Trump Might "Save TikTok"

Plus, XRP hits all-time high.

January 16, 2025

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Today is Thursday, January 16, 2025.

The Early Bird Index today is 81.13

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Trump Might "Save TikTok"

The popular social media application TikTok is slated to be banned in the United States on Sunday, but there’s hope this ban could be delayed.

Details: The Washington Post reported Wednesday that President-elect Donald Trump is thinking about a potential executive order to “save TikTok” by pausing the ban for 60 to 90 days.

Bigger Picture: TikTok rivals Meta Platforms (Nasdaq: META) and Snap (NYSE: SNAP) both declined during Wednesday’s after-hours trading because of the report, with Meta down 1.15% and Snap down 1.01%. Both stocks are up in recent weeks because of the pending ban on TikTok. 

Early Bird’s Nest Egg Gains: If Trump pauses or stops the TikTok ban, it would be detrimental to Meta and Snap.

  • This ongoing competition would prevent Meta and Snap from gaining market share and attracting TikTok's users to their platforms.

  • TikTok’s continued existence would prevent Meta and Snap from capturing a larger share of the digital advertising market.

Final Thoughts: Meta and Snap report earnings results in a few weeks.

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Notables

Notable Earnings Today: UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), J.B. Hunt Transport (Nasdaq: JBHT), Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), First Horizon (NYSE: FHN), PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE: PNC), Bank OZK (Nasdaq: OZK), M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB), Insteel Industries (NYSE: IIIN), RF Industries (Nasdaq: RFIL).

Notable IPOs Today: Flowco Holdings Inc. (NYSE: FLOC), The Southern Company (NYSE: SOJF), LogProstyle Inc. (NYSE American: LGPS), Toppoint Holdings Inc. (NYSE American: TOPP).

Notable Equity Crowdfunding Campaigns Ending Today: N/A.

Notable Economic Events Today: Jobless Claims (8:30 a.m. ET), Retail Sales / Core Retail Sales (8:30 a.m. ET), Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index (8:30 a.m. ET), Philly Fed Employment (8:30 a.m. ET), Retail Control (8:30 a.m. ET), Export Price Index / Import Price Index (8:30 a.m. ET), Business Inventories (10:00 a.m. ET), Retail Investors Excluding Auto (10:00 a.m. ET), Fed's Balance Sheet (4:30 p.m. ET).

XRP Hits All-Time High Price

The price of the cryptocurrency XRP surged by about 10% on Wednesday and reached an all-time high.

Price: XRP is now up 40% in 2025. It is up 400% in the last 12 months.

Powering the Story: What caused the price of XRP to skyrocket on Wednesday? The positive inflation report on Wednesday started the rally and it was continued by large token holders buying it up.

Also: The expected resignation of SEC Chair Gary Gensler (not a fan of XRP) this week and the potential approval of a spot XRP ETF (exchange-traded fund) fueled the surge.

Final Thoughts: XRP has a market cap of $176 billion, making it one of the largest cryptos.

H.B. Fuller Posts Mixed Financial Results

H.B. Fuller Company (NYSE: FUL), which manufactures adhesives, fell 1.82% in after-hours trading on Wednesday after posting mixed financial earnings results.

Financials: H.B. Fuller reported revenue of $923 million in the past quarter, which was better than expected. But revenue per share was 92 cents, which was lower than expected.

Final Thoughts: The company needs to turn things around. H.B. Fuller’s stock is down 18% in the last 12 months.

The Red Light: FDA bans red dye No. 3 from foods (Associated Press)

A Lighter Puff: FDA moves to slash nicotine in cigarettes (NBC News)

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The contents of Early Bird are intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. They do not constitute trade or investment recommendations and they are not financial or legal advice. Readers are encouraged to consult licensed professionals for personalized guidance regarding their financial or legal situations.