Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) scripted history in 2024, not only breaking the long-held record of $69,000 but also hitting the magical $100,000 milestone.&nbsp;



A slew of crucial developments occurred throughout the year, providing strong impetus to the apex cryptocurrency.&nbsp;



With the New Year knocking on our doorsteps, let's look back at some of the most pivotal bullish triggers for Bitcoin in 2024.



Trump Presidency: The electoral triumph of Donald Trump, who aggressively marketed himself as a cryptocurrency-friendly candidate during the campaign, proved to be the biggest positive driver for Bitcoin.



Since the elections, the leading cryptocurrency has surged 41%, hitting a peak of $108,000.&nbsp;



Trump pledged to establish a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42505162/trump-reportedly-considering-executive-order-to-establish-strategic-bitcoin-reserve">national Bitcoin reserve</a> on the campaign trail, and reports suggested he might pass an<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42505162/trump-reportedly-considering-executive-order-to-establish-strategic-bitcoin-reserve"> executive order</a> to establish one. 



He also appointed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42356067/venture-capitalist-david-sacks-appointed-as-white-house-ai-crypto-czar-by-trump">pro-cryptocurrency venture capitalist</a> David Sacks as the first-ever "White House A.I. &amp; Crypto Czar,&#8221; signaling a commitment to fulfill his election promises. 



Demand from Bitcoin ETFs: The successful launch of the first-ever U.S. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/01/36603461/bitcoin-etf-launch-shatters-records-attracts-over-4-billion-biggest-day-one-splash-in-etf-">exchange-traded funds that track the price of Bitcoin</a> in early 2024 set the stage for broader institutional adoption of the cryptocurrency.



Since listing, the ETFs have seen net inflows of nearly $36 billion, with over $2 billion in transactions recorded as of Dec. 26, <a href="https://sosovalue.com/assets/etf/us-btc-spot">according </a>to SoSo Value.&nbsp;



BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBIT#NASDAQ">IBIT</a>) emerged as the most successful fund, holding assets worth over $52 billion.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42696957/all-vitalik-buterin-wanted-for-xmas-was-a-hippopotamus-ethereum-co-founder-is-now-the-adoptive-father-of-viral-sensation-moo-deng">All Vitalik Buterin Wanted For Xmas Was A Hippopotamus — Ethereum Co-Founder Is Now The Adoptive Father Of Viral Sensation Moo Deng</a>



Monetary Policy Easing: The Federal Reserve delighted <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/09/40926026/federal-reserve-delivers-bold-0-5-rate-cut-signals-further-easing-ahead">risk-on markets by enacting a 0.5% interest rate cut</a> in September, the first in over four years. The bold reduction was followed by a more modest 25-basis-point cut in the successive months.



A drop in interest rates typically increases liquidity and borrowing power, leading to higher bets for stocks and cryptocurrencies, which are perceived to be risky investments.



Bitcoin's Halving Event: The quadrennial <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/what-is-bitcoin-halving">event took place in April</a>, further squeezing the supply of an asset with deflationary characteristics.



The event slashed the mining reward after each successful block validation from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC.&nbsp;



Previous instances of halving were followed by significant gains in Bitcoin. Since it's a known cyclical event, some experts argue that the halving is already priced in and there is no real expectation of Bitcoin reacting in a certain way after the event.



Read Next:&nbsp;



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42697066/vivek-ramaswamys-strive-applies-for-bitcoin-bond-etf-that-will-track-microstrategys-convertible-securities-market">Vivek Ramaswamy&#8217;s Strive Applies For &#8216;Bitcoin Bond&#8217; ETF That Tracks MicroStrategy&#8217;s Convertible Securities Market</a></li>
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IBIT

From Trump's Win To Debut Of Spot ETFs: These Were The Biggest Bullish Catalysts For Bitcoin In 2024

Veteran Wall Street investor Ed Yardeni is doubling down on one of the Street's most optimistic forecasts, projecting the S&amp;P 500 to hit 7,000 by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">the end of 2025. </a>



In a Friday newsletter, Yardeni reinforced his bullish outlook, positioning himself at the forefront of high-stakes predictions for the index's 2025 gains.



&#8220;We&#8217;ve been bullish on the stock market since October 2022. We remain bullish, targeting 7000 on the S&amp;P 500 by the end of next year. That puts us near the head of the pack,&#8221; he said. 



Oppenheimer sets its sights on an even loftier 7,100, while major investment bank firms, including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley, hover around 6,500.



But will the market's stars align or are we looking at overly rosy predictions?



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top 10 Wall Street&#8217;s 2025 Year-End S&amp;P 500 Predictions</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>Oppenheimer</td><td>7,100</td></tr><tr><td>Wells Fargo</td><td>7,007</td></tr><tr><td>Yardeni Research</td><td>7,000</td></tr><tr><td>Deutsche Bank</td><td>7,000</td></tr><tr><td>Societe Generale</td><td>6,750</td></tr><tr><td>BMO</td><td>6,700</td></tr><tr><td>HSBC</td><td>6,700</td></tr><tr><td>Bank of America</td><td>6,666</td></tr><tr><td>Scotiabank</td><td>6,650</td></tr><tr><td>Barclays</td><td>6,660</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Yardeni Research, as of Dec. 27, 2024</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Yardeni's Roaring 2020s Scenario</h3>



Yardeni's optimism stems from a &#8220;Roaring 2020s&#8221; scenario fueled by productivity gains, GDP growth of 3.0%-3.5%, and inflation cooling near 2.5%.



Earlier in November, he issued a bold prediction: the S&amp;P 500 – as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) – could climb to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/41917731/wall-street-veteran-predicts-sp-500-to-hit-10000-by-2029-roaring-2020s">10,000 by the end of the decade</a>, buoyed by Donald Trump&#8216;s return to the presidency.



"We believe Trump 2.0 represents a major regime change that&#8217;s bullish for the economy and stocks," Yardeni said. 



Hr also anticipated a significant boost to corporate profit margins, driven by the proposed reduction in the corporate tax rate from 21% to 15%, coupled with tax breaks on individual income from tips, overtime and Social Security.



While much of the recent earnings growth has been dominated by the tech sector's "Magnificent 7," Yardeni foresees a broader rally on the horizon. 



"We expect to see a broadening of the companies and industries for which analysts raise their sights in 2025," he said.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Earnings: The Backbone Of The Rally</h3>



Yardeni forecasts operating earnings per share (EPS) for the S&amp;P 500 to hit $285 in 2025 &#8211; an 18.8% year-over-year jump, far above the Street&#8217;s consensus of $270. 



&#8220;We're leading the pack on EPS outlook," Yardeni stated, attributing the growth to a record profit margin of 13.9% and rising revenues per share, which are projected to climb 5.1% to $2,050.



Wall Street analysts expect robust earnings growth of 14.3% for 2025, up from the estimated 10% for 2024. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sector Winners And Losers: Tech Takes Retains The Crown</h3>



Tech continues to dominate, with the Information Technology sector predicted to post EPS growth of 21.7% in 2025, up from 20.4% in 2024, according to consensus estimates. 



Analysts also expect a rebound in Health Care, with EPS growth accelerating from 5.0% this year to 20.1% in 2025. Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology are key drivers, with EPS expected to soar 33.1% and 30.9%, respectively.



The Materials sector is gearing up for a strong rebound, expected to shift from an 8.2% EPS decline in 2024 to an impressive 18.3% growth in 2025. 



Similarly, Industrials are set to thrive, fueled by Boeing's return to profitability and surging growth in key industries such as Copper, projected to rise by 37.6%, Commodity Chemicals by 33.1% and Construction Materials by 24.8%.



Read now: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42658817/5-semiconductor-stocks-wall-street-analysts-predict-could-soar-in-2025">5 Semiconductor Stocks Wall Street Analysts Predict Could Soar In 2025</a></li>
</ul>



Image generated using AI Via Midjourney

Analyst Color

Biotech

Large Cap

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Health Care

Price Target

Markets

Tech

ETFs

Veteran Investor Bets Big On S&P 500 Hitting 7,000 By End Of 2025: These Sectors Could Lead The Charge

The past week has seen significant developments in the tech industry, with AI at the forefront. OpenAI announced its transition to a for-profit entity, President-elect Trump appointed a new senior AI advisor, and Google faced intense scrutiny following the release of ChatGPT. Here&#8217;s a quick recap of the top stories.



OpenAI&#8217;s For-Profit Transition



Microsoft Corp.-backed&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) OpenAI has revealed its plans to evolve into a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation (PBC). The company aims to balance shareholder and stakeholder interests while maintaining its public benefit mission. The transition is part of OpenAI&#8217;s mission to advance artificial general intelligence (AGI) for the benefit of all humanity.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42712683/openai-lays-out-its-for-profit-transition-plans-says-it-must-evolve-to-advance-its-agi-mission">Read the full article here.</a>



Trump&#8217;s New AI Advisor



President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Sriram Krishnan, a former general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, as senior policy advisor for AI. Krishnan will work closely with David Sacks, recently named Trump&#8217;s "AI and crypto czar." The move is part of Trump&#8217;s efforts to ensure America&#8217;s technological dominance and foster scientific breakthroughs.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42639812/trump-taps-sriram-krishnan-as-senior-ai-advisor-to-work-closely-with-ai-and-crypto-czar-david-sacks">Read the full article here.</a>



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42664762/after-investing-nearly-14-billion-in-openai-microsoft-reportedly-moves-to-reduce-its-dependence-on-chatgpt-parent?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft Invested Nearly $14 Billion In OpenAI But Now It&#8217;s Reducing Its Dependence On The ChatGPT-Parent</a>



Google&#8217;s &#8216;Code Red&#8217;



Following the release of OpenAI&#8217;s ChatGPT,&nbsp;Alphabet Inc.&nbsp;(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 declared a &#8220;Code Red&#8221;. The tech giant faced criticism for lagging behind rivals like Microsoft in integrating ChatGPT-like capabilities into its products. However, Alphabet&#8217;s latest advancements in AI and quantum computing are rebuilding its reputation and investor confidence.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42641018/google-faced-intense-scrutiny-post-chatgpt-leading-up-to-declaring-code-red-but-gemini-20-and-quantum-chip-gives-investors-renewed-confidence">Read the full article here.</a>



Palantir: The &#8216;Next Oracle&#8217;



According to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives,&nbsp;Palantir Technologies Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) could emerge as "the next Oracle" in the AI revolution. Despite its stock surging 395.42% in 2024, Ives maintains a strong conviction in the company's growth trajectory.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42696805/palantir-touted-as-next-oracle-by-dan-ives-here-is-why-the-wedbush-analyst-called-the-company-a-table-pounder">Read the full article here.</a>



Microsoft&#8217;s Reduced Dependence on OpenAI



Microsoft is reportedly planning to reduce its dependence on OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT. The company is working on integrating internal and third-party AI models into its AI product, Microsoft 365 Copilot.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42664762/after-investing-nearly-14-billion-in-openai-microsoft-reportedly-moves-to-reduce-its-dependence-on-chatgpt-parent">Read the full article here.</a>



Peter Thiel&#8217;s Bet on AI



Former PayPal CEO Peter Thiel has shared his perspective on the evolving role of AI and its potential impact on math skills. Thiel suggested that the rise of AI could reduce the emphasis on math proficiency and lead to a societal transformation.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42680592/peter-thiel-once-said-he-would-bet-on-the-reversal-of-silicon-valleys-math-bias-as-ai-continues-to-rise-isnt-that-a-long-overdue-rebalancing-of-our-society">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42681555/nio-announces-repurchase-opportunity-for-convertible-senior-notes-due-2027-firefly-app-gains-traction-in-china?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NIO Announces Repurchase Opportunity For Convertible Senior Notes Due 2027</a></li>
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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>

GOOG

GOOGL

MSFT

PLTR

OpenAI's For-Profit Transition, Trump's AI Advisor, And Google's Code Red: This Week In AI

The holiday week was abuzz with news from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>). The tech giant continues to make headlines with its innovative products and bullish market predictions. From the anticipated AI-driven iPhone upgrade cycle to the rumored features of the AirTag 2, AirPods, and the M4 MacBook Air, Apple&#8217;s tech advancements continue to impress. Let&#8217;s dive into the top stories from the weekend.



Tech Bull Foresees 26% Upside for Apple Stock



Wedbush analyst Dan Ives is optimistic about Apple&#8217;s future, predicting a 26% upside for the company&#8217;s stock. Ives attributes this potential growth to a &#8220;multi-year&#8221; upgrade cycle for the iPhone, driven by artificial intelligence (AI). He believes this will usher in a &#8220;golden era of growth for Cupertino&#8221; into 2025.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42682230/tech-bull-predicts-26-upside-for-apple-stock-sees-golden-era-of-growth-for-cupertino-due-to-multi-year-ai-driven-iphone-upgrade-cycle">Read the full article here.</a>



Apple&#8217;s AirTag 2: Enhanced Tracking and Safety



Apple is reportedly gearing up to launch the AirTag 2, with significant upgrades in range and safety. The new item tracker is expected to feature an Ultra Wideband chip for a longer range.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42677323/apples-airtag-2-roundup-ultra-wideband-boost-safety-improvements-and-more-rumored-features">Read the full article here.</a>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42677504/amid-donald-trumps-concerns-about-taiwans-rising-chip-business-jensen-huang-praises-tsmc-for-its-unquestionable-innovation-vows-nvidias-support-for-the-incoming-us-administration?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amid Donald Trump&#8217;s Concerns About Taiwan&#8217;s Rising Chip Business, Jensen Huang Praises TSMC</a>



Apple AirPods to Incorporate Health Sensors and Cameras



According to Bloomberg columnist Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to introduce heart rate monitors, temperature sensors, and cameras to its AirPods to enhance AI capabilities. The company is reportedly experimenting with these new improvements.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42640232/apple-airpods-to-get-heart-rate-temperature-sensors-and-cameras-to-help-with-ai-features-top-analyst">Read the full article here.</a>



M4 MacBook Air Release Could Be Ahead of Schedule



Apple&#8217;s highly anticipated M4 MacBook Air could arrive sooner than expected, according to Bloomberg columnist Mark Gurman. While new iPads and the iPhone SE are slated for a spring release, the M4 MacBook Air might hit the market earlier.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42665141/top-apple-analyst-says-new-m4-macbook-air-could-be-available-sooner-than-expected">Read the full article here.</a>



iPhone 17 Pro Likely to Retain Triangular Camera Layout



Despite rumors of a radical horizontal layout, Apple&#8217;s upcoming iPhone 17 Pro is expected to stick with its distinctive &#8220;triangular&#8221; camera design. This information was revealed by the leaker "Instant Digital" on Weibo last week.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42666163/iphone-17-pro-could-retain-iconic-triangular-camera-design-despite-rumors-of-a-radical-horizontal-layout">Read the full article here.</a>



Steve Jobs&#8217; MacBook Vision Realized After 25 Years



Steve Jobs had a vision for what a MacBook should look like back in 1983. It took Apple 25 years to bring this vision to life, but the company&#8217;s stock is now soaring to record highs. Analysts at JPMorgan are optimistic about Cupertino&#8217;s prospects, giving the Apple stock an overweight rating and a price target of $265.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42699730/steve-jobs-knew-what-macbook-should-be-like-in-1983-it-took-apple-25-years-to-bring-his-vision-to-life-with-aapl-stock-at-record-highs-heres-what-analysts-say">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42680592/peter-thiel-once-said-he-would-bet-on-the-reversal-of-silicon-valleys-math-bias-as-ai-continues-to-rise-isnt-that-a-long-overdue-rebalancing-of-our-society?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peter Thiel Once Said He Would Bet On The Reversal Of Silicon Valley&#8217;s Math Bias As AI Continues To Rise</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Apple



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>

AAPL

Apple's AI-Driven Growth, AirTag 2, AirPods' Health Features, And iPhone 17 Pro: This Week In Appleverse

As we wrap up the week, a series of intriguing developments have unfolded in the electric vehicle industry. From Hertz Global Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HTZ#NASDAQ">HTZ</a>) selling used EVs at substantial discounts to Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) donating a fleet of vehicles for Trump&#8217;s inauguration, the news cycle has been anything but dull. Let&#8217;s dive into the top stories.



Hertz Trims Fleet with Discounted EVs



In a bid to reduce its fleet, car rental company Hertz has been selling used electric vehicles for as low as nearly $12,000. The discounted EVs include models from Chevrolet, Tesla, and Subaru. For example, a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV in Denver is listed for sale on Hertz&#8217;s website for $11,985, while a 2022 Tesla Model 3 base sedan in Oklahoma is priced at $17,921.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42666220/hertz-sells-used-evs-including-chevrolet-bolt-tesla-model-3-for-whopping-discounts-in-bid-to-reduce-evs-in-fleet">Read the full article here.</a>



Ford Donates to Trump&#8217;s Inauguration



Automaker Ford has donated $1 million and a fleet of vehicles to Donald Trump&#8217;s inauguration fund. This donation matches totals from Amazon.com Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc., as well as a recent $1 million pledge from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42660866/trump-gets-ford-vehicles-1m-for-inauguration-will-musk-respond-or-could-he-ride-in-rival-vehicle">Read the full article here.</a>



Fund Manager Questions Musk&#8217;s Robotaxi Fleet Ambitions 



Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk envisions a future where Tesla car owners can rent their vehicles to the company&#8217;s robotaxi fleet, likened to a combination of Airbnb and Uber. However, Future Fund Managing Partner Gary Black doubts that a majority of Tesla owners would want to participate in this scheme.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42642606/elon-musk-wants-to-raise-a-tesla-fleet-expert-estimates-vehicle-owners-can-make-40kyear-but-remains-doubtful">Read the full article here.</a>



Tesla&#8217;s Recall Costs



Tesla executive Sendil Palani expressed frustration over the cost of notifying customers about the company&#8217;s recent recall. Palani criticized the mandate of sending letters to affected owners as a waste of time and money.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42640472/tesla-exec-bemoans-cost-of-sending-letter-to-owners-affected-by-ev-giants-recent-recall-of-nearly-700000-vehicles">Read the full article here.</a>



Musk&#8217;s Bold Tesla Valuation



Elon Musk believes that Tesla could exceed the value of all transport companies, with the exception of his rocket manufacturing company SpaceX. However, he noted that achieving this would require a lot of work and good ideas.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42667044/teslas-valuation-could-exceed-all-transport-companies-but-spacex-ceo-elon-musk">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42680075/tesla-exec-says-we-will-be-ready-to-efficiently-produce-autonomous-vehicles-as-shanghai-megafactory-nears-completion?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Exec Says &#8216;We Will Be Ready&#8217; To Efficiently Produce Autonomous Vehicles As Shanghai Megafactory Nears Completion</a></li>
</ul>



Image generated using AI tools



 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/anan-ashraf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anan Ashraf.</a>

TSLA

Hertz's EV Sale, Ford Donates to Trump's Inauguration, Fund Manager Questions Musk's Robotaxi Fleet Ambitions And More: This Week In Mobility

Benzinga examined the prospects for<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas"> many investors&#8217; favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here&#8217;s a look at some of our top stories.



Major U.S. indexes ended the week higher, with the Dow up 0.4%, S&amp;P 500 gaining 0.7%, and Nasdaq rising 0.8%, breaking a three-week decline streak. 



The S&amp;P 500&#8217;s strong Christmas Eve performance fueled hopes for a &#8220;Santa Rally,&#8221; a historical trend showing gains 64 out of 96 years during <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/12/42675763/santa-rally-serial-winners-10-stocks-historically-poised-for-big-year-end-gains">December&#8217;s final week. </a>Markets started recovering from the Fed&#8217;s hawkish rate cut signals but faced renewed volatility Friday, tempering Santa Rally expectations. 



Despite near-term uncertainty, 2024 remains exceptional, with the S&amp;P 500 matching last year&#8217;s 24% gain and U.S. stocks outperforming global markets by the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42711387/wall-streets-santa-rally-at-risk-palantir-dethrones-nvidia-consumer-confidence-pulls-back-this-week-in-the-markets">widest margin since 1997.</a>



Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week&#8217;s most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Bulls</h3>



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42657620/amd-and-micron-top-analyst-picks-for-ai-and-next-gen-tech-growth">AMD And Micron Are Top Analyst Picks For AI And Next-Gen Tech Growth</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/anusuya-lahiri-0">Anusuya Lahiri</a>, highlights Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) being a top 2025 analyst&#8217;s pick for CPU/GPU momentum and AI edge opportunities, and Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) for its dominance in high-bandwidth memory.



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42676474/dogecoin-whales-load-up-coins-worth-92-million-over-4-days-as-meme-king-outperforms-bitcoin-ethereum-in-2024">Dogecoin Whales Load Up Coins Worth $92 Million Over 4 Days As Meme King Outperforms Bitcoin, Ethereum In 2024</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>, reports that whale investors acquired 270 million Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>), worth $92 million, over four days, boosting DOGE's 274% YTD rally, far outpacing Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) gains of 132% and 53%, respectively.



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42698198/quantum-computing-stock-qubt-has-more-than-doubled-while-bitcoin-has-dropped-since-googles-willow-reveal-what-does-this-mean">Quantum Computing Stock QUBT Soars 157% While Bitcoin Drops Post Google's &#8216;Willow&#8217; Reveal</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/aniket-verma">Aniket Verma</a>, highlights Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QUBT#NASDAQ">QUBT</a>) surging after Google's &#8220;Willow&#8221; chip breakthrough, outperforming key indices, while Bitcoin faced a downturn amid concerns Willow&#8217;s quantum power could undermine cryptographic security.



For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42678014/top-7-blue-chip-stocks-with-the-best-return-potential-going-into-2025">Top 7 Blue-Chip Stocks With The Best Return Potential Going Into 2025</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42666472/gms-60000-cadillac-lyriq-was-its-best-selling-ev-in-2024-as-of-q3-is-premium-the-way-to-go-for-ev-makers">GM&#8217;s $60,000 Cadillac Lyriq Was Its Best Selling EV In 2024 As Of Q3: Is Premium The Way To Go For EV Makers?</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/24/12/42672565/why-trumps-return-to-office-could-drive-gold-demand-in-2025">Why Trump&#8217;s Return To Office Could Drive Gold Demand In 2025</a>



The Bears



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42660092/microstrategy-sinks-after-nasdaq-100-inclusion-bitcoin-bet-under-fire">MicroStrategy Sinks After Nasdaq 100 Inclusion: Bitcoin Bet Under Fire</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/piero-cingari">Piero Cingari</a>, reports MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) shares dropping 8.5% after its Nasdaq 100 debut, as analysts question its $561 million Bitcoin purchase at a 12% premium to current levels, marking its smallest acquisition amid declining stock performance.



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42688941/are-us-vehicles-under-30000-a-thing-of-the-past-trumps-mexico-tariff-plans-could-change-auto-market">Are Sub-$30,000 Cars Disappearing? Trump&#8217;s Tariff Plans Could Reshape US Auto Market</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/chris-katje">Chris Katje</a>, explores Donald Trump's proposed 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports, potentially pushing the price of vehicles like Ford Motor Co.&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) Maverick and Honda Motor Co.&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HMC#NYSE">HMC</a>) Civic above $30,000, with one-third of sub-$30,000 cars currently made in Mexico.



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42665033/tesla-shorts-gordon-johnson-and-james-chanos-express-skepticism-on-robotaxi-potential-as-usage-data-sparks-debate">Tesla Shorts Gordon Johnson And James Chanos Skeptical Of Robotaxi Potential Amid Usage Data Debate</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/kaustubh-bagalkote">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>, details criticism from Gordon Johnson of GLJ Research and short-seller James Chanos, who argue Tesla Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) robotaxi ambitions overpromise revenue potential, citing New York City ride-share data.



For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42676801/lyft-sues-san-francisco-over-100-million-tax-bill-citing-misclassification-of-driver-payments">Lyft Sues San Francisco Over $100 Million Tax Bill, Says Payments To Drivers By Passengers Misclassified</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42700098/us-markets-likely-headed-for-10-correction-says-jay-woods-trumps-tariff-plans-musk-co-led-doge-could-be-partially-to-blame">US Markets Likely Headed For 10% Correction, Says Jay Woods: Trump&#8217;s Tariff Plans, Musk&#8217;s DOGE Advocacy Among Contributing Factors</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/12/42687945/zelle-became-a-gold-mine-for-fraudsters-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-lawsuit">&#8216;Zelle Became A Gold Mine For Fraudsters&#8217;: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Lawsuit</a>



Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following<a href="https://twitter.com/Benzinga"> Benzinga</a><a href="http://twitter.com/Benzinga"> on Twitter</a>.



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

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Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Quantum Computing, Tesla, AMD — And Whales Buy 270 Million Dogecoin Over 4 Days

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Sues Rocket Homes, Alleges Kickback Scheme</h2>



The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued Rocket Homes, a division of Rocket Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>), on Monday in what it said is an action stop the company from providing incentives to real estate brokers and agents to steer homebuyers to Rocket Mortgage,<a href="https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-files-lawsuit-to-stop-illegal-kickback-scheme-to-steer-borrowers-to-rocket-mortgage/"> LLC for loans</a>.



The CFPB alleged that Rocket Homes pressured real estate brokers and agents not to share information with clients concerning products which were not offered by Rocket Mortgage, including the availability of down payment assistance programs.&nbsp;



Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/12/42687945/zelle-became-a-gold-mine-for-fraudsters-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-lawsuit"> &#8216;Zelle Became A Gold Mine For Fraudsters&#8217;: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Lawsuit</a>



"Rocket engaged in a kickback scheme that discouraged homebuyers from comparison shopping and getting the best deal," said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra.&nbsp;



"At a time when homeownership feels out of reach for so many, companies should not illegally block competition in ways that drive up the cost of housing," Chopra added.



The CFPB also sued Jason Mitchell and his real estate brokerage firm, JMG Holding Partners LLC, which does business as The Jason Mitchell Group, for allegedly participating in the kickback scheme.&nbsp;



Rocket Homes denied the allegations in a statement late Monday, calling the lawsuit "flimsy" and part of a "political agenda.&#8221;



"The CFPB's allegations are false and a distortion of reality. The accusation that homebuyers paid more when working with Rocket Homes is a lie. Additionally, the notion that Rocket Homes penalized real estate brokers or agents for helping clients compare rates and choose the best lender for them is also a lie," the statement said, per Yahoo Finance.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SEC Charges Tai Mo Shan With Misleading Investors About Terra USD</h2>



The Securities and Exchange Commission last Friday<a href="https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024-212"> charged</a> Tai Mo Shan Ltd. with misleading investors about the stability of Terra USD, when UST dropped from its purportedly fixed exchange rate of 1 UST to $1, known as a peg.&nbsp;



The SEC also charged Tai Mo Shan with offering and selling securities in unregistered transactions by acting as a statutory underwriter with respect to certain of its offers and sales of LUNA (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/luna/usd">LUNA</a>), a crypto asset issued by Terraform and offered and sold as a security.&nbsp;



"This case reminds us that, too many times in the crypto markets, we've seen significant investor losses due to fraud," said SEC Chair Gary Gensler.&nbsp;



"Here, the impact reverberated throughout the crypto markets, eventually costing the savings of countless investors. Regardless of the labels, crypto market participants should comply with the securities laws where applicable and not deceive the public. Otherwise, investors get hurt," Gensler added.&nbsp;



Tai Mo Shan agreed to pay $73,452,756 in disgorgement, $12,916,153 in prejudgment interest, and a $36,726,378 civil penalty as part of the settlement. Tai Mo Shan also agreed to cease and desist from violations of the registration and fraud provisions it violated, without admitting or denying the SEC's findings.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/12/42692036/billionaire-investors-michael-burry-david-tepper-could-benefit-from-chinas-stimulus-measures">Billionaire Investors Michael Burry, David Tepper Could Benefit From China&#8217;s Stimulus Measures</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

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Legal

$LUNA

Financial Crime Weekly: SEC Charges Tai Mo Shan With Misleading Terra USD Investors, Rocket Companies Sued Over Alleged Kickback Scheme

In a quiet week for economic data, Wall Street&#8217;s focus shifted to the possibility of witnessing a "Santa Rally," the seasonal tendency for stocks to rise in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/12/42675763/santa-rally-serial-winners-10-stocks-historically-poised-for-big-year-end-gains">final days of December. </a>



Historically, the S&amp;P 500 has gained 64 times in the past 96 years during the Dec. 24–Dec. 31 window, averaging a 0.85% return.



The market began the week attempting a recover from the Federal Reserve's hawkish signals of fewer rate cuts in 2024. Yet, renewed volatility resurfaced on Friday, casting doubt on the Santa rally's resilience.



Investors remain cautious, as markets weigh Fed policy outlook against uncertainty surrounding the incoming Trump administration's economic plans.



Still, 2024 is shaping up to be a banner year. The S&amp;P 500 is on track to match last year's 24% surge, setting up a two-year gain of 55%, the strongest since 1999. U.S. stocks are also outperforming global markets by the widest margin since 1997, driven by the enduring strength of U.S. economic fundamentals.



On the leaderboards, Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) has surged 360%, overtaking Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), last year's top performer, which gained 175% in 2024.



Consumer Confidence Slips



U.S. consumer confidence, as measured by the Conference Board, declined in December, highlighting rising concerns <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42657230/us-consumer-confidence-drops-in-december-expectations-signal-potential-economic-weakness-in-2025">about economic conditions</a>. A deeper drop in the expectations index, a key forward-looking measure, signals potential weakness in 2025 amid fears of persistent inflation and steady, high interest rates.



Tesla's Robotaxi Bet



Elon Musk envisions a Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)&#8217;s robotaxi fleet allowing owners to earn $40,000 annually. Despite the bold prediction, experts question the feasibility of the technology and regulatory challenges, suggesting Musk's vision remains aspirational rather than immediately achievable <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42642606/elon-musk-wants-to-raise-a-tesla-fleet-expert-estimates-vehicle-owners-can-make-40kyear-but-remains-doubtful">in the near term.</a>



Trump's Tariff Impact



Goldman Sachs projects the Trump administration will raise tariffs on Chinese imports, averaging a 20% hike, with higher rates for non-consumer goods. This could increase consumer prices by 1%-2%, strain industrial margins, disrupt supply chains and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42701155/made-in-china-paid-in-america-what-trumps-new-tariffs-mean-for-the-us-economy">ignite Chinese retaliatory measures,</a> the Wall Street firm says.



Cadillac EV Success



General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>)&#8217;s Cadillac Lyriq, priced at $60,000, became its best-selling EV in 2024 through the third quarter. The premium EV's success highlights a potential shift toward luxury electric vehicles as automakers target higher <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42666472/gms-60000-cadillac-lyriq-was-its-best-selling-ev-in-2024-as-of-q3-is-premium-the-way-to-go-for-ev-makers">margins and affluent buyers.</a>



Read now: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/12/42710358/veteran-investor-bets-big-on-sp-500-hitting-7000-by-end-of-2025-these-sectors-could-lead-the-charge">Veteran Investor Bets Big On S&amp;P 500 Hitting 7,000 By End Of 2025: These Sectors Could Lead The Charge</a></li>
</ul>



Photo by Marek Maskin on Shutterstock

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

Federal Reserve

NVDA

Wall Street's Santa Rally At Risk, Palantir Dethrones Nvidia, Consumer Confidence Pulls Back: This Week In The Markets

As the week wraps up, we bring you a recap of the top stories that made headlines. From Senator Bernie Sanders&#8217; call to end Super PACs to Nikki Haley&#8217;s clash with DOGE Co-Head Vivek Ramaswamy, the week was filled with political drama. Elon Musk also found himself in the spotlight, with Ukraine receiving Starlink sets from Poland and Musk stating he can no longer afford to give them away for free.



Bernie Sanders Calls Out Elon Musk and Super PACs



Senator Bernie Sanders voiced his concerns about billionaires, including Elon Musk, influencing elections and called for an immediate ban on Super PACs by the Democratic National Committee. Sanders expressed his disdain for billionaires buying elections and demanded that the DNC ban Super PACs in Democratic primaries.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42676387/bernie-sanders-the-american-people-are-disgusted-with-musk-calls-on-democrats-to-end-super-pacs-in-primaries">Read the full article here.</a>



Nikki Haley and DOGE Co-Head Vivek Ramaswamy Clash Over American Culture



Former U.N. Ambassador and 2024 presidential candidate Nikki Haley responded to Department of Government Efficiency Co-head Vivek Ramaswamy&#8217;s comments about American culture. Ramaswamy, who is set to lead DOGE alongside Elon Musk under President-elect Donald Trump, had suggested that cultural factors contribute to top tech companies often hiring foreign-born engineers over U.S.-born engineers.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42696536/nikki-haley-blasts-doge-co-head-vivek-ramaswamy-for-his-take-on-american-culture-all-you-have-to-do-is-look-at-the-border-and-see-how-many-want-what-we-have">Read the full article here.</a>



Ukraine Receives Starlinks, Musk Says He Can&#8217;t Afford to Give Them Away for Free



Ukraine received 150 sets of SpaceX&#8217;s Starlink from Poland, just hours before Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk stated that the U.S. should pay for the high-speed internet services as he can no longer afford to give them to Ukraine for free.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/10/42708683/ukraine-gets-150-starlinks-from-poland-while-elon-musk-says-he-can-no-longer-afford-to-give-the-kits-away-for-free">Read the full article here.</a>



Ford Donates to Trump&#8217;s Inauguration, Sparks Speculation



Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) made a substantial donation to Donald Trump&#8217;s inauguration fund, matching totals from Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>). This move comes as Ford&#8217;s rival Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk are likely set to benefit from the new White House administration.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42660866/trump-gets-ford-vehicles-1m-for-inauguration-will-musk-respond-or-could-he-ride-in-rival-vehicle">Read the full article here.</a>



Trump Reconsiders TikTok Ban



President-elect Donald Trump has had a change of heart about banning TikTok from the United States. Despite a pending ban that could take place on Jan 19, the day before he is inaugurated as president once again, Trump shared that he supports TikTok remaining operational in the U.S.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42654769/tiktok-ban-under-trump-president-elect-wants-to-keep-months-after-pelosi-said-follow-the-money">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42690082/trump-is-first-republican-president-with-a-pathway-to-cannabis-reform-says-former-adviser?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Is First &#8216;Republican President&#8217; With A Pathway To Cannabis Reform, Says Former Adviser</a></li>
</ul>



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/anan-ashraf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anan Ashraf.</a>

Politics

AMZN

Sanders Targets Musk, Haley Clashes With DOGE Co-Head, And Trump Reconsiders Tiktok Ban: This Week In Politics

Anthony Scaramucci, the former White House communications director, has urged&nbsp;Elon Musk&nbsp;to focus on his thriving businesses and refrain from political involvement. 



What Happened: Scaramucci, who had a brief stint in the first Donald Trump administration and has since become a vocal critic of the President-elect, praised Musk&#8217;s business prowess.



Speaking with CNN in an interview last week, he said of Musk, &#8220;Stick to business. You've done great. You've made a couple hundred billion dollars since the election.&#8221;



He further warned Musk about the potential pitfalls of political involvement, saying, &#8220;Lay&nbsp;off the gas on politics&nbsp;a little bit because these&nbsp;people, these people could hurt&nbsp;you.&#8221;



While acknowledging Musk&#8217;s significant influence during the 2024 election, Scaramucci expressed doubts about Musk&#8217;s ability to exert the same level of influence in Washington. 



Despite Musk&#8217;s large following and significant influence, Scaramucci advised him to tread carefully. 



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42378550/musk-kicked-in-more-than-a-quarter-billion-dollars-to-trump-and-gop">Musk Kicked In More Than a Quarter-Billion Dollars To Trump and GOP</a>



He stated, &#8220;He's&nbsp;just got to be very,&nbsp;very careful because he's making&nbsp;enemies that he doesn‘t realize,&#8221; and added, &#8220;And&nbsp;the incentives in Washington are&nbsp;totally different than those in&nbsp;business.&#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">Can he do the fandango like in that Queen song?&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1871485780037972349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Responding to Scaramucci&#8217;s advice, Musk asked whether Scaramucci could &#8220;do the fandango like in that Queen song,&#8221; a reference to the line &#8220;Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango&#8221; in the song &#8220;Bohemian Rhapsody.&#8221;</figcaption></figure>



Why It Matters: Scaramucci&#8217;s advice to Musk comes at a time when the latter&#8217;s influence has been growing, not just in the business world but also in the political sphere. 



Musk&#8217;s significant role in the 2024 election and his large following are testament to his influence. However, Scaramucci&#8217;s cautionary words highlight the potential dangers that come with political involvement, especially for someone who is primarily a business figure. 



The different incentives and dynamics in Washington, as compared to the business world, could pose challenges and risks for Musk.



Read Next



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41082363/heres-how-elon-musk-has-become-a-pro-trump-political-influencer-through-social-media">Here&#8217;s How Elon Musk Has Become A Pro-Trump Political Influencer Through Social Media</a>



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

Anthony Scaramucci Tells Musk To 'Stick To Business' — Here's Musk's Musical Response

Renowned financial educator&nbsp;and author Robert Kiyosaki&nbsp;has predicted a significant surge in Bitcoin&#8216;s (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) value by 2025, while expressing distrust in Black Rock&#8217;s handling of the cryptocurrency.



What Happened: In a post on X on Friday, Kiyosaki voiced his concerns about Larry Fink, the head of Black Rock, and his handling of Bitcoin.



He accused Fink of being a &#8220;Marxist&#8221; and a &#8220;Share Holder Capitalist,&#8221; suggesting that such individuals are suppressing Bitcoin&#8217;s price for personal gain.



&#8220;Larry Fink dumping Bitcoin. VIVEK warned Larry Fink of BLACK ROCK is a Marxist. Vivek warned Fink &amp; Black Rock are Share Holder Capitalist not Stake Holder Caplitist. Share Holder Capitalists are Marxist….like Klaus Schwab who state: "Someday you'll own nothing and you'll be happy," he wrote in the post. 



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42677439/kiyosaki-warns-of-global-financial-crisis-protect-your-wealth-by-investing-in-real-assets">Kiyosaki Warns of Global Financial Crisis: &#8216;Protect Your Wealth by Investing in Real Assets&#8217;</a>



<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">Larry Fink dumping Bitcoin. VIVEK warned Larry Fink of BLACK ROCK is a Marxist. Vivek warned Fink &amp; Black Rock are Share Holder Capitalist not Stake Holder Caplitist. Share Holder Capitalists are Marxist….like Klaus Schwab who state: "Someday you'll own nothing and you'll be…&mdash; Robert Kiyosaki (@theRealKiyosaki) <a href="https://twitter.com/theRealKiyosaki/status/1872665122440704137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Kiyosaki further stated his preference for keeping Bitcoin in his own wallet, expressing distrust in Black Rock&#8217;s Bitcoin ETF. Despite his criticisms, Kiyosaki remains bullish on Bitcoin, predicting it will reach $350,000 in 2025.



&#8220;I love Bitcoin in my own wallet. I would not trust Bitcoin in Black Rocks ETF. Black Rock suppressing Bitcoin price so the whales can buy Bitcoin at under $100k. I will keep buying more Bitcoin because Bitcoin going higher. I predict Bitcoin to hit $350 k in 2025,&#8221; he added in the post. 



Why It Matters: Kiyosaki&#8217;s comments come amid a broader debate about the role of institutional investors in the cryptocurrency market. His criticisms of Black Rock and Larry Fink reflect concerns about potential market manipulation and the concentration of power in the hands of a few large players.



Despite these concerns, Kiyosaki&#8217;s bullish prediction for Bitcoin suggests he remains confident in the cryptocurrency&#8217;s long-term potential. 



His comments highlight the ongoing tension between the decentralized ethos of cryptocurrencies and the increasing involvement of traditional financial institutions.



Read Next



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42255036/kiyosaki-on-bitcoin-100000-almost-impossible-for-the-poor-and-middle-class-to-catch-up">Kiyosaki on Bitcoin $100,000: &#8216;Almost Impossible for the Poor and Middle Class to Catch Up&#8217;</a>

Kiyosaki Warns Of Bitcoin In Black Rocks ETF: 'It Is Suppressing Bitcoin Price'

EV giant Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) is now offering free lifetime supercharging on the purchase of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tesla-cybertruck">foundation series Cybertrucks</a> from its inventory in a bid to make it more enticing to potential buyers.



What Happened: Under the limited-period offer, customers who purchase the foundation series Cybertruck on or after Dec. 27 will be eligible for free supercharging during their ownership of the vehicle.



However, the vehicle owner will have to continue to pay supercharger fees like idle or congestion fees. While congestion fees refer to the charges to be paid by drivers who charge their electric vehicles beyond a certain level at &#8220;busy&#8221; supercharger stations, idle fees apply when vehicles stay connected to the charger post-full charging.



The offer cannot be transferred to another vehicle or person, the company noted on its website.



Earlier this month, Benzinga reported that Tesla is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42524912/teslas-99k-foundation-series-cybertrucks-still-available-a-sign-of-possible-demand-hurdles">continuing to sell its premium foundation series Cybertrucks in its inventory</a> in the U.S., implying that the company hasn't yet entirely sold out the units of the limited edition stainless steel truck it produced.



Why It Matters: Tesla's inventory in the U.S. now shows multiple new foundation series Cybertrucks, including the all-wheel drive variant and the more expensive Cyberbeast variant. While the foundation series all-wheel drive variant is priced at $99,990, the Cyberbeast is priced at $119,990.



The foundation series refers to a limited and pricier edition of the Cybertruck with laser-etched foundation series badges and premium accessories.



Tesla made only the foundation series Cybertrucks for the first few months of deliveries. Earlier this year, in October, Tesla started selling the regular version of Cybertruck priced about $20,000 lower than the foundation series. 



The foundation series trucks manufactured by the company for the U.S. market haven't seemingly been sold in totality, hinting at significant<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42501487/cybertruck-production-rate-was-reduced-even-before-decembers-production-pause-says-tesla-researcher"> demand challenges for the truck</a>.



Early in December, Tesla told its workers on the Cybertruck production line at Giga Texas that they need not report to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42283708/tesla-gives-cybertruck-production-line-workers-three-days-off-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work for three days from Dec. 3 to Dec. 5</a>, implying a brief pause in production.



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



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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Tesla Offers Free Lifetime Supercharging With Foundation Series Cybertruck As It Looks To Clear Inventory

Ukraine said it received 150 sets of SpaceX's Starlink from Poland hours before Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk told the U.S. to pay for the high-speed internet services because it can no longer <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/10/29264636/elon-musks-spacex-asks-us-to-foot-the-bill-for-starlink-internet-services-in-ukraine-report-says-we">afford to give it to Ukraine for free.&nbsp;</a>



What Happened: Ukrainian Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories said the Starlink sets would allow it to quickly restore communication until the damaged infrastructure is rebuilt in the liberated regions.&nbsp;



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/10/29264331/angered-by-elon-musks-special-administrative-zone-comments-taiwans-military-will-not-buy-tesla-cars">Elon Musk&#8217;s &#8216;Special Administrative Zone&#8217; Remarks Anger Taiwan&#8217;s Military, Says No More Tesla &#8216;Purchases&#8217;</a>



"Some of them are intended for mobile operators and Internet providers. Currently, mobile operators have restored 27 mobile base stations in the Kharkiv region and continue to restore others," it added.



This came days after Musk <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/10/29130474/ukraine-diplomat-asks-elon-musk-to-f-k-off-says-tesla-will-be-boycotted-in-the-country">drew massive flak on social media</a>, including from Ukrainian officials for polling his followers on what would be the most likely outcome of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;



Following his tweet, Ukraine&#8217;s outgoing ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, sharply replied to Musk. &#8220;F&#x2A;&#x2A;k off is my very diplomatic reply to you, Elon Musk,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/10/29129597/elon-musk-tells-zelenskyy-i-still-very-much-support-ukraine-but">Musk later defended it</a> to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and said he supports Kyiv. "I still very much support Ukraine, but am convinced that massive escalation of the war will cause great harm to Ukraine and possibly the world," he said.&nbsp;



The billionaire entrepreneur early Friday on Twitter said SpaceX could not &#8220;indefinitely&#8221; fund the Starlink internet service in Ukraine and send it several thousand more terminals..



 Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Europe and Asia coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/eurasia">following this link</a>.

Ukraine Gets 150 Starlinks From Poland While Elon Musk Says He Can No Longer Afford To Give The Kits Away For Free

Jensen Huang, the CEO and cofounder of Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), is making headlines for more than just his company's dominance in AI chips. Huang is allegedly leveraging <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-reduce-taxable-income-for-high-earners">legal tax strategies</a> to protect an estimated $8 billion from federal estate and gift taxes, according to a recent investigation by The New York Times. This staggering number has spurred a wider discussion about how the ultrawealthy use legal loopholes to safeguard their money.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The NYT's Findings on Huang's Wealth Strategies</h2>



Huang&#8217;s net worth was $127 billion when the report was released in early December. According to the NYT, he has used a number of financial strategies to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/ownwell">reduce estate taxes</a>. These include instruments such as donor-advised funds (DAFs), grantor-retained annuity trusts (GRATs) and irrevocable trusts. By doing so, Huang could pass on much of his fortune to his descendants with minimal tax liability.



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One of the most notable examples cited by the NYT involves an irrevocable trust Huang and his wife set up in 2012. They transferred Nvidia shares worth $7 million into the trust, which has since grown in value to over $3 billion. Normally, the tax on that kind of wealth would be about 40%, but the trust helps them pay much less – perhaps just a few hundred thousand dollars.



As Lewis &amp; Clark Law School professor Jack Bogdanski told the NYT, "You have an army of well-trained, brilliant people who sit there all day long, charging $1,000 an hour, thinking up ways to beat this tax. Don't expect anyone in Congress to stop this."



See Also: It&#8217;s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $70 million in art — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">this alternative asset has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here&#8217;s how everyday investors are getting started.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What's the Bigger Picture?</h2>



The NYT&#8217;s investigation provides a broader view of the continuous erosion of estate taxes over time. Huang&#8217;s tactics are becoming increasingly popular, even though these taxes are meant to impact only the wealthiest Americans. Thanks to these methods, experts estimate that about $200 billion gets passed down each year without being taxed.



To make matters worse, funding constraints have reduced the Internal Revenue Service&#8217;s (IRS) ability to enforce the law. During the early 1990s, audits of more than 20% of estate tax returns were conducted. The NYT reports that number has now fallen to roughly 3%.



Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/boxabl"> you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Charitable Contributions and Scrutiny</h2>



While Huang's philanthropy is well-documented, critics also scrutinized his use of DAFs, which lack transparency and accountability. Through the Jen Hsun &amp; Lori Huang Foundation, the couple has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/10/41124309/nvidias-jensen-huangs-wealth-exploded-in-five-years-to-108-billion-heres-why-his-philanthropy-is-bei">donated Nvidia shares</a> worth hundreds of millions of dollars to these funds. Although these contributions reduce Huang's taxable estate, the funds are not required to distribute money to charities immediately, leaving room for criticism about their actual societal impact.



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



Huang's financial strategies highlight the growing divide between the ultrawealthy and the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/04/38295912/biden-promised-irs-funding-wouldnt-increase-audits-for-regular-americans-as-irs-audits-poorest-ameri">broader taxpaying public</a>. While these tactics are legal, they underscore how accessible loopholes can result in massive tax savings for billionaires. As the debate over wealth inequality and tax fairness continues, Huang's story may become a case study in how the richest Americans protect their fortunes.



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NYT Report Says Jensen Huang, The CEO Of Nvidia And The 10th-Richest Person In The U.S., Trying To Allegedly Avoid $8 Billion In Taxes

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