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7xm shutterstock The other day I was browsing through the Daily Reckoning archives and stumbled across a March 2013 piece by our long-time contributor Jeffrey Tucker. The article was titled “Bitcoin’s Moment”, and BTC was trading at around $93 at the time. Here’s an excerpt: “Many people fear that Bitcoin is overpriced right now. This view is held even by people in the Bitcoin community who worry that a move from $15 to $93 in three months is not good for long-term viability. A crash could bring down the currency unit in devastating ways, leading to another round of debunking and clucking from the advocates of government money.” It’s fascinating to see this discussion in retrospect. And it’s true that many thought Bitcoin was overvalued at the time. It had just increased 6x in three months. Calls of “bubble” had already begun. But Tucker was bullish. “Maybe the price will keep climbing. Next month at this time, people might be kicking themselves for not getting in right now. My instincts right now tend in this direction. I’m seeing BTC at $250, then $500, and then $1,000 by year-end.” Jeffrey’s prediction of $1,000 Bitcoin by the end of 2013 came true. In late November Bitcoin briefly surpassed the key psychological barrier of $1k. Bitcoin has come a long way since then. Today the original cryptocurrency sports a $1.9 trillion market cap and trades at about $98,000 as I write this. It’s become a titan in the financial world. Kudos to Jeffrey Tucker for having the foresight to see it coming, and sharing it with our readers. But while Bitcoin itself continues to dominate headlines, one company’s bold strategy has captivated Wall Street and Main Street alike... The Curious Case of Microstrategy MicroStrategy Inc. (MSTR) has been grabbing a lot of headlines recently. The company has raised huge amounts of convertible debt to purchase Bitcoins. So far they’ve bought an incredible 423,650 Bitcoins, for a total value of about $41 billion at $98,000/BTC. Their average purchase price is around $60,000. The curious part is that Microstrategy stocks currently have a market cap of $91 billion, and only have about $41 billion worth of BTC. The underlying company isn’t worth much, perhaps a few billion. It’s basically just a vehicle that raises debt to buy Bitcoin. So why are they trading at more than 2x the value of the Bitcoin the company holds? Previously, I would have explained this by the fact that Bitcoin ETFs were unavailable, so people are just looking for a stock to play it. But that explanation no longer flies with the widespread availability of cheap ETFs. Now I think the market has simply gotten ahead of itself with regards to MSTR. It’s overvalued compared to Bitcoin at this point, and I would avoid it. Those who want to buy Bitcoin in a stock account should just buy the Fidelity (FBTC) or iShares (IBIT) ETF. If Bitcoin has a significant correction, MSTR will likely move sharply lower. And I don’t see it outperforming the underlying cryptocurrency going forward. Not worth the risk. The Trump Factor The importance of Trump winning for crypto cannot be overstated. Gary Gensler, the anti-crypto SEC head, has already announced he will resign on inauguration day. Trump has signaled that he will create a US Bitcoin Reserve Fund, consisting of the 210,000 confiscated BTC owned by the federal government. Those are coins that would have otherwise been dumped on the market, so this alone will have a significant impact. Trump also plans to end the crackdown on crypto companies, which has been a major problem for the last 4 years. With US debt and deficits soaring higher, and another wave of inflation almost certain, the stage is set for a continuing bull market in crypto.

AP News Summary at 6:42 p.m. ESTUCF is set to hire Scott Frost as its head football coach, sources confirmed to ESPN's Chris Low on Saturday, a move that reunites the Knights with one of their most successful coaches in program history. Frost led UCF from 2016 to 2017 and led a remarkable turnaround in his second year, guiding the Knights to a perfect 13-0 season and a No. 6 finish in the Associated Press poll. Frost earned national coach of the year honors for that achievement and went 19-7 in his two seasons before leaving to take over Nebraska , his alma mater, in 2018. Frost, 49, joined the Los Angeles Rams ' coaching staff in September and has not coached at the college level since he was fired by Nebraska during the 2022 season. Editor's Picks Conference championship week live: Arizona State, Boise State likely into CFP field 3h ESPN staff How the conference championship games will shake out and impact the playoff field 1d Bill Connelly The UCF job opened on Nov. 30 when Gus Malzahn resigned to become the offensive coordinator at Florida State under coach Mike Norvell, who had previously worked for Malzahn as a graduate assistant at Tulsa in 2007 and '08. Malzahn went 28-24 in four seasons in Orlando while guiding the program through its transition to Power 4 football from the AAC to the Big 12 in 2023. The Knights have finished 6-7 and 4-8 in their first two seasons in their new conference and are seeking a spark from a head coach who turned the program into an offensive powerhouse in his two seasons in charge. Frost's 2017 UCF team featured the No. 1 scoring offense in FBS at 48.2 points per game and rolled to an undefeated season and an AAC title, a rapid turnaround following a 6-7 debut season. The Knights were left out of the four-team College Football Playoff but claimed a national championship after they defeated a Malzahn-led Auburn team 34-27 in the Peach Bowl to complete its 13-0 season. Frost left at the end of the season to rebuild Nebraska. The quarterback was a two-year starter for the Huskers and led the program to a national championship in 1997, but he struggled to achieve a turnaround during his five-year tenure as head coach. The Huskers went 16-31 under his leadership and did not achieve a winning season or play in a bowl game. Frost was dismissed three games into his final season and was paid a buyout of approximately $15 million. He was out of coaching in 2023. Prior to his first head-coaching stint at UCF, Frost worked as an assistant at Oregon from 2009 to 2015 and served as their offensive coordinator in 2014 when the Ducks made a run to the CFP national title game and quarterback Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy. The Orlando Sentinel first reported that UCF was closing in on hiring Frost.

Foreign investors infuse over Rs 24,000 crore in Indian equity markets in December - The Times of IndiaWhen Katja Vogt considers a Jaguar, she pictures a British-made car purring confidently along the Italian coastline — a vision of familiarity that conveys "that dreaming, longing feeling we all love." She's not sure what to think about Jaguar now after the 89-year-old company announced a radical rebranding that featured loud colors and androgynous people — but no cars. Jaguar, the company says, will now be JaGUar. It will produce only electric vehicles beginning in 2026. Bad attention is good attention, Jaguar execs would appear to believe. The car brand has prompted mockery online for posting a glitzy ad without a single car in it. Say goodbye to British racing green, Cotswold Blue and black. Its colors are henceforth electric pink, red and yellow, according to a video that sparked backlash online. Its mission statement: "Create exuberance. Live vivid. Delete ordinary. Break moulds." "Intrigued?" @Jaguar posted on social media. "Weird and unsettled" is more like it, Vogt wrote on Instagram. "Especially now, with the world feeling so dystopian," the Cyprus-based brand designer wrote, "a heritage brand like Jaguar should be conveying feelings of safety, stability, and maybe a hint of rebellion — the kind that shakes things up in a good way, not in a way that unsettles." Jaguar was one of several iconic companies that announced significant rebrandings in recent weeks, upending a series of commercial — and cultural — landmarks by which many modern human beings sort one another, carve out identities and recognize the world around them. Campbell's, the 155-year-old American icon that artist Andy Warhol immortalized in pop culture decades ago, is ready for a new, soupless name. Comcast's corporate reorganization means there will soon be two television networks with "NBC" in their name — CNBC and MSNBC — that will no longer have any corporate connection to NBC News, a U.S. legacy news outlet. CNBC One could even argue the United States itself is rebranding with the election of former President Donald Trump and Republican majorities in the House and Senate. Unlike Trump's first election in 2016, he won the popular vote in what many called a national referendum on American identity. Are we, then, the sum total of our consumer decisions — what we buy, where we travel and whom we elect? Certainly, it's a question for those privileged enough to be able to afford such choices. Volumes of research in the art and science of branding — from "brandr," an old Norse word for burning symbols into the hides of livestock — say those factors do contribute to the modern sense of identity. So rebranding, especially of heritage names, can be a deeply felt affront to consumers. "It can feel like the brand is turning its back on everything that it stood for — and therefore it feels like it's turning its back on us, the people who subscribe to that idea or ideology," said Ali Marmaduke, strategy director with the Amsterdam-based Brand Potential. He said cultural tension — polarization — is surging over politics, wars in Russia and the Mideast, the environment, public health and more, creating what Marmaduke said is known as a "polycrisis": the idea that there are several massive crises converging that feel scary and complex. Campbell's soups "People are understandably freaked out by that," he said. "So we are looking for something that will help us navigate this changing, threatening world that we face." Trump's "Make America Great Again" qualifies. So did President Joe Biden's "Build Back Better" slogan. Campbell's soup itself — "Mmm Mmm Good" — isn't going anywhere, CEO Mark Clouse said. The company's new name, Campbell's Co., will reflect "the full breadth of our portfolio," which includes brands like Prego pasta sauce and Goldfish crackers. None of the recent activity around heritage brands sparked a backlash as ferocious as Jaguar's. The company stood as a pillar of tradition-loving British identity since World War II. The famous "leaper" cat Jaguar logo is pictured in 2019 at the Auto show in Paris, France. Jaguar said its approach to the rebrand was rooted in the philosophy of its founder, Sir William Lyons, to "copy nothing." What it's calling "the new Jaguar" will overhaul everything from the font of its name to the positioning of it's famous "leaper" cat. "Exuberant modernism" will "define all aspects of the new Jaguar world," according to the news release. The approach is thought to be aimed at selling fewer cars at a six-figure price point to a more diverse customer base. The reaction ranged from bewilderment to hostility. Memes sprouted up likening the video to the Teletubbies, a Benetton ad and — perhaps predictably — a bow to "woke" culture as the blowback intersected with politics. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.

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Strictly fans stunned as results leak and show favourite is sent home in shock eliminationA mother who needed 65 units of blood products while giving birth and was told it was “a medical miracle that I’m still here” has met the NHS staff who urgently sent blood to the hospital. Adele Darlington suffered a massive bleed while giving birth to her daughter Jasmine just before Christmas last year. “My husband was told to call in family to prepare to say goodbye, but thanks to everyone’s work I got to spend Christmas with my family and new daughter,” the mother-of-five said during an NHS appeal for Christmas and New Year blood donors. Mrs Darlington, who had placenta previa, a condition where the placenta partly or completely blocks the cervix, started bleeding during a planned C-section and lost 15 litres of blood in total. An average woman’s body contains just under five litres. After a four-hour operation during the C-section, she underwent another nine hours of surgery for a hysterectomy, tube and ovary removal and partial cervix and bladder removal. NHS Blood and Transplant’s Liverpool team had to send nine emergency orders overnight to Warrington Hospital for Mrs Darlington and other patients, as a huge team of nurses and doctors, including four surgeons operating at once, worked to save her life. To thank staff and support the Christmas appeal for blood donors, Mrs Darlington visited the regional centre which sent most of the blood for her care. Staff laid out the exact number of units of blood products she received to illustrate how much help she needed. “It was unbelievable to see the same quantity of blood that I received laid out, knowing that it took so many people to save me. I’m forever indebted to the more than 65 people who gave me the gift of life. “I never thought in a million years that this would happen to me, but trauma and the need for a lot of blood can happen to anyone at any time, including at Christmas, so I would urge anyone who is able to donate to please do so.” “By this point I’d already lost six litres of blood and it was thought that I’d stabilised, but in the recovery room it become evident that I was still internally bleeding so I was urgently rushed back into theatre,” she said. “They told me I needed a hysterectomy to save my life. “I had this sense of doom that I would not make it. “My blood pressure and heart rate were at dangerous levels. Mrs Darlington’s condition was so severe she developed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), a blood-clotting problem in trauma patients so severe it is sometimes informally referred to as ‘death is coming’. “I was told it’s a medical miracle that I’m still here,” Mrs Darlington said. She added: “I’m still on a road to recovery I am just forever grateful that I am here. I am very aware that I shouldn’t be. “All of these amazing people worked together to save me. “Blood donors might think it’s not a big thing to donate – they donate and they have a hot drink and a biscuit – but I can’t thank them enough. “I will be eternally grateful to these selfless donors who took time to voluntarily donate and ultimately save my life.” Her husband Ian, who owns a media business, has signed up as a blood donor, along with many friends and family members. “We don’t normally get to meet anyone – we work in labs for eight hours a day. I am glad she got home for her little kiddies.” Michael Kay, NHSBT blood delivery driver, said: “It was the end of my shift but I stayed on to do a blue-light delivery and it’s just amazing to find out it went to Adele”. Chris Philips, NHSBT head of hospital customer service, said: “It was incredibly moving to see Adele visit our teams because that night is very clear in their memories – they won’t forget it any time soon. “This is an amazing example of NHS teams working together but without donors none of this would have happened.” England remains in amber alert for low blood stocks. To register or book an appointment to give blood, visit blood.co.uk /, use the GiveBlood app or call 0300 123 23 23.

Brainy, 'normal guy': the suspect in US insurance CEO's slaying

J Studios Topline Summary and Update When I first covered Nuvalent, Inc. ( NASDAQ: NUVL ) back in September, they were riding serious momentum after some important updates at the ESMO congress. That momentum was coupled to a large cash raise that eliminates Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Lululemon Athletica. Our analysis of options history for Lululemon Athletica LULU revealed 12 unusual trades. Delving into the details, we found 25% of traders were bullish, while 33% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 3 were puts, with a value of $129,565, and 9 were calls, valued at $489,635. Projected Price Targets Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $260.0 to $450.0 for Lululemon Athletica over the last 3 months. Volume & Open Interest Trends Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Lululemon Athletica's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Lululemon Athletica's whale trades within a strike price range from $260.0 to $450.0 in the last 30 days. Lululemon Athletica Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days Significant Options Trades Detected: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume LULU CALL SWEEP BULLISH 03/21/25 $22.1 $21.4 $21.4 $400.00 $104.5K 1.1K 56 LULU PUT SWEEP BEARISH 12/27/24 $15.0 $12.85 $14.94 $400.00 $74.9K 159 50 LULU CALL TRADE NEUTRAL 01/16/26 $116.75 $111.45 $113.95 $310.00 $68.3K 142 6 LULU CALL SWEEP BEARISH 06/20/25 $49.8 $49.55 $49.55 $380.00 $64.4K 230 66 LULU CALL SWEEP BULLISH 01/17/25 $108.5 $104.65 $107.43 $280.00 $53.7K 837 5 About Lululemon Athletica Lululemon Athletica designs, distributes, and markets athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories for women, men, and girls. Lululemon offers pants, shorts, tops, and jackets for both leisure and athletic activities such as yoga and running. The company also sells fitness accessories, such as bags, yoga mats, and equipment. Lululemon sells its products through more than 700 company-owned stores in about 20 countries, e-commerce, outlets, and wholesale accounts. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Vancouver, Canada. Having examined the options trading patterns of Lululemon Athletica, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance Present Market Standing of Lululemon Athletica Trading volume stands at 495,677, with LULU's price up by 0.57%, positioned at $385.69. RSI indicators show the stock to be may be overbought. Earnings announcement expected in 86 days. Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days? 20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. Click here for access . Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Lululemon Athletica options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro . © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

STUNNING Jade Leboeuf defied her dad's recent 'warning' by sharing a snap on Instagram of her in glam little black dress. The gorgeous influencer , 34, looked incredible in new photos on a night out in Paris. 15 Jade Lebouef looked stunning in a little black dress in her latest Instagram post Credit: Instagram 15 Beautiful Jade has been warned by dad Frank Leboeuf about her influencer content Credit: Instagram She captioned the snap: "Petit look all black." Jade is the daughter of Chelsea and France legend Frank Leboeuf. The brunette, who is a reality TV star and model, regularly posts racy pictures of herself in revealing lingerie. The latest snaps come after dad Frank voiced his concern at his daughter's modelling career, and sullying the family name. More Jade Leboeuf news IT'S A FOUR DRAW Chelsea icon's daughter goes braless as she tries four styles of lingerie BLUE BEAUTY 'Radiant' - Chelsea legend's daughter puts on busty display in low-cut top He told French TV show Chez Jordan Deluxe: "I am not worried about Jade, but I give her warnings. "She does a job which is not one I necessarily appreciate. She is an influencer. "I always tell her: 'You've got to protect yourself, you have to know what you are doing, and why.' "If there are people who need advice and tips from my daughter, it's all well and good if she reassures them. Most read in Football IN THE HAT Full list of teams in Scottish Cup fourth round draw as Prem big guns enter SOLD FIRM Scott Brown's stunning new £2m mansion used to belong to Rangers supremo FAB FINISH Rangers loan flop scores stunner as he and unsung Scotland star take down Barca CELTIC 5 ROSS COUNTY 0 Hoops stun visitors with FIVE first half-goals despite six changes "But this all passes me by a little, as it's not something that was part of my generation. Chelsea icon's daughter flashes underwear on camera before going braless in elegant black dress to leave fans speechless "I tell her: 'Do what you want, but keep in mind that your father is well-known and you will always be Frank Leboeuf 's daughter.' "In every story about her it's 'Jade Leboeuf, Frank Leboeuf's daughter.' "So if there's a deal where she shows a bit of bare flesh, the media say: 'Frank Leboeuf's daughter strips off.' "She explains why and how she does what she does, and things are OK between us. "We speak honestly with one another about the matter. She is following a public profession, so she can't just do or say anything. "You need to take responsibility for everything you say and do. So I warn her." "So if there's a deal where she shows a bit of bare flesh , the media say: 'Frank Leboeuf's daughter strips off.' "She explains why and how she does what she does, and things are OK between us. "We speak honestly with one another about the matter. She is following a public profession, so she can't just do or say anything. "You need to take responsibility for everything you say and do. So I warn her." "So if there's a deal where she shows a bit of bare flesh, the media say: 'Frank Leboeuf's daughter strips off.' "She explains why and how she does what she does, and things are OK between us. Read more on the Scottish Sun SIP SIP HOORAY Exact time Coca-Cola truck arrives in Scotland tomorrow for Xmas tour FESTIVE CHEER Scots Xmas market tops London's Winter Wonderland as 'most stunning' in UK "We speak honestly with one another about the matter. She is following a public profession, so she can't just do or say anything. "You need to take responsibility for everything you say and do. So I warn her." Take a look inside Jade's glamorous life... 15 Jade has built up a loyal following on social media Credit: Instagram @jade_leboeuf 15 The stunning model is followed by over a quarter of a million people Credit: INSTAGRAM @jade_leboeuf 15 She regularly shares risque content Credit: Instagram @jade_leboeuf 15 The French national works as a model Credit: Instagram @jade_leboeuf 15 She was used to the limelight from an early age as the daughter of Chelsea legend Frank Leboeuf Credit: Instagram @jadeleboeuf 15 Jade describes herself as a digital creator Credit: instagram @jade_leboeuf 15 Her posts tend to draw hoards of comments with fans often describing her as 'beautiful' and 'sexy' Credit: instagram @jade_leboeuf 15 She's not afraid to wear revealing outfits Credit: jade_leboeuf/instagram 15 See-through outfits are a favourite Credit: Instagram @jade_leboeuf 15 Her father Frank played for Chelsea from 1996 to 2001 Credit: Instagram @jadeleboeuf 15 He won two FA Cups during his time in West London when Jade was still a kid Credit: Instagram @jade_leboeuf 15 He was also a World Cup winner with France in 1998, giving him legendary status in his home country Credit: INSTAGRAM @jade_leboeuf 15 Jade is now making her own way Credit: Instagram @jade_leboeufOTTAWA — U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and those in his corner continue to muse about annexing Canada, though Canadian officials have largely sidestepped those comments. In a post on the social media platform X, Eric Trump shared a doctored photo of his father purchasing Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal on Amazon, with the phrase "We are so back!!!" Since winning the presidential election in November, Trump has repeatedly referred to Canada as the "51st state." On Trump's Truth Social platform, he's also repeatedly referred to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the "governor" of Canada. Trump has also threatened 25 per cent tariffs against Canada, which has prompted discussions at both the federal and provincial levels on the best way to deal with the incoming Trump government. Carleton University professor Aaron Ettinger said federal officials have rightly been dismissing the social-media posts and maintained a "focus like a laser beam" on the real and "existential threat" of tariffs. "This strikes me as being profoundly unserious," said Ettinger, who has studied Canada-U.S. relations during the first Trump presidency. "These are taunts; these are churlish provocations that are not mature, and do not reflect just how serious the coming trade war is," he said. Ettinger said Trump is likely continually posting about Canada because it plays well to his supporters, without being seen as a real threat of annexation. "We know his moves. He makes fun of, he belittles, he mocks, because he can," he said. But he said that a vacuum of leadership in Ottawa from embattled Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is spurring "the freelancing of some of the provincial leaders" in response to Trump's comments. For example, Ontario Premier Doug Ford weighed in on Trump's postings on Dec. 18, telling media that "we'll never be the 51st state. We're Canada; we're proud to be Canadians. We'll always fight for that." Ettinger said civil society is similarly better to focus on convincing Americans to not impose damaging tariffs on Canada, instead of amping up anti-Trump rhetoric. "Canadians should worry first about what Canada's actual national interests are," he said. "We're not going to out-trash talk Donald Trump, so don't even bother trying and focus instead on the core stuff that really matters." In response to Trump's threats, the Trudeau Liberal government has unveiled a $1.3 billion spending package over six years to address Trump's threats, which concern border security and the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. Canada's ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman has repeatedly characterized Trump's comments as gentle ribbing between two close countries. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said on Dec. 13 that she has quipped to Republican senators that they could join Canada as the eleventh province. Greenland's head of government, Múte Bourup Egede, suggested that Trump's latest calls to purchase the territory from Denmark would be as meaningless as those made in his first term. "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale," he said in a statement. "We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom." Panama President José Raúl Mulino has also rebuffed Trump's musing about taking over the Panama Canal. "Every square metre of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to," he said in a video, to which Trump fired back on his social media site, "We'll see about that!" This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 24, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press

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