OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Seeks Multi-Trillion Investment for AI Chip Development

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is reportedly seeking multi-trillion dollar investments to transform the semiconductor industry and accelerate AI chip development according to sources cited in a recent Wall Street Journal article. The ambitious plan would involve raising between $5 to $7 trillion to overhaul global chip fabrication and production capabilities focused on advanced AI processors.

If secured, this would represent the largest private investment for AI research and development in history. Altman believes increased access to specialized AI hardware is crucial for companies like OpenAI to build the next generation of artificial intelligence systems.

The massive capital infusion would allow a dramatic scaling up of AI chip manufacturing output. This aims to alleviate supply bottlenecks for chips used to power AI models and applications which are currently dominated by Nvidia GPUs.

Altman has been open about the need for expanded “AI infrastructure” including more chip foundries, data centers, and energy capacity. Developing a robust supply chain for AI hardware is seen as vital for national and corporate competitiveness in artificial intelligence in the coming years.

OpenAI has not confirmed the rumored multi-trillion dollar amount. However, Altman is currently meeting with investors globally, especially in the Middle East. The government of the United Arab Emirates is already onboard with the project.

By reducing reliance on any single vendor like Nvidia, OpenAI hopes to foster a more decentralized AI chip ecosystem if enough capital can be deployed to expand production capacity exponentially. This ambitious initiative points to a future where specialized AI processors could become as abundant and critical as microchips are today.

The semiconductor industry may need to prepare for major disruptions if OpenAI succeeds in directing unprecedented investment towards AI infrastructure. While Altman’s tactics have drawn criticism in the past, he has demonstrated determination to position OpenAI at the forefront of the AI chip race.

Altman ruffled some feathers previously by making personal investments in AI chip startups like Rain Neuromorphics while leading OpenAI. This led to accusations of conflict of interest which contributed to Altman’s temporary removal as CEO of OpenAI in November 2023.

Since returning as CEO, Altman has been working diligently to put OpenAI in the driver’s seat of the AI chip race. With billions or even trillions in new capital, OpenAI would have the funds to dominate R&D and exponentially increase chip production for the AI systems of tomorrow.

If realized, this plan could significantly shift the balance of power in artificial intelligence towards companies and nations that control the means of production of AI hardware. The winners of the AI era may be determined by who can mobilize the resources and infrastructure to take chip development to the next level.

Release – YS Biopharma Announces US$40 Million Private Placement Financing

Research News and Market Data on YS

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Feb. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — YS Biopharma Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: YS) (“YS Biopharma”) along with its subsidiaries (“YS Group” or the “Company”), a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, manufacturing, and delivering new generations of vaccines and therapeutic biologics for infectious diseases and cancer, today announced that it has entered into a share purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with an institutional investor (the “Purchaser”) for the private placement of 95,269,762 ordinary shares of the Company, par value US$0.00002 per share (the “Shares”) at a purchase price of $0.41986 per Share (the “Private Placement”) for an aggregate of US$40 million in proceeds.

Dr. David Shao, Director, President, and CEO of the Company, commented, “We are proud to announce the US$40 million private placement, exclusively through the issuance of ordinary shares. Through equity financing, without issuance of any warrants or options, we empower our investors with direct ownership, aligning their interests with the interests of existing shareholders striving for the long-term success of YS Biopharma. This infusion of capital significantly improves and strengthens our balance sheet. It bolsters our cash position, enhances liquidity, and provides additional financial resources to support our core operations and business growth.”

The Shares being purchased are exempted from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) pursuant to Regulation S promulgated thereunder. The Private Placement was made after the dismissal of the injunction order granted by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands dated December 22, 2023. The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants of the Company and the Purchaser, and customary indemnification provisions for a transaction of this type. The Company also granted the Purchaser customary registration rights with respect to the Shares. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale of these securities would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical or current fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding the expected growth of the Company, the development progress of all product candidates, the progress and results of all clinical trials, the Company’s ability to source and retain talent, and the cash position of the Company. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of YS Biopharma’s management and are not predictions of actual performance.

YS Biopharma cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those included under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 20-F, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties and other important factors in the Company’s subsequent filings with the SEC. There may be additional risks that YS Biopharma does not presently know or that YS Biopharma currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent the views of YS Biopharma as of the date of this press release. Subsequent events and developments may cause those views to change. However, while YS Biopharma may update these forward-looking statements in the future, there is no current intention to do so, except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of YS Biopharma as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Except as may be required by law, YS Biopharma does not undertake any duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations Contact

Robin Yang
Partner, ICR, LLC
Tel: +1 (212) 537-4035
Email: YSBiopharma.IR@icrinc.com

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SOURCE YS Biopharma Co., Ltd.

Labrador Gold Corp. (NKOSF) – Highlights of the 2023 Hopedale Exploration Program


Friday, February 09, 2024

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.

Excitement builds around Hopedale. The district-scale 100% owned Hopedale property in Labrador covers a 43-kilometer strike length of the Florence Lake greenstone belt. The company is targeting greenstone hosted orogenic gold and komatiite hosted nickel. To date, eight occurrences have been identified reflecting multiple mineralization styles, including orogenic gold, magmatic nickel sulfide, copper-silver vein, and zinc-rich volcanogenic massive sulfide. Labrador Gold released results of its 2023 exploration program which underscored the property’s prospectivity and resource potential across a variety of metals.

Fire Ant and Rusty Ridge. High grade gold grab samples containing up to 106 grams per tonne were discovered at a new occurrence, Fire Ant, that has been traced over a strike length of ~200 meters and brings the number of significant gold occurrences on the property to five. Labrador extended an anomalous nickel area at Rusty Ridge to 550 meters and identified a new anomalous nickel area, Last Resort, over a strike length of 1.6 kilometers.


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AstraZeneca Shares Drop Despite Strong 2024 Outlook

Shares of pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca fell over 6% despite the company projecting double-digit growth for 2024. Investors were disappointed by AstraZeneca missing Q4 earnings expectations due to rising costs. However, smaller healthcare firms may offer more upside potential.

AstraZeneca reported fourth quarter core earnings per share of $1.45, below analyst estimates of $1.50. Higher research and development costs weighed on profits. Meanwhile, total revenue edged above expectations at $12.02 billion.

The company expects low double-digit percentage increases in both total revenue and core earnings per share in 2024. This robust guidance is driven by AstraZeneca’s oncology and rare disease drugs.

However, shares dropped as investors focused on the earnings miss and product mix in the latest quarterly results. While AstraZeneca maintains a strong long-term outlook, its scale and mature product portfolio limit rapid growth.

This has led some investors to turn their attention to younger healthcare companies in search of higher growth potential. Smaller biotechs and emerging medtech firms can offer more upside, albeit with higher risk.

For example, cancer immunotherapy developer Silverback Therapeutics went public in late 2020 and has seen its stock price triple over the last year. The company is advancing treatments that harness the body’s immune system to fight cancer.

Other high-growth areas include digital health, where newly public firms like GoodRx are disrupting pharmacy and drug pricing. And healthcare tech provider Oak Street Health has surged over 200% since its 2020 IPO.

These younger healthcare firms tend to have higher volatility compared to big pharmas like AstraZeneca. But their focus on new innovations and faster growth in underpenetrated markets make them appealing for growth-oriented investors.

However, due diligence is required as many of these stocks go on to underperform or even fail. Factors like clinical trial results, regulatory approvals, and market adoption can make or break emerging health stocks.

Diversification across multiple companies can help mitigate the risk. Investing in a healthcare-focused ETF is one method to gain diversified exposure to both mature drugmakers and higher-growth emerging stocks.

Additionally, many biotech and medtech IPOs have been impacted by the 2022/2023 bear market. This offers an opportunity for investors to buy promising stocks at lower valuations.

Overall, AstraZeneca maintains a healthy long-term outlook supported by its deep pipeline of new drugs. But near-term headwinds like rising costs and the latest earnings miss dragged shares lower.

This illustrates how even strong incumbent firms face challenges sustaining rapid growth. For investors seeking higher growth potential, carefully selected emerging healthcare stocks can provide more upside.

However, realizing this potential requires thorough due diligence. Not all emerging companies succeed, making diversification and patience key when investing in new healthcare names. But buying into the right stocks early can result in tremendous gains over the long-term.

The health sector’s constant innovation ensures exciting new companies will continue disrupting incumbents. While mature pharmas like AstraZeneca play a key role in the market, fast-growing upstarts are where outsized returns often lie.

US Treasury Yields Rise on Jobs Data

U.S. Treasury yields climbed higher on Thursday following the release of better-than-expected jobs data and recent commentary from Federal Reserve officials suggesting fewer interest rate cuts in 2024.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose over 6 basis points to 4.16%, while the 2-year Treasury yield added around 3 basis points to hit 4.45%. Yields move opposite to prices.

This rise in Treasury yields indicates bond investors are selling Treasuries, pushing the prices down and yields up, as expectations shift for future Fed policy.

The catalyst behind the latest move was a new Labor Department report showing initial jobless claims for unemployment insurance decreased to 218,000 last week. This reading came in below economist estimates of 220,000 claims and suggests ongoing resilience in the job market.

With employers holding onto workers and unemployment remaining low, it signals the labor market remains fairly tight. A tight job market gives the Fed less room to aggressively cut interest rates to spur economic growth.

The jobs data follows recent commentary from multiple Fed officials about interest rate policy in 2024.

Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari said this week he expects only 2-3 rate cuts by the Fed next year, rather than his prior estimate of up to 5 cuts.

Similarly, Fed Governor Lisa Cook said she anticipates “a couple” of rate cuts in 2024 as inflation continues to moderate.

Markets are now scaling back expectations for the pace and magnitude of rate reductions next year.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell fueled this reassessment last week when he stated policymakers plan to take a cautious approach to cutting interest rates. He said they will be closely monitoring incoming economic data.

Powell’s remarks broke from his previously more dovish tone and put a damper on market hopes for a rate cut as early as March this year.

With the Fed’s benchmark rate currently at 4.5-4.75%, less aggressive rate cuts mean higher rates, and thus yields, for longer. This is the primary factor pushing Treasury yields higher right now.

The next major data point that could shift rate cut expectations will be January’s Consumer Price Index reading due next week.

If the CPI shows inflation pressures moderating further, it will boost the case for fewer Fed rate hikes. On the other hand, a hotter inflation print could put rate cuts later in 2024 back on the table.

Beyond the CPI, Treasury yields will remain sensitive to economic data releases, Fed official speeches, and signals about quantitative tightening in the coming months.

Quantitative tightening, the Fed’s move to reduce its balance sheet after years of asset purchases, is another form of monetary policy tightening along with rate hikes. The pace of QT could impact yields.

For now, Treasuries and the yield curve may face upward pressure if the labor market and consumer spending hold up better than expected. This gives the Fed room to keep rates higher for longer to ensure inflation continues trending down.

In turn, investors will demand higher yields on bonds to compensate for reduced expectations of the Fed cutting rates, driving yields upwards across the curve.

The direction yields take from here will come down to the interplay between incoming economic data and how Fed officials interpret it with regards to their tightening cycle. The months ahead will bring more clarity on whether the Fed can achieve a soft landing.

Release – ISG to Announce Fourth-Quarter Financial Results

Research News and Market Data on III

2/8/2024

STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a leading global technology research and advisory firm, said today it will release its fourth-quarter and full-year financial results on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at approximately 4:15 p.m., U.S. Eastern Time.

The firm will host a conference call with investors and industry analysts at 9 a.m., U.S. Eastern Time, the following day, Friday, March 8. Dial-in details are as follows:

  • The dial-in number for U.S. participants is +1 (855) 761-5100.
  • International participants should call +1 (646) 307-1088.
  • The security code to access the call is 1749973.

Participants are requested to dial in at least five minutes before the scheduled start time.

A recording of the conference call will be accessible on ISG’s website (www.isg-one.com) for approximately four weeks following the call.

About ISG

ISG (Information Services Group) (Nasdaq: III) is a leading global technology research and advisory firm. A trusted business partner to more than 900 clients, including more than 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is committed to helping corporations, public sector organizations, and service and technology providers achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm specializes in digital transformation services, including automation, cloud and data analytics; sourcing advisory; managed governance and risk services; network carrier services; strategy and operations design; change management; market intelligence and technology research and analysis. Founded in 2006, and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG employs more than 1,600 digital-ready professionals operating in more than 20 countries—a global team known for its innovative thinking, market influence, deep industry and technology expertise, and world-class research and analytical capabilities based on the industry’s most comprehensive marketplace data. For more information, visit www.isg-one.com.

Source: Information Services Group, Inc.

Release – Vera Bradley, Inc. Announces Reporting Date For Fourth Quarter And Fiscal Year 2024 Results

Research News and Market Data on VRA

Feb 8, 2024

FORT WAYNE, Ind., Feb. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vera Bradley, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRA) (the “Company”) today announced that it plans to report results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 3, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its financial results at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time that same day. A live webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, www.verabradley.com. Alternatively, interested parties may dial into the call at (877) 407-0779, and enter the access code 13742953. A replay will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call and remain available through March 27, 2024. To access the recording, listeners should dial (844) 512-2921, and enter the access code 13742953.

ABOUT VERA BRADLEY, INC.

Vera Bradley, Inc. operates two unique lifestyle brands – Vera Bradley and Pura Vida. Vera Bradley and Pura Vida are complementary businesses, both with devoted, emotionally connected, and multi-generational female customer bases; alignment as causal, comfortable, affordable, and fun brands; positioning as “gifting” and socially-connected brands; strong, entrepreneurial cultures; a keen focus on community, charity, and social consciousness; multi-channel distribution strategies; and talented leadership teams aligned and committed to the long-term success of their brands.

Vera Bradley, based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a leading designer of women’s handbags, luggage and other travel items, fashion and home accessories, and unique gifts. Founded in 1982 by friends Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller, the brand is known for its innovative designs, iconic patterns, and brilliant colors that inspire and connect women unlike any other brand in the global marketplace.

In July 2019, Vera Bradley, Inc. acquired a 75% interest in Creative Genius, Inc., which also operates under the name Pura Vida Bracelets (“Pura Vida”). Pura Vida, based in La Jolla, California, is a digitally native, highly engaging lifestyle brand founded in 2010 by friends Paul Goodman and Griffin Thall. Pura Vida has a differentiated and expanding offering of bracelets, jewelry, and other lifestyle accessories. The Company acquired the remaining 25% of Pura Vida in January 2023.

CONTACTS:
Investors:
Julia Bentley
jbentley@verabradley.com

Media:           
877-708-VERA (8372)                                
Mediacontact@verabradley.com

Release – Cadrenal Therapeutics Appoints Jeff Cole as Chief Operating Officer In Advance Of Tecarfarin Phase 3 Pivotal Trial

Research News and Market Data on CVKD

PONTE VEDRA, Fla., Feb. 8, 2024 — Cadrenal Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CVKD), a biopharmaceutical company developing tecarfarin, a novel Vitamin K Antagonist (VKA) for unmet needs in anticoagulation (blood thinning) therapy, today announced the appointment of Jeff Cole to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Mr. Cole will be responsible for the Company’s manufacturing and supply chain operations, intellectual property, commercialization strategies, and supporting partnering activities for tecarfarin.

Mr. Cole brings over 25 years of experience in global pharmaceutical manufacturing and commercial operations, finance, and corporate development to the Company. This includes senior executive roles at both private and publicly-traded companies such as Espero BioPharma, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (now Bausch Health Companies), and Legacy Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Cole co-founded Espero, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the late-stage development and commercialization of medicines to treat cardiovascular diseases, and served as Board Director, President, and Chief Financial Officer where he was responsible for the company’s supply chain, commercialization, and multiple licensing and M&A transactions.

“Jeff is an extremely accomplished pharmaceutical operations executive with a deep understanding of product development, manufacturing, and commercialization. His experience will serve Cadrenal well as we advance our tecarfarin clinical program and evaluate partnering opportunities,” commented Quang Pham, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cadrenal Therapeutics.

While at Valeant, Mr. Cole held roles of increasing responsibility, including as General Manager, Vice President of Corporate Development, and Chief Financial Officer of North America, where revenue more than tripled during his tenure. As General Manager at Valeant, Mr. Cole managed a division of U.S. prescription and OTC products across multiple therapeutic areas with responsibility for product development, supply, and commercial operations. Prior to the pharmaceutical industry, Mr. Cole served as Principal in the Financial Management Consulting practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

“I am excited to be joining the team at Cadrenal at a pivotal time when demand is increasing for a new anticoagulation therapy to address the unmet needs for patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and those with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and atrial fibrillation (AFib),” added Jeff Cole. “I look forward to leveraging my experience to advance tecarfarin to the market and help those underserved patient groups.”

Mr. Cole holds an MBA with honors from the University of Michigan and a BS in accounting from the University of Southern California.

ABOUT CADRENAL THERAPEUTICS, INC.

Cadrenal Therapeutics is developing tecarfarin for unmet needs in anticoagulation therapy. Tecarfarin is a late-stage novel oral and reversible anticoagulant (blood thinner) to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and deaths due to blood clots in patients with certain medical conditions. Tecarfarin has orphan drug and fast track designations from the FDA for the prevention of systemic thromboembolism (blood clots) of cardiac origin in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and atrial fibrillation (AFib). Cadrenal is also pursuing additional regulatory strategies for unmet needs in anticoagulation therapy for patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and those with thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Tecarfarin is specifically designed to leverage a different metabolism pathway than the oldest and most commonly prescribed Vitamin K Antagonist (warfarin). Tecarfarin has been evaluated in eleven (11) human clinical trials and more than 1,000 individuals. In Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 2/3 clinical trials, tecarfarin has generally been well-tolerated in both healthy adult subjects and patients with chronic kidney disease. For more information, please visit: www.cadrenal.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Any statements contained in this press release about future expectations, plans, and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements.” These statements include statements regarding the Mr. Cole’s experience serving the Company well as it advances its tecarfarin clinical program and evaluates partnering opportunities and leveraging Mr. Cole’s experience to advance tecarfarin to the market and help underserved patient groups. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the expected contribution from Mr. Cole and the ability to advance tecarfarin with patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), thrombotic APS, and those with AFib and ESKD and the other risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the Company’s subsequent filings with the SEC, including subsequent periodic reports on Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and, except as required by federal securities laws, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

For more information, please contact:

Cadrenal Therapeutics:
Matthew Szot, CFO
858-337-0766
press@cadrenal.com

Investors:
Lytham Partners, LLC
Robert Blum, Managing Partner
602-889-9700
CVKD@lythampartners.com

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SOURCE Cadrenal Therapeutics, Inc.

Release – Dev Kit Updates Unlock New Potential for User Generated Content in ARK Survival Ascended

Research News and Market Data on SNAL

February 8, 2024 at 8:38 AM EST

CULVER CITY, Calif., Feb. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Snail, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAL) (“Snail” or “the Company”), a leading, global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment today announced the introduction of game-changing updates to ARK: Survival Ascended’s dev kit, setting the stage for an influx of creativity and customization within the ARK universe.

ARK Survival Ascended’s “Custom Cosmetic” system is a feature that takes player expression to new levels. This innovative update empowers players to apply user-generated costumes to characters and dinosaurs, while also enabling the creation of skins for armor, weapons and all the game’s structures. Beyond the aesthetic appeal, this system introduces new functionalities, including network messaging and limited persistent replicated data storage. The introduction of this system allows for visual variety and functional enhancement through player-created cosmetics, all achieved seamlessly without the need for server updates or loading onto a server. In early February 2024, phase 1 of the system will be activated, allowing players to manually install Custom Cosmetic Mods, unlocking a realm of creative expression on Official Servers. Ultimately, Custom Cosmetic Mods will be automatically downloaded in the background when encountered during gameplay; this automatic download feature is set to go live Q2 2024.

As a glimpse into the creative potential of the dev kit update, Snail Games, Studio Wild Card, and OverWolf offered a sneak peek into “Super ARK Bros,” a two-player side-scroller example mod set to be released early February. This work-in-progress showcases a simple game framework, independent of ARK: Survival Ascended’s gameplay code. This serves as an example of how creators will be able to utilize Unreal Engine 5 to craft their own unique games, with the freedom to make as many or as few changes as they desire, all of which can be released on ARK Survival Ascended.

But that’s not all. In celebration of love, Snail Games is delighted to announce that this year’s “Love Evolved” Valentine’s Day event, will become a permanent fixture as a mod within ARK: Survival Ascended. Survivors can feel the love in the air whenever they desire!

“These updates mark a pivotal moment in the evolution of ARK: Survival Ascended,” says Jim Tsai, Chief Executive Officer of Snail, Inc. “The introduction of the Custom Cosmetic system and the simple game framework on the ARK SDK represent our unwavering commitment to providing continuous support to our modding community. We can’t wait to witness the incredible creations our community will bring to life.”

Snail Games invites players to embrace these transformative changes and anticipates a dynamic and vibrant future for user generated content in ARK: Survival Ascended.

About Snail, Inc.

Snail is a leading, global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment for consumers around the world, with a premier portfolio of premium games designed for use on a variety of platforms, including consoles, PCs and mobile devices.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” “may,” “predict,” “continue,” “estimate” and “potential,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this press release and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Snail’s intent, belief or current expectations. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of Snail’s business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, plans and objectives. The statements Snail makes regarding the following matters are forward-looking by their nature: growth prospects and strategies; launching new games and additional functionality to games that are commercially successful, including the launch of ARK: Survival Ascended, ARK: The Animated Series and ARK 2; expectations regarding significant drivers of future growth; its ability to retain and increase its player base and develop new video games and enhance existing games; competition from companies in a number of industries, including other game developers and publishers and both large and small, public and private Internet companies; its relationships with third-party platforms such as Xbox Live and Game Pass, PlayStation Network, Steam, Epic Games Store, the Apple App Store, the Google Play Store, My Nintendo Store and the Amazon Appstore; expectations for future growth and performance; and assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.

Investors:

investors@snail.com

Press:

media@snail.com

Release – Labrador Gold Announces New Discovery With Assays of 106 g/t Au and 20.4g/t Ag at Fire Ant Zone, Hopedale Project

Research News and Market Data on NKOSF

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

TORONTO, Feb. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Labrador Gold Corp. (TSX.V:LAB | OTCQX:NKOSF | FNR: 2N6) (“LabGold” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the results of the 2023 exploration program at its 100% owned Hopedale Project in Labrador. The district scale Hopedale property covers a 43km strike length of the Florence Lake greenstone belt which has characteristics typical of greenstone belts around the world but has been underexplored by comparison.

Highlights

  • Fire Ant gold occurrence
  • high-grade gold up to 106g/t with 20.4g/t Ag in rock grab samples
  • mineralization traced over approximately 200 metres strike length
  • Rusty Ridge and Last Resort nickel occurrences
  • anomalous Ni area at Rusty Ridge extended to 550m
  • rock samples up to 0.28% Ni and soil samples up to 0.23% Ni
  • Identified a new anomalous nickel area (Last Resort) over a strike length of 1.6km coincident with a significant magnetic high
  • Jasmine zinc occurrence
  • anomalous zinc zone identified over 400m at Jasmine with values up to 0.97% Zn in rock and 0.22% in soil
  • Jasmine also shows high copper and gold values indicating potential for volcanogenic style mineralization
  • Thurber Boundary copper occurrence
  • highest copper in soil value (3,493 ppm) found on the property to date identified in a 400m anomalous trend
  • Eight occurrences identified on the Hopedale project to date reflecting multiple mineralization styles including orogenic gold, magmatic Ni sulphide, copper-silver vein and Zn-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide

Significant gold and silver in rock grab samples was found in the Rusty Ridge area with a high of 106g/t Au and 20.4 g/t Ag, 3.7g/t Au and 4.9g/t Ag and 2.9g/t Au and 4.7g/t Ag. This newly discovered mineralization named the Fire Ant occurrence, is hosted in gossanous felsic volcanic rocks close to the contact with ultramafic volcanic rocks and has been traced over a strike length of approximately 200 metres.

Work during 2022 found significant nickel anomalies in soil and rock at an area named Rusty Ridge. The anomalies occur in ultramafic rocks indicating potential for magmatic nickel style mineralization. One of the goals of the 2023 exploration program was to follow up and extend these anomalies. A total of 14 grab samples of rock assayed over 0.1% Ni and included values up to 0.28% Ni while nickel values in soil up to 2,271ppm (0.23%) show a significant northeast-southwest trend extending the anomalous area over 550m. Approximately 1.2km south of Rusty Ridge, anomalous nickel in soil samples was outlined over a 1.6km strike length and is coincident with a significant magnetic high. Six of the samples assayed over 1,000ppm (0.1%) Ni with a high of 2,271ppm (0.23%) Ni. Limited rock sampling showed assays of 0.28%, 0.17% and 0.16% Ni in grab samples in this area named Last Resort.

The highest copper value in soil (3,493ppm) on the property to date was recorded at Thurber Boundary, where it forms a northeast-southwest trend over approximately 500 metres. The location of the soil anomaly is in a similar stratigraphic location, close to the contact of mafic and ultramafic volcanic rocks, as the high grade (3.31% Cu over 0.76m and 1.55% Cu over 1m in channel samples) Kaapak copper occurrence approximately 3 kilometres to the south.

In addition to the copper, nickel and gold found during the exploration program, anomalous zinc was found in soil samples (up to 0.22%) and rock (up to 0.97%) in the Jasmine area. The anomalous zone extends over approximately 400 metres and is coincident with a contact highlighted by a change from magnetic high to magnetic low. The Jasmine area is also known to have high copper and gold values indicating potential for volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits.

“Our 2023 exploration program over the district scale Hopedale property confirmed the significant prospectivity of the Rusty Ridge area for nickel associated with ultramafic rocks and identified a new area, Last Resort, with similar potential for magmatic sulphide type mineralization,” said Roger Moss, President and CEO of Labrador Gold. “The highest grade gold found on the property to date, 106g/t Au and 20.4g/t Ag, was sampled at a new occurrence, Fire Ant, in the Rusty Ridge area and brings the number of significant gold occurrences on the property to five. Potential for zinc-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide was identified at Jasmine as well as a significant copper in soil anomaly at Thurber Boundary. Work conducted by LabGold at Hopedale demonstrates that the Florence Lake greenstone belt contains many of the same mineralization styles seen in some of the most productive greenstone belts elsewhere in the world.”

Figure 1. Location of the nickel, copper, gold and zinc occurrences on the Hopedale Property.

Figure 2. Highlights of nickel in soil and rock samples over Rusty Ridge and Last Resort Occurrences.

Figure 3. Location of high-grade gold mineralization at Fire Ant occurrence.

Table 1. Highlights of rock samples assays from 2023 exploration program.
Note that grab samples are selective samples and may not be representative of the
mineralization found on the property. n/a = not assayed.

QA/QC

Rock samples comprise grab samples, which are selective samples and not necessarily representative of mineralization found on the property. Samples were securely stored prior to shipping to analytical labs for assay. Rock samples were assayed at Eastern Analytical Laboratory in Springdale, an ISO/IEC17025 accredited laboratory for gold by standard 30g fire assay with atomic absorption finish as well as by ICP-OES for an additional 34 elements. Additional samples were sent to SGS Canada for whole rock assays by borate fusion XRF and ICP-MS/AES. Soil samples were submitted to SGS for gold by standard 30g fire assay with atomic absorption finish as well as ICP-MS for an additional 48 elements. The company submits blanks and certified reference standards amounting to 5% of each sample batch.

Qualified Person

Roger Moss, PhD., P.Geo., President and CEO of LabGold, a Qualified Person in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101, has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this release.

The Company gratefully acknowledges the Newfoundland and Labrador Ministry of Natural Resources’ 2023 Junior Exploration Assistance (JEA) Program and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Critical Minerals Assistance for its financial support for exploration of the Hopedale property.

About Labrador Gold
Labrador Gold is a Canadian based mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and exploration of prospective gold projects in Eastern Canada.

Labrador Gold’s flagship property is the 100% owned Kingsway project in the Gander area of Newfoundland. The four licenses comprising the Kingsway project cover approximately 12km of the Appleton Fault Zone which is associated with numerous gold occurrences in the region. Infrastructure in the area is excellent located just 18km from the town of Gander with road access to the project, nearby electricity and abundant local water. LabGold is drilling a projected 100,000 metres targeting high-grade epizonal gold mineralization along the Appleton Fault Zone with encouraging results.

The Hopedale property covers much of the Florence Lake greenstone belt that stretches over 60 km. The belt is typical of greenstone belts around the world but has been underexplored by comparison. Work to date by Labrador Gold show gold anomalies in rocks, soils and lake sediments over a 3 kilometre section of the northern portion of the Florence Lake greenstone belt. Four gold occurrences lie along this trend, three of which Thurber North, TD500 and Thurber South were discovered by LabGold. Anomalous gold in soil and lake sediment samples also occur over approximately 40 km along the southern section of the greenstone belt. LabGold’s recent exploration has also demonstrated the potential for the critical metals copper, nickel and cobalt in the belt.

The Company has 170,009,979 common shares issued and outstanding and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol LAB.

For more information please contact:
Roger Moss, President and CEO     Tel: 416-704-8291

Or visit our website at: www.labradorgold.com

Twitter: @LabGoldCorp

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release .

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. When used in this document, the words “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including those factors discussed in filings made by us with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties, such as actual results of current exploration programs, the general risks associated with the mining industry, the price of gold and other metals, currency and interest rate fluctuations, increased competition and general economic and market factors, occur or should assumptions underlying the forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, or expected. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements .

Photos accompanying this announcement are available https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8a0c3e70-db79-489e-83cd-422c36fdf94c

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5c0857d1-5daa-4f05-91d5-e261830d2674

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Release – Orion Group Holdings, Inc. to Report Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results on Wednesday, February 28

Research News and Market Data on ORN

Feb 08, 2024

Conference Call to be held Thursday, February 29 at 8:00 a.m. Central Time

HOUSTON, Feb. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Orion Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ORN) (the “Company”), a leading specialty construction company, today announced that it will issue its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023, on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, after the close of the stock market.

A conference call and audio webcast with analysts and investors will be held the next day, February 29, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time/9:00 a.m Eastern Time to discuss the results and answer questions.

Live conference call: 844-481-2994

Live and archived webcasthttps://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=YsBXYWPw or the Company’s website at Orion Group Holdings, Inc. – Investor Relations & Shareholder Contact (oriongroupholdingsinc.com)

About Orion Group Holdings, Inc.

Orion Group Holdings, Inc., a leading specialty construction company serving the infrastructure, industrial and building sectors, provides services both on and off the water in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and the Caribbean Basin through its marine segment and its concrete segment. The Company’s marine segment provides construction and dredging services relating to marine transportation facility construction, marine pipeline construction, marine environmental structures, dredging of waterways, channels and ports, environmental dredging, design, and specialty services. Its concrete segment provides turnkey concrete construction services including place and finish, site prep, layout, forming, and rebar placement for large commercial, structural and other associated business areas. The Company is headquartered in Houston, Texas with regional offices strategically located across its operating areas. (oriongroupholdingsinc.com)

Contact:

Financial Profiles, Inc.
Margaret Boyce
310-622-8247
mboyce@finprofiles.com

Digital, Media & Technology Industry Report: Expecting A Bounce In TV Stocks As The Dust Settles

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Jacob Mutchler, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the bottom of the report for important disclosures

A proposed new sports streaming service. The Walt Disney Company, Fox Corporation, and Warner Bros. Discovery announced that it plans to launch a new live sports streaming service in the fall 2024. The new service is expected to be offered directly to consumers through an app on a subscription basis. 

A lot to work out. There are a number of variables that need to be worked out, including the pricing of the new services. Recent media reports have the streaming service priced at a hefty $40 per month. The app will not include all sports programming and is expected to target sports fans that do not subscribe to a pay-TV package. As such, there will be a limited audience and could even help to expand the reach of local TV stations. 

An over-reaction? Television stocks, including our current covered companies, E.W. Scripps (SSP) and Gray Television (GTN) dropped 24% and 15%, respectively. Investors seem to expect that the new service will be a threat to the companies’ retransmission revenue. And, in the case of Scripps, investors may believe that the new potential service will be in competition of Scripps’ Sports strategy.

Impact on Retrans revenue? The service could accelerate cable subscriber declines, but cord cutters likely will subscribe to a virtual service or connected TV for local channels. Such a move would be neutral to TV broadcasters given that broadcasters are paid Retrans on these platforms as well.  In terms of Scripps Sports, we believe that it likely will not affect its local sports strategy and that it could offer opportunities for partnerships on it national sports strategy. 

 Compelling opportunity. We believe that the sell-off in TV stocks is over done. There appears to be a favorable risk/reward relationship for an industry cycling into an improving fundamental story in 2024, with the influx of high margin Political advertising, a swing toward favorable Retrans revenue growth, lowered debt leverage, and compelling stock valuations. Our favorites are E.W. Scripps and Gray Television. Please see our recent reports on SSP and GTN for stock valuations, ratings, price targets and important disclosure information. 

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This publication is intended for information purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to buy/sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy/sell any security mentioned in this report, nor shall there be any sale of the security herein in any state or domicile in which said offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or domicile. This publication and all information, comments, statements or opinions contained or expressed herein are applicable only as of the date of this publication and subject to change without prior notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Noble accepts no liability for loss arising from the use of the material in this report, except that this exclusion of liability does not apply to the extent that such liability arises under specific statutes or regulations applicable to Noble. This report is not to be relied upon as a substitute for the exercising of independent judgement. Noble may have published, and may in the future publish, other research reports that are inconsistent with, and reach different conclusions from, the information provided in this report. Noble is under no obligation to bring to the attention of any recipient of this report, any past or future reports. Investors should only consider this report as single factor in making an investment decision.

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This publication is confidential for the information of the addressee only and may not be reproduced in whole or in part, copies circulated, or discussed to another party, without the written consent of Noble Capital Markets, Inc. (“Noble”). Noble seeks to update its research as appropriate, but may be unable to do so based upon various regulatory constraints. Research reports are not published at regular intervals; publication times and dates are based upon the analyst’s judgement. Noble professionals including traders, salespeople and investment bankers may provide written or oral market commentary, or discuss trading strategies to Noble clients and the Noble proprietary trading desk that reflect opinions that are contrary to the opinions expressed in this research report.
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Noble is not a market maker in any of the companies mentioned in this report. Noble intends to seek compensation for investment banking services and non-investment banking services (securities and non-securities related) with any or all of the companies mentioned in this report within the next 3 months

ANALYST CREDENTIALS, PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS, AND EXPERIENCE

Senior Equity Analyst focusing on Basic Materials & Mining. 20 years of experience in equity research. BA in Business Administration from Westminster College. MBA with a Finance concentration from the University of Missouri. MA in International Affairs from Washington University in St. Louis.
Named WSJ ‘Best on the Street’ Analyst and Forbes/StarMine’s “Best Brokerage Analyst.”
FINRA licenses 7, 24, 63, 87

WARNING

This report is intended to provide general securities advice, and does not purport to make any recommendation that any securities transaction is appropriate for any recipient particular investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. Prior to making any investment decision, recipients should assess, or seek advice from their advisors, on whether any relevant part of this report is appropriate to their individual circumstances. If a recipient was referred to Noble Capital Markets, Inc. by an investment advisor, that advisor may receive a benefit in respect of
transactions effected on the recipients behalf, details of which will be available on request in regard to a transaction that involves a personalized securities recommendation. Additional risks associated with the security mentioned in this report that might impede achievement of the target can be found in its initial report issued by Noble Capital Markets, Inc.. This report may not be reproduced, distributed or published for any purpose unless authorized by Noble Capital Markets, Inc..

RESEARCH ANALYST CERTIFICATION

Independence Of View
All views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject securities or issuers.

Receipt of Compensation
No part of my compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to any specific recommendations or views expressed in the public
appearance and/or research report.

Ownership and Material Conflicts of Interest
Neither I nor anybody in my household has a financial interest in the securities of the subject company or any other company mentioned in this report.

MAIA Biotechnology (MAIA) – Journal Article Confirms MOA In An Additional Tumor Type


Thursday, February 08, 2024

MAIA is a targeted therapy, immuno-oncology company focused on the development and commercialization of potential first-in-class drugs with novel mechanisms of action that are intended to meaningfully improve and extend the lives of people with cancer. Our lead program is THIO, a potential first-in-class cancer telomere targeting agent in clinical development for the treatment of NSCLC patients with telomerase-positive cancer cells. For more information, please visit www.maiabiotech.com.

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Vice President, Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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

New Publication Shows Multiple Activities of THIO In SCLC. MAIA announced the publication of an article in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications that discusses the dual mechanism of action and effects of THIO in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). This is another tumor type in which THIO has been shown to have direct killing effects on cancer cells and activation the cGAS-STING signaling pathway that leads to an immune response. We see this as consistent with previous data confirming THIO benefits.

MAIA Is Developing THIO For Both Major Lung Cancers. Out of all lung cancer cases, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises about 87% while small cell (SCLC) comprises about 13%. Although less common than NSCLC, SCLC is highly aggressive and highly metastatic. SCLC cells have high telomerase activity that enables their high proliferation rate and  immortality. MAIA has received Orphan drug designation from the FDA for SCLC, while the Phase 2 THIO-101 trial is testing THIO in NSCLC.


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