Dear Readers,

Stocks started Thursday on a higher note, and the S&P 500 approached a record high, even as inflation exceeded expectations. December saw a 3.4% year-over-year increase in consumer prices, indicating a potential persistence of higher prices.

Investors may need to temper their enthusiasm for rate cuts. Despite two more inflation reports before the March meeting, recent indications from the New York Fed President suggest rates might remain unchanged for an extended period.

As of 11:51 AM ET, the Dow was down -215.8086 points, or -0.5725%, at $37479.92. The Nasdaq Composite lost -139.5742 points, or -0.8311%, at $16653.47. The S&P 500 declined -35.5303 points, or -0.7428%, at $4747.92. Among the 11 major S&P 500 sectors, 11 showed negative movement, with Utilities leading the way with a 1.84% decrease.

Top Movers: Under $10

Atreca Inc (BCEL) is up 105.32% today to trade at the current level of $0.22 following news of a major stake in the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company from an investment advisor.

Transphorm Inc (TGAN) zoomed 25.46% in today’s trade to $4.76 after announcing a definitive agreement with Renesas Electronics Corporation pursuant to which a subsidiary of Renesas will acquire all outstanding shares of Transphorm’s common stock for $5.10 per share in cash.

In current trading, VivoPower International PLC (VVPR) stock is at $2.35 following the declaration from the company that its subsidiary Tembo e-LV B.V. has met milestones to obtain a further follow-on strategic direct equity investment of US$5 million into Tembo, at a pre-money valuation of US$120 million.

Spectaire Holdings Inc (SPEC) rose 18.52% in the early hours of today's trading to move at $2.88. The company announced a strategic distribution agreement with MLab, alongside their service and distribution partner Mosolf, to bring the cutting-edge AireCore emissions measurement system to the European trucking market.

In the current trading session, TransCode Therapeutics Inc (RNAZ) jumped 15.37% to $0.1419 over a previous close of $0.12 after announcing 1-for-40 reverse stock split.

Ex-Dividends Stocks

Abbvie Inc (ABBV) is about to trade ex-dividend tomorrow, meaning that investors who buy the stock after tomorrow will not be eligible for the next dividend payment. The company's next dividend payment will be $1.55 per share. It has fixed January 16 as the record date for the same and will pay the actual dividend on February 15. Last year, the company distributed a total of $5.71 to its shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, ABBV has a trailing yield of 3.50% on the current stock price of $163.27.

Another stock that is shelling out dividends tomorrow is Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL), having a market capitalization of $17.38B. It will pay a dividend of $0.28 per share, the payment date of which is February 15. Currently, the stock is trading at a trailing dividend yield of 3.53%.

Shares of Bank OZK (OZK) will be the talk of stock market on Friday as the stock will turn ex-dividend. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.38 per share, and in the last 12 months, it paid a total of $1.42 per share. Last year's total dividend payments show that OZK has a trailing yield of 3.03% on the current share price of $46.90.

PNC Financial Services Group Inc (PNC) is also set to go ex-dividend tomorrow. The next dividend payment from PNC will amount to $1.55 per share. January 16 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for February 05. In the previous year, PNC distributed a total of $6.10 to its valued shareholders. Considering the cumulative dividend payments from last year, the trailing yield for PNC stands at 4.02% based on the current stock price of $151.64.

Sabine Royalty Trust (SBR) will be paying out a dividend of $0.44 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of the business hours on the record date of January 16. Over the past 12 months, SBR has paid out a total of $6.38 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, SBR boasts an impressive trailing yield of 9.66% on the current share price of $66.09.

Crypto Market Highlights

Most Shorted Stocks

Microvision Inc. (MVIS) was one of the most shorted stocks as of latest short interest figures, with 26.06% 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 22.4. This represents a change of 640000 shares, which corresponds to a +1.31% increase in short interest. The total value of the shares held short is estimated to be around $119.34 million. The average daily volume stands at 2.22M shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $458.83M.

For the stock Kohl's Corp. (KSS), the current short interest is at 27.11%. This represents a significant short interest change of 1650000 shares, corresponding to a short interest percentage increase of 6.13%. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 5.0. The approximate worth of the shares held short is $762.86 million.

With the symbol MPW, the stock currently has a short interest of 25.74%. The short interest change is 4630000 shares, compared with a short interest percentage change of 3.10%. It would take approximately 8.3 days to cover all the short positions. The shares short value is estimated to be around $545.87 million. The company boasts an average daily volume of 18.78M shares, contributing to a market capitalization of $2.12B.

The stock AVXL has a current short interest of 24.45%. The short interest percentage has experienced increase of +10.76% while there was a change of 1950000 shares in short interest. The ratio indicating the time required to cover short positions is 14.8. Trading activity averages at 1.39M shares per day, while the company's market capitalization stands at $493.36M.

Biotech Stocks to Watch

According to our ST Score evaluation, Genmab ADR (GMAB) emerges as a high-quality stock in the Biotech industry, attaining an impressive score of 62.0. The stock's profitability, financial strength, and stock sentiment are strong. However, its value are weak. Additionally, it is neutral in terms of performance, growth, Piotroski Score, and forecast.

Our ST Score also classifies InflaRx N.V. (IFRX) as a high-quality Biotech stock today, presenting a Score of 61.0. The stock has strong fundamentals in terms of financial strength, and stock sentiment. The value, profitability, performance, growth, Piotroski Score, and forecast are neutral.

Another stock in the category, Connect Biopharma Holdings Ltd ADR (CNTB) has the ST Score of 53.0, which means that the stock carries the potential for higher returns. The stock is strong in valuation, performance, financial strength, and stock sentiment. Profitability, growth, and forecast suggest a neutral outlook.

BioNTech SE ADR (BNTX) stock has the ST Score of 60.0 which implies that the Biotech company has a high probability of beating the market. The stock's strengths lie in its valuation, profitability, financial strength, and Piotroski Score, but its weaknesses are in its performance, and growth. However, it shows neutral outlook in stock sentiment, and forecast.

Adma Biologics Inc (ADMA) currently has the ST Score of 59.0, which signifies a huge upward potential. The Biotech stock's strong points are its profitability, performance, growth, and stock sentiment, while its weak points are its value, and financial strength. The stock's Piotroski Score, and forecast indicate a neutral outlook.