** Shares of online lending marketplace LendingTree TREE.O jump as much as 19.4%; last up 16.3% at $48.20
** Northland Capital says the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling last week that the Federal Communications Commission $(FCC.AU)$ had overstepped on the lead generation rule is an "excellent result" for TREE
** FCC in 2023 had adopted a set of new rules to combat "unwanted and illegal telemarketing calls and texts"
** Brokerage says the rule, initially expected to take effect late January 2025, posed significant challenges to TREE's business model
** The rule would have limited TREE's ability to generate leads internally and required an extra step into the process whereby a customer expressly consents to individual banks, lenders, insurers etc — Northland
** Ruling is a "positive outcome" for TREE, Northland says, adding that it should remove all uncertainty going forward while clearing the path for continued growth
(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)
((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com))