Amazon.com Option Alert: Aug 15 $120 Calls Sweep (4) near the Bid: 66 vs 29 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] 

Amazon.com Option Alert: Aug 15 $120 Calls Sweep (4) near the Bid: 66 @ $85.84 vs 29 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] Ref=$202.84

Amazon.com Option Alert: Apr 17 $130 Calls at the Bid: 240 vs 72 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] 

Amazon.com Option Alert: Apr 17 $130 Calls at the Bid: 240 @ $66.01 vs 72 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] Ref=$195.4686

Amazon.com Option Alert: Fri $130 Calls at the Bid: 240 vs 835 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] 

Amazon.com Option Alert: Fri $130 Calls at the Bid: 240 @ $65.44 vs 835 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] Ref=$195.4686

Amazon.com Option Alert: Fri $170 Calls at the Bid: 240 vs 2837 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] 

Amazon.com Option Alert: Fri $170 Calls at the Bid: 240 @ $24.4 vs 2837 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] Ref=$194.34

Amazon.com Option Alert: Mar 28 $170 Calls at the Bid: 240 vs 186 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] 

Amazon.com Option Alert: Mar 28 $170 Calls at the Bid: 240 @ $24.62 vs 186 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] Ref=$194.34

Amazon.com Option Alert: Mar 28 $200 Calls Sweep (4) below Bid!: 3003 vs 11127 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] 

Amazon.com Option Alert: Mar 28 $200 Calls Sweep (4) below Bid!: 3003 @ $1.995 vs 11127 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] Ref=$195.3

Amazon.com Option Alert: Apr 17 $135 Calls Sweep (4) near the midpoint: 100 vs 141 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] 

Amazon.com Option Alert: Apr 17 $135 Calls Sweep (4) near the midpoint: 100 @ $59.45 vs 141 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] Ref=$193.6118

Amazon.com Option Alert: May 16 $195 Calls Sweep (32) above Ask!: 480 vs 3821 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] 

Amazon.com Option Alert: May 16 $195 Calls Sweep (32) above Ask!: 480 @ $11.063 vs 3821 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] Ref=$192.45

Amazon.com Option Alert: Apr 17 $200 Puts Sweep (24) near the Ask: 1551 vs 18985 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] 

Amazon.com Option Alert: Apr 17 $200 Puts Sweep (24) near the Ask: 1551 @ $11.9 vs 18985 OI; Earnings 4/29 After Close [est] Ref=$191.32

Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) Stock

AMAZON.COM INC

Amazon.com

Amazon is the leading online retailer and marketplace for third party sellers. Retail related revenue represents approximately 75% of total, followed by Amazon Web Services' cloud computing, storage, database, and other offerings (15%), advertising services (5% to 10%), and other the remainder. International segments constitute 25% to 30% of Amazon's non-AWS sales, led by Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

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Amazon.com Inc

As Wall Street crumbles under the weight of tariffs and deepening economic fears, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is pointing the finger not at the Trump administration policy but at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/technology-stocks">the market&#8217;s former darlings</a>.
Speaking on the Tucker Carlson Podcast Friday, Bessent said the ongoing equity sell-off is "more a MAG Seven problem than a MAGA one," referring to the mega-cap tech leaders—Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Alphabet Inc. (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>), Amazon Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)—that have led markets for much of the past two years.
While Bessent delivered his remarks, the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indices were tumbling through their worst week since March 2020, hammered by mounting fears of tariffs, inflationary pressures, and potential global retaliation that triggered a sharp selloff in risk assets.
The iShares Semiconductor Index (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NYSE">SOXX</a>) is down by an astonishing 17% this week alone, on track for its worst weekly decline since 2001, at the peak of the dot-com crash. 
Apple Inc., the largest U.S. company by market cap, is suffering its worst 2-day selloff since 2013, shedding over $500 billion in value alone. The carnage has erased trillions of dollars in paper wealth, hammering retirement accounts, mutual funds, and 401(k) balances across the country.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">It's DeepSeek, Not Tariffs, Bessent Claims</h3>
Bessent insists the real trigger was not Trump's universal tariff plan but a reassessment of U.S. tech valuations following China's DeepSeek AI breakthrough. 
In his words, the sell-off "started with DeepSeek," suggesting that Wall Street had priced in AI dominance prematurely and is now correcting that assumption.
"This isn't about tariffs, it's about a dose of reality in the AI space."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bessent Defends Tariff Revolution</h3>
&#8220;This is transformational for the American economy, the American worker, and the new Republican alignment," Bessent said.
Bessent didn't shy away from defending the economic rationale. He cited new MIT research showing that the Trump administration's original 20% tariffs on China only lifted U.S. prices by 0.7%, suggesting that foreign producers absorbed much of the impact.
Bessent emphasized that tariffs are about more than just economics—they&#8217;re about security. "Economic security is national security," he said, referencing COVID-19 as a wake-up call that exposed the fragility of global supply chains.
 "We don't make our own medicine, our own chips, or our own ships," Bessent noted, advocating for reshoring critical industries to prevent strategic vulnerabilities.
The administration's long-term strategy, according to Bessent, is to use tariffs as a bridge: boost revenue in the short run while incentivizing companies to build domestically, thereby reducing the need for tariffs altogether. 
"First, we collect. Then, we build. Then, the tariffs drop—but revenue from taxes and jobs goes up."
&#8220;We&#8217;re pushing to get the tax bill done so we can guarantee the low taxes,&#8221; he added. 
Bessent dismissed the threat of retaliation from global trading partners, indicating that surplus nations like China and Germany are in no position to strike back effectively.
"We are the debtor nation. We have the trade deficits. The surplus nation is in the weaker position," Bessent said, asserting that China's economic model—heavily reliant on exports—is "the most unbalanced in the history of the modern world."
"I think President Trump has broken their business model with these tariffs," he said. 
"They [China] can't survive without it [the surplus]."
"I think the Europeans are going to have to rebalance, too," he noted, pointing to Germany's overdependence on exports and expensive energy policies as unsustainable.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions</h3>
Stocks deepened their decline in afternoon trading in New York, with investors finding little comfort from either fiscal or monetary leaders. 
Earlier in the day, Fed Chair Jerome Powell reaffirmed that the central bank is in a strong position and sees no urgency to begin cutting interest rates.
The S&amp;P 500 index – 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>) – is down 5%, on track for its worst day in five years.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 – tracked by the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) – sunk 5.1%, eyeing its worst day since March 2020.
Within Magnificent Seven stocks, Tesla fell 9.8%, followed by Nvidia&#8217;s 7.2% decline. 
Read now: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44648681/powell-cites-tariff-driven-inflation-risks-shrugs-off-trumps-call-for-perfect-time-to-cut-rates">Powell Says It&#8217;s &#8216;Too Soon To Say&#8217; On Rates As Tariffs &#8216;Likely To Raise Inflation&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Maxim Elramsisy/Shutterstock

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TSLA

'It's More A Mag 7 Problem Than A MAGA One,' Says Bessent As Wall Street Implodes

These past three months were not what U.S. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mergers-and-acquisitions">dealmakers wanted or expected</a>.
As of April 3, transaction tracker Dealogic showed zero percent growth in U.S.-based M&amp;A volume compared to last year&#8217;s first quarter.
Elsewhere? Volume is spiking triple digits.
<ul>
<li>The Middle East and Africa combined are seeing 123% growth in M&amp;A.</li>
<li>Japan: 105%</li>
<li>Asia: 103%</li>
</ul>
Deal volume is also up in Canada, Europe and Australia. Only in Latin America is it in the red, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/25/03/44342234/deal-dispatch-trump-ma-boom-is-a-bust-purple-mattress-considers-sale-celtics-auction-heats-up">barely a peep</a> coming from the U.S.
For those keeping track of who correctly predicted this downtrend, don&#8217;t look to Bank of America. After Election Day, the firm&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/41979935/golden-years-for-ma-deals-ahead-under-trump-analysts-highlight-top-10-large-cap-candidates">analysts boldly predicted</a> that the then-incoming Trump administration would remove Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan and, presto, the antitrust roadblocks for M&amp;A activity would be removed.
Those analysts were wrong. Just 10 days after Trump&#8217;s inauguration, the U.S. Department of Justice <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/01/43353124/hewlett-packard-enterprise-shares-fall-as-us-department-of-justice-sues-to-block-juniper-acquisition">sued to block</a> Hewlett Packard Enterprise&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPE#NYSE">HPE</a>) $14 billion deal to acquire networking gear maker Juniper Networks. In March, Surmodics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SRDX#NASDAQ">SRDX</a>) <a href="https://julian-34159.medium.com/m-a-malaise-whats-behind-the-2025-deal-slowdown-8471a15b914c">saw its stock price fall</a> after the FTC challenged a proposed acquisition by private equity firm GTCR LLC.
Those BofA analysts also forgot that the previous Trump administration was not particularly lenient regarding consolidation. AT&amp;T and Time Warner; Sinclair and Tribune Media; Broadcom and Qualcomm; DraftKings and FanDuel — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/asset-sales/25/03/44202239/deal-dispatch-tiktok-walgreens-raizen">all blocked</a>.
On the shiny side, gold-related M&amp;A deals have increased, but transaction sizes are much smaller, Benzinga&#8217;s Stjepan Kalinic <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/03/44490949/gold-ma-deals-are-accelerating-but-average-deals-are-smaller-research-shows">wrote this week</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44648681/powell-cites-tariff-driven-inflation-risks-shrugs-off-trumps-call-for-perfect-time-to-cut-rates">Trump Urges Immediate Rate Cuts, Powell Says It&#8217;s &#8216;Too Soon&#8217; As Tariffs Will Likely Drive Inflation</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New On The Block</h2>
<ul>
<li>I Squared Capital is considering selling its European trailer-leasing business, TIP Group, which could be valued at over €3 billion ($3.2 billion). The Miami-based firm is consulting advisers but has not yet launched a formal sale process, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-02/i-squared-said-to-weigh-3-billion-sale-of-trailer-leasing-firm?srnd=phx-deals&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">reports</a>. Based in Amsterdam, TIP Group may attract interest from infrastructure funds and industry peers. I Squared acquired the company in 2018 from HNA Group and has since expanded it through acquisitions, including Trailer Wizards in Canada and Eurotrail UK Ltd. The company was rebranded as TIP Group in 2022.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Bowmark Capital is working with Arma Partners on a potential sale of workforce management software firm Totalmobile, which could be valued at over £500 million ($649 million). A formal sale process may start later this year, according <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-02/pe-firm-bowmark-said-to-weigh-500-million-sale-of-totalmobile?sref=TBDibEcD">to</a> Bloomberg. Totalmobile, which provides field service management software, could attract interest from private equity firms and industry players. Bowmark acquired the company in 2020, and deliberations on the sale are still in the early stages.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Updates From The Block</h2>
<ul>
<li>Final bids for Eni SpA&#8216;s 15% stake in Plenitude, a renewables company, are expected in the coming weeks. Apollo Global Management, Ares Management and Stonepeak are among the interested parties, according to Bloomberg—initial interest values Plenitude between €12 billion and €13 billion ($14 billion).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Ayrmid Ltd. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44564776?57575">offered to acquire</a> Bluebird Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLUE#NASDAQ">BLUE</a>) for an upfront cash payment of $4.50 per share. The company topped a $3.00 per share bid from private equity firms <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43880289/bluebird-bio-to-be-acquired-by-carlyle-group-sk-capital-former-mirati-therapeutics-ceo-set-to-lead-post-deal">Carlyle and SK Capital Partners</a>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Rocket Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/03/44565671/rocket-acquires-mr-cooper-just-weeks-after-buying-redfin-brings-together-the-homeownership-experience-at-scale">announced it will acquire</a> Mr. Cooper Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COOP#NASDAQ">COOP</a>) in an all-stock transaction for $9.4 billion in equity value. The move comes just after Rocket's $1.75 billion acquisition of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/03/44237879/rocket-redfin-deal-aims-to-create-end-to-end-real-estate-solution-where-does-that-leave-zillow">online real estate broker Redfin Corp. </a>(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDFN#NASDAQ">RDFN</a>).&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44643347/hershey-expands-snack-empire-with-acquisition-of-lesserevil-for-750m">agreed to acquire</a> snack brand LesserEvil. This move reflects the confectionery giant&#8217;s ongoing effort to expand from sweets such as Reese&#8217;s and Jolly Ranchers into the better-for-you snack sector. The acquisition is <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/hershey-nears-750-million-deal-for-lesserevil-popcorn-brand-4ca3d468?mod=lead_feature_below_a_pos1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly</a> valued at around $750 million.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCI#NYSE">RCI</a>) said on Friday it agreed to receive a 7 billion Canadian dollar (~$5 billion) equity investment from funds managed by Blackstone Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>), supported by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/asset-sales/25/04/44646240/rogers-scores-5-billion-blackstone-deal-to-cut-debt-unlock-wireless-infrastructure-value">several Canadian institutional investors</a>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>President Trump confirmed that the U.S. is <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/02/43511395/trump-pushes-for-tiktok-deal-china-could-oblige-if-it-werent-for-those-tariffs-heres-what-we-know" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nearing a deal</a> to spare TikTok from a potential ban, with ongoing discussions involving multiple investors and a possible tariff agreement with China. During <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44641024/trump-says-us-close-to-tiktok-deal-reiterates-his-offer-of-tariff-relief-to-secure-chinas-consent-the-tariffs-give-us-great-power-to-negotiate">remarks aboard</a> Air Force One, Trump didn&#8217;t specify whether the &#8220;very good group of people&#8221; interested in TikTok includes OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely. AppLovin and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44645102/applovin-wants-tiktok-but-can-it-beat-amazon-and-onlyfans-to-the-punch">also reportedly interested</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bankruptcy Block</h2>
<ul>
<li>Hooters, the restaurant chain known for its all-female waitstaff and neon orange branding, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44647084/hooters-files-for-bankruptcy-says-brand-isnt-going-anywhere">officially filed for bankruptcy protection</a>. The Chapter 11 filing allows the chain to continue normal operations during the proceeding. Hooters said that all of its 100 restaurants will be sold to two existing franchisees, which own and operate more than 30% of Hooters&#8217; locations in the U.S.</li>
</ul>
For the previous edition of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44546940/deal-dispatch-bezos-backed-crop-company-wilts-tech-startup-nabs-napster-for-207-million">Deal Dispatch, click here</a>.

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Deal Dispatch: US M&A Is Quiet, But Abroad? Volume Is Spiking

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Bytedance Says Any Pact To Be Subject To Approval Under Chinese Law; Says There Are Key Matters To Be Resolved

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Consumer Discretionary sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/10/24</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
<td>$37.7K</td>
<td>12.2K</td>
<td>66.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RIVN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$12.00</td>
<td>$67.2K</td>
<td>3.6K</td>
<td>9.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CPNG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/10/24</td>
<td>$23.50</td>
<td>$51.6K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LCID</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$1.50</td>
<td>$25.4K</td>
<td>258</td>
<td>2.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVNA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$1.2 million</td>
<td>485</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$63.7K</td>
<td>2.8K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SONO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$17.50</td>
<td>$91.5K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LAZR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/16/24</td>
<td>$1.50</td>
<td>$31.4K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>706</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/19/24</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$29.2K</td>
<td>8.8K</td>
<td>510</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$62.8K</td>
<td>6.1K</td>
<td>471</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 329 day(s) on May 10, 2024. Parties traded 151 contract(s) at a $180.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.7K, with a price of $250.0 per contract. There were 12259 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 66462 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For RIVN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 322 day(s) on May 17, 2024. This event was a transfer of 1430 contract(s) at a $12.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 19 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $67.2K, with a price of $47.0 per contract. There were 3654 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 9716 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CPNG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CPNG#NYSE">CPNG</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 329 day(s) on May 10, 2024. This event was a transfer of 629 contract(s) at a $23.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $51.6K, with a price of $82.0 per contract. There were 2093 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2658 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding LCID (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LCID#NASDAQ">LCID</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 140 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 942 contract(s) at a $1.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 30 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.4K, with a price of $27.0 per contract. There were 258 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2442 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CVNA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 287 day(s) on June 21, 2024. Parties traded 1200 contract(s) at a $115.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $1.2 million, with a price of $1011.0 per contract. There were 485 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1409 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 196 day(s) on September 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 1326 contract(s) at a $55.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 22 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $63.7K, with a price of $48.0 per contract. There were 2807 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1363 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SONO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SONO#NASDAQ">SONO</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 322 day(s) on May 17, 2024. Parties traded 795 contract(s) at a $17.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 28 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $91.5K, with a price of $115.0 per contract. There were 1156 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1338 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For LAZR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LAZR#NASDAQ">LAZR</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 231 day(s) on August 16, 2024. This event was a transfer of 605 contract(s) at a $1.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.4K, with a price of $52.0 per contract. There were 1640 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 706 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BABA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 259 day(s) on July 19, 2024. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $85.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.2K, with a price of $295.0 per contract. There were 8886 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 510 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 77 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 29 contract(s) at a $190.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $62.8K, with a price of $2165.0 per contract. There were 6142 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 471 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

BABA

CPNG

CVNA

LAZR

LCID

RIVN

SONO

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

For the first time in years, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/magnificent-seven">the $3 trillion club</a> has no members. Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), the first company to hit the milestone in 2022, has fallen below the threshold, leaving Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) also trailing in their bid to reclaim the title.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0404"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="631" height="214" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04123947/Screenshot-2025-04-04-at-10.03.14-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-857998" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04123947/Screenshot-2025-04-04-at-10.03.14-PM.png 631w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04123947/Screenshot-2025-04-04-at-10.03.14-PM-300x102.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 631px) 100vw, 631px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0404" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Table created using Benzinga Pro</a>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Apple's Slide Takes It Out Of The $3 Trillion League</h1>
Apple's stock has been in a steep decline, falling over 20% year to date and more than 17% in the past month. By midday on April 4, Apple stock was down another 5% to $192.70, bringing its market cap down to $2.92 trillion. That means the club is officially empty, at least for now.
Related: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/25/04/44629335/apple-stock-slammed-by-trump-tariffs-is-a-death-cross-next">Apple Stock Slammed By Trump Tariffs: Is A Death Cross Next?</a>
Microsoft, once Apple's closest competitor in the race, currently holds a $2.73 trillion valuation. Meanwhile, Nvidia, which surged last year on AI-fueled optimism, sits at $2.32 trillion. The rest of the Magnificent Seven — Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) — are further behind, with Tesla bringing up the rear at just $782 billion.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Broader Mag 7 Weakness Weighs On Markets</h1>
Apple isn't the only stock facing trouble. The Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAGS#BATS">MAGS</a>), which tracks the elite tech giants, has dropped nearly 22% year to date and 14% in the past month. The recent sell-off has weighed on the broader market, raising concerns about whether the mega-cap tech trade is losing steam.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44644871/nvidia-slips-into-bearish-trend-as-hsbc-downgrades-ai-giant">Nvidia Slips Into Bearish Trend As HSBC Downgrades AI Giant</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Tech

Trading Ideas

MAGS

Magnificent 7's $3 Trillion Club Is Vacant As Apple Stock Stumbles

Analyst Ratings

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: RH, JP Morgan Chase & Co, Amazon

Movers

UBER

Live On CNBC: Josh Brown Buys More Amazon, Uber, Chevron

Global

Japan's Rapidus In Talks With Apple And Google To Mass-Produce Chips; Rapidus' Prototype Chip Line Scheduled To Be Fully Up And Running Within The Month; Rapidus In Discussions With Google, Apple, Meta Platforms, Amazon And Microsoft

In the fast-paced and highly competitive business world of today, conducting thorough company analysis is essential for investors and industry observers. In this article, we will conduct an extensive industry comparison, evaluating Amazon.com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) in relation to its major competitors in the Broadline Retail industry. Through a detailed examination of key financial metrics, market standing, and growth prospects, our objective is to provide valuable insights and illuminate company's performance in the industry.
<h3>Amazon.com Background</h3>
Amazon is the leading online retailer and marketplace for third party sellers. Retail related revenue represents approximately 75% of total, followed by Amazon Web Services' cloud computing, storage, database, and other offerings (15%), advertising services (5% to 10%), and other the remainder. International segments constitute 25% to 30% of Amazon's non-AWS sales, led by Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>P/E</th>
<th>P/B</th>
<th>P/S</th>
<th>ROE</th>
<th>EBITDA (in billions)</th>
<th>Gross Profit (in billions)</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Amazon.com Inc</td>
<td>32.26</td>
<td>6.61</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>7.34%</td>
<td>$38.55</td>
<td>$37.37</td>
<td>10.49%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alibaba Group Holding Ltd</td>
<td>18.87</td>
<td>2.24</td>
<td>2.34</td>
<td>5.01%</td>
<td>$59.0</td>
<td>$117.63</td>
<td>7.61%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD Holdings Inc</td>
<td>10.87</td>
<td>3.66</td>
<td>3.10</td>
<td>9.28%</td>
<td>$29.18</td>
<td>$59.65</td>
<td>11.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MercadoLibre Inc</td>
<td>51.62</td>
<td>22.67</td>
<td>4.75</td>
<td>15.3%</td>
<td>$0.96</td>
<td>$2.75</td>
<td>37.42%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JD.com Inc</td>
<td>10.80</td>
<td>1.76</td>
<td>0.39</td>
<td>4.21%</td>
<td>$15.92</td>
<td>$45.04</td>
<td>33.26%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Coupang Inc</td>
<td>268.25</td>
<td>9.44</td>
<td>1.29</td>
<td>3.76%</td>
<td>$0.44</td>
<td>$2.49</td>
<td>21.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>eBay Inc</td>
<td>16.80</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>3.23</td>
<td>12.84%</td>
<td>$0.76</td>
<td>$1.86</td>
<td>0.66%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vipshop Holdings Ltd</td>
<td>7.51</td>
<td>1.39</td>
<td>0.54</td>
<td>6.31%</td>
<td>$1.47</td>
<td>$4.96</td>
<td>60.69%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings Inc</td>
<td>36.37</td>
<td>4.24</td>
<td>3.19</td>
<td>4.14%</td>
<td>$0.1</td>
<td>$0.27</td>
<td>2.79%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MINISO Group Holding Ltd</td>
<td>15.64</td>
<td>3.93</td>
<td>2.41</td>
<td>8.12%</td>
<td>$0.88</td>
<td>$2.03</td>
<td>4.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dillard's Inc</td>
<td>8.71</td>
<td>2.84</td>
<td>0.78</td>
<td>11.4%</td>
<td>$0.31</td>
<td>$0.74</td>
<td>-4.97%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nordstrom Inc</td>
<td>13.77</td>
<td>3.51</td>
<td>0.27</td>
<td>15.61%</td>
<td>$0.44</td>
<td>$1.69</td>
<td>-2.17%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Macy's Inc</td>
<td>5.51</td>
<td>0.70</td>
<td>0.14</td>
<td>7.86%</td>
<td>$0.68</td>
<td>$3.02</td>
<td>-4.39%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Savers Value Village Inc</td>
<td>41.82</td>
<td>2.68</td>
<td>0.77</td>
<td>-0.44%</td>
<td>$0.04</td>
<td>$0.22</td>
<td>5.02%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kohl's Corp</td>
<td>6.78</td>
<td>0.19</td>
<td>0.05</td>
<td>1.26%</td>
<td>$0.31</td>
<td>$1.92</td>
<td>-9.39%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hour Loop Inc</td>
<td>68.50</td>
<td>9.33</td>
<td>0.35</td>
<td>-25.78%</td>
<td>$-0.0</td>
<td>$0.02</td>
<td>-8.51%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>38.79</td>
<td>4.97</td>
<td>1.57</td>
<td>5.26%</td>
<td>$7.37</td>
<td>$16.29</td>
<td>10.33%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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 border-collapse: collapse;
 font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
 font-size: 14px;
 }

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 .dividend-frequency {
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 }
 </style>Upon a comprehensive analysis of Amazon.com, the following trends can be discerned: 
<ul>
<li>
The stock's Price to Earnings ratio of 32.26 is lower than the industry average by 0.83x, suggesting potential value in the eyes of market participants.
</li>
<li>
The elevated Price to Book ratio of 6.61 relative to the industry average by 1.33x suggests company might be overvalued based on its book value.
</li>
<li>
The Price to Sales ratio of 3.0, which is 1.91x the industry average, suggests the stock could potentially be overvalued in relation to its sales performance compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
The Return on Equity (ROE) of 7.34% is 2.08% above the industry average, highlighting efficient use of equity to generate profits.
</li>
<li>
With higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $38.55 Billion, which is 5.23x above the industry average, the company demonstrates stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
Compared to its industry, the company has higher gross profit of $37.37 Billion, which indicates 2.29x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
The company is experiencing remarkable revenue growth, with a rate of 10.49%, outperforming the industry average of 10.33%.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743778842_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio is a financial metric that helps determine the level of financial risk associated with a company's capital structure.
Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.
By evaluating Amazon.com against its top 4 peers in terms of the Debt-to-Equity ratio, the following observations arise:
<ul>
<li>
When comparing the debt-to-equity ratio, Amazon.com is in a stronger financial position compared to its top 4 peers.
</li>
<li>
The company has a lower level of debt relative to its equity, indicating a more favorable balance between the two with a lower debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
For Amazon.com, the PE ratio is low compared to its peers in the Broadline Retail industry, indicating potential undervaluation. The high PB and PS ratios suggest that the market values Amazon.com's assets and sales highly. In terms of ROE, EBITDA, gross profit, and revenue growth, Amazon.com outperforms its industry peers, reflecting strong financial performance and growth potential.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Markets

Market Analysis: Amazon.com And Competitors In Broadline Retail Industry

A April filing shows that Representative David Taylor reported a purchase in Amazon.com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), valued between $8,008 and $120,000. The transaction date is listed as April 3, 2025, with the report published on April 3, 2025.
At present, Amazon.com shares are trading down 3.53% at $172.1.
<h3>What Representative Has Been Trading Recently</h3>
In the last three years, David Taylor completed 13 stock transactions totaling more than $13 thousand. Amazon.com and American Electric Power stocks were among the largest trades. Some of the most notable transactions the Rep. has executed recently include: 
<ul>
<li>Amazon.com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>): $1,001 - $15,000 Purchase</li>
<li>American Electric Power (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>): $1,001 - $15,000 Sale</li>
<li>AT&amp;T (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>): $1,001 - $15,000 Sale</li>
</ul>
Here's a summary of David Taylor's recent trades:
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Ticker</th>
<th>Stock Type</th>
<th>Amount</th>
<th>Transaction Type</th>
<th>Transaction Date</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Amazon.com</td>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>STOCK</td>
<td>$1,001 - $15,000</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>2025-03-27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>American Electric Power</td>
<td>AEP</td>
<td>STOCK</td>
<td>$1,001 - $15,000</td>
<td>S</td>
<td>2025-03-10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AT&amp;T</td>
<td>T</td>
<td>STOCK</td>
<td>$1,001 - $15,000</td>
<td>S</td>
<td>2025-03-10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Eaton Corp</td>
<td>ETN</td>
<td>STOCK</td>
<td>$1,001 - $15,000</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>2025-03-10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JPMorgan Chase</td>
<td>JPM</td>
<td>STOCK</td>
<td>$1,001 - $15,000</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>2025-03-10</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
If you want to stay updated on David Taylor's trades and other congressional members, check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/members/david-taylor">government trades tool</a> to track their activity in real time!
<h3>The Importance of Congressional Transactions</h3>
A congressional transaction is when any representative or senator either buys or sells an individual stock.
Anyone working in Congress must file a Periodic Transaction Report to inform the public of their recent transaction within 30 days of being notified of the transaction and within 45 days of the transaction date.
In April 2012, Former President Barack Obama signed the STOCK Act into law. The act prohibits members of Congress from using private information given to them by their position for personal gain such as buying or selling a stock. The act also expanded disclosure requirements for members of Congress by requiring them to file a monthly disclosure.
<h3>The Importance of Congressional Transactions</h3>
Congressional transactions shouldn't be the primary reason for an investing decision, but they can be an important factor for an investor to consider.
When a senator or representative makes a new purchase, it could be an indication they expect the stock to rise.
A sale, on the other hand, can be made for a variety of reasons, and may not necessarily mean the seller thinks the stock will go down.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Government

Ohio Rep. David Taylor Bought Over $8K Worth of Amazon.com Stock: Here's What You Should Know

Stocks of U.S.-listed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/chinese-stocks" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese companies, including</a> Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), PDD Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), Baidu, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIDU#NASDAQ">BIDU</a>), and JD.com, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>), are trading lower Friday as markets turn jittery after President Donald Trump announces sweeping tariffs.
Trump's measures include a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44628368/trumps-tariffs-prompt-china-to-vow-countermeasures-experts-see-retaliation-likely" rel="noreferrer noopener">34% tariff on</a> imports from China, raising the total duties on Chinese goods to 54% and prompting criticism from Beijing.
Goldman analyst Andrew Tilton expects the Chinese government to retaliate with some targeted tariffs on U.S. products as well as non-tariff measures like export controls.
In fact, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44645172/china-retaliates-with-34-tariff-on-all-us-imports-urges-trump-to-immediately-cancel-the-tariffs-calls-for-negotiation" rel="noreferrer noopener">China's finance ministry</a> has announced a 34%&nbsp;tariff on all goods imported&nbsp;from the U.S., effective from April 10.
Temu parent PDD will be especially hit as it intensifies rivalry with Amazon.Com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) by specializing in cheaper deals. Amazon invested $25 billion in robotics-led warehouses to cut costs and compete <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43972083/amazons-25-billion-robotics-push-targets-cost-savings-ai-growth-and-temu-competition-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">with rivals like Temu</a>.
Billionaire investor&nbsp;David Tepper's Appaloosa Management increased its stakes in prominent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44371754/billionaire-investor-david-teppers-everything-china-bet-pays-off-with-alibaba-up-40-since-september" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese e-commerce names</a>, including PDD, during the fourth quarter of 2024.
American investor Carson Block, the founder of Muddy Waters Research, had snubbed China's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets/25/02/43815333/muddy-waters-carson-block-warns-against-chinese-stocks-despite-recent-market-surge-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stock market rally</a>, citing unreliability in corporate accounting and geopolitical risks. He voiced to Bloomberg his aversion to Chinese stocks for 15 years due to the lack of credibility of accounting, especially the ones listed outside of China.
PDD stock surged over 17% year-to-date. In March, PDD reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/03/44414695/temu-parent-pdd-holdings-drops-after-q4-revenue-miss-details" rel="noreferrer noopener">fourth-quarter revenue</a> growth of 24% to $15.15 billion, missing estimates of $15.68 billion. Adjusted EPS of $2.76 beat the consensus of $2.56. At least two Wall Street firms, U.S. Tiger Securities and Nomura, have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PDD/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">downgraded the stock's rating</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PDD Stock Prediction For 2025 Before Tariffs Were Announced</h2>
Equity research analysts on and off Wall Street typically use earnings growth and fundamental research as a form of valuation and forecasting. But many in trading turn to technical analysis as a way to form predictive models for share price trajectory.
Some investors look to trends to help forecast where they believe a stock could trade at a certain point in the future. Looking at PDD Holdings, an investor could make an assessment about a stock's long term prospects using a moving average and trend line. If they believe a stock will remain above the moving average, which many believe is a bullish signal, they can extrapolate that trend into the future using a trend line. For PDD Holdings, the 200-day moving average sits at $118.86, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, which is above the current price of $104.28. For more on charts and trend lines, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">see a description here.</a>
Traders believe that when a stock is above its moving average, it is a generally bullish signal, and when it crosses below, it is a more negative signal. Investors could use trend lines to make an educated guess about where a stock could trade at a later date if conditions remain stable.
Price Action: PDD stock is down 9.38% at $103.01 at the last check on Friday.
Photo via Shutterstock

Asia

Regulations

Short Sellers

Emerging Markets

BIDU

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

Temu Parent PDD Stock Tumbles As Trump's New Tariffs Threaten Chinese E-Commerce

Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) has paused discussions and postponed the development of sites in Indonesia, the U.K., Australia, Illinois, North Dakota and Wisconsin, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-03/microsoft-pulls-back-on-data-centers-from-chicago-to-jakarta?srnd=phx-technology&amp;sref=TBDibEcD" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. The stock is trading lower on Friday amid President Donald Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44631606/trumps-tariff-exemptions-include-semiconductors-pharmaceuticals-oil-and-more" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">semiconductor tariff announcements</a>.
Microsoft recently dumped negotiations to lease space between London and Cambridge to host advanced NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) chips, Bloomberg cited unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44523216/microsoft-plans-proprietary-ai-to-power-business-software-and-reduce-openai-dependence-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft Plans Proprietary AI To Power Business Software And Reduce OpenAI Dependence: Report</a>
The company has also halted negotiations for data center space near Chicago.
Microsoft recently ditched a proposal to obtain more cloud-computing capacity from CoreWeave, its CEO Michael Intrator, told Bloomberg.
Microsoft has paused work on parts of a data center campus near Jakarta.
Microsoft has also postponed its planned expansion at a Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, site.
Microsoft has postponed negotiations, including a deal for a server farm complex in North Dakota with Applied Digital Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APLD#NASDAQ">APLD</a>) and Ada Infrastructure&#8217;s Docklands data center&nbsp;in London.
A Microsoft spokesperson told Bloomberg that Microsoft&#8217;s $3.3 billion project in Wisconsin will likely come online in 2026. A company spokesperson in Jakarta told Bloomberg that Microsoft&#8217;s planned Indonesia Central cloud region is on track to go live in the second quarter of 2025.
In March, TD Cowen analysts told Bloomberg that Microsoft postponed new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44515782/microsoft-halts-expansion-plans-yet-analysts-still-rank-it-among-top-investment-picks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data center projects</a> in the U.S. and Europe, signaling potential AI computing overcapacity.
In February, the analysts highlighted leases Microsoft had abandoned in the U.S. They described the latest move as the company&#8217;s choice to forgo some new business from ChatGPT maker OpenAI.
TD Cowen&#8217;s supply chain checks indicated Microsoft&#8217;s pullback has led to Alphabet Inc.&#8217;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 and  Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) to backfill the capacity in international markets.
Chinese upstart DeepSeeks&#8217;s open-source AI model led to Wall Street questioning the sustainability of Microsoft, Meta and Amazon.com Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) capex outlays on AI models.
Microsoft stock is down 11% year-to-date. Reportedly, SoftBank (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) may become OpenAI's top backer, surpassing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44513286/softbank-may-want-to-outdo-microsoft-with-40-billion-investment-in-openais-latest-funding-round">Microsoft's $14 billion stake</a>.
MSFT Price Action: MSFT stock was down 2.17% at $365 premarket Friday at publication.
Read Next:
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Photo: Shutterstock

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APLD

SFTBF

SFTBY

Microsoft Halts Data Center Expansions Due To Semiconductor Tariff Concerns, AI Overcapacity Fears

AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>) shares were trading lower in premarket hours on Friday after the company confirmed it had submitted a preliminary expression of interest to the U.S. President regarding a potential acquisition of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37688964/tiktok-ban-could-take-out-billions-of-dollars-out-of-creators-pockets-and-put-over-300k-american-job" rel="noreferrer noopener">TikTok&#8217;s operations outside of China</a>.
&#8220;This indication of interest is preliminary and there can be no assurance that a transaction involving the Company will proceed,&#8221; AppLovin said in an exchange <a target="_blank" href="https://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0001751008/91d42e86-44aa-4c1a-a9a9-40366c6f1f1b.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener">filing</a>.
The mobile technology firm joins a growing list of companies looking to secure TikTok&#8217;s international business as the platform faces a fast-approaching deadline to find a new owner.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/04/44599624/tiktok-clock-ticks-louder-as-deadline-approaches-trump-to-consider-final-proposal-as-private-equity-firms-bid-for-platform" rel="noreferrer noopener">TikTok Clock Ticks Louder As Deadline Approaches, Trump To Consider Final Proposal As Private Equity Firms Bid For Platform</a>
AppLovin clarified that its interest is still in the early stages and that there is no certainty a deal will materialize, Reuters reports.
Reuters adds that Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) has also reportedly shown interest in the short-form video platform.
Meanwhile, a separate group led by OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely is also said to be exploring a bid, underscoring the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44620779/onlyfans-founders-startup-and-hbar-foundation-enter-the-race-to-acquire-tiktok-us-to-maintain-american-ownership-and-governance" rel="noreferrer noopener">fierce competition to take over TikTok&#8217;s global business.</a>
AppLovin&#8217;s announcement comes during a turbulent time for the company. According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>, APP stock has lost over 19% in the past year.
It recently came under fire from short-seller Muddy Waters, which issued <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/03/44541294/applovin-shares-were-up-today-whats-going-on" rel="noreferrer noopener">a report criticizing its e-commerce practices.</a>
The report claims that more than half of AppLovin&#8217;s customer conversions come from retargeting users, suggesting that only a small portion of its sales—between 25% and 35%—are actually incremental.
Muddy Waters also accused the company of gathering user data from major platforms such as Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), and TikTok to construct artificial user profiles. According to the report, this practice may violate platform policies. It further alleges that AppLovin uses persistent identity graphs to covertly retarget high-value users, making it difficult for platforms to detect or prevent the activity.
As the race to acquire TikTok intensifies, AppLovin faces a dual challenge: navigating regulatory hurdles while defending its own reputation against mounting criticism.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;AdvisorShares Focused Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CWS#NYSE">CWS</a>) and&nbsp;Gabelli ETFs Trust Gabelli Financial Services Opportunities ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GABF#NYSE">GABF</a>).
Price Action: APP shares are trading lower by 6.31% to $245.46 at last check Friday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44643409/ross-gerber-and-gary-kasparov-slam-bill-ackmans-defense-of-trumps-trade-war-tactics-this-is-garbage-policy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ross Gerber And Gary Kasparov Slam Bill Ackman&#8217;s Defense Of Trump&#8217;s Trade War Tactics: &#8216;This Is Garbage Policy&#8217;</a></li>
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Equities

Gabelli ETFs Trust Gabelli Financial Services Opportunities ETF

GABF

AppLovin Wants TikTok But Can It Beat Amazon And OnlyFans To The Punch?

Top billionaires Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jensen Huang lost nearly $34 billion after the bloodbath on Wall Street on Thursday. Here&#8217;s how much the &#8216;Magnificent 7&#8217; billionaires lost in total.
What Happened: Wall Street witnessed its most brutal trading day in years, with all major U.S. stock indexes experiencing their largest single-day drops on Thursday since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The richest business leaders lost billions of dollars as the stock market declined. Notably, Meta Platforms Inc.&#8216;s founder, chairman, and CEO, Zuckerberg, lost $17.9 billion in a single day, according to Forbes data.
Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos saw his net worth plummet by a staggering $16 billion, while Tesla Inc. co-founder and CEO Musk lost $8.7 billion amid the market selloff.
On the other hand, chipmaker Nvidia Corp.&#8216;s founder and CEO, Huang, saw a $7.4 billion change in his net worth, whereas Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates&#8216; wealth tumbled by $774 million on Thursday.
Alphabet Inc. co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin lost $4.9 billion and $4.6 billion, respectively, while the company&#8217;s CEO, Sundar Pichai, saw his net worth decline by $18 million.
Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook witnessed a loss of $68 million.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Stocks</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>Thursday&#8217;s Performance</td>
<td>Business Leaders</td>
<td>Change In Wealth (In Billion Dollars)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</td>
<td>-26.40%</td>
<td>-7.81%</td>
<td>Jensen Huang</td>
<td>-7.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)</td>
<td>-16.67%</td>
<td>-9.25%</td>
<td>Tim Cook</td>
<td>-0.068</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)</td>
<td>-10.86%</td>
<td>-2.36%</td>
<td>Bill Gates</td>
<td>-0.774</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)</td>
<td>-18.99%</td>
<td>-8.98%</td>
<td>Jeff Bezos</td>
<td>-16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>)</td>
<td>-19.93%</td>
<td>-3.92%</td>
<td>Sundar Pichai</td>
<td>-0.018</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)</td>
<td>-11.28%</td>
<td>-8.96%</td>
<td>Mark Zuckerberg</td>
<td>-17.9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)</td>
<td>-5.47%</td>
<td>-29.53%</td>
<td>Elon Musk</td>
<td>-8.7</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Forbes</figcaption></figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/44643368/donald-trump-says-market-is-going-to-boom-claiming-6-7-trillion-worth-of-inflows-will-come">Donald Trump Says &#8216;Market Is Going To Boom,&#8217; Claiming &#8216;$6-7 Trillion&#8217; Worth Of Inflows Will Come After The Worst Selloff Since 2020</a>
Why It Matters: The Dow Jones endured its fifth-worst day in history, shedding 1,679 points. It was Dow and S&amp;P 500&#8217;s worst trading day since June 2020. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq had its most significant single-day decline since March 2020.
Citing the necessity to rectify the United States' trade deficit, Trump utilized a 1977 statute to officially declare a trade emergency, subsequently introducing new tariffs on Wednesday.
He imposed a blanket 10% tariff on all trading partners and levied more duties on the countries he described as "bad actors".
It is worth noting that China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka are subject to the most severe tariffs, whereas Canada and Mexico were exempted from &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariffs.
Benchmark indices are in the correction zone. The S&amp;P 500 fell 12.22% from its Feb. 19th peak, the Nasdaq 100 dropped 16.65% from its 52-week high, approaching the bear market territory, and the Dow was down 10.05% as of Thursday.
Price Action: The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, declined in premarket on Friday. The SPY was down 2.30% to $525.78, while the QQQ declined 2.52% to $439.32, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44642131/volatility-gauge-vix-surges-to-an-8-month-high-more-fear-more-opportunity-says-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Volatility Gauge Vix Surges To An 8-Month High: ‘More Fear Equals More Opportunity,' Says Analyst</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg And Jensen Huang See $34 Billion Wiped Out In A Single Day: Here's How Much Other 'Magnificent 7' Billionaires Lost After Trump's Liberation Day

U.S. stock futures declined on Friday after a bloodbath on Thursday following the introduction of President Donald Trump&#8216;s tariffs. Futures of major benchmark indices were lower in premarket trading.
Fueled by a broad market downturn, the Dow Jones plummeted by a staggering 1,679 points, its fifth-largest drop ever, while the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq suffered their biggest single-day losses since June and March 2020, respectively.
Trump, however, dismissed the tariff-induced selloff and said, &#8220;The market is going to boom, the stock is going to boom, the country is going to boom.&#8221;
The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 3.94% and the two-year bond was at 3.61%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a> shows markets pricing in a 69.4% likelihood of the Federal Reserve maintaining current interest rates through its May meeting.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Change (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-1.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-0.78%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>-0.54%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-1.42%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, declined in premarket on Friday. The SPY was down 0.71% to $532.87, while the QQQ declined 0.62% to $447.85, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Cues From Last Session:
Technology sectors bore the brunt of Thursday&#8217;s U.S. stock market downturn. Specifically, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) shares plummeted approximately 9.3%, marking their steepest single-day decline since March 2020. Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) also saw a significant drop, tumbling 7.8%, while Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) shares fell by 8.98%. Across the broader market, consumer discretionary, energy, and information technology stocks registered the most substantial losses within the S&amp;P 500.
In contrast, consumer staples stocks stood out, bucking the prevailing negative trend and closing the session higher. This sector&#8217;s resilience was highlighted by Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LW#NYSE">LW</a>), whose shares surged 10% after the company released third-quarter financial results that exceeded expectations and provided FY25 sales guidance above analyst estimates.
Economic data released Thursday presented a mixed picture. U.S. initial jobless claims decreased by 6,000 to 219,000 for the week ending March 29, falling below the anticipated 225,000. Additionally, the U.S. trade deficit narrowed to $122.7 billion in February, improving from $130.7 billion in January and slightly better than the forecasted $123.5 billion. However, the ISM services PMI declined to 50.8 in March, down from 53.5 in February and below market expectations of 53.
<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>-5.97%</td>
<td>16,550.60</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-4.84%</td>
<td>5,396.52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-3.98%</td>
<td>40,545.93</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-6.59%</td>
<td>1,910.55</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts:
CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer compared Trump&#8217;s tariffs to historical tariff regimes in the U.S., in an X post. he said, &#8220;It is not pro-tariff v. anti-tariff. It&#8217;s about accomplishing what&#8217;s good for our country while not having a Smoot-Hawley situation.&#8221;
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, enacted in 1930, was a US law that significantly increased tariffs on imported goods, intended to protect American businesses and farmers, but ultimately worsened the Great Depression by triggering a global trade war.
However, he added that tariff-induced selloff on Thursday was &#8220;100% Smoot Hawley disguised as thoughtful policy. The market was RIGHT to go down.&#8221;
<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">It is not pro-tariff v. anti-tariff. It&#39;s about accomplishing what&#39;s good for our country while not having a Smoot Hawley situation. Yesterday was 100% Smoot Hawley disguised as thoughtful policy. The market was RIGHT to go down
&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1908066366805991875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
AQR Capital Management&#8217;s Chief Investment Officer, Cliff Asness, took to X on Thursday to voice his criticism of tariff proponents, specifically disputing the assertion that tariffs result in deflation instead of inflation.
His remarks were a direct response to Anthony Pompliano, the Founder &amp; CEO of Professional Capital Management and a well-known Bitcoin advocate, who had previously claimed, &#8220;Tariffs don't create inflation. The exact opposite happens."
<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">Idiots say this and bray like they've scored a great point. What they mean is giant arbitrary tariffs are so bad they eventually cause recessions which then cause deflation. They then present this as a feature. And if they don't mean that they are even more wrong in some… <a href="https://t.co/ZihK0rbRU0">https://t.co/ZihK0rbRU0</a>
&mdash; Clifford Asness (@CliffordAsness) <a href="https://twitter.com/CliffordAsness/status/1907915579324760564?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Creative Planning&#8217;s chief market strategist, Charlie Bilello, noted that the VIX index reached its highest closing level since Aug. 5, 2024.
He suggested this increase in fear, coupled with lower stock prices, presents enhanced opportunities for investors with a long-term perspective. Bilello also pointed to historical trends, indicating that the S&amp;P 500 has historically delivered &#8220;higher than average&#8221; returns following significant surges in volatility.
He shared data showing that after a comparable spike on Aug. 5, 2024, the S&amp;P 500 returned 6% in one month, 11% in three months, and 18% over six months. On average, Bilello highlighted, the S&amp;P 500 has gained 12% six months after such volatility spikes and 21% after a year.
In an X post, Bilello summarized, &#8220;More Fear = More Opportunity.&#8221;
<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 <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24VIX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$VIX</a> spiked nearly 40% higher today and closed above 30 for the first time since last August. What has happened in the past following the biggest volatility spikes? Higher than average forward S&amp;P 500 returns. More Fear = More Opportunity<a href="https://t.co/wMMGtwYloS">https://t.co/wMMGtwYloS</a> <a href="https://t.co/vVEN5vUBD1">pic.twitter.com/vVEN5vUBD1</a>
&mdash; Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliebilello/status/1907910013743722855?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures </a>
Upcoming Economic Data
Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on Friday:
<ul>
<li>March&#8217;s U.S. employment report, unemployment rate, and hourly wages data will be out by 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Fed Chairman Jerome Powell will speak at 11:25 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Fed Governor Michael Barr will speak at 12:00 p.m. and Fed Governor Christopher Waller will speak at 12:45 p.m. ET.</li>
</ul>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>American Shared Hospital Services (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMS#NYSE">AMS</a>) was up 0.34% in premarket on Friday ahead of its earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect a quarterly earnings of 1 cent per share on revenue of $7.70 million.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Neuroone Medical Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NMTC#NASDAQ">NMTC</a>) slumped 36.05% after the company disclosed a common stock public offering.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Simulations Plus Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLP#NASDAQ">SLP</a>) was up 2.50% after posting stronger-than-expected results for its second quarter and issuing an upbeat FY25 earnings forecast.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Sangamo Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SGMO#NASDAQ">SGMO</a>) surged 32.41% after announcing a new agreement with pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly And Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>), granting the company a worldwide exclusive license to leverage the company&#8217;s novel proprietary neurotropic adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid, STAC-BBB.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>GameStop Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>) jumped 3.98% after its CEO, Ryan Cohen, acquired 500,000 shares of the company.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>BioNexus Gene Lab Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BGLC#NASDAQ">BGLC</a>) dropped 26.96% after the company said that it will enact a 1-for-10 reverse stock split effective Monday to meet Nasdaq&#8217;s bid price requirements.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Mullen Automotive Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MULN#NASDAQ">MULN</a>) zoomed 83.64% after it stated that its U.S.-assembled Mullen and Bollinger commercial EV inventory is tariff-exempt.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>CXApp Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CXAI#NASDAQ">CXAI</a>) gained 40.06% after the company reported business performance results for 2024 and announced a net revenue retention rate of 101%.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures were trading lower in the early New York session by 3.57% to hover around $64.56 per barrel.
Gold Spot US Dollar declined 0.97% to hover around $3,083.92 per ounce. Its fresh record high stood at $3,168.04 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was higher by 0.48% at the 102.564 level.
Asian markets closed on a lower note on Friday. India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, Japan's Nikkei 225, Australia's ASX 200, China&#8217;s CSI 300, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, and South Korea's Kospi index fell. European markets were also lower in early trade.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/44642317/sp-500-plummets-108-nasdaq-100-corrects-141-since-trumps-inauguration-heres-how-it-compares-to-obama-and-biden-eras">S&amp;P 500 Plummets 10.8%, Nasdaq 100 Corrects 14.1% Since Trump&#8217;s Inauguration: Here&#8217;s How It Compares To Obama And Biden Eras</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Earnings

Market Summary

Futures

Commodities

Economics

Federal Reserve

Pre-Market Outlook

ETFs

BGLC

CXAI

MULN

NMTC

SGMO

Stocks Set To Continue Crashing After Worst Selloff Since 2020: Tariff Announcement Was '100% Smoot Hawley Disguised As Thoughtful Policy,' Says Expert

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a sharp decline in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221; zone on Thursday.
U.S. stocks settled lower on Thursday, with the Nasdaq Composite dipping around 6% during the session following the announcement of new trade tariffs by President Donald Trump.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) shares dipped around 9.3%, recording their worst day since March 2020. Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) tumbled 7.8%, while Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) dropped 9% on Thursday.
Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. (NYS E: LW) shares, however, gained 10% after the company reported better-than-expected third-quarter financial results and issued FY25 sales guidance above estimates.
On the economic data front, U.S. initial jobless claims fell by 6,000 to 219,000 in the week ending March 29, compared to market estimates of 225,000. The U.S. trade deficit shrank to $122.7 billion in February compared to $130.7 billion in the previous month and versus market estimates of a $123.5 billion gap. The ISM services PMI dipped to 50.8 in March versus a reading of 53.5 in February, and down from market estimates of 53.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a negative note, with consumer discretionary, energy, and information technology stocks recording the biggest losses on Thursday. However, consumer staples stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session higher.
The Dow Jones closed lower by around 1,679 points to 40,545.93 on Thursday. The S&amp;P 500 dipped 4.84% to 5,396.52, while the Nasdaq Composite tumbled 5.97% to 16,550.61 during Thursday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from American Shared Hospital Services (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMS#NYSE">AMS</a>) today.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 7.7, the index remained in the &#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221; zone on Thursday, versus a prior reading of 18.6.
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
Read Next: 
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Photo via Shutterstock

Nasdaq Dips 6% Following Trump's Tariffs As Nvidia, Apple Decline: Investor Sentiment Plunges, Greed Index Remains In 'Extreme Fear' Zone

President Donald Trump's <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44631606/trumps-tariff-exemptions-include-semiconductors-pharmaceuticals-oil-and-more">new reciprocal tariffs</a> could undermine the billion-dollar AI infrastructure projects being spearheaded by leading tech companies, analysts warn.
What Happened: On Thursday, analysts highlighted the negative impact of the Trump administration's tariffs on technology equipment, which were levied at 34% on China, 32% on Taiwan, and 25% on South Korea, while also imposing a 10% baseline tariff on all imports to the U.S., reported Reuters.
The tariffs threaten to raise the costs of essential hardware used in artificial intelligence infrastructure, such as data centers, servers, and chips.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44640656/apple-making-iphones-in-america-a-fantasy-that-sounds-great-behind-the-microphones-says-top-analyst-dan-ives">Apple Making iPhones In America A Fantasy That Sounds Great &#8216;Behind The Microphones,&#8217; Says Top Analyst Dan Ives</a>
&#8220;Capital expenditure by tech giants will get reshuffled,&#8221; said Abhishek Singh, partner at Everest Group. &#8220;Expect major players in AI infrastructure and consumer tech to reallocate short-term spending away from expansion and toward procurement hedging or sourcing shifts.&#8221;
The tariffs are expected to increase the cost of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43908921/microsoft-pulls-plug-on-ai-data-center-leases-says-analyst-oversupply-situation-likely">building data centers</a> in the U.S., potentially delaying large-scale AI projects.
D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria pointed out that companies like Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) have already begun to scale back their data center investments due to financial uncertainty.
&#8220;Microsoft has already started articulating a more balanced, cautious approach to their data center build-out,&#8221; Luria noted.
The most high-profile project affected is the $500 billion Stargate venture between Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>), and OpenAI, aimed at building 20 data centers across the U.S.
&#8220;Stargate was already unlikely to get to that scale even before these things happened. Given the shock to the economy that these tariffs represent, it is highly unlikely that such a risky endeavor will be able to raise anywhere near that number in terms of debt financings,&#8221; stated Luria.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: President Trump&#8217;s sweeping new trade tariffs jolted global markets on Thursday, sparking a dramatic sell-off reminiscent of the pandemic-era crashes.
Wall Street witnessed a <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44631916/wall-street-wipes-out-2-trillion-apple-eyes-worst-day-since-covid-19-pandemic-oil-plummets-whats-driving-markets-thursday">staggering $2 trillion wiped</a> from market value, with the 10 largest U.S. companies alone accounting for $1 trillion of those losses.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) plunged 9.25%, Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) fell 7.81%, Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) dropped 8.98%, and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) slid 8.9%.
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) declined 5.47%, while Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) lost 8.96%. Alphabet Inc.'s Class A shares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) dipped 4.02%, and Class C shares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) were down 3.92%, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo Courtesy: Jack_the_sparow on Shutterstock
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

ORCL

Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs Threaten To Derail Big Tech's Billion-Dollar AI Infrastructure Plans, Analyst Singles Out This OpenAI-Linked Project As Likely To Get Hit

On Thursday, President Donald Trump confirmed that the U.S. is <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/02/43511395/trump-pushes-for-tiktok-deal-china-could-oblige-if-it-werent-for-those-tariffs-heres-what-we-know">nearing a deal</a> to spare TikTok from a potential ban, with ongoing discussions involving multiple investors and a possible tariff agreement with China.
What Happened: During remarks aboard Air Force One, Trump said, &#8220;We're very close to a deal with a very good group of people,&#8221; <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-03/trump-says-tiktok-deal-within-reach-involves-multiple-investors?srnd=phx-technology">reported</a> Bloomberg.
<a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/03/44506732/donald-trump-says-he-may-cut-tariffs-on-china-to-seal-tiktok-deal-bytedance-has-until-april-5-to-sell-or-face-us-ban">Trump also reiterated</a> that he would be willing to offer tariff relief as part of the negotiation process with China to help secure approval for the eventual sale of TikTok.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44506409/steve-jobs-warned-34-years-ago-about-america-being-hollowed-out-by-foreign-manufacturing-a-concern-trump-now-echoes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Steve Jobs Warned 34 Years Ago About America Being ‘Hollowed Out' By Foreign Manufacturing — A Concern Trump Now Echoes</a>
&#8220;You have a situation with TikTok where China will probably say, we'll approve a deal but will you do something on the tariff? The tariffs give us great power to negotiate. They always have,&#8221; he stated.
However, he admitted that he had &#8220;no knowledge&#8221; of whether Chinese authorities would approve the approach.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: TikTok, the Chinese-owned social media app owned by ByteDance, has faced increasing scrutiny over national security concerns related to data privacy and its algorithm.
The president's latest comments follow discussions with a consortium of U.S. investors, including Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>), Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) and Andreessen Horowitz, looking to acquire the app.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) has also reportedly made a<a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44613084/amazon-makes-surprise-bid-for-tiktok-amid-us-ban-threat-report"> last-minute surprise bid</a> to buy the entire U.S. operation of TikTok.
Image via Shutterstock
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Trump Says US Near TikTok Deal, Reiterates Trade Relief Offer For China's Approval: 'Tariffs Give Us Great Power To Negotiate'

U.S. markets plunged on Thursday, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44631916/wall-street-wipes-out-2-trillion-apple-eyes-worst-day-since-covid-19-pandemic-oil-plummets-whats-driving-markets-thursday">erasing $2 trillion in value</a>, as billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban warned consumers to stock up on everyday items before retailers use new tariffs to justify widespread price increases.
What Happened: &#8220;It&#8217;s not a bad idea to go to the local Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) or big box retailer and buy lots of consumables now,&#8221; the Cost Plus Drugs co-founder wrote on Bluesky. &#8220;From toothpaste to soap, anything you can find storage space for, buy before they have to replenish inventory. Even if made in the USA, they will jack up the price and blame it on tariffs.&#8221;
Cuban&#8217;s warning comes as President Donald Trump&#8216;s sweeping reciprocal tariffs sent shockwaves through global markets. The S&amp;P 500, tracked by SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), fell 4.93%. Technology giants were hit particularly hard, with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) down 9.25% and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) tumbling 8.98%.
The tariffs include a baseline 10% on all countries except Mexico and Canada, with higher rates for nations carrying trade deficits with the U.S. China&#8217;s tariff rate will jump to 54% from 20%. In comparison, Vietnam (46%), Indonesia (32%), Bangladesh (37%), and Cambodia (49%) also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44634737/retailers-brace-for-higher-costs-as-us-tariff-rates-soar-says-goldman-sachs">face significant increases</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04000954/Screenshot-2025-04-04-at-9.37.19%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-856737" /></figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44640503/bill-ackman-just-pick-up-the-phonesays-trump-will-reward-early-dealmakers-punish-tariff-retaliation">Bill Ackman: &#8216;Just Pick Up The Phone&#8217;—Says Trump Will Reward Early Dealmakers, Punish Foreign Tariff Retaliation</a>
Why It Matters: Evidence of economic stress appeared in the latest Institute for Supply Management report, which showed the Services Purchasing Managers&#8217; Index <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44629640/us-services-sector-slows-sharply-as-hiring-drops-tariff-pressures-mount">falling sharply to 50.9% in March</a>, down from 53.5% in February and barely above the 50% threshold separating expansion from contraction. The employment component plunged to 46.2% from 53.9%, with 19.2% of respondents planning to reduce staffing.
Goldman Sachs analyst Brooke Roach noted apparel, footwear, and home furnishings will <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44634737/retailers-brace-for-higher-costs-as-us-tariff-rates-soar-says-goldman-sachs">likely face the steepest cost</a> increases, with companies like RH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RH#NYSE">RH</a>) and Williams-Sonoma Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WSM#NYSE">WSM</a>) particularly vulnerable due to high sourcing exposure to Asia.
Billionaire investor Ray Dalio warned of &#8220;abrupt, unconventional changes&#8221; in global markets resulting from tariff escalation, predicting widespread stagflationary pressures as affected countries implement <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/04/44623855/billionaire-investor-ray-dalio-warns-of-abrupt-unconventional-changes-in-markets-heres-how-the-tariff-machine-affects-currency-monetary-and-fiscal-policies">retaliatory measures and central banks adjust monetary policy</a>.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Mark Cuban Warns Of Price Hikes, Says 'Buy Consumables Now,' Before Retailers Blame Tariffs

As global <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44631916/wall-street-wipes-out-2-trillion-apple-eyes-worst-day-since-covid-19-pandemic-oil-plummets-whats-driving-markets-thursday">markets shed $2 trillion in value</a> following President Donald Trump&#8216;s sweeping reciprocal tariffs, billionaire investor Bill Ackman offered pointed advice to foreign leaders.
What Happened: &#8220;My advice to foreign leaders is that if you have not already reached out to President Donald Trump, you need to do so immediately,&#8221; the Pershing Square Capital Management CEO wrote Thursday on X. &#8220;Trump is, at his core, a dealmaker who sees the world as a series of transactions.&#8221;
Ackman&#8217;s comments come as <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44631916/wall-street-wipes-out-2-trillion-apple-eyes-worst-day-since-covid-19-pandemic-oil-plummets-whats-driving-markets-thursday">financial markets experience their worst sell-off</a>, which echoes the COVID-19 pandemic-era routs. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) plunged 9.25%, while NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) tumbled 7.81% and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) dropped 8.98%.
The investor emphasized Trump&#8217;s negotiation approach: &#8220;Based on his track record to date with foreign governments, law firms, and universities, he is a tough, but fair negotiator. He loves to make deals and he loves to get things done promptly.&#8221;
<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">My advice to foreign leaders is that if you have not already reached out to President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>, you need to do so immediately. Trump is, at his core, a dealmaker who sees the world as a series of transactions. Based on his track record to date with foreign…
&mdash; Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillAckman/status/1907821384048275964?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44635144/fridays-jobs-report-could-be-make-or-break-moment-after-trumps-tariff-shock">Friday&#8217;s Jobs Report Could Be Make-Or-Break Moment After Trump&#8217;s Tariff Shock</a>
Why It Matters: Ackman&#8217;s perspective aligns with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who said that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44630931/commerce-secretary-lutnick-says-us-markets-will-perform-extremely-well-long-term-despite-trump-tariff-selloff">the market reaction would be short-lived</a>. &#8220;I expect most countries to start to really examine their trade policy towards the United States of America,&#8221; Lutnick said, suggesting America&#8217;s trading partners would ultimately adjust their policies.
Meanwhile, billionaire Ray Dalio warned of &#8220;abrupt, unconventional changes&#8221; in markets as tariffs generate revenue for the imposing country while decreasing global efficiency and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/44623855/ray-dalio-warns-of-abrupt-unconventional-changes-in-markets-heres-how-the-tariff-machine-affects-currency-monetary-and-fiscal-policies">creating stagflationary pressures</a>.
China has <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44620889/trumps-liberation-day-tariffs-roil-markets-as-china-slams-typical-unilateral-bullying-asian-markets-plunge">already threatened countermeasures</a>, calling Trump&#8217;s actions &#8220;typical unilateral bullying.&#8221; 
Ackman concluded his message with stark advice: &#8220;Countries that respond with additional tariffs on our goods will be severely punished. The carrot and the stick writ large, Big Boy style&#8230; Just pick up the phone. Call the President, and make a deal.&#8221;
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44632423/kevin-o-leary-says-by-33-you-should-have-100000-saved-somewhere-thats-the-age-when-its-really-time-to-start-getting-focused">Kevin O&#8217; Leary Says By 33, You Should Have $100,000 Saved &#8216;Somewhere&#8217; — &#8216;That&#8217;s the Age When it&#8217;s Really Time to Start Getting Focused</a>&#8216;</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.

Bill Ackman: 'Just Pick Up The Phone'—Says Trump Will Reward Early Dealmakers, Punish Foreign Tariff Retaliation

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Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
10:41 AMMar 24, 2025	CALL	$120.00	Aug 15, 2025	132	784	66	2703	29	SWEEP	BEARISH
01:25 PMMar 21, 2025	CALL	$130.00	Apr 17, 2025	12	8	240	11	72	TRADE	NEUTRAL
01:25 PMMar 21, 2025	CALL	$130.00	Mar 21, 2025	-15	99	240	12	835	TRADE	NEUTRAL
12:03 PMMar 21, 2025	CALL	$170.00	Mar 21, 2025	-15	141	240	5	2837	TRADE	NEUTRAL
12:03 PMMar 21, 2025	CALL	$170.00	Mar 28, 2025	-8	42	240	23	186	TRADE	NEUTRAL
12:40 PMMar 20, 2025	CALL	$200.00	Mar 28, 2025	-8	22551	3003	203	11127	SWEEP	BEARISH
02:54 PMMar 18, 2025	CALL	$135.00	Apr 17, 2025	12	200	100	142	141	SWEEP	NEUTRAL
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10:11 AMMar 18, 2025	PUT	$200.00	Apr 17, 2025	12	519	1551	3	18985	SWEEP	BEARISH