at a weekly loss for the first time</a> since Donald Trump's election victory last month.



Investors shifted their capital to Ethereum and the rest of the altcoin market. The world&#8217;s largest cryptocurrency rose 4.35% to nearly $3,400.



Bitcoin's dominance fell by 1.53%, while Ethereum and altcoin saw increases in their respective market shares.



Over $278 million was liquidated from the market in the last 24 hours, with nearly equal proportions of long and short liquidations.



Bitcoin's Open Interest rose 2.49% in the last 24 hours. An increase in Open Interest, coming alongside a sideways price action, indicated a potential upside move.&nbsp;



More than 66% of traders on Binance were leveraged long on Bitcoin, according to the Long/Short Ratio.



The market remained in the "Greed" zone, according to the Cryptocurrency Fear &amp; Greed Index.



Top Gainers (24-Hours)



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 7:45 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL)</td><td>+29.76%</td><td>$2.99</td></tr><tr><td>Aave (AAVE)</td><td>+22.56%</td><td>$385.47</td></tr><tr><td>XDC Network (XDC)</td><td>+15.14%</td><td>$0.08652</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.32 trillion, following an increase of 2.04% in the last 24 hours.



Stocks began the holiday week high on spirits. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 66.69 points, or 0.16%, to close at 42,906.95. The S&amp;P 500 added 0.73%, ending at 5,974.07, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite spiked 0.98% to 19,764.88.



Data released Monday <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42657230/us-consumer-confidence-drops-in-december-expectations-signal-potential-economic-weakness-in-2025">indicated a sharp fall in U.S. consumer morale</a>, with the Conference Board&#8217;s Consumer Confidence Index falling to 104.7 in December, returning to mid-range levels seen during the previous two years.



The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq will close early on Christmas Eve, and the markets will be shut on Christmas Day.



See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>



Analyst Notes: In a note to Benzinga, Arthur Azizov, CEO of cryptocurrency payment provider B2BINPAY attributed the market's ongoing correction to Bitcoin's growing dominance.



"Naturally, we can now anticipate a decline in Bitcoin's dominance, which should create room for altcoins to pick up momentum again," Azizov predicted. "Overall, this is all playing out as expected, with most assets returning to the 50% retracement zone of their recent impulse moves."



Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader Ali Martinez drew attention to Ethereum's "most significant" support level of $3,030 &#8211; $3,130 and the "most significant" resistance level of $3,640 &#8211; $3,740.



"A sustained close outside of this no-trade zone will determine the direction of ETH&#8217;s trend," Martinez remarked.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The most significant support level for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ethereum?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ethereum</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> is between $3,030 &#8211; $3,130, and the most significant resistance wall is $3,640 &#8211; $3,740. A sustained close outside of this no-trade zone will determine the direction of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ETH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ETH</a>&#39;s trend. <a href="https://t.co/YCGKucGvjt">pic.twitter.com/YCGKucGvjt</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1871280113209266444?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Read Next:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42660092/microstrategy-sinks-after-nasdaq-100-inclusion-bitcoin-bet-under-fire">MicroStrategy Sinks After Nasdaq 100 Inclusion: Bitcoin Bet Under Fire?</a></li>
</ul>

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Markets

Movers

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$BTC

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin Flat, Ethereum, Dogecoin Spike Ahead Of Christmas: Analyst Says Decline In BTC Dominance Leaves 'Room For Altcoins To Pick Up'

On Monday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest executed notable trades involving Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>).



The Tesla Trade



Ark Invest made a significant move by selling 13,040 shares of Tesla Inc. through its ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE: ARKK). This transaction, valued at approximately $5.6 million, comes as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42641207/researcher-says-cancelation-of-7500-ev-tax-credit-could-impact-teslas-deliveries-despite-ceo-elon-musk-claiming-otherwise">Tesla faces potential challenges</a> related to the possible cancellation of the $7,500 EV tax credit in the U.S. Researcher Troy Teslike has highlighted that similar tax credit cancellations in Europe have previously led to a decline in Tesla&#8217;s sales. Despite these concerns, Tesla&#8217;s stock closed at $430.60, marking a 2.27% increase.



The Palantir Trade



Ark Invest sold shares of the Alex Karp-led company on Monday. Palantir, which closed at $80.69, has been actively expanding its footprint in the defense sector. Ark sold 22,807 Palantir shares through the flagship ARKK ETF. The transaction was valued at $1.84 million.



The company, alongside Anduril Industries, is leading a consortium to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42640010/palantir-and-anduril-reportedly-lead-consortium-partner-with-spacex-and-openai-to-compete-against-traditional-defense-contractors-in-850-billion-us-military-market">challenge traditional defense contractors</a>, according to a previous report. This move positions Palantir as a formidable player in the $850 billion U.S. military market.



The Amazon.com Trade



Ark Invest&#8217;s trade activity on Amazon was also noteworthy. The firm purchased 7,499 of the e-commerce giant&#8217;s shares through Ark Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKF#NYSE">ARKF</a>). The transaction was valued at nearly $1.7 million. The company&#8217;s stock, which closed at $225.06 with a slight 0.06% uptick, has been the subject of optimistic projections. An analyst with an 86% accuracy rate has predicted a 24% upside for Amazon, as detailed in a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/24/12/42646865/this-analyst-with-86-accuracy-rate-sees-around-24-upside-in-amazon-com-here-are-5-stock-picks-for-last-week-from-wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts">recent analysis</a>. This forecast aligns with Ark&#8217;s strategic interests in high-growth potential stocks.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42638957/warren-buffetts-timeless-advice-if-youre-gonna-do-dumb-things-because-your-stock-goes-down-you-shouldnt-own-a-stock-at-all?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warren Buffett's Timeless Advice For Investing $10,000: &#8216;If You're Gonna Do Dumb Things Because Your Stoc</a>



Other Key Trades:



<ul>
<li>Bought stock of 10X Genomics Inc. via ARKK and ARKG. </li>



<li>Bought shares of Gitlab Inc. through ARKK.</li>
</ul>



Image via Benzinga YouTube and Unsplash



Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42635671/analyst-bullish-on-shiba-inu-sees-235-surge-despite-recent-fall?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Analyst Bullish on Shiba Inu, Sees 235% Surge Despite Recent Fall</a></li>
</ul>



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Equities

ETFs

AMZN

ARKF

ARKK

PLTR

TSLA

Cathie Wood-Led Ark Invest's Monday Moves: Dumps Tesla, Palantir Stock, Adds Amazon

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) is reportedly planning to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42428505/google-asks-ftc-to-kill-microsofts-monopoly-over-hosting-openai-technology-on-its-cloud-servers-report">reduce its dependence</a> on ChatGPT-maker OpenAI.



What Happened: Microsoft has been working on integrating internal and third-party artificial intelligence models into its AI product, Microsoft 365 Copilot, reported Reuters, citing sources familiar with the effort.



This move is a strategic step to diversify from the current underlying technology of OpenAI and reduce costs.



The Satya Nadella-led company is also decreasing 365 Copilot&#8217;s dependence on OpenAI due to concerns about cost and speed for enterprise users, the report noted, citing the sources.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42642020/steve-ballmers-bold-investment-strategy-80-of-his-portfolio-is-in-microsoft-stock-heres-why-his-keep-it-simple-approach-is-winning-big?itm_source=parsely-api">Steve Ballmer&#8217;s Winning Investment Strategy: Billionaire Says &#8216;Keep It Simple&#8217; As His Microsoft Bet Pays Off Thanks To AI Boom</a>



A Microsoft spokesperson was quoted in the report saying that OpenAI continues to be the company&#8217;s partner on frontier models. &#8220;We incorporate various models from OpenAI and Microsoft depending on the product and experience.&#8221;



OpenAI and Microsoft did not immediately respond to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag">Benzinga's</a> request for comments.



Microsoft 365 Copilot is reportedly yet to prove its return on investment to enterprises. The tech giant has not shared specific sales data on the number of licenses sold.



Subscribe to the <a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a> to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.



Why It Matters: This move mirrors those of other Microsoft business units which have altered the ways they use OpenAI models. For instance, GitHub, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/11/35623886/microsofts-github-poised-for-growth-with-ai-tools-analyst-sees-5b-arr-potential">acquired by Microsoft</a> in 2018, added models from Anthropic and 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 in October as alternatives to OpenAI's GPT-4.



Previously it was reported that company insiders were concerned about Microsoft&#8217;s AI strategy being <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37605368/is-microsoft-turning-into-it-for-openai-insiders-say-tech-giants-ai-strategy-is-overly-reliant-on-ch">heavily reliant on its partnership</a> with OpenAI.



In October, the two companies engaged in talks to decide how Microsoft's $14 billion investment in OpenAI would be <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41407196/openais-for-profit-structure-adds-valuation-complexity-to-microsoft-and-other-equity-investors-repor">converted into equity</a> in the AI firm.



OpenAI plans to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42382569/elon-musk-asks-was-it-ever-not-a-lie-as-he-accuses-openai-of-selling-out-to-microsoft-and-betraying-its-founding-mission">remove a clause that restricts</a> Microsoft&#8217;s access to its most advanced AI models upon achieving artificial general intelligence, according to a report published in December.



Price Action: Microsoft&#8217;s stock fell 0.31% on Monday, closing at $435.25. However, year-to-date, the shares have risen by 17.36%, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag">Benzinga Pro data</a>.



Photo via Shutterstock



Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42633922/qualcomm-bags-win-in-chips-licensing-trial-against-arm-but-the-battle-is-not-over-yet?itm_source=parsely-api">Qualcomm Bags Win In Chips Licensing Trial Against Arm, But The Battle Is Not Over Yet</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Tech

Media

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GOOGL

MSFT

Microsoft Invested Nearly $14 Billion In OpenAI But Now Its Reducing Its Dependence On The ChatGPT-Parent: Report

The semiconductor sector has had an electrifying run in recent years, but 2024 proved to be more selective. While some chipmakers soared to triple-digit gains, others <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/chipmakers">struggled to stay afloat. </a>



As traders look forward to2025, a fresh question emerges: Should you chase the winners, pick the laggards, or focus on undervalued opportunities with high analyst backing?



The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NYSE">SOXX</a>) delivered a 15.2% year-to-date gain as of Dec. 23, cooling off after a massive 65% surge in 2023. Within the group, performance varied wildly:



<ul>
<li>Top Performers: Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) rose 180%, while Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) gained 109%.</li>



<li>Biggest Laggards: Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) sank 60%, Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCHP#NASDAQ">MCHP</a>) fell 36%, and ON Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ON#NASDAQ">ON</a>) dropped 20%.</li>
</ul>



The key takeaway? The semiconductor market is far from homogenous, with companies diverging sharply based on their ability to capitalize on emerging trends like AI.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">5 Chip Stocks Analysts Are Betting On for 2025</h3>



Rather than chasing laggards or jumping on already overheated names, traders might want to focus on undervalued semiconductor stocks that align with analysts' bullish forecasts. 



Here are five potential winners for 2025:



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">5. Applied Materials (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>)</h4>



<ul>
<li>Median Price Target (upside vs. current market price) : 32.02%</li>



<li>2024 YTD Performance: +3.29%</li>



<li>2023 Total Return: 67.97%</li>



<li>Market Cap: $136.21 billion</li>



<li>P/E Ratio (Next 12 Months): 17.7x</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">4. Monolithic Power Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MPWR#NASDAQ">MPWR</a>)</h4>



<ul>
<li>Median Price Target (upside vs. current market price): 33.08%</li>



<li>2024 YTD Performance: -2.20%</li>



<li>2023 Total Return: 79.78%</li>



<li>Market Cap: $30.09 billion</li>



<li>P/E Ratio (Next 12 Months): 38.6x</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">3. Micron Technology (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>)</h4>



<ul>
<li>Median Price Target (upside vs. current market price): 43.12%</li>



<li>2024 YTD Performance: +4.80%</li>



<li>2023 Total Return: 71.93%</li>



<li>Market Cap: $99.64 billion</li>



<li>P/E Ratio (Next 12 Months): 11.4x</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">2. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. </h4>



<ul>
<li>Median Price Target (upside vs. current market price): 45.83%</li>



<li>2024 YTD Performance: -15.34%</li>



<li>2023 Total Return: 127.59%</li>



<li>Market Cap: $202.53 billion</li>



<li>P/E Ratio (Next 12 Months): 27.7x</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">1. Microchip Technology</h4>



<ul>
<li>Median Price Target (upside vs. current market price): 49.26%</li>



<li>2024 YTD Performance: -36.11%</li>



<li>2023 Total Return: 30.90%</li>



<li>Market Cap: $30.94 billion</li>



<li>P/E Ratio (Next 12 Months): 34.9x</li>
</ul>



Now Read: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42657620/amd-and-micron-top-analyst-picks-for-ai-and-next-gen-tech-growth">AMD and Micron Are Top Analyst Picks for AI and Next-Gen Tech Growth</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

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Macro Economic Events

Sector ETFs

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AMAT

AVGO

INTC

MCHP

MPWR

NVDA

SOXX

5 Semiconductor Stocks Wall Street Analysts Predict Could Soar In 2025

Shares of MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) fell more than 8.5% Monday, marking a rough debut to its nascent tenure <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42656254/tech-stocks-eye-christmas-gains-microstrategy-tumbles-as-bitcoin-dips-to-93000-whats-driving-markets-monday">among the Nasdaq 100. </a>



The software company and top corporate Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) holder has struggled lately, logging its fifth losing session in the past six sessions and plunging over 37% since its all-time high last month.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why Is MicroStrategy Falling?</h3>



On Monday, MicroStrategy announced it sold $561 million in common stock to purchase an additional 5,262 Bitcoins at an average price of $106,662 per coin. This brings the company's total Bitcoin holdings to a staggering 444,262 BTC.



Yet, both the size and the timing of this purchase raised eyebrows among traders and analysts. 



The latest Bitcoin purchase was Michael Saylor&#8216;s smallest to date. It&#8217;s a sharp contrast to the bold, big-ticket acquisitions that have defined his crypto strategy thus far.



The average price paid for the new Bitcoin stash is roughly 12% above current levels. Even more telling, the price exceeds the Dec. 17 record close of $106,151 per Bitcoin—an unusual move for a company known for strategically buying dips.



Critics didn't hold back. Peter Schiff, a well-known Bitcoin skeptic, took a jab at Saylor on X, saying:



"It seems like you are running out of firepower to keep propping up Bitcoin. Plus, not only is this your smallest buy, but the first time your average purchase price has been above the market price on the Monday you disclosed the buy."



Meanwhile, the market's reaction reflected growing unease.



 "$MSTR continues to look quite heavy," wrote the account Markets &amp; Mayhem on X. "The ‘infinite money glitch' isn't really a glitch at all. It's just trying to replace a failing core SaaS business with something that attracts today's high-beta-loving speculators."



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Risky Game Of Leverage</h3>



MicroStrategy's deep ties to Bitcoin have been both its crown jewel and its Achilles' heel. With over $41 billion worth of Bitcoin on its balance sheet as of December 2024, the company is inextricably linked to the volatile movements of the cryptocurrency market.



Yet, its latest purchase suggests cracks in its strategy. Not only was this one of the smallest Bitcoin buys in recent years, but it also indicates that MicroStrategy may be overextending itself as Bitcoin prices falter.



Adding to investor concerns is MicroStrategy&#8217;s pivot away from its original software business. The company has leaned heavily into Bitcoin speculation, prompting questions about its ability to generate sustainable cash flow from its core operations.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What&#8217;s Next For MSTR?</h3>



While MicroStrategy remains a favorite among Bitcoin bulls, the stock&#8217;s recent performance signals caution. The company has shed nearly 40% of its value in just over a month, despite Bitcoin trading near $100,000.



The broader Nasdaq 100 debut was supposed to be a moment of validation for MicroStrategy, but instead, it highlighted the risks of its hyper-concentrated bet on cryptocurrency.



As 2024 nears its end, all eyes will be on Bitcoin&#8217;s price trajectory. If the cryptocurrency can&#8217;t regain upward momentum, MicroStrategy&#8217;s high-stakes game could face mounting pressure.



Now Read: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42653753/history-may-hint-at-sp-500-struggles-in-2025-yet-there-is-also-hope-heres-why">History Suggests S&amp;P 500 Could Struggle In 2025, But There&#8217;s Reason For Optimism</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

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Small Cap

MSTR

MicroStrategy Sinks After Nasdaq 100 Inclusion: Bitcoin Bet Under Fire?

Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller, a George Soros protégé, is known for his &#8220;top-down&#8221; investing style. Druckenmiller&#8217;s strategy focuses on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/12/42627207/stanley-druckenmillers-top-holding-has-outperformed-its-sector-by-252" target="_blank" rel="noopener">making large bets</a> on macroeconomic trends, prioritizing top-performing industries over individual companies.



The Bowdoin College and University of Michigan alumnus recently upped his stake in Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), a $1 trillion semiconductor company based in San Jose, California.



Druckenmiller closed his hedge fund, Duquesne Capital in 2010, but still maintains the Duquesne Family Office to manage his wealth.



Druckenmiller first bought 51,956 shares in the company in mid-to-late 2023, selling all before the next quarter. The latest Duquesne 13F filing, revealing the firm&#8217;s holdings as of Sept. 30, showed Druckenmiller upping his wager on Broadcom to 239,980 shares. The investment — up over 35% since September — represents a market value of almost $56 million, one of his largest holdings.



Shares of the company were already trading up over 100% between his first filing and the latest filing.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42653753/history-may-hint-at-sp-500-struggles-in-2025-yet-there-is-also-hope-heres-why">History Suggests S&amp;P 500 Could Struggle In 2025, But There&#8217;s Reason For Optimism</a>



Druckenmiller previously called NVIDIA Corp&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) ascension, buying shares in late 2022 and early 2023, but sold off most of his position before the company&#8217;s historic rally in 2024. The investor <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41374232/amid-nvidias-stratospheric-rally-billionaire-investor-druckenmiller-regrets-cashing-out-of-ai-st">later called the sale</a> a &#8220;big mistake.&#8221;



Broadcom is a global technology company that designs, develops, and supplies semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions. Its products, which include chips for networking, broadband, wireless communications, and storage, as well as enterprise software for cybersecurity and data management, power a wide range of industries, from telecommunications and data centers to consumer electronics.



The company&#8217;s shares were trading almost 5% higher at the time of publication Monday following news that the U.S. is opening an investigation into China&#8217;s semiconductor industry policies, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>.



Also Read:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42656254/tech-stocks-eye-christmas-gains-microstrategy-tumbles-as-bitcoin-dips-to-93000-whats-driving-markets-monday">Tech Stocks Eye Christmas Gains, Microstrategy Tumbles As Bitcoin Dips To $93,000: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Monday?</a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Hedge Funds

Druckenmiller Bets Big On Semiconductor Stock Just Before It Spikes To $1 Trillion

Luigi Mangione, the Ivy League grad <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42541669/luigi-mangione-faces-murder-first-degree-life-in-prison-in-ceo-death-a-senseless-act-of-violence">accused of killing</a> UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a New York Hilton on December 4, pled not guilty to state murder charges on Monday.



What Happened: Mangione faces 11 counts in New York, including first-degree murder, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/23/us/luigi-mangione-arraignment-new-york/index.html">reports</a>.



Veteran Manhattan prosecutor Joel Seidemann, assigned to the case by District Attorney Alvin Bragg, says the evidence against Mangione is substantial.



"I have never seen a case with such volume of evidence, aside from the issue of the quality of the evidence," Seidemann said during the proceeding. "This is not a usual case in terms of the thousands of hours of video."



Meanwhile, Mangione&#8217;s defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo expressed concern about the possibility of a fair trial.



"He's a young man and he's being treated like a human ping pong ball by two warring jurisdictions here," Friedman Agnifilo said. "They're treating him like a human spectacle."



Why it Matters: Investigators allege that Mangione fled the crime scene on a bicycle, dumped his belongings in Central Park and left NYC on a bus.



The Maryland-born alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania was arrested in an Altoona, Pennsylvania McDonald&#8217;s on December 9. According to a criminal complaint, Mangione was found with a 3D-printed gun, a silencer and a fake ID.



A notebook found on Mangione in Altoona allegedly spoke negatively of the insurance industry and included a possible confession to the killing. ABC News <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/unitedhealthcare-ceo-shooting-suspect-inspired-unabomber-nypd-analysis/story?id=116653076">reported</a> that Mangione may have been inspired by Ted Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber.



Mangione faced a highly publicized &#8220;perp walk&#8221; in his extradition to Manhattan on December 20. Mayor Eric Adams was seen walking closely behind Mangione following his arrival into the city, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/20/nyregion/luigi-mangione-eric-adams.html">according</a> to the New York Times.



Mangione&#8217;s alleged actions have drawn a polarizing response online. Several social media users expressed support of the killing, expressing outrage at the health insurance industry. Following the killing, Taylor Lorenz, a former Washington Post columnist, <a href="https://www.usermag.co/p/yes-we-want-insurance-executives">penned</a> a controversial Substack article titled, &#8220;Why &#8216;we&#8217; want insurance executives dead.&#8221;



Meanwhile, other commentators, such as New York Times columnist Bret Stephens, have <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12/04/opinion/thepoint/brian-thompson-luigi-mangione?smid=url-share">expressed</a> confoundment at Mangione&#8217;s online status as a &#8220;working class hero.&#8221; Mangione descended from a wealthy Maryland family and attended an elite college preparatory school. Meanwhile, Thompson grew up in rural Iowa and attended a public university.



Also Read:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42649864/tariffs-or-more-energy-analyst-warns-of-high-costs-limited-capacity-if-europe-bows-to-trumps-lng-push">Tariffs Or More Energy: Analyst Warns Of High Costs, Limited Capacity If Europe Bows To Trump&#8217;s LNG Push</a></li>
</ul>

Politics

Legal

Luigi Mangione, Suspected CEO Assassin, Pleads Not Guilty In New York Court

Could 2025 mark a sluggish year for the S&amp;P 500? Historical data suggests that investors may need to tread cautiously, especially given the patterns tied to the first year of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">a U.S. presidential term.</a> 



An analysis of market performance dating back to 1928 shows that the S&amp;P 500's average returns during the inaugural year of a presidency have lagged behind its typical performance—particularly under Republican administrations.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Historical Data Highlights First Year Struggles</h3>



The first year of a U.S. presidential term has historically been marked by volatility in the S&amp;P 500 – as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) – with performance oscillating between striking gains and painful losses. 



Data from Seasonax reveals that while the median return for the index in these years stands at 8.44%, the probability of positive performance—captured by a 58.33% winning ratio—barely tips the scales in favor of gains.



For comparison, in an average year since 1928, the S&amp;P 500 has delivered a median return of 11%, with 67.37% of those years ending in positive territory.



&#8220;In year 1 of a US presidential cycle, the average SPX trend has tended to struggle from mid-January through April, rallied into the summer, and declined into year-end,&#8221; wrote Bank of America analyst Paul Ciana in a note published Monday.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42647650/palantir-vs-lockheed-a-tech-fueled-showdown-in-the-850-billion-defense-market">Palantir Vs. Lockheed: A Tech-Fueled Showdown In The $850 Billion Defense Market</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Republican And Q1 Effects</h3>



The median return during Republican first years is -10.11%, and the winning ratio drops to 36.36%, highlighting the increased likelihood of losses.



The early months of a presidential year have also been tough for markets. From inauguration in late January to the end of March, the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s median return is -0.09%, with gains recorded only 50% of the time.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trump 2017: An Exception to the Rule</h3>



President-elect Donald Trump's first year in 2017 bucked these historical trends, delivering exceptional market performance.



From his inauguration to the end of March, the S&amp;P 500 gained 4.2%, outperforming historical averages for both first presidential years and Republican presidencies. By year-end, the index had surged 19.40%, marking a robust first-year performance.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><thead><tr><th>Metric</th><th>Normal Year (1928-2023)</th><th>First Presidential Year</th><th>First Republican Presidential Year</th><th>Trump 2017</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Median Annual Return</td><td>+11.00%</td><td>+8.44%</td><td>-10.11%</td><td>+19.40%</td></tr><tr><td>Winning Annual Trades (%)</td><td>67.37%</td><td>58.33%</td><td>36.36%</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Max Annual Gain</td><td>+48.02%</td><td>+48.02%</td><td>+30.65%</td><td>+19.40%</td></tr><tr><td>Max Annual Loss</td><td>-48.77%</td><td>-37.68%</td><td>-18.09%</td><td>0.00%</td></tr><tr><td>Median Return (Inauguration-end Q1)</td><td>+1.68%</td><td>-4.99%</td><td>+0.08%</td><td>+4.20%</td></tr><tr><td>Winning trades (Inauguration-end Q1)</td><td>63.54%</td><td>50%</td><td>54.55%</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Data: Seasonax</figcaption></figure>



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42649864/tariffs-or-more-energy-analyst-warns-of-high-costs-limited-capacity-if-europe-bows-to-trumps-lng-push">Tariffs Or More Energy: Analyst Warns Of High Costs, Limited Capacity If Europe Bows To Trump&#8217;s LNG Push</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Analyst Ratings

History Suggests S&P 500 Could Struggle In 2025, But There's Reason For Optimism

Tech stocks began Christmas week with positive momentum, as the Nasdaq 100 rose 0.4% on Monday, building on a 0.7% gain from Friday. The index has now recovered nearly half of the losses sustained following the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/federal-reserve">Federal Reserve's recent policy meeting.</a>



Semiconductors stood out as the top-performing sector:



<ul>
<li>iShares Semiconductor ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NYSE">SOXX</a>) jumping 2.3%.</li>



<li>Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), up 4.7%</li>



<li>Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), which surged 4.9%.</li>
</ul>



Meanwhile, other major indices showed minimal movement in what appeared to be a session marked by low trading volumes.



Consumer staples emerged as the weakest sector, with notable declines in major retailers. Dollar General Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DG#NYSE">DG</a>) dropped 3.3%, while Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) shed 2.8%. 



In economic news, U.S. consumer confidence fell sharply in December, with the index dropping 8.1 points to 104.7 amid worsening expectations in future economic conditions.



The U.S. dollar index edged higher, mirroring a further surge in Treasury yields. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose 4 basis points to 4.57%, approaching its highest closing level since late May.



In commodities, gold slipped 0.4%, set to break a two-session winning streak, while oil prices declined 1%.



In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) fell 1.7% to around $93,000, eyeing its fifth loss in the past six sessions.



Shares of MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) tumbled over 4% in their first trading session after the company's inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 index.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices</td><td>Price</td><td>1-day %chg</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>21,373.71</td><td>0.4%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>5,932.42</td><td>0.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,232.71</td><td>-0.4%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>42,620.75</td><td>-0.5%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:30 p.m. ET </figcaption></figure>



According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122324&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:



<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) edged 0.1% higher to $592.12.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;eased 0.4% to $427.22.</li>



<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rose 0.4% to $520.67.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) eased 0.4% to $221.06.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) outperformed, up by 0.5%; the&nbsp;Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLP#NYSE">XLP</a>) lagged, down 2%.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>



<ul>
<li>Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) rose 3% following a 17.8% drop on Friday. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Monday that it has approved Hikma Pharmaceuticals&#8217; generic version of Novo Nordisk&#8217;s Victoza for treating type 2 diabetes.</li>



<li>New Fortress Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFE#NASDAQ">NFE</a>) rallied 18%, after Stifel raised the stock price target from $16 to $18. </li>



<li>Carnival Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) fell over 4% following a 6.4% post-earning rally Friday. </li>
</ul>



Read now: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42653753/history-may-hint-at-sp-500-struggles-in-2025-yet-there-is-also-hope-heres-why">History Suggests S&amp;P 500 Could Struggle In 2025, But There&#8217;s Reason For Optimism</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

XLRE

Tech Stocks Eye Christmas Gains, Microstrategy Tumbles As Bitcoin Dips To $93,000: What's Driving Markets Monday?

President-elect Donald Trump has reignited trans-Atlantic trade tensions, demanding the European Union buy more U.S. oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">or face sweeping tariffs. </a>



The U.S. is already Europe's largest energy supplier. Questions remain over whether Trump&#8217;s ultimatum will escalate into a broader trade war.



"I told the European Union that they must make up their tremendous deficit with the United States by the large-scale purchase of our oil and gas. Otherwise, it is TARIFFS all the way!!!" Trump wrote Friday on his social media platform, Truth Social.



U.S. natural gas prices — tracked by the United States Natural Gas Fund LP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNG#NYSE">UNG</a>) — has risen by 25% since Trump&#8217;s election victory in November.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">US LNG: A Major Player In Europe's Energy Crisis</h3>



The U.S. delivered 47 million tons (mt) of LNG over the past year (December 2023–November 2024), accounting for 51% of total U.S. LNG exports and 46% of Europe's LNG imports.



This surge in trade reflects a sharp pivot in Europe's energy strategy following the 2022 energy crisis sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions on Moscow.



Goldman Sachs data shows that U.S. LNG deliveries to Europe rose 197% during the crisis, while shipments to non-European destinations fell by 41%.



According to Samantha Dart, commodity analyst at Goldman Sachs, this reallocation was made possible by the flexible destination clauses in U.S. LNG contracts, which allow buyers to redirect cargoes to the most lucrative markets.



"The US is not only Europe's largest LNG supplier but also the primary source of future LNG import growth for the region," Dart said, citing long-term contracts signed since the start of the Ukraine war. 



These agreements amount to nearly 16 million tons per annum (mtpa), making the US the top global supplier in terms of contracted European LNG volumes.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Can US LNG Fully Replace Russian Gas?</h3>



Theoretically, U.S. LNG could replace Russia's 17 mt of annual LNG exports to Europe, according to Goldman Sachs.



However, Dart indicating that such a shift would likely come with higher costs for European buyers.



"The reallocation of US LNG cargoes to Europe could lead to higher freight costs and elevated European import prices to motivate the rerouting of shipments originally destined for other regions," Dart said. 



She added that such a move would have "little to no impact" on total U.S. LNG export volumes, given that US liquefaction capacity is already operating at its limit.



Goldman Sachs also highlighted that expanding U.S. LNG export capacity would take time, with new liquefaction facilities unlikely to come online before 2027 or 2028.



This timeline significantly limits the potential for a near-term increase in U.S. LNG exports to meet Europe's energy needs.



Yet, Europe's climate agenda may limit its willingness to commit to additional long-term LNG deals. "Europe's decarbonization goals might limit European companies' appetite for long-term commitments to grow natural gas use," Dart said. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tariffs As A Trump Negotiation Strategy</h3>



Trump's renewed focus on tariffs aligns with his broader economic agenda. During his first term, he used tariffs to push for concessions from trading partners, targeting allies like Canada, Mexico, and South Korea, as well as adversaries like China.



For example, during the 2018-2019 trade war with China, Beijing retaliated with LNG tariffs, causing US exports to collapse. It wasn't until 2020's Phase 1 trade deal that China resumed buying US LNG, signing long-term contracts that have since helped fund new US liquefaction projects.



Similar dynamics could play out with Europe if Trump's tariffs escalate. But unlike China, Europe may struggle to justify long-term LNG deals given its climate goals and reliance on diverse energy suppliers.



Read now: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42603073/natural-gas-nears-2-year-highs-inflation-fears-mount-as-utility-costs-climb-3-energy-stocks-rise">Natural Gas Nears 2-Year Highs, Inflation Fears Mount As Utility Costs Climb</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Eurozone

Commodities

Tariffs Or More Energy: Analyst Warns Of High Costs, Limited Capacity If Europe Bows To Trump's LNG Push

Battle lines are drawn in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/defense">the defense sector</a>. On one side, Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) riding high on a meteoric stock surge of over 350% this year. On the other, defense titan Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), grappling with sluggish stock performance and stiff competition from a rising tech consortium.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Disruptor: Palantir</h2>



Palantir, alongside Anduril Industries, is leading <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42640010">a groundbreaking coalition</a> with Elon Musk&#8216;s SpaceX and OpenAI to revolutionize the $850 billion U.S. defense market. The goal? Outpace traditional contractors by integrating AI-powered solutions and autonomous systems. 



Palantir's AI Platform already works seamlessly with Anduril&#8217;s Lattice software, signaling a shift toward modern, agile defense technologies.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122324&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="630" height="493" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23064119/Screenshot-2024-12-23-at-5.04.06-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-703970" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23064119/Screenshot-2024-12-23-at-5.04.06-PM.png 630w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23064119/Screenshot-2024-12-23-at-5.04.06-PM-300x235.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" /></a></figure>



<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122324&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>



Technically, PLTR stock is on a tear. Its share price of $80.55 is comfortably above the eight, 20 and 50-day simple moving averages (SMAs), signaling strong bullish momentum. However, with a relative strength index (RSI) of 70.81, it's entering overbought territory—a red flag for cautious investors.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/24/12/42620067/palantir-defies-gravity-army-deal-nasdaq-100-spotlight-fuel-rally">Palantir Defies Gravity: Army Deal, Nasdaq 100 Spotlight Fuel Rally</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Titan: Lockheed Martin</h2>



Meanwhile, Lockheed is feeling the heat. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122324&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="630" height="493" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23064219/Screenshot-2024-12-23-at-5.04.17-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-703971" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23064219/Screenshot-2024-12-23-at-5.04.17-PM.png 630w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23064219/Screenshot-2024-12-23-at-5.04.17-PM-300x235.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" /></a></figure>



<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122324&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>



The defense giant's stock, at $489.02, is below key moving averages, including its 200-day SMA of $510.22, indicating bearish sentiment. A relative strength index (RSI) of 29.59 suggests the stock is oversold, leaving a sliver of hope for a bounce-back.



Despite its legacy status and deep-rooted Pentagon ties, Lockheed faces mounting pressure to adapt as rivals like Palantir challenge its dominance with innovative, cost-efficient technologies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Verdict</h2>



Palantir's agility and tech-first approach make it a compelling contender in a sector ripe for disruption. Lockheed, however, isn't out of the fight—its oversold status might attract value-driven investors betting on a rebound.



As the defense industry evolves, this tech-versus-tradition showdown is one stock battle investors can't afford to ignore. 



The question remains: Can Lockheed innovate fast enough to fend off Palantir's charge, or is this the dawn of a new era?



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/12/42643303/us-stocks-to-open-higher-as-wall-street-expects-santa-rally-in-shortened-trading-week-microstrategy-palantir-qualcomm-among-stocks-in-focus">US Stocks To Open Higher As Wall Street Expects &#8216;Santa Rally&#8217; In Shortened Trading Week: MicroStrategy, Palantir, Qualcomm Among Stocks In Focus</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Technicals

Palantir Vs. Lockheed: A Tech-Fueled Showdown In The $850 Billion Defense Market

The Biden administration has launched a trade investigation into Chinese-produced &#8220;legacy&#8221; semiconductors. This action, announced on Monday, could pave the way for higher U.S. tariffs on these essential components used in numerous consumer products.



What Happened: The &#8220;Section 301&#8221; investigation is slated to transition to the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump for completion. This could provide Trump with a chance to enforce the hefty 60% tariffs he has previously threatened on Chinese imports, Reuters reported on Monday.



Currently, a 50% U.S. tariff on Chinese semiconductors is set to begin on Jan. 1. The U.S. has also intensified export restrictions on advanced AI and memory chips to China, alongside increasing tariffs on other Chinese goods.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42572520/2025-housing-market-looks-like-a-year-of-struggle-for-states-like-builders-now-hold-record-inventory?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;2025 Housing Market Looks Like A Year Of Struggle For States Like …&#8217; – Builders Now Hold Record Inventory</a>



The U.S. Trade Representative&#8217;s office, led by Katherine Tai, explained that the probe seeks to shield market-driven chip producers from China&#8217;s state-driven expansion. Tai highlighted evidence of China&#8217;s attempts to dominate the semiconductor industry, similar to its strategies in other sectors.



The Biden administration will start&nbsp;accepting public comments on the&nbsp;probe on January 6, with a public hearing scheduled for March. The investigation will also evaluate the impact of these chips on critical industries, including defense and automotive sectors.



Why It Matters: This latest probe is part of a broader strategy by the Biden administration to curb China&#8217;s influence in the semiconductor industry. Earlier this month, the administration <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42265847/biden-targets-china-with-new-chip-restrictions-nvidia-slides">implemented its third crackdown</a> on China&#8217;s semiconductor sector within three years, citing national security concerns. This initiative imposed export restrictions on 140 Chinese entities, including chip equipment manufacturers such as Naura Technology Group, targeting advanced memory chips and chipmaking tools. As a result, Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) saw its stock trade lower due to potential impacts on its sales in China.



In response, China swiftly retaliated by tightening <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42303132/china-retaliates-against-us-chip-sanctions-tightens-mineral-exports">controls on critical minerals</a> used in chip manufacturing, such as gallium, germanium, and antimony. These materials are crucial for advanced electronics and defense applications. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce justified these measures as necessary for national security, highlighting the escalating tensions between the two nations.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42638957/warren-buffetts-timeless-advice-if-youre-gonna-do-dumb-things-because-your-stock-goes-down-you-shouldnt-own-a-stock-at-all?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warren Buffett's Timeless Advice For Investing $10,000: &#8216;If You're Gonna Do Dumb Things Because Your Stock At All&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Image via Shutterstock

Global

General

Biden Administration Initiates Trade Probe On Chinese 'Legacy' Chips

Japanese automakers Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HMC#NYSE">HMC</a>) and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NSANY#OTC">NSANY</a>) have started talks for a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42541842/japanese-auto-giants-nissan-honda-eye-merger-says-nikkei">potential merger</a>, the two companies said on Monday.



What Happened: Nissan and Honda are planning to establish a joint holding company that will serve as the parent company for both Nissan and Honda. 



The joint holding parent company will be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Nissan and Honda will subsequently be delisted. The listing of the joint holding company is scheduled for August 2026.



The two companies aim to wrap up talks by June 2025. 



With the merger, the companies aim to increase sales revenue to more than 30 trillion Japanese Yen (approx. $191.34 billion) and to increase operating profits by more than 3 trillion yen.



Why It Matters: "Creation of new mobility value by bringing together the resources including knowledge, talents, and technologies that Honda and Nissan have been developing over the long years is essential to overcome challenging environmental shifts that the auto industry is facing,&#8221;&nbsp;Honda Director and Representative Executive Officer Toshihiro Mibe said. 



&#8220;We are still at the stage of starting our review, and we have not decided on a business integration yet&#8230;,&#8221; he added. 



Mitsubishi Motors is also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/12/42545185/nissan-soar-over-20-on-merger-talks-with-honda-eyeing-8-million-annual-vehicle-sales">considering joining the merger</a>, the companies said, while adding that the smaller company is aiming to conclude whether it will participate by the end of January.



Nissan is a shareholder in Mitsubishi Motors.



The integration of the companies will mark the biggest merger in global auto history since Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/21/01/18991944/worlds-4th-largest-automaker-set-to-take-shape-monday">merged in 2021 to create</a> Stellantis NV.



Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42640472/tesla-exec-bemoans-cost-of-sending-letter-to-owners-affected-by-ev-giants-recent-recall-of-nearly-700000-vehicles">Tesla Exec Bemoans Cost Of Sending Letter To Owners Affected By EV Giant&#8217;s Recent Recall Of Nearly 700,000 Vehicles</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

NSANY

Japanese Automakers Honda, Nissan Start Merger Talks: Mitsubishi Motors Considers Joining

U.S. stock futures advanced on Monday following a tumultuous week which included the Federal Reserve&#8217;s hawkish rate cut on Wednesday and a &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/24/12/42627563/wall-street-rallies-as-soft-inflation-data-fuels-dip-buying-bonds-rebound-travel-stocks-soar-whats-driving-markets-friday">Triple Witching</a>&#8221; hour session on Friday. Two out of the four major index futures were trading higher in premarket trade.



The 10-year and two-year Treasury yields stood at 4.53% and 4.32%, respectively. The probability of having no change in the interest rates for the upcoming Jan. 31, 2025 decision was at 91.4%, according <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">to</a> CME Group&#8217;s FedWatch Tool.



Trading schedules will be adjusted for the Christmas holiday week. All markets will be closed on Wednesday. Trading hours will be shortened on Christmas Eve.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>0.23%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>0.07%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.06%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-0.15%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



In premarket trading on Monday, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) was up 0.09% to $591.73 and the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rose 0.23% to $519.04, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From The Last Session



Risk appetite returned to Wall Street on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/24/12/42627563/wall-street-rallies-as-soft-inflation-data-fuels-dip-buying-bonds-rebound-travel-stocks-soar-whats-driving-markets-friday">Friday</a>, giving investors some relief. November&#8217;s inflation data came in softer than expected, offering a glimmer of hope that the Federal Reserve may ease its aggressive monetary tightening.



The Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) price index, the Fed&#8217;s preferred inflation gauge, rose 2.4% year-over-year, below the anticipated 2.5%. Core PCE, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, also undershot expectations, climbing 2.8% instead of the projected 2.9%.



This unexpected cooling of inflation sparked a jubilant rally across all major indices. The S&amp;P 500 surged 1.09%, with every sector contributing to the gains. Investors cheered the reprieve from persistent inflationary pressures.



The real estate sector led the charge, experiencing a sharp rebound after being particularly hard-hit by the Fed&#8217;s recent hawkish stance. Small-cap stocks, represented by the Russell 2000, also posted strong gains of 0.94%, buoyed by a significant recovery in regional banks. 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>1.03%</td><td>19,572.60</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>1.09%</td><td>5,930.85</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>1.18%</td><td>42,840.26</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>0.94%</td><td>2,242.37</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts



The number of advancers surpassed the decliners among the S&amp;P 500 index constituents on Friday after a 14-day streak of negative market breadth. Ryan Detrick, the global market strategist at Carson Research highlighted how the markets have performed after previous long streaks ended.



<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">Record 14 days in a row of more declining stocks than advancing stocks for the S&amp;P 500 ended on Friday. Here&#39;s what happened after previous long streaks ended. &#x1f4aa; <a href="https://t.co/WV6PU7juQF">pic.twitter.com/WV6PU7juQF</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1871010953510142270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



According to the data shared by him, over the past four decades, there have been only five other instances where the S&amp;P 500 experienced a period of ten or more consecutive days of negative breadth. Additionally, the index was higher by an average of 17.9% a year later after all five times.



<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">Going back 40 years, there have been five other times the S&amp;P 500 had more decliners than advancers for 10 consecutive days or more. A year later? Higher all five times and up 17.9% on avg. <a href="https://t.co/eYCUpiz4PU">pic.twitter.com/eYCUpiz4PU</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1871016225993601258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Along with this, the market breadth turned positive with 89% of the stocks rising on Friday as compared to only 4% on Wednesday. This divergence also led the index to be higher a year later by at least 92.3% of the time since 1985.



<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">Less than 4% advancers on the S&amp;P 500 on Wednesday, but 89% on Friday. Previous times saw a flush and then major buying two days later? Negative 1 and 3 mos later on avg, but higher a year later 12 out of 13 times (92.3%). <a href="https://t.co/yqfV0tBFUV">pic.twitter.com/yqfV0tBFUV</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1871023980074963222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



According to Gary Alexander at Navellier &amp; Associates, &#8220;The S&amp;P 500 delivers an average of zero gains in the first half of December (and 0.3% through December 15 this year) but averages 1.35% in the second half, the best half-month of the 24 half-months each year.&#8221;



&#8220;Core PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditure, excluding food and energy), the key inflation metric for the Fed, came in at 0.1% for November, below forecast and the lowest since June. This caught the market off guard, in a good way, as the rhetoric from Jerome Powell regarding sticky inflation had led the market to expect a surprise in the other direction,&#8221; said Louis Navellier of Navellier &amp; Associates.



&#8220;The traditional Santa Rally is the last 5 trading days of the year and the first 2 of the New Year. It may still be in the cards,&#8221; he added.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How To Trade Futures</a>



Upcoming Economic Data



A few important data points are slated to be released in this truncated week that will help investors determine the future course of action.



<ul>
<li>On Monday, consumer confidence for December will be released at 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>On Tuesday, November&#8217;s data for durable goods orders and durable goods minus transportation will be released at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>New home sales for November will be released at 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>On Wednesday, there will be a day&#8217;s break for Christmas.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>On Thursday, initial jobless claims data till Dec. 21 will announced at 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>On Friday, November&#8217;s data for the advanced U.S. trade balance in goods, advanced retail inventories, and advanced wholesale inventories will be announced at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul>
<li>Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) was up 3.02% in premarket after it bagged a key win in its legal battle against semiconductor design company Arm Holdings Plc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>), which was down 3.52%.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Anavex Life Sciences Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVXL#NASDAQ">AVXL</a>) was up 0.23% as analysts expect it to post a quarterly loss at 16 cents per share before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Brenmiller Energy Ltd (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BNRG#NASDAQ">BNRG</a>) was up 32.75% after the company on Friday said that it was awarded ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Sealsq Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LAES#NASDAQ">LAES</a>) was up 31.27% after it announced the offering of 13,157,896 common stock at $1.90 per share.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>MicroStrategy Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) fell 1.69%, and Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) was up 1.42% in premarket trade.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) rose by 0.74% and Super Micro Computer Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>) was up by 1.20% in premarket.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were lower in the early New York session by 0.32% to hover around $69.24 per barrel.



The gold spot index was down by 0.41% to $2,634.16 per ounce. The Dollar Index was up 0.42% to 108.073 level.



Asian markets advanced on Friday, as Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng, South Korea&#8217;s Kospi, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225, India&#8217;s S&amp;P BSE Sensex, China&#8217;s CSI 300 and Australia&#8217;s ASX 200 index rose. European markets were mixed.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42640010/palantir-and-anduril-reportedly-lead-consortium-partner-with-spacex-and-openai-to-compete-against-traditional-defense-contractors-in-850-billion-us-military-market">Palantir And Anduril Reportedly Lead Consortium, Partner With SpaceX And OpenAI To Compete Against Traditional Defense Contractors In $850 Billion US Military Market</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Wikimedia

Earnings

Futures

Federal Reserve

Pre-Market Outlook

AVXL

BNRG

LAES

MRNA

QCOM

SMCI

US Stocks To Open Higher As Wall Street Expects 'Santa Rally' In Shortened Trading Week: MicroStrategy, Palantir, Qualcomm Among Stocks In Focus

The number of stocks advancing surpassed those declining among the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/s-p-500">S&amp;P 500 index</a> constituents on Friday after a 14-session streak of negative market breadth. Now, Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Global, has predicted gains ahead, citing historical market data.



What Happened: Risk appetite returned to Wall Street on Friday, leading to a sigh of relief from investors. Detrick highlighted how the markets have performed after previous such streaks ended.



<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">Record 14 days in a row of more declining stocks than advancing stocks for the S&amp;P 500 ended on Friday. Here&#39;s what happened after previous long streaks ended. &#x1f4aa; <a href="https://t.co/WV6PU7juQF">pic.twitter.com/WV6PU7juQF</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1871010953510142270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



According to the data shared by him, over the past four decades, there have been only five other instances where the S&amp;P 500 experienced a period of ten or more consecutive days of negative breadth. Additionally, the index was higher by an average of 17.9% a year later after all five times.



<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">Going back 40 years, there have been five other times the S&amp;P 500 had more decliners than advancers for 10 consecutive days or more. A year later? Higher all five times and up 17.9% on avg. <a href="https://t.co/eYCUpiz4PU">pic.twitter.com/eYCUpiz4PU</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1871016225993601258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The market breadth turned positive with 89% of the stocks rising on Friday as compared to only 4% on Wednesday. This divergence also led the index to be higher a year later by at least 92.3% of the time since 1985.



<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">Less than 4% advancers on the S&amp;P 500 on Wednesday, but 89% on Friday. Previous times saw a flush and then major buying two days later? Negative 1 and 3 mos later on avg, but higher a year later 12 out of 13 times (92.3%). <a href="https://t.co/yqfV0tBFUV">pic.twitter.com/yqfV0tBFUV</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1871023980074963222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42638575/microstrategy-stock-declines-over-14-amid-heightened-volatility-over-sp-500-inclusion-concerns-heres-what-is-happening">MicroStrategy Stock Declines Over 14% Amid Heightened Volatility Over S&amp;P 500 Inclusion Concerns: Here&#8217;s What Is Happening</a>



Why It Matters: The Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) price index, the Fed&#8217;s preferred inflation gauge, rose 2.4% year-over-year, below the anticipated 2.5%. Core PCE, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, also undershot expectations, climbing 2.8% instead of the projected 2.9%.



This unexpected cooling of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/24/12/42627563/wall-street-rallies-as-soft-inflation-data-fuels-dip-buying-bonds-rebound-travel-stocks-soar-whats-driving-markets-friday">inflation </a>sparked a jubilant rally across all major indices on Friday. The S&amp;P 500 surged 1.09%, with every sector contributing to the gains. Investors cheered the reprieve from persistent inflationary pressures.



The real estate sector led the charge, experiencing a sharp rebound after being particularly hard-hit by the Fed&#8217;s recent hawkish stance. Small-cap stocks, represented by the Russell 2000, also posted strong gains of 0.94%, buoyed by a significant recovery in regional banks.



Price Action: The 14-day long streak entailing the trading days spanning from market close on Nov. 29 to Dec. 19, saw the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) down by 2.07% and the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) up by 0.65%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data. On Friday, SPY advanced 1.20% and QQQ ended 0.87% higher.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23020121/SPY-QQQ-CHART-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-703419" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23020121/SPY-QQQ-CHART-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23020121/SPY-QQQ-CHART-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23020121/SPY-QQQ-CHART-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23020121/SPY-QQQ-CHART-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23020121/SPY-QQQ-CHART.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



Over the last month, the S&amp;P 500 index is down by 0.94%, but year-to-date, it is up 25.05%.



The Nasdaq 100 index, on the other hand, is 2.33% over the last month and 28.68% year-to-date.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42610441/nikes-new-ceo-says-we-lost-our-obsession-with-sport-as-he-rebukes-old-strategies-on-performance-marketing-isolation-of-wholesalers-aims-to-create-demand">Nike&#8217;s New CEO Blames Promotions For Declining Profits, Says Turnaround Efforts May Hurt As Company Moves To Clear Excess Inventory: &#8216;We Lost Our Obsession With Sport&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Image generated using Midjourney

Market Breadth Rebounds As Risk Appetite Makes A Comeback: This Analyst Predicts Gains Ahead After S&P 500's Record Negative Streak

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) and Anduril Industries, a defense technology company are spearheading a new consortium of technology companies to compete for U.S. Department of Defense contracts, challenging traditional defense contractors&#8217; dominance over the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42615531/pltr-stock-up-over-80-in-the-past-two-months-trades-nearly-5-lower-in-friday-premarket-after-ubs-says-valuationis-simply-tough-to-get-over">$850 billion defense budget</a>.



What Happened: The group, expected to announce formal agreements in January, is in discussions with Elon Musk&#8216;s SpaceX, OpenAI, Saronic, and Scale AI, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/6cfdfe2b-6872-4963-bde8-dc6c43be5093">reported</a> the Financial Times on Sunday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.



This initiative comes as Palantir&#8217;s market capitalization has surged to $169 billion, surpassing traditional defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>). Palantir&#8217;s stock has risen over 300% in the past year, though it recently faced headwinds after UBS initiated coverage with a neutral rating, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42615531/pltr-stock-up-over-80-in-the-past-two-months-trades-nearly-5-lower-in-friday-premarket-after-ubs-says-valuationis-simply-tough-to-get-over">citing valuation concerns</a>.



The consortium aims to modernize defense procurement by offering smaller, autonomous weapons systems and AI-powered solutions. Recent collaborations already show promise, with Palantir&#8217;s AI Platform being integrated with Anduril&#8217;s Lattice autonomous software for national security applications.



Palantir and Anduril did not immediately respond to&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/12/42639068/linkedin-cofounder-reid-hoffman-says-musks-baseless-jeffrey-epstein-claims-forced-him-to-hire-security-elons-defamation-makes-me-angry">LinkedIn Cofounder Reid Hoffman Says Musk&#8217;s Baseless Jeffrey Epstein Claims Forced Him To Hire Security: &#8216;Elon&#8217;s Defamation Makes Me Angry&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: The timing aligns with increased defense spending driven by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, plus rising U.S.-China tensions. Palantir recently secured a $400.7 million contract extension with the U.S. Army, which could potentially reach $618.9 million over four years.



Traditional defense procurement has faced criticism for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42525698/as-elon-musk-takes-on-lockheed-martin-made-f-35s-experts-question-feasibility-of-replacing-manned-fighter-jets-with-drones">favoring established contractors</a> like Raytheon Technologies Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) and The Boeing Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), often resulting in costly, time-consuming projects. This new tech consortium aims to provide more efficient, cutting-edge solutions to meet modern military challenges.



Palantir stock closed at $80.55 on Friday, up 8.54% for the day, and rose 0.19% in after-hours trading. Year to date, the stock has surged 385%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.



The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR/analyst-ratings">consensus price target</a> is $35.58, with the highest target of $80, and the lowest of $7.50. Recent ratings from UBS, Mizuho, and Baird average $64.67, implying a 19.87% downside.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/22210140/Screenshot-2024-12-23-at-7.30.06%E2%80%AFAM-1024x377.png" alt="" class="wp-image-703159" style="width:715px;height:auto"/></figure>



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42635813/google-announces-major-layoffs-as-pichai-stresses-efficiency">Google Announces Major Layoffs As Pichai Stresses Efficiency</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.

Palantir And Anduril Reportedly Lead Consortium, Partner With SpaceX And OpenAI To Compete Against Traditional Defense Contractors In $850 Billion US Military Market

Leading cryptocurrencies traded in the red on Sunday as risk aversion intensified ahead of the holidays.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 8:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>-2.03%</td><td>$94,810.09</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-1.76%</td><td>$3,283.41</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-1.07%</td><td>$0.3124</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: Bitcoin went downhill after being faced with strong resistance from the bears at $97,000. The apex cryptocurrency was down nearly 11% over the week and 2.15% since December began.



Ethereum's move above $3,600 was short-lived as the second-largest cryptocurrency reversed course, falling to an intraday low of $3,220.&nbsp;



Both the blue-chip cryptocurrencies witnessed thin trading volume in the last 24 hours.&nbsp;



Over $276 million was liquidated from the market in the last 24 hours, with long liquidations accounting for $204 million.&nbsp;



Around $635 million in short positions risked liquidation if Bitcoin rebounds to $100,000.



Bitcoin's Open Interest dropped 1.46% in the last 24 hours. However, the percentage of trader accounts on Binance placing long positions on the coin surged to 60%.&nbsp;



The market remained engulfed in the "Greed" sentiment, according to the Cryptocurrency Fear &amp; Greed Index.



Top Gainers (24-Hours)



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 8:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>BitTorrent [New] (BTT)</td><td>+8.26%</td><td>$0.000001154</td></tr><tr><td>Aave (AAVE)</td><td>+7.23%</td><td>$320.23</td></tr><tr><td>FTX Token (FTT)</td><td>+7.12%</td><td>$2.99</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.27 trillion, following a contraction of 1.53% in the last 24 hours.



Stock futures edged higher Sunday evening. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures rose 86 points, or 0.20%, as of 7:45 p.m. EDT.&nbsp; Futures tied to the S&amp;P 500 gained 0.22%, while Nasdaq 100 Futures lifted 0.27%.



Stocks are coming off a slump that saw blue-chip averages record their biggest losing spree in years.



The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.33% last week, witnessing a 10-day losing streak, the worst since 1974. The S&amp;P 500 also lost 2.30% last week, precipitated by the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42563299/feds-powell-shocks-markets-its-a-new-phase-were-significantly-closer-to-neutral">Federal Reserve's hawkish outlook</a> for 2025.



Markets will be shut on Christmas Day..



See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>



Analyst Notes: Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader Ali Martinez flagged a buy signal for Bitcoin based on the reading of the TD Sequential indicator.



For the curious, the TD Sequential indicator is a technical analysis tool that helps traders identify potential price reversals and exhaustion patterns.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The TD Sequential presents a buy signal on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> 4-hour chart, anticipating a price rebound! <a href="https://t.co/acDIusZCkW">pic.twitter.com/acDIusZCkW</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1870929469105709406?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Furthermore, analysis of the Mayer Multiple indicator hinted that the leading cryptocurrency would hit a market top above $168,500.



Mayer Multiple is an oscillator calculated as the ratio between Bitcoin's price, and the 200-day moving average.



<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"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> will hit a market top above $168,500, based on the Mayer Multiple. <a href="https://t.co/uvgG4mZHA8">pic.twitter.com/uvgG4mZHA8</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1870982149916278859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Widely-followed cryptocurrency analyst Karan Singh Arora urged his followers not to open new longs, adding that if Bitcoin fails to close above $99,000, it may fall lower.



"We need to regain at least $95800 or else we are going for $91,945 &#8211; $90,500 zone," Arora remarked.



<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"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> HAS BROKEN THE STRUCTURE DOWNSIDE &#x1f6a8; Dont open new longs right now &#x203c;&#xFE0F; I gave this warning yesterday, that if we don&#39;t hold Closing above $99000, we will go lower &#x26a0;&#xFE0F; We need to regain at least 95800 or else we are going for $91945 &#8211; $90500 zone &#x2705; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Crypto?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Crypto</a> <a href="https://t.co/Kw9HDovCcF">pic.twitter.com/Kw9HDovCcF</a>&mdash; Karan Singh Arora (@thisisksa) <a href="https://twitter.com/thisisksa/status/1870960913743847437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42638493/crypto-analyst-2025-will-continue-to-be-a-great-year-for-bitcoin">Crypto Analyst: &#8216;2025 Will Continue To Be a Great Year for Bitcoin&#8217;</a></li>
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Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Lose Sheen Ahead Of Holidays But Top Analyst Points To This Indicator, Says BTC Will Hit A Top Above $168K

Panama&#8217;s President José Raúl Mulino strongly rejected President-elect Donald Trump&#8216;s suggestion to return the Panama Canal to U.S. control, highlighting potential tensions that could affect maritime trade through the critical waterway.



What Happened: &#8220;Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zone belongs to Panama, and will continue to do so,&#8221; Mulino said in a video statement on Sunday. 



His response came after Trump told supporters at Turning Point&#8217;s &#8220;American Fest&#8221; that he would demand the canal&#8217;s return to U.S. control, citing concerns over fees and fair treatment, <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/international/5053110-president-of-panama-fires-back-at-trump-canal-belongs-to-panama/">reported</a> The Hill.



"It was given to Panama and to the people of Panama, but it has provisions. You got to treat us fairly and they haven't treated us fairly," Trump said. 



<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">&#x1f1f5;&#x1f1e6; Mensaje del Presidente José Raúl Mulino &#x1f1f5;&#x1f1e6; <a href="https://t.co/DMXU8qAuNT">pic.twitter.com/DMXU8qAuNT</a>&mdash; José Raúl Mulino (@JoseRaulMulino) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoseRaulMulino/status/1870937535578333496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The Panama Canal, transferred to Panamanian control in 1999, serves as a crucial maritime route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The waterway handles <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/19/07/14072752/commentary-expansion-of-the-panama-canal-benefits-global-trade">approximately 12,000 vessel transits</a> annually and is particularly vital for U.S. East Coast ports, which have seen stronger cargo growth since the canal&#8217;s 2016 expansion.



Mulino defended the canal&#8217;s fee structure, explaining that rates &#8220;are established publicly and in an open hearing, taking into account market conditions, international competition, operating costs, and maintenance needs.&#8221; 



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42639340/bernie-sanders-is-all-for-canada-becoming-the-51st-state-if-the-u-s-will-also-adopt-universal-healthcare">Bernie Sanders Is &#8216;All For&#8217; Canada Becoming The 51st State If The U.S. Will Also Adopt Universal Healthcare</a>



Why It Matters: The canal&#8217;s significance to U.S. trade is substantial. According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/partner/cryptocurrency/24/12/42507134/hive-digital-technologies-nasdaq-hive-experiences-monumental-month-amid-tech-tailwinds-tri">FreightWaves data</a>, shipping costs from Asia to U.S. East Coast ports via the canal are approximately $1,400 higher per standard forty-foot container compared to West Coast routes, reflecting the waterway&#8217;s strategic importance in global trade.



Recent challenges include climate-related issues, with the Panama Canal Authority implementing additional fees due to historically low water levels. In 2019, total rainfall dropped 20%, affecting the Gatun and Madden Lakes that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/partner/cryptocurrency/24/12/42507134/hive-digital-technologies-nasdaq-hive-experiences-monumental-month-amid-tech-tailwinds-tri">supply the canal</a>.



Despite the diplomatic tension, Mulino expressed hope for maintaining strong bilateral relations with the incoming Trump administration, particularly on security issues like illegal migration and drug trafficking. However, he emphasized that Panama&#8217;s sovereignty over the canal is &#8220;not negotiable.&#8221;



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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.

Trump's Call To Reclaim Panama Canal Sparks Backlash: 'Every Square Meter Belongs To Panama,' Says President Mulino

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk has been accused by Rosa DeLauro of pressuring Republicans to abandon key U.S.-China investment restrictions to safeguard the EV giant's business interests in China.



What Happened: In a letter on Friday, DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, stated that Musk used his influence to have Republicans scrap provisions aimed at regulating U.S. investments in China, reported Reuters.



She pointed to Musk's "extensive investments in China in key sectors" and alleged ties to Chinese Communist Party or CCP leadership.



The controversy centers on Tesla's Shanghai gigafactory, which produces about 50% of Tesla's global automobile output.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42633974/tesla-cybertruck-units-reportedly-found-with-cell-dent-issues-ev-giant-starts-replacing-battery-packs">Tesla Cybertruck Units Reportedly Found With Cell Dent Issues: EV Giant Starts Replacing Battery Packs</a>



DeLauro argued that Musk's actions jeopardized critical legislation to safeguard U.S. supply chains and national security, accusing him of &#8221; bullying Republicans into going back on their words."



Musk, in turn, criticized DeLauro on X, formerly Twitter, calling for her expulsion from Congress.



<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">This awful creature needs to be expelled from Congress! Ugh …&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1870233561753633123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Why It Matters: Tesla has seen robust sales in China, bolstered by strong demand for its Model Y and Model 3 vehicles. In November, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42438591/teslas-china-sales-recover-model-y-accounts-for-over-60-of-november-sales">Tesla's retail sales in China</a> reached 73,490 units, showing a significant recovery from earlier challenges in 2024.



The EV giant also faces stiff competition from local players like BYD Co., which leads the market, but Tesla's steady increase in weekly insurance registrations—21,900 units in early December—<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42284511/tesla-china-sees-robust-demand-in-q4-with-registrations-up-14-2-yoy-so-far-expert-says-ev-giant-on-track-for-best-quarter-ever">signals growing momentum</a>.



Tesla reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41501607/tesla-q3-earnings-highlights-eps-beat-revenue-miss-shares-climb-on-2025-timeline-for-lower-cost-evs">third-quarter revenue</a> of $25.18 billion marking an 8% year-over-year growth. While the company missed Wall Street estimates, automotive revenue reached $20 billion, up 2% year-over-year.



DeLauro's accusations highlight broader concerns about the risks of U.S. investments in Chinese technology sectors. October rules finalized by the Treasury Department aim to limit such investments in critical areas like artificial intelligence to protect national security.



However, the removal of provisions for outbound investment screening could leave gaps in safeguarding U.S. interests.



Price Action: Tesla&#8217;s stock declined by 3.46% on Friday, ending the session at $421.06. Despite this drop, the company's shares have surged 69.5% since the start of the year, significantly outpacing the Nasdaq 100 index, which has gained 28.68% over the same period, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.



The latest ratings from Baird, Mizuho, and Goldman Sachs have established an average price target of $446.67, suggesting an upside potential of 5.53%.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TSLA/analyst-ratings"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/21024505/Screenshot-2024-12-21-at-1.14.58%E2%80%AFPM-1024x374.png" alt="" class="wp-image-702681"/></a></figure>



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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Elon Musk Accused Of Bullying Republicans To Scrap US-China Investment Safeguards To Protect Tesla's Interests

Google (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) has reduced its top management roles by 10% as part of a multi-year effort to streamline operations <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/09/34392201/google-salary-leak-reveals-mind-blowing-earnings-top-engineers-make">and boost efficiency</a>.



What Happened: On Wednesday, CEO Sundar Pichai revealed during an all-hands meeting that the move reflects Google&#8217;s broader push to simplify its structure and adapt to a rapidly evolving tech landscape.



According to employees who attended the meeting, Pichai explained that the efficiency drive included changes to managerial, director, and vice president roles. 



Some positions were restructured to nonmanagerial roles, while others were eliminated entirely. The changes align with Pichai's 2022 statement that he wanted the company to become "20% more efficient," a goal that resulted in 12,000 layoffs in January of this year. 



According to the report <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-ceo-company-cut-manager-vp-roles-2024-12">by</a> Business Insider, Google&#8217;s pursuit of efficiency comes as competition intensifies in the artificial intelligence space, with rivals like OpenAI launching products that challenge Google's dominance in search.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42378596/openais-chatgpt-makes-headway-in-search-threatening-googles-reign">OpenAI&#8217;s ChatGPT Makes Headway In Search, Threatening Google&#8217;s Reign</a>



In response, Google has infused generative AI into its core services and unveiled innovations such as a new AI video generator and its Gemini AI models, including a "reasoning" model designed to showcase its thought process.



During the meeting, Pichai also addressed Google's cultural identity, discussing the term &#8220;Googleyness,&#8221; which he said needed an update to reflect the company&#8217;s modern values and direction. 



The term has long been associated with Google's work culture, and its evolution signals the company's commitment to staying relevant in a rapidly changing industry.



As Google continues its efficiency drive and AI innovation efforts, it remains a key player in shaping the future of technology while adapting its structure and culture for the challenges ahead.



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This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Google Announces Major Layoffs As Pichai Stresses Efficiency

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