Dear Readers,

Stocks remained relatively steady on Friday as the financial sector aimed to conclude a prosperous year on a positive note, potentially hitting new record levels.

In 2023, the S&P 500 has seen a 24.6% increase, while the Dow has risen by 13.8%. The Nasdaq Composite has notably surged by 44.2%, positioning itself for its most substantial annual rise since 2003.

Major indices are heading towards their ninth successive weeks of gains, with the S&P edging up by 0.7%, which would constitute its lengthiest string of weekly advances since 2004. Both the Dow and Nasdaq are showing increases of 1% and 0.7%, respectively, poised to achieve their lengthiest weekly winning streaks since 2019.

Market analysts are closely monitoring comments from various Federal Reserve speakers regarding potential rate adjustments ahead of the January meeting. Any divergence from market expectations could trigger increased volatility, according to Mahajan.

As of 11:54 AM ET, the Dow was down -125 points, or -0.3315%, at $37585.1. The Nasdaq Composite lost -107.5879 points, or -0.6367%, at $16790.885. The S&P 500 declined -22.77 points, or -0.476%, at $4760.58. Among the 11 major S&P 500 sectors, 10 showed negative movement, with Information Technology leading the way with a -0.81% decrease. 

Top Movers: Under $10

China Green Agriculture Inc (CGA) is up 51.58% today to trade at the current level of $2.88 following the filing of 8-K form with the SEC.

Fisker Inc (FSR) zoomed 14.24% in today’s trade to $1.73. The company provided a business update for the month of December.

In current trading, Wrap Technologies Inc (WRAP) stock is at $3.22. The company recently announced a landmark milestone in its history, having received a $4.9 million BolaWrap order for the fourth quarter of 2023.

FLJ Group Ltd ADR (FLJ) rose 7.24% in the early hours of today's trading to move at $1.48 following the completion its purchase of property insurer Alpha Mind for $180 million in cash.

In the current trading session, Aditxt Inc (ADTX) jumped 30.71% to $6.30 over a previous close of $4.82. The company recently filed 8-K form with the SEC.

Ex-Dividends Stocks

Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) is about to trade ex-dividend Tuesday, meaning that investors who buy the stock after Tuesday will not be eligible for the next dividend payment. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.31 per share. The company has fixed January 03 as the record date for the same and will pay the actual dividend on January 12. Last year, the company distributed a total of $1.25 to its shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, BEN has a trailing yield of 4.19% on the current stock price of $29.75.

Another stock that is shelling out dividends on Tuesday is Comcast Corp (CMCSA), having a market capitalization of $175.88B. It will pay a dividend of $0.29 per share, the payment date of which is January 24. Currently, the stock is trading at a trailing dividend yield of 2.65%.

Shares of New York Times Co. (NYT) will be the talk of stock market on Tuesday as the stock will turn ex-dividend. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.11 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of $0.42 per share. Last year's total dividend payments show that NYT has a trailing yield of 0.86% on the current share price of $48.90.

Gap, Inc. (GPS) is also set to go ex-dividend on Tuesday. The next dividend payment from GPS will amount to $0.15 per share. January 03 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for January 31. In the previous year, GPS distributed a total of $0.59 to its valued shareholders. Considering the cumulative dividend payments from last year, the trailing yield for GPS stands at 2.83% based on the current stock price of $20.92.

Park Aerospace Corp (PKE) will be paying out a dividend of $0.12 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of the business hours on the record date of January 03. Over the past 12 months, PKE has paid out a total of $0.47 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, PKE boasts an impressive trailing yield of 3.19% on the current share price of $14.68.

Crypto Market Highlights

Most Shorted Stocks

ReShape Lifesciences Inc. (RSLS) was one of the most shorted stocks as of latest short interest figures, with 86.89% short interest. The days to cover ratio, a measure of how long it would take for all the short positions to be covered based on average trading volume, is 1.5. This represents a change of 11064600 shares, which corresponds to a +5,386.85% increase in short interest. The total value of the shares held short is estimated to be around $2.7 million. The average daily volume stands at 8.07M shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $3.22M.

The Imperial Petroleum Inc with the symbol IMPP currently has a short interest of 46.88%. The short interest has changed by 320000 shares. The days to cover ratio stands at 3.9. The estimated value of the shares held short is approximately $7.47 million. On an average day, 741.54K shares are traded, with the company's market capitalization totaling $43.59M.

For the stock Beyond Meat Inc (BYND), the current short interest is at 42.21%. This represents a significant short interest change of -1510000 shares, corresponding to a short interest percentage decrease of -5.55%. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 8.8. The approximate worth of the shares held short is $232.49 million.

With the symbol TRUP, the stock currently has a short interest of 42.56%. The short interest change is 250000 shares, compared with a short interest percentage change of +1.91%. It would take approximately 17.8 days to cover all the short positions. The shares short value is estimated to be around $771.47 million. The company boasts an average daily volume of 749.03K shares, contributing to a market capitalization of $1.25B.

The stock UPST has a current short interest of 42.40%. The short interest percentage has experienced decrease of -2.66% while there was a change of -840000 shares in short interest. The ratio indicating the time required to cover short positions is 3.8. The calculated worth of the shorted shares amounts to around $536.0 million. Trading activity averages at 8.23M shares per day, while the company's market capitalization stands at $3.42B.

Energy Stocks to Watch

According to our ST Score evaluation, Chord Energy Corp (CHRD) emerges as a high-quality stock in the Energy industry, attaining an impressive score of 63.0. The stock's performance, financial strength, and stock sentiment are strong. Additionally, it is neutral in terms of value, profitability, growth, Piotroski Score, and forecast.

Our ST Score also classifies Southwestern Energy Company (SWN) as a high-quality Energy stock today, presenting a Score of 62.0. The stock has strong fundamentals in terms of valuation, profitability, performance, and stock sentiment. However, it has weak financial strength. The growth, Piotroski Score, and forecast are neutral.

Another stock in the category, Ultrapar Participacoes S.A. ADR (UGP) has the ST Score of 60.0, which means that the stock carries the potential for higher returns. The stock is strong in performance, stock sentiment, and Piotroski Score but weak in profitability. Value, growth, financial strength, and forecast suggest a neutral outlook.

Obsidian Energy Ltd (OBE) stock has the ST Score of 57.0 which implies that the Energy company has a high probability of beating the market. The stock's strengths lie in its valuation, profitability, stock sentiment, and Piotroski Score, but its weaknesses are in its growth. However, it shows neutral outlook in performance, financial strength, and forecast.

Centrus Energy Corp (LEU) currently has the ST Score of 58.0, which signifies a huge upward potential. The Energy stock's strong points are its valuation, profitability, performance, and stock sentiment, while its weak points are its financial strength. The stock's growth, Piotroski Score, and forecast indicate a neutral outlook.