Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Delta Air Lines DAL . And retail traders should know. We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga. Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with DAL, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen. So how do we know what these investors just did? Today, Benzinga 's options scanner spotted 20 uncommon options trades for Delta Air Lines. This isn't normal. The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 60% bullish and 35%, bearish. Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $211,223, and 16 are calls, for a total amount of $680,559. Expected Price Movements Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $35.0 to $90.0 for Delta Air Lines during the past quarter. Analyzing Volume & Open Interest Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Delta Air Lines's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Delta Air Lines's significant trades, within a strike price range of $35.0 to $90.0, over the past month. Delta Air Lines 30-Day Option Volume & Interest Snapshot Largest Options Trades Observed: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume DAL CALL SWEEP BEARISH 04/17/25 $8.9 $8.8 $8.8 $57.50 $100.3K 1.6K 114 DAL CALL SWEEP BEARISH 01/17/25 $2.18 $2.15 $2.15 $65.00 $75.1K 46.6K 403 DAL PUT SWEEP BULLISH 01/16/26 $7.65 $7.45 $7.45 $60.00 $74.5K 967 100 DAL CALL SWEEP BEARISH 01/16/26 $8.95 $8.9 $8.9 $67.50 $70.3K 1.0K 348 DAL PUT SWEEP BULLISH 01/16/26 $7.65 $7.4 $7.45 $60.00 $67.0K 967 190 About Delta Air Lines Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is one of the world's largest airlines, with a network of over 300 destinations in more than 50 countries. Delta operates a hub-and-spoke network, where it gathers and distributes passengers across the globe through its biggest hubs in Atlanta, New York, Salt Lake City, Detroit, Seattle, and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Delta has historically earned most of its international revenue and profits from flying passengers over the Atlantic Ocean. In light of the recent options history for Delta Air Lines, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance. Where Is Delta Air Lines Standing Right Now? Currently trading with a volume of 2,173,331, the DAL's price is up by 0.12%, now at $62.63. RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold. Anticipated earnings release is in 15 days. Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access . Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Delta Air Lines with Benzinga Pro for real-time alerts. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Manmohan Singh, India's reluctant prime minister, dies aged 92Jetliner skids off runway and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. Officials said all but two of the 181 people on board were killed Sunday in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters. The 737-800 operated by Jeju Air plane arrived from Bangkok and crashed while attempting to land in the town of Muan, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul. Footage of the crash aired by South Korean television channels showed the plane skidding across the airstrip at high speed, evidently with its landing gear still closed. Tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi kill 2 and injure 6 as severe weather system moves east HOUSTON (AP) — A strong storm system is threatening to whip up tornadoes in parts of the U.S. Southeast, a day after severe weather claimed at least two lives as twisters touched down in Texas and Mississippi. Strong storms moving eastward Sunday are expected to continue producing gusty, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes through Sunday. That is according to National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira. So far, the line of severe weather has led to about 40 tornado reports from southeastern Texas to Alabama, Pereira said, but those reports remain unconfirmed until surveys of damage are completed. Israeli hospital says Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli hospital says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery. Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center said his prostate was removed late Sunday and that he was recovering. Netanyahu’s office had said Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, would serve as acting prime minister during the procedure. Doctors ordered the operation after detecting an infection last week. Netanyahu is expected to remain hospitalized for several days. With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s health in wartime is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world. Syria's de facto leader says it could take up to 4 years to hold elections BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s de facto leader has said it could take up to four years to hold elections in Syria, and that he plans on dissolving his Islamist group that led the country’s insurgency at an anticipated national dialogue summit for the country. Ahmad al-Sharaa, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group leading the new authority in Syria, made the remarks in an interview Sunday. That's according to the Saudi television network Al-Arabiyya. It comes almost a month after a lightning insurgency led by HTS overthrew President Bashar Assad’s decades-long rule, ending the country’s uprising-turned civil war that started back in 2011. A fourth infant dies of the winter cold in Gaza as families share blankets in seaside tents DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A fourth infant has died of hypothermia in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by nearly 15 months of war are huddled in tents along the rainy, windswept coast as winter arrives. The baby's father says the 20-day-old child was found with his head as “cold as ice” Sunday morning in their tent. The baby’s twin brother was moved to the intensive care unit of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Their father says the twins were born one month premature and spent just a day in hospital, which like other Gaza health centers has been overwhelmed and only partially functions. Musk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key elections BERLIN (AP) — Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s stagnant economy. Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag, published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD. 2024 was a year of triumphs and setbacks for Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Here's how it unfolded The year 2024 saw President Vladimir Putin further cement his power as he sought to counter Russia's isolation over the war in Ukraine. He won a fifth term that will keep him in office until 2030 following an election with only token opposition. He tightened a political crackdown on Russian society, and his top opponent, Alexei Navalny, died in prison under still unknown circumstances. But gunmen massacred scores of people in a Moscow concert hall, and a bomb killed a top general in attacks that underscored security flaws. Ukrainian forces swept into the Russian region of Kursk, Putin boasted about a lethal new hypersonic missile, and a new Trump administration raised concerns about continued U.S. support for Ukraine. Azerbaijan's president says crashed jetliner was shot down by Russia unintentionally Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev says the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally. Aliyev told Azerbaijani state television on Sunday that the aircraft was hit by fire from the ground over Russia and rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare. He accused Russia of trying to “hush up” the issue for several days. The crash on Wednesday killed 38 of 67 people on board. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Aliyev on Saturday for what he called a “tragic incident” but stopped short of acknowledging Moscow’s responsibility. Russian man arrested for allegedly running LGBTQ+ travel agency found dead in custody A Russian man arrested for allegedly running a travel agency for gay customers has been found dead in custody in Moscow. That's according to independent news outlet Mediazona on Sunday. According to OVD-Info, Andrei Kotov of the Men Travel agency was in pretrial detention facing extremism charges. An investigator told Kotov’s lawyer that her client had died by suicide and was found dead in his cell. Just over a year ago, Russia’s Supreme Court effectively outlawed any LGBTQ+ activism in a ruling that designated “the international LGBT movement” as extremist. The move exposed anyone in the community or connected to it to criminal prosecution and prison. LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career.Canada Carbon (CVE:CCB) Trading Down 33.3% – Time to Sell?
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Taylor Higgins, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, has co-authored an article that challenges conventional thinking about human-robot interaction. The article, in , argues that successful robotics development must focus more on understanding rather than solely on robot functionality. The research, by an all-female team, highlights fundamental differences in how humans and robots perceive their environment, make decisions and execute tasks. "The key point from this paper is that for robots to improve their performance, they need to adapt smartly, sensing that humans are sometimes unpredictable and will change their actions accordingly," Higgins said. "The idea is that both humans and robots can adjust their behaviors together over time." Collaborative origins The project began in 2022 at the University of Texas at Austin, when Higgins, then a postdoctoral researcher, met Keya Ghonasgi, now an assistant professor at Rice University, who was completing her doctorate. Their collaboration expanded to include Meghan Huber, assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts, and Marcia O'Malley, professor at Rice University. "I'm particularly proud of the results from this all-female author team," Higgins said. "We wrote the paper, yes, but ended up supporting one another in the day-to-day wins and losses of the academic pipeline, which was an extremely enjoyable experience." Innovative research applications Higgins leads several projects exploring , including an unusual study of motor learning through unicycle riding. "As whimsical as it sounds, unicycling is an ideal platform for studying motor learning because it requires three-dimensional balance as well as forward propulsion," Higgins said. "By studying this unique skill, I'm diving deep into the motion that mirrors the art of walking." Her research also examines human intent prediction in environmental contexts, studying how humans anticipate and execute actions like sitting down when they spot a chair. Advancing rehabilitation technology The research has significant implications for rehabilitation robotics, particularly in devices like the EksoNR lower-limb powered exoskeleton by Ekso Bionics, which assists in gait training after neuromuscular injuries. "Early controllers for devices like these are aimed to guide the user through normative gait patterns," Higgins said. "However, scientists have found that the user needs to be actively engaged in attempting to initiate the movement themselves, otherwise they generally don't realize any rehabilitation goals. So, we hope in the future by understanding current limitations we can improve these devices." This review article marks the beginning of what the researchers hope will be ongoing collaboration. "Human-robot interaction is no longer a brand-new field so we challenge other researchers to take the next step in developing better human-robot interactions in the future," Higgins said.
CHILLIWACK, B.C. — Dan Coulter, a former member of British Columbia's legislature and a New Democrat cabinet minister, has died at age 49. The BC New Democratic Party says in a statement that Coulter was a "devoted advocate" for the people of B.C. The party says Coulter "always championed the underdog," citing his work in the legislature after his election in Chilliwack in 2020, his former role of chair of the Chilliwack school board and as the Parliamentary secretary for accessibility and minister of state for infrastructure and transit. The party's provincial director Heather Stoutenburg said last week in a statement that Coulter had "experienced a serious medical emergency" and was being treated in hospital. The party says a private service will be held for Coulter on Saturday and a local public service will be held in Chilliwack on Jan. 11. The party says that Coulter, who lost his bid for re-election in the October provincial election, was "the very best of us," and it extends its "deepest condolences to his family, friends and everyone who had the privilege of knowing and working with him." It says that instead of flowers, his family has asked that donations go to the Chilliwack Restorative Justice and Youth Advocacy Association, Chilliwack Bowls of Hope Society, and the BC SPCA. "To those of us who knew him, Dan was so much more than a colleague — he was a friend and a mentor," the statement says. "He was smart, funny, thoughtful and honest. But above all things, he was kind." Premier David Eby is echoing that sentiment on social media, saying the province has lost an "incredible advocate and a fighter for justice." "He was so happy to be part of a movement to make this province better for everyone," Eby says of Coulter. "Even at such a young age, Dan leaves behind a proud legacy of standing up for workers, the people of Chilliwack, and people across B.C." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. The Canadian Press
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VANCOUVER - Online predators are becoming increasingly resourceful in trolling media platforms where children gravitate, prompting an explosion in police case loads, said an officer who works for the RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit in British Columbia. Data show the problem spiked during COVID-19 when children began spending more time online — but rates did not wane as police anticipated after lockdowns ended. In B.C., they soared, almost quadrupling from 2021 to 2023. Const. Solana Pare is now warning exploitation of children is likely here to stay, as a technological race between police and predators gains momentum. “Technology is becoming more and more available, and online platforms and social media sites are being used by children younger and younger, which provides an opportunity for predators to connect with them,” Pare said in an interview. Police say child exploitation cases in B.C. went from about 4,600 in 2021 to 9,600 in 2022 to 15,920 reports last year. The upwards trend is seen nationally, too. Statistics Canada says the rate of online child sexual exploitation reported to police rose by 58 per cent from 2019 to 2022, and police data show cases have continued to rise. The RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Crime Centre reported that from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, it received 118,162 reports of suspected online child sexual exploitation offences — a 15 per cent increase compared with the previous year. Online child sexual exploitation, Pare explained, includes offences such as sextortion, child luring and the creation or distribution of sexually explicit images of a minor. “We don’t see these types of reports going away,” Pare said. “We only see them increasing because the use of electronic devices and social media, and kids being online earlier and earlier is becoming more common. There’s going to be more opportunity for predators to target children online.” Monique St. Germain, general counsel for the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, said the most common type of child luring is communicating with a youth online in order get them to produce sexual abuse material. She said “the pandemic accelerated those types of cases, and it hasn’t slowed down.” “The tools (Canadian authorities) have to deal with this type of behaviour are inadequate for the scope and the scale of what’s going on,” she said. THE RISE OF ‘SEXTORTION’ Online exploitation gained international attention in 2015 in the case of Port Coquitlam, B.C., teenager, Amanda Todd, who died by suicide after being blackmailed and harassed online by a man for years, starting when she was 12. The month before the 15-year-old died, she uploaded a nine-minute video using a series of flash cards detailing the abuse she experienced by the stranger and how it had affected her life. It’s been viewed millions of times. Dutch national Aydin Coban was extradited to Canada for trial and, in October 2022, he was convicted of charges including the extortion and harassment of Todd. Since then, the term “sextortion” has made its way into the vernacular as more cases come to light. Among them was Carson Cleland, a 12-year-old Prince George, B.C., boy who died by suicide in October 2023 after falling victim to the crime. In New Brunswick that same month, 16-year-old William Doiron took his own life after falling victim to a global sextortion scheme. Mounties across Canada have issued news releases warning of increased cases in their communities, noting that the consequences for the victims can include self-harm and suicide. St. Germain said technology, such as artificial intelligence, is also becoming more user-friendly. “The existence of that technology and its ease of use and ready accessibility is a problem, and it is going to be an increasingly large problem as we move forward,” she said. Pare said police are also adapting to technological advancements in order to keep up with the ever-changing online landscape. “Police are constantly obtaining training on digital technologies to increase our knowledge and understanding of all the intricacies involving their use and how to capture any digital evidence,” she said. Pare said the true rates of the crime are impossible to determine, but pointed to increased social awareness and legislation across North America around mandatory reporting of child abuse material from social media companies as a potential reason for the increase. It’s not going undetected any longer, she said. “Additionally, there’s been a lot of use in artificial intelligence to detect child exploitation materials within those platforms.” Pare said “it’s up to each individual platform” to ensure there is no child sexual abuse material on their sites or apps. “With mandatory reporting, it’s putting the onus back on the electronic service providers to ensure they have measures in place to prevent this from happening, and if it is happening that it is being reported,” she said. “That being said, there are times when things don’t get located.” That is why the Canadian Centre for Child Protection has been advocating for the adoption of the Online Harms Bill that the federal government introduced in February, St. Germain said. “It’s shocking that up until now, we’ve relied on companies to self regulate, meaning we’ve just relied on them to do the right thing,” she said. “What we are seeing in terms of the number of offences and in terms of all the harm that is happening in society as a result of online platforms is completely tied to the decision not to regulate. We need to have rules in any sector, and this sector is no different.” ‘CANADA IS REALLY BEHIND’ The Online Harms Bill covers seven types of harms, from non-consensual sharing of intimate images to content that can be used to bully a child. Earlier this month, Justice Minister Arif Virani announced the Liberal government will split the bill into two parts: dealing with keeping children safe online, and combating predators and issues related to revenge pornography. “We are putting our emphasis and prioritization and our time and efforts on the first portion of the bill,” Virani told reporters on Dec. 5. Such measures would include a new Digital Safety Commission of Canada, which would compel social media companies to outline how they plan to reduce the risks their platforms pose to users, particularly minors. It would have the power to levy fines and evaluate companies’ digital safety plans. St. Germain said such a split “makes sense,” noting that most objections to the bill are related to changes to the Criminal Code and not measures around curbing harms to children. “There obviously are differences of opinion in terms of what is the best way forward, and what kind of regulatory approach makes sense, and who should the regulator be, but there does seem to be consensus on the idea that we need to do more in terms of protecting children online,” she said, adding that the organization is still in support of the second half of the bill. She said the United Kingdom previously passed its own Online Safety Act that will come into effect in 2025, which includes requiring social media firms to protect children from content such as self-harm material, pornography and violent content. Failure to do so will result in fines. “Canada is really behind,” she said. “The amount of information that has come out of the U.K., the amount of time and care and attention that their legislatures have paid to this issue is really quite remarkable, and we really hope that Canada steps up and does something for Canadian children soon.” In the absence of national legislation, province’s have filled the void. In January, B.C. enacted the Intimate Images Protection Act, providing a path for victims to have online photos, videos or deep fakes expeditiously removed. Individuals are fined up to $500 per day and websites up to $5,000 a day if they don’t comply with orders to stop distributing images that are posted without consent. B.C.‘s Ministry of the Attorney General said that as of Dec. 11, the Civil Resolution Tribunal had received a total of 199 disputes under the Intimate Images Protection Act. It said the Intimate Images Protection Service had served more than 240 clients impacted by the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, adding that four awards of $5,000 each and one for $3,000 had been supplied as of mid-December. Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta and Saskatchewan have also enacted legislation targeting unauthorized distribution of intimate images. St. Germain said the use of provincial powers is also necessary, but it’s not enough. “A piece of provincial legislation is going to be very difficult to be effective against multiple actors in multiple countries,” she said, noting that the online crime is borderless. “We need something bigger — more comprehensive. We need to use all tools in the tool box.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2024.
Investing in high-quality growth stocks can help you generate above-average returns over time. Therefore, adding stocks with and high growth potential could be a smart strategy to diversify your portfolio and enhance the overall returns. One of the most appealing aspects of investing in growth stocks is that you don’t need to make a large financial commitment to get started. In fact, with an investment as modest as $500, investors can tap into some of the top growth stocks in Canada. Against this background, here are four with strong growth prospects to buy and hold. ( ) is a top Canadian growth stock with promising potential. The company is strategically positioned to benefit from the surge in artificial intelligence (AI) investments, mainly through its focus on hardware platform solutions for AI/ML systems. As demand for customizable AI silicon grows, Celestica’s advanced networking switches, servers, and storage solutions are set to thrive, especially with rising data centre investments. Beyond AI, the recovery in the Advanced Technology Solutions sector, including aerospace, defence, and industrial markets, will likely accelerate its growth and diversify its revenue streams. Celestica is optimistic about growth in its Industrial and Smart Energy segments in 2025, fueled by increased demand. Overall, with strong prospects across multiple industries, Celestica is poised for sustained growth. Investors seeking high-quality growth stocks could also consider ( ) for its ability to consistently deliver sales and earnings growth at a double-digit rate and generate higher returns over time. Shares of this clothing retailer have risen over 92% this year. The momentum is poised to sustain and on the back of stellar growth in its financials. Notably, Aritzia’s top line has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19% since fiscal 2016. At the same time, its bottom line increased at a CAGR of 13%. The company will likely continue to deliver stellar financials, thanks to its exclusive mix of fashion brands, wide product offerings, and improvement in the supply chain. Moreover, the company is expanding its store presence in prime retail spaces across Canada and the U.S., which will likely boost revenues, increase brand awareness, grow its customer base, and generate steady growth. Aritzia is also enhancing its omnichannel capabilities, improving operational efficiency, and reducing warehousing costs, which will likely boost its profitability and support its share price. ( ) is an to buy and hold. The financial services company is consistently growing its revenue and earnings at a double-digit rate. Thanks to its stellar financials, goeasy stock has gained substantially in value over the years and outperformed the Canadian benchmark index by a wide margin. Further, it has enhanced its shareholders’ value by increasing dividends for 10 consecutive years and has delivered a higher return on equity (ROE). The subprime lender will benefit from high-quality loan originations and solid credit performance, which will drive its top and bottom lines at a solid double-digit rate. Further, goeasy’s focus on credit adjustments, an improved product mix, and efficiency savings will enhance its margins and profitability. Thanks to its solid financials, goeasy will likely hike its future dividends, while its stock could deliver above-average returns. Moreover, the stock offers significant value near the current price levels and is trading cheap on valuation. ( ) is another compelling growth stock to buy now. This manufacturer of dry-type transformers and power-quality products is witnessing significant demand, led by advancements in AI and vehicle electrification. The company’s exposure to high-growth end markets such as data centers, electric vehicle (EV) charging, and renewable energy, as well as its established presence in industries like utilities, oil and gas, and mining, provide stability. Hammond’s focus on innovation, product expansion, and strategic acquisitions positions it for sustained growth. Further, with improved efficiency and a favourable product mix boosting profitability, Hammond Power is well-placed to enhance shareholder value and sustain its rally.
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