Trump Media shares soar 15% after prez-elect says he won't sell, blasts ‘market manipulators'

Core Viewpoint - Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group experienced a significant increase after President-elect Donald Trump announced he would not sell his shares in the company, which owns the Truth Social media platform [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Following Trump's comments, shares rose approximately 15% to $31.87, reaching a session high of $33.03 [2]. - The stock had previously slumped due to speculative bets losing momentum after Trump's election victory [3]. - Prior to the election, the stock surged nearly 200% in the six weeks leading up to the election as investors anticipated potential benefits under Trump's leadership [4]. Group 2: Company Ownership and Valuation - Trump owns nearly 115 million shares, representing about a 53% stake in Trump Media, valued at approximately $3.6 billion based on Friday's stock price [5]. - The total market capitalization of Trump Media was around $6.7 billion [5]. Group 3: Market Reactions and Investor Behavior - A report indicated that investors betting against Trump Media have incurred losses of $420 million since the stock began tracking the odds of Trump's election [6]. - Trump's previous statements in September confirmed his intention to retain his shares and remain with the social media platform he founded [5].