Streetbeat News

Corporate Responsibility

MO

Juul directors Nick Pritzker and Riaz Valani orchestrated a bailout of the vaping company in 2022. During that time, Juul's CEO and General Counsel raised internal concerns about potential conflicts of interest involving Pritzker and Valani. The Wall Street Journal reported this information citing sources familiar with the matter. Altria Group Inc. (MO), which has a stake in Juul, may be indirectly affected by these developments.

Portfolio Pulse from Charles Gross

January 02, 2024 | 10:33 am

IBM

Matthew Candy, IBM's Global Managing Partner for AI, suggested that a computer science degree might not be necessary for tech industry roles due to AI's evolution. AI could streamline product creation and emphasize soft skills like critical thinking and creativity. This reflects a broader trend where AI is expected to disrupt various sectors and prioritize soft skills. IBM's recent acquisitions of StreamSets and webMethods for €2.13 billion ($2.34 billion) underscore its commitment to AI and hybrid cloud, aiming to enhance its Watsonx platform with new data ingestion capabilities.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Neuro

January 02, 2024 | 9:23 am

CALM

LMDX

PALI

SPGC

WNW

Several companies are in focus heading into Tuesday with key developments: Sacks Parente Golf, Inc. (SPGC) announced the immediate resignation of its CEO, with shares dropping in after-hours trading. LumiraDx Limited (LMDX) agreed to sell its technology platform to Roche, resulting in a share price decline. Palisade Bio, Inc. (PALI) filed for a common stock offering, slightly boosting its share price. Meiwu Technology Co., Limited (WNW) reported a significant revenue surge and a decrease in net loss, leading to a share price increase. Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (CALM) plans to acquire assets from Tyson Foods, with a slight decrease in its share price after the announcement.

Portfolio Pulse from Avi Kapoor

January 02, 2024 | 7:44 am

MXCT

MaxCyte, Inc. has officially appointed Maher Masoud as its Chief Executive Officer. Masoud's leadership is expected to guide the company through its next phase of growth and development.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

January 02, 2024 | 7:29 am

TSLA

Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is offering free Supercharging in Japan's Hokuriku area for a week in response to the recent earthquake. The initiative covers Superchargers in Niigata, Ishikawa, Toyama, and Fukui prefectures, aiming to assist in the recovery process by aiding residents and relief workers with mobility. The earthquake caused significant destruction, including building collapses and power outages, and has resulted in 30 fatalities.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Neuro

January 02, 2024 | 7:26 am

MSFT

Steam, a popular game store, will no longer support Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1, affecting less than 1% of its users. The majority of Steam users are on Windows 10 and 11. Valve, Steam's creator, will also end support for macOS 10.13 and 10.14 in February 2024. This decision is in line with Steam's strategy to focus on platforms used by most of its users and is unlikely to impact Steam's overall operations significantly.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Neuro

January 02, 2024 | 7:26 am

HTGC

VRNA

Verona Pharma has secured a financing deal of up to $400 million with Oxford Finance and Hercules Capital. The company has already drawn $50 million and has the option to draw additional funds upon meeting certain conditions, including the approval of ensifentrine and achieving sales milestones. The loan terms include interest-only payments for the first 53 months, followed by principal amortization over 7 months. A $20 million draw and associated costs will be paid to Oxford upon closing.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

January 02, 2024 | 7:13 am

DIS

IBM

WBD

Fidelity has reported a 71% decrease in the value of X, previously known as Twitter, since Elon Musk's acquisition in October 2022. The value drop is linked to Musk's controversial actions and subsequent advertiser boycotts, including major companies like Walt Disney Co and IBM. Fidelity, holding equity in X, has marked down its stake to around $15 billion, a third of Musk's purchase price. Advertiser tensions heightened after Musk endorsed an antisemitic post, leading to a pause in campaigns from companies such as Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Neuro

January 02, 2024 | 6:26 am

DIS

Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters from 1928, such as Minnie Mouse and Tigger, will enter the public domain on January 1, 2024, as their copyrights expire. This allows for new creative uses of these characters without needing Disney's permission. The change applies only to the original black-and-white versions, and Disney is known for protecting its copyrights. The transition could lead to new adaptations and legal challenges for Disney.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Neuro

January 02, 2024 | 5:10 am

AAPL

Apple Watch users received personal responses from Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook after sharing stories of how the device's health features alerted them to serious heart conditions, leading to life-saving medical interventions. Michael Gallegos and Professor Christopher Oakley both experienced critical health alerts from their Apple Watches, which resulted in timely surgeries. These incidents highlight the impact of Apple Watch's health monitoring capabilities, which have previously made news for saving lives.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Neuro

January 02, 2024 | 3:01 am