Activist ValueAct is poised to trim ****, help boost profits at Meta. Here’s how
Activist ValueAct is poised to trim ****, help boost profits at Meta. Here’s how
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Company: Meta Platforms (META)
Business: Meta Platforms builds technologies that help people find communities and grow businesses. The company’s products enable people to connect and share with friends and family through mobile devices, personal computers, virtual reality headsets, wearables and in-home devices. The company operates through two segments: Family of Apps (FoA) and Reality Labs (RL). FoA includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and other services. RL includes augmented and virtual reality-related consumer hardware, software and content. Facebook enables people to connect, share, discover and communicate with each other on mobile devices and personal computers. Instagram is a place where people can express themselves through photos, videos and private messaging. Messenger is a messaging application for people to connect with friends, family, groups and businesses across platforms and devices.
Stock Market Value: $1.39T ($554.08 per share)
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Meta Platforms in 2024
Activist: ValueAct Capital
Ownership: n/a
Average Cost: n/a
Activist Commentary: ValueAct has been a premier corporate governance investor for over 20 years. ValueAct principals are generally on the boards of half of ValueAct’s core portfolio positions and have had 56 public company board seats over 23 years. ValueAct has previously commenced activist campaigns at 26 information technology companies and has had an average return of 54.63% versus 30.16% for the Russell 2000 over the same *******.
What’s happening
Behind the scenes
ValueAct has extensive experience in mega-cap technology companies, most notably Microsoft and Salesforce. ValueAct CEO Mason Morfit was on the board of Microsoft from March 2014 through the end of 2017 as the tech giant transformed into a cloud-based enterprise software business and went from a $250 billion market cap company to more than $3 trillion today. At Salesforce, when a handful of activists were engaging, the company opted to add Morfit to its board on Jan. 27, 2023, and the stock has more than doubled since then.
Now, ValueAct has engaged another titan of the market, Meta Platforms, announcing an approximately $1 billion dollar position in the company. Meta’s products enable people to connect and share through various platforms and devices, including mobile devices, personal computers, virtual reality headsets, wearables, and in-home devices. The company operates through two segments: Family of Apps (FoA) and Reality Labs (RL). FoA includes social media applications such as Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp, while RL includes augmented and virtual reality-related consumer hardware, software and content. This has been an extremely volatile year for Meta’s stock price — with dips below $400 per share and highs above $600 — giving ValueAct many opportunities to acquire its position at a favorable price. With the stock price up about 56% in 2024, ValueAct still sees significant untapped value in Meta.
Meta is expected to deliver $30 in EPS by 2026, which at a 20-times multiple would put the company at approximately $600 per share. This EPS can be broken down into the company’s two segments: $40 EPS from its core FoA segment and -$10 EPS from the RL segment. This would place the valuation of Meta’s core FoA business at $800 per share, while its RL segment would be valued at -$200 per share, or a $400 billion drain on the company’s valuation. This -$10 EPS from the RL segment is made up of -$7 from the RL division and -$3 from AI spending. ValueAct has shown at Microsoft and Salesforce that it is very good in helping companies trim **** and build muscle. There is certainly some **** in the RL division that can be trimmed. The AI spending, while concerning to some in the market, can be the muscle that strengthens Meta’s core FoA business. AI will provide benefits to many companies, but one of its best uses is to create value in consumer internet and matching-based business models that are monetized by connecting their vast audiences to relevant content or services, such as such as Spotify, Indeed.com and Expedia. When AI and GPU computing power are applied to these business models, it can lead to significant improvements in matchmaking and monetization. This is because at the end of the day, AI – even generative AI – is just pattern spotting and pattern recognition, so its application can inherently enhance user-product matching and preference alignment. Meta can be one of the biggest beneficiaries of this market in its core FoA business with respect to delivering content and optimizing advertising. The second lever for AI growth for Meta is the impact of how developers are using large language models (LLMs) to create technologies. Developers are increasingly using multiple LLMs within the same project, so they rely on tools that enable different models to work together. Currently led by OpenAI and Microsoft, companies are competing to control the tools used to layer these LLMs, which are necessary to run and develop new technologies. To enter this market, Mark Zuckerberg has open-sourced Meta’s “LLaMA” model, a high-performance AI model designed to compete with OpenAI’s GPT and Microsoft’s Copilot. The decision to open-source LLaMa has helped build Meta’s role in the AI ecosystem by driving LLaMA adoption. It should more than justify Meta’s AI spend. So, if Meta continues to bleed the RL division at the same pace and gets absolutely no value from its AI spend, it will have a $600 stock in 2026. However, if ValueAct can do what it has been able to do at Microsoft, Salesforce, Adobe and others – help grow the muscle and trim the **** – RL’s -$7 should decline substantially and AI’s -$3 will be money well spent and be a significant value creator, as opposed to a drain on value as the market attributes today. Even a neutral valuation ($0 EPS) for RL/AI would place Meta at $800 per share, implying 40% growth from its current price. And if AI prospects become positive, which seems very plausible given these potential avenues of growth, RL/AI should actually contribute to EPS growth. Thus, 40% growth almost becomes a floor that underscores the significant upside for Meta.
This is not ValueAct taking a “flyer” on AI. First of all, ValueAct is a very thoughtful and diligent investor and doesn’t take “flyers.” Second, ValueAct has extensive experience from both sides of AI. The firm has been in the boardroom at companies like Microsoft and Salesforce, two of the largest developers of AI. And the firm has been an active shareholder at companies like Spotify, The New York Times, Expedia and Recruit (Indeed.com) some of the largest users and beneficiaries of AI. So, when ValueAct invests in AI, it isn’t just ***** balling. The firm thoroughly understands AI and how its customers can use it.
When thinking about how ValueAct will approach this engagement going forward, we must address the elephant in the room: Meta is a controlled company, with Mark Zuckerberg holding approximately 61% of the company’s voting power. While most activists would never bother with a controlled company for obvious reasons, ValueAct actually has a strong track record of creating value at controlled or quasi-controlled companies, including engagements at Martha Stewart Living, The New York Times, 21st Century Fox, Spotify and KKR. In these situations, ValueAct averaged a return of 124.12% compared to an average of 30.79% for the relevant market benchmark. This is because ValueAct understands that activism is about the power of the idea; the power of the argument; the power of persuasion. As such, even in its investments in non-controlled companies, the firm almost always only takes one board seat because it is confident that its ideas will resonate. However, given Meta’s controlled structure, we don’t expect ValueAct to push as hard for a board seat here as it might at other portfolio companies. In a controlled company you can almost be as effective as an active shareholder as you can as a director. That being said, given ValueAct’s track record of board success, particularly at other mega-cap technology companies, shareholders would be well served if Meta added a ValueAct representative to the board.
Ken Squire is the founder and president of 13D Monitor, an institutional research service on shareholder activism, and the founder and portfolio manager of the 13D Activist Fund, a mutual fund that invests in a portfolio of activist 13D investments.
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Lotto: One West *********** more than $2.5 million richer after division one win in Saturday’s draw
Lotto: One West *********** more than $2.5 million richer after division one win in Saturday’s draw
Another WA player has struck Saturday Lotto luck, securing a life-changing win of more than $2.5 million.
The West *********** and one other player from across the country will pocket a staggering $2,519,100.97 each from division one’s prize pool.
More luck was felt in division two, with 47 players taking home more than $12,000 each.
The winning numbers for draw #4521 are 6, 5, 8, 44, 29 and 38. The Supplementary numbers are 1 and 9.
The ******* of luck comes as WA’s third week of consecutive division one wins in the Saturday draw.
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The First Descendant Hotfix 1.1.8
The First Descendant Hotfix 1.1.8
The 1.1.8 Hotfix fixed some errors and changed two important features: the Private/Public server switch and Explosive Barrels.
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Halvorsen’s Viking Global opened stakes in two turnaround stories in Q3
Halvorsen’s Viking Global opened stakes in two turnaround stories in Q3
Ole Andreas Halvorsen’s Viking Global bought into two big, second-half turnaround stories in the third quarter. The Norwegian-********* billionaire’s hedge fund opened positions in Starbucks and Tesla sometime during the three months ended Sept. 30, the latest regulatory filing shows. Those bets — worth more than $100 million each — appear to be paying off as the pair have lately rallied. Halvorsen bought almost 1.7 million Starbucks worth $162 million during the quarter. The coffee chain lured Brian Niccol away from Chipotle in August to serve as its new chief executive starting in September. The appointment gave investors hope that Starbucks could fix issues plaguing its business. Starbucks shares surged more than 24% the day of the announcement, its best day ever. That rally accounted for almost all of Starbucks’ third quarter gain of more than 25%. So far in the fourth quarter, shares have risen less than 1%. (By comparison, the S & P 500 has added nearly 2% in the quarter.) Despite that enormous move one day in August, Starbucks shares are up about 2.5% in 2024, underperforming the S & P 500’s advance of around 23%. The average analyst polled by LSEG has a buy rating, with a price target suggesting shares will rise less than 2% over the coming year. Tesla rebound Tesla ‘s recovery revolved around CEO Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, who during the summer emerged as the most prominent backer of President-elect Donald Trump’s bid for the White House. Musk went on to donate an estimated $200 million to Trump’s campaign , supporting the *********** daily on social media and appearing at campaign rallies. Trump this week named Musk to co-head an office focused on government efficiency. Tesla surged more than 32% in the third quarter, and shares have climbed almost 23% so far in the fourth. Though Tesla slumped 29% in this year’s first quarter, the electrical vehicle maker has now climbed 29% in 2024. For their part, Wall Street’s sell-side analysts see those gains disappearing, with their consensus price target implying more than 28% downside over the next year, according to LSEG. Still, the average analyst rates Tesla a buy. TSLA SBUX YTD mountain Tesla and Starbucks, year to date To be sure, both Starbucks and Tesla are relatively small positions for Halvorsen, an alumnus of the late Julian Robertson ‘s Tiger Management. Viking Global’s stake in U.S. Bancorp , for example, Halvorsen’s largest single position, grew by more than 32% in the third quarter, and was worth more than $1.5 billion at the end of the quarter. Visa , Charles Schwab and Bank of America were other stocks that Halvorsen opened positions in during the September quarter. Stocks that Viking Global zeroed out in the quarter ranged from Meta Platforms to Dollar Tree to UnitedHealth .
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Nexon Has Some Serious Improvements in Mind for the Reactors in The First Descendant
Nexon Has Some Serious Improvements in Mind for the Reactors in The First Descendant
As it stands, you need a ton of resources to modify the ******* mounting on your Ultimate Reactors. Still, it is a massive improvement from the random-drop-only mechanic we had until recently. But Nexon is not stopping there.
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What Trump’s proposed China tariffs could mean for Apple’s profits
What Trump’s proposed China tariffs could mean for Apple’s profits
President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariff strategy could spell bad news for the tech hardware market, but Tim Cook’s Apple might not feel as much of the pain. On the campaign trail, the former president vowed to impose a universal tariff of between 10% and 20% on all imported goods and at least a 60% tariff on goods from China. Yet, some analysts say that Apple’s high ****** profit margins may provide a buffer, unlike other companies with smaller margins that also have extreme exposure to ******** manufacturing. “While AAPL is thought of as the ‘poster-child’ for leveraging ******** manufacturing, and thus most at risk if tariffs were to be instituted, they don’t face the most significant [earnings per share] headwind in our coverage given they have a higher ****** margin than peers, which limits the incremental tariff impact,” Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring told clients in a note this month. AAPL YTD mountain AAPL, year-to-date That reassurance comes as Apple has been underperforming the stock market’s ‘Trump plays’. For instance, Tesla – which soared nearly 15% the day after the election – has jumped almost 28% in the eight trading days since the vote. Apple over the same span has barely budged. The iconic iPhone and iMac maker has also underperformed the rest of the market for the entire year thus far. While Apple has gained almost 17% this year, the S & P 500 has advanced about 23%, excluding reinvested dividends. ***** out of earnings During Trump’s first term in office, Apple dodged tariffs on its core products when the U.S. reached a trade agreement with China that exempted some consumer goods made in that country – such as phones and computers – from the charges. But assuming there are no exemptions for Apple this time around, Morgan Stanley foresees an EPS loss for the company of 5.5% under a 15% tariff on U.S.-bound imports from China. Under a 25% tariff on goods from China, the Wall Street investment bank sees an EPS loss for Apple of 9.2%. Those estimates make Apple the fifth most vulnerable tech company to potential tariffs on goods from China in Morgan Stanley’s research coverage. “Ultimately, it’s a negative,” CFRA Research analyst Angelo Zino told CNBC. “It’s going to somehow eat into Apple’s earnings, whether it be through potentially lower volume if they push through it or via just lower margins if they were to absorb some of the cost.” Still, Zino believes any impact could be relatively muted – and potentially offset by moves by the president-elect to put the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against the company in limbo. “This is a company with, I’d say, greater pricing power than just about any other company out there,” Zino continued. “If you get this tariff across the board, it probably impacts, in my view, Apple less than it does others out there from a negative perspective.” Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan agrees, seeing any tariff impact as “manageable.” He sees a 60% tariff on ******** goods possibly resulting in about a 4% hit to Apple’s EPS. That’s if Apple opts against raising prices in the U.S. in response to tariffs. If Apple chooses to raise prices by 10% to pay for higher tariffs, the Bank of America analyst said it would have an even smaller, “negligible” impact on earnings. As a result, he has a buy rating on the stock, and his price target of $256 implies nearly 14% upside from Friday’s close. Others, like Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi, forecast about a 7% hit to Apple’s EPS. By contrast, Dell – which he noted looks positioned to be “most vulnerable” to tariffs – could see an EPS impact of up to about 90%, according to his model. Apple appears “less vulnerable than most might believe,” Sacconaghi said, thanks to its already high profit margins. He has an overweight rating on the stock and a 12-month price target of $240, which would equal more than 6% upside ahead, as of Friday’s close. How could Apple respond It’s also possible the Trump administration could continue granting exemptions for Apple after the inauguration on Jan. 20. If not, Apple could still mitigate any impact by expanding its manufacturing in other countries, such as India – which it’s already begun to do. Last fiscal year, Apple doubled the number of iPhones it makes in India, producing $14 billion worth. The company makes 14%, or about 1 in 7, of its iPhones there. “If a new tariff is imposed on imports from China, Apple could have its manufacturing partners ramp up production in India and ship to the U.S. from there,” BofA’s Mohan told clients in a recent report. “The same applies to other Apple products that are manufactured in countries outside of China, including Vietnam, Malaysia and others.” At the end of the day, Mohan assumes that 80% of all Apple products sold in the U.S. could be sourced from countries outside China. Partly for that reason, Jason Snipe of Odyssey Capital Advisors is sticking with Apple. Tariffs aside, he points to future iOS updates with the release of the iPhone 17 – notably, the incorporation of new Apple Intelligence features – as the catalyst for another sales “supercycle.” “It might be in a trading range for a little while,” the chief investment officer told CNBC. “But I do think once the focus shifts, the new administration comes in, all this tariff talk starts to quiet down some, I think that’s when people will start to say, ‘Wait a minute, I think Apple has legs.'”
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2025 Lexus ES facelift revealed in China
2025 Lexus ES facelift revealed in China
A ****-and-tucked Lexus ES sedan has been unveiled in China sporting a revised grille and lights, as well as a much larger touchscreen in the cabin.
Up front there’s a new insert for the spindle grille that has horizontal slats instead of vertical ones, redesigned headlight internals with double L-shaped driving lights, and larger fake side air intakes.
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Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
At the rear, the tail-light graphics have been updated to include the car’s new double-L signature. There are also tweaks to the lower bumper garnishes, and the Lexus word mark replaces the brand’s L-in-a-circle logo.
Step inside, and the big change is the adoption of the brand’s 14.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, at the bottom of which is climate control strip with physical knobs on either end. The current car has a less spacious 12.3-inch display.
To accommodate the larger screen setup, the central vents have been moved to the bottom of the main section of the dashboard.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
In China there are two drivetrain choices: the ES 200 with a 127kW/206Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder coupled to a continuously variable transmission driving the front wheels, and the ES 300h with a 160kW hybrid setup featuring a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and Toyota’s e-CVT system.
The front-wheel drive hybrid drivetrain is carried over from the ES currently in showrooms, and isn’t the upgraded 170kW system seen in latest Toyota Camry.
The current *********** ES range kicks off with the ES 250, which has a 152kW/243Nm naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, before stepping up to the ES 300h.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
Although the updates unveiled this week in at the Guangzhou motor show haven’t been confirmed for markets outside of China, it’s high likely the ES you seen here will soon grace Lexus forecourts across Asia, the US, Europe, and Australia.
Lexus typically completely renews the ES every five to six years, but this is the second facelift for the seventh-generation ES, which debuted back in 2018. This latest update should keep it fresh enough to soldier on for a few more years before a new model is released.
If rumours are correct, the eighth-generation ES will include an all-electric variant. It might even look similar to the spindle grille-free sedan teased a few years back when Toyota and Lexus teased their array of electric vehicles under development.
Stay tuned to CarExpert for more details about the revised ES as they announced for Australia and other global markets.
MORE: Everything Lexus ES
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***** is Us is Looking Absolutely Crazy
***** is Us is Looking Absolutely Crazy
If war is the closest we get to ***** on earth, it’s because Earth harbors the worst of demons: humankind.
Discover the first Gameplay footage of ***** is Us , an action-adventure game set in a war-torn country, where players must unravel the mysteries of their past and confront the human darkness that fuels the chaos.
***** is Us will be available on PlayStation 5 in 2025.
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‘Best-in-class’ stocks are surging so buy them quick, Bank of America says
‘Best-in-class’ stocks are surging so buy them quick, Bank of America says
Analysts at Bank of America say there is a host of buy-rated stocks set to outperform heading into the remainder of 2024. The Wall Street investment bank says these companies are best positioned to gain and are ******* on all cylinders. CNBC Pro combed through Bank of America research to find stocks the bank believes are “best-in-class.” They include Carvana , ESAB, Netflix , Texas Roadhouse and Johnson Controls . Netflix Everything is “on track” for the streaming giant following its earnings report in October, according to BofA. Profit margins are rising and the company is making the right investments to maintain its longstanding streaming leadership, according to analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich. “Also, NFLX’s existing scale advantage is bearing fruit as healthy revenue growth and cost discipline are driving operating leverage, leading to an increased 2024 margin outlook to ~27%,” she said. The bank says Netflix is well positioned for more upside as earnings per share momentum is poised to outperform in coming quarters. “In our view, Netflix ******** one of the best positioned companies within media & has several growth drivers, including the accelerating ramp of its burgeoning ad business which is expected to double in ’25 and become a multi-year growth driver in ’26 and beyond, along with Gaming, Live & Sports,” Reif Ehrlich went on to say. Shares are up 69% this year. ESAB The fabrication technology welding company is too attractive to ignore, analyst Sherif El-Sabbahy says. “The firm continues to compound even in a weak manufacturing backdrop,” he wrote of the company. ESAB is “thriving in a tough backdrop,” as free cash flow continues to expand, according to El-Sabbahy. Further, BofA says ESAB is well positioned domestically and internationally with more market share gains on the horizon. A robust balance sheet also affords plenty of room for further growth, he added. Meanwhile, shares are up 43% this year, with El-Sabbahy maintaining ESAB as a top pick. He called ESAB a “best in class compounder with short cycle upside.” Texas Roadhouse Analyst Sara Senatore is sticking with shares of the Texas-themed restaurant following earnings in late October. “As beef prices continue to prove more favorable than expected, TXRH is well-positioned to maintain restaurant-level margins even as pricing rolls off in [fiscal] 2025,” she wrote. BofA says Texas Roadhouse benefits from low staff turnover, innovative technology and same-store sales that continue to improve. In addition, Senatore called traffic growth “best-in-class” with month-to-month improvement even as the wider industry battles numerous headwinds. Shares of the company are up 62% this year with plenty of room to run, Bank of America says. “We believe Texas Roadhouse has a long growth runway, with room to expand its store count in the U.S. by 70% to about 1000 stores,” Senatore went on. Netflix “3Q: Everything ******** on track Netflix is a global leader in the streaming market offering a best-in-class subscription and advertising video on demand service to more than 280mn subscribers in over 190 countries. … Also, NFLX’s existing scale advantage is bearing fruit as healthy revenue growth and cost discipline are driving operating leverage, leading to an increased 2024 margin outlook to ~27%.” ESAB “Best in class compounder with short cycle upside. … The firm continues to compound even in a weak manufacturing backdrop. … As [the] manufacturing economy gradually recovers, we expect ESAB to compound earnings and [free cash flow] to drive further multiple expansion. Reiterate Buy. Thriving in a tough backdrop, with a [balance sheet] for growth.” Carvana “The company ******** in growth mode, with best-in-class eCommerce growth driven by market expansion and greater ************ in existing markets. We think the company is well positioned for high levels of sustained growth long term and see upside potential in the medium term given strong inventory levels, resilient consumer demand and [a] North America car production shortage.” Texas Roadhouse “As beef prices continue to prove more favorable than expected, TXRH is well-positioned to maintain restaurant-level margins even as pricing rolls off in F25. … TXRH [offers] best-in-class traffic trends & topline growth and … further operating leverage. … We believe Texas Roadhouse has a long growth runway, with room to expand its store count in the U.S. by 70% to about 1000 stores.” Johnson Controls “Best-in-class data center assets and change is coming. … We believe data centers to be one of the more profitable verticals. … We see the JCI story as combining self-help and structural outgrowth driven by smart buildings controls and software. We see the new CEO as a positive catalyst.”
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Vince Vaughn revealed the money moves he made to rocket his wealth — now he’s worth $75M. How to copy him in 2025
Vince Vaughn revealed the money moves he made to rocket his wealth — now he’s worth $75M. How to copy him in 2025
Vince Vaughn revealed the money moves he made to rocket his wealth — now he’s worth $75M. How to copy him in 2025
Vince Vaughn made a name for himself in Hollywood by starring in some of the biggest comedies of the 2000s. But instead of squandering his success, Vaughn took a different path: protecting his earnings through smart investments.
“I was fortunate to make money at my profession, and I didn’t want to lose it,” he explained in an interview with business coach JT Foxx.
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Unlike many of his colleagues, Vaughn took an active interest in managing his finances, noting, “There were so many actors I knew who were intimidated and didn’t deal with it.”
Vaughn took the initiative, making his first major investment in gold. “So I thought, I want tangible assets. First, I bought some gold, but there’s no passive income off of it,” he recalled.
Gold is indeed a tangible asset — and a well-known hedge against inflation. The reason is simple: unlike fiat currencies, the precious metal can’t be printed in unlimited quantities by central banks. However, as Vaughn discovered, gold doesn’t generate income on its own.
To create that steady income stream he was after, Vaughn turned to real estate. “So I just started to buy some small buildings that I could rent out,” he said. “And I knew that the buildings would go up in price. I’d have some money coming in passively from it.”
By purchasing small rental buildings, Vaughn tapped into two powerful advantages of real estate: passive income and the potential for appreciation. As tenants pay rent, he collects income that doesn’t require daily work.
Plus, because property values and rental income tend to rise alongside the cost of living, real estate serves as a reliable hedge against inflation.
After his initial foray into real estate, Vaughn expanded his portfolio. He began “buying a bunch of farms” and acquired properties in Florida, targeting “areas that were getting nicer.”
Looking back, Vaughn emphasizes the importance of continuously building knowledge and learning from each investment. “I think the more you spend time on it and get a feeling for what you think is doing well, you get better each year,” he remarked.
Story Continues
Vaughn’s strategic investments have served him well. His net worth is now estimated at $75 million, according to Yahoo.
The good news? You don’t need Hollywood funds to start building wealth through real estate. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) and crowdfunding platforms have made it easier than ever for everyday investors to gain exposure to the real estate market with minimal upfront capital.
REITs are companies that own income-producing real estate across various sectors, such as residential, commercial, or industrial properties, and they pay out the majority of their profits as dividends, allowing investors to earn income without directly managing properties.
Crowdfunding platforms, meanwhile, offer a way to buy fractional shares in specific properties or projects, often with investments as low as $100.
Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they’re banking on instead
While gold doesn’t offer the passive income Vaughn was after, it ******** a popular choice for investors as a hedge against economic uncertainty and inflation.
In 2024, gold prices surged by 33%, surpassing $2,700 per ounce. Investors often turn to precious metals like gold and silver during periods of market volatility or global instability, as their value isn’t tied to any particular currency or economy.
Gold is frequently considered a “safe-haven” asset because it tends to perform well when other investments, like stocks, face downturns, offering a form of insurance in an investor’s portfolio.
Economist Peter Schiff sees substantial further upside for gold. “If gold can go from $20 an ounce to $2,600 an ounce, it can go from $2,600 to $26,000, or even to $100,000. There’s no limit because, again, gold isn’t changing — it’s the value of the dollar that’s decreasing,” he recently stated.
It’s easy to invest in gold. Investors can purchase gold bullion, own shares of gold mining companies, invest in gold ETFs and even tap into potential tax advantages through a gold IRA.
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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APEC: Albanese calls on partners to rise to climate challenge as he leaves 2035 timeline vague
APEC: Albanese calls on partners to rise to climate challenge as he leaves 2035 timeline vague
Anthony Albanese will tell Asia-Pacific partners they have an “unprecedented chance” to benefit from climate change, but has ******* to commit to setting Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction target before the next election.
The election of Donald Trump has thrown the future of global climate change action in doubt, given his intention to pull the ******* States out of the Paris Agreement and roll back clean energy investment.
Against that backdrop, the Prime Minster will make an intervention at the last session of APEC on Saturday morning (local Peru time) where he will ask regional partners to stay the course.
He will call for economies to take greater action to cut their emissions, and talk up the role the region has to “seize the opportunities” of the net zero transition.
“Acting on climate change and embracing clean energy is both the most significant challenge and the biggest opportunity facing all our citizens,” he will say.
“And if we can work together through APEC to forge new co-operation and achieve new progress, then the enduring value and power of this forum will be demonstrated.”
Both APEC and next week’s G20 forum in Brazil have climate high on the agenda. Both summits coincide with COP 29 in Azerbaijan, where this week *** Prime Minister Keir Starmer committed his country to an 81 per cent emissions reduction target by 2035, an update from the previous government’s 78 per cent target.
Camera IconAnthony Albanese will tell Asia-Pacific partners they have an “unprecedented chance” to benefit from climate change, but has ******* to commit to setting Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction target before the next election. Credit: News Corp Australia
Speaking at the summit, Sir Keir said the new *** target would be “difficult” but “achievable”, and he wanted government to “tread lightly on people’s lives”.
When Mr Albanese was asked on Friday if he was willing to be more ambitious with Australia’s own 2035 target, the PM pointed to the 2030 target his Government legislated when it came to power.
But despite the Government having previously indicated it would release its 2035 target by February, Mr Albanese when asked would not commit to setting that figure before the next election – due by May.
“We’re committing to our 2035 target. It’s legislated, and 2030 comes before 2035, and we’re very focused on delivering and we’re on track to delivering that target,” he said.
In his APEC intervention on Saturday, Mr Albanese will stress the importance of shoring up supply chains, saying the “turmoil of the past few years” had underscored that “energy security is economic security”.
He will also outline his ambition for Australia to become a renewable energy “superpower” that helps power the region’s growing economies.
He will say APEC needs to “build a new model for economic and scientific co-operation”, and while recognising every country will chart the course differently, “our ultimate destination is the same”.
The PM will also talk up his Government’s work to strengthen and streamline clean energy investment, comments that come days after he suggested Australia stood to benefit should the incoming Trump Administration wind back the net zero transition.
“We’re also working to strengthen and streamline investment in renewable energy projects. This is about attracting new international investment in Australia, and it’s about catalysing new investment in our region.”
Mr Albanese will leave Peru on Saturday afternoon (local time) before travelling to Brazil for the G20 summit.
He hopes to meet ******** President Xi Jinping on the sidelines.
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Stalker 2 gets updated system requirements on Steam that reveal even the devs suggest using DLSS
Stalker 2 gets updated system requirements on Steam that reveal even the devs suggest using DLSS
Additionally, Farming Simulator 25 launches this week with day-one support for DLSS Super Resolution. Mortal Rite is out now with DLSS Super Resolution. And our new Indiana Jones and the Great Circle GeForce RTX 40 Series GPU and laptop bundle is available now.
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Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Master Motherboard Review: ATX with 14 USB ports, incredibly fast memory support
Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Master Motherboard Review: ATX with 14 USB ports, incredibly fast memory support
Below, we’ll examine the details of the Z890 Aorus Master and determine whether it deserves a spot on our Best Motherboards list. But before we share test results and dig deep into the board’s features, below are the specifications from the Gigabyte website.
Gigabyte’s Z890 Aorus Master is a premium motherboard that supports Intel’s new Arrow Lake processors. The board also receives a facelift, an additional PCIe 5.0 x4-capable M.2 socket (now two), Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps) Type-C ports, additional ‘EZ’ features, and AI overclocking. Priced at $599.99, the MSRP did go up from the Z790 mid-lifecycle update Aorus Master X ($550), but it stands up well to the direct competition.
Gigabyte has several Z890-based SKUs in the product stack—in fact, the company has the most, at 18. We won’t list all of them here, but you’ll see all the familiar faces and more. This includes Micro ATX and Mini-ITX boards and prices ranging from $179.99 (Z890M Gaming X) to the Z890 Aorus Extreme ($999.99+?). They also have several white versions of some boards, which cost the same as their darker counterparts. We’d be surprised if you can’t find a motherboard that works for you with all the available options from Gigabyte.
Testing on the Z890 Aorus Master went well. Even with settings similar to those of other boards, the Aorus Master sipped on the power comparatively, with performance varying depending on the tests. Gaming performance was solid in our two titles, while the other benchmarks generally mixed in with the other Z890 data we’ve gathered so far.
Specifications of the Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Master
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Socket
Intel (LGA 1851)
Chipset
Z890
Form Factor
ATX
Voltage Regulator
21 Phase (18x 110A SPS MOSFETs for Vcore)
Video Ports
(2) Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C)
Row 5 – Cell 0
(1) HDMI (v2.1) – Front
USB Ports
(2) Thunderbolt4 (40 Gbps) Type-C
Row 7 – Cell 0
(6) USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)
Row 8 – Cell 0
(4) USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
Row 9 – Cell 0
(2) USB 2.0 (480 Mbps)
Network Jacks
(1) 10 GbE
Audio Jacks
(2) Analog + SPDIF
Legacy Ports/Jacks
✗
Other Ports/Jack
✗
PCIe x16
(1) v5.0 (x16/x8)
PCIe x8
✗
PCIe x4
✗
PCIe x1
✗
DIMM Slots
(4) DDR5-9500+(OC), 256GB Capacity
M.2 Sockets
(2) PCIe 5.0 x4 (128 Gbps) / PCIe (up to 110mm)
Row 20 – Cell 0
(1) PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps) / PCIe (up to 110mm)
Row 21 – Cell 0
(1) PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps) / PCIe (up to 80mm)
Row 22 – Cell 0
(1) PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps) / PCIe/SATA (up to 80mm)
Row 23 – Cell 0
(Supports RAID 0/1/5/10)
SATA Ports
(4) SATA3 6 Gbps
Row 25 – Cell 0
(Supports RAID 0/1/5/10)
USB Headers
(1) USB v3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps) Type-C
Row 27 – Cell 0
(2) USB v3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
Row 28 – Cell 0
(2) USB v2.0 (480 Mbps)
Fan/Pump Headers
(10) 4-Pin (CPU, System fans)
RGB Headers
(4) aRGB Gen 2 (3-pin)
Row 31 – Cell 0
(1) RGB (4-pin)
Diagnostics Panel
EZ Debug Zone
Row 33 – Cell 0
(1) Debug Port (2-character)
Row 34 – Cell 0
(1) Debug LEDs
Internal Button/Switch
(1) Power button
Row 36 – Cell 0
(1) Reset button
SATA Controllers
✗
Ethernet Controller(s)
(1) Marvell AQtion AQC113C (10 GbE)
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200NGW (2×2- 320 MHz, 6 GHz, BT 5.4)
USB Controllers
Realtek RTS5411S, RTS54361, RTS5464
HD Audio Codec
Realtek ALC1220 w/ESS Sabre9118 DAC
DDL/DTS
✗ / DTS:X Ultra
Warranty
3 Years
Inside the Box of the Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Master
Gigabyte includes a handful of accessories inside the box to help deliver a positive building experience. You get the typical collection of SATA cables, a quick-connect Wi-Fi antenna, and a couple of other useful items, including the DDR Wind Blade to cool off your high-speed RAM. Below is a complete list of the extras.
Wi-Fi Antenna (w/EZ-plug)
(2) Thermistors cables
(2) SATA cables
G-Connector
Microphone
DDR Wind Blade (RAM fan)
Installation guide
Stickers
Design of the Z890 Master
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Gigabyte)
(Image credit: Gigabyte)
(Image credit: Gigabyte)
The Aorus Master has always been a good-looking motherboard, which does not change with Z890. We still see large, oversized heatsinks with the Aorus branding on top, illuminated by RGB LEDs. The bottom of the board uses a large plate-style heatsink with a brushed finish and some reflective chrome highlights on the chipset heatsink with the Master branding and Aorus motto of “Team up, ****** On” emblazoned on those shiny parts. For the first PCIe 5.0 M.2 socket uses a much larger individual heatsink while the rest use a simple plate heatsink, and all using EZ clips to remove. The Aorus falcon flexes proudly between the PCIe slots while another RGB strip lights up the bottom part of the board. Ultimately, we like what we see, and the updated aesthetic blends in with most build themes.
(Image credit: Gigabyte)
The first item we encounter on the top left is the two (one required) 8-pin EPS connectors to power the processor. Next to them is the first 4-pin fan header, with the other nine (yes, nine!) above the RAM slots and along the bottom edge. Each header supports PWM and DC-controlled devices, with power output all the same at 2A/24W. The 10 total fan headers are the most I’ve seen on a consumer board, and there is plenty of power to go around. Control over these headers is managed through the BIOS or Gigabyte Control Center’s (GCC) Fan Control application.
Next, we run into the four RAM slots with locking mechanisms on both sides to secure your memory kit. Gigabyte offers support for up to 256GB and speeds up to DDR5-9500(OC), one of the fastest we’ve come across for the platform. We had no issues running the fastest kits in-house (DDR5-8200) without issue and, at least on paper, there’s a lot of headroom left. Above that are four more fan headers, and immediately to the right are the first (of two) 2-pin headers for thermistors.
In the right corner, we see the first two (of four) 3-pin ARGB headers, with the other two located along the bottom edge. There’s also a 4-pin RGB header at the bottom, too. Control over the integrated and attached RGBs comes from GCC and the RGB Fusion app. There are several canned LED effects, many of which you can tweak the speeds and colors to your liking, or just shut them all off when you need to.
Moving down the right edge, we run into the two-character Debug port and the four-LED POST debugger, which helps to identify any issues that arise during POST. Just to the left are convenient power and reset buttons. Next, we find the 24-pin ATX connector to power the board, a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps) Type-C header, and two 19-pin front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) ports. If the 14 USB ports on the rear IO somehow aren’t enough, there are plenty for the front panel as well.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The Z890 Aorus Master’s VRM consists of 21 phases, 18 for Vcore, that will easily handle any processor you put on it. Astute readers may recognize this is fewer than the last generation, but these processors are also more efficient. Power comes from the dual 8-pin EPS connectors, then onto the familiar Renesas RAA229130 PWM controller. From there, we ran into the 18 Renesas R2209004 SPS MOSFETs rated at 110A each in a ‘twin’ configuration. Again, there is plenty of power, even when overclocking the flagship part like our Core 9 Ultra 285K. CPU temperatures will limit you before the power delivery does.
(Image credit: Gigabyte)
On the bottom half of the board, hiding under the metal shroud, is a high-quality audio solution using the Realtek ALC1220 codec and an ESS SABRE9118 DAC. It’s a flagship-class audio solution that most users should be satisfied with. Even though this is one of the better audio solutions, we would like to see the latest codec like its peers use.
In the middle are three full-length PCIe slots, all using some form of reinforcement. The top slot sports Gigabyte’s UD Slot X reinforcement and a PCIe EZ Latch button to remove the card easily. The top connects through the CPU and is the sole PCIe 5.0 x16 slot. Using a lesser UD Slot reinforcement (note that’s non-X), the bottom two slots connect through the chipset and run up to PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 (middle and bottom) speeds. There is some lane sharing. When M2D_CPU (the second 5.0 x4-capable M.2 socket) is populated, the top/CPU-connected slot drops to x8 speeds. Outside of that, it’s smooth sailing.
Five M.2 sockets hide under the heatsinks on the bottom of the board, each using the M.2 EZ Latch to secure your device without those tiny screws. You get two PCIe 5.0 x4 (128 Gbps) sockets and three PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps) sockets. If you own or plan to buy a SATA-based M.2 module, you’re in luck, as one of the sockets, M2M_SB, supports PCIe and SATA devices. If your use case requires redundancy or additional storage speed, the Aorus Master supports RAID0/1/5/10 modes on the NVMe drives.
Past the chipset, along the right edge, we see an HDMI port that can monitor the system with the Sensor Panel application (monitor required). Below are four SATA ports (supports RAID0/1/5/10) and two more 4-pin fan headers.
Across the bottom of the board are several exposed headers. You’ll find the typical stuff here, including additional USB ports, RGB headers, etc. Below is a complete list, from left to right.
Front panel audio
(2) 4-pin RGB headers
3-pin RGB header
DB sense
TPM header
(2) USB 2.0 headers
(3) System fan headers
2-pin temperature sensor header
Clear CMOS jumper
Reset jumper
Front panel
(Image credit: Gigabyte)
One of the first things you’llnotice on the rear IO is that it’s stuffed with USB ports – 14 in total. You get the two Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps) ports that also double as video outputs, six USB 3.2 Gen 2 (20 Gbps, all Type-A) ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) ports, and two USB 2.0 ports. On the left are the Clear CMOS and Q-Flash Plus buttons to reset the BIOS or update it (even without a CPU).
On the right are the Marvell 10 GbE port, the quick-connect Wi-Fi 7 antenna headers, and a basic audio stack with line out, microphone, and SPDIF optical output. Outside of the sheer number of USB ports and some venting for the VRMs, there’s nothing out of the ordinary here.
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Militants ***** seven paramilitary troops in southwestern Pakistan
Militants ***** seven paramilitary troops in southwestern Pakistan
By Saleem Ahmed
QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) – Militants stormed a paramilitary checkpoint in southwestern Pakistan on Saturday, ******** seven troops, the latest in a string of attacks by separatist insurgents, police said.
The early-morning ******* in the mountainous Kalat district, some 150 km south of Quetta, capital of the southwestern Balochistan province, continued for several hours, said police officer Habib-ur-Rehman.
Another 18 wounded paramilitary soldiers, some in critical condition, were admitted to local hospitals, he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the *******.
Separatist militant group the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) said in an email sent to a Reuters reporter that its fighters had attacked the checkpoint.
The group has stepped up its operations recently, claiming a ******** ******** last week that targeted Pakistani army troops at a railway station minutes before they were due to board a train to return home for vacations. It ******* 27, including 19 soldiers, who were in civilian clothing.
The group also claimed a ******** ******** last month outside the southern Karachi international airport, which ******* two ******** engineers.
The BLA and several other militant groups have been fighting for decades for a separate homeland to gain a greater share of the mineral and resource rich Balochistan province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.
The region is home to Gwadar Port, built by China as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $65 billion investment in President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to expand China’s global reach by road, rail and sea.
(Reporting by Saleem Ahmed; Additional Reporting by Saud Mahsud in Dera Ismail Khan; Writing by Asif Shahzad; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
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Hawks smother Kings to tighten hold on NBL rivals
Hawks smother Kings to tighten hold on NBL rivals
Illawarra’s stranglehold over rivals Sydney under new coach Justin Tatum has tightened after a testy 86-79 NBL win in Wollongong.
The Hawks frustrated the Kings on Saturday night as they moved to 7-4 to sit third, a vocal crowd enjoying the last laugh after another feisty build-up between the NSW neighbours.
The Kings (7-6) sit fifth after taking 71 shots compared with the Hawks’ 55 but making one less bucket than the hosts, who also attempted 10 more free throws.
The Hawks’ South Korean sharpshooter Hyunjung Lee (16 points, four rebounds, two assists) nailed his first four three-pointers and didn’t miss a shot until the fourth quarter.
Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (12 points, six rebounds) made timely contributions at both ends, while Sam Froling scored 14 points and Trey Kell (19 points, five assists) took player-of-the-match honours.
It was a frustrating return to his former club for Kings coach Brian Goorjian, while Tatum now boasts a 4-0 record against Sydney – and 11-5 at home – since taking over the embattled Hawks last year.
“We got back to basics and it showed tonight, we wanted it more,” Tatum said.
“HJ (Lee) came out here and opened the game up for us, they lost track of one of the best three-point shooters in the league.”
The Hawks led by as many as 19 points, but faced some resistance late in the third term.
But William Hickey’s chase-down block on Alex Toohey and a Kell three-pointer on the buzzer gave the Hawks a 13-point buffer at the final break.
The visitors came again in the fourth quarter, Kouat Noi hitting a triple then drawing an offensive foul, before Jaylen Adams’ (23 points, six assists, six steals) triple made it a seven-point game down the stretch.
Cam Oliver (16 points, seven rebounds) dragged in a huge board and hit the triple to make it a two-point game with three minutes to play.
Tyler Harvey (13 points) popped up when needed though, drilling his three-point attempt to ease some pressure.
Adams kept coming, another triple getting them within six in the final minute, before Harvey’s free throws and a Swaka Lo Buluk defensive play iced the contest.
“We’re just not playing well enough, all around the board,” Goorjian said.
“Not playing to our potential and the guys are on the right page, they really wanted this, were desperate, but just didn’t play well.
“Frustration sets in (but) … a little break coming up (for international fixtures) … some practice time and we’re playing for our season now.”
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Malcolm X’s family sues FBI, CIA and NYPD over his *******
Malcolm X’s family sues FBI, CIA and NYPD over his *******
The family of murdered ****** civil rights activist Malcolm X are suing the FBI, the CIA and the New York police department (NYPD) for $100m (£79m), accusing them of a role in his ******.
The lawsuit says the agencies were involved in the plot and ******* to stop the ********.
“We believe that they all conspired to ************ Malcolm X, one of the greatest thought leaders of the 20th century,” Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney who is representing the family, said at a news conference.
Malcolm X was ******* in 1965 when three armed men shot him 21 times as he was preparing to speak in New York.
The lawsuit alleges that a “corrupt, unlawful, and unconstitutional” relationship between law enforcement and the “ruthless killers” allowed for the *******.
Links between the agencies and the killers “went unchecked for many years and was actively concealed, condoned, protected, and facilitated by government agents”, the lawsuit says.
It says the NYPD, coordinating with the agencies, also detained members of Malcolm X’s security team days before the ********* and intentionally removed their officers from inside the ballroom where he was shot.
Federal agents, including undercover operatives, were in the ballroom during the ************** and took no steps to intervene, the lawsuit alleges.
The family announced their intention to sue last year.
The CIA and the NYPD did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI told the Associated Press that it was its “standard practice” not to comment on litigation.
Malcolm X was a lead spokesman for the Nation of Islam – which advocated separatism for ****** Americans – before his acrimonious split from the organisation. He was 39 when he was *******.
One man, a Nation of Islam member, confessed to ******** him.
In 2021, two other men convicted of ******** him had their convictions thrown out after a New York state judge declared there had been a miscarriage of justice.
The two men were later fully exonerated after New York’s attorney general found prosecutors had withheld evidence that would have probably cleared them of the *******.
Family of the wrongly convicted men sued and won $26m from New York City and $10m from New York state.
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Retailers put out best offers for ****** Friday sales with Australians set to fork out billions
Retailers put out best offers for ****** Friday sales with Australians set to fork out billions
Some of the nation’s biggest retailers have already started slashing prices on a range of products ahead of the major ****** Friday shopping event that has now eclipsed the scale of Boxing Day sales.
Clothing, shoes and home technology are just some of the categories that will be in hot demand this month as frugal consumers increasingly hunt for bargains before Christmas.
Department store giant David Jones kicked off the sales event last week with early-bird deals on luggage, home and kitchen appliances from major brands Dyson, Breville and Tefal.
Camera IconDavid Jones will have ****** Friday promotions across a wide range of products, like toys. Credit: Supplied
From today, shoppers will be able to save 25 per cent on full-priced toys. David Jones will continue to roll out fresh offers across its kids, clothing, footwear and accessories, and beauty departments between now and November 29.
Until December 8 shoppers will also be able to snag the cult-favourite KitchenAid stand mixer for $669, saving them $230.
“****** Friday is lasting longer and longer in Australia, it’s definitely not just that (four-day ****** Friday/Cyber Monday) ******* in November it originally was meant to be,” said Liam Kennedy, spokesman for consumer group Choice.
“Last year, we saw sales starting from the middle of November . . . this year, we’ve seen it happen again, I’ve even seen some retailers start their sales in the first week of November.”
Global footwear and accessories brand Nine West is offering 30 per cent off full-priced items until Monday as part of its “Click Frenzy” promotion.
It will then offer $50 off full-priced shoes from Tuesday until November 27, before launching 40 per cent off storewide for ****** Friday and Cyber Monday.
Mr Kennedy noted the prevalence of online shopping meant retailers now had flash sales more often throughout the year.
“Yes, consumers will be able to get some good deals on ****** Friday this year, (but) they should keep their options open and not treat ****** Friday as a be-all and end-all,” he said.
“Our advice is to really keep an eye on your favourite retailers by following them on social media or signing up to their email newsletters to get the inside scoop on when sales are starting.
“You might find the sales are just as good and on items that you’re more interested in at other times of the year.”
That warning notwithstanding, shoppers looking to update their wardrobe can score up to 30 per cent off full-priced styles from fashion label Forever New, while womenswear retailer ***** Lucy will offer a similar promotion on selected items.
Outdoor clothing brand Kathmandu will offer 50 per cent off its popular ****** puffer jackets, with early online access from Thursday and in stores from November 29. The offer will run until December 2.
Camera IconKathmand. Credit: Supplied/Facebook/TheWest
Electronics giant JB Hi-Fi will kick off what it calls its ****** Friday blitz on Thursday with promotions on Dyson vacuums, Google tablets and watches, and the Sonos soundbar.
For half the original prices, shoppers will be able to pick up the Google Pixel Tablet 11 inch for $249 and the Google Pixel Watch 2 LTE for $263.
JB Hi-Fi Australia managing director Cameron Trainor said ****** Friday was now the leading retail sales event, with more customers shopping on ****** Friday than Boxing Day.
“****** Friday is the perfect time for customers looking to find great deals for themselves and get in early to buy Christmas gifts at crazy prices,” he said.
Mr Kennedy echoed Mr Trainor’s comments.
“****** Friday does arrive at a convenient time for Christmas shopping,” he said.
“It’s getting them just when they are starting to get interested in buying stuff (for Christmas).”
Retail expert Gary Mortimer said with shoppers really feeling the pinch this year, many would look for as many savings as possible given the pressures of the season.
“We still need to participate in Christmas because traditionally we buy presents and we gift for Christmas,” he said.
“Christmas is always an expensive time for families but if you plan, (if you) start to participate in some of these events that take place across November, generally you can get all of your Christmas shopping done.”
While ******* giant Dan Murphy’s did not reveal specific ****** Friday promotions, its managing director Agi Pfeiffer-Smith said it would “make sure that we are very vigilant on what’s going on out there in the market and then making sure that we have the lowest prices”.
“We expect some of the gifting lines to be pretty popular, as well as some of the more traditional favourites on what you might be having in your pre-Christmas barbecue or in your friends-mas,” she said.
“There’s definitely an opportunity for people to think about what’s of value, so we’re seeing a lot of gravitation to ******* pack sizes.”
Swedish home furnishings giant Ikea will offer members up to 40 per cent off across mattresses, beds, sheets and drawers from November 29 to December 2.
Global e-commerce company eBay will also have deals encompassing major tech brands Microsoft, Apple and Nintendo.
Even supermarket giant Coles revealed it was participating in the sales event, kicking off what it said was its biggest ****** Friday event, which will run for three weeks.
Grocery shoppers will be able to shop more than 1000 online-only promotions, with savings of up to 50 per cent in time for Christmas and summer.
Camera IconForever New. Credit: Supplied
Kmart and Target have confirmed they will have ****** Friday promotions but declined to give specifics just yet.
While ****** Friday has grown rapidly in Australia, it’s still not on the same level as in its originating country, the US, where shoppers camp out in front of shopping centres as early as two days before the sales event.
Designed to capitalise on the national Thanksgiving holiday, US ****** Friday sales are expected to top $US10 billion ($15.4b) this year — an increase of 7 per cent compared to last year — in just the four traditional days of the sales *******.
Meanwhile, the *********** Retailers Association estimates shoppers to spend a record $6.7b over the four-day blitz.
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These 3 Passive-Income ETFs Are a Retiree’s Best Friend
These 3 Passive-Income ETFs Are a Retiree’s Best Friend
Most people don’t want to spend much time managing their retirement portfolio once they’ve stopped working. After all, you’ve made it! This is the ******* in your life when it’s time to relax. It is essential to know the tools available to help you build a diversified nest egg that will meet your needs without having to watch it 24/7.
That’s where exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can help. These are buckets of stocks that trade under one ticker symbol. An ETF might follow an index or a particular investment strategy. The great thing is that a small handful of ETFs can create a well-diversified portfolio that will help protect you from risk.
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Here are three ETFs that could be a retiree’s best friend. They are different from one another, but all three offer retirees the passive income they need.
America is home to many of the world’s most prominent companies, which is why the U.S. stock market is more valuable than any other countries’ by a wide margin. However, there are still remarkable companies outside the ******* States that can help your portfolio.
The Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (NASDAQ: VYMI) is a great way to add that international investment exposure without having to wade through data that could be in different currencies or languages. It’s the perfect situation for an ETF. It carries a 0.22% expense ratio, which Vanguard claims is far lower than comparable funds.
VYMI Dividend Yield data by YCharts
The ETF holds nearly 1,500 stocks, primarily companies based in North America, Europe, the Pacific region, and emerging markets. Its holdings span virtually all industries and includes top holdings like Nestle, Novartis, Roche, and Shell.
The ETF’s current yield is approximately 4.6%. Since its inception in 2016, the ETF has generated annualized total returns averaging 8.3%. Consider the Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF a great ETF for investing in fantastic companies that probably wouldn’t be on your radar otherwise.
The passive income doesn’t stop there. The Invesco High Yield Equity Dividend Achievers ETF (NASDAQ: PEY) tracks an index of 51 stocks on the Nasdaq stock exchange with high yields and a history of dividend growth. Financial and utility stocks comprise roughly half the ETF, which lists Walgreens Boots Alliance, Altria, Franklin Resources, Verizon Communications, and UGI among its largest holdings. No stock represents more than 4% of the ETF, so it’s well-diversified despite holding just 51 stocks.
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PEY Dividend Yield data by YCharts
This ETF’s expense ratio is 0.53%, a little higher than I generally like. However, it has averaged a 9.5% annualized return (pre-tax) over the past decade, giving investors solid total returns while meeting their passive income needs.
Invesco High Yield Equity Dividend Achievers ETF currently yields 4.6%. The fund’s market price has climbed amid the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts, which underlines how attractive these reliable high-yield ETFs can be to investors in a lower-rate investing climate.
Peace of mind is increasingly important as you age, which attracted me to the Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (NYSEMKT: SPHD). This ETF holds 52 companies listed on the S&P 500 index with high dividend yields and low betas.
Stocks with high dividend yields can be more volatile because high yields can signal underlying trouble in a company. However, these low-beta stocks are the exception to this common wisdom. They generally stay more grounded and don’t go up or down as sharply as the broader market.
SPHD Dividend Yield data by YCharts
Its top holdings include Bristol Myers Squibb, Altria, Kinder Morgan, AT&T, and Dominion Energy. Once again, the ETF holds a modest number of stocks (52), but the largest weighting is just over 3%. It’s all spread pretty evenly, which means the ETF is well-diversified.
The fund’s yield is just 3.4%, following strong performance over the past 12 months. The ETF’s annualized total returns have averaged 10% for the past decade, a pretty good deal considering the expense ratio is just 0.30%. Those looking for an ETF of mature blue chip dividend stocks should take a good look here.
Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this.
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Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bristol Myers Squibb and Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool recommends Dominion Energy, Nestlé, Roche Holding AG, and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
These 3 Passive-Income ETFs Are a Retiree’s Best Friend was originally published by The Motley Fool
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Pelican News
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Woman told House Ethics Committee she saw Gaetz have **** with minor, her lawyer says
Woman told House Ethics Committee she saw Gaetz have **** with minor, her lawyer says
US representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) attends the second day of the 2024 *********** National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 16, 2024.
Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images
A woman told the House Ethics Committee that she saw Matt Gaetz, who is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for the U.S. attorney general, have **** with a minor, her lawyer said Friday.
“My client testified to the House Ethics Committee that she witnessed Rep. Gaetz having **** with a minor at a house party in Orlando in 2017,” Joel Leppard said.
Gaetz, a far-right *********** U.S. representative, resigned from Congress on Wednesday after Trump announced plans to nominate him for attorney general, has denied all allegations of ******* misconduct.
Leppard said the woman he represents testified before the House Ethics Committee in April.
He said he represents two witnesses who have provided testimony to the committee regarding Gaetz.
“The ********* people deserve to know the truth about the person slated to become the top law enforcement officer in the country” Leppard told NBC News.
ABC News was the first to report that Leppard had said his client had testified before the panel.
“Merrick Garland’s DOJ cleared Matt Gaetz and didn’t charge him. Are you alleging Garland is part of a cover-up?” a spokesperson for Gaetz said Friday.
Gaetz, 42, who represented Florida’s District 1 covering part of the Florida Panhandle, was investigated by the FBI on ****-trafficking allegations involving a 17-year-old and was not charged with any ******.
The federal investigation ended last year. Gaetz has said he was the target of an extortion plot.
A House Ethics Committee investigation was launched in April 2021. It was deferred at the request of the Department of Justice and reauthorized in 2023 after the department withdrew that deferral request.
What happens with the committee’s report now that Gaetz has resigned from Congress ******** unclear.
Some *********** senators say they want details from the committee’s investigation before a confirmation vote.
On Friday, *********** House Speaker Mike Johnson said he plans to request that the ethics panel does not release its report, saying that because Gaetz is no longer in Congress doing so would be a “terrible breach of protocol.”
The Senate is supposed to vote on whether Gaetz is confirmed as attorney general, although a recess appointment could be possible. Trump has called for the *********** Senate majority to allow him to make recess appointments.
The House Ethics Committee, which is bipartisan and made up of 10 members, was supposed to meet Friday to discuss the report on Gaetz and whether to release it to the public, but that was called off on Thursday, a source said.
Gaetz practiced law at a Florida law firm before being elected as a state representative. He was first elected to Congress in the 2016 election and began his first term in early 2017. He was re-elected in November.
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Pelican News
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Tyson vs Paul: Katie Taylor & Amanda Serrano save farcical main event
Tyson vs Paul: Katie Taylor & Amanda Serrano save farcical main event
Taylor-Serrano was the pinnacle of the sport, as good as it gets, but we were soon dragged into the circus that appears now engrained in modern boxing.
Tyson did not join his coaching team at the post-****** news conference. Their praise for his dedication to training offered little consolation to anyone who parted with their time or money to watch or attend the event.
Paul claims he carried ‘Iron Mike’ in the final part of the ******. “I wanted to give the fans a show but I didn’t want to hurt someone who didn’t need to be hurt,” he said.
If true, his comments only add to the ridicule.
Although the sport, with super ****** and undisputed champions being crowned, is in a solid place after investment from Saudi Arabia, events like Tyson v Paul do still impact ‘proper’ boxing.
Diehard fans criticise the huge amount of media coverage it was given compared to – for example – Briton Chris Billam-Smith’s cruiserweight unification ****** against Gilberto Ramirez in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Yet the event’s appeal is hard to ignore. Paul drew in a younger audience and Tyson is one of the most famous men on the planet. It crossed languages, genres and generations, with commentary offered in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French and *******.
Netflix says it will reveal further viewing figures on Tuesday and Most Valuable Promotions hinted there could be more Jake Paul fights streamed on the platform.
But having dipped their toes in live boxing, perhaps Netflix will now retreat. Or maybe when further viewing figures are officially released, organisers will begin planning the next boxing-entertainment crossover to lure in the masses.
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Pelican News
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***** Could Be Working On A New "Mass Multiplayer Game" Alongside Crazy Taxi
***** Could Be Working On A New "Mass Multiplayer Game" Alongside Crazy Taxi
New job listings have popped up on *****’s ********* site, hiring to develop a “large-scale, open-world, mass multiplayer game.”
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Pelican News
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No **** please, we’re in a relationship: Can your union be healthy while going without?
No **** please, we’re in a relationship: Can your union be healthy while going without?
The contraceptive pill is mainstream, no-strings-attached **** is now very much the norm and apps provide a never-ending carousel of potential love matches at your fingertips.
Yet there’s never been a younger generation less interested in **** than this one.
In fact, research shows **** between couples is declining — in the US, anyway.
Melissa Hadley Barrett, a sexologist at Restorative Health Clinic in Perth, suspects a ****-free relationship is the norm for a growing number of Australians too.
“The statistics are there to show that people have less **** now than they did in the past,” she told The Sunday Times.
“People who were born in the 1930s were having more **** than people are now.”
Camera IconMelissa Hadley Barrett is a nurse practitioner, sexologist and director of the Restorative Health Clinic in Perth, WA. Credit: Supplied
While there is no official definition of what makes a relationship “sexless”, studies tend to put couples having **** fewer than 10 times a year into this category.
So what, exactly, is going on?
“What I see in my clinic as a factor is that life is just too busy and people just don’t have as much time for ****,” Ms Hadley Barrett said.
“There are also too many other distractions — people are watching Netflix, playing video games, and there are a whole heap of other ways to be entertained.
“Women and men are looking after their kids and elderly parents, and may just be exhausted from working and life.”
But can a relationship survive — or even thrive — without ****?
The short answer, according to experts, is yes.
Ms Hadley Barrett said many couples enjoyed happy, healthy relationships with no **** or hardly any.
Sexless marriages are something I see often at my clinic.
But there are a few caveats.
If couples wanted to remain satisfied and connected to each other in meaningful ways, they needed to be communicating honestly about ****, she said.
This is because both people need to understand and accept the reasons **** has stopped.
For a sexless relationship to really thrive, she explained both people needed to be happy with the frequency of ****.
This was made easier when you both had similar libidos, she noted.
“Sexless marriages are something I see often at my clinic,” Ms Hadley Barrett said.
“The big issue is when one person decides they don’t want **** anymore and the other person is expected to go along with that.”
She said mismatched libidos could ******** relationships by driving a wedge between partners, creating hurt, undermining trust, sparking resentment, and harming self-esteem.
She recommended that couples seek professional help if they did not understand what was going on between them in relation to ****.
However, she stressed it was normal for ******* ******* to ebb and flow in a relationship.
“It’s normal to go through periods of low ******* activity,” Ms Hadley Barrett said.
Camera IconSex is off the agenda for an increasing number of couples. Credit: Prinz-Peter/Pixabay
“Certain stages in life are associated with changes in **** frequency, such as after the birth of a child, menopause, and old age.
“Men in their 40s tend to start reporting issues with erectile dysfunction, and by the time they hit the age of 50, one in three men have erectile dysfunction and need help.
“By 60, that’s one in two men, and by 70 only one in five men can get an ********* without help.”
Ms Hadley Barrett said many of the obstacles to a fulfilling **** life, including erectile dysfunction and low *******, could be overcome with professional help.
And it’s intimacy, not ****, that holds relationships together anyway.
She said **** was just the icing on the cake, not the main ingredient, and remembering this would help couples take pressure off themselves.
What really matters is the attention you pay to each other.
There were also countless ways to enjoy ******* experiences that went beyond what popular culture suggests “good ****” should look like, she added.
“**** is not all about ************,” Ms Hadley Barrett said.
“If one of you has a problem, like painful ****, then you can have what is called ‘outercourse’ rather than ************ where you do all sorts of intimate things together like giving each other a sensual massage, but the biggest thing is to make sure you are communicating with each other.”
People may be surprised by how many women I see at my clinic who want more **** from their partner.
Dr Tamara Hunter, a gynaecologist at Woom in West Perth, said there were many reasons **** stopped, even in the most devoted relationships.
“The population of people I see who are expressing concern about not having **** with their partners are women who are perimenopausal or post-menopausal and this is largely because their ******* is dropping, and in many cases **** is also quite uncomfortable for them.
“The fact there is no oestrogen around impacts on tissues and arousal for women, and the rest of their lives can be affected by this.
Camera IconDr Tamara Hunter inside the Monash IVF clinic in West Leederville. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The West ***********
“Then there is the anxiety they feel due to the expectation on them which only compounds the problem, but if the guy is educated about what these experiences are like for women, and if both people are on the same page, they will find ways to fulfil each other from a ******* point of view.”
Ms Hadley Barret agreed a variety of factors explained sexless marriages, including a drop-off in ******* because of life’s stresses or hormone changes, as well as smartphones and TV streaming services offering too many distractions from it.
As for how many times a week, a month or a year couples should be having ****, neither expert has the answer.
Dr Hunter said the right amount was the amount both people in the relationship felt kept them connected, satisfied and confident that each other’s needs were being reasonably met, and Ms Hadley Barrett agreed.
“Society puts expectations on us but there should be none,” Dr Hunter said.
“Thinking about how to be intimate with somebody does not have to be all about putting a ****** in a *******.”
Ms Hadley Barrett suspects another reason younger generations, especially, are having less **** is down to women in the past feeling obliged to satisfy their husband’s ******* desires, whereas today’s women are more likely to put boundaries in place and practise self-love.
But it’s a myth that men are always up for **** and women are always avoiding it.
“People may be surprised by how many women I see at my clinic who want more **** from their partner,” she said.
“A male’s response, which I see quite often, is ‘My wife is complaining I don’t love her anymore’, or, ‘She thinks I am having an affair and it is not that — I am just so busy at work and just so exhausted from life that I am genuinely not interested in **** anymore’.”
She said partners who were worried they were going from honeymooners to roommates needed to know it was never too late to bring **** back into the relationship.
How to have great **** at any age:
Late teens and 20s:
Millennials, or Generation Y, are the first generations to actually be having less **** than their parents did at the same age.
A major US study found just 44 per cent of teenage ****** had had ****, compared with 58 per cent 25 years ago, and for boys a similar pattern emerged..
Ms Hadley Barrett noted certain contraceptive pills could reduce *******, just as other medications could, including some anti-anxiety pills and hair growth treatments. Sometimes medications can be switched if they are interfering with a young person’s **** life.
She also said some young men avoided **** over anxiety about their ****** size when in reality, “the average ****** size is not actually that big”.
She added: “In *****, men are picked from the right-hand side of the bell curve so they have unusually humungous ********.”
At least once a fortnight she treats young men who are “absolutely beside themselves thinking their ****** is not normal”.
To help kickstart their **** life she reassures them that “there’s nothing wrong with you”, even showing them a book on male anatomy so they can relax about it.
30s and 40s:
Major dry spells are common as couples encounter pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriages, rearing children and work stress.
Dr Tamara Hunter said if ************ was off the agenda, there were many other ways couples could be intimate, from sharing a bed together to holding hands, kissing, cuddling and enjoying non-penetrative **** including foreplay.
“This might involve mutual masturbation, using a toy on your partner, ***** ****, lying down on top of them and rubbing bits, or giving each other a sensual massage,” Ms Hadley Barrett said.
She said women frustrated over loss of ******* could ***** into some spicy literature, dubbed “cliterature”.
“Most women over the age of 40, or mothers with young children, don’t feel spontaneous ******* anymore — it turns into responsive ******* instead,” Ms Hadley Barrett said.
“Reading erotica is a great way to make your brain think about **** and bring on that responsive *******.”
She said men’s testosterone levels were highest in their 20s but then they started dropping, along with their **** drive.
“We can treat that issue with testosterone replacement,” she said.
Dr Hunter noted **** could be painful for women in perimenopause but if they wanted to try penetrative **** again, there were treatments that could help.
“It’s about using things like ******** moisturisers and ******** oestrogens because there are a whole lot of things that can be utilised to make **** more physically comfortable,” she said.
50s, 60s, 70s and beyond:
Research from 2012 found two-thirds of women, including those who were as old as 80, were satisfied with their **** lives, and 67 per cent of participants had an ******* “most of the time” during **** in comparison with the younger participants.
The study suggested **** did get better with age, and, according to Ms Hadley Barrett: “Older people are having **** and, in my experience, lots of it.”
She said this may be because they were more likely to have the luxury of time and privacy with children off their hands, and there was more awareness around the treatments available to support a healthy **** life in older age.
She said topical oestrogen, for example, could alleviate ******** dryness and help make **** comfortable, while there were many ways to successfully treat erectile dysfunction in men, from tablets to injections.
Physical limitations such as dodgy knees or hips could usually be managed with creative **** positions, she added.
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Pelican News
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“Smells Like a Mushroom” is now available for the PS5 and Xbox Series X
“Smells Like a Mushroom” is now available for the PS5 and Xbox Series X
“Developed by Red Limb Studio and published by Fatal Error and Destructive Creations, “Smells Like a Mushroom” is now out on multiple platforms, including PlayStation®5 (PS5) and Xbox Series X|S at 24.99 EUR, and PC. A retail, boxed version for PS5 is also available via Meridiem Games and includes various physical extras.” – Jonas Ek, TGG.
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Pelican News
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