Mon Jan 20 05:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Robinhood Soars on SEC Settlement and Analyst Upgrades; Broad Market Rally Continues
**New York, NY** – Robinhood Markets, Inc. saw its stock price surge Tuesday following a $45 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to resolve various alleged violations. The positive movement was further fueled by Morgan Stanley analysts adding Robinhood to their “Financials’ Finest” list and Bernstein Research analysts naming it a “best idea” due to its crypto trading exposure.
The positive sentiment extended to the broader market. The S&P 500 closed up 1%, the Russell 2000 gained 0.4%, and the Nasdaq 100 jumped 1.7% on Friday, marking the benchmark US stock index’s first weekly gain of 2025. Tech, consumer discretionary, and communications services sectors, which had weighed down the market earlier in the week, led the Friday rally. Intel also saw significant gains following reports of a potential acquisition. Several chipmakers, including Qorvo, Nvidia, and Broadcom, experienced substantial growth.
Crypto-related stocks, such as MicroStrategy, Coinbase, MARA Holdings, and Riot Platforms, also surged, mirroring a 4.6% increase in Bitcoin. This surge is partly attributed to anticipation surrounding President-elect Trump’s reported plans to prioritize cryptocurrencies through an executive order. Trading volume on the iShares Bitcoin Trust reached a record high.
Meanwhile, pharmaceutical stocks Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk declined after the Department of Health and Human Services announced price negotiations for some of their drugs.
In other news, AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. shares rose after disclosing the completion of a $184 million share sale, exceeding 10% of its third-quarter revenue.
Finally, following the legalization of the TikTok divest-or-dark law, JPMorgan Chase analysts suggested Amazon as a potential buyer, citing its strong ad tech capabilities and financial resources. However, no official discussions have been confirmed.
First Piper 