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Security

SPY

USO

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on two Iranian intelligence officials for recruiting individuals to target current and former U.S. government officials. The sanctions were reported by Reuters, citing an official statement.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

December 08, 2023 | 3:39 pm

SPY

USO

Around 7 mortar rounds hit the US Embassy compound in Baghdad on Friday morning, causing very minor damage according to Reuters.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

December 08, 2023 | 2:59 pm

EIS

VGK

The European Union is anticipated to impose additional sanctions against Hamas in the upcoming weeks, according to Reuters. This development may have implications for entities with exposure to the region.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

December 08, 2023 | 2:34 pm

GOOG

GOOGL

Alphabet Inc.'s Google has resolved a Google Drive bug that deleted several months of user data with a new update. Users can attempt to recover their files using two methods provided by Google. The first method involves using the Google Drive for desktop app's recovery feature, while the second method requires using command line instructions for Windows or macOS. However, there is no guarantee that all users will be able to recover their lost data.

Portfolio Pulse from Rounak Jain

December 08, 2023 | 2:13 pm

EIS

SPY

Secretary Blinken and Qatar Prime Minister Al Thani discussed the importance of preventing the conflict from spreading and committed to ongoing coordination to facilitate the return of remaining hostages and sustain humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

December 08, 2023 | 2:11 pm

BTCUSD

JPM

Sen. Elizabeth Warren expressed concerns about the dangers of cryptocurrencies, aligning with JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon's views. In a CNBC interview, she highlighted the use of crypto for illegal activities such as money laundering, terrorist financing, and drug trafficking. Warren called for an update to the Bank Secrecy Act to address these issues, referencing North Korea's use of crypto to fund its nuclear weapons program. She also commented on the SEC's role in regulating crypto markets and ensuring consumer protection.

Portfolio Pulse from Mehab Qureshi

December 08, 2023 | 12:09 pm

AMZN

MSFT

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, acknowledged he underestimated the internet's role in connecting people with false beliefs. Speaking at a fireside chat, he admitted his initial vision of the internet fostering rational debate was incorrect, citing the rise of groups like QAnon. Despite this, Gates remains optimistic about the future and the potential of AI to solve problems like labor shortages, advocating for its regulation. The article also mentions Amazon's action against QAnon-related products.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Neuro

December 08, 2023 | 10:31 am

AMZN

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) has filed a lawsuit against the REKK group and about 30 individuals for conducting a refund scam, resulting in millions of dollars in losses. The scam involved purchasing items and requesting refunds without returning them. Amazon's lawsuit details over a dozen fraudulent transactions involving high-value items. The company has invested $1.2 billion and employed 15,000 people to fight fraud, and the lawsuit is part of its broader efforts to secure its platform.

Portfolio Pulse from Ananya Gairola

December 08, 2023 | 9:16 am

Block Inc. CEO Jack Dorsey announced the pre-order availability of Bitkey, a self-custody Bitcoin wallet, in over 95 countries. Elon Musk supported the move by reiterating the crypto maxim 'Not your keys, not your wallet.' The Bitkey wallet features a three-tier security system and will integrate with Cash App and Coinbase. This announcement comes amid concerns over the security of centralized crypto platforms following several high-profile collapses.

Portfolio Pulse from Mehab Qureshi

December 08, 2023 | 9:11 am

EIS

IZRL

URGN

Following the failure to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the Gaza conflict has intensified. High-level diplomatic discussions have taken place, with President Biden and Secretary Blinken engaging with Israeli officials. Allegations of civilian casualties involving Israeli tank shells have emerged. The UN Security Council is set to meet, with the US opposing a ceasefire. Israeli stocks monitored through the iShares MSCI Israel ETF (EIS) rose slightly, while the ARK Israel Innovative Technology ETF (IZRL) and UroGen Pharma Ltd. (URGN) saw stronger gains.

Portfolio Pulse from Piero Cingari

December 07, 2023 | 9:42 pm