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Ripple is the catchall name for the cryptocurrency platform, the transactional protocol for which is actually XRP, in the same fashion as Ethereum is the name for the platform that facilitates trades in Ether. Like other cryptocurrencies, Ripple is built atop the idea of a distributed ledger network which requires various parties to participate in validating transactions, rather than any singular centralized authority. That facilitates transactions all over the world, and transfer fees are far cheaper than the likes of bitcoin. Unlike other cryptocurrencies, XRP transfers are effectively immediate, requiring no typical confirmation time.  Ripple was originally founded by a single company, Ripple Labs, and continues to be backed by it, rather than the larger network of developers that continue bitcoin’s development. It also doesn’t have a fluctuating amount of its currency in existence. Where bitcoin has a continually growing pool with an eventual maximum, and Ethereum theoretically has no limit, Ripple was created with all of its 100 billion XRP tokens right out of the gate. That number is maintained with no mining and most of the tokens are owned and held by Ripple Labs itself — around 60 billion at the latest count.  Even at the recently reduced value of around half a dollar per XRP, that means Ripple Labs is currently sitting on around $20 billion worth of the cryptocurrency (note: Ripple’s price crashed hard recently, and may be worth far less than $60 billion by time you read this). It holds 55 billion XRP in an escrow account, which allows it to sell up to a billion per month if it so chooses in order to fund new projects and acquisitions. Selling such an amount would likely have a drastic effect on the cryptocurrency’s value, and isn’t something Ripple Labs plans to do anytime soon.  In actuality, Ripple Labs is looking to leverage the technology behind XRP to allow for faster banking transactions around the world. While Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are built on the idea of separating financial transactions from the financial organizations of traditional currencies, Ripple is almost the opposite in every sense.  XRP by Ripple price can be found on this page alongside the market capitalization and additional stats.

Ripple

XRP is trending as the community discusses its potential, recent acquisitions, and the possibility of ETF approvals following the government shutdown. Community members are weighing the benefits of holding XRP versus leveraged options, while anticipating significant price movements and discussing long-term targets. There's also chatter about XRP's decoupling from Bitcoin and its potential for wider adoption.

The Compound Governance Token is a governance token on the Compound Finance lending protocol, COMP allows the owner to delegate voting rights to the address of their choice; the owner’s wallet, another user, an application, or a DeFi expert. Anybody can participate in Compound governance by receiving delegation, without needing to own COMP.  Anybody with 1% of COMP delegated to their address can propose a governance action; these are simple or complex sets of actions, such as adding support for a new asset, changing an asset’s collateral factor, changing a market’s interest rate model, or changing any other parameter or variable of the protocol that the current administrator can modify.

Compound

Concerns about the Compound Foundation and DAO's financial runway are circulating, with some community members projecting a potential 'zero' value for the token if the situation doesn't improve; this contrasts with others expressing bullish sentiment and highlighting Compound's potential in the RWA (Real World Asset) space. The community is actively debating the protocol's revenue, expenses, governance, and competitive positioning within the DeFi landscape. Discussions also include potential short squeezes and the impact of dilution on COMP's price.

RAGE GUY (RAGE) is a cryptocurrency inspired by the Rage Guy meme, one of the earliest and most recognizable characters from internet rage comics. The project captures the cultural legacy of early meme history and brings it onto the blockchain in tokenized form. It is designed as a community-driven digital asset that celebrates internet culture, nostalgia, and the role memes play in shaping online communities.

Rage Guy

$RAGE is trending as community members rally around the OG meme, Rage Guy, aiming to revive early meme culture within the crypto space. The community emphasizes its strong base and organic growth, shunning traditional KOL influence. Discussions revolve around community spirit and a shared belief in the power of memes, with many expressing bullish sentiment.

“Hmmm” is a community meme token on the Solana network, launched on July 22, 2024, through Pumpfun. It’s a derivative of Pepe the Frog but has evolved into its own distinct meme with a unique identity. The token embraces the humor and intrigue of internet culture, playing on the idea of curiosity and speculation. “Hmmm” captures a playful approach to the world of meme tokens, designed to engage a community driven by fun and the whimsical side of crypto. Hmmm, maybe this’ll send.

hmmm

HMMM crypto is trending, with community members highlighting a potential breakout and early launch. Conversation is centered around the token's connection to Phantom Wallet, with some suggesting institutions are accumulating the crypto. Skepticism exists, with some users warning of a potential pullback.

About Mistery On Cro $MERY was born with the idea of being a meme coin on Cronos chain during the exploding 2024 meme coin season. The founder is David Bui, a well-known and seasoned #crofam $CRO investor on Cryptocom products and a big -well respected- personality on X. David minted “Mistery On CRO” on Cronos blockchain with the purpose of making this chain much better, more popular and specially more fun, but aside from serving as a mere “meme”, $MERY has the ultimate goal of also being a utility token that the founder and the team behind will push to bring many benefits to loyal hodlers. Launched in 27/3/2024 at Sydney, Australia, local time 21h00, the 690,000 $CRO presale sold out within 2 hours. The founder burned the LP to a dead wallet and the contract ownership was renounced. $MERY during its first week of launch got instant traction from the OG #crofam community who jumped in and secured bags. We are now a thriving community that will help nurturing and growing the project by sharing with more and more Web3 users.

Mistery

Mistery ($MERY) is trending alongside Cronos ($CRO), with many noting their correlated movements and anticipating further gains. Community members highlight a new Telegram game and growing ecosystem, while also pointing to significant accumulation by a major exchange. Some users speculate about potential integrations with emerging platforms.

Clanker is an autonomous agent for deploying tokens. Currently, users may request clanker to deploy an ERC-20 token on Base by tagging it @clanker on Farcaster.

tokenbot

Clanker Crypto ($CLANKER) is trending due to recent price volatility and community speculation around its potential, especially given its limited supply. Some users are citing maintenance on Coinbase as a factor impacting trading, while others point to technical indicators suggesting bullish momentum. The community is actively discussing potential price movements and Coinbase listing rumors.

Nucor Corp. engages in the manufacture of steel products, and ferrous and non-ferrous materials. It operates through the following segments: Steel Mills, Steel Products, and Raw Materials. The Steel Mills segment consists of producing sheet, plate, structural, and bar steel. The Steel Products segment includes steel joists and joist girders, deck, fabricated concrete reinforcing, cold finished, fasteners, metal building systems, grating, tubular, piling products businesses, and wire mesh. The Raw Materials segment consists of direct reduced iron, and ferrous and nonferrous metals. The company was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1905 and is headquartered in Charlotte, NC.

Nucor Corp.

Nucor ($NUE) is trending as investors anticipate its upcoming Q3 earnings report, amidst pressure from lower segment earnings. Community discussion revolves around whether stable steel prices can offset these challenges and if Nucor can deliver an earnings beat, given a projected revenue increase but a negative Earnings ESP. The stock is also influenced by broader market dynamics, including competitor performance and speculation around potential infrastructure projects and tariff impacts under a new administration.

SSgA Active Trust - The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund

Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund

The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ($XLE) is trending amid rising geopolitical tensions, particularly concerns around potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which could impact global oil supply. Community members are actively discussing potential price targets, with some anticipating a breakout and others expressing skepticism, noting past volatility and OPEC's influence. Accumulation strategies and potential short-term gains are also being debated, as well as the impact of new tariffs.

Packaging Corporation of America engages in the production of container products. It operates through the following segments: Packaging, Paper, and Corporate and Other. The Packaging segment offers a variety of corrugated packaging products, such as conventional shipping containers. The Paper segment manufactures and sells a range of papers, including communication-based papers, and pressure sensitive papers. The Corporate and Other segment focuses on transportation assets, such as rail cars, and trucks. The company was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Lake Forest, IL.

Packaging Corp Of America

PKG is trending due to a "miss and lower guidance" report, as Q3 EPS missed estimates and the Q4 outlook was guided lower. Community members are discussing the plunge in stock price following the report, with some pointing to options activity as an indicator. Broader discussions are centered on earnings predictions, target prices, and analyst ratings.

AlienBase

AlienBase ($ALB) is trending as community members discuss its potential for significant gains and compare it favorably to other Base chain DEXs like $AERO. Some users are highlighting its low market cap and the possibility of a Coinbase listing driving further interest. The community also mentions staking opportunities and growing TVL.

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<ul><li>Americans are expected to spend a record $3.9 billion on candy this Halloween.</li><li>However, with higher prices of chocolates and candies, consumers might get less bang for their buck.&nbsp;</li><li>A survey shows 57% say they’ll spend less on candy because of higher chocolate prices.</li></ul>Higher candy and chocolate prices might be a bit of a dampener this Halloween, and might ultimately result in trick-or-treaters getting less of them.&nbsp;Thirty-five percent of Americans say candy is more expensive this year, and 57% say they’ll spend less on candy because of higher chocolate prices, according to a “Trick-or-Treat-onomics” survey by Empower, quoted in a report by Barron’s.A separate LendingTree survey found that 33% of consumers plan to skip buying candy this year as they cut back on Halloween spending because of financial uncertainty.Among candies, chocolates are where it really gets sad. The Barron’s report noted that the price of a six-pack of 1.55-ounce Hershey rose at a Walmart store was $8.24, compared to $4.97 in mid-May. Fluctuating prices of cocoa, which is entirely imported to America, and U.S. tariffs make it hard for companies like Hershey and M&amp;M Mars.Hershey, which also produces Kisses, Kit Kats, and Reese’s peanut butter cups, announced price hikes across its entire U.S. confectionery portfolio in May. Some companies are trying to keep the balance by reducing the amount of chocolate in candies, experts told Barron’s.All said, the Oct. 30 holiday could still be a sweet day for makers Hershey and Mondelez.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are expected to shell out a record $13.1 billion this Halloween, including $3.9 billion on candy, which puts it ahead of last year's $11.6 billion and the previous record of $12.2 billion in 2023.For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

Packages of M&M's chocolate candy are displayed at a Costco Wholesale store on April 27, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

Hershey, Mondelez Could Reap Sweet Rewards From Halloween Candy Sales — But Higher Prices Could Leave Sour Aftertaste

A survey shows 57% say they’ll spend less on candy because of higher chocolate prices.

Equity

<ul><li>P&amp;G is expected to report a 2% revenue growth in the quarter, after two quarters of decline.</li><li>Adjusted EPS is expected to decline.</li><li>Shares and retail sentiment have climbed higher ahead of the report in pre-market hours.</li></ul>Retail sentiment for Procter &amp; Gamble Co. shifted to ‘bullish’ as of early Friday, from ‘bearish’ the previous day, ahead of the consumer packaged goods giant's quarterly results before the market opens. PG shares rose 0.6% in early premarket trading.The optimism is partially supported by European peer Unilever’s upbeat earnings on Thursday. Analysts expect P&amp;G’s fiscal first-quarter sales to rise 2% to $22.17 billion, compared to declines in the preceding two quarters, according to Koyfin data.Adjusted EPS is expected to drop to $1.90 from $1.93 a year. Any changes to P&amp;G’s fiscal 2026 guidance or comments regarding future demand would likely drive the stock. The company had previously guided core earnings per share growth of flat to 4%, driven by 0% to 4% organic sales growth and a 1% to 5% rise in net sales for the ongoing fiscal.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1278/140;" src="https://news.stocktwits-cdn.com/Screenshot_2025_10_24_at_2_35_51_PM_png_a902fdb900.webp" alt="Screenshot 2025-10-24 at 2.35.51 PM.png" width="1278" height="140"><figcaption>PG sentiment and message volume as of October 24 | Source: Stocktwits</figcaption></figure>RBC Capital Markets, which has an ‘Outperform’ rating on the company’s shares, expects P&amp;G to reiterate those targets. Shares of the company are on a weak run this year, but rebounded in the past week.“$PG Entering long,” a bullish user posted on Thursday.<a href="https://stocktwits.com/Reanimated666/message/633415294">https://stocktwits.com/Reanimated666/message/633415294</a>&nbsp;Currently, 14 of the 24 analysts rate the stock ‘Buy’ or higher, nine rate it ‘Hold,’ and one rates it ‘Strong Sell,’ according to Koyfin. As of the last close, the stock has declined 9.2% year to date.For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

Close-up of logo for conglomerate Procter and Gamble (PG) on box, San Ramon, California, May 15, 2020. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

Procter & Gamble Stock Edges Higher Premarket As Traders Turn Bullish Ahead Of Q1 Earnings

Shares and retail sentiment have climbed higher ahead of the report in pre-market hours.

<ul class="summary-bullets"><li>China’s market regulator conducts checks at major food-delivery firms’ offices.</li><li>These inspections are part of ongoing probes as Beijing reviews the sector for anticompetitive and quality concerns.</li><li>With JD’s entry earlier this year, China’s food-delivery market has become highly competitive.</li></ul>Officials from China’s competition regulator conducted checks at the offices of the country’s leading food delivery operators, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s Ele.me, Meituan, and JD.com Inc. this month, according to a Bloomberg report citing an article in the Chinese publication Economic Observer.ByteDance Ltd.’s Douyin was also among the companies investigated.The reported inspections are the latest in Beijing’s scrutiny of the domestic food delivery sector. The country’s three largest platforms have been locked in an intense price war this year, drawing criticism from top leadership concerned about price distortion and anticompetitive practices.&nbsp;In July, President Xi Jinping backed a&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/china-warns-against-disorderly-ai-race-as-local-tech-giants-chase-us-rivals/chtTBDeRdZz">campaign</a> to curb “disorderly competition,” and earlier this month, China’s economic planning agency and market regulator announced new measures to support the initiative. Authorities have also cited consumer complaints about food and service among the issues they are probing.The investigations are ongoing, and platforms are preparing materials requested by the authorities, according to the&nbsp;<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-24/beijing-probes-food-delivery-companies-quality-control-report">report</a>.&nbsp;The development comes amid a high-stakes war in China's food-delivery space, where companies have resorted to aggressive discounting to undercut rivals.The competition escalated earlier this year when JD.com entered&nbsp;the space, prompting Meituan and Alibaba's&nbsp;<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://ele.me">Ele.me</a> to double down on promotions and subsidies to keep customers from jumping to rival services.On Stocktwits, the retail sentiment was ‘bearish’ for&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/BABA">BABA</a> and ‘extremely bearish’ for&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/JD">JD</a> as of early Friday. Alibaba’s shares are up 105% year-to-date, while JD’s shares have declined 2.8%.For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

A food delivery rider of JD Takeaway, the food delivery service under China's e-commerce giant JD.com, rides an electric bicycle along a road on April 22, 2025 in Beijing, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

Alibaba, Meituan, JD.com: Watch These Stocks As China’s Latest Probe Said To Target Food-Delivery Quality

With JD’s entry earlier this year, China’s food-delivery market has become highly competitive.

<ul class="summary-bullets"><li>Boston Beer raises profit forecast for the current year.</li><li>The company has revised its expectations for additional costs from tariffs, reflecting changes in import taxes on specific Canadian inputs.</li><li>Retail sentiment for SAM jumps to 'extremely bullish' from 'bullish.'</li></ul>Boston Beer Co. Inc.'s shares rose 3.4% in after-hours trading on Thursday, and sentiment on Stocktwits turned more positive after the craft brewer raised its annual profit forecast.The company now sees a lower impact from U.S. tariffs this year than previously anticipated, as some of its input products are covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Now, the tariffs are expected to add $9 million in costs, down from an earlier projection of $13 million.Consequently, the company has raised its 2025 EPS forecast to a $7.80 to $9.80 range from an earlier $6.72 to $9.54 range.Boston Beer, known for its flagship brand, Samuel&nbsp;Adams, and other alcoholic beverages such as Truly Hard Seltzer and Twisted Tea, reported mixed results for the third quarter.Net revenue slid 11% to $537.5 million. Analysts expected $542.1 million. The company earned $4.25 a share, higher than the expectation of $3.33 a share.The performance&nbsp;underscores&nbsp;fewer beer sales amid strained budgets; the company noted that low- and middle-income consumers are shopping less frequently and having fewer social gatherings.On Stocktwits, the retail sentiment for SAM shifted to 'extremely bullish' as of early Friday, from 'bullish' the previous day."Feel like the high end of their guidance is too low and they are exaggerating tariff impacts, but will see how it plays out 2nd half," said a user.&nbsp;<stembedurl>https://stocktwits.com/Steve1545/message/622357653n</stembedurl>As of last close,<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/SAM">&nbsp;SAM shares</a> are down 27% year-to-date.For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

A view of Samuel Adams at Oktoberfest on October 19, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for NYCWFF)

Boston Beer Retail Traders Raise A Toast To Bumped-Up Profit Outlook As Trump Tariff Burden Eases

The company has revised its expectations for additional costs from tariffs, reflecting changes in import taxes on specific Canadian inputs.

<ul class="summary-bullets"><li>KeyBanc initiated coverage on AMZN with an ‘Overweight’ rating and a $300 price target.</li><li>Stifel increased its price target to $269 from $260.</li><li>Amazon will report Q3 results on Oct. 30.</li></ul>KeyBanc on Thursday placed an ‘Overweight’ rating on Amazon.com, Inc.’s shares, while Stifel increased its price target on the stock – just ahead of the e-commerce and cloud giant’s earnings report next week.KeyBanc said investors drove the stock lower on pessimism over Amazon’s cloud business, creating an attractive entry point. The research firm initiated coverage with a $300 price target, adding that Amazon's current valuation multiple is "well below historical levels." That implies a 36% upside to the stock’s last close.That’s the main debate among retail investors of late. Despite Amazon looking resilient on all fronts, the stock has failed to break out. It’s traded rangebound since the last earnings report and is up a mere 0.8% year-to-date, the worst run among the “Magnificent Seven” stocks.Earlier this week, Amazon&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/amazon-stock-ticks-lower-premarket-retail-traders-wary-after-aws-outage-slightly-dents-cloud-credibility/cLG5cVPR3px">made headlines</a> after an outage in its cloud unit, Amazon Web Services, took down dozens of services like Gmail and Snapchat, and disrupted hundreds of businesses. Amazon will likely have to compensate affected customers, and more details of the incident might be revealed during the earnings.Stifel raised its target to $269 from $260, implying a 22% upside from the last close, and kept a ‘Buy’ rating. The firm noted stable trends in consumer prices and sales in the third quarter, while the expansion of same-day grocery delivery for Prime members may leave some upside for 2026.Currently, 67 of 69 analysts have a ‘Buy’ or higher rating, with the remaining advising ‘Hold,’ according to Koyfin data.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1288/140;" src="https://news.stocktwits-cdn.com/Screenshot_2025_10_24_at_10_13_24_AM_png_cbbc1e553a.webp" alt="Screenshot 2025-10-24 at 10.13.24 AM.png" width="1288" height="140"><figcaption>AMZN sentiment and message volume as of October 24 | Source: Stocktwits</figcaption></figure>On Stocktwits, the retail sentiment for&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/AMZN">AMZN</a> has been ‘bearish,’ unchanged over the week. “$AMZN waiting and watching for the big run up,” a user said with the picture of a raccoon standing upright, summarizing the mood.<stembedurl>https://stocktwits.com/portroyal1/message/633507876</stembedurl>For the third quarter, analysts expect Amazon's sales to rise 12% to $177.7 billion, while its EPS is expected to rise to $1.56 from $1.43 a year ago.For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/deckers-stock-tanks-12-after-hours-on-slowing-sales-cautious-outlook/cLGJBeeR3ry">Deckers Stock Tanks 12% After-Hours On Slowing Sales, Cautious Outlook — But Retail Eager To Buy The Dip</a>

 The Amazon logo is displayed outside Amazon UK MAN8 Warehouse on January 30, 2025 in Haydock, United Kingdom. 

Amazon Stock Lands Bullish Calls From KeyBanc, Stifel Ahead Of Q3 Report: Retail Investors Await Promised Upswing

Amazon will report Q3 results on Oct. 30.

<ul class="summary-bullets"><li>Deckers forecasts FY26 revenue and EPS below Wall Street expectations.</li><li>Management signals demand weakness in the near term.</li><li>Although Q2 revenue beats expectations, the pace of growth is slowing.</li></ul>Deckers Outdoor Corp.’s shares fell 12.3% in after-hours trading on Thursday after the footwear company reported slowing revenue growth and issued a cautious full-year outlook.If the move holds in Friday’s session, it would be the stock’s worst performance in five months.For the current fiscal year ending March 2026, Deckers expects EPS between $6.30 and $6.39, below the $6.36 analysts expected. The net sales forecast of $5.35 billion also missed the target of $5.46 billion. Deckers issued the guidance midway through the fiscal year after withholding it due to macroeconomic uncertainty.“We’re taking into account a consumer who’s a little bit more cautious,” CFO Steven Fasching said in the post-earnings analyst call, noting U.S. consumers are pulling back on discretionary purchases as they start to see price increases.&nbsp;Deckers, known for its Hoka running shoes and UGG boots, also faces competition from a resurging Nike and other legacy and new-age brands.In the second quarter, sales rose 9% to $1.43 billion. Although higher than analysts’ expectations, it is the second time in the past two years that the growth rate has fallen below 10%. International growth also slowed to 49% from 29% in the first quarter.On Stocktwits, the retail sentiment for&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/DECK">DECK</a> climbed multiple points higher in the ‘extremely bullish’ zone, with the stock’s weakness (it’s down 50% year-to-date) among the factors making it seem attractive to retail investors.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1286/134;" src="https://news.stocktwits-cdn.com/Screenshot_2025_10_24_at_8_55_32_AM_png_6518b1b9e8.webp" alt="Screenshot 2025-10-24 at 8.55.32 AM.png" width="1286" height="134"><figcaption>DECK sentiment and message volume as of October 24 | Source: Stocktwits</figcaption></figure>Several users said the after-hours slide was an overreaction, especially given the top and bottom line beats. “What a gift for long term bulls. Company should come out with max buybacks over the next few months,” said a user.<stembedurl>https://stocktwits.com/vince_CPA/message/633524453</stembedurl>A bearish user&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/lululemonsucks/message/633527801">remarked</a> that Deckers’ trajectory is similar to Lululemon, a once-innovative activewear brand that’s struggled in recent years.&nbsp;For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/microsoft-says-no-to-ai-erotica-bots-in-clear-break-with-open-ai-and-x-ai-playbooks/cLGJ4JkR3rr">Microsoft Says No To AI Erotica Bots In Clear Break With OpenAI And xAI Playbooks</a>

In this photo illustration, Deckers Outdoor Corporation (Deckers Brands) logo is seen on a smartphone and on a pc screen. (Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Deckers Stock Tanks 12% After-Hours On Slowing Sales, Cautious Outlook — But Retail Eager To Buy The Dip

Management signals demand weakness in the near term.

<ul class="summary-bullets"><li>Microsoft's AI chief, Mustafa Suleyman, says the company will not develop AI capable of producing erotic content.</li><li>Microsoft's position contrasts that of OpenAI, which last week said upcoming ChatGPT versions would allow it for verified adult users.</li><li>Suleyman says AI erotica is catching up and that it is a dangerous trend.</li></ul>Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman said on Thursday that the company will not develop AI capable of "simulated erotica," taking a stance that contrasts with&nbsp;longtime partner OpenAI and Elon Musk's xAI."That's just not a service we're going to provide," Suleyman said at the Paley International Council Summit in California, as&nbsp;<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/23/microsoft-ai-chief-suleyman-company-wont-build-chatbots-for-erotica.html">reported</a> by CNBC. "Other companies will build that."&nbsp;Last week, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/chatgpt-to-get-kinky-sam-altmans-openai-plans-to-ease-restrictions-to-access-erotica/ch6n1WiR3Zg">said</a> upcoming versions of ChatGPT will permit a broader range of content, including erotica. He added that verified adult users would have access to such material, as the company believes in "treat(ing) adult users like adults."xAI's Grok AI assistant, which launched as a standalone app earlier this year, permits a broader range of adult interactions than rival services. Grok's companions feature, such as the character "Ani", reportedly allows sexualized interactions, and the company recently added a "Spicy" mode that allows users to generate sexually explicit images.Suleyman's comments underscore the different approaches AI creators are taking. To be sure, Microsoft's Copilot AI is primarily used by enterprise users, while ChatGPT likely has a better mix of enterprise and general consumers.&nbsp;On Thursday, Suleyman said the creation of seemingly conscious AI is already happening, primarily with erotica-focused services. He referenced Altman's comments and Elon Musk's Grok."You can already see it with some of these avatars and people leaning into the kind of sexbot erotica direction," Suleyman said. "This is very dangerous, and I think we should be making conscious decisions to avoid those kinds of things."On Stocktwits, the retail sentiment for&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/MSFT">MSFT</a> was 'neutral' as of late Thursday, compared to 'bearish' the previous day. The stock is up 23.5% year-to-date.For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman speaks during a company event in Redmond, Washington on April 04, 2025. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) 

Microsoft Says No To AI Erotica Bots In Clear Break With OpenAI And xAI Playbooks

Suleyman says AI erotica is catching up and that it is a dangerous trend.

<ul><li>Target’s cuts will affect about 8% of its 22,000-strong global workforce.</li><li>About 80% of the cuts will be in U.S. ranks.</li><li>Michael Fiddelke, Target’s incoming CEO, says the move removes excess management layers.</li></ul>Target Corp. will eliminate 1,000 corporate jobs and another 800 open roles in its biggest workforce reduction in a decade, according to management communication to employees on Thursday.“The truth is, the complexity we’ve created over time has been holding us back,” Michael Fiddelke, Target’s incoming CEO, said in a memo to staff, as&nbsp;<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/target-to-cut-around-1-000-jobs-910556f2">reported</a> by the Wall Street Journal. “Too many layers and overlapping work have slowed decisions, making it harder to bring ideas to life.”The move impacts 8% of Target’s approximately 22,000 workers globally, with around 80% of the cuts planned in its U.S. ranks, according to the WSJ.The company will share details of the changes next Tuesday and has asked all U.S. corporate employees to work from home next week, according to the memo.&nbsp;The development comes amid years of sluggish growth at the big box retailer. Target grew by offering fashionable items and slightly trendy everyday goods, which helped it differentiate from low-cost retail chains like Walmart (WMT); however, gains from the strategy have diminished in recent years.Meanwhile, Target’s&nbsp;decision to cut back on gay Pride merchandise, as well as some Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, earlier this year hurt sales and angered some investors and workers. Boycotts of Target resulting from the company's stance on DEI weighed on its first-quarter earnings.Target's stock is down 30.3% year-to-date, heading for the worst yearly performance since 2021. In August, the company announced that Fiddelke, a company veteran and currently the COO, will take over as the CEO in February next year. The stock fell soon after, with analysts saying that an outside hire might have been a better move.On Stocktwits, the retail sentiment for <a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/TGT">TGT</a> was ‘bearish’ as of late Thursday, unchanged from the prior day. The company will report third-quarter results on Nov. 19.For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

People walk past Target Store in Midtown Manhattan on March 06, 2025 in New York City, United States. (Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Target To Slash 1,000 Corporate Jobs, Freeze 800 Open Roles In Biggest Workforce Cut In A Decade: Report

Michael Fiddelke, Target’s incoming CEO, says the move removes excess management layers.

<ul class="summary-bullets"><li>Unilever reports higher-than-expected underlying sales in Q3, supported by prices and volume growth.</li><li>Sales in China and developed markets fared well.</li><li>Unilever’s stocks in the U.S. and London rose after the report.</li></ul>Unilever Plc.’s U.S.-listed shares rose 2.6% in early premarket trading on Thursday, after the consumer packaged goods giant reported underlying sales for the third quarter above market expectations.The company’s shares on the London Stock Exchange were up 1.8% by afternoon local time.Unilever’s underlying sales, a metric that does not include the impact of currency fluctuations and mergers and acquisitions, rose 3.9%. That’s higher than the 3.7% growth estimate from analysts and the 3.8% rate in the second quarter.Growth was driven by increases in both prices and volumes, which rose by 2.4% and 1.5%, respectively. The company reported strong sales in developed markets and saw a rebound in China and Indonesia, two regions that had recently faced challenges. In North America, underlying sales grew 5.5%, mainly driven by volumes.Unilever reaffirmed its guidance for the full year, with underlying sales growth expected to be 3% to 5%.The results come amid challenging macroeconomic conditions mainly due to U.S. tariffs that have increased input and product costs and shifted consumer spending patterns. Companies, especially those selling directly to consumers, are navigating a delicate balance between raising prices and protecting margins as the trade landscape evolves.Unilever’s turnover declined 3.5% to 14.72 billion euros ($17.09 billion), falling short of the 14.77 billion euros target, mainly due to currency headwinds. On Stocktwits, the retail sentiment for&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/UL">UL</a> was ‘neutral,’ unchanged since the start of the week. The stock is up 9.3% year-to-date.For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/alibaba-puts-ai-chat-in-quark-app-eyes-consumers-in-latest-growth-push/cLG4ayxR3AL">Alibaba Puts AI Chat In Quark App, Eyes Consumers In Latest Growth Push</a>

The Unilever Plc logo and lettering can be seen outside a factory in Switzerland. (Photo by Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Unilever Stock Gains After Favorable Q3 Report: China & Developed Market Trends Upbeat

Unilever’s stocks in the U.S. and London rose after the report.

<ul class="summary-bullets"><li>Alibaba introduces an AI chat assistant in its Quark app.</li><li>The feature is powered by the company's latest Qwen3 models and offers enhanced reasoning, comprehension, and task execution capabilities.</li><li>BABA shares have declined this month but are still up about 97% year-to-date.</li></ul> Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. on Thursday introduced advanced AI chat features to its Quark app, which originally launched as a browser but was repositioned earlier this year as the company’s flagship consumer platform.&nbsp;The move underscores the Chinese tech giant’s broader play targeting individual users, after previously focusing its AI efforts primarily on enterprise clients.Alibaba’s U.S.-listed shares rose 1.9% in early premarket trading; the company’s Hong Kong stock closed 1.7% up on Thursday.Quark’s new chat feature lets users interact through text or voice, and is powered by Alibaba’s latest Qwen3 models. It offers enhanced reasoning, comprehension, and task execution capabilities, the company said.The app had 6.96 million monthly active users in September, Reuters reported, citing figures from AI product tracker Aicpb.com. Market leader ByteDance's Doubao had 150 million monthly active users, while DeepSeek had 73.4 million, and Tencent followed with 64.2 million.Alibaba has moved swiftly in launching new AI features and upgrades to its large language models, bolstering investor confidence and helping its stock nearly double in value this year.On Stocktwits, the retail sentiment for&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/BABA">BABA</a> was ‘bearish,’ unchanged from the previous day. The stock, down about 13% from its recent record high earlier this month, remains up 97% so far this year.For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

Alibaba Group office building in Chongqing Municipality, China, pictured on March 23, 2025. (LI HONGBO/Feature China/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Alibaba Puts AI Chat In Quark App, Eyes Consumers In Latest Growth Push

The feature is powered by the company's latest Qwen3 models and offers enhanced reasoning, comprehension, and task execution capabilities.