| | Good Afternoon! | Hey, everyone. It's Adam from Elite Trade Club. | Here’s what moved the market today. |
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| | Technology | | | The Magnificent Seven—Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta, and Tesla—set the standard for market dominance. But as their growth stabilizes, the hunt is on for the next generation of industry leaders. | Seven under-the-radar companies are emerging as contenders, combining innovation, market share expansion, and financial strength. | These stocks are positioned to thrive in 2025, offering investors a unique chance to get in early on the next big wave. | (By clicking the link above, you will get this free report and a free subscription to MarketBeat's daily email newsletter. You are also agreeing to the terms of our privacy policy. Unsubscribe at any time.) | While the world watches yesterday’s leaders, these stocks are quietly making their move. | Click here to access the free report and uncover the next Magnificent Seven. | (By clicking the link above, you will get this free report and a free subscription to MarketBeat's daily email newsletter. You are also agreeing to the terms of our privacy policy. Unsubscribe at any time.) |
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| | Markets 📈 | The market ends the year with a whimper, taking some U.S. indexes down with it. The Russell 2K managed to shake out a win, adding 0.23% on the day. | DJIA [-0.07%] S&P 500 [-0.43%]
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| Nasdaq [-0.90%] Russell 2K [+0.27%]
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| | Market-Moving News 📈 | Healthcare | Pharmaceutical Companies Set to Adjust Prices on Hundreds of Medications in 2025 | | Major price adjustments are on the horizon for over 250 branded medications in the U.S., slated to take effect in January 2025. These changes span a variety of treatments, including cancer therapies, vaccines, and medications for COVID-19. Most increases are relatively modest, with a median hike of 4.5%, consistent with recent trends. | The announced changes primarily target list prices, which do not account for rebates or discounts negotiated with pharmacy benefit managers. While dramatic price hikes were more frequent in the past, drugmakers have shifted strategies due to criticism, focusing instead on higher launch prices for new products. | Notable price increases include those for cancer treatments, diabetes medications, and several vaccines. However, some companies are lowering prices on specific products to bring list prices closer to actual net costs. | January often marks a peak period for drug pricing changes, with more announcements expected as the month unfolds. These adjustments occur amid ongoing debates about the high cost of prescription medications in the U.S., which remain unmatched globally. Drugmakers continue to navigate the challenge of supporting innovation while addressing growing demands for affordability and transparency in pricing. |
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| | Digital Banking | Justice Department Targets Dave Inc. Over Misleading Practices | | The U.S. Justice Department has initiated legal proceedings against financial technology company Dave Inc., alleging violations of federal law related to its personal finance app. The company is accused of using misleading advertising to attract users with promises of cash advances, which many reportedly did not receive. | Among the allegations, Dave is said to have engaged in deceptive practices, such as charging hidden fees, misrepresenting the way customer-provided tips were used, and imposing recurring monthly charges without offering a straightforward way for users to cancel. The government claims these practices created significant challenges for consumers, who may have been misled about the financial services offered by the company. | The Justice Department is seeking monetary penalties, customer restitution, and a permanent order to prevent the company from engaging in similar activities in the future. This complaint also updates a previous legal filing made by the Federal Trade Commission, which had initially targeted only the company without seeking civil penalties. | While the allegations present serious accusations, Dave Inc. has stated its intent to contest the claims, describing them as inaccurate. The outcome of this legal dispute remains to be determined, with both sides set to present their cases. |
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| | Cloud Computing | Alibaba Cloud Slashes Prices on AI Model to Compete in Growing Market | | Alibaba’s cloud computing division is taking bold steps to attract more business in the competitive artificial intelligence market. The company announced significant price reductions—up to 85%—for its visual language model, Qwen-VL. This model, designed to process and interpret both text and images, represents a key offering in Alibaba's push to expand its enterprise-focused AI services. | The competition among China’s technology giants to dominate the AI sector is intensifying, with major players like Tencent, Baidu, Huawei, JD.com, and ByteDance also rolling out their own large language models. These AI systems, trained on massive datasets to deliver humanlike responses, form the foundation of generative AI technologies. | Alibaba’s strategy to cut costs is not new. Earlier this year, the company introduced substantial discounts on various cloud products and AI models to encourage adoption among businesses. Rather than pursuing the consumer market with chatbot-style applications, Alibaba has concentrated its efforts on enterprise solutions. This approach has already gained traction, with thousands of enterprise users adopting the company’s Qwen models. | As the AI race accelerates, these price cuts reflect Alibaba’s determination to secure its position in the fast-evolving market while encouraging broader adoption of its AI innovations. |
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| | Early-Stage Profit Opportunities | | | The biggest returns often come from the smallest stocks—those small-cap gems that many overlook until it’s too late. | Early investors who saw AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASTS) at just $1.97 watched it skyrocket to $39.08, delivering a remarkable 1,883% return. Neonode Inc. (Nasdaq: NEON) told a similar story, jumping from $1.02 to $15.00 and giving early backers an incredible 1,370% gain. | Timing is everything when it comes to capturing gains like these. Spotting stocks while they’re still under the radar but showing clear signs of an impending breakout—that’s the real opportunity. | (By clicking the link above, you’ll receive free access to the report and a complimentary subscription to Market Crux’s daily newsletter. You also agree to the advertiser's privacy policy. Unsubscribe at any time.) | This exclusive report zeroes in on small-cap stocks with massive growth potential, poised to make big moves as they gain market attention. | Right now, these stocks are quietly positioned for growth. For those who move quickly, the potential for early returns could be life-changing. Once the market catches on, these opportunities may be gone. Get in early and stay ahead of the crowd. | Click here to get your free report and gain early access to small-cap stocks primed for growth. | (By clicking the link above, you’ll receive free access to the report and a complimentary subscription to Market Crux’s daily newsletter. You also agree to the advertiser's privacy policy. Unsubscribe at any time.) |
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| | Top Winners and Losers 🔥 | | | Scully Royalty Ltd [SRL] $9.05 (+31.73%) | Scully Royalty released its half-year report with financial results, also announcing an upcoming cash dividend payout. | SiriusPoint Ltd [SPNT] $16.40 (+15.49%) | SiriusPoint shared that it would buy back all shares owned by CM Bermuda Limited. | FTAI Aviation Ltd [FTAI] $144.04 (+13.86%) | FTAI Aviation stock jumped today after the company shared an encouraging report for its 2025 fiscal year. |
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| | | | | | Affinity Bancshares Inc [AFBI] $17.50 (-19.72%) | Affinity Bancshares shares details of a mutual termination of a purchase agreement with the Atlanta Postal Credit Union, causing investor concern. | Gorilla Technology Group [GRRR] $18.06 (-19.41%) | Gorilla Technology shares fell again today despite the company landing two new contracts paving the way for 2025 growth. | Oklo Inc [OKLO] $21.23 (-10.23%) | Oklo suffered from the ongoing market slump and sell-offs, sending its stock price downward. |
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| | | | That's it for today! Please, write us back, and let us know what you think of the Closing Bell Roundup. We're always eager to hear feedback! | Thanks for reading. I'll see you at the next open! | Best Regards,
— Adam G.
Elite Trade Club |
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