SEC Charges Against Binance and Binance’s Sharp Response

Gary Gensler’s SEC  Files 13 Charges Against Changpeng Zhao and His Company Binance

In a pair of press releases, one from the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the other from Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, there were charges, allegations and answers fired back and forth. The SEC named the founder and CEO of Binance, Changpeng Zhao as a defendant in the suit. Binance quickly shot back how disappointed Binance is that 13 complaints were filed against the company.

Allegations

The SEC press release indicates that they are suing Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao for misusing customers’ funds and for diverting funds to a trading entity that Zhao controlled called Sigma Chain. It further charges Sigma Chain for engaging in fraudulent trading that made Binance’s volume appear larger than it actually was.

Among the charges, Binance is also supposed to have concealed that it commingled billions of dollars in customer assets, sending them to a third-party, Merit Peak, which was owned by Zhao.  

The SEC filed the case in federal court in the District of Columbia. Binance engaged in “blatant disregard of the federal securities laws and the investor and market protections these laws provide,” the regulator wrote in its court complaint.

Source: SEC.Gov

Binance Response

Binance said in a written statement that it intends to defend its platform and denied allegations that user assets on the Binance.US platform were ever at risk. “All user assets on Binance and Binance affiliate platforms, including Binance.US, are safe and secure, and we will vigorously defend against any allegations to the contrary,” the company said. Binance.US also said it would defend itself against the litigation.

Source: PRNewswire

Binance alleges that because of their size, they are a target for the US regulator. The company expressed concerns through a press release that despite cooperating with the SEC, that a reasonable amount of time was not given on the most recent 26 different requests, and that they may have been intentionally burdensome. Binance said that despite its willingness to do whatever was necessary to address the US regulator’s concerns and take whatever reasonable steps they could, the SEC would not share any evidence it might have regarding its purported concerns, and the SEC rejected attempts at engagement, instead going straight to court. “It is now clear to us that the SEC’s goal here was never to protect investors, as the SEC has claimed—if that were indeed the case, the SEC would have thoughtfully engaged with us on the facts and in our efforts to demonstrate the safety and security of the Binance,” according to a company statement.

Channelchek will continue to follow and report on major news impacting this case and others of interest to the investment world. Various sources indicate that there does not appear to be any type of a run by customers from Binance, there are some reports that it is business as usual. Register here to receive our daily emails.

Paul Hoffman

Managing Editor, Channelchek

More Proof There is Significant Value in Biotech Stocks

Another Sign Conditions are Improving for Biotech Stocks

Biotech stocks seem to be exhibiting unusual value for any stock segment. A subset of the healthcare sector, biotechnology includes companies researching, and developing what may be the next-generation medical preventatives and treatments. There had been a huge decline in interest in the segment that coincided with FDA approval of the first Covid19 vaccine in late Summer 2021. Since then, the average price has been more than cut in half (see XBI/IBB chart) for biotechs.

The chart below is the S&P SPDR Biotech ETF and iShares Biotech ETF. They represent 280 stocks. According to an article in Barron’s dated June 4, 2023, of these, 23 (almost 10%) are trading below enterprise value (EV). Many more are on the cusp of trading right at the value of their net assets. For example, the article mentioned Atea Pharmaceuticals (AVIR), a biotech developing antiviral therapeutics for Hep-C and Covid. “If you bought all Atea’s shares and paid off all of its debt, the cash and other liquid assets remaining on its balance sheet would be worth more than what you spent,” wrote Barron’s.

Source: Koyfin

Of the 280 stocks, nearly 60 have enterprise values below $100 million – the current conditions are not sustainable. At some point, the “invisible hand” of the market is will work to correct it. Last week, Atea, which had been trading near $3.70 recently, was offered $5.75 per share. Concentra Biosciences, which is controlled by the investment fund Tang Capital Partners, made the offer with some contingencies tied to licenses or sales of Atea’s products.

The peculiar condition of the market valuing biotech companies below EV or even cash came to my attention at a RoadShow that was arranged by Noble Capital Markets that featured Cocrystal Pharma (COCP). Cocrystal has several products advancing toward clinical milestones. It was presented by a member of Cocrystals executive management team in South Florida. While the myself and the other investors became familiar with COCP’s development pipeline, and data like the rate of cash usage, the amount of cash on hand, and the market value, it became quite apparent the company had far more cash than the amount the stock market had priced the entire company. And at its cash burn rate (amount of cash used to cover expenses each month), that there might be a significant valuation disconnect.

Many believe disconnects like this will be resolved as the markets always are seeking value and seemingly mispriced companies. There are already many examples this in 2023 as big pharma either has partnered with, or outright acquired companies. This, of course, can cause the stock prices to skyrocket. In fact, while the news was focused on Silicon Valley Bank last March, Provention Bio (PRVB) shot up 258% after a deal was announced.

Smaller biotechs need money to spend on developing drugs, and can’t rely on product sales. Even with what might seem like a huge war-chest of cash, low market values have stifled the ability to raise new money. The road to the next wonder drug is long and requires management to take comfort that they can secure funds when needed.

The extent of this challenge is unique to each company. For many, since the biotech segment valuations came down from the pandemic-inspired dizzying heights,  they might have cash, but not enough to go an extended period until funding conditions improve. The offer last week by Concentra is a sign that conditions are changing. It isn’t just pharmaceutical companies shopping now for biotech bargains to own, it seems investment partnerships are also recognizing the extreme value in some companies.

For data and current information on almost 250 biotech companies, visit the biotech industry section here, on Channelchek.  

Paul Hoffman

Managing Editor, Channelchek

Sources

https://www.barrons.com/articles/biotechs-negative-enterprise-values-5e289e8e?mod=Searchresults

The Week Ahead –  Debt Limit Clouds Lift

This Week Will Feature Few Economic Releases and a Focus on Next Weeks FOMC

The week ahead is quiet on the economic release front. And there won’t be any market moving Fed president addresses to keep the market on its toes; the Fed members are in a blackout period leading up to next week’s June 13-14 FOMC meeting.

The markets can also stop talking about whether the US will default on debt as the short end of the fixed-income market will have to adjust to a sudden but short-lived increase in US Treasury bills.

Monday 6/5

  • 10:00 AM ET, Factory Orders are expected to have risen 0.8 percent in April versus March’s 0.9 percent rise. Durable Goods Orders for April, which have already been released and are one of two major components of this report, rose 1.1 percent on the month. Factory Orders are a leading indicator, it represents the dollar level of new orders for both durable and nondurable goods.
  • 10:00 AM ET, The Institute for Supply Management Services (ISM Services) is expected to be relatively steady at 52 for May after a 51.9 print in April.

Tuesday 6/6

  • Nothing Scheduled

Wednesday 6/7

  • 8:30 PM ET, International Trade in Goods and Services is expected to show a deficit of $75.4 billion for April for total goods and services trade which would compare with a $64.2 billion deficit in March. Advance data on the goods side of April’s report showed a very large $12.1 billion deepening in the deficit.
  • 10:30 AM ET, The Energy Information Administration (EIA) will be providing its scheduled weekly information on petroleum inventories, whether produced in the US or abroad. The level of inventories helps determine prices for petroleum products.
  • 3:00 PM ET, Consumer Credit is expected to have increased by $21.0 billion in April versus an increase of $26.5 billion in March. This report has surprised on the high side the last three months.

Thursday 6/8

  • 8:30 AM ET, Jobless claims for the week ending June 3 are expected to have increased to 240,000 versus 232,000 in the prior week. This has been a very closely watched report as it is expected it has indicated the Fed has room to tighten further if other data remain too strong.
  • 10:00 AM ET, Wholesale Inventories will be released as a second estimate before the final. The second estimate for April is expected to be a 0.2 percent decline, unchanged from the first estimate. Wholesale trade measures the dollar value of sales made and inventories held by merchant wholesalers. It is a component of business sales and inventories  Corporate Profits are pulled from the national income and product accounts (NIPA) and are presented in different forms.
  • 4:30 PM ET, The Federal Reserve’s  Balance Sheet has attracted additional attention as it is a good indicator of whether it is following its quantitative tightening plan, and whether there has been a significant change in banks looking to the Fed, which may mean trouble in the sector. For the week ending June 7, the Federal Reserve is expected to hold assets worth $8.386 trillion. This would be a week-on-week decline of $50.4 billion. All non-cash assets can be viewed as money that at one time was  injected into the economy as stimulation.            

Friday 6/9

  • 10:00 AM ET, The Quarterly Services Survey focuses on information and technology-related service industries. These include information; professional, scientific and technical services; administrative & support services; and waste management and remediation services. Services revenue is expected to have increased by 2.9%.

What Else

The key factors that the Fed will consider when making their decision next week at the FOMC meeting are the pace and trend of economic growth, the level of inflation, the strength of the labor market, and the risk of recession.

Additionally, the FOMC will have to determine if the moves to date will have a more substantial impact over time. Currently, inflation is not coming down, jobs are abundant relative to job seekers, and the risk of a recession over the next two quarters seems low. For these reasons, some believe the Fed will remain hawkish yet pause for this meeting. However, next week during the first day of the two-day meeting CPI (consumer inflation) will be released. It would be premature to forecast a Fed decision until the contents of that report are known.

Paul Hoffman

Managing Editor, Channelchek

43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush, will headline NobleCon19 at FAU this December. Alumni, this is your Opportunity to Attend.

And President Bush is only one of the events at your Alma Mater! NobleCon19 will feature 100+ executive team presentations and breakouts, provocative panels and keynotes, world-class networking events, and the exclusive conversation with President George W. Bush, moderated by Noble’s Director of Research. By registering below, we will keep you updated on all the happenings at and around Noble Capital Markets’ 19th Annual Emerging Growth Equity Conference – NobleCon19… for the first time hosted by Florida Atlantic University.

The objective of NobleCon19 is to build awareness for lesser-known companies that may shape the future of technology, medicine, manufacturing, retail, transportation, distribution, and natural resources. Most of the companies presenting will be public, thereby offering investment opportunities. Although institutional investors, licensed brokers and accredited investors will be in attendance, NobleCon19 is open to all individuals and organizations interested in learning more about these companies. And that, of course, includes you as an FAU Alumni!

Space is limited and demand is high. Noble is offering a special consideration for FAU Alumni to attend the entire conference and/or an exclusive invitation to attend the President George W. Bush fireside chat at little or no cost. To be considered for this extremely rare opportunity, and to receive NobleCon19 agenda updates, register below. All the companies that will attend NobleCon19 are featured on this site as well as thousands of other small-cap companies. Attendance is prioritized by the date you register. BTW Channelchek is an open-access secure site with no cost to join, and no pitches to purchase anything, ever.

REGISTER NOW FOR NOBLECON and PRESIDENT BUSH UPDATES

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Release – V2X to Participate in the Stifel 2023 Cross Sector Insight Conference

Research News and Market Data on VVX

Company Release – 6/2/2023

MCLEAN, Va., June 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — V2X, Inc., (NYSE: VVX), a leading provider of critical mission solutions and support to defense clients globally, announced that company management will address the Stifel 2023 Cross Sector Insight Conference on Wednesday, June 7, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time.

A live webcast of the briefing will be available at https://wsw.com/webcast/stifel80/vvx/1970300 and be available for replay for 30 days afterward.

ABOUT V2X
V2X builds smart solutions designed to integrate physical and digital infrastructure – from base to battlefield – by aligning people, actions, and outputs. Formed by the merger of Vectrus and Vertex, we bring a combined 120 years of successful mission support. Our lifecycle solutions improve security, streamline logistics, and enhance readiness.

The Company delivers a comprehensive suite of integrated solutions across the operations and logistics, aerospace, training, and technology markets to national security, defense, civilian and international clients. Our global team of approximately 15,000 employees brings innovation to every point in the mission lifecycle, from preparation to operations, to sustainment, as it tackles the most complex challenges with agility, grit, and dedication.

Contact Information

Investor Contact
Mike Smith, CFA
Vice President, Treasury, Corporate Development and Investor Relations
IR@goV2X.com
719-637-5773

Media Contact
Angelica Spanos Deoudes
Senior Media Strategist
Communications@goV2X.com 
571-338-5195

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/v2x-to-participate-in-the-stifel-2023-cross-sector-insight-conference-301841260.html

SOURCE SOURCE V2X, Inc.

Release – InPlay Oil Corp. Confirms Monthly Dividend for May 2023

Research News and Market Data on IPOOF

01 Jun, 2023, 19:49 ET

CALGARY, AB, June 1, 2023 /CNW/ – InPlay Oil Corp. (TSX: IPO) (OTCQX: IPOOF) (“InPlay” or the “Company”) is pleased to confirm that its Board of Directors has declared a monthly cash dividend of $0.015 per common share payable on June 30, 2023, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 15, 2023.  The monthly cash dividend is expected to be designated as an “eligible dividend” for Canadian federal and provincial income tax purposes.

About InPlay Oil Corp.

InPlay is a junior oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in Alberta focused on light oil production. The company operates long-lived, low-decline properties with drilling development and enhanced oil recovery potential as well as undeveloped lands with exploration possibilities. The common shares of InPlay trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol IPO and the OTCQX Exchange under the symbol IPOOF.

SOURCE InPlay Oil Corp.

For further information: Doug Bartole, President and Chief Executive Officer, InPlay Oil Corp., Telephone: (587) 955-0632, www.inplayoil.com; Darren Dittmer, Chief Financial Officer, InPlay Oil Corp., Telephone: (587) 955-0634

Garibaldi Resources Corp. (GGIFF) – Thoughts on the Upcoming Drill Program


Friday, June 02, 2023

Garibaldi Resources Corp. is an active Canadian-based junior exploration company focused on creating shareholder value through discoveries and strategic development of its assets in some of the most prolific mining regions in British Columbia and Mexico.

Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Building on the 2022 program. In 2022, Garibaldi tested targets from the 2021 Geotech deep-penetrating Z-Axis Tipper Electromagnetic (ZTEM) survey at the company’s E&L nickel-copper-cobalt massive sulphide project. Two holes were successful, including a deep hole which intersected two intervals of E&L gabbro more than 200 meters down plunge from previous drilling and nickel-bearing disseminated and semi-massive sulphide mineralization. The two successful drill holes are lined with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and Garibaldi intends to conduct a geophysical borehole electromagnetic (BHEM) survey to aid the 2023 drilling program. We will be interested in the outcomes from the BHEM survey, particularly if it reveals any conductors off-hole.

Upcoming drill program. Drilling in 2023 will test for mineralization associated with broad low-resistivity anomalies identified in the Geotech survey. While subject to change, the 2023 drill program will likely commence in early July and entail three to four holes at the E&L target, two holes of approximately 500 meters depth at the B1 target, and two holes at the Palm Springs property. Drilling at E&L will focus on areas within the ZTEM anomaly tested in 2022. We expect the drill program to conclude at the end of October.


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This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

NobleCon19 will Feature an Exclusive Conversation with President George W. Bush, Moderated Live by Noble Capital Markets’ Director of Research

Noble Capital Markets (“Noble”) announced today that the 43rd President of the United States and Founder of the George W. Bush Presidential Center will be featured at NobleCon19, Noble’s 19th Annual Emerging Growth Conference to be held at Florida Atlantic University, College of Business, Executive Education, December 3-5, 2023, in Boca Raton, Florida. Noble’s Director of Research, Michael Kupinski will moderate the hour-long fireside chat with President Bush.

George W. Bush served as 43rd President of the United States of America from 2001 to 2009.  As Commander in Chief, President Bush worked to expand freedom, opportunity, and security at home and abroad.  His Administration reformed America’s education system, restored robust private-sector economic growth and job creation, protected our environment, and pursued a comprehensive strategy to keep America safe after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. 

In this more casual and personable format, President Bush will discuss his time in the Oval Office and the challenges facing our nation today.

In addition to admittance to the President Bush fireside chat, attendees of NobleCon19 will be exposed to 100+ executive teams from all across North America, through formal presentations, Q&A sessions, organized breakouts and selected one-on-one meeting. Topical panel presentations, to-be-announced keynotes and networking events, and “The After” first-day evening event featuring world-class entertainment rounds out the agenda.

The objective of NobleCon19 is to build awareness for emerging growth companies that may shape the future of technology, media, telecom, medicine, manufacturing, retail, transportation and distribution, and natural resources. Most of the companies presenting will be public, thereby offering investment opportunities. Although institutional investors, licensed brokers and accredited investors will be in attendance, NobleCon19 is open to all individuals and organizations interested in learning more about these companies.  

To receive NobleCon agenda updates and registration opportunities, join Channelchek.com, Noble’s online investment community, listing more than 6,000 public emerging growth companies. This is an open-access site with no cost (ever) to join. Companies with market capitalization of $3 billion or less wishing to learn more about presenting at NobleCon19 can Inquire Here.

Please note: Some sessions of this conference are closed to the media with no personal recording, photography, or note-taking permitted.

About Noble Capital Markets

Noble Capital Markets, Inc. was incorporated in 1984 as a full-service SEC / FINRA registered broker-dealer, dedicated exclusively to serving underfollowed emerging growth companies through investment banking, wealth management, trading & execution, and equity research activities. Over the past 39 years, Noble has raised billions of dollars for companies and published more than 45,000 equity research reports. www.noblecapitalmarkets.com  contact@noblecapitalmarkets.com

About Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along the southeast Florida coast. In recent years, the University has doubled its research expenditures and outpaced its peers in student achievement rates. Through the coexistence of access and excellence, FAU embodies an innovative model where traditional achievement gaps vanish. FAU is designated a Hispanic-serving institution, ranked as a top public university by U.S. News & World Report and a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.

Media Contact:
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How to Keep AI on the Right Path

How Can Congress Regulate AI? Erect Guardrails, Ensure Accountability and Address Monopolistic Power

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman urged lawmakers to consider regulating AI during his Senate testimony on May 16, 2023. That recommendation raises the question of what comes next for Congress. The solutions Altman proposed – creating an AI regulatory agency and requiring licensing for companies – are interesting. But what the other experts on the same panel suggested is at least as important: requiring transparency on training data and establishing clear frameworks for AI-related risks.

Another point left unsaid was that, given the economics of building large-scale AI models, the industry may be witnessing the emergence of a new type of tech monopoly.

This article was republished with permission from The Conversation, a news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It represents the research-based findings and thoughts of Anjana Susarla, Professor of Information Systems, Michigan State University.

As a researcher who studies social media and artificial intelligence, I believe that Altman’s suggestions have highlighted important issues but don’t provide answers in and of themselves. Regulation would be helpful, but in what form? Licensing also makes sense, but for whom? And any effort to regulate the AI industry will need to account for the companies’ economic power and political sway.

An Agency to Regulate AI?

Lawmakers and policymakers across the world have already begun to address some of the issues raised in Altman’s testimony. The European Union’s AI Act is based on a risk model that assigns AI applications to three categories of risk: unacceptable, high risk, and low or minimal risk. This categorization recognizes that tools for social scoring by governments and automated tools for hiring pose different risks than those from the use of AI in spam filters, for example.

The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology likewise has an AI risk management framework that was created with extensive input from multiple stakeholders, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of American Scientists, as well as other business and professional associations, technology companies and think tanks.

Federal agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Federal Trade Commission have already issued guidelines on some of the risks inherent in AI. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and other agencies have a role to play as well.

Rather than create a new agency that runs the risk of becoming compromised by the technology industry it’s meant to regulate, Congress can support private and public adoption of the NIST risk management framework and pass bills such as the Algorithmic Accountability Act. That would have the effect of imposing accountability, much as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other regulations transformed reporting requirements for companies. Congress can also adopt comprehensive laws around data privacy.

Regulating AI should involve collaboration among academia, industry, policy experts and international agencies. Experts have likened this approach to international organizations such as the European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The internet has been managed by nongovernmental bodies involving nonprofits, civil society, industry and policymakers, such as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly. Those examples provide models for industry and policymakers today.

Licensing Auditors, Not Companies

Though OpenAI’s Altman suggested that companies could be licensed to release artificial intelligence technologies to the public, he clarified that he was referring to artificial general intelligence, meaning potential future AI systems with humanlike intelligence that could pose a threat to humanity. That would be akin to companies being licensed to handle other potentially dangerous technologies, like nuclear power. But licensing could have a role to play well before such a futuristic scenario comes to pass.

Algorithmic auditing would require credentialing, standards of practice and extensive training. Requiring accountability is not just a matter of licensing individuals but also requires companywide standards and practices.

Experts on AI fairness contend that issues of bias and fairness in AI cannot be addressed by technical methods alone but require more comprehensive risk mitigation practices such as adopting institutional review boards for AI. Institutional review boards in the medical field help uphold individual rights, for example.

Academic bodies and professional societies have likewise adopted standards for responsible use of AI, whether it is authorship standards for AI-generated text or standards for patient-mediated data sharing in medicine.

Strengthening existing statutes on consumer safety, privacy and protection while introducing norms of algorithmic accountability would help demystify complex AI systems. It’s also important to recognize that greater data accountability and transparency may impose new restrictions on organizations.

Scholars of data privacy and AI ethics have called for “technological due process” and frameworks to recognize harms of predictive processes. The widespread use of AI-enabled decision-making in such fields as employment, insurance and health care calls for licensing and audit requirements to ensure procedural fairness and privacy safeguards.

Requiring such accountability provisions, though, demands a robust debate among AI developers, policymakers and those who are affected by broad deployment of AI. In the absence of strong algorithmic accountability practices, the danger is narrow audits that promote the appearance of compliance.

AI Monopolies?

What was also missing in Altman’s testimony is the extent of investment required to train large-scale AI models, whether it is GPT-4, which is one of the foundations of ChatGPT, or text-to-image generator Stable Diffusion. Only a handful of companies, such as Google, Meta, Amazon and Microsoft, are responsible for developing the world’s largest language models.

Given the lack of transparency in the training data used by these companies, AI ethics experts Timnit Gebru, Emily Bender and others have warned that large-scale adoption of such technologies without corresponding oversight risks amplifying machine bias at a societal scale.

It is also important to acknowledge that the training data for tools such as ChatGPT includes the intellectual labor of a host of people such as Wikipedia contributors, bloggers and authors of digitized books. The economic benefits from these tools, however, accrue only to the technology corporations.

Proving technology firms’ monopoly power can be difficult, as the Department of Justice’s antitrust case against Microsoft demonstrated. I believe that the most feasible regulatory options for Congress to address potential algorithmic harms from AI may be to strengthen disclosure requirements for AI firms and users of AI alike, to urge comprehensive adoption of AI risk assessment frameworks, and to require processes that safeguard individual data rights and privacy.

Stocks 101: The Basics of Investing in the Stock Market

Need-to-Know for Those Starting to Dip Their Dough into the Stock Market

Maybe you’ve saved a little and know you ought to invest, or maybe school is finally out and you have time and a few dollars to build your future, but you don’t think you know enough about the world of stock market investing. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the abundance of information? It’s a big decision with many mysteries and unknowns for both newcomers, and veterans. This article aims to remove much of the mystery for new investors so you can be more confident in building a portfolio that can enhance your life plans.

Whether you become interested in small-cap stocks, growth stocks, or even IPOs, understanding key concepts such as valuing a stock, risk tolerance, investment goals, investment style, risk management, and portfolio strategy is crucial. Let’s dive in!

Set Investment Goals

Clearly defining your investment goals is essential so you can make decisions after comparing them to those goals. Are you investing for retirement, saving for a down payment on a house, or aiming for short-term gains? Your goals will influence the investment strategies you use. For example, if you’re investing for retirement and have decades of working years left, it may mean to buy and mostly hold for a long period stocks that have more potential given a long time horizon. This wouldn’t totally exclude mature companies with large market capitalizations but may include far more small and microcap opportunities than someone that is just a few years from retirement. If you are closer to retirement and don’t have as long for the growth to play out, the strategy may be to invest in large companies with stable dividends. If they throw off enough income, then an allocation of more speculative growth opportunities may make sense. This portfolio portion can allow for further growth.

Define Your Risk Tolerance

Before swimming in the deep end of investing, it’s important to assess your risk tolerance. Ask yourself how comfortable you are with potential fluctuations in stock prices. Small-cap stocks and microcaps, which represent companies with smaller market value, often offer greater growth potential, but they also come with increased volatility. Growth stocks, however, are known for their potential high returns over time, of course this could come with the cost of more volatility (sharp price moves) than established “blue-chip” stocks. Knowing your risk tolerance, or uneasiness with losing, or riding out drawdowns, versus gaining more than the potential loss (risk/reward tolerance) will help you make investment decisions aligned with your comfort level.

Determine Your Investment Style

After assessing your risk tolerance and setting goals, determine your investment style. Some investors prefer a more hands-on approach, engaging in frequent trading and closely monitoring stock market trends and evaluating stocks through websites like Channelchek. Others may prefer a more passive approach, investing in broad-based index funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that provide diversification across various stocks. Understanding your investment style will help shape your overall investment strategy.

Minimizing Risk

Investing inherently involves risk, but there are strategies to help minimize potential losses. One approach is to conduct thorough research on companies you’re considering for investment. This includes analyzing company-sponsored research, equity research reports, and equity analysis provided by reputable sources. Understanding the financial health, competitive advantages, and growth prospects of a company can help you make informed investment decisions.

Developing an Investment Portfolio Strategy

Diversification is considered key when it comes to building an investment portfolio. Investing in a variety of stocks across different sectors and market capitalizations, including small-cap stocks and growth stocks, can help spread risk and potentially increase returns. Consider allocating a portion of your portfolio to IPOs if you have a higher risk appetite. However, it’s important to exercise caution as IPOs can be volatile shortly after their public debut.

Stay Informed

Keeping up with investment news is vital for any investor. Stay updated on market trends, company announcements, and economic indicators that may impact the stock market. Many financial news outlets provide lists of “stocks to watch” or provide insights into market trends. Regularly reviewing investment news and equity research can help you stay informed, make timely investment decisions, and expose you to opportunities you may not have discovered otherwise.

Take Away

Knowing it is time to start building an investment portfolio is a good first step. Now may be the when you should implement, especially if you have a long road ahead of you and financial security is important. It will require careful consideration of your risk tolerance, investment goals, investment style, risk management techniques, and portfolio strategy. Be prepared to conduct research, analyze equity reports, and stay informed about market developments. Investing is ordinarily long-term, patience, discipline, and a well-structured portfolio are key to achieving your financial objectives.

Paul Hoffman

Managing Editor, Channelchek

What Happens to Your Stock Holding When it is Added to a Major Index?

Index Inclusion or Deletion Can Send Shockwaves Through Stocks

With the massive amount of assets in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that are geared to return the same performance as a major index, there’s been a lot of investor focus on the addition and subtraction of stocks from indexes, especially the widely followed, S&P 500, Nasdaq, Russell, and Dow Industrials. This is because many institutional investors attempt to mirror the performance of these indexes by buying the same stocks. Some funds are even required by their charter or offering prospectus to hold the same stocks. This produces “unnatural” price movements in companies as they are moved in or out of an index. Self-directed investors, not beholden to a set of investing rules, may find opportunities by recognizing, then positioning themselves before institutions are required to buy or sell a company name.

Rebalancing of the most followed indices is a reality for individual investors, so it’s good to understand the timing and dynamics, and valuing a stock based on what stock index it may be in.

Dynamics

When a stock is added to a broad index, millions or billions of investment dollars flow into that stock, typically driving its price higher. And the reverse is also true; when a stock is removed from an index, it’s often sold by fund managers, which decreases demand and causes its price to weaken. There are conflicting studies that in some cases, indicate the added strength by inclusion is short-lived, and others that indicate that the stock begins to trade with an emphasis on whether or not money is flowing into the index it is included in, or out. All studies agree that there is typically an initial change in the stock’s valuation.    

       

Timing

When a stock is added to a major index, as will happen with the Russell 3000, Russell 2000, and Russell 1000 on June 27,  it has historically had positive effects on its trading demand, this has impacted its price. As the Russell will reshuffle, or in their jargon “reconstitute” its indexes this month (June) let’s use the Russell 2000, which captures the performance of approximately 2,000 small-cap stocks in the United States. Here are the potential impacts of a stock being added to the index:

Price impact is what concerns investors most. The announcement of a stocks addition to an index can lead to a price impact. This is because investors who track the index may need to purchase the stock to align their portfolios with the index composition. The increased demand can push the stock’s price higher.

It could also lead to investor recognition or Increased Visibility. Inclusion in a major index can come with increased visibility and recognition for a company. This can attract the attention of investors, including index funds, mutual funds, and other institutional investors who track or invest in the index. As a result, the stock may experience increased trading volume and better liquidity.

Institutional buying may increase. Index funds and other institutional investors that track the Russell 2000 (or other indices) may need to purchase the stock to replicate the index’s performance. This can lead to increased buying pressure from these large investors, potentially driving the stock’s price higher.

A nod by an index can bring overall positive sentiment. Being added to a major index can create a positive sentiment around a stock, signaling that the company is growing and gaining prominence. This positive sentiment may attract additional investors who believe the stock’s inclusion in the index validates its prospects, potentially leading to further price appreciation.

Trading Activity usually escalates with inclusion. Inclusion in the Russell 2000 can result in increased trading activity as the stock becomes part of a widely tracked benchmark. More market participants are likely to trade the stock, increasing its overall trading volume.

When Are the Other (Non-Russell) Indexes Rebalanced?

While the FTSE Russell has a strict and easily understood set of rules and guidelines that make it easy to understand, the S&P, Dow, and Nasdaq also rebalance under their own timeline.

The S&P 500 is reviewed and rebalanced on a quarterly basis. During these reviews, S&P Dow Jones Indices assess the constituents of the index and consider changes based on the selection criteria and market developments. They don’t follow hard and strict rules.

The Nasdaq 100 is a market-capitalization-weighted index that includes 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq stock market. The index is maintained by Nasdaq, and its rebalancing process involves an annual evaluation to determne eligibility, and potential rebalancing.

The annual evaluation involves Nasdaq reviewing the composition of the Nasdaq 100, this typically occurs in December. During this evaluation, companies are assessed based on their market capitalization, liquidity, and other factors. The top 100 eligible companies by market capitalization become or remain constituents of the index. They must be traded n the Nasdaq exchange.

Eligibility for companies is determined by their meeting certain criteria to allow inclusion in the Nasdaq 100. These include being listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, having a minimum average daily trading volume, and meeting liquidity requirements.

If rebalancing is necessary, Nasdaq conducts this during an annual rebalancing in December. Companies that no longer meet the eligibility criteria may be removed, and new companies that meet the criteria may be added. The weightings of the index constituents may also be adjusted based on their market caps.

The Dow 30, also known as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), is a price-weighted index that represents the performance of 30 large, publicly traded companies in the United States. The index is maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices, and its rebalancing process is different from market-capitalization-weighted indices like the S&P 500 or Nasdaq 100. It includes price weighting and selective changes.

Price-weighted for the Dow 30 index is based on the stock prices of its constituents rather than their market capitalizations. The impact investors should be aware of is that higher-priced stocks have a larger impact on the index’s movements.

Selective changes is best defined knowing the Dow 30 does not undergo regular rebalancing like other indices. Instead, changes in the index composition are infrequent and typically occur when a constituent company experiences a significant corporate action, such as a merger, acquisition, or bankruptcy. When such changes occur, the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices makes a decision to replace the affected company with another suitable candidate.

It’s important to note that the impact of being added to an index can vary depending on factors such as the stock’s size, liquidity, and investor sentiment. Additionally, market conditions and investor behavior can influence the stock’s performance. Therefore, while inclusion in a major index can have positive effects, it doesn’t guarantee a specific outcome for the stock’s price. And being removed from an index may only create potential.

Take Away

There is activity surrounding stocks as they are added or deleted from a major market index. Investors should be aware of when the index is being reconstituted or altered, so they may either benefit, stand clear, or be sure that they are not in harms way. The Russell indexes will be reconstituted at the close of the last Friday of this month (June).

Paul Hoffman

Managing Editor, Channelchek

https://www.ftserussell.com/

Release – GameSquare Partners with Vivior to Help Gamers Build Healthy Screen Habits

Research News and Market Data on GAME

06/01/2023

  • Complexity Gaming and Ninja Labs Team Up with Innovative Eye Care
  • Company Vivior to Combat Digital Eye Strain that Impacts 92% of Gamers

FRISCO, TX / ACCESSWIRE / June 1, 2023 / GameSquare Holdings Inc. (“GameSquare”, or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:GAME)(TSXV:GAME), today announced a multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership with innovative Swiss vision care startup Vivior to promote healthy digital habits. Through content creation, product development, and competition, GameSquare and Vivior will raise awareness for how digital eye strain (DES), poor light exposure, bad posture, and more can impact gamers’ long-term health, wellness, and performance. Vivior will work closely with GameSquare and its subsidiaries, Complexity Gaming and recently launched innovation hub, Ninja Labs. As part of the multifaceted deal, ZONED Gaming, a GameSquare company, will also serve as Vivior’s marketing agency of record and will advise the company on its go-to-market strategy and product launch.

“Our partnership with Vivior represents GameSquare’s ongoing commitment to player care initiatives,” said Justin Kenna, CEO, GameSquare. “It’s a nod to how GameSquare’s businesses across marketing, esports, data, product development, and more can come together to create a one-of-a-kind campaign that can make an impact. Together with Vivior, we are not only empowering our aggregate audience of 500 million to excel by prioritizing their health, but also equipping the global gaming community with innovative technologies to enhance gameplay.”

Vivior will collaborate with GameSquare Chief Innovation Officer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins and Ninja Labs to develop and launch a health and wellness platform. The first-of-its-kind rewards program will introduce a gamified experience to incentivize healthy habits through giveaways, such as in-game XP’s, drops, and skins along with in real-life rewards and prizes. As part of their commitment to DES prevention, the pair will also look to jointly develop new products that address gamers’ most common pain points, including vision, screen time, posture, and blue light exposure.

“I’ve been focused on balancing gaming and wellness for a while now because the more time we spend gaming, the more important it is to take care of our long-term health,” said Blevins. “What started with me talking openly about wellness was formalized with the Team Ninja Time Out initiative, and now teaming up with Vivior is another first step to creating a more sustainable future for the next generation of gamers.”

In an effort to reinforce the importance of vision care, Ninja Labs and Vivior will also host a health and wellness-focused Fortnite tournament. The multi-day competition will see 50 duos – 25 creator teams and 25 open bracket teams – face off in a custom Vivior-branded Fortnite map.

“As young audiences continue to spend more time online looking at screens, eliminating digital visual stress is a key to living a healthy lifestyle,” said Professor Michael Mrochen, Chairman and co-founder of Vivior. “Through our multifaceted partnership with GameSquare, we’re making gamers more cognizant of how small changes to their screen usage, posture, and more can make big differences in their overall health and wellbeing.”

Vivior will additionally collaborate with Complexity’s diverse talent roster to produce sponsored content and live streams that promote the importance of practicing healthy habits while gaming, doubling down on Complexity’s long-standing commitment to talent and player care. To launch the initiative, Vivior will have a presence at Complexity’s DreamHack Dallas booth on June 2-4, where attendees can learn about their posture, DES risks, and more while competing in friendly Halo Infinite matches.

To learn more, please visit https://ninjalabs.gg/.

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About GameSquare

GameSquare Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:GAME) (TSXV:GAME) is a vertically integrated, international digital media, entertainment and technology company, which leverages an audience of over 290 million followers. GameSquare’s leading audience and platform enables global brands to connect with gaming and youth culture audiences. GameSquare’s end-to-end platform includes Code Red Esports Ltd., an esports talent agency serving the UK, GCN, a digital media company focusing on the gaming and esports audience based in Los Angeles, USA., Zoned, a gaming and lifestyle marketing agency based in Los Angeles, USA, Complexity Gaming, a leading esports organisation operating in the United States, Fourth Frame Studios, a multidisciplinary creative production studio, Mission Supply, a merchandise and consumer products business, Frankly Media, programmatic advertising, Stream Hatchet, leader in live gaming and esports streaming analytics, and Sideqik a social influencer marketing platform. For more information, please visit www.gamesquare.com.

Media and Investor Relations
Andrew Berger
Phone: (216) 464-6400
Email: IR@gamesquare.com

About Vivior

Vivior is a Swiss digital health start-up founded in 2017 by leading vision care and wearable technology experts. The company’s cutting edge wearable technology objectively measures visual behavior to improve users visual comfort and care. The system collects daily visual activity profiles, measuring light exposure, viewing distances, posture and other behavioral data. Machine-learning algorithms analyse users’ visual lifestyle patterns to provide them with valuable guidance to improve their gaming, work, and study setup also delivering recommendations for improving visual behavior to help combat digital eye strain. Vivior’s game changing vision correction solutions are personalised to an individual’s lifestyle and visual behavior of a person. This ground-breaking technology allows a better understanding of gamers’ needs and enables eye care professionals to offer optimal personalized solutions to their patients. www.vivior.com.

SOURCE: GameSquare Holdings Inc.



View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/758506/GameSquare-Partners-with-Vivior-to-Help-Gamers-Build-Healthy-Screen-Habits

Release – V2X Names Jo Ann Bjornson to Chief Human Resources Officer

Research News and Market Data on VVX

Company Release – 6/1/2023

Bjornson is a nationally recognized professional in the defense industry bringing decades of experience.

McLEAN, Va., June 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — V2X (NYSE: VVX) has named Jo Ann Bjornson to Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), effective June 1, 2023. In this role, Bjornson will be responsible for the company’s global human resources strategy and operations including talent management, recruitment, leadership development, and compensation and benefits. She will join the executive team and report to President and Chief Executive Officer, Chuck Prow.

V2X names Jo Ann Bjornson to Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer.

“We are thrilled to have a dynamic leader like Jo Ann join V2X, further strengthening our dedication to our employees during this transformative growth phase,” said Chuck Prow, V2X’s President and CEO.  “Jo Ann’s unparalleled expertise in human capital management will play a pivotal role in fostering our thriving business culture and ensuring long-term growth and success.”

Bringing more than two decades of experience, Bjornson has established herself as a leading professional in the field of recruiting, compensation, and HR business partnering. Having most recently served at Leidos, her expertise spans broad market areas including defense, intelligence, federal civilian, health, and commercial sectors. 

“I am excited to join the V2X team and a company that is deeply committed to the mission and its people,” said Bjornson. “I look forward to continuing to build an environment and workforce that thrives, embraces innovation, and achieves remarkable results.”

Bjornson earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, a Master’s degree in HR Management from Marymount University, and an Executive MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.  She recently served as Chair of the Human Resources Council of WashingtonExec and as a valued member of the Workforce and Education Executive Committee with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Her dedication to both personal and professional advancement is further evident through her past presidency and board membership of the Northern Virginia chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. 

About V2X
V2X builds smart solutions designed to integrate physical and digital infrastructure – from base to battlefield – by aligning people, actions, and outputs. Formed by the merger of Vectrus and Vertex, we bring a combined 120 years of successful mission support. Our lifecycle solutions improve security, streamline logistics, and enhance readiness.

The Company delivers a comprehensive suite of integrated solutions across the operations and logistics, aerospace, training, and technology markets to national security, defense, civilian and international clients. Our global team of approximately 15,000 employees brings innovation to every point in the mission lifecycle, from preparation to operations, to sustainment, as it tackles the most complex challenges with agility, grit, and dedication.

Media Contact
Angelica Spanos Deoudes
Senior Media Strategist
Communications@goV2X.com
571-338-5195

Investor Contact
Michael Smith
Vice President, Treasury, Corporate Development and Investor Relations
IR@goV2X.com

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SOURCE V2X, Inc.