From January 1 to today, the cryptocurrency Ether has gone from $8 to $130 — a 16x return.
Ether is the currency of the Ethereum network, a smart contract platform which currently has a market capitalization of $12 billion. Generally considered the second-most successful cryptocurrency after bitcoin, it has been the launchpad for myriad new tokens that make up the hot “initial coin offering” trend. Even companies such as JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Intel, BBVA, Santander, UBS, Credit Suisse, Accenture and others have joined an Ethereum enterprise effort. These are remarkable feats for a cryptocurrency not even two years old.
One of the companies doing the most to promote the development and usage of Ethereum around the world is Consensus Systems (ConsenSys), which bills itself as a “venture production studio” devoted to building Ethereum-based software, whether in the form of decentralized applications or private blockchains for enterprise.
popular stocks to buy: Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc(ADAP)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Adaptimmune Therapeutics PLC (NASDAQ: ADAP) was started with a Market Perform at Wells Fargo.
Aqua America Inc. (NYSE: WTR) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight and the price target was raised to $36 from $33 (versus a $31.19 close) at Barclays.
popular stocks to buy: Vanguard Mega Cap Value ETF (MGV)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Todd Shriber, ETF Professor]
Three of Vanguard's mega-cap equity ETFs now sport annual expense ratios of 0.07 percent, down from 0.09 percent. Those ETFs are the Vanguard Mega Cap ETF (NYSE: MGC), Vanguard Mega Cap 300 Growth Index ETF (NYSE: MGK) and the Vanguard Mega Cap Value Index ETF (NYSE: MGV).
popular stocks to buy: Oceaneering International, Inc.(OII)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Monica Gerson]
Oceaneering International (NYSE: OII) is projected to post its quarterly earnings at $0.35 per share on revenue of $641.85 million.
Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC) is estimated to report its quarterly earnings at $0.25 per share on revenue of $180.93 million.
- [By Lisa Levin]
On Friday, energy shares surged by 2.60 percent. Top gainers in the sector included Oceaneering International (NYSE: OII), Willbros Group Inc (NYSE: WG), and Cobalt International Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CIE).
popular stocks to buy: Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.(EXPD)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Monica Gerson]
Benzinga's newsdesk monitors options activity to notice unusual patterns. These large volume (and often out of the money) trades were initially published intraday in Benzinga Professional . These trades were placed during Friday's regular session.
PACCAR Inc (NASDAQ: PCAR) Aug16 52.5 Puts: 10000 @ ASK $1.70: 10k traded vs 335 OI: Earnings 7/26 $54.94 Ref
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: REGN) Jul16 345 Puts: 949 @ ASK $8.70: 1003 traded vs 55 OI: Earnings 8/2 $360.20 Ref
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) Fri 6/24 47.0 Puts (Wkly) Sweep: 689 @ ASK $1.12: 3758 traded vs 136 OI: Earnings 8/4 $46.69 Ref
Medivation Inc (NASDAQ: MDVN) Sep16 55.0 Puts: 4000 @ Above Ask! $3.40: 5303 traded vs 716 OI: Earnings 8/4 $59.44 Ref
Expeditors International of Washington (NASDAQ: EXPD) Aug16 47.0 Puts Sweep: 950 @ ASK $1.35: 973 traded vs 381 OI: Earnings 8/2 $48.15 RefPosted-In: Huge Put PurchasesNews Options Markets
