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JPMorgan Chase, Wendy’s and more

A sign is posted in front of a Wendy’s restaurant on August 10, 2022 in Petaluma, California.

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images

Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading.

JPMorgan – Shares of the biggest U.S. bank by assets rose more than 2% after the firm posted fourth-quarter profit and revenue that topped expectations. The New York-based bank said profit jumped 6% from the year earlier period to $11.01 billion, or $3.57 per share. Interest income at the bank surged 48% on higher rates and loan growth.

Citigroup — Citigroup’s stock added more than 1% as the company reported a record fourth quarter for fixed income. The bank said net income decreased during the period by more than 21% over last year as it set aside more money for potential credit losses.

Delta Air Lines — The airline stock edged about 4% lower after the company said in its outlook that higher labor costs would hurt its first-quarter profits. Delta topped analysts’ expectations on the top and bottom lines for the fourth quarter.

Wendy’s — The fast-food chain’s stock added 5.7% after Wendy’s shared positive preliminary fourth-quarter results and announced a handful of reshuffles within its corporate structure. A regulatory filing also indicated that Nelson Peltz does not want to take over Wendy’s.

Wells Fargo – The bank stock dipped 0.1% after the firm reported shrinking profits, weighed down by a recent settlement and the need to build up reserves amid a deteriorating economy. Wells Fargo’s net income tumbled 50% to $2.86 billion from $5.75 billion a year ago. The bank set aside $957 million for credit losses after reducing its provisions by $452 million a year ago.

Bank of America —The financial stock rose less than 1% on Friday after Bank of America beat estimates on the top and bottom lines for the fourth quarter. A sharp rise in net interest income helped the results, though management cautioned that the metric could decline sequentially in the first quarter. CEO Brian Moynihan also said that a mild recession was the firm’s baseline assumption for 2023.

Virgin Galactic Holdings — The space tourism company jumped nearly 13% after it said it was on track for a commercial launch in the second quarter of 2023. The company also announced its president of aerospace systems, Swami Iyer, was leaving.

Tesla — Shares of the electric-vehicle maker shed more than 2% after being downgraded to sell from neutral by Guggenheim and cutting prices on its vehicles in the U.S. and Europe. In its downgrade, Guggenheim cited concerns with Tesla’s fourth-quarter estimates.

Bank of New York Mellon — Shares of the mid-sized bank rose 2.5% on Friday after the company reported net income of $509 million for the fourth quarter. That was down 38% year over year but up about 60% from the third quarter. That profit rose to $1.1 billion, or $1.30 per share, when excluding certain items, but it is unclear if those results were comparable to analysts’ estimates.

UnitedHealth — The health-care stock advanced more than 1% after the company surpassed Wall Street’s fourth-quarter expectations. UnitedHealth reported adjusted earnings of $5.34 a share on $82.8 billion in revenue. Analysts polled by Refinitiv expected earnings of $5.17 per share on revenues of $82.59 billion.

Lockheed Martin — The defense stock slipped more than 3% after Goldman Sachs downgraded shares to sell from a neutral rating. The firm said shares could fall if the government trims defense spending. Northrop Grumman shares also dove 5% on Goldman’s downgrade to a sell from neutral rating.

Salesforce — The software stock shed 1% following a downgrade to neutral from overweight by Atlantic Equities. The firm said the stock would likely be hurt by executive departures and slowed growth.

Logitech — Shares of the consumer electronics company dipped 3.3% after Deutsche Bank downgraded the shares to a hold from a buy rating. The decline built on Thursday’s losses after reporting preliminary results that signaled slowing sales and earnings.

Warner Music Group – Shares of Warner Music Group shed 5.5% after Guggenheim cut its rating on the stock to neutral from buy and trimmed its price target to $35 from $38, citing worries about revenue from the music streaming service.

Copa — Shares of the Latin American airline jumped 4.9% following an upgrade to overweight from a neutral rating by analysts at JPMorgan. The bank said shares could rally 50% as air travels resurges.

AutoNation — AutoNation’s stock fell 4.3% as Wells Fargo downgraded the automotive retailer to equal weight from an overweight rating, saying that its valuation looks “reasonable” and estimates look too high.

— CNBC’s Jesse Pound, Yun Li, Michelle Fox, Alex Harring and Carmen Reinicke contributed reporting

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Twitter, Bank of America, Charles Schwab and more

In this photo illustration, the Twitter logo is displayed on the screen of an iPhone in front of a computer screen displaying Twitter logos.

Chesnot | Getty Images

Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading.

Twitter — Shares rose 3.4% after Twitter announced Friday that the board adopted a limited duration shareholder rights plan, often referred to as a “poison pill.” The move comes after billionaire Elon Musk offered to buy the company for $43 billion.

Bank of America — Shares for the investment bank jumped more than 3% after Bank of America reported an earnings beat on Monday. Bank of America topped expectations in the first quarter with earnings of 80 cents per share and $23.33 billion in revenue, helped by strength in consumer lending. Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv expected earnings of 75 cents per share and $23.2 billion in revenue.

Bank of New York Mellon — Shares fell 3.6% after the company’s revenue missed Wall Street estimates. Revenue came in at $3.93 billion, while the Refinitiv consensus estimate was $3.97 billion. The bank topped earnings estimates by a penny per share.

Synchrony Financial – Shares of the financial services firm advanced more than 4% after the company reported a beat on quarterly profit and revenue estimates. The board also approved a $2.8 billion addition to the company’s stock buyback plan and a 5% dividend increase to 23 cents per share.

Charles Schwab — Shares of Charles Schwab fell 8.8% after missing analyst estimates on the top and bottom lines in the first quarter. The company reported earnings per share of 77 cents on $4.67 billion in revenue. Analysts expected 84 cents per share on revenue of $4.83 billion.

Southwest Gas — The utility stock rose 7.7% after Southwest Gas said its board had authorized the review of a full range or strategic alternatives, after receiving what it called an “indication of interest” well in excess of investor Carl Icahn’s $82.50 per share offer.

Didi Global — Shares dropped 17.3% after the China-based ride-hailing firm reported a 12.7% drop in fourth-quarter revenue compared with a year earlier. The company announced a shareholding meeting would be held on May 23 to vote on delisting from the New York Stock Exchange.

Sirius XM Holdings — The satellite radio stock shed 2.9% after a downgrade to underweight from Morgan Stanley. Production issues for new cars, which are a major area of new subscribers for Sirius, could hurt the stock, Morgan Stanley said.

Wendy’s — Shares of the fast-food chain dipped 2.7% after BMO downgraded Wendy’s to market perform from outperform. The firm said in a note to clients that Wendy’s would suffer from a squeeze on consumer spending caused by inflation.

Progressive — Shares of the company fell 2.1% after Piper Sandler downgraded the insurance company to underweight from neutral. “We think PGR’s stock reflects too much optimism about how fast rising auto insurance prices will improve PGR’s profits. We anticipate PGR will miss future earnings expectations,” Piper Sandler said.

Gap — Shares rose 1% after Morgan Stanley upgraded Gap to equal weight from underweight. The firm said the downside in Gap shares is already “priced in.”

— CNBC’s Jesse Pound, Sarah Min, Samantha Subin and Tanaya Macheel contributed reporting

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Twitter, Sirius XM, Nektar Therapeutics and more

Take a look at some of the biggest movers in the premarket:

Twitter (TWTR) – Twitter shares jumped 4.5% in the premarket after the company’s board of directors adopted a so-called poison pill to prevent Tesla (TLSA) CEO Elon Musk from increasing his stake in the company past 15%. That follows Musk’s $54.20 per share bid for Twitter last week.

Sirius XM (SIRI) – The satellite radio operator’s stock fell 2% in premarket trading after Morgan Stanley downgraded it to “underweight” from “equal-weight.” Morgan Stanley said auto market headwinds would negatively impact Sirius XM, and also noted the stock’s outperformance over the past year.

Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) – The drugmaker’s shares cratered 24.4% in the premarket after it halted all trials involving its key cancer drug. The experimental treatment did not produce the desired results in multiple studies.

Bank of America (BAC) – Bank of America reported quarterly profit of 80 cents per share, 5 cents a share above estimates. Revenue also topped Street forecasts on strength in consumer lending. Bank of America shares rose 1.1% in the premarket.

Bank of New York Mellon (BK) – The bank beat estimates by a penny a share, with quarterly earnings of 86 cents per share. Revenue was essentially in line with analysts’ predictions. Its results were helped in part by higher interest rates.

Synchrony Financial (SYF) – The financial services company reported quarterly profit of $1.77 per share, beating the consensus estimate of $1.54 a share. Revenue came in above estimates as well.  Synchrony’s board also approved the addition of $2.8 billion to the company’s stock buyback plan as well as a 5% dividend increase to 23 cents per share.  Synchrony added 1% in the premarket.

Southwest Gas (SWX) – The utility said its board had authorized the review of a full range or strategic alternatives, after receiving what it called an “indication of interest” well in excess of investor Carl Icahn’s $82.50 per share offer.

Didi Global (DIDI) – Didi shares posted an 18.3% premarket loss after the China-based ride-hailing firm reported a 12.7% drop in fourth-quarter revenue compared to a year earlier. Didi also said a shareholding meeting would be held on May 23 to vote on delisting from the New York Stock Exchange.

Wendy’s (WEN) – Wendy’s fell 1.8% in the premarket after BMO Capital downgraded the restaurant operator’s stock to “market perform” from “outperform.” BMO said Wendy’s is less well-positioned for a tighter consumer spending environment than some of its industry peers.

Progressive (PGR) – Progressive was downgraded to “underweight” from “neutral” at Piper Sandler, which thinks the insurance company is likely to miss consensus earnings estimates due to too much optimism surrounding rising auto insurance rates. Progressive fell 1.6% in the premarket trading.

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Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Travelers and more

Take a look at some of the biggest movers in the premarket:

Procter & Gamble (PG) – The consumer products giant beat estimates by 2 cents a share, with quarterly earnings of $1.61 per share. Revenue also topped Wall Street forecasts. P&G said it was facing increasing commodity and transportation costs, however, and its shares fell 1.1% in the premarket.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) – J&J shares rose 1% in premarket trading after the company reported quarterly profit of $2.60 per share, 25 cents a share above estimates. Revenue was slightly below analysts’ forecasts. J&J also raised its full-year outlook, noting strength across all its businesses.

Travelers (TRV) – The insurance company’s stock jumped 3.3% in premarket action after it beat top and bottom line estimates for the third quarter. Travelers earned $2.60 per share, well above the $1.67 a share consensus estimate, helped by strong investment and underwriting results.

Bank of New York Mellon (BK) – The bank came in 3 cents a share ahead of estimates, with quarterly earnings of $1.04 per share. Revenue also came in above consensus, benefiting from funds released from credit loss provisions, as well as increased fee income.

Halliburton (HAL) – The oilfield services company matched forecasts, with quarterly profit of 28 cents per share. Revenue fell short of analysts’ predictions. Halliburton results were helped by rising oil prices, and the company expects that trend to continue. Its shares fell 1% in premarket trading.

Walmart (WMT) – Walmart added 1.9% in the premarket after Goldman Sachs added the retailer’s stock to its “Conviction Buy” list, citing the company’s increasing ability to generate earnings growth.

Philip Morris International (PM) – The tobacco producer came in 3 cents a share ahead of estimates, with quarterly earnings of $1.58 per share. An increase in shipment volumes helped revenue rise above forecasts as well.

Alibaba (BABA) – Alibaba announced it has developed a custom computer chip that the China-based tech giant will use to power its data center servers. The chip will not be available for use outside of Alibaba. The stock gained 1.8% in the premarket.

BioNTech (BNTX), Pfizer (PFE), Moderna (MRNA) – The drugmakers are on watch list after multiple reports that the Food and Drug Administration was set to approve “mix and match” Covid-19 vaccine booster doses this week, allowing people to receive boosters with a different vaccine than they originally received. BioNTech jumped 2.7% in premarket trading, while Moderna added 1.8%.

Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBGI) – Sinclair is still working to contain a cybersecurity breach that disrupted operations throughout its TV broadcast stations and networks. The company said it could not yet determine if the disruption will have a material impact on its financial results.

Zions Bancorp (ZION) – Zions beat estimates by 10 cents a share, with quarterly earnings of $1.45 per share. The bank’s revenue fell below Wall Street forecasts. Zions said loan demand has recovered after several weak quarters. Its stock slid 2.1% in the premarket.

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Morgan Stanley, AIG, AMC, UnitedHealth and others

Check out the companies making headlines before the bell:

Morgan Stanley (MS) – Morgan Stanley beat estimates by 20 cents with second-quarter earnings of $1.85 per share, while revenue topped forecasts as well, helped by an acceleration in investment banking activity. Despite the beat, Morgan Stanley shares fell 1.6% in the premarket.

American International Group (AIG) – AIG shares surged 5% in premarket trading after it announced a deal to sell a 9.9% stake in its life insurance and retirement services unit to Blackstone (BX) for $2.2 billion. The deal also calls for Blackstone to manage an initial $50 billion in assets backing AIG’s life insurance policies and annuities, increasing to about $100 billion over the next six years.

AMC Entertainment (AMC) – AMC tumbled another 6.2% in the premarket after the movie theater operator’s stock fell for the fourth straight day and the eighth time in nine sessions Wednesday. The skid was capped by a 15% drop in yesterday’s session, bringing its total loss over that time to about 41%.

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) – The health insurer saw its second-quarter profit fall by more than a third from a year ago, as consumers resumed elective medical care that they had postponed due to the pandemic. However, UnitedHealth did beat estimates on the top and bottom lines, earning an adjusted $4.70 per share compared to a consensus estimate of $4.43.

Bank of NY Mellon (BK) – Bank of NY Mellon beat estimates by 13 cents with quarterly earnings of $1.13 per share and revenue topping estimates as well. Its board also reauthorized the repurchase of up to $6 billion in common stock.

Truist Financial (TFC) – The bank that resulted from the 2019 merger of SunTrust and BB&T reported an adjusted quarterly profit of $1.55 per share, beating the $1.19 consensus estimate, while revenue also came in above Wall Street projections. Results were helped by strong fee and wealth management income, among other factors.

US Bancorp (USB) – US Bancorp earned $1.28 per share for the second quarter, 14 cents above estimates, with revenue beating estimates as well. Its results got a boost from an improving economy which helped boost credit and debit card revenue and allowed it to lower its credit loss provision.

Norton LifeLock (NLOK) – Norton LifeLock is in talks to buy fellow cybersecurity firm Avast, in a deal that would expand Norton’s presence in consumer software. Avast said the two sides were in advanced discussions about a possible cash-and-stock deal. Norton LifeLock fell 2.6% in the premarket.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) – Johnson & Johnson is recalling some batches of its Neutrogena and Aveeno spray sunscreen products after benzene was found in some samples. Johnson & Johnson said benzene – which can potentially cause cancer – is not used in the manufacture of the products and it is investigating how it wound up in some products. Shares fell 1% in the premarket.

General Motors (GM) – NHSTA urged owners of about 50,000 Chevy Bolts to park outside after charging the electric vehicles, due to fire risks. GM, which makes the Bolt, had issued a similar warning earlier in the day about vehicles from the 2017 to 2019 model years.

Netflix (NFLX) – Netflix hired former Facebook executive Mike Verdu to lead its video games unit, as it steps up efforts to grow beyond its flagship video streaming business. The stock rose 1.8% in premarket action.

Beyond Meat (BYND) – Beyond Meat opened an online store in China on e-commerce platform JD.com (JD), as it tries to boost sales of its plant-based meat alternatives in that country.

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Intel, GameStop, ViacomCBS & more

Take a look at some of the biggest movers in the premarket:

Intel (INTC) – Intel said it would spend $20 billion to build two new plants at existing facilities in Arizona, in an effort to grab more market shares and fill gaps created by a worldwide chip shortage. Intel aims to start production at the new plants by 2024. Intel shares rose 4% in premarket trading, while shares of competitor Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) fell 2.1% following Intel’s announcement.

GameStop (GME) – GameStop reported quarterly earnings of $1.34 per share, missing forecasts by a penny a share. Revenue also came in below consensus. The videogame retailer did not address the Reddit-fueled trading frenzy in its stock during its earnings conference call, but in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing said it was considering the idea of raising money by selling shares to fund its ongoing transformation. The stock tumbled 12% in premarket trading.

ViacomCBS (VIAC) – The media company’s shares fell another 7% in the premarket after sinking 9.1% Tuesday on news of a $3 billion stock offering.

General Mills (GIS) – The food producer fell 2 cents a share shy of Wall Street forecasts, with quarterly earnings of 82 cents per share. Revenue exceeded estimates and General Mills said expects demand for food at home to remain elevated relative to pre-pandemic levels. Its shares were down 1.9% in the premarket.

Winnebago (WGO) – The company’s shares gained 3.7% in premarket action after the recreational vehicle maker reported quarterly profit of $2.12 per share, compared to a $1.42 a share consensus estimate. Revenue topped analysts’ forecasts and Winnebago saw a nearly 6 percentage point expansion in gross margins during the quarter.

Adobe (ADBE) – Adobe beat estimates by 35 cents a share, with quarterly profit of $3.14 per share. The software company’s revenue came in above estimates as well and Adobe issued strong current-quarter and full-year earnings guidance on strength in its flagship Creative Cloud suite and other cloud-based offerings. Adobe rose 1.2% in premarket action.

Amazon.com (AMZN) – Amazon named Adam Selipsky as CEO of its Amazon Web Services unit, effective when current chief Andy Jassy replaces Jeff Bezos as Amazon CEO later this year. Selipsky had been an executive at Amazon Web Services to become CEO of Tableau Software, which has since been acquired by Salesforce.com (CRM). Amazon rose 1% in premarket trading.

Bank of New York Mellon (BK) – The bank’s shares climbed 1.3% in the premarket following a double upgrade from Bank of America Securities to “buy” from “underperform.” BofA said its call is based on attractive valuation as well as an improving profit outlook.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) – Exxon Mobil’s debt ratings were downgraded by rating agency Moody’s to Aa2 from Aa1, pointing to the energy giant’s aim to maintain its dividend. Moody’s said that policy will slow debt reduction at Exxon Mobil.

AMC Entertainment (AMC) – AMC shares fell another 2.1% in premarket trading following Walt Disney’s (DIS) announcement that it would delay the release of its “Black Widow” movie by two months, and offer it simultaneously in theaters and on its Disney+ service for a fee. The movie theater operator’s shares had plummeted 14.7% yesterday and 10.3% on Monday.

Steelcase (SCS) – Steelcase earned 6 cents per share for its latest quarter, compared to a consensus estimate of a 1 cent per share loss. The office furniture maker’s revenue came in above forecasts as well. The company gave a weaker-than-expected forecast, however, as demand for office products continues to be weak. Its shares lost 3.4% in the premarket.

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Bitcoin surpasses $60,000 in record high as rally accelerates

Representation of the virtual currency Bitcoin is seen on a motherboard in this picture illustration taken April 24, 2020.

Dado Ruvic | Reuters

Bitcoin crossed a record high of $60,000 on Saturday morning, continuing its rally as major companies and financial institutions adopt cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency, was at $60,415.34 as of 7:25 a.m. ET, according to Coinbase, recovering from a dip at the end of February that followed a previous record high that month.

The digital currency is up 963% over the last 12 months, according to Coinbase. Its value surpassed $1 trillion last week for the second time this year.

Bitcoin’s rally is driven partly by increased adoption by larger institutional investors and firms and speculative demand. Tesla has purchased $1.5 billion worth of bitcoin and plans to accept the digital coin as payment for its products, a decision that sparked more widespread interest.

Mastercard also said it will open up its network to some digital currencies. And PayPal and BNY Mellon have made some moves into the space.

Bitcoin believers argue that the current rally is fueled by demand from institutional investors and is different than past rallies, such as when bitcoin skyrocketed to nearly $20,000 in late 2017 before losing about 80% of its value the next year.

Others argue that bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have no intrinsic value and worry that bitcoin could be one of the biggest stimulus-fueled market bubbles on record.

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Forget bitcoin — fintech is the ‘real Covid-19 story,’ JPMorgan says

A woman uses a Bitcoin ATM machine placed within a safety cage on January 29, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain.

Cesc Maymo | Getty Images

Bitcoin is an “economic side show” and fintech innovation is the story that will dominate financial services, according to JPMorgan.

Analysts at the bank said that, despite bitcoin’s monster rally, the cryptocurrency is still beset by a number of issues that may prevent it from becoming a mainstream asset.

“Bitcoin prices have continued their meteoric rise with Tesla, BNY Mellon and Mastercard’s announcements of greater acceptance of cryptocurrencies,” JPMorgan said in a research note last week.

“But fintech innovation and increased demand for digital services are the real Covid-19 story with the rise of online start-ups and expansion of digital platforms into credit and payments.”

Bitcoin has gained traction with major Wall Street banks and Fortune 500 companies, a development which has boosted its price and saw it hit $1 trillion in market value last week.

Investors have drawn comparisons between bitcoin and gold, viewing the former as a new digital store of value thanks to its limited supply — the total number of bitcoins that will ever exist is capped at 21 million.

JPMorgan’s own strategists say that bitcoin could rally as high as $146,000 as it competes with gold as a potential hedge against inflation in the coronavirus crisis.

Still, skeptics remain unconvinced. Economists like Nouriel Roubini say that bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have no intrinsic value. And a recent Deutsche Bank survey said investors view bitcoin as the most extreme bubble in financial markets.

Digital gold?

JPMorgan’s strategists said current bitcoin prices appear to be “unsustainable” unless the cryptocurrency becomes less volatile. They added their $146,000 price target hinged on bitcoin’s volatility “converging to that of gold,” which would likely take years to happen.

Meanwhile, cryptocurrencies have “questionable diversification benefits” and rank as the “poorest hedge” against significant drops in stock prices, JPMorgan’s analysts said.

JPMorgan has been making a push into blockchain technology with its own cryptocurrency called JPM Coin and a new business unit called Onyx.

The rise of digital finance and demand for fintech alternatives is the “real financial transformation story of the Covid-19 era,” according to JPMorgan.

“Competition between banks and fintech is intensifying, with Big Tech possessing the most potent digital platforms due to their access to customer data,” the bank said.

“‘Co-opetition’ between ‘Fin’ and ‘Tech’ players lies ahead, with banks stepping up investment to narrow the technology gap, and the battle between US banks and non-bank fintech is also playing out on the regulatory front.”

Major tech firms like Apple and Google have shown increased interest in financial services lately. Apple launched its own credit card in partnership with Goldman Sachs, while Google is letting its users open checking accounts following a tie-up with Citigroup.

“Traditional banks could emerge as endgame winners in the digital age of banking due to their advantage from deposit franchise, risk management and regulation,” JPMorgan said.

Digital banking has boomed in the coronavirus era, with large lenders and fintechs alike seeing a surge in adoption as people are spending more time at home due to public health restrictions.

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Elon Musk says bitcoin seems high after surpassing $1 trillion market cap

Elon Musk, Founder and Chief Engineer of SpaceX, speaks during the Satellite 2020 Conference in Washington, DC, United States on March 9, 2020.

Yasin Ozturk | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Saturday that bitcoin prices “seem high” after the cryptocurrency surged to another record high this week.

The price of bitcoin, the world’s most popular cryptocurrency, crossed a major milestone Friday after the market value reached more than $1 trillion, leaving some major backers surprised. Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, also hit record highs.

“Money is just data that allows us to avoid the inconvenience of barter,” tweeted Musk, a major proponent of digital currencies. “That data, like all data, is subject to latency & error. The system will evolve to that which minimizes both.”

In a following post, Musk added, “that said, BTC & ETH do seem high lol,” in a response to a user who said gold was better than both bitcoin and cash.

Bitcoin was trading at under $54,000 per coin Friday as it hit the new level, and rose above $55,000 later in the session, according to Coin Metrics. The cryptocurrency was trading above $57,000 on Saturday. The price of bitcoin has gained roughly 350% during the past six months.

Ethereum also hit a record $2,040.62 for a weekly gain of roughly 12%. It was trading at $1,996 on Saturday.

The bitcoin surge was driven partly by increased adoption by major investors and companies. Bank of New York Mellon said this month that it was moving into the space.

Tesla also converted some of its balance sheet cash into bitcoin earlier this year and said it would begin accepting the digital currency as payment, a move that triggered even more interest in the currency.

— CNBC’s Jesse Pound contributed reporting

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Morgan Stanley May Bet on Bitcoin in $150 Billion Investment Arm

A $150 billion Morgan Stanley investing arm known for its prowess in picking growth stocks is considering adding Bitcoin to its list of possible bets.

Counterpoint Global, a unit of Morgan Stanley Investment Management that’s racked up wins in mutual-fund rankings, is exploring whether the cryptocurrency would be a suitable option for its investors, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Moving ahead with investments would require approval by the firm and regulators.

Morgan Stanley’s affirmation would put the heft of an almost-century-old marquee Wall Street name behind a volatile asset class that’s still struggling to win acceptance in much of the traditional financial industry. But a four-fold jump in four months has stoked customers’ interest, making the digital asset even harder to ignore.

After catching the attention of hedge fund moguls including Alan Howard and Paul Tudor Jones, cryptocurrencies have recently made headway with more mainstay firms such as Mastercard Inc. and Bank of New York Mellon Corp. Just this week, Tesla Inc, the leading maker of electric cars, also got behind Bitcoin with a $1.5 billion investment and plans to start accepting the cryptocurrency as payment.

A spokeswoman for Morgan Stanley declined to comment. The review could ultimately result in Morgan Stanley opting to stay away from Bitcoin. Previous rallies in the cryptocurrency have also attracted flurries of Wall Street interest only to fizzle.

Read more: Mastercard to allow some crypto in digital asset boom

Much of the industry’s skepticism centers on Bitcoin’s unpredictable price swings and the lack of things it can buy more than a decade since its creation. But faithful followers have felt vindicated this year. Billions of dollars have been pouring into the cryptocurrency through vehicles including the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust.

Even institutional investors, barred by the rules of their funds from holding Bitcoin directly, have turned to such trusts. For Wall Street firms, an inability to offer Bitcoin to those clients raises the risk of losing them to other managers. That may spark fresh discussions in the industry about opening up to the asset.

Counterpoint Global, led by Dennis Lynch, has expanded with a simple-sounding mantra of betting on unique companies whose market value can increase significantly. Enthusiasts would argue that approach fits well with Bitcoin.

The group oversees about 19 funds, of which five delivered gains in excess of 100% in 2020. Its mutual funds have consistently made the top tier of rankings in recent years. Last year’s unusually high returns were aided by bets on companies benefiting from the pandemic, such as e-commerce and streaming entertainment. Prominent investments included Amazon.com Inc., Shopify Inc., Slack Technologies Inc., Zoom Video Communications Inc. and Moderna Inc.

Despite its size, the group relies on concentrated investments and has stakes in just about 200 companies.

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