Illumina Inc (NASDAQ:ILMN) to Divest Cancer Diagnostic Test Maker Grail Inc After Three-Year Battle with Regulators\n\nIllumina Inc. has announced its decision to divest cancer diagnostic test maker Grail Inc, following a three-year battle with U.S. And European antitrust regulators. The move comes after the company completed its $8 billion acquisition of Grail in defiance of FTC and EU scrutiny in August 2021. The divestiture will be executed through a third-party sale or capital markets transaction, with the aim to finalize the terms by the end of the second quarter of 2024.\n\nThe decision to divest Grail was made after the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its decision in Illumina v. The Federal Trade Commission on December 15. The company has chosen not to pursue further appeals of the Fifth Circuit’s decision, which ordered Illumina to divest Grail in April. The FTC had raised concerns that the acquisition would stifle competition and innovation in the U.S. Market for cancer tests.\n\nIn a statement, Illumina stated that Grail will continue to operate separately with committed funding from the company until the divestment process is completed. The company had previously stated that it would divest Grail if it was unsuccessful in its appeals or in a final decision of the Fifth Circuit. The decision to divest comes after Illumina was fined a record €432 million by the European Union in July for closing its takeover of Grail before securing EU antitrust approval.\n\nThe acquisition of Grail has been a controversial one for Illumina, with former CEO Francis deSouza resigning amidst a proxy battle with activist investor Carl Icahn. Grail’s screening test, called Galleri, has the potential to save countless lives by detecting cancer in the bloodstream at an early stage. The acquisition has faced regulatory hurdles, leading to Illumina’s decision to divest the company.\n\nIn a Illumina has decided to end its $8 billion acquisition of Grail after battling with regulators for three years.

Stock Holdings Reach All-Time High, Fueling Interest in Equities and Digital Assets\n\nThe Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances has reported that 58% of US households owned stock holdings in 2022, an all-time high. This increase in stock ownership has been driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic uncertainty. As a result, many people are looking for opportunities to invest in the markets and gain exposure to single-stock names.\n\nStockTwits CEO Rishi Khanna recently sat down with Yahoo Finance to discuss the themes driving investor interest in equities and digital assets. He noted that the pandemic has been a foundational catalyst for bringing more people into the markets. \n\nCrypto Stocks Offer Potential for Strong Gains in the Coming Months\n\nWith Bitcoin on the rise and a new bull market anticipated, there is potential for significant gains in the crypto market. Investing directly in cryptocurrencies can be risky. A safer alternative is to invest in crypto stocks, which can provide exposure to the market while minimizing risk.\n\nMarathon Digital (MARA) is one such stock that has seen a 330% increase in value year-to-date. With a short interest of 24% of the free-float, there is potential for a short-squeeze rally if Bitcoin continues to trend upwards. The company has also undertaken a massive expansion plan, which is expected to result in healthy revenue and cash flow growth.\n\nArcher Aviation (ACHR) is another stock to watch in the flying car industry. With a 244% increase in value year-to-date, the stock is currently trading at the same levels as it was in July. With a short interest of 21% of the free-float, a short-squeeze rally could be on the horizon. The company's merger with Atlas Crest Investment Corp has been completed, and it has a strong balance sheet with $1.1 billion in cash. This is expected to fund operations and growth for the next few years, with a commercial launch planned for 2024.\n\nIn a the stock market is seeing record levels of interest and participation, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic uncertainty.