5 stocks to watch on Friday: Meta Platforms, Tesla and more
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The futures pointed to a higher open on Friday, as Wall Street looks ahead to the long Christmas weekend. An uptick would follow a sharp drop on the previous day. Here are some stocks to watch on Friday:

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) has reached a deal to pay $725M to settle a class action lawsuit related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The suit stemmed from disclosures in 2018 that Facebook improperly shared user data with Cambridge Analytica.
Tesla (TSLA) ticked up in premarket trading, with the stock attempting to stabilize after reaching yet another new 52-week low the previous day. The stock slumped 9% on Thursday. Meanwhile, long-term bull Wedbush lowered its price target on Elon Musk's EV maker to $175 from $250, noting that "inventory is starting to build" ahead of a potential recession and "Musk is viewed as asleep at the wheel."
Microsoft (MSFT) issued a response to regulators, defending its $69B acquisition of the video game maker Activision (ATVI). The Xbox maker told the Federal Trade Commission, which has sued to block the merger, that the combination is largely meant to grow MSFT's presence in mobile gaming and make ATVI's games more accessible to consumers.
AT&T (T) has entered into a joint venture with Blackrock Alternatives to provide wholesale fiber services. The new entity, to be called Gigapower LLC, will provide a fiber network to internet service providers and other businesses in the U.S.


Looking to the cryptocurrency space, Gary Gensler, chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, has warned players in the industry that "the runway is getting shorter." for potential regulation.