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New Hampshire lawmakers voted decisively against House Bill 1693, a proposed measure aimed at establishing a state-regulated therapeutic psychedelic program. The bill, which sought to allow the use of psilocybin, mescaline and LSD to treat mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and substance use disorders, was rejected by the House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee with a 14-1 vote.

Broad Scope And Legal Challenges Sink Psychedelics Bill

As reMind reported, according to the committee the legislation was “far too broad,” raising concerns about its potential implementation. While many advocates have pointed to the growing body of research supporting the therapeutic use of psychedelics, lawmakers expressed unease about legalizing substances that remain federally illegal and tightly regulated under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

One of the bill’s most vocal critics, Republican Rep. Erica Layon, emphasized the challenges posed by these legal conflicts. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard something about a [Journal of the American Medical Association] article comparing psychedelics to existing antidepressants,” she said, as reported by Marijuana Moment. “But right now, New Hampshire law prohibits a clinical trial from happening in the state with psychedelics because of its status as a controlled substance.”

Vague Language In Bill Raises Red Flags

In its rejection, the committee also highlighted the bill’s unclear provisions, particularly its borrowing of terms from the state’s medical marijuana laws. This included a provision allowing adult possession of up to two ounces of psychedelics — a volume critics argued was unreasonably large, particularly for substances like LSD. “The concerns we had with the bill as presented was it was far too broad,” Democratic Rep. Lucy Weber said.

Lawmakers Urge Further Psychedelic Research

While rejecting the proposal, lawmakers did express a willingness to explore future legislation that could better align with ongoing clinical research. “The Veterans Administration and Massachusetts General Hospital are currently conducting research for a number of disorders using these drugs,” the committee said. It also noted that the FDA has granted breakthrough therapy designation for several psychedelic substances. The panel recommended that New Hampshire expand research into psychedelics, with a focus on clinical trials that would allow patients access to experimental treatments without needing to travel out of state.

Massachusetts Set To Vote On Psychedelics Legalization

As New Hampshire steps back from advancing psychedelics legislation, neighboring Massachusetts is poised for a potential breakthrough. Voters there will decide in three weeks whether to approve Question 4, a measure that would legalize five psychedelics, including psilocybin, psilocin, DMT, ibogaine and mescaline for therapeutic use. If passed, the state could implement a regulated access model by 2028, beginning with the legalization of one substance in 2026.

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U.S. stocks traded higher midway through trading, with the Dow Jones index gaining over 250 points on Wednesday.

The Dow traded up 0.59% to 42,994.38 while the NASDAQ fell 0.05% to 18,306.79. The S&P 500 also rose, gaining, 0.19% to 5,826.42.

Check This Out: Top 3 Tech And Telecom Stocks That Could Lead To Your Biggest Gains This Quarter

Leading and Lagging Sectors

Utilities shares jumped by 0.8% on Tuesday.

In trading on Tuesday, consumer staples shares fell by 0.5%.

Top Headline

U.S. Bancorp USB posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings on Wednesday.

The company reported third-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $1.03, beating the analyst consensus estimate of 99 cents. Quarterly revenues of $6.864 billion missed the analyst consensus estimate of $6.895 billion.

Equities Trading UP
                       

• 180 Life Sciences Corp ATNF shares shot up 713% to $12.36. 180 Life Sciences interim CEO said that the company is planning to enter the online gaming industry with its newly acquired gaming technology platform.
• Shares of Altus Power, Inc. AMPS got a boost, surging 15% to $3.48 after the company announced that a formal review of strategic alternatives has been underway by its Board of Directors. Also, the company reaffirmed its FY24 guidance.
• Versus Systems Inc. VS shares were also up, gaining 399% to $5.64 after the company announced a $2.5 million investment and licensing agreement with ASPIS.

Equities Trading DOWN

• Bright Minds Biosciences Inc DRUG shares dropped 37% to $24.24. Firefly Neuroscience collaborated with Bright Minds Biosciences to analyze the data from its positive Phase 1 study using its Artificial Intelligence.
• Shares of Silvaco Group, Inc. SVCO were down 25% to $8.34 after the company reported a decline in orders from Asia during third quarter and cut its FY24 revenue outlook.
• Novavax, Inc. NVAX was down, falling 17% to $10.45 after the FDA placed a clinical hold on the company’s investigational new drug application for its COVID-19-influenza combination and standalone influenza vaccine candidates.

Commodities

In commodity news, oil traded down 0.2% to $70.46 while gold traded up 0.6% at $2,694.90.

Silver traded up 1.6% to $32.270 on Wednesday, while copper rose 1% to $4.3810.

Euro zone

European shares were mixed today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 gained 0.02%, Germany’s DAX gained 0.1% and France’s CAC 40 fell 0.17%. Spain’s IBEX 35 Index rose 0.75%, while London’s FTSE 100 gained 1.15%.

Asia Pacific Markets

Asian markets closed mostly lower on Wednesday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 falling 1.83%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index falling 0.16%, China’s Shanghai Composite Index gaining 0.05% and India’s BSE Sensex falling 0.39%.

Economics

• U.S. mortgage applications fell by 17% from the previous week during the second week of October.
• Export prices in the U.S. declined by 0.7% month-over-month in September, exceeding market estimates of a 0.4% fall.
• Import prices declined by 0.4% from the previous month in September.

Now Read This:

Joanne D Smith, EVP & Chief People Officer at Delta Air Lines DAL, reported an insider sell on October 15, according to a new SEC filing.

What Happened: Smith’s recent move involves selling 3,431 shares of Delta Air Lines. This information is documented in a Form 4 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday. The total value is $173,131.

The latest market snapshot at Wednesday morning reveals Delta Air Lines shares up by 4.36%, trading at $55.03.

Delving into Delta Air Lines’s Background

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is one of the world’s largest airlines, with a network of over 300 destinations in more than 50 countries. Delta operates a hub-and-spoke network, where it gathers and distributes passengers across the globe through its biggest hubs in Atlanta, New York, Salt Lake City, Detroit, Seattle, and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Delta has historically earned most of its international revenue and profits from flying passengers over the Atlantic Ocean.

Delta Air Lines’s Economic Impact: An Analysis

Positive Revenue Trend: Examining Delta Air Lines’s financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 1.22% as of 30 September, 2024, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Industrials sector.

Insights into Profitability:

• Gross Margin: The company excels with a remarkable gross margin of 24.41%, indicating superior cost efficiency and profitability compared to its industry peers.

• Earnings per Share (EPS): Delta Air Lines’s EPS is notably higher than the industry average. The company achieved a positive bottom-line trend with a current EPS of 1.98.

Debt Management: Delta Air Lines’s debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average at 1.79, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.

Exploring Valuation Metrics Landscape:

• Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: With a lower-than-average P/E ratio of 7.31, the stock indicates an attractive valuation, potentially presenting a buying opportunity.

• Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: With a P/S ratio of 0.56 below industry standards, the stock shows potential undervaluation, making it an appealing investment option for those focusing on sales performance.

• EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation & Amortization): Delta Air Lines’s EV/EBITDA ratio stands at 8.37, surpassing industry benchmarks. This places the company in a position with a higher-than-average market valuation.

Market Capitalization Analysis: With a profound presence, the company’s market capitalization is above industry averages. This reflects substantial size and strong market recognition.

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Why Insider Activity Matters in Finance

While insider transactions provide valuable information, they should be part of a broader analysis in making investment decisions.

In legal terms, an “insider” refers to any officer, director, or beneficial owner of more than ten percent of a company’s equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This can include executives in the c-suite and large hedge funds. These insiders are required to let the public know of their transactions via a Form 4 filing, which must be filed within two business days of the transaction.

When a company insider makes a new purchase, that is an indication that they expect the stock to rise.

Insider sells, on the other hand, can be made for a variety of reasons, and may not necessarily mean that the seller thinks the stock will go down.

The Insider’s Guide to Important Transaction Codes

For investors, a primary focus lies on transactions occurring in the open market, as indicated in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 denotes a purchase, while S signifies a sale. Transaction code C signals the conversion of an option, and transaction code A denotes a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.

Check Out The Full List Of Delta Air Lines’s Insider Trades.

Insider Buying Alert: Profit from C-Suite Moves

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This article was generated by Benzinga’s automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Abercrombie & Fitch ANF.

And retail traders should know.

We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.

Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don’t know. But when something this big happens with ANF, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.

So how do we know what these investors just did?

Today, Benzinga‘s options scanner spotted 9 uncommon options trades for Abercrombie & Fitch.

This isn’t normal.

The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 33% bullish and 44%, bearish.

Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 6 are puts, for a total amount of $348,432, and 3 are calls, for a total amount of $137,710.

Expected Price Movements

Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $135.0 to $200.0 for Abercrombie & Fitch during the past quarter.

Volume & Open Interest Development

In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Abercrombie & Fitch options trades today is 324.62 with a total volume of 326.00.

In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Abercrombie & Fitch’s big money trades within a strike price range of $135.0 to $200.0 over the last 30 days.

Abercrombie & Fitch Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview

Largest Options Trades Observed:

About Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch Co is a specialty retailer that sells casual clothing, personal-care products, and accessories for men, women, and children. It sells direct to consumers through its stores and websites, which include the Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie kids, and Hollister brands. Most stores are in the United States, but the company does have many stores in Canada, Europe, and Asia. All stores are leased. Abercrombie ships to well over 100 countries via its websites. The company sources its merchandise from dozens of vendors that are primarily located in Asia and Central America. Abercrombie has two distribution centers in Ohio to support its North American operations. It uses third-party distributors for sales in Europe and Asia.

In light of the recent options history for Abercrombie & Fitch, it’s now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.

Abercrombie & Fitch’s Current Market Status

• With a trading volume of 653,080, the price of ANF is up by 0.98%, reaching $161.81.
• Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.
• Next earnings report is scheduled for 34 days from now.

Expert Opinions on Abercrombie & Fitch

1 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $195.0.

Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move

Benzinga Edge’s Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access.
* An analyst from JP Morgan persists with their Overweight rating on Abercrombie & Fitch, maintaining a target price of $195.

Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Abercrombie & Fitch options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro.

Texas Capital Bancshares TCBI will release its quarterly earnings report on Thursday, 2024-10-17. Here’s a brief overview for investors ahead of the announcement.

Analysts anticipate Texas Capital Bancshares to report an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.95.

The market awaits Texas Capital Bancshares’s announcement, with hopes high for news of surpassing estimates and providing upbeat guidance for the next quarter.

It’s important for new investors to understand that guidance can be a significant driver of stock prices.

Earnings History Snapshot

During the last quarter, the company reported an EPS missed by $0.06, leading to a 0.06% drop in the share price on the subsequent day.

Here’s a look at Texas Capital Bancshares’s past performance and the resulting price change:

Market Performance of Texas Capital Bancshares’s Stock

Shares of Texas Capital Bancshares were trading at $77.57 as of October 15. Over the last 52-week period, shares are up 40.12%. Given that these returns are generally positive, long-term shareholders are likely bullish going into this earnings release.

To track all earnings releases for Texas Capital Bancshares visit their earnings calendar on our site.

This article was generated by Benzinga’s automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on American Intl Gr.

Looking at options history for American Intl Gr AIG we detected 11 trades.

If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 45% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 54% with bearish.

From the overall spotted trades, 9 are puts, for a total amount of $927,850 and 2, calls, for a total amount of $91,715.

Expected Price Movements

Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $70.0 to $78.0 for American Intl Gr over the recent three months.

Analyzing Volume & Open Interest

Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in American Intl Gr’s options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to American Intl Gr’s substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $70.0 to $78.0 over the preceding 30 days.

American Intl Gr Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days

Largest Options Trades Observed:

About American Intl Gr

American International Group is one of the largest insurance and financial services firms in the world and has a global footprint. It operates through a wide range of subsidiaries that provide property, casualty, and life insurance. The company recently spun off its life insurance operations (Corebridge), but still retains a majority stake.

Following our analysis of the options activities associated with American Intl Gr, we pivot to a closer look at the company’s own performance.

Where Is American Intl Gr Standing Right Now?

• Currently trading with a volume of 889,881, the AIG’s price is up by 0.43%, now at $77.31.
• RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.
• Anticipated earnings release is in 19 days.

Expert Opinions on American Intl Gr

5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $85.4.

Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move

Benzinga Edge’s Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access.
* An analyst from Jefferies has decided to maintain their Buy rating on American Intl Gr, which currently sits at a price target of $88.
* An analyst from BMO Capital downgraded its action to Market Perform with a price target of $84.
* An analyst from JP Morgan has elevated its stance to Overweight, setting a new price target at $89.
* An analyst from Evercore ISI Group persists with their In-Line rating on American Intl Gr, maintaining a target price of $78.
* Maintaining their stance, an analyst from UBS continues to hold a Buy rating for American Intl Gr, targeting a price of $88.

Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for American Intl Gr with Benzinga Pro for real-time alerts.