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LeadStar and LeadingResponse Announce Strategic Partnership to Enhance Lead Generation with In-Person Seminar Programming

AmeriLife

LeadStar, the proprietary, private leads platform created with and exclusively for AmeriLife -affiliated agents, announced today that it has partnered with LeadingResponse to launch LeadStar Seminars Powered by LeadingResponse to strengthen its spectrum of lead options and provide AmeriLife agents with a comprehensive seminars services platform to offer face-to-face educational opportunities for health and life insurance and financial services customers. LeadStar Seminars Powered by LeadingResponse is the newest addition to the LeadStar platform, which now provides a comprehensive set of lead delivery options. LeadingResponse’s dynamic seminar programming will provide agents with a seamless experience from lead acquisition to conversion, with services that include real-time lead delivery, comprehensive campaign management, and expertly crafted seminar content designed to engage and convert. “This partnership is a game-changer for AmeriLife’s Health and Wealth professionals looking to drive growth and enhance live engagement with their target audiences,” said Chief Lead Officer for AmeriLife William DeCourcy. "We recognize that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to delivering compliant, high-performance leads to AmeriLife agents. Partnering with LeadingResponse expands the lead options available to AmeriLife agents, allowing health and wealth product sales professionals to scale efficiently and effectively in multiple channels – including the key channel of face-to-face educational seminars.” LeadingResponse, with decades of experience in targeted seminar marketing, brings unparalleled expertise in engaging affluent consumers through in-person seminars, webinars, and multichannel marketing approaches. Their proven conversion strategies in educational workshops and seminar solutions have filled countless events with qualified consumers, perfectly complementing LeadStar's capabilities in lead generation. “We are excited about our partnership with AmeriLife and LeadStar,” said Matthew Kearney, Chief Executive Officer for LeadingResponse. “We look for partners that share in our mission to connect health and wealth experts to consumers exactly when help is needed, and AmeriLife and LeadStar are a perfect fit. By leveraging our expertise, concierge service, and advanced technology, AmeriLife sales professionals can grow their businesses through our highly effective solution suite.” The LeadingResponse platform includes targeted audience reach specifically designed to target affluent consumers aged 50 and above; a robust client portal, Hub, which allows for 24/7 review of ongoing campaigns while integrating with your CRM and marketing automation workflows; and high conversion rates through seminar attendance, with attendee rates over twice the industry average. “LeadStar Seminars Powered by LeadingResponse represent a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to provide AmeriLife’s distribution partners with the tools and strategies they need to succeed in a competitive marketplace,” added DeCourcy. “We are confident that LeadStar Seminars Powered by LeadingResponse can drive client growth with data-driven insights and marketing solutions that optimize LeadStar’s lead generation suite of services to achieve strong outcomes.” AmeriLife-affiliated licensed health agents and financial professionals interested in leveraging LeadStar Seminars Powered by LeadingResponse are encouraged to inquire with their marketers or uplines about access to these integrated services, promising a boost in both the quantity and quality of leads and conversions. For more information about the partnership and to request access, please visit the LeadStar Seminars Powered by LeadingResponse page on the LeadStar website. ### About LeadStar LeadStar is an industry-leading enterprise leads program that delivers the compliant, reliable, and performative leads that today’s health and life insurance agents need to grow their books of business and maximize their success. Powered by AmeriLife and exclusively for the company’s affiliated agents, LeadStar’s suite of solutions includes LeadStar Marketplace, LeadStar Connect, LeadStar Direct, and LeadStar Seminars Powered by LeadingResponse. For more information, contact an AmeriLife-affiliated marketing company or visit LeadStarHub.com. About LeadingResponse Founded in 1996 with headquarters in Tampa, LeadingResponse is a trusted and proven leader in customer acquisition for health and wealth organizations across the United States. LeadingResponse’s solution suite enables clients to connect with consumers in the medium they want to engage and at the point in the consumer journey clients wish to target. Whether consumers need Preneed, legal defense, financial advice, a senior living community, Estate Planning, or a Medicare procedure, LeadingResponse connects our client experts to provide the needed consultation. With our teams of marketers, designers, and developers, LeadingResponse is the easiest way for organizations to grow their business and increase revenue. For more information, visit the LeadingResponse website. About AmeriLife AmeriLife’s strength is its mission: to provide insurance and retirement solutions to help people live longer, healthier lives. In doing so, AmeriLife has become recognized as the leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities, and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees across the United States. For over 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with top insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers through a distribution network of over 300,000 insurance agents and advisors and 120 marketing organizations and insurance agency locations nationwide. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn. Contact Details Jeff Maldonado media@amerilife.com LeadingResponse Pamela Girardin pamela.girardin@leadingresponse.com Partnership Inquiries Patrick Nichols corporatedevelopment@amerilife.com Company Website https://amerilife.com/

July 30, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

How Gamification Can Mislead Traders Into Potentially Reckless Trading

Benzinga

By Cboe The rise of do-it-yourself or self-directed trading has been an inflection point in the history of capital markets, as it marks the point in time when individuals could easily invest in stocks, ETFs or cryptocurrencies via electronic trading platforms. While lowering the proverbial barriers to investing has allowed more individuals to become investors, it has also facilitated and amplified individuals' risk-taking behavior, with many electronic trading platforms encouraging such behavior through gamification. What Is Gamification? Gamification is the application of typical game-play elements (e.g., points, competition with others, rules of play) to other areas of activity to encourage engagement with a product or service. Though gamification is present in various industries, in the realm of investing, it aims to simplify and make the traditionally complex world of finance more accessible, user-friendly, and engaging while encouraging investors to participate in the market and learn about investment strategies actively. Gamification, Changing Investor Behavior Gamification has been an essential catalyst for electronic trading platforms, serving as a form of edutainment that has attracted and retained individuals on these platforms. The CFA Institute has researched the effect of gamification on investor behavior and published its findings in the 2022 CFA Institute Investor Trust Study entitled Enhancing Investors’ Trust. They surveyed more than 3,500 retail and 976 institutional investors across 15 markets on their opinions on gamification and cryptocurrencies and found that approximately two-thirds of investors under the age of 45 have trading accounts, compared to 54% of retail investors overall. Across age groups, one-fifth of the users self-reported entertainment/speculation as the primary reason for using a retail trading account, with the other four-fifths citing investing to meet long-term goals as the primary reason. Simply put, the gamification of investing induces a thrill or sense of euphoria within a significant cohort of individuals utilizing digital trading platforms, with the non-monetary benefits of these platforms taking precedence in investors' minds. Furthermore, the impact of social media in popularizing the trading of stocks or utilizing options, further encourages individuals to trade in a gamified manner. Gamification Can Have A Negative Impact On Investing The most public example of the implications of gamification is GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME) and the success of other social media-driven meme stocks. As detailed in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Staff Report on Equity and Options Market Structure Conditions in Early 2021, GME’s intraday share price increased approximately 2,700% from its intraday low on January 8, 2021 to its intraday high on January 28, 2021, followed by a decrease of over 86% from that day to the closing price at the end of the first week of February 2021. The daily closing price changes at the end of January were also highly volatile in dollar terms, ranging from a rise of $199.53 (between January 26 and 27) to a fall of $153.91 (between January 27 and January 28). During this period, there was an increase in individual accounts trading GME. By January 27, the number of unique accounts trading GME on a given day increased from less than 10,000 at the beginning of the month to nearly 900,000. Like GME’s equity trading activity, GME options trading activity increased significantly. From the beginning of 2020 through September of that year, GME options traded a median of about 16,000 contracts per day, with a maximum of about 172,000 in one day, with a median dollar volume totaling just over $800,000 per day and a maximum of about $42 million in one day. In the fourth quarter of 2020, GME options traded a median of about 84,000 contracts per day, with a maximum of about 560,000 in one day, with a median dollar volume totaling approximately $10.5 million per day, and a maximum of about $120 million in one day. Individual customer accounts made up a high percentage of options trading in GME during this time. Several retail brokers facilitated this activity, with three brokers representing over 66% of individual customer accounts trading GME options. The fallout from GameStop’s volatility led the SEC to investigate investor safeguards on prominent electronic trading platforms. The SEC’s inquiry brought to the forefront the operational conflicts of interest, namely payment for order flow (PFOF), that are in place with many electronic trading platforms and market makers. In principle, PFOF incentivizes brokerages, such as electronic trading platforms, to route orders to market makers that pay the highest PFOF, which may not always align with getting the best execution for the customer. Since electronic trading platforms benefit monetarily from increased trading on their platform, gamification is how these platforms retain and compel users to trade continuously, ultimately profiting from their habit-forming behavior. Recently, the SEC proposed the Conflicts of Interest Associated with the Use of Predictive Data Analytics rule, which aims to diminish the adverse effects of gamification and eliminate conflicts of interest that may be present. Specifically, the rule would require that where technology places a broker’s or adviser’s interest ahead of an investor’s, such conflicts of interest must be “eliminated” or “neutralized.” Gamification in investing also includes other drawbacks. It may promote heightened risk-taking where rewards incentivize users to take chances they may not consider in a more conventional investment environment. Gamification can foster a short-term mindset, seeing investors potentially missing out on the advantages of compounding returns because they focus on the immediate feedback involved in gaming. On average, increased trading frequency, as encouraged by the dynamics of gamification, generates more income for trading platforms, but has a negative effect on retail investors. Learning In An Intentional Manner While the gamification of investing has often been the gateway through which individuals have familiarized themselves with capital markets, there are alternate avenues through which investors can develop a strong investing aptitude without increased risk-taking. Given the increasing popularity of options, platforms such as The Options Institute provide both beginners with options trading and professional traders with a forum to familiarize themselves with foundational knowledge on options or to learn new developments within the investment derivatives landscape. Owned and overseen by Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE), the leading derivatives-based index provider in the world, Cboe’s Options Institute provides comprehensive courses and tools, equipping investors with the knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of options trading effectively. For retail investors that want to implement their options knowledge in a measured fashion, Cboe’s XSP Index options are worthy of exploration, as they are based on the S&P 500 Index, but are designed to be smaller in size, making them more accessible to individual investors and smaller traders. With benefits like lower cost than standard-sized index option contracts, cash settlement, and European-style exercise, they can be a versatile tool for hedging, speculation, and income generation. As individuals gain more experience, Cboe Global Markets has a wide array of investment products that investors can utilize dutifully to execute their investment goals. Though gamification makes investing fun, it is a fleeting aspect of the investment experience that has taken advantage of investors thus far. In contrast, education platforms such as The Options Institute provide a pathway of practical learning and tutelage for individuals desiring to grow their investing skills meaningfully and gradually. Featured photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

July 30, 2024 08:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Gold Price Hit Yet Another All-Time High In July: Here’s How Austin Gold (NYSE: AUST) Plans To Continue To Capitalize

Benzinga

By Gerelyn Terzo, Benzinga The gold price has been on a tear of late, reaching a fresh all-time high of $2483.73 on July 17 amid trader expectations that the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates. While inflation has begun to show signs of easing, and gold is renowned as an inflationary hedge, there are still plenty of catalysts that could continue to fuel gold’s bull run, including geopolitical tensions that are likely to continue to erupt around the globe. The Dow Jones U.S. Gold Mining Total Stock Market Index reflects that sentiment, having gained over 23% in the past three months alone. As a result, gold mining companies have the wind at their backs, giving them an opportunity to generate cash flow and manage costs. Vancouver, British Columbia-based Austin Gold (NYSE: AUST) controls a trio of gold exploration projects, including two strategically positioned in Nevada. Nevada has rich gold deposits in mines that contributed nearly three-quarters of U.S. gold production in 2021. With a market capitalization of just over $15 million, Austin Gold shares have risen almost 60% year-to-date. Now that the second half of 2024 is underway, the company provided an update on its latest exploration activities, noting the progress made recently and what lies ahead for the rest of the year. Among the highlights, the company says it could be closer to hitting pay dirt in a promising Nevada gold project, while its Oregon project shows potential for high-grade gold and silver. Lone Mountain Project Potential Situated at the southern end of the Independence Mountains, Lone Mountain is one of Austin Gold’s three projects. Austin Gold holds a mineral lease agreement on 454 unpatented lode mining claims and owns 348 claims itself, all of which total 57.6 square kilometers. Lone Mountain is positioned within 20 miles of some of Nevada’s most attractive gold mining centers, including the Carlin Trend, where over 90 million ounces of gold have been mined. As an exploration project, there have yet to be proven mineral resources uncovered at Lone Mountain, and it is premature to determine if there will be. However, Austin Gold says the project contains all of the geological characteristics necessary for the formation of large Carlin-type gold deposits; the Roberts Mountains thrust and related faults, favorable host rocks including the Roberts Mountains Formation and Coal Canyon Sequence, hydrothermal alteration and mineralization typical of Carlin-type deposits and districts, and the proper age of intrusive rocks that create Carlin-type deposits and districts. Lone Mountain’s discovery potential was not fully addressed by prior exploration efforts. As a result, Austin Gold states it intends to “verify and significantly expand on the historical sampling programs to target areas of promising hydrothermal alteration and mineralization.” Austin Gold says it will harness the results of these sampling programs with historical results to better target gold deposits in the Lone Mountain project. Kelly Creek Project: Attractive Joint Venture Terms Kelly Creek is yet another Nevada-based project in which Austin Gold has the option to enter a joint venture with its wholly owned subsidiary Austin American Corporation. In doing so, Austin Gold would position itself to hold a 70% interest in the Kelly project, located in Nevada’s Humboldt County. In its latest corporate update, the company revealed it has renegotiated the terms of that JV agreement, extending the target date to earn a majority interest in the project by two years. As a result, Austin Gold must invest CA$ 2.5 million by June 30, 2027, to qualify. To earn the additional 19% that would bring it to the full 70% threshold, Austin Gold must allocate an additional CA$2.5 million while also footing the cost of property lease payments and fees to maintain the property in good standing. The company said it will decide the best course of action for the Kelly Creek Project at the appropriate time. Stockade Mountain Project: Gold and Silver Last but not least is Austin Gold’s Stockade Mountain Project. Unlike the other two gold projects, both of which are located in Nevada, Stockade is a gold and silver project situated in Malheur County, Oregon. Austin Gold revealed its intentions to “aggressively” pursue positive gold mineralization during the 2023-2024 winter drilling program. The company’s first three holes revealed what the company described as a “robust” mineralization system at this project, one with “significant gold grades.” Due to the five-acre disturbance limitation under a Bureau of Land Management notice-level exploration permit, Austin is undertaking a Plan of Operations to allow for greater flexibility for drill site locations and access. Austin Gold’s drilling and exploration program at Stockade Mountain targets high-grade gold and silver vein deposits formed deeper within the hydrothermal system. Austin is planning a drill program, with the timing subject to permitting, to continue the exploration for the hypothesized high-grade vein systems. Fully Funded Austin Gold, with a board of directors whose members have built three billion-dollar companies in the resource sector, says it is fully funded for all planned exploration programs. This could give stakeholders confidence in the company's future direction. As gold prices soar to unprecedented levels and companies like Austin Gold ramp up their drilling projects, the moment is ripe for gold exploration firms seizing this historic opportunity. Featured photo by Jingming Panon on Unsplash. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

July 30, 2024 08:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Quantitative Easing Could Occur Soon – Here's What That Could Mean For Crypto, And How To Benefit

Benzinga

By Kyle Anthony, Benzinga The global macroeconomic landscape is changing, as the Bank of Canada (BoC) and European Central Bank (ECB) recently cut interest rates in their respective economies due to declining inflation and encouraging economic readings in recent months. The reduction of interest rates by both the BoC and ECB raises expectations of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve (Fed) in the near future. For many cryptocurrency investors, such an action would positively impact their cryptocurrency investments and open up the opportunity to achieve additional liquidity. The Macroeconomic Backdrop The Federal Reserve adjusts the federal funds target rate range in response to what’s happening in the economy. Adjusting rates helps the Fed achieve conditions that satisfy their dual mandate: keeping prices stable and maximizing employment. While the considerations and variables that underpin the monetary policy actions of the Fed are numerous, in simplified terms, the Fed raises interest rates when the economy starts overheating (i.e. elevated inflation) and cuts rates when the economy looks weak (i.e. high unemployment). Against the backdrop of elevated inflation stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve raised rates 11 times between March 17, 2022 and July 27, 2023. In subsequent meetings about the federal funds target rate, the Fed maintained the current rate level of 5.25% to 5.50%. With U.S. inflation significantly down from historical highs and the actions of other central banks being a motivating factor, the desire for quantitative easing – the reduction of interest rates and increase in the money supply through the purchase of securities by the central bank – is growing among investors and individuals alike. Interest Rate Change Impact on Cryptocurrency Cryptocurrencies, like any risk asset such as equities or fixed income, are impacted by interest rates. A lower interest rate stimulates the economy, encouraging consumer spending and investment, increasing borrowing and buoying economic activity. Thus, it can be a boon for asset acquisition, driving prices up. It is also worth noting that lower rates disincentivize individuals from saving their money via certificates of deposits and other term-to-maturity instruments, instead compelling many to seek out riskier assets like crypto to pursue higher returns. This increased demand can drive up crypto prices. The relationship between interest rates and cryptocurrencies can be gleaned from the historical price of Bitcoin. During the era of extremely low interest rates, Bitcoin’s price reached then record highs, surpassing the $60,000 price threshold. However, a material drawdown, approximately 70%, occurred once the Fed began raising rates to combat rising inflation. Though Bitcoin’s price has recovered, this was due to events such as its halving and the SEC’s approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs. Once a macroeconomic change – such as the reduction of interest rates – occurs, the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency assets may be pushed upward. The chart below highlights the inverse relationship between the federal funds effective rate and the price of Bitcoin. Gaining Exposure To Crypto With Professional Guidance For investors who desire direct cryptocurrency ownership, Caleb & Brown, the crypto investor’s expert partner, provides personalized service for beginners and advanced investors alike. The company makes Bitcoin and hundreds of other crypto assets readily available for one’s portfolio. With 24/7 access to a personal relationship manager, investors can buy crypto with fiat currency and no deposit fees. Since Caleb & Brown doesn’t need to deal with network latency issues which sometimes plague exchanges, clients will have access to a pool of interchangeable assets. This not only makes crypto acquisition easier, but it also makes other difficult-to-access tokens easier to acquire. With over 20,000 crypto assets in existence, each with its own uses and applications, Caleb & Brown can provide its customers with resources and insights on the cryptocurrency landscape that can aid them in their decision-making and give them the confidence needed to navigate the world of crypto. Embark on your cryptocurrency investing journey with Caleb & Brown here. Featured photo by André François McKenzie on Unsplash. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

July 30, 2024 08:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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6 Unique Benefits Of Having An Axos Invest Margin Trading Account

Benzinga

By Gerelyn Terzo, Benzinga If you’ve been investing for a while and are ready to take your portfolio to the next level, margin trading could be for you. Trading on margin is a strategy available to qualifying investors that offers many advantages. Chief among the benefits is an opportunity to increase your buying power. Without margin, you’d be limited to investing with your account balance. With the addition of margin, you gain access to borrowed funds based on the amount of cash and equities in your account. This loan, known as leverage, allows you to purchase more securities than you otherwise could without selling holdings or getting cash elsewhere. Yet another benefit of a margin account is not having to miss out on market opportunities for lack of liquidity. Everything is amplified with margin, including both potential rewards and risks. That’s why it’s so important to choose a platform that’s out for your best interests, like Axos Invest. Axos Bank was also recently named to the 2024 Forbes America’s Best Banks list in what was an otherwise tumultuous year for financial institutions. If you are interested in margin trading, Axos Invest offers many benefits that allow you to get the most out of this strategy, including the following: Low Cost One of the critical features of a margin account to grasp early is the interest rate. This represents the rate at which you pay interest on credit extended by Axos to buy, carry or trade securities. Transparency is key to avoiding surprises down the road. This is where Axos Invest shines. It offers low-cost, flexible rates with zero hidden fees, all of which are published on the company’s website. Standard rates are commensurate with debit balances: the higher the balance, the lower the rate. At Axos, your margin rate stays constant whether you’re buying securities or borrowing cash with a line of credit. Axos also offers an Elite program through which qualifying members are eligible for lower margin rates. Flexibility One of the key advantages of a margin account is that it gives you more power to chart your destiny. The nature of margin means you only have to deposit the amount you want to invest in a stock or ETF as collateral. The rest is fronted by the broker in the form of leverage, or a loan. At Axos Invest, you can borrow up to 50% of your eligible equity. Let’s use an example. Say you have $10,000 in a standard cash account with your broker. If the stock you want to buy is trading at $100 per share, you can afford a maximum of 100 shares. Now, let’s say you’ve got $10,000 in a margin account, including the value of equities. Your broker will lend you more funds, say an additional $5,000, increasing your buying power to $15,000. With the loan from your broker, you can now afford $150 shares. If the stock rises to $120 per share, you may choose to sell your holdings, repay the loan, and pocket the rest minus any fees or interest. At Axos, you gain access to a universe of stocks and ETFs from which to choose. Plus, considering the time-sensitive nature of the markets, 100% of borrowed funds are available within 24 hours. Additionally, you can use any mutual funds you own to harness more borrowing power. As long as you’ve held the funds in your account for a minimum of 30 days, you can use them to bolster the size of your portfolio and thereby your borrowing capacity. Options Trading Another benefit of having a margin account is the opportunity to trade options. There are different ways to use a margin account to participate in options trading, depending on the broker. Margin requirements for options contracts vary from broker to broker. Trading options on margin isn’t for the faint of heart, as it’s not quite as straightforward as buying stocks. It’s typically reserved for more sophisticated investors. That’s because a margin account allows you to harness more complicated options strategies that are accompanied by greater risk. Axos is among the platforms that let users trade options with a margin account and also offers Elite members a 20% discount upon approval. Diversified Portfolio It’s easy to get stuck in a rut with your portfolio, sticking with a single stock or sector. Margin trading allows you to explore more securities so that you can diversify your portfolio. A more diversified portfolio increases the chances that strong performance in one asset can offset any temporary setback in another. The best part is since you’re investing with a loan, you won’t have to sell your original holdings to achieve portfolio diversification. Loans are Available Once you’ve received the green light for a margin account, you’ll find it extremely convenient to move your funds from account to account. This means you won’t have to worry about completing paperwork every time you need additional access to funds. If you find yourself in need of a sudden cash injection, your Axos margin account can serve as a short-term line of credit, allowing you to transfer funds to various Axos accounts. Customer Support At Your Fingertips If you’re a novice investor, trading on margin might seem out of reach for you. Everybody has to start somewhere, and even experienced investors shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. Axos Invest has a team of licensed relationship managers available to help you with your margin trading journey. The best part is these representatives are available to speak with you at no cost and for zero commission. Embrace The Margin Having a margin account opens up a world of opportunities for savvy investors looking to potentially bolster their returns. Axos checks all the boxes for investors ready to take their portfolios to the next level. Don’t hesitate to contact Axos Invest today if you are ready to embrace all the benefits that a margin account has to offer. Featured photo by nattanan23 on Pixabay. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

July 30, 2024 08:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Citius Pharmaceuticals Nears Market Breakthrough With Two Leading Products

Benzinga

By Meg Flippin, Benzinga From fighting cancer to treating bloodstream infections, Citius Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CTXR) is busy trying to solve some of the world’s ills. That’s picking up steam with two of its lead products close to commercialization. Take Mino-Lok (MLT), Citius Pharmaceuticals ' novel antibiotic lock solution that combines minocycline, ethanol and edetate disodium to treat patients with catheter-related blood stream infections. Mino-Lok offers hospitals an alternative to removing and replacing a central venous catheter (CVC), and that could reduce the number of serious adverse events like air embolism and bleeding. It could also save hospitals money. Bringing It To The Market Citius Pharmaceuticals CEO and co-founder Leonard Mazur told Benzinga that his company has “extremely positive” topline data from a Phase 3 Trial of Mino-Lok. Now Citius is meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to move ahead with Mino-Lok, he said. Once Mino-Lok is approved, the company says it will be the only FDA-backed product for infected catheters in the market, presenting a big opportunity for the company. “The market potential is about $2 billion,” said Mazur. “Positive announcements will come out of the meeting but I can’t predict that moment.” Then there is LYMPHIR, a recombinant fusion protein designed to treat T-cell lymphomas. The drug agent combines the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor binding domain with diphtheria toxin fragments. The agent specifically binds to IL-2 receptors on the cell surface, causing diphtheria toxin fragments that have entered cells to inhibit protein synthesis. In 2011 and 2013, the FDA granted orphan drug designation to LYMPHIR for the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) and Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). In 2021, Citius acquired an exclusive license with rights to develop and commercialize LYMPHIR in all markets except for Japan and certain other parts of Asia. In March this year, the FDA accepted Citius’s Biologics License Application (BLA) for LYMPHIR with a decision expected on August 13, the FDA's assigned Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date. If approved, Citius is preparing for LYMPHIR commercialization later this year. “We’re very excited about this launching during the fourth quarter,” said Mazur. “We go from no revenue to revenues.” The executive pegged the market opportunity at $300 to $400 million, telling Benzinga LYMPHIR is an additive and won’t take market share from anyone. Shoring Up Shareholder Value Bringing two drug products to market isn't the only way Citius is enhancing shareholder value. The company is also spinning out its wholly-owned oncology unit to form Citius Oncology, a stand-alone publicly traded entity. It is doing it via a SPAC deal with TenX Keane (NASDAQ: TENK). Citius Pharma is getting 67.5 million shares in Citius Oncology at $10 per share, valuing the stake at $675 million and will retain majority ownership of approximately 90%. This transaction is expected to unlock significant value for Citius shareholders by separating the oncology business, potentially leading to increased access to capital markets and further development of new applications and additional intellectual property, reports Citius. It also underscores Citius’s strategy to purchase assets, develop them and bring them to market and then unlock shareholder value. Citius Oncology will serve as a platform to develop and commercialize novel targeted oncology therapies, with LYMPHIR the first to go to market. The company said the deal is expected to provide Citius Oncology with improved access to the public equity markets and thereby facilitate the commercialization of LYMPHIR and position the company to explore additional value-creating opportunities more fully. “The reason we are doing it is we get a Nasdaq listing by having the SPAC acquire the assets and at the same time it enables us to do something to prevent dilution for shareholders,” said Mazur. The CEO counts himself as one of them; he has invested $22.5 million of his own money in the business. “During the first year on the market we will be profitable. All that benefits Citius shareholders.” Featured photo by Nataliya Smirnova on Unsplash. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

July 30, 2024 08:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Pancreatic Cancer Could Overtake Colorectal Cancer To Become Second Leading Cause Of Cancer Death – Oncolytics Is Working On A Promising Treatment

Benzinga

By Meg Flippin, Benzinga Pancreatic cancer isn’t something that only happens to those who smoke, are overweight, have a family history of the condition, or are older than 55. Increasingly, women and younger adults are getting diagnosed with this deadly form of cancer. It’s alarming, given one study found that in the U.S., the incidence of pancreatic cancer among those under the age of 55 is increasingly more rapidly than in those 55+. While pancreatic cancer is now the third leading cause of cancer deaths, by 2030, it is expected to morph into second place, surpassing colorectal cancer deaths. This year alone, about 66,440 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a record for this deadly form of cancer. What’s more, about 51,750 Americans are expected to die from the disease this year. Among cancers, pancreatic is a tough one to treat. It’s a highly aggressive form of cancer that attacks the pancreas, an organ needed for digestion. With limited treatment options, the five-year survival rate is just 13%. It doesn’t help that most people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in a late stage when it has already spread to other parts of the body. That’s particularly true with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which is a type of pancreatic cancer that’s created from the cells that line the ducts of the pancreas. It's one of the most lethal forms of pancreatic cancer. A person’s health, lifestyle, diet, age and family history all play a role in whether they will get this lethal disease, and changing lifestyles may be a factor in the rise in the condition’s prevalence. Given the difficulty of treating pancreatic cancer and its increasing incidence, much medical research is directed toward earlier detection and better treatments. As a result, the global pancreatic cancer market is projected to reach $7.4 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 13.7% during the forecast period. Your Immune System Fired Up One area of treatment that holds promise is immunotherapies. Administered as a pill, injection, or intravenously, immunotherapies help the body’s immune system attack cancer cells. On its own, the immune system has difficulty finding and attacking cancer cells but with these therapies, it can be an avid hunter. That’s exactly what Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY), the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in immunotherapeutics for oncology, is betting will happen with pelareorep, its leading agent to fight pancreatic cancer that has demonstrated promising results in phase 1 and 2 studies. It is an intravenously delivered immunotherapeutic agent that induces anti-cancer immune responses and promotes an inflamed tumor phenotype — turning “cold” tumors “hot.” Pelareorep works by generating, recruiting and training immune cells to recognize and kill cancer while remodeling the tumor microenvironment to enable immune cell access. When added to existing treatment regimens such as chemotherapy, pelareorep demonstrates the potential to extend survival times in addition to expanding existing and new T cell clones in the blood, the company reports. Testing Under Way Pelareorep is being tested in the GOBLET study, a phase 1/2 multiple-indication study in advanced or metastatic gastrointestinal cancers conducted at 17 centers in Germany. The aim of the study, which kicked off in fall 2021, is to investigate the safety of the drug combination and improvements in tumor size. The GOBLET study was recently expanded to include a new cohort to test pelareorep and modified FOLFIRINOX (mFOLFIRINOX) with or without atezolizumab (Tecentriq®) in newly diagnosed metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. mFOLFIRINOX is a chemotherapy treatment for pancreatic cancer that combines several drugs. The new cohort, which is testing the objective response rate (ORR) and safety, is supported by the $5 million Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) Therapeutic Accelerator Award. The grant was established to accelerate the development of new treatments for pancreatic cancer patients. Hitting Milestones Oncolytics Biotech recently dosed the first patient in that expanded cohort, marking a major milestone for the company. “We’re excited to begin evaluating another pelareorep combination therapy that could result in a second pancreatic cancer registration program for the company,” said Thomas Heineman, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer at Oncolytics. “The combination of pelareorep, atezolizumab, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in pancreatic cancer patients more than doubled tumor response rates compared to earlier trials of chemotherapy alone. That combination received Fast Track Designation from the FDA and is expected to be evaluated in an adaptive registration-enabling trial through the Global Coalition for Adaptive Research (GCAR). If the combination of pelareorep and mFOLFIRINOX also demonstrates a promising efficacy signal, we could have two pancreatic cancer treatment regimens on the path to registration.” The trial is being closely watched because of the promise the treatment holds if it proves successful. mFOLFIRINOX is currently considered one of two primary treatment options for many pancreatic cancer patients. If pelareorep is effective, it could broaden the population of metastatic pancreatic cancer patients who could benefit from pelareorep-based therapies, the company reports. “Oncolytics is in a favorable position as we prepare to advance multiple pelareorep programs toward registration track studies and continue to expand pelareorep’s potential as a backbone immunotherapy that can impact various tumor types,” said Dr. Matt Coffey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oncolytics. “The ability to improve the lives of cancer patients is something that motivates everyone at Oncolytics, and beginning to treat pancreatic cancer patients in the mFOLFIRINOX cohort of GOBLET is hopefully yet another step towards that goal.” Featured photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

July 30, 2024 08:35 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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American Battery Materials Appoints Oilfield Drilling Executive Chris McClanahan to Advisory Board

American Battery Materials Inc

American Battery Materials, Inc. (OTC: BLTH) (“ABM”, the “Company”), an environmentally responsible minerals exploration and development company focused on direct lithium extraction (“DLE”) and other critical minerals, today announced the appointment of Chris McClanahan to its Advisory Board. Mr. McClanahan brings extensive experience in the Oilfield Service industry that spans 30 plus years. Mr. McClanahan is currently President and CEO of Coastal Drilling Company, LLC, and formerly CEO and Chairman of Iron Horse Tools, LLC, operating in Texas and Louisiana. David Graber, ABM’s CEO, noted, “Chris has been an investor in our company since 2019. Having drilled thousands of wells for his own business, he is a perfect addition to ABM’s Advisory Board as we await the appropriate permitting to begin the process of further advancing ABM’s asset in Southern Utah. Chris McClanahan stated, “I have been observing the emergence of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) relating to mineral rich brines in the Oil and Gas industry, as defined by Exxon’s announcement into the field. The US needs to get behind a reliable domestic supply chain for critical minerals”. About American Battery Materials, Inc. American Battery Materials, Inc. (OTC: BLTH) is a U.S.-based environmentally responsible critical minerals extraction company focused on direct lithium extraction (DLE), as well as other minerals for refining, processing, and distribution to support the country’s urgent critical minerals need to bolster long-term energy transition and the electrification of the US domestic and global economy. For more information, visit www.americanbatterymaterials.com. To receive American Battery Materials, Inc. company updates via email, visit the Contact page of our website, www.americanbatterymaterials.com/contact. Forward Looking Statements To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding the Company, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management. Words such as “believe,” “goal,” “plan,” “feel,” "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," “target” and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of the Company, please see the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including but not limited to the discussion under "Risk Factors" therein, which the Company has filed with the SEC and may be viewed at http://www.sec.gov. No Offer or Solicitation This press release shall neither constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Contact Details Investor Relations +1 800-998-7962 ir@americanbatterymaterials.com Company Website https://www.americanbatterymaterials.com/

July 30, 2024 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

StealthEX Integrates with Exchange Flow for Seamless Swaps

StealthX

Instant crypto exchange StealthEX continues to drive innovations in the cryptocurrency space. This time, the platform has partnered with Exchange Flow, a source dedicated solely to cryptocurrency exchanges, wallet providers and instant swap services. With this collaboration, StealthEX aims to offer simpler and smoother swaps and make the cryptocurrency exchange process even easier. StealthEX aims to interconnect with various exchanges, guides, and websites dedicated to cryptocurrencies. Its connection with Exchange Flow will let its users seamlessly swap digital assets thanks to the convenient StealthEX widget – without leaving Exchange Flow. StealthEX: Effortless, Private, and Limitless Crypto Swaps with No-KYC StealthEX is an instant cryptocurrency exchange platform that enables efficient crypto swaps. With StealthEX, exchanging digital assets is simple, private, non-custodial, requires neither sign-up nor verification, and is done within minutes. Even the most inexperienced users will easily navigate through the exchange procedure thanks to the platform’s simple and minimalistic design. Add to this the no-KYC policy and no upper limits on swaps, and StealthEX will undoubtedly prove to be your best choice whenever you need to exchange one crypto for another or make a fiat-to-crypto transaction. To add to the above-mentioned features, at StealthEX, more than 1500 cryptocurrencies are available for floating and fixed rates exchanges. These include such popular assets as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Monero (XMR), Tether (USDT), Litecoin (LTC), and many more, as well as an astounding amount of rare cryptocurrencies, some of which cannot be found on the majority of other exchanges, even large ones. All in all, the privacy-centric, wallet-to-wallet nature of the platform has helped it become a popular choice among crypto aficionados. Exchange Flow: Compare and Exchange Crypto Seamlessly Exchange Flow is a platform that helps its visitors discover the easiest way to compare cryptocurrency exchanges. Thanks to its extensive range of tools, any user will be able to find the perfect match for their trading needs along with comprehensive reviews, ratings, and more. The goal of the website is to provide users with the most up-to-date insights into the crypto exchange field. Thanks to the new embedded StealthEX widget, the Exchange Flow website will be able to offer its users an all-in-one crypto exchange experience. On top of comparing different cryptocurrency rates and major exchanges, you will now have direct access to cryptocurrency exchange and purchases on the Exchange Flow website. Any Exchange Flow visitor won’t need to visit third-party sites, ensuring a streamlined and secure transaction process. This will, in turn, guarantee the best user experience and increased efficiency. How Does It Work? Step-by-Step Guide It’s easy to swap as much crypto as you like via StealthEX’s efficient widget. Just go to Exchange Flow and follow these simple steps: Choose the pair and the amount you want to exchange — for instance, ETH to BTC. Press the “Start Exchange” button. Provide the wallet address you will use to receive the funds. Process the transaction. Send the deposit to the address StealthEX has generated for you. Receive coins in your wallet. StealthEX and Exchange Flow: Effortless Crypto Swaps StealthEX strives to become one of the global bridges from fiat to crypto and crypto-to-crypto, and by embedding its user-friendly widget into Exchange Flow, the platform seeks further exposure. This partnership will most certainly bring more interconnection into the cryptocurrency space and streamline the exchange process, making it easy, effortless, and problem-free. About StealthEX StealthEX is an instant cryptocurrency exchange for limitless swaps. The service is free from registration and does not store user's funds on the platform. StealthEX is the best place to buy cryptocurrency. 1500+ assets are available for quick and easy exchanges. Data privacy and security is a top priority for StealthEX, so all the swaps are non-custodial and forever will be. Contact Details Vadim Taszycki vadim@stealthex.io Company Website https://stealthex.io/

July 30, 2024 06:23 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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