Stockwinners Market Radar for January 03, 2025 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

19:50 EST T Stamp Inc trading halted, news pending

19:50 EST Real Good Food Company Inc trading halted, news pending

17:12 EST cbdMD discloses NYSE listing compliance notice - On December 31, 2024, cbdMD received notification from the NYSE American LLC that the Company is no longer in compliance with an additional NYSE American continued listing standard. Specifically, the letter states that the Company is not in compliance with the continued listing standard set forth in Section 1003(a)(i) of the NYSE American Company Guide. Section 1003(a)(i) requires a listed company to have stockholders' equity of $2 million or more if the listed company has reported losses from continuing operations and/or net losses in two of its three most recent fiscal years then ended. The Company reported stockholders equity of $1,963,417 as of September 30, 2024, and losses from continuing operations and/or net losses in four of its five most recent fiscal years then ended.

16:50 EST Twilio CFO Viggiano sells 6,832 class A shares - In a regulatory filing, Twilio CFO Aidan Viggiano disclosed the sale of 6,832 class A shares of the company on December 31 at a price of $107.1627 per share.

16:36 EST CNX says 45V tax credit overly restrictive, doesn't create sufficient incentives - In response to the issuance of final rules regarding the Inflation Reduction Act's Section 45V Hydrogen Production Tax Credit, CNX Resources Corporation released the following statement: "The Department of Treasury's recognition of captured waste coal mine methane (CMM) as a feedstock for hydrogen production is validation of its inherent environmental and economic benefits and an important step in continuing to monetize the value of this unique asset. However, we believe that the final 45V implementation rules are overly restrictive across a range of feedstocks and do not currently appear to create sufficient economic incentives for the company to expand its CMM capture operations for hydrogen end use. Notwithstanding the specifics of the 45V rule, the company intends to utilize this important validation of the product to pursue other incentive pathways for CMM volumes including voluntary markets, other tax incentives, and compliance program commercial opportunities that recognize waste mine methane capture."

16:22 EST Procaps Group receives additional delinquency letter - Procaps Group announced that, as anticipated, on December 31, 2024, the company received notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC of an additional filing delinquency relating to the Company's interim financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2024. The interim financial statements were required to be filed with Nasdaq by December 31, 2024, but were not for the reasons previously disclosed in connection with the delay in the filing of the company's Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, in contravention of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(2). The notice indicated that the Nasdaq Hearings Panel will consider the additional filing delinquency in its deliberations regarding the company's request for continued listing on Nasdaq. The company plans to timely respond to the most recent notice from Nasdaq and otherwise present its plan to evidence full compliance with the company's applicable filing requirements at its upcoming hearing before the Panel. This announcement is made in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(b), which requires prompt disclosure by an issuer in receipt of an additional delinquency notice from Nasdaq.

16:18 EST TeraWulf self-mined 158 bitcoin in December - TeraWulf provided its unaudited monthly production and operations update for December 2024. The company self-mined 158 bitcoin, with an average daily production rate of approximately 5.1 bitcoin. TeraWulf achieved 9.7 EH/s of installed self-mining capacity, a 94% year-over-year increase. The company achieved an average power cost of $62,805 per bitcoin mined, equivalent to approximately $0.078/kWh, excluding proceeds from demand response and ancillary services.

16:16 EST FutureFuel receives Excise Tax Registration approval from IRS - FutureFuel announced that it has received Excise Tax Registration approval from the Internal Revenue Service. This registration is the first requirement to be eligible to claim the Internal Revenue Code 45Z credit, also known as the clean fuel production tax credit. The tax credit was first approved in August 2022, to be effective beginning January 1, 2025. FutureFuel along with other Renewable Fuel Producers, are awaiting full guidance from the Internal Revenue Service regarding the tax credit. FutureFuel has the capacity to produce up to 60M gallons of biodiesel annually.

16:00 EST PTL Ltd trading resumes

15:37 EST Goldman Sachs names Alex Golten as Chief Risk Officer - Goldman Sachs announced the appointment of Alex Golten as Chief Risk Officer of the firm. He also joined the Management Committee of Goldman Sachs, effective January 1. "Risk management is at the core of every decision we make at Goldman Sachs. Alex has worked at our firm for decades and understands our unique culture and operating ethos. He will use this experience to effectively partner with senior leaders across the firm and advance our enterprise risk management initiatives," said Chairman and CEO David Solomon. Golten succeeds Brian Lee, who becomes Chairman of the Risk Division. Golten most recently served as head of Market Risk and Finance Risk, the bank noted.

15:34 EST Nortech Systems trading resumes

15:03 EST Allurion Technologies Inc trading resumes

14:55 EST First Community names Sarah Donley as Chief Operations & Risk Officer - First Community announced that Sarah Donley has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Operations & Risk Officer. Ms. Donley succeeds retiring Tanya Butts who has served in this role since 2016. Donley joined First Community in 1997 and most recently served as Controller.

14:45 EST FCA US reports Q4 sales down 7% to 320,743 vehicles - Stellantis' FCA US reports sales of 320,743 vehicles for Q4, down 7% versus last year. The company said, "As we head into 2025, our U.S. brands are demonstrating strong sales momentum, with our H2 retail sales showing 4% growth over the first half of the year's results," said Jeff Kommor, head of U.S. sales. "We also saw our total sales increase 5% in the fourth quarter over the third quarter. The pricing and incentive actions that we put in place across our brand portfolios in the second half of the year ledour U.S. dealer inventory levels to bereducedahead of schedule, allowing our dealers to prepare consumers for the introduction of all new vehicles to the market, including from Jeep, Ram and Dodge. Taking a closer look at our Q4 retail sales year-over-year growth, if we measure the current portfolio of available products during those two periods, our 2024 fourth-quarter retail sales show an improvement of 11%. With the arrival of newproducts in 2025, including the addition of the Jeep Wagoneer S, the Jeep Recon and the replacement for the Jeep Cherokee, which re-enters North America's largest segment with a hybrid powertrain, we're creating further opportunity for sales growth and continuing tostrengthen our position in the marketplace."

14:41 EST Microsoft says to invest $80B to build out AI-enabled datacenters in FY25 - In a blog post entitled "The Golden Opportunity for American AI," Microsoft (MSFT) Vice Chair and President Brad Smith stated: "Not since the invention of electricity has the United States had the opportunity it has today to harness new technology to invigorate the nation's economy. In many ways, artificial intelligence is the electricity of our age, and the next four years can build a foundation for America's economic success for the next quarter century. At Microsoft, we see a three-part vision for America's technology success. This starts with advances and investments in world-leading American AI technology and infrastructure. Second, the country needs to champion skilling programs that will enable widespread AI adoption and enhanced career opportunities across the economy. Finally, the United States must focus on exporting American AI to our allies and friends, bolstering our domestic economy and ensuring that other countries benefit from AI advancements." Smith stated later in the lengthy post: "America's technological strength has always been rooted in the private sector. Today, the United States leads the global AI race thanks to the investment of private capital and innovations by American companies of all sizes, from dynamic start-ups to well-established enterprises. At Microsoft, we've seen this firsthand through our partnership with OpenAI, from rising firms such as Anthropic and xAI, and our own AI-enabled software platforms and applications... None of this progress would be possible without new partnerships founded on large-scale infrastructure investments that serve as the essential foundation of AI innovation and use. In FY 2025, Microsoft is on track to invest approximately $80 billion to build out AI-enabled datacenters to train AI models and deploy AI and cloud-based applications around the world. More than half of this total investment will be in the United States, reflecting our commitment to this country and our confidence in the American economy. Our success, however, depends on a broad and competitive technology ecosystem, much of which is based on open-source development. This includes our longstanding competitors, chip suppliers, applications companies, systems integrators, service providers, and the millions of software developers who use our products to create customized solutions working for our customers." Other companies levered to AI data center spending include Nvidia (NVDA), AMD (AMD), Marvell (MRVL), Broadcom (AVGO), Qualcomm (QCOM), Dell Technologies (DELL) and HP Enterprise (HPE). Reference Link

14:27 EST Microsoft announces plans to spend $80B on data centers in fiscal 2025 - Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith wrote in a blog post that the company plans to spend $80B in fiscal 2025 on the construction of data centers that can handle artificial intelligence workloads. Over half of the expected artificial intelligence infrastructure spending will take place in the U.S., according to Smith. "Today, the United States leads the global AI race thanks to the investment of private capital and innovations by American companies of all sizes, from dynamic start-ups to well-established enterprises. At Microsoft, we've seen this firsthand through our partnership with OpenAI, from rising firms such as Anthropic and xAI, and our own AI-enabled software platforms and applications," the executive wrote. Shares of Microsoft are up 1% to $423.39 in afternoon trading.

14:05 EST Getty jumps 26%, Shutterstock 13% after Bloomberg report of possible deal

13:58 EST Sunlands Technology Group - ADR trading halted, volatility trading pause

13:23 EST Borealis Foods Inc trading halted, volatility trading pause

13:19 EST Concord Medical trading resumes

13:13 EST Lion Electric announces temporary layoffs of 150 employees - Lion Electric announced a reduction of its workforce through temporary layoffs of approximately 150 employees, in both Canada and the United States, across all departments within the organization. Following this workforce reduction, Lion will have approximately 160 employees who will mainly focus on assisting Lion's customers with the maintenance and servicing of school buses and trucks. "The Company was required to implement this workforce reduction in the context of its ongoing proceedings under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act as per the terms and conditions of the debtor-in-possession financing provided by the lenders under the Company's senior revolving credit agreement in connection with such proceedings, in order to fund the sale and investment solicitation process being conducted in the context of the proceedings as well as the Company's operations during the restructuring process. As previously announced, the Superior Court of Quebec issued on December 18, 2024 an initial order granting the Company and its subsidiaries protection under the CCAA as well as an order approving a SISP in respect of the Company's business or assets," Lion stated.

13:00 EST Baker Hughes reports U.S. rig count unchanged at 589 rigs

12:52 EST Nissan reports Q4 U.S. sales up 10.3% to 222,484 units - Nissan Group announced total U.S. fourth quarter sales of 222,484 units, an increase of 10.3% versus the prior year. "The increase is due to strong sales of Nissan models across the lineup, including the all-new Kicks, Versa and Pathfinder," the company stated. Nissan Group also announced total calendar year 2024 U.S. sales of 924,008 units, an increase of 2.8% compared to the prior year.

12:02 EST Subaru of America reports December sales up 7.1% to 61,871 vehicles - Subaru of America reported "29 consecutive months of increased sales" with 61,871 vehicles sold in December, a 7.1% increase compared with December 2023. Subaru ended calendar year 2024 with 667,725 vehicle sales, a 5.6% increase compared with calendar year 2023.

12:00 EST Yatsen falls -7.3% - Yatsen is down -7.3%, or -28c to $3.56.

12:00 EST Oklo rises 18.0% - Oklo is up 18.0%, or $3.93 to $25.78.

12:00 EST Nu Skin rises 24.8% - Nu Skin is up 24.8%, or $1.63 to $8.19.

11:13 EST Defiance launches RIOX, single-stock ETF leveraged to Riot Platform - Earlier, Defiance ETFs announced RIOX, which it calls "the first 2X long ETF for Riot Platforms." RIOX seeks to provide 200% long daily targeted exposure to Riot Platforms. says Defiance, which adds that its single-stock ETFs "provide leveraged exposure to disruptive companies without the need for a margin account." Sylvia Jablonski, CEO of Defiance ETFs, stated: "Building off the success of MSTX, RIOX offers investors a unique opportunity to amplify their exposure to the rapidly evolving blockchain and cryptocurrency mining sector. Riot Platforms has positioned itself as a leader in Bitcoin mining, not only by capitalizing on the growing demand for decentralized digital assets and infrastructure but also by strategically adding Bitcoin to its balance sheet, similar to MicroStrategy's approach, further reinforcing its commitment to the crypto ecosystem."

11:08 EST Atlantic International Corp trading resumes

11:03 EST Atlantic International Corp trading halted, volatility trading pause

11:02 EST Toyota reports year-end 2024 U.S. sales 2.33M vehicles, up 3.1% on DSR basis - Toyota Motor North America reported year-end 2024 U.S. sales of 2,332,623 vehicles, an increase of 3.7% on a volume basis and an increase of 3.1% on a daily selling rate basis compared to 2023. "Our multi-pathway powertrain approach continues to attract customers, meeting their lifestyles and budgets," said Jack Hollis, executive vice president and chief operating officer, TMNA. "Our teams are working with suppliers and dealers to prepare for a busy 2025 as we introduce approximately 24 all-new, refreshed or special edition Toyota and Lexus vehicles, and start battery production at our new $13.9B North Carolina facility to meet future demands of our customers."

10:45 EST Fannie, Freddie rally after Treasury pact on eventual conservatorship release - The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced yesterday an agreement to amend the preferred stock purchase agreements between Treasury and each of Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FMCC) "to help ensure that the eventual release of the GSEs from conservatorship will be orderly and to reflect certain existing practices." Among other things, the agreement restores Treasury's previous right to consent to a release of the government-sponsored enterprises from conservatorship. In addition, under a separate side letter from FHFA to Treasury, FHFA will solicit public input, before releasing a GSE from conservatorship, regarding the potential impacts on the housing market and the GSEs. Shares of Fannie Mae are up 17% to $4.04 in morning trading while Freddie Mac is up 17% to $3.94. Reference Link

10:43 EST Nippon Steel: Process 'manipulated' to advance Biden's political agenda

10:42 EST Nippon Steel, U.S. Steel 'condemn' U.S. government's decision to block deal - Nippon Steel Corporation (NPSCY) and United States Steel Corporation (X) issued a statement on President Biden's decision to block their proposed transaction. "We are dismayed by President Biden's decision to block Nippon Steel's acquisition of U. S. Steel, which reflects a clear violation of due process and the law governing CFIUS. Instead of abiding by the law, the process was manipulated to advance President Biden's political agenda. The President's statement and Order do not present any credible evidence of a national security issue, making clear that this was a political decision. Following President Biden's decision, we are left with no choice but to take all appropriate action to protect our legal rights. Nippon Steel and U. S. Steel are confident that our transaction would revitalize communities that rely on American steel, including in Pennsylvania and Indiana, provide job security for American steelworkers, enhance the American steel supply chain, help America's domestic steel industry compete more effectively with China and bolster national security. Nippon Steel is the only partner both willing and able to make the necessary investments - including at least $1 billion to Mon Valley Works and approximately $300 million to Gary Works as a part of $2.7 billion in investment that it has already committed - to protect and grow U. S. Steel as an iconic American company for the benefit of the communities in which it operates and the entire American steel industry. Blocking this transaction means denying billions of committed investment to extend the life of U. S. Steel's aging facilities and putting thousands of good-paying, family-sustaining union jobs at risk. In short, we believe that President Biden has sacrificed the future of American steelworkers for his own political agenda. We are committed to taking all appropriate action to protect our legal rights to allow us to deliver the agreed upon value of $55.00 per share for U. S. Steel's stockholders upon closing. Since the outset of the regulatory review process, we have diligently and transparently engaged with CFIUS. The record before CFIUS is abundantly clear that this transaction, with the commitments made by Nippon Steel, would strengthen, not weaken, national security. Yet, it is clear that the CFIUS process was deeply corrupted by politics, and the outcome was pre-determined, without an investigation on the merits, but to satisfy the political objectives of the Biden White House. It is shocking - and deeply troubling - that the U.S. government would reject a procompetitive transaction that advances U.S. interests and treat an ally like Japan in this way. Unfortunately, it sends a chilling message to any company based in a U.S. allied country contemplating significant investment in the United States... We continue to believe that a partnership between Nippon Steel and U. S. Steel is the best way to ensure that U. S. Steel, and particularly its USW-represented facilities, will be able to compete and thrive well into the future - and we will work closely with stakeholders, including government officials from Japan and allies and partners in the U.S., to take all appropriate action to protect our legal rights and secure that future."

10:26 EST Dogness Intl Corp Class A trading resumes

10:16 EST Jupiter Neurosciences Inc trading resumes

10:06 EST Jupiter Neurosciences Inc trading halted, volatility trading pause

10:00 EST Amprius Technologies rises 11.5% - Amprius Technologies is up 11.5%, or 33c to $3.19.

10:00 EST Nu Skin rises 22.4% - Nu Skin is up 22.4%, or $1.47 to $8.03.

10:00 EST Boston Beer falls -6.2% - Boston Beer is down -6.2%, or -$18.70 to $282.56.

09:55 EST Jabil jumps after granting Amazon warrant to buy up to 1.16M shares - Jabil shares are up 4%, or $6.02, to $148.95 in morning trading.

09:48 EST Carvana falls -5.4% - Carvana is down -5.4%, or -$10.72 to $188.84.

09:48 EST U.S. Steel falls -6.3% - U.S. Steel is down -6.3%, or -$2.06 to $30.54.

09:47 EST ProShares UltraShort Bloomberg Natural Gas rises 7.1% - ProShares UltraShort Bloomberg Natural Gas is up 7.1%, or $3.00 to $45.13.

09:47 EST Nu Skin rises 16.6% - Nu Skin is up 16.6%, or $1.09 to $7.65.

09:39 EST Baird Medical Investment Holdings Ltd trading halted, volatility trading pause

09:28 EST Construction Partners acquires platform company in Oklahoma - Construction Partners announced that it has acquired Overland Corporation, an asphalt manufacturing and paving company headquartered in Ardmore, Oklahoma. From its eight hot-mix asphalt plants, Overland provides paving services throughout southern and western Oklahoma and northern Texas on a variety of public, commercial and residential projects.

09:20 EST Intuitive Surgical announces executive leadership promotions - Intuitive announced executive leadership promotions in support of the company's continued global growth in pursuit of its mission to advance minimally invasive care. Henry Charlton has been promoted to the role of EVP and chief commercial and marketing officer. Promoted to CCO in 2022, Charlton assumed further responsibility in 2023 for Intuitive's global marketing organization and strategy as CMO. Gary Loeb has been promoted to EVP and chief legal and compliance officer. Loeb joined Intuitive in 2022 as senior vice president and general counsel, overseeing the company's legal and governance functions, ESG reporting, and serving as CCO. Jamie Samath has been promoted to EVP, CFO and enterprise technology leader. Since joining Intuitive in 2013, Samath's scope and responsibilities have expanded across the company's financial and business functions. Samath assumed the role of chief financial officer in 2022 and became enterprise technology leader in 2024, which includes oversight of information technology, real estate and workplace services, and purchasing. Charlton will continue to report to Intuitive President Dave Rosa; Loeb and Samath will continue to report to CEO Gary Guthart. All executive leadership changes are effective immediately.

09:10 EST Jabil issued warrant for Amazon.com to acquire up to 1,158,539 ordinary shares - In a regulatory filing, Jabil (JBL) disclosed that on December 27, the company issued a warrant to Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings (AMZN) to acquire up to 1,158,539 ordinary shares of the company at an initial exercise price of $137.7671 per share, which is the preceding 30 trading day VWAP. "The Warrant allows for cashless exercise and expires December 27, 2031. The Warrant Shares are subject to vesting for payments for purchased products and services over the Warrant term, with a portion of the Warrant Shares having vested as of the Warrant issuance. Upon the consummation of an acquisition transaction, subject to certain exceptions, the unvested portion of the Warrant will vest in full. So long as the Warrant is unexercised, the Warrant does not entitle the Warrantholder to any voting rights or any other common stockholder rights. The exercise price and the number of Warrant Shares are subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments," the filing stated. Reference Link

09:05 EST Cerence up 32% at $10.40 after announcing collaboration with Nvidia

09:04 EST Euroseas announces time charter for M/V Aegean Express - Euroseas announced a new charter for its older and smaller feeder containership, M/V Aegean Express. Specifically, the charter of M/V Aegean Express has been extended in direct continuation of its existing charter for a minimum period of ten months and a maximum period of twelve months at a rate of $16,700 per day.

09:03 EST Nokia completes sale of Alcatel Submarine Networks - Nokia has concluded the sale of Alcatel Submarine Networks to the French State, represented by the Agence des participations de l'Etat. The transaction was completed on 31 December 2024. Nokia retains a 20% shareholding with board representation to ensure a smooth transition until targeted exit, at which point it is planned for the French State to acquire Nokia's remaining interest. With the sale of ASN, which is a successful, non-core standalone business, Nokia will be able to focus its Network Infrastructure portfolio on growth opportunities in its core markets. Together with the planned acquisition of Infinera - also announced in June 2024 - the divestment demonstrates Nokia's active management of its business portfolio, one of the company's six strategic pillars. Beginning with the second quarter 2024, Nokia has accounted for ASN as a discontinued operation. ASN is a French and global submarine communication networks leader, uniquely positioned in turnkey systems. It grew significantly under Nokia's stewardship and is well positioned to continue benefiting from the growth of the large and attractive subsea cables market.

08:53 EST Rivian Automotive jumps 6% to $14.03 after Q4 production/delivery figures

08:40 EST Ondas' American Robotics secures FAA BVLOS Waiver - Ondas Holdings announced its Ondas Autonomous Systems business unit's American Robotics subsidiary has secured an additional Federal Aviation Administration Beyond Visual Line of Sight waiver. Securing this additional FAA BVLOS waiver reflects the safety and strength of American Robotics' technology platforms, reinforcing its position at the forefront of autonomous drone operations and its positive partnering with the FAA. The waiver further demonstrates leadership with respect to scaling within a complex aviation regulatory environment.

08:36 EST Verizon announces 'Super Bowl FanFest' - In a first-of-its-kind event, Verizon is transforming stadiums and venues across all 30 NFL markets into a nationwide FanFest unlike any other. Fans will enjoy free celebrations on Super Bowl LIX Sunday with food and beverages from locally-owned small businesses, meet and greets with local football heroes, live local music acts, interactive games and unique football fan experiences - and in select cities, experiencing Super Bowl LIX activities on the field. Verizon customers can bring a select number of guests to FanFest to share the afternoon of celebrations with family and friends.

08:34 EST YY Group announces the acquisition of MediaPlus Venture Group - YY Group announced the acquisition of MediaPlus Venture Group, a digital marketing and web development firm based in Singapore and Malaysia. The Company anticipates that this strategic acquisition will drive a revenue growth of $20 million over the next three years. This growth will be further supported by YY Group's concurrent expansion into new markets with its manpower outsourcing business, demonstrating the Group's commitment to sustained development and diversification. As part of this acquisition, YY Group will integrate MediaPlus' team of seasoned professionals into its operations, further enriching the Group's talent pool. The collaboration will ensure a seamless transition while maintaining MediaPlus' commitment to delivering excellence in every project.

08:33 EST SiteOne Landscape joint venture acquires Pacific Nurseries - SiteOne Landscape announced that its majority-owned joint venture, Devil Mountain Wholesale Nursery, has acquired Pacific Nurseries, a wholesale distributor of nursery products with one location in Colma, California, part of the San Francisco Bay area market. This is the first acquisition in 2025 for Devil Mountain, of which SiteOne purchased a majority stake in April 2024.

08:32 EST Rivian Automotive delivers 14,183 vehicles in Q4 - Rivian Automotive announced production and delivery totals for the quarter and full-year ending December 31, 2024. The company produced 12,727 vehicles at its manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois and delivered 14,183 vehicles during the same period. On a FY24 basis, the company produced 49,476 vehicles and delivered 51,579. These figures were in line with management's full-year 2024 guidance of 47,000 to 49,000 vehicles produced and 50,500 to 52,000 vehicles delivered. In addition, the previously discussed shortage of a shared component on the R1 and RCV platforms is no longer a constraint on Rivian's production.

08:20 EST Desktop Metal granted motion for expedited trial, files second lawsuit - Desktop Metal (DM) announced that at a hearing held in the Delaware Court of Chancery on December 30, 2024, the Court granted Desktop Metal's motion for an expedited trial in the lawsuit Desktop Metal filed on December 16, 2024 against Nano Dimension (NNDM). In the lawsuit, Desktop Metal alleged that Nano Dimension has breached its obligation under the merger agreement between Desktop Metal and Nano Dimension to use reasonable best efforts to obtain regulatory approval and close the merger contemplated by the merger agreement as soon as reasonably possible. The trial is expected to be scheduled for the week of February 24. In addition, Desktop Metal announced that on December 31, 2024, it filed a second lawsuit against Nano Dimension, which also named Markforged (MKFG) as a defendant, in the Court of Chancery, alleging that Nano Dimension's September 2024 agreement to acquire Markforged, if consummated, would constitute a breach of Nano Dimension's obligation in the merger agreement to not consummate acquisitions that would reasonably be expected to increase, in any material respect, the risk of a governmental entity entering an order prohibiting, or materially delay, the consummation of the merger. At the time it was announced, Desktop Metal did not anticipate that the Markforged transaction would impact the closing of the merger because all parties anticipated that the merger would close before the Markforged transaction could close. Due to events that occurred after that time, specifically Nano Dimension's ongoing delays in obtaining CFIUS approval for the merger, Desktop Metal believes that the consummation of the Markforged Transaction would materially increase the risk of a governmental entity preventing or delaying the consummation of the merger. Desktop Metal is therefore seeking an order restraining Nano Dimension and Markforged from closing the Markforged Transaction until after the merger has closed. The merger between Desktop Metal and Nano Dimension represents a significant strategic opportunity for both companies, combining complementary strengths to create value for shareholders, employees and customers. Desktop Metal remains focused on upholding the contractual obligations agreed upon by both parties, closing the transaction and delivering on the potential of the merger. Desktop Metal is confident that a closing of the merger may be completed expeditiously.

08:13 EST Biden blocks Nippon Steel's proposed takeover of U.S. Steel - In a statement, President Joe Biden said that there is "credible evidence that leads me to believe that Nippon Steel Corporation (NPSCY), through the proposed acquisition by the Purchasers of United States Steel Corporation (X), a Delaware corporation, might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States," and adds that provisions of law "other than section 721 and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, do not, in my judgment, provide adequate and appropriate authority for me to protect the national security in this matter." Biden said that "The Purchasers and U.S. Steel shall take all steps necessary to fully and permanently abandon the Proposed Transaction no later than 30 days after the date of this order, unless such date is extended by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, on such conditions as CFIUS may require. Immediately upon completion of all steps necessary to abandon the Proposed Transaction, the Purchasers and U.S. Steel shall certify in writing to CFIUS that such abandonment has been effected in accordance with this order and that all steps necessary to fully and permanently abandon the Proposed Transaction have been completed. From the date of this order until the Purchasers and U.S. Steel provide a certification of abandonment of the Proposed Transaction to CFIUS pursuant to subsection of this section, the Purchasers and U.S. Steel shall certify to CFIUS on a weekly basis that they are in compliance with this order and include with that certification a description of all efforts to fully and permanently abandon the Proposed Transaction, and a timeline for projected completion of remaining actions necessary to effectuate the abandonment." Reference Link

08:09 EST Nixxy appoints Debra Chen Volpone as CEO - Nixxy announced the appointment of Debra Chen Volpone as CEO and a member of the Board, effective immediately. As a first step, Ms. Volpone will spearhead the recapitalization, consolidation, and digital transformation of the $11B global gift retailing industry, as it advances discussions to acquire wholesale gift agency JustGot2HaveIt, previously announced on November 1, 2024. Most recently, she served since 2013 as Director for a leading, Los Angeles-based boutique corporate communications firm.

08:06 EST D.E. Shaw releases open letter to directors of Air Products - The D. E. Shaw sent an open letter to the Board of Directors of Air Products and Chemicals expressing continued disappointment with the Board's failure to manage an effective CEO succession process "We are writing to express our continued disappointment in your failure to address shortcomings in Air Products' corporate governance that have led to a multi-year pattern of value destruction driven by the Company's current CEO, Seifi Ghasemi... Holding a CEO accountable for their performance and planning for their succession are among the most important responsibilities of any Board... This Board is failing at its core responsibilities, which, in our view, is a direct contributor ... The status quo, in our view, exposes shareholders to the risk of continued lapses in oversight, a protracted leadership transition, and the suboptimal selection of a successor all of which will likely lead to continued share price underperformance."

08:04 EST Taysha Gene Therapies announces inducement grant under Nasdaq listing rule - Taysha Gene Therapies announced that, on January 2, 2025, the Compensation Committee of Taysha's Board of Directors granted one new employee an option to purchase 311,000 shares of the Company's common stock in connection with their employment. The stock option was granted under the Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc. 2023 Inducement Plan as an inducement material to the individual entering employment with Taysha in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The stock option has an exercise price of $1.85 which is equal to the closing price of Taysha's common stock on the date of grant. The stock option has a 10-year term and will vest over four years, with 25% of the option vesting on the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date and the remaining 75% of the option vesting in equal monthly installments over the 36 months thereafter. Vesting of the stock option is subject to such employee's continued service to Taysha on each vesting date.

07:58 EST N2OFF, Solterra Brand Services Italy execute LOI for battery storage projects - N2OFF has signed a binding LOI with Solterra subsidiary, Soltera Brand Services Italy. According to the terms of the LOI the Projects will include the purchase and development of 2 Battery Storage systems in Sicily, each with a capacity of 98MWp/392MWh. The binding term sheet was executed following a none binding TS executed by the parties in November 24 2024 and after Solterra reported positive DD results. The TS outlines the framework for the purchase and development of the projects, with a total investment of up to EUR 2.35M, to be paid in milestones. Upon completion, N2OFF will hold approximately 70% ownership in the projects, further solidifying its entry into the European energy storage market. The current 2 BESS projects have already received approval for the connection capacity from Terna, which will be secured simultaneously with the closing of the transaction. The development is currently expected to take 18-24 months for these projects to reach a Ready-to-Build stage.

07:19 EST Surgeon General issues new advisory on link between alcohol and cancer risk - United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new Surgeon General's Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk, outlining the direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk. "Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity, increasing risk for at least seven types of cancer. While scientific evidence for this connection has been growing over the past four decades, less than half of Americans recognize it as a risk factor for cancer. The Surgeon General's Advisory includes a series of recommendations to increase awareness to help minimize alcohol-related cancer cases and deaths, including updating the existing Surgeon General's health warning label on alcohol-containing beverages," the Surgeon General stated. In addition to calling for an update on the Surgeon General's health warning label on alcohol-containing beverages to now include cancer risk, the Advisory makes further recommendations. "Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States - greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the U.S. - yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk. "This Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol's cancer risk and minimize harm," said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. Publicly traded companies in the alcoholic beverage space include Diageo (DEO), Constellation Brands (STZ), Boston Beer (SAM), AB InBev (BUD) and Molson Coors (TAP). Reference Link

07:03 EST Xunlei appoints JPMorgan as successor depositary for ADR program - Xunlei (XNET) has appointed JPMorgan Chase Bank (JPM) as the successor depositary for the Company's American Depositary Receipt program, effective from December 31, 2024. he Company has also entered into an amended and restated deposit agreement with J.P. Morgan to replace the previous deposit agreement. A registration statement on Form F-6 has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the change of depositary and the form of the amended and restated deposit agreement is filed as an exhibit to the Form F-6. Holders of the Xunlei's ADRs or American depositary shares issued in the ADR program are not required to take any action in connection with the change of depositary.

06:54 EST Eton Pharmaceuticals acquires Galzin - Eton Pharmaceuticals announced that it has acquired Galzin. Galzin is FDA-approved as a maintenance treatment of patients with Wilson Disease who have been initially treated with a chelating agent. It is estimated that less than 5,000 patients in the United States are currently being treated for Wilson Disease. Eton expects to assume the commercialization of the product in the United States in the first quarter of 2025 with its metabolic sales force supporting healthcare professionals who treat Wilson Disease. Once available, Eton plans to offer the product through its Eton Cares patient support program that provides high-touch, personalized service tailored for rare disease patients and their providers. The program will offer a $0 co-pay for all qualified commercial patients, provide prescription fulfillment, insurance benefits investigation, educational support, and other services designed to help patients access treatment. As part of the transaction, Eton has also acquired European rights to the product, where it is commercialized under the tradename Wilzin by a third party. Under an existing distribution agreement, Eton will continue to supply the product to the third party and the third party is responsible for all commercialization activities in Europe.

06:33 EST JBT Corp. completes settlement of voluntary takeover offer of Marel - JBT Marel Corporation announced JBT Corporation's completion of the settlement of its voluntary takeover offer to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of Marel that were validly tendered by Marel shareholders prior to the expiration of the voluntary takeover offer on December 20, 2024, at 12:00 PM GMT. Additionally, shares of the combined company, JBT Marel Corporation, began trading today under the new stock ticker symbol "JBTM" on both the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Iceland. As previously announced, Brian Deck is CEO of JBT Marel, and Arni Sigurdsson is President of the Company. In addition to Brian Deck and Arni Sigurdsson, JBT Marel will be led by a purpose-built management team comprised of executives from both JBT and Marel organizations. The Board of Directors will continue to include Alan Feldman as Chairman, Barbara Brasier, Brian Deck, Charles Harrington, Lawrence Jackson, and Polly Kawalek. Newly appointed directors include Svafa Gronfeldt, Olafur Gudmundsson, Arnar or Masson, and Ann Savage. Additionally, C. Maury Devine, former JBT Board member, has chosen to retire, effective upon settlement of the voluntary takeover offer. In connection with the settlement of the voluntary takeover offer, JBT Marel has commenced a compulsory acquisition of all shares in Marel that are not already owned by JBT Marel in accordance with Icelandic law, as further described in a notice sent to the remaining Marel shareholders on January 2, 2025. JBT Marel expects to complete and settle the compulsory acquisition in February 2025. In addition, Euronext Amsterdam and Nasdaq Iceland have approved Marel's requests to delist its shares from Euronext Amsterdam and Nasdaq Iceland. The last day of trading of Marel shares on the respective exchanges is today, January 3, 2025.

06:08 EST GSK's Nucala approved in China as add-on therapy for adults with CRSwNP - GSK announced that the China National Medical Products Administration has approved Nucala, a monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin-5, as an add-on therapy with intranasal corticosteroids for the treatment of adult patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, CRSwNP, for whom therapy with systemic corticosteroids and/or surgery do not provide adequate disease control. It is estimated that about 107 million people in China suffer from chronic sinusitis, about 1/3 of whom have chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps. Mepolizumab is already approved in China as an add-on maintenance treatment for adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older with severe eosinophilic asthma as well as for adults with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

05:27 EST ING Groep determines cash payment per share as part of current distribution - ING announced that it will pay EUR 0.161 per share on January 16, as part of the up to EUR 2.5B distribution to shareholders as announced on October 31, 2024. The amount per share has been determined based on the total cash payment of EUR 500M on December 31, 2024. Next to the cash payment, the distribution also consists of a share buyback program of up to EUR 2B which is currently being executed and is expected to end no later than April 30. The purpose of the distribution is to converge its CET1 ratio towards its target of around 12.5%.

05:12 EST U.S. Steel to create Western Pennsylvania training facility - U. S. Steel (X) announced that following the closing of its transaction with Nippon Steel (NPSCY), it plans to create a workforce training center with a multi-million dollar grant to support workforce development in Western Pennsylvania. This center will partner with local universities, colleges, trade schools and economic development organizations.