Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Sep 19 $130 Puts at the Bid: 1500 vs 2412 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Sep 19 $130 Puts at the Bid: 1500 @ $12.2 vs 2412 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$134.4

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan 16 $190 Calls Sweep (20) near the Ask: 1197 vs 2588 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan 16 $190 Calls Sweep (20) near the Ask: 1197 @ $7.798 vs 2588 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$135.165

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan 16 $175 Calls Sweep (14) near the Ask: 532 vs 3185 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan 16 $175 Calls Sweep (14) near the Ask: 532 @ $10.349 vs 3185 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$135.45

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Fri $70 Calls at the Bid: 127 vs 947 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Fri $70 Calls at the Bid: 127 @ $64.57 vs 947 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$134.66

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Apr 17 $135 Puts at the Bid: 1000 vs 2950 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Apr 17 $135 Puts at the Bid: 1000 @ $5.25 vs 2950 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$137.31

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Apr 17 $135 Calls at the Ask: 1000 vs 6135 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Apr 17 $135 Calls at the Ask: 1000 @ $8.99 vs 6135 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$138.55

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $150 Calls Sweep (56) near the Bid: 204 vs 18117 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $150 Calls Sweep (56) near the Bid: 204 @ $33.501 vs 18117 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$142.7138

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Sep 19 $110 Calls Sweep (6) near the Ask: 150 vs 3988 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Sep 19 $110 Calls Sweep (6) near the Ask: 150 @ $39.6 vs 3988 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$143.71

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: May 16 $125 Puts Sweep (10) near the Bid: 2500 vs 1976 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: May 16 $125 Puts Sweep (10) near the Bid: 2500 @ $3.051 vs 1976 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$143.31

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jun, 2027 $150 Puts Sweep (32) near the Bid: 150 vs 2 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jun, 2027 $150 Puts Sweep (32) near the Bid: 150 @ $34.151 vs 2 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$144.09

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jun 20 $160 Calls Sweep (37) near the Ask: 600 vs 9106 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jun 20 $160 Calls Sweep (37) near the Ask: 600 @ $8.5 vs 9106 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$144.2

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan 16 $175 Calls Sweep (5) near the Ask: 531 vs 3179 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan 16 $175 Calls Sweep (5) near the Ask: 531 @ $14.75 vs 3179 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$143.98

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $150 Calls Sweep (9) near the Bid: 150 vs 18514 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $150 Calls Sweep (9) near the Bid: 150 @ $34.83 vs 18514 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$144.03

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $150 Calls Sweep (12) near the Bid: 150 vs 18514 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $150 Calls Sweep (12) near the Bid: 150 @ $34.777 vs 18514 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$143.91

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $150 Calls Sweep (23) near the Bid: 200 vs 18514 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $150 Calls Sweep (23) near the Bid: 200 @ $34.707 vs 18514 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$143.85

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $150 Calls Sweep (4) near the Ask: 157 vs 18514 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $150 Calls Sweep (4) near the Ask: 157 @ $34.733 vs 18514 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$143.88

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Aug 15 $160 Calls Sweep (30) near the Ask: 517 vs 1753 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Aug 15 $160 Calls Sweep (30) near the Ask: 517 @ $11.75 vs 1753 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$143.69

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jun 20 $140 Calls Sweep (7) near the Bid: 400 vs 16563 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jun 20 $140 Calls Sweep (7) near the Bid: 400 @ $15.66 vs 16563 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$142.88

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Aug 15 $160 Calls Sweep (50) near the Ask: 381 vs 1342 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Aug 15 $160 Calls Sweep (50) near the Ask: 381 @ $13.901 vs 1342 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$148.02

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Apr 17 $140 Calls Sweep (10) near the Ask: 482 vs 18649 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Apr 17 $140 Calls Sweep (10) near the Ask: 482 @ $12.85 vs 18649 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$147.68

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jun 20 $120 Calls Sweep (17) near the Bid: 208 vs 16208 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jun 20 $120 Calls Sweep (17) near the Bid: 208 @ $32.4 vs 16208 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$147.81

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan 16 $120 Puts Sweep (18) near the Ask: 744 vs 3901 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jan 16 $120 Puts Sweep (18) near the Ask: 744 @ $9.5 vs 3901 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$148.03

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jun 20 $120 Calls Sweep (6) near the midpoint: 334 vs 16208 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jun 20 $120 Calls Sweep (6) near the midpoint: 334 @ $31.899 vs 16208 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$147.17

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jun 20 $120 Calls Sweep (8) near the Ask: 250 vs 16208 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] 

Alibaba Gr Hldgs Option Alert: Jun 20 $120 Calls Sweep (8) near the Ask: 250 @ $30.0 vs 16208 OI; Earnings 5/13 Before Open [est] Ref=$145.07

Alibaba Gr Hldgs (NYSE:BABA) Stock

ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING-SP ADR

Alibaba Gr Hldgs

Alibaba Group Holding

Alibaba is the world's largest online and mobile commerce company as measured by gross merchandise volume. It operates China's online marketplaces, including Taobao (consumer-to-consumer) and Tmall (business-to-consumer). The China commerce retail division is the most valuable cash flow-generating business at Alibaba. Additional revenue sources include China commerce wholesale, international commerce retail/wholesale, local consumer services, cloud computing, digital media and entertainment platforms, Cainiao logistics services, and innovation initiatives/other.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited American Depositary Shares each representing eight Ordinary share

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd

ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LTD by Alibaba Group Holding Limited

WIIM

BABA

BEKE

BILI

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

XPEV

YUMC

Shares of Chinese stocks are trading lower amid concerns of upcoming additional US tariffs on China.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday characterized <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44677506/china-resolutely-opposes-trumps-50-tariff-threat-vows-countermeasures-as-trade-tensions-jolt-markets">China&#8217;s retaliatory trade actions</a> as a &#8220;big mistake,&#8221; saying the nation is &#8220;playing with a losing hand&#8221; in the escalating tariff conflict with the United States. 
The Details: Bessent appeared on CNBC's Squawk Box where he <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/08/treasury-secretary-bessent-says-chinas-escalation-was-big-mistake-country-playing-with-losing-hand.html">addressed</a> China's recent comments that it will "fight to the end" in a trade war with the U.S. 
"I think it was a big mistake, this Chinese escalation, because they're playing with a pair of twos," Bessent said.
&nbsp;"What do we lose by the Chinese raising tariffs on us? We export one-fifth to them of what they export to us, so that is a losing hand for them," he added.&nbsp;
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44667862/oil-crashes-to-60-per-barrel-as-recession-fears-grow">Oil Crashes To $60 Per Barrel As Global Recession Fears Grow&nbsp;</a>
Bessent's comments come after President Donald Trump said he will slap another 50% charge on Chinese imports if the 34% retaliatory tariff on U.S. goods is not withdrawn.&nbsp;
Beijing responded on Monday with the following comments:&nbsp;
"The U.S. threat to escalate tariffs on China is a mistake on top of a mistake," the Commerce Ministry said in a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44677506/china-resolutely-opposes-trumps-50-tariff-threat-vows-countermeasures-as-trade-tensions-jolt-markets">statement translated</a> by CNBC. "China will never accept it. If the U.S. insists on its own way, China will fight to the end."
Mao Zhenhua, an economics professor at the University of Hong Kong, said that China's comments show the nation is "ready to act," as<a href="https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3305666/brace-impact-chinese-economist-warns-gloves-are-us-trade-war?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=cm&amp;utm_campaign=enlz-today_international&amp;utm_content=20250408&amp;tpcc=enlz-today_international&amp;UUID=69b4a47a-ff60-4b7a-b889-784cba25513c&amp;next_article_id=3305526&amp;article_id_list=3305666,3305526&amp;tc=4"> reported</a> by the South China Morning Post. 
"The probability for both sides to meet for talks or even a turnaround is very small," Mao added, warning all parties to "brace for impact".
What Else: Bessent also told CNBC that Japan is eager to negotiate on tariffs and the White House expects many other countries to come to the table as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;
"I think you are going to see some very large countries with large trade deficits come forward very quickly," Bessent said. "If they come to the table with solid proposals, I think we can end up with some good deals."
Markets React: All 3 major indexes opened Tuesday's session in the green as Wall Street felt some relief amid hope for tariff deals.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), tracking the S&amp;P 500, was up 3% at $519.79 and the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), tracking the Nasdaq 100 index, was up 3.3% at $437.66.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Some U.S.-listed Chinese stocks traded lower despite the broad market rally, including Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) and PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>).&nbsp;
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Image: Shutterstock

News

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Politics

Global

Tech

ETFs

Treasury Secretary Bessent Says China Holds 'Losing Hand' In Tariff Escalation

<ul>
<li>TSLA</li>
<li>NVDA</li>
<li>EU</li>
<li>AAPL</li>
<li>DIS</li>
<li>GOOGL</li>
<li>GLD</li>
<li>BABA</li>
<li>QQQ</li>
<li>JD</li>
</ul>
Data from <a href="https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment">https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment</a>
&nbsp;

Trading Ideas

AAPL

GOOGL

NVDA

TSLA

Top 10 Trending Stocks On WallStreetBets As Of April 8, 2025 (Via Swaggy Stocks)

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>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/11/25</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
<td>$40.7K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td>34.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/11/25</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$105.0K</td>
<td>3.3K</td>
<td>10.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NIO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$5.00</td>
<td>$55.5K</td>
<td>24.8K</td>
<td>10.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$64.4K</td>
<td>888</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NKE</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/11/25</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
<td>$29.0K</td>
<td>440</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GAP</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
<td>$35.2K</td>
<td>7.2K</td>
<td>317</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVNA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/11/25</td>
<td>$215.00</td>
<td>$129.3K</td>
<td>235</td>
<td>221</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EDU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$55.1K</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>161</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DKS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/11/25</td>
<td>$197.50</td>
<td>$26.8K</td>
<td>354</td>
<td>124</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LULU</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$25.7K</td>
<td>89</td>
<td>96</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 4 day(s) on April 11, 2025. This event was a transfer of 28 contract(s) at a $230.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.7K, with a price of $1455.0 per contract. There were 1174 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 34804 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BABA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on April 11, 2025. Parties traded 465 contract(s) at a $95.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $105.0K, with a price of $226.0 per contract. There were 3319 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 10201 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NIO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 74 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 300 contract(s) at a $5.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 41 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $55.5K, with a price of $185.0 per contract. There were 24857 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 10017 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 bullish sentiment. It expires in 10 day(s) on April 17, 2025. Parties traded 24 contract(s) at a $150.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $64.4K, with a price of $2685.0 per contract. There were 888 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1381 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NKE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 4 day(s) on April 11, 2025. This event was a transfer of 170 contract(s) at a $52.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.0K, with a price of $171.0 per contract. There were 440 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1290 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GAP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GAP#NYSE">GAP</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be neutral, expiring in 284 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 120 contract(s) at a $17.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.2K, with a price of $292.0 per contract. There were 7227 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 317 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 bearish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on April 11, 2025. Parties traded 30 contract(s) at a $215.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $129.3K, with a price of $4313.0 per contract. There were 235 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 221 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding EDU (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EDU#NYSE">EDU</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 39 day(s) on May 16, 2025. Parties traded 149 contract(s) at a $45.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $55.1K, with a price of $370.0 per contract. There were 15 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 161 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For DKS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKS#NYSE">DKS</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 4 day(s) on April 11, 2025. This event was a transfer of 112 contract(s) at a $197.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.8K, with a price of $240.0 per contract. There were 354 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 124 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For LULU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LULU#NASDAQ">LULU</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 102 day(s) on July 18, 2025. This event was a transfer of 52 contract(s) at a $175.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.7K, with a price of $495.0 per contract. There were 89 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 96 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

AMZN

CVNA

New Oriental Education & Technology Group

LULU

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

ABNB

ADNT

APEI

APTV

ATAT

BKNG

DADA

DECK

ELYS

EXPE

FATBB

GROV

HLLY

HSAI

HTHT

MELI

Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited - American Depositary Shares

MLCO

MULN

PSNYW

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Sony Group Corporation American Depositary Shares

SONY

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Shares of companies in the broader consumer discretionary sector are trading lower amid trade war escalations and President Trump's sweeping tariffs, which are leading to a decline in consumer confidence. Some economists also predict that households will experience higher costs of goods as a result of these policies.

The iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FXI#NASDAQ">FXI</a>), which tracks 50 of China's largest companies listed in Hong Kong, is trading lower by 4.6% to $31.22 during Monday&#8217;s session after President Donald Trump last week declared a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44621408/market-access-has-a-price-trump-unveils-list-of-tariffs-countries-targeted">national emergency</a> to impose sweeping tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
In response, China on Friday hit back with a <a 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">34% tariff</a> on all U.S. imports and export controls on rare earth minerals, further intensifying the economic clash between the world's two largest economies.
FXI, whose holdings include major players like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd &#8211; ADR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) and JD.Com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>), was hit particularly hard as investors priced in expectations of slowed growth, supply chain disruptions and retaliatory headwinds for Chinese exports.
Trump's emergency declaration also introduced a blanket 10% import tariff on all goods entering the U.S., with additional reciprocal tariffs targeting trade partners with large surpluses—China being the largest at $270 billion. 
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44665493/us-recession-countdown-has-begun-as-trump-tariffs-push-odds-to-45-goldman-sachs-warns">Analysts warn</a> that such aggressive moves could spark a global recession, and JPMorgan now sees a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/44645681/jpmorgan-raises-recession-risk-to-60-as-largest-us-tax-hike-in-60-years-hits-global-economy">60% probability</a> of one hitting this year. With China <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44621408/market-access-has-a-price-trump-unveils-list-of-tariffs-countries-targeted">labeled</a> a target for "unfair trade practices," FXI is bearing the brunt of market fears that Beijing's tech and manufacturing champions could suffer amid reduced global demand and deteriorating diplomatic ties.
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</ul>

Why iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI) Is Getting Hammered

China's&nbsp;DeepSeek, in collaboration with researchers from Tsinghua University, developed a technique to improve the reasoning capabilities of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/deepseek" rel="noreferrer noopener">large language models (LLMs)</a> that combines generative reward modeling (GRM) and self-principled critique tuning, SCMP <a target="_blank" href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3305259/deepseek-unveils-new-ai-reasoning-method-anticipation-its-next-gen-model-rises" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>, citing a paper published on Friday.
The dual approach aims to enable LLMs to deliver better and faster results to general queries.
Reportedly, the DeepSeek-GRM models outperformed existing methods, according to SCMP, who cited the researchers.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44653936/broadcom-and-marvell-poised-for-growth-as-nvidias-cpo-push-faces-delays-analyst-reveals" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rising Tide Of AI Is So Strong That Semiconductor Optical Industry Projects $30 Billion Total Addressable Market By 2029</a>
DeepSeek aimed to make the GRM models open source. The emergence of&nbsp;DeepSeek&nbsp;and claims of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44511372/alibaba-strikes-back-new-ai-model-takes-on-deepseek-amid-1-trillion-tech-shakeup" rel="noreferrer noopener">affordable AI models</a> fueled a $1 trillion market wipeout in the U.S. and a domestic price war, prompting Chinese Big Tech companies to roll out affordable AI models.
In March, DeepSeek said its upgraded V3 model offered&nbsp;enhanced reasoning capabilities, optimized front-end web development, and upgraded Chinese writing proficiency.
In February, it also&nbsp;open-sourced five of its code repositories. In late February, DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng participated in a&nbsp;symposium with tech entrepreneurs&nbsp;hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Chinese e-commerce juggernaut Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44625580/alibaba-steps-up-ai-game-with-qwen-3-challenging-deepseeks-low-cost-ai-success" rel="noreferrer noopener">plans to release</a> an upgraded version of its flagship&nbsp;AI model by April.
DeepSeek's claims prompted China's tech leaders to flood the market with affordable AI services.
OpenAI,&nbsp;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>)&nbsp;Google&nbsp;and&nbsp;Anthropic&nbsp;have similarly released new models.
Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) announced the release of its new Llama 4 artificial intelligence models, built on one of the world's most advanced large language models as <a target="_blank" href="https://ai.meta.com/blog/llama-4-multimodal-intelligence/" rel="noreferrer noopener">per the company</a>.
It is noteworthy that iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FXI#NYSE">FXI</a>) has gained 10% year-to-date, while iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) lost over 17%.
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</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

Asia

Media

GOOG

China's DeepSeek Teams Up With Tsinghua University To Raise AI Bar, Boost Reasoning Capabilities

GSX Techedu Inc. American Depositary Shares

GOTU

UXIN

Shares of US-listed Chinese companies are trading lower after President Trump last week imposed 34% tariffs on China. In Retaliation, China imposed a 34% tariff on US goods.

The past week was a whirlwind of AI-related news, with tech giants&nbsp;Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>),&nbsp;Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), and&nbsp;OpenAI&nbsp;making significant strides in the field. From AI roasting tech leaders to the unveiling of new AI models, the week was filled with exciting developments. Let&#8217;s dive into the top stories.
Microsoft&#8217;s AI Copilot Roasts Tech Leaders
In a humorous twist during Microsoft&#8217;s 50th-anniversary celebrations, the company&#8217;s AI assistant, Copilot, took the opportunity to roast tech leaders Bill Gates, Satya Nadella, and Steve Ballmer. The event was part of a special interview designed to celebrate Microsoft&#8217;s legacy.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44656079/bill-gates-satya-nadella-and-steve-ballmer-get-roasted-by-microsofts-ai-copilot-lets-spice-it-up">Read the full article here.</a>
Alibaba Challenges DeepSeek with Qwen 3
Chinese tech giant Alibaba plans to release an upgraded version of its flagship AI model, Qwen 3, by April. This move comes as China&#8217;s tech leaders are flooding the market with affordable AI services, following the success of a robust model by domestic AI startup, DeepSeek.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44625580/alibaba-steps-up-ai-game-with-qwen-3-challenging-deepseeks-low-cost-ai-success">Read the full article here.</a>
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/03/44402199/elon-musks-first-ex-wife-says-she-sucked-at-being-his-trophy-wife-and-recalls-him-saying-if-you-were-my-employee-i-would-fire-you" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk&#8217;s First Ex-Wife Says She &#8216;Sucked&#8217; At Being His Trophy Wife And Recalls Him Saying: &#8216;If You Were My Employee, I Would Fire You&#8217; &#8211; Benzinga</a>
Peter Thiel-Backed Sentient Takes Aim at Closed AI Systems
Sentient, a San Francisco-based AI development lab backed by Peter Thiel&#8217;s Founder's Fund, has unveiled its open-source AI search framework. The company positions its work as a response to China&#8217;s DeepSeek, claiming that its Open Deep Search (ODS) framework outperforms major closed-source competitors.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/04/44620834/peter-thiel-backed-nonprofit-sentient-aims-to-be-americas-deepseek-takes-aim-at-closed-ai-systems">Read the full article here.</a>
Mark Cuban Sees AI as a Growth Engine
Billionaire investor Mark Cuban dismisses concerns that artificial intelligence will drive deflation. Instead, he believes that AI will be a massive driver of innovation and productivity, dubbing it the &#8220;greatest growth and productivity engine ever.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44600269/mark-cuban-argues-ais-new-sht-will-drive-growth-not-deflation">Read the full article here.</a>
OpenAI Plans to Release Open-Weight AI Model
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced plans to release a new open-weight language model with reasoning capabilities in the coming months. This move may have been influenced by the success of DeepSeek's R1 model and the growing popularity of Meta Platforms, Inc.'s Llama models.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44577187/sam-altman-led-openai-releases-open-weight-ai-model-with-reasoning-capabilities-as-deepseek-and-meta-taste-success">Read the full article here.</a>
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44645172/china-retaliates-with-34-tariff-on-all-us-imports-urges-trump-to-immediately-cancel-the-tariffs-calls-for-ne" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China Retaliates With 34% Tariff On All US Imports, Urges Trump To Immediately Cancel The Tariffs, Calls For Negotiation</a>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/Rounak-Jain" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rounak Jain</a>

MSFT

AI Takes Center Stage With Microsoft, Alibaba's Qwen 3, And OpenAI's Open-Weight AI Model: This Week In AI

Charlie Munger wasn't just Warren Buffett's right-hand man—Buffett once called him the "architect of Berkshire Hathaway." He was a machine of rational thinking, known for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44146342/charlie-munger-said-he-was-passionate-about-getting-rich-but-not-because-i-wanted-ferraris-i-wanted-the-independence">cutting through Wall Street hype</a> with a few words sharper than most analysts' full reports. But even the sharpest minds miss the mark now and then.
In 2021, Munger made a bold bet on Alibaba (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>). He didn't whisper it either—he went all in through the Daily Journal Corporation, where he served as chairman, snapping up 165,000 shares of the Chinese tech giant. As the price dropped, he doubled down, building the position to over 600,000 shares—worth about $72 million and nearly 30% of the portfolio.
Then came the U-turn.
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The same man who had praised Alibaba's strategic positioning in China's internet ecosystem called the move "one of the worst mistakes I ever made." At the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/9VVPO3KWj3A?si=f8EWUfxwW4Gj27K0">Daily Journal's 2023 annual meeting</a>, Munger admitted:
"I got charmed by the idea of their position in the Chinese internet; I didn't stop to realize they're still a goddamn retailer. It's going to be a competitive business, the internet — it's not going to be a cakewalk for everybody."
He also added, "I keep rubbing my own nose in my own mistakes like I'm doing now because I think it's good for myself."
Alibaba's stock had been battered by regulatory crackdowns, founder Jack Ma's disappearing act, and a broader market chill toward Chinese companies. Munger criticized Ma directly, <a href="https://youtu.be/NZzv2GJxRaw?si=YzvigfQEJ1CXEtkK">calling him "very arrogant"</a> for publicly taking shots at Chinese regulators.
Trending: The secret weapon in billionaire investor portfolios that you almost certainly don't own yet. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">See which asset class has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 (1995-2024) – and with near-zero correlation.</a>
At that point, it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44238467/warren-buffett-shares-biggest-investing-mistakes-433m-deal-that-cost-berkshire-billions-and-trillion-dollar-tech-stocks-he-missed">seemed like a rare Munger misfire</a>. The stock had nearly halved, and Daily Journal started trimming its stake. By Q1 2024, the holding was down to 195,000 shares—worth just $16.5 million at the time.
But then something happened.
Since Munger's death in November 2023, Alibaba stock has rebounded—hard. It's up 74% <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/charlie-munger-alibaba-stock-ma-mistake-china-tech-byd-buffett-2025-3">according to Business Insider</a>, driven by surprisingly strong earnings and a push into artificial intelligence. In February, Alibaba blew past analyst expectations, <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250219393026/en/Alibaba-Group-Announces-December-Quarter-2024-Results">reporting $38.5 billion in revenue</a> and EPS of $2.93. AI products racked up triple-digit growth for six quarters in a row.
So was it really one of the worst mistakes of his investing career?
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/are-you-rich">Are you rich?</a> Here&#8217;s what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy.
Maybe not. The rebound doesn't erase the pain of mistiming or the political risks Munger flagged. But the story of Alibaba now reads less like a disaster and more like a case of brutal short-term volatility that clouded long-term potential.
The Daily Journal still holds its smaller stake. Whether that holding grows again remains to be seen—but it's clear that what looked like a major blunder may have just needed more time.
Munger often said, "<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44065682/charlie-munger-shared-advice-for-the-young-but-it-applies-to-all-if-youve-got-anything-you-really-want-to-do-dont-wait-until-youre-93">All I want to know is where I'm going to die, so I'll never go there</a>." Turns out, even he couldn't always predict which bets would live and which would come roaring back from the grave.
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Personal Finance

Charlie Munger Called Alibaba 'One of the Worst Mistakes I Ever Made'—Now It's Up 74% Since His Death, and That 'Goddamn Retailer' Is Surging

Alibaba Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) shares are trading lower Friday after China announced a 34% tariff on all goods imported from the U.S.,<a 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"> effective April 10. </a>
What To Know: China's finance ministry said <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44620423/trumps-sweeping-tariffs-could-cost-us-20-trillion-crash-markets-warn-economists-monstrously-destructive">Trump&#8217;s recent tariffs</a> violate international trade rules and demanded the tariffs be canceled immediately. It called the U.S. measures unilateral and harmful to both countries' economies and global supply chains.
The announcement triggered a selloff in Chinese stocks trading in the U.S., with Alibaba among the hardest hit. The company is sensitive to cross-border tensions due to its international business exposure.
China imposed export restrictions on 16 U.S. companies, revoked export licenses for six others, and added 11 firms to its unreliable entities list, including drone maker Skydio. It also announced tighter controls on rare earth mineral exports.
The escalation follows comments from President Donald Trump, who said tariffs give the U.S. leverage and hinted they could be used in negotiations over TikTok and a BlackRock deal involving Chinese ports. Trump suggested China would respond to pressure to secure approvals on those issues.
Price Action: Alibaba shares were down 11.6% at $114.34 at the time of writing, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?new_user=False&amp;backend=google-oauth2">Benzinga Pro.</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><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="1024" height="531" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04111832/Screenshot-2025-04-04-at-11.18.09-1024x531.png" alt="" class="wp-image-857789" style="width:453px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04111832/Screenshot-2025-04-04-at-11.18.09-1024x531.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04111832/Screenshot-2025-04-04-at-11.18.09-300x156.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04111832/Screenshot-2025-04-04-at-11.18.09-768x399.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04111832/Screenshot-2025-04-04-at-11.18.09.png 1534w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
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Image Via Shutterstock.

Movers

Alibaba Shares Are Down Today: What's Going On?

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.

CPNG

LAZR

LCID

RIVN

SONO

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

Shares of US-listed Chinese companies are trading lower after President Trump imposed 34% tariffs on China. In Retaliation, China imposed a 34% tariff on US goods.

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

Government

Regulations

Short Sellers

Emerging Markets

BIDU

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

U.S. stock futures were lower this morning, with the Dow futures falling more than 1,200 points on Friday.
Shares of Guess?, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GES#NYSE">GES</a>) fell sharply in today's pre-market trading after the company reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ges">fourth-quarter financial results.</a>
Guess? reported upbeat results for its fourth quarter and named Alberto Toni as CFO. The company said it sees FY26 revenue to increase 3.9% – 6.2% in US Dollars and adjusted EPS of $1.32 – $1.76.
Guess shares dipped 3% to $9.74 in the pre-market trading session.
Here are some other stocks moving lower in pre-market trading.
<ul>
<li>MeridianLink, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MLNK#NYSE">MLNK</a>) shares tumbled 20.5% to $13.99 in pre-market trading after falling 4% on Thursday.</li>
<li>Newsmax, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NMAX#NYSE">NMAX</a>) shares fell 19.2% to $50.18 in pre-market trading after gaining 18% on Thursday.</li>
<li>Stevanato Group S.p.A. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STVN#NYSE">STVN</a>) shares dipped 18.8% to $16.30 in pre-market trading.</li>
<li>Insteel Industries, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IIIN#NYSE">IIIN</a>) shares fell 18.3% to $20.11 in pre-market trading. Insteel Industries will announce its second quarter 2025 earnings on Thursday, April 17.</li>
<li>Global Industrial Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIC#NYSE">GIC</a>) declined 17.3% to $18.00 in today's pre-market trading after dipping 5% in Thursday.</li>
<li>Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADPT#NASDAQ">ADPT</a>) dipped 16.7% to $6.16 in pre-market trading after dipping 7% on Thursday.</li>
<li>Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HRTG#NYSE">HRTG</a>) shares dipped 16.1% to $13.11 in pre-market trading.</li>
<li>Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MFG#NYSE">MFG</a>) shares fell 14.3% to $4.25 in pre-market trading.</li>
<li>Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DB#NYSE">DB</a>) dipped 11.5% to $20.25 in pre-market trading.</li>
<li>Barclays PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BCS#NYSE">BCS</a>) shares fell 11.5% to $12.67 in pre-market trading  after dipping 9% on Thursday.</li>
<li>Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) declined 9.3% to $117.30 in pre-market trading.</li>
<li>JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>) dipped 8.8% to $36.41 in pre-market trading.</li>
<li>Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) fell 4.8% to $254.40 in pre-market trading. Tesla shares fell over 5% on Thursday after the company reported weaker-than-expected performance for the first quarter of 2025.</li>
<li>NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) fell 3.8% to $97.98 in pre-market trading after dipping around 8% on Thursday.</li>
</ul>
Now Read This: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44641655/guess-simulations-plus-and-3-stocks-to-watch-heading-into-friday">Guess, Simulations Plus And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Friday</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

ADPT

HRTG

IIIN

MLNK

NMAX

STVN

Guess, Tesla, Nvidia And Other Big Stocks Moving Lower In Friday's Pre-Market Session

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 often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<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>04/04/25</td>
<td>$270.00</td>
<td>$26.8K</td>
<td>9.5K</td>
<td>84.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$187.50</td>
<td>$45.3K</td>
<td>4.8K</td>
<td>12.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$107.5K</td>
<td>5.7K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$25.4K</td>
<td>2.8K</td>
<td>956</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GME</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$146.6K</td>
<td>87</td>
<td>540</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WYNN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$1.0 million</td>
<td>819</td>
<td>461</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RH</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$34.7K</td>
<td>350</td>
<td>303</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
<td>$146.2K</td>
<td>559</td>
<td>254</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MELI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$1930.00</td>
<td>$26.2K</td>
<td>28</td>
<td>22</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed 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 1 day(s) on April 4, 2025. Parties traded 49 contract(s) at a $270.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 14 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.8K, with a price of $550.0 per contract. There were 9542 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 84887 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 1 day(s) on April 4, 2025. This event was a transfer of 498 contract(s) at a $187.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.3K, with a price of $91.0 per contract. There were 4896 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 12545 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GT#NASDAQ">GT</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 288 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 500 contract(s) at a $10.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $107.5K, with a price of $215.0 per contract. There were 5717 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3060 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SBUX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 169 day(s) on September 19, 2025. Parties traded 56 contract(s) at a $80.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.4K, with a price of $455.0 per contract. There were 2847 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 956 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GME (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 288 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 23 contract(s) at a $85.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $146.6K, with a price of $6375.0 per contract. There were 87 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 540 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For WYNN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WYNN#NASDAQ">WYNN</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 78 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 461 contract(s) at a $95.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $1.0 million, with a price of $2183.0 per contract. There were 819 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 461 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For RH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RH#NYSE">RH</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 1 day(s) on April 4, 2025. This event was a transfer of 5 contract(s) at a $220.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.7K, with a price of $6949.0 per contract. There were 350 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 303 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 put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 260 day(s) on December 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 74 contract(s) at a $135.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 19 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $146.2K, with a price of $1980.0 per contract. There were 559 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 254 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MELI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MELI#NASDAQ">MELI</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 1 day(s) on April 4, 2025. This event was a transfer of 20 contract(s) at a $1930.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.2K, with a price of $1310.0 per contract. There were 28 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 22 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 about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

SBUX

9 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

VIPS

Shares of US-listed Chinese companies are trading lower as markets react to President Trump's announcement of sweeping tariffs.

Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) just pulled back the curtain on its cloud ambitions at OCI Day, giving investors a close-up look at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">its AI-powered</a> data center expansion.
While AI demand continues to surge, JPMorgan analyst Mark R. Murphy remains cautious, maintaining a Neutral stance on Oracle stock with a $135 price target, below its current trading level of $145.86.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">AI Demand: Booming, But Is It Enough?</h1>
Oracle is doubling down on its AI infrastructure, expanding its customer-facing regions from 69 to 101 in the past year. But while the company insists demand is outpacing supply, Murphy notes that this messaging feels less urgent than before. 
Still, Oracle's investment in AI data centers suggests confidence in sustained demand, despite growing chatter about an "overbuild" or even an AI bubble.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44613084/amazon-makes-surprise-bid-for-tiktok-amid-us-ban-threat-report">Amazon&#8217;s Surprise Bid For TikTok As U.S. Ban Threat Looms</a>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Training Vs. Inferencing: Oracle Sees No Difference</h1>
One of the most debated topics in AI infrastructure is the difference between training (building models) and inferencing (running models). While Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) leans heavily on inferencing for steady revenue, Oracle argues that for major customers, both processes look the same. This implies a more persistent AI compute need than skeptics might believe, said Murphy.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Bubble Concerns? Oracle Hedging Its Bets</h1>
With Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella warning of an AI "overbuild" and Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABAF#NYSE">BABAF</a>) chairman hinting at a potential bubble, Oracle's response was refreshingly pragmatic, Murphy noted.
Oracle Executive Vice President Clay Magouyrk dodged long-term predictions, instead emphasizing infrastructure flexibility — stating Oracle could repurpose its GPUs for general computing or storage if AI demand wanes. This adaptability could prove crucial if the AI hype cycle falters.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Oracle's Data Center Push: Big, But Not The Biggest</h1>
The event took place at Oracle's Novva facility in Utah, a massive operation but one dwarfed by neighboring Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Boeing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) data centers.
Oracle also showcased plans for an even larger facility in Abilene, Texas, suggesting its AI cloud ambitions are just getting started.
Murphy sees Oracle's AI-driven cloud expansion as a long-term play, but acknowledges near-term challenges — particularly hefty capital expenditures cutting into free cash flow.
While Oracle's growth trajectory is promising, it still faces hurdles in keeping up with hyperscaler giants. For now, the AI gold rush continues — but not without risks.
ORCL Price Action: Oracle stock is down 5.41% at $137.97 Thursday morning at publication.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44601400/nvidia-rival-amd-completes-4-9b-acquisition-of-zt-systems-to-strengthen-ai-and-data-center-dominance">Nvidia Rival AMD Completes $4.9B Acquisition Of ZT Systems To Strengthen AI And Data Center Dominance</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Long Ideas

Analyst Ratings

BABAF

ORCL

Oracle's AI Bet: Overbuilt Or Future-Proof? Analyst Weighs In

President Donald Trump rocked global markets on Wednesday with tougher-than-anticipated tariff announcements as part of his plan to reset U.S. trade policy. The measures include a 34% tariff on imports from China, raising the total duties on Chinese goods to 54% and prompting swift <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/44623604/us-stock-likely-to-open-lower-following-trumps-tariffs-worse-than-the-worst-case-scenario-says-analyst">criticism from Beijing.</a>
The Details: Just hours after President Trump's tariff announcement, China&#8217;s Ministry of Commerce issued a statement that it &#8220;firmly opposes&#8221; the tariffs and &#8220;will resolutely take countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests,&#8221;<a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade-war/China-blasts-Trump-s-bullying-tariffs-vows-countermeasures?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=NA_newsletter&amp;utm_content=article_link&amp;del_type=1&amp;pub_date=20250403190000&amp;seq_num=3&amp;si=79447"> per </a>Nikkei Asia.&nbsp;
Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44517885/trump-slaps-25-tariffs-on-autos-what-it-means-for-your-next-car-purchase"> Trump Slaps 25% Tariffs On Autos: What It Means For Your Next Car Purchase</a>&nbsp;
"The so-called &#8216;reciprocal tariffs,&#8217; which are based on subjective and unilateral assessments by the United States, are not in line with the rules of international trade, seriously jeopardize the legitimate rights and interests of the parties concerned, and are typical of unilateral bullying,&#8221; the ministry added.&nbsp;
The Ministry of Commerce did not provide specifics on what "countermeasures" it has planned, but experts agree retaliatory measures are likely.&nbsp;
Expert Ideas: "We think the Chinese government is likely to retaliate with some targeted tariffs on US products as well as non-tariff measures like export controls," Goldman analyst Andrew Tilton wrote, <a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/beijing-slams-trumps-unilateral-bullying-tariffs-signals-retaliatory-action">per</a> ZeroHedge.&nbsp;
The analyst also noted he expects China's policymakers to resist significant currency depreciation and thinks Beijing will step up easing measures to offset the drag from higher tariffs.
"Beijing has purposefully kept more in reserve, both in terms of domestic stimulus and retaliatory measures, in case it needs to respond more forcefully,&#8221; Ruby Osman, a China expert at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, told Reuters.&nbsp;
Stocks To Watch: Shares of U.S.-listed Chinese companies were trading lower Thursday morning amid global market declines with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) down 3.19% and JD.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>) down 5.26%. 
The iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FXI#NYSE">FXI</a>), tracking the FTSE China 50 Index, was down 1.86% and the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KWEB#NYSE">KWEB</a>), focusing on Chinese internet companies, was down 2.63%.&nbsp;
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Photo: Shutterstock/Bigc Studio

Economics

KWEB

Trump's Tariffs Prompt China To Vow 'Countermeasures': Experts See Retaliation Likely

Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>)&nbsp;plans to release Qwen 3, an upgraded version of its flagship <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/alibaba" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI model, by April</a>.
China&#8217;s tech leaders have flooded the market with affordable AI services since a domestic AI startup, DeepSeek,&nbsp;showcased a robust model that it said cost just several million dollars to build, Bloomberg <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-01/alibaba-preparing-for-flagship-ai-model-release-as-soon-as-april?sref=TBDibEcD" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;
OpenAI, 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>) Google and Anthropic have similarly released new models.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/03/44561764/alibabas-march-expo-sparks-27-jump-in-us-small-business-orders" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alibaba&#8217;s March Expo Sparks 27% Jump In US Small Business Orders</a>
The wave of new Asian models is questioning the sustainability of the high-end U.S. offerings from &nbsp;OpenAI,&nbsp;Google, and&nbsp;Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>).
Last week, Alibaba launched a new model in its Qwen 2.5 series that can process text, pictures, audio, and video and run directly on mobile phones and laptops. It showcased a new version of the AI assistant Quark app in March.
After grappling with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44536478/alibabas-ai-driven-rally-signals-china-techs-revival-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">domestic regulatory crackdowns</a>, leadership reshuffles, and collapsing market confidence, Alibaba stock noted a turnaround. A rallying call from co-founder Jack Ma in late 2023 helped ignite a turnaround that has pushed the company&#8217;s U.S.-listed shares up 56% year-to-date, adding more than $100 billion to its valuation.
Under the leadership of Eddie Wu and Joe Tsai, the company has since leaned into artificial intelligence.
The return of Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma to public view, particularly during a meeting with President Xi Jinping in February, signaled improved relations between Alibaba and China&#8217;s leadership.
Dan Ives&nbsp;of Wedbush Securities called Alibaba the &#8220;best way to play China tech,&#8221; citing its strong positioning in AI and cloud.
Price Action: BABA stock is down 3.15% at $125.70 premarket at last check Wednesday.
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Photo by jackpress via Shutterstock

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Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
01:10 PMMar 24, 2025	PUT	$130.00	Sep 19, 2025	163	1548	1500	64	2412	TRADE	BULLISH
11:51 AMMar 21, 2025	CALL	$190.00	Jan 16, 2026	282	1307	1197	51	2588	SWEEP	BULLISH
11:47 AMMar 21, 2025	CALL	$175.00	Jan 16, 2026	282	537	532	17	3185	SWEEP	BULLISH
10:06 AMMar 21, 2025	CALL	$70.00	Mar 21, 2025	-19	130	127	14	947	TRADE	BEARISH
12:05 PMMar 20, 2025	PUT	$135.00	Apr 17, 2025	8	1625	1000	55	2950	TRADE	BULLISH
09:51 AMMar 20, 2025	CALL	$135.00	Apr 17, 2025	8	102	1000	2	6135	TRADE	BULLISH
01:14 PMMar 19, 2025	CALL	$150.00	Jan 15, 2027	646	279	204	2	18117	SWEEP	BEARISH
12:48 PMMar 19, 2025	CALL	$110.00	Sep 19, 2025	163	151	150	4	3988	SWEEP	BULLISH
12:35 PMMar 19, 2025	PUT	$125.00	May 16, 2025	37	2539	2500	128	1976	SWEEP	BULLISH
03:04 PMMar 18, 2025	PUT	$150.00	Jun 17, 2027	799	130	150	6500	2	SWEEP	BULLISH
03:03 PMMar 18, 2025	CALL	$160.00	Jun 20, 2025	72	843	600	9	9106	SWEEP	BULLISH
12:23 PMMar 18, 2025	CALL	$175.00	Jan 16, 2026	282	574	531	18	3179	SWEEP	BULLISH
12:15 PMMar 18, 2025	CALL	$150.00	Jan 15, 2027	646	906	150	5	18514	SWEEP	BEARISH
12:14 PMMar 18, 2025	CALL	$150.00	Jan 15, 2027	646	756	150	4	18514	SWEEP	BEARISH
12:13 PMMar 18, 2025	CALL	$150.00	Jan 15, 2027	646	406	200	2	18514	SWEEP	BEARISH
12:12 PMMar 18, 2025	CALL	$150.00	Jan 15, 2027	646	206	157	1	18514	SWEEP	BULLISH
11:21 AMMar 18, 2025	CALL	$160.00	Aug 15, 2025	128	525	517	30	1753	SWEEP	BULLISH
09:59 AMMar 18, 2025	CALL	$140.00	Jun 20, 2025	72	1618	400	10	16563	SWEEP	BEARISH
03:38 PMMar 17, 2025	CALL	$160.00	Aug 15, 2025	128	468	381	35	1342	SWEEP	BULLISH
02:38 PMMar 17, 2025	CALL	$140.00	Apr 17, 2025	8	5614	482	30	18649	SWEEP	BULLISH
02:21 PMMar 17, 2025	CALL	$120.00	Jun 20, 2025	72	3494	208	22	16208	SWEEP	BEARISH
11:53 AMMar 17, 2025	PUT	$120.00	Jan 16, 2026	282	754	744	19	3901	SWEEP	BEARISH
11:40 AMMar 17, 2025	CALL	$120.00	Jun 20, 2025	72	2351	334	15	16208	SWEEP	NEUTRAL
10:09 AMMar 17, 2025	CALL	$120.00	Jun 20, 2025	72	1309	250	8	16208	SWEEP	BULLISH